Under the Influence Audiobook By L. B. Simmons cover art

Under the Influence

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Under the Influence

By: L. B. Simmons
Narrated by: Joe Arden, Maxine Mitchell
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Dalton, I loved you once. A love I thought irrevocable. A love I mistakenly believed could transcend both time and circumstance. Under the influence of my dimwitted, naïve, traitorous heart, I became intoxicated with what I now know was simply a figment of my self-indulgent imagination. So drunk on the feeling, I couldn't see what was right in front of my face. So foolishly enamored, I blindly followed my heart into the depths of an emotion that would ravage me. Years later, I know now what I wish I knew then. I am stronger. Smarter. Tougher. I will not allow myself to be broken again. I loved you. I raged for you. I wept for you. And now, I'm letting you go.

©2015 L. B. Simmons (P)2016 Tantor Coming of Age Contemporary Contemporary Romance Fiction Genre Fiction Romance Heartfelt
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This book... hours later, I’m still trying to process and formulate a proper review. LB Simmons has a way of drawing you in and making you live the life of these characters. I loved Spencer and her sassy and smart mouth ways. She was spunky and didn’t take any crap! Then there’s Dalton. While he was this bad boy, who did some very questionable things, you couldn’t help but love him. I also loved most of the secondary characters - Hello Kirk Lawson + Grady!

5 heart shattering stars

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Not really that well written. The narrators were great though. The story was had no meat.

Narrators saved this story

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I loved the story and the emotion was fantastic. The narration from Joe and Maxine was amazing as always! Great listen!

great story

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“ALL.THE FEELS ” in Caps!!
My first by her and I was overwhelmed by the intensity of emotions that swept over me. Like a cloud that stands on top pouring rain, It's slow in pace, so you feel the pain more. A hearttouching story of two kids that have endured abuse in childhood, saved by foster homes. They form an unlikely alliance, despite being from opposite sides of social spectrum.

“ You see, the day he showed up on our porch, something happened while we watched that first sunset together. I don’t know how or why or if I can even put it into words, but we were forever connected that day”

Dalton Greer and Spencer Locke are a uniquely crafted couple that hurt each other but save each other too. Their togetherness is creating problems because he sees himself on darkness and her light and he's scared his world will swallow her up.
And he has seen first hand what is done to his friends, that puts the fear of God in his being. Enough to break his own heart and Spence's in the process.

“ I want you Spence, but I can’t have you. I won’t allow it. You’re too good, too pure, too innocent, and just as your presence soothes me, mine will eventually flaw you. It’s inevitable, and I care too much for you to let that happen.”

The painful 5 years that follow will have you tearing up while clutching your heart. It seeps into every corner of your soul like the mold that asphyxiates. Dalton is in shadows, keeping watch from afar. But Spencer is once bitten twice shy. While he played sacrificial saint, she was on the floor collecting sharp, cutting shards of her being. Her blood and tears soaked every moment of her 5 years and she can't just ignore them away. He ahs to work his way to her, uphill, on his knees.
Time and fate doesn't let his path be thorns free. It's a rocky road back, strewn with lethal ammo.
Everything comes to a shuddering halt but it's cathartic to watch their HEA.
I liked the book but was too lengthy and slow for my loving.
Narration by Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell is as always top notch. Maxine has done a better job, in my opinion.
“4 stars Love is a stubborn thing, it seems, both in life and in death.”

“Love is a stubborn thing, it seems, both in life

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This heartbreaking yet beautiful love story starts off with a strong Prologue where a desolate 18 year old Dalton explains the hopeless world he lives in working as a lackey for a Crime Boss. There's no way out for him - his only solace is Spencer - the mere thought of her gives him warmth and relief in his otherwise cold loveless life. A childhood life filled with abuse, a life that never knew of kindness or caring and a life filled with lies, violence, greed and heartache because he knows that that's all there is for him. But his friendship with Spencer is everything to him - she came into his life when he was put in emergency Foster Care with her Counselor Mom and their bond solidified as they silently watched the setting sun go down from the steps of her house. He knows there's no hope for them, they're from different worlds, she's kind, good, forgiving, trusting, loyal, supportive, funny, beautiful.... and just a friend - but still he dreams..... and lies to protect her.

Spencer met Dalton when she was just 12 and he was a broken, dejected and annoyed 14 year old boy and that meeting forged an unbreakable bond between two soul-mates, two halves that made up one soul whose lives would go on to discover love, loss, heartbreak, pain, tragedy, forgiveness, redemption.... and love. But the story starts when Spencer is a happy 17 year old virgin however underneath she longs for more from her crush - the handsome and sexy 19 year old smiling Dalton who's again waiting on the steps where they first met. Completely unaware what bittersweet emotions lay in wait - emotions where she would touch the stars with happiness and love, hopeless emotions that would nearly break their bonds and tarnish that love and tender beautiful emotions that would slowly pieced back together her broken heart.

The Prologue gripped me.. but then the story starts with teens talking about Prom dates and my heart sank, my finger lingered over the stop button.... and yet the characters drew me in and then their devoted unconditional love for each other kept me riveted. It does span over five more years when Spencer and Dalton's love will be tested, falter and flicker.... but it'll never truly go out. This NA emotional roller coaster romance, with it's loving, loyal and caring couple - especially the Hero (who is sooo different from my usual Alpha bad boys) gripped me and, at times, I was sorely tempted to check for the HEA ending and then there were times where I just wanted to bask in its sweetness. However it wasn't all plain sailing because there was wrongs to right, murders to revenge, a Crime Boss to destroy, a reunion to be had, the truth to be revealed, forgiveness to be given.... and even more tears to be spilled before Spencer and Dalton got their HEA. Dual POV's (and occasionally the Crime Boss' thoughts and actions), some good secondary characters and the narrators did a great job and were perfect for this listen.

Worth a credit? As I said, it's really NA, but it's also heartwarming and heartbreaking too as true love battles Fate for their destinies. This was enjoyable and addictive with twists, secrets, danger, suspense and two sex scenes.... and YES it's worth a credit. BEWARE - re-lived memories of child abuse and one that was presently happening which was only brief (mental and physical but not sexual) which some listeners may want to avoid.

A POWERFUL JOURNEY OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

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This read had me. Spencer met Dolton as young children. Both have a horrible childhood. Dolton has himself involved in a bad life and had to disappear to make Spencer's life safe. This is where my heart started to crack and at times my tears flowed. I got really upset when Spencer went out on a date with a guy named Leum. My heart definitely broke here. But things change... and the ending is not what you expect. The narration was great .. I love Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden!!! I really enjoyed this read!

IS IT LOST LOVE?

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Good story. Writing on the length of time spent apart droned on. Could have been presented differently, as storytelling or shorten the reading. Otherwise was an interesting overcoming of a rocky start of life.

Interesting

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