★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) I don’t know why I’m enjoying JG’s Contemporary Romances more on audio than I did when I read their dead tree versions, but I am. I’m one of those people who was vastly disappointed when she stopped writing Historical Romances. However, I ♥loved♥ this one; it held my attention though-out. Nicely narrated by Joyce Bean.
Carpe Librum
★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) I don’t know why I’m enjoying JG’s Contemporary Romances more on audio than I did when I read their dead tree versions, but I am. I’m one of those people who was vastly disappointed when she stopped writing Historical Romances. However, I ♥loved♥ this one; it held my attention though-out. Nicely narrated by Joyce Bean.
1
★★★★★ Whoa. I’d heard this book was very good, but it surpassed even my expectations. There is so much more here than meets the eye. The characters are nothing out of the ordinary – at first. But as I turned the pages they developed a depth and uniqueness that is not often found in this type of publication. Yes, I’ve heard the set-up before; nevertheless, Ms. Dolan managed to make these characters have their own distinct personalities and experience individual growth after spending time with one another. Truly a story of the power of unconditional love. I cried in two places and gobbled the book down whole last night in one sitting.
Definitely a book for my keeper shelf. I’ll be looking for more by this “new-2-me” author.
★★★½☆ This one was pretty good. It is the first time I've read this author and the story was well done in the short amount of time this type of publication allows. I'm really tempted to give it four stars...
★★★½☆ This one was pretty good. It is the first time I've read this author and the story was well done in the short amount of time this type of publication allows. I'm really tempted to give it four stars...
★★★★½ The audiobook is sooooooo well narrated.
★★★½☆
★★★★☆ I enjoyed this one. It took awhile to get going, but it had a nice story and characters to it. I love a good mail-order bride tale.
Vintage rare 1930s burgundy plume Rag Time swing dancing…
★★★★☆ (This is a review of the audiobook.) I’ve never heard Kasha Kensington narrate before and she does a nice job. Good differentiation of voices, good pacing, good enunciation. Unfortunately, I didn’t like the heroine a whole lot. Still, Ms. Kensington does a good job on all the highs and lows of this chick’s various tones and moods.
I haven’t read anything by this author before, either. However, I’ll try her again. The hero, Gabe, is simply to die for. The heroine, Elle, was supposed to be shy and sweet; nevertheless, she was pretty bitchy to him. I did like her previous experience setting her up for her reactions, but it came on too strong at the beginning and some of it grated on my nerves later. Still, some of the storeline was fun. And the hero really does save the day. **sigh**
Vintage rare 1930s burgundy plume Rag Time swing dancing…★★★★☆ (This is a review of the audiobook.) I’ve never heard Kasha Kensington narrate before and she does a nice job. Good differentiation of voices, good pacing, good enunciation. Unfortunately, I didn’t like the heroine a whole lot. Still, Ms. Kensington does a good job on all the highs and lows of this chick’s various tones and moods.
I haven’t read anything by this author before, either. However, I’ll try her again. The hero, Gabe, is simply to die for. The heroine, Elle, was supposed to be shy and sweet; nevertheless, she was pretty bitchy to him. I did like her previous experience setting her up for her reactions, but it came on too strong at the beginning and some of it grated on my nerves later. Still, some of the storeline was fun. And the hero really does save the day. **sigh**
★★★★½ Whoa.
★★★☆☆ Started out pretty good and went down hill fast. I don't understand why some heroine have to get all b!tchy and snippy towards a hero - who they are attracted to - when he let's them know he is attracted to them, too.
★★★½☆
I've read all the Harry Potter books twice, some three times. I remember years ago when I mailed the first three books to my new nephew, Quinton. My brother-in-law, Terry, and his wife, Libby, had decided to raise Q, her grandson. Libby said the books were a little “old” for him and would have to be read aloud; but if I really wanted to send them, I could go ahead. Unfortunately, my sister-in-law, Libby, got a terrible flu about the time the books arrived on their doorstep.
To appreciate the rest of the story, you need to realize my brother-in-law’s favorite hero is “The Duke.” As in John Wayne. Terry is nothing, if he’s not a man’s man, and when we play the “lines from a movie” car-riding-game, all his are from JW’s movies.
Due to Lib’s infirmity, Terry decided to take on the duty of nightly story time, and graciously agreed to read this first book until Libby got well enough to take on this “woman’s” responsibility. After almost a week, Libby emerged from her sick bed and, when bedtime came, asked Q where they were in the story. My big, strong, manly brother-in-law said, “Ah…that’s alright. I've got this one.” And he proceeded to read all the rest of the books in the series too! My sister-in-law said it came as no surprise to her when the books became a nationally best-selling phenomena; she knew something was up way before then.
Update Re-read via audio while traveling the week of February 21 – 23, 2012: I loved Jim Dale’s narration of this delightful book and was happy I finally got to listen to his rendition. His inflections and tones are pitch-perfect, elevating an already engaging book that is a wonderful listen for any age.
"California Poppy Field," by Granville Redmond circa 1926.
(This is a review of the audiobook.)
Story = ★★★☆☆
Narrator’s Performance = ★★★★☆
Overall = ★★★½☆
I enjoyed [a:Therese Plummer|2964904|Therese Plummer|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1266002646p2/2964904.jpg]’s narration of the first in [a:Robyn Carr|107767|Robyn Carr|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1238297656p2/107767.jpg]’s Grace Valley Trilogy. She differentiates the characters nicely, her pacing is good, and you can tell she has some fun in spots with her tone and inflection.
