Keeping You Away cover art

Keeping You Away

Tyler & Gemma, #1 (Lawton Ridge Duet Series, Book 1)

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Keeping You Away

By: Kennedy Fox
Narrated by: Lia Langola, Tor Thom
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About this listen

I never planned on returning to Alabama, but circumstances brought me here after years of being gone. Though Lawton Ridge is my hometown, I was hesitant to go back because of her - my sister’s best friend. The last time we were together, she was 18, and I was a broken soldier transitioning to civilian life.

Gemma wrote to me while I was overseas and we developed a bond I hadn’t anticipated. I crushed her heart the day I left, something I’ve never forgotten. But now that her dad is my new boss, life just got way more complicated.

Too sweet, too innocent, too good for a guy like me - I should walk away again.

After serving five years in prison for something I didn’t do, I trust no one, but Gemma gradually breaks down my walls and exposes the pain I’ve hidden underneath. For her own sake, I should keep my distance, but it’s nearly impossible when I hear her sweet humming while I work and she slowly draws me back in. It’s a battle I didn’t train for, and one I’ll lose if I don’t keep my restraint - especially since she’s engaged to another man.

Keeping You Away is a slow-burn, angsty second chance romance with lots of small-town, Southern drama. It's book one in the Tyler & Gemma duet and must be listened to first.

©2020 Kennedy Fox (P)2020 Kennedy Fox Contemporary Contemporary Romance Romance Romantic Suspense Suspense Heartfelt Exciting

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All stars
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Keeping You Away is one of those stories that had an interesting start off. It was definitely good enough to make you want to keep listening. But the more you listen, the more it builds. And the more dragged into the plot I was.

I especially liked Tyler. He might have had a rough past but I was actually really enjoying learning more about him. It took me a moment to warm up to Gemma, but as the story went on I started to connect with her too. I loved this small town with everyone who knows everyone, but as expected it also had its issues. And there was just so much more going on then I initially expected.

The narrators for this were great. The deep tone of Tor Thom seemed to fit really well with Tyler and Lia Langola really brought Gemma to life.

And then that ending!!!! I desperately need book two to find out what happens next.

My Thoughts on Keeping You Away

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Kennedy Fox does it again! This team had me at the very start of this story when I heard Tyler and Gemma exchanged letters. There is nothing more romantic than writing to the one you love. Tyler is the brother of Gemma's best friend. Starting out as friends, their letters were friendly banter but as time went on turned romantic. When Tyler came home, they spent the summer together. Then everything changed. After years of being heartbroken, Gemma finally gets her life together, engaged and ready to start her new life. Until a new employee starts in her father’s garage. Tyler is back, and he is ready to get his life back on track. What is Gemma going to do? Is this the second chance of a lifetime? I loved this first part of their story. It is fiery passion, uncertainty, frustration and just enough angst to keep things real. Tyler has had it tough and you can feel his need to get back to some normalcy. He has a warm personality, though at times a little jaded, but he is easy to love. Gemma is overly cautious. Her heart at stake, she isn't easily won over, will these two get their second chance at love? Left on a cliffhanger, I have to get book up and queued to know where these two end up. I am invested in their outcome and can't wait to see what happens,

To make this book even better, Lia Langola and Tor Thom act out this story giving us an amazing performance. Langola emotes everything Gemma is feeling from excitement of being near Tyler to the fear of losing love again, Thom captures Tyler's personality perfectly. He brings his warm baritone voice out with a slight edge of sarcasm at times, but his passion for Gemma is always evident. This team understands their characters and gives a wonderful performance.

Swoon....

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Wow, good Lord, Tyler… what a man! He’s got it hard for Gemma. I do feel like I’m missing something… I’m thinking we get more of a beginning in Liam and Maddie’s story. I still feel like I got their story… don’t get me wrong but I know I’m missing a bit more. Anyways, my point in mentioning that is to recommend that you start at the connected books first. I bet it will make it a crazy rounded story. As it is, I totally plan on getting all the audios and listening to all of the stories! I like this group of friends though. They’re all honest and real. There’s a love there, a friendship that I can feel in the words. Kennedy Fox has a way of bringing romance out as well as the humor and fun.

Lia Langola and Tor Thom really brought Gemma and Tyler to life. The narrators really brought out the struggle, the push/pull struggle they had. I could definitely see Thom “being” Tyler. He has that real strong voice that really reminds me of a military man… I know, I’m totally being clichéd. I can’t help it. I enjoy a good strong voiced man. We can’t forget about Lia Langola now, can we. Langola brought Gemma to life so vividly. I felt her anxiety over her feelings with Tyler. I’m eagerly, LIKE EAGERLY, awaiting the next book.

You can't keep me away from book 2!!

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I love this author duo. I'm a bit behind on their backlist so this is my first meeting with Tyler. But MAN I loved him. This ticked so many boxes for me. Second chance romance, longing, best friends brother and on and on.

There was so much tension and intrigue in this and I was on the edge of my seat. And I loved how Tyler and Gemma try to keep away from each other. I CANNOT wait for book 2. As for the narrators, I cannot get enough of Tor Thom's voice. And Lia Langola once again brought Gemma to life in a way only she can.

I volunteered to review an advance copy of this. All opinions are my own.

I cannot wait for book 2

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I’m a sucker for romances centering around an ex-convict. Add to that being a broken soldier who was incarcerated for something he didn’t do and it being a story penned by Kennedy Fox, whose heartfelt stories I’ve come to love, and KEEPING YOU AWAY was a no-brainer for me. I HAD to read it!

