pierre-luc

The slow build and emphasis on friendship first helped overall to round out the two main characters. The protagonists' tendancy to always assume things rather than communicate was a little annoying (especially since they did not seem to learn that lack of communication was their repeated downfall), but then again it often is the

My husband and I both loved this book, which is the first in a series of 6 or 7 at this point.

The characterizations are excellent - the main cast ls believable and endearing, with vibrant secondary characters. The book provides a wonderful sense of place, rural Ireland, and time, the 60s.

Quickly, we were drawn in and felt like the local villagers were our own neighbours as we got to know their ups and downs, quirks, dreams and doubts. Patrick Taylor successfully conveys an uplifting humanity without falling into sappiness.

The narration by John Keating, bringing a clear, well-paced Irish voice, is wonderful and makes it a pleasure to listen to.

Give this one a try...and enjoy the ride for the series.

This book was decently writtem, and decently narrated. It may turn some people's cranks more than it did mine. So the 3 stars are not an indictment, just that I found it average, perhaps I would have granted a half-star more if Audible let me. :-)

If it helps others, I will flag the two things that held me back some. First, the supernatural angle. The premise (which I won't describe in details so as not to spoil) is intriguing...but it does not really grow, which is frustrating because the author drops little hints here and there that suggest that either it will later on (and it doesn't) or that she at least has envisioned a richer world (which she doesn't share with us listeners). I was convinced there was a well-imagined coherent world somewhere...I just did not see it within the pages. Second, I found the lead protagonist hard to believe as a male voice. This is one of those books I wouldn't be surprised was written as a male/female romance, but got switched late in the game to fill a niche. The writing is not offensive, or irritating...the characterization just did not gel for me.

So overall, an average rating but, again, it is of decent quality and different listeners may find it more to their taste.

i would rank this in the clear top tier of male/male romances. The characters are likeable enough without being perfect, and there is an actual plot around which the romance grows. I admit I prefer straight-forward books (suspense, historical, mysteries, whatnot) that have a male/male relationship rather than romances with a touch of a plot.

So this one really was my cup of tea.

The writing is of good quality and the narration was very well done too, as Jack LeFleur always professionally delivers.

Many different periods have been re-imagined with magic (medieval of course, or Victorian England with Steampunk), but this was my first Western/Magic hybrid. Odd but well crafted, and internally consistent. Kudos to the author for bringing forth this original setting.

The world depicted is violent and crass, but believable given the premise, and populated by interesting characters. The narration is very well done, with diverse accents and tones that fit the characters and make them easily distinguishable.

The prologue sounds a bit like Mayan Mythology 101 on acid, but don't let it discourage you; it is not at all representative of the rest of the writing style of the novel - which is much more straightforward.

The emotional relationship between several of the male leads is important to the story and key to understanding their motivations and actions, but this is far from a romance novel.

Overall a recommended read (or listen!).

Ok, the headline may be harsh, but it explains why a good performance and a good story manage to combine into a sum that's less than the individual parts.

The writing is decent, if unremarkable. The historical research adequate. The pacing ok. What's wrong then? Well, this is a time-travel book confronting modern Americans with Enlightenment Europeans in the midst of a religious war. So, if you abstract from the lack of 1-any discussion (even in passing) of religion, 2-any serious conflict between past and present values, 3-any character (modern or past) being remotely phased by the juxtaposition of times and 4-the lack of character development or ambiguity, then you will love this book.

Since I want this review to be helpful to prospective readers, I have to reiterate that it's not bad (if it stunk there would not be several sequels), it's just that the plot description suggested (at least to me) more thoughtful entertainment than what feels like a formulaic TV script.

I found that this novel struck a nice balance between an interesting paranormal plot, a positive developing romance, and the amount of sappiness.

I wouldn't say it was overly suspenseful, but it was interesting and the characters' behaviours was believable enough that you could invest yourself in their relationship. The writing was of good quality, including the Point of View perspectives written from the protagonist who is blind.

So overall a solid recommendation.

I found this romance one of the better m/m offerings this year. The two main characters were well-differentiated and rather believable, and the supporting cast was interesting and believable. I also enjoyed the fact that the angts delaying the romance, based in anger-management and self-esteem issues, was credibly portrayed. I found the therapy sessions well-written and the character's slow self-awareness well laid out. The setting, somewhat mundane and working class, was also a welcome break from the jet-set model meets millionaire trope that seems so common to romance novels these days.

The novel begs for a sequel (not that it ends on a cliff-hanger) because there are some issues left unresolved, in particular familial relationships to work through.

If possible, I would have given 4.5 stars. The audio performance was also quite good and did honour to the quality of the written material.

This is a very traditional romance in a sci-fi setting, but really it is not science-fiction at all. That's ok, since it is slotted in the romance genre, so no false advertising. The writing is decent, and the audio performance too. However, I found the plot too light and too contrived. It's really all about lust, then brushed over with love. I can enjoy well-placed raunch as well as the next guy, but lines like "I had yet to see his face (NTD: and realize he was an alien] that my dick was too hard to think straight" or something such anyway, i don't have the audio playing right now, just are too corny for me.

Overall it is ok, but there are better quality ones out there.

I found this an amusing take on the Bond-genre of novels. The writing is decent, the plot unbelievable (but in a good way, in the sense that the heroes are just as resourceful and lucky as Bond might be, not the bad way that nothing hands together and the reader is frustrated). Going in with low expectations and a willigness to go for the ride, you will find it worth the while. So while it is not moving romance, it's still fun and it's finally time some tough guys who save the world get rewarded by a good stubbly kiss.

An affectionate story with interesting main and secondary characters. The continual first person perspective, always through the same character, is a difficult task but it was done well here, especially since the internal monologue was largely credible and established clearly the main character's difficulty in focussing and facing things directly. At the same time, at some point (early or late in the book depending on one's tolerance for self-pity and an unfailing habit of jumping to conclusions), I imagine most readers will see their patient sympathy turn into exasperation. Overall though, the patience is well rewarded by a good 12 hour journey into the author's universe.