Baden

A Pittsburgh Titans Novel, Book 1

By: Sawyer Bennett

Narrated by: Aiden Snow, Lessa Lamb

Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

After suffering a horrific injury that threatens to end his career, Baden Oulett is about to learn that sometimes a fresh start is just what the doctor ordered.

I worked my whole life to achieve one goal - play professional hockey. As part of the defending Cup champion Arizona Vengeance, I was living my dream - until one split-second decision destroyed it all. Instead of lacing up my skates and hitting the ice, I’ve spent my days in rehab and physical therapy just so I could walk again. When a coaching opportunity with the Pittsburgh Titans is presented to me, I find myself with a career I had never considered but which allows me to continue being part of the sport that I love.

While my injuries are physical, the same can’t be said for the woman I rescued. Suffering from wounds that can’t be seen, Sophie Winters has withdrawn from the world in fear and guilt. I didn’t know Sophie before that fateful night and have only met her once since, but I refuse to let her face her demons alone. Determined to be a friend, I support Sophie in the only way I know how: by simply being there.

Through our shared trauma, Sophie and I begin to find peace within one another. As we grow closer, what started as friendship becomes more intimate - until our broken pieces become one. But can a love born of anguish endure, or will the pain of our past prove too much to overcome?

©2021 Sawyer Bennett (P)2021 Sawyer Bennett

This was an interesting read.

I wasn't prepared for how the book starts off. The central conflict deep. I appreciated the warning from the author in the beginning. This was much more than about hockey. A traumatic event brings our two main characters together. They help each other in their new stations in life... I enjoyed the way their relationship evolved. Although they shared a horrible experience that tied them together, they started off forming a friendship before attraction and deeper feelings developed.

Love Hearing a Sports Series with a Twist

Most hockey romance series are essentially all the same in the end. Hockey player swears he’ll never settle down but then meets The.One and suddenly everything changes.

So for me, it’s what happens around this that makes me decide whether it’s a series I’ll follow or not. This one definitely has a twist I never expected, but quickly appreciated. Not to say I think everyone should have mass deaths. Only that authors that can take a story to such an unexpected direction, while handling it with dignity definitely wins my vote.

I love to read, but several years ago I had to admit to myself that to continue reading, (ADHD + Narcolepsy = a short attention span that falls asleep before finishing a page of entertainment reading) I would have to go audio exclusive. Weeding thru the horrible narrations out there from authors trying to go audio on the cheap can be such a headache!! Take it from me, going cheap on narration is basically throwing your money away.

I’ve been a fan of Sawyer Bennett for some time and list her among my go to authors if I’m needing a light hearted read (or listen in my case). I can always count on her to tell me a great story with excellent narrators. That’s exactly what she did here. Loved the story and the narration was very well done.

Good start but….

I really like the initial approach and think it’s a good start for a new series but I’m in chapter 8 and struggling to keep going. The central female character (Sophie Winters) is so A.N.N.O.Y.I.N.G!!!! I understand the potential trauma someone could suffer after a similar attack but she behaves like a petulant child and a crazy, emotional, needy woman… so cliché! I’ll keep going just because I like Baden and don’t want to miss context for the rest of the series.

Beautiful Story!

This is the first book in the Pittsburgh Titans series, a spin-off of the Arizona Vengeance series. This series is interconnected with the Jameson Force Security series. The story starts where the last book in the Arizona Vengeance series ended. This first installment is great! I loved Baden and Sophie's emotional story! Baden is such a great guy, caring, and protective. Sophie is beautiful, strong, and determined. They are perfect together. I liked the amazing characters, and the slow burn romance. The storyline is emotional, and captivating. Aiden Snow and Lessa Lamb did an excellent job with the narration. I enjoyed it! Now, I am looking forward to listening to Stone, the next book in the series.

Slow start for me ....

I was slow to start this book given the heavy nature of the story at the beginning but I'm glad I stuck with it. I grew to really enjoy this couple and their struggle. Baden and Sophia helped one another and in doing so fell in love which was beautiful. I'm ready to complete the series!

