My effin' heart!

I'm so glad I purchased he audiobook even after I read Ruckus. LJ Shen is one amazing author who knows how to write stories that dig into your heart and stay there. She can create the most 'Vicious' (yes pun intended) character and you'll still fall in love. When she wrote Dean and Rosie's story, she for sure wanted to make her readers cry like freakin babies! I read the book but getting to hear the narrators, who've done an amazing job, really did a number on me. Shen's books are always worth the purchase and if you haven't yet, do it! 5 explosive stars for Ruckus! Can't wait for Scandalous!!!

12 people found this helpful

Loved the story and narrators

This was a wonderfully funny, emotional book. I absolutely love LJ Shens writing style. The banter between the Hot Holes, especially Vicious and Dean is hilarious. I can't get enough of this series. All book I've read/listened to by this author have been repeat reads so far. Love love love!

8 people found this helpful

This story almost broke me!

I started this Audiobook immediately after I finished Vicious. Because my need was so great it could not be ignored. And I was in the middle of a four hour drive and it kept me entertained. I was thoroughly exited when I discovered that Christian Rummel was narrating again. As I mentioned in my review for Vicious, after only one performance he has claimed a spot as a top favorite male narrator. Christian, if you're reading this, I'm DYING for you to narrate more romance! I'll one click them ALL! I really liked Savannah Peachwood in Vicious, but her performance in Ruckus really endeared her to me. She did a spectacular job of portraying not only Rosie's character, but the raw emotion as well.

Ok, so about the story. If you listened to Vicious, you caught a glimpse of Rosie and Dean. But there is so much more to know! They have secrets! Dirty, flirty, heartfelt secrets. If I thought that Vicious pushed me to the limits of my sanity, I was so very wrong. I had no idea just how close I could get to losing my mind until near the end of Ruckus. Leigh Shen, you naughty, naughty girl. I almost had an adult sized temper tantrum. You tricked me, and I LOVED it! Well played you evil genius. Well played! End result of this audiobook? I have yet to find a story and narrators that live up to the performances and emotions this series has evoked in me. I'm DYING for the next book in this series! Book hangovers are real.

12 people found this helpful

worth reading but not LJ’s best work.

I enjoyed this book but I didn’t love it. I liked Rosie’s character. Shes strong, Independent, knows what she wants, and holds her family together.

I didn’t like Dean. I didn’t like the “manwhore” thing and I didn’t like how they portrayed him as a good guy in the first book but jerk in this book. I also didn’t like how they made Rosies family look. In book one they were very loving and sweet and loved Dean. In book two they hate Dean and they are controlling and judgmental. I cant believe that the same please who loved Vicious would not like Dean. They also made Em look weak and a little dumb. There was deans parents. I have a very hard time understanding his dad’s motives and actions towards the end of the book. It just didn’t make sense.

Overall the beginning was slow and awkward. The middle was great and fast passed. The end was slow and drawn out.

Bottom line…worth reading but not LJ’s best work.

5 people found this helpful

A HIGHLY ENTERTAINING HOT HOLES AUDIO LISTEN!

Would you consider the audio edition of Ruckus to be better than the print version?

Yes

What other book might you compare Ruckus to and why?

None. It's a true original.

Have you listened to any of Christian Rummel and Savannah Peachwood ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my first audio listen from them and it was awesome!

Any additional comments?

L.J. Shen sure knows how to scintillate and RUCKUS was one wildly intense ride!!

I have to say that the male narrator Christian Rummel is a REVELATION!!!! He personated Ruckus to T and had me giggling like a schoolgirl and panting shamelessly throughout!!! His inflections were spot on and I also loved the distinct voices he took on for the various hot holes. I also thought he did a commendable job depicting the female voices too. As for the female narrator, I enjoyed the soft, breathless quality to Savannah Peachwood's voice which seemed to suit the heroine well! And I thought she emoted beautifully infusing the character of Rosie with spirit, sass and aching vulnerability too.

L.J. Shen is one of my all time fave authors and her natural born talent ALWAYS shines through but it took me a little longer than her previous books to get swept up in the story because this romance was definitely a slow build. There was a lot of push-pull throughout which had me a tad frustrated but once Rosie end Dean finally get together there are FIREWORKS galore and the sex scenes are deliciously filthy and smoking hot!! The second half of the book was my favorite, where all the romantic angst and passion and emotional peril comes to a head and from that point on I was ENRAPTURED!! There were some shocking plot twists that I never saw coming that gave me literal CHILLS, and I also think the author did a commendable job of depicting a heroine with a chronic illness who's determined to live life on HER terms! The existential soul-searching snippets with Rosie and her therapist resonated deeply, and my heart ached for this sassy spitfire whose future was so uncertain. I also appreciated that while Dean refused to treat Rosie like a China doll, he never once gave up on his girl. His love and devotion toward her, in his own wildly dysfunctional and crazy passionate way, was extremely touching! He was FAR from perfect, but as it turned out, he was perfect for "Baby LeBlanc."

Finally, it goes without saying that the most entertaining moments in this book were the exchanges between Dean and his fellow Hot Holes, especially the razor sharp banter with the delightfully devilish Vicious, which was an absolute RIOT!

Bottom line: Despite the slow burning romance and sometimes stagnant plotline, L.J. Shen’s Naughtylicious Hot Holes, the witty, acerbic humor, and sizzling erotic encounters never failed to electrify. And once the book kicked into high gear there was a plethora of heart-tugging angst and eye-popping family drama that sure kept the adrenaline flowing!! And the epilogue with all the key players was PURE PERFECTION (and yes, I even shed a tear or two.) Now I am very much looking forward to seeing Trent's story unfold in the upcoming Sinners of Saint standalone, SCANDALOUS, which I have a gut feeling is going to shred my heart!

4 people found this helpful

5 Let's Start a Ruckus Stars

I've read it before, but I couldn't resist the audio. I couldn't resist the allure of Dean Cole and Rosie. I couldn't resist the bad boy vibes and the good ol' boy appearances. I couldn't resist the pain and the hurt and the vivid imagery that only LJ Shen can create.

If I thought I was in love with Dean before, I'm head over heels in love with him after hearing this audio.

Dean and Rosie get all the stars. And I officially can't choose between these HotHoles. Each is amazing in his own right.

3 people found this helpful

Hoping this is not where the story ends

I enjoyed both Vicious and Ruckus. Both have likable characters, good storylines and hot scenes. I hope that Ms. Shen is working on a follow-up because there is much more of the story that can be told.

3 people found this helpful

oh, my heart

It's stories like this that remind me why I love romance books. This one tore my heart in two and put it back together. The Narrators were phenomenal in bringing to life LJ Shen's words.
If you don't read any other book in this series, definitely read or listen to this one... (although you would be missing out on some really great stories about horrible guys who really are good underneath it all).

2 people found this helpful

Awesome Narrators!

This was my favorite book so far of the series. Narrators did an excellent job! Loved the story of Rose and Dean. A Romeo and Juliet love story. LJ Shen is an awesome writer!

2 people found this helpful

Unexpected turns

I love this series. I enjoyed the twists in the story I didn't see coming. Highly recommended.

2 people found this helpful