Entanglement

by Lilly K. Cee

Brit Delany found some semblance of peace by ignoring the pain of her past.

An American photojournalist working on the international stage, it was easy to distance herself from her traumatic childhood. But she is now heading back to Ireland, home of those turbulent memories.

Thankfully, there are friendly faces waiting for her. Two men await her arrival, though last she saw them, they were the kindhearted boys who shepherded her through the worst of her dark and tumultuous days. Both look forward to her homecoming, but for far different reasons.

Secrets await in the Emerald Isle, and they will threaten everything Brit thought she knew. Love. Rejection. Obsession. Betrayal. All she's survived will act as her emotional armor for what is to come.

****
This story is not intended/appropriate for readers under 18 years of age. Be forewarned that the "Turbulence Series" is a steamy contemporary romance that addresses a range of traumatic issues. "Entanglement" ends with a cliffhanger. "Tranquility" is the conclusion to "Entanglement" and is immediately available.

Genres: Audiobook, Suspense, Dark

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2021

About the author

Lilly is a Kansas City native currently residing in sunny California. She has a degree in English literature from The University of Kansas (and an incomplete degree in medieval history... So does that count? The tuition bills say it does.)

Lilly is a frequent traveler with a soft spot for Ireland, but Puerto Rico is her favorite destination. No matter where she is in the world, however, coffee is a need, necessity, addiction, and obsession... one that she shares with all of her FMCs.

Although romance and containing HEA/HFNs, Lilly's stories address a range of trauma-related issues and are not intended/appropriate for readers under 18 years of age. A complete list of TWs for each book can be found on her LinkTree: LinkTr.ee/LillyKCee

Linktr.ee/lillykcee

Reviews

[Ivy Whitaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those of you sensitive to: depictions/implications of mental illness, childhood trauma, child abuse, alcoholism (parental), assault, and sexual assault, please be advised that these themes are present in Entanglement.

Our journey starts with Brit Delany, a gifted photojournalist, returning to Ireland on holiday to be reunited with two familiar faces from her past: Jasper and Sean. They grew up together and formed something of an inseparable bond. One that was tested by both distance, and childhood folly. Her return isn’t as she imagined it would be. Jasper and Sean don’t seem to be as close as they once were — Sean doesn’t seem as warm as she remembers. In a way, she had always belonged to them both. In ways she can’t even begin to fathom yet. We learn about a dark past. We see the bitterness brought about by rejection, jealousy, and betrayal. But most of all, we learn about the love shared between the three.

I will start by saying that this book was beautifully written. I cannot say that I found a single fault in her writing style. It was a pleasure to read and drew me in on the first page. I devoured this book, cover to cover.

I loved the premise — I’ve always been a sucker for these kinds of love stories. Especially when jealousy is involved. It probably says a lot about me, but, hey, no one is perfect.

I adored that Sean and Jasper were two completely different people, serving as stark comparisons to each other. One wild, and carefree, the other burdened, and structured. I did enjoy seeing how the three grew up to be so different. I enjoyed seeing what they brought out in each other. Though, it was clear, very early on, that the dynamic was very broken from what it once was.

There is a rather sizable twist at the end of the book (one that leaves you on one hell of a cliffhanger). I had to take a bit of a pause before starting the next book, but I did, quite quickly, pick it up.

It’s been a while since I’ve explained how my rating system works, so I’d like to take a moment to explain. When I review, I like to leave an objective rating based on: story, writing, etc. Personal feelings don’t factor into my final rating.

In short, I’m not going to yuck somebody’s yum. Just because something isn’t meant for me doesn’t mean it won’t be meant for anyone. So, I “grade” based on what I can objectively see about the story. In some instances, I’ll share my personal thoughts, but only when I feel they are pertinent to readers who may feel similarly to me.

That all being said, there were some aspects to this story that were not particularly to my (me, my own, personal) liking. To me, this book falls a bit too close to dubcon. There wasn’t much in the way of expressly communicated consent. Not verbally, certainly. Brit was a virgin who had a distinct lack of understanding about her own desires/gratification, and when she was experiencing sex for the first time, she barely understood what she was feeling/what was happening. If these sorts of themes cause discomfort or upset, I would recommend approaching Entanglement with caution.

Overall, Entanglement was a beautifully written, riveting story. For those of you who love dark romance, you will definitely adore this book!

If you like this review, and would like to see more, check out my blog: https://ivywhitaker.com/blog/

[Simoné Wolmarans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speechless! This was a very slow burn to the biggest mindfuck ending I’ve seen in my life.

After reading some of Lilly K Cee’s books I should honestly know better than to take things at face value but holy crap what the hell was that???? To say my jaw is on the floor is putting it mildly.

I absolutely love these characters and I also hate some… as you should. Their relationships were so well written and the chemistry and spice was delicious. There are so many secrets and lies but even still nothing could have prepared me for the truth.

I cannot say this enough when reading any of Lilly K Cee’s books… READ YOUR TRIGGERS. She doesn’t come to play with rainbows and unicorns.

[Favey_Listens · Rating 5 out of 5]

~*~ Audiobook Review ~*~ I’m writing this review for both Entanglement and Tranquility, books 1 and 2 in this duet because it is impossible to separate them in my heart. Book 1 ends in a cliffhanger, so plan on completing both books for the full story. This was an emotional journey. Make sure you pay attention to the trigger warnings before you start and be prepared for the full list of emotional entanglements to pull you this way and that. It tackles some very difficult and painful topics with care, but it can still be difficult at times. Well worth it - in my opinion! Very high levels of angst had me on the edge of my patience throughout the story because I was deeply invested in the journey. Brit is so very broken and protects herself by disengaging from everyone and everything except through the lens of her camera. Very beautifully executed method of coping and survival. Prepare to be unmade and put back together again.

