Your Bibliotherapist

An okay story elevated by an amazing narrator.

Revisado: 07-21-22

This one was . . . okay. Enjoyable enough, but I never got invested in the relationship between Hartwell and Warry, and it was sometimes hard to follow this wayward plot.

Cornell Collins, as one of my favorite narrators in this genre, was definitely the highlight.

I"ll definitely be listening to book two, as I loved Cornell"s performance of Christmas Gale and need more of that character in my life.

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Just a whole lot of fun...

Revisado: 01-17-20

An incredibly fun read! This story manages to be genuinely hilarious without being over the top, lighthearted without being silly, and had just the right amount of drama to keep the story interesting without seeming forced.

I"ve long known that Sarina is a fantastic storyteller, and this collaboration with Tanya produced something wonderful. I can"t wait to continue with this series.

I will admit Luke"s narration took me a chapter or two to warm up to, but I ended up loving it. Erin is amazing as always.

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Cat + Joel = Perfection

Revisado: 08-14-19

Once upon a time, I was a Cat Sebastian fan. Then she went ahead and wrote a book that was more charming and lovely than any one book has a right to be, and I was upgraded to superfan.

It Takes Two to Tumble is a bright and beautiful story overflowing with characters that the reader can’t help but fall in love with. From the gruff and grieving sea captain to the local vicar with a bit of a radical streak, even the children and their canine companion, each character makes an impression that you won’t soon forget. There are no secondary characters in this book; each one has a vital role to play.

Cat Sebastian’s writing is some of the best, every word, every scene perfectly placed to keep the story moving while allowing the reader to be fully immersed. She has an amazing capacity for storytelling, and her fictional worlds are some of my favorite to get lost in. Attraction, longing, grief, despair, love, and hope are all mixed with unexpected bits of levity and it’s truly a joy to read.

When I heard that Joel Leslie would be narrating this series, my soul left my body, and I’m pretty sure I cried a little bit. All the dreams I dared not dream came true with this pairing, and this was one of his best performances I’ve heard to date.

He took an already amazing story and amplified it, giving it a new dimension that words on a page just cannot achieve. With distinct characterizations and impressive emotional range, he tells this story like it was written specifically for him to perform.

It Takes Two to Tumble has earned a place on my favorites shelf and has cemented Cat Sebastian as one of my auto-buy authors.

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esto le resultó útil a 12 personas

An Exciting Story with A+ Narration

Revisado: 03-04-19

With a compelling plot, fascinating backstories, complex yet accessible characters as well as one of the most interesting villains I’ve read in quite some time, Say You’re Sorry by Karen Rose was everything the romantic suspense fan in me could have wanted. Coupled with a brilliant audio performance, this book owned me for the better part of a week and I’m not even sorry. (See what I did there?)

From the initial intense scene from the POV of a serial killer, I was all in with this book. Say You’re Sorry unfolded and came together in the very best way. The story is very smartly told, the threads expertly woven together to keep the reader on edge from start to finish.

Over and above the storyline, the characters in this book truly shine. Gideon with his gripping and heartbreaking history, Daisy with her unwavering strength and badassery, even the villain of this story all combine to create something special..

Daisy Dawson was one of the most admirable characters I’ve read lately, and I have no doubt she could carry a story all on her own. Tough as nails, but still maintaining a softness about her, sign me up for the Daisy Fan Club. She has so much to give and I’m all too excited to see her in future installments of his series.

One of the most surprising things about this book was how much I sympathized with the villain. Yes, I had soft feelings for a serial killer. That’s what this book did to me. I questioned my sanity more than once throughout the story, wondering how and why I wanted to take this sadistic killer under my wing and fix him. I’m not sure if that says more about my mental state or Karen’s writing…I’m choosing to blame it on Karen.
I also loved the story-within-a-story quality of this book, and the larger story arc that began in this book already has me lying in wait for the next one in the series.

Joel Froomkin’s narration was stellar. He elevates the source material to more than just words on a page; his performance becomes a living, breathing story that leaves a lasting impact on the listener. His portrayal of the villain was especially powerful and he showcased the duality of his personality perfectly. He gave the frenzied psychopath a sympathetic edge, and I am making an offering to the casting gods to get him to play more creepy psychos in the future.

Say You’re Sorry was one wild ride and I’m clutching my ticket, waiting for my turn on the next one.

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A fantastic story with incredible narration

Revisado: 01-12-19

I am a recent convert to historical romance novels, and The Highlander’s Promise by Lynsay Sands is now ranked among my favorites. I wasn’t sure what to expect from my first Highlander romance, but this book has set the bar way high, so other books in the genre better watch their backs!

