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Gidget007

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Hi Praise for the narrators

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-06-24

High praises for narrators Bronson Pinchot and Michael David Axtell. Fantastic performances that had me seeing a small movie playing in my head. Extra Kudos for Bronson Pinshot doing such a wonderful job that for a while I completely forgot this was the same actor who played Balki in the TV show Perfect Strangers and Serge in the Beverly Hills Cop movies. His voice acting is stellar.

I'm so glad that I listened to this story rather than read it because I found it at times a bit dragging with all the back stories and the secret society going ons. Had I read this book I may have given up half way through or just taken longer to finish. But with narrators like Bronson Pinchot and Michael David Axtell creating vivid images and various characters to life with distinct character voices it made the story more palatable. As I listened to Axtell and Pinchot perform I could actually visualize all that was being described... it was like a movie in my head.

The story is not what I expected and although nothing like the movie Infinite that was inspired by the book it did have some entertainment value. I'm hoping that book 2 will be more exciting and that this book was just laying down the ground work for something more to come in the next book.

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So long Wes and Hello Taggart

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-30-24

Another good story of our favorite supernatural male couple. I like the characters and the crazy Supernatural adventures but I'm always annoyed about how DUMB and cowardly Wes can be and for that reason so many people get unnecessarily hurt. It is always AFTER people are hurt does he has a clue how powerful he is and that is just so annoying and frustrating. For instance... when someone is going to attack him he could just ghost out and avoid being hit or touched. But NOPE it never dawns on him and so he allows himself to be tossed around like a rag doll. Or the fact he is a demigod and powerful and he could stop a fight with a snap of his fingers and yet he doesn't. SMH. Others always pay the price for Wes's lack of self awareness and lack of thought. Lucky for his friends to be the voice of reason.

And yet I can't help but enjoy these books in the series because of the love that Wes shares with Hudson. Or the really wonderful family they have made out of their friends. They are like collector of strays who need a home or family or something to tether themselves to something meaningful and grounding. For all the misadventures Wes and Hudson have been through they have always come through it due to the help of their friends and that really what makes these books to me so enjoyable. Gives me sort of that Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Scooby Doo Gang feel.

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Riddle Me This

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-27-24

Another fun cozy mystery featuring Angie, her spunky grandmother, her driven mother, and of course feisty feline OctoCat.

The writer sure had me fooled. I had betted on the wrong fella of being the culprit but one of my suspicions did pan out but only one. The rest was a bit of a surprise. 👏👏👏 Brava.

As for the narrator Ann Richardson, very good performance. I look forward to listening to the next book in the series. 👍

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Exceeded My Expectation

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-20-24

Wow! I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. I mean, sure it has all the usual tropes but this author found a way to make them work for this couple's romance story. It was at times a bit *Soap Opera* like, as in there were crazy drama popping up left and right. But then again I knew it would be as so and that's sort of why I bought the audiobook. Although I didn't expect it to exceed my expectations.

I usually only listen to audiobooks during the week as I drive to and from work to help alleviate stress and anxiety of being stuck in traffic for such a long time. It helps in the morning to wake me up and in the evening wind down from the work day's stress. But this story had me so curious to see what happens next that I actually listened to it during the weekend while I was getting ready for bed and then again in the morning as I made breakfast. I listened for hours and ignoring the other 3 books I'm currently reading right now. I just couldn't get enough of Vienna Stratton and Dane Davenport.

While the chemistry between our love interest Vienna and Dane was clearly there from the start it built to so much more than they both expected and brought out positive elements in each character; each in their own way. And when I say chemistry I don't mean only the hot steamy naughty ;) sex scenes either. While those scenes were hot I found what really drew me in was their banter that sometimes had me howling with laughter. Vienna sure knew how to give some zingers and push Dane's buttons. They were very Yin & Yang in personalities but it worked. She was light and airy and he was rim rod uptight but not lacking any humanity. Both with sad and damaging childhood experiences that evidently helped to shape the characters into the adults the became in the end.

Narrator Samantha Cook did a fine job in bringing the story to life and help me to see a movie in my head as I listened with her many voices for all the characters. Yes, her voices for men was never going to be as deep as some men's voices can be in real life but if you allow yourself just to accept and adjust to her male voices you begin to be able to distinguish one male from the other and believe when Ms. Cook narrates the dialog. Brava to Ms. Cook for her good work.

