Off the Record

The Record, Book 1

By: K. A. Linde

Narrated by: Natalie Ross

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

It all started with a question.…

When Liz Dougherty’s first reporting assignment for her North Carolina college newspaper finds her covering a state senator’s impromptu press conference, she has no idea how drastically her life is about to change. Senator Brady Maxwell may look the part with his devastating good looks and impeccable style, but his politics rub Liz the wrong way, and she’s not going to let him off easy.

Liz’s hardball question catches Brady off guard and shows her editor, Hayden Lane, that she’s headed places as journalist. But to Liz’s surprise, she’s also headed for a secret, high-stakes romance with Brady Maxwell that could destroy the careers they each hold dear.

Unsatisfied with sneaking around and realizing things with Hayden might not be strictly platonic, Liz faces a difficult decision: Should she take things with Brady to the next level or call the whole thing off? They soon discover that in love, unlike politics, there’s rarely a clear winner.

©2014 K. A. Linde (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

Love this author.

What a pleasant surprise. And what a wonderful hero and heroine. Yummy Brady. He's so strong and true. Have already downloaded next two books.

Off the record

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I probably wood. The idea that these two people are unable to be together seems so far fetched to me. Having said that I feel the love and the angst between Brady and Liz is powerful. I love how he feels so protective and possessive of her and at the same time aggravated because he is the one driving the relationship. He says what, where and when. I know I sound contradictory but only because I am driven to see Liz stand up for herself and call him out on his stuff.

What three words best describe Natalie Ross’s voice?

I don't like her male voices they all sound the same and they sound old to me. She does a fine performance of the females.

Any additional comments?

I still don't understand why these two cant be together she is single and over the age of consent. She appears to be well educated and from a happily adjusted family. Her fathers a professor and she is very intelligent. Brady was actually surprised to learn of her fathers job and that she was a scholar. So much for that security background check he allegedly did on her. Brady is a single man from a well to do political family but why can't they be "outed". Little far fetched for me. Maybe that will come out in book 2 or 3.
I also disliked that his campaign manager and lawyer run his life. They get to dictate who he gets to date. Brady said he had to get married, why not marry someone you clearly loves.

My First KA Linde - Great Start To the Trilogy

What did you like best about this story?

The man is running for the nomination for the US House of Representatives in North Carolina. He is handsome, charismatic & sexy.

She is a college student working for the local paper the college paper. She is sent to cover the race. From the start, when they see each other, there are sparks and fireworks.

He says they cannot be seen together because it will jeopardize his chances as she is considerably younger than him. She becomes his booty call wherever he, whenever he calls.

I was rather annoyed at first - that she allowed herself to become the doormat. Once I accepted it the book was sexy, edgy and engaging.

Something happens near the end that resets and changes everything. I cannot wait to start book number two.

I enjoyed the narrator with the exception that all of her male characters sounded the same.

Note: This is for the 18+ crowd for language and mature themes

Credit worthy: I say yes.

If you found my review helpful please select yes directly beneath this text. Thank you.

There is no ending.

Frustrating to listen for hours and then have "to be continued" as the ending.
Charge more and write the entire book. And it's not offered as a series.

Great Listening

I loved listening to this book. It's my first from this author. I enjoyed it. The narrator played an important part in my enjoyment.

Nearly Perfect

Where does Off the Record rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 20. Loved the story, just the right amount of angst. Fantastic narrator, did a great job changing her voice to suit different characters. A few little quirks but nothing that sticks in my memory. I waited up until midnight just so I could download the next in the series on release day.

What other book might you compare Off the Record to and why?

Comparable to other romance novels in the fact that it's a bit of a forbidden love story, but for me personally, I hadn't read any other books with a political back drop so it was new and different.

Which character – as performed by Natalie Ross – was your favorite?

Definitely Liz. Natalie did an awesome job capturing Liz's voice. She was believable and interesting, didn't sound too young but also didn't sound like my grandmother (nothing worse than when a narrator makes a character sound 30 years older than they actually are).

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

Yes, and I did! And then I went back and listened a second time. Really good story, kept me wanting more.

Any additional comments?

Kudos to Natalie Ross, narration will make or break a story for me and Natalie definitely made it!
One warning, this story has an open ending and will leave you wanting more!

ON THE RECORD... I LOVED IT

This is a well-written, well described story about the heartbreaking conflicts and decisions made when lust and love come between careers and dreams. It's definitely a "just one more chapter" listen as I didn't want to hit the 'pause' button and I couldn't wait to hear the HEA ending but at the same time I didn't want it to finish and then, oh then, when the narrator said those dreaded words TO BE CONTINUED.... well I was left tearing my hair out as it's book 1 of a trilogy and book 2 isn't out until August and I'm lacking the patience gene!!

