Come Alive Cityscape Affair Series, Book 2

By: Jessica Hawkins

Narrated by: Andi Arndt

Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

Determined to move on with her life, Olivia Germaine has vowed to forget the enigmatic and irresistible David Dylan. Struggling to keep her head above water, she focuses on her new promotion and refuses to drown in the memory of their night together.

But when Olivia realizes what life without David means, she must decide if she’s willing to risk everything for him...and if she’s ready to reopen the wounds of her past.

Olivia knows she should forget her feelings for David and move forward with her marriage. If only David would stay away like he promised....

©2013 Jessica Hawkins (P)2015 Jessica Hawkins

Disappointing

I am a huge Jessica Hawkins and Andi Arndt fan, and I hate writing bad reviews, but I felt compelled to share...I haven’t even finished this audiobook, but I am SO annoyed with the main character that I don’t know if I even want to finish the book or the series. The main character just has such disappointing, selfish, repetitive, frustrating behavior throughout the book. I appreciate that she has issues stemming from childhood (don’t we all), but for some reason, I have really lost any empathy for her at this point. I am just over her, when usually I enjoy and am rooting for the main character(s).

I have no problem reading about forbidden romances, and generally enjoy the angst, but this character is just too selfish. Her going back and forth so much has gotten old and is making me want to pull my hair out.

So, while I love the author, and Andi Arndt is great as expected, this series is proving to not be my cup of tea...To each his own.

The most unlikable heroine!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

This book tells the story of a shallow, heartless, immature, cold, artificial and simply dumb woman, Olivia Germaine, who cheats and then leaves her husband for no other reason than she is undecided and another man was pushing her more than her own husband. She is tacky and cruel with no opinion of her own and absolutely immature. Olivia (Liv) is the kind of a woman, who at 29 doesn't want to commit to a serious relationship, a marriage involving respect, love and children. She doesn't want any of that. Instead she prefers to go out with her girlfriends and stay up late at night, have cat fights in bars and to cheat on her husband, who by the way, is portrayed as a successful, kind, generous, faithful and decent man. I'm not sure what the author really wanted us to read about and admire: the hero, Billy (Olivia's husband) or even David (the lover, for which she leaves her husband) or the anti hero: Olivia. Words cannot describe the disdain I have for this woman. She plays with people's feelings, her husband's, her best friends', even her lover's and she justifies it by calling herself "cold and detached". And all because her parents went through a rough divorce when she was a teenager...Very disappointing. I'm sorry to say, Olivia, but you're not the only teenager who experiences divorce of your parents, and yet that doesn't give anyone a reason to behave so heartless and immaturely. I kept reading through the series hoping that by the end, Olivia would realize the fault of her actions, even if it involved separating herself from her husband (which, by the way, didn't deserve her at all) to be with her lover (who she didn't deserve either). But even with her lover she is still mistrustful, immature and shallow. I just hated her with passion and don't want to hear about Olivia ever again in my life! Billy, all I can say to you is GOOD RIDDANCE!

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The writing was decent and quite fluid. The depiction of emotions was very well done and for that my congratulations to the author.

ok

I wanted to beat my head against the wall with this book. Angsty romance novels where the heroine can't see the forest thru the trees drive me mad. How is it that two intelligent people can be so stupid. Sorry... thanks for the rant. I love Andi Arndt the narrator though! The book is well written just infuriating;)

Annoying

Ugh, this story has so much potential, but it's almost like it's stuck on repeat. Back and forth of the same thing. My curiosity is the only thing that will make me get the third. If it's as annoying as this one though, I may need to just fast forward to the end and be put out of my misery.

Jessica Hawkins slays it again!

What made the experience of listening to Come Alive the most enjoyable?

Jessica Hawkins's Cityscape series captivated me from beginning to end. There's not a thing about it that I would change.

What did you like best about this story?

How relatable the characters were, even with the MC having so many flaws.
The writing is flawless!