Nevertheless, this book is billed as a “romance” and it doesn’t quite live up to that claim. I’m not talking about the “one foot on the floor” love scenes. (That didn’t disappoint me at all.) I mean the amount of time devoted to the romance between the heroine and hero. This is June Hudson’s story; her daily life and dedication to Grace Valley and its inhabitants; the sound of her “ticking biological clock” in the background. The hero seemed to be almost a footnote. While I liked their “meet cute” and the idea of how to handle their budding romance, considering his occupation, I was less than impressed with the amount of time they spent together.
Miss Carr is great at sucking me into her story-lines with her variety of believable characters - both good and bad - and sub-plots within a small community. However, these didn’t pull me in like the Virgin River books have done. While Miss Carr seems to focus on one main issue in her books, here there was a little too much domestic violence and poverty for me. Though I don’t expect my protagonist to be perfect, I didn’t feel like the good doctor, nor the sheriff, showed the kind of judgement I expected of them.
One thing that would bring me back for more would be the Angel Pass story-line.
"California Poppy Field," by Granville Redmond circa 1926.(This is a review of the audiobook.)
Story = ★★★☆☆
Narrator’s Performance = ★★★★☆
Overall = ★★★½☆
I enjoyed [a:Therese Plummer|2964904|Therese Plummer|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1266002646p2/2964904.jpg]’s narration of the first in [a:Robyn Carr|107767|Robyn Carr|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1238297656p2/107767.jpg]’s Grace Valley Trilogy. She differentiates the characters nicely, her pacing is good, and you can tell she has some fun in spots with her tone and inflection.
Nevertheless, this book is billed as a “romance” and it doesn’t quite live up to that claim. I’m not talking about the “one foot on the floor” love scenes. (That didn’t disappoint me at all.) I mean the amount of time devoted to the romance between the heroine and hero. This is June Hudson’s story; her daily life and dedication to Grace Valley and its inhabitants; the sound of her “ticking biological clock” in the background. The hero seemed to be almost a footnote. While I liked their “meet cute” and the idea of how to handle their budding romance, considering his occupation, I was less than impressed with the amount of time they spent together.
Miss Carr is great at sucking me into her story-lines with her variety of believable characters - both good and bad - and sub-plots within a small community. However, these didn’t pull me in like the Virgin River books have done. While Miss Carr seems to focus on one main issue in her books, here there was a little too much domestic violence and poverty for me. Though I don’t expect my protagonist to be perfect, I didn’t feel like the good doctor, nor the sheriff, showed the kind of judgement I expected of them.
One thing that would bring me back for more would be the Angel Pass story-line.
Update July 29, 2013I got tired of trying to find an alliterated “LL” title or author for a “double decker” challenge; I just fell back on a re-read of a wonderful book. Just my cuppa tea. I can’t believe it’s been over a year since I listened it the first time!
Original read/review June 1-2, 2013
Alex O'Loughlin as Ty
★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Young, old, male, female, Suehyla El Attar does a great job delivering the variety of voices in the fourth installation of this series. She also balances Ms. Shalvis’ unique ability to be light and fluffy and still deal with heavy topics.
I had to return to Lucky Harbor for more of these characters, if only to find out the identity of “Mysterious Cute Guy” – and with whom he connects. In fact, I got it as soon as it became available on audible.com
Turns out the MCG is Ty Garrison, Navy Seal. It is the local nurse’s luck to assist him when a freak storm arises and he is injured. And Mallory Quinn, looking to leave her comfort zone behind her for a night, is lucky. Yum.
Ty, coming in from a swim.
Too bad he can’t remember making that date with her for the hospital auction.
Once Ty acts on his attraction to Mallory, he really takes care of her needs, wherever and whenever they happen to arise. As a nurse myself, I appreciate a man who knows how to take care of a woman who gives of herself all day.
A perfect Summer (or is it late Spring?) listen. Definitely a GoodRead.
[bc:Simply Irresistible|7863423|Simply Irresistible (Lucky Harbor, #1)|Jill Shalvis|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1323268405s/7863423.jpg|11018887] [bc:The Sweetest Thing|9275067|The Sweetest Thing (Lucky Harbor, #2)|Jill Shalvis|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1323268445s/9275067.jpg|14156894] [bc:Small Town Christmas|12171127|Small Town Christmas (Includes Lucky Harbor, #2.5)|Jill Shalvis|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1316045045s/12171127.jpg|17142518] [bc:Head Over Heels|10599302|Head Over Heels (Lucky Harbor, #3)|Jill Shalvis|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1302052809s/10599302.jpg|15506975] [bc:Lucky in Love|13057132|Lucky in Love (Lucky Harbor, #4)|Jill Shalvis|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1323268720s/13057132.jpg|18222280] [bc:At Last|13076969|At Last (Lucky Harbor, #5)|Jill Shalvis|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1323689314s/13076969.jpg|18243914] [bc:Forever and a Day|13111756|Forever and a Day (Lucky Harbor, #6)|Jill Shalvis|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1324661749s/13111756.jpg|18285318] [bc:Heating Up the Kitchen: Recipes with Love from Lucky Harbor|10636434|Heating Up the Kitchen Recipes with Love from Lucky Harbor|Jill Shalvis|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1301027709s/10636434.jpg|15545101]
Currently reading
Prophecy: Child of Earth
The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicle, #1)
Vegan Eats World: 300 International Recipes for Savoring the Planet
