The Seacroft

Paines Creek Beach Book 2

By: Aaron Paul Lazar

Narrated by: Gwendolyn Druyor

Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

Falling for the wrong guy can be hazardous to your heart.

Vivian Wood is desperate. After her beloved brother dies of a sudden aneurysm and her mother develops Alzheimer's, she needs a good job and a place to stay. She finds it at The Seacroft, a Cape Cod seaside mansion ruled by a mysterious and demanding woman looking for a personal assistant.

Vivian soon discovers that being broke and having to deal with her cranky new boss are not her only problems. The gardener at The Seacroft, Cody McGraw, is young, gorgeous, and the bane of her existence-until she starts falling for him.

But Vivian isn't the only one captivated by Cody's charms. Their sultry employer quickly takes an interest in him-and the developing relationship between Cody and Vivian is threatened by the loss of their jobs and more, should they upset The Seacroft's exotic mistress.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Cape, The Seacroft is a steamy story of difficult choices, heart-wrenching sacrifice, and the ultimate salvation of love.

©2015 Aaron Paul Lazar (P)2015 Aaron Paul Lazar

Betrayal. Hurricanes, Jealous bosses

The Seacroft is a sexy, sweet romance with a touch of drama, and page-turning suspense.
Viviana finds herself alone after the death of her brother and her mother being put in a nursing home with Alzheimers. She is happy to have a roof over her head in a lovely beachside mansion as a PA to a beautiful, reclusive woman.
Cody loves his freedom at the Seacroft as a gardener and groundskeeper but soon finds out that his sexy boss wants him for more than just his brawn. He likes the attention until he finds he has feelings for Viviana.
I loved this story. There is a lot going on with the drama building between Uvi, Cody, and Viviana. Then a hurricane hits and wreaks havoc on everyone and everything. There are lots of twists, lots of hot steamy sex and a satisfying ending. A perfect story for any romance lover.
Gwendolyn Dryor does a fantastic job narrating this story. She shows the passion and fear well in all of these characters. I will say that her sexy drawl that was Uvi, sometimes came off a bit weird to me in the sex scenes ...sort of growly. Other than that I loved the narration.

Sweet romance and so much more!

--I was given a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first Aaron Paul Lazar book, and was a little concerned that it was book 2. It was perfectly fine as a stand alone novel. This book had a little of everything in it. Intrigue, suspense, hot sex, innocence, family...you really could not have asked for anything more! The Seacroft brought us to Uvi, and her wickedness, the personal assistant, Vivian and the gardener, Cody. We learn about Vivian's brother and mother, and how their problems have affected her life, and how they continue to be a constant worry. The relationship that grows between Cody and Vivian is sweet and loving. Uvi...I can't even begin to tell you how I love to hate her! There are several background characters as well that help shape the warmth of this romance. It was a pleasure to listen to.

Gwnedolyn Gruyor does an amazing job. Her voices for the characters are distinguishable and entertaining. This is a good listen and is highly recommended.

Best Romantic Suspense Thriller!

Any additional comments?

The Seacroft is one of the best romantic suspense thrillers I've ever listened to. Written by Aaron Paul Lazar, I consider it comparable to thrillers written by Linda Howard and Julie Garwood - it's that good!

The story begins with Vivian who recently quit college after her brother died suddenly of an aneurysm and her mother developed Alzheimer’s soon afterward. She accepts a live-in job as a personal assistant for a demanding and eccentric female writer at a Cape Cod seaside mansion named The Seacroft in order to pay for her mother's long term care.

Another employee at The Seacroft is Cody, the gardener and handyman. He is similarly aged as Vivian and lives in an apartment over the four-car garage. As hard as Vivian tries to dislike Cody, she can't help but be attracted to his boyish charm and carefree spirit. Just as the pair start to really fall for each other, their sultry boss seduces Cody and becomes obsessed with him. In only a few days, Cody and Vivian survive a hurricane, rescue Vivian's mother from a flood, and defend a murder attempt on Vivian's life. What better setting is there to fall in love?

Gwendolyn Druyor did a fantastic job narrating this Audible version of the book, which was given to me free of charge in exchange for an unbiased review. Her narration flows naturally at an even pace and she portrayed urgency in all the right places. She also used different voices for all characters. I definitely recommend the Paines Creek Beach series to anyone who enjoy well written romantic suspense novels.

Suspenseful Charmer

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

I highly recommend this listen, particularly if you're a fan of romantic suspense.

What did you like best about this story?

Although this is certainly a romance novel, there is much intrigue to keep crime fiction fans satisfied as well.

What about Gwendolyn Druyor’s performance did you like?

I found the characters' voicing smooth and enticing. The performances were true to the ear and pleasing to follow.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

So many moments, yet I'm drawn to suspense--therefore I found the entire hurricane section to be edge of the seat suspenseful. I also loved that every element introduced in the novel was completely addressed to satisfaction.

Any additional comments?

I was drawn to the star-crossed lovers Vivien and Cody, however the woman who stands in the way of their ideal possible future, Uvi, is the "perfect" villain.

Author Lazar presents all of these characters with an intensity and truth of commitment rarely found in a traditional romance. This one is highly erotic, without going over the top. An ideal listen and perfect escape in every way.

