EllaKay

True Romance! You Won't Be Disappointed

Revisado: 07-01-23

No One can write a more charming heartfelt love story than Mimi Matthews in my opinion, and in combination with the incomparable Alex Wyndham as narrator, it is pure perfection. I didn't want it to end! Very much looking forward to the next!!

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great narration, boring characters, no conflict

Revisado: 11-18-22

Love the narrator and I am very picky about female narrators especially. But you've read this book already. I know I have, many many times. I got up to about chapter 15 before I decided I couldn't do it anymore. there's no conflict, the hero just doesn't want to get married He's " a rake " I'm just so bored with the archetype anymore and there's absolutely nothing unusual about this one... He's a war veteran that's basically the only thing that makes him sympathetic. but there's not a whole lot talked about in that regard It's just mentioned occasionally. So she's irresistibly beautiful and perfect and tiny and he wants her, but she's a virgin, and as of chapter 15 he doesn't really teach her anything as the blurb suggests, not on purpose. he spends half the time telling himself to stay away from her even though his "balls tighten" every time he sees her - and yes the language is that vulgar. not exactly swoon worthy. and the only conflict as far as I can tell is that he would rather throw himself in the river than get married but there's no given reason whatsoever other than he just likes to run around, there's really nothing to endear a reader to either of these characters, but she'd be fine if the hero had anything to offer a reader. this isn't romance, it's Victorian soft core with very few actual sexual encounters. I loved the premise, but this is dull and offers zero nuance. I'm annoyed, can you tell?

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every story has delightful as the other

Revisado: 05-17-22

didn't want it to end, well paced, no nonsense filler excess angst, I think I need to get into more of these novella collections! well worth the credit definitely going to look into these authors as well!

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So Damn Sweet

Revisado: 05-15-22

Mimi Matthews is my favorite author! Wyndham is my favorite narrator! highly recommend! Mimi writes her characters so authentic and genuine, the emotion and the *moderate* drama so believable and immersive, and Alex Wyndham performs it all so beautifully, I never get so lost as in one of her stories and especially as read by him!
Fair as a Star is short and sweet, good for a listen on some afternoon when you're doing your yard work or cleaning around the house - any other time!

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sweet story, anachronistic dialogue, awful accent

Revisado: 03-07-22

I probably would have liked this better in print. I highly prefer male narrators, and this guy has a great voice but his Scottish accent leaves a LOT to be desired. This isn't helped by the wildly anachronistic dialogue which is laughable at times, but the love story is sweet.

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Great concept but...

Revisado: 03-02-22

I got up to the first scene where something romantic actually happens and it was so awkward and lacking in chemistry, I lost all interest in seeing the main characters get together.

Maybe it's the narrator's portrayal of the hero, who sounds like a growling cartoon villain - or maybe it's because the character himself is more angry than broody, and then inexplicably gets teary eyed at the least poignant moments - but the overall impression for me was of immaturity... E.g. He literally steals something from her and holds it over her head while she jumps to try and snatch it back. Just very high school. But I'm in my late thirties so my tolerance is low.

I liked the heroine a little more but so little happens plotwise vs the inner dialogue - and so much of the inner dialogue is so repetitive - that it lost me.

Such a shame because the premise is incredible. Clearly lots of other readers really enjoyed it so it might be the narrator who did it in for me. I might have liked it better if I read the text myself.

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Best of the series

Revisado: 01-21-22

I couldn't finish the first 2 in this series. Sexual themes are too dark. (The scene that leads up to the first sex scene in volume 2 made me ill, which was a bummer bc I was really into it up to then.) Probably wouldn't have picked this one up if it weren't for Alex Wyndham narrating. The characters were more likeable, the romance more present and believable and the whodunnit was well executed.

I am wary of any romance novelist who postures as super sensitive to people with learning disabilities in an author's note after her novel, but is so tone deaf to the reality of sexual abuse that they follow a dramatic tale of rape with a sex scene... but I guess we all have our triggers. Rather the opposite in this book, I continued to gain respect for the hero, not lose it, and thankfully the sex mostly veered away from the nauseating. No excessive descriptions of tongues thrusting into mouths, for instance. Ick. I like a little more love in my love scenes maybe, but I appreciate that the author refrains from the sappy and saccharine and from overly angsty inner monologues repetitively rephrasing the same character insecurities over and over, making you wonder where the editor was - I mean there is some of that but well within enjoyable limits.

And as always, Alex Wyndham is ridiculously talented and makes anything worth a listen.

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classic friends to lovers

Revisado: 11-13-21

simple story but well written and likeable characters, as good as the first 2 books imo, and Alex Wyndham is flawless as always❤️

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LOVE Eve Matheson but not my fave Heyer novel

Revisado: 04-26-21

It's Heyer, so of course it's got its charm, but by and large, the story is about as satisfying as a rice cake. The flavor is gone before you even sink your teeth in. The characters are pretty shallow and the plot is meandering and mostly uninspiring. The heroine and hero are likeable but they're more like prototypes for characters you meet in other Heyer novels that are more engrossing, and their interactions with each other are far from romantic, so their reasons for falling in love are unsubstantial. She likes him because he doesn't flatter her and doesn't put up with annoying people's nonsense (and she's surrounded on all sides by annoying people). He likes her because she's beautiful and doesn't take it personal when he's rude to her. That's basically the chemistry in a nutshell. Lots of romances grow on stonier ground of course, but this one just didn't sparkle for me. There's some witty banter, of course, though I wouldn't say it's rapier-sharp. Like a rice cake, it did have some moments of flavor but they were too fleeting. Not much happens on the whole.

Maybe it's just me but I find the Heyer novels set in Bath to be the least sparkly of her romances. Bath Tangle especially was way too bitter for me. I'd say this is more like Black Sheep's B-side, very similar in tone and story, but not as romantic or eventful - though that really isn't a high bar, not like Heyer's true masterpieces like Arabella and Venetia.

All that being said, Eve Matheson breathes about as much life into it as one can hope for, and I don't regret listening/reading/purchasing. Just don't expect to get your heart rate up.

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My favorite so far

Revisado: 03-15-21

this story was pitch perfect! hit all the right notes - the drama, the romance, the characterizations, the plot, the pacing, the villain vs hero, the inner dialogue vs action and scene work - it's all so masterfully done, not too much, not too little... and of course, Alex Wyndham never hurts, he's easily one of my top 3 favorites, and this is my favorite of the 3 books I've listened to so far in the series. although Parfit Knight is close #2. highly HIGHLY recommend. will definitely be listening to this again in future.

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