Karma’s Mercurial Reads

Engrossing mystery (romance less so)

Revisado: 03-15-20

READ (audio) 12 Mar 2020 (★★★½ rounded up)
(KU/AudibleRom borrow)

Enjoyed WHERE THE BLAME LIES more than expected. But TBT, more as mys/susp than CRS (IMO, romance arc was rather formulaic/by-the-numbers). Effective use of flashback storytelling to add depth to story’s timeline, as well as provide a few breadcrumbs. One major thing did niggle at me, but was entertained enough to ignore. (Hey, anything to get mind off current clusterfuck of Drump & COVID-19 🤬)

For me, WHERE THE BLAME LIES not a ‘dark read’, nws nature of Josie’s past trauma & flashback storytelling bringing certain past events into present timeline. Perhaps b/c from get-go, knew that Josie had escaped & done her best to re-build her life. And honest self-examination over the yrs allowed her to mature into fairly self-aware woman.

Despite NFM attempts many yrs ago (b/c NA not my jam), glad I tried newer work by Mia Sheridan. Definitely excited to snap up follow-up book, Where the Truth Lives in April 2020!

AUDIO: Been a while since I listened to dual narration, so took me a bit to adjust to different styles (and reminded me why such isn’t my preference).

Overall, both Callie Dalton and Teddy Hamilton ably handled respective parts. But (1) sometimes, diction less than sharp = instead of ‘Zack’, I sometime heard ‘Zag’ or ‘Zeg’, and (2) I found Hamilton’s pace too slow = kept switching speed from Dalton @ 1.00x to Hamilton @ 1.10-1.15x (and yeah, fair drove me batty at times). YMMV

~13 Mar 2020~

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Another lovely listen/story

Revisado: 01-21-20

READ 4 Jan 2019 (★★★½)

A CONVENIENT FICTION was another lovely read/listen in Mimi Matthews’s Parish Orphans of Devon series, Overall, well-written w/ engaging dialogue. For me, h skirted (but d/n enter) Mary Sue territory & exhibited believable independence in thoughts & actions. (By same token, wondered why she remained so passive/ignorant of family finances despite circumstances.) Not as much historical detail; thus, focus firmly on building relationship/romance betn H & h. Pacing was more vigorous than that of prior book & I liked how #2’s ending dovetailed into this one.

On flip side, plot points were bit more predictable, resulting in less tension/anticipation during listen. Also, a critical inconsistency from earlier book nagged at me, despite nominal impact to overall storyline. Minor quibbles which preclude a higher rating, but not enough to detract from this solid HR. Looking forward to THE WINTER COMPANION in Feb 2020, the final book in this series.

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Decent PNR (stronger than first book)

Revisado: 10-23-19

READ (audio) 6-2016 (narration = ★★★; story = ★★)

Given that I'm posting a review for FIRE RISING in Oct 2019 after listening to it in June 2016; here's the quick & dirty per library journal notes:

Narrator: still great voice; overall narration better than #1.

Story: Downgrade 1 star for major fail(s) at end. Stronger than #1, even w/ insta-ROM (better core storyline) so try #3.

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OK story & narration

Revisado: 10-23-19

READ (audio) 6-2016 (★★ = OK story & narration)

Given that I'm posting a review for DARKEST FLAME in Oct 2019 after listening to it in June 2016; here's the quick & dirty per library journal notes:

Narrator: Great voice & choice for Scots characters; decent narrating cadence/pace; weak re: emoting & female lead.

Story: Crossover w/ author's other series = gaps for new readers. Middling PNR (insta-ROM, superficial core plot; repetitive &/or TSTL moments) for long-time PNR fans, but enticing for new ones. Chalk up to FiB response & try book #2.

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Enjoyable prequel novellas w/ VG narration

Revisado: 10-23-19

DARK HEAT is a compilation of 3 prequel novellas & a bonus story (Passion’s Claim) to the Dark Kings series (which is a spinoff from Grant's Dark Sword & Dark Warriors series).

