Audio Book Review: Shadow Wars: Homebound

Shadow Wars: Homebound

By:  Ursula Sinclair

Publish Date:  September 1, 2014, Audiobook June 26, 2015

Format:  Audiobook - 7 hrs 42 mins
Narrated By:  Todd Van Linda

Genre:  Science Fiction Romance

Series:  1st in Shadow Wars series

Impression:  Sexually strong connection of a man and woman set in a science fiction setting.

Synopsis:
A New Adult Sci/fi Romance

Did you ever feel as though you don't belong?

Veil had been a step out of place all his life. Until one day he found a phone that took him on a path far beyond the world he knew. But to get all the answers he had to save the princess he fell in love with – only to lose her once he made her a queen.

Nikki never felt she quite belonged. Until she met a man who saved her life and placed her on a throne she never knew was hers. But in order to be queen and save a world at war, she had to give up Veil.

Would you walk away from the love of a lifetime if you could prevent the destruction of a planet?

Violence. Adult Situations. Recommended for 18+

First Sentence:
The sonic blast hit the building above them and ricocheted off the tunnel walls, the resulting flash wave momentarily blinded his vision.

Purchase At:
Amazon

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

Veil finds a phone of an image of a stunning woman on the front when she calls. Her text surprises him but figures it's something along the lines of a kinky thing with owner of phone, something about never going to release her. Veil finds, a few hours away from the restaurant and on his way to Cape May, that he left his phone with the hostess instead of the similar one in his hand. Nikki has been imprisoned in tunnels beneath central London for two days now. Her cell phone battery is dead but she's some how able to connect with her kidnappers alien tech phone, and see the speaker. Aldon, her kidnapper has headed to the USA to get another. She's not sure what it means, but if she can convince Veil to come help her, she's sure the phone in his hand is the key to find and release her from the invisible barrier keeping her hidden. Where they end up afterward is something out of this world.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook. I was a bit disappointed in this one. There were a few moments the narrator seemed to miss deletions in the editing phase and repeated words. There was a point in the story where it sounds like a slight twang to the background of the room, giving a sound of a small echo to his voice. Then in the fast moving scenes of being on the flee, fighting, or thinking the pacing felt off. In trimming and editing his recording, he splices sentences together to fast to try to show the quickness of the moment, but it sounds like a run-on sentence. I really don't like this feel as it made the cadence wrong for me. He does do a slight accent for Nikki who's grown up in England as well for a few other characters we meet through the story.

The first third was a bit rocky for me, with the lusting and desires of both and the feel of the story going no where. I just didn't feel the connection between the characters. Veil is attracted to the image of Nikki from the first time he saw her. Nikki finds him handsome when she sees him on the phone. They have some sort of attraction before they even know each other. Oh goodness. Veil lusts after Nikki at just the sound of her voice. Nikki finds him gorgeous. *sigh* This just feels like no connection for me. Just lust. It all feels forced.

I kept going, and about half way the heat between them kicked up to a high. At this point I was finally feeling comfortable with them as a couple and what they needed to do. If they hadn't had such a strong feel and sleep together so soon, I might have been better with their relationship as later in the book I feel they are stronger as a couple.

There were a few moments I wasn't sure if I would believe in happening, in the beginning. And the scene with shots fired felt like the narrator was trying to feel the rush but the sentences were to long or to much detail to take in at the same moment or something. I can't tell if it's the writing or the narrator but it seems like the sentences don't have a flow but a choppy set of sentences that don't feel to lead to each other. To me there are unexplained reactions. For instance, the characters are suddenly closer than strangers just meeting at moments. The reactions at sudden death just feel wrong, there is no lead up to it.

It seemed the story was at a stall in the beginning. They were on the run with no hopes of getting information as to why. It felt like a struggle to get them off Earth and to where they could start to bloom as characters. When they did bloom into more, it was thanks to the technology of another world.

Once Nikki is in the position she's to be in by her right, she excels at a strong, smart woman. She knows what she wants and gets the job done. I will give Nikki her credits for that. I do enjoy the way she uses the unspoken hinted knowledge to her advantage. Very well done Nikki. For this, the book earned some credit back in my mind.

Where I was expecting a nice science fiction story with a touch of romance, I found an erotic romance with a touch of science fiction. I'm not much of a fan of love at first sight type feel from books, my brain gets in the way. This was more lust at first sight, on both parts.

This book is one that I would suggest to someone that enjoys instant desire between a couple and enjoy full sex scenes. Definitely for 18+ with the descriptions given.