Customer Review

Story: 5🌟 Audiobook: 1🌟(100% wrong TX accent)

Revisado: 01-02-24

First book by this author, and I loved it. The exploration of intimacy and the layered complexities in the story were beautifully written and engaging. I'm really looking forward to reading more of her work!

The audiobook narration, much to my disappointment, fell short by at least 400 miles. I can't vouch for the authenticity of the MFC's Louisiana accent, but the lack of research and effort put into the MMC's Texas accent (a central callout in the story) by the narrator and production team was painfully obvious. PSA - The various accents in Texas are distinctly different from those in “Southern” states east of Louisiana, even the most “twangy” ones.

The performance was so bad, in fact, that I couldn't continue listening to the audiobook because it was so distracting and just...inaccurate. I nearly DNF'd at 10%, but, fortunately, I decided to keep reading because the story and characters really came to life on the pages.

Great book, but the cringey narration was a hard no.

(For reference, here are some variations of real Texas accents: Matthew McConaughey, Leon Bridges, George Strait, Tommy Lee Jones, Owen Wilson, Brené Brown, Ryan Bingham, Beyonce, Selena Gomez, Jessica Simpson, and narrator Connor Crais freaking nailed Nick Acevado's TX character in Kate Canterbary's “The Worst Guy” ...a little research goes a long way.)

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Meghan Quinn Redeemed thanks to Connor Crais

Revisado: 12-11-23

"Those Three Little Words" (the last Meghan Quinn book I read) was such a drawn-out story with so much excessively manufactured drama/unlikable characters that I never thought I'd pick up another one of her books. Then, I saw that Connor Crais was narrating this book, and I very hesitantly decided to give it a try. I’m glad I did; it was a great story and well done, especially for the heavy topics it touched.

The narration was great, and Connor Crais, of course, absolutely knocked it out of the park!

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Yikes - so many cringe-worthy clichés! Started strong, but was fluff, drama, and spin after about 40%...

Revisado: 12-01-23

The audiobook narrators were excellent and the only reason I finished this book.

The story started out interesting and funny, but the story and character development completely flatlined for about 250 insufferable pages. It was especially disappointing that during the last third of the book, the main characters (especially the MFC) morphed into toxic, petty, cringe-worthy clichés that repeated the same issues and drama on repeat. Disappointing.

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My fav fr the Kingmakers! Female narrator cringe-y

Revisado: 01-19-23

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 stars - such a GREAT story and beautifully satisfying (especially for those who've read other Sophie Lark books!) loved it!

Really enjoyed the male Narrators - they knocked it out of the park! But the female narrator was VERY distracting, and, at times, it was like nails down a chalkboard. She was overly breathy and high-pitched the last third of the book which not only didn't match the main female character (at all), but her narration became an increasingly overdramatic and whiney-sounding performance... likely the first and last time buying an audiobook narrated by her.

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Good Performance (3.5 🌟) :: Excellent Story

Revisado: 09-08-22

Slow burn HEA that's worth every single second!

Tropes:
Best Friends to Lovers, Small town,  Perseverance, Soul Mates, Tragedy to Triumph

World/Character Building: 5/5 🧩🧩🧩🧩🧩

Plot Develop: 5/5  🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

Audiobook Performance: 3.5/5 🎙🎙🎙🎙

Overall: 5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

📖 THIS is excellent storytelling. A Slow burn done right!

First time reading this author, and I'm a FAN 💯  Absolutely loved it. I def got sucked in from the start, and it's been awhile since I rooted for two characters at this level.

SUCH great writing and plot development.

What I loved most is this story is somehow the magic combination of wholesome, funny, tragic, heartbreaking, and real... it's a story of perseverance and love in its many forms.

Loved the relatable ensemble of characters, writing style, world building, character development, and depth. 5 stars all the way!!!

SO happy to have found this author and check out the rest of this series & more of her work!!!

