Variable Onset

By: Layla Reyne

Narrated by: Tristan James

When the serial killer known as Dr. Fear seemingly reemerges after a cooling-off period, Special Agent Lincoln Monroe wants on the case. He knows his research on the calculating criminal, who targets couples and uses their worst fears to kill them, could prove invaluable. But nothing can prepare Lincoln for the agent waiting for him in Apex, Virginia: a brash and cocky former student. Carter Warren is everything Lincoln is not, and somehow everything he wants. And they'll be going undercover. As newlyweds.

For Carter, seeing Lincoln again - and flustered to boot - pokes his raging bear of a crush something fierce. He thinks posing as lovers will provide the perfect bait for Dr. Fear. But pretending to be married forces them to confront fears of their own...like giving in to the very real chemistry between them.

With evidence pointing to the possibility of a copycat killer, Lincoln and Carter will have to race to separate truth from fiction. But when another couple goes missing, finding the killer will test every ounce of their training, skills and the strength of their bond like never before.

Contains mature themes.

©2019 Layla Reyne (P)2021 Tantor

So good!

I love L and Carter. Their story hooked me from chapter 1! When I read this book, I knew I needed the audio, too. It didn’t disappoint. Tristan James did a great job with the narration in combination with Layla’s words!! This will definitely be a relisten.

enjoyed it - solid 4 stars

Would I listen to it again: yes
Did the story keep me engaged: yes
Was I invested in the characters: yes

📖 Story comment: easy pace, likeable characters, good flow.
Took me a couple of chapters to get into it, but once I did, I really enjoyed the story and was invested in the outcome. I enjoyed L and Carter's characters and the case they were working to solve was interesting, it all wrapped up a little fast and was a bit anticlimactic, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

🎧 Narrator comment: I enjoy Tristan James as a narrator and go through phases where he's all I listen too. His smooth even tones are just what the ragged edges of my soul need. There were part's of this book where the narration felt slightly off and wasn't to the standard I usually expect from him, but it isn't enough that would deter me from listening to it again. I also nudged the speed up to 1.1x as the action/tension built just to give the atmosphere a bit more "oomph".

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📌 Where does it fall on my personal scale? 7.5 ... next time I need to plan for Act 3 to fall on a weekend so I can listen through without interruption!
• 1 not my thing • 2 didn't like the narration • 3 didn't keep my attention • 4 was good, but once was enough • 5 enjoyed it • 6 will listen again if i'm in the mood for the narrator [4⭐] • 7 goes on the "re-listen" list [4⭐] • 8 kept me up past bed-time [4.5⭐] • 9 recommended to family/friends [4.75⭐] • 10 own it in all formats [5⭐] • 11 keep a copy with me at all times [5⭐]
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Disappointed

Strong writing can withstand less than stellar narration. A talented narrator can turn iffy writing into a delight. When both are mediocre, it’s hard to tell who’s to blame. The writing has moments of spark, but the plot mostly fizzles. The narrator actually manages to make sex scenes sound boring. Seriously. Skip this and use the credit on something narrated by Joel Leslie or Greg Boudreaux and you’ll have a much better experience.

This was a mess

I love the author's Agents Irish and Whiskey series. This is not even like it's written by the same person. The plot was a mess. The romance was lacking and to top it off, Tristan James was the narrator which never helps. Even free on audible plus, it wasn't worth it.