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Simplistically Charming

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-25-24

Sweet and entertaining holiday novella that even the Hallmark channel would approve. Short and Sweet.

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Wow! More than I expected

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-10-23

The long and the short of it is that I found the story charming, witty, and it flowed effortlessly. The supporting characters were fun too.

Awe, Oliver and Luc hit all the right notes to tug at my heart and funny bone. I never thought a story cold be nearly as good as my favorite M/M love story as that of "Red, White, and Royal Blue" but I was wrong. This story has me adding it to my favorite list. I look forward to listening to the follow up, "Husband Material".

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False Advertising by a Friend

Overall
1 out of 5 stars
Performance
2 out of 5 stars
Story
1 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-25-23

Disappointing. An acquaintance recommended the book to me and she really sold it. Sadly it turned out to be a waste of $7.50 for me. I didn't hate it but I sure didn't like it. And it sucks that I can't exchange this book or get reimbursed because that only works if you used a Credit.
I felt the story's pacing dragged and the characters were lacking something; I wasn't drawn to either of the love interest. I listen up to 10 chapters before I just gave up and jumped several chapters ahead in hopes that the characters would sound more interesting and likeable. Nope. So I jumped to the very last two chapters and still found I didn't miss anything.

I'm not sure if was totally the characters that didn't do it for me, the storyline, or the narrator. Either way this was not my cup of tea. One person's winning story is another's unimpressed story.

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Thoroughly Disappointing

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
1 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-31-23

Ugh! Book 2 was a disappointment. Not just for some of the dialogue but because this audiobook did not continue with duo narration style with narrators Ava Erickson and Teddy Hamilton. Instead they had narrator Alexander Cendese do this second book solo. Alexander Cendese is ALL WRONG for the book. Turns out he voices the 3rd book and I'll be doing a HARD pass on that audiobook.

Also, the way he did his female voice, especially Olivia’s, was comical. It sounded like something out of the cartoon American Dad. Plus the fact he read Olivia’s dialogue as if she was a 14 year old teen having a teen drama was just offensive. Like he thought all woman talked with that sort of style. Yes, the author wrote the words but the delivery was just so “girly” and not at all how a woman would have voiced those words. I’m certain of it because narrator Ava Erickson was able to deliver the author’s words in book 1 more realistically. Heck, even narrator Teddy Hamilton did a good job of doing the female voice and dialogue when needed to. But narrator Alexander Cendese just couldn’t be bothered to put thought into the female characters.

In the future I will be avoiding all audiobooks that has Alexander Cendese as a narrator. I'm so not a fan.

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Highly Entertaining

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-26-23

I had never heard of the "Hamish Macbeth Mysteries" before but now that I have I am a fan. These stories are exactly what I like about cozy mysteries. They are like comfort food. Per usual we have some charming characters and not so charming characters and that small village feeling where everyone knows everyone and their business. Or so we think until secrets start to spill out.

These two books have me wanting more and I will certainly following up with book number 3, "Death of an Outsider". I will certainly be recommending this book to anyone who asks about a good cozy mystery.

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So Much More Than I Expected

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-11-23

This here was the audiobook I totally needed in my life. The production of this story was so on point in all aspect. From the perfect cast of narrators (aka voice actors), the sound effects, THE MUSIC ... OMG - perfection, and the story.

I didn't want the story to end. When I knew I was getting to the last chapter I was thinking "How are we here already? How can they possibly tie up the story in just one more chapter when I know there should be lots more to say?" and then it was done in such a satisfying way that I can't complain. I appreciate how they left it a bit open-ended so that if the author wanted to do a sequel there was much that can be done.

I added this audiobook to my library in July and wasn't ready to listen to it until recently; when the winter weather and torrential rain storm of Southern California brought the apropos atmosphere for such a story to be listen to as I drove to and from work. I don't know what book is next for my daily commutes from the suburbs of the San Gabriel Valley to Downtown Los Angeles but I know whatever it is I can't imagine it outshining "Impact Winter".

Bravo to Travis Beacham, the producers of this wonderful audio story that created such a wonderful vivid movie in my head, the creators of the wonderful original music that I can't get out of my head, and to the voice actors who brought these interesting characters to life.

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