Cindy

The writing is good, but not much story

Revisado: 10-29-24

This is probably more like a 2 1/2 star book. I found myself getting distracted. This is kind of a one note story that for me got tedious. I enjoyed her other books more.

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Not a romance. But that’s OK…

Revisado: 01-06-24

I enjoyed the character study of William the conqueror, and the people closest to him. The friendships and alliances between the men were well done. All the history was very interesting too. Lot’s of battles and battle strategy… There was very little in the way of “romance,” so not your typical Georgette Heyer book! But as long as you adjust your expectations, it was a very well written and I enjoyed it.

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Very enjoyable

Revisado: 11-04-23

It took me a little while longer to get into this one than the first Holloway book I listened to (The Season). But I ended up enjoying it very much. I like regency romances with humor, clever banter and characters you love as well as those you hate. I look forward to listening to more of Sophia Holloway. She’s very much like Georgette Heyer, whose books I have listened to many times over.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this charming story

Revisado: 10-28-23

I’ve listen to all of Georgette Heyer books - several times. I’m very happy to have stumbled across Sophia Holloway, who also writes charming, witty, regency romances.

I can’t tell you what a RELIEF it was to have an entertaining story whose author was not preoccupied with describing the state of the characters body parts and how they lusted after each other, ad nauseam. So sick of books who rely on THAT instead of a decent story.

The Season does not have a complicated plot, but there are intrigues, clever dialogue, and I found it totally engaging. The narrators voice was very pleasant to listen to. Set the character perfectly.

I probably should give this book five stars but I like to reserve “5” for epic, WOW novels. I don’t give many. But I highly recommend The Season.

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I remember loving this book…

Revisado: 09-22-23

I remember loving this book, but listening to it as an older person, I never realized how little actually happens. There’s the whole initial misunderstanding, and that continues essentially for the entire story. It did get a little tedious. Heather’s main appeal is apparently her beauty. She’s timid and not bitchy, so there’s that… Just be aware that her silky skin skin and tempting breasts are almost like characters in and of themselves.

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One of my favorite historical romances - at last!

Revisado: 09-09-23

I was very excited to see Kathleen Woodiwiss books on Audible- FINALLY! Long overdue! Shanna is one I have read more than once, because it’s more than a just a “romance novel.” I love, KW‘s writing, and her books have interesting plots, with adventure, mystery, etc.

The next thing I have to say is, don’t believe the complaints about the narrator! In reading the reviews, I had some initial concern about the narrator because of some of the comments. But those who are critical of Robin Miles apparently didn’t listen very long - if at all. Criticisms of the narration are completely OFF BASE! It makes me wonder if people understand what good narration is… It’s like complaining that the accents change when one person is an Englishman and one is a Scotsman. Ridiculous. It’s not the narrators fault if you can’t keep up.

Because Miles’ narrator voice is mature, I was also skeptical, till I heard her do the characters. I quickly adjusted to her narration because she is an amazing voice actor! Shanna sounds appropriately young, and her father sounds like a gruff old Scotsman. Miles’ does ALL the characters - and their many accents, moods and personalities - SO well!
Her voices for Shanna and Roark are perfect.

I later found out that she is an award-winning narrator, trainer and member of Audible's Narrator Hall of Fame. I will definitely be looking for more books narrated by Robin Miles in the future.

The only thing I did NOT like about this Audible recording was the condescending “Forward.” Academic hogwash. I should’ve turned it off the second they started using terms like “cis gendered.” It just amounted to an insulting explanation/apology for the genre that was completely unnecessary.

I’ve seen other reviewer‘s complaining about pronunciations of words. They embarrass themselves, because there was nothing wrong with the pronunciations. They may not be the way I would like to have heard them read, but they are not incorrect. The family is English, so of course they will pronounce Beauchamp as the English would.

Listening to Shanna, now that I’m not a young woman anymore, I was a little more struck by what a BRAT she was. But she suffers the consequences and does grow as a character. So if you find her irritating at first, hang in there. It’s a mildly steamy romantic adventure with an HEA, and if that’s what you like, you’ll love Shanna. It’s a deliciously long book!

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Inspiring story

Revisado: 09-02-23

I’ve listen to this several times now, with a few years in between. I have kind of a love-hate relationship with this book because Atretes behavior is SO over the top, it’s hard to swallow at times. And irritating.

I love hearing about the struggle that early Christians must have had. But the dialogue sometimes gets awkward with everyone spouting well known scripture out of context.

The story includes miracles, which fit perfectly in a story about the early church. But then there were plot twist that were completely contrived which I had a hard time swallowing. They had me talking back to the recording. (That’s never a good sign!) What culture would consider a woman “unchaste” who remarried after being widowed. Ridiculous.

That said, this the last book in my favorite trilogy. I wish she would continue the story, perhaps with Caleb.

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What a pointless depressing story…

Revisado: 07-17-22

What a pointless depressing story… It’s a hodgepodge of experiences between time traveler Henry and Claire... randomly, at all ages and places in time. His current self and his older self pop in and out and she waits for them. It gets redundant and then it just gets really depressing… You get a sense that it’s building toward something more, but it never does. It seems like there’s going to be magic, but there isn’t any magic. Some people have commented that an older Henry has an inappropriate relationship with a much younger Claire. And that’s pretty much true. The descriptions of sex gets more and more distasteful as the book wears on. To say more, I’d have to spoil the story. One small spoiler though... There was no “happily ever after.” How disappointing after slogging through 17 hours. Obviously some people LIKE depressing stories because many have given this good reviews. I’m completely flummoxed. I think they might need some help... 😕

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This book was a departure for me, but I loved it

Revisado: 07-05-22

Others have discussed the pros and cons, so I’ll just say, my main criticism had to do with the total absence of GOD in this world. “Heaven” was just virtual reality.

And the morality lessons learned fell flat because without God, people tend to get LESS moral, not more so.... God created the Universe and man. The best in man reflects God, who gave him an awareness of HIMSELF in man’s conscience. God wants to have a relationship with man... and so on.

But this story is sterile of that dynamic. It implies that the Biblical prophecies of the last days (it doesn't mention them, but I recognized it) was merely an alien confederation of sorts plucking the best of mankind to enhance its own virtual world. See, it had gotten a little stagnant...

Anyway, it was a riveting story. But the ending was decidedly unsatisfying. At least for me.

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Ugly plots are being recycled.

Revisado: 10-28-21

This book series has been decades in the making and each doorstop of a book is now taking years to write... I’m beginning to wonder if the author has forgotten that she’s already inflicted RAPE on several main characters as major plot points! Yet here she trots it out again. It’s like she’s fascinated with it. I think before it’s over absolutely every single character in this book will have been raped. It’s getting ridiculously redundant, unnecessary, stretches credulity, and I’m over it.

It’s also hard for me to believe that Jamie would have welcomed so many nasty people to the Ridge. And considering what Claire went through in the past, WHY she would be so careless about calling herself a “wise woman” or a “witch.” Of all the absolute stupidity… I’m not buying it. This was a long slog and more irritating than entertaining.

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