The Surrogate

By: John Isaac Jones

Narrated by: James H Kiser

Length: 28 mins

Publisher's summary

When Becky Stokes learned that she couldn't have children, she was devastated. Doctors said corrective surgery could endanger her life and, after thumbing down several other options, she and her husband decided to use a surrogate to produce a child. After the papers were signed, however, nobody, including Becky, could have dreamed what happened next! A story of infidelity and just desserts!

©2015 John I. Jones (P)2017 John I. Jones

short and fast

I am not sure how you make a good book in under 30 minutes, But somehow John Jones did it.
pace is good, not to fast, not to slow. Story is good, and yet saddening in some parts. worth a listen if you have 30 minutes to kill, and at the price you can't beat it!

Mr Kiser did a fine job reading this story.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Good read

Any additional comments?

The Surrogate by John Isaac Jones was a good quick read. Becky learned that she couldn't have children. Her and her husband along with their family decided to use a surrogate. No one knew what would happen next.

Excellent Short Story

Short stories are more difficult to write than novels (or any other longer form of written material) and John Jones successfully spins a tale of love, betrayal, and revenge in less than half an hour - a truly impressive feat. It's hard to say more without spoiling the plot but I would recommend this story to just about anyone - it's worthy across genres. The narration itself was good but the quality of the narration was not the best.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

The Surrogate

This was a nice short story. The plot setting was well done and it read like a true crime sort of story to me. I would like to see it expanded into a larger book, actually. I think it would be really creepy.

This book was given to me for free at my request for my voluntary and unbiased review.

Revenge

Good short listen about Becky who finds out she cannot get pregnant so her and husband hires a surrogate then he leaves 5 yrs. later Wilton returns you have to listen for the surprise ending. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you

A not so nice short story, but well done . . .

A quick lesson with regard to what can go terribly wrong when a set of people put their own wants and desires ahead of what may well be predestined for them. The result? Well, you'll have to listen to the story.

The premise is an old one of compromising values and revenge. The characters are quickly developed to the point that you feel you know them well. The narration was a a nice, fast, but unhurried pace which served the listen well.

I would recommend this title for purchase (probably not worth the price of a credit) to those that want a well done quick listen. A review copy of this audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in return for this unbiased review. My hope is that this review helps in your decision to obtain this book.

3.5* - short story with a bite at the end

3.5 stars for a short and eerie story set in folksy, small-town America. It's a straightforward tale with a somewhat predictable hook at the end. The narration is also straightforward and folksy, complementing the story well. There's little emotional or dramatic tension with the narration, compelling us to focus on the words of the story itself. It was a good way to pass the time while going out for a walk to get some exercise in my neighbourhood!

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

A tale of love hope betrayal and revenge

As a father of four and a grandfather to one I can only imagine what it's like for someone who can't have a child. That being said this is the story of two people in love who can't have a child and what they do to gain one in the ensuing the trail the heartbreak and the revenge. Enjoy this well written short that is well narrated. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

A match made in heaven. Until it's not

Any additional comments?

This story makes full use of its short duration; it moves fast. You quickly get to know the characters then you run headlong into the main conflict of her infertility and what the couple is willing to do to have a child. It's hard to comment more about the plot without giving away its several twists and turns. Suffice it to say I enjoyed each one.

Great story arc. Although it was fast, it surprisingly didn't feel rushed; it was just an easy story to tell quickly.

I really liked the setting. The small town 1960s south felt very specific even without a lot of details. It all just felt right somehow.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Fun, short story - Not what I expected at all!

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

What made the experience of listening to The Surrogate the most enjoyable is the fact that it was a well written short story. The story is under thirty minutes and oftentimes, I don't feel that stories that short are really solid stories. This one legitimately has a good beginning, middle and end and is well thought out, written and narrated. I could totally see this being put into a collection of horror/suspense short stories, though this one is definitely suspense, not horror.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I would have to say that Becky was my favorite character. She handled everything with grace and didn't give away how she truly felt. Anything more would spoil the short story!

What does James H Kiser bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I thought he did a good job with the narration. It was a short story with only a few characters, so it's a little hard to critique his narration, though I can say that he did a good job with pronunciation and cadence and it was pleasant to listen to him narrate the story.

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

No, but I enjoyed the end. I wasn't expecting it. It's hard to be moved in a short story under 30m, as I don't think you have an adequate opportunity to really get attached to any of the characters. Nonetheless, this was a full, quick listen.

Any additional comments?

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher for an honest review.