Ignite the Flame

By: Susan Griscom

Narrated by: Shelley Baldiga

Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

A Steamy Paranormal Romance/Suspense

A powerful woman, an extraordinary man, and a maniac who wants to destroy them. Fate has brought them together, but will it make them stronger or destroy them all in end?

Escape to a world where the impossible becomes possible and sparks ignite.

Whisper Cape is a town of secrets and Addison MacKenna soon becomes tangled in a web of them. Plagued with nightmares of her father's sudden and brutal death, Addie struggles with her anguish and refuses to believe his demise was accidental.

Fighting to shake off one of those devastating early morning nightmares, Addison finds it even harder to escape from the vision of a man lying on the side of the road - a man she may have just killed. When she frantically tries to locate him, he seemingly disappears, just the beginning of strange occurrences in her life. She also cannot ignore the weird sensations in her own body, especially when the impossible seems possible, but is that a blessing or a curse?

Cael Sheridan may be arrogant and mysterious but he's also undeniably gorgeous. A member of a secret society, he is sworn to protect the woman he believes to be the daughter of his recently murdered mentor. In the process, he finds it impossible to resist her magnetic sensuality, complicating his efforts to shield and guide her as she learns to manage her newly acquired skills. At the same time, Addison has much to teach him about trust and commitment. Will fate win in the end? You be the judge.

©2011 Susan Griscom (P)2013 Susan Griscom

Great start to a paranormal/suspense/romance series!

I enjoyed this book and the narration. It slowed down a bit at parts but kept me completely interested wanting to know who the bad guy was ( and I was wrong every time I thought I knew). The main character Addy could have been a little less flighty but in the end she toughened up and Cael was great from begining to end. There was NO CLIFFHANGER and I loved that but can't wait to start book 2 to see what/who it's about. If you like suspense, paranormal & romance this is a book for you!

Very intriguing first book in the series

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would definitely recommend this book to friends who enjoy a bit of mystery in their romance.

Would you be willing to try another book from Susan Griscom? Why or why not?

Yes, she crafts great characters and is a fantastic story teller. I really enjoyed reading Cael and Addison's romance. She did an excellent job of creating a full world and infusing the story with mystery.

What about Shelley Baldiga’s performance did you like?

She has a terrific range of voices throughout the read. I loved her pace and the energy she adds to the read. Definitely a narrator I will look for again.

Perfect Blend of Mystery & Paranormal Romance

My Initial Reaction...
I don't read a lot of mystery, because I don't like books (or shows, really) that feel super procedural. But every now and then I'll find one that merges with fantasy (which I love) and I'll give it a shot. Whisper Cape was the perfect blend of mystery and paranormal romance for this girl!

The Narration...
I've been discovering a lot of new narrators lately and I'm adding Shelly Baldiga to my list of fun ones. Some of the male voices felt a little over accented, as if that was the only way she could make them both male and different, by adding an accent, but it imbued the characters with personality, perhaps beyond what I would have found in reading the book alone. Her female voices felt spot on and the pacing was just right. The villain's voice was definitely over the top, but it didn't bother me, it just made me laugh a little. So not a flawless reading, but overall an enjoyable one.

The Characters...
Whisper Cape is told primarily from the point of view of Addison and Cael, though we also get a few glimpses from Darcy's point of view and even once from Idolan (the villian). I really enjoyed the way Susan used the different points of view, sometimes retelling short pieces before moving forward to really give you a dynamic view of the events. It never felt like too much or got confusing, as can often happen for me with multiple voices.

I really liked Addison - or Addie, as everyone called her. When we meet her she's struggling to deal with the loss of her father and isn't happy with everyone's conclusion that his death was an accident. She's determined he was murdered and wants to solve his murder, though she clearly isn't sure how. And then Cael shows up, literally just appears and then disappears in front of her truck while she's driving to work. Besides scaring her half to death, he sets things in motion, including Addie's discovery of who she is and her father really was. Addie really struggles with her new found abilities - both adjusting to their existence and learning how to use them, and I loved that. I can't stand it when someone discovers they have abilities and are just naturally amazing at them. So Addie's struggle was refreshing.

