Keeping You Away

Tyler & Gemma #1

By: Kennedy Fox

Narrated by: Lia Langola, Tor Thom

Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

I never planned on returning to Alabama, but circumstances brought me here after years of being gone. Though Lawton Ridge is my hometown, I was hesitant to go back because of her - my sister’s best friend. The last time we were together, she was 18, and I was a broken soldier transitioning to civilian life.

Gemma wrote to me while I was overseas and we developed a bond I hadn’t anticipated. I crushed her heart the day I left, something I’ve never forgotten. But now that her dad is my new boss, life just got way more complicated.

Too sweet, too innocent, too good for a guy like me - I should walk away again.

After serving five years in prison for something I didn’t do, I trust no one, but Gemma gradually breaks down my walls and exposes the pain I’ve hidden underneath. For her own sake, I should keep my distance, but it’s nearly impossible when I hear her sweet humming while I work and she slowly draws me back in. It’s a battle I didn’t train for, and one I’ll lose if I don’t keep my restraint - especially since she’s engaged to another man.

Keeping You Away is a slow-burn, angsty second chance romance with lots of small-town, Southern drama. It's book one in the Tyler & Gemma duet and must be listened to first.

©2020 Kennedy Fox (P)2020 Kennedy Fox

Amazing

Kennedy Fox did it again!!! This book is amazing, Tyler and Gemma have that chemistry you want in characters. This book will give you all the feels and more!!! I can't get enough of these characters and I didn't want this book to end. I can't wait for the conclusion of their story. I enjoyed the cameos of previous characters from other books. That always adds a little something something to a book for me!! I can't recommend this book and author enough. I will read anything they write, they are that great!!

What a ride! Can’t wait for part 2!

Whew. That was a ride. I’m a huge fan of the Bishop Brothers and Circle B Ranch series by Kennedy Fox. When I was given a chance to be on their ARC review team, I jumped at the chance. I was given a code for the audiobook version for my honest review. I love all the romance tropes. Best friend’s sibling and second chance romance stories are definitely in my top five. We start five years ago when Tyler comes back from serving in the military. He’s back home in Alabama for his sister’s graduation. While gone, he was exchanging letters with her best friend, Gemma. Over the 4 years, feelings start to develop. The two spend the summer together and Tyler leaves ending things. Fast forward 5 years later, Tyler is back. Gemma is engaged. The spark and chemistry is still there. Tyler was her first, it’s hard to forget your first. I love the sweetness of the small town they’re in. The unresolved feelings got me. I love the angst. Tyler is so swoon worthy. Gemma is coming into her own and is showing her backbone. And this is a duet and that cliffhanger? Whhhattttt?? I can’t wait for part 2! Both narrators, Tor Thom and Lia Langola were fabulous. Tor has a deep voice you can fall into. I love Lia’s Southern’s voice, she’s the perfect Gemma.

Can't wait for book 2!

I didn't read Liam and Maddie's story, so I was a little bit lost about how they all connected. Patience, grasshopper. I finally figured it out... I just had to read! I love Tyler and Gemma!!! This writing duo has a way with words that draws the reader in and keeps them hooked! All the characters, not just Tyler and Gemma, are well-rounded, relatable individuals who are multidimensional and full of life! I found myself wanting to yell at Gemma for continuing to let Robert treat her they way he did or shake Tyler for not telling Gemma about the last five years. But when they were together, oh how I loved their easy conversation as friends who have a a strong connection. Lia Langola and Tor Thom were amazing narrating the characters! Their voices brought the characters to life in a way that I could picture them sitting in the room with me. There are few authors whose cliffhangers I can stand, and I can count Kennedy Fox as one on the short list. Can't wait to read how it all pans out for Tyler and Gemma! I received a complimentary copy of the audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this review.

Tyler is even sexier in audio!!!

Hearing Tyler and Gemma's story in audio was so much better than I thought it was going to be. Tor Thom and Lia Langola (she is always fabulous) brought them to life quite well. The few times Tor's voice got super deep....I wanted more. He is the perfect Tyler. Lia has just enough of a southern hint to her voice which was a nice touch. Tyler has spent the last 12 years away from Gemma yet has thought only of Gemma. The last five of those 12 years was spent in prison so upon his release he spends a few days with some old friends (Liam and Maddie) and then heads back home. He gets a job at Gemma's dad's repair shop and comes home to Gemma being engaged. He knows it wouldn't have been right for him to expect her to wait for him yet Tyler isn't a fan of her fiance, Robert. Gemma's first love was Tyler and for years upon years she didn't get involved with anyone and when she is finally engaged to be married Tyler comes back home and knocks her world a bit sideways. She starts to question her relationship with Robert, especially when he starts pushing her to move up the wedding date. Tyler and Gemma have a history that nobody can get in between. She is it for him. Even though I have read both books and I know what happens at the end it sure doesn't stop me from wanting Needing You Close in audio....I cannot wait for it.

on edge

screaming with the cliffhanger ending, can't wait for the second. am going crazy for Gemma to leave Robert!

