Download the New Releases Audiobooks in Fiction, Contemporary

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Title: Wonder Boys

Author: Michael Chabon

Narrator: David Colacci

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-09-13

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 437 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Chabon's extraordinary story of one turbulent weekend in the life of a struggling writer, a satire of the permanent adolescence of the creative class.

A wildly successful first novel made Grady Tripp a young star, and seven years later he still hasn't grown up. He's now a writing professor in Pittsburgh, plummeting through middle age, stuck with an unfinishable manuscript, an estranged wife, a pregnant girlfriend, and a talented but deeply disturbed student named James Leer. During one lost weekend at a writing festival with Leer and debauched editor Terry Crabtree, Tripp must finally confront the wreckage made of his past decisions. Mordant but humane, Wonder Boys features characters as loveably flawed as any in American fiction.

Members Reviews:

Such a fun ride

I listened to this book over a weekend, which is roughly the timeframe of the story...so I felt that I had spent those days with the characters. Laugh-out-loud funny and tragic at the same time, with the most preposterous things happening but told in a way that makes them make total sense. "OF COURSE, he takes the dead dog along!" Highly enjoyable. Very human. Very well done.

Good listening albeit rather slow

Great story and good narration. I think the narrator style and the story is a good match, even though I find the reading is a little slow for me (so I sped it up to 1.25x). It also took me a while to get used to the narrator's nasal sound. Overall, it's an enjoyable audiobook.

A strong, early Chabon (sounds like grading wine)

It has all the things that I love about Michael Chabon: the quirky characters, the beautiful filigreed prose, the androgenous and ambiguous lovers. But, it also contains more warmth and crazy energy than some of his later books. And I appreciate that. I appreciate the feeling that this book ran past Chabon's careful editing. Its kinetic narrative isn't about to be slowed by careful massaging. To Hell with all that. In someways it feels a bit like the Pastoral Wanderings of Don Quixote (just replace Rocinante and Sancho Panza with a dead dog and a tuba). IT also at times feels like a Greek New Comedy with the chorus singing through the vortex ring of Afghan Indica pot smoke. So yeah, I liked it good enough.

A Writer's Book, But Not Just

This is a well-written story about an author who can't let go of his self-deceptions, but finds in a student of his, the feverish machinations that lead him in his youth. The pacing is perfect as the writer, along with his student and his editor, creates chaos in his and in the lives of those around him as he tries to finish the book he's put seven years of his life into.

good performance, story feels cliche

If you could sum up Wonder Boys in three words, what would they be?

writing, failure, redemption

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wonder Boys?

the dinner with the jewish in-laws

Which character as performed by David Colacci was your favorite?

no idea

If you could rename Wonder Boys, what would you call it?

writing about what the author knows

Any additional comments?

Okay book...but Chabon is a writer's writer...heavy handed, solipsistic, and very literary. If you prefer brevity and books not about the incestuous faculty crowd at universities (of which, Warren's "A Place To Come To" is the best), then skip it.

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Title: Doomed

Author: Chuck Palahniuk

Narrator: Tai Sammons

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-08-13

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 393 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Madison Spencer, the liveliest, snarkiest dead girl in the universe, continues the adventures in the afterlife begun in Damned. Having somewhat reluctantly escaped from hell, she now wanders the purgatory that is Earth as a ghostly spirit, seeking her do-gooding celebrity parents, fighting the malign control of Satan, recounting the disgracefully funny encounter with her grandfather in a fetid highway rest stop in upstate New York when she - oh, never mind - and climaxing in a rendezvous with destiny on the new, totally plastic continent in the Pacific called, not at all accidentally, Madlantis.

Dante Alighieri, watch your back. Chuck Palahniuk is gaining on you.

Members Reviews:

Too many mispronounced words

I hate to nitpick. I hate being that guy. But, who edits/ directs these things? Words are important. Important enough to me, anyway, to fork over money to you month after month. How can you let the dozens of mispronounced words pass in this thing? It is not the fault of the reader. Someone should have caught the mistakes and fixed them. Very distracting to asshats such as myself.

