Mel

Super fun busty tale

Revisado: 04-03-22 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I'm pasting my Amazon review for this story plus adding more review at the bottom for the audiobook version:

BOOK REVIEW:

"Hard to compare this author to anyone else. His stories are focused on one recurring and delightful theme: Big bosoms and the effect they have on men obsessed with big bosoms.

Sounds like typical *yawn* adult fiction, but Finch writes with such a crisp, intelligent flair and his characters are not the same cardboard cut-out smut archetypes you find in 99% of kindle after hours stories. His characters are unique, engaging, and - for the genre - quite well developed (no pun but maybe a pun). His descriptions of the female characters [assets] are second to none, and the build up and eventual climaxes are so well done.

This story is a shorter one so not so much character development but it was really fun. Somehow he created a tongue in cheek nod to au currant metaverse/VR tech while deftly crafting one of his trademark breast-obsessed cat and mouse stories. It's not up to his Uschi or Stonemere standards but still better than just about anything else on the Kindle store. If you love his other works, you'll like this one too.

I'm very glad this author is still writing and I look forward to more full length novels to come."

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:

The narration was great as always. Posey Clifford has narrated so many Lesley Finch books by now, she's in her groove. Her characters are distinct, the acting is spot on, her pacing is perfect, and the steamy sections are always well done - never too serious, never affected, lurid or belabored. The story is simple and Clifford is clearly having a blast reading the beats, the build up, the climax. So fun!

So many adult themed audiobooks are a joke. Poor production quality, lame narration, eye-roll inducing "acting". I always feel I'm in good hands with Finch and Clifford. Even with a quick, breezy erotic tale like this, the quality is undeniable.

I'm glad I gave it a go, and I look forward to longer projects from this fantastic author/narrator combo.

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Extinction series burnout + bleh 2nd gen action

Revisado: 11-12-21

I have loved this zombie mega series and it's offshoots, like this one - but I can't finish this audiobook. Only now do I realize the hero, John Carver is a completely forgettable, boilerplate, post apocalyptic, ex-military man of action. The real reason I was so into the Extinction Survival series was SHREK and his relationship with Carver. Now, with a new generation of heroes (and dog) I simply have no interest. It was a blast while it lasted.

In an unrelated note, Bronson Pinchot is still amazing!

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Perfection

Revisado: 11-09-21

Well, since I'm writing this immediately after the absolutely beautiful ending to the Waylander trilogy, I'm bound to use some superlatives.

This series has given me so much. From the Waylander books, I got strong, expertly crafted writing - I got fantastic world building - I got complex, fantastically drawn characters with complete inner lives - I got awesome adventure and action sequences.

And, as if that wasn't enough, I got one of the most satisfying and emotionally complete denouements I've ever read in long form fantasy fiction.

After the Waylander series (and Legend, which started me on this journey) I am a life long David Gemmell fan.

And regarding the auidiobook experience, this trilogy boasts one of the finest narrators ever. Sean Barrett carried this story with expert pacing, characterizations, and clarity. At times, he did sound like he was too old to be reading some of the characters, but his mature, deep, growling voice was tailor made for many of the characters. I'm so grateful he was cast to read Gemmell's works. An excellent pairing that will keep me coming back to Gemmell's audiobooks.

In all, a wonderful audiobook experience that I'll happily revisit again.

I don't know Gemmell's other works yet. But his Waylander series, is highly, highly recommended!

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Charming but frustrating

Revisado: 10-24-21

This was a unique and enjoyable audiobook experience. First things first: narrator Tom Taylorson was superb. Every character was perfected perfectly and the prose flew by smoothly. One of the best audiobook narrators I've had the pleasure to listen to.

Now for the story and the writing. It was utterly charming. A young man stumbles upon a butler position for an eccentric old millionaire...who may or may not be a wizard. I loved the premise and thoroughly enjoyed the world building inside the mansion.

But there's a limit to quotidian details and work craft. I don't understand why I had to listen to pages and pages devoted to how cable internet and a new computer was set up in the old mansion. Why did I have to learn so much about the protagonists cooking journey? Did I really have to learn all about the cars the butler was considering purchasing to upgrade and modernize the old man's fleet?

It felt like I had to wade through the author's first draft with all his exploratory research included. All these details and minutiae are helpful to the author creating a believable world but are cumbersome when shared unabridged for the reader. Too much information that doesn't forward the plot or enrich the characters.

That being said, the characters were well drawn. The protagonist likeable if somewhat bland. The millionaire perfectly urbane and charming. The villianess was quite unlikeable.

The ending was not quite a big bang climax but satisfactory the way a nice hot chocolate satisfies after a cold hike.

Also, some supporting characters appeared and never appeared again. I'm guessing the author pre-planned the series with intentions to bring these characters back again. But for the listener, this felt a bit too convenient, frustrating and incomplete.

I agree with another reviewer that described this book as a nice hot cup of tea. Yes, it's wonderfully cozy - but 12 hrs of nice hot tea becomes tiresome. A few well placed shots of whiskey to spice up the story and give it episodes of danger, suspense, adventure...would have been nice.

I won't be jumping on any forthcoming installments in the series but am glad I gave this one a listen.

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Good enough to be a great movie

Revisado: 10-17-21

I'll admit, I wasn't expecting much with this story. I enjoyed the first one, mostly the premise, but had this one sitting in my Plus Library for months before finally listening.

It may be better than the first story, and it certainly is more suspenseful. Good characters, solid whodunit, nice mild dose of procedural, and excellent narration. I imagined it as a really fun, smart thriller movie, or because it's 2021...a good Netflix mini series.

