Narrated by Kate Russell
If you have never read Kristen Ashley and you enjoy contemporary over-the-top alpha heroes, you simply must give her books a try. Self published until recently, she has dozens of books on her backlist and most are available for very reasonable prices in eBook format (although it looks as though the prices are going up). She’s known for less than ideal editing so beware but readers who have discovered her usually come back for more and more and more. I often hear her books referred to as crack for romance alpha lovers. And I must admit that when I first started reading Ashley’s books, I read ten in a row – amazing for me. I have since backed off reading her books as they all started flowing together and I found myself losing interest at the halfway point. But that’s the risk you take when you glom an author’s backlist.
Now it looks as though audio enthusiasts can enjoy a few Ashley books as audio downloads. The releases are coming slowly with her first two this summer and several more in the works. Mystery Man, the first in the Dream Man series, will be followed by Wild Man on October 29th, Law Man 
When I heard about the release of Kristen Ashley’s work in audio format, I wondered just how a narrator could pull off these (let’s admit it) overbearing heroes. Oh, they are eventually tamed by their women but it’s not uncommon to see the hero initially act in a highly insulting manner toward their future love. And Mystery Man is no exception. Narrator Kate Russell handled that all-important aspect very well.
What’s the insult here? Well, it’s a little more subtle than the direct insult we see in a number of Ashley’s other books such as Motorcycle Man (my favorite of the Dream Man series). Hawk Delgado has been visiting Gwendolyn Kidd in the middle of the night for a year and a half. They have never exchanged names – it all started with a one night stand and Gwen doesn’t want to jeopardize the time (and thrills) he gives her when he mysteriously appears in her bed. Now Gwen’s life is threatened and Hawk suddenly appears in the day proclaiming her to be his and, common for Ashley’s heroes, takes over her life without ever asking permission. Back to that insult? Well, he never wanted to be bothered with the daytime aspects of a relationship and easily admits it. Gwen isn’t accepting his takeover of her life and the repartee between the two is pretty fantastic. See, Hawk just thinks she ought to do what he says – period. He knows best after all. And he’s not put off by her refusal to let him do so. He still knows best and isn’t letting up.
Kate Russell handles Hawk’s attitudes with flair. In fact, all of her interpretations of the male characters (of which at least two are future heroes of their own books) are spot on. She doesn’t deepen her voice much for her male characters yet her female characters are easily distinguished.
My largest criticism of Mystery Man is Kate Russell’s performance of Gwen. She simply sounds too young. With her performance, she projects a 21 year-old woman in both her physical voice and the emphasis she places on Gwen’s dialogue. It’s an overly excited nature usually seen in college age characters (her friends sound the same age). Gwen is 33. Many of Gwen’s lines are outright funny for a sensible woman in her thirties (which Gwen is) but Ms. Russell’s delivery makes her sound silly rather than the endearing character she is in print. However, in the latter half of the book, I did notice that Gwen started sounding more the age of her character. Overall, I adored Gwen’s character in print – I only tolerated Ms. Russell’s interpretation of her character.
Hawk is a man who can protect his woman even against all odds. As with every Ashley book I have read, the whole family gets into the action around the halfway point. Hawk continues to be a challenge for Gwen but I won’t say more as I’d hit spoiler territory. It’s fun, it’s different, it’s not the best writing you have ever read, but that unevenness you may sense in print doesn’t seem all that noticeable in audio format. The narrator brings the entire family to life, differentiating the characters sufficiently.
Kristen Ashley fans will likely love Kate Russell’s delivery of Mystery Man. The Audible reviews are already highly favorable with 93 ratings at an average of 4 ½ stars. Regardless of the narator’s interpretation of Gwen’s character, I have no doubt this will be an audio winner. And I have to give another thumbs up to the narrator for getting the hero right – the most difficult aspect of performing an Ashley book to my way of thinking.
I’ve read one too many Ashleys to keep reading at the pace I once did. I still read an occasional Ashley title but now it usually involves a lot of skimming. But still…there’s nothing quite like a Kristen Ashley book. If it’s to your liking, you too will be feeling that you can’t read (or listen to) just one.
