Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Senses Series #4

The Sound of Power

Rate this book
I’ve woken up in the bed of my worst enemy. How did I get here?

I’m a hard-up socialist with a soft heart. Since my parents’ struggles have taught me that money is the lowest common denominator for success, I’m afraid to dream big. When I stumble into the path of cold, ruthless billionaire-tycoon Gavin Parnell, my worst nightmares come to life. He forces me to work as his personal assistant, though he represents everything I stand against.

Yet he’s a drug more addictive than any I know of. He affects all the senses, and despite the potential fallout, I crave more. Strangely, I long for his callousness, his power, and even his coldness. And when he’s pursuing and owning me, he transforms from a master controller to a dark, unhinged savage.

What do you do when the quality that pulls you most to a person is the obstacle standing in the way of your being together?

I crave it but fear it. I’m drawn to it but want to run from it.

This pull towards Elodie Banks far surpasses my will to contain it. When she enters the room, my coldness melts, my restraint crumbles, and I lose control. But it’s not just her, it’s what she triggers. I’m plagued by flashbacks and nightmares about a past I can’t recall. Talking to Elodie and spending time with her loosens the grip the demons within me have on my memories. But the closer I get to discovering the truth, the more I put her in harm’s way.

Yet it’s too late to regret my decision to get close to her. I’m starved for her—not just her body but her soul. That quirky, idealistic, rebellious spirit that sang to me through the darkness of my visions when I first met her. When a deadly enemy chases her, I finally have to face the possibility that it’s not Elodie who holds the key to my past but I myself.

Maybe it’s time I took the advice I gave to Elodie—turn off your brain and listen to your senses.

This dark romance explores the relationship between power and vulnerability, between suffering and resilience. A story of rebirth and resurrection, it captures two points of view and has BDSM elements. It is the fourth book in the Senses Series.

408 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2024

1 person is currently reading
24 people want to read

About the author

Kathleen Haley

26 books76 followers
Formerly an academic, I took up writing romance recently and quite by accident. In early 2022 the right elements conjoined—my love of villains, my taste for high comedy, and my pull towards strong women. Now I can’t stop cooking up plots and drawing new characters. Though I write mostly dark romance, I invariably weave plenty of reality into the fantasy. My preference for lone wolves, quirky characters, and intense plot results in what my reader and author friends call romance with teeth. I live in Berkeley, California with my dachshund-Chihuahua, Pooh-bah. When I’m not writing, I love traveling, cooking, playing piano, and cycling in the nearby hills.

Follow on Insta @kathleenlotthaley

Website: https://kathleenhaley1.wixsite.com/my...

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
46 (73%)
4 stars
14 (22%)
3 stars
3 (4%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
Profile Image for Angela - Traumatic Reader.
86 reviews6 followers
July 17, 2024
The Sound of Power by the talented Kathleen Haley is the fourth in The Senses Series. I received an Advanced Readers Copy for my honest review.

I am going to say it - I know I said it with The Feel of Possession.. BUT - this one is my favourite one in the series!! It was perfection. Gavin and Elodie will live rent free in my heart and mind forever.

I love Kathleen Haley's style of writing - it shows through all the books I have read by her. Each word, sentence, paragraph and chapter beautifully penned that you can't help but be part of the world she has created. The plot she weaves for us is riverting - the love story tantilizing - you just cant help but beg her for more. I need this series as hard copies to hang on my trophy shelf to prove that I have read every single one of them and survived the intensity and fell irrevocably in love with every single one of the MCs.

I also loved getting to see Fox & Gwen from The Smell of Fear and Geraint and Astrid from The Taste of Deceit and The Feel of Possession - even Michael fucking LaRoche made an appearance in this one!! (gasp - did I say too much?)

Go read the blurb for more spoilers - it doesn't do it justice. Then read those damn trigger warnings - because your mental health is important. AND then go preorder your copy of The Sound of Power - while you wait for that to be released.. get your grubby dark romance paws on the rest of the series :

The Smell of Fear
The Taste of Deceit
The Feel of Possession

Go!! Do it!! You won't regret it!
You can thank Kathleen Haley (and little ol' me) later.
Profile Image for Sarah Viljoen.
25 reviews
July 11, 2024
OMG every book I read of Kathleen Haley's I fall in love with her imagination all over again.

