Deborah

Too many things happening at once

Revisado: 11-25-21

Tue performance is great. I loved Carrie Hope Fletcher in The Flat Share.

In this book, too many things are happening that contradict each other. The main character, Penny, has no redeeming qualities and has a lot going on. The description is that there are three men after her and she has to decide which one to BE with. (But my question is, why does she have to be with any of them?) Frankly, there isn’t enough room in this story to develop a relationship with any of the men, except maybe the first one. The other two? There’s nothing there, so why would she choose either of them?

Then there is the business of her uncle who doesn’t ask her to do something for him but she feels obligated anyway. There’s never a conversation with him about this big favor, yet she does it anyway and resents doing it!

Lastly, there is a health issue that Penny deals with that needs to be considered by anyone with whom she has a relationship. I think that if the author dealt with that in a bigger way (instead of the uncle’s favor) you’d have enough of a storyline.

I really disliked this book and will return it for sure.

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Cheesy title, but cute story

Revisado: 04-06-17

What did you like best about Dream a Little Dream? What did you like least?

I liked the relationship between Liza and Dom, but did sometimes find it taxing because Liza was so ready to find fault with him. When they get along, they do really well, like any normal couple. What I liked the least was how trite their talk was of dreams. "I have a dream. You have a dream." That sort of thing.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Probably less use of the word "dream." I think it was overused. They each had their dreams, but actually Dom's seemed more realistic and better thought out than Liza's.

What about Julie Teal’s performance did you like?

I wasn't crazy about her performance but it's better than other narrators. I don't have anything good or about to say about it. I would recommend that potential buyers listen to the sample.

Was Dream a Little Dream worth the listening time?

I've listened to it twice. I liked it enough to listen in the car and in bed, and I will listen to it again in the future.

Any additional comments?

I think Dom's medical condition really added a different aspect to the typical chick lit/rom com book. And I like how Liza treated him. Like a normal person and didn't push him away or try to mother him.

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Smart heroine, fun plot, great Irish humor

Revisado: 04-06-17

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to people who like mysteries, especially stories set in Ireland.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Siobhan was my favorite character because she's smart, caring and daring.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Siobhan gets her hair cut by one of the suspects.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I don't listen to any book all in one sitting but I did listen in bed at night and every time I got in the car.

Any additional comments?

I loved the setting. The author was really descriptive and it made me nostalgic for Ireland. I really liked Caroline Lennon's narration as well. I'm pretty biased because I love Irish accents and book set in Ireland.

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Adventure, close escapes, friendship-all here

Revisado: 12-07-16

What did you love best about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Book 7?

I love how J.K. Rowling is realistic about death and even though she broke our hearts with some characters' deaths, we know they had to happen. But the overriding theme of this book, for me, is loyalty, trust and friendship, all interwoven. It's also an adventure.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Book 7?

I think for me it was when Harry comes to the realization that Dumbledore made things difficult for him to make him struggle and really think about what he had to do. Although Harry is beyond angry and frustrated, in the end he realizes in that moment, that things are not easy.

Have you listened to any of Jim Dale’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to all Harry Potter books, from the time they were on cassette at the library, CD and now here. Jim Dale is magnificent.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It's too long to listen to in one sitting. But I will say this. The kids and I listen to the book on the way to school, home, games, whenever we are in the car together. I am always tempted to listen even when they're not in the car, but if they find out, they make me return to where we all left off together. It's that kind of book.

Any additional comments?

My kids were listening to these books from the womb. It's a tradition in our family to begin the school year listening to the Harry Potter books, from 1-7. We start in September and usually finish around April or May.

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Boring and unlikable heroine; frustrating

Revisado: 11-20-16

I wouldn't recommend this book because the heroine is a directionless wimp who allows herself to be denigrated and bullied by her mother and four older sisters.

The other reason I hated this book is because it takes the listener a while to realize you are going back and forth from the present to he past, even though the past sounds like the present. This is especially confusing at the end when you're waiting for the book to end and find out who she's going to marry already and she STILL can't make up her mind!

The bravest thing she does in the entire book is say no to a marriage proposal. From there the book gets worse as she dates an MP, unwittingly gets trapped up a tree, continues her crush on a longtime friend and then when something happens that he can't be with her, she starts a whirlwind romance with the nicest rock star on he planet.

