The Saint (perfect title)

Ok so I am not sure if I like the beginning, I am starting to understand.
I love the stories of how she meets both Soren and Kingsley and how they become to be. I can’t get enough of that. I can see Soren’s thought processes and it makes so much more sense to me now.
Even Kingsley some of that is coming together more with each book, I can see why he needs both but he also needs something else and maybe that is what we will learn in the next book.

Overall I am glad we got these stories after the first 4 books it just puts things into perspective a little more and it helps to understand some of what happens in the books that have already happened.

Now this narrator nails the French and the accents the way I like to hear it. SO I am all for more of her!

10 people found this helpful

Finally a Performance worthy of the material!

What did you love best about The Saint?

I loved the beginning of Soren and Nora's story. I love this series and can't wait for the next book in The White Years to come out in December.

What did you like best about this story?

The narration was wonderful.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Soren comes to talk to Nora in jail.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Tiffany Reisz always makes me laugh and cry. She is one of my favorite authors.

9 people found this helpful

3 1/2 stars, Did I miss the point?

Let me start by saying that this is the only book, in this series, that I have read or listened to. I really sat and thought about this book before I wrote this review. I wanted to re-examine the story and try to figure out if I missed a deeper message. This is one book I wish I had a book club to discuss this novel with. The problem is that few people listen/ read as many books, or as fast, as I do. Here are my thoughts.
My simplest thought is about the narration. I usually prefer dual narration, always. However, E. Hart does a fantastic job, to include the male voices and the foreign accents.
The Characters: Eleanor or Nora, is emotionally scarred, in my opinion; severely. This is what makes her open to a relationship with her Priest. Although, the author does not make this a negative. Her writing seems, to me, to be supportive and positive towards this relationship. What message was the author sending? I really don’t know.
Soren(The Priest): The author try’s to present him as a loving, caring Priest. Really? In reality, he is severely emotionally disturbed; perhaps even suffers from multiple personality disorder. Granted, he was surrounded by sexual predators, as a child but, does that really make his behaviors Ok? He is even sexually active with his sister. He even suggests that this very inappropriate relationship is ok because the siblings had this relationship due to each of their histories of abuse. Really? I don’t get why the Author felt it necessary to make the Hero a Priest, let alone a Sadist that explains away incest. In addition, Soren maims his father, as punishment for the abuse against his own daughter. After that, Soren justifies his sexual exploits, while being a Priest and starts an inappropriate relationship with a 15 year old teenage girl. He is Critical about the Sexual abuse done against children, by other Priests, and even turns states evidence to see these Priests convicted. WTF, what is the author trying to say? Because Soren does lots of just things, his injustices should be overlooked? He does not actually have sex with Eleanor until she’s older but the future relationship is continually fostered, without sexual penetration. Double Standard Much? Is him being a Priest that has a history of incest with his sister, important to the message the Author is trying to convey? Or is this just for the shock value and the “taboo” effect? I can’t figure it out. Then, after declaring their love and total devotion to each other they casually participate in bizarre polyamorous relationships. “I’m marking you as mine but I’ll share you with anyone you choose.” For real?
I am as sexually open and non-judgmental as the next gal but these behaviors don’t make common sense to me and I can’t understand how this adds to the story.
I’ve always been able to understand the underlying message but, I’m totally lost, with this book/series and although there is a lot of raunchy sexual content, which I usually love, this content disturbs me more than entertains me. I doubt I will listen to any other books, in this series.-V from Kansas

3 people found this helpful

The education of Nora!

If you love Nora as much as I do, you will love her more after listening to The Saint. It is her beginning...you will laugh and cry and hold your breath at times. This is Nora and Soren from the start and it is so good!

6 people found this helpful

Ms Reisz keeps getting better

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

Elizabeth Hart is a great narrator. This audio version is sooo much better than reading, because I feel like I am in the room while Nora tells her story. It is so much more enjoyable to hear the accents and voice inflections than imagining it from words on a page. Also I can listen while driving, walking or doing repetitive work around the house. A good audio book makes mundane tasks so much more interesting and tolerable. Besides, no one knows what a great BDSM scene I just listened to while picking up veggies in the frozen food section. They probably think my sly smile is for the peas.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Saint?

I love everything about this book, but I loved Nora's speech near the end and the whole way Ms Reisz structured this book between past and present. She ended this book without ending the story brilliantly. Ms Reisz is a talented writer and is getting better with each book. I should be sick of these characters by the 5th book or the plot should be waning or the conflict contrived. But Nora and company just get more interesting, the plot more engrossing and the conflict so intoxicating that I can't wait to read/hear/know more. I must say it again - BRILLIANT.

What about Elizabeth Hart’s performance did you like?

Perfect

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes. Especially the at the end.

Any additional comments?

I want to hear more of it all.

5 people found this helpful

Ah-MAZE'ing

What did you love best about The Saint?

Niko and all this Sorren.
Also, I don't think this is a spoiler as it was such a small bit, but the part where Elle meets Lockland. "Everyone calls me Locky. Everyone but you. You call me, Sir." #gulp #chills

Who was your favorite character and why?

While I love Sorren - I find myself more drawn to the type of man Niko is. Which is more about personality and lifestyle than his situationally submissive role, here.

What about Elizabeth Hart’s performance did you like?

It was wonderful. Affable.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

THE SAINT shows you the fiery edge where desire, pain, and love dance and has you begging to edge.

Any additional comments?

More, please?

5 people found this helpful

I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!!

6 stars for me! I LOVED this book! This series gave me mixed emotions in the beginning just because of the religious factor but that lasted all of 2 chapters! This is such an original story and not once did I think I knew what was going to happen next. Book 5 has given me a book hangover, I have no desire to start anything new now, I just want to forget I just read it and start it all over again! I loved hearing the beginning of the story and I think listening to it after made it so much better than it would have been had this book been first. I hope Nora, Soren, Kingsley and the rest of these characters have a lot more stories to tell! I can't wait for the next book! I will ready anything by this author and am pushing this series on all my friends ;)

9 people found this helpful

Wow.

I listened to it in a day. From it's Theology to the heartwrenching/warming storyline I was riveted. I'll be thinking about things from this book for weeks.

1 person found this helpful

Original!!

This book was Lolita meets 50 Shades of gray if Christian Gray was a catholic priest. It was an original story with memorable characters.

1 person found this helpful

what the heck!

I spent the entire book being so mad! I was angry crying the entire time. I took an entire week to read this book because I was terrified if the ending. You sure did mind f**k me! AMAZING!!!!

1 person found this helpful