Obsessed

A Dark Romance Novel

By: Terry Towers

Narrated by: Valerie Gilbert

Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Elijah

I kill people for a living, but I'm really not a bad guy. At least, I don't think so. I'm just taking out the trash; the fact I get paid to do it is a happy coincidence. Normally, I'm a pretty unemotional guy. I fear nothing and no one, and I get things done without regret or ever looking back.

But like Superman, I have my own kind of kryptonite, and her name is Sidney Lopez.

She never remembers me when she looks at me, but we had a past together. She dominates my thoughts, but I know I'm just one of millions of people who adore her, and I'm obsessed. So even if I wanted to, I won't stop...I can't stop, until she's mine.

Sidney

People look at me, but they only see the product of the media and what they think they know is just an illusion. They don't know the real me. They don't know that my life is falling apart.

Just when I hit my scariest low, he steps into my life, and he saves me.

Elijah's handsome with an edgy charm, and he seems to understand me when no one else does. He's the hero I always dreamed about. But he's also incredibly intense, and I can't shake the feeling there's more to Elijah than he's letting on.

What are the secrets he keeps so tightly guarded? I'm torn. Do I give him my heart, or do I run in the other direction?

©2014 Terry Towers (P)2016 Terry Towers

EXCELLENT Book & Performance! Obsession & Love?!?

Elijah is obsessed with Sidney, a famous t.v. actress. He goes to every appearance she is at. Elijah waits in line with all her other fans, waiting for is precious minute or two of face to face as she signs her autograph. Sidney never recognizes him and he is determined not to introduce himself.

Elijah is a character similar to the TV show Dexter. He kills bad people, that is it. Sometimes it is a paid job and other times it is just because they are a menace to society – like drug dealers who are responsible for selling the drugs to people who later OD or make bad decisions that end their lives.

One night he notices Sidney in a bar, as she leaves through a side door, he notices a couple of men who were hitting on her previously. He has a bad feeling so he follows, sure enough he finds them trying to assault her in an alleyway.

He doesn't kill them, but… he is determined to find out their names and where they live.

Will Sidney find out about his past? Or will he be able to make a clean break from his old life into his new one with Sidney, as he hopes?

This is a great romance/thriller written by Terry Towers.

Valerie Gilbert does a wonderful job performing this thrilling book. I cannot think of one thing to mention about her narration that I did not like. It was spot on!

*I was given this book in exchange for a review. My string of great books from new authors & narrators is just amazing.

Notes: Mature scenes, violence as well as strong language


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Obsessed

Any additional comments?

Skipping through time months at a time. feel at a loss for the characters and their story. So much happens in the space of several months and if details are left out a connection is lost. I do like the characters and the writing,

Is there life happy ending to the rough beginning?

This is now a typical romantic story. The main characters are introduced as a lovesick stocker to the beautiful celebrity. Moreover, he is a hitman. However, as the story progresses we have an opportunity to learn about him and what made him the person he is and where his obsession is coming from.

He gets his chance to be with the woman he loves but needs to jump through hoops to prove that he is worthy.

It's always a pleasure to listen to Valery narrate. She delivers on all the emotions and tones, and male/female voices.

Trite and redundant.

Would you try another book from Terry Towers and/or Valerie Gilbert?

I'm not sure, if the author were to learn how to use a thesaurus then maybe.

What was most disappointing about Terry Towers’s story?

The dialog is forced, the story all over the place, and the descriptives repetitive.

Which character – as performed by Valerie Gilbert – was your favorite?

Elijah was a decent character, I would have liked to hear more about his actual work though. Simpering behind Sydney doesn't seem logical for a high dollar hit man.

Could you see Obsessed being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No.

Great narration

Another great narration by one of my fave narrator. Ms. Gilbert is amazing with her various voices and she attributes them well corresponding to the characters in the story.
My fave character is Elijah, there is so much more to him as I found out listening to the story. Sydney on the other hand, not so much. It all ends well though.

To love act and stalk

What made the experience of listening to Obsessed the most enjoyable?