🌟🎙🌟 Narration

Performance was good, but it didn't leave a deep impression on me as a standout. I listened to about 50% (primarily for convenience when multitasking) and read 50%

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Good story. Dramatic Performance.

Revisado: 08-02-22

Good story intro. Performance was overly theatrical which was distracting for me because it impacted the quality of the audio volume.

I am curious to read what happens next, though...

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👍🏽Good story. 👎🏽GRAPHIC verbal/physical/sexual

Revisado: 07-29-22

🎙Narration (audible) 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

🔥 Pippa Jayne has such a unique and sweet voice, and her work is always a treat. And, Joe Arden always nails it. ALL the stars  for these two pairing up! The audible performance was EXCELLENT.

📚 STORY

First time reading this author. Gave it a shot bc I'm such a fan of Pippa Jayne's performances. At its core, it was a good story, and I enjoyed the writing.


⚠️ TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️
For my taste, though, the drawn out and detailed partner violence and assault (physical, sexual, and verbal) scenes were just too much. I'm really surprised there were no trigger warnings (maybe I missed them?). Of course, I expected some trauma detail given the audible/ Kindle book description but such repeated graphic physical, sexual, and verbal assault? No thanks. Personally, I think it was beyond the threshold of what added value to the story which at its core was a really good and sweet one of hope and redemption.

Granted, I'm unfamiliar with the author and MC books are not my favorite trope so maybe this is standard?  I feel ambivalent about reading any other KL Savage books if they all contain such graphic assault against women.

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Hallmark drama vibes. A bit too drawn out.

Revisado: 07-26-22

First time reading this author. Overall, it was a good fluffy story but a bit too long for what it was - a predictable HEA that was heavy on the saccharine, perfect world small town tropes.

Half the time the MFC was a walking cliché of naiveté and others she had  backbone. While I didn't find the characters/plot especially captivating, it was a good overall read.


🎙Narration (audible)

🔥 Sebastian York performance was awesome and he carried this book for me. His performance is 5 🌟 all the way!

😕 Not crazy about Lila Winters'  performance. Seemed forced, frequently overly dramatic and whiny. Not a fan.

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Holy Cow - THIS is an EPIC love story!

Revisado: 07-15-22

Story 🔥😍
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I've never rooted for two fictional characters like I did these two! This book felt like binge watching 5 seasons of my favorite show, barely coming up for air or food! Excellent storytelling!!!!

My heart was pounding from the moment I picked up this AWESOME book. I couldn't put it down, and this is easily one of my favorite books of he year - possibly ever.  It was so beautifully done beginning to end. The depth, the storytelling, the deep character development, the slow burn journey of reality, live, life and loss...  And the ever so sweet full circle of it all was absolute PERFECTION. 

I loved, loved, LOVED Dante and Simone's story and their HEA was one of the best and most satisfying I've read to date.

🎙🌟 Audiobook Performance- Excellent 🎙🌟
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The narration was really well performed and I enjoyed it! I also appreciated that Alan Carlson snuck in a subtle accents here and there including a mid-west accent 👍🏽

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3.5 🌟 w/ Mixed Feelings. Dark & Stockholm-y

Revisado: 07-14-22

Audiobook Performance- Excellent
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The narration was really well performed and Faith Clark has the PERFECT voice for such a sweet MFC. I'm not sure what an authentic polish- English accent sounds like but I think Alan Carlson did a great staying in character.

I'm not crazy about this book, but I absolutely enjoyed the performance. Sophie Lark books always seem to have such talented narration which is a treat to look forward to!



Story - will written but dark and uncomfortable
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This book has highlights clever and gritty scheming which was very well written. However, for me, it was too dark and Stockholm-y for a romance. I didn't personally resonate with the chemistry, and I couldn't personally get on board with the progression of their relationship. As the book highlights and others have pointed out, it's a reinterpretation of a Beauty and the Beast type theme...

Overall, the story was a pretty uncomfortable read and I'm left with mixed feelings about this one...

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