Tyler is a wonderful hero – compassionate and kind, loyal and honest. A good guy to the bone – no matter that his record (falsely) says otherwise. And Gemma … she is his younger sister’s best friend and the first girl he truly loved – before all hell broke loose. Now he’s back – and she is about to marry another man …

Off the charts palpable chemistry and sexual tension, and bone-deep-seated longing make for one intense and angsty slow burn second chance romance – it’s beautiful. And if that weren’t enough, there are also flashbacks in the form of letters Gemma and Tyler exchanged while he was in the military, which provide even more swoon-material.

Stories like this one are the reason why I love romance so much – and I can’t wait to pick up NEEDING YOU CLOSE – the conclusion of their story.

Love, love, love!

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Keeping You Away – Kennedy Fox – 4 stars

Keeping You Away by Kennedy Fox is book one in the Ex-Con duet series. This book follows Tyler and Gemma and if you’re a fan of Kennedy Fox you will have met them before in Always Mine and Always yours series. Although this book is a stand-alone, I find the aforementioned book to be insightful and would help readers understand these characters that little bit more. I listened to the audiobook of this novel and with Lia Langola and Tor Thom as the narrators this book delivered on the heat level. The narrators were easy to listen to and only enhanced this story for me. The book was a whirlwind and the chemistry between Tyler and Gemma is hot! The main characters dynamic changes as the story progress, however, their connection throughout is noticeable and one you know won’t be forgotten. The secondary characters only added to this book and their friendships and banter was engaging and a welcome addition. The story was amazing, however, I did find at times it was rather slow progressing, although it leaves you on the edge of the seat Kennedy Fox delivered on all levels. I can’t wait to see where Tyler and Gemma end up and if the secondary characters will get their own books!

Enjoy Everyday,
Ebook Enthusiast 

Give me book 2

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There has always been something standing between Tyler and Gemma whether it was his military career, the aftereffects of his military career or how he found himself falsely imprisoned. He believes that she deserves so much more than he could ever give her especially now that she is engaged. Even though he has returned to his hometown and is working for her father he doesn’t believe that she could ever forgive him for the mistakes of the past.

Gemma has left Tyler in her past and is now planning a future with another man. After the pain he caused her she would prefer that he stayed in the past but what she hadn’t expected was that time and distance hadn’t diminished the chemistry between them but she has moved on with her life, hasn’t she?

Both Gemma and Tyler are compelling characters and this story takes you on an emotional journey that leads up to a cliffhanger which has us wondering what the future holds for this couple. I thought that the narrators did a great job with the angst and emotion of the story.

Tyler and Gemma!

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Wow, I listened to that in one sitting. While it was a slow burn I didn't think it was slow or missing anything. You will probably be wondering what is wrong with Gemma because how can you not see what's going on but it doesn't make you hate her. Thought Tyler was awesome. Excellent character development and interesting side characters that I can't wait for more from everyone. I did not know about Tyler's backstory but I'm gonna have to go back and listen to Liam and Maddie's story right away. Lia Langola and Tor Thom were excellent choices for narrators - both were fabulous.

excellent beginning to duet and series

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This first part of a duet starring Tyler and Genna, brings us s second chance romance woven into a story which builds up its layers slowly but very surely, right up to the last word! Lia Langola and Tor Thom bring the story to life with confidence and style and add to the sense of a slowly unwinding story which becomes increasingly tense. In this sense it almost lulls you into a false sense of security before ramping up the tension from both Tyler and Genna's points of view. I found myself wanting to shout at Genna to dump creepy Robert asap! 🤣 I am now very keen to finish this story! 💖💖💖💖💖

Fabulous!

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This is my first introduction to Gemma and Tyler and overall I loved their story. It's a second chance romance at heart but with angst oh the angsty goodness. They met and had one summer together years ago, then Tyler left and broke Gemma's heart. Now he's back in town working for her Father and Gemma is now engaged to a much older successful businessman named Robert.

I loved the slow burn chemistry and confusion of feelings that are explored between them as both Hero and heroine try to build a working relationship and a friendship without igniting any old feelings they have buried. This is Kennedy Fox so of course things aren't that straight forward. Tor Thom and Lia Langola work really well together and portray the growing friendship and push and pull between the two MC's wonderfully. We get bits and pieces of Tyler's past slowly being unveiled and seeping into the story line that your suspicions rise that this is soon going to play a bigger part in this duet than expected. The other plot line that kept my attention was Gemma's stilted relationship with her fiancé Robert. He's a man that wants her to be a typical Stepford wife and that just isn't Gemma. As the distance grows between them, her feelings for Tyler begin to fill the cracks and then the tension just builds and builds.

The one stumbling block for me was I really feel like I needed to have read previous books to appreciate all the characters here especially Tyler. The story is told in such a way that made me feel I should know who characters are, know Tyler's past, understand established friendships. Yes this is Book 1 in Tyler and Gemma's relationship, yes I don't think I have missed to much in terms of their interactions. For me personally I am such a stickler for reading interconnected standalones in order that not having all that information, feeling like I was missing something just didn't sit right. It didn't take away from the story; but I think I would have been more immersed in this book if I had read the books that connect to this one, rather than wondering about each character I meet in Tyler's circle of friends.

All that said I am just as curious to find out what is going to happen as the twists and mystery built up towards the end of this first book and I want to see how it's all going to turn out.

mixed feelings on this one

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