The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the story to life call me I think I would have struggled reading the book on my own since there were so many moments that made you wonder how intelligent our lead is

Any additional comments?

in this book we meet Elijah who is a hired killer who is also a stalker of an actress named Sydney. Elijah goes to all the Comic Cons in order to take a picture with Sydney and he keeps hoping that she will recognize him. When a wild turn of events leads him to saving Sydney's life the two immediately fall in love. we then learned Elijah's and Sydney's backstory which was quite touching. Sydney also realizes how far his stalking has gone but of course it doesn't phase her , she is too in love to find it creepy. I think the storyline was fantastic , we hear about actors and actresses but never really have a genuine love story based on them falling in love with the bodyguard. I do wish Sydney would have addressed the stalker issue just a little bit more and especially when she found out what his job was. There was barely a batting of the eye. I think I have batted my eyes to the storyline than the characters. the narrator did an amazing job pulling you into the story I find her playing Elijah quite entertaining. the narrator made this book more enjoyable to me, had I been reading it on my own I probably would not have finished.

ELIJAH AND SIDNEY=TRUE LOVE!!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Obsessed to be better than the print version?

Always is, but I only listened!

What other book might you compare Obsessed to and why?

Well its a sexy romance about a hitman and an actress...are there any others?

Which scene was your favorite?

The Batman suit removal...FUNNY!!!

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

** I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **

Elijah is a secret hitman, killing bad people only...kinda a Dexter, but cleaner..lol He has been in love with Sidney since his teens...Having had a rough childhood, we learn why he is obsessed with Sidney, she saved him in there teens, and showed him great tenderness..she is a really nice person...plus she is beautiful and full of life and love...he follows her career and goes to all the conventions she is at... While semi stalking her he finds her in a bad situation and rescues her...she is very grateful and a romance blooms...but will Elijah's secrets ruin it all?

Good story, great narration and I really enjoyed this!!!

So good!

I loved the main character in this one, Elijah. I feel kind of bad saying that since he's a hit man and all but he's just so loveable. This book wasn't as dark as I was expecting but there were some dark undertones I guess. My only issue with this story was the heroine - there were times I really didn't like her but was happy with the ending. The narration was really well done.


**I voluntarily listened to this audio book in exchange for an honest review**

ELIJAH IS ONE SWEET HITMAN!

Any additional comments?

Narration: Valerie Gilbert's voice was perfect. Very easy to listen to, and paced beautifully!

Story: ELIJAH IS AWESOME. I LOVED Elijah. The twists in this story were fabulous --- I want to discuss much but spoil nothing and this leaves me feeling a little type-tied. Can I say... Surprise Rescue had me SHOCKED - It really showed what a good guy Elijah was. There were many events that did this, adding layers onto this cold-hearted hitman. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS -- the writing was great, the story was great, this character was great.

But.

Sidney. What in the world is up with the abusive heroines popping up? I am not trying to pick on this story, because this isn't the first one I've come across this year where the heroine is physically harming the hero. I hope this trend dies a quick death. If situations were reversed and the hero BREAKS THE HEROINE'S NOSE (yes!! SHE DOES THIS TO POOR ELIJAH) readers would flip. Sidney is punching and hitting him repeatedly, he comments that it is done hard, and it hurts, and he even tells her it is abusive. AND SHE BREAKS HIS NOSE LATER. THIS IS NOT OKAY. *deep breath* I think I feel a bit better now. Was Sidney a good character? Well, if you take away her boyfriend-beater qualities, she was fine. She does freak out when she finds out his secret but having her accept it happily would have been difficult to believe in a real-world setting. (Or not. I mean, Elijah is AWESOME!!!)

Overall? I would absolutely recommend this book - (as another review mentioned, it has elements that are reminiscent of (a less-conflicted, therefore sexier) Dexter) and tell the reader to just pretend they don't hear the parts where Sidney uses Elijah as her punching bag. If the Dark Romance in the title if off putting... it could be just me, but I didn't think it was that dark. The Dark Romances I've read lately basically involve the heroine getting the crap beaten out of her and pushing consensual to the limit or right out the window THIS IS NOT THAT KIND OF BOOK. And that's a good thing. I thought it was a sweet romance with enough of a body count to be thoroughly entertaining :) I received this audio in return for my honest review.

Falling in love with my stalker

It has funny moments and awkward moments, but it was well read. I don't think I would have liked it as much if I had to read it on my own. The narrator made it better.