Narrated by Angèle Masters
He’s So Fine is Book 11 in the 12 book Lucky Harbor series. Lucky Harbor is a small town in Washington state where everybody knows everybody’s business, and the young singles are getting married off at an astonishing rate, one right after the other. Plus there are the crazy seniors running around in brightly colored track suits (srsly?), posting the aforementioned business on Facebook and Twitter, in case anyone in the world missed it. All the young, single guys are tall, hot and built, and all the women have commitment issues. If you just can’t get enough of small town romance, then Lucky Harbor is right up your alley (there are four reviews here at AudioGals).
Olivia has a pretty major secret in her background that she is hiding while she tries to fit into small town life. Far be it from me to spoil that for you, but you can bet it is gonna be a big deal-breaker for any man, and Cole isn’t just any man. He’s a man with strong family ties and a backbone made of honor, honesty, and loyalty. When Olivia and Cole have their meet-cute – a story they’ll tell their grandkids over and over, no doubt – neither one is expecting a relationship that will require them both to reveal the secrets they would rather not talk about. Especially Olivia – and when it does come out, Cole feels rightfully if a little righteously betrayed.
Jill Shalvis’s books fall in my 3-4 star range – they’re ok, but not cracktastic. Her writing (and editing, thank you!) in this one is above average, her story-telling sometimes funny, always entertaining, and it occasionally hits an emotional note. I did have a major eye-roll at Olivia’s inner dialogue once again rationalizing that all people leave her all the time, so early on she decides she should just steel herself for Cole’s leaving her. Once again, srsly? That old trope? Cole’s inner dialogue is slightly more realistic – he’s still smarting from a major disappointment mixed with real grief when his best friend died and his almost-fiancee left him, not quite two years previously. But, dear authors – sometimes people act and react without actually knowing why, so I get a little weary of all the protagonists having such clear self-awareness, even more than a trained psychologist, enough that they can think (and therefore tell us rather than show us) all the reasons they behave the way they do. (end rant)
Angèle Masters is new to me but not so new to audiobook narration – there’s an interview with her that outlines her journey to the craft. Her narration is very age-appropriate and her skills are also in the 3-4 star range for me – good, natural pacing, no out-of-place breathing, no jarring mispronunciations. She manages a sort of gruff, throaty sound for Cole that is pitched slightly lower, while she pitches Olivia slightly higher than her general narrative which serves very well to create a balance. There isn’t much differentiation that I could discern among her young males (Cole and his colleagues) but she does manage to give the other female characters different attitudes and pitches. Masters picks up on Shalvis’ POV clues and uses slightly contrasting tones for them, so that the hero’s entire POV is gruffer and a little more testosterone-laden. While Shalvis didn’t give this story a Notable Pet, unfortunately depriving the narrator of the chance to voice animals, she did include a couple of cute kids which Masters did well.
All in all, a good way to pass several hours and Worth A Credit if you’re a fan of small town contemporary romance.
Melinda
Narration: B
Book Content: B
Steam Factor: Glad I had my earbuds in
Violence: None
Genre: Contemporary Romance – small town romance
Publisher: Hachette Audio
He’s So Fine was provided to AudioGals by Hachette Audio for a review.
Ok- I had to look up “srsly” ;-)
Yeah, ok, that was me being snarky because the “brightly colored track suit” remark struck me as a little, I dunno, age-ist or something. As I approach Lucille’s age, I feel honor-bound to use a millennial text abbreviation to express my displeasure. “LOL”