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Golden Trail  By  cover art

Golden Trail

By: Kristen Ashley
Narrated by: Brian Pallino
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Publisher's summary

Tanner Layne and Raquel Merrick fell in love young, hard, and fast, and both of them knew a beautiful life they thought would be forever. Until Rocky left Layne, no explanation, no going back. Layne escapes the 'Burg only to come back years later because his ex-wife has hooked herself to the town jerk, and Layne needs to make sure his sons get raised right. Layne manages to avoid Rocky, but when Layne gets three bullets drilled into him while investigating a dirty cop, he can't do that because Rocky stops avoiding Layne. They make a deal to work together to expose the dirty cop, but they have no idea the strength of their enduring attraction or the sheer evil at work in the 'Burg. As Tanner Layne and Raquel Merrick play their game and dance around the pull that draws them together, Layne has to discover the dark secrets buried so deep in Rocky's heart she doesn't even know they're there and at the same time untangle a sinister web of crime so abhorrent it has to be stopped - at all costs. And to do it, Layne has to enlist everyone, including his ex-CIA mentor, Rocky's detective brother, the town's unpredictable informant, and Layne's two teenage sons, all the while stopping Rocky from doing something crazy and keeping their game secret so Layne won't get himself dead.

©2014 Kristen Ashley (P)2015 Audible Inc.

What listeners say about Golden Trail

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Golden Trail is a HIT!

I think this is a first for Kristen Ashley to have a Male Narrator and I have to say I freaking LOVED IT!! LOVVVEEEDD ITTTT... Ok so I knew this was going to be a good book I mean its a Kristen Ashley right. But I didn't expect it to be as good as it was... Ok Rocky this gal has been through some shit, and you feel for her but your like what the hell too. And yeah that all plays out and you totally understand why she did what she did. Now on to Tanner.. This guy I thought was a douche in the beginning yes I know how could I but I did. I thought dude forgive and let live right. But I get it he was hurt and mad and he had to get over that. His boys are awesome! I love that Jasper had a nick name for his little brother I mean I know it happens I have one for my sister but I usually don't say it in front of people it would embarrass her you know. So yeah thought that was so sweet. Oh the dog Blondie.. ok now I am not a dog person probably cause they scare me always have little / big doesn't matter but this dog totally made the story as one of the characters for me and I totally would have a dog like blondie if it were real! Now thats saying something!! So yeah if you read the second book in this series you will like that Joe, Violet and the girls make appearances in this book :) Last favourite thing the pony tails lmao toooo good you will get it if you pick this book up ;) Off to get me the 4th book woot we get Mikes story I can't wait. Enjoy Everyone.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved the narration of this book

After 2 horrible narrations of the first 2 books of this series, this was such a joy to listen to. The male narrator did a fine job of reading this book. Enjoyed it a lot! Thank goodness. Overall. I still think this series of Audible books need more direction and a lot more editing. It is very distracting when you have long unnecessary pauses, and audible swallows. Thank goodness, I did not feel this way about this one! Almost wish they were all narrators by this narrator!

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

✫✫ 4 Stars ✫✫

I enjoyed this book but I'll admit the first half seemed to drag but then the second half picked up and caught my attention. I like Rocky & Layne but I think I like Layne and his family the most in this book. I loved the way he was with his boys and the way they looked up to their dad. He taught them how to be good men and it melted my heart. I loved how this one ended. The action was great and the suspense and mystery thought out the story was intense.

The one thing I notice about the men in this whole series is they refuse to use words like if, or, do, etc lol I think they sound like New Yorkers and they are in Indiana. It makes me giggle while listening.

The narration was good, he fit well for Layne but I wish it had been dual narrated.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another great installment in a fantastic series!

Tanner Layne and Raquel Merrick were once young, in love, and happy. All of a Sudden Rocky leaves Layne with no explanation, leaving him devastated. He leaves The Burg, but returns years later to help raise the sons that live with his ex-wife, who has made some bad decisions about who she spends her time with. Layne manages to avoid Rocky, until he finds himself shot after getting too close to the truth while investigating a dirty cop. Rocky comes to visit him in the hospital, and nothing afterwards. Circumstances, feelings, and connected friends and family cause Rocky and Layne to face the feelings for one another (that have not dimmed over time), as well as the past and the ordeals both have had to face.

