Atlas

Hel's Ink: Extended, Book 2

By: DJ Krimmer

Narrated by: Angelina Rocca, Joe Arden

Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

"I said, marry me.”

Atlas

Lauren Locklear.

She has no idea that I would do anything for her. She doesn’t understand the mountains I would climb just to keep her safe.

That’s okay though, I’ll make sure she does.

She thinks she’s weak, and given the lack of love and support from those closest to her, I can understand why. That changes now, I will make her see the strong woman I see when I look at her.

I’ve pined for her in secret, wanting nothing more than to show her what she could have. But with my past still haunting me, I knew it would be best to stay back.

That is, until she needs access to health insurance and I see a solution to both her problem and my dilemma. All she has to do is say yes.

Ren

I’ve done something stupid.

Something reckless.

Something everyone will judge me for and I’m risking everything.

My family. My career. Myself.

I’m always too much to handle and the men I’ve allowed into my life have always reminded me of my shortcomings, even when it’s their fists doing the reminding.

No one has ever truly cared for me, loved me.

And then Atlas Hart asks me to marry him in order to save my life.

This isn’t love. It’s barely a friendship, or so I thought. But as the days go by and I see what he so selflessly risks for me, I cannot help but think that maybe… this could be more.

©2024 DJ Krimmer (P)2024 DJ Krimmer

Atlas-A Must Read/Listen

"Atlas" had me hooked from the very beginning. DJ Krimmer crafted Atlas as the perfect love interest for Ren (really, for any woman)—he is kind, charismatic, funny, fierce, and loyal. His unwavering devotion to the curvy lead, Ren, was intense from the start. Their chemistry on the page was electric, and the incredible performances by the narrators brought these characters to life in a way that made me fall head over heels for this story.

With several men involved in the Hel's Ink series, Joe Arden had his work cut out for him. Sebastian York voiced the first book, “Fox,” and while the two narrators have distinct styles, Joe Arden did a fantastic job capturing the essence of Sebastian’s performance in Fox and delivering a spot-on character voice for Atlas. The challenge of voicing multiple distinct characters, especially in a tattoo shop full of unique personalities, was met with skill and creativity. Joe Arden’s Southern accent for Derek was also spot-on, making this Southern lady proud. However, what truly stood out was his portrayal of Howard, the elderly man whose longing for his late wife brought me to tears from the first introduction. Joe’s performance was so captivating that I forgot a young man was narrating an older character. Angelina Rocca’s performance as Ren was equally impressive—you could feel Ren’s insecurities, her embarrassment, and her brave facade through Angelina’s beautiful delivery. Her breathy voice was perfect for Ren. Both narrators’ faster pacing kept the story energetic and engaging.

While “Atlas” didn’t feature the twists and turns or darker themes often found in other romance novels, it didn’t need them. DJ Krimmer’s writing made you feel the characters' struggles, their pain, and their triumphs. The story gripped me from beginning to end, making me root for the characters as if they were real people. The friends-to-lovers and marriage-of-convenience tropes are common, but in DJ Krimmer’s hands, they felt fresh and original. The comedic timing of Joe Arden’s Atlas had me laughing out loud many times during the book. I also loved Ren’s relationships with her friends, which reminded me of my own. By the end of the book, you feel like these characters are your friends, and it’s bittersweet to part with them.

I’m a huge fan of DJ Krimmer’s writing style. It’s engaging, with a perfect blend of comedy, heartbreak, insecurities, love, and passion. The humor, especially, was a highlight—DJ’s words, combined with Joe and Angelina’s performances, kept me thoroughly entertained throughout the book.

This book hit me in the feels. Howard’s scenes were heart-wrenching and beautiful, his longing for his wife unforgettable. The emotional depth of the characters resonated with me deeply, making this story one I won’t soon forget. I felt for these characters and felt like I truly knew them.

I appreciated that “Atlas” featured a curvy female lead paired with a tall, muscular man who loved her just as she was. It’s refreshing to see a plus-sized lead portrayed in a realistic and beautiful way, making this story relatable to many women who don’t always see themselves represented in romance novels. The theme of accepting and loving oneself, no matter one’s size, was beautifully handled.

The audio production was flawless, but that’s to be expected from Blue Nose Audio. The clarity, pacing, and overall quality were top-notch, making for an immersive listening experience.

While I loved “Fox” and the characters in it, “Atlas” took the series to a new level with its humor and emotional journey. The spice levels in this book were through the roof, making the intimate scenes incredibly intense. Atlas is one of the best reads of the year for me. I’ll definitely be giving this one another listen and impatiently await future books in this series, as well as anything DJ Krimmer writes.

Atlas

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️
3🌶️🌶️🌶️

💀Plus Size FMC
💀He Fall First
💀Marriage of Convenience

Atlas is book two in Hel’s Ink OG series. Atlas is the happy jokester at Hel’s Ink. Ren or Lauren is the sexy plus size lawyer. Atlas has been obsessed with Ren since the first time she came into the shop. Ren was in an abusive relationship with one of her fellow coworkers. One night Atlas sees the bruises on Ren and loses it. He beats up her abusive boyfriend and goes to jail. Ren gets fired from her job and is worried how she will pay for her medication without her insurance. Atlas sees this as his only opportunity to take care of. He offers to marry her. Even though their relationship started out as a marriage of convenience, it quickly turns steamy. I love that DJ makes the female leads so relatable with flaws and disabilities that they learn to embrace. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

Angelina Rocca and Joe Arden did a fantastic job narrating this book in duet style narration.

Sunflower Soulmates 🩵🌻🩵

This story does contain some TWs, so please check in with those before you listen. My thanks to Blue Nose Audio for this ALC.

Atlas is book two in the Hel’s Ink series, featuring all things Atlas Hart and a marriage of mutually beneficial convenience. When I eyeballed this book, I heard nothing but Joe’s voice for this golden retriever, cinnamon roll of a man. Atlas compensates for the trauma in his life by being the fun-loving, got your back kind of guy. When you listen you will immediately see why Joe’s voice is so pivotal as Atlas — Joe has an easygoing style that is playful, a low tone and a raspy whisper that is easy on the earbuds, and has emotional range that makes you feel the pain Atlas is dealing with internally — all while presenting himself to his world as the happy-go-lucky guy. The opening scene shows Atlas’s darker side, and if you’ve listened to Joe before, you know he carries the mental and physical intensity of action and anger with controlled and measured timing.

Enter Ren. She’s been going to Hel’s Ink for years and has been immune to Atlas’s charm…or so she thinks. This is where Angelina Rocca shines. She encapsulates Ren’s softness, and also her strength. I’ve listened to plenty of Angelina, and no other character has felt more comfortable to me in Angelina’s voice than Ren does. You can feel Ren’s overall fatigue and acceptance of the way her family treats her; all of this comes through in Angelina’s performance. Not to mention, Ren lives a full life as a Type 1 diabetic and at times has such terrible highs and lows that she becomes hospitalized. The tired and sad ache in Angelina’s performance makes you want to swoop in and take care of Ren, just as Atlas tries to.

This story would not be complete without its secondary characters. Joe and Angelina equally and iconically give voice to the male and females of the Hel’s Ink universe. Joe’s best is Derek, hands down, and Angelina has a gorgeous voice for Sunday. Once again, Angelina effortlessly gives a combination of soft, sure strength to a female who has had to find her grit. Additionally, Joe makes you despise her “boyfriend” Andrew and Ren’s father, while Angelina gives Ren’s mother a cold and distant feel that is sensed on the page.

I’ve saved Howard for last. The impression Howard will leave on your very heart and soul is indescribable. You will find out how Atlas and Howard forge their relationship, and it is nothing short of endearing and touching. Joe gives Howard an aged, witty, and longing voice as a man who has lived his 90 years through good and sad times.

Riviting

This novel blew my mind, I laughed and cried and ugly cried. Both narrators blew this novel out of the park. The amount of emotion poured into the reading left me stunned, happy, and also heart broken. An absolute must read!

Obsessed

Loved it when I read the ARC. Now I’m obsessed with this audio… Atlas is my fav from this amazing series… can’t wait for the others

Fantastic Story, Characters & Narration🎧

Prepare to Be Swooned & Amazed! DJ Krimmer pens another fantastic novel set in her “Hel’s Ink” series, and it is great to be back in this amazing world she created, with this book featuring Hel’s Ink Tattoo artist Ash Hart and lawyer and friend Lauren “Ren” Locklear. Atlas was a riot in the first book, Fox and Janie’s story, and I was looking to learn more about him and I was curious about Ren, who he crushed on. Their story is not your average or even ordinary marriage-of-convenience friends-to-lovers romance, it is so much more and it blew me away, the story, its depth and the complexity of the characters. Atlas’s childhood and backstory, one he does not share with many, is not the grandest, not even close to it. In fact, neither one hit the lottery with parents, despite the two coming from different worlds, hers a world of affluence, his a world of trouble, yet both were dysfunctional in different ways. I am not sure which parent I despised the most, ok, maybe I do, but you can come to your own conclusion. Their parents did a number on them and each broken in their own way, battling inner demons and insecurities which were absolutely heartbreaking to watch. I thought these two were great together and for each other, their broken selves fit perfectly and they make each other whole and gave each other strength to move past their inner and outer demons. With non-stop drama, some angst, heartfelt emotions and steamy romance, there is never a dull moment, and the story pulls you in, grabs your attention and holds it hostage the entire time. Like the first book, the writing, plot and world building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development, which was a pleasure to watch as they came into their own. DJ Krimmer, thank you for another amazing story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 And for the exceptional narration, Angelina Rocca and Joe Arden deliver an outstanding performance, one that elevates this already amazing story to another level. Their character voices are fitting and believable, sounding just as I imagined the characters to sound. Rocca was spot with her portrayal of Ren, showcasing every aspect of her personality and demeanor, from her insecurities to her fierceness in the end. Arden slayed it as Atlas, also showcasing his personality and demeanor, from his caring and protective side, to his goofball side, to his insecurities, and hearing that side of him slayed me. These two could move mountains with how well they project the characters’ emotions into their performance, an incredibly moving performance. They are entertaining storytellers and their versatility and talent truly shined in their performance. Thank you for another exceptional listen.