LOVE LISTENING TO THESE STORIES COME TO LIFE!

I have read this book but I loved listening to the audio books while I am in the car. I loved this one the narrators do such a great job and I cannot wait to hear part 2 of this duet. When I listen to the audio books I love the emotion that the narrators put into reading the story. This being the first of the ex-con duet I know that there Is a lot of emotion with this story. Don’t hesitate to listen to this book, they did a great job picking the narrators!

watch out for the cliffhanger

I need to know more about what happened in Vegas! Also Robert is so terrible! I just want to shake Gemma and tell her to leave him. can't wait to see how this all ends.

Loved it!!!

Kennedy Fox has done it again. I have listened to several other stories of theirs. I have been looking forward to Tyler's story since he was in Liam and Madelyn's story. I truly enjoy the story line and dialogue. It was slow to start but kept me interested. Robert is awful!! I can not wait to listen to the next book to see how it plays out!

4 Emotional Listening Stars!!

KEEPING YOU AWAY is a slow-burn, angsty second chance romance wrapped up in an intense love story. This is book 1 in the Tyler & Gemma duet and ends with a cliffhanger. It must be read first! Tyler and Gemma's journey is filled with suspense, angst, heartache, distrust, and much more. A real rollercoster of emotions that will get you hooked right from the start while keeping you on the edge of your seat until you have turned the last page. I felt more connected with Tyler and my heart break for him. Being frame for doing a good deed came with a high price, one that cost him his reputation and years paying for a crime he didn't commit. He was understandibly rough and angry at times, but he still is a good man, honest, loyal, hard working, and protective. Gemma did nothing but make me dislike her. I couldn't connect with her character but I'm hoping that everything changes on the conclusion of Tyler & Gemma's story. Lia Langola & Tor Thom did an excellent job by bringing this story to life, but Tor Thom's performance went above and beyond. Can't wait to see how this story ends!!

High drama

Interesting story about love lost and found and the journey to arrive there.....we hope....we have to find out in the next book. The narrator is fabulous.

excellent beginning to duet and series

Wow, I listened to that in one sitting. While it was a slow burn I didn't think it was slow or missing anything. You will probably be wondering what is wrong with Gemma because how can you not see what's going on but it doesn't make you hate her. Thought Tyler was awesome. Excellent character development and interesting side characters that I can't wait for more from everyone. I did not know about Tyler's backstory but I'm gonna have to go back and listen to Liam and Maddie's story right away. Lia Langola and Tor Thom were excellent choices for narrators - both were fabulous.

mixed feelings on this one

This is my first introduction to Gemma and Tyler and overall I loved their story. It's a second chance romance at heart but with angst oh the angsty goodness. They met and had one summer together years ago, then Tyler left and broke Gemma's heart. Now he's back in town working for her Father and Gemma is now engaged to a much older successful businessman named Robert. I loved the slow burn chemistry and confusion of feelings that are explored between them as both Hero and heroine try to build a working relationship and a friendship without igniting any old feelings they have buried. This is Kennedy Fox so of course things aren't that straight forward. Tor Thom and Lia Langola work really well together and portray the growing friendship and push and pull between the two MC's wonderfully. We get bits and pieces of Tyler's past slowly being unveiled and seeping into the story line that your suspicions rise that this is soon going to play a bigger part in this duet than expected. The other plot line that kept my attention was Gemma's stilted relationship with her fiancé Robert. He's a man that wants her to be a typical Stepford wife and that just isn't Gemma. As the distance grows between them, her feelings for Tyler begin to fill the cracks and then the tension just builds and builds. The one stumbling block for me was I really feel like I needed to have read previous books to appreciate all the characters here especially Tyler. The story is told in such a way that made me feel I should know who characters are, know Tyler's past, understand established friendships. Yes this is Book 1 in Tyler and Gemma's relationship, yes I don't think I have missed to much in terms of their interactions. For me personally I am such a stickler for reading interconnected standalones in order that not having all that information, feeling like I was missing something just didn't sit right. It didn't take away from the story; but I think I would have been more immersed in this book if I had read the books that connect to this one, rather than wondering about each character I meet in Tyler's circle of friends. All that said I am just as curious to find out what is going to happen as the twists and mystery built up towards the end of this first book and I want to see how it's all going to turn out.

My Thoughts on Keeping You Away

Keeping You Away is one of those stories that had an interesting start off. It was definitely good enough to make you want to keep listening. But the more you listen, the more it builds. And the more dragged into the plot I was. I especially liked Tyler. He might have had a rough past but I was actually really enjoying learning more about him. It took me a moment to warm up to Gemma, but as the story went on I started to connect with her too. I loved this small town with everyone who knows everyone, but as expected it also had its issues. And there was just so much more going on then I initially expected. The narrators for this were great. The deep tone of Tor Thom seemed to fit really well with Tyler and Lia Langola really brought Gemma to life. And then that ending!!!! I desperately need book two to find out what happens next.