Yet again- Ashley writes a book that hooks me fast, and keeps me entirely engaged throughout. We not only get to know a bunch of new characters- Layne and his family, Rocky and hers, but revisit old friends from the previous two books in this series, and learn how everyone's lives intersect. The chemistry between Rocky and Layne is scorching hot and it is easy to decide that these are characters who should be together if they can just straighten out whatever mysterious force is keeping them apart. In addition to all the interpersonal drama going on, there are some very serious cases that the police, and Layne (a former cop and current PI) are working on with some urgency. Generally, it is the characters that make a Kristen Ashley story what it is, but this one also had me with the various and intertwining suspense elements. Basically, I loved all of it, and I can't wait to read more in this series. The epilogue was simply wonderful and connected me even deeper with many characters that I have come to really care about.

With the audiobook version: the narrator did a great job of not only bringing Layne's voice to life, but also bringing depth to the story and characters without distracting me or bringing me out of the story.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Too much lane

half way through it became rough to finish listening. lane and rocky argue way too much, lane seems like a giant, aggressive bully and rocky said lanes name 1000x too many.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Engrossing and dramatic.

This "Burg" story stands out from all the rest because the action, pathos and drama are all accurately conveyed by the excellent narrator. Kristen Ashley writes a good yarn but her other work is dragged down by poor readers. It was a delight to hear such professionalism for a change but, since I have already started on the next book in the series, I can see that this was just a one-off.
Brian Pallino is first class. Please hire more readers of this standard.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not my favorite--still solid story (SPOILERS)

Read/Listened for Fun (Kindle/Audible)
Overall Rating: 2.00
Story Rating: 2.50
Character Rating: 1.50

Audio Rating: 3.00 (not part of the overall rating)

First Thought when Finished: Golden Trail by Kristen Ashley is the first one by her (I have read like 16) that I almost DNF'd, threw against the wall, and seriously might get a bit ranty about Layne!

My Thoughts: Just a warning there will be lots of spoiler sections because there is just no way for me to explain my feelings without them.

Let's start with the non-spoilery stuff:

1: First 40% of the book was a solid 3.5/4.0 --I was liking the characters, loving the story, and was solidly invested.
2: 40% to 95% I almost closed the book several times and Layne landed in my leading romance men that I would have liked to actually not get an HEA. Then again Roc wasn't much better so maybe they deserve each other.
3: 95% to end bumped the rating up from a 1.5 to a 2 but only because of the end of the mystery. It was strong and I liked the wrap-up.
4: I have read several reviews that say this is the BEST EPILOGUE by Kristen Ashley--I think you would have to like Layne for that to be the case. I totally disagree.

Layne This will be in Spoilers....

[Here we go:
1: I am used to KA's men always needing to be right but most of them at least listen (somewhat). Every single time with every single person (exception maybe Dev-once), Layne was right. It must be exhausting being him.
2: Who puts their 17 and 14 year old sons (you know the ones whose lives you have been in all of a year) on a case of a possible pedophile? I don't care how strong and smart they are--you just don't do that. More on this later in Roc's section because you also don't get mad when called on the behavior.
3: How he spoke about and encouraged his sons to think about their mother. Both of his kids were good kids that was solely on their mom since he wasn't around. He comes back and all the sudden he is the "excellent" parent, she deserves no respect, and he can totally disrespect her ALL THE TIME! This was just a lazy side storyline that drove me nuts.
4: Should we just hand a Layne a cape--cause really he is solving all the burg's problems? Too many storylines without one time Layne was wrong. Unless you count the very first where he was shot but that must have given him super powers because after that f*cking never wrong. I want that super power.
5: Control Freak! (hide spoiler)]

Roc: Gonna be spoilery also....

[ UGH.....