Seriously, I kept waiting and waiting for the book to end just so I could stop the torture.

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Heroine sweet; funny passages make book OK

Revisado: 11-20-16

Would you try another book from Ruth Saberton and/or Emma Fenney?

Yes and no. I could not get through Ellie Andrews Has Second Thoughts. It might have been easier had Emma Fenney been the narrator, but that's doubtful. The story and heroine were awful. I liked Katy Clark Wants a Hero (Emma Fenney narrated that one too).

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would have made Amber realize sooner what a jerk her fiancée was. He was the image of the jerk fiancée in Katy Clark (money hungry, cheater, horrible to heroine), which I did not like.

What does Emma Fenney bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She does a great voice when she's reading the hilarious parts of the book, like the goat and the dog scenes. Even when Amber's mother is around.

Could you see Amber Scott Is Starting Over being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No. I am not a fan of books made into movies or TV series.

Any additional comments?

I would have preferred that the fiancée in this book had been vastly distinguished from the fiancée in Katy Clark. Seriously, it's like Saberton cut and pasted the bits from one book and put them in the other. The heroines were pretty similar too and at times I had to check which book I was listening to because I listened to them right after one another. Not very original.

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Brave girl moves on with delicious love interest

Revisado: 11-20-16

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would. It's funny, heartwarming and full of delicious food! Also, I like the heroine's modern take on romance and not falling to pieces over a man.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Rupert was funny and warm, although annoying when he got angry for no reason.

What does Helen Johns bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I always love a good narrator. Some narrators fit the story and the age of the characters and others don't. I was happy with her. She did a great job with the French accents.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Love wins in the end.

Any additional comments?

This is a typical chick lit book and although these books don't hold surprises, I think there is sometimes a message or a passage that speaks to my heart or to my life. Those are the ones I love. This one does that for me.

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Narration was good, story was OK

Revisado: 10-08-16

I was attracted to this story because like Lottie, I too am a single mother and I have a great relationship with my ex. Lottie is comfortable with her ex and even with her ex's girlfriend. I also like that Lottie is described physically as someone who dresses casually, is curvy and also likes to dress up when the occasion calls for it. She seems like a real person.

The one thing that drove me crazy about Lottie and her ex is that their children have NO MANNERS. If a child of mine lacks manners at any moment, I don't hesitate to call them out and correct them. Lottie's children have no discretion and she and her ex don't set boundaries for the children. It's the whole I-can't-date-you-because-my-children-won't-allow-it-even-though-we-fancy-the-pants-off-each-other scenario.

The smaller stories that accompany Lottie's are endearing--a dying employer and a childless woman. I love Cressida, and her tentative steps into romance.

The one thing I did not buy was the American characters' choice of words when speaking. A lot of British idioms sounded strange coming from them. It didn't sound like something an American would say. The other thing that was strange was talk of dollars instead of pounds, words that were substituted for an American audience.

I liked the narrator, Anna Parker-Naples, and she was pretty good at distinguishing the characters from each other.

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OK, but get it from the library first

Revisado: 07-12-12

The best character in this book is Tilly's boss and his daughter. Tilly is OK. The book portrays the women in the village as man-hungry and the man in question seems to like the attention. There is no tension between the main characters, just a lukewarm attraction.

I was bored and had hoped for fireworks, passion, anger, fights, misunderstandings, that sort of thing that is typical of chick lit. Not to be found here.

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Unpredictable ending, ridiculous plot

Revisado: 07-12-12

Stella is not a likeable character and Jay is even worse. She categorizes her job as sort of the provenance of the rich, yet she has not problem accepting a home from her (wealthy) father or gifts and travel from Jay. Jay is bossy, patriarchal and a rich bum. Stella's father is a principal character and treats the women in his life as accessories, leaving them when he gets bored (except for the current wife).

SPOILER:
I was frustrated with Stella's inability to say no to the idiotic childish Jay, and I wished for a different ending. The ending was not expected because I think any sensible woman in this day and age would not allow her father to take the upper hand and direct her life. I also thought she was going to end up with a different person.

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