nero1279's reviews
326 reviews

Wicked Ever After by Shayla Black

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medium-paced

3.75

🎧AUDIO VERSION🎧   

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️   production / 5 

🎤  NARRATED BY  🎤 Troy Duran. 9hrs 23mins

The narrator changed for the second book. This can be very frustrating as a listener, but Troy stepped into the role flawlessly. The change, in the end, did not cause an issue. 

ARTICULATION  - clean and clear 
BREATHING – controlled, volume, consistent, project appropriate, low mouth noise.
DELIVERY – solid and in the spirit of the text and author’s intent. Timing and pacing is appropriate. Varied and not too predictable. 
EYE BRAIN MOUTH CONTROL – accurate and effortless delivery.
CONSISTENT – high energy, good articulation, breath and pitch control.
ANALYSIS – understands the story arc and characters.
CHARACTERISATION – attempts to bring to life. Distinct and consistent in tone, attitude, age, accent. Voices match characters. 
SEPARATION- clear and decisive for both performers.
INVESTMENT – the emotional connection helps with visualisation.

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5  😘😘/3 romance

Series: Wicked Lovers: Soliders for Hire - an enjoyable ear bud nibble. This book picks up immediately from book 1. Both books could easily be combined into one solid read. Wicked and Worshipped is therefore the better choice. A shame that the story did not end with a wedding or baby,  however this may be revisited in the other books in the series. 
The Confession by Jenna Jacob, Shayla Black

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fast-paced

4.0

This book was NOT available as an audiobook in my country, therefore an old fashion read was required. This series has certainly surprised me. While the polyamory genre may not to be everyone’s taste, the authors have surely taken this into consideration as it’s woven throughout, without slamming it in your face. A pleasant surprise. The characters are well rounded and develop throughout the series. It is definitely not a bump and grind ride. 
The Choice by Jenna Jacob, Shayla Black, Isabella Lapearl

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medium-paced

4.0

🎧AUDIO VERSION🎧   

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️   production / 5 

🎤  NARRATED BY  🎤 Christian Fox. 15hrs 58mins

Christian is sublime in his rendition of all 3 characters.   

ARTICULATION  - clean and clear 
BREATHING – controlled, volume, consistent, project appropriate, low mouth noise.
DELIVERY – solid and in the spirit of the text and author’s intent. Timing and pacing is appropriate. Varied and not too predictable. 
EYE BRAIN MOUTH CONTROL – accurate and effortless delivery.
CONSISTENT – high energy, good articulation, breath and pitch control.
ANALYSIS – understands the story arc and characters.
CHARACTERISATION – attempts to bring to life. Distinct and consistent in tone, attitude, age, accent. Voices match characters. 
SEPARATION- clear and decisive for both performers.
INVESTMENT – the emotional connection helps with visualisation.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5  😘😘😘/3 romance

Now, this book was a totally surprise and surpassed anything I have read within a similar trope. Ménage à trois with a BDSM theme is the scene, but done with such care and consideration to the reader/listener compared to MANY OTHER similar “wham bam” pieces of work.  I applaud this piece of work in what some consider, a rather disputable genre.
Born of Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

🎧AUDIO VERSION🎧   

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️   production / 5 

🎤  NARRATED BY  🎤 Stina Nielsen. 37hrs 1min

Stina is the voice of Flesh and Fire. What a marvellous job, yet again. I cannot imagine listening this this series with her voice. 

ARTICULATION  - clean and clear 
BREATHING – controlled, volume, consistent, project appropriate, low mouth noise.
DELIVERY – solid and in the spirit of the text and author’s intent. Timing and pacing is appropriate. Varied and not too predictable. 
EYE BRAIN MOUTH CONTROL – accurate and effortless delivery.
CONSISTENT – high energy, good articulation, breath and pitch control.
ANALYSIS – understands the story arc and characters.
CHARACTERISATION – attempts to bring to life. Distinct and consistent in tone, attitude, age, accent. Voices match characters. 
SEPARATION- clear and decisive for both performers.
INVESTMENT – the emotional connection helps with visualisation.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5  😘😘😘/3 romance

I throughly enjoyed this final book in the Flesh and Fire Series. Everything came together in a neat little bow. If you are an avid follower of the Blood and Ash series, then this series is for you. All the back story. As a reader/listener, you could easily see (more aptly wish for) many more series coming from the original story. 

Once again, I found one or two errors. A wrong character name said at the wrong time. This has occurred in just about each book in both series (Blood and Ash and Flesh and Fire) which is more than a coincidence in my opinion. Yes, I stopped and went back and checked, and yes, it’s there! Interesting! 

Nyktos (Ash) and Sera are simply devine in this book. Nyktos has maintained his spot on the boyfriend bookshelf. 

A reader warning is issued at the start for a reason, and should be considered by all readers. 
The Empire by Lisa Renee Jones

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3.75

🎧AUDIO VERSION🎧   

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️   production / 5 

🎤  NARRATED BY  🎤  Jason Clarke, Erin Mallon

Both narrators do a sterling job with the various characters. Erin has always created some great narration for both male and female characters. 

