Just One Week

Castleton Hearts, Book 2

By: Chelsea M. Cameron

Narrated by: Kate Wisniewski

Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Emerald Witmer is beyond pissed when her brother begs her to drive all the way across the country to pick up his girlfriend’s sister from college in Arizona and bring her back to Castleton, Maine. She would tell him to go [blank] himself, but then he agrees to pay her, and let’s be real, she could use the money. She’s not going to think about the fact that the girl she’s going to pick up, Natalie Johnson, was her best friend when they were kids, until Natalie decided she’d rather hang with the cool kids and abandoned Em. Not that she’s still holding a grudge or anything.

All she has to do is manage to get through one week with Natalie and then never think about her again, but those plans go out the window when she sees Natalie and feels something more intense than her anger at the past: lust. It’s fine. All she has to do is get through one week. What happens afterward is a problem for future Em.

What starts as an annoying chore turns into a road trip of redemption when Em realizes how much she misses having Natalie in her life, and things escalate further when they get back to Castleton and share a kiss. Those feelings Em has been trying to ignore aren’t going to be silenced. Will Em put the past in the past and let herself fall for the girl who used to be her best friend? Or will she cling to her painful past and reject Natalie completely?

©2021 Chelsea M. Cameron (P)2021 Chelsea M. Cameron

Don't Give Up

which is what I did the first time I listened this book, the second time around I was fortunately able to move past my disdain for the MC Emmy and enjoy it, the second time around, Emmy was a major pain in the first few chapters, before she morphed into a minor pain, before gradually changing into someone kind of likeable by the end of the book, Natalie on the other hand was overly meek and apologetic towards Emmy who came off badly for most of the book as seriously petty for holding onto a high school grudge for half her life. This change of heart came as I was about to say that I was done with the author. So since I love road stories I broke my promise and gave this one a shot; at first I was not all that happy about that choice, but fortunately I gave this one a second chance and I'm glad I did.

Ditch this Audio Recording

I actually enjoyed the story. I liked many elements of the plot and the characterizations. I did feel that it was way, WAY more telling than showing. And I’m not quite sure how a feud that basically ended with neither girl talking from the age of 13 until the age of 21 could still leave such bitterness between them. Didn’t they mature at some point? I think the author could have played this plot line better if either (1) The girls had interacted in some cruel and/or bitter ways throughout high school, or (2) The feud had actually happened in high school, preferably in junior or senior year.

But I digress. The real reason I couldn’t stand the story was the narrator. Every character sounded whiny or like they had a head cold. The narrator also deepened her voice for female characters, to the point where I was confused as to gender identity. The only reason I got through the story was that I was sick in bed, and it was my chosen (and already paid for) form of entertainment.

Do yourself a favor. If you want the story, then read the story. Ditch the audiobook.

Not good

Just don’t. Wasn’t worth the money or time. Wish I could go back. Not worth a free listen.