JKI

Very good 4.5 stars

Reviewed: 02-02-23

Very well written and preformed - Rob Lowe narrates.

As someone who grew-up on many of his 80s movies (I was one of the people that watched The Outsiders -years later - in fury when book scenes were missing) and thought he was a very pretty boy, it was nice to hear a story in the voice of the thoughtful man he became. It was good to listen to this after listening to Andrew McCarthy's book (Brat). It sort of gives the other perspective of some events in the 80s. While similar stories (young men that found fame early during a decade of excess), they are two drastically different personalities. Both of them are fantastic writers - Lowe is the better narrator, though. Interesting stories from driven people.
This story is told with class and a great deal more respect than perhaps is even warranted for some people in the book. I liked the "and so it goes" vibe. I've seen some reviews saying he sounds self-centered... Of course. It's an autobiography, a majority of which is him in his teens and 20s. He admits to his issues generally, even if at the point of the story he is in, his younger self could not. Enjoyable listen.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Some truly great moments -

Reviewed: 02-01-23

There are two (radically different yet awesome) chapters in this that really stuck out.
1. His mom and 9/11. This chapter was touching and sad. It brought back a bit of that day and its horror.
2. Him crapping a stupid amount despite being a legal adult. I was slightly put off when the chapter begins, but was almost crying laughing by the end.
There are stories of his youth (funny) and the love for Staten Island is clear. There are some SNL stories but nothing too insanely revealing.- which honestly I prefer. Jost is self-deprecating and funny, though maybe a bit too deadpan and monotone to be an excellent narrator (it's not too bad once you get into the stories). Overall Very good

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

So slow...

Reviewed: 01-12-23

The story was too slow. Not enough happened.
I enjoy JAK - all her pseudonyms (Amanda Quick, Jayne Castle). I like the often light psychic stories she creates. The ideas, anyway. But the problem really is that JAK's stories have become a sort of paint-by-numbers Sweet Valley High/Nancy Drew sort of things lately. 90% of her books at this point are basically the same book with slightly different hijinks. Families of the MFC & MMC don't exist, are messed up, or never seen. Have someone with the name Jones in the story (even if they never really address the Arcane Society). Same words and phrases in all of them - example: Frisson of... name a feeling - awareness, fear, etc. whatever. Her Harmony books (Jayne Castle) are particularly guilty of these issues but at least there are dust bunnies.
The narrator was fine. Sounded a bit Irish at times, but fine. No lip smacking or smokers rasp and her voice was age appropriate for the characters. Listened at speed 1.25.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

potential... but trigger warnings

Reviewed: 04-01-22

this had potential to be a great tug-on-your-heartstrings story. But...
The great: I love Jim F as narrator. He does CFeehan's books really well. I particularly like the way he manages the Shadow series. He has a good alpha voice and he softens the female voices without whining. I would honestly listen to anything he narrates. His voice is great.
The good: the idea. an MC seems like a natural story line for CFeehan. This series is very clearly meant to be DARK. The premise is that all of these men (and 2 women) in the club were horribly abused as children, and while very functional as military men or assassins - not so good with actual human connecting.
The less good: I find it hard to root for stupid. No matter how damaged these men are, there's really no excuse for this part... there's a scene where the MMC decides to use a "sex surrogate" and I really can't wrap my brain around the stupidity. Nice that it gets him and the FMC to talk though. Can't back up this plot device. Not sure I could see where it was forgivable. It made both main characters less somehow. Or I just have a super unforgiving soul... Could be that too.
The bad: CFeehan writes in 'purple prose' - this works great with her Dark series. Even the Shadow series. It really doesn't work with a story with just so much abuse. The child abuse in particular... it was just too much. Too real? I don't know. It did give me nightmares the night after I listened to the story though. Also - the blink and you miss it allusion to paranormal powers... I could have used some more info about this - less about the child abuse.
To wrap up - It was okay. I'll read or listen to the next books - though not right away - I don't see the stories lightening up and I'd def need to be in the mood for it. I would add some trigger warnings on this.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