Wonderful Love story and thriller. 5 star plus

This book is worth the credit. A love story with a thriller combined. Loveable characters and of course a villian. Great writing and wonderful narration. What a wonderful ending. This book will leave you feeling good. Well worth the credit.

Narration was excellent..Characters were well acted.

Thank you for the opportunity to listen and review this book.

The Seacroft

Any additional comments?

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

This audio book has it all, a hero, heroine, bad a** boss, love triangle, hurricane, murder or attempted murder, and lots of drama. Sometimes the female protagonist was too much a "Mary Sue," but it was still enjoyable.

Three characters and a storm

Who was your favorite character and why?

Naturally, my favorite character is Viv. The story opens and ends with her, and although in many chapters we follow the events from Cody's point of view, he is the 'bad boy' who is undergoing a change through loving her. It is Viv for whom we truly care, to the point of wanting to protect her from the machinations of their evil boss, Uvi.

Which character – as performed by Gwendolyn Druyor – was your favorite?

I loved Viv, and loved to hate Uvi. Gwendolyn Lewis is a graduate of The Central School of Speech and Drama, London. She is articulate in a wide range of European and American dialects. For Viv, she offers a shy, naive voice that plays out her meek nature; for Cody, a spunky, boyish voice that lends itself to visualizing a daring, adventurous character; and for Uvi, their boss, a sly, commanding voice that is as silky as it is sultry.

Any additional comments?

The Seacroft is a story with three characters and a storm. Vivian is a naive young woman who is trying to survive, emotionally and financially, under difficult family circumstances (the death of her beloved brother, the illness of her mother.) Hired by Uvi, the evil mistress of The Seacroft, as her personal assistant, Viv finds herself attracted to the gardener, Cody, but in her meekness she has no idea how to make him notice her.

She cannot believe that he is attracted to her, because being so gorgeous he seems out of her reach, and because—to make matters more complicated—Uvi takes control of him, demanding his attention, expecting his love making, taking advantage of her position of power over his life, and telling both of them that she wanted to “keep him at my beck and call for all eternity, ready to pleasure me at a moment’s notice. But you spoiled that for me, Missy.”

And so the storm starts—not only as a figure of speech for passion but also as a real hurricane called Delilah, who pulls the characters apart and brings them together, all the while causing havoc and destruction in its path. The storm scene is captured imaginatively by the author, with sounds of wind and rain battering the landscape. “The old elm by the porch shuddered and swayed overhead, and in one magnificent burst, its roots creaked and ruptured from the earth, like a giant spider flailing upside down. The tree slammed across her path.” It is the storm that makes this book not only about love but about a place, as indicated by the title.

Will Viv and Cody manage to tie the knot, despite all obstacles? For the romantic in you, find out.

good book

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

very good and would love to read the rest in the series of books.

A Love Story And A Mystery That Is Unforgettable !

Where does The Seacroft rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is by for the absolute best audio book I've ever listened to and I have listened to hundreds of books. The story was so compelling and the characters so believable. The narrator did a fabulous job !

What other book might you compare The Seacroft to and why?

I read a book one time called The Land Uncharted" by Patricia Wood and it was very good also. It held my interest but not as much as the Seacroft did.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene was when Cody rescued Vivien from the water and they ended up making love not long after that. Vivien was a special person who forgave Cody for his involvement with their boss and didn't really every throw it up in his face.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I didn't laugh or cry but I could not stop listening to it. I listen to books while walking and one time I had to walk an extra mile to be able to get to a part where I could let go for a little while.

Any additional comments?

I plan on going back now and listen to part 1 The SeaCrest so I can go back and put the pieces together of things I heard in part 1. I can't wait !! I will review part 1 when I finish it.

Wonderful addition to the series

This book stands alone from book one, but I enjoyed listening since I had listened to book one previously. Vivian Wood has issues and it seems that her new job is the answer to everything. Even though her boss can be overly demanding and somewhat of a jerk, but her co-worker Cody is a kind and friendly face. As Cody and Vivian get closer, their boss tries to drive a wedge between them. And when nature makes a stand, all of them will find what they are truly made of.

Thank you to Audiobooks Unleashed for a free copy of the book to listen to.

A beautiful love story!

My goodness but this was an excellent story and Ms. Druyor does a wonderful job of bringing it to life for us! I'm glad that this book was more than just a romance as I love suspense! Even though it did not say this when I was searching for a new book with a new author to me to listen to while I diamond painted. And really liked Vivian she is such a sweet girl with such a tough background. Our main man is Cody and the author has made him into a character that women dream about! Both characters are working for a spoiled enchantress that knows how to get what she wants! Although this is the second book in the series and haven't read the previous I had no problem picking up the storyline. I did jump to my own conclusions a couple of times but I'm glad to say that Mr. Lazar surprised me with a totally different idea. This is a really great book but I do have to let you know that the reason for 4 stars is because of the sexual scenes and a few swear words.
I received a free code for this book from Audiobooks Unleashed to listen to on Audible. This review is my own honest opinion.

totally fantastic

what a totally fantastic audiobook from the pen of Aaron Paul Lazar and brilliantly narrated by Gwendolyn Druyor. I love all Mr Lazars books they never fail to draw me in xxxxxx