Audiobook Review
By: Julie James
Narrated by: Karen White
Published by: Penguin Audio 11/2011
Warm
10hrs and 10mins
Sample
Nothing fazes Taylor Donovan not in the courtroom and not in her personal life. So when she's assigned to coach People's Sexiest Man Alive for his role in the next big legal drama, she refuses to fall for the Hollywood heartthrob's charms. Even if he is the Jason Andrews.
Reviewed By Lisa K. Chance
I know I’m in the minority, but this one didn’t do it for me. Some of the dialogue is witty, but Jason is arrogant, immature, and too busy playing games to figure out who Taylor really is. I kept hoping he’d get better… and he did. However, one act of kindness – and another that was just common human decency – do not a hero make, especially when he follows these acts with more childish reactions.
I liked the writing, and the dialogue is sharp with some real gems, so I will give this new-to-me-author another chance. However, this guy, Jason, is so immature for 38 years old. I liked Taylor, she is pretty smart, but even she stooped to a little game playing eventually. And with Scott? Yuk. I didn’t think she was that star stuck and it didn’t match her history. Plus, all her friends, except for one, were enthralled with Jason and saying things like, “Don’t you realize who he is?” Obviously she did. They were not listening to her very real concerns, considering her previous betrayal by her ex-fiancée. I don’t know about yours, but my friends wouldn’t do that no matter how famous, rich, and gorgeous a man was.
Also, the whole paparazzi thing didn’t make sense. She’s dodging them because of a judge’s gag-order, but decides to go to Las Vegas and various parties with two different celebrities?? And she manages not to get photographed when they are hunting her? Huh?
The Author
Julie James
Voices behind the books
Karen White
I sometimes wonder if listening to a book makes us see it differently. What I mean is I recently listened to a book that others ADORED (they read it) but I found it was just annoying! The main character was so whiny and dramatic! I know that if I had read it, I would not have made her sound that annoying n my head but I couldn't escape that aspect about her in the audio book version. The narration was amazing, but I believe I would have enjoyed the book better if I had read it. I wonder if that is the case here for you. Would you have found Jason less annoying if you had read the book instead. (Wow, that is a looong comment. lol)
ReplyDeleteHi Julie! Lisa told me she was in the minority when it came to this book, the ratings on audible are a litle better, so I'm wondering if she would had found it the same if she had read it instead. But you are right, the interpretation of the reader can influence the way we feel about a character and that may be a drawback when it comes to audiobooks, although, I think a good narrator is able to capture the author's vision of the characters, plus I think they have imput in the readings, if they don't, that would be just plain wrong.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm dying to know what book you are talking about!! It wasn't Anna and the French kiss? Was, it???? Come on you can tell me :)
That's an interesting question, Julie, and gave me pause. I don't think I would have liked Jason any better in the written word. I liked Karen White's narration just fine and I really liked Taylor. After my review was posted on GoodReads, I "talked" it over with someone who read the "dead-tree" version, and Jason didn't work for them either.
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