What does Andi Arndt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Andi is brilliant as the narrator for this series. She fit perfectly!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did!

Any additional comments?

Read everything ever written by Jessica Hawkins - you'll forever love her. She's brilliant.

Not a dull moment

I can't even think of the words to accurately describe what this book evokes but I will try.

As the second book in the series, we follow Liv through and even deeper spiral through the love triangle. If I were looking at this from the outside, I would think that I didn't need another 10 hours of narration to just be in the same place as book 1 but I assure you, so much happens and it doesn't feel repetitive or redundant.

I usually try and space out my audio books but this series has me by the "balls" and I have been listening nonstop. My kids are a little irritated having to repeat themselves because of my headphones. It is that good. It hurts that good.

Definitely worth the credit. Andi Arndt is, of course, phenomenal. I always know who is speaking and her inflections and tone project the write emotions.

It Gets Better-Jessica Hawkins You Are Brilliant

SPOILER ALERT

This is the second book in the Cityscape Series. This is the second in the trilogy and it is riveting! There is no fluff or filler, just it is filled with more wonder.

Olivia is torn between playboy, David. Who is devastatingly hot, handsome, etc. and alpha male who knows what he wants without the major kink that you may find in other books in this genre.

Olivia is drawn to David with such electricity, attention and primal lust. The only problem is that Olivia is married. She is married to safe, predictable Bill. But after her rendezvous with David she tries to do the right thing. She tries to distance herself from David and focus on her marriage, but the memories remain and she is at a loss.

I've already mentioned a couple of things that will SPOIL have you not read the previous book, so I think that I will stop there here. Come Alive leaves the listener with a major cliffhanger again. Not nice, Jessica (author!) However, after the last first books cliffhanger it made book number two all the more sweet and worth the wait.

I'm told that book number three will be out by the end of the month. As soon as I get it, there will be no housework, outside work or anything done. I am going to enclose myself in my Bat Cave and listen to the wonderful, I expect, writing. Jessica Hawkins ties everything up – I hope! Although, if there were more books in the series at this level of writing, I wouldn't be too mad, if Jessica turned the trilogy into a series. But if that's her plan she better hop to it, because I want to listen to anything and everything she has written.

This trilogy *book was offered to me in exchange for this review. I did not hesitate when it was offered as (I've mentioned a few times) I adored the first book – even the cliffhanger.

If the final book is even half as good as the first two, I will be pleased as punch. I would also recommend the series to everyone and anyone in the hot romance department, as well as people like me who find Olivia's moral dilemma intriguing as well.

Andi Arndt is excellent. Her professional performance weaves the characters and their feelings within the tapestry of the book. Believable and a great job.

Notes: Mature themes & strong language
Rating: Again this would have to be a strong rated R or possibly NC – 17. Not for the anyone under 18 because of the adult subject matter.

Buy with confidence! I absolutely loved it and counting down the days till December 1 but hope that the third book will be available before then! I want it yesterday!: –)

My note to you~

I enjoy leaving reviews, as I know that I read them the reviews of others before I purchase a book. If you found my review helpful in your decision about this book, would you please select yes directly below this paragraph? Thank you so much.

Please consider "following me" here on Audible.com. I purchased a lot of books by authors that I am faithful to. I also have the opportunity to review books in all genres, many that I would not pick up on my own. I have been pleasantly surprised by new authors and narrators. Thanks!

Better then book 1

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would recommend this book to anyone. This series is real, raw, powerful, and could happen to anyone of us at anytime. This book is about making hard choices, any doing things that will impact others. Some reviews say this is a whiny story, I disagree!! This books is all about Liv and what she needs be happy.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved David he was strong and powerful but not over bearing or making her decide, he just gave her space to what she wanted.

Have you listened to any of Andi Arndt’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not, but i would again. I cant say enough good things about the series.

Bitching & Moaning

I thought Come Alive was about 7 hours of Olivia bitching and moaning about whether she should stay with her boring husband Bill or have an affair with bad boy David.

