4 Wine Glass #Audio #Review for Come Lie with Me by Linda Howard

Title: Come Lie With Me
Author: Linda Howard
Narrator: Lesa Lockford
Format: Unabridged Audiobook, 7 hrs and 52 mins
Published: 19 April 2016 (Dreamscape Media, LLC)
ISBN-10: 1520003994
ISBN-13: 978-1520003993
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Audible
Source: AudioBook JukeBox
Rating: 4 out of 5 Wine Glasses

Blake Remington lives life to the fullest. So when a terrible accident robs him of his ability to walk, it also takes away all of his desire to live.

Dione Kelly, a physical therapist, takes on his case and begins to heal this broken man and help him realize there is so much more to gain from living. While forcing Blake to face his inner demons, Dione begins to face her own fears.

Together, the two of them gain a new respect for life—and a love that could last a lifetime!

Linda's Thoughts:
He was different from every other man she knew. He was capable of loving; he was at once a laughing daredevil and a hard-hitting businessman. But most of all, he needed her. Other patients had needed her, but only as a therapist. Blake needed her, the woman she was, because only her personal strengths had enabled her to help him with her trained skills and knowledge. She couldn’t remember anyone ever needing her before.

I listened to the audio of COME LIE WITH ME by Linda Howard and read by Lesa Lockford.  I’ve recently discovered Linda Howard’s books and am very glad that I have!  You should know that this particular character-driven story was originally published in the early 1980s and has only become available in audio this year. Parts of the story feel dated, but it is still quite relevant and entertaining. As an example, it occurs when phones were all landlines. To fully relish the tale, you will also need to accept some old-fashioned aspects of relationships a few decades ago. We’ve come a long way! I had no issue with doing so, though I admit to thinking more than once that I’m glad that times have changed.

COME LIE WITH ME is the story of Blake Remington, a successful businessman who became paralyzed after a mountain climbing accident, and Dione Kelly, a physical therapist hired by the family as a last-ditch effort to save Blake.

It has been two years since Blake’s accident when Dione is hired to work with him. Blake is bitter, frustrated and angry at everyone and everything. He has given up his will to live and to say he is very unhappy when Dione walks into his life is a major understatement.

On the other hand, Dione is determined to bring Blake back from the brink of death come hell or high water. Their story renders a lot of insight into both characters. Suffice to say, Blake is physically impaired; Dione is emotionally impaired from both childhood and marital abuse. Each is critical to the other’s healing journey. Their witty interactions are powerful, passionate, priceless and provocative.

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from COME LIE WITH ME:

“No!” he roared. “I’ve had enough for today! A little of you goes a long way, lady!”
“Please, call me Dione,” she murmured.
“I don’t want to call you anything! My God, would you just leave me alone!”
“Of course I will, when my job is finished. I can’t let you ruin my record of successful cases, can I?”
---

Blake filled her world. The sweaty male scent of him was in her nostrils, the slippery texture of his hot skin under her hands; the unbearably erotic taste of his mouth lay sweetly on her tongue. At some unknown point his kisses had slipped past celebration and become intensely male, demanding, giving, thrilling. Perhaps they’d never been celebration kisses at all, she thought fuzzily.
Suddenly he removed his mouth from hers and buried his face in the curve of her neck. When he spoke his voice was shaky, but husky with an undertone of laughter. “Have you noticed how much time we spend rolling around on the floor?”
---

He sat with his arm still around her, watching her face and smiling as she fumbled with the elegant gold wrapping, her agile fingers suddenly clumsy. She lifted the lid off and stared speechlessly at the simple pendant that lay on satin lining like a cobweb of gold. A dark red heart, chiseled and planed, was attached to the chain.
“That’s a ruby,” she stammered.
“No,” he corrected gently, lifting it from the box and placing it around her neck. “That’s my heart.” The chain was long, and the ruby heart slid down her chest to nestle between her breasts, gleaming with dark fire as it lay against her honeyed skin.
“Wear that forever,” he murmured his eyes on the lush curves that his gift used as a pillow.
“And my heart will always be touching yours.”

COME LIE WITH ME is performed by Lesa Lockford. This is the third audio I’ve picked up pairing Lesa with Linda Howard and their combo is a good one. Lesa’s voice is clear and her characters’ voices sound genuine. She differentiates between the characters to where I can easily discern who is speaking from Lesa’s voice alone. The end product is polished and well-done. I look forward to hearing more of Lesa’s productions in the future.

I really enjoyed the story and the characters. It’s funny, sexy, and emotional. There were plenty of substantial obstacles to these two finding their happy-ever-after – and, at times, their future appeared to be bleak indeed. COME LIE WITH ME is the story of their journey to wholeness and happiness. It’s well-worth delving into.