The Complete Katie Connell Trilogy

A Three-Novel Romantic Mystery Box Set From the What Doesn't Kill You Series

By: Pamela Fagan Hutchins

Narrated by: Ashley Ulery

Length: 29 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Katie Connell is a high-strung attorney whose sloppy drinking habits and stunted love life collide hilariously during a doomed celebrity case in Dallas. She flees Texas for the Caribbean and escapes professional humiliation, a broken heart, and a wicked Bloody Mary habit, but ends up trading one set of problems for another when she begins to investigate the suspicious deaths of her parents on the island of St. Marcos. She's bewitched by the voodoo spirit of an abandoned house in the rainforest and discovers that she's as much a danger to herself as the island's bad guys are.

One unexpected and hotly fought-over little boy, two dead bodies, and a series of home vandalisms throw Texas attorney turned island chanteuse Katie Connell into a tizzy. Juggling all of this, Bloody Mary cravings, baggage, and the bad guys too, she waffles between the house that brought her back from the brink and the man she believes is the love of her life.

Katie's already on edge when a dead guy shows up at Estate Annalise and shady locals claim there are slave remains in the foundation, but when her husband doesn't come home to her and the kids one day after work, she's ready to lose it. A frantic Katie launches a Caribbean-wide manhunt, calling on her stoic, steady father-in-law, and Collin, her badass big brother, to help her search air, land, and sea for her husband, who may be in very big trouble indeed.

©2014 Pamela Fagan Hutchins (P)2016 Pamela Fagan Hutchins

MEANT 2🌟 CAN'T EDIT!! OK stories; narration FAILS

First, these were much less mysteries than full-blown romance novels. I listened all the way through, but it was a struggle. But here's my real gripe: the narration.

I feel terrible to have to give such a scathing review of a narrator. I know how much work goes into it; I worked as a professional narrator creating audio documents for 15 years. Unfortunately, it's true.

Of the many dozens of audiobooks I've listened to, this isn't just the worst ever, it's simply unacceptable. In addition to ignorance of basic rules of narration, like dropping the tone at the end of a sentence so it won't sound like a question, this narrator made egregious word errors so severe I resorted to keeping a list of the worst for this review. There were many, but these astonished me:

Calvary (place of the Crucifixion of Christ) for Cavalry (mounted soldiers);

When speaking of the cardiac event, infraction for infarction;

Hurtled for huddled, as in "the hurtled masses";

Marine accent for Maine accent;

Irrevelant for irrelevant:

Periphial for peripheral (repeatedly).

Timing: There had to have been editing; you simply cannot speak that long into a microphone without coughing, sneezing or yawning, or simply getting tongue-tied. If edited, then, why not do it right? The editing was ghastly. The entire narration was filled with inappropriate pauses that, at best, made the listener wonder; at worst they changed the meaning - only to have the reader pull a mental 180 when narration continued. Unfortunately, I made only one note of this and it wasn't close to the worst one. "...drove a white Oldsmobile Cutlass with..." was read 'white...(pause) Oldsmobile...(pause) Cutlass...(pause)' before continuing the sentence to the end.

Accents: Oh, so awful. The main character's Texas drawl came & went within a single sentence. It would disappear for entire sections only to reappear (badly) for no apparent reason. The love interest was also supposed to be Texas born & raised, but never has any attempt at an accent, nor did his parents. Set in a Caribbean island, the lovely sing-song patois was poorly executed & inconsistent.

This has been far too long, so I'll close with this: When a narrator takes on a job of this magnitude, it's incumbent on them to do their homework. Study the material. Learn the accents. When a publisher (or whomever) creates an audio version, its incumbent on them to see that it is properly read and edited. This was a disaster. I am tempted to come out of retirement to give the listener as decent read for their money! If narrator Ashley Ulery would like some tips, please feel free to contact me. (P.S.: If you see this, Ashley, you misspelled "college" in your bio for "Voice 123.")

Fun story

Loved all the twist and turns of the trilogy it was entertaining. The only issue I had was with the narration. The accents from southern to island were not great and at times it seemed more like a computer reading the story… no offense to the narrator.

loved it

loved this book series..the storytelling and storyline was great. I look forward to listening to more books from this author...

Boring Boring Boring 😴

I was hoping for a lot less romance and a lot more mystery. I didn't even get through the first book. The narrator droned on and the storyline was just plain boring. If I could figure out how to return this set I would. My advice; don't waste your time or your money.

This house is amazing!

Katie went from pathetic to whiny to needy to courage to strong to determined to - well the entire range that every woman goes through when she is forced to face her demons. Fortunately, she makes the right friends on the island and they help her to learn what she needs to know to grow - oh! and solve the mystery of her parent's deaths among other things as she deals with life in general.

Annalise is the house and I do mean that there is personality and strength and courage from the house because it is alive and also takes part in helping Katie to figure out life. She is also jealous which causes other problems.

The narration was good and really brought out the variations of Katie and her strengths and weaknesses.

Bottom line: this is a great listen to for a long weekend while you knock back a few margaritas.

Good Series

..1 Saving Grace.
The author painted a good picture of what St Marcos was like and the dialog of the people. As for Kate, she is a touch notch lawyer, and dealing with too meaning issues, resulting.in the drinking... Since she dislikes her job, Colin’s and Emily talk her into a Carribean vacation, where her parents had died.Then mayhem begins with meeting some bad guys. A woman who befriends her, and then her lover is killed, as a lawyer can she help her new friend. She is your average woman, falling for the wrong guy. Her life needed change, and it did that and more while on vacation. Given ARC audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion The narrator Ashley Ulrey did a good job,
..2. Leaving Annalise.
The house Katie wanted was back on the market, so even though the locals say it is haunted she buys Annalise. Workers were lazy, doing things in their own time. Firing them resulted in material being stolen, damages. Then Ava her new friend has gotten her up on stage singing. Her love life. brought Nick back into her life and then more changes for her. Does she end up selling her house Annalise and moving back to Texas with Nick. Interesting plot, showing the struggles and how she is maturing. The narration by Ashley Ulrey was good. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
..3..Finding.Harmony
Annalise the home of Katie and Nick are having trouble again, a man now saying it is the graveyard of slaves under it.So being investigated, and who to trust. They are thankful for friends. This story is filled with laughter, they need it with what is going on, of how Katie and Nick have matured from the first book . All three books are good, Narration is good,
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

Audio Bee

Really enjoyed the storylines, suspense, quirkiness, and romance without over the top heavy sex scenarios.

Very confusing

Katie wow very needy individual. Almost got done with the first book before I even figured out what the book was about. Almost returned hold interest but not sure if it would
be for everyone

Wonderful!

I didn't think I would like it because it was as a romantic thing but I loved it! I couldn't stop listening to it. Every spare moment I listened to this adventure. I'm going to miss these wonderful characters. Thank you for this story.

not worth the time

whiny main character. was she programmed for disaster?


I don't usually complain about books but these just didn't live up to the publishers notes

villa renovation story with a backdrop of crime

Good story. slightly rambling in places but overall interesting. I recommend it as a holiday read. one for the beach! !!

Lame storylines with irritating main character.

The basic ideas for the storyline was interesting but was let down by the whiny and irritatingly immature main character. in many situations the plot was predictable even though the characters were ridiculously slow on the uptake!

mystery

Ashley Ulery did well as a narrator.

Kate is a flawed attorney, She seemed to be her own worst enemy--jealous and furious without justification.

You will find the plots are paced with a good mixture of action and mystery . A cross between a romance, mystery, coming to terms with life