Truly

The narrator needs constructive criticism & guidance from an established narrator

Revisado: 11-13-24

I know that others have commented on this narrator but the difference for me is that I believe she has potential. Her voice isn't always grating, but the way she chose to portray the MC, is over the top. Yes, the MC is supposed to be kind of snarky and combative, but the voice ended up as kind of a whiny, grating, bad attitude. It reminds me more of a teenage mean girl, just with a slightly less "Valley" to the voice, if that makes sense?

But I also feel like for the most part, she has pretty good timing and speed to her narration, as well as her pronunciation and enunciation. I literally listen to hundreds of audiobooks each year and can say that while I don't love the voice and it gets irritating after awhile, I am able to just stop for a little bit, do something else and then come back to it. Unlike a lot of other books with narrators that just shouldn't do it as a profession & I have to delete the book altogether.

As far as the story goes, it feels kind of draggy in spots and probably could have been quite a bit shorter. That said, overall I think the storyline is pretty good and while I probably won't listen to it again, I could possibly see reading the ebook version at some point in the future.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

This could be used as a VERY effective drinking game (Boobs/breasts/nipples = Drink!)

Revisado: 09-15-24

I saw another reviewer mention this but thought, "it can't possibly be that bad!" Only, I was wrong...

If you put this book on in the background of a party, and everyone had to take a drink every time she says the words "boobs, breasts or nipples", you would have a VERY drunk group of people pretty quickly. I am a grownass woman and NEVER in my life have I ever thought about my boobs anywhere near as often as the FMC supposedly thinks about or references hers.

It's due to this odd immaturity that I am struggling to keep listening (hence, why I came to write this, even though I'm not done yet). To give you a better idea of how many times she is referencing this particular body part, I am only on chapter 9 of the first book.

This really makes me unsure how much more of my time I want to invest into this. Because even though I actually really like the concept of the story, I am finding it harder and harder to stay invested in the story when I feel like a part of my brain is practically dedicated to rolling its eyes as far back in my head as they can go every time we have to hear about this girls "lady lumps". Sorry, I'm afraid for my poor rolling eyes every time they see or hear either of those words - I fear another good roll and they'll get stuck there! Better not to chance it!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

FAITHUM

Revisado: 09-04-24

OK, if an author is going to make up a word, that's great, wonderful even. However, if that author then decides to include that word in EVERY SINGLE FREAKING SENTENCE...that is not so great or wonderful. No, that makes me want to pull my hair out. Actually, when I first start realizing the frequency of the repetition, I roll my eyes. Then it turns into literally shaking my head while rolling my eyes. When I hit the point that I HAVE to pause the book so I can leave a review about ONE WORD?! Well, that should give you an idea of the increased frequency as the story progresses.

The first book wasn't as bad about it, but I am on the second book, at the end of chapter 10, and am beyond irritated! The other thing I guess that probably makes it worse is that the word literally means magic. They even reference that their ancestors referred to it as magic.

The thing that sucks the most about how much this irritates me, is that if not for that word being beaten to a bloody pulp it's used so much, I am really enjoying this story otherwise. Why didn't an editor (or the poor narrator for that matter) tell the author how incredibly irritating this is?!?!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Very different feel compared to The Perfect Retreat

Revisado: 12-14-23

This story definitely should have come with a couple of trigger warnings…

**Possible spoilers**

The first trigger is of rape. Enough said.

The second is of a deranged ex-partner basically kidnapping, tying up, then attempting to shoot up their victim with heroin. Oh yes, also putting out a cigarette on her body while she’s tied up.
There are a couple of other things that could be triggers for some, but those are the big ones.

**End spoilers ;)**

Ok, so one thing I thought was a little strange was that the author made this book as part of a series with the previous book, but the stories don’t seem to be related to me. Plus, I guess the main issue I have with them being linked as a series is that the 2 stories have a very different feel to each other. This one has a lot more of a… I don’t know whether to call it a spiritual or a supernatural vibe, but there is a strong base of that to this story. I actually really enjoyed that aspect of it. But since it’s a strong theme with all three women, not just one, I thought it should be mentioned.

Overall I’d say it’s a solid 4 stars. For story & narration both.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

A true romance

Revisado: 12-13-23

I’m trying to figure out exactly how to express how this story truly made me feel & the depth of that feeling, so please bear with me.

(Disclaimer - I read and/or listen to at least one book per day on average. So to say I read/listen to several hundred books each year, you can better grasp the importance of my following statement.)

