Christine J.
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Hither Page
- Page & Sommers, Book 1
- De: Cat Sebastian
- Narrado por: Joel Leslie
- Duración: 6 h y 27 m
- Versión completa
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General4.5 out of 5 stars 334
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Narración:4.5 out of 5 stars 301
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Historia4.5 out of 5 stars 299
James Sommers returned from the war with his nerves in tatters. All he wants is to retreat to the quiet village of his childhood and enjoy the boring, predictable life of a country doctor. The last thing in the world he needs is a handsome stranger who seems to be mixed up with the first violent death the village has seen in years. It certainly doesn't help that this stranger is the first person James has wanted to touch since before the war.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Outstand post-War England Mystery
- De Barb_T en 02-17-20
- Hither Page
- Page & Sommers, Book 1
- De: Cat Sebastian
- Narrado por: Joel Leslie
Cozy mystery meets m/m historical romance!
Revisado: 03-20-20
Although mysteries are not my usual genre to read and listen to, this one was fun, engaging, and quite touching.
The mystery itself is interesting, and the setting is absolutely to die for. Set in a small village in post-WWII England, the search for murderers amidst the idyll captures the reader’s attention and throws in all the typical red herrings and secret connections one expects to find in a small town murder mystery. The picturesque descriptions of the village, its meandering paths and roads, and the busy-ness of its inhabitants plop the reader into the story with immediacy and aplomb.
The real stars here are the characters, their quirkiness and charm richly drawn and cleverly intertwined within the ever-evolving storyline. The variety of personalities and their entertaining exchanges bring fun and authenticity to the pages and intensify the desire to know “whodunnit?”
Where the author truly shines, however, is in her development of her main characters. James is the village doctor who struggles with PTSD, and Leo is a world-weary spy. Their relationship blossoms in beautiful balance with the unfolding of the story, and their inner demons are exposed and elaborated upon without the narrative becoming maudlin or bogged down. Their attraction and emotional connection are sweet and genuine, and listening to their interactions is pure heaven.
Narrator Joel Leslie is a consummate performer, bringing lively exuberance and heartfelt passion to the vast array of characters in this story. His skill at a variety of voices and accents is clearly exhibited here, and listeners are treated to his undeniable finesse in bringing a range of emotions and personalities to life.
Overall, Hither, Page is an enjoyable journey into the genre of small town mystery with a delightful m/m historical romance developed along the way. It is at once comical, passionate, and intriguing, and I recommend it with 4 stars!
I was provided with a copy of the audio version of this book by its narrator in exchange for an honest review.
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Captive Hearts
- Deviant Hearts, Book 1
- De: Ali Ryecart
- Narrado por: Dan Calley
- Duración: 7 h y 5 m
- Versión completa
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General4.5 out of 5 stars 68
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Narración:4.5 out of 5 stars 67
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Historia4.5 out of 5 stars 67
When Dashiell Slater uses his fists to stop a vicious assault, the last thing he expects is to be offered a job as reward for being a Good Samaritan. Out of work and short of cash, all he has to do is chauffeur Billy around. It’s easy money, so saying yes should be a no-brainer. And if the offer’s not quite legal, so what? Dashiell’s smart and savvy and knows how the world works. But there are strings attached, and Dashiell doesn’t want to get entangled.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Whoa! Intense!
- De April Reads and Listens en 01-08-20
- Captive Hearts
- Deviant Hearts, Book 1
- De: Ali Ryecart
- Narrado por: Dan Calley
Overall a satisfying listening experience
Revisado: 11-20-19
3.75 Stars
The trope here is not new: the kept lover of a gangland boss and his bodyguard fall in love. It is one that I usually enjoy, but it can also be cookie-cutter and predictable. What I found in this case, however, is that though there was some predictability along the plot lines, the characters bring a freshness and a raw honesty to the story.