An early book by JAK

Reviewed: 10-13-21

I believe this book was originally published in the early 90s.
I read this book years ago as a teenager and thought it was okay. Recently, I just listened to the audible version (the pandemic has me revisiting old favs) and here were some thoughts.
The hero and heroine are products of their day. He's too closed off - think Alpha A-hole. She's interfering and almost stupidly independent and naive - think yippy chihuahua. The story itself was decent once I came to terms with the fact that I could not like this couple. Another old romance book cliche was used here - the final fight in the last chapter or so that makes it so they have to get back together in the last 2mins of the book. This is unforgivable in mind - but a common trope for the time.
The narrator was just awful. Like a teenage valley girl or something. I've listened to other stuff by her and was not nearly as put off. This was just a bad effort. I might give it another try just reading. Maybe it was the narrator's voicing of the characters that made it such a rough listen and drove me to hate the characters.
JAK's early books generally reflect the era she wrote them in. They were better than a lot at the time but are showing their age at this point. I think it's probably good that she reissues sparingly. Her books are always a treat but her early works should be taken in context.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Good

Reviewed: 08-14-21

Story:
Not terribly realistic (I hope)... The male and female main character just sort of end up together. Not a huge lead up to that... Maybe I just didn't like the lead male character. I'm not really sure why the lead female character didn't just throw him out when he showed up out of nowhere and wouldn't tell her why. Get real. I liked seeing Savich and Sherlocke again. Always good to visit with those characters.
Narration:
I've listened to other books done by this narrator and she was always good - if not great. Not here. Perhaps this was an early attempt for her? She made Lacey Sherlocke sound like a not so bright 12yo and seemed to take seriously some of the drier wit in the book, Overall, not the worst I've heard, but certainly not the best effort from this narrator
Overall:
Sort of a mixed review. I like the story, I really did... it's just that the characters felt forced somehow and I felt myself getting angry at too many points on behalf of the main female character. There was a lot of macho/chauvinism in the book...Like how many tropes can they stick in a book? Woman asks for help - labeled crazy. Woman in authority seems to hate her for just being female. Stalker. Creeper. Macho jerk leading man that won't tell pertinent information. Absentee father. It's just... too much. It was a decent idea and I'll listen to the next book though.
**The early books in this series were originally written in the mid-90s and early aughts, I believe? The amount of female abuse triggers should actually be noted.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Just okay

Reviewed: 04-20-21

I generally like Amanda Quick (JAK, JC, whatever name she decides to write under). Her stories do all follow a similar path at this point, but that's fine too since it's a path I enjoy. This book however was just annoying. I didn't connect with Ursula. Her character was far more up tight than a normal AQ character - which, it's the Victorian Era so maybe she wasn't? but AQ generally puts very modern day heroines in even her period books... and I really didn't like how Ursuala seemed to want Slater to read her mind. It was so immature and kind of mean. Not something normally found in this author's writing.
But the story itself was decent and I liked Slater and all of the supporting cast. This narrator isn't my favorite but she isn't the worst - although she sounded as if she was shouting whenever an American talked. that was weird. Although maybe that explains how the narrator did The Woman Who Knew Too Much - it was maybe the worst audio book ever.
All in all, this isn't the worst AQ book (side eye - Surrender), but it's nowhere near some of my favorites (Ravished, Dangerous, The Paid Companion, The River Knows, and most of the Burning Cove books).

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

I'll have to read it next time

Reviewed: 04-10-21

The narrator was just atrocious. I could barely make it through the whole thing. It was really painful. Too bad. I really liked the story. Another fun series from AQ/JAK/JC.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Good story

Reviewed: 10-20-20

Narrator droned a bit. I put the reading speed up to x1.5 which actually helped.
Good story. Liked the characters. Main characters were both a bit damaged, but it did not hurt the flow of the story. A good continuation of a story that began in 'When all the girls have gone'. Different main characters for each book of the trilogy but a mystery that unfolds thru the series.
Recommended.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Going to have to read it

Reviewed: 11-11-19

By the second book of this series I had completely immersed myself into this world that Kelley Armstrong had created and invested in the characters and relationships. I didn't always like them but I rooted for them. This is not a genre I generally read. Faeries are not my thing. Love triangles - with love that spans other lives - ha - sort of annoys me. I was hesitant. But this story was just so well done. It does all come together. The only draw back remained consistently to be the narrator. I will have to actually read this story next time and likely enjoy it more. The narrator removed me from the world at times. I recommend this - but I recommend reading.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!