Off the Record

By: Sawyer Bennett

Narrated by: Matthew Holland, Charlotte North

Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

A USA Today best-selling novel

Ever Montgomery suffered the ultimate betrayal by the one man who she should have been able to count on for anything. It has left her hurt, jaded, and incapable of forming relationships, but it also means that she can spot a liar a mile away. These traits are earning her a reputation as a reporter with a keen nose for a good story and a complete understanding of the extreme power of the written word.

Lincoln Caldwell is the hot goalie for the New York Rangers. At 24 and a rising star, he works hard and he plays even harder. He's gorgeous and carefree - the ultimate charmer. Ladies fall at his feet and the single life has never been lived the way Linc Caldwell does it.

When Ever publishes an article about Linc containing information that she received off the record, she finds herself on the receiving end of the athlete's fury. Rather than basking in the glory of exposing Linc as a shameless user of women, she finds herself at his mercy when he demands and receives retribution. Required by her editor to trail Linc for six weeks, Ever is forced to look at the real Linc Caldwell.

And she just might find that she has misjudged him.

**Note From Sawyer Bennett: This book is part of the Off Series but it can be heard as a standalone book. Nothing in the prior or subsequent books will diminish your understanding of this novel. This is a New Adult, Contemporary Romance.

©2013 Sawyer Bennett (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

So disappointed! Failed premise, as the “hero” was a manhoe

This was so different from the first two books that I almost wonder if the same author wrote it. The first two books didn’t have other woman drama, so I thought that I found a new author I could respect and enjoy. The entire book is a wash from the beginning. The premise is that the heroine unfairly judged the hero because of misinformation, but she didn’t. He really was that bad aside from one of the facts that she published, where a woman was lying. But the guy was a douche. He invited a woman he’d been casually seeing to be his date at the party where he met the heroine (who was there to interview him). While the woman was at the party, he flirted with different women and admitted in his inner monologue to checking out their chests. When the heroine asked him if he was dating anyone, he paused before answering, flirting. Then he hit on the heroine and asked her out. He waited for her answer then said that he had wanted her answer first, so that he could answer honestly. He failed to mention that he was currently on a date with another woman. That night while she was still at his house, he took the other woman upstairs to his apartment and screwed her. The heroine had went to use the bathroom and walked in on them. He never saw her. When the article comes out he plays such a victim! He denies her accusation of being a hoe, even though what she said was true aside from the one thing a woman lied about. Even his inner monologue was completely unrepentant. He truly doesn’t think there is anything wrong with how he behaved. If he had at least acknowledged how douchey his behavior was, admitted he had been drinking or something and that’s why he ended up upstairs with the other woman after hitting in the heroine, I could at have at least finished the story. But no I had to toss in the towel when his inner monologue flashed to what “a damned good time” he had with the other woman in bed that night. He thought about how a couple of times she had wished it was the heroines hands and mouth on him. While technically it wasn’t cheating or anything because they had just met that night, the whole thing was incredibly sleazy the way it was written. The fact that he got her removed from the story of a lifetime because he whined to her boss instead of owning up to his behavior like a real man left a bad taste in my mouth. She had already told him how exited for this next story she was, he also knew the story involved traveling to LA and could make her career. It was a really meaningful story about homelessness in America, and he demanded that she be removed from it simply for spite. All he cared about were his hurt feelings. If he hadn’t behaved like such a tool none of it would have happened. I quit and returned this. Usually I will skim ahead and see if the hero grovels really well, that maybe makes the angst worth it. I didn’t bother to here because unlike most books, we started at that point. He didn’t grovel then, he just got her fired instead, so there’s no way he would end up groveling enough later. I just couldn’t stand to be in his head anymore at that point.

Off to a good start then a false step lead to more

Ever Montgomery was a woman filled with much turmoil. She was a woman that was not easy to forgive. She had a wall as great as China built around her heart. But there was something about Lincoln Caldwell that got her going. Their first encounter was smooth in the beginning. Before the end of it all things went south quick. Ever allowed her feeling to direct her judgement and with that misguided judgement she lets an assignment of a lifetime slip through her hands. This may prove to be a good things.

Linc Caldwell was an professional athlete. He was young and in his prime. He was after all a man with lots of money. He could afford to have the finer things in life and the finer women. This little bit was just enough to derail a certain journalist mind and body with later on coming her soul. This was a good read that allowed brief glimpses to the previous couples from this series.

Narrator duo Matthew and Charlotte have made this romance come to life. . . this six weeks was filled with much of the ups and downs and it was easily captured in the ebb and flow of the narrators voice, diction, and pitch.

goal!

This one hit me straight in the feels. Best of the series so far. Ms. North & Mr. Holland aren't my favorite narrators, but they did a great job. Excellent pacing, no choppiness in the narration.

Was alright

I listened while I worked. It was an alright book for that task. If I wasn't, I probably wouldn't have continued to listen. The plot was good and was done well. Just didn't fill my engaged meter.

Off the Record

OK now ever and Lincoln are awesome this book is what I expected the other books to be like.
Ever does an article on Linc but let’s just say it doesn’t go the way it was supposed to go. And he retaliates in the kind of the best way possible if I’m being honest.

