Kindle Customer

This 65 minutes is hot enough to melt chocolate

Revisado: 06-12-20

I'm surprised the number of 3 and 2 stars given without a written review explaining why. The Chocolate Birthday is a quick, no drama, HEA, fun listen.

Some of the negatives: The recording seems staticy or breathy (not crystal clear) and the narration was a bit stilted with the MC accent off what I think the MC should sound like. Example: It was odd to hear what I would call a British accent talk about driving a Camaro. There were a couple trigger warnings posted, but I don't recall Orgy listed, so that may be nice for some to know in advance. Also, this story is also not at all realistic; take a deep breath and live the fantasy for 65 minutes.

I'm not sure if I would read/listen to anything else from this author. This short story is all about getting to the point of the birthday surprise. There wasn't time for character development. You are given the facts that Tom and Michael are married, love each other, and have no problem with manage' sex so you don't have to feel worried about "cheating" or off page drama. All the birthday dinner guests are friends of the couple and all have names, but that is about all the development and background for them.

If this author does put out something else, it would really depend how much money and time would be invested for me to try. I liked this story (free through Escape) and have it in my wish list as a guilty pleasure. I would love to know if the M/M turns into a full time M/M/M, but not sure if I want to listen to another hour long sex scene. There would have to be something else offered.

In short, I liked the story and narration. I'm glad I gave it a try.

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Story 5, Overall 2? -- Did Not Finish

Revisado: 05-04-20

You may wonder how I can give a book I did not finish a 5-star for story and a 2-star overall. I made it to chapter 19 of 23(?). The story between the two MC is a good story. The author does a decent job with character development and chimes between POV and flashbacks is not as annoying as you would think. The narrator did a wonderful job with the two MC and the couple secondary characters that held weight.

My complaint, and the reason I stopped the story, is the use of lyrics. Lyrics? you ask. Yes, lyrics. While the MC were hooking up the radio was playing and lyrics from Maroon 5 and Lady Gaga were transcribed to make sure the reader understood the inner dialog and mood. After an encounter on the football field, more lyrics were quoted while the MC was in his truck, so we could understand internal conflict. By chapter 19 when the two MC were actually on a date in a club, I was at my end and just stopped. FanFiction authors sometimes list inspirational songs for their work, maybe Brenda Cothern should try this method in a preface of sorts, or just list the song or artist in the text could work (and has worked for both FF and published authors), but to actually write out lyrics as a mood qualifier MORE THAN ONCE for a published author is LAZY. Where was her editor?!?!? Where were the beta readers?!?! Where was a really good friend to tell her NO?!?!

Part of me wants to run over to Amazon and get the Kindle version so I can skip over the music selection (and some of the over the top football recaps that were not necessary) so I can get my HEA, but part of me is wondering if I should support this work after being disappointed and declaring the author was lazy (she did give credit to the musical artists so I'm going to assume using the lyrics would not equate plagiarism). If I cant get Tig and Flame out of my head by Wednesday I may borrow it from KU so it is not a complete show of support. We will see.

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why is this not a Netflix movie?

Revisado: 03-04-20

I normally don't leave reviews (just stars). I'm typing under my desk at work and trying to look like I'm being a productive member of the accounts payable team. I just needed to say this was amazing. It was laugh out loud funny, cringe worthy in the dorkiness, and melt your heart cute. This is something you can envision being a made for Netflix movie (including the narrator like in RHPS- The Expert). For the past 2hr 44min I was in a much needed happy place!! Let go of the realistic and take a wonderful trip to Mexico and group hug with a Kingpin of crime.

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Still cute, just not the original

Revisado: 05-17-19

This story is still funny and lovable, and well worth the credit if you have not yet listened to it. This was one of the first audiobook CDs I purchased, and when I found it on Audible I was super excited. That changed when I realized this was not the same version I previously owned. Both were unabridged, but this version seems not only to be "remastered" but contain "a director's cut" of extra scenes. My CDs are currently in a moving box, so I can't give you exact details. I can say, it was a little disappointing to expect one thing and be given another. The voice choice for Trish was the biggest distraction. I have grown to love the nasally lovable working class Trish. This new narrative and extra scenes almost make her harder, colder, and more b**chy. The mother (a barrister) went from being too busy in her career (foreshadowing parallels) and abscent in her daughter's life to being over controlling and unusually demanding of an adult daughter that she doesn't make time for. All of her extra scenes did nothing but add unnecessary strife. Not sure why all the changes, but if you purchased the CD back in the early 2K, be aware that this is the same narrator but a completely different version.

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Great story but (UPDATE)

Revisado: 01-24-18

UPDATE : The audio issues below have been fixed! i love Jonathan's reading. His voice as Bael will melt your heart!

This story is spot on Molly Harper. The characters are great and the angst is not over done. Amanda Ronconi did a wonderful job. The main turnoff was Jonathan Davis's editing. I really enjoyed his reading! He did a wonderful job bringing Bael to life. there were times his re-dos sounded like they were recorded over the phone and other times the quality made it sound like someone else was reading. Did anyone listen to this production before it was published? I'm a huge fan of two readers, they really bring a story to life, but the constant fluctuation of Jonathan's sections was distracting. As a side note, I would love to hear more from Jonathan in the future, I hope more books in this series hosts him as a narrator.

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A moment in time When two people connect

Revisado: 09-18-15

Any additional comments?