So Disappointing

Doomed is the sequel to Damned, the continued story of Madison.

This book was SO disappointing. I have loved Chuck Palahnuik's past works. From Fight Climb to Haunted, Choke, and Invisible Monsters, I have really treasured his books.

Doomed has SOME of the things that I love about Chuck, like the "ticks" he puts in his stories, his great writing rhythm, and his very dark humor.

What this story was missing was, well, an actual story. As the story begins, I was super excited to see what kind of trouble Madison was going to get into to, and then, nothing happened. You are introduced to a couple of characters that seems to have the capacity to drive the story forward along with Madison and then nothing happened with them either. There was very little interaction with them. The entire story goes back into Madison's past and she whines and bitches about everything that happened to her and how misunderstood she was.

It was bad, really bad.

I enjoyed the narrator, she was fun to listen to.

Sadly, I do not recommend this book.

Sick, Twisted and Darkly Hilarious

If you could sum up Doomed in three words, what would they be?

Read my title.

What other book might you compare Doomed to and why?

If you don't have a really twisted sense of humor you should move on. If you do and haven't heard or read the first book, Damned, then go get it and begin a journey to Hell...Palahniuk style.

What does Tai Sammons bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Tai Sammons IS Madison Spencer. She is the perfect, imperfect teenager voice of this character.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

You may feel the need to take a long shower to clean filth left on you in every chapter but at least you'll smell good.

Any additional comments?

Dear Gentle Tweeter....stop wasting my time and get this book for your eyes or for your ears. You'll need a stack of candy bars and sensible shoes to get through this.

Not as good as damned

This a sequel prequel. The story line was poor and the climax dull. Very disappointing as damned was a lot of fun. Doomed was tough to get through.

Interesting...even for Palahniuk

Before reading this book I had read numerous reviews about how disappointing it was, and that I should just skip it.

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Title: We Like You so Much and Want to Know You Better

Author: Dave Eggers

Narrator: Dion Graham

Format: Unabridged

Length: 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-27-13

Publisher: The New York Times

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 611 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A million people, a billion, wanted to be where Mae was at this moment, entering this atrium, 30 feet high and shot through with California light, on her first day working for the only company that really mattered at all.

A story from The New York Times Magazine, adapted from The Circle, a new novel by Dave Eggers.

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Editorial Reviews:

With multiple awards under his belt, including an AudioFile Magazine Golden Voice and Booklist's "Voice of Choice", narrator Dion Graham does not disappoint with his effortless performance of this story from the New York Times Magazine, adapted from Dave Eggers' novel The Circle. Mae has an enviable job at a social networking company, and slowly, she becomes seduced by a culture of constant updates and a seemingly unlimited chain of social connections. Graham fully engages listeners' attention with his attention to realism, and he works in subtle nuances of menace as Mae discovers the dark side of always being connected.

Members Reviews:

My kind of horror story

Half way through this chilling story my skin began to crawl. Vampires, zombies and Cthulu have never really done it for me, but this modern tale of true believers in a technologically unlimited world will keep me awake tonight. Eggers engineers a flawlessly incremental slide into smiling, wide-eyed hell, and Dion Graham rings the perfect notes of mindless sincerity to turn your stomach and whiten your knuckles during the ride.

I was taken aback

What did you love best about We Like You So Much and Want to Know You Better?

The summary of the story was accurate, but did not give justice to this short story; filled with mental and voyeuristic action. Loved it!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mae. I identified with how she was comfortable keeping her thoughts and actions to herself, but was challenged later on in the story.

What about Dion Grahams performance did you like?

I was taken aback by how fast he was talking, at first.. But, as I kept listening, his delivery made perfect sense. I wasn't ready, but he kept my attention with every word he spoke.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely!

Any additional comments?

More, please!

a chilling and interesting book

wao well, it was pretty harmless at the beginning but damn poor may, I mean i understood she worked for a tech company but party points and everything shared? I mean, I understand thats how society is working at rhisbpoint but that you really dont have a choice over that and should do it, was like people really think like that? damn for me it was scary to know that kind of possible train of thought.