Dashell and Billy are well-rounded characters, and their vulnerability is evident throughout the development of their relationship. Dashell is protective, obviously, but also tender and sweet in his concern for and devotion to Billy. He’s tough but thoughtful, and I enjoyed his reactions to learning more about Billy as their relationship develops. I was particularly drawn, however, to Billy, whose choice for living an independent life appear limited by his devotions and loyalties to family. His scenes are heartbreaking in emotion, yet he never comes across as the simpering, weak victim. He is committed to his choices and feels trapped, yet he doesn’t bemoan his fate nor shed copious amounts of helpless tears. Despite his situation and abuse, his character doesn’t come across as the weepy waif in peril, a refreshing change from many similar characters in this trope. In fact, his strength is probably the most fascinating aspect of this story.
Narration Review: Dan Calley brings a strong voice to the characters and the narrative. At times the accents are fairly thick and the reading a bit monotone, but overall the performance is solid and enjoyable.
Captive Hearts is a satisfying, compelling listen. Despite some predictability and rather obvious character placement, the story did not disappoint and is a sound beginning to the Deviant Hearts series. This was my first experience with Ms. Ryecart’s books, and I look forward to listening to more of this series.
I was provided with a free copy of this audiobook by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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Outlast the Night
- Lang Downs
- De: Ariel Tachna
- Narrado por: William James
- Duración: 6 h y 20 m
- Versión completa
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General4.5 out of 5 stars 118
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Narración:4.5 out of 5 stars 112
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Historia4.5 out of 5 stars 113
Office manager Sam Emery is unemployed and out of luck. When his emotionally abusive wife demands a divorce, he contacts the one person he has left, his brother, Neil. He doesn’t expect Neil to reject him, but he also doesn’t expect the news of his divorce - and of his sexuality - to be met with such acceptance.
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4 out of 5 stars
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A sweet chapter in the Lang Downs saga
- De Orlando en 11-26-14
- Outlast the Night
- Lang Downs
- De: Ariel Tachna
- Narrado por: William James
Sweet romance on an Australian sheep station
Revisado: 07-08-14
This review was originally written for Prism Book Alliance.
Story Rating: 3.5 Stars
Narration Rating: 4.0 Stars
Overall Rating: 3.75 Stars
When Sam Embry loses his job and his wife, he has no one to turn to except for his brother, Neil, who takes him in and helps him land a job as the accountant at the Australian sheep station, Lang Downs. Jeremy Taylor also needs to rebuild and relocate after taking all he can stand from his bigoted brother. These two newcomers form a quick friendship they both need while struggling with a mutual attraction neither is ready to act upon. They both need to overcome their personal obstacles in order to focus on a future together.
I enjoyed this sweet story, the third in the Lang Downs series. Not having read the previous two titles, I was a bit concerned that I might have difficulty following at this point. I did struggle at the very beginning with some of the character names, but I quickly caught on. The author does a good job of providing just enough backstory to fill in necessary plot and character information, and I felt this allowed Outlast the Night to function well as a standalone. Always a fan of settings in Australia, I found the Lang Downs station and its jackaroos charming and likable. It was a bit like spending a week on vacation, getting to observe a small slice of life in a faraway land.
The main characters of Jeremy and Sam were compassionate, genuine, and tender. I truly cared about these two and wanted them to connect and build a relationship. I only wish I could have seen more of their backgrounds. It would have been easier to understand Sam’s confidence and self-doubt issues if the author had perhaps provided a bit more insight into his relationship with his ex-wife. Flashbacks or more expansion on his history with her could have added more dimension to his character, adding in an extra layer sympathy for him and his struggle to overcome his insecurities. Sam and Jeremy are sweet with one another, but the chemistry is lacking a bit. Though there is a mutual attraction, there is very little “action,” and it would have been more enticing to see the tension kicked up a notch or two to make up for the lack of physical contact. I also felt that there was never any major conflict for these two to overcome, just some small bumps in the road that were resolved with little struggle. I appreciate the low angst approach, but I think there might have been a bit too much side story that took attention away from further development of Sam and Jeremy’s plot line.
