"Worthwhile Listen"
This is not a genre I pick often. Lisa Gardner is one of my favorites. This book kept my attention, great storyline, set, etc. Excellent narration. Really there were no negatives if you take a book in the segments we choose to review on. Totally worth the credit.
"What a Memorable Summer Read"
I love perfect narration. Narration that gives life to the story and the characters and doesn't get in the way. Narration is portrayal in that way. This is a wonderful long intricate story that might have ruined by the wrong narrator. If you like stories from the era this placed in there is no reason why you wouldn't love this one. A story to savor.
"So Enjoyable....."
I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting, great characters, good dialalog, drama, and romance. Great Narrator. What more is there to say. It is just such a pleasure to enjoy a book because it is not a given...I've had a few lately that didn't do a thing for me. Really think you can enjoy this one...I recommend! Thank you Ms. Andrews...
"Beginnning was so GOOD!"
I passed on this book several times. But the reviewers convinced me. I love a funny love story. This one started so good. Very funny, Great characters. The dialog was really good. I'm on the fence with the narrator. I think I maybe getting too picky. She has a great voice. I just can't figure out how she gets it so breathy..and extends the ending of words. It is annoying, but it was not a deal breaker. I didn't think I would eeeevvvvveeeerrrr finish this book it became completely different, the characters changed about a 180....and I couldn't enjoy the change. In my opinion this book could of been memorable.
"It had all the elements..."
This is my first book of SYoung. I think I will be listening to her more. This book was interesting, enjoyable and sexy. I really appreciated the manner this writer keeps you in the book because you have to find the answers. Well done. I love everything about this book.
Narration: I'm giving you a 10 Paula Costello because I normally cannot listen to a Scottish accent without getting a headache. For me you were awesome, all the "voices" were so good you could identify them and they "fit" the character. LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK!
"Follow up didn't do for me"
I found The Elite to be slow to develop, and the characters didn't develop much. I think it was more in the veil of YA. I listened to it. I just wasn't as impressed as with The Selection.
"Ditto...Didn't Want To Like it But I Did!"
Reviewers I follow really enjoyed this book. I couldn't imagine I would like it. I thought it would be like the TV series "The Bachelor".....then I started listening and I thought more like "The Handmaiden's Tale"...it has similarities of "The Hunger Games". But this is a good story...it is not appalling, it is not as brutal as Hunger GAmes. This book was not depressing to me. It's romantic in such a good way. Right away I became very involved in this story. You can like all the characters. You can have empathy for them. This is a smart writer. Because the ending is such a cliffhanger I am glad I waited until"The Elite" was available. The narration was good, however, I really think a different narrator would have given more life to this story. She was very pleasant and professional. I will listen to her again. I hope you give it a chance.
"This story grew on me..."
In the beginning of this book there were several laugh out loud moments. Then it became predictable. It is a good story but lightweight. I had trouble with the narrator. She was very professional. I can only say that her voice pattern annoyed me. I did adjust to it. But not until the second half. The story just grew on me. The characters became important. It is not a deep book. But it is enjoyable and I believe worth the credit. I think I will purchase the remaining in the series.
"Lovely, Interesting Story"
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Family secrets, history, mystery, and Love....all the characters were well written. The setting was beautiful. Things happen that bring all of them together. Loved Tess, loved her job, never thought about that type of sleuthing before, very interesting. The author did a great job of setting the scene and tying in all the characters in an interesting manner. She knows how to keep you involved. This is a book you could listen to more than once easily. Thoroughly engrossing. I appreciated the narration. She had a difficult job with the variety of accents but she did a good job.
"Kate Morton is a premium writer...."
I never miss a KM book. She is such a weaver of tales. I love her books because they are like a vine it just weaves around you, it's threads unfold more information with a direction to the next unfolding. Her books are not necessarily a one time listen all the way thru. She writes in a way that encourages you to savoir the writing. This story was no different. It took me awhile to get to the end...but that is wonderful. As other reviewers have stated you need to be in the right place to really listen to the story. Caroline Lee is an absolute pleasure to listen to at any time.
I don't want to give anything away but my one critic is the last few chapters. That seemed rushed and not plausible to me....However, I am a true fan of Kate Morton's writing. Each of her books is a treasure to me.
"Wow what a journey...."
This book is like a roller coaster ride it plummets you down so fast and then just as fast whooshes to up into the clouds. I absolutely loved the first part of the book and the second half, well, for me, for a little while it becames immature but I think this is YA anyway. Then it just took my emotions and rung them out....I haven't listened to a book like this in a very long time. It is a LOVE STORY...that comes outta nowhere. Wonderfully narrated. Great production. This one is a grabber..I know I won't forget this book.