Cynthia

Very engaging. Loved the characters and really hated to see them go. Everyday I looked forward to hearing more of their story. Entertainment Weekly was right on calling it a light but surprisingly deep romance. It's one of those stories where you get totally involved with the characters and they become like family and then you miss them when they are gone. I even got to liking the narrator who I did not care for much at all in the beginning but she grew on me. I came to appreciate how good she is with the different accents of each of the characters. It's a very engrossing modern day story of a relationship that endured time without having to rely on name dropping of it restaurants or designer clothing and watches like some do. And it's a book whose characters stay in your head weeks after you finish it. It's one I think I would enjoy listening to again.

I loved, loved, loved this story - for several reasons. The character development. The narrator - fabulous narrator, makes me want to learn Italian and go to this quaint little village in Italy (although I believe it's fictional and doesn't exist). The characters - each with a great story. The surprises - characters and back stories were brought in that I was not expecting.
No murders (well sorta - read it and you will see what I mean). No violence (other than that one time but. . . . ). No sex. NOT ONE cuss word. (How refreshing - not that I couldn't watch my language a lot more!) No politics. A story that didn't relay on any of those things or gimmicks. A love story. A story about family. Lost love. Hollywood. Italy.
I don't really know what I was expecting but not something of this caliber. It's a story you want to to not stop listening to yet you don't want it to end. It's one of those stories where you feel personally involved with all the characters and it's a story that stays with you.
The narrator is superb. Because of him, and the story, this is one I know i will listen to again some day. The story is so pleasant and enjoyable. It was what I was looking for because I'd grown very tired of all the murders and gratuitous violence and sex. Usually I like a good murder mystery with a some sex, I'm not a prude, but I was just tired of bullets through the eye, back of the head blown off, detailed sexual encounters, you get my drift.
Read it before Hollywood ruins it with a movie cause you know they will make a movie out of it. It's that kind of great story.
It's never dull and has you waiting for what happens next.
Listen to it. I think you will love it. Now I have to buy it in hardcover because it's one I want on my bookshelf too!

I'm a huge Jack Reacher fan. And Dick Hill is a great narrator. Great escapism reading and Lee Child's writing does keep you very interested so you don't want to miss a word. It's action packed although Jack is a little violent. So if violence isn't our thing, this probably isn't the book for you. The bad guys are very violent. Jack only does what is necessary.
Jack Reacher is a big man - Tom Cruise isn't the picture of him I ever had in my head and all through listening to this, he still wasn't. I like Mark Valley - Harry's Law, Christopher Chance. But that's neither here nor there.
Jack Reacher is so smart and so skilled. I love how he is homeless, survives on his wits, hitchhikes, prefers buses. He's attracted to some of the female characters but not much sex, just enough to keep him going. He's a very interesting guy. Learn something new about him in every book.
Very enjoyable.

I don't know - too many characters, he goes off on tangents. Nothing of interest so far. Nothing to keep my interest cause I can't follow the story, if there is one. Or is it just a bunch of characters? Entertainment Weekly gave it a B+ - fairly good review but I can't figure out a plot if there is one. I re-read the review to get some insight into what is supposed to be happening but I've given up. The only good thing - and it is great is Clarke Peters' narrative. His voice is very warm and sexy. I like to listen to him before bedtime because his voice is deep, soothing, and relaxing. I'll listen to it at night to help me sleep cause I really don't care about the story. When I was listening to it, I couldn't keep focused on it. One minute he's in present time, then he jumps to to the 70's then it's the midwives (they were at least interesting) and now it's back with the main character. I give up.

Not one of my favorites but I did listen to all of it. Mystery - who done it. British. OK but forgettable. I didn't really care about any of the characters.

Someone said it was funny. It's not funny. Somehow I got the impression it would be cute and light hearted. It's not. It's boring. Boring. Boring.

The author really gets into the heads of all the characters. The narration was excellent, even the female characters were believable, which some male narrators don't do well. One part of the story was particularly disturbing. I want to read more by this author.