Jasper and Sean are cousins who have grown up together and are very close partners in mischief. Brit is introduced to the household and makes them a trio when she and her mother come to live with them. Complicated doesn’t even scratch the dynamic in this household at any given time. I was completely hooked from the very beginning and in for the rough rollercoaster ride of emotional upheaval as they navigated growing up under constrained and often violently terrible circumstances. Brit and Jasper’s friendship was special and, in my opinion, realistic under the circumstances. There is absolutely nothing that could prepare me for Jasper. No spoilers…seriously, buckle up for the angst, emotions, suspense, mystery, and even sweet, steamy, and swoony moments of escape.

Narration in duet by Gary Furlong & Angelina Rocca was fantastic! Gary does a great job differentiating between the two male characters, Sean and Jasper. I could feel the temperature changing between the two of them! Angelina’s sultry voice was the perfect vessel for Brit’s complex journey in this story. My heart broke for the child even while being annoyed - yet understanding the woman and how she protects herself in the world. This was a very complicated character very well done by Angelina! Casting would make or break a book like this, and this duet nails it. Very highly recommend if you enjoy romantic suspense/mystery with psychological thriller and several other things all thrown in there with epic levels of angst to keep you on your toes.

[Janine Birt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 of a duet, it ends on a cliffhanger so be prepared.

It's really hard to explain this book. I don't want to say too much because there are some revelations in the later half that just blew me away and the "holy shit" factor is just essential.

Basically, Brit's childhood was not entirely happy, her mom was an abusive drunk and her best friends helped protect her best they could. Brit now lives her life looking through the lens of her camera, staring danger in the eye and living on the edge of war, running towards situations that most people run away from. It's been years since she was in Ireland, but now she's back for her first ever visit since she was a teen. She's grown up in the best way she could based on her trauma and everyone seems to have their own view/opinion of how she's coping with that past in her present. They all also have their own ideas of what should happen with her future.

The more we explore their adult selves, the more we learn about the past, the more questions I had about where the story was going, it really made me think at times as they each deal with the fallout of the past. As you move through the story you have multiple POVs (Brit, Sean & Jasper) and everyone has their own traumas/coping adaptations and views of how each other has coped. These views don't always line up and I found myself a little upset with the characters at times.

The audiobook was performed in duet by Angelina Rocca and Gary Furlong. Angelina has such a soothing base narration, I love listening to her voice. She brought such a great range of emotions to Brit's performance. From joy and passion to avoidance, denial and sometimes fear, my heart broke for the wounded girl who should have just been loved unconditionally. Gary's Irish accent was delicious to listen to. He brought very distinct personalities to each of the guys. Sean serious and responsible, wanting Brit to face her past and heal from it. Jasper jovial and joking, light and avoiding all heavy topics just wanting to live in the moment. Both of them want her (but there is a clear favourite) and my responses to his performance throughout the book were so extreme at times. Some parts were swoony and melty, others gave me shivers and made me want to run away.

This book pulled some very visceral reactions from me in the last section. It was a slow and steady conversation on living a life built on a traumatic past and then it was like I had reached the top of a rollercoaster I didn't even know I was climbing. I was surprised and shocked and I'm desperate to know what happens next in book 2.

I requested and was provided with an advanced copy of the audiobook. These are my honest opinions.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entanglement is the first book in the Turbulence duology. It features Brit, Sean and Jasper.

Brit is an American girl who finds herself in Ireland with her alcoholic, abusive mother. She quickly befriended Sean and Jasper and the two did almost everything together until her mother dies, and she is sent back to the US to live with family she doesn't know.

Brit comes back to Ireland to visit her boys many years later. She's all grown up and works as a photographer. She travels the globe with her camera seeking the perfect shot. She has survived a myriad of dangers, thriving on the adrenaline rush.

She expects to fall back into their easy friendship during her brief holiday but finds that much has changed with her boys. While Sean, now a doctor, is keen to have in depth conversations with her and ask the difficult question to get to know who she is today, Jasper, a journalist, is still the lighthearted, easygoing guy she knew. Her boys are all grown up and when they look at her, they no longer see the young girl she once was. They see a beautiful woman with whom they have shared some very challenging history. They feel connected to her and they want her.

This book is recounted through all three characters' POV, and provides readers with insight into their shared past. My heart ached for the pain they endured, forcing them to grow up much faster than they should have. It was interesting to see how each character was shaped by past trauma. The story definitely took me on an emotional roller coaster ride, a journey that was enhanced by the vocal talents of Angelina Rocca and Gary Furlong. It took a moment for my ear to adjust to Furlong's accent, but after that I thoroughly enjoyed his portrayal of both Sean and Jasper. (I am always impressed when voice actors are able to bring multiple characters to life, while keeping them distinct and recognizable for readers.) Rocca's tone and inflection seemed absolutely perfect for Brit. I cannot imagine her sounding like anyone else.

There is a twist at the end. I anticipated it and therefore wasn't surprised, but Rocca and Furlong really elevated the scene and still managed to have me on the edge of my seat. Of course, readers don't get to breathe easy as this book ends with a significant cliffhanger that will only be resolved in Tranquility, the second book. I am eager to listen to that audiobook to see where this story goes.

