I like to read series because I enjoy the development of the characters and their interactions as the stories develop. I am always scouring the catalog to find my newest series. I purchased this book during the $4.95 First Book of Series sale. To my surprise I really liked this one. The writing was fun and the self talk by the main character kept me interested and was written in a style that enabled me to visualize the happenings.

I always read reviews of all the books in a series before I purchase and this series has consistent positive reviews. Always a good sign for happy listening. Did read one reviewer who had a problem with the narrator. The only reason I didn't give five stars is because she could be heard taking breathes every once in awhile. While this didn't distract from the story or her performance, it was noticeable. She gave each character a different voice and that always lends to an enjoyable listen. As a matter of fact, her voice many, many times reminded me of the character Liza Minnelli played in that movie "Rent A Cop" with Burt Reynolds. I liked it!

However, to be honest, I didn't really like how the main male character was written. I am looking forward to seeing how the auther develops Drakes character. He was a little bit irritating to me (just a little).

I have already downloaded the next book. Lets see how an uneducated guardian and a dragon get along.

I honestly can't tell if it's the story or a bad narrator for this book, but I could barley get through it.

I thought it would be funny, but I think the humor is amateurish. I'm not laughing.

It's too simple, and no humor. It attempts to be funny, but I don't get it.

I usually like Barbara Rosenblat - especially when she narrates for Nevada Barr. I think that I'm so used to hearing her in a non-fantasy role, that this was too much of a stretch for me.

Disappointment. I hate to put down a book, so I'm going to try and finish, but this may be one that I just let go.

Narrator sounded old and has too much saliva....

Maybe, I may give this one another try when I am low on listens....

Again she sounded old and had way to much saliva.......

I didn't make it past the first chapter.....

First of all, I read the book before I listened to the audiobook and the book is great. However, the narrator is only ok, bordering on bad, for the following reasons:

1. her voice sounds a bit whiny, which gets annoying
2. she tries to add inflections to her voice, probably to indicate emotions, but it just makes the main character sound abosolutely silly and ridiculous.
3. The voice she used for Jim is absolutely awful. Part of Jim's charm is the sarcastic tone in which he delivers his lines. She uses a voice that makes him sound like a clown, rather than sarcastic. I don't think she really understands.
4. Whenever the author switches to Jim's voice, she pauses and you can hear her suck spit into her mouth and swallow it. Disgusting and very distracting.
5. You can constantly hear the author swallowing and she pauses for long stretches of time at the wrong moments.
6. Her accents are bad. The most egregious one is what is supposed to be her English accent, which is one of the easiest ones to do. Hers, on the other hand, sounds like an Indian accent, rather than an English one.

Overall, not a good choice on narrator, although she's a little better for the Silver Dragons series, although the voices she chooses for the supporting characters still aren't good. Jim's voice just drives me nuts.

This was one of my first ever paranormal romances, and I was so lucky that it was this book with this narrator. Both MacAlister's writing style and Rosenblatt's narration appeal to me. I can see how some would NOT enjoy Rosenblatt's work on this, but for me it made the story better. The quick, clueless wit of Aisling Grey, her Demon Dog, and the Dragon who is stalking-her-without-seeming-to are unique and well-spoken characters with distinctly different voices, thanks to Rosenblatt's talent. I didn't like her whining (even though it was apropos to the character), but enjoyed the constant pep-talks that Grey gives herself, and the story development. I could not tell where the story was going, and enjoyed the ride.
I will seek the subsequent books!

No

Loved the whole book.

Too many distracting mouth noises.

It did more when I read it than when I listened to it.

Get a better narrator

Constant swallowing and smacking.

The story has from funny parts especially the commentary from Jim the Newfoundland. Great zingers that had me sometimes wondering if my dogs are saying the same thing to me. This series has a lot of potential like the Dark Ones series. It took me 3 months to use a credit to listen to the book, because I was not impressed with the preview snippet. I was bored so I took a gamble with my credit.What I did not like about the book is the background noise. I could actually hear the narrator turning the pages as she was reading!!! The narrator has a smokey voice that sounds like she is smoking three packs a day and the character is in her 30s not her 60s. The worst part is the constant swallowing and smacking. I had to adjust the audio on my phone and radio to get through the book. I will continue to listen to the series, because the story line is interesting and Aisling's sidekicks are funny, but I do hope that the next books have better audios. The smoker's cough voice of Barbara is not too bad. I am getting use to her voice, but the smacking, paper shuffling, and swallowing needs to be addressed pronto.

The whole audio needs to be redone to eliminate all the swallowing, pages turning and smacking done by the narrator.

I cannot see this book being made into a film. There were too many problems with the audio on this one to imagine the story line.

All of it. I accidently bought this book originally on cassettes when the libraries were getting rid of all of their books on cassettes. This one accidental purchase was worth what I spent on all the others. Katie MacAlister promptly went to the top of my favorite authors list and I have swiftly read all of her other books I can get my hands on. I have long been a fan of Barbara Rosenblat...she 'rocks' and she makes the characters all come alive. I love all of the voices she uses for the various characters in this series. But the voice for Jim, the demon is right on target and she delivers his snarky lines so perfectly. Lord, I love Jim and am glad he is in the others in the series. Of course Drake just makes me drool in all of his scenes.

The story hooked me in from the first chapter. This is the first book I have ever read with dragons who are shapeshifters. Have always been a dragon fan from my Sci/Fi reading days of old before I got hooked on PNR. But Katie MacAlister dragons are sooooooo fantastic. I actually enjoy very much also the names of the various characters and especially love the way Barbara Rosenblat pronouns Aisling. Have listened to one other narrator reading a story by Katie with Aisling in it but they pronounced it wrong and for me it took the enjoyment level down a bit.

OMG there are so many favorites in this book. But hands down, the scene in GNC where Drake officially declares Aisling as his mate in front of all the patrons was awesome. Hot Hot Hot. The descriptions of the Dragon's Blood Wine's effect on Aisling was such a great part of the scene. You could just about feel the heat of it yourself while reading. Right from the start Drake wins you over in this scene with desire. Each time I read this book I have to replay this whole scene at least one extra time before going on with the rest of the book.

The whole book moved me, especially the love scenes and interactions with Drake and Aisling. But, I actually felt personally betrayed by the real killer when that was exposed.

Katie MacAlister created characters in this book that even invade my dreams they are so real. Delicious Drake, daring and adventurous Aisling, and all the other characters. BUT, I absolutely LOVE Jim. The book would have been wonderful even without him I am sure, but Jim adds such a fun dimension with his snarkiness. His love of his own body, his observations of what he sees, his attempts to act like a dog by saying Bark Bark or Woof Woof, etc. always give me a good chuckle and smile.

I brought the first book in the series and just had to have all four. They were well written and narrated and I laughed because darn it Aisling Grey is "a professional". I got the books less than 2 weeks ago and have already listened to them twice in succession, Highly entertaining.

I haven't listened to any of Barbara's books except these four, but if those were all her voices, she has a large range . She made the stories come alive.