How to Lose a Familiar in 10 Days

By: Saranna DeWylde

Narrated by: Hollie Jackson

Length: 1 hr and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Got Familiar?

Hemlock "Hemi" Butterbean does. She's got what some would call the familiar from hell. But he's not really a familiar. He's a warlock, one of the infamous Trifecta of Doom, under a curse that's turned him into a hellhound haranguing cat. Hemi finds out just how familiar her new kitty can be when the power of her fantasies make him a flesh-and-blood man ready to see to her every desire.

Chasing witches was what got Raven Cherrywood into this predicament to begin with, but he quickly realizes that the shy witch has much more to offer than her beautiful plus-sized curves. She's got a wild heart he must win for his own.

©2013 Saranna DeWylde (P)2014 Saranna DeWylde

Cute and fun

This was a fun, quick listen. The characters are well rounded, and although the story can sound familiar at times, each character has their own voice. This is very lighthearted, sometimes a little wicked, sometimes a bit naughty.

This isn't a long audiobook, and I commend the author for recognising that the story she was telling could work better in a shorter form. I also enjoyed that it didn't have a predictable sappy happy ending, opting instead for a *suggestion* of it.

Hollie Jackson brings each character to life, she's got a lovely voice, and manages to infuse everybody with distinct inflection. There is a bit of erotica, narrated very well and without artifice, and manages to keep the same lighthearted tone of the rest of the book while adding a touch of spice.

Turning Witches into great humor

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, yes, yes. I laughed out loud so many times I had to go back to re-listen to parts I missed. Saranna DeWylde is really great with the one liners.

What did you like best about this story?

Taking a different look at witches and warlocks. Even though the story was short, it had a beginning, middle and end. You didn't feel like you were left hanging.

Which character – as performed by Hollie Jackson – was your favorite?

Hollie Jackson is one of my favorite narrators. She's great with different voices, and emotions. When I see she's narration I always like to check out the book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I think it would be too short to be a film.

Any additional comments?

Saranna DeWylde really has a way with words. I've listened to several of her books and most of them were really well written and with Hollie Jackson narrating it's hard to go wrong.

Hot, fun, and witchy!

How to Lose a Familiar in 10 Days
By: Saranna DeWylde
Narrated by: Hollie Jackson
Great narration for this funny and got book about a warlock trapped in a cat's body. He ends up in a witch's home who decides to help him, not her first curse to break.
A fun but short book!

Funny wih Great Narration

Any additional comments?

Interesting story line with some wonderful nuggets of humor. The narration was very well done.

funny! loved it!

this story has me laughing from page one, well written characters were so likeable! this is I'm guessing a part of a series, which I'm now going to go back and read! yes the writing is that good! narrator is fantastic as well!

Why did it end so soon?

I wanted more. Granted Raven wasn't as vexing as Falcon (or Hawk for that matter). But I still wanted to know what happens next.

Quick quirky romantic fix.

Super cute and funny short story. Perfect for a quick romantic fix that I needed after the last book I listened to. I love the hellhound's names Damn it and Stop that. Sexy story but the actual sex was a bit mild. This story was worth the time for the humor alone though. I would have like the story to have expanded into a full length story, but I still liked it a lot as a short story. Narrator was okay.

Great Outline, Take it from Here

Would you listen to How to Lose a Familiar in 10 Days again? Why?

no, I own too many more to be listened, but it was cute. Author should start book 2 from this outline

Which character – as performed by Hollie Jackson – was your favorite?

she really brings out a good character

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

yes as this was way too short

The Quick & The Hot: Ro-medy at it's best

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The story, while not original, has a very authentic feel to it. Yes, boy meets girl, sex ensues and a romance is born but there's a touching level of insight into this version that exceeds your typical "bed romp".

Who was your favorite character and why?

I'd be hard pressed to pick just ONE favourite character. Each speaks to you in their own voice and has their quirks, flaws & benefits. Hemmie (or Hemlock) is insecure and there's a whisper of where it originates in passing but she's also confident and a little daring, like all of us. Raven is the put-upon little brother trying to make a name for himself but he's also wicked in his own way and almost forces you to like him in spite of his predicament.

What about Hollie Jackson’s performance did you like?

Her voice is smooth, with just the right inflection to convey the emotion of the story without interfering in it. The range of her voice, from the airy and light tones that point out the humour to the heady caramel-like texture of her voice when the "good bits" come up, she lets the reader hear the STORY and not just her voice reading it.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

How To Lose A Familiar In 10 Days: A Romance of Sex, Lust and Gummie Hounds

Any additional comments?

This story had me wrapped from the beginning. This was, surprisingly, my first experience with this author (although I assure you it won't be the last) and I found her point of view to be quite delightful. She's at times heavily sarcastic while still breezing through to the comedic end. Her romance is heavy but it suits well into the storyline and adds to it, as opposed to detracting as sometimes that can happen. The story itself has a breeze of fresh air as a "man in a mess" instead of the "damsel in distress" theme and is a nice, quick pick-me-up. I'd highly recommend this to readers of any comedy/romance authors such as Darynda Jones' Charley Davidson series.

Quickie sampler for other magical romance books

Is there such a thing as a too quick quickie? Apparently yes, for me. It started fun and got right into the magical, sexy hijinks. The comedy is right up my alley, with hell hounds named “damn it” and “stop it,” and a curvy, nerdy librarian witch who reads Weekly Warlock, the magical equivalent of Playgirl. But, this was more of a 1 hr plot outline rather than an actual novella, without enough plot or character development to interest me. Even the sex was too quick to have me feeling any heat. I know, I can’t believe I’m asking for more substance in books designed to provide magical, naughty nooky. While not terrible, this was merely decent rather than delicious.

This is a great listen if you think of it purely as a sample for the related, full length (8 hr) audio books. You’ll get a feeling for the author’s style, writing romantic comedy about warlocks, witches and other magical creatures falling in love. It was a good enough sample for me to put the full length books in my wish list, although I’ll probably still wait for a sale because these don’t seem entirely credit worthy. Or I’ll just borrow the ones I can get for free as part of the Audible Escapes package.