Lucky Stars

By: Kristen Ashley

Narrated by: Abby Craden

Length: 16 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

Belle Abbot is pathologically shy, and because of this she's living a nightmare due to the fact that she's also a national treasure hounded by the media. James Bennett is known the world over as the perfect catch, handsome, wealthy, and the owner of an intimidating castle on a Cornish Cliff, Chy An Als Point. Belle and James meet, and in one night they fall in love. The problem is Belle's dating James' brother.

As quickly as they fall together, Belle and James are torn apart. Not long after, circumstances throw them back into each other's lives, and they find they were right that first romantic night: They were meant to be. Even if their families want them together, James' brother, Miles, does not. Dogged by a rabid media who are fascinated by their love triangle as well as Belle's hidden demons, James and Belle find they have yet another problem to solve. The Point is haunted by the ghosts of two children murdered in the castle. Their murderer will stop at nothing to keep their souls tethered to The Point instead of letting them live eternity with their mother and father. Belle is determined to find her courage and help them, and she enlists her loopy mother and loopier grandmother, James' even loopier ex-girlfriend, and the dubious (but talented) team of rock 'n' roll witch Cassandra McNabb and Scottish ghost hunter extraordinaire Angus McPherson to help the children find their way back home.

©2016 Kristen Ashley (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Narration ruined my appreciation of this book

I'm sorry for harping on Ms. Craden, but she totally ruined this series for me. In this book particularly, she managed to turn KA's characters' quirks turned into incredibly annoying characteristics that made me what to skip sections. Yes, I believe this is the narrator's fault because I have no trouble reading the book. This series could have shined with a different narrator. Normally, I listen to KA's books on a regular basis, but I have a feeling that I'll pass on these books.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A Rivetting Conclusion to a Wonderful Series

Any additional comments?

Lucky Stars is the fifth and final book in Kristen Ashley's compelling Ghosts and Reincarnation series. It offers a complicated love story imperiled by betrayal, murder, and ancient ghosts. Wealthy bachelor, James "Jack" Bennett falls hard for beautiful Belle Abbot upon first sight. The problem is, she is his younger brother's date at their mother's annual birthday ball. Belle is timid and wary of Jack's attention, but finds herself equally attracted to him. After one dance with Belle, Jack steals her away from the family castle to a loft above the stable where they engage in passionate love making that will forever alter their destinies, as well as change the lives of both of their families and three ancient ghosts. What makes Belle especially intriguing is that while she is painfully introverted, she is also a very successful and wealthy fashion designer.

Each character is robustly developed by Kristen Ashley and excellently portrayed by the narration of Abby Craden who perfectly embodies the voices of women, men, and children. She transitions from British to Scottish to American accents so flawlessly that you forget one person is narrating.

Kristen Ashley never fails to deliver!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

3.5 Lucky Stars Stars

with a maybe there will be another book in the series and I am totally ok if it ended here. I don’t really feel the need for more I think we got all we could out of this series.

I really enjoyed the story between Belle and James/Jack it was emotional and sweet and I like the Alpha male side but the sweet side too. It really was a well-rounded story and I am glad I read it.

There HEA felt like it needed to be the last, because of how long they waited for each other.

Now for the narration I don’t know what it is about Abby’s voice I don’t like. Whether it is her tone or what but I find listening to books she has narrated so difficult. I love her male voice if that is any conciliation. She did a great accent too.

*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*

8 of 11 people found this review helpful

Just meh.

This story lacked any real depth. The plot unfolds and develops as though the author had a deadline, but no real passion for the story. I found the central female character not likeable enough. All in all it was a mediocre read. There ard certainly much worse reads out there. I thought the narrator did a good job.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Wonderful the way Kristen does it!

The book was great Jack & Belle.. such a great love story. Fantasy to get lost in.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Romantic, sexy, funny, passionate…

Any additional comments?

There is sadness, plenty of humor, a cast of quirky characters…KA style.
It’s a fun, but at the same time, heart-wrenching story, as only this author can write.It is a touching and emotionally charged story about two people, Belle and Jack, who are destined to meet and fall in love. They do just that and it's very much love at first sight for both, but after a passionate beginning they are torn apart and each question their initial first impressions. Fate is far from done with them however, and shortly thereafter they're thrust back together (that is to say Jack, like many a KA hero, wrangles Belle back into his life), but they each tread more cautiously, learning one another and eventually developing a deeper and more meaningful love.
As 'Lucky Stars' is part of the 'Ghosts and Reincarnations' series, it wouldn't be complete of course without a ghost or two thrown into the mix.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Love KA!

Gotta say, I am seriously enjoying KA books in audio format. I loved reading this series the first six or seven times, but it's another experience to listen to it. I loved Bella, loved James, and completely forgot about how much I enjoyed this book. And after 5 books, I finally got used to the narrator and her male voices. She does do excellent accents and emotional scenes.

Really enjoyed this one.

Audible Review: Abby Craden is the narrator and I love her. No complaints. She does an awesome job with all the characters.

Story Review: Overall, I enjoyed this story very much. Jack was pretty great. He was very protective of Belle, which I love to see in a Hero. He wasn't the usual KA A-hole and I was also glad to see there wasn't a long separation...another thing the author likes. This had great side characters that kept the story entertaining and flowing nicely. Belle was a tad bit annoying at times wanting to argue with Jack but it wasn't overwhelming. I would read this one again.

Great

I've really enjoyed this audio book and series. It has made me laugh and tear up too. And Abby Craden is one of my favorite narrators. You can tell which character is speaking.
Definitely worth a credit! 😄

Loved it

Another book I couldn’t put down , as always she doesn’t disappoint. I just love how she writes!

Ruined by Narrator Attempting Accents

Would you try another book written by Kristen Ashley or narrated by Abby Craden?

Yes by Kristen Ashley, I'm a huge fan, have read this book and loved it. Sadly I won't buy anything narrated by this performer as her attempt at various accents is truly awful. The upper class English male was laughable and very hard to understand at times (I'm English, and went to boarding school so I have plenty experience with this type of accent) and the upper class English female voice, while easier to understand than their male counterparts, were awful too. I bulk purchased 4 titles by this author and narrator, am only part way through this book and already tempted to see if Audible will accept a return of them all as the narration is totally spoiling the story for me. Gutted as I was really looking forward to listening to some old favourites.

How could the performance have been better?

Ms Craden has a perfectly lovely speaking voice but whoever allowed the attempts to replicate various British accents for is narration ought to be shot - dreadful. I would have enjoyed listening to the performer's own voice,with perhaps small variance to pitch and tone for the various characters as I have heard in other performances for this author for example Susannah Jones narrating the Rock Chick series. Ms Jones managed to produce recognisable voices for various characters without these almost comically bad impersonations. So disappointed.

Could you see Lucky Stars being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

I'd love to see this story as a movie. Not sue who I'd pick to star in it, but as long as they had authentic voices I'd be happy :)

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Excellent story line , I rate it as one of K.A best

Loved every single minute of this audio book, definitely earned 5stars from me , couldn't put it down .

Terrible accents

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The book is fine, I've read it several times and really enjoyed it. The real problem I had was with the narrator. She was fine with most of the book but her accents where atrocious, especially the Scottish one, it got to the point that it was spoiling the book for me.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Olive, I would love too meet someone like her.

How could the performance have been better?

The accents.

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

Probably not, not a great film person.