Rather than work through her own emotional issues, Olivia was content to stifle her feelings, get drunk with her friends and bury herself in work. Except for her volunteer work at an animal shelter, Olivia is too self-absorbed and easily manipulated.

I was hoping Olivia would realize her potential and grow into a confident, self-sufficient woman who didn't rely on a man for her identity. Unfortunately, she didn't have the desire or integrity to act like an adult woman.

I wanted Olivia to leave Bill, not for the arrogant David, but for her future well being. David put on a good show of being romantic and caring, yet he was actually controlling, dominating and sometimes violent. Not a good catch!

READ BEFORE COMMITTING TO THIS SERIES

The things I hate most about Romance novels:
Whiny female leads
Mispronunciations of foreign languages
Ridiculous conflict
Conflicts that occur/resolve in the last hour of the story
Selfish partners
Poorly researched destinations
BS endings
THIS BOOK HAD THEM ALL!
I’ll try not to spoil anything while explaining the ridiculousness of this series.
From book one, it is evident that Mr. and Mrs. just aren’t right together no matter how good each of them are, they just don’t work and that’s OK.
From book one, you will discover the major conflict that will continue throughout the series, however, for 3 books, we have to listen to Olivia’s ridiculous whining about how she can’t commit to David because her mother left her/her father and how David might leave her too (meanwhile, she did the very thing to Bill that she claims she can’t give her trust to David for).
You all know from reading the summary and reviews that she had an affair. I do like a story with real-life drama, instead of the usual “it’s you, it’s me” bs that we get from most Romances.
It was evident from the start that Bill and Olivia did not belong together and that David was much better for her. At no time did I feel sorry for Bill, or vilify Olivia and David-until the end...I wanted to punch Olivia in the teeth and I wanted to shake some sense into David.
So, while Olivia is whining about how she can’t trust David (or anyone) for 3 books, he vows 100% honesty to her and that’s exactly what he is. For 3 books, poor David is having to prove and defend himself to her, over and over. This stupidity causes them to take multiple breaks from each other so that Olivia can figure herself out.
Meanwhile, that ONE issue that was a huge wedge between Bill and Olivia, is rearing it’s ugly head between David and Olivia. I was just waiting for stuff to get real and have David leave her for once, for being dishonest and not bringing this up the whole time they were together. She knew this would be a problem, but she was so selfish that she only cared to protect her own heart and never his.
The author gave Olivia the lamest excuses to not commit, but the ONE valid reason for a major conflict between this couple never came up until...
Just as I’m finally getting excited for this all to blow up, I realized there was only 20 left before the epilogue. In 20 minutes, David realizes that of all the asinine reasons she’s been giving him to not commit, she failed to mention that ONE detail that represents the major, potentially life altering reason that maybe they are not best suited for each other. The author only gave David 20 minutes to decide if he should stay with this lying, cheating and selfish b****. And in the last 20 minutes, with no conflict or argument, he just accepts it. I even had hopes that during the epilogue, she would’ve changed her mind and done something for him for once, but alas, I was sorely disappointed.
I would’ve even had a better appreciation for this book, and more respect for this author, had this book not had a HEA. Who says a Romance has to have a HEA??? If this book would’ve been real-life, I seriously doubt a HEA would’ve been in the cards, or at least, there would’ve been a huge argument and break up before coming to a decision. I wish that story line would’ve been better developed and worked through, than Olivia’s Wah, Wah, Wah for 18 hours. And maybe the author could’ve helped couples struggling with the same challenge.
Another thing, nobody comes to Miami to go surfing. Our beaches are as flat as the landscape except for about 15 minutes at the tail-end of hurricane season.
Authors, do your research! You should’ve sent them to California or Hawaii on vacation if you wanted them to surf.
Last but not least, note to Andi...I love you but you had one word in Spanish to learn and you failed. Why can’t the narrators just do a tiny bit of research to pronounce foreign language words properly??? An accent is OK but not blatant mispronunciations.