One of the things I liked most about Addie was that she let herself be irritated with Cael. We are dealing with a bit of insta-love here and it went a bit over the top for me, honestly. It's the main reason I'm giving Whisper Cape four stars instead of five. But, Addie at least doesn't see Cael as some perfect creature, she finds him frequently annoying and calls him on it. I agree with Addie, Cael can be a bit annoying. He's got a bit of an ego and a hero complex. Mostly, that didn't bother me, though at times I did want him to get over himself. I also wasn't thrilled with the very predictable romance scenario where he loves her instantly, but doesn't want to believe it, realizes that maybe she'd be safer if they weren't a couple so sends her away (in very mean fashion, of course) and then (at that very moment) realizes that he loves her. It did help, I guess, to add some tension to the insta-love, but in such a predictable way that it wasn't very exciting. Other than that, I liked Cael and thought he was very likeable (though not really book boyfriend material, IMO).

I also really liked the supporting characters. I kind of felt that Darcy's point of view, though it worked for the story great, was weird in that we don't really get to know her that well. She just didn't develop much beyond the surface level, which was a girl consumed by pain because the only man she ever loved cheated on her and she's trying to get over it. The supporting characters I would have loved to get inside the heads of are Maya and Jerry - Addie's aunt and her long-time boyfriend. We see a lot of them throughout and I loved them both. Jerry is fiercely defensive of Addie, but it never annoyed me like it did Cael. Instead I found him funny and lovable. Maya was also the very sweet, very intuitive aunt figure and I would have liked to see her more. But they all came together in a great way for the story.

The Story...
One of the reasons I don't typically like mysteries is that they tend to be either too predictable or too difficult to solve. When I get to the end of the book I want to be wrong about the bad guy, but I want to feel like I could have figured it out if I had just paid a little more attention. If it was never possible to guess, then it wasn't a good mystery for me. And if I knew too early, that's not good either. Whisper Cape nailed it IMHO. I spent the entire book trying to figure out who Idolan was and every time I was pretty sure I was right, a few chapters later something would happen to make me doubt. And then I was caught in that place where you're just not sure if that was a detail to throw you off the scent or to help you figure out who it is. I got to the end of the book and was like, "WHAT?!? No way!" So a great mystery.

The story revolves around trying to find out who killed Addie's father - well, you know it's Idolan, but you don't know who Idolan is. That mystery is heightened by Addie's developing her own powers and learning about herself, the people she belongs to, and her father's secret identity - not to mention some pretty good sex, as you'd expect from any self-respecting paranormal romance. I really enjoyed the way the supernatural elements weaved together with Addie's old life and look forward to exploring more of the supernatural world Sharon created. She does a solid job of showing us who these people are and what they are capable of, while leaving some questions to be answered in future books.

Concluding Sentiments...
A fantastic mystery and a fairly solid paranormal romance,Whisper Cape is a fun read I'd recommend and I look forward to exploring more of this world.

I received this book for free from Audiobook Jukebox in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.

The perfect Addison

Would you listen to Whisper Cape, Book 1 again? Why?

I love the way Ms. Baldiga portrays Addison. And her ability to change characters so quickly. She has a smooth voice when she needed it most.

What other book might you compare Whisper Cape, Book 1 to and why?

Reflections, Whisper Cape book 2. It is the second book in the trilogy

What about Shelley Baldiga’s performance did you like?

Thought it was outstanding.

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

After the scene in the truck when Cael is desperately searching for Addison. I felt his pain.

Something Different

Would you try another book from Susan Griscom and/or Shelley Baldiga?

Yes,Whisper Cape is a good addition to the already diverse world of paranormal fiction.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cael was my favorite character. I found his character to be very interesting. He comes off as man whore with a heart of gold.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes

Did Whisper Cape, Book 1 inspire you to do anything?

No

Any additional comments?

