Betrayal

AR IS A MAESTRO AT COMPLEX COMPELLING STORYTELLING

After listening to this brilliant, addictive and awesome first book in AR's new series I couldn't wait and went straight into book 2 thinking this is a Duet but it's a 5 part series that will stretch all year I'm sure, and maybe even beyond, so be warned because they both end in a nasty cliffhanger. Also, book 2 becomes so multi-layered as to stories, sub plots, then and now time frames and different POV's, that I may wait until all books are available.... oh who am I kidding - I bet I'll be so desperate to hear more from this very deep, dark and gripping series.

Alexandria (Alex) is from a well know wealthy Savannah family who are treated like royalty by many but Alex is haunted by her past and very resentful at being controlled and manipulated by her evil Stepfather (who, it's hinted, may have abused her too). Her Mother is no better - she was totally controlled by her own Father and then her husband and knows only how to be a good dutiful Southern wife who looks the other way while her husband cheats. Alex had left it all behind four years ago and has just graduated from Stanford and she's all set to go to Columbia Law School to become an Attorney. She, and her best friend, go on holiday to Del Mar.... where she will meet her destiny - Nox who is handsome, sexy, charismatic, mysterious and oozes the Alpha vibe.

Nox and Alex are instantly drawn to each other - their chemistry is radioactive and they agree, after a shaky start, to a one week affair with no strings, no expectations of more and absolutely no personal details. It takes a couple of days for them to just get to know one another but then, after that time, both were ready to take things to the next level.... turning the dial up with passion, heated kisses and lots and lots of hot sex. However, as they spend time together they grow closer and neither one really wanted to say goodbye..... but still they did.

Alex is called home after Del Mar unaware of the web of lies, tricks, manipulation and a life changing ultimatum that she's about to walk into.... it's unbelievable how low and loathsome her Stepfather is being and the BETRAYAL is devilish. But Alex has other plans.... plans that will once again bring her face to face with Nox - however the man she easily fell in love with in Del Mar is a very different person second time round.... and the rules have changed.

This was a great listen with colorful descriptions, it's mesmerizing, captivating and so addictive that I just didn't want to stop anywhere along Alex and Nox's various encounters and I was riveted to see what nasty surprises Alex's family would try to entrap her with next. Alex is a strong, motivated and determined character caught in a precarious situation unwilling to throw her dreams away so she tries to get out of it by joining a secret Club called Infidelity..... but this is when her whole world changes.... and the mysterious Nox comes back into her life. An assortment of secondary characters including a very annoying and dissatisfied ex and a fun loving BFF. Told in varying past/present chapters from Alex's POV except one chapter at the end from Nox's POV and the narration was great.

Worth a credit? Oh YES - this founding first stepping stone in the series lines up the Board and Players in Aleatha Romig's cleverly orchestrated strategic game where each move has consequences, heartache, dilemmas, losses and gains.... but who will ultimately win - and what will the cost be? I would give this 10 stars if I could.

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4.5 Betrayal Stars

I have wanted to read this book for a while and for whatever reason I just never picked it up.

I am glad I did. I am usually not a fan of past and present, though saying that pretty much every past and present book I have read I have liked. Sooo maybe it is just my mind being strange, hey it happens.

Back to the book I really liked this plotline, I liked that Alex is taking the week off to be with her friend Chelsea before starting law school. It is like the final farewell to “Young Adulthood” and you’re stepping into being the person you want to become.

Alex meets Knox’s and they have a great week of getting to know you without the future or the last names. It’s all about the fun. And even though feelings are not supposed to get involved we all know it is bound to happen.

Alex’s parents are freaking insane I said it. I have no other words to describe these peeps. Though her family isn’t all terrible her cousin is pretty fantastic I really enjoyed this part of the story Patrick and Cy were just what she needed at that point of the story.

I am not going to say how Alex gets the shock of her life you are just going to have to read the book. I am intrigued that I want to keep up with the books. But I don’t think I am going to do them back to back.

The narration was perfect for this book; Samantha Prescott had the refined voice for Alex. Brian Pallino has the deep yummy voice you want for Knox.

*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*

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The premise of the story is interesting.

This is my first Aleatha Romig experience and am a bit torn. the overall premise is intriguing but the pace of the story was too slow for me. Too much back and forward in between present and past just felt that stoped the action from being thrust forward. It wasn't until the last 2 hours that I felt engaged with the story. The narration was good, only keeping in mind that the male narrator only has 1 chapter near the end.

