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Sparrow
- Narrated by: Michael Pauley
- Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Thriller & Suspense
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Summary
Troy Brennan:
Every Southie in Boston knows that name. The son of a dead mobster. The heartthrob with steel-blue eyes. "The Fixer" who can make or break you in this city. Oh, and my new husband.
Sparrow Raynes:
That's me. No one seemed to remember my name up until he barged into my life. But then he caged me. Kidnapped me. And killed every chance I had to run away from the place where we grew up. Put simply, Troy Brennan clipped my wings. I have dreams, big ones, but I doubt he'll ever let me chase them. I have no idea why he decided to take me as his wife. But I do know this: pissing off this man will not do me any good. At all.
Sparrow is a standalone, full-length novel. It contains graphic violence and adult situations some may find offensive.
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What listeners say about Sparrow
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Sawyer
- 22-01-18
LOVED IT!! soo gripping!
another fantastic read by L.J. Shen! loved this book, loved Sparrow & Troy, both are so funny and loveable. i would like a second book
3 people found this helpful
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- Lo
- 05-10-16
A Great Listen
This is a great story.
My only problem is I wish there was a female narrator as well as I think that would've of added to this audiobook.
2 people found this helpful
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- Tired NHS and social care nurse
- 17-03-19
Why only the male voice
While I do enjoy the books by this author, I truly don’t understand why only a male was used for both Troy and sparrow, for me it reduced the ability to get lost in the story and distinguish between dialogue
1 person found this helpful
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- Jules
- 13-03-19
AMAZING!!!
The intensity it brings when you listen is ten fold compared to the ebook and thats all down to Michael pauley, he was amazing, he brought the characters to life. I loved it!!
1 person found this helpful
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- Vanessa
- 15-08-20
Great Story, Less Great Vocal performance
The narrator didn't have clear male/female voices and at times, it was hard to tell who was who, but overall still worth the listen if you don't hate the Boston accent ;)
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- Nameless Jo
- 04-07-20
Don’t read the description just read the book
I NEVER review books but this one was such a surprise I simply had to. I read the description and was totally underwhelmed but there were so many good ratings that I found it rather baffling how anyone can find this even remotely ok so I decided to give it a try. I’ve never been so wrong in my life and pleased about it. This book kicks behind of all the other books I read by the same author. It’s totally worth reading. The heroine is not a pushover (major bonus), the hero is not exactly black and white and the story just gets better by a minute. I want a film!
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- Books Know No Age
- 23-05-20
couldn't stop listening
I loved every minute if this, I'm a fan of L j Shen so this was an added addition to my love affair with her work, it was made extra amazing by the readers who grew on me throughout the book
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- mikki100
- 13-05-20
Enjoyable
Sparrow is a feisty, sharp witted woman who is marrying Troy, son to one of Boston's notorious mobsters. I'm a sucker for mobster dark romance and this one ticks all the boxes. The plot isn't original but well executed with an anti hero who is more anti than hero, but it still works. It was refreshing that Sparrow wasnt a spineless wallflower either.
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- For Old Times' Sake
- 28-03-20
A favourite story, by one of my favourite authors
I have read this book several times and took the opportunity this time to listen to the book on audible. I thought it was a great adaption in audio, and Michael Pauley completely captured the spirit of this story for me. I love the way LJ Shen writes. Her characters are sparky and witty and this gives her plots alot of energy. Additionally her characters have blurry lines with their motivations, honesty, their emotions and this all made for a very entertaining listen in my view. I want to also add that this book had a particular part in it that was just filled with energy and emotions and I found so powerful and where the balance of the relationship was completely teetering on edge. It was just superb. I would recommend this to anyone who likes contemporary/ mafia/ bad boy romances. I hope readers enjoy the tale of Sparrow and Troy as much as I did.
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- W.M.
- 24-10-18
I'm gonna miss...
...the characters in this book and the superb narration by Mr. Michael Pauley. Oh, I'm gonna miss your voice! I would certainly listen to a follow on story, should the author feel inspired to let these people live a little longer...L.J. Shen landed in my world during a sci-fi binge. I never read books like this! But, now I do...
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- Julie Dean
- 29-06-16
Surprisingly fantastic
This book surprised me. I wasn't sure about it after reading the intro, but it was such a beautifully twisted story that I listened to in one night. I thought it was fantastic. I am a huge reader and audible listener, so I am extremely picky on what books I like. This is one of my favorites by far. I recommend this book. I was sad when it was finished.
55 people found this helpful
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- Lydia Rella
- 26-06-16
Fantastic gritty romance with amazing narration!
Wow, wow, wow!! I just finished this audiobook and it was INCREDIBLE! It's been a while since I've listened to a book that made me happy SoCal has such craptastic traffic. I just wanted to keep driving because the story is phenomenal and the narration is spellbinding.
