I’ve gone back: back to the place where it all started, where somebody else had the final say.I did it out of love for my family.I’m trying to rebuild my life, to stay standing, even though my legs hurt like hell. I’m concentrating on myself, on my career.I’m ready to tear everything apart to try and keep it all together. To hate without feeling guilty for it, because hating others is the only … is the only way I know how to keep myself – the person I am – going; and I was doing it.
I was strong. I was untouchable. I was invincible.
Actually, I was deluded.
I didn’t consider everything. I didn’t consider her: the only woman I really want to hate, but who gives me hope. A woman who turns your world upside-down, who entwines herself into your life even if she can only stay until tomorrow.
I’m not looking for tomorrow: I want a future. But I don’t believe in that anymore.
And I can’t turn back, not even for her.
My name is Ryan O’Connor, and I’m about to make a huge mistake. I’m about to let her believe in me, to take a chance. But she’d be betting on the wrong man. I’ve never been the right one. And she’ll be left accepting her bitter defeat.
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I read the first book in this series, and I really liked it. Ryan’s misogyny was a real turnoff to me, but Kelly’s writing style is great so it was difficult for me to put it down even though Ryan upset me.
Enemies to lovers. Ryan is angry about being betrayed. .christie is a single mom, who is interested in Ryan. Hes a rough and a surly rugby player. Hes interested in Chris, but not looking for a relationship. Chris is independent, she wants more and lets him know shes not going to be just a woman to fool around with. Sparks fly between them. I enjoyed the narration by Ashley Taylor and Daniel Knight!audiobookobsessionreviewer
Determined not to let anyone hurt him again, rugby player Ryan O’Connor has been keeping everyone at arm’s length since he was betrayed by his ex-fiancée; except there’s something about Christine that makes him want to tear down the walls he built around his heart. Will he let go of the pain caused by his past and let himself fall in love again?
This is the second book in the series. I haven’t listened to the first one (yet) and Ryan can be listened to as a standalone, but listening to this one made me curious about Ian and Riley’s story.
The characters are well-developed and have deep, complex relationships with each other. I especially liked Evan and his relationship with Christine.
Narrators Ashley Taylor and Daniel Knight did a great job, although Ryan’s character sounded robotic at times.
Ryan is a contemporary sports romance written in dual first-person POV and performed in duet-style narration. It’s a standalone that ends with a HEA. No cliffhanger, no cheating.
I received this audiobook from #AudiobookObsession at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Ryan
O’Connor Brothers, Book 2
By: A. S. Kelly
Narrated by: Ashley Taylor, Daniel Knight
So, another O’Connor brother comes to light and now I have to decide if I like Ian or Ryan better! This story is more my speed, with the broody, hard to reach Ryan. He is attracted to Chris, but keeps getting in his own way when around her. The things that come out of his mouth both make me laugh and cringe! He definitely has some things from his past that are keeping him at arm’s length. Chris has her own obstacles to overcome, and this man both is her main attraction and yet frustrates her to no end! Will these enemies find their way to being lovers? This was a fun listen, a little angsty, a lot of passion and I love the interaction with the family. The brothers are so typical, their banter is just like I know our house is, and the competitiveness between them is highly combustible. Chris is an interesting woman. A wonderful mother, it does seem like she is afraid to move forward, even 16 years later. These two broken characters find their way together, we can only hope they can put each other back again.
The narration team of Ashley Taylor and Daniel Knight bring it all to life. Taylor is a master at her craft, loving her transitions to accents, she easily finds her way around the characters. Knight has an amazing voice, and I found that he seemed more comfortable as the narration continued. He has a little problem with the changes between characters, but I find both their voices fit well with the duet narration. I enjoyed this story.
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Enemies to lovers is always a fun listen and this one did not disappoint! These two have a huge dislike for each other, or so they want you to believe. I loved watching this one unfold and getting a lot more background answers as to what happened in Ryan’s past with his brother. Another great listen with the O’Connor brothers.
