Beautiful Sacrifice

By: Elizabeth Lowell

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

According to Maya legend, December 21, 2012, will mark the end of the world as we know it. Is it myth... or will their prediction become reality?

Archaeologist Lina Taylor has devoted her life to studying ancient Maya artifacts, splitting her time between digs in South America and the classroom teaching college students. But the professor's structured, academic life is about to spin out of control. Some extremely valuable and important Maya artifacts have gone missing. Are the culprits fanatics determined to create chaos and usher in annihilation?

Helping out a friend, former immigration and customs enforcement officer Hunter Johnston is determined to recover the missing pieces and he needs Lina's help. A man used to calling the shots and working alone, he isn't comfortable letting anyone get close, especially a beautiful and brainy woman like Lina. His gift for reading people tells him there's a lot going on below that professional exterior, and he's more than a little curious to probe her depths.

Burying herself in her work, Lina's had little experience handling men, especially one as fascinating and exasperating as the secretive, headstrong Hunter. A devoted archaeologist, she has the skill to excavate those protective layers all the way to his core.

But finding the missing artifacts is only the beginning of a mystery that will plunge these unlikely partners into adventure, romance, and danger more thrilling, sensual, and deadly than either of them knows....

©2012 Two of a Kind, Inc. (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Mayan Calendar adventure/romance-average

Elizabeth Lowell's "Donovan" series is both educational and fun to read..I'd hoped for a new series and this may be it-but it sure isn't up to past Lowell work.

Added to the confusing Mayan history, dialect and words is the tepid narration done by Richard Ferrone. Granted he had a real complication with all the Mayan names to work thru, still I think his female voice is blah and generally wasn't impressed with his work.

All in all, this isn't a listen I'd recommend even though it's topical since it has to do with Mayan calendar history and potential disaster there was no real incorporating of the date with the book.

Don't waste your credit on this.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

For the 2012 Doomsdayers, this is for YOU

Would you listen to Beautiful Sacrifice again? Why?

Yes ~ it was an awesome story. A little overwhelming on the all the artifact talk/facts, so listening again I know I'd only pick up things I might have missed the first listen. I loved the hero/heroine, the way they sparked off one another.

What other book might you compare Beautiful Sacrifice to and why?

I'd have to say her Donovan books or earlier, for the simple reason she concentrates so hard on the artifcate industry, both the scholarly part as well as the market and digs. I love the way Elizabeth Lowell can just pull you into those worlds...and really FEEL what you're reading.

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

No, I haven't. But I wasn't, and am still not, convinced he was the best narrator for this. I liked his voice, but just...he did pretty much a male voice the whole way through. I wasn't thrilled when he was doing Lina's POV...just thought it would have been better served w/ maybe a male AND a female, or a male who could do the female part better

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It did make laugh in several parts, and though it didn't make me cry, it certainly made me gasp, and my heart hurt when Jase was hurt and we weren't sure if he'd make it or not.

Any additional comments?

I was upset that Ms. Lowell AGAIN stopped a series ~ wanted more St. Kilda's books, but this was a great book, and I'm glad she went with it. It couldn't have come out at a better time, what with this being 2012. The legend of the Maya calender is on everyone's minds, believer or not, and this tale was so fitting and perfectly timed.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Awful narration.

What would have made Beautiful Sacrifice better?

A better narrator.

If you’ve listened to books by Elizabeth Lowell before, how does this one compare?

Difficult to concentrate on the story due to poor narration. I generally love Elizabeth Lowell's books and should have read this one instead of listening to it. First half of the book was boring although I had a difficult time concentrating on the story.

What didn’t you like about Richard Ferrone’s performance?

Monotone, hardly any inflection in voice. He is not an engaging narrator. I will not buy any book performed by him in the future no matter who writes it.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Last half of the book was good.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

not her best avoid it,need to ,know how to delete

do not bother not her best delete it I wish I could get off my tablet did not want to review

I love the fact the author had current events and knowledge and the subject.

One of her better books, I like that the sexy female lead wasn't the typical SWF.

dissapointed by this book

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

a more intelligent story line I was really disappointed in this book. im a great fan of Elizabeth Lowell and so I was really surprised by this book

What was most disappointing about Elizabeth Lowell’s story?

the story line was not even beleivable

What didn’t you like about Richard Ferrone’s performance?

he had no inflection

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Beautiful Sacrifice?

all of them

Any additional comments?

im sorry I wasted my money and time on this book

Beautiful Sacrifice

Good story , but got a bit dry in some areas - my attention tended to wander. Reader did a great job...I would listen again but not sure about this romance novel.

Long, involved and yes...tedious.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I'm still struggling to finish this book. I have a bout 90 min left and I can't seem to do it. So no, not time well spent. I am seriously contemplating skipping a head to listen to the last 10 min and be done with it, but I'm not even sure I care that much about what happens to the main characters.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I think there is just too much detail about the Maya, or maybe it was just too dry. I think it needed more action, or maybe more sympathetic characters. The one character I liked got shot close to the beginning and hasn't made a reappearance yet.

Which character – as performed by Richard Ferrone – was your favorite?

Richard Ferrone did a good job with the narration, but I just can't bring myself to care for any of the characters.

Do you think Beautiful Sacrifice needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I think this book should just be left to lie in peace.

Another good one!

Foe Elizabeth Lowell fans, we all know she can spin a good one. The excellent research that went into this novel was obvious - her stories are typically learning experiences as well as fascinating. Good narration and just a very satisfying novel to while away a long car trip. Definitely recommend!

Distracting narration

Would you try another book from Elizabeth Lowell and/or Richard Ferrone?

From Elizabeth Lowell - yes
By Narrator Richard Ferrone - no

If you’ve listened to books by Elizabeth Lowell before, how does this one compare?

The premise of the story is interesting - Mayan end of the year in 2012, however the narration makes the book almost impossible to listen to.

What didn’t you like about Richard Ferrone’s performance?

Everything. He makes the female lead character sound like the wicked witch of the west and the male lead character like a dirty old man.

Any additional comments?

Books written by female authors should be narrated by a female voice. Read the book, you will enjoy it more than the audio version.