Beyond Believing

The Beyond Series, Book 1

Fiction - Audiobook
Audio Book
Reviewed on 11/15/2019
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Beyond Believing is a work of interpersonal drama, romantic fiction and true-life drama penned by author D. D. Marx. In its audiobook format, it is narrated by Heather Masters and Angus King, and it forms the first volume of The Beyond Series. The plot follows Olivia, whose life is turned totally upside down by the tragic and sudden death of her best friend Dan. As Olivia comes to terms with Dan’s passing and relies on their friendship to get her through life, a series of unbelievable and unexpected events begin to take shape, leading Olivia to a brand new life she could never have imagined.

Author D. D. Marx has created a character close to her own heart in Olivia, and that realness shows through and endears us to her on every page. The plot is well constructed to encapsulate some of the more spiritual concepts of the story, and it still grounds us to the emotional difficulties of real life and the decisions we must face every day. In terms of its audiobook production, the narration provided by Heather Masters and Angus King helps to create incredibly memorable characters who seem genuine and likable. Masters, especially, brings Olivia to us with authentic and emotive first-person nuances and little personality ticks that we can connect with. The editing quality of the audio is also superbly crisp and clean, with no discernible interference during playback. Overall, Beyond Believing is an excellent story brought to an even higher level of quality by its audiobook cast, putting author D. D. Marx on the map as an excellent and emotive dramatic writer.

Romuald Dzemo

Beyond Believing, the first book in The Beyond Series by D.D. Marx, explores one character’s experience of grief after a devastating loss. After her best friend, Dan, dies in a fatal accident, Olivia’s world comes tumbling down. As if that isn’t enough to crush her, she loses her job after exposing a huge internal scandal. Jobless, she moves to Palm Springs to be with her cousin, Garrett, and to heal. It is here that she will find love, one that heals in ways she never could have imagined. But will this love endure the tempest in her heart?

Intelligently plotted and beautifully told, Beyond Believing is a blend of romance and dealing with grief, a story with very strong and sophisticated characters. Olivia is a character that readers will definitely love; she comes across as genuine and flawed, but there is a strength of character in her that faces reality head-on. From the beginning, her experience pulled me in. Her point of view comes across powerfully in the story and her dark despair at the loss of her best friend is unmistakable; she describes the experience as living in an alternate world.

The story is filled with twists and turns, told in a gripping voice. The narrators, Heather Masters and Angus King, did a wonderful job in capturing the mood of the characters and allowing the dialogues to come out neatly. The audio quality is very clear and professionally done, offering readers a wonderful listening experience, especially for long solitary rides. D.D. Marx is a great storyteller who has created characters and a story that will speak directly to the hearts of readers.

Rabia Tanveer

Beyond Believing is the first book in The Beyond Series by D.D. Marx. This audiobook is like the voice of every person who falls in love too quickly, whether it be a platonic love or a romantic love. Olivia is a good woman; she makes sure never to hurt someone and when she does, she doesn’t hesitate in saying sorry. But her world comes crashing down when her best friend Dan dies in a car accident. Devastated and lost, she has no idea how she is going to navigate her life without him by her side. To make matters worse, her career isn’t doing so well and when she tries to seek comfort with her cousin, she finds that he doesn’t have the time to focus on her while he is trying to open his new business. She struggles to find the love and comfort that she used to have with Dan. So when she meets the ever-charming Finn, she realizes that he might be the person who could fill in her heart and soothe her soul. Is this a love that she can cherish for life?

This is such an honest and beautiful audiobook narrated by Heather Masters and Angus Kin. Both performers did a wonderful job of conveying the emotions of the characters and allowed the reader to get a glimpse into the lives of these people. Olivia is not really a tortured soul, but she is definitely trying to make sense of the world around her. Heather Masters did an amazing job of bringing Olivia to life, making sure she conveyed everything Olivia was feeling and going through. The pace and flow of the story are incredibly good. I usually feel very sleepy when I listen to audiobooks, but for some reason, I stayed wide awake and had to force myself to fall asleep. I didn’t want the story to end and I definitely wanted Olivia to find that love that soothes the soul and heart. The dialogues were fun, the characters were given ample time to develop, and the story never lagged at any point. This is a wonderful story, one that gives you comfort and hope for a brighter and hopeful future.

Christian Sia

Olivia has just lost her best friend, Dan, in a car accident. While her workmates are great people, they can’t fill the void she experiences inside. And to make matters worse, she loses her job after exposing an internal scandal in the office. Lost over how to start, she makes the decision to visit her cousin in Palm Springs, hoping he can help her emotionally. But Garrett has a lot on his plate with a new business. Then love happens to Olivia and light enters her life. Can she find meaning and healing in the midst of her losses?

Beyond Believing is the first book in The Beyond Series, written with poignancy and in a gripping voice. The story pulls readers in and makes them see the world from the perspective of the characters. The novel opens with a tragedy that becomes the catalyst for the actions of the protagonist. I always want to see a character faced with some sort of crisis and how the crisis helps them evolve through the story. For Olivia, it is Dan's death and I was pulled in from the moment she receives the news to sorting out his things in his place. D.D. Marx has a special gift for character and she creates them in a way that makes readers feel as though part of them was in these characters.

Beyond Believing is professionally narrated by Heather Masters and Angus King and the audio does the story great justice, enabling readers to enjoy images in their minds. The audio is clear and it is narrated in a way that allows the drama and the emotional depth of the story to come across strongly to readers. D.D. Marx is a great entertainer, creating a story that is both realistic and enjoyable, one filled with lessons of love, friendship, and healing. A very engaging and inspirational story that is likely going to keep any reader riveted.

Ruffina Oserio

Hugely entertaining and well written, Beyond Believing is the first book in The Beyond Series by D.D. Marx and it is engaging in every aspect. It tells the story of Olivia, a woman who suffers a devastating loss and finds healing in love. When we meet Olivia, she is deeply struck by the death of her best friend, Dan. While struggling to come to terms with the tragedy, she uncovers one of the biggest scandals in her organization. Exposing the scandal is a grave mistake because it leads to the loss of her job. The only place where she thinks she can begin rebuilding her life is in Palm Springs, where her cousin Garrett is about to launch his business. But here, instead of getting the full attention of her cousin, she meets someone and a new and promising journey beckons on the horizon. Is she ready for the promise of love?

D.D. Marx understands the magic of love, the importance of friendship, and the place of family. This audiobook is brilliantly narrated and it follows the perspective of the protagonist, Olivia, exploring some of the most hidden feelings and thoughts that readers have, especially after a tragedy. The loneliness and the pain that Olivia suffers after the death of a friend transform into a powerful ache when she loses her job. While listening to the story, I wanted to see what would happen to her, if she could accept the situation and let her heart heal.

Beyond Believing is well-written and beautifully narrated by Heather Masters and Angus King and I never felt confused at whose voice was on the audio. The recording is very professional and the emotional intensity of the story comes out in the narration. It is lively and focused. The story aroused all kinds of feelings in me, and while I was struck by the experience of the protagonist, I was buoyed up by the journey of love and healing. Indeed, only God knows how to compensate us for our sorrows, and this message is conveyed in the novel. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.