Interesting...

Not what I was expecting. It is an interesting take on technology and social interactions. Of course its just a preview, but I will probably end up getting the full book to see what happens.

Modern Modernity

What did you love best about We Like You So Much and Want to Know You Better?

Eggers offers a haunting look at technology and it's affect on us with "We Like You So Much and Want to Know You Better". I listened with little to no knowledge of what the actual story was.

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Title: The Final Cut

Subtitle: A Brit in the FBI, Book 1

Author: J. T. Ellison, Catherine Coulter

Narrator: MacLeod Andrews, Renee Raudman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-17-13

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1500 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Scotland Yards new chief inspector Nicholas Drummond is on the first flight to New York when he learns his colleague, Elaine York, the "minder" of the Crown Jewels for the "Jewel of the Lion" exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was found murdered. Then the centerpiece of the exhibit, the infamous Koh-i-Noor Diamond, is stolen from the Queen Mothers crown. Drummond, American-born but raised in the UK, is a dark, dangerous, fast-rising star in the Yard who never backs down. And this case is no exception.

Special Agents Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich from Coulters best-selling FBI series dont hesitate to help Drummond find the cunning international thief known as the Fox. Nonstop action and high stakes intensify as the chase gets deadly. The Fox will stop at nothing to deliver the Koh-i-Noor to the man who believes in its deadly prophecy. Nicholas Drummond, along with his partner, FBI Special Agent Mike Caine, lay it on the line to retrieve the diamond for Queen and country.

Members Reviews:

Annoying story; great narration

Any additional comments?

I found this mashup of genres annoying, a run of cliches, pretensions, and unbelievable plot devices. But, I throughly enjoyed having a male reader and a female reader, each doing their respective parts. Really wish more publishers would follow suit.

A very good beginning for a new series!

What did you love best about The Final Cut?

I really loved this book and the characters. The story line is great and obviously well researched and the characters were very well written. The book moves right along, which makes it much more exciting to listen to, and doesn't stray over into the unbelievable. All in all, a very good listen!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes! It moved along nicely and the plot was very well done.

Did Renee Raudman and MacLeod Andrews do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

I thought Ms. Raudman was a poor choice for the female narrator. Her foreign accents are poorly done and the fact that Mr. Andrews does such a wonderful job reading and differentiating all of the male characters, makes Ms. Raudmans' poor performance more disappointing. I've listened to many books that she has done in the past in which she has done a good job, but they were all books in which she only had to do American accents.

Any additional comments?

I've always loved Catherine Coulter and this collaboration makes me think that I may have been missing out and seriously need to check out J. T. Ellison's books as well.

Somewhat corny

Much of the story was predictable and cliché. The performance was mediocre. I would not recommend this audio or book.

Art and Jewel Heists . . . Clever Fox

I thoroughly enjoyed The Final Cut . . . it's different, weaving a tale of intrigue and mystery going back centuries. The diamond (Koh-i-Noor), part of the Jewels of the Lion exhibition belonging to Queen Mother in England is about to go on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. And despite every security precaution, it is stolen. The Koh-i-Noor hasn't always belonged to the Brits though . . . and legend has it that the diamond has healing powers . . . After listening to The Final Cut, I researched the history of the Koh-i-Noor, which is fascinating.

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Title: The Sound and the Furry

Author: Spencer Quinn

Narrator: Jim Frangione

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-11-13

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 590 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

