csofthemidwest

Worth the Listen

Revisado: 03-08-25

I got this book recommendation from the IHS favorite books list. It gets kind of wordy at times; telling instead of showing. But this is a really nice love story, and kind of different. The MCs have a life outside of persuing each other. They start relationships that for various reasons don't work out. Most of the book is about their personal and professional life, and the slow burn doesn't start until way past mid-way when they slowly - especially Helen - become aware that there are strong feelings for each other.
I have always enjoyed Angela Dawe, and emotionally she took this to a whole other level. She took great care through voice modulation with the tender moments, and her comedic timing was fantastic. I am not one to respond to what I read other than silently, but several times I found myself laughing out loud at characterizations because of her performance. I don't think I would have responded in that manner had I been reading, so well done Ms Dawe!
This is a well-written, nicely edited book. This is the first book I've read from this author, and I will be checking out her other offerings. Angela Dawe really shows of her skills.

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Love This!

Revisado: 02-22-25

I've read the original fanfic and the published book "Two Is A Pattern". I am so glad Anastasia Watley got the call for this recording. (She also recorded Emily Waters first book "Honey in the Marrow".) She offers an emotional, nuanced reading that is captivating. The story itself is not your run-of-the-mill romance. It's actually a romance wrapped in a drama. Anyway, this is a 5 star across the board.

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Such a Soft, Sweet Love Story

Revisado: 01-25-24

This is a lovely, lovely romance between two mature women that developes over many months. It's not exactly a slow burn; more like a wise burn. These women have more water under the bridge than just a high school crush gone bad or a cheating lover. They are both professional women who have experienced ups and downs in their work lives ... and their romances (hetero). IDK, this romance is so sweet and soft....and eventually quite hot...it's one of those books that will stick with me for a while.

I have to give a shout out to Anastasia Watley. In the audio version. she offers a perceptive, gentle, nuanced reading that enhances the already remarkable prose of Ms Waters. Her performance leaves you with the feeling that she understands what the MCs are going through, and she wants to respect their challenges. Do yourself a favor and listen. You'll not only fall in love with the characters, you'll also start searching out other readings by Ms Watley.

Just lovely.

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A Wonderful Listen

Revisado: 11-26-23

Let me start with the wonderful Angela Dawe. She is a master (mistress?) of dialects, and this narration is another case in point. Like many of Lee Winter's novels, there is a mix bag of nationalities that are only vaguely heard in the author's text. Ms Dawe articulates soft London, posh English, Aussie, French, neutral American, and even a lilting New England American (MC Summer's mother) uncanniily reminiscent of Kate Mulgrew. Just lovely. None of it is over the top, and really adds to an understanding of the emotions of the characters.
Famed British actress Elizabeth Thorton and American ingenue Summer Hayes find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other. Both MCs are in the closet, and none too happy about their attraction. LW never uses made up plot devises to keep them apart...there's enough going on in their lives to make the reticence believable and understandable. The only angst-bait is the "evil" Grace, and even she has her reasons, and is eventually properly dealt with by Elizabeth. Ther are lots of emotional ah-hah moments that all make sense.
This is a really fun listen!!!

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Worth the Time to Listen

Revisado: 10-11-23

I tried reading this book, and gave up after the first few chapters. Brooke, one of the MC's, was way too unappealing in her negativity... whether directed at Taylor, the other MC, or herself. I had a credit, and I do love Anastasia Walkey, so I purchased the audio book. I am so glad I did. The unreasonable obstinance, negativity, and illogic Brooke exibited toward Taylor in the prose became far more nuanced in Ms Watley's narration. There are still many flaws in the writing. Haley Cass has a penchant for going off on descriptive tangents that have nothing to do with the story. (Hearing about the picture on an iphone face is one thing; learning where and why it was taken, when it has nothing to do with the story, was just ridiculous.) And that happens often in this book. The odd thing about an audio book is that you can't skip pages lol. Fortunately, Anastasia Watney's warm vocalization made those tangents bearable.
One plot flaw that couldn't be overcome through narration was the almost obsessive denial Brooke had of her love for Taylor, and accepting Taylor's very obvious love for her. Brooke's shame and scars over her difficult upbringing aren't exposed until almost the very end. That explaination allowed more sympathy for Brooke's choices, but by that time, I had rolled my eyes so many times over her denials and retreats that it was hard to come back.

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Such a Beautiful Story

Revisado: 07-28-23

Much has been made about this being a dated lezfic romance. If I wanted to find negatives in this story, there are more flaws than the fact that it was written in 1983, and takes place in the late '70's. This is such a good romance, I can't do anything but glow over it. It is so refreshing to find two mature, professional women who have been in prior relationships (hetero), and find themselves completely gob-smacked attracked to one another. How their romance progresses is lovely, intelligent, and very sensual. And yeah, it's at lightening speed, but hey, this is fiction. The writing here is so good. This was the first book I read by by Katherine V Forrest. I've read several since, but reread this book once a year. Ms Forrest's intelligence, dry wit, and character development never leave the reader wanting.
I was surprised and delighted to come across the audio version, which I believe was recorded in 2022. I've never come across the narrator Jill Smith, but will start looking for other of her audio book performances. She does a terrific job of vocally identifying the personalities to the many characters as I "heard" them when I first read the book.

