It's a nice story that has some pacing issues, and a few scenes that don't ring true. It might be due in part to this being the first in a seri3.5* B-
It's a nice story that has some pacing issues, and a few scenes that don't ring true. It might be due in part to this being the first in a series and characters and setting are being established, making the story drag a few times. Still, I'm thinking of going on to book 2 to see if the story and writing tighten up a bit, and because I think there's potential for a good light mystery series.
3.5 for the story and 4.5 for the narration by Kale Williams.
Overall this is a nice way to spend a few hours, especially with Kale Williams in the nar3.5 for the story and 4.5 for the narration by Kale Williams.
Overall this is a nice way to spend a few hours, especially with Kale Williams in the narrator's chair. I did have a few issues with the relationship, though, starting with the fact that John was originally under a love spell. It made me uncomfortable that Cosmo didn't step back and suggest they slow down, even live together or something for a while. The world building is interesting, but I'm not feeling overly curious about the continuing plot line.
I am glad I finally listened to this, but I'm not sure I'm going on with the series, at least not right now. I may come back to it....more
The suspense was decent and I'm enjoying the relationship arc, but I'm kinda over all the cameos fromB for story and narration by Christian Letterman.
The suspense was decent and I'm enjoying the relationship arc, but I'm kinda over all the cameos from the author's other books. There are too many and at one point we have a dozen people on a call and I couldn't keep track of all the relationships and jobs. There are so many characters and moving parts. That had me dinging at least a half point in my rating. The relationship arc was smoother.
Christian Letterman does a great job with character voices (except for one that supposed to be "cockney"), but he makes odd pauses in his delivery that don't make sense and interrupt the flow of the sentences. Small changes would really help his delivery and my enjoyment....more
I wasn't sure going into this how I'd like it, but it proved to be a well-written, well-balanced story, with some humor and grit. It's not exactly a rI wasn't sure going into this how I'd like it, but it proved to be a well-written, well-balanced story, with some humor and grit. It's not exactly a romantic suspense, since there is no ongoing suspense plot, but it deals with the ins and outs of policing a small rural town in Australia where your closest backup is 2 hours away. Without being overly angsty, the book still deals with some weighty and emotional subjects.
Gio has been blackballed and threatened by his former friends and team members on a big city police force for reporting his partner and lover to the ethics department. The complete story was never fully revealed to them (it is to the reader), and everyone turned on him as a "rat." He's now taken a job at a two man station in a very rural town for at least two years.
Jason is a single father of a ten year old trying and often failing to balance his job with his parenting. He's still mourning the death of his wife 5 years earlier. He's heard the rumors of how Gio cost a "good" cop his job, and the two don't get off to the best start.
I really like Jason and Gio together, and I like the way the author develops not only the sense of place but also what a policeman's job is really like in such a remote town. Gio's and Jason's relationship develops in fits and starts, but that feels right.
My only real complaint is what I consider an abrupt ending. ...more
B- for the story A for the narration by J.F. Harding
I mostly enjoyed this romance with the light suspense plot(s) (mainly just following a few things HB- for the story A for the narration by J.F. Harding
I mostly enjoyed this romance with the light suspense plot(s) (mainly just following a few things Harper does on his job as a detective for burglaries, etc). The characters were interesting and the story engaging. Unfortunately it lost momentum and became a bit sacchharine for the last 20%, so the grade went down by half a point.
J.F Harding is the main reason I picked this up, and he's such a wonderful narrator. I wish he would narrate more M/M. I found him through his narration of Kaje Harper's Life Lessons series, which is amazing. I recommend that series, BTW. ...more
This installment of The Mind Hacker series is slightly heavier on the relationship dynamics than the suspense, but not by much. It was a tough r4.5 B+
This installment of The Mind Hacker series is slightly heavier on the relationship dynamics than the suspense, but not by much. It was a tough read in some ways because of the dive into the underbelly Conversion Therapy, which is shocking. I'm still wondering how Tracey and Jon are going to continue their relationship while working together, so I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book....more
3 stars for the story-C 5 stars for the narration by Greg Boudreaux-A. Greg gives an amazing performance of a subpar book.
I've read Charlie Cochet's bo3 stars for the story-C 5 stars for the narration by Greg Boudreaux-A. Greg gives an amazing performance of a subpar book.