L.J. Shen knocked this out of the park IMHO. If you like gritty romance novels, you need this book. This is no flowers and hearts story. Troy Brennan is an a-hole, but good luck holding on to your heart with him. Sparrow is an amazingly tough warrior of a heroine while still being fragile and broken. She may be one of my favorite book heroines ever.
The narration is done in a perfect Southie Boston accent and it took me a couple chapters to buy in and adjust. After that, I couldn't stop listening! Michael Pauley did an INCREDIBLE job. 😍😍😍😍😍
P.S. Not a cliffy, thank goodness!
54 people found this helpful
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- Carol
- 05-07-18
Hero is a Mean Selfish CHEATER
I have no problem with antiheros - they can be bada$$ and sexy and I can get past jerkiness. But Troy took it too far. Unbeknownst to Sparrow the word was put out that she was spoken for by Troy and any prospective boyfriends stayed away leading her to think there was something wrong with her. He wanted to marry a virgin made it clear he would be her only lover yet he kept a mistress. No he didn't rape her but considering the previously mentioned behavior I am not giving him any prize. In fact his behavior was so cruel that I found nothing attractive about him. I understand that some readers who finished the story think Troy redeemed himself but I could not stomach it and quit before completing the 5th chapter. This was a disappointing as I loved the other book by this author Midnight Blue.
11 people found this helpful
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- Sofia Talley
- 25-08-16
Don't let the innocent cover mislead you...
Perfection.
Funny, sexy, hot, unique, captivating and romantic in the best possible way!
The narration was great, although a dual narration would have been better.
The book:
• Contemporary • Standalone • Happily Ever After • First-Person Narrative • Her POV • His POV
The romantic theme:
• Mafia Romance • Outlaw Romance
The read:
• Page Turner • Made Me Laugh • Touching • Twists & Turns • Sexy • Provocative
Heat level:
• 3 / 5 (Includes hot and explicit sex scenes) • MF scenes • Dirty Talk • Vanilla Sex
Story ingredients:
• Cat And Mouse Games • Instant Clash • Witty Banter • Opposites Attract • Fake Marriage • Heroic Rescue • Big Secret • Billionaire Lifestyle • Mystery & Suspense • Violence • Brutality • Sexual Abuse
He is...
• Alpha Male • Bossy • Cocky • Possessive • Emotionally Unavailable • Hot • Fit • Billionaire • Manwhore • Bad Boy • Outlaw • Troubled Past
She is...
• Pretty • Sassy • Strong • Unconventional • Model Figure • Fit • Virgin • Troubled Past
58 people found this helpful
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- CAROLYN 🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹🔹
- 12-06-17
I SHOULD'VE KNOWN IT'D BE EPIC
Well, I may of been a year late to get to this awesome book.. but wow! I totally agree with the other reviewers.. this was a five star listen all the way. It was gritty, intense, and raw as alpha anti-hero Troy, the emotionally impotent Bostonian known as 'The Fixer', took the twenty-two yr old innocent daughter of one of his lower-level minions and made her his wife. There were reasons why this cold heartless ruthless villain did it and love definitely wasn't amongst them.. but few people knew his secrets and he wasn't about to spill everything to his virginal new bride.. Hell he didn't even like her. But the feisty strong-willed woman wouldn't show fear, wouldn't stop disrespecting him and wouldn't stop challenging him. So what's a bad-to-the-bone badass going to do.. he's patiently going to claim his wife, slowly succumb to her feisty ways, surprisingly look forward to their barb-filled push/pull relationship - and shockingly fall in love. But it won't be without drama, it won't be without tears and it won't be without bloodshed.
Sparrow didn't know why Troy Brennan, the feared son of a dead Irish Gangster, had chosen her.. she wasn't his type - he was gorgeous and she was plain - he was bad and she was good - he was sexually experienced and she wasn't - he never looked twice at her but she couldn't look away. Sparrow knew Troy had his reasons, his mistresses, his secrets, his dangerous business and his rules.. however what she naively didn't know was that she was going to change everything, she was going to make a cold-hearted villain thaw out.. and she was going to make him hers. But it won't be without drama, it won't be without tears and it won't be without bloodshed.
Over the year this fast-paced dual POV book has tempted me over and over again.. and now I'm kicking myself for waiting so long.. because now I know how good, how pulse-pounding, how exhilarating, how exciting, how addictive, how enjoyable and how beautiful an L.J. Shen book can be - and next time I definitely won't wait. There's character growth as they both learn how to trust, how to deal and how to love, there's sex but it isn't overused, there's a villain but they're in a sheep's disguise, there's suspense that'll leave you breathless.. and there's a love story that'll leave you wanting more. It doesn't take place over sweet diner dates, carefree movie nights or peaceful evenings in.. no, it's undiluted passion, it's seismic chemistry and it's raw desire that fuels the flames between these two opposing characters who only know war. It's a slow-build and no insta-anything.. but it was always their Fate to marry.. the question is - would it be their Destiny to stay together?