When Chet and Bernie happen upon a prison work crew that includes Frenchie Boutette, an old criminal pal they sent up the river, getting a new case is the last thing they expect. But Frenchie, who comes from an old Louisiana family full of black sheep, needs help finding his one law-abiding relative, his brother Ralph, a reclusive inventor who has gone missing with his houseboat. Though he's tempted to take another job (with a big payday) in Alaska, Bernie decides to set course for the bayous of Louisiana, a trip that will introduce Chet to a world of sights, smells, and tastes that are like nothing he's ever encountered. Out in bayou country, Chet and Bernie meet the no-good Boutette family and their ancient enemies, the maybe-even-worse Robideaus, and at first it seems as if Ralph's disappearance is connected to a dispute over a load of stolen shrimp. But when Chet uncovers a buried clue, the investigation heads in a dangerous new direction involving the oil business and an impending environmental catastrophe. The more Chet and Bernie discover about Ralph, the more treacherous the job becomes, and soon they're fighting not only Big Oil, but also shadowy black ops figures, a violent biker gang from back home, and Iko- a legendary bayou gator with a seemingly insatiable appetite. Meanwhile, deep under the Gulf, the pressure just keeps building.

With top-notch suspense, humor, and genuine insight into the ways our canine companions think and behave-all set against a rollicking new Louisiana backdrop. The Sound and the Furry will make you howl in delight.

Members Reviews:

It's all good

What made the experience of listening to The Sound and the Furry the most enjoyable?

Chet's voice, in the sense of the author's "voice" is lovable. The story is a page turner and the balance of suspense and comedy is perfect. Quinn has a terrific way of telling you one thing through his narrator, but showing you quite another. The characters are not just boring beautiful people types that so much popular fiction is littered with. They have depth and humor -- even if the humor is goofy. Quinn is a master story teller, has got his dialogue down, does something innovative with the Sam Spade genre, and Jim Frangione has the voice and intonation that you just KNOW Chet has.

In this story, Chet and Bernie leave Arizona for Louisiana. The one thing that struck me as not quite perfect is that I don't think Frangione had the Louisiana accents right, but maybe he wasn't supposed to.

What did you like best about this story?

Chet's voice.

Have you listened to any of Jim Frangiones other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've only heard him read Chet's stories and they are all top notch.

If you could rename The Sound and the Furry, what would you call it?

This would be sacrilege. Don't even think it.

Any additional comments?

Chet's puppy needs to come into play in the next book. I know he's peripheral now, but bring him to the forefront.

A Fresh Perspective on a PI Mystery

Would you listen to The Sound and the Furry again? Why?

Have you ever wondered what your dogs version of your life would be? This mystery of a missing person and the entanglement of the oil industry with the shrimping industry is told through the eyes of Chet, a hundred pounder plus police-trained German shepherd who belongs to Bernie Little, P.I.

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Title: The Crown Tower

Author: Michael J. Sullivan

Narrator: Tim Gerard Reynolds

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-07-13

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 214 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Hadrian, a warrior with nothing to fight for, is paired with Royce, a thieving assassin with nothing to lose. Together they must steal a treasure that no one can reach. The Crown Tower is the grandest fortress ever built and home to the realm's most prized possessions. But it isn't gold or jewels that their employer is after; if he can keep them from killing each other, they might just get him his prize.

Members Reviews:

A slog and a half.

OK, honestly I was bored most of the way through this one.

I should start by saying I've not read Sullivan's first trilogy, only a short story of his (featuring Hadrian and Royce) in the Blackguards anthology. I liked it, thought I'd give his larger works a try. I have not read the original trilogy, The Riyria Revelations because I thought I'd start with the prequels. I will also say I 'read' this by way of audiobook.

The Crown Tower follows 2 story threads. One of Hadrian Blackwater as he struggles to find a place in the world after becoming tired of the soldiering way of life. And one of Gwen as she struggles against an abusive pimp.

The story starts off slow. VERY slow. And to be honest, I don't feel it ever really picks up. It's not just a lack of action, it's a lack of anything seemingly important going on at all. The first half of the book feels like Hadrian on a side-quest, and Gwen crossing the street (both literally and metaphorically).

By the second half of the book Hadrian has met his long time life partner, Royce, and the two are thrust together in the hope that they will one day learn to work with each other and teach each other. The problem is, while I can see that one day they will be a fun buddy-cop pair, they just annoyed the hell out of me. Both of them whine and moan... and then moan and whine. And they keep moaning about the same things over and over again. The plot struggles to move forwards. And when they finally do decide to trust each other, it seems rushed (at least on Royce's part). A lifetime of well-earned mistrust and skepticism and suspicion seems undone by one selfless act on Hadrian's part.

