Must Love Chickens

By: Jea Hawkins

Narrated by: Lori Prince

Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

City girl meets country girl.

Natalie's life is on a precipice with too many failed career moves in the last year. Faced with the loss of everything she has ever worked for, Natalie looks for a way to get out of the city and realign her priorities.

When Jessica Morgan places an ad for a new farmhand, she doesn't expect to hear from an urbanite. And when the respondent turns out to be gorgeous Natalie Wells, she's really at a loss for words!

Natalie thinks taking a job in the country is a great plan, until she realizes she's attracted to her boss. When she learns her boss's bias against her is the result of issues with an ex-girlfriend, Natalie realizes she's not imagining the sparks between them - that Jess might just be open to a new relationship, if only Natalie can prove she belongs in Jess's life.

The last thing Jess needs is a new love interest, especially one who works for her! But she can't deny Natalie is pretty darn cute trying to learn her way around the farm and as she falls in love, Jess wonders if there's a chance for romance with the city girl....

©2016 Jea Hawkins (P)2018 Jea Hawkins

Excellent Audio!

I loved Must Love Chickens. I can't say enough good things about it. The story/plot is excellent. The characters of Natalie and Jessica are excellent. The scene where Natalie sits on the floor of the coop talking to the chicken is so memorable. If you have ever poured your heart out to a dog, cat or horse you will empathize with these women. Something I never mention, I Love the cover of the book. Lori Prince does an excellent job with the narration.

A sweet lesbian romance without needless drama

This is a quick listen that hits your sweet spot. Natalie is a city girl who is somewhat naïve. I didn't expect a grown woman to be as sheltered as she is, but it's explained away with privilege. Jess is a hard-working small farm owner who finds it hard to trust people. Both women have within the last year suffered break-ups that make them wary of entering new relationships.

Natalie shows her character by working hard without complaint, even when it takes her time to learn how to do things. She wins Jess's heart by bonding with the chickens. (As a bird owner myself, I approve of this.) As Natalie toughs out her new life, she and Jess realize that maybe what might seem impossible is worth giving a shot.

Well, no spoiler to those who love romance: Our couple pulls through in the end. However improbable, they are great for each other.

As far as the narrator's performance, I believe this is the first piece I've heard from her. Her voice is great, and she always kept the character voices distinct. You can definitely tell Natalie and Jess apart, even when it's a gasp or sudden sound. The overall production values on this audio are very high and even better than some I've heard recently from bigger name narrators in mainstream studios.

Bottom line: This is a good book for someone who loves a sweet lesbian romance and who wants to spend a few hours wrapped up in that goodness. This is my first book from the author and narrator, but if these works are typical of either creator, I'll definitely be back for more.

Disclaimer: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Entertaining, sweet story; fantastic narration

Any additional comments?

“Must Love Chickens” is a very entertaining, sweet story that’s as much a love story for our cultural ideal of small towns as it is a love story for the main characters.

While I do, of course, include the mandated disclaimer at the end of my review, I want to point out right away that I received this audiobook as a free review copy. This is the very first time I’ve ever requested a review copy of any book, and I was very excited to have been accepted to review the book. What I want to explain, or perhaps clarify is a better word, is why I requested this book. Narrator Lori Prince. That’s why.

I was halfway through Jea Hawkins’ “Something About You”, and was about to get on an airplane to visit my mom. At the airport, I realized I would need more Lori Prince. So I bought Heather Blackmore’s “It’s Not a Date”, despite mixed reviews for the storyline. Why? Because Lori Prince is the narrator, and I was really enjoying her voice on “Something About You”. Also, because that’s the same desk that Bold Strokes Books used for the cover of Georgia Beers’ “Right Here, Right Now”. Helloooooo! First those legs, now the bare feet…that’s a nice desk.

Anyway, I’m sitting at the boarding gate, looking at email, and I see that a review copy of “Must Love Chickens” is available. Narrated by…Lori Prince! Oh please!! I requested a copy, got on the plane, and checked my email as soon as we landed four hours later. Hooray! My request was accepted. So…I listened to the book (when my mom wasn’t around!!!), and here’s my review!

As I said earlier, this is a fun story of idyllic farm life; gathering apples by hand (does that really still happen anywhere?) and feeding friendly chickens…each of which has their own personality (the chickens provide eggs, they aren’t eaten!!). The MCs are very very likable, the small town secondary characters are friendly, and the big-city secondary characters are shallow and/or bitchy.