If you love Suspense, Intrigue, HOT as HELL DEVIL DEMIGODS, Woman with a Back bone.

This BOOK is definitely for you. Gavin is hot as hell with a twisted, psychopathic past, but under all his Thousand Dollar suits and classic God like attitude is a man that just wants to love and be loved, when he accidentally meets Elodie and her quick wit and socialite attitude towards him. He is instantly intrigued. But he doesn't know why.

Until all hell breaks lose and he finds himself losing not only his mind but his heart as well. Where Elodie hates all that he stands for that is wrong in the world she starts to see another side to Gavin.

As for the HOT as hell BDSM that they start to express towards each other is beyond SWEATING PALMS, it's more flowing rivers of bodily fluids.

@KathleenHaley you my dear have brought yet again an amazing twist to your book. It flows perfectly with the rest of the series. I can't wait for the next amazing adverture from you.
12 reviews
July 15, 2024
This book is phenomenal. It keeps the reader enthralled from the onset, with strong characters navigating personal trauma. The psychology wiring embedded throughout is astounding, immersing the reader into an emotional and mental aquifer. Strong, determined, honest, sensual and committed to getting what he wants Gavin is a top male lead. Elodie is no pushover, yet is still able to submit to her heart without compromising her value system. Kathleen crafted these characters and the chain of events in a manner which challeneges the reader to consider other perspectives outside of their personal views: political, social, sexual and behavioual. The dynamic surrounding the various types of relationships highlights the socially understated and psychologically damning effects that result from emotional abuse. Traumatic events and the arrival at a plateau of self development ignites the fervent urgency to address mental health. Reflective of individuals personal journeys and internal struggles, this is a pivotal call waiting to answered.
Profile Image for Nilsa.
75 reviews3 followers
August 28, 2024
This series gets better after each book This enemy to lovers book had so much mystery I had no idea who was the murderer was. The story of Gavin and Elodie also brought so much light to things happening today: Mental health and repressed memories caused by trauma was what hit me the most while reading this story. If you like dark romance & mystery, I suggest you pickup this book. Kathleen Haley continues to create amazing stories!
Profile Image for Danica Molchan.
42 reviews1 follower
July 11, 2024
What can I say about this one?
Well let me begin with I am hoping the series isn't complete but I am also so happy to get Elodies story as she was mentioned in snippets of Astrid and Geraints story. I love that the Larouche men make an appearance as well. This series was very good all around and I look forward to more from Kathleen
Profile Image for Jo Bailey.
42 reviews5 followers
October 10, 2024
Ok, I am not even exaggerating when I say at this point I would read Kathleen Haley's grocery list and be completely enthralled.

This is the 4th book in the senses series and IMO the best one yet.
Oh man!! I know this one will leave a book hangover. I couldn't stop reading but then as I neared the end I didn't want it to end, but I had to get the bottom of it all. 😳
You know, you know that feeling guys !! This book gives it all and then some.

So Gavin is our deeply traumatized MMC he has detached from all emotional ties and is now a self made millionaire with a dark back story which builds more and more as the book develops. His path crossed by "coincidence" with Elodie.
Elodie is a strong female with her own views and opinions. She is thrown into the lions den so to speak, because of her need to stand up for her friends/colleagues who she feels are being treated unfairly.

Gavin is a Dom who will take whatever he wants, whenever he wants it. Elodies body can't resist him and the spice *hits* 🥵 trust me 🤤

I couldn't put this book down, I was trying to go about my day just waiting to get home to my reading time. The story builds and grips you. The mystery running throughout leaves a feeling of angst and tension in the best way.

Just read this whole series, you won't be sorry. I love when a series pulls characters alongside eachother but I was not expecting to see Michael La Roche appear 😳

Enjoy 😍
Profile Image for reader. kore.
212 reviews17 followers
July 25, 2024
The Sound of Power
Kathleen Haley

Kathleen does it again in this rivals to lovers book, bringing in characters with opposing political views, from different tracks of the country into the same room. The result is undeniably explosive.