[Mystic Forest Crafts · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book is getting 4 stars please check into trigger warnings before beginning it.

Pros:

The author shows a real talent for developing intricate characters and use their depth and connections to increase the intensity of emotion in a scene.

The portrayal of the main character of a survivor is beautiful. She made it through but still has problems she is working through and different things trigger her to respond in ways people without those traumas and triggers wouldn’t. I also appreciate that while it is pointed out she is a virgin it isn’t used as an erotic goal or a shameful shortcoming it is simply a fact until it isn’t.

Cons:

It is really difficult to see that the adults in this child’s life failed her so many times in so many ways. The fact that they continue to do so because they want better for themselves and their child shows just how selfish and blind privilege and comfort can make a person. It isn’t done badly, it isn’t wrong, but it is painful.

The final scene…I needed to stop before but I wanted to complete the book. It is brilliant. It is raw and painful and shocking and amazing but it truly hurts and ends in a horrific cliffhanger.

[Marrissa Horton · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Why do you think I’m broken?”
“How can you think you aren’t?”

Entanglement was the first novel in the Turbulence series by Lilly K. Cee. It is a suspenseful, steamy, explosive, and emotionally charged story about sexual awakening, love, found family, childhood trauma, and abuse. Brit is a photographer who travels to dangerous territories all around the world. When she was a child she lived in Ireland, where two boys became her family and took care of her. She is abruptly moved to the states as a teen, but 11 years later she travels back for a visit, and her whole life is changed once again. This is a twisty, fast-paced, wild ride. I really enjoyed the third person, multiple points of view. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Angelina Rocco and Gary Furlong. The back and forth narration between them was a perfect performance. I highly recommend listening to the audio!

[kreadsoften · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Entanglement is the first book in the Turbulence series and cannot be read as a standalone.

Brit had two best friends growing up, Sean and Jasper. She didn’t have the easiest childhood, because her mother was awful. Then she moved away when her mom died. Now, she’s a photographer, doing anything to get the best shots. She goes back to Ireland to reconnect with her best friends, but things aren’t the same as they were when they were children.

I felt so bad for Brit, listening to everything she went through as a CHILD. And she did everything she could to protect herself, but her trauma affected the way she thinks and acts now. And the only ones who tried to help her were her “boys” Jasper and Sean. She’s still strong though, because she still tries to live her life and do what she loves.

Sean was so grumpy, but protective. He had a dark side though and anger issues that frightened Brit because of her past. He helped Brit and…taught her new things, things she enjoyed.

Jasper was fun and always joking, but he also had a dark side. Honestly, he seemed kind of crazy, and not in a good way.

This book is very angsty, and there was also a touch of suspense, because there was a rapist that Brit was warned about. I had my guesses as to who it was…and I was right.

Near the end, things really picked up as more and more information was revealed, and I was shocked and absolutely disgusted and horrified to hear it.

Then..the dreaded cliffhanger. I cannot wait for the next book!

Audio:
Narrators: Angelina Rocca and Gary Furlong
Style: Duet

They did a great job narrating their respective characters. Gary’s performance as Jasper really made him seem crazy (as in unhinged), which was fantastic as Jasper was supposed to give off that feeling. They both brought out all the emotions each character was trying to convey.

Note: This is told in third person POV, but I didn’t realize it right away. I think if I’d read this as opposed to listening to it, I would have noticed.

[Shilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has trigger warnings! Alcoholism, child abuse, sexual assault, assault, mental illness, childhood trauma.

You know how sometimes you're driving (or riding) down the road and something catches your attention... something just doesn't fit and you think to yourself, "what in the world did I just see?" Well, that's what happens here... you're reading and enjoying this very well written story and all of a sudden you're SMACKED in the face with... you get my point.

Britton (Brit) Delany and her mother move to Ireland to stay in an Irish Manor House. Their relationship is not ideal. Brit finds comfort in running around the grounds with the cousins (her "boys") that also live in the Manor House. This is the story of Brit and her "boys" connecting as adults and dealing with the lasting trauma of their childhood.

These characters are so well developed and the scenery is perfectly described. There is no difficulty imagining that you are there with the characters as you experience their bond. Lilly makes you wish you could read her books for the first time all over again. I cannot wait to see what happens in Tranquility. I see some late nights in my future...

[Pierced Papilio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Childish, pathetic FMC:

Six hours into it, there’s absolutely nothing happening. Well, apart from learning that the FMC likes to manipulate and play childish mind-games. She’s whiney and petulant, fickle and selfish. She also a difficult character to relate to because she’s supposed to have lived through all this trauma, yet enjoys war zones and photographing in risky situations. She makes stupid brash decisions, and plays at hard to get, expecting the male leads to chase her—so much juvenile drama. Apparently she’s been all over the world, done all these insanely risky things, but is totally clueless about anything relating to sex or passion. I’m not sure I understand how a woman who is so freaking oblivious could keep herself alive in the environments she’s supposed to be so accustomed to. I could probably tolerate it if the story line were moving along, but it seems to be at a standstill where her maturity level is regressing with experiences, rather than progressing. She’s so annoying: wanting him to touch her and kiss her, then stopping abruptly, running away, acting like she’s so afraid of him, but then leaving her door unlocked, hoping he will come for her and being angry when he doesn’t—and also when he does. It’s ridiculous. Nine and a half hours in—still absolutely nothing has changed, except, spoiler alert, she’s accusing him of putting barriers between them because he used a condom—yes, she’s being a bi%*h over A FREAKING CONDOM! He’s a doctor, for crying out loud, and she is adamant that she’s leaving in a week to go back into a war zone in a foreign country. Additionally, she seeks danger and the rush of fear, but acts like she’s afraid of him and it turns her off. Compounding the contradiction, her internal monologues give the impression she wants him to rape her although she acts so dramatic in response to him punching his cousin for kissing and groping her. What the—what? I can’t figure out why he wastes his time on her. Very anti-climactic. She doesn’t come across as broken, dark, and twisty— but like a selfish, childish drama queen. It’s the same childish game—ad nauseum. She’s dumb as a box of stupid. She’s been all over the world in highly traumatic situations, living for months—perhaps even years alongside men in highly emotionally charged, less than hospitable environs, and we’re supposed to believe she doesn’t know what desire, arousal, and self pleasure are? But then she’s so worldly and jaded she gets all philosophical, proposing her “superior perspective” on the possibility that the rapist is a mercy killer. Even Shawn points out that her supposed trauma responses don’t match her level of ignorance. Are we also supposed to forget that she had no issue with taking her clothes off to swim with the boys? All of a sudden, she’s so ashamed of her body because of what went on when she was young, but her mom died around the time she would have hit puberty, so the story is weak at best. It’s just a bit anti-climactic and what narrative drama there is is very forced and exaggerated. The love story would be great all by itself—even without the missing drama, at least as far as Shawn is concerned, but her childish responses and justifications make it unbearable because she is just so infuriating and he is so darn swoon-worthy. Her tantrums just take up so much time. The majority of the story is her whining. If she has the perspective to humanize the rapist’s murder attempts, then surely she has the perspective on her mother’s mental illness and subsequent alcoholism. Total Spoiler Alert: I’m trying to listen to the second book now, but I don’t know that I can take another 14 hours of her. As far as the plot twist, or major shock factor at the end, it truly wasn’t that big of a shock. I don’t have a problem with cliffhangers, like so many reviewers do, especially when a book is a decent length (I don’t feel like an author intentionally breaks a story up into 4-5 hour increments for the purpose of selling it at 3-4 $12 credits on Audible). However, in this instance, there was a lot of excellently written content, but not nearly enough happening. There just wasn’t enough real suspense. The only drama came from her temper tantrums. And honestly, Jasper was a foregone conclusion. It just validates her stupidity. What’s worse is that it only gets worse in the second book. I’ll only say this, since this review is based on the first book, but she’s acting afraid of Shawn now, like she couldn’t see the warning signs with Jasper. Grrrr. She’s killing me! I was so grateful when her boss told her to stop acting like a toddler and when Shawn began fighting back against her nonsense.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entanglement is book one in the Turbulence series and is the childhood friends, childhood trauma, unrequited love, obsession, betrayal, mystery and suspense story of Brit, Sean, and Jasper.

Brit didn’t have the easiest life growing up, her mother was a nightmare and her problematic behaviour had them sent away to live in Ireland. Brit bonded with the two boys who lived at the manor, cousins Sean and Jasper, who became her lifeline, her little bit of peace amongst the chaos of her home life. However, when her abusive mother dies, Brit is sent back to the US to family and despite her best efforts, Sean avoided contact with her. Jasper stayed in contact and followed her achieving her dream of becoming a photojournalist and kept a close eye on her globe-trotting taking photos in war torn countries, during active shootings, riots etc and reached out and convinced her to head back to Ireland to visit her friends during her downtime. Arriving back on the Emerald Isle, Brit quickly realises things have drastically changed since she was last here. It takes a while for Sean to warm up to her being back but soon they are falling into bed. Brit feel Jasper pulling away and senses something is wrong so decides to visit him before she and Sean head away before she must leave for work. Will Brit live to regret going back to Ireland and trusting the boys who have grown into men?

Sean and Jasper had always been close growing up then along came Brit and they became a trio. Brit just wanted to be one of the boys, however, the older they got, the more Brit developed and Jasper the joker encouraged her while serious Sean would caution her to exorcise control. Jasper never hid his feelings for Brit, whereas Sean, he noticed the bruises and pain from the abuse at home, so he kept his feelings to himself knowing she needed friends and an escape from home life. When Brit left for the US after her Mum’s death, Sean and Jasper fell out, turns out Brit was the glue that held them together. Sean was devasted and decided the only way to move on was to do no contact with Brit and get into a new relationship that progressed to an engagement before she breaks up with him out of the blue. Jasper couldn’t let go so easily, he chose to keep in touch with Brit and resented Sean, going so far as to break up Sean’s engagement and luring Brit back to Ireland under false pretences and continually telling Brit they are the same while hating how close she and Sean have become. Will Sean be able to keep Brit safe? Will Jasper take his obsession too far and do something none of them can come back from?
The incredibly talented Angelina Rocca and Gary Furlong bring this audiobook to life and Christ on a cracker, what an amazing job they do.
Ms Rocca’s performance as the damaged, scared of nothing photojournalist who loves the boys who helped her so much when she struggled as a young girl was simply magnificent. Angelina’s sweet melodic tone was perfect to showcase the many sides of Brit.
Mr Furlong’s portrayal of the former best friends Sean and Jasper, who despite loving the same woman can’t seem to put the past behind them and put Brit first was sensational. Gary’s deep, alpha tone was perfect to bring these former best friends to life.
Overall, I found this audiobook to be just okay. I found a lot of this story was simply filling out the book and wouldn’t have been missed had it been left out. There were some real heavy subjects, tackled in this story and the rollercoaster of emotions us readers are taken on was quite the ride. However, had it not been for the stellar performances of Angelina and Gary, I believe I would have given up early on in this audiobook.

