Diamond Bay

By: Linda Howard

Narrated by: Brenda Sweeney

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Rachel Jones wasn't looking for trouble, much less a man, but in Kell Sabin she found both. On a hot summer's night Kell is washed up - barely alive - on a Florida beach and into Rachel's life. Their love blossoms as he recovers from his injuries. But by falling in love with Kell, Rachel has put her own life in danger from the forces that want him dead. Once fate has bought them together, can they learn to live apart?

©1987 Linda Howard (P)2014 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Great story ruined by dismal narration.

This is a great story by Linda Howard - a little dated, perhaps, and clearly an early work, but it’s held up pretty well after more than three decades.

But Brenda Sweeney narrates it like she’s reading to a class of preschoolers - with a sugary voice and great sweeps up and down the tonal scale. She manages to make Rachel Jones, a strong, calm, and profoundly capable character sound whiny, weak, and pestering. Kell Sabin just came across as a creeper.

I listened to the end because I wanted to hear the story again after all these years, but it was a close thing. For a good read, I strongly recommend you find the print version.

P.S. I hate to give snarly reviews because I know narrators have feelings too and words can be devastating. But this level of bad narration really needs to have a giant caution sign stamped on it.

Brenda Sweeney did a fine job narrating

I don’t know why so many complained about her, I nearly didn’t listen because of the negative reviews & this book is one of my long-time favorites. Thank Audible for the new Romance package! There was no risk to checking the story out anyway. It was as good as I remember it from long ago.

Really good book, if you ignore the narrator

I agree with a previous review. Narrator sounds like a librarian reading a bed time story to toddlers. But if one can tune out the tone and focus on the story, it really is a good book.

Good story, bad narration

Please find a different narrator! I had trouble concentrating on the story because I was constantly thinking, 'that's not how she would really say it!' The narration was breathy and made the heroine sound dumb! Honestly, I can't say she did a whole lot more for the hero, but at least it wasn't breathy and helpless.
Linda Howard is a great author and her stories always draw me in. This was the first I'd listened to and it was much different than the voice in my head. I loved the hero, but I'm not sure how I felt about the heroine, but that may be because of the narrator.

Not Her Best Work

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I have enjoyed so very many of Linda Howard's books but this one was just lacking substance.

Any additional comments?

Maybe I am just old school, but her earlier books seem to pull you in and wrap you up in the story. This one left wondering when it would be done. Sad for me to say as this is one of my favorite authors.

great book!

loved it! I love Linda Howard books, glad they are on escape. I wish some of her other books were on here as well!

Naked HUNK on a beach..~4 STARS~ narration ah~

Widow Rachel Jones is looking for shells on a beach when she stumbles across a naked HUNK of man...(.Kell Sabin.)....dragging him into her house on a blanket she discovers he has been shot TWICE. Something about Kell has her decided to keep this QUIET. Using her best friend the local VET.....Kell's wounds are treated.....and recovers very slowly but soon explains to Rachel he is "BLACK OPS"....and was a target by his OWN agency.....and ONLY 'two' people knew where Sabin was when the shoot out occurred...... Rachel is soon very attracted to this silent man who's dark secrets are as mysterious and fascinating. While Sabin recovers from his wounds he has little to do but think just how sexy his "temporary" nurse wanna be Rachel is...night "and" day....LOL.....when 2 "Agents" show up looking for Sabin....Rachel continues to hide him. When passion grows Sabin and Rachel become lovers.... Grant Sullivan (Midnight Rainbow) Howard book #1 shows up looking for Sabin .and on his trail is...a group of "Agents" looking to get Sabin and any one who gets in their way. This is a very good early work by Linda Howard fun follow up to Midnight Rainbow. The Narration is not the best. "Irritating" is phrase I would NOT.....use Brenda Sweeney again...she is a bit whiney at times. But the Quality of the Story keeps us glued and over I give it a 4 stars in spite of the Lousy narration. STORY 5 STAR....BRENDA whiney Sweeney....2 stars and that is being generous....LOL and over all 4 stars.....because Linda Howard keeps us glued .....what she does BEST.

Exciting. Hard to put down. Great fun.

Neat characters. I loved the part Joe the dog played.

I suggest reading the physical book. Don’t buy the audiobook unless they redo it with a different narrator.

AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
I hated the narrator. Brenda Sweeney sounded like a little old lady prudish retired school teacher. The way she interpreted phrases was soooo off. Normal adult conversation would not sound that way. For example, one guy asks Jane if she will stay at the hospital to watch over the patient. A normal adult answer would be to say “of course” in a matter of fact way. The narrator said it using a high pitched voice - long and drawn out - southern style like it’s so obvious don’t even ask. Another example: Kell asks Rachel how she lifted him onto the bed. She said “the vet” meaning the vet helped her. But this narrator said “the vet” in a very high pitched voice and long and drawn out - like it’s obvious, you should know the answer, why are you asking me? I don’t know if I’m explaining this well, but it was ICK. It did not sound normal or natural for 30-year-old adults. The narrator made the hero sound like a school teacher, not the alpha male. Same goes for sex scenes. This little old lady narrator does not fit.

THE STORY:
The plot involved CIA type agents and a woman who used to work as an investigative reporter. Feel good ending.

DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 244 pages. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: eight. Setting: current day Gainesville, Florida. Copyright: 1987. Genre: contemporary romantic suspense.

Great Story but wrong narrator!

Linda Howard did not disappoint with this story. The narrator was all wrong for this genre! She sounded like she should have been reading Mother Goose rhymes rather than Linda Howard.

Classic Linda Howard

Great sale for this classic core romance author. Audible or author made a good decision to put books 1&2 on sale. This is great core romance writing and should expose new readers and gain fan ship. Remember these books were written when feminists movement was developing. This is not a reader l would seek out but because she had the privilege of these books, l did purchase after listening on Audible Escape.
Were my comments of help?