Elodie and Gavin are at war, seething when they first meet while Gavin is firing her co workers. Elodie stands up for them, risking her own employment but bargains (or is rather forced into) to be Gavin's personal assistant. It's uphill from there, as he struggles to figure out this girl who's everything he is not and she is kept in line to punish her for her tardiness and sense of justice.

The book sings a beautiful harmony that engages the senses through music, scenic description of the characters' travels and hotter than fire sexy scenes. I haven't blushed this hard just from the hero calling himself god and Elodie his little pet. Unmatched chemistry aside, a trait I can confidently attribute to all Kathleen Haley book couples, Gavin and Elodie do a great job in communicating.

They needed it the most through the running mystery of the book, ghost or monsters from the past coming to keep them apart and after a thrilling chase, they have the sweetest ending.

The author leaves no open ends and I loved how she does justice time and again to families of the main characters, giving them good endings despite their shortcomings or flaws.

This was grumpy-sunshine done well and Gavin wasn't an ass for being an ass's sake. Elodie was every bit of his match through this book, bringing in cheer, color and a melody he desperately needed in his life to chase the demons away.

5 ✨
4 🔥 🥵
Profile Image for Flippenpageswithlisa  . .
129 reviews3 followers
July 27, 2024
The sound of power..
I didn't read the blurb I just jumped straight into this arc.. Thank you for the privilege of a arc, I will forever feel grateful for a author for this.

I loved elodie from the beginning, she was a free spirit, said what she felt and I loved that fire, took me a little more time to connect to our MMC, but when I did he was yummy 🥵. I ended up really loving him.

He was Protective and refused to not be with her, even embraced all the things different about her, and ended up loving her more.
So I totally loved them as a couple.

This book also had elements I wasn't expecting, the mental health aspect, the repressed memories and I loved that he asked and accepted her help.

It was my first from this author I definitely want to go back and read previous books.
Profile Image for neeshreads.
370 reviews18 followers
January 31, 2025
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

I have a new favorite book by Kathleen Haley and THIS👏🏽 IS👏🏽 IT👏🏽! I am never ever ever disappointed with Haley’s writing style, as Kathleen does a fabulous job of giving richly detailed works that immerse you in the world she creates. I could not stop myself from falling in love with Gavin Parnell if I tried. THIS MAN. Gavin is an apex predator, and I would gladly walk into the lion’s den and stick my head in the mouth of the king of animals.

🖤Billionaire, Alphahole MMC
🖤Spirited FMC
🖤Overcoming Childhood Trauma
🖤Possessive & Protective MMC
🖤BDSM Elements
🖤Dominant & Submissive Power Play Dynamics
🖤Funishments (Punishments w/ Happy Endings 🤭)
🖤Light Sømnøphilia
🖤Brëęding K!nk (w/o pregnancy)

Elodie is filled with absentminded idealism – she’s a socialist with big ideas and a soft heart. Seeing her parents struggle has stilted Elodie’s ability to dream big and follow those dreams, so when she ends up on the radar of a cold and ruthless billionaire, Gavin Parnell, who just acquired the company where she works, her worst nightmare comes to life: she’s forced to work as Gavin’s personal assistant.

Gavin is everything Elodie has been taught to despise and she desperately wants to ignore the pull she feels toward him, but he affects her in every sense of the word. Does Gavin feel the pull, too?

Gavin can’t help but be drawn to Elodie even though she embodies everything he fears. Gavin should want to run from Elodie, but he’s drawn to her in ways even he can’t fully explain. Every carefully crafted wall Gavin has built around himself and his emotions crumbles in the presence of Elodie and he opens up to her in ways he never has with anyone, unlocking traumatic memories Gavin has buried so deeply, even he can’t fully remember them.

As Gavin and Elodie grow closer, it becomes apparent that the demons of his past aren’t going to stay buried and he inadvertently endangers her. Although someone or something is determined to destroy their happiness, Gavin is too far gone to let Elodie go; he craves her body, mind, and soul and what Gavin wants, he gets.

THIS. BOOK. WAS. EVERYTHING.