IMO, it's not necessary to read this prior to Dark Kings #1, Darkest Flame. I read this about 3 books into the series & didn't feel that I lost or gained much re: world-building or series arc. Ably narrated by Antony Ferguson, this anthology was a great listen whilst completing a rather full weekend to-do list :)

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DNF due to narrator; switching to ebook

Revisado: 10-22-19

DNF due to narrator; switching to ebook.

Having already read this first book, I wanted to re-read/listen & then complete the trilogy in audio b/c of Roslyn Landor. Alas, I didn't realise that Charlotte Gray narrated this one. My bad.

To be fair, Ms. Gray's narration is doable--I've certainly tried/listened to worse. For me, her pacing was too slow & when sped up, the pitch became too high for long-term listening. Didn't even make it to the 30-minute mark that I normally give to adjust to a narrator, especially when I can read the entire book in @ 4hrs.

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DNF due to narrator

Revisado: 10-22-19

DNF due to narrator Lulu Russell. After painful experience listening to the beginning of #2, I didn't even bother trying w/ this last book in trilogy. I've gotten into doing re-reads in audio format so it's disappointing when it fails to do justice to a favorite author or title.

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Re-read DNF due to narrator

Revisado: 10-22-19

DNF due to narrator Lulu Russell.

Saw this title/trilogy included in Audible Romance so decided to re-read via audio. Altho very familiar w/ Mary Jane Wells (narrator for book #1), I don't recall ever listening to Lulu Russell & wished I'd skimmed reviews in advance.

Sadly, her style & vocal pitch just didn't work for me, From the start, I grimaced every time she hit a particular high note in her narrative cadence. Thought I'd adjust after a bit but...no.

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So-so start to Chicagoland Vamps spin-off

Revisado: 10-20-19

(★★½ rounded up for narration)

Narrator Suzanne Elise Freeman did a very good job with various voices & 'vocal acting'. This may have been my first time listening to her & I enjoyed it enough to keep an eye out for her narration works. (FWIW, I understand decision to have a new narrator for spin-off. Ms. Freeman handled the transition well.)

WILD HUNGER, book #1 in the Heirs of Chicagoland series, features the ‘next generation’ of Chicagoland Vampires. Fast forward 20+yrs since the final CV book and... 23yr-old Elisa Sullivan is all grown up & set to return to Chicago after spending the past 4yrs in Paris & earning a degree in sociology at École Dumas.

FWIW, my lukewarm response to WILD HUNGER may stem from my 'advanced' age; it's been @ 10yrs since the first Chicagoland Vampires & I'm that much closer to the half, rather than quarter, century mark. Consequently, WILD HUNGER read even more MYA/NA to my jaded eyes (ears). So many superlatives, so much specialness! And as if to prep the reader, this Harry Potter analogy in Chapter 1:

'If Cadogan was Gryffindor, all bravery and guts, Dumas was Ravenclaw, all intellect and cleverness. I liked being clever, and I liked clever people, so we were a good fit.'

(Look, Harry Potter et al. rock, but slightly misses the mark for me.)

WILD HUNGER had potential, but it felt draggy & formulaic. I also couldn't credit how Elise, newly-returned to Chicago after 4yrs, is instantly the go-to person for this, that, everything. What, more experienced personnel turned into chopped liver? However, most disappointing was the awkward/insta-love setup between Elise and Connor. After first learning of the prophecy & waiting all this time... *sigh* TBT, the Prologue was my favorite part :D

Despite the above, take my so-so reaction to WILD HUNGER w/ a grain of salt—typical more often than not for a first-in-series book. I fully intend to give the Heirs of Chicagoland series another chance w/ the next book, WICKED HOUR, b4 reading a final decision.

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DNF due to narrator; switching to ebook

Revisado: 07-12-19

Don't know how to rate just performance so middle rating for story. Narration by Mark Westfield sounds more like TTS. Couldn't even make it to the 30-minute mark that I normally give to adjust to a narrator.

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