ReadingMad100

Ok

Revisado: 08-17-20

This is the last book in the Corsairs series of 4. It’s a stand-alone, but includes characters from all four books. If you haven’t read the others, I do recommend them.

There’s a lot to like in this story such as the camaraderie of the characters from all four books, and there’s an opening left for a potential spin-off series. Also, narrators Hollie Jackson and Mason Lloyd do a first-class job bringing the characters to life.

The reason for my 2 stars is that I was unhappy about a decision regarding where this couple should live. Also, in this story, some details are told to us instead of shown. For example, as the book opens, the protagonists already have feelings for each other, having chatted and flirted over the airwaves off page. All the lead up to this connection is something I wish I’d experienced along with them, even if in flashbacks. On the other hand, the sex is shown in detail. I’m the type who wants to be shown the lead up to the characters falling in love. That way, the sex feels meaningful to me. Ruby Dixon is really good at writing the build-up when she does it. I missed it here.

This was an overall enjoyable set of 4 stories, but my personal favourites were stories 2 and 3.

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A beautiful end to a series.

Revisado: 08-01-20

This is the third instalment in a series of 3 standalone romances – one for each of the three friends running their law practice together. You don’t need to read the others in the series to enjoy this one, but I recommend that you do because each story is lovely.

My least favourite trope in romance is second chance romance. But in the hands of Kate Meader THEN CAME YOU was beautiful. And hero Grant lived up to the potential and more that had been hinted at in books 1 and 2 where he played a compelling secondary character.

I enjoyed the whole story. If I were to criticise at all, it would be that I wasn’t convinced by the reason for the original break-up. And yet, the loving atmosphere in the overall book made it easy for me to overlook that niggle.

Grant is from the South but I couldn’t tell when Jason Clarke narrated. I was reminded when Pippa Grant narrated. Aside from this, the narrating team was excellent as usual.

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2.5 stars. Simple and sweet.

Revisado: 08-01-20

Third in a series but a stand-alone. My first ever by this author. Easy to follow, even without reading the first 2 novels.

Simple, sweet story.

On the one hand I liked that we were told about the abuse Savannah suffered at the hands of her mother and villainous manager, and were rarely shown any of that except for the opening scene involving a knife. On the other hand, some detail was glossed over, and being shown would have given the highs and lows of the story more impact.

Narrators: JP Mordrake = wonderful; Rita Fleur = ok.

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Disappointed.

Revisado: 07-27-20

I did not enjoy this audiobook. I almost stopped listening many times, continuing only because I have enjoyed many Tara Sue Me novels in the past. But I remained disappointed. The writing felt rushed, or as if someone elso wrote FOK. There was a lot of TELL not SHOW, and the build-up to this couple becoming intimate was just not there for me. The hero sounded very entitled and immature and I could not like him. When he called the heroine “Little Girl” in their erotic banter it sounded wrong as acted out by this narrator (I feel awful saying so but it’s true). I feel she was the wrong narrating choice. My advice: listen to the audio sample and decide for yourself. Also, if you pop over to Amazon, the Kindle sample is longer than the Audible sample and you can get a better taste for the writing (I failed to do that). You get a good idea of the hero's character in the sample, and if you like him there, you may love the book.

Also, the male models on the present covers of both the Audible version and the Kindle (they are different covers), are not indicative of the hero's age, just saying. This is a significant "age gap" novel, which I don't usually mind, but I like to know in advance. Usually the cover gives the first clue.

For compelling Tara Sue Me novels in the BDSM genre, I suggest the Audible versions of THE EXPOSURE, SEDUCED BY FIRE, THE FLIRTATION, THE SUBMISSIVE (book 1); and on Kindle I suggest THE MASTER (which in my opinion is better on Kindle rather than Audible). I am still working on reading more of Ms. Sue Me’s past novels because there is really good talent in this author. I just didn't personally like THIS book.

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Promising start.

Revisado: 07-26-20

I loved the first hour of this 3 hour 37min book. I really enjoyed the heroine’s youthful exuberance toward her job, her naïvete regarding her effect on men, and her “all business” relationship with the hero while being completely oblivious to his attraction to her. I could forgive the ridiculous hours she bothered him because she was a refreshing heroine. I thought it would be fun to watch her transform as the relationship moved onto a new stage – romantic and intimate. Unfortunately, after the promising start, the story became very sex-focused and I lost my reading pleasure. Sex is fine, but it became too much for me, I’m sad to say. I prefer more story. Or at least, for the sex scenes to move the story along. But that’s just me.

