Carolina Blues

A Dare Island Novel

By: Virginia Kantra

Narrated by: Sophie Eastlake

Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

Jack Rossi is Dare Island's new police chief. The laid-back North Carolina community is just what he needs to recover from a rocky marriage and a big-city police department. He's learned his lesson: no more high-profile women or high-pressure jobs. The last thing he wants is an unconventional alt girl rocking his world.

Grad student Lauren Patterson made headlines when she kept a bank robbery from going bad. She's fled to Dare Island to clear her head and focus on writing her story. However, sexy Jack Rossi is a distraction that's too hot to ignore, and it's igniting an affair too combustible to resist - or quit.

But when their pasts come looking for them, Jack and Lauren find themselves fighting for the future they deserve, whatever the price.

©2014 Virginia Kantra (P)2014 Audible Inc.

The End To A Very Nice Series - Love the Relations

Would you listen to Carolina Blues again? Why?

Yep, I love the setting of Dare Island and the similarities to the island on which I live-though the romance extremes are not prevalent here, that I know of.

Have you listened to any of Sophie Eastlake’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I'm familiar with here from the entire series. I cannot imagine anyone else performing this series.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and I did! I did not get much done while listening.

Any additional comments?

Note: Mature themes

If you found my review helpful, please select 'yes' below. Thanks!

Easy Reading 3

Is there anything you would change about this book?

This is the third book of a three-book series. By now, I had heard almost every line somewhere in the two prior books. The author's templates have worn me thin at this point. There is nothing in the story line unpredictable. It's pablum. How 'bout a good murder mystery instead of another wedding? Enough with the fantasy!

What did you like best about this story?

Not much. It was the same 'ole, same 'ole. Good guy cop (who all the women lust over) saves the damsel in distress. Yawn.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Sophie Eastlake?

Yes.

What would have made this romance irresistible?

Some reality sprinkled into the fantasy would have given the story some teeth.

Any additional comments?

I read all of the books in the series. The series has a good story line but would have been very burdensome if I had been unable to fast forwarded through the downright silliness of "save me's" and juvenile mentality of sexual encounters (we're talking 7th grade, here). The "save me" component of every main female character conjured up cartoons of Snidely Whiplash tying women to railroad tracks, only to be saved by Dudley Do-Right. (And I thought perception of women had progressed in the last 50 years-- especially by other women.) I became frustrated with the template used throughout the book series about the (exceptionally wonderful, spectacular, amazing, sensational, miraculous!) smell of shampooed hair. Ugh. The narration was disappointing in that every male character sounds exactly the same (stereotypical tough, but good, guy), as does each female character (help me! help me!). By that I refer to both the phraseologies used, as well as voice tones and inflictions. I could only tolerate these type issues in exchange for an overall good story line and setting. Otherwise? I would have dumped the first book and certainly not have purchased the remaining books in the series.

This had a good plot, sub plot and ending.

This had a good plot, sub plot and ending. The only thing that would make it better would be to skip the long detailed sex scenes. Really, the plot stands alone without that. Think Marta Perry.

Very enjoyable.

This is a new author for me, but I will be reading/listening to more of Virginia Kanta's stories. I enjoyed Sophie Eastlake's reading as well

You Won't Be Blue with this one

OH FOR PETE'S SAKE!! I have loved this whole series but this book takes the cake. What a wonderful, funny, sweet, romantic, strong, and lovely read. I wasn't sure the story of Jack and Lauren would be on par with the wonderful Fletchers but hot damn!! It's better. There is an added element of challenge and personal angst in this book that, to me anyway, did not appear in the first 3 and let me REPEAT, I loved the first 3. This is a must read for anyone who loves to melt with the richness of the story, the believability of the characters, the SUPERB writing and the familiarity of reconnecting with old book friends.

I stumbled upon this whole series on audible.com while looking for books narrated by Sophie Eastlake, of the BEST audible has to offer. I was SO not disappointed in either Sohpie's marvelous narration but also completely captivated by the writing voice of Virginia Kantra.

Please do yourself a favor and read this series...even better, listen to it. You won't be sorry.

Not as good as the rest of the series

I really had high hopes because I found Jack so intriguing in "Carolina Man". This story just did not live up to its potential. Everything was okay, but none of it drew me in like the previous books.

Great Story Tellingly, Don’t Miss The $6 Sale

If you cannot get enough of Julia Whelan reads with some spice added to the mix, then find her reads under Ms Eastlake. I love her deeper voices, especially for men starting 2014 for sure as l didn’t care for 2011 reads. Eg Thea Harrison the great, Dragon Bound. But any reads dated after 2014 are just plain wonderful, check it out.
Since l buy by narrator, over 1,000 Audible in my library, when two of this author’s books came on sale with Ms Eastlake narrating , l purchased both books.
Boy, was l surprised, Oh the publisher’s summery is spot on, but as a reader you take the chance with this type of plot which many author’s try, but fail to produce note worthy results. Not so here. This author knows good proses, that paint a good clear entertaining picture. Of course it is the voice of Ms Eastlake that brings this triple base hit into a home run.
Were my comments of help?

likeable couple with an intriguing story

not your typical romance so it is interesting from start to finish. island police chef interested by "hostage girl" author who is trying to write her followup book but is blocked. they help each get unstuck.

Lovely!

Where does Carolina Blues rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

A lovely audiobook. Eastlake did a fantastic job with both the hero and heroine. It took me a little to adjust to the heroes voice but then it was perfectly him.

Any additional comments?

Carolina Blues, was just a sweet heartwarming read of finding your place in life and the people you're meant to be with. I'm really loving this little island and enjoying all of the characters that live there.

I love this series! And I can't wait to read more

I love the entire Carolina Series by Virginia Kantra. So much so that I'm sad I finished all 4 in 3 weeks. I hope that the series continues there are so many more characters that deserve their happily ever after too.