I LOVED the dynamic between Gavin and Elodie and they are my favorite couple from this series. I loved Gavin's hard exterior, critical mind and the way he complemented Elodie. Elodie was very fae-like in her spirit, and her opposition in ideals compared to Gavin led to highly charged moments. I loved how although Gavin had outside drama, he never tried to withhold that information to protect Elodie, so there was very little time for miscommunication to occur between them. I loved the way Elodie and Gavin debated with one another–he never tried to actually change her mind, but got her to critically think about her position to make her argument stronger. I loved Gavin’s dominant personality, but he never truly seemed to try and completely control Elodie in any way outside of simply protecting her safety. Gavin seemed more secure in their feelings for one another than previous MMCs in the series (*cough Geraint and Fox, cough cough*), and the fact that Gavin wanted to work through his darkness with Elodie showed how he always saw her as a partner *catch me while I swoon.* AND THE SPICE?! 🔥SO. MUCH. YES.🔥 Gavin was FERAL for Elodie and I had to fan my face so many times.

Go read this book.
Profile Image for BookishAurora.
1 review
August 3, 2024
This was my first book by Kathleen, and what a brilliant one to start on. Elodie and Gavin are fantastic characters. Elodie is intelligent, strong, and fiercely loyal to the ones she cares for, which leads her into the lap of Gavin, smoking hot, dominant, rich and obsessive, and possessive. I love it.

The story is unique and bloody fantastic. The first thing that I truly adore is that when Elodie and Gavin are dealing with people meddling in their relationship. Instead of running away for a week, or stay but then act weird and cold for days, they actually remind themselves of the sweet things they have said to one another or they know each other well enough that they think "no that is not something they would" and it makes me so happy, not creating any fake drama. It makes it even more obvious that they love each other.

Now, the trauma that plays a part in Gavins' life is handled very well, and he is open with Elodie . When he had a flashback, instead of pushing her away because she had seen him have a "weak" moment, he leaned on her, let's her help him in trying to uncover what he is seeing and feeling. This is again refreshing because the norm is for the MMC - in a lot of books - is push the MFC away, especially at the beginnings of their relationship, but that is not the case here. Love It.

Now the SMUT, I loved it, he is dominant to his core, and I am absolutely here for it. His hand is the perfect collar. It is dirty, hot, hard, and intense. It is lush. Read it and love it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lucy.
43 reviews2 followers
August 9, 2024
The Sound of Power by Kathleen Haley is a dark romance dripping with suspense, lust, and mystery. I really enjoyed reading it and was hooked from the beginning when Elodie and Gavin meet in an electric, chance encounter. From the start, Elodie has Gavin losing the one thing he seeks to grasp tightly - control. They're as different as chalk and cheese, with Gavin being a capitalist and Elodie a socialist, and this clash makes their relationship dynamic and explosive.

I love the way mystery was incorporated into the story, the twists and turns kept me on my toes while reading and it was almost like I was Gavin, looking at everyone as a suspect and trying to figure out potential motives. Nothing is as it seems and Gavin holds onto the feeling that eventually, the truth will come out, even if he's not ready to face it. Power is everything to him, but thanks to Elodie, he soon learns there is so much more to life than that.

Kathleen's style of writing is so easy to devour. I loved the way Gavin and Elodie challenge each other as well as help each other devel0p. Despite being a trigger into Gavin's blocked out past, Elodie is the only one who can get through to him and help him to discover what really happened all those years ago. As always with this series, I was absolutely delighted when previous main characters (Astrid, Gwynn, Fox and Geraint) made an appearance.

Perfect for lovers of:
Enemies to lovers
Grumpy and sunshine
BDSM elements
Dark romance
Mystery
Blackmail
Drama
Family secrets
Dual POV
Opposites attract
Profile Image for reader. kore.
212 reviews17 followers
December 18, 2024
The Sound of Power
Kathleen Haley

Kathleen does it again in this rivals to lovers book, bringing in characters with opposing views, from different tracks of the country into the same room. The result is undeniably explosive.

Elodie and Gavin are at war, seething when they first meet while Gavin is firing her co workers. Elodie stands up for them, risking her own employment but bargains (or is rather forced into) to be Gavin's personal assistant. It's uphill from there, as he struggles to figure out this girl who's everything he is not.

