Code Name: Genesis

By: Sawyer Bennett

Narrated by: Shane East, Imogen Church

Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's Summary

A USA Today best-selling novel.

Years ago, we were in love. She was an up-and-coming superstar and I was the security professional hired to keep her safe. We fell hard and fast, no matter how much we tried to resist one another. But not everyone around us was happy about our relationship, and a string of lies and deceit destroyed what we once had. I moved on from her and didn't look back.

Now, I've taken the helm of a nationally renowned protective services company, and I'm looking to rebrand my career. The newly crowned Jameson force security is moving from the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas to the mountainous steel town of Pittsburgh, and the last thing I have time for is to deal with my past.

More than a decade has passed since our split, but even a bruised and battered heart remembers its first love. So when Joslyn Meyers comes to me for help, I reluctantly agree to keep her safe from a terrifying stalker who keeps threatening her life.

As the danger continues to intensify, it becomes clear that I'll stop at nothing to protect the woman who turned her back on me all those years ago. Because one thing is certain - no matter how hard I try to convince myself otherwise, Joslyn still has my heart.

©2019 Sawyer Bennett (P)2019 Sawyer Benett

Good story, great male voice, terrible female voice

This is a tough one for me...I LOVE Sawyer Bennett. She is a one-click author for me. I have read all of her books at least once. Love her. However, this story was not my favorite. It was very good, very well done and a great start to the series. I waited awhile after I finished to review this so I could think about my reasons for the less than stellar review. So here goes... The story was good. I got distracted with other things frequently though...hence my reflection before this review. I think the reason I was unable to focus 100% was the excruciatingly overacted narration by Imogen Church...NOT the story. Had the female narrator been different, this would’ve been an easy 5 star for me. Shane East...what can I say? He’s always such a pleasure to listen to. His tone, inflection, pacing and overall delivery is impeccable. And that accent. Swoon... Imogen had a few scenes where she wasn’t so over-the-top and it was such a relief. Those scenes were good. But the other 95% of her scenes were brutally overdone...to the point of being squeaky and cartoonish. She’s a talented actress. She just overdid it in this book. It’s worth a listen. I’m in the middle of the next book in this series and am enjoying it immensely.

Ahhh <sigh>

Finally Kynan’s story and I wasn’t disappointed. I like how they quickly resolved their issue from the past and we didn’t get any of the angst typical in romances. Good narration for a good story, ready for book 2.

JUST MEH! DIDN'T LIKE THIS COUPLE.

This always frustrate the heck out of me... If you are supposed to be badass enough to belong to the equivalent of military special forces, you are supposed to be "good" at it. Then why oh why do characters that are supposed to have special skills are written as inept fools? The main characters handling of bad situations is just not acceptable. The hero acts like a peacock showing off, while failing at what he is "peacocking" about. If you are supposed to be "the best" a character should be written as "the best!" And our heroine, who is supposed to have hired "the best" to do a job, doesn't give him the chance to do the job. These two people were written as dimwitted fools. Shane East is always a pleasure to listen to. This story was not for me.

Great Story, Bad Female Narrator

Let me start by saying this is a great story. It's exciting, the characters are well developed, and it's very well written. For me however, the female narrator ruined the audio. She tried to, over act, the voices and it absolutely took away from the story. I got so distracted and irritated by her voice that I lost track of what was happening in the story. The male narrator was very engaging, without trying too hard. his parts I was captivated, which is honestly the only reason I kept going. I'll read this book over and over, but I definitely can't sit through listening to it again.

Terrible performance

Imogene sounds like she’s high. I couldn’t get past the 2nd chapter! It so hard to enjoy it.

Great story!

The last person Kynan McGrath wants to take on as a client is Joslyn Meyers. Twelve years ago, Joslyn unexpected ended their relationship without an explanation. Little did he know, Joslyn was shown proof of Kynan cheating or so she thought. When Joslyn explains she has a stalker that actually attacked her in her home, Kynan decides to protect her. Once the truth finally comes out about what happened 12 years ago; will past hurts and a stalker keep Kynan and Joslyn from getting a second chance at love.