I've read Charlie Cochet's books before and enjoyed them for what they are: low angst books about sexy military-adjacent MC's being super-alpha. I was rocking along with this one for a while, but then the "highly trained" MC's decide to become undisciplined adolescents in the middle of an Op. I literally stood with my mouth open going WTF!!
Then later there is a fight scene where everyone is beaten bloody (it goes on and on) but they all just keep going like little energizer bunnies.
I'll give it a C for the somewhat entertaining start to the book, but the last 15-20% is a trainwreck in my opinion. ...more
Story and narration by Christian Leatherman 4 stars, B.
I enjoyed reading this story a few years ago, and was eager to listen to the recently released Story and narration by Christian Leatherman 4 stars, B.
I enjoyed reading this story a few years ago, and was eager to listen to the recently released audio. Mostly I was happy with it. Mr. Leatherman does a good job with a few niggles on my part. His emphasis on some words and phrases doesn't mesh with how I would read the sentence, and he sometimes reads in phrases, with a slight up-tilt to his last word. But overall I was still engrossed in the story and plan to continue with the enxt audiobook in the series, Cask Strength....more
I struggled with a C+ or B- and I settled on B- for nostalgia reasons as much as anything.I really enjoyed the earlier books in this seri3.5 stars, B-
I struggled with a C+ or B- and I settled on B- for nostalgia reasons as much as anything.I really enjoyed the earlier books in this series. While I enjoyed seeing Irish and Whisley again, and the suspense plot as decent, there are a few things that makes this just good and not as great as other books in the series. First, you have to remember a lot of names. I've reread most the Irish and Whiskey books recently, plus the first books in the other to series that get tied in here. But I still felt overwhelmed by all the side character names, especially since it was at least moderately helpful to know why they were important allies here. Then there were the new characters, friends and villains. Lots. Of. Names. Next was that while the suspense was interesting, it wasn't really allowed to build up much, so in the end there was less at stake than I thought there would be. Finally, while it's great to see the boys so in love, I could have done without so much repetition of how much, both between Irish and Whiskey, but also anyone one else who would listen. And I could have done without the over sweet epilogue.
I know I'll revisit the original books in the Irish and Whiskey series, but I doubt I'll be rereading this one....more
This was a mixed bag for me. I liked the mystery, but found the main character, Maggie, a bit obnoxious at times and a bit of a pushy-American stereotThis was a mixed bag for me. I liked the mystery, but found the main character, Maggie, a bit obnoxious at times and a bit of a pushy-American stereotype. Not sure I'll continue the series....more
The antagonism between the two in the beginning got kind of old, but whenthey started working things out it was great. Ben standing up to Griffin and The antagonism between the two in the beginning got kind of old, but whenthey started working things out it was great. Ben standing up to Griffin and laying out his (Ben's) pain over their separation was one of the best scenes in the book. The mystery was fairly well done although (view spoiler)[it was a little obvious (hide spoiler)]. Overall a fun book with some good worldbuilding. This mystery was solved, but it turns out there is an overarching plot for the trilogy, so I'm curious about book three, especially with the Asher and Calypso as the main couple....more
Note: I read a few reviews that called this a "cozy mystery." It contains on page violence and some descriptions of murders, and although not super goNote: I read a few reviews that called this a "cozy mystery." It contains on page violence and some descriptions of murders, and although not super gory, they also aren't glossed over, so I would notcall this a cozy mystery. Just FYI.
This is an enjoyable mystery that moves along at a decent pace. You need ot buy into a bit of woo-woo about the dog, Vira, but I could do that because dogs can have pretty amazing talents, and I think you could have genius dogs just like genius people.
I liked the characters and the plot was mostly engaging. I'm not a big fan of chapters from the villain's pov, but at leastheit was in 3rd person, not inside their head. I won't look too close at the times when police procedure wasn't closely followed and timelines had to be fudged!
The mystery in this one is well done. Thre were lots of clues leading in different directions and there seemed to be too littleStory and Narration: B-
The mystery in this one is well done. Thre were lots of clues leading in different directions and there seemed to be too little information and yet lots of suspects for Bree to shift through. I was kept guessing all the way through.
