Terri England

#Review “Tempered Dreams (Tempered Series Book 2)” (Audio) by Pamela S. Thibodeaux

~ Felicia Denise ~ 8 Comments

Audiobook Series Tour: The Tempered Series by Pamela S. Thibodeaux

TD cover_audio

Author: Pamela S. Thibodeaux

Narrator: Terri England

Length: 7 hours 15 minutes

Series: Tempered, Book 2

Publisher: Pamela S Thibodeaux Enterprises LLC

Released: Nov. 18, 2019

Genre: Inspirational Romance

Dr. Scott Hensley (introduced in Tempered Hearts) has built a wall around his heart since the death of his wife and parents. Katrina Simmons is recovering from scars inflicted on her as a battered wife. Can dreams be renewed and faith strengthened? Can they find joy and peace in God’s love and in love for one another?

Tempered Fire, Book #3 in the Tempered series is scheduled for release on audiobook this month.

Click here for a blooper reel from the upcoming release!

Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.” Sign up to receive Pam’s newsletter and get a FREE short story!

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Instagram

Terri England is a radio personality, podcast host and book narrator. She is the mother of two daughters and one very stubborn (but smart) Doberman named Jackles. She loves music, both stars (Wars & Trek) and is obsessed with the supernatural. In her own words, Terri is “a geek and proud of it.”

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook

 

4/5 Stars

I enjoyed this realistic story about a young woman’s battle to free herself from a life of domestic abuse.

After a car accident shatters her lifelong dream, Katrina Simmons ends her marriage. On his way to a job assignment, Dr. Scott Hensley happens upon the accident and assists until paramedics arrive.

Despite the wedding ring Trina wears, Scott is drawn to her and follows the young woman to the hospital. He slowly insinuates himself into her life. When he learns Trina filed for divorce, Scott is even more determined to be in her life and protect her.

Distrustful and suspicious, Trina pushes Scott away as she deals with husband, Jack Simmons, who contests the divorce and stalks Trina, making angry, threatening phone calls to her. When Jack’s anger explodes, Trina pays the price. However, Scott stays close, trying to win her trust.

Another abuser from Trina’s past deals a blow that changes her life forever and leaves her reeling. She’s at odds with everything and everyone in her life, including Scott, and knows she’ll find no peace or wholeness until she reconnects with her Catholic faith and feels forgiveness from God.

This poor woman went through it! The narrator did a great job with Trina’s feelings of shame, despair, and inadequacy. Trina had several setbacks—some of her own making—and they felt real, not forced or contrived.

Craig and Tamara Harris from book 1 show up for moral support and more. Tamara is the confidante Trina needs to discuss her sexual shame, but even more so is Craig and Tamara’s seventeen-year-old daughter, Amber, who’s the brightest light in this story. She’s got just enough teenage snark to drive her daddy crazy, an antagonistic but loving relationship with little brother, Ace, and is deeply rooted in her Christian beliefs enough to impart wisdom to Trina.

Scott is still as personable as he was in book 1, despite the years that have passed and the losses he’s suffered. I admired his commitment to stand by Trina but felt he was too intrusive and controlling inserting his will over hers. Tempered Dreams does a great job of the blending and acceptance of religions. But Scott’s little speech to the priest almost undid it all. Much respect to the priest for his metered words because I would have shown Scott the door. He also felt a bit hypocritical sharing scriptures with Trina to support her journey back to God in one scene, and his hands way too busy in places they didn’t belong on her body in the next. He and Trina both also seemed to equate good looks and a profession of faith with God’s perfection. Meh. Come out of the shallow end of the pool.  I don’t expect or need perfection from Christian characters because the journey is personal and ongoing, but it would be nice to have character I can depend on when human nature wants to run rampant.

It wasn’t easy listening to Trina’s journey. The depths of her anguish were heartbreaking because her internal battle with forgiveness and acceptance was just as difficult for her as the violence and loss that had dominated her life. But good writing, pacing, and narration enhanced her story to show a relationship with God isn’t a goal or destination but the journey itself.

Enjoy!