Lea Hensley
Narration: B
Book Content: B+
Steam Factor: Glad I had my earbuds in
Violence: Minimal
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Mystery Man was provided to AudioGals for review by Hachette Audio.
I’m pacing myself because of personal time restraints but it sounds like that’s a good thing – I can savor Ashley’s over the top uniqueness longer. :D
“Back to that insult? Well, he never wanted to be bothered with the daytime aspects of a relationship and easily admits it.” This worked for me because of Hawk’s oft repeated “missed out” comments. ;)
Gwen didn’t bother me but I wish Ms Russel hadn’t used volume levels as one way to differentiate characters – it makes it hard to hear when the low, soft voiced characters are in scenes with mid range to loud characters.
She was also in the moment in some scenes while in others there was no more intensity to her voice during a big family argument – a fire bombed house etc than when waking up the next morning. Those differences and sound discrepancies make me think there were multiple edits. Thankfully it all comes together for an enjoyable listen with KA’s story / characters to focus on.
I hope to get my grabby hands on thse one day, especially after hearing that the narrator does a good job with the heroes.
Us chicks at Diaries of 2 Thick Chicks (Nettie and Celie) are huge Kristen Ashley fans. We were so excited when it was announced that she was moving over from self-publishing to an actual publisher. We were even more excited to learn that her books were being released on audio. Cue nail biting and obsessive worrying because we just knew we would get a female narrator. Well, I for one think that fans and more importantly authors should have a say. A female just can’t pull off the alpha-male syndrome quite like a say Jim Frangione (narrates the Black Dagger Brotherhood). So to say I’m not super excited about getting this one on audiobook is an understatement but I still love Kristen Ashley books!
I have to agree with you about the male narrators. Ashley books need them – they cry out for them. And although I graded the narration a B, I did that on the narrator’s ability to understand the male POV and portray it effectively.
But I would have much preferred a male narrator or even a female narrator with a deep range for voicing males. The differentiation between male and female is here but it is subtle. However, I was greatly disappointed in Ashley’s first audio release, Own the Wind, and it was a DNF for me. Compared to it, MM is a relief. I wish we could have an influence on the choice of narrators for Ashley books but I don’t think it is going to be in the near future. Unfortunately.
See, I totally disagree about using a male narrator. The reason that KA’s lack-of-editing and multiple run-on sentences work is because a large part of each book is written from First Person POV of the heroine. The words are coming straight from her heroines’ minds, and I think we can all identify with thinking in run-on sentences with a lack of punctuation. I for one do NOT want to hear a man reading in First Person Female POV. Maybe dual narration, with a man reading the third person POV sections – but no, do not give me a man reading KA’s heroine’s POV from the first person.
I wouldn’t mind a model like Karen Marie Moning ended up doing with the last 3 (?) books of her Fever series and the more recent, Iced. Where the female narrator reads all the female bits and the narrative and a male narrator reads all the male dialogue and any male POV parts.
Basically: what Melinda said! :)
The female friendships are a big draw for me with KA and first person books from a female POV with a male narrator would jar a bit for me I think.
Hmmm – I had forgotten that little detail. :) I still think her males are best performed by a male and I love Kaetrin’s idea of a FEVER series type of narration (Moning). But I doubt that will happen as I imagine that means big budget so it looks like either one side or the other will be unhappy with the choice of a male or female narrator. I read Ashley’s books for the overly alpha heroes and watching them work into a giving relationship. And I usually enjoy the heroines. But the female POV does make that male narration less palatable.
I’m currently listening to Renee Raudman – now there’s a female narrator who could handle Ashley’s books. She understands romance, goes deep to perform the male characters, and has the experience this type of book requires.
Which Raudman are you listening to Lea?
Julia London’s All I Need Is You. The name has been changed (formerly Wedding Survivor) – it’s the first in what was once her Thrillseekers series. I gave the book an A years ago and Raudman is bringing it in with style. It tends towards the silly side with the secondary couple later in the book but I found it to be fun and I don’t do silly. I’m an hour in.