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific Story & Narration🎧Intense & Emotional!

Entanglement
Turbulence Series
By: Lilly K. Cee
Narrated by: Gary Furlong, Angelina Rocca

This compelling story hooked me in right from the start, and I could not tear myself away. There is non-stop drama and emotions run high and they tug at your heartstrings like no other. Brit Delay did not have the easiest of lives growing up, her mother was problematic and her family sent them away to live in Ireland. Brit’s saving grace was the two boys she became friends with Sean and Jasper. Then she was ripped away from that world and sent back to the US to live with family there. Brit became a successful photojournalist and regardless of risk, she feels safe behind her camera. She is on a vacation visiting Ireland and reconnecting with her old friends, Sean and Jasper. But the two are not the same, they are not even as friendly to each other as they were. Sean still lives in the same place, but Jasper is in Cork. Wow, loved the complexity of these characters and all the layers of the story. This story has a dark and ominous undertone, hinting something bad happened in the past or is about to happen, a chilling vibe that keeps you on your toes. The plot, writing, and world building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development. The details in the story are amazing, and Lilly K. Cee does a great job immersing her readers/listeners in the story and making them experience what the characters do. This is far from your typical romance novel, check the content warning if you have any triggers. And that ending, I kind of had a feeling that it was heading in that direction. I just did not know how and never imagined it would play out like it did, talk about chilling, wow. Lilly K. Cee, thank you for the amazing story and emotional rollercoaster ride. 

🎧📚🎧And for the fantastic narration, Gary Furlong and Angelina Rocca were the perfect cast to bring these characters and story to life. They did an amazing job portraying the characters, giving each a voice that was fitting and believable, accent and all. Furlong nails the Irish accent and perfectly captures the personalities of Sean and Jasper, who are very different and his performance of each is absolutely amazing. Rocca aces it as Brit, embodying her multi-faceted personality, including her naivety and insecurities, as well as her courage and fearlessness when she's in her element behind the camera, concealing her true self. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling them all. These superbly talented voice artists are amazing storytellers, and their narration takes this story to another level. Thank you for another exceptional listen. 

[Jojoreadsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Audio Review*

Entanglement is the first book in a duet and ends with a cliffhanger. This is an emotional listen, and I’m not saying that lightly, so please check for trigger warnings!

The story is about Brit, a young photo journalist who is traveling back to Ireland, where she had lived for many years as a child. She is going to visit “her boys” Sean and Jasper, two cousins whom she had grown close to during her time there. In fact, some of her only good memories she has of her childhood was with them, but going has the potential to open old wounds and pain she has spent years trying to outrun. What she didn’t expect was that new wounds would be opened and that “her boys” were no longer boys, and their feelings for her were deeper than she could have ever imagined.

Wow! Where do I even begin…this book was a lot, and I don’t mean that in a negative way. It’s a very long story with a lot of very raw emotional layers and a very intense cliffhanger that’s left me…well shocked doesn’t seem to be a strong enough word but I’ll go with it, and in tears. Even now, after a few days since I finished it , it still has me shaken. I find it hard to give an opinion of the overall story because this is only half of it and because there are so many unanswered questions that I hope to get answered in the second book. Mostly I’m curious about Brits life from the time she left Ireland until the time she became a photo journalist. What I can say is this is a well and beautifully written book. Lilly K Cee is a new to me author, and I’m blown away so far. The attention to detail, the layers of time, and characters, and the intensity of the cliffhanger have just made this a phenomenal book so far.

Gary Furlong and Angelina Rocca were the outstanding narrators, and I mean outstanding! Again, I don’t say this lightly. There are so many emotions that form this story, and they make you feel every single one. But it’s the last two chapters that I can’t even tell you how incredible they were. I can’t imagine it was easy for either of them, especially with how dark it went. You could hear the fear, the terror, and instability in such a raw and real way. I was left in tears and goosebumps with their performances. 5 stars for narration alone!

I would definitely recommend this listen but don’t expect sweet swoons this is not the one for it, this will leave you with a pounding heart tear stained cheeks and a hope for a quick recovery time from the emotional earthquake you just listened to.

[Lady Readalot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a time Britton (Brit) lived as a guest in an Irish Manor House with her Mother. You can just imagine the rolling green hills, and the lilt of County Cork accents as she runs wild on the estate with her best friends, her “boys”, two cousins who also live in the mansion, with their Families.

Her world of support is suddenly ripped from her, when her Mother dies, and she is sent back to live with her Grandparents in America.

Eleven years later Brit returns hoping to re-establish the link with her “boys” after the long absence apart, but the past comes crashing into the present- threatening to destabilise the friendship dynamic, and the fragile walls of Brit’s mental health.

Turbulence is rightfully named for this series- my brain was working overtime theorising, as the layers of the story and characters were revealed. Brit is a complex character - a fearless photo journalist to the outside world, but as the story progresses, it becomes evident her psyche is child-like in other ways. I was definitely intrigued why?

The Brit, Sean and Jasper power dynamic- whew! What is left unsaid, creates a pool of simmering emotions with a powerful pushing and pulling between the three. Throw in the moments when the shutters flip open on our MC’s, giving the reader a peek into their demons.