So much promise...

I was excited to begin this book as romance plus sports is one of my favorites to read. As it went on, I found myself wishing it was over already. It was so boring. It took me forever to finish because I was totally bored.

Easy read

Easy read that kept me interested. Narration was okay, enjoyed snows voice for both male and female. Enjoyed lamb as she was Sophie.
Sweet characters.

Narrators are everything for the book

Just goes it show narrators really do make the book. I couldn’t make it through this one. The woman narrator was whining all the time. I couldn’t. But book 2 with Jason Clarke and Ava Harrison was great. I think with different narrators this one could be goood.

Okay!

I liked this story, I actually read Stone first which I loved and have actually read twice. The only thing that kept me from loving this was the performance by Lessa. It was just like her voice couldn't calm down and it was too excited for certain parts..

I powered through, anything I listen to, I listen at at least 1.4 or 1.5 speed. I jacked this up to 1.80 wanting to finish and it was unfortunately due to the female narrator. I look forward to listening to Gage and definitely Coens stories but I hope they use Ava and Jason. They are 2 of my absolute favs.

Man’s planing? Really?

This was a pretty good story and a nice start to a new series. I did grown when they used the phrase man’s planing. It is not a bad thing for someone to explain to another person how something works when that other person doesn’t know how it works. If the person explaining things just happens to be a man and the other happens to be a woman that makes no difference. It is not a bad thing if a man knows something that a woman doesn’t and he explains it to her just like it is not a bad thing if the reverse happens. So I really wish this kind of stuff would stop. I also felt like the ending was very sudden. It just seem to come out of nowhere and that was it like the author did not really know how to end this one. But again overall I think it’s a good start to the series and I’m looking forward to the next one.

not for me

I love Sawyer Bennett books especially the hockey series but unfortunately I couldn't continue to listen as the female narrator grated on my nerves sorry but very off putting For me

2.5 stars

This book was dull, and I felt no connection in the relationship, and the story failed to grab me by the heart at all. Shame as the premise had potential.

I want More!!

The staring of a new series is always exciting.
But wow. I want more. I can’t wait for what happens next with the Titans

Great listen

I absolutely loved this story of Baden and Sophie. It is so true and heartwarming to see them both become whole again and fall in love at the same time. This is a great beginning of another great series by Sawyer Bennett. I could jot put this down. Now I can’t wait for like three or four other books I this series because they all seem to my next favorite. I highly recommend getting to know the new rebuilt titans.

Aiden snow and lessa lamb narrator to perfection.

4 stars

Ohh I love but am sadden of the twist of Baden's and Sophie romance. This series does and will have the emotional punch that I wasn't expecting. The ending did end abruptly as when my audiobook was over I had to check my phone to make sure it nothing happened! Overall good.

Loved narrations by Aiden Snow and Lessa Lamb.

I received this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

What an amazing start to this series

I’ve been impatiently waiting for Baden’s story for a while. We learn about his Good Samaritan ‘downfall’ in the Arizona Vengeance series, whilst following his recuperation along the way. Now we get his story as he moves to Pittsburg to assist in the rebuilding of the Titans following the team’s fateful plane crash. For the first time we learn about the attack that crippled Baden, through the eyes of Sophie, as she comes to terms with her feelings and her many issues following her attack. What can I say? A truly emotional, wonderful, heartfelt story with two characters who are brought together following a horrendous attack. An attack that seemed to make Baden mentally stronger, but most definitely left Sophie with plentiful mental scars. I loved both Sophie and Baden, and having listened to the audio version with Aiden Snow and Lessa Lamb performing Baden and Sophie, I can without a doubt recommend the audio version of this story. The relationship between Baden and Sophie is brought to life as they support each other emotionally and physically. We see their friendship blossom naturally in what I see as a wonderful start to what I’m hoping is going to be another fantastic hockey series with this troubled group of misfits.