And she has to then be around him for the next six weeks and write the article that she should have written. It’s forced proximity but it’s so fun and you just fall for them as they’re falling for each other.

Now I understand her reluctance and again you gotta think new adult so there is gonna be a little bit of drama and at least with this drama it didn’t feel force that kind of felt like was part of the story.

Great narration again I’m really enjoying the narrators they don’t feel like it’s the same character even though they are the same narrator throughout.

I hated the character Ever the whole book!

I don't like people who do what Ever did this whole book in my life. it made it hard for me to like her. I know this may sound like what she did, give a bad review but her character knew better but let her past hurt dictate how she reacted to a man who showed her nothing but respect. At every turn she looked for the bad.

Just couldn't

There are just somethings you don't forget. To end up I love with someone that starts off saying what she did was too much. Then she is a complete bitch and he feels bad for her. Nope more than I could listen to.

Male narrator’s voice didn’t fit character

I usually like Sawyer Bennett’s books, but this was just OK. The Male narrator’s voice didn’t fit the character and was distracting from the story, and I got really tired of hearing the female character’s drama and internal whining about how men cannot be trusted. She got mad quickly and then said or did really immature things, which made her not very likable.

Is perception reality?

I thought this book was refreshing. It is a book that makes you laugh, maybe cry, happy, and sometimes sad. The banter is great. The romance is great. The lesson is let go of perceptions and see people for who they are. Another great book in the series.

Saccharine “News Articles” Fall Short

My biggest problems with this book were the two “articles” Ever writes about Linc for The New York Post lifestyle section. First of all, The New York Post is a real publication, but it is far from a quality news source. It is, in fact, infamous for its tabloid sensationalism. If the author intended for Ever to be working for this real life publication, then the unbelievably low caliber of Ever’s writing makes sense. Her juvenile “articles” have no journalistic value whatsoever unless they are being published in Seventeen Magazine. But we are given the impression that The New York Post in the book is a respectable news outlet from which Ever plans to launch a serious journalism career. In such a setting, her “articles” would never pass muster. Her second, longer “article” is more akin to a teenager’s angsty love letter. It has no business appearing in a legitimate newspaper. This confusing platform for Ever’s writing made the whole situation totally unbelievable.

As for the narration, I have never really been a fan of either Charlotte North or Matthew Holland. It seems like every book I have heard either of them read has come across as overly sweet and yearning (on her part) and so halting and seemingly confused (on his part) that I am left wondering if he is reading from a teleprompter that only reveals one or two words at a time. I really hope the rest of the series switches up the narrators.

fantastic read

I loved this book.
This is Lincoln's book who is Nix's brother and Ryan's teammate.
Linc has a reputation with being very popular with the ladies,which he admits he likes the company of woman but the tabloids make it more than it is.He is not the player they portray him to be.
Ever is a journalist and she is a friend of Emily who happens to be dating Nix Lincs brother,she is assigned to interview Linc,and gets the wrong impression of him as a complete manwhore.
She lets her emotions about her past and her father's behaviour cloud her judgement about Linc and write an awful article about him for the world to see.Calling him out for being a ladies mine.
This is were both Linc and Ever's world gets turned upside down.
Linc is furious about the article and threatens to issue a law suit against Ever and her place of work unless she apologises and writes another article about the real him.
In order to do this she must stay with him for 6 weeks and get to know him or the law suit will go ahead.So she has no choice but to do what Linc is offering.
This is the begining of an eye opening experience for Ever as she discovers how wrong she was about Lincoln Caldwell,so wrong in fact that she starts to have feelings for him of the Loving kind.
I really loved listening to this story it is an enemies to lovers vibe I loved the way Linc changed Ever's opinion of him,even though Ever is very resistent to change her mind about him.But Linc is just to charming and genuine she is captured by how amazing he actually is.
There is so much sexual tension between them which drives them both crazy,you will be surprised who gives in first.
Charlotte North and Matthew Holland are a sensational duo,very talented and never disappoint with their story telling abilities.
Sawyer Bennett's writing keeps getting better and better and I am kind of addicted to this series.
I Highly recommend it.
Excellent 5 Stars.

Crosses boundaries that make me uncomfortable

Nothing trigger related but the start and end of the book I don’t like the male leads actions. Bit crappy and I’d enjoy the book more without.

Another good ‘Off’ series book

I really liked this story. Contained a bit of everything to keep it interesting.
Likeable characters with great chemistry and hot sex scenes. Good storyline. Interlinked with previous books, but also standalone.
A great duo narrating again. This pair work brilliantly together and do a fabulous job in bringing the characters to life.
An all round good listen.
Definitely recommend 👍

Ever and Lincoln

This book is about Ever and Linc there is a bad newspaper article that helps change their world.

I am enjoying the series

Brilliant read! All the main characters are so likeable. I loved it! Couldn’t put it down.

Another winner

Book 3 in Sawyer Bennett's 'Off' series follows Nix Caldwell's brother, New York Rangers goalie, Lincoln as he tries to break down the barriers that Ever Montgomery has built around herself following betrayals from both her father and her ex boyfriend. The question is, will Linc be able to forgive her when she finally sees the light? Written in dual POV, another beautifully written, entertaining and sexy read from Sawyer Bennett. I just can't fault this woman.