Before I Knew

The Cabots, Book 1

By: Jamie Beck

Narrated by: Siiri Scott

Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Author Jamie Beck returns with an engrossing series about family, friendship, and starting over. In this first Cabot novel, a legacy of secrets tests old friends seeking a second chance at life and love.

On the second anniversary of her husband's suicide, Colby Cabot-Baxter is ready to let go of her grief and the mistakes made during her turbulent marriage. Her fresh start comes in the form of A CertainTea, the restaurant she's set to open along Lake Sandy, Oregon, with help from her family. But when her executive chef quits just weeks before the grand opening, Colby is pressured to hire old family friend Alec Morgan. His award-winning reputation could generate buzz, but their friendship has withered since her husband's reckless dare cost Alec's brother his life.

Distracted by guilty secrets concerning the tragedy that changed his and Colby's lives, Alec self-destructed and lost his famed restaurant. With his career in tatters, he's determined to use this opportunity to redeem his reputation and to help the woman he's loved from afar find happiness again.

But secrets have a way of coming out. When Alec's do, they might destroy the new life he and Colby have rebuilt together.

©2017 Jamie Beck (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

From the beginning 'Before I Knew' pulled me in.

I enjoyed the book so much that I had my 85 year old Mother listen to it also. We are going to listen to the whole series.

Another great book by Jamie Beck.

This was another really good read. I got the audio version and the reader/narrator, Siiri Scott, did a very good job. I am looking forward to the next book, as well as others by Jamie Beck.

Love fantasy but this book was amazing

Easy to follow even though there is a lot of shocks. I definitely cried and had out burst of omg and NO. A lot of people at work were staring at me. Was little leery about one voice being I am use to audio drama but she did a amazing job and narrating between all the characters.

Not As Good!

I enjoy Jamie Beck and have read all of her books. I was excited to see there was a new one out and a series too. Personally it just wasn't as captivating as her others have been for me. Perhaps Book 2 will be better.

Ok read.

I struggled with the rating on this on. There’s a lot of good stuff here but some not so good too. I actually feel this was more of a 3.5 but didn’t deserve a 3 so I rounded up.

Colby’s mother is written as manipulating her daughter to get Colby to buy her things because Colby’s Dad moved on and remarried. Colby sees her mother as the only one to give her unconditional love. That was a part of the plot line I had an issue with.

The two main characters are both trying to start over with lots of baggage from the past. I was ok with the premise of this storyline but the maturity level was lacking in both of them. This was good enough that I plan to try the next book.

Heartwarming

Keeping an open heart during difficult times can bring healing. Keeping secrets from family and friends can cause mistakes in the choices made by others. Truth, forgiveness, and love can heal our souls.

Before I knew

A good story kinda grieves on you hard to get into the s Tory but very good in the end

Top rated

This book was excellent. I enjoyed the story line and the narrator did a first rate job! I am fairly new to this authors books but will be following her in the future. Her characters come to life as you read, or listen and they aren't full of foul language or explicit love scenes. She lets the story speak to you and doesn't clutter the story with unnecessary context. I definitely recommend this one.

Debating on just reading it myself

If you could sum up Before I Knew in three words, what would they be?

Complex Family Drama

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator has me debating on finishing the book by just reading it myself. When she reads as the female characters (Most of them anyway) it's fine. It's when she is reading the male characters, she makes them sound so malicious, which i don't believe that is what the author is trying to convey. I listen to audiobooks all the time and often narrators develop/define each character's voice very clearly so it's easy to follow along. There were times when i wasn't sure whose voice she was in. Except for the moms, she was really good with differentiating the moms voices.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were points where i was close to crying, the various relationships are complex. Some made more dramatic than necessary.

Any additional comments?

Read the book before listening.

Terrible narrationL

I couldn't listen. I turned it off after 45 minutes. I'm not sure if it was that she sounded angry, or if she just over annunciated everything, but I could not focus on the story. I have never done that before. I'll read the book.