At the same time I felt there was a lot of repeated internal dialog from Bree, especially about her niece and nephew, and other repeated musing that felt like padding. So, good mystery, but slow going in several places.
Christina Traister is a solid narrator with many strong qualities. Other than a slow narration speed (which is solved by bumping the narration up to 1.2x), her timing and delivery are good, and does really well with dialog. My biggest complaint is the voice she chose for Mark, Bree's love interest. He's really soft spoken, almost a whisper and his tone is flat. I know she can do good male voices because other male characters have strong voices. I guess it's too late now to change the voice, but it can get a bit irritating for me if there are longish dialogs passages....more
A nice continuation of a well written suspense/mystery series. Well drawn characters and anicely complex mystStory B Narration by Christine Traister B-
A nice continuation of a well written suspense/mystery series. Well drawn characters and anicely complex mystery plot. There are hints of a very slow burn romance, but this isn't romantic suspense. The possible romance is a small part.
I've lsitened to Ms. Traister before, and her delivery is decent. I'd call it more good than outstanding, but still overall well done and enjoyable. I don't care for her choice of voice for the main male character. He almost whispers and speaks in a monotone. She does a couple other male charaters better, so I know she can do it....more
I forgot to review thins and now it's been a couple of weeks. I did enjoy it, but had a few caveats about the set up. It makes me uneasy when the wholI forgot to review thins and now it's been a couple of weeks. I did enjoy it, but had a few caveats about the set up. It makes me uneasy when the whole set up is "we're definitely breaking the rules but let's do it anyway." Other than that it was a good mystery and enjoyable characters....more
Good story but not as good as this author's Life Lessons series (which I highly recommend on audio). The characters were a little bland and a bi3.5 B-
Good story but not as good as this author's Life Lessons series (which I highly recommend on audio). The characters were a little bland and a bit stereotyped (gruff Marine vet, laid back cowboy, energetic hockey player). ...more
3.5 B- There is some creative worldbuilding here and the writing style is also quite good. I have a few caveats, but they mainly deal with plot choice3.5 B- There is some creative worldbuilding here and the writing style is also quite good. I have a few caveats, but they mainly deal with plot choices. I feel like there are way too many things left purposefully obscure and unexplained. I realize this is a trilogy, but I need a little better denouement at the end of this book. That brought the book's grade down half a star.
I looked at the author's wesite and at this point (3/15/24) there is a second book out that is said to be a cliffhanger and no third book on the horizon. There is a first book of another series coming out, but nothing about when the next book in this series is due to drop. Because of that I will not be reading the second book. If the third book comes out before I forget most of this one, I'll continue. Otherwise I'll settle for the HEA here....more
There are several things about this book I really enjoyed. For the most part the mystery is nicely done with a fewStory B- Narration by Sean Crisden A-
There are several things about this book I really enjoyed. For the most part the mystery is nicely done with a few good red herrings. I enjoy Tiber's skill with animals and the suggestion of some supernatural talent. Gabriel obviously has a difficult backstory and I think we only got some of it in this book. I like Gabriel and Tiber as a couple, but be aware they don't end up as a couple here. This is a three part series and their relationship is off to a nice start, but a rather slow one.
I found some of the book uncomfortable. Gabriel is estranged from his family and there are several angry exchanges between him and his brother Sam. With Tiber's and Gabriel's individual backstories which includes the reason for the estrangement, and all the baggage (nightmares etc) they both have, it just felt like the authors were trying to pack a bit too much into the story. But the biggest issue I had was the description of a non-main characters deliberate actions to hurt animals (told as a past event), which was upsetting to me. Even with all the positives of the writing and the story, I don't think this is a series I will continue. YMMV.
Sean Crisden is a favorite narrator of mine, and this was no exception. His character voices were great, althougha couple of times his voices for Gave and Tiber sounded similar. He delivers the emotional content very well. I recommend this on audio....more
What there was of it was good, but then it just...ended. I wouldn't call this a story--there's a begiinning and a little development, but no wrap-up, What there was of it was good, but then it just...ended. I wouldn't call this a story--there's a begiinning and a little development, but no wrap-up, just a TTFN. It's more a very short slice-of-life with no wrap up. I'm wondering if Walker is planning more of these with the two couples?? A bit confused here....more
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