Worth the listen. Very entertaining. Recommended!

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WOW. What an ending. Absolutely stellar!

Revisado: 09-16-21

I'll be honest. I felt like book 5 was the ending of this saga. But I kept going, and DAMN...I was wrong. Book 7 with it's edge of your seat story threads and the absolutely satisfying climax and epilogue is the perfect ending to this very long, and incredible story.

My total admiration for the author, Nicholas Sansbury Smith and the narrator, Bronson Pinchot. A match made in Heaven. In this last installment especially, Mr. Pinchot hits an absolute home run. All the characters, even the supporting ones are alive and perfectly portrayed.

I feel like I've been spoiled by this audiobook experience. Incredible. I loved it!

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INTENSE! I love it.

Revisado: 08-03-21

Wow wow wow. I'm not much for zombie stories, but this series is special.

First things first, Bronson Pinchot. Absolutely exceptional in every way. His narration, his character voices, his pacing. PERFECT. Very few narrators can carry an epic series like he has. The story is fast paced and compelling, but it's Mr. Pinchot's reading that will keep me listening on into the series.

Holy crap! What an ending to book three. So grateful for this massive 3 book collection. Held me spellbound and I'm hooked.

Nicholas Sansbury Smith has created a post apocalyptic world that is horrible and utterly perilous, yet the adventures and the characters make it an absolute thrill ride and fun as Hell as a listener.

I love this series!

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Very entertaining! but...

Revisado: 06-23-21

This is a very entertaining bit of fiction. I enjoyed it beginning to end.

Zachary Quinto did a superb job with the narration and the characters.

My only gripe is that somehow, ALL the female characters were annoying. I mean...the way they were written, their personalities, their dialogue. Just bleh. The author made every female in the story - with the exception of the sweet, dying old woman - unlikeable. How did that happen? With a talented narrator and an engaging story how does this happen?

Anyway, it was awesome otherwise. Thanks Audible for including this little gem in the Plus Catalog for members.

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Pretty good premise but Absolutely flat, boring

Revisado: 06-22-21

I remember thinking after the first chapter..."man, that was one good first chapter". Then the rest of the book happened.

After about 2 1/2 grueling hours of this tedious, unoriginal audiobook, I'm out. Can't do anymore. I just hope I can return this.

Here's the thing. The premise is pretty good.

Mild mannered college professor in tweed jacket (YES, TWEED) named KENT (remind you of any other mild mannered alter ego?) is kidnapped and it turns out he's actually a Jason Bourne style super spy who had some kind of induced amnesia. Now that the amnesia is lifted, boom! the mild mannered History professor has to deal with terrorists, assassins and crime lords, but he has the voice of bad ass super spy in his ear telling him what to do. G.T.F.O.H

The execution of the premise is silly, annoying, abysmally boring and just doesn't work. It ends up sounding like an action packed version of Freaky Friday.

The narrator has a clear, lucid tone and is perfect for the dowdy, bookish professor. But we have to hear that "uhmm...I-I dunno about this..." voice through fight scenes, car chases, tense action sequences? Like I said, it's just silly.

Apparently lots of people love this stuff. Happy for Jack Mars. Audible, please let me return this book. I tried. I really did.

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Fun but Frustrating

Revisado: 06-22-21

Not sure what the point of a review is at this point. The book and audiobook are both hugely popular and Ben Coes has a thriving career as a thriller author.

I've tried getting through some pretty bad thrillers. This was not one of them. It's solidly constructed and wonderfully rich in logistical, financial, political and work-craft details that feel authentic.

But while it was a fun ride, it was full of frustrating bits that made me decide this is my last Ben Coes/Dewey Andreas book.

Maybe I'm simple-minded. I want to go on an adventure with one great main character. In Power Down, while we clearly have a main hero/badass, this book is a sprawling ensemble piece. Expect hundreds of pages of side stories and supporting characters and sub plots between Dewey scenes.

For instance, the dramatic "Power Down" moment the book is named after, happens on the other side of the world with characters Dewey never meets.

Another thing is that the author seems to take a bit too much relish in the torture scenes. I get it. The stakes are super high. The villains are really bad. I'm not one of those people that think torture should never be used...it's barbaric etc. But damn. The scenes here were a bit much. Sadism makes the good guys seem...just as bad. I actually felt more sympathy with the villains after a point.

Also, no one would hang a Caravaggio over the fireplace.

Another thing is every attractive character was described as having a "long, straight" nose. Dewey, the main villain, the pretty Irish FBI agent, the cute girl in the Cuban dance club. Long, straight noses. Okay.

And then the narrator. Peter Hermann has a good voice. I actually like his slow, careful pace of narration. But for many scenes we get multiple characters all with the same voice. No variation or distinguishing difference between them. Thank goodness for "said John". At least we know who just spoke.

Speaking of voices, Dewey Andreas is easy to tell from the other characters because he just snarls through clenched teeth. It got old by the third scene. Luckily so much happens between his scenes that we almost forget what he sounds like.

The biggest problem I had was the last scene with the main villain. In the calm after all the violence, action and chases, the Fortuna and Dewey have their scene together. Again, I ended up sympathizing with the villain! The author gave the mastermind terrorist a moving back story and his humanity was finally revealed, but Dewey just bulldozed through it with a completely un-nuanced 'Merica!' tone that ruined all the heroism that carried him through the book. Moments like that made the book read like it was written for uneducated teenage nitwits. There could have been so much more there.

And a bunch more stuff I can't remember now. Most people will like the book. Not for me.

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