Low over High

Over Duet Series, Book 1

By: J. A. DeRouen

Narrated by: Neva Navarre, Jeremy York

Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

I fancy myself a purveyor of truth, a sifter of lies, a cutter of bullshit. It's not a gift, but rather all skill, honed to a razor's edge after one too many trips down the rabbit hole.

Some may dismiss my talent as misguided cynicism, but they'd be wrong. Clichés about hope and faith in mankind are an effort to keep the dreamers dreaming. Experiences don't lie - people do.

While I'm not proud of the circumstances that led me to this way of thinking, I respect the journey. The road to enlightenment can be dark and foreboding, but the destination makes it all worthwhile. But funny thing about the past - it's a defiant child refusing to stay in time out. No matter how deeply buried, it can always pop up when least expected, and sink its claws into the flesh of your heart.

I've avoided this day, ran from it, for the past eight years. And still we meet again.

But to truly understand, to feel my dread and fear my future as I do, it's important to know what happened in my past. Or who...My name is Marlo Rivers, and this is my story of corrupted love. Contains mature themes.

©2016 J. A. DeRouen (P)2017 Tantor

Five Amazing Stars

Ja Derouen has another angsty hit in the Over Series with Low Over High. Marlo and her sassy mouth will have you laughing even when your heart wants to break. Ever is my new permanent book boyfriend. This book gives all the feels with perfect narration. Can be read as stand alone, but this duet is the perfect ending to a fantastic series!

Excellent story and narration

First off, this book does end in a slight cliffhanger and I can't wait to start the next one as I need to know how it is going to end. Of course, I knew going in that this story was not going to be able to be told in one book, but still, what an emotional story, so worth it.. I've read both the book and now have listened to the narration.
Marlo Rivers, or Low as she is called, ends up connecting with her mother, who left her as a child. She moves from Texas to Louisiana to get to know her mom; as well as, attend her senior year of high school at a private academy. Low is a very interesting person and she sees herself as a purveyor of truth and sifter of lies. She says it like she is and many don’t agree with her but she see cliches about hope and faith in mankind as “concocted unicorn farts.”
She has learned that experiences don’t lie but people do. Her past may not have been what you would think as she had a wonderful childhood raised by her dad, but her life is forever changed that senior year of high school. She has run from her past for the eight years following graduation and no matter how deeply she has tried to bury what happened, it has a way of popping up when least expected to confront her present. This book focuses on what happened in her past to bring us to what she fears after reading that note left on her porch. The emotional journey this book takes the reader on, from the present to eight years earlier, is a roller coaster of events that help the reader understand why Low is who she is.
It is a book that I didn't want to stop listening to. I so needed to know what is going to happen next now that the experience from her senior year. While listening this book, the author was so talented, I could feel the pain, along with the joy, that Low was experiencing as if I was a part of it . The narrators did an awesome job as well. I could really "see" the story and feel as if I was experiencing things along with these characters. It was easy to get lost in these narrators storytelling. They did great with changing their voices for the different characters making it easy to follow along. They have taken this already 5 star read to a new level of exceptional.
Was this book predictable? Heck no. I thought I saw some of the future events, but I was pleasantly found wrong, that did take me for a loop. I would listen to this with a box of tissues as at times I had to fight the tears.
This is not an easy book and there are some very emotional events that occur that I can totally see why the author had them take place. People are not perfect, we are flawed in so many ways and I loved the confession Low had with the priest in the confessional. As he said to her request to be granted the same absolution, “I wish that were true, my dear, but unfortunately, I don’t think it works that way.”
She then asked him “But shouldn’t it, though? Shouldn’t it?”
His response is something we all need to remember, “You certainly make me wish it did,” he says introspectively, all aggravation gone. “While I can’t take away your pain, you’re never alone. The Lord is always by your side to carry you when the burden is too great.”
While this great emotional story is part of a series, it can be listened to as a stand alone.

Totally Captivating and Addicting!

I was so captivated by Lo and Ever's story! Marlo (Lo) Rivers has moved to New Orleans to finish High School and reconnect with her mother. She was raised in Texas by her loving father and is smart, spirited, and kind. When she has a run-in with a mysterious, sullen student, she is bold and tells it like it is. Ever may seem privileged, but he has lived a heartbreaking and tortured life. He is intrigued by the light Lo brings into his world and her unconditional support and loyalty she gives to those she cares about. As they get to know each other, they begin to understand and relate to each other. Their attraction soon grows into a thrilling and powerful love. But loving Ever isn't easy, and soon his demons and secrets cause a pain that tears them apart. Narrators Neva Navarre, and Jeremy York are so perfectly cast as Lo and Ever, they absolutely nailed these characters. Their ability to convey Lo and Ever's complex emotions from the dramatic to the funny, from panic to passion, and all the sweet moments in between was superb. I was so invested in their performance and in these characters, that I was totally stunned at the heartbreaking events in the end of this first book. DeRouen held nothing back from these sensitive subjects, but attacked them with honesty and empathy. She broke my heart but gave it hope as well. I was so riveted by this poignant, heartfelt, and provocative story. I absolutely loved it and can't wait to find out what happens next with Lo and Ever in the second book of the Over Duet, Ever Over After!

Amazing Series to Listen to

I read this entire series and am now listening to them and this is by far my favorite one. The narrators are perfect. They sound exactly as I imagined they would. Mark's snark is second to none. I laughed out loud and cried while listening to this book even though I had already read it.

Love love love!

I loved the book so much I had to do a Audible re-read. I loved it just as much, if not more. The narrators made the story come to life and did a wonderful job!

Love it

What did you love best about Low over High?

Marlo and Ever take you are one hell of a ride.

What did you like best about this story?

Marlo has so much strength and will to survive.

Have you listened to any of Neva Navarre and Jeremy York ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Neva Navarre nailed Marlo. Her voice was PERFECT!

If you could take any character from Low over High out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Marlo

Beautiful Story

What about Neva Navarre and Jeremy York ’s performance did you like?

I was completely lost in this story, forgetting I was listening to Neva narrate. Fantastic job!

Any additional comments?

Loved this story. J.A. DeRouen always blows me away with her beautiful stories and this one just comes to life thru narration.

Started out slow but…

This story started out slow but boy, it ended with a bang and cliffhanger. This story ended with a shock and it made me want to listen to the next one. Really enjoy this story. Very good performance.

5 I'm Wherever You Are Stars!

If you could sum up Low over High in three words, what would they be?

Heartbreaking, brilliant, and emotional.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the rawness and brutal honesty. This isn't a story of rainbows and unicorns. It's life in all it's glory and pain. I think this quote from the book sums it up perfectly, "We all live in a world of bumps and bruises. No one lives on this Earth for very long without collecting a few scars. That’s the meat of all of us—what makes us who we are."

Which character – as performed by Neva Navarre and Jeremy York – was your favorite?

Marlo was incredible! Neva did a phenomenal job and brought so much emotion and feeling to the character. I was laughing hysterically one minute and then clutching my heart the next. Neva's performance made me love Marlo even more! Jeremy York as Ever was wonderful too, but Neva and Marlo really stole the show!

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

YES! I wanted to ignore all adulting and responsibilities and just indulge in this amazing book! It was captivating and gripping and I could not wait to get back to it each time I had to stop.

Any additional comments?

Please note that this is book 1 in the duet and that Marlo and Ever's story concludes in Ever Over After.

I'll be reading book 2 , Ever Over After, since the audiobook is not available yet and I can't wait to find out what happens.

Wow good read!

Not exactly into the chick flicks, but hell I enjoyed this one. Second book I've read by this author and it's great to see her grow as a writer along with her characters.