Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Natural Born Charmer (Audiobook Review)



Audiobook Review
By: Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Narrated by: Anna Fields 
Published by:  Harper Audio 01/2007
HOT
12 hrs and 1 min
Sample



Dean Robillard is the Chicago Stars' hotshot quarterback. Not only does he have lightening reflexes on the field, he is also utterly gorgeous. First introduced in the critically acclaimed Match Me If You Can, Dean is trying to recover (both mentally and physically) from a shoulder injury by taking a road trip. Along the way, he meets Blue, a beautiful woman down on her luck, and as they spend more time together their attraction grows. Blue has had a string of bad relationships and doesn't want to trust Dean right away. But they wind up living together, along with Dean's troubled half-sister, and learn that families and luck work in mysterious ways.

Reviewed by Lisa Kay 

 

I love these characters in the seventh book of the Chicago Stars series and I adore their love story. Ms. Phillips sure knows how to set up a “meet cute,” and this one, taking place on a highway outside of Denver with Blue Bailey walking down a hot dusty road in a beaver costume – plus a killing rage – is perfect. When Dean Robillard, rich superstar quarterback, crosses her path, he is taken by surprise in one humorous situation after another on their road trip to Tennessee. Nevertheless, each scene carries a Real Life believability that lets us get drawn into the deepening depths of their relationship.

 Ms. Phillips also knows how to write amazing secondary characters and these are some of her best. There is one scene between an aging rocker and his neglected, vulnerable young daughter that still has the ability to make my throat swell, my eyes tear.

This story can be read as a “standalone”; however, you would probably enjoy it better if you read this series in order. A younger Dean is deviously charming in Match Me If You Can; while in this one he is still deliciously witty, but confronted with those demons in life that make one run or stand and mature.
4.07 of 5 stars 4.07  ·  rating details  ·  8,783 ratings  ·  580 reviews on Goodreads 

 

The Author

Susan Elizabeth Philips (SEP)


Narration
Man-oh-man! I love this book. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve read it. It is on my “re-read-for-comfort” shelf, which I desperately needed now. My life is currently too crazy to sit and read, so I popped in my ear buds and tried the audiobook this time, narrated by the wonderful Anna Fields.

 I have heard nothing but great things about this reader, so I don’t know why I waited so long to listen to a story she narrates. If a character speaks softly, she delivers the line softly. If they turn sarcastic, she complies. If they gasp, she gasps. Their voice breaks, so does hers. Astonishing as it sounds, not all readers do this! Some dialogue doesn’t have adjective queues; nevertheless, this talented raconteur intuitively knows how to delivery Ms. Phillips’ clever quips or tender moments in context. She definitely kicks this story up a notch. I highly recommend her as narrator.

Voices behind the books

Anna Fields AKA Kate Fleming

"To live in the hearts of those we love is never to die." -Thomas Campbell







Pin It

6 comments:

  1. I love this audiobook too Lisa! I can listen to this book twice a year, in fact when I was making the sample I decided to do a re-listen..lol
    Anna Fields was superb!!! I love her work!!
    It's a real shame the we wont be experiencing any new novels from this golden voice :(

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is sad, Loupe! I am going to search out more of her narrations.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have listened to this audiobook thrice this year. I can't seem to get enough of it. Anna Fields' work is riveting! It's sad that this will be the last of her work.
    - Janice Doolitle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too! I have devoured (a couple times..lol) every book you she narrated, SEP and Anna were just a magical combination.
      She's sorely missed :(

      Delete
  4. Great review! I really need to get this audiobook because this is one of my all time favorite books!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So sorry to see your comment just now :(
      I think you will love it....I hope you you did :)

      Delete