ARTICULATION  - clean and clear 
BREATHING – controlled, volume, consistent, project appropriate, low mouth noise.
DELIVERY – solid and in the spirit of the text and author’s intent. Timing and pacing is appropriate. Varied and not too predictable. 
EYE BRAIN MOUTH CONTROL – accurate and effortless delivery.
CONSISTENT – high energy, good articulation, breath and pitch control.
ANALYSIS – understands the story arc and characters.
CHARACTERISATION – attempts to bring to life. Distinct and consistent in tone, attitude, age, accent. Voices match characters. 
SEPARATION- clear and decisive for both performers.
INVESTMENT – the emotional connection helps with visualisation.

🌶️ spice / 5
😘 romance / 3

📚  STORYLINE 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️   😘😘

Ok, 3 quick reads that really could have been done in one book. Characters are enjoyable and the read was fun, but it was a little drawn out for 3 books. 
The Princess by Lisa Renee Jones

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3.75

🎧AUDIO VERSION🎧   

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️   production / 5 

🎤  NARRATED BY  🎤  Jason Clarke, Erin Mallon

Both narrators do a sterling job with the various characters. Erin has always created some great narration for both male and female characters. 

ARTICULATION  - clean and clear 
BREATHING – controlled, volume, consistent, project appropriate, low mouth noise.
DELIVERY – solid and in the spirit of the text and author’s intent. Timing and pacing is appropriate. Varied and not too predictable. 
EYE BRAIN MOUTH CONTROL – accurate and effortless delivery.
CONSISTENT – high energy, good articulation, breath and pitch control.
ANALYSIS – understands the story arc and characters.
CHARACTERISATION – attempts to bring to life. Distinct and consistent in tone, attitude, age, accent. Voices match characters. 
SEPARATION- clear and decisive for both performers.
INVESTMENT – the emotional connection helps with visualisation.

🌶️ spice / 5
😘 romance / 3

📚  STORYLINE 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️   😘😘

After book one left on a cliffhanger, chapter one quickly resolved the issue, and then we move quickly forward.  While I have enjoyed this series so far, it certainly could be wrapped up far more quickly than 3 books. 
The Bastard by Lisa Renee Jones

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fast-paced

4.0

🎧AUDIO VERSION🎧   

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️   production / 5 

🎤  NARRATED BY  🎤  Jason Clarke, Erin Mallon

Both narrators do a sterling job with the various characters. Erin has always created some great narration for both male and female characters. 

ARTICULATION  - clean and clear 
BREATHING – controlled, volume, consistent, project appropriate, low mouth noise.
DELIVERY – solid and in the spirit of the text and author’s intent. Timing and pacing is appropriate. Varied and not too predictable. 
EYE BRAIN MOUTH CONTROL – accurate and effortless delivery.
CONSISTENT – high energy, good articulation, breath and pitch control.
ANALYSIS – understands the story arc and characters.
CHARACTERISATION – attempts to bring to life. Distinct and consistent in tone, attitude, age, accent. Voices match characters. 
SEPARATION- clear and decisive for both performers.
INVESTMENT – the emotional connection helps with visualisation.

🌶️ spice / 5
😘 romance / 3

📚  STORYLINE 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️   😘😘

A quick read that doesn’t disappoint on plot. Loved how other characters from other series have been intertwined throughout. Would love to have found out more about Eric, but maybe this will come out in the next book. A great ear bud nibble for sure. 

Rafael by Faith Gibson

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3.25

🎧AUDIO VERSION🎧   

⭐️⭐️⭐️  production / 5

🎤  NARRATED BY  🎤 Narrator: Mace Earl Finn

I am tore with this review. The narrator did a fantastic job, but there were just some elements that grated. Some of the pausing or enunciation of words was just … off. The characters, although familiar, redeemed the narration. 

ARTICULATION  - clean and clear on chapters
BREATHING – controlled, volume, consistent, project appropriate, low mouth noise.  
DELIVERY – solid and in the spirit of the text and author’s intent. Timing and pacing is somewhat odd on occasions. 
EYE BRAIN MOUTH CONTROL – accurate
CONSISTENT – fair articulation, breath and pitch control. 
ANALYSIS – understands the story arc and characters.
CHARACTERISATION – attempts to bring to life but falls short with some elements 
SEPARATION- clear and decisive between all characters 
INVESTMENT – the emotional connection helps with visualisation at most times. 

STORYLINE / SPICE LEVEL
🌶️🌶️  😘

Ok, this was too familiar to me. The ideas, characters and plot line was so familiar to JR Ward’s Dark Lover although a weaker plot delivery. Some “spicy word” elements were just crass and seemed forced. This bought down the 🌶️  level for me. The female character was not bought out in the correct light - Insta lust just didn’t work with her supposed character. Plenty left in the series, but at this stage I’m moving on.