The Highlander’s Promise was an entertaining and lighthearted read, one that held me captive from the very start, and one that continues to have a hold on me even after finishing Aulay and Jetta’s story. Aulay was a perfect hero for me, a protective male who also isn’t afraid to be vulnerable. While my initial reaction to him was a little lukewarm, he quickly won me over and stole my heart.

I experienced a full spectrum of emotions while listening to this book. I sighed and swooned, I blushed and laughed out loud. The humor in this book was a pleasant surprise and made me love this family even more. The chemistry and emotional connection between Aulay and Jetta was palpable, investing the reader in this uncommon relationship. The physical tension between the two simmers throughout this book, and they are explosive together, often making me catch my breath.

I came across this audiobook while searching for Joel Froomkin narrations, and I went into it without any expectations, being my first Highlander romance. What an unexpected win it was! Joel (the Ariel to my Ursula, I only want him for his voice) delivered a vibrant and engaging performance, portraying a lively clan of characters in a way only he can.

The brothers Buchanan, their wives, friends, staff, even the villain of the story are brought to life in this narration, each character lively and distinct and endearing (well, except for that damn villain. I hope they get eaten by fire ants.) Joel’s talent is unmatched, and this story is one of my favorite narrative performances, one I’ll listen to over and over.

I had an actual physical reaction to this book and performance. I held my breath, I wrung my hands, my heart damn near beat out of my chest a time or two. Even before I finished the audio, I bought a print copy so I can pet it and have it near me always. Lynsay Sands (and Joel!) have given me my first five-star read of the year and I can’t wait to devour the rest of the series.

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A Unique Vampire Tale // A+ Narration

Revisado: 01-10-19

It’s no secret that I have a bit of a vampire fetish. It’s safe to say I owe my sexual awakening to vampire movies I watched in my misspent youth. Vampires just resonate with me. In my pants.

Now that I am a mature, grown-up lady, I also very much appreciate vampire stories for their rich world-building, interesting and unique societal structure, and the way a skilled author can create a whole new universe from an age-old legend. These are the main selling points for me in Jordan Castillo Price’s HEMOVORE.

Price creates a unique and incredibly detailed world in which vampirism is the result of a virus that kills more people than it converts. Her writing is refreshing in that she doesn’t pander to the reader and spend endless chapters info-dumping and presenting this new vampire society. She drops the reader directly into this realm and educates them along the way, making them feel a part of this world of V positive and V negative people. Most fascinating for me is the fact that this vampire story isn’t paranormal.

Hemovore gives us characters that we can’t help but relate to, even in this extraordinary world. Again, we’re dropped right in the middle Of the relationship between Mark and Jonathan. Instead of following them from the first meeting, we get to know them after they’ve been working together for several years. While we understand that there are romantic feelings, we don’t see that play out much on the page for a good while. I was captivated with how Price developed their relationship. Mark and Jonathan felt like partners without being partners, in my opinion, the romance between the two was subtle but felt oh so natural, they seemed so “together” from the beginning. This was one of the least steamy vampire stories that I’ve read, but that just made their brief moments of physical connection that much more meaningful and powerful for me. I mean…THAT KISS. Wowza.

Then there’s the suspense of it all. The mystery and action in this story excited me and kept me on edge throughout the book. I didn’t even have time to second-guess things, to try and predict what would happen and whodunnit, all due to Price’s writing and the stellar narration that kept me wrapped up in each and every word, I was laser-focused on precisely what was going on in the moment as opposed to trying to see what was coming down the pike.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Joel Leslie. I’m not saying I’m on a mission to listen to everything he’s ever recorded, but I may or may not be in a bidding war for a bootleg copy of his seventh-grade student council campaign speech.

His versatility makes each character wholly unique, allowing the listener to truly immerse themselves in the world that he helps create. He’s not just telling you a story; he’s helping you experience it right alongside the character.

HEMOVORE was an exciting and well-told story that blended so many elements flawlessly and manages to do so in a brand-new world. I loved the balance of Mark’s snark and inner dialogue with Jonathan’s more reserved nature, and I giggled about as much as I gasped throughout the story. This story was interesting and intense, and I would love to experience more in this world. Add in a satisfying and heartwarming follow-up story in SWEET, and I don’t think I could have asked for much more from this book. I’ll be picking up more from Jordan Castillo Price for sure.

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Beautifully written and brilliantly narrated

Revisado: 10-21-18

Riley Hart and Christina Lee have stolen my heart, and I’m not even mad about it. As soon as they announced the release of EVER AFTER, I knew this would be a book that would check all my boxes. My body was ready for a sweet, whimsical, romantic read.

Spoiler Alert: I WAS NOT READY.

This book had so many more layers. Instead of the simple read I was expecting, I got a story of unlikely love, desperate longing, stolen moments coupled with impossible decisions. I got a story of two souls that belonged together, desperate for a way to rise above the societal conventions that would keep them apart. This was a story of many different kinds of love; the love between partners, family, and friends. A story of sacrifice and acceptance, a story of people trying to do what they think is best, even when it hurts.

These characters were beautifully drawn, giving and selfless, their inherent goodness coming across so easily. The secondary characters were fantastic, their wisdom, their humor, their support and love adding so much to this book.
Cassius and Merrick’s love story simmered and sparked, the chemistry between the two of the gripping me, while their realizations that they could never live out that love story together pulled at my heart, causing my own emotions to toss and pitch right along with theirs. Along with sizzling attraction and emotions between the two men, there were moments of levity that had me laughing out loud.
I listened to this book on audio, knowing that Joel Leslie would breathe life into this story in the way that only he can. His impassioned portrayal of Cas and his prince had me rapt, at times holding my breath in anticipation of what was to come, at other times weeping as this story caused fissures in my heart I could only hope the authors would heal.

This story and this narrator are a match made in audiobook heaven, an inspired pairing that elevated the book to a whole new level, allowing this ethereal world to almost become real in the listener’s mind.

EVER AFTER was unlike anything I’ve read before, a book without roots in any particular time or place, but a story so vividly told and performed, the reader can’t help but get lost in this world. The love story of Merrick and Cassius is stitched upon my heart, and I’ll go back to Evergreen to visit them again and again.

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I was bored by this story.

Revisado: 04-28-18

I wanted to enjoy this story, I really did. So many friends loved this sweet romantic comedy, and I was expecting to be charmed by this one. Instead, I was just bored. I never felt any chemistry between the main characters, no real tension, and I couldn"t get invested in their relationship, or lack thereof.

The narrators didn"t really do it for me, so that may have something to do with it. I may possibly finish the story on my kindle, but I"m not really motivated to do that right now. The story just came across as trite and contrived and for now, it"s a DNF.

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I loved going back to Wonderland!

Revisado: 04-25-18

Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorite books, and I"m always down for Wonderland expansions, retellings, fanfics, I"m here for it all.

I needed a change of pace from my normal romance reads, so when I found this book on Audible, I was immediately intrigued. With one of my favorite narrators performing this story, I was pretty sure it was going to be a win for me.

And a win it was! This story felt true to the Wonderland experience, and it was a joy to revisit characters I"ve loved for so many years. With plenty of giggle-worthy moments, Hatter & Henry"s journey was captivating and confusing, their burgeoning romance adorable, although I would have liked to see more of them falling for one another.

The narration was stellar, and added so much to this story. Each of these quirky characters was unique and expertly portrayed, making this story really come alive.

Wholly entertaining, this story was just what I needed in my reading life right now. Now I need a sequel with Hatter"s next adventure!

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I sighed, I swooned, I snorted...

Revisado: 04-24-18

Some readers collect book boyfriends, while your girl collects book best friends. And the newest addition to that club is Henry Beckett from The Weight of It All by author N.R. Walker. I was suffering through a weeks-long book funk, and this story rescued me. Henry and Reed’s story consumed me, and this was some of the most fun I’ve had with a book in a while.

Walker presents real issues in an engaging way, touching on self-esteem and body issues that almost anyone, man, woman, straight, gay, and anyone in between, can really relate to. She tackles these through the lens of Henry and Reed, and I love the fact that she impresses upon us that fat or fit, no one is immune to this problem.

Henry is laugh-out-loud funny, has no filter, and I think we would make great friends. His journey of self-acceptance and love was a pure joy to read. Well, listen to. I adored his interactions with Reed, as well as his circle of friends. I can’t get enough of him. He needs his own web series or podcast or something so I can keep up with him!

N.R. Walker tells a sweet and swoony story, a slow burn romance that left me warm and fuzzy. Her storytelling is wonderful; I never felt like I was being told a story. Instead, I felt like I was experiencing everything right alongside Henry.

Joel Leslie’s narration is once again top-notch. I would listen to him narrate the copier manual at my office, I swear. (I’d probably finally learn how to work the stapling function) He’s incredibly expressive and delivers such an immersive audiobook experience; I’d be hard-pressed to find someone who tells a story better.

If you’re a fan of m/m romance, a fan of true-to-life stories that will warm your heart, I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas