Hello Love

By: Karen McQuestion

Narrated by: Dan John Miller

Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

From the bestselling author of The Long Way Home comes a charming novel about loss and the faith that restores broken lives.

A year after the death of his wife, Christine, Dan is barely holding on. But one thing gets him through the long, lonely nights and that is his cherished dog, Anni. When she is stolen from his front yard, Dan and his daughter, Lindsay, are devastated. Meanwhile in another part of town, Andrea Keller is recovering from the heartbreak of a messy divorce. After she rescues a defenseless dog from an abusive tenant, her life changes in ways she never could have anticipated.

Dan and Andrea cross paths again and again, only to keep missing each other and the opportunity of a lifetime. As Anni works to find her way home, can she bring together these two lost souls desperately in need of a second chance at happiness?

©2014 Karen McQuestion (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Animals Inspire Love

I've read many books where dogs are the central character. Seeing this book, inspired my interest because of the face of a beautiful dog on the cover. Once again, I was not disappointed.

Dan and Lindsay were the husband and daughter of Christine. She had died within the past year and they both missed her very much. Lindsay was 17 and in her last year of high school. Dan was 40 and worked for a micro-beer corporation. And then there was Anni, their 8 year old mixed breed dog who had been stolen. Lindsay saw her abduction happening but had no useful information that helped to find her.

The story involved many character's. The characters were well developed and worked into the plot of the book very well. Anni, the dog, was my favorite character. She stole my heart and understood how her family felt lost without her. Anni's love of people was known by everyone who entered her life. Dan and Lindsay hoped that whoever had taken Anni, loved her as much as they had.

The book was short and I was able to finish it the day that I started it. The personalities of the character's were well developed. The narrator, Dan John Miller, did a great job with male and female voices as well as their emotions. I would encourage others to listen to this book, especially if they are in need of a hug. The ability of a dog to inspire love was definitely seen. The book was an enjoyable and easy listen. Put your feet up, lean back and enjoy.

Predicable, at least an hour longer than necessary

Did you watch "All My Children" in the early 1990s when Dixie did not know that Tadd had survived the explosion? That was all I could think about as this story unfolded. Dan going up the elevator when Andrea is going down. Andrea driving out of the parking lot right as Dan run out to catch her. The story drew out way longer than my patience.

Mediocre, not worth the points.

Hello Love is a hidden gem!

I'm a dog lover and a romantic but I don't like cheesy romance novels. This book was sweet and surprisingly suspenseful. I couldn't wait to hear what happened next. The main characters were well developed and very likable. I really liked the narrator. I usually don't like when men try to do female voices but he did a great job voicing all the characters. Great Listen It's a feel good book about love and destiny not to be missed!

Fluffy, light chick book

I’m surprised that this book hasn’t been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel yet. It seems to be exactly what they are looking for. As a guy, I would say that this is more a chick book than I usually like, but it’s a light, easy listen, just what I want while I’m doing some mindless task. (Think mowing the lawn or washing the dishes.)

Within the first ten minutes you know how this story will end, you just don’t know how the author will get there. It had its share of twists, but was still fairly predictable. I thought that the end came on pretty quickly after the man and woman finally met "officially", as opposed to just crossing paths. I felt the author could have developed the romance more. As it was, the entire story was a question of, "How are these two going to get together." When they finally did, the story was basically over.

There is no sex and no foul language. You will not be embarrassed to listen to this with your mother or daughter. That said, there really isn’t any romance either. It’s just the mild suspense of waiting for the main characters to meet.

There is a hint of fantasy with the ghosts of dead characters appearing to advise the protagonists to specific actions. It occurs only a handful of times, but it’s enough that, for me, it detracts from the story. It’s almost like, "...then a miracle happened and..." I’m sure the author could have worked up a good yarn without invoking the supernatural.

The narrator, Dan John Miller, did an excellent job, reading this schmaltzy book in a schmaltzy manner. I wouldn’t appreciate this style with a different story, but it suits the material here.

If you’re seeking a red hot love story, this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for something very lighthearted and upbeat you’ll enjoy this book.

– Loren

Dog-lover's must

Predictable but aweet. Chicken soup for the dog-lover's soul. Sort of a chick-flick type of book... Narration is excellent.

Really About lLove

This is a book for teens and beyond. It has a little something for everyone, provided that you are of the feminine persuasion.

Fluff. Pure and simple fluff.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would not recommend this book for anything other than passing the time. I am not big at universal cosmic play in our lives. Things just don't work out that way. This book moves slowly with too much smooth transitions in the characters lives. I'm not saying God can't do wonderful things, but nothing lines up like the sequences line up in this book.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Bored by the end, just ready for it to be over.

Have you listened to any of Dan John Miller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The narrator was good. His female voices are a bit week, but he narrates well.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No.

Any additional comments?

If you like dogs and easy going reads this book is for you. I felt it could have been fine in half the time. Predictable.

Feelgood story

I liked listening to this book. Got it with a Audible sale. A Sleepless in Seattle like story. Not very intriguing, but a good casual listen for all the hours on the road. Performance is also good.

Decent reader, iffy story

Reader was good but his female voices were very drag queen-ish sounding so it was almost comical at times.

The story was sad, upsetting, and rushed at the most important part - the ending. The author should have taken less time with the whole "meeting by chance" stuff and just gave us the good stuff- the love story.

Aaaaaawful Book

This book was an immense struggle to get through. I kept hoping that I was wrong that the plot was not so obvious and that the twist was just ahead, but unfortunately it never happened.

The narrator was just as bad as the author to make things worse.

Not for me.

What disappointed you about Hello Love?

It was sickly, predictable and narrorated in most unfortunate sacarine manner. I kept waiting for it to get better but it didn't.

Would you ever listen to anything by Karen McQuestion again?

No

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Dan John Miller?

Not sure

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

Any additional comments?

None