Love in Due Time

Green Valley Library, Book 1

By: Smartypants Romance, L.B. Dunbar

Narrated by: Chris Brinkley, Beth Tucker

Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's Summary

Naomi Winters will be 40 soonish, and she’s only been with one man. One night. One time. Long ago. She believes everything happens for a reason, and the universe spoke about Nathan Ryder.

Nathan Ryder isn’t the same man who hightailed his bike out of Green Valley, 18 years ago. As a rule breaker, women are one area he acts a fool. Case in point, the local librarian. He can’t get a read on her, but she’s one risk he’s willing to take. Again.

What do an eccentric librarian and a sexy silver biker have in common? 

More than you think. The due date on their love might not be expired, after all.

Love in Due Time is a full-length, contemporary romantic comedy that can be listened to as a stand-alone, and is book one in the Green Valley Library series.

©2019, 2020 Smartypants Romance (P)2020 Smartypants Romance

Female narrator deals death blow

I stumbled across L.B. Dunbar one day looking for my next book. As a woman in my forties, I loved listening to romance between couples who have a little more life experience than highschool or college.

With that said, this book was a disappointment. I just could not relate to this heroine constantly touting mother earth, the goddess, the power of three, and her Wiccan faith. It was almost its own character. There was also this "I'm stuck on you" mantra and once uttered aloud it was used over and over again by both characters in dialog AND inner monologues. I never want to hear that phrase again.

There was also a danger element to this book involving a kidnapping plot that I found just ridiculous. Unfortunately, it completely detracted from the poignantly sad and tragic past of the two main characters and their path towards forgiveness and healing.

With all of that said, the biggest problem with this book was with the narration. Let me first say my problem is only with Beth Tucker. Chris Brinkley narrates the chapters told from the hero's POV - a solid 4 star performance. Beth is a completely different story. I imagine she was chosen for her southern twang and mature voice. Her performance is not a performance at all. She reads in a monotone. There is little distinction between characters. Her pace is painfully slow. Honestly, I cheered when the POV switched to Nathan's character. Without Chris' narration, I never would have finished this book.

In the end, this book just wasn't credit worthy. I say that with a heavy heart because I have loved the other books I've listened to by this author and until she began using Ms. Tucker, the narration has always been great.

Not the Green Valley I'm used to

This was a cute book - not the Winstons for sure - the male narration was great, the female narration wasn't my favorite

Could Not Get Through This Book

I love Penny Reid and The Winstons. The books by Smartypants Romance are usually really good. I love Chris Brinkley and his narration is always on point and great. Beth Tucker was the reason I could not finish this book. Her narration was dry and monotone. No distinction between characters and I felt like someone was just reading and bored. The narrators are the ones that paint the picture with the author’s words. I want to read this book on my own. The only reason I rated this because I’m sure it’s probably good as a book and Chris Brinkley.

Cringe.

If you can get by the female character’s narrator reading like you’re sitting in class taking turns then by the character herself being irritating then it’s ok

Only made it to chapter 5

I can’t listen to Beth Tucker. She is awful. I hate that I wasted a credit on this.

Beth Tucker shouldn't be reading out loud

Beth Tucker should stick with owners manuals or just not read anything for an audience. Her reading is pitchy, stilted, and dry. She essentially ruined this book for me. I couldn't make it past chapter 3 despite Chris Brinkley reading the make character.
I really like Chris Brinkley, he has an amazing way of connecting with his characters.

Save your money/credit

1. The female narrator is awful. I should have read the other reviews first. I had to sit it off after a few chapters. She sounds like she is reading a washing machine repair manual.

2. I switched to the Kindle version to finish it and it was almost as bad as the audiobook. Annoying female lead, boring plot, significant inconsistencies with The Winston Brothers series and Forrest for The Trees (a MUCH better spin off novel), poor writing (for example, using opaque when she needed to use transparent)

Put me to sleep

I was excited to drive into this series because I love the green valley universe. But Beth was flat and very bland. Put me to sleep. I couldn’t get into this book! Was like listening to my bored grandma!

Reality of Witches

Thank you for including the real issues and practices of a neo-pagan/Wiccan character. Especially the correct pronunciation of Samhain {Sow-in}. There is a lot of fear from those who don't understand the nature based religions and the power of belief in the Goddess within all of us.

Female Narrator was not suited

The only thing that made this bearable was the voice of Chris Brinkley. I also wanted to start the series and hate to skip the first one. Sad that I spent a credit on such amateur narration 🤦🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️