Much of the story revolves around big-city, rich family, MC girl Natalie trying to decide which camp she really belongs with. Family insists on big-city, of course. But who or what will make her happy…or want her to be happy. Yes, those are the questions many of us face, and it’s enjoyable being with Natalie as she decides. We don’t really learn as much of MC Jess….she has her own painful past, but she is more confident in knowing where she belongs…or, I should say….where she WANTS to belong. Understanding and choosing what one wants is very much a central theme of this delightful book.

For the most part, there’s very little angst in the book, and Natalie and Jess often communicate well…both in, and out of the bedroom. ;)

But…there is, in sort of Melissa Brayden fashion, just enough self-doubt and uncertainty thrown in late into the book for each MC to internally question each other’s “true feelings” for each to make assumptions about what the other may want to be moderately annoying. Really…they were doing so well together…this is a sweet romance…assuming the worst without talking….really? Sheesh.

I enjoyed Natalie’s conversation with her grandmother. As much as I agreed with Natalie’s internal assessment of the adage “if you love something set it free” being a “crock of shit”, I was surprised that the author made Jess’ decision not to try to influence Natalie’s ultimate decision work…work very well, in fact.

I really enjoyed listening to “Must Love Chickens”, and I will listen to it again when I want to relax with a story and voice I know will make me happy. 4.25* for the book, at least another half-star added for terrific narration, rounded up without reservation to a highly-recommended 5* audiobook. This isn’t complex or hugely thought-provoking…this is highly enjoyable entertainment. Get this audiobook!!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

My rating and my review was not in anyway affected by my having been provided a review copy.

Very engaging!

This book was very engaging, got the farm stuff right. There were some significant plot points that were missed, but this author was in point with overall storyline and character development. I am definitely looking forward to more works, and would listen to this memorable book again. Bravo!

Fun Lesbian Love Story Excellent Narration!

City Mouse Country Mouse, super sweet story with just enough light conflict to keep things interesting and somewhat true to life, but nothing the characters can't overcome.

Jess owns a small apple farm in a small town upstate New York, where she has lived her entire life, and loves. Natalie works at a fast paced high stress art gallery job in big city New York, her "dream" job. Due do unfortunate events, Natalie decides she needs a change of pace, and takes a job at Jess's orchard, a 180 degree turn from everything she has ever known.

Lori Prince nattation is a smooth easy listen, I was able to relate to both characters, the storyline was solid and included a sweet love story with a well-written plot.

I enjoyed it so much I recommended it to my girlfriend, she's only about half-way and it's fun to revisit the characters w/her. Highly recommend!

I love this story!

This is a great opposites attract romance. Natalie is from a rich family, and while she enjoys some of the things that life has provided, she begins to feel more and more unhappy and longs for a change. She applies for a job as a farm hand, which is the opposite of everything she's known before.
Jess is the owner of the farm where Natalie comes to learn a new way of life. She is blunt and sometimes grouchy, and she's both attracted to and doubtful of the city girl who thinks she can make it doing manual labor.
Both women have pain in their pasts to overcome, and they begin to feel like they might be able to help each other. They begin to feel like more than employee and boss. Can they get past their doubts to find happiness?
I loved this story, and the narration was excellent. I will look for more books from this author and more from this narrator.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Cute low angst read

This was cute, perfectly serviceable, low angst romance. Good performance by Lori Prince as always, and an author that I’ve enjoyed a book of their before. But it didn’t have that extra thing that made me connect/love it. I think it might be ME being in a reading slump? Idk. I haven’t loved/connected with anything I’ve read recently. Could be ive just been picking duds/things not rlly my vibe or could be I’m just in a random slump. Dunno. This was cute tho, and not super long and def one I’d rec if you’re in the mood for low angst and sweet.

too quick for love

I love the slow burn but this was more a flash flood. how they fell so hard in the course of 3 months.

idk but if you like a current love story this is it

Sweet

Sweet lesbian romance, no over the top drama. Great narration. Some dialog super cheesey. But overall very entertaining and a good listen.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

Loved it!

I loved this romance! Super sweet and great chemistry between the characters - this was perfect! Narration was really well done!


I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. The fact that I was gifted this book had no influence over my opinion of it.