I am one of those very few people in the world who actually seek out spoilers to books and movies before reading/watching them. I like to be prepared in case I might get sad or if there’s anything that might be upsetting, etc. I’m actually happy to say that I didn’t go into this story with any foreknowledge, I only saw people saying how much they liked it.
I’m telling you this because I can honestly say that this is the FIRST story I have ever heard/read that I truly wish I could listen to again for the first time. By that I mean being able to experience those initial feelings I got all throughout the story as if I didn’t know what would happen next. I truly fell in love with so many characters in this story - obviously you can’t help but adore Sawyer & his romantic heart, but Sully (Fallon’s grandpa) stole my heart. Another reviewer mentioned this story gives a bit of “The Notebook” vibes & I agree, except while I shed a few tears on this one, they weren’t the all out sobs Mr Sparks likes to pull out of his readers.

I was even pleasantly happy with the narrators! I didn’t recognize either of their names, though both sound very familiar.

If you like romantic comedies, I can almost guarantee you will like this one. While it’s not exactly PG - there is one sex scene but not over the top smutty and there is some foul language, don’t let that deter you from an utter gem of a story.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Disappointed

Revisado: 12-08-23

First, I’m in the minority I’m sure, but I don’t enjoy the girl who is so clingy to anything that gives her attention that she basically starts stalking that person. The fact that Malone hadn’t said more than a couple words to her but had the audacity to kiss her & she was just ok with it? Sorry, no. Then the next day she’s trying to “run into” him at the harbor and later stalking his house at night? I’m sorry but get some self respect Chica!
Yes, there are a few parts that are funny but overall the pacing is too slow or something. I just kept getting bored, then she’d either be drooling over the priest or making an utter fool of herself. I just don’t find that sort of thing cute, only cringe inducing.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Beautiful

Revisado: 12-04-23

Such a sweet & beautiful short story about learning to live in life’s moments and to appreciate them. So often we put blinders on and before we know it, so much of life has passed us by without realizing.

I only wish this were longer. I think this would be a wonderful prequel to a story of this couple and their journey together.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

**Prequel to The Reunion**

Revisado: 10-06-23

After multiple reviews complaining about the same thing “the cliffhanger”, you’d think the author would either link the books together or at the very least, mention it in the summary for this book. I had to literally go through the descriptions of every book from this author to figure this out.
So besides the glaring oversight, this book is actually very cute & quite funny. I haven’t listened to The Reunion yet, but given this backstory, I am very much rooting for the future of Cooper & Nora. His parents start this story off with a bang - they are hilarious! They are determined to be his “wingmen” to help him find a woman. Did I mention they’re doing this while dressed in their, ahem, “Christmas finest”? Let’s just say it involves bells (as in actual bells as well as bell bottoms), plaid & a “conversational Christmas sweater”.
As always, Teddy Hamilton is incredible. The only criticism I have for the female narrator is that her speed for narration didn’t quite match Teddy’s - she has a slightly too slow speed. Fortunately, speeding it up a bit didn’t mess up Teddy’s flow too much. Overall, this was a great, fast listen.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Classic series, narrator should take a breath

Revisado: 05-28-23

This series is one of the best. The stories hold up over time & are ones I can read over & over. Unfortunately, I am generally only able to listen to audiobooks instead of being able to just read myself. I saw others say this was Tatiana Maslany’s first time narrating so I will give a little leeway to that, but my God Woman - take a breath! There are times when it makes sense for the narrator to sound out of breath, if the scene calls for it. However, it got incredibly irritating & hard to listen to because you could tell she was trying to sound that way (maybe thinking it was more dramatic?) but that’s one of those moves you shouldn’t use all the time or it takes away the power of it when it’s really called for. In short, don’t let that be your go-to move, you might say.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Not your typical “Cinderella-style” story

Revisado: 05-09-23

I have re-listened to this and the sequel to it, “Happily Ever After” many, many times now but my feelings and the strength of them throughout the story never change or lessen.

About the story: (Not actually spoilers, since this is literally the premise for the book)
In the beginning of the story, Ellamara is in a car accident with her mom. Ella wakes after 3 weeks in a coma only to find out her mom (the only family she has) has died, and she herself was left with severe burns that cover over 70% of her body. When she’s able to finally leave the hospital, she’s forced to live with her father (who left her without even a goodbye) and his new family - a wife and twin daughters (who are just a year younger than Ella), the ones he left Ella & her mom for when she was a child.

Due to her injuries, Ella’s entire way of life is gone. The only thing from before the accident she still has is her online best friend, Cinder. They know nothing of the others personal life but both fell for each other after years of their online friendship.

This story has so many different “feeling” moments that I always find myself crying in some spots & smiling like a loon in others due to the sweet, cheesy moments.

My only complaint is that I felt the situation with her “books” was pushed away too quickly - maybe because I’ve become such a book lover over the years, but that is one of the most emotional parts of the story for me.

I promise you, if you like these sorts of stories at all, you won’t be disappointed. I love the way the story flows and comes together at the end, only to get even better when you’re able to continue the story with the next book.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña