Operator

First to Fight Series, Book 6

By: Nicole Blanchard

Narrated by: Marina Barrett, Theo Sinclair

Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nicole Blanchard comes a forbidden enemies-to-lovers military romantic suspense!

He’s the last person I ever wanted to see again.

Callum Reece. My late husband’s brother.
The man who took my virginity
and then left without so much as an I’m sorry.
The Marine operator who makes a living
from putting his life on the line.

But loving me? That had been too much of a risk.

I’m the one woman he can’t have.

After he left, I moved on. I built a life without Callum
...until it came crashing down around me.
All I want is to find out the truth about
my husband’s death, no matter what it may be.

Sometimes the forbidden is a dangerous temptation.

But when Callum comes back, determined to win my heart,
I’ll have to put up the fight of my life to avoid being hurt again.

Operator takes place in the First to Fight series, but may be listened to as a standalone.

©2022, 2023, 2024 Nicole Blanchard (P)2024 Nicole Blanchard

Suspenseful, Second Chance Romance!

I was completely captivated by this suspenseful second chance romance! Callum and Gwen were young lovers when Callum left for the marines, vowing to not return, breaking Gwen's heart. Gwen eventually moved on, marrying Callum's brother, Ian. But her happiness was short lived with Ian's mysterious passing, leaving her once again with a broken heart. Month's later Callum finally returns home, to help his ailing father, and to win back the trust and love of the only woman who owns his heart. Gwen doesn't forgive easily. But the more time they spend together, her long buried feelings become harder to deny. Callum is determined to make sure she is taken care of, and safe, especially when mysterious events start happening. Gwen is sure that what happened to Ian wasn't as simple as they say. Callum gets in on her investigation, and the closer they get to the truth, the more danger they are in. This is a fast paced, suspenseful journey that kept me riveted from the very beginning. I loved the emotional push-pull between Callum and Gwen, making the sparks fly between them. They were so great together, challenging each other, and their chemistry was palpable!
Marina Barrett and Theo Sinclair did a great job bringing this story to life. Their inflections, banter, and accents were perfect as they built the suspense and steam of this story. This is my first listen to both of these narrators and I loved both their voices and their performance, so I will definitely look for more of their work.
There was a question that went unsolved, but I was still very happy with the ending. I loved this emotional, riveting and steamy story and can't wait for more in the First to Fight series.

Operator is a wonderful story of second chances

Ms. Blanchard draws you in from the beginning of this story of second chances and keeps you captivated until the very end. Loved the narration by Marina Barrett and Theo Sinclair. Recommended read.

A good listen!

Both narrators did a good job and the quality of recording is good. The narration was a bit slow, but I still enjoyed the listen.

Entertaining! Love the suspense and passion! Like the second chance angle to the romance between Gwen and Callum, but not a fan that Gwen married Callum’s brother and is now pregnant with the dead brother’s baby. That’s not a good look for Gwen to be with both brothers. Love Callum’s protective nature; I enjoy the scenario of there being a dangerous element after the heroine, and the hero needing to be there to help her out. They do have good chemistry and emotional depth to their romance. There are some loose ends left open to the mystery, so there is a bit of a cliffhanger there. Overall, I’m excited to read more in this series; ready for more action and suspense!

Glad I stuck it out

When the story first started I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. A rough-and-tumble bad boy who ran off to join the military and left his family and first love behind only to regret his choices. Tragedy brings him back to his first love and it’s a hate to love you kind of issue. But then…I couldn’t stop! The heartbreak, the true tragedy that unfolds, the mystery. Ugh. It turned me. I loved it! You can read/listen as a standalone, but you aren’t going to want to stop with just one in this series. Give it a shot and I hope others enjoyed it as much as I did.

Terrific Story & Narration🎧Compelling & Engaging!

Nicole Blanchard continues to wow me with another amazing novel set in her “First to Fight” series, a second chance romance filled with mystery and suspense. Callum “Cal” Reece left the marines despite only wanting to be an operator, but it was time to move on and go home, which was difficult, because he will have to face the only woman he ever loved, the woman who married his late brother, Ian. Gwen Winston moved on when Cal left her for the marines. The two were never officially a couple, but they were quite fond of each other. Ian was nothing like his brother and they fell in love, making a life for themselves. That was until his tragic passing, one Gwen has suspicions about. She was mad at Cal for not coming home for his brother’s funeral. He is determined to make things right with her and her unborn baby, and when strange and unexplainable things happen around her house, he goes into protective mode and does some investigating. He turns out to be her rock, and I thought they were great together and for each other. There is never a dull moment in this book, and the story captivates your attention from start to end, keeps you thinking and on your toes. The writing, plot and world building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development. The story has the perfect balance of drama, a touch of angst, some mystery, twists and turns, thrilling and suspenseful moments, heartfelt emotions, and a wonderful second chance romance.Nicole Blanchard, thank you for another amazing story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 Marina Barrett and Theo Sinclair did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life, humanizing them, giving each a voice that was fitting and was believable in every role. Sinclair aced it as Cal, showcasing his personality perfectly and Barrett was just as amazing as Gwen, both grasping every aspect of their character’s personality, and their every emotion and have you feeling them all. They make a terrific team, their voices complement each other, their pacing is great, and they set the perfect tone for the story. These entertaining storytellers are a pleasure to listen to and their performance elevates the already amazing story to another level. Thank you for another wonderful listen.

Such a good story!

You can experience a dual pov. Callum had always loved her. He broke her heart leaving for the military. Gwen moved on with his brother Ian until he passed away a year ago. Callum has avoided coming home because he still loved Gwen and knew he wouldn’t be able to control his impulses. The time has come for him to come home and help out with the family business. He comes home to find Gwen pregnant.

Unsolved mystery!!

Nicole Blanchard is a new-to-me author who drew me in to Callum and Gwen’s second chance at love storyline. Although there were a few daunting obstacles for them to overcome, they were both forthcoming and honest with each other which helped to solidify their relationship. Even though the mystery of Ian’s death is unsolved, there is resolution to their relationship restarting and forging a future together! Marina Barrett and Theo Sinclair are both new narrators to me and did a good job with their performances. I look forward to more of this series.