Give me book 2

Keeping You Away – Kennedy Fox – 4 stars Keeping You Away by Kennedy Fox is book one in the Ex-Con duet series. This book follows Tyler and Gemma and if you’re a fan of Kennedy Fox you will have met them before in Always Mine and Always yours series. Although this book is a stand-alone, I find the aforementioned book to be insightful and would help readers understand these characters that little bit more. I listened to the audiobook of this novel and with Lia Langola and Tor Thom as the narrators this book delivered on the heat level. The narrators were easy to listen to and only enhanced this story for me. The book was a whirlwind and the chemistry between Tyler and Gemma is hot! The main characters dynamic changes as the story progress, however, their connection throughout is noticeable and one you know won’t be forgotten. The secondary characters only added to this book and their friendships and banter was engaging and a welcome addition. The story was amazing, however, I did find at times it was rather slow progressing, although it leaves you on the edge of the seat Kennedy Fox delivered on all levels. I can’t wait to see where Tyler and Gemma end up and if the secondary characters will get their own books! Enjoy Everyday, Ebook Enthusiast 

Tyler and Gemma!

There has always been something standing between Tyler and Gemma whether it was his military career, the aftereffects of his military career or how he found himself falsely imprisoned. He believes that she deserves so much more than he could ever give her especially now that she is engaged. Even though he has returned to his hometown and is working for her father he doesn’t believe that she could ever forgive him for the mistakes of the past. Gemma has left Tyler in her past and is now planning a future with another man. After the pain he caused her she would prefer that he stayed in the past but what she hadn’t expected was that time and distance hadn’t diminished the chemistry between them but she has moved on with her life, hasn’t she? Both Gemma and Tyler are compelling characters and this story takes you on an emotional journey that leads up to a cliffhanger which has us wondering what the future holds for this couple. I thought that the narrators did a great job with the angst and emotion of the story.

Love it!

This is the story of Tyler and Gemma, who got a second chance of love. I must confess I didn't like the beginning very much. It was choppy and too insta-love-y for my taste. I was glad that was just the prologue though, just to tell us how they knew each other and came to fell in love. After that, we get to know them almost a decade later (if I'm not mistaken) and the romance is slow and sensual, the chemistry between them still alive. The characters are believable, the story is compelling and the plot never let you bored. Can't wait to read the next installment! Both narrators are amazing! I already knew their work and I'm a fan.

Love Gemma and Tyler

Lia and Tor did an amazing job of bringing this story to life. I loved the ebook but loved the audio even more. It is sexy, sweet, angsty and so, so entertaining. I couldn't stop listening!

Swoon....

Kennedy Fox does it again! This team had me at the very start of this story when I heard Tyler and Gemma exchanged letters. There is nothing more romantic than writing to the one you love. Tyler is the brother of Gemma's best friend. Starting out as friends, their letters were friendly banter but as time went on turned romantic. When Tyler came home, they spent the summer together. Then everything changed. After years of being heartbroken, Gemma finally gets her life together, engaged and ready to start her new life. Until a new employee starts in her father’s garage. Tyler is back, and he is ready to get his life back on track. What is Gemma going to do? Is this the second chance of a lifetime? I loved this first part of their story. It is fiery passion, uncertainty, frustration and just enough angst to keep things real. Tyler has had it tough and you can feel his need to get back to some normalcy. He has a warm personality, though at times a little jaded, but he is easy to love. Gemma is overly cautious. Her heart at stake, she isn't easily won over, will these two get their second chance at love? Left on a cliffhanger, I have to get book up and queued to know where these two end up. I am invested in their outcome and can't wait to see what happens, To make this book even better, Lia Langola and Tor Thom act out this story giving us an amazing performance. Langola emotes everything Gemma is feeling from excitement of being near Tyler to the fear of losing love again, Thom captures Tyler's personality perfectly. He brings his warm baritone voice out with a slight edge of sarcasm at times, but his passion for Gemma is always evident. This team understands their characters and gives a wonderful performance.

Fabulous!

This first part of a duet starring Tyler and Genna, brings us s second chance romance woven into a story which builds up its layers slowly but very surely, right up to the last word! Lia Langola and Tor Thom bring the story to life with confidence and style and add to the sense of a slowly unwinding story which becomes increasingly tense. In this sense it almost lulls you into a false sense of security before ramping up the tension from both Tyler and Genna's points of view. I found myself wanting to shout at Genna to dump creepy Robert asap! 🤣 I am now very keen to finish this story! 💖💖💖💖💖

I cannot wait for book 2

I love this author duo. I'm a bit behind on their backlist so this is my first meeting with Tyler. But MAN I loved him. This ticked so many boxes for me. Second chance romance, longing, best friends brother and on and on. There was so much tension and intrigue in this and I was on the edge of my seat. And I loved how Tyler and Gemma try to keep away from each other. I CANNOT wait for book 2. As for the narrators, I cannot get enough of Tor Thom's voice. And Lia Langola once again brought Gemma to life in a way only she can. I volunteered to review an advance copy of this. All opinions are my own.