Beyond Love

The Beyond Series, Book 2

Fiction - Audiobook
Audio Book
Reviewed on 12/01/2019
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Beyond Love is the second audiobook in The Beyond Series by D.D. Marx. The story of Olivia continues while she navigates life and its hurdles after trying to find love once again as she rebuilds her life from the ground up. Olivia is all set to start her life with Finn. She and Finn are positive that this love is going to stay with them as a constant so they don’t hesitate in taking the next step. But before they can take a step forward, Olivia has to go back to Chicago to sell her condo there. Deliriously happy with her life and constant guidance from Dan from up above, she knows that this is the best decision for her. But there is a secret she is hiding from Finn that she is afraid will ruin their blooming relationship. Her cousin Garrett tells her to keep the secret, but she really doesn’t want to. What should she do? Will she even get the chance to tell Finn all?

Narrators Heather Masters and Angus King have done an amazing job yet again in giving voice to these characters. They bring out the emotions the characters are feeling, they make sure that you can connect with Olivia and Finn and feel like you are part of their life. They had a depth to their voices that gave life to the characters. I enjoyed their voices, they are soothing yet at the same time they make sure you are invested in the story from start to finish.

The plot itself is more vivid this time. I enjoyed how the whole tone of the story changed with how Olivia was feeling. She wasn’t feeling so happy in the last novel so the tone was mellow, but this time she is happy and full of life and so is the narrative. The author paced it just right, allowed the reader to jump into the story and enjoy it along with the characters. I am in love with D. D. Marx’s writing style; she brings everything to life with her words. Olivia is such a strong character, you can find little pieces of yourself in her and connect with her on a personal level. I cannot wait for the third novel in the series and find out what happens next in Finn’s and Olivia’s lives.

Christian Sia

Olivia has finally left the hectic corporate lifestyle and is looking forward to building a future with Finn McDaniels, her celebrity chef and widowed boyfriend. When she decides to go back to Chicago, it is to sell her condo and fix a few things before starting her new life with Finn. But what awaits her in Chicago may constitute a major obstacle to her future life with Finn and makes her question if she did the right thing trusting the mysterious Dan’s advice—note that Dan isn’t from the physical world. She follows her passion and invests in meaningful work, something that helps her traverse the difficult moment. But her joy at finally meeting with Finn doesn’t last long for a dark secret from her past begins to haunt her. She is torn between coming clean and telling the truth or burying it forever. What can possibly happen when Finn finds out?

An exciting second entry in the Beyond series, Beyond Love by D.D. Marx features characters that are nuanced and skillfully developed. I enjoyed the first book in this series and this one just crystallizes my respect for D.D. Marx’s writing. The story is well-written and the characters elaborately developed. I always want to see how characters evolve in a story and this author knows just how to handle this aspect of the story, creating a strong motivation and then filling the paths of the characters with obstacles. For Olivia, her dream is to get settled with the man she loves, and this pushes her to make a life-changing decision. Things get complicated when her relationship is threatened by a secret from her past, and there is more. It is interesting to follow how the protagonist evolves through challenging moments. Beyond Love is well-narrated by Heather Masters and Angus King and the audio is professional. It is clear and I enjoyed how the emotions of the characters come out through the way the narrators respect the punctuation. The pacing is fast, the drama intense, and the suspense exacting. This audiobook is delightful to listen to.

Romuald Dzemo

Beyond Love is the second book in the Beyond Series by D.D. Marx, a skillfully narrated audiobook that follows the romance between two sophisticated characters. The audio is professionally done and I enjoyed how narrators Heather Masters and Angus King allow the unique characteristics of the characters, the emotional tension, and the elements of the conflict to come out through the audio.

Olivia likes Finn McDaniels, a widower and celebrity chef. Following the advice of her mysterious friend Dan from beyond the grave, she leaves her corporate life and is ready to start a new chapter, one in which Finn is part of the story. So, she returns to Chicago to sell her condo and here she receives disturbing news, and she has to get things fixed before meeting Finn. But this is just a prelude to something even more devastating. When she finally meets Finn, a dark secret from her past catches up with her and threatens to destroy their relationship. She has vowed never to let this secret out, but now she must make a choice to tell Finn or not. But is she ready for what happens next?

D.D. Marx is a great storyteller and readers will adore Beyond Love. The characters are strong and each has a solid background. I enjoyed the fact that they are genuinely flawed, humanly convincing, and thrust into a reality that allows them to grow. The conflict is well-handled, and I particularly enjoyed the psychological part of it. There is a sense of mystery in this romance and readers will want to explore the deeper meaning of the relationship between Olivia and her friend Dan. This is an enjoyable story that is delightful to listen to. I loved the characters, the narration, the strong plot points and the way the romance is developed.

K.C. Finn

Beyond Love is the second novel in The Beyond Series of light romantic novels penned by author D. D. Marx, and is performed in audiobook format by returning artistes Heather Masters and Angus King. We return to our protagonist Olivia, who trusted in her departed friend Dan for his guidance to set her on a new course in life. Now, she has found true love with widowed chef Finn McDaniels, and she is eager to begin a new chapter in her life. But a trip home to Chicago brings terrifying news that threatens to collapse everything in her future, and Olivia must once again question her trust in Dan and her own inner strength to push forward.

Author D. D. Marx ups the ante in this second installment of The Beyond Series, bringing Olivia back to life with a new perspective, but also a lot of loose ends from her old life to tie up. The narration is strong and filled with character, and the emotional arc of Olivia’s tale has deeper realism than ever before, yet Marx manages to keep the tone light and enjoyable despite some of the devastating discoveries which the plot has in store.

In terms of audiobook presentation and quality, once again the team at Beyond Dreams Publishing does not disappoint. Heather Masters and Angus King return with strong voices and a deeper understanding of the characters as they progress, and the editing quality is crisp and clear throughout. Olivia feels more and more like a friend as the narration winds on, making for an immersive and enjoyable listening experience. Overall, Beyond Love brings new intelligence and emotional depth to the continuation of the series and is an excellent follow up to an already excellent novel.

Ruffina Oserio

Beyond Love is the second book in The Beyond Series by D.D. Marx, an audiobook that is very entertaining. Olivia is the female protagonist who follows the advice of her friend, Dan, who speaks to her from the grave. She ditches her corporate life with the hope of building her new relationship with Finn McDaniels. Complications start when she returns to Chicago to fix up things and when everything seems set for them to start a new life together. A dark secret from Olivia's past threatens to destroy everything. Now she is faced with a difficult choice.

This is an enchanting story with strong plot points. The relationship between Olivia and her departed friend, Dan, gives depth to her character and allows readers to have a deeper understanding of her psychological frame of mind. She completely trusts him for advice. Then there are other interesting characters like Garrett, who plays a key role in the story as well. I enjoyed how the conflict is developed, mostly from the psychological perspective, and it deepens with the choices that the protagonist makes and who she listens to for advice. The theme of relationships is beautifully developed in the story and readers will love to follow Olivia as she navigates the different aspects of her relationships in the story.

The narrators, Heather Masters and Angus King, do an impeccable job and it is easy to hear the voice of the story come alive in the audio. I enjoyed how the emotional intensity of the story is captured in the audio. You don't want to stop listening once you start. It is gripping and utterly enjoyable.