Homebound

A Heartbound Novel, Book 1

By: Alyssa B. Cole

Narrated by: Em Barger

Abby Doyle is perfectly fine without a soulmate. Her parents have matching soulmate Marks and their marriage definitely isn't great, so she's content living Markless with her boyfriend in New York. Sure, she might have slight self-esteem and anxiety issues, but hey, she's getting by.

Until she receives a Mark, and he doesn't.

After that devastating blow, Abby returns to her hometown of Lake Redwood, Minnesota. There she reconnects with her older sister's best friend, Ethan Perry - who also happens to be Abby's childhood frienemy and middle school crush. He's annoyingly wonderful, and still out of Abby's league. And apparently, he is also Marked.

Can Abby find a place where she belongs and allow herself to be loved?

©2019 Alyssa B. Cole (P)2020 Alyssa B. Cole

Sweet & fun!

Do you think your soulmate it out there? Abby is happy with her boyfriend, and since neither has received their soulmate mark is thrilled to know she can be with her love. Until one night when the mark appears on her and not on him. Now she is home, as the two come to terms with this, and is able to hang out with her sister, Beth and her sister’s best friend, Ethan. Ethan has recently returned from the military, helping his ailing mother and is the one that Abby has always loved to hate. This enemies to lovers story is beautifully told in an original way. It shows that there is someone for everyone, that what you see as flaws may be what someone finds attractive. Abby and Ethan are regular people, with flaws they find unlovable, but are really the things that make them unique. And the mark may be the push that they need.

Narrated by Em Barger, the story flows. This is my first narration by her, and she has distinguishable voices and brings out the insecurities and true passion the characters have. She includes just the right amount of angst, and adds a thread of familiarity with her voice. I will be looking for other performances by her.

Blah

Abby and Ethan’s story was way to redundant for me. It just kept going in circles. I truly enjoy Alyssa Cole’s books but the way it was read was very stop and go and at parts it felt like it was skipping parts or not completing the chapters. Abby was undecided the entire story until the end which made this a hard listen. It might have been a better read if the narrator hadn’t read it so choppy or if Abby and Ethan’s relationship didn’t seem super juvenile the entire book. I like the soulmate concept but the storyline needed some work for me.

Beautiful Story

This was a beautiful story about second chances and love and it captured my interest from the very beginning.  The storyline was well-written and the characters were well-developed and endearing and you can't help but fall in love with them. A very nicely told, unique enemies to lovers story that had me completely engrossed and I became invested in Abby and Ethan's story. The narration was well done and it was easy to imagine each character as the narrator portrayed them.


I received a complimentary copy from StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving my review. 

Good Story!!!!

I had some what mix feelings for this audiobook. I really liked the story, but the end part, ended so quickly like it needed more. Unless their story continues to book 2. Overall it’s a good book.

marked love

Can Abby return to her hometown to meet her soulmate, the one with the same mark that she just got? she doesn't believe in it after seing their parent's marriage fall apart from the beginning. sweet love story