The book sings a beautiful harmony that engages the senses through music, scenic description of the characters' travels and hotter than fire sexy scenes. I haven't blushed this hard just from the hero calling himself god and Elodiez his little pet. Unmatched chemistry aside, a trait I can confidently attribute to all Kathleen Haley book couples, Gavin and Elodie do a great job in communicating.

They needed it the most through the running mystery of the book, ghost or monsters from the past coming to keep them apart and after a thrilling chase, they have the sweetest ending.

The author leaves no open ends and I loved how she does justice time and again to families of the main characters, giving them good endings despite their shortcomings or flaws.

This was grumpy-sunshine done well and Gavin wasn't an ass for being an ass's sake.

5 ✨
4 🔥 🥵
Profile Image for Joanne Barton.
481 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2024
I’ve woken up in the bed of my worst enemy. How did I get here?

I’m a hard-up socialist with a soft heart. Since my parents’ struggles have taught me that money is the lowest common denominator for success, I’m afraid to dream big. When I stumble into the path of cold, ruthless billionaire-tycoon Gavin Parnell, my worst nightmares come to life. He forces me to work as his personal assistant, though he represents everything I stand against.

Yet he’s a drug more addictive than any I know of. He affects all the senses, and despite the potential fallout, I crave more. Strangely, I long for his callousness, his power, and even his coldness. And when he’s pursuing and owning me, he transforms from a master controller to a dark, unhinged savage.

What do you do when the quality that pulls you most to a person is the obstacle standing in the way of your being together?

I crave it but fear it. I’m drawn to it but want to run from it.

This pull towards Elodie Banks far surpasses my will to contain it. When she enters the room, my coldness melts, my restraint crumbles, and I lose control. But it’s not just her, it’s what she triggers. I’m plagued by flashbacks and nightmares about a past I can’t recall. Talking to Elodie and spending time with her loosens the grip the demons within me have on my memories. But the closer I get to discovering the truth, the more I put her in harm’s way.

Yet it’s too late to regret my decision to get close to her. I’m starved for her—not just her body but her soul. That quirky, idealistic, rebellious spirit that sang to me through the darkness of my visions when I first met her. When a deadly enemy chases her, I finally have to face the possibility that it’s not Elodie who holds the key to my past but I myself.

Maybe it’s time I took the advice I gave to Elodie—turn off your brain and listen to your senses.

“The Sound of Power” is the fourth book in “The Senses Series”. This has been a wonderful series, inclusive of this book, that will challenge you on many levels, both emotionally and physically. This dark romance explores the relationship between power and vulnerability, between suffering and resilience. A story of rebirth and resurrection, it captures two points of view and has BDSM elements. I was captivated from the first chapter!

Gavin and Elodie are at different ends of the spectrum, she is a socialist, he is a capitalist, but together, they are force of nature. They complement each other an so many levels. Gavin is best described as “sex god on legs” and Elodie is his heart ♥️ I just love them! Gavin is very protective of her and even more so when he realises that there are threats to her life! Together, can they solve mysteries from the past that are affecting thing now? Will they be able to find out who is behind everything and stop them before it is too late? The story is full of passion, intrigue, romance, danger, drama, twists and turns around every corner! There is never a dull moment!

As per Kathleen’s previous three books in the series, she has excelled again. A thoroughly enjoyable read from one chapter to the next - at times you are metaphorical “on the edge of your chair” wondering what will happen next. You will fall in love with Gavin and Elodie, hoping that everything will work out for them and they have a future together. Overall, I would highly recommend this book and you will not be disappointed 😊
49 reviews1 follower
July 12, 2024
Kathleen is a new author to me, and boy am I glad I took the chance. I absolutely devoured this book!!

Being from Montana myself, it took me half a beat to get "into" the British language of this story, but thankfully with the built-in dictionary on kindle, I could double-check words I was not familiar with, and I really like that because it means I learned something new while reading this wonderful book.

I love how Gavin and Elodie meet and how ferocious they both are in their beliefs about how capitalism and socialism should work....notice how I said 'should work.' Along the way, there are many twists and turns and Gavin's repressed memories creating a whole other set of troubles the couple faces.

