Diva Doll

EXCELLENT Highlander Story with a believable twist

Reviewed: 09-09-23

I just finished 'Never Cross A Highlander' and let me just say, BRAVO!!!
I found this story to be very enjoyable, very well written, AND the narrator was fantastic. I'm tempted to listen to it all over again.
Kallum and Ailsa's story, as well as their well paced growth throughout, was masterfully written. I felt every bit of Ailsa's anxiety, fear, and confusion during her captivity and her hesitation when it came to Kallum, especially considering his initial broody high-handedness and mulish determination to do things his way.
Ailsa was also a likable character, though a bit too stubborn. To be fair, that flaw was understandable considering her past.
And Kallum...even with his suspicions and a couple of jerk-like things he did, his honorable, protective nature always shone through. As an added bonus, he was THE best and fiercest warrior amongst the clans AND he was FINE!!
Freaking YUM!!
The Ms. Rayne also kept me guessing about a key element of this story throughout. Like for real. Why didn't Ailsa's clan come for her during her years of captivity?
I was so pleasantly surprised by the answer to that question and even had a couple of squeal out loud moments.
If I absolutely had to state one thing that I wasn't super geeked about, it was some areas of telling rather than showing. However, those areas were few and far between. They didn't take away from the pace of the tale at all.
I highly recommend this story and can hardly wait to read the next installment in this series.
I'm hooked!

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Excellent Story

Reviewed: 04-09-22

The narrator's brogue was PERFECT, which added to the sense of authentic immersion. Of course, it helped that it sounded like it was his natural accent.

Cainnech and Alacia's story won me right from the start and kept me. Plus, the story was so good it didn't rely on graphic sexual details to move it along ( it was like 20+ chapters in before the first kiss). Yet, the story was engaging and the tension between the two kept me riveted.
Without giving anything away, I'll say I so wanted to know if the inner turmoil Cainnech suffered due to his horrific past would or could be soothed by more than just the development of his feelings for a woman. Well, Paula Quinn did not disappoint.
Every facet of this story kept me listening with great interest until the last spoken word.
Bravo �����

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2 people found this helpful

Couldn't finish it.

Reviewed: 10-05-21

I really had a hard time with this one. Day after day, on the drive home, I struggled through the audiobook, until chapter 10. Then I tried skipping forward bit by bit. I kept hoping the story would get more interesting and that the narrator would get into her groove, but it didn't happen.
The narration for this book was very nails on a chalkboard. She read as if the conversations were happening among a group of 15-year-olds complete with a continual 'duh' tone of each character's voice.
How in the world can a reader make a so called Chief of Police sound like an adolescent?
Perhaps what made the narration that much more cringe-worthy was the fact that the story itself was just very dull. At least it was to me.
Grace was a two dimensional, ditzy, flaky, preppy vegan type. Julius's responses and personality read like a square of wet cardboard.
The angry daughter of the murdered man was read with the voice of the jealous wife from the 'Jake from State Farm' commercial. Agnes the gardener read like an older Mary Poppins.
The rest of the characters were also off putting.
Past Chapter 10 I couldn't subject my ears to any more.
I'll be returning this. I wish it had been better. This story and it's narration just was not my cup of tea.

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One of my favorites!

Reviewed: 06-30-21

I almost never reread or relisten to a book but I’ve now
lost track of how many times I have listened to this or read my paperback of it. I so enjoy Carlin and AZ’s story! I love her determination to take on everything from working at the ranch as a woman alone, to never fail white cake, to her flaming puck biscuits to Zeke.
AZ ‘Zeke’ is my kind of man. Hard working, sexy, responsible, funny, and protective. I WISH the authors would write a sequel or two to this.
Imagine sweet, honest lil Spencer 7 or ten years fast forwarded, still honest, gorgeous, and tough with a sexy sweet hard edge to him. He’d be seriously interesting. The Lindas were WRONG for not continuing this series!

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Decent read

Reviewed: 06-03-21

Overall the story of Sahara and Brenden was a decent way to spend the time driving home from work each day. I just didn't enjoy it the way I had previous Sharon Sala books.
I will say that a couple of the attempts on her life had me rolling my eyes and pursing my lips. Plus, the climax of the story felt rushed and...less than.
The big reveal was a surprise but I wasn't invested enough in the characters to care more than a quick, "Oh. That's different."
Like I said, I have enjoyed other Sharon Sala books much more than this one. This one was just lacking to me. Maybe it was the setting or the staid existence or Sahara's whining.
SHEESH! The whining! Maybe it was all of the above.
Oh well. Onward and upward.
I"ll find a different Sala book. Hopefully, it'll be more engaging.

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2 people found this helpful

Very well done!

