Element 63: The TaP Team

By: L. j. Charles

Narrated by: Valerie Gilbert

Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Let the countdown begin....

Everly Gray and Tynan Pierce, her sexy, secretive husband, take on projects no one else wants to deal with. Known as the TaP (Touch and Persuade) Team, they combine the best in extrasensory perception and tactical ability.

And then they accept the Lecoq contract.

It should have been a slam-dunk. A straightforward assignment to expose the truth behind a manufacturing company's government contract, and it offered a perfect opportunity for Everly to practice her undercover skills.

Embarking on a joint career is a dream come true for Pierce and Everly - until the nightmare edges in, they discover the contract is a fake, and death hovers, waiting in every corner.

©2015 L.j. Charles (P)2016 L.j. Charles

The undying love mantra lessened my enjoyment

What aspect of Valerie Gilbert’s performance would you have changed?

Valerie did a good job. I would not change anything.

Do you think Element 63: The TaP Team needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

There were aspects to the story I enjoyed. I wouldn't mind a follow-up as long as the undying love mantra is greatly reduced.

Any additional comments?

I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Blast for free for my unbiased review.

Edge of your seat action!

Would you listen to Element 63: The TaP Team again? Why?

Yes! I love the plot line and characters as if they are family!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The action starts early and doesn't stop!

Which scene was your favorite?

I don't want to give away any spoilers...

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

Yes!

Any additional comments?

Listen to this book!
The voice doesn't feel like Everly to me but it's because I've been with her since close to the beginning. Still wonderful, though!

Fast paced with infatuation that feels off

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
No - I am a serious science fiction listener and this does not fall into my usual style.

Would you recommend Element 63: The TaP Team to your friends? Why or why not?
No - the relationship between both characters feels forced and detracts from the story progression.

Do you think Element 63: The TaP Team needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
No

Any additional comments?
I did not love this book. I found the love interest forced with an unrelenting heavy hand. The fast paced story moves well but suffers from too little showing, and too much telling - the reader is not left free to feel anything for the two characters but instead is told about undying love from too many angles. Feels too much like a bodice ripper rather than a start to a good science fiction series.

Interesting

New author for me and found the plot interesting, spy scifi mix with romance, good combination. Loved Tynan's character, strong, loyal and protective and matched well with Everly. At the beginning I was a bit lost, but as the story picked up and the action started, it became more clear. There were a few moments in the story where I found the mate bond overdone a bit. Other than that I enjoyed listening to it, especially since Ms. Gilbert is one of my fave narrators, love the accents she does, Tynen's Irish brogue was quite good. I could hear the emotions along with the words and that is important for me.
Hope there will be a continuation, maybe a story about how Everly and Tynan meet while following the other characters in this story.

Paranormal Romantic Thriller

The story was a fast paced interesting listen. It's a paranormal laced romantic action thriller.

It contains surprises, betrayals and suspense.

I think that the story would be better with less of the paranormal content, however that's my personal view as the paranormal content doesn't distract from the main story.

“This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.”

Meh

I'm really not sure about this one. Some aspects had inordinate stress put on them that seemed a little out of place with the basics as laid out in the publisher's blurb, especially if this is part of a series. It is rapidly paced and has some interesting new concepts, but it just didn't do it for me.
The only thing that kept me from giving up at several points was Valerie Gilbert's excellent voice performance.

Edge of your seat action

What did you love best about Element 63: The TaP Team?

All of It

What does Valerie Gilbert bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Valerie Gilbert does a great narration

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

I received this audiobook for free through Audiobook Blast for free for my unbiased review

Element 63

While I enjoyed this book, I didn't love it. The characters were feisty and interesting. There is plenty of action and and an exciting story line. I really don't know what is missing.

Element 63:The Tap Team Great book

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an unbiased review. I enjoyed this book it had some interesting ideas for characters and the plot was excellent. The book was fast pac d and kept my interest all the way. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Everly and Tynan...Mates

This is a smart, sassy, fun listen! The only thing is...I didn't love it. There was too much bodice ripping and not enough background. I am a fan of scifi, paranormal, and James Bondian espionage so I should have really enjoyed it. I felt like I had missed the first scene as well. How had Everly met Tynan and how had they ended up mates (one of the words used waaaayyy too many times to describe their relationship)? There is an excessive amount of touching, thinking about each other, or sex during a mission that should have absorbed all of the team's attention.

Everly and Tynan are freelance spies and fix-it experts and generally take on jobs that the government or military doesn't want and/or can't do for themselves. Everly is newish and this was supposed to be another training op. But the two get in way deep and their extrasensory abilities (Tynan has some kind of ESP and Everly can see history by touching things with her fingertips) can't fix everything for them. The operation goes from finding out who and why someone is corrupting an element used in cell phones to something much bigger in the blink of an eye.

Valerie Gilbert does a good narration although I did listen on 1.25 speed to get rid of some of the more nasal qualities when she is trying to instill a more sarcastic or ironic tone to the narration or dialogue. The rest of the time she has a pleasant tone and did a serviceable job on the male voices and the irish lilt for Tynan.

I received this audiobook for free from Audiobook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.