The Executioner

The Family Creed, Book 1

By: Shauna Allen

Narrated by: D. C. Cole

Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

Five brothers, one family tragedy, untold heartache

A stray bullet ended my Army career, forcing me to follow in my father's prison guard footsteps. My sister's disappearance 10 years ago annihilated my family, forcing each of us to find a way to cope. But I've survived. Adapted. At least, until Genevieve Stone showed up, digging into the truth in the name of journalism and finding her way deep under my skin. I'm determined to do whatever it takes to find my sister, but when the case is blown wide open by the sexy reporter, I'm left with the ultimate question...can I trust her?

I'm a soldier, heart and soul. I don't do love. War and death and pain are my church. My name is Asher Creed. I am the Executioner.

Listener note: This is the first of a six-part emotional family saga series. The first five novels are 100 percent male first-person point-of-view. Each of the first five full-length novels are guaranteed to have a complete HEA romance, but please note that their family mystery remains unsolved until the end of the series.

Due to profanity, mild violence, and very strong sexual content, this book is not intended for listeners under the age of 18. Also, please note the title. The hero is, in fact, an executioner on death row. While there is no intent to make any social or political statements, please do not listen to this if this will be offensive to you.

©2017 Shauna Allen (P)2018 Shauna Allen

The Executioner

The executioner, the name can be a bit misleading on this one, yes he is an executioner. But that is his job not who Asher Creed is, because he is so much more. Asher is the oldest son and ex-military, he is also the big brother to 4 younger brothers and his missing sister. It has been 10 years since that day, and his mother decides its time to open up the old wound and look for more answers. Amazingly things actually start to happen for the family. I cant wait for the rest of this series to get more answers of what happened to her and how it has affected each brother. You get a small glimpse into each of their lives in this book. DC Cole does an wonderful job on the narration. He has an amazing ability of drawing you into the story.

Family Love

This is not a typical listen for me which excited me to step out of my comfort zone. This was a great start to a series! Asher was so closed off and cold until he met Gen, she broke down the walls he built over the years and opened his heart to a love he’d never thought was in his cards. Asher and Gen were both broken souls who were made whole with their love for each other and his family. I love the family bond in this story and cant wait to hear the rest of the Creed brothers stories! I am happy we got an HEA in this story and bummed we didn’t solve the mystery of Claire’s disappearance but it also adds to the suspense! This was my first book by DC Cole and I was pleasantly surprised at how well he did and portrayed a woman.
I received this free copy audiobook in exchange for an unbiased review.

A fascinating family that you'll want to know ♥♥♥♥

D. C. Cole does a masterful job giving voice to the story of Asher Creed and his family. Trying to move past a tragedy from his family's past Asher's life takes a turn when he meets Genevieve Stone who has her own tragic past to overcome. The attraction is incendiary. Can't wait to listen to the story of the rest of the Family Creed.

Moving on after a loved one disappears

Asher Creed, ex-army ranger, now prison guard, has the job of performing the execution of death row inmates. Not something that Asher is proud of, but since his soul is dead, and someone has to do it...well, you know. You see, 10 years ago, when Asher was serving in the military, his then-15 yr old sister (and only sister), Clare, was abducted and has never been seen again. This event has reshaped the lives of the Creed family from the boisterous, loving family to a brooding bunch. When a true-crimes reporter, Genevieve, approaches him to discuss a recent execution, Asher has misgivings...after all, wouldn't a reporter dig into his past? However, after getting to know Gen, he cannot deny the growing mutual attraction and the pair begin dating. When Gen learns of Asher's sister's disappearance, she does some investigating and learns than there were numerous abductions within 50 miles of where Clare vanished that same summer. The Creed family asks her to write an article asking for the public's help. Will this really help or open up a can of worms, as well as reopen wounds caused by Clare's disappearance...especially for her twin, Silas. This book captured me from the beginning of chapter 1. The Creed family has suffered much and for the past 10 years, they have all been functioning as zombies. They attend family dinners and kid around somewhat, but Clare's brothers have all internalized her disappearance and have been walking around with a cloud. They have been strong for their parents but at what price. Asher and Gen get their HEA in this book, but the mystery surrounding Clare is not solved. Can't wait for the 'rest of the story', which, I've heard will unfold during the remaining brothers' books! Fanfreakintastic narration keeps you engaged and wanting more.
I voluntarily accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

intense

wellyhis was a book that had all sadness, heartbreak, heat, heart, love, passion...and could go on and on. Asher is one hot guy with layers amd layers of mistery to him and then thete is Gen who vomes and gets just about everything she wants so is she his salvation in a way?!. he is a prison guard working as a guard ecsorting people to death row and he has a decade of pain due to his sister disaperance. it is an intense story which gives you insight into Ashers life and his personal relationship with his dad, brothers oh and brothers i do expect future books in the series to cover all this delicious misterious brothers. overall book thattakes you in and doesnt let go and at the end you want more and thank god there is a whole series of books of Creeds brothers waiting. so pick up this one and go on the journey but be pr3pered it is emotional one.

Steamy Romance; Sexy Narration!

This is the first of another fabulous series from Shauna Allen. This is a book you must have read to you in the sexy voice of D.C.Cole. Start with this first book & stick with the series until the very end. Try it, you'll like it. You'll never go wrong with a Shauna Allen book, and THE EXECUTIONER, Creed family saga is a sizzling success.