Ryan by A.S. Kelly is the second book in The O’Connor Brothers Series that I listened to on audio narrated by Ashley Taylor and Daniel Knight.
All I can say is Wow! A.S. Kelly takes you through an emotional roller coaster with Ryan and Christine. Ryan’s speech had me smiling and crying at the same time. I absolutely loved their story. I cannot wait for the next book in the series Nick to be released on audible.
Ashley and Daniel did an amazing job! This is the second time I have heard two narrators work together on one chapter and I absolutely love it.
AudiobookObsession
AudiobookObsessionReviewer
How can I describe a story like this in a few lines? I can not. There would be so much to say. A.S. Kelly makes the characters so real, with their flaws, their differences, she perfectly mixes the main story with everything else. Ryan is a man broken into pieces. He is not able to overcome what has happened in the past and that turns everything into anger and indifference. But he didn’t deal with Christine. When he meets her, he tries to ignore her but fails. He sees her everywhere, even at his parents’ home, and unfortunately for him, his family really likes Christine, everyone loves her. But they are getting closer and closer, and he feels more and more attracted. But he can’t give up because he can’t love anyone. Christine is a strong woman, she is raising a child on her own because of her past failures in love, she is independent and she knows that behind that cold marble there is a man with a golden heart. The other characters in the story fill the chapters with their hilarious situations and their moments of reflection and love in pure O’Connor style. Absolutely recommended!
I have to say that this is an amazing story. I did not read book one which is Ian’s story but the O’Connor brothers are amazing and when they love they love hard. This book some time for Ryan the second brother to fall in love because he was such an angry guy. He hated everything and everyone and was always in a grumpy mood but when he started to come out of his shell he was a changed man.
Ryan meets Christine but he keeps her at arms length and she is determined to break his angry ways. She has her son that she had with another man who did not want a relationship with Christine so she picked up her broken heart and moved on.
Then she meets Ryan and she falls for him and she is determined to win his heart and the more time she spends with his family the more Ryan falls for her and her son. But Can Ryan let go of his anger to fall in love?
Ryan by A. S. Kelly is book Two in the O’Connor Brothers Series. This is the story of Ryan and Christine ‘Chris’. I have read the previous book but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do this.
Ryan has a chip on his shoulder which is causing him to hate most everything and anyone. Ryan’s attitude is keeping him from being a part of his family. Even when he first meets Chris his anger keeps him from seeing her and any feelings he might have. Chris is a single mother who has a Cafe that she owes and works hard at. So Ryan’s attitude isn’t one she wants to put up with. Ryan and Chris both has issues and both started to feel that the other helped with their feelings. Ryan had the biggest part to over come which made this book a page turner for me.
This is the first book I have read by this author but after reading Ryan it certainly won’t be the last, this may be book 2 in the dysfunctional O’Connor family but I can assure you it can be read as a stand-alone, I know this because I haven’t read Ian book 1 as yet.
Ryan is angry at life, well to be honest he angry at everyone and everything and at times he wasn’t easy to like but you don’t have to like someone to relate to them and he is easy to relate to. Christine is a smart strong woman who is just a tad vulnerable trying to make a life for her and her son and she was so easy to love. Will Christine get Ryan to show what he is covering with rage and anger….
A dysfunctional family saga set in the world of rugby, a man who is full of anger and who doesn’t feel worthy of relationships and a kind single mum who turns his world upside down. This book has plenty of angst but it also has plenty of witty funny moments and characters you can relate to. A great read from a new author to me .
Book two and I’m head over heels in love with this dysfunctional family.
I could relate to Ryan in so many ways that it was scary. Having been in his shoes I understood where he was coming from. His anger and resentment was oozing with each word he spoke. I loved Christine. She was the kinda woman I hope I am; smart, strong and a bit vulnerable infront of a right person. She didn’t have an easy life but she managed to push through it all and kept going. And despite of his fears she was the anchor that kept him grounded and letting him feel save to love again.
I’ve been sucked into this family with the first book and I’m not sure my heart can take much more….with that said GIVE ME MOOOOOOORE
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***