Liz is studying Journalism and is now a Reporter for her College Newspaper but when she goes to a Press Conference given by the handsome, charismatic and drool-worthy State Senator Brady she's in awe. She doesn't agree with his politics and gets to ask him one question and that's all it takes for the mutual attraction and sexual awareness to kick in and she soon discovers he has it all - money, good looks, a body to die for, pedigree, sexual stamina and her. However, gorgeous Hayden, the Editor of the Newspaper, who she has had a crush on for two years sadly never made a move on her until it was too late.... or maybe not?

Yes, there's a political theme running through it as Brady is running for a place in the House Of Representatives so he can't let the forbidden and doomed relationship interfere with either his Campaign or his goal. So Brady and Liz have to keep everything secret but when there's secrets upon secrets and secrets between the lovers then their affair and blossoming love is threatened so eventually something has to give. The political aspect of this listen is slight compared to the touching, sexy and heartbreaking romance between Brady and Liz. Hayden also makes his move unaware that he has given Liz an alternative to the life she's currently leading. Told from Liz's POV except the last chapter which was an emotional insight into Brady's POV and there's some interesting secondary friends, relations and potential enemies.

Worth a credit? Definitely but, at under $10, I just bought it and saved my credit but if I'd used a credit on this listen then I'd still be smiling.

Cliffhanger, or more like To Be Continued Alert!!

Gotta say, I absolutely HATE that crap. I started off ready to write a scathing review with ONE star for overall because the whole stretch-one-story-into-multiple-books thing SERIOUSLY pisses me off. I'm so totally OVER that trend, and I'm not going along with it peacefully anymore. So, I started writing the 3 paragraphs in my head that would end this little romance on a nicely wrapped up HEA and started to make myself a promise to never give this author another moment of my time, such is my absolute hatred for cliffhangers.

Then, I read some other reviews and looked at the 2 remaining book descriptions and their reviews, and I changed my mind. I realized that the reason I am SO mad is that I really liked this story. I liked the pacing, I liked the characters, and I liked the performance of the narrator, Natalie Ross, who delivered a good performance. I also realized that, while this was part 1 of 3, I only paid $1.99 for it after the Kindle version was offered for free AND it was 12 hours of entertainment AND I could legitimately make up 3 paragraphs to have my HEA and call it done because it wasn't a total "cliffhanger" where you MUST get the next book to see if Lassie gets there in time to pull Timmy from the well. It was just a "Stay tuned" kind of ending, but that still lost it a star and took the overall from 4 to 3.

SO, the trilogy will cost you about $6 for book 1 (3.99 Kindle + 1.99 Audible) or $7ish member price, $7ish for book 2 (no Whispersynch option) and the same $6-$7ish for book 3 as book 1, as the same options/prices apply. The question is, "Is this series worth $20?" My answer is "Probably, yes." However, for me, it is not worth 3 credits or paying the non-member price. Sorry, but when Kristen Ashley puts out 20+-hour masterpieces that stay with you forever for just 1 credit, it's hard to justify using 3 credits for 1 story that is just "pretty good."

Therefore, I recommend this audiobook as a sale purchase or member price/Whispersynch purchase, with the caviat that the first book ends on a semi-cliffy so be aware of the 3-book investment before you take the plunge. Sadly, I just missed the romance sale, but that would be a good time to try these out and knock the cost of the series down to about $17.

Sorry for the somewhat ranty review. I know I can't be the only one who is DONE with the whole "multiple books to tell one story" thing, but that is not the fault of K.A. Linde, and I am in no way blaming the author for this ridiculous trend. Though, I would like to see an end to it. I am glad to have been able to experience the author's writing and have found that, even with the frustration I experienced, I will definitely be open to more of this author's work.

Loved it!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, love the storyline.

What other book might you compare Off the Record to and why?

I can't think of any.

What about Natalie Ross’s performance did you like?

Natalie did a good job in each character.

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

It was good to be broken up.

A story of power and manipulation cut short

Would you try another book from K. A. Linde and/or Natalie Ross?

No. Linde seems to think it's okay not to write a real ending to a story, and I found Ross' narration annoyingly breathy. Not everyone from North Carolina has an overdrawn Southern accent, and they just became distracting here.

What was most disappointing about K. A. Linde’s story?

This was a toss-up between Brady's manipulation of the younger Liz and the complete lack of an ending.

Did Natalie Ross do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Yes, but see comment about everyone having the same accent.

Could you see Off the Record being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

The story isn't strong enough to carry a movie or TV series.