1: TSTL moments--just way to many. KA does not usually write women who fall into this category but Roc was all TSTL.
2: Total doormat! There was not a single disagreement she won--down to the damn ponytail holders. He said yes, she said no---it was a yes. He said no, she said yes--it was a no. She went off on a TSTL moment and apologized every damn time. Down to the ponytail holders that she let him drag out off her head, her daughter's head (in the epilogue), and just "play" got angry. It was like she could not think/act for herself.
3: I still don't get why she stayed gone for 18 years. I get the nervous breakdown (both) but the stay away---nope.
4: I will say this--I like her better than Layne. She was an excellent teacher, smart, and right before she would roll over--sassy.
5: That being said, my final problem with Roc was her getting in Layne/Gabby's argument about the kids saying that she wanted Layne back and it had nothing to do with the kids. Gabby had a lot of valid points about her boys. Gabby was the boys only parent for most of their lives. Whether she wanted Layne back or not, she did love those boys. Roc picked the wrong time/wrong method to be "I'm better than you-I'm who he wants". It really lowered my view of her by several notches. (hide spoiler)]

What I Liked: Not spoilery..

1: Loved the main mystery. I thought it was clever and planned out well.
2: Loved the kids. I thought they were well written and likable.
3: Loved Dev and Ryker--in fact, Ryker would have been a better leading guy--just saying.
4: Loved seeing all my favs!
5: The end because it means I can move on.

Audio Thoughts:
Narrated by: Brian Pallino /Length: 21 hrs and 20 mins

Brian was good at the narration. I think I wasn't more in love with it because of the characters. I will say that he was much better than the last 2 in this series.

This will work better for others. Most people loved this book but I guess maybe having an excellent stepmom and mom--the kid issues were just triggers for me.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good book, but not for all!

I would love to live in this author's head. I just finished 3 (or maybe the first 4) of her books and I must say I love the premise -- what woman wouldn't!!?? To have some "alpha-male" (that's how she describes them) who's a gorgeous, big, ole strapping thang; the take charge type who knows how to take care of his woman both in and out of bed, works hard, loves children, demands respect and knows how to get it, even from a man bigger than he?! WOW!!!

But on the flip side of that fabulous coin, her male leads must have just ridden out of Bedrock! They are all gruff characters who sound like neanderthals: "come 'ere woman! GIT OVER HERE!" And each of these strong, independent women just falls over, succumbs to his charm and does what he says! And although in today's "politically correct" society, whereby each and every female lead (well, almost all of the females in each story) could be granted the "garden tool" label (the men too), none of the author's characters are having sex just to have sex; they are all lonely, looking for true love. The men have all had very bad prior relationships. And no matter how many kids they already have when the story begins, each and every male lead not only wants the new woman to bear (more) children, he also wants to marry her and make sure he and the child(ren) have his name before the baby arrives!! The story lines are definitely centered on "keep 'em barefoot and pregnant!"

The one drawback to these books that is really bothersome is that not one of her characters can make a cohesive sentence without cursing. I think in order to be a resident in this little town, one must have a POTTY mouth!! Geez! I mean EVERYONE in all her books, from the females to the teens and children CURSE! I never thought I'd get so tired of hearing the "F" word. If that's what it takes to be a member in this "alpha" society, I wouldn't make it.

But then again, this author writes with a lot of heart, even the sexually explicit scenes (and I normally don't like books of that genre) are okay because it's not just about sex, it is a about making love (even though they do it "caveman style")!!

Overall, good books. I like the fact that the author takes the time to develop her stories -- all of the books I've listened to have been at least 20 hours long. I think I'll listen to more from this author.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Books are an adventure!

I have been waiting so long for this series to come out on audible. I am not disappointed with the whole series. I absolutely love an in control man and the women they fall in love with. This book had romance, a second chance love, real life adventure, revenge and a real mystery/crime to solve. I have to be careful with Kristen Ashley's stories because I get disappointed in real life at times. Especially, after reading her books!
This book is one written before she signed with a publisher,and it is o much more enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, I love her newer stuff too. But if you are familiar with her, you will be happy this one is finally out!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

my favorite Kristen Ashley

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

Yes, narration was fairly good and story is amazing. Very realistic and so romantic. Awesome supporting characters.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lane. He was such a good man....a protector...and very cute in his stubbornness.

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

His actual voice. The strength of lane came alive.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When they all worked together to keep a broken rocki from leaving..calling the Dr. Being so protective of her....This was one of quite a few. Each time lane reacted to rocki's protectiveness of his sons. And I could go on.

Any additional comments?

I have read this book twice and listened to it once. I'm sure I will again and again. I rarely read a book more than once.

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2 people found this helpful