The Gift

By: Dave Donovan

Narrated by: Jeff Cummings

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

When an elite team of specialists receives a long-awaited first contact from an alien race, it’s nothing like what they’d imagined. The "gifts," from a long-dead but seemingly benevolent alien race, have been sent to help humanity defend itself against an imminent threat. It’s clear that the gifts are intended to help, but at what price?

Caught in the middle is Sam Steele, a high-level programmer and veteran with a tragic past, up against the arrogant, intransigent Colonel Eric Web, who considers Steele a loose cannon and is most concerned with giving the United States an edge in the upcoming battle.

As the team races against the clock to divine their visitors’ complex instructions, they struggle with infighting and, ultimately, the question of what it means to be human.

©2013 Dave Donovan (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Why didn't I like the ending?

Great premise for a book! I was so excited to start this. I was enraptured through the first six hours and had to keep rewinding repeatedly during hours six, seven and eight because I kept drifting out. I guess this means I thought it dragged during this time.

I think this started strong but ended both too neatly and not tied up enough. Understanding that it's likely going to be followed up by another book or two, I still feel some things happened too quickly and were tied up too neatly. For example, Sam's sudden romance, the change and then end of Webb, and the way it ended. Trying not to say more and spoil for others. Everything else was drawn out well but these things seemed to suddenly drop in your lap and stay there.

That all being said, I'm sure I'll likely listen again, which is always fun to catch things you missed and mull over what is going to happen next! :-) Overall I really did love listening to this at work for a couple of days. Well worth the purchase.

Great listen, couldn't stop - stayed up all night.

Great story, well worth the time and attention. Waiting or the next installment. At least I hope there will be another installment.

Enjoyable listen

This was a pretty enjoyable though predictable listen. Characters were not very developed, but the plot moved at a good pace and the narration was good. This author thankfully did not attempt to stretch out the story in an attempt to produce two books from one book of material (something that I am seeing more and more of these days), instead, he has left the door open to start an entire new chapter of the story. i will want to read that also.

Nice start

This was a enjoyable audio book. looking forward to the next in hopefully will be a series

Interesting story, infantile reading and voices

I enjoyed the story, even though parts of it felt like as if they had been hashed together from other books, and there is the very obvious set up for a sequel. What really annoyed me were the reader’s representations of the different characters through their voices: women sounded like air-head blondes, and older me. sounded like Cary Grant, for example.

YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SLEEP!

What made the experience of listening to The Gift the most enjoyable?

fresh , different than the rest. cant put it down. im calling in to work to finish the book.

What did you like best about this story?

ITS all good.

What about Jeff Cummings’s performance did you like?

he did 11/10 job. i will tweet to him

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

there are several you will just have to try it.

Any additional comments?

you will love it. I NEED BOOK 2 NOW!

Wonderfully Creative and Imaginative

I really enjoyed this book. it was engrossing and entertaining right from the start. Kudos also to the narrator, who did an absolutely great job with the subject matter.

There seems to be an opening for a sequel and if that's the case, I can't wait for it

Reputations

Did Jeff Cummings do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

I found little difference between them except for the time the Boston Accent was used. Not familiar with it but to me it sounded authentic.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When she called Jeff Dad

Any additional comments?

This was a good book/audio. I liked the plot, the women's building friendship and the twists and turns. The over all story line was good however I some problems with the similar characters due to the narration. I would recommend as a good read.

Amazing story

This book dives into a world of opportunity. It got me thinking of all the different ways I might use a gift. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy a story of imagination.

Just OK

It was interesting, but not an attention grabber that I could not stop listening to. I am glad that it was an Amazon book of the day and only paid $4.