I absolutely love how they seemed to be polar opposites, but how each was attracted to the strengths and weaknesses in the other. This story had me from the very first chapter. It was one of those books that you don't want to put down and keep immersed in their story, but you don't want it to end because you are so invested in them.

This is one of those books that I will come back to and re-read again. Thank you, Kathleen, for such a heart-wrenching, thought provoking, reel-me-in billionaire/working girl tale
Profile Image for sycokittykat - Stefanie.
1,139 reviews35 followers
August 14, 2024
When one woman brings forth all the things you've hidden from yourself.

Elodie is loud, eclectic and happy with where she is in her life. She is a soft hearted socialist with dreams she is afraid to even mention. When her company is bought out she finds herself face to face with the new owner and he is blackmailing her to keep her friends and former collogues safe. Now she is tasked as PA to Gavin but is given tasks that are unusual.

Gavin was groomed to be who he is today by his parents and didn't even realize it. He managed to go from poor to one of the riches men around. Gavin is a cold and calculating capitalist. However, nothing is ever truly as it seems and his life is about to take some twists he is not prepared for.

This is book four in the series and you will see some mentions of our past characters as well as meeting so many new ones. I greatly enjoyed getting to know Elodie as more than just a passing roommate who worked with sound. We also get to meet her family as well as Gavin and his family.

This book is spicy and full of metal health representation as well mystery. There is a lot to discover and I was hooked right from the get go. So open this up and jump on in the sound is perfectly set, the money is flowing and the questions are numerous.
Profile Image for Adele Robbetze.
124 reviews6 followers
August 7, 2024
The Sound of Power by Kathleen Haley is the fourth book in The Senses Series but can be read as a stand alone.

This is Gavin and Elodie's Story, It is a dark rivals to lovers book, so please check your trigger warnings!

I was captivated from the first chapter!

Gavin and Elodie have opposing political views and are from different walks of life.

They first meet when Gavin's Company acquires and merges with the company Elodie works for and she gets black mailed into working for Gavin as his Personal assistant to save her co-workers jobs.

Gavin represent everything Elodie hates he is rich, good looking (and knows it) and uses his money to influence people.

Elodie is strong willed but has a very soft heart. She stands up for what she believes in and she has big dreams.

Gavin is confident, Forceful and believes he is always right. Due to a past trauma he is somewhat damaged emotionally.

There are some really unexpected twists and turns, and I loved the spice. The characters are relatable and I love the dynamic between them .

My favorite quote from the book has to be: "turn off your brain and listen to your senses."

I would recommend this book to those who love a dark and spicey read.
Profile Image for Theleakybookshelf.
11 reviews
July 24, 2024
First, thank you to the author for taking a chance and sending me this book. Always an honor to be able to read ARCs and I am very grateful.

Now if you are a shameless lover of Dark Romance then this is for you ! This is the 4th novel in this series. You can also read it as a standalone. A smoking hot billionaire Gavin, and a fun,quirky sound engineer Elodie. This absolutely delicious dark romance novel has BDSM elements that are gracefully written. Gavin has a charming commanding presence to his character he loves being in control without being shy about his needs.
Elodie’s fun, colorful personality blooms as we go through the book she’s such a relatable character which makes the book that much easier and fun to read. The banter between these is great and the best part there is a dual POV. Of course there is more to the story than hot steamy sex . There is a mystery that needs to be solved and issues that the author touched that needed a voice and she did an amazing job. 5 star for me.
Profile Image for Natalie Intihar.
192 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2024
Once again, Kathleen Haley has created a brilliant spicy romance with a delightful love interest!!! Gavin Parnell is a strong-willed, confident man who is used to getting what he wants. He decides he wants Elodie, and as argumentative as Elodie is, she ultimately caves. Parnell’s underlying dark history plays a crucial role in both bringing Parnell and Elodie together and tearing them apart.

It’s hard not to love the world that Kathleen Haley has created. It’s a world full of dark romance and intrigue, but also a world with a level of mystery and tension. Parnell is clearly haunted from his past, and his reactions to that past very much propel this story forward.

I am such a fan of this entire series! It’s been a treat to ARC read three of these books! There is no shortage of spice and that tension we all love dearly as romance readers. They are all available on KU now, and y’all absolutely need to read them!!

