Illegal Fortunes

By: Sabrina Stark

Narrated by: Erin Mallon

Length: 14 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

The only thing more dangerous than the bad boy you left behind is the man he's become.

If she was such a good fortune-teller, she should've seen it coming. But part-time Tarot-reader Selena Moon is as surprised as anyone when Jim Bishop, the bad boy she left behind, returns from who-knows - where to reclaim the one girl he could never forget. Torn between her new life down South and family obligations up North, Selena has no time for love, romance, or any other complication. And who can blame her? The first guy to claim her heart, along with her innocence, spoiled her for the safer, easier guys who came after.

Armed, dangerous, and still smarting from Selena's teary rejection years earlier, Bishop vowed never to return to the city of his youth, where he excelled at two things - inviting trouble and making a mess of things, particularly his relationship with the only girl he ever loved. She's fearful of repeating the past. He's never been afraid of anything - until now. Because with murder and mayhem surrounding Selena, fate, along with an unwelcome rival, might steal her away before he finally has the chance to win her back for now and always.

From USA Today best-selling author Sabrina Stark, this standalone new adult novel features mature content, sexual situations, and adult language. It's not advised for underage listeners.

©2014 Sabrina Stark (P)2014 Sabrina Stark

Strong and believable hero and heroine

Jim Bishop finds Selena abandoned on a cold night out in the country. Taking her back to town is just the tip of the iceberg for this funny, intense, dangerous, complicated romance. Sometimes Jim is too demanding and Selena is too confident of her abilities. This causes stress on their relationship and danger for Selena. The deep love is there, the trust needs to develop. This is a favorite of mine of the Bishop Brothers series. Jim shows up in the Unbonging and Rebelonging series helping Chloe and Lawton. Selena's mother and brothers add humor and depth. Nice to see an appearance of Lawton.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT LISTEN BUT......

I was really really enjoying this book about a possessive bad boy and the love of his life a Tarot reading Fortune Teller/Writer and the nicely developing plot that switched back and forth from their failed romance years earlier to the present. Coupled with this the plot also had developers wanting to shut down their business, take over the town and develop it which took blackmail, bribes, murder and a couple of bumbling thugs which all led to a who, what and why mystery.

It was funny if a bit predictable, but there was quick witty conversations, a funny quirky and loveable Mother, two well meaning brothers, a swoon-worthy sexy Hero desperate to rekindle and protect what he thought was his, interesting secondary characters, an on/off romance and a few passionate sex scenes.

So yes, I was enjoying this....... right up to to the part when I suddenly noticed the CONSTANT use of the word "said" an example...... the Girl Scouts came last month Anthony said, look I said can't you secure the apartment without killing anyone, we could booby trap the landing Steve said hows that? Terrible I said, can't you just board up the doors, you're no fun Anthony said, I'm all funned out I said, at least tell me you've got your gun Steve said, sort of I said...... shit Steve said you've got to get it checked out, yeah and shoot it too Anthony said... Today Steve said, no way I said I've got other things to do, so have we Steve said but you don't see us whining about it, or Anthony said.... on and on every conversation was peppered with the word "said" or sometimes for a change "I asked" "I sighed" "I muttered" etc etc etc. I found myself cringing every time, or counting how many "I saids" were in a conversation or what words would replaced them.

Worth a credit? If this listen just left out the annoying "I saids" and relied on the ability of the narrator to make each voice different then I wouldn't hesitate to say YES and, if you feel you could overlook a listen filled with them then go for it. But I would have to say that it ruined the listen for me.

I love this author!

This is book 3, but a stand alone listen. Here we get to hear more about Bishop and his past and present and all of it is about winning back the woman he loves.

Yes, this story jumped back and forth from present to past (A LOT) but it was easy to keep up with and had really great story lines in both timelines. I really like how this author writes and would download her next book without blinking!

Narration was great, worthy of a credit.

Best book EVER!!

I absolutely love this book! It made sad in parts and questioning different parts and laughing at the best parts! I thought one of the best and funniest scene was Crystal trying to help Selena when she was in her room with the two thugs. Crystal left Selena her a camera which had video capacity. And after the thugs left Bishop and Lawton were in Selena's room, thenCrystal came back and offered her cookies. (hilarious!)
Selena has two brothers Stephen and Andrew they played a great part in the book as well. Sabrina Stark wrote their characters with such vivid actions and Erin Mallon gave them real personality with her narration.
Great Book and Great Narration!
5 stars and more!

Not too impressed

While I loved all of Starks other books, I wasn't a big fan of this one. It bounced back and forth and made it hard to follow. While the other books seemed in tune this seemed to be a complete stand alone. I just wasn't a fan.

Too many plots that didn't fit

It started out funny and a good story but then it just got long with way too many directions taken. I was barely able to finish it.