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Wonderful EJ Noyes Novel with a Mediocre Narration

Revisado: 07-13-23

I had read the first three book in this series, but I had a credit, so desided to do the audio for If I Don't Ask. Wish I hadn't. The story is wonderful, and re examines many of the events of the first book of this series - Ask, Tell - from Rebecca perspective. It really brings Rebecca Keane and Sabine Fleischer's world into clearer focus. Well done, EJ Noyes! I will probably buy the kindle version to read and get back to my happy place with this series.
I honestly don't know what Abby Craden was thinking with her narration. There's no nice way to say this. She narrates Sabine as though she's taking a crap. (I wanted to hand Sabine a roll of toilet paper everytime she opened her mouth.) I went back and listened to Abby's character narration of Sabine from the audio sample of Ask,Tell. It's deep and slightly sensual, lovely, nothing like what you will hear in this iteration. And poor Mitch, Sabine's best friend. When I read the first three books, I could "hear" Mitch's southern accent as the rich, smooth Texan he is meant to be. Again, well done, EJ. Here, he sounds like he came from the back woods of rural Virginia. Someone needs to remind Ms Craden that not all southern accents are the same (anymore than a NJ accent sounds like Boston.) And that unfortunate hitch she utilizes at the end of every sentence once again makes its presence known.
I don't mean to be harsh - Abby Craden superbly narrated my all-time favorite audio book - Alone - also written by EJ Noyes. (Fun side note: Dr Soldano makes a brief appearance; maybe Olivia has a cousin), It's just that her narrations are beginning to run together, and are often times falling flat. Perhaps a more equitable mix of narrators would not only help the listener, but the narrator as well.

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Ugh!

Revisado: 07-13-23

I have never read an R Alexander story, and I think this would have been almost enjoyabe had I been reading. Unfortunately, the narrator Lori Prince is almost impossible to listen to. Her screeching at times made me jump, and I was constantly adjusting the volume to make listening possible.
The characters all hail from Louisiana. Instead of offering them the beautiful southern drawl found in that part of the country, she has them screech. Everyone of the characters screech. It's awful.
Many of the comments focus on the "laugh-outloud" humor. Where? Unless of course, you find toilet and vomit stories humorous, and bullying and being beaten up hysterical.
Consider yourself warned. I won't go near this author or narrator again.

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So Good!

Revisado: 05-28-23

This isn’t a romance novel as typically experienced. It’s actually a spy thriller that also contains a really compelling and beautiful love story. I wonder if anyone else drew a comparison between this EJ Noyes offering and her wonderful novel “Alone”? Like “Alone”, at least 90% of this story takes place solely between the two main characters, Lexie and Sophia. Like “Alone”, the underlying cause of conflict between the two MCs are legitimate issues surrounding lies of omission and trust. There are several other comparable themes, but I really want to talk about the spy thriller aspect of this novel. EJ does a tremendous job in making the mundane details of espionage, believable and relatable. This was a really enjoyable audiobook. Abby Craden, of course was her usual wonderful self. I was pleased to note that she has almost lost the her unfortunate affectation of ending a sentence with a hitch in her voice. It made this audio version more pleasurable to hear.

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Easy Listening - Confusing Story

Revisado: 03-12-23

Georgia Beers is a talented and prolific writer of this genre. It’s difficult to be disappointed with anything she writes. Having said that, this was an odd representation of a really good story and interesting characters. Andrea and Kendall have had a contentious relationship since high school. But they meet up again in a mutually beneficial, professional, setting, and sparks fly. The issue for me was that the MC’s only acknowledge their wonderfully sensual, physical attraction to each other. They acknowledge the growing friendship and emotional attachment that they feel toward each other with their friends and family, but not with each other. Spoiler alert here: When Andrea is forced to make a decision to accept a job she’s worked her entire career for, but which is a thousand miles away, or to stay in her small town, she is hesitant. Kendall senses that the hesitancy has to with her, and asks her mother for advice. Her mother wisely tells Kendall to think about what she herself would want to hear, and then use that as a way forward with Andrea. In fiction, it’s all about the writers choices. I try never to second-guess those choices. But what Kendall says to Andrea not only surprises Andrea, it surprised me as well. THAT is what Kendall would want to hear from a woman she supposedly loves??? There is of course a HEA. Weirdly both major decisions, the one to end the relationship with Andrea, and the grand gesture that reunites them, rest with Kendall. Andrea is a rather passive bystander in these major relationship decisions. None of this seemed realistic to the relationship as it was presented, or the characters as they were drawn, which is why I’m giving the story three stars. The narrator, Abby Craden is once again terrific!

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