I voluntarily reviewed a free advance copy of this book provided by the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Sabeeha Rahman.
22 reviews2 followers
September 8, 2024
I'm thrilled to express my gratitude to Kathleen for granting me an advanced reader's copy of 'The Sound of Power'! As a huge fan of the series, having devoured the previous three books, I was eager to dive into this latest installment. And I'm ecstatic to report that it not only met but exceeded my expectations! The series continues to crescendo, getting better with each book, and I'm utterly hooked.

The enemies-to-lovers trope is a personal favorite of mine, and this book delivered it in spades. The tension was palpable, and the romance was expertly woven throughout the narrative.

But what truly kept me on the edge of my seat was the masterfully crafted mystery. I was completely blindsided by the identity of the murderer – a testament to the author's skillful plotting!

If you're craving a gripping dark romance with a healthy dose of mystery, look no further than 'The Sound of Power'. Trust me, you won't be disappointed! This book earns a resounding 5 stars from me – a true page-turner that will leave you breathless!
Profile Image for Meg V Reads ♡.
35 reviews7 followers
September 24, 2024
Gavin Parnell and Elodie Banks. An unlikely romantic duo that begins when Parnell is set to fire Elodie’s entire group of coworkers after he purchases their company. Elodie is adamant that Parnell is making a mistake and confronts him. But Parnell is not one to be talked over. He orders Elodie to work for him, as his assistant, or her coworkers get docked. Hesitantly, she agrees. Gavin is domineering in every way and Elodie has to navigate their relationship and try to remain professional. Parnell has some skeletons in his closet and begins to talk to Elodie about things he’s kept hidden his whole life. He soon realizes there is more to his history than even he knew and Elodie may be in danger.

There’s twists and turns, there’s mystery, there’s a kidnapping. But there is also love and lust. This story is so enthralling and interesting. If you like mystery and thrillers but also love romance and some spice, this is the book for you.
Profile Image for Jennifer Hash.
102 reviews4 followers
July 24, 2024
Holy Crow, Kathleen has done it again!
She has written another scrumptious, sexy couple and I devoured every page of this book!
Sound of Power brings us Elodie & Gavin's story, continuing the Sense series.
Elodie is a talented & quirky sound producer whose employer gets bought out and in the merger meeting, she lets her anger about losing coworkers be known. Enter Gavin & his Baoding balls: intimidating, forceful, confidant, incredibly handsome & built. Gavin throws Elodie's challenge back at her and agrees to keep coworkers on if she becomes his PA.
And that is where the rocket ride takes off - super steamy spice, intrigue, dark secrets from the past, lots of really good spice (did I mention the spice?)
Kathleen knocked it outta the park (again) on this one! I adored this book!
(I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
Profile Image for Kimmy.
55 reviews4 followers
August 14, 2024
"The Sound of Power" is like a corporate soap opera on steroids - it's got more drama than a board meeting during budget cuts.

Gavin and Elodie's relationship is a rollercoaster of power plays and secret contracts. Their chemistry is hotter than a freshly printed stack of TPS reports, but with way more interesting results.

Hayley throws plot twists at you faster than a CEO dodging tough questions. One minute you're navigating office politics, the next you're in a high-speed chase. It's a wild ride that'll leave you wondering if your 9-to-5 is boring in comparison.

If you enjoy your romance with a side of corporate intrigue and a dash of "did that really just happen?", "The Sound of Power" delivers. Just don't use it as a guide for climbing the corporate ladder - unless you want to end up in HR's office.
158 reviews5 followers
July 16, 2024
Another great book by Kathleen Haley. Imagine having flashbacks of the murder of your best friend as a child. But you don't know who did it. They haunt you at the most inconvenient times and places. Then you meet a girl. You sense she is in danger of the same thing happening to her. She even looks, dresses, and acts like your dead childhood friend. You have to protect her. But how? You were raised to not care about anyone. Why her? Who is she? This book is so good. It will keep you turning the pages till the end. The suspense and unanswered questions will compel you to read more. After all, there is the need to know. This story's heartache, conflicts, twists, and love will melt your heart till the last page.
Profile Image for Flippenpageswithlisa  . .
129 reviews3 followers
August 2, 2024
The sound of power..
I didn't read the blurb I just jumped straight into this arc.. Thank you for the privilege of a arc, I will forever feel grateful for a author for this.