Lorelei King brings the characters to life. I can picture them in my head because of the voice she gives them. She's superb at portraying all of them, even sexy Ranger. And Morelli. She makes him sound so sexy. No wonder Stephanie is in a quandary. Oh, to have her quandary. My personal fantasy.
And then she's out there catching bad guys and weird guys and pitiful guys. Almost makes one want to move to the Berg to get to meet these characters! It's fun, it's escapism. And Lorelei King is the best reader of any and all the books I've listened to and I've listened to a few. Richard Freone is my next fav reader! Lulu is her best character. And Janet Evonovich doesn't do a bad job of putting them on paper. No, this is not Pulizer Prize material (although I think it should be). The movie they made from One for the Money won't win an oscar but I had a terrific time watching it. I've listened to all 18 books. I've laughed out loud at each one. Yes, we didn't get much on the Hawaii trip. But that's ok. I am not ready for Stephanie to settle down with either Morellie or Ranger. Keep the 3-some going as long as you can. One day, one of them will demand more. They are young. What's the rush. I don't think Morellie or Ranger were reduced to whatever one review said in this book. I think some readers might expect too much. I don't listen to the Stephanie Plum series for seriousness. I listen to see what Lulu's too small top or bottom Lulu squeezed herself into. I listen to see where they are going to eat next. Or what Lulu will shoot with her gun. Thank God they eat and don't worry about their weight. And we cant forget Grandma Mazur. I would love a Grandma Mazur. The funeral home is as much a character as any of them. These stories are so entertaining. I really don't care if Joe or Ranger doesn't have that much depth or whatever in one story. Janet Evonovich has a series of well developed characters, each with a story. I just listened to the first one. I had never heard it. And the stories have really evolved. I may have to go back to the beginning, or at least start with the 2nd one. Great summer listening. Fun, fun, fun! Laugh out loud. I love Stephanie Plum and worship LuLu! The movie didn't portray her the way she's since evolved. I am ready for more movies of this series. To hell with the critics. I like having fun and that is exactly what Janet Evonovich provides in each and every book. Don't let the wahwahwah reviews get to you. Just listen for fun. Don't expect depth or anything serious. Theses books are great fun. Lorelei brings the characters to life. Between Janet and Lorelie I want to move to Trenton and hang with these fabulous characters. But dang, they aren't real. And eat the meatball subs and pizzas cause I know they have the best in New Jersey! And the donuts. Cluck in a Bucket - maybe. I do love fried chicken. Is there a real Cluck in the Bucket in Trenton?
So in closing, if you want something that's just laugh out loud fun, with a mystery-who done it, a little danger, no serious violence, if it gets serious, Joe or Ranger come to Stephanie and Lulu's rescue, romance, just enough to keep you interested, no hard core here, then the Stephanie Plum series are for you. Trust me, Lorelei King is a fabulous narrator. Each character is different. The books are just plain enjoyable. And I've gone on too long.
I read the other reviews and I can't disagree with them - totally- it's just that the Stephanie Plum series is so damned much fun that I can't get bogged down with issues like Morellie and Ranger being reduced to something - I don't know some reviewer said it. True we don't really find out all the details of Hawaii but Lulu's handling of it was serious fun. Just listen to the book for fun. If you don't want fun, if you want serious fiction, pulitzer prize winning fiction, then this isn't the book for you. I loved it. And I think I will start back at 2 for the Money and go all through them this summer. It's been awhile and I don't need depressing stories where the dad ran over a kid, hit and run, went to jail, screwed up the family. Nope, I'm sticking to the lighthearted, fun, fun, fun stuff for the summer!

Herky jerky story line. Not even sure what the story was supposed to be. Thought I was listening to the abridged version. Thank goodness Andrew McCarthy was the narrator because he was the only saving grace to this book. And he's not all that great. All the characters sounded the same. It's not a good book done in poor taste relying on lots of pitiful sex scenes to try to keep you interested.