I loved the narration of Pippa Jayne and Joe Arden who are two of my favourites. They were wonderful here as usual.

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Pure class.

Revisado: 07-26-20

This is my second Barbara Bretton novel. It’s the second in a series but a standalone.

I loved everything about this story. It’s crafted with the perfect recipe: enemies to lovers tastefully described, a lovely marriage of convenience, and a blend of other romance elements all written with class. We start with likeable main characters and a cast of great supports plus splashes of humour. The scenes in the vault are loving and tastefully described, and the road to love from there with its stops and starts is understandable and enjoyable.

Narrator, Christa G Lewis, is one of my favourites I usually seek out under another name. She performed beautifully (as usual). The entire story together with the narration was sweet and a delight.

Highly recommended.

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Lighthearted.

Revisado: 07-15-20

This is book 5 in the ANIMAL MAGNETISM series of standalone novels connected to an Idaho veterinary practice. This is my first ever novel by this author and I think this a series you can read in any order and you won’t be lost.

I loved the protagonists who were wholly likeable and had a great chemistry and banter I enjoyed. Their siblings were fun too and provided lighthearted entertainment as well as serious moments. The only downside for me was that both main characters were stubborn and took too long to wake up to themselves for my liking. The wait was a little agony.

The community of secondary characters, some of whom appear as primary characters in other novels of the series, are easy to keep track of because the writer is skilled at supplying the reader information without force-feeding. So this novel was a very enjoyable experience from the perspective of getting to know and love a whole community.

Karen White did a great job as the sole narrator performing all the characters plus animal sounds. I was impressed by her performance.

I enjoyed this story a lot. I am checking out another book in this series as soon as possible.

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2.5 stars. I needed more.

Revisado: 07-13-20

Although the narrating team of Edward Thomas (swoon) and Felicity Hart were great, this story did not captivate me in the way the 5 star reviews suggested it would. The heroine’s ex and his family felt one dimensional; and the heroine introduced the hero, her boss, to the reader as her “f**ck buddy” of five years. So we are not shown the first meet and the development of their relationship (although we are told a little). The writing relied on telling the reader that the couple are in love as the story began. Other elements of the story were too neat and tidy for me also.

The prologue was a good start, but some time spent showing the heroine’s struggles to survive the loss of her relationship with her ex, and some time spent showing us the beginnings of the new relationship which was to be the long-lasting one with the hero, would have elevated the story. But that’s just me. Don’t let my review put you off reading. I’m a hardened, demanding romance reader.

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Hidden depths

Revisado: 07-13-20

ILLEGALLY YOURS is the second of 3 standalone romances in the LAWS OF ATTRACTION SERIES - one book for each of the three friends running their law practice together.

Kate Meader has earned a soft spot in my heart for yanking on it very hard with her novels. The background story of Trinity when it is eventually revealed is so heartbreaking my heart squeezed for her, and I admired her for her strength all the more. Her reward is Lucas Wright, and that’s a beautiful thing. The first impressions of him as a rude and brash Brit are a ruse. He has depth and inner beauty I found heart-warming. Their romance is beautifully told, even though I had some doubts at first because of Lucas’s outlandish behaviour during their first meeting.

I found the solution for overcoming a legal/ethical conflict of interest in this story to be questionable, but whether it’s legitimate or artistic licence, it effectively played into the plot adding a poignancy that wasn’t obvious at first.

I’m glad I’ve got Kate Meader novels on my radar, I’m really enjoying them.

Here we have a trifecta winner: one author of an already good story supported by two talented narrators. Jason Clarke performed with what sounded to me like a genuine British accent. I loved it. Pippa Grant too, was flawless, as usual. I often search her name for my next listen.

Recommended, especially on Audible for the beautiful narration.

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A beautiful adventure.

Revisado: 07-09-20

What a delightful historical young adult novel. This was an excellent adventure from start to finish. Set in the 1700s I was transported in time and place.

This novel is beautiful in is character development; and the adventure is scary at times but thrilling always; the writing is quote-worthy and it’s obvious that the historical era within which the story is set is thoroughly researched.

The narrator, Christian Coulson, is excellent in any situation, narrating as a man or woman, villain or friend, main or secondary character. His skill made me sympathise and love the trio of adventurers and feel their camaraderie and love and longing. I hoped for a happy ending, and I got a satisfying one. Just wonderful.

Highly recommended.

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