• Just the Way You Are

  • Lost Texas Hearts, Book 1
  • By: Christina Dodd
  • Narrated by: Natalie Ross
  • Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (395 ratings)

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Just the Way You Are  By  cover art

Just the Way You Are

By: Christina Dodd
Narrated by: Natalie Ross
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Publisher's summary

When Hope Prescott's parents disappeared, her carefree teenage life vanished forever. She and her three siblings were separated and sent to different foster homes around the country. Now, seven years later, Hope is still searching for them. To support herself, she works for an answering service, and cares for her clients as if they were family.

When wealthy businessman Zachariah Givens hires Hope's service, Hope initially mistakes Zack for his butler. Tired of being coddled and flattered because of his money, Zack is charmed by Hope's candor, not to mention her sexy voice, and keeps up the charade. As their friendship turns into passion, Zack is determined to have her, even if that means the unthinkable - marriage. But when Hope discovers his deception, Zack knows he must solve the mystery that haunts Hope's past in order to convince her that their futures lie together....

©2006 Christina Dodd (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Just the Way You Are

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    172
  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
    63
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
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Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    141
  • 4 Stars
    75
  • 3 Stars
    52
  • 2 Stars
    6
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    4
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    124
  • 4 Stars
    89
  • 3 Stars
    45
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    13

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

5 stars for the beginning.

1 star for the crisis. 2 and 3 stars for other parts.

I really enjoyed the beginning. Hope works for a phone answering service. When rich guy Zach calls for his messages, she thinks he is the butler. They develop a neat relationship over the phone. When she meets him he continues to pretend he’s the butler. They fall in love. It was a fun story.

Then in the middle it dragged. It was repetitive thinking about each other and dragging out some pre-sex scenes. The con man part of the book was incomplete and not finished. See Spoiler below. I think the author should have spent time on that instead of doing the romantic filler in the middle.

Then the crisis: I hated it! I was furious. It ruined the book. Zach jumps to a wrong conclusion without even asking what was happening. And then he was mean. It was STUPID on his part. The author should have thought of something better.

The end was ok. I liked all the groveling Zach did. But I did not like the slapstick scene with a crime lord. It did not fit the tone of the book.

This felt like a regency/historical romance. Zach the rich aristocrat. Hope the feisty beautiful virgin orphan. It is set in contemporary Boston with limos. But change the limo to a carriage and you’ve got a regency.

CAUTION SPOILER:
A con man hired Hope to do some secretarial things for him. He embezzled money and the police arrested Hope. She got out on bail. That story was not finished. Did the con man admit she was innocent? What kind of evidence was brought up and used? How did she get proven innocent?
END SPOILER.

AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
Natalie Ross is one of the best I have ever heard. I couldn’t believe how good her voice was for Zach - a man. She also did great for the rest of the story and characters. I’m trying to find other books that she narrates, but too many are by authors I don’t care for or books that I’ve already read. Darn, I want more of her.

Narrative mode: 3rd person.
Genre: contemporary romance.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Tiring & Sappy

I just can't like this book. The narration is too slow. The heroine is too naive. The hero is too jaded and a little pathetic!! The story is too unbelievable!! Very sorry I wasted my credits on this audio book.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Good Stuff!

This is my first Christina Dodd novel, and I was pleasantly surprised! It starts kind of slow but draws you in nicely. Great character development, and CD definitely knows how to write a male lead! Aside from one slightly "far-fetched" plot line to rescue the female lead toward the end of the story, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series.

BTW, Natalie Ross is also an excellent narrator!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Ugh!

I've listened to some stupid books before but this is going to the top of the list. The story stinks. At times I thought I would throw up it is so sappy. Both characters (Zack and Hope) are poorly written.

I've been a member of audible for many years and have rented hundreds of books and no matter how bad they are have always finished listening to them but I had to cut this one off. Don't use credits or money on this or you will throw it away.

I only gave it 2 stars becasue the narrator is very good. 2 stars for Natalie Ross zero for the story.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This is a hoot of a listen.....

The story line is interesting and funnier as the story goes on. Simple and ridiculous, but worth the credit. I like this narrator, and she puts enough personality into each character voice to make them distinctive.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A good story

I liked this story. It was fast moving and the characters were unique. Some of the reviewers didn't like the unrealistic parts of the story. I didn't mind it. In some ways it added comic relief. This is the first book in a series and really needs to be listened (or read) first.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I liked it!

A bit to repetitive, but fun and entertaining... Especially fun twist towards end!!! I enjoyed it and look forward to listening again! I grinned a lot ... good indication it's a good read!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

i loved this storyline i loved it

i loved this book so much got the next two.... was really good kept me at the ready always wanted more time to listen great great great listen....

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Ugh 2!!

Maybe it was the narrator, I couldn't wait for it to be over. Not sure I am going to listen to the next bok in the series.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Unenjoyable

I did not like this book. The narrator was great with a variety of accents but I hated the story

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