Not Quite Dating

By: Catherine Bybee

Narrated by: Amy McFadden

Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

Her love is…

Working the graveyard shift as a waitress, single mother Jessie Mann has no time to waste on a Texan with big dreams and a skinny wallet. And that’s just what she sees when Jack Morrison ambles into the diner where she works. After a childhood of financial instability, Jessie swore she’d do better by her son. But with Christmas just around the corner, saying no to Jack and his cowboy good looks is easier said than done.

All he wants for Christmas...

As the heir to the Morrison luxury hotel empire, Jack Morrison is tired of women drooling over his wealth. He wants a woman who will love him for him - and he thinks he’s found her when he meets Jessie. To be sure, he conceals his true identity and offers to help Jessie find the rich husband she seeks. But will Jack’s matchmaking game backfire and cost him the ultimate Christmas gift?

©2012 Catherine Bybee (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

A pleasant surprise!

I wanted to try a new author (new for me) so I gave this story a shot. And what a pleasant surprise I got! I don't like to give spoilers so let's just say this is a secret millionaire meets poor single mom. It's a cute interesting love story. It is set around Christmas time so it was extra special to listen to it during this time. I'm happy to see this is a series! I hope the next book is about Jessie's sister.

Narration: this is the first time I've listened to a book narrated by Amy McFadden and I was not impressed. She was just ok. She needs to really work on the male voices. Hopefully the next book in the series will have a different narrator.

Note: although this book has a less-than-desirable narration I still recommend it. Very cute contemporary romance story similar in style to Susan Mallery.

18 of 18 people found this review helpful

Entertaining, Engaging

This story was fun. The author engaged my imagination from the first chapter. It is a light read, We need books like this to take you out of heavy novels at times. I really liked all these characters. The encounters were believeable. The narration was superb...perfect for this book. I recommend this book if you want a story that is interesting and takes you to that feel good place. Thank you Ms. Bybee for perfect timing...smart dialog.

11 of 11 people found this review helpful

Sweet!!!!

"Not Quite Dating" is a well written story and easy listening. A chance meeting between a single mother and a cowboy changes their lives....but all is not what it seems.

Amy McFadden didn't do a bad job of narrating, but she doesn't do male voices well. I didn't feel she detracted from the story, although she did not enhance it.

I would recommend it, if your looking for a sweet romance. It's nice for a change of pace.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Not Quite Enjoyable

Regarding the book: I figured it would be the usual formula for a romance novel...going in with that expectation..it was still lacking for me. The heroine was a little too whiney for my tastes.

Regarding the Audible Narration: I have listened to many audible books...this was definitely not the worst but certainly not one of the better ones either. The narrator made the female love interest's voice "lispy" at times which was distracting and a bit confusing because it made her sound too much like her sister's voice. The male voices were mediocre at best and the Texas draw left much to be desired.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Lovely!

Any additional comments?

A very sweet well paced plot with an interesting premise about love and money. Very engaging characters and wonderful secondary characters. The story is about a very rich guy who hides his wealth to find a woman who loves him and not just his money. He meets Jessie, a poor waitress and single mom and he is quickly quite taken by her. He hides his wealth from her and pretends to have a temporary job at the hotel that in actuality he owns. Jessie's experience with love was from watching her mother constantly falling in love with losers as well as Jessie's own share of bad experiences. Her only desire is to provide her son with a better life than the one she had. Of course, she thinks what they need is a rich stable man not a poor guy or a dreamer. She resists Jack's charms and decides all she wants with him is a platonic relationship. Ha! So she thinks! Jack is wonderful, charming, caring, funny and generous to both Jessie and her son. All goes to hell in a basket because of his deceit. I think the end was somewhat rushed and actually would like to see a sequel.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Not bad! Enjoyable for the most part...

I actually finished this and it was sweet. I would probably give it 3.5 stars. The narrator was good but not great with southern accents. I am from the south and I can promise you, we don't sound so dumb.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Cute story drawn out a bit too long

I enjoyed this like I enjoy cupcakes. I don't focus on why I'm eating it or what it'll do to me, I just dig in.

Lonely housewife fodder but it has likeable characters and you don't roll your eyes until the middle when they like each other but just can't seem to connect because, you know, romantic drama writing devices.

I would recommend to someone who always wanted to be Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Also men who want to be Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. I just want to be Julia Roberts in Pretty Women, OK?!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Bad Narration

What disappointed you about Not Quite Dating?

The story was so simple it almost felt like I was listening to a kids book. I really wanted to like this book because I was interested in the second novel of this series.

If you’ve listened to books by Catherine Bybee before, how does this one compare?

This is my first listening experience with this author

What didn’t you like about Amy McFadden’s performance?

The narrator was a major dissapointment. I've listened to several books but this is the first time that I felt that the narrator really hurt the listening experience.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment because I was looking forward to this series.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Finally a sweet romance!

This book was delightful. It had everything I was looking for, for a relaxing non nail biting book. I read/listen to so many that have me so tensed up I can hardly stand it! I do enjoy those other books but every once in awhile it is nice to just listen.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Very cute and worth a credit....

This is a great first book in a romantic series. The narration is average, but the story between a rich man and a single mom is very cute. Can hardly wait for more in the series.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

What a tangled

Web we weave! Loved this book had me chuckling and Groening with the ups and downs

Familiar Storyline, New Take!

This might be a familiar storyline, but this was very well written and narrated!

I like the background that is given to the 'reader' and smile at the journey. (Would have enjoyed a little more matchmaking journeys for Jessie, also maybe something more with Heather! Hahahahaha!)

A nice read, enjoy!

good

great read, lots of humour and well written, will read more books by this author

Love it

Truly enjoyed this book, easy to listen too. Must read! Looking forward to my next book.

A sweet feel good story

Book 1 in the Not Quite series, free to read and listen to with kindle unlimited.

I was pleasantly surprised, it had a nice storyline about a waitress and a wealthy hot guy.
It was a light romantic read that lifts your mood.
I listened to it all and the narration was good. :)