Worth a credit? Yes.. 100% YES. It's got a well written storyline that instantly grabbed me, held me in its tempting clutches and totally won me over as, chapter by chapter, it spoon-fed me its delicious delights. And Michael Pauley breathed life into its varied characters and made this listen memorable.
14 people found this helpful
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- 🎧 Cyndi Marie 🎧
- 20-07-16
Enjoyable!
This one is hard for me to review/rate because in the beginning I wasn't any more than interested in the story by the middle I was getting annoyed with the characters but by the end I truly liked the characters and how they had grown. So I'm giving 4 stars for the character growth and story line.
I enjoyed this book. The story line was pretty original which is a huge plus. It wasn't incredibly hot but it was angsty and suspenseful. The characters were a little rough, he is "mob" like and she is oh so sweet and innocent with a lot backbone. Once getting to see just how tough she really is, I still can't understand why she agreed to the arrangement so easily. He comes off as a complete jerk, but by the end of the book you can understand his reasoning for sure. I love that it is stand alone too!
I personally couldn't see the chemistry between these two until almost the end of the book. This is a hate-love romance which is usually one of my favorites but I needed a little more love or at least niceness between them to even begin to see where the love comes in. For example, the first time these two really even act like they like each other (besides their thoughts) was towards the very end when they are on the phone, they show a playful side towards each other that I needed to see before I decided that they even liked each other. I loved that scene because it was the first time in the book that either one of these characters really smiled and teased or even laughed.
The narration was 50/50 for me. I loved his voice for Troy with the great Boston accent. I didn't love his voice for Sparrow because it was almost exactly the same as Troy, there were a few parts that I was confused for a minute as to who was talking. I think Michael Pauley was great but I also think he needs to co-narrate with a female narrator.
20 people found this helpful
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- CCW
- 09-03-19
Horrible choice of narration
The story is average, but the performance ruined it. The story is from alternating POV between the two main characters, so the publishers should’ve had two actors alternating the reading. Instead, they have a male who can’t make a female voice. It was confusing at times which character was speaking/thinking. If it wasn’t for the male character’s Boston accent, it would’ve been impossible to distinguish the characters’ voices. Further, his Boston accent was awful (and I live in Boston!) and inconsistent.
4 people found this helpful
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- Linda
- 24-04-18
Worst book ever!
I have read almost 1300 audible books so have pretty good experience with this format.
I cant say anything except everything about this book was pathetic. The story, the terrible narration, the language, and the characters. Don't waste any money on this,.
4 people found this helpful
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- Ezinwanyi
- 16-05-17
Troy and Sparrow didn't feel real to me
The narrator's attempt at a Boston accent grated on my nerves. It went in and out but it just felt so forced.
In addition, I didn't click with Troy Brennan and Sparrow Raynes. I liked Sparrow because she dealt with the world on her own terms. Troy was kind of a dirty dog and I guess he did Sparrow a solid by handling an issue on her past that cause her a lot of pain. But Troy still toyed with her. He had been watching her for a long time and knew stuff about her. Plus, I can't get over that he gave her a weding gift picked out by his mistress, brought his mistress into their home and had relations with that crackhead whore, and he let Sparrow wear a dress he knew belong to his mistress to a public outing. That was so foul. Plus he kept that housekeeper. When a man lets his mistress get one up on his wife and a wife should never be blindsided by the sidepiece. So Troy got two middle fingers from me.
I never felt their attraction was anything other than a physical itch that each needed to scratch. It didn't feel like love or passion. It just didn't work for me like i was expecting. How the fixer just shared his business with that guy who took something that belong to him was also weak to me. I enjoyed the twist about bad guy more than anything. The bad guy laid his plan down so properly that it was a tad sad it didn't work.
The writing was okay but I wasn't feeling the couple's chemistry. I will try another book by this author to see if its the writing or just this story.
4 people found this helpful
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- Cheri
- 06-02-17
EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS!
This was an Amazing Story and Awesome Narration!
I love coming across an author who can take a plot, reinvent it, twist it, and make it feel fresh and original and L.J. Shen did just that! Sparrow was dark, raw, gritty, and intense! The spin she weaved from a mafia arranged marriage was outstanding. It's a well written story, that keeps the listener in suspense, with excellent dialogue between the characters. The characters were incredible, unique, flawed, and unapologetic. From the moment I started listening, I was a captive to the story, and hanging onto every word. I LOVED THIS AUDIOBOOK!
Michael Pauley did an outstanding job with the narration, especially all the dialogue between the characters.
I'll admit I committed the ultimate sin any listener or reader can make, I judged this book by it's cover, and skipped over it several times before deciding to give it a chance. This is a rememberable dark romance that rivals stories by A. Zavarelli, T.M. Frazier, Tillie Cole, M. Robinson, and is well worth a credit!
11 people found this helpful