“I’m falling in love with you,” I find myself whispering, drowning in his eyes.
Freya Barker
“I know,” he whispers back. “I promise it’ll be a soft landing; I’m already there, ready to catch you.”
10-Code
Format:
Audiobook
Note: At the time of this review, the audio is available in Audible Plus. The ebook is available in Kindle Unlimited.
Publisher’s Synopsis:
As a forty-one-year-old mother of three boys, working two jobs, Marya Berger doesn’t have the time or energy to consider a relationship.
Especially after a lifetime of poor choices in the romance department. But when the disappearance of a young boy strikes a little too close to home, and a younger man she’s tried to ignore offers his help, she doesn’t stand in the way.
Single father, Dylan Barnes, the junior member of the La Plata County FBI team at thirty-three, has his focus firmly on his job and his son, Max. He’s certainly not looking to complicate his life, when he finds himself at his son’s soccer game, sitting beside the spirited brunette he can’t get out of his mind. Fate, however, appears to have different plans.
When an unspeakable crime draws the attention of the FBI, Dylan finds himself torn between his job and his instinctive need to protect Marya and her boys.
Point of view:
1st person. Alternating between Marya & Dylan’s perspectives with a few chapters from
Rellim’s Thoughts:
This is the 4th & final book in the Rock Point series. While you don’t have to listen to the first three books to enjoy this, I’d recommend it. Especially since Marya has been around since book 1 (Keeping 6) and Dylan since book 2 (Cabin 12). Series is definitely best enjoyed in order.
Content Warning (contains spoilers):
Normally I put these at the end. However, kidnapping, sexual assault, & deaths of minors are pretty major themes throughout the book and will be discussed in my review. Please note that the book gets fairly detailed.
I’ve been looking forward to Marya finding a great man, especially after the events in Keeping 6. Dylan has been a great guy and after his fairly major part in the last book HWY 550, I was so excited to see him paired with Marya. As a single mom to three boys and single dad to one boy – this is more than a couple, it’s a merging of families. I really like the way Barker wrote these two and their sons.
While the relationship angst is fairly low – these two go through the ringer when a kidnapper and rapist is targeting boys the same age as their own children. Dylan and the rest of the Rock Point FBI are heavily involved in tracking down who is abducting these kids. Add in Marya’s ex suddenly showing up to try to gain custody and a former lover of Dylan’s stirring up trouble – I loved that this couple finds strength in each other and their budding relationship.
There’s a rescue scene mixed with both anticipation and anguish. Lots of unexpected surprises in a huge web of overlapping villains. Of course, there’s an HEA for Dylan, Marya and the boys, plus a lovely epilogue.
I just adored this whole series, the perfect narrator casting for each couple, and I’m really looking forward to listening to more of Barker’s backlist. Especially Arrow’s Edge MC.
Narration:
Again, casting for the couple is terrific. I enjoyed both Tad Branson and Mackenzie Cartwright. There’s lots of characters, especially children, in this one and both did a great job of giving everyone a unique sound. Great listen.
About the author:
USA Today bestselling author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
With forty-plus books already published, she continues to create characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy.
Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We’ve Read All Year Award for “Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, and Finalist for the 2020 Kindle Book Award with “When Hope Ends”, Freya spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!
You can connect with Freya Barker here:
About the narrator:
You can connect with Mackenzie Cartwright here:
My Favorite Quotes
The man is too young, too fit, too nice, and too good-looking. Did I mention young? – 10-Code by @freya_barker @audible_com #Audibook narrated by @xoxomackenziec & #TadBranson #RockPoint #RomanticSuspense #Over40 #FBI #Mystery #Thriller #SingleMom #SingleDad
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I’ve never quite understood the appeal of dry-humping, until meeting the firm bulge of Dylan’s femoral muscle. – 10-Code by @freya_barker @audible_com #Audibook narrated by @xoxomackenziec & #TadBranson #RockPoint #RomanticSuspense #Over40 #FBI #Mystery #Thriller #SingleMom #SingleDad
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No changing that boy’s mind once he figures out what he wants. – 10-Code by @freya_barker @audible_com #Audibook narrated by @xoxomackenziec & #TadBranson #RockPoint #RomanticSuspense #Over40 #FBI #Mystery #Thriller #SingleMom #SingleDad
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“I’m falling in love with you,” I find myself whispering, drowning in his eyes. “I know,” he whispers back. “I promise it’ll be a soft landing; I’m already there, ready to catch you.” – 10-Code by @freya_barker @audible_com #Audibook narrated by @xoxomackenziec & #TadBranson #RockPoint #RomanticSuspense #Over40 #FBI #Mystery #Thriller #SingleMom #SingleDad
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