The Ideal Man

Buchanan-Renard-MacKenna, Book 9

By: Julie Garwood

Narrated by: Christina Traister

Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Julie Garwood is among the most critically acclaimed - and popular - romance authors around, with 36 million copies of her books in print. And now, with The Ideal Man, Garwood is poised to expand that already huge audience.

Dr. Ellie Sullivan has just completed her residency at a large urban hospital. While jogging in a park nearby, she witnesses the shooting of an FBI agent in pursuit of wanted criminals, a couple identified as the Landrys. The only person to see the shooter’s face, Ellie is suddenly at the center of a criminal investigation.

Agent Max Daniels takes over the Landry case. A no-nonsense lawman, he’s definitely not the ideal man that Ellie has always imagined, yet she’s attracted to him in a way she can’t explain.

Ellie heads home to Winston Falls, South Carolina, to attend her sister’s wedding. Shortly after she arrives, though, she receives a surprise visitor: Max Daniels. The Landrys have been captured, and she’ll be called to testify. But they’ve been captured before, and each time the witnesses are scared into silence - or disappear before they can take the stand. Max vows to be Ellie’s shadow until the trial, and it isn’t long before sparks fly....

©2011 Julie Garwood (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Good plot

What made the experience of listening to The Ideal Man the most enjoyable?

After listening to other audiobooks, it was a pleasure to have a narrator that you had no problem understanding. I enjoyed this book because even though it was a romantic plot it was nicely interwoven into the other plot.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, because there was another storyline that kept you wondering how that one would end.

Which character – as performed by Christina Traister – was your favorite?

I wouldn't call her my favorite but I enjoyed the sister who thought the world revolved around her. What a bridezilla.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Don't know.

Any additional comments?

Read Julie Garwood books about ten years ago. Glad to see she still a good imagination.

Great story

Great story and I will be looking at Julie Garwoods other audio books. Narrator was really great.

Really good story

I thiught this was a great story and will purchase more of her books. I was not sure would like it but the story kept me thinking

Didn't love it, but okay way to while the day away

A decent book - another case of FBI agent falling for a protectee, and vice versa, with the inevitable troubled pasts and his frustration with her independent streak making him crazy when she puts herself in harm's way. Great portrait of the family and the life of a surgeon. Some great teasing steamy moments leading up to the real heat. I was a little annoyed with her resistance to the relationship based on geography after a few repetitions, especially after having made it clear that she wasn't permanent in her situation - by the time they'd gotten through the events of the party, I wanted to say "duh, just move if you want to be with him, you were thinking of picking up and moving somewhere new anyway!"

The narration was alright, no real issues, but her character voices did get muddled in dialogue a few times, where Max suddenly had her father's accent, or her responses sounded like Max's voice...but it wasn't overly hampering and context usually cleared up those few confusing instances.

An okay way to while away the day, but it's not in my top favorites list.

Wish I had one!!

What made the experience of listening to The Ideal Man the most enjoyable?

The Ideal Man was one of the best books that I have "read", from the start to the finish it was great!

What did you like best about this story?

I love how the flow of the story went.

Which scene was your favorite?

Can't pick just one, I love the entire book!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I spent most of my time thinking that most of what was going on was what I would have done or said.

Lots of twists

Lots of twists and turns and not too graphic. First I've listened to from this author. Enjoyed very much. Good narration as well.

5 stars

I loved it. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Recommended

I love Ms Garwoods stories and this is just one example why. The story is fresh and original. Life is complex and never focused on just one thing at a time as experienced while experiencing this story. This is a stand alone story so everything is pretty much rapped up in the end (sadly it doesn't look like we'll get other stories from this one) but all my questions were answered :-).

Later:

I don't know how Ms. Garwood does it Ideal Man is another hit for her. Each of her stories is unique and with the various twists and turns each takes they leave me guessing. This one is no different.

The characterization is thorough, I fell in love with Elle, she has had such a struggle yet she doesn't let it stop her. I liked how she & Max are together. One thing that struck me was how down to earth and normal they were while alone in the apartment, not real mushy, lovey dovey, or theatrical like I see so often in romance novels.

Great chemistry

I really like the voice of the reader; her reading is so energetic. If you like the movies of the Hallmark Mystery Channel, you’ll like this book. It’s a simple an enjoyable story.

Not the Julie I love

some of my favorite novels from the past 30 years her Julie Garwood novels. But, her modern novels just lacks that same intensity and joy and compassion and funniness that used to be. I don't know if it's because the person reading this novel acting out this novel just doesn't do a super great job but it's just not the same.