Debwins30

Plaid Fun

Revisado: 03-27-21

Dr. Ainsley Graham and Dr. Joachim Cockburn are off on an adventure to hunt trolls, gnomes, and ghost moose. That's what Joachim tells Ainsley is the reason they are heading to Sweden and while Joachim is lecturing at the university, Ainsley can explore the folklore of magical creatures in this beautiful land.
But what awaits our fine Drs is not what they were expecting. A mystery arises rather quickly and the story is driven by the escalation of events driving our heroes apart and as they face challenges on their own, they cope with discoveries about each other that is unsettling.
Can our lovers find their way back to each other before one of them makes a decision that will keep them apart, perhaps forever?
Let me begin by saying I adored the first installment of Ella Stainton's Kilty Pleasures series. Joachim and Ainsley became the couple that set the standard for give and take, love and hate, growls and kisses. Their chemistry was palpable and the narration by Cornell Collins was 5 alarm fire hot. I couldn't hardly wait for the next book to be released having listened to Best Laid Plaids about 6 times since September.
I loved the humor and heat between Ainsley and Joachim and the way their family and friends brought out the best and worst in them (See Ainsley here). But in this second outing so much of what I loved about the first wasn't there. The playfulness and brattiness of Ainsley, the growlyness and bossiness of Joachim, interspersed with their very soft and intimate words of love, often whispered in their kiss. This story sent our lovers to different parts of the country and there were very few interactions and the ones they did have were often fraught with misunderstanding and missed opportunities for loving each other in their special way. This story was good in that it showed some growth and stretching in their relationship but I missed the togetherness of them. I loved seeing Ainsley grow, really I did, but I wish it could have happened closer in proximity to Joachim. I hope Ms. Stainton is planning another adventure for our beloved doctors. I know I would love to spend more time with them.
Now on to the narration. Cornell Collins is a master at voices. He nails Ainsley and Joachim and their distinct accents are always a delight. This time Collins has the added pressure to voice Swedes and an American. The American is perfect, with a hint of a drawl, that as a southern woman, I appreciate very much. His Swedish accents were challenging to understand, and I don't think this was because he isn't talented enough to handle them, but because my untrained ear wasn't sure of what he should be saying without text in front of me. He had to do several male and female voices and he certainly met the challenge with aplomb. I plan on re-listening to this story multiple times to pick up the nuances of the language and to hear him growl for Joachim. He does it so well.
I wish everyone would read/listen to Best Laid Plaids and Where there's a Kilt, there's a Way because I think Ella Stainton is a little known treasure of story telling. I'll do my part to promote and support if she keeps up this level of good writing.
I truly hope to visit Ainsley and Joachim again, even if they are merely side characters in Barley's story. I'm always up for more Kilty Pleasures.

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So Hot, (So Hot) Sticky Sweet

Revisado: 03-09-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Zoe, our intrepid heroine, has a LOT to deal with. Lost job in Manhattan, living in her grandmother's laundry room (on a cot no less) and trying to turn around the failing restaurant her Gram owns; as well as put up with her terribly selfish family who does not respect boundaries. I mean really, what's a girl to do when her high school ex-one-time-lover waltzes into the restaurant with your old nemesis/bully? Take on a revenge plot naturally.
Zoe, encouraged by her two high school friends, mounts a revenge plot worthy of a Hollywood block-buster turned upside down. Their plot includes hair removal cream in bath products, spam call blow-out, stolen groceries, notes left on cars, oh yeah, and have the porn-star like sex with him so he craves you and then drop kick him to the curb so he regrets all of his life choices as he grieves the loss of good loving. Yeah, this wasn't the best thought out plan. We all know that revenge gets complicated when feelings come to play. And not hate...no the other one, you know? Love. Yep. That's what he said.
And then there are the Svennson brothers. All. Of. Them. Converging on the Harrogate estate because there is yet another problem with dear old dad. This time he's sending out brothers younger and younger. Triplets barely out of diapers, now lost somewhere. They have to find these brothers and finally stop Leif once and for all.
Complications of a cataclysmic order happens when nemesis, Sharla, brings Weston and Zoe's love affair to a stumbling end with her lies and stretching the truth to fit her own ends. But what wasn't expected was the complication of Zoe's sister's adoption crisis crossing over into the Svennson's lost brothers drama. But oh what a tangled web Ms. Jacobs weaves for her dear readers. The drama leaves us all wondering how will true love prevail?
The Svennson boys have plans. They always work out, unless you are Hunter, but that's another story (which we are thrilled about), and after a round-about sojourn in the city, Weston and Zoe triumph!
This story was delightful! It possessed humor (over the top in the best ways), sexy octogenarians (who give unsolicited advice-all-the-time), kooky townsfolk (who really, really like festivals), loads of testosterone (too many Svennsons to count at this point), yummy-sweet jam, jelly, and sauce innuendos, and true love prevailing (the best revenge is living your best life after all).
On a side note, I loved how much we got to see Hunter and Meg in this book, which sets us right up for their stellar story released in 2021. I also loved meeting Crawford, a Boston Svennson, I hope we get a story arc there soon. And let's not forget the hated Seattle Svennsons, they deserve their own series as well. Ms. Jacobs has her work cut out for her and I can't wait.

