BR

Always great KJ Charles - narration at wrong speed

Revisado: 05-16-23

KJCharles is an automatic listen for me and she doesn’t disappoint here. I always love that her characters are so fleshed out with flaws and difficult family dynamics. Not just handsome men but real people making an effort to learn to communicate, let go of past hurts and help each other.

As many have commented the narration has strange pauses and is stilted. I accidentally changed the speed to 1.25-1.5 and it was totally normal. I think there was a glitch and they overlay the half speed version instead of normal speed. But if you speed it up, the narrator does a great job with character voices and a tricky regional accent. I started the book frustrated by narrator but once I sped it up it was really well done.
Try the speed up trick and enjoy another fantastic K J Charles book.

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A new KJ Charles audiobook to savor

Revisado: 09-17-18

I adore KJ Charles and have read all of her works. Favorites include The Charm of Magpies series, Think of England and now this, Spectred Isle. Even though I have read them as ebooks, it is always amazing to me how much is enhanced with the audio version. The narration took a good story and detailed characters to the next level. I don't like recapping the plot, but the highlights include MCs that have strengths, flaws and tragic pasts. The setting in post WW I England has the upheaval of the Great War as part of a very well done bit of world building that includes magic and mysteries. The m/m romance is strong, but not the insipid instant love that plagues so many m/m stories. The narrator does a good job with the main characters, particularly Randolph as the snarky aristocrat. One negative is that his women voices weren't great. But that is a minor quibble as there are very few women in the book. He does pull of the sex scenes well, which is where most narrators fail so that is a big plus. I did not know they were making this as an audiobook so was absolutely delighted to find it. It lived up to my expectations and then some. Definitely recommended.

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KJ Charles does it again!

Revisado: 11-30-17

Shorter than her other books, Wanted, a Gentleman still hits all of KJ Charles strengths. An opposites attract romance, a strong storyline and some thoughtful emotional development of characters come together in her inimitable style. The narrator has good flow and each character's voice is distinct. What always stands out in her books is that the main characters are not "perfect" neither physically or as people. There are flaws, average looks and complex personal histories that make the attraction and emotional connections forged between characters deeply satisfying. If you like a little depth to your m/m romances, you will like this author.

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Easy listen with a great narrator

Revisado: 11-25-17

Greg Tremblay is one of my favorite narrators and I could listen to him read almost anything. Luckily, this is a good story combined with good narration. The sequel to Murder and Mayhem shows detective Dante and reformed burglar Rook in the first stages of a real relationship with real issues and fears following them. Also following them is a violent criminal who is focused on Rook. The story suffers a little from repetitiousness of the police characters going over possible motives but adding in more depth through side characters Camden and Burns make up for it. Archie remains a cantankerous delight. All in all an easy listening experience showcasing the great partnership between a Tremblay and author Rhys Ford.

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Series ends on a high note

Revisado: 11-25-17

The final installment of the Sins of the City gives interesting characters, a nice narration and resolution of the mystery in KJ Charles' inimitable style. There is instant attraction between trapeze artist Pen and private investigator Mark that shows how gender fluidity can be beautiful. Pen struggles with being misunderstood and opens up to Mark's compassionate understanding. However, an unwanted title forces Pen to play the gentleman and violence follows in his wake. The mystery begun in the first book has a satisfying conclusion. You also get to catch up with Clem, Rowley, Nathaniel and Justin from the first two books of the series which is fun. The whole series is narrated by Matthew Lloyd Davis who does a fine job in character voice and development. I am beyond thrilled KJ Charles is getting turned into audibles and hope more of her books get the attention they deserve.