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Boringggggg

Holy hell was this a dragged on story. Did not like the start. I’m thinking skip to bk 2. Save yourself the time and money.

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Betrayal will leave you pondering ...

4 There’s no cheating Stars

I loved the Consequences series. I felt like Aleatha Romig created the villain hero I loved to hate and love. I never know where her mind will take me, so when I realized she had a new series out, I was a bit hesitant because of the word “infidelity”.

Why didn’t anyone tell me there is zero cheating?! Okay, so it’s in the premise and in many reviews, but I JUST realized this. So with that said, I went into Betrayal with an open mind.

I did the audio version of Betrayal. I really liked the narrator and yes there is a male narrator, but for only one chapter, so don’t get your hopes up too much, but the female does a bang up job and I have zero complaints. I felt like she fit Alex’s personality and she conveyed the emotions perfectly.

I highly suggest you do the audio version, you will not be disappointed.

Betrayal is the kind of book that leaves you pondering when you are finished, but that shouldn’t surprise you because this is an Aleatha Romig book. I felt like Betrayal had two stories. There is the past story and the present story. I feel like whenever you have a story with a past (especially when it’s half of the book) you are just asking for angst and yes this book is FILLED with angst.

Alex comes from a wealthy family. She is going back home for a few days to visit mom and stepdad. Stepdad is abusive and mom is a doormat. Don’t even get me started on this. I was shaking my head so many times and I wanted to throw something. The way Alex’s family treats her will have you pulling your hair out. This is the present story.

Alex meets a man. For one week they have a fling, she doesn’t even give him her real name and they know nothing about each other. I was of course, interested in this story because it has Alex’s love interest, but this is the past story. It’s not the first time where I read the hero in the past, but it does leave you wanting more. You are practically begging for the past to reach to the present so you can figure out what happens.

Betrayal is very steamy and less dark than Aleatha Romig normal reads. I would say it’s not even dark at all, but that wasn’t why I wanted to read this book.

I’ll be honest and say I struggled a lot with the angst in this book, but then I also secretly loved it. I felt like I was trying to figure out how the past and present tied together because there is no indication. I really did sympathize with Alex because of her situation. She just wants to be a lawyer but everything is against her.

The pace is a bit slow, but it’s also typical of the writer’s writing style, so just so you know, you get well developed characters and storyline. Overall, I was slightly tortured reading this book, but I also enjoyed the ride when I was done. I will happily move forward with the series.

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5 Sexy, Secretive Stars!

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

One of my favorites. I enjoyed this story and the audiobook was well done.

What other book might you compare Betrayal to and why?

This was one of the first romantic-suspense type audiobooks I've listened to so I don't have a good feel for comparison, but I did enjoy this one.

Have you listened to any of Samantha Prescott and Brian Pallino ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first time listening to these two narrators.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, if I could have, I would have! This storyline is totally captivating and would be an easy listen if I had the time.

Any additional comments?

Great story and fun audiobook to listen to!

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Intriguing

Good narrators but they do sound too old to be in their 20's. The story was refreshingly different. Excited to listen to book 2.

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Voice

she sounds as if she was an older woman. It would have been better for the voice to sound younger than the voice used.

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Not what it seems, be ready for more!

Honestly, this book felt more like a prequel to me. Although it was artfully done and I'm excited to move forward to the next one, I know the action hasn't happened yet. This book was more character development and background story than anything else, but it was important to the overall story. I felt pure rage for Alex in parts of the story with her parents and I know when I feel emotions about a character that it's a novel worth my time and credit. I was almost disappointed that it was a tad vanilla but I can tell the author is working you into it just like with Alex, it's all being done at the pace the author wanted and though many will say it dragged on, I don't see it that way. I see it as a wonderful start to an excellent story. The writing was excellent and I am glad I started this series. I passed it over entirely before without giving it a chance because like Alex, I don't like married men and affairs in my romances. But it's not that, not at all, and if you almost passed it over for the same reasons you should know you'll be missing out based on a misunderstanding. Worth a credit for sure!! Just be prepared it's a series and leaves on a cliffhanger. The female narrator was excellent. Very little from the male narrator but I have a feeling we will hear more of him soon. The male narrator isn't quite what I had in mind but that's okay, he's at least good at his inflections and pronunciation so I can handle it.

It captured my attention...

...and I didn’t want to put it down. It certainly twists. Can’t wait to start book two in the series.