That being said, I did enjoy Outlast the Night and am so intrigued by the original characters and the setting that I plan to go back and read the first two books. The author has created a lovely universe with interesting people, and I would truly enjoy a return trip to Lang Downs to get acquainted with the other characters and immerse myself in their stories.
Narration:
Narrator William James does a good job of bringing the characters of this story to life and is skilled at alternating American and Australian accents. His voice is pleasant and well modulated and inflected, and I would definitely pick up his narrated works in the future.
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Bad Idea
- De: Damon Suede
- Narrado por: Charlie David
- Duración: 14 h y 42 m
- Versión completa
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General4 out of 5 stars 158
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Narración:4.5 out of 5 stars 150
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Historia4 out of 5 stars 150
Reclusive comic book artist Trip Spector spends his life doodling super-square, straitlaced superheroes, hiding from his fans, and crushing on his unattainable boss until he meets the dork of his dreams. Silas Goolsby is a rowdy FX makeup creator with a loveless love life and a secret streak of geek who yearns for unlikely rescues and a truly creative partnership. Against their better judgment, they fall victim to chemistry, and what starts as infatuation quickly grows tender and terrifying.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Great for a comic book lover but too long for me
- De Riva en 06-16-14
- Bad Idea
- De: Damon Suede
- Narrado por: Charlie David
Made my 180 mile commute much more fun!
Revisado: 07-08-14
This review was originally written for Prism Book Alliance.
Rounded up from 4.5 Stars
Trip loves his art, but he is stuck in a rut of drawing for a rather boring comic book series and pining after his boss. When he runs into Silas Goolsby at an OutRun event, the attraction is instantaneous. Silas, a special effects make up artist, has spent years living off of one-night stands and hook-ups. As the two begin to forge a stronger relationship, risks are taken on both personal and professional levels that threaten to tear them apart, and if Trip can’t take the jump into real life and learn to trust, he may find that his happy ending will be attainable.
Bad Idea is sexy, smart, hip, and downright fun! I thoroughly enjoyed meeting all the characters and was pleasantly surprised by how much I learned about a wide variety of topics, especially special effects make up and comic books. The dialogue is often edgy, funny, and blunt. Fascinating secondary characters frequently offer witticisms and pragmatic advice that sometimes runs a bit long but offers much-needed perspective for the main characters when things get dicey. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions at the author’s use of snark and hilarious descriptions that brightened the story and brought the characters vividly to life. Interestingly, I was also captivated by his beautiful prose that rang with lovely metaphors and imagery. The balance is an intoxicating blend that had me frequently hitting the rewind button and hoping that certain secondary personalities (Curt and Ziggy?) will have their own story in the near future.
Trip and Silas, though they have faults, are extremely likeable and appealing, and their chemistry is scorching. The sex scenes drip with delicious passion as both men discover and reveal intimate facets that bring an authenticity and rawness to the encounters. As they learn more about each other and themselves outside of their sexual relationship, readers are treated to further insight and character depth, and I appreciated the way the characters’ life views and philosophies are presented layer by layer. It was intriguing to get a glimpse of the talents and passion these two men possess for their art, as well, as the author weaves interesting facts and details about both crafts into the story.
Bad Idea is an entertaining, intriguing, and engaging story. It is a unique read where pop culture meets Southern comfort, and quirkiness is commonplace and endearing. I am hoping for more in this series, as I would love to see the MCs build upon their HFN and several lively peripheral characters come back for repeat performances.
Narration:
Charlie David is a talented narrator who breathes life and energy into the written word through inflections, accents, and just the right amount of theatrical flair. Though there are occasional mispronunciations of words that can be a bit distracting, his passionate reading of the story helps to smooth them over. His tone is deep, intoxicating, and pleasing to the ear, and when he reads as Silas with a Southern drawl, his voice is like butter melting on a biscuit. Yum!
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