Hot, steamy and exciting and emotional

This is the start of an emotional journey that has a lot of question with few answers. One family torn in two over the lost of their sister rebuilding their life but never getting over the loss. One minute she was out with friends the next someone picked her up in a blue truck, and she was gone. There are a total of six books each about one of her brothers, book six will be her story. The Executioner is the start of a very emotional story going through the lost of their sister, the clues to where she might be and the hunt to bring her home one way or another. We meet Asher, learning how his life is as he goes through the loss of his sister. He decided to leave home and join the military where he got hurt. Deciding to come home and guard prisoners they put him in as one of the executioner which is his biggest duty. Everything is day to day until Genevieve comes along pushing her way into his life talking about one of the prisoners that just got executed from there she pushes into the life of his sister. He isn’t to trusting she isn’t giving in and slowly they build a relationship. She has a past which comes to forces and hits her hard. These two learn to lean on each other being the rock they never knew they needed.

The narrator does a wonderful job of narration, he pulls you in using his tones letting you know who is talking, what they are feeling and all the emotions that comes with it. He makes each Creed brother sound sexy, but showing you the pain they are in and the chip they carry on their shoulder. His character voices are very becoming but at times I felt he paused to long. There are no background noises, no volume changes, and no repeating of words. The audio is very clear and clean making you buy into this story and the emotions it brings with it. The sex scenes are very hot making you want to jump right in and grab each brother. Ladies you will need a fan when you listen to this hot sexy voice. His normal voice is very pleasant and appealing. Each character voice pulls you in, he adds just enough emotion to the pain and sorrow as well as the humor. I really enjoyed listening to this audio and will listen to it again.

The story is based on Asher and Genevieve but goes into depth of the lost of his sister and the hunt that is about to go on trying to find her. Both stories are very touching and emotional with a happy ending to a point, there is still the unanswer question of what happened to their sister. We met the whole family and come to love them. Each character has their own endearing ways as each one takes a place in your heart. I can already tell somewhere in this series I am going to have a box of tissues. From the first book the author reached in making me a part of this story and this family. I already have an invested interest in the outcome and to see how each other the brothers will overcome the issue and loss of their sister. This has hit this whole family very deep as well as the reader.

What I really liked about this story is the strength the family has, each has their pain and sorrow, but they are a supportive family that have held together and grew but still hold so much pain and sorrow inside them. Asher is learning and is one step closer to finding what life is all about but first he must get over Genevieve wall. Because of her past she has learned not to love, nothing good comes of it and never plans to marry. Watching their love grow, how unsure they are, how they make each other feel, as well as watching them play and get to know each other has been a pleasure. Watching the whole family pick and tease each other is been so much fun, I loved the humor and how the family interacts. I loved how strong and forward Genevieve is when she meets Asher and really blows him away, talk about knocking him off his feet. The love scenes are hot, steamy and very sexy with true emotions and a little kink. Asher has no trouble rocking your world as the sex appeal comes right off him. But it comes off Genevieve as well. Yes it is truly a heartbreaking story but a wonderful romance where two people learn what love is and just what it means. My heart goes out to all the Creed family as well as to Genevieve who lost so much at a young age and still has to come to grips with it.

When you open the book what you find are some hot Creed men with a chip on their shoulders, they have wants and needs but just don’t know it yet. It is going to take one heck of a woman to fit their bills. The women are on the way to knock not only some sense into them but rock their world like they have never seen before. What a way to start a series with the hottest couple so far in the winning lead. I really am going to enjoy these men getting a taste of their own medicine. This series so far is a big win for me, I can’t wait to see how the author take it. The mystery of the unknown pulled me in, I am really excited and scared to read The Dove, the author can take this so many ways. She knows how to pull her readers in giving a story that holds your attention entertaining you with a book you won't be able to put down.

The Executioner

Nice! I really didn't know what to expect with this book. Yes, one of the characters is an executioner, but that's not what this is all about. This is so much more. These characters overcome so much, yet it's not a heavy depressing story either. The story took me in from the beginning. And, my apprehension turned to needing to know what was going to happen next. This is my first book by Shauna Allen and I really enjoyed it.

I'm a huge D.C. Cole fan and will listen to pretty much whatever he does. And, because of that, I've found some really interesting authors to listen to. As usual, D.C. Cole pulls you into the story becoming each character and keeps you locked to your earbuds from start to finish.

The executioner is just the beginning....

The Executioner is just the beginning of a brilliantly written series of books. Asher Creed works in the death row wing of a prison and Genevieve is a reporter that would like an exclusive about the latest execution. Their meeting not only is the start of a beautiful romance but also the beginning of a series of event that help solve a 10 year old mystery. The Creed family has suffered for many years and Asher as the oldest has to try and keep the pieces together. The narrator of the book did an excellent job. All the emotions the characters feel are shown during his narration. It was like listening to a new book.

Love showed them the way

Two wounded souls find there way together, in this story of soul searching and healing love. He is a wounded ex military now a prison guard, she is a free lance reporter looking for a story on a prisoner just recently executed. They find they have more in common than just an attraction to each other, her father is a prisoner in the prison he works at, and he has a missing sister that she can maybe help by revitalizing the case with an article.
Together they build a strong love, with her devotion and his family showing him the way when a person only looking for sensationalism gets in the way.
Thank you Marla Joseph, and Audiobook Addiction for gifting me this book.