Whisper Cape is another addition to the already diverse world of paranormal fiction. My first impression of this book was that it was going to be something different. Which is one of the reasons why I was interested in reading this book. Whisper Cape, adds something new to the very crowded paranormal fiction universe. In many ways this book is different. First, the characters in this book are unlike any of your typical supernaturals. There are no vampires, werewolves, and demons. Addison is a twenty something young lady living and working after the death of her father. She decided to move back to the hometown were she was born. When a new guy comes to town some crazy stuff began to happen. I found that these supernaturals in this book are very interesting. And the mystery aspect of this book was atypical. But the romance aspect I did not enjoy, this was your typical paranormal fiction romance. Lonely girl that falls for the hot jerk. Of course she find out that she special in some way, and this guy help her walk into her destiny. The story started off really slow but picked up after the 2nd chapter. Addison’s character grew on me, but I never really identified with her. Overall, I feel that she had some positive growth through out the book. But at time she came off a bit immature. I really like the fact that she is a trust fund baby that wanted to make her own way in the world. As for Cael, if found his character to be very interesting, but at sometimes a bit to complex. He comes off as man whore with a heart of gold. I liked him, but I feel like Cael was your typical bad boy that turns out not to be that bad. I wished that the author had flushed out his inner workings a little bit. There was not much world building with Whisper Cape, which was a good thing. I feel that this book was a strong paranormal mystery. Overall, this was an interesting read. I enjoyed the mystery aspect and the unique supernatural creatures. However, the romance was a sappy at times.

Ignite The Flame

This book was enjoyable and interesting. There were lots of secrets and mysteries to reveal while romance was budding also.

I couldn’t listen

Worst narration I’ve ever heard, couldn’t listen past chapter 1. I don’t know if the book was good or not

A Little Spark Goes a Long Way

Where does Whisper Cape, Book 1 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I have listened to a lot of audiobooks over the last two years and Whisper Cape ranks near the top.

What other book might you compare Whisper Cape, Book 1 to and why?

Autumn's Blood because both heroines were unassuming, but showed a great deal of strength under pressure.

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

Her expressive voice gave the characters another dimension that translated well in the audio version.

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

There were a few moments in this book that moved me, but the overall feelings of longing Addison had that were finally fulfilled made me want to cheer. The irresistible pull between Cael and Addison was sizzling. I loved it.

Any additional comments?

I always enjoy books where heroines realize their strength in volatile situations. This was no different.

Excellant

Would you listen to Whisper Cape, Book 1 again? Why?

I really enjoyed this book and loved Cael and Addison. I didn't want to put this book down once I started it. I was gifted my copy and had not heard of the author before this., but now I am very much looking forward to buying the next book in the series 'Reflections'.

It is definetly for older readers as there are sex scenes in the book which makes it unsuitable for younger readers but it has great characters a good plot and is quite fastpaced. There were a couple of twists throughout it and at the end as well. I would definetly pick up another of this author's books. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good paranormal romance, her writing and stories are in line with the likes of Keri Arthur, so if you like Keri Arthur you'll love Susan Griscom as well!

It was my first time listening to an audiobook but I really enjoyed how the narrator told the story. Her voice was soothing and pleasant to listen to! It certainly made my journey to and from work pass quicker!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cael and Addy, I just loved them and their personalities.

What about Shelley Baldiga’s performance did you like?

Her voice was very soothing and easy to listen to, she has a great reading voice.

Loved it

Would you consider the audio edition of Whisper Cape, Book 1 to be better than the print version?

I like them both but to hear it done in audio makes the story very interesting. I think the narrator Shelley Baldiga did a wonderful job. The accents she did and how she put empathist on things. Of course Susan Griscom did a wonderful job writting the story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Whisper Cape, Book 1?

The love scene between Addie and Cael.

Which character – as performed by Shelley Baldiga – was your favorite?

She did a great job with Addie and Cael

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

I wanted to but wasn't able to. I found it great to listen to at night cause Shelley's voice was very relaxing.

Any additional comments?

Can't wait to hear more of Shelley's narration.

Not what I expected. Didn't read blurb first.

What did you like most about Whisper Cape, Book 1?

I enjoyed the whole book, but I love paranormal books. I loved the description of the area and all but one character is likeable.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Addie is a strong character even when new things happened to her she's not fazed.

Which character – as performed by Shelley Baldiga – was your favourite?

Addie because Shelley's voice suited her so well.

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

Yes I would, but I read while driving and at night in bed.

Any additional comments?

This is so different to Susan's Beautifully series, I was not expecting anything that happened. This book is so fresh and beautifully written. No pun intended hahaha.