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Two wounded men free each other

Revisado: 02-09-21

This story was harder than I thought it would be based on the description. But it was so worth the journey. The two MCs were so deserving of the found love that they fell into. Their story was of a love hard fought for and worth dying over. Loved the prose and poetry of their story.
The narrator captured the Cornwall dialect and did an excellent job of keeping the characters voices distinct. Very well done.

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Tasty as Ever

Revisado: 12-16-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Tasting Her Christmas Cookies is another merry jaunt into the Frost Brothers world. it's time again for the Great Christmas Bake-off sponsored by Owen Frost this time. He is as hapless and hopeless about Christmas as his broIther Jack had been, so naturally a cute baker is just what he needs to get his jingle on and jolly his bells. Holly is a baker who loves Christmas and is desperate to win the Bake-off to pay off her debt accrued to save her grandmother's Christmas items in storage since she passed away. Holly, who has an impressive Instagram following and growing monthly baking subscription business, needs this influx of cash and notoriety that comes from participating and winning the contest to take her beyond debt-ridden, out of work baker to successful, stand on her own two feet entrepreneur. Just like Alina Jacobs other stories, the MCs clash at first. The hero is surly, grumpy, alpha-holish, and anti whatever their heroine is into. Owen is no exception. He is wealthy, arrogant, independent, and miserable (even if he doesn't acknowledge it). The first third of the book was very similar to the first Frost brother book with the bake-off, Instagram influencer, smart and sassy baker, crazy stalker ex, unhinged sibling rival, and an unwilling hero judge. The similarities were so striking at one point I thought I was listening to the same story with the names changed and then the story shifted. It was as if the author began telling Holly and Owen's story in earnest. I know with the. same setting as the previous novel, there were bound to be some crossover scenes or interactions, but what disappointed me was the same drama from the two women who were after Owen seemed nearly identical to the two women who went after Jack. That notwithstanding, this story was laced with all kinds of delicious baking scenarios and Jacobs, once again, outdid herself with the amount of detail and research that must have gone into preparing for that portion of the story. It was impressive! One thing I like about Jacob's heroes is that once they stop fighting the attraction, they go hard after their girl. They work to make them feel desired, beautiful, and satisfied. They are successful at everything else in their lives and their love life is no exception. The Christmas theme is a major contributor to every bit of competition, celebration, love-making, tom-foolery and happiness in which our characters engage. It is Merry and Bright and Alina Jacobs knows how to throw a party. The audio version of this book was very well-done. The actors really nailed Owen's gruffness and Holly's sweetness/slutiness. The minor women voices left a little to be desired., a tad in the whiny side and not nearly crazy enough. But overall the characterization was effective. I would definitely (and ( have) recommend Alina Jacobs to anyone who enjoys off kilter heroines and billionaires who love them. She is a one click author fror me.

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The Baker and the Billionaire

Revisado: 12-01-20

This story had all the great things that Alina Jacobs does so well. Fiesty characters (both MCs), complicated work/family relationships, well thought out details, and HOT intimate scenes. You combine all of that with Christmas and you have a winning story.
Chloe is a down on her luck baker and she has headed to the big apple to win her chance at one day owning her own bakery and Romance Creative has just the ticket to set her on the path with their holiday baking contest.
Jack Frost just can't catch a break. He is saddled with this office space in a not so desirable part of Manhattan and only his commitment to Romance Creative to host the holiday baking contest, with him as a judge, is keeping him from bailing on his commitments and letting his partnership with the Svennson's dissolve and sell the property. Jack hates all things Christmas and this financial crisis is at the wrong time of year (is there ever a good time for a financial crisis?) and the only bright spot is the cute, curvy baker that he shouldn't like, because let's lay all the cards out on the table, hating the Christmas season includes all the sweets too. What in the world is he doing judging a baking show? He doesn't know either.
Throw in crazy ex-girlfriend, unruly families, crazy Santa stalkers with bright, merry lights, and yummy food and you can't go wrong with this holiday romance.
So much happens in this story. It honestly shouldn't be summed up in a few sentences. Chloe and Jack are special. They go at each other with typical hate at first site fervor but are soon made aware of each other's strengths and assets and find themselves banding together to survive the craziness of their current situation. As with any good romance, the road isn't smooth (or the frosting maybe) but Chloe and Jack get their HEA and you won't be mad about it. At all.
I was impressed with the level of research Alina did for this story. Perhaps it was because I was listening and not reading it, but I was surprised at the level of knowledge she shared about each dish Chloe prepared and her infusion of business knowledge (real estate, medical equipment, innovative tools, etc) that she put into Jack. It was a job well done for sure.
I liked the narrators of Chloe and Jack at first. I had to speed up the playback to tolerate Neva after about halfway through the book. She always sounded too something... and when she did Hartley's voice, I didn't like it at all. Tim's voice for Jack and the other characters was much more pleasant, especially in a 10-hour book. The only thing I didn't like about his interpretation was his snappy, exasperated voice, otherwise, I found him delightful.
Alina Jacobs is always a one click author for me and I have really enjoyed all the interconnectedness of her series. I have requested a spreadsheet or family tree to keep all of the characters and their partners straight. With more books in the future, I really need help keeping each pairing in their lane. This is spectacular kick-off to the spin-off series The Frost Brothers.

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