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KJ Charles is magic

Revisado: 11-24-17

A Gothic supernatural romance is not my usual cup of tea. But I have never been disappointed in KJ Charles so I gave it a try. And was well rewarded with a great narrator telling creepy supernatural stories set in pre-WWI England. Main character Robert Caldwell has written countless published stories of the great ghost hunter Simon Feximal, now he shares stories to his editor that give the intimate background of the two men as long time partners. Robert's compassionate (and passionate) love for a difficult man makes this more than the average m/m romance. And Simon as a man hardened by the evil he fights, is a hidden true romantic adding more emotion than expected. Edwardian Britain is well described adding a nice atmosphere to the proceedings. Gary Furlong is a narrator I haven't heard before and will now keep an eye out for because of his great performance. My dearest hope is that he will be tapped as narrator for Spectred Isle as it is set in the same supernatural world. Quite frankly I look forward to anything audible puts out for KJ Charles if it continues to be of this quality.

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an unexpected delight!

Revisado: 11-11-17

I found out this favorite KJ Charles book came out as an audiobook by happy surprise. Any offering by KJ Charles by Audible is a delight, but this delivers on great narration, good characters and strong chemistry. The main character Archie is a wounded war hero trying to determine if his accident was caused by treachery and finds an unlikely ally in the bohemian Danielle. Set against a very British house party, the two discover dark secrets and a strong attraction. I found Archie's quintessential British chap to have a compelling storyline in self discovery as he slowly adapts to an understanding of himself as attracted to men. The period prejudices are a little startling to hear but are important to the plot so not there just for shock value. Danielle acts as a quicksilver foil to Archie's self realization, and the sex scenes show how opposites can fit together in the end. All this is managed with a deft touch by Tom Carter as the narrator. Am hopeful it is the start of a series and even more hopeful that other books by Charles, particularly the Charm of Magpies series, will also get audible versions.

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For Rhys Ford and Greg Tremblay fans

Revisado: 08-09-17

Rhys Ford mixes magic, police, San Francisco, crime families and m/m romance in a fast paced book. Detective Roku gets a new partner and a bizarre new mystery full of magical creatures on the same day. The investigation takes them into the dark corners of Chinatown with complications added by Roku's crime lord grandfather. The two detectives bond slowly and the romance is pretty low key but satisfying. Roku has a lot of charm and a lot of personal baggage. Rhys Ford is always a fun read and her partnership with narrator Greg Tremblay continues to produce great audiobooks. He is a favorite of mine and he does his usual stellar narration with unique voices, great accents and an emphatic (but not overdone) reading. All and all another win for Rhys Ford and Greg Tremblay.

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K. J. Charles does it again

Revisado: 08-03-17

K.J. Charles is an auto buy for me ever since the Magpie series. That remains the favorite, but I definitely enjoyed the second installment of the Sins of the Cities series. While the first book in the series had a gentleness between the two main characters, in this book there is friction and sparks. Following an enemies to lovers storyline, the cynical psychic Justin rubs the crusading journalist Nathaniel the wrong way. But that doesn't stop them from wanting to rub each in other ways (sorry, easy joke). The initial attraction grows to something more when danger follows them in the fog polluted streets of Victorian London. One of my favorite things about K. J. Charles is that her characters are not without flaws and issues. Justin is, to me, the more interesting as someone who will do whatever he can to keep his precarious social position as his protection from poverty and the streets. Nathaniel struggles to put aside his self righteousness but does so once he sees Justin's reality is less privileged than his own. The sex scenes work well as does the eventual solid partnership they form together. The narrator does his usual great job of giving unique voices to each character. In a nutshell, a fun listen that is well worth a credit. The biggest problem I have is the wait until the final book coming out in October.

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Narrator is an all time favorite

Revisado: 06-23-17

The story is so short it is really more of a premise, but it is still a delightful listen. We get more of our favorite apprentice wizard constable and learn of the rivalries amongst librarians. But really, for me, it is all about Kobna Holbrook-Smith's beautiful voice and narration style. The story was too short for him to show off all the accents he pulls off effortlessly so do take a listen to some of the other Peter Grant audiobooks. Start with the first 'Midnight Riot' and Kobna will guide you into this well done world of magic mixing with modern London policing and topped with the interesting Peter Grant with his quick wits and dry humor. I can't wait for more.

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