Well, it’s September and… yeah, I got nothin’. It’s Friday. It’s Currently Playing. You know what to do ;)
BJ
Narrated by Emily Rankin
Caz
Narrated by James Cavenaugh
Em
Narrated by Dan Calley
Kaetrin
Narrated by Amanda Ronconi
Melinda
Narrated by Kathleen Early
Shannon
Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller
I remember enjoying Sex, Lies, and Online Dating when I read it in 2009, and I’m interested to know how it holds up with the huge advance in technology.
Right now I’m a little over halfway through The Countess Conspiracy by Courtney Milan. I think I might just be a grouch these days. I am struggling to like anyone in this book besides Sebastian, and I’m SO tired of listening to Violet’s repetitive internal monologues. about being stone, how Sebastian can’t love her, etc. At one point in the middle of a conversation with Sebastian, Violet says something about Sebastian’s feelings that the reader already knows Sebastian is going to contradict, but between her statement and his answer we have several paragraphs of Violet’s rationalizing how her statement is, of course, correct and how she’s okay with that. I have no patience. I’m hoping the second half of the book is more appealing. I like Rosalyn Landor, but she narrates at a more leisurely pace than I like, especially in times like this when I’m already frustrated with the pace of the book. However, listening at 1.25X remedies that. See, I have no patience these days. Sigh.
I really wanted to love this book about a woman scientist, especially one researching genetics and inheritance of traits, which was my field.
I finished The Countess Conspiracy and ended up liking the second half much better. I especially appreciated Violet’s character development for the second half. Very well done and consistent with who she was the first half.
I think that series – Brothers Sinister – is Courtney Milan’s best work; it’s been a while since I listened to it, but I remember enjoying all the books, stories and narration, but then I’m a big RL fan… I loved Sebastian in this one; Violet is definitely harder to warm to but as you get to know her and what she’s been through, that becomes easier.
Like I said, I’m grouchy these days. I do enjoy Milan and have given most of the books I’ve read 4 stars. I just really hated the interactions with Benedict in this book. I found them very stressful. BTW, I head to your reviews on Goodreads when looking at books these days. I know we don’t always agree, but I have a feel for “how” we don’t agree, and take that into account. (Does that make sense?) Anyway, your reviews are very thorough and helpful.
Right now I’m almost finished with my first KJ Charles book: The Magpie Lord. I’m really enjoying it!
I do know what you mean – Em and I are frequently twinnish in our likes and dislikes, but will occasionally disagree – there are reviewers with similar opinions to mine who dislike tropes I like and vice versa – but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate their perspective. I’m SO glad you’re discovering KJ Charles – she’s one of the best writers of historicals around. I have yet to meet something of hers I’ve rated less than a B – and the Bs are rare. In the years I’ve been reviewing, I’ve only ever given one A+, and that was to a KJC book (A Seditious Affair. Come and find me here or GR and let me know what you think when you’ve finished!
So last week’s “Currently Playing” sent me hunting down “In Your Dreams” by Kristan Higgins, which I somehow missed when I read/listened to the other Blue Heron books. I like it, but it’s got a lot of bleakness and overexaggerated poor self-esteem issues that make it a little heavy in these otherwise less-than-sunny times. I’m more than half-way through, and I know Higgins well enough to know she’ll make it all work out, but it’s not my favorite.
Caz- I finished The Magpie Lord, and listened to the short story about the tattoos (included and so much fun!) and immediately went on the A Case of Possession without a pause. That’s how much I’m enjoying these characters and the stories. The narration is excellent, too. I’m so excited this series is part of Audible Escape so I can binge.
I’m so glad 😊 – and you have so many more wonderful KJC titles to listen to!
Be warned – I listened to book 3 in this series in one go – I couldn’t put it down!
Yep! I finished Flight of Magpies today! I loved them all.