So-So Story with Great Performances

This is the first book by Ms. Bennett that I had a difficult time connecting with. The foundation of the story is great. I love the idea of the new security firm taking on a new direction, but the main characters in this installment fell flat for me. Kynan was just a bully and it was really difficult to feel for what he was going through when he was being such a jerk for the bulk of the book. For her part, Joslyn did not come off as a confident woman, but more like a timid mouse. Even knowing she is being stalked, she didn’t seem to have any backbone to stand up to Kynan. I love Ms. Bennett’s work, so I know I’ll continue with this series, I just hope for better in the next book. I listened to the audio performed by Shane East and Imogen Church. They did a fantastic job and are the reason I was comfortable staying with a 3-star rating. Without their immense talent I probably would have rated this a bit lower.

Great book if you can stomach Imogen Church...

The story is good, the male narrator is good, but omg the female narrator is atrocious!! It is so grossly over acted that it is literally embarrassing. I will never listen to anything she appears in again. The story is definitely worth the time, Sawyer Bennett is awesome. Just maybe read it instead of listening.

5 Intense Stars! Elizabeth @ Carolina Chic's Read

Kynan McGrath is the very wealthy owner of Jameson Force Security. He can have anything that he wants, except the one that he needs. The one that got away, Joslyn Meyers. When this beautiful woman from ten years ago calls him up and needs his security services. This unleashes all his protective instincts and with that the love that has never left him. Their story has so much chemistry and trust. Even from a decade apart. 5 Intense Stars!

Not for me

The story was OK, but I struggled to finish because of the narration. It was a predictable tale of the second chance romance that develops when a woman who is being stalked contacts her security expert ex-boyfriend to protect her. I would give the male narrator 5 stars, but 2 stars is generous for the female. Her voice and over-the-top narration grated on my nerves. I have no desire to listen to the remainder of the series.

Enjoyed it

This is my first book by this author. I enjoyed it. Good start to the series and will read more. Also made me want to know more about the wicked horse books so starting those. Narration was fabulous liked both voices BUT the female narrator read much slower (too slow) so while I speed up both I had to go back and forth to speed her up even more and that was annoying.

Good story.

I liked the story immensely but I’m afraid Imogen Church let the narration down. She has a nice voice I just didn’t like her style of delivery. Shame East is amazing and could listen to him read the traffic report. Overall I enjoyed the book but didn’t love it.

7 hours of my life I’ll never get back

What a ridiculous book, so cheesy I usually love Imogen church narration- she didn’t have much to work with.

What a fantastic start to the series!

Jameson Force Security is going to be an amazing series. This is the first book and it not only gives us an amazing second chance romance, but introduces a cast of characters I can’t wait to get to know. Kynan has started this security agency and now is given a case to protect an actress from a stalker. Little does he know, it’s his ex-girlfriend. Joslyn needs help. The threats are becoming more prominent and the best in the business is needed to keep her safe. Kynan has a plan, but with this plan, old feelings are surfacing. Will this interfere with the investigation? Will the stalker get to her? So much is happening in this story. There is connection to the Wicked Horse Series, a great intro to the power of Kynan as he hires Bebe the hacker, and the second chance romance is sizzling. Suspense, heat, the unknown, the memories all are integrated into the twists and turns and had me hooked. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more of this series. Sawyer Bennett must write her characters with her narrators in mind because the choice of Shane East and Imogen Church are Kynan and Joslyn. Each fits the persona so well, it is like they are telling their own story. I loved their performance.

Romance, suspense, and wonderful narration

Oh wow! Second chance romance that had me willing both of these misunderstood stubborn souls to just drop the facade and go for it. 12 years after Kynan and Joslyn’s affair abruptly ended, Kynan is tasked with protecting Joslyn from a dangerous stalker. They didn’t part in the best of ways, yet it’s obvious the chemistry is still there, for both of them. It’s obvious though that Kynan is not willing to forgive and forget, something that Joslyn is willing to do. Both of them oblivious to the way they were manipulated. Action, romance and suspense with the chemistry I’ve come to expect from two characters written by Sawyer Bennett. A great story, great characters and perfect writing. I was truly enthralled and addicted by their story, literally not wanting it to end. A story that lends itself perfectly to audio. Narrated with true emotion by Shane East and Imogen Church.

Great

Great first book in what I hope will be a great series. This book was full of suspense and although the ending was a bit predictable with the expected fight I enjoyed it all.