I loved elodie from the beginning, she was a free spirit, said what she felt and I loved that fire, took me a little more time to connect to our MMC, but when I did he was yummy 🥵. I ended up really loving him.

He was Protective and refused to not be with her, even embraced all the things different about her, and ended up loving her more.
So I totally loved them as a couple.

This book also had elements I wasn't expecting, the mental health aspect, the repressed memories and I loved that he asked and accepted her help.

It was my first from this author I definitely want to go back and read previous books.
Profile Image for Bookish_weirdos  Readoholics.
9 reviews
August 17, 2024
Kathleen Haley's talent truly shines in creating this spicy romance world! Gavin Parnell's strong and determined character adds an exciting twist to the plot, especially in his pursuit of Elodie. The underlying darkness in Parnell's past adds depth to their relationship, driving the story's emotional rollercoaster.

The universe Kathleen Haley has built is spellbinding, blending dark romance, mystery, and tension seamlessly. Parnell's enigmatic past serves as a catalyst for the narrative, keeping readers engaged. The series promises a delightful mix of passion and intrigue, making it a must-read for romance fans. With the books now accessible on KU, diving into this world of love and complexity is a treat not to be missed!
30 reviews1 follower
July 25, 2024
What can I say? As usual, from the very first scene I was hooked. I knew I was going to adore Gavin and Elodie’s relationship. This was an emotionally charged book to read. I empathized with Gavin’s past and the reasons for him being the way he is. Elodie was just the fresh of breath air that he needed! They complimented each other so well. As usual, it was nice getting to see some of the friend group in this book and seeing that some things never change. It was wonderful to understand what it is a sound engineer does and I love the way it was so creatively weaved into this book. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Micki-D.
1,377 reviews37 followers
August 17, 2024
Another good steamy book by Kathleen Haley. This dark romance had a mix of so much enemies to lovers, grumpy and sunshine, mystery, plot twist, drama, suspense, blackmail, family secrets and of course spice. It also covers some mental health aspect.

Gavin is cold, calculating powerful, and well put together.

Elodie is loud in the way she dresses, she is a free spirit.

They are opposite but together they complement each other.

Quite a few characters from the other books in the series make an appearance. Haley is always finding a way to tie the series together, however you could still read this one as a standalone.
Profile Image for Renee.
249 reviews5 followers
August 26, 2024
Another great book from Kathleen Haley! Even though I loved it, it wasn't my favourite of the series.

It was great discovering Gavin and Elodie's story and it was so great seeing fan faves from the previous books in there also (Fox and Gwen & Geraint and Astrid). I can't say I was thrilled to see Michael douche LaRoche on the pages, but I did love how he was handled......

I loved the enemies to lovers vibe, the power hungry Gavin and the soft, yet strong Elodie. Elodie challenges Gavin at every turn and I am here for it! Every last word!!!

Thanks Kathleen for another intriguing, spicy read :-)
Profile Image for R. Volt.
Author 6 books19 followers
July 29, 2024
Another scalding dark romance by Haley, whose writing remains well-edited and solidly excellent. Not only do her smex scenes always get me right where it counts (!), but it was nice to see some characters from previous novels pop up in this book. I was less enamored of the FMC in this story than in others, which was purely personal preference, and a few plot points seemed a little far-fetched at times, but that is the beauty of fiction: fetch far! I look forward to reading the fifth sense (sight?) to round out this delicious dark series.
949 reviews13 followers
August 15, 2024
So many things I loved about this book! Elodie has some weaknesses that Gavin helps her to face and overcome. Gavin has triggers that pull him into flashbacks and Elodie is able to calm him and help put missing pieces together. I loved the debating all the time. Loved the what we have in common game. Loved the deep connection between them in such a short period of time! Loved the mystery and danger surrounding his flashbacks. The intensity that built towards the end was fantastic and the ending was so awesome! I was thoroughly entertained by this book and loved it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.