Reviewed: 05-20-21

I really enjoyed the whodunits and the red herrings. I will admit that the heroine got on my very last nerve with some of her behavior. But perhaps that was the author's intention, for you to say out loud "Don't respond to the text!" or Stop picking up the phone, dimwit!"
personally, I feel that any story that gets reactions out of readers is a good story. also the heroines behavior post incident was very very believable and the author's imagery is outstanding!
in closing, I will say this. I think Jerry would have genuinely benefited from a throat punch to get the point across. Emery was in desperate need of a good stomping!

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Great enjoyable and quick listen!

Reviewed: 05-17-21

I totally enjoyed this story and the performances.
The way the author changed viewpoints and the performers changed voices from Shelby to the detective was seamless. I didn't figure it out until 3/4 of the way through...then I just grinned because it was so well done.
going to relisten to the beginning with wizened ears. :-)

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1 person found this helpful

Excellent!

Reviewed: 04-21-21

This was one of the most realistic, heartbreaking, interesting, and satisfying stories I've ever listened to or read.
I adored the vulnerability that revealed itself in Dani and in Ben...heck, in everybody.


TINY SPOILER ALERT


Maaaaan. When he asked her "Do you not love me?" and she answered with, "I don't even love myself." I felt that to my soul.
I'm so glad this book ended the way it did.
I'm getting the next one now.

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1 person found this helpful

An okay listen

Reviewed: 02-09-21

The story of Linc and Meg was fairly good.
The narrator's voice was soothing and her performance was engaging.
The continual eyes welling and flowing tears was nerve wracking. I have no problem with characters showing emotion and it wasn't a deal breaker overall. However, after the fourth time Meg's/Dolly's/ or whoever's eyes welled, my own eyes were rolling in annoyance.
Regardless, I will continue to read or listen to Sharon Sala's work because her stories are interesting enough to keep me coming back.

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Not exactly a romance

Reviewed: 01-07-21

What can I say? I wish I could say I enjoyed this story.
The performance was done very well so that's a plus.
The story itself? It was... different and I applaud the author for trying such a different take on the typical time travel romance novel, especially back when she wrote this.
I simply wish I had read the reviews before I started listening to the story.
Knowing the way I like my romances to flow, I would have skipped this one...in spite of the fact I have pretty much enjoyed everything of Linda Howard's that I've read or listened to, especially Running Wild...a wonderful endearing read and an even better listen!!

I simply didn't enjoy this particular book. I really didn't.

WARNING!! MAJOR SPOILER ALERT AHEAD!
MAJOR SPOILER ALERT AHEAD!!

First off, I did appreciate Grace's internal transformation (from a mousy and plain Jane normal type to streetwise and competent) even though it came with such a huge emotional pricetag.
The poor woman!
Talk about torturing your characters! SHEESH!
As for Niall. I couldn't connect to him.
There was no change or growth in him. In spite of the uber sexy description of him (6'4", Black hair, powerfully built, protective, and just all around yummy!) He was wooden and not terribly interesting. Plus, he dipped his manparts in the sexual roulette wheel far too often for my tastes.
Also, though the sexual chemistry between him and Grace was described, it was very...clinical.
Now to the part that just didn't jibe at all with me...
If I remember correctly, Grace didn't/couldn't eat for two or more solid weeks following witnessing the murder of her husband and brother.
WEEKS!!
Nevermind that she would have collapsed in days especially considering all of the running, hiding, exposure to the elements, constant cold, and mental strain she experienced plus no food? But Nevermind.
I could suspend my disbelief to a point on this, at least I thought I could.
But then, it happened.
Somehow, over the course of a month(ish) Grace lost 30+ pounds (because the thought of food made her nauseous so she still couldn't eat or she couldn't eat enough to sustain her body)...and the weight loss made her weak, delicate and hot and men were suddenly flirting with her.
A definite plus, right? Especially considering she was overweight, plump, and frumpy at a scale tipping 134 pounds.
**Insert MAJOR eyeroll and a thinly controlled desire to scream*
Add to that, she and the Hero don't physically meet until more than 1/2 way through the book. Oh, they dream of having sex with each other but there is zero getting to know each other, even in their dreams...unless I missed something.
I really REALLY hope I missed something...but I don't think I did.
I realized that this story came out in the 90s and for that I enjoyed the 90s ish atmosphere. I also appreciated the focus on Grace's internal transformation (far more than the near constant focus on the external ie: her mousy looks, attitude, and her sinful/sexy/lush/pouty/lust inducing mouth)
As for Grace and Niall as a couple?
I simply couldn't buy the relationship that sex built. There was no getting to know each other. No little piccadillos. No sweet, non-sex related moments that endeared me to them.
Grace and Niall didn't grow together and had no reason to be together other than their mutual focus on the treasure and sex.
I didn't thrill at the end of the story. The end of the book was just that...the end of the book.
Two stars.

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