I know a lot of people know of VOX because of Clinton and Lewinsky. Sadly, I found this book looking for in intellectual "fix". I have been listening and reading erotica on a regular basis and could not find something new or something that would catch my attention. This was it. I should warn some younger audiences that this was copyrighted 1993. If you do not know what a VHS tape or a party line is, you might be slightly lost. After reading the synopsis I decided to go with the audio version. I normally READ erotica or hard core romances, but the give and take of between Jim and Abby (wonderfully narrated by Mark Boyett and Gabra Zackman) screamed that this should be in audio. You are transported into a nearly five hour block of time where two people agreed to take their partyline conversation private. As you listen to the conversation you are immersed into a connection of two people who are seeking that "something" painfully missing from their day-to-day and you will begin to panic when you realize the fanatical might be broken by the threat of reality. (Luckily Jim convincingly pleads to keep the connection going) There are conversation about work, food, books, and the something that has escaped them up until now. There are conversations about fantasies and realities. All these conversations are yours to witness from the shadows. I've never been a "voyeur" but having the fly-on-the-wall perspective was very interesting. I'm not sure if I will look into anything else from Nicholson Baker, but after listening to VOX (for the fourth time) I'm a huge fan of Jim and Abby and this story.

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Could not stop laughing

Revisado: 07-07-15

This was a deal of the day book a friend suggested I listen too (after only listening to the sample). After the first chapter I recommend the book to three gal-pals. After finishing the book, I made my husband turn off the TV one night and started the book all over again. I plan on gifting this story to a couple more friends. I will admit it took a while to get use to Napoleon's voice, but by Greg's second diary entry, there could be no other voice. :- ). The story is heart warming and very relatable to those who are well into their thirties, working 40+ hrs a week, and looking at the mirror wondering where their 25 year-old body went.

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Do you have to finish a book to review it?

Revisado: 05-13-12

What would have made The Magicians better?

It had all the great makings of a "fantasy" but had no wonder, no awe sensations, none of the "magical feeling" you felt when you first read Narnia, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or watched the original Fantasia.

What was most disappointing about Lev Grossman’s story?

The lead character was too negative and always complaining about something, even if it went his way.

What aspect of Mark Bramhall’s performance would you have changed?

I honestly didnt listen to more than an hour and a half of the book. I dont recall the narration being bad, but I was so disappointed in the book I dont recall it being good either.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment. To read reviews of this being "Harry Potter goes to college in Narnia" you are automatically set up with distinct expectations. I was OK with some of the ideals from other stories being used; it could have lead to a more realistic/ modern edge (I'm 36 and found myself wishing I could walk through my closet and windup somewhere else on a whim after picking up the CS Lewis series decades after first reading them). What I was not expecting was a negative young adult miserable in his existence, wanting to make everyone around him miserable, and then still be miserable when things are actually going his way!! If my 15 acted like this I would tell her to put on her big-girl panties and get over herself or go sulk in her room away from people who are actually having a good day.

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A MUST for Hitchhiker fans

Revisado: 05-13-12

Would you listen to Emperor Mollusk Versus the Sinister Brain again? Why?

Would I listen to this book again? YES! This book made me laugh from start to finish. The dialog was funny, the characters were easy to visualize, and the story was quirky and solid.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character by far was Snog (sp? -- the only bad thing about audiobooks, you really have to pay attention to names LOL) -- This character was the multi-ped mutated pet of the Emperor Mollusk and did not speak. What made her my favorite was the description, her mannerisms, the way she always made me smile and laugh, and her awesome abilities.

What about Scott Aiello’s performance did you like?

The 4 main characters were very distinguishable though back and forth dialog, and the way he handled the dialog scenes that needed close to 10 distinguishable voices in succession was better than most I have heard.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed almost all the way through. I'm a HUGE S'more fan, and I knew I would love this book the moment I heard "today's laser is tomorrow's marshmallow roaster." There are more than a couple "one-liners" that should be made into bumper stickers.

Any additional comments?

There are a couple "flashback" type stories that seem a little out of place and added only as filler. There were also a couple times where I missed the transition from one part of the story to the next and had to go back to re-listen, but this could also have been when I was slamming on my breaks trying to merge on or off the interstate and not the fault of the book or it's narrator. :-)

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4/22/11 - still not the whole story

Revisado: 04-27-11

The story: The narration was good, but the story is only so-so. I was surprised to hear musical cues in the beginning, but after getting over the corniness of it all, it was OK. Knowing this is a “teen” novel, I was surprised how simplistic the language was and how broken down, incomplete, or lacking the descriptions were. Although this book was to expand on the movie, it felt as if it fell short. It was as if I was giving you a very detailed description of the movie I just saw and acted out the parts I recalled or really liked. All-in-all, what was listened to was enjoyed, but I would only listen to this story once.

All that said, I’m VERY disappointed in Audible. I read the two reviews that stated this was not a complete story and that the reader would have to wait until after March 20th to go online and get the ending of the story. I could not find anything from Audible in the description of this story to distinguish if this was the COMPLETE story, or if this was still the partial story missing the ending. I purchased this story on 4/22/11, thinking, “it’s been a month and this movie is no long playing on the main screen in Dayton, OH – I should be safe.” I was wrong. This was not the completed version of the story. I was halfway back from traveling when I reached the end of Chapter 29. Needless to say, I’m a little more than miffed.

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