Just the Way You Are

Lost Texas Hearts, Book 1

By: Christina Dodd

Narrated by: Natalie Ross

Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins

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.

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.

an old favorite

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

yes, a fun series

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

Natalie is pretty good at differentiating between the characters. She speaks almost too slowly and a bit too breathily for me. I don't search out her reads, but I don't avoid her either. Part of my hestitation in giving her an unqualified "yeah" is probably the book itself...

Any additional comments?

…which I really liked, but that isn't to say I didn't have any problems with it. I'm reminded it was written about a decade ago - do all her heroines have to be fearful virgins? Which leads to too drawn out sex scenes. I like a little heat in a book - Ms. Dodd does it better in her later books. I do like the plot. A little far-fetched, also what i like in a book! The hero comes off as a surprisingly sympathetic jerk and the heroine is strong and quirky. All in all a fun read/listen.

Enjoyable, and Charming

I enjoyed "Just the Way You Are: Lost Texas Hearts, Book 1 by Christina Dodd. The story line was charming. Natalie Ross did a good job with the narration as well.

The environment created and partially centered around the answering service, where Hope works is creative, and very useful as a method of developing Hope's character and personality. This is where she meets Zack (via the phone line), and from there, the relationship begins.

I know that this sounds picky, but one habit this author seems to have is to use the word "for" as a literary conjunction to the point that I found it somewhat annoying. She uses it instead of "because" or "since", as in, "He felt guilty, FOR he knew better than to commit the crime."

Knowing this, however, I purchased the next book in the series in hopes that this habit will not be carried on throughout book II.

Yes, the story is basically unrealistic...But, sometimes, who cares...It's entertainment!

In my opinion, it is Credit Worthy!

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.

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....

Just the way you are

I found this book to be delightful and romantic in a different way than most books I read. The characters were interesting and unusually colorful in their beliefs.

Sweet and funny and sad

There were times I wanted to cry and times I had to laugh. The characters were so likable and believable. I had read the book before but still enjoyed hearing it read aloud. I look forward to listening to the rest of the series. Christina Dodd is one of my favorite authors.

Excellent...

Any additional comments?

I think it's kind of crappy that the second book, Almost Like Being In Love, is on Audible but not on Kindle. If I'd known that I would have never bought the first book. This did remind me a lot of the old movie Bells are Ringing with Dean Martin and Judy Holiday (I think that was her), It was still good since I so enjoyed that movie, as I did this book. I loved Zack and Hope, Madam Nainci, Aunt Cecily and the rest of the secondary characters. AND the sex was great too.
I want to know what happened in Hobart, Texas but I like to read along as the narrator tells the story so I've gone ahead and bought the third book and audio in the series.
LOL..I can READ a book but I can't just LISTEN to one, too boring.

Good story plot

Only item is the continual detailed sex parts that seemed unrealistic most of the time & I found myself skipping over a lot of it wanting to know about her missing siblings & the mystery behind it all

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.