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Opal
- GEM, Book 1
- Narrated by: Maria McCann, James Cassidy
- Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
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Opal
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Summary
GEM agent, Opal’s strengths are adaptation and infiltration. Assigned to go undercover at a youth center when several teenagers disappear, she’s shocked to recognize a ghost of her own traumatic past at the helm. However, her worry for the missing kids is greater than her concern being recognized and she risks her own safety to discover the truth.
To complicate matters, an FBI agent with the Child Abduction Rapid Deployment team she’s worked alongside before, shows up conducting his own investigation and almost blows her cover. It takes some convincing, and cooperation is reluctant at first, but the common goal sways them to join forces.
Working together to uncover an organized group of child molesters, they find themselves falling—for each other.
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GEM: a privately-funded organization operating independently in the search for—and the rescue and recovery of—missing and exploited children. Although at times working in conjunction with law enforcement, GEM aims to ensure the victims receive justice…by whatever means necessary.
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What listeners say about Opal
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- jd66
- 28-01-24
Compelling story
Wow what a way to start a new series. Ms Barker often writes very intriguing and compelling stories. This is hard at times especially this book with the subject matter . Fortunately she handles the delicate nature with compassion understanding and we don’t get too many details this, I find important. these characters have been through so much and the storytelling is wonderful. The ancillary characters just add to the overall feel of the story. The narration was spot-on. It totally makes the book come alive. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Shaz
- 17-01-24
WOW! Just WOW
If you love a strong female character, then this book is for you. Opal's story has some confronting parts to this story but it all works so well. There were several twists and turns and I enjoyed the suspense.
I love Opal's strength and determination and also seeing her softer side. Mitch was perfectly imperfect and their relationship was heartfelt. The way they came together was just brilliantly written.
The narrators are new to me and did a good job with this book. I enjoyed their performance.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- PATRICIA
- 29-02-24
Such gorgeous GEMS!
There is a reason Freya Barker is a go to listen for me, and this book just reinforces it! Opal is the first book in her GEM series and it's the perfect mix of romance and suspense. I especially love it because her couple is not fresh out of the gate, but has some experience behind them too! Opal is on a mission to find missing girls only to find out the FBI is getting involved too. Mitch comes to the youth center where Opal is working under cover, and while her disguise is good, he recognizes her and the two have their mission melded together. Now to break out and find who is the mastermind and save the girls. Mitch is very much by the book while Opal is one to do whatever it takes to get the information needed. It's push pull at work and they find out it's the same in the bedroom. Feelings are sticky when it comes to this kind of work, but these two are all in for the ride. I am loving the start of this series and cannot wait to hear Pearl and Onyx's books!
Maria McCann and James Cassidy are the story tellers for this book and boy do they tell the story! McCann is Opal, all attitude and determination. She brings out her toughness and then gives her a little of a soft side at times. Perfect to match her personality. Cassidy is Mitch, and his emotional side is so good! Mitch tends to get his heart tied up in cases when he sees the tragedy of it, and Cassidy keeps him strong with that touch of tenderness. Love these two together and loved their performance.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bette
- 12-01-24
Fantastic Story, Characters & Listen🎧 Gemtastic!
Freya Barker is back with another amazing series and I loved everything about it, from her impressive writing style to the intriguing characters and storylines she created to the perfectly cast narrators who bring it all to life from the pages to your ears. I also love what GEM is all about and their mission to search, rescue and recover missing and exploited children using any means possible AND for going after the bad guys that are responsible. This first book is Opal’s story, it also lays down the foundation for the series, introducing you to the key players of the GEM team, including Opal’s partners, Onyx and Pearl, all handles, to protect their real names, Kate, Janey and Raj. The three have history and go way back to when they were teenagers grouped together at a foster care transition house where they bonded over a traumatic experience. Opal is the chameleon of the three and is adaptable changing her appearance to fit in everywhere, which makes working uncover easy and gets underestimated because of how she appears. GEM is called in to investigate a youth center in Kentucky after several teenagers disappeared. Opal gets a job at the center while working undercover to investigate the allegations, unbeknownst that the FBI were called to. FBI Agent Mitch Kenny and his team were also looking into the missing children, when he arrives at the youth center he recognizes Opal, whom he encountered at another missing child call, he did not break her cover, but he would catch up with her after to find out what she was up to. Turns out the two have a common goal and decide to work together. Mitch has to do everything by the book while GEM uses any means possible to gain information, sometimes crossing into gray areas. I absolutely loved how everything played out in this book, the writing, plot and world building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development, It was great to watch Opal do her thing, then watch her and Mitch’s relationship grow and morph into something more, the chemistry between them was ignitable and could not be denied, they were so good together and for each other. It was also great watching them investigate the case and race against the clock to find those missing teens. And then add in a twist that brings the case closer to home. This amazing romantic suspense is captivating from start to end and has the perfect balance of drama, angst, mystery, twists and turns, thrilling suspense, heartfelt emotions and steamy romance. Freya Barker, thank you for another wonderful story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧 And for fantastic narration, Maria McCann and James Cassidy were the perfect cast to bring these characters and story to life. They did a great job portraying the characters, giving each a voice that was fitting and believable. McCann nailed it as Opal, grasping every aspect of her personality, her strength, determination and bad@ssery. Cassidy’s Mitch was spot on, swoon worthy, protective, caring and a bad@ss in his own rights. Both were just as great performing the roles of all the secondary characters, too. They set the right tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling them all. These entertaining storytellers are a pleasure to listen to and their narration elevated the story to another level. Thank you for this fabulous listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lynne Kerr
- 27-01-24
A GEM of a read - excellent start to this series.
Freya Barker’s newest series GEM starts with OPAL. As always, Freya's characters and storylines are well thought out. Taking in these new characters, emotions start the reader feeling for Opal -aka Kate– straight away as your heart is pounding when you realise what she’s gone through to get to where she is today. GEM is a privately funded company whose sole focus is search and rescue and this book is huge roller coaster of gasps as she and the team search for missing and exploited children.
Opal meets FBI agent Mitch Kenny whilst looking for a boy who has gone missing after leaving school. Mitch totally underestimates Opal but very quickly proves what she is capable of…. when they meet again unexpectedly, Mitch manages not to blow her cover. Straight away this book draws you in and find yourself turning the pages to find out what happens next. Yes, there’s an attraction between the two but it’s not acted on for quite a while as the mystery constantly twists and turns at a fast pace. As a couple you cheer for them, even though there are hiccups and misunderstandings, their passion for their work is a way of life for each of them. There’s a sort of story cliff hanger which leads nicely into the next book Pearl.
If you love Freya’s books as I do, you won’t be disappointed in starting this series, absolutely brilliant read. Excellent narration bringing this book to life.
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