There is definitely a creepy vibe about this story from the setting to the strange support characters, you get the impression that all is not how it seems. The sense of foreboding is palpable from the beginning and makes the reader anticipatory.

The pace starts slow, like the romance but passion flares quickly as unrequited love comes a full circle, allowing important development and healing for Brit. The pace and character development escalate as the race to the ending is imminent. I didn’t want to believe what was about to happen as the cliffhanger explodes.🤯🤯🤯

This is a cracker of a story- a suspenseful contemporary romance.

⚠️please read the caution at the beginning of the book for triggers. Reader discretion advised

Thankfully “Tranquility” book two, releases same day as Entanglement to provide a conclusion to the story.

5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received an ARC for an honest review- liked it so much I purchased the book.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook review: narrated by Angelina Rocca and Gary Furlong

4 stars for story
5 stars for performance

First I want to start by saying I really loved this story. Brit, our FMC, is one of the most resilient characters I’ve read. She has a turbulent past and it’s caused some lasting trauma that is evident in her present relationships. Sean and Jasper are cousins that spent a good deal of their childhood with Brit when she stayed with the family in Ireland. Unfortunately, circumstances led Brit to the states and she now travels the world as a photojournalist, further keeping her from her only real friends. This book starts with Brit returning to Ireland for a short visit at Jaspers request. What follows can only be described as a very fast lesson in life, love, relationships and what truly happened all those years ago that shaped these three into the people they are today.

There are so many different aspects to this story that make it good. It’s got romance, a sexual awakening, suspense, a truly deep plot with lots of tension between the cousins and the writing is very well done. The only reason I’ve opted for 4 stars here is that the middle of the story seemed pretty repetitive. The writing is great so it is still enjoyable but I feel we could have reached the same goal much faster without losing any of the angst or suspense. And that ending…my heart was pounding through the last scene of this story and can’t wait to dive into book two.

As for the audio aspect…phenomenal!! The audiobook is done in duet style which is my favorite by far. I tend to lean toward first person writing style but this one is done in third person. The duet narration cancels out the aspect of third person I dislike. I found myself getting lost in the story and thanks to the expert narration, listening to this for long stretches was not a hardship at all! Gary Furlong was nothing short of masterful with his different interpretations of the two male characters. His accent was music to my ears. Angelica Rocca’s voice is so soothing and lyrical. The performance was really emotional at times and I appreciated that she brought so much to Brit’s character.

[smuttyaudiophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ 2.5🌶️ 4.5🎧

Producer: Blue Nose Audio
Narrators: Angelina Rocca + Gary Furlong
Narration type: duet
Standard length: 15:38
Listening speed: 1.6x
Listened via: BookFunnel

Tropes: childhood crush, unrequited love, childhood friends to lovers, past and present, romantic suspense

📖 I didn’t know much about this book going in, and I really enjoyed the ride! You’ll want to check trigger warnings for this one if that is something you do, but I am not going to share any details about that here for those who might also like to go in totally blind.
What I will say… this is written in multi POV from third person. I sometimes struggle with third person, but in this case it actually took me a moment to notice (which I realize may sound dumb), I think because I was just immediately wrapped up in the story and the dialogue. I’ve mentioned before that listening to third person in audio format does tend to help as well! There was this mood that I felt all throughout the book, almost like this need to look over my shoulder, or like a chill up my spine — just a slightly creepy or unnerving vibe that you don’t quite know where it’s coming from. Lilly did an amazing job setting that feeling but not giving away where it’s coming from! We’ve definitely got some twists and a serious cliffy as well.

🎧 Blue Nose absolutely crushes the duet audio game and this was no different. Angelina and Gary sounded amazing together in this duet. Angelina is always able to pull emotion from me with ease. Her narration always sounds so natural, making me feel like I’m listening to a real person going through real things.
This was my first time listening to Gary and I don’t know what his normal accent is, but wow his Irish accent is perfection! He voiced two different Irish male POVs and they both sounded completely different to me. I also felt a lot of emotion through his vocal performance and was really impressed!

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entanglement
Turbulence Series
By: Lilly K. Cee
Narrated by: Gary Furlong, Angelina Rocca

Where should I start? Is this dark? Yes, it is a bit dark. Is it angsty? Yes, it's a lot angsty. Is it romantic? It does have its moments. Is it spicy? Yes, it is very spicy. Is it my kind of book? Yes it is! Start to finish, Lilly K Cee had me on the edge as I was listening to this story. Brit, Sean and Jasper were childhood friends, growing up together, as close as siblings. That is until Brit's family sent her back from Ireland to America to live with her relatives. Now, a photojournalist, Brit thrives on the adrenaline rush to get the best picture in the most dangerous of situations. Taking a vacation back to Ireland to reconnect with her friends seemed like a good idea, but when she arrives, Sean and Jasper are not the same. Their own relationship has suffered over the years, but the feelings they both have for Brit are still strong. As life goes on, and things begin to sort out though, will Brit decide to stay? Relationships are hard, and the unexpected turn her heart takes may lead her life in a different direction. But as she learns of past after she left Ireland, she may be drawn down a different path. Where does she end up? Talk about exciting twists and turns! Cee has brought out so many feelings, such interesting characters and a plot that ends with the worst of cliffhangers! I need to know what happens next and now I have to wait for the second audio installment to come out! Bring it soon!

