Dark Paradise

Really mediocre. I am having difficulty deciding if it is the hackneyed writing that turned me off or the overly dramatic narration and unpleasant voice of the romantic male lead. Sounds like a elderly redneck rather than a hot young cowboy. Hard to imagine the female lead would really be turned on by him. Yuck!

I remember reading this book many years ago... the prologue alone- shook me up. Asked my mother to read just the prologue (she hides her emotions) but her eyes were shining when she finished and she didn't want to give it back. It was my first Hoag read and I was only through a few chapters. "Soon", I told her and watched anger build on her face. I thought I may have a fight about to ensue. It still puzzles me, but not Hoag's abilities.
This was my first Hoag audible (as well). I had to dig through boxes of paperbacks with the frustration of a reader of 3-4 books a week (so many years prior), just to get the title.
Back to the audible. I love flashbacks- the emotions, the recall of too many things to count, that struck an accord with my memories. It is, without doubt, my favorite of Tami's though that is not to say that I have not enjoyed nearly all of her books.
Tami does enjoy 'chaptering you out' (leave you hanging and move back to another 'left hanging' scene and so on.) It is a Hoag trait, so be prepared and do not let your frustration rule over the spin of her talent.
It was narrated well but, for me, the best narrations are very close to radio plays (the good old days, that have been explained to me thoroughly by my elderly friends). They are very nearly acted out and if really well done, you'd swear that you remembered sound affects, though you know there really weren't any.
Joyce Bean will get better and more polished as time moves along.
Overall: a very tense and fun trip. Well done, even with the long hours of listening, as it is complex with it's characters and twists. Well worth the package...
Opalwind.

WHEN READING THE ENTHUSIASTIC REVIEWS OF THIS BOOK AND ITS AUTHOR I HAD HOPED TO HAVE FOUND A NEW SOURCE OF INTERESTING AUDIO BOOKS. NO SUCH LUCK!
A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF WHAT I HAVE HEARD - I FINALLY GAVE UP AFTER NEARLY TWO HOURS OF BOREDOM - CONSISTS OF SILLY LONGWINDED DESCRIPTIONS OF HOW THE ARTIFICIAL PROTAGONISTS LOOK AND WHAT THEY WEAR,SUPPLEMENTED BY TIRESOME RUMINATIONS OF THE FEMALE PARICIPANTS IN THIS CHARADE ON THE MISFORTUNES AND MISTAKES IN THEIR DRAB LIVES. YUCCHH!!

Yes, the characters all had a personality. The print version may have been more confusing and less interesting.

Will's visit to Bryce' s pool. The confrontation did not work out the way I had hoped it would.

JD big tough exterior, but solid nice guy who acted like a complete jerk.

Mary Lee connecting with Del Rafferty was very moving. It was good to see the "outsider" make the connection.

the intricate details of the characters
Such description of Montana; I felt like I was on the mountain with Marilee

When JD finally figures out his true meaning in life

she moves the story along with her narration, inflection and character voices

The ending - I'm a sucker for a happy ending

The story was very good but at times the author was a bit wordy about things that just didn't need to be ~ the narrator made the book seem very long ~ made me wish I had actually read the book

Someone who gives female AND male voices distinction and character ~ the male voices almost all sounded the same and were (IMHO) just awful!

Liked the characters, especially Will and JD.

I always enjoy Joyce Bean narrating books. She's done several of Julie Garwood books, and does a good job.