Antoinette

I enjoyed this book more than any I've read in a long time. I loved the self deprecating, strong willed Alexia, a 26 year spinster of the Victorian era, (she's half Italian, besides being soulless, hence the spinsterhood) and her relationship with the scottish, so "barely civilized" (never mind that he's a werewolf) Lord Maccon. Her character reminds me of Elizabeth Peter's character, Amelia Peabody, a series I love. Emily Gray, the narrator, did an excellent job with the characters, made me forget the story's being narrated. Loved the book, loved the narration, and I hope the author continues with the series. I'll be watching.

I was so happy to see her Psy-Changeling Series come out in audio, and with a talented narrator. I have to say I was disappointed with the narrator choice for her archangel series. Nalini's writing is so much more satisfying than most other Urban fantasy writers. She's a talented writer, and she flushes out her characters, and the world she's created is so unique and interesting. It doesn't feel like the forumula writing,many fantasy romance writers have resorted it. Hope to see the rest of this series in Audible.

I enjoyed Soulless so much I couldn't wait for the second book to come out, and it appears I accidentally downloaded this book second. The best thing about Soulless was the witty, snappy rapport between Alexia and Connall, although I thoroughly enjoyed the supporting characters. In Blameless, Connall spends most of his time in a drunken stupor, separate from his wife, who is in grave peril. Unfortunately, whe he finally comes to his senses, he puts duty before love, and delays in finding her. So much for his volatile, emotional character. She easily forgives him, and they reunite with little fanfare. I waited through the whole book for this disappointing climax. The book was amusing, a nice little book, but I definitely won't wait with bated breath for the next in the series.

I have yet to read a novel by Patricia Briggs and be disappointed, but I hesitated before downloading this book because I usually read Urban Fantasy. The story was a breath of fresh air, set in a different time, a different type of storyline, and I thought Joe Manganiello did a superb job of story telling. I'll be looking for more books read by this narrator. On a side note, I was looking forward to listening to the Wolfsbane series, but I really wish a better narrator had been chosen. Manganiello and the narrators for the other 2 series were excellent, but Kathryn Kelgren overacts, and her nasal sarcastic voice gets on my nerves and makes me dislike the characters she portrays.

Since Butch O'Niel is my favorite character, I have to give this a 5 star rating, after all, I flip through the other BDB books looking for glimpses of his character, but I really wish it was narrated by someone who could capture the characters better and make them more believable. I don't like Jim Frangione.

Spellbinding story, and I purchased the printed book while still listening, but I won't be getting the Book Two on audio. Although the narrator read the protagonist well, she destroyed Jennifer Armintrout's other characters by using the voices of the wicked witch of the west and munchkins. The author wrote these characters with vivid emotional, sometimes erotic depth. What a waste. Did anyone tell Elenna Stauffer that this was not a book for children?