And the narration! What a pleasure to hear the talents of Gary Furlong and Angelina Rocca! Furlong nails the Irish brogue with his characters, each having their own distinct voice and emotional set. Angelina Rocca is fantastic as she sorts the many feelings Brit goes through. This dark and angsty listen is enhanced by this team and a pleasure to hear.

[Just A Girl And Her Smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entanglement ALC by Lilly K. Cee
🎤Narrated in duet by Gary Furlong & Angelina Rocca🎤

Plot ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Narration 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤

Ok let me start off by saying this is book 1 in a 2 book duet and it ends on a cliffhanger that had my mind spinning!! It’s written in 3 POV (Britton, Sean, & Jasper) with lots of childhood flashbacks.

Britton (Brit) and her mother came to live with Sean and his family in Ireland when she was young. Her, Sean, & Jasper (Sean’s cousin) became quick friends. Brit’s mom was an alcoholic as well as abusive, something Brit had to deal with for many years. Eventually her mom passed away which meant Brit had to leave. Now after many years, and losing touch with both Sean & Jasper, she’s come back to Ireland. The further you get into the story and the more flashbacks of their past you hear you see how bad things really were. You realize how Brit’s mom effected all 3 kids and how they each chose to cope with it. And now that Brit’s back she’s got no choice to face her past and the possibility of love.

This story had me on an emotional journey of highs and lows that played with my heart in so many ways. Lilly K. Cee had me entangled in this story right from the start. There were so many things revealed throughout the book that I honestly didn’t see coming. The character development didn’t stop from start to finish and both narrators did an amazing job.

Both narrators knew exactly how to embody their characters personalities and bring out every emotion they were feeling. This was my first audiobook by Gary Furlong and he was excellent at changing his voice between Sean & Jasper. He also does a great Irish accent. Angelina Rocca has a sweet raspy voice that I absolutely love and she has become one of my favourite female narrators. I can’t wait for Tranquility, book 2 to see how this story ends.

[Tracey Magruder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is part of the Romance Me With Books Tour for Lilly K. Cee’s two part series, Turbulence. The first book, Entanglement, introduces us to a trio of characters who have been a part of each other’s lives since childhood.

Brit and Sean are the main focus of the story, with the third part of their triquetra, Jasper, occasionally offering a different point of view. The characters are incredibly well written, and each offers the reader a chance to truly learn about each of them from their own perspectives. The plot twist that lead to the cliffhanger at the end I felt was predictable by about the halfway point of the book, but in no way did that take away from the emotional impact of the final moments of this installment.

The book is quite spicy. I am by no means a prude, nor do I shy away from spice in a novel, however there was a moment about three quarters of the way through where I found myself just wanting the plot to move forward a little more quickly. As hot and well written as the spicy scenes were, at a certain point it felt redundant.

Overall, this was a solid first installment of the series and I give it 4 out of 5 stars. It is extremely well written and left me immediately wanting to read part two (which I’ll be posting about next week). If you are interested in this series please take the warnings to heart, but it is more than worth reading.

[Night_owls_and_novels · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Audiobook Review-

4 stars ONLY because I need answers LOL.

This is book one in the Turbulence series and ends on a wild cliffhanger! It’s one of those books where you can’t go into too much detail in your review because you don’t want to ruin it for the next reader. Jasper, Sean, and Brit’s journey together through childhood and coming back together as adults is a whirlwind of emotions. The things poor brit went through as a child no one should go through.

The tension between Sean and Jasper is insane and Brit can’t pinpoint what it is that has torn them apart throughout the story. Her eyes are opened with a shocking discovery, and it breaks her heart. There’s suspense and wonder along with anger and love. All is fair in love, right?

Gary Furlong and Angelina Rocca perform this tragic story flawlessly in duet. The emotions they express as each of their characters, you could feel it. Angelina captured Brit’s timid, unknowing, but also headstrong personality. You could tell there was so much Brit needed to explore still in her life. Gary Brought out the goofy but rude parts of Jasper and the protective romantic that Sean was. These two were a great pair for this and I cannot wait to see how book two concludes.

Before reading this please remember to check the trigger warnings as there are very sensitive and traumatic topics. Your mental health matters.

[NikiReadsRomance · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a journey this book takes you on! I was so absorbed in the details of the story and how much it allowed for a real vision of the characters. It really made me feel like I was IN Ireland with Britt, Sean, and Jasper and living through moments with them. These characters are both so connected and also suffer experience serious trauma with each other. This was a bit of slow burn, but the story itself takes center stage here. Britt is a photo journalist who definitely lives on the edge of crazy. Sean is the stable one who seemingly follows the rules and Jasper is the type to dare you to do insane things just for the fun of it. These characters are all just trying to find their way and. like most of us, have many flaws. I don't know if I could describe the vibe of this book adequately enough, you would need to read for yourself!

The ending! Oh the ending! I feel like I should have seen that coming in the lead up but, really, I was so distracted by everything else that I was shocked but, also not once I thought about it afterwards. This story is deeply intense and may have triggers for some so be prepared!