I volunteered to review this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Pamela S. Thibodeaux. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

The Tempered Series Giveaway: $25 Amazon Gift Card

Click here for the full 7-day schedule!

Plugging you into the audio community since 2016.

Sign up as a tour host here.

#Review “Tempered Hearts (Tempered Series Book 1) (Audio)” by Pamela S. Thibodeaux

~ Felicia Denise ~ 6 Comments

Audiobook Series Tour: The Tempered Series by Pamela S. Thibodeaux

Author: Pamela S. Thibodeaux

Narrator: Terri England

Length: 7 hours 30 minutes

Series: Tempered, Book 1

Publisher: Pamela S Thibodeaux Enterprises LLC

Released: June 10, 2019

Genre: Inspirational Romance

Rancher Craig Harris and veterinarian Tamera Collins clash from the moment they meet. Innocence is pitted against arrogance as tempers rise and passions ignite to form a love as pure as the finest gold, fresh from the crucible, and as strong as steel. Thrown together amid tragedy and unsated passion, Tamera and Craig share a strong attraction that neither accepts as the first stages of love.

Torn between desire and dislike, they must make peace with their pasts and God in order to open up to the love blossoming between them. It is a love that nothing can destroy when they come to understand that only when hearts are tempered, minds are opened, and wills are softened can man discern the will of God for his life.

Tempered Fire, Book #3 in the Tempered series is scheduled for release on audiobook this month.

Click here for a blooper reel from the upcoming release!

Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.” Sign up to receive Pam’s newsletter and get a FREE short story!

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Instagram

Terri England is a radio personality, podcast host and book narrator. She is the mother of two daughters and one very stubborn (but smart) Doberman named Jackles. She loves music, both stars (Wars & Trek) and is obsessed with the supernatural. In her own words, Terri is “a geek and proud of it.”

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook

 

3.5/5 Stars

A clash of personalities and wills before they’re even introduced sets the stage for the spirited relationship between Tamara Collins and Craig Harris.

She’s a young veterinarian trying to move on past tragedy and trauma, and he’s the grandson of the wheelchair-bound rancher who hired Tamara for the summer. Craig’s past is no less traumatic than Tamara’s, and part of the reason for his hard, gruff exterior.

Things don’t get any better after the couple is introduced. Craig is determined to run Tamara off until he witnesses her superior vet skills firsthand.

Tempered Hearts is well-written Christian Fiction and I applaud it for taking on the daunting subject of premarital sex. The story doesn’t shy away from difficult scenes, and they’re handled well. However, there were too many of them for me. How many times must one touch fire to know it’s hot?

The story worked best when this couple was talking, open and honest, without name-calling and attitudes. I got to see two people who cared for each other struggle with their own internal demons while each tried to get understanding from the other. And I cared.

But while I cared about those moments and their Christian journey, they were not my favorite people as individuals.

With her constant fits of attitude and name-calling, Tamara seemed more like a spoiled teenager than an accomplished medical professional. Craig’s irritable, grumpy chauvinist behavior was equally annoying. Their whole battle-of-the-sexes routine seemed over the top and outdated. Add the times she slapped him and he threatened to beat her, and I was eye-rolling myself into a migraine.

As a talented veterinarian trained in the care and breeding of animals, especially horses, Tamara’s naiveté about her own body and sexuality wasn’t realistic as her innocence was commented on often.

However, what kept dragging me out of the story was the constant references to Tamara’s looks. I don’t think there was a character in the story who didn’t say how beautiful she was… several times. They also spoke of her strong character and heart, but those comments were always prefaced with awe-struck statements of her outward appearance. It tainted the story with a shallowness I didn’t expect.

I did not dislike Tempered Hearts. I enjoyed the story and the realistic struggle of the Christian journey, but for me, the central characters transformed too quickly, shedding their flaws to come to understanding and a rushed ending.

I volunteered to review this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Pamela S. Thibodeaux. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

The Tempered Series Giveaway: $25 Amazon Gift Card

Click here for the full 7-day schedule!

Plugging you into the audio community since 2016.

Sign up as a tour host here.