Mel in Vermont

Whatever

Revisado: 02-19-25

By the numbers romcom, if that's your thing. Turns out, it's not mine. Excellent narration.

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Will Watt is magic

Revisado: 03-02-24

The best thing about this was the performance. Will Watt takes so-so material and elevates it.

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Can't stand the narrator

Revisado: 06-12-23

I'm really in a minority here, but I find Gary Furlong's narration almost unbearable. Every sentence sounds like every other sentence. He emphasizes the wrong word so often I wonder whether he even understands what he's reading. The character work amounts to: Courtenay drawls. Period. The end. I will probably finish, because however awful the narration, it's still Cat Sebastian. But it's going to be a close call.

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Absolutely outstanding

Revisado: 02-11-23

How did I not know about this author? Gripping and enthralling through 20+ hours. Fantastic narrator.

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Why two narrators?

Revisado: 12-18-22

I simply don't understand the choice to use two narrators for a book like this, half of which is dialog between the two main characters. Collins does a superb James and an ok Sukie. Aston does an ok Sukie and a dreadful James. Her James and his couldn't sound less alike. It's just jarring and weird, and took me completely out of the action. A competent narrator should be able to handle all the characters in a book, and Collins is more than competent. I just don't get it.

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Needle scratch

Revisado: 11-01-22

I love Alexis Hall, and this is him writing at the top of his game. I don't have anything to add to what others have said earlier and better. But the narrator, though. She was mostly ok. But when a writer is as literate as AH, it sure is a needle scratch when the narrator can't pronounce words like "mischievous." Repeatedly.

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What an utter delight

Revisado: 08-26-22

First, a couple of quibbles: this novella ends very abruptly, and Gawain's character isn't all that well developed. But Zephyr is such a delightful creation that nothing else matters. Joel Leslie outdoes himself, and that's really saying something, since he's one of the best voice actors out there.

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Just a lovely lovely book

Revisado: 05-31-22

Sweepingly romantic and swoony historical romance from one of the best writers out there. If you have only read his lighter books of the past few years -- Something Fabulous, Rosaline Palmer, Boyfriend Material -- the comparatively high angst level here might surprise you, but Alexis Hall can do anything. The prose was maybe a tiny bit repetitious at times. Maybe it was just a smidge preachy. (Although I suspect I only think that because I'm in the choir AJH is preaching to.) But those are quibbles. Alexis Hall's worst is better than almost anyone's best, and this was right up there at the top of his oeuvre. I loved Kay Eluvian's interpretation of the central couple, but her voices for supporting characters maybe lacked some depth and variety. But she hasn't had all that many books to herself before: she did a splendid job and I look forward to more of her work in the future.

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My first (and last) Lily Morten

Revisado: 04-24-22

Two things made me decide to buy this book: all the positive reviews, and Joel Leslie. Joel Leslie didn't let me down. For a paragraph or two, I could almost imagine he was reading a good book, like Alexis Hall's Billionaire trilogy. But then some clunky passage or illogical twist or painfully awkward attempt at humor brought me crashing back down to earth. The most charitable thing I can say is that Morten must have written this extremely quickly under some impossible deadline. It's just unbelievably sloppy. (She uses the words "wryly," "wryly" and "wry" within one page, for example. Ever heard of an editor?) Is Asa a terror no one can bear to work for? Or is he a universally beloved teddy bear? Why does he hire Jude if he hates all models so much, based on a bad experience with one? Why is he going out with Lucy when he clearly can't stand her, and why does she just seem to disappear when she's no longer needed? Why did he hire that nasty nanny if he's such a great dad? Why was a guy with no teeth and wearing pajamas sitting in his late-model SUV in the VIP chauffeur queue? Why is it that neither Jude nor Asa ever seems to do any actual work? Every single "plot point" exists only to create phony conflict. It's just a mess. Give it a miss.

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Sweet story, masterfully performed

Revisado: 03-23-22

I gave this five stars in every category, but if I'd read it with my eyes, it might have been four. Joel Leslie is just so good at bringing the characters to life, all while switching accents every sentence or two. Nobody does it better.

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