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Summer Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book follows Brit who had a troubled childhood in Ireland, but she had her friends Sean and Jasper, who are cousins, to keep her safe and to make life more bearable. Fast forward some time and Brit finds herself back in Ireland to take photos for work. She reunites with Jasper, who has become a journalist, and Sean, who has become a doctor. It feels like old times, but little does she know that one of her boys has sinister intent towards her! This book had me on the edge of my seat, and had me conflicted as to which man I wanted Brit to end up with, but that was resolved by the end! I laughed, I cried, I DEFINITELY gasped many times, I even screamed! There are so many plot twists that you don't see coming and the ending? Talk about an amazing cliffhanging ending!!! Thank you Lilly for letting me be a part of this journey. I can't wait to read book two in this fabulous duet!!!!!! ❤

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG, can I say that I am a sucker for accents. Listening to this book on audio version with narrator, Gary Furlong voicing Sean, and Jasper in an Irish accent is great. Angelina Rocca did a really good job as well voicing Brit.

Narrators, Gary Furlong and Angelina Rocca did good jobs bringing this story to life. I will by checking out more audio books narrated by them.

You could feel the strong bond that these three shared growing up. Brit was naive to notice that both guys saw her as more than just a friend. Sean was always protective of Brit, maybe a little overprotective. Jasper on the other hand was a bit of a jokester but he still loved Brit as well. When it came to the two guys, I was undecided about them as my feelings towards them kept shifting. So, if I am honest, they both are equal in my book.

This is not just a romance book but an emotional and angsty read as well.

[Linda V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:

Entanglement is book #1 of the Turbulence duet. It does end on a HUGE cliffhanger and there's a library of trigger warnings, but that just seems to be a magnet for me unfortunately. Brit is a photojournalist with a traumatic childhood. She has ties to Ireland and is making a visit back there to visit her 2 childhood friends, Jasper and Sean. The history between these two is tumultuous at best and Brit is thrust right into the fray. I loved the intense heartbreak, intrigue, secrets, and super steamy scenes that sucked me in and didn't let go!

The narration was phenomenal. Angelina Rocca is perfect as the broken and reckless Brit. Gary Furlong and Marcio Catalano give us the party boy Jasper and responsible Sean with drool-worthy accents! 5 spectacular stars!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book was very intense in the trigger department but I could not stop listening. The story starts off with a child hood memory of Brit, Sean and Jasper- and without giving too much away of the story it shows how life was and then it fast forwards to life now. Brit grew up away from “her guys” and became a photographer. She returns to Ireland to visit her guys and learns some interesting things. I will say I am not a fan that this ended on a cliff hanger because I need the next part so I can find out what happens next!
The narration was fantastic. Angelina Roca played Brit and Gary Furlong played the parts of Jasper and Sean. This is a duet style narration and Gary Furlong has an accent that was made for the Irish parts. I hope these two continue to narrate together in book 2.
Thank you homecooked books for this audio arc in return for an honest review.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

AUDIO Review

This book was interesting and engaging! The author has an amazing ability to develop detailed characters by using their complexity; this really made the intensity of each things magnifying. I did want to stop listening!

The main female character being a survivor was a beautiful and entrancing. I loved getting her perspective, the narrator, Angelina Rocca, did such a great job conveying her emotions. Although the female main character made it through, she still had trauma and challenges that she had to go through. The other male main character was equally as engaging narrator, Gary Furlong, did an amazing job conveying him. I really enjoyed this book, it was fascinating, but unfortunately it ended in a cliffhanger which isn’t my favorite. The female main character stood out to me the most.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

[arieste323 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! The narration by Gary Furlong and Angelina Rocca is fantastic. Truly a beautiful performance that made me feel the emotions of all the characters. This book is a twisted, dark, heartbreaking emotional roller coaster about Brits life in Ireland and her two childhood friends Sean and Jasper. Brit goes back to Ireland after years away and reconnects with Sean and Jasper. I will not say more cause you need to experience this yourself. This is a beautifully written book with plenty of spice but definitely triggering at moments and had me in tears. Then that cliff hanger left me needing the rest. I must now see this journey to the end. Overall a 4.5 star read and I look forward to reading more of Lilly's books.

I was sent a free audiobook from HCB and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

[Jeanine Harrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a riveting work! Entanglement is so well written with incredibly developed characters. Definitely a darker romance but enjoyable nonetheless. I loved getting to know Brit as she struggles with her past as well as her future. Sean and Jasper are so well written. I feel like all three characters have such depth to them. Lilly did such a great job taking the reader on a journey getting to know all three. I love it when the title of a book is subtly woven in to the story and this book is no exception.
There were definitely some bombs dropped towards the end that I didn’t entirely see coming.
Definitely a great read that will keep you on the edge of your seat especially towards the end.
Trigger warnings for abuse and rape so proceed with caution.

[Bookwormtvaddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars, 4 steamy kisses
Book #1 in the Turbulence series
check trigger warnings!

childhood friends, childhood crush, childhood trauma, betrayal, mystery, steamy, contemporary romance, obsession, secrets, Ireland, mental health, friendship, unrequited love, suspense

Set in Ireland the story is about the past: 2 boys and 1 girl and how they belonged together and now the present and future: 2 men and 1 woman. There was some flashbacks to the past because the past has some secrets that are coming to light and then the evolution of how 2 men and 1 woman vary in the love they feel for one another and how in the end one man will hurt her.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: This was my first experience with Lilly K. Cee's work. and it was dark and convoluted. Brit Delaney decided to return to Ireland as she was between assignments as an international photo-journalist. While in Ireland, Brit reconnected with two friends from her past. The author drew me in with her measured revelations of happenstances in Brit's past. There were some steamy descriptions. The story ended on a cliffhanger. I am looking forward to the next book. Gary Furlong's and Angelina Rocca's dual narrations were great, and their performances added to the story's entertainment. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.