The Executioner

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

Intriguing Mystery and Love Story

The Executioner is an emotional and intriguing love story and mystery packed into one. It tells the story of the Creed family, specifically prison guard/executioner Asher, and introduces us to all of his brothers and starts to unravel the mysterious disappearance of his younger sister, Claire. I loved the chemistry and fireworks between quiet and broody Asher and feisty criminal reporter Genevieve. Asher and Gen are both hurting and broken in their own ways because of their pasts, but together they find a connection that neither of them expected. It's the mystery surrounding Claire though that really hooked me into the story. Please note that the author states in the blurb that the family mystery will not be solved until the end of the series.

DC Cole did an incredible job bringing this story to life and I'm amazed how well he can voice female characters, but also sexy, alphas like Asher. Some of the scenes definitely had me fanning myself while listening! There were such emotional scenes in this book and Cole handled them all masterfully with ease.

Much of The Executioner was spent giving us the backstory of the Creed family, Claire's disappearance, and setting up future books in addition to Asher and Gen's love story. Because of this, Asher and Gen's story seemed to stall at times for me, but was overall still very enjoyable. I'm really looking forward to each brother's story (especially Silas!) and though Shauna Allen is a new to me author, I know I will be reading/listening to more!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

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.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

don't let the title fool you

Don't let the title fool you. I was not sure what to expect, but being narrated by DC Cole, I took the plunge.
Asher is so much more than his job. In this story we follow him and Genevieve, their journey to HEA is rocky to say the least, each dealing with pain of loosing a loved one. Loved how the Creed family was so tight-knit, the loyalty to each other, despite their differences. I can't imagine loosing a child in such a way, or a mother.
The story is emotional on many levels and Mr. Cole knows how to deliver each emotion to the fullest. I am looking forward to listen to the next one.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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.

What a book! Overcoming Tragedy

Shauna Allen is a new author to me, who wrote a book that pulled me in from the very beginning! I was amazed with the depth of characters in this story, and how several stories are woven together. This book is part heartbreak (Claire disappeared over 10 years ago; part romance (Asher Creed and Genevieve Stone love story) and part family background. I love how the author connected these things and wrote the twists. The narration by DC Cole was outstanding. I love how he can perform so many different character voices in a book. I could hear exactly who was taking. Although not all questions are answered regarding the Creed family in this book, enough were to make this an awesome standalone listen. I cannot wait to listen to the next book in the series!

Wow!

This was so good! I need book 2 ASAP! This was such a unique and well-written story with complex characters. Narration was amazing! Highly recommend!


I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review

The Executioner

Holy cow what an amazing book. There are some super steamy parts but that isn’t the most important. To feel what this family is going through as well as what Gen has went through in her past is heartbreaking. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series to see what happens next.

Great start of this family mistery

I honestly didn't know what to expect of this book. I thought it wasn't going to be my kind of book but I was really wrong and I am so glad I gave it a try.

The book is well written and with a storyline that kept me listening and wondering what was going to happen and what had happened.

I love Asher he's my first Prison Guard character and it was refreshing and interesting, love the way he is with his family and his personality.

Genevive is great she's strong, determined and I love the way she writes her articles.

Both of them are vulnerable in their own ways and neither of them expected to fall hard for each other so the way their relationship started and how it evolved was really great to read.

Overall it was a great story, interesting with a plot that will caught your attention, a bit of suspense and love plus the amazing narrattion of D.C Cole makes this a wonderful book that will make you laugh, swoon and make your own conclusions about the main plot.

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.

Raw and Breathtaking, Suspenseful Romance!

I was completely captivated by this moving and suspenseful romance. This first book in the Family Creed series perfectly set up an intriguing storyline with a close knit family of strong, sexy brothers. Asher is more than an executioner, and a wounded soldier. He is a loving brother who is still devastated by the mysterious disappearance of his younger sister ten years ago. When he meets a sexy, true crime columnist, he enlists her help to breathe life back into his sisters case. Genevieve is hurting from her own past as well. They connect instantly and begin to help each other heal. This is a heartbreaking story that, as a parent, left me raw and in tears. But as a romance story, I thought it was interesting how the mystery revolves around the lone female/sister, and how these big alpha brothers deal with not being able to protect her. How it affects their family and romantic relationships.
DC Cole was amazing at bringing this poignant story to life. His different voices for this large family were impressive and his inflections made this emotional romance even more breathtaking.
This story is the beginning of the Family Creed series with each book about a different brother, and the mystery of their sisters disappearance a common arc through out. I can't wait to learn more about each brother and the truth about their sister!