Gwen's entire story (while interesting) only actually intersects with Hadrian and Royce's on the penultimate chapter. It feels like two separate stories, not one. And there are too many threads left completely unfinished. We have a chapter from Gwen's nemesis' point of view at one point and then he's foiled once by her (fairly easily) and we never hear from him again. That particular plot line felt a lot like filler.

The problem is, I wanted to like the book. I loved the short story (Professional Integrity) in Blackguards and wanted to read more of Hadrian and Royce. Perhaps I should have started with Revelations because it feels like this book is written for fans of that series rather than potential new readers. If I already knew the characters well and loved them I'd probably be giggling with joy over every sarcastic interaction... but I don't. Maybe I'll give Revelations a try after the sour taste has faded.

Overall I give this one 2 stars because it's well-written and Gwen's story is very interesting.

Love the writing and the series

It still surprises you even when you've read all their other books.

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Title: The People in the Trees

Author: Hanya Yanagihara

Narrator: Arthur Morey, William Roberts, Erin Yuen

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-16-13

Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 231 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In 1950, a young doctor, Norton Perina, signs on with the anthropologist Paul Tallent for an expedition to the remote island of Ivu'ivu in search of a rumored lost tribe. They succeed, finding not only that tribe but also a group of forest dwellers they dub "The Dreamers," who turn out to be fantastically long-lived but progressively more senile.

Perina suspects the source of their longevity is a hard-to-find turtle; unable to resist the possibility of eternal life, he kills one and smuggles some meat back to the States. He proves his thesis, earning worldwide fame, but he soon discovers that its miraculous property comes at a terrible price. As things quickly spiral out of his control, his own demons take hold, with devastating consequences.

Critic Reviews:

"Driven by Yanagihara's gorgeously complete imaginary ethnography on the one hand and, on the other, by her brilliantly detestable narrator, this debut novel is compelling on every level - morally, aesthetically, and narratively." (

Publishers Weekly)

"Yanagihara presents a cautionary tale about what can happen when Western arrogance meets primeval culture." (

Kirkus Reviews)

Members Reviews:

A dazzling, fundamentally flawed excursion into the grotesque

Any additional comments?

This fascinating, well written novel is fundamentally an argument against white colonialism, and the racism and exploitation that go with it. It is also an experiment in unreliable, unsympathetic narration, an attempt to render a character exclusively in dark hues, and this makes the book both intriguing and, alas, predictable. In life, the evil are never pure. Even the worst of them have a few good traitsthats what makes them so dangerous. Not so, with Norton Perina. He is a composite of repulsive behaviors, a sociopath without a sociopath's charm, a selfish, conniving, narcissistic, misogynistic, unrepentant pedophile devoid of even a shred of humor or a wisp of compassion, much less any other recognizable human traits. Readers are invited not to understand him, but to loathe him. The consistency of Perina's nastiness makes him utterly predictable. While the plot delivers quite a few surprises, the character never does. You can be sure that in every situation, Perina will behave despicably. The book is a meticulous assemblage of slime and smarm: lengthy renderings of "smears" and feces and blotchy complexions; masturbation and menstruation and grotesque corpulence and putrid odors; people gorging on worms, trusting turtles and adorable miniature monkeys; rites-of-passage involving the ritual gang-rape of young boys (and those are the good guys!), all laced together via the protagonist's snarky remarks. Added to the mix is the victimization of humans, creatures, the environment--an entire world!--and, of course, the annihilation of innocence itself. The book can be enjoyed for its irony, complex plot, and haunting descriptions, and perhaps as a purists approach to the unsympathetic character. But prepare yourself for a long immersion in a truly hateful worldview, one that in the end I attribute not to Yanagaharas hand puppet, Perina, but to the deliberate engineering of the author herself.

Engrossing and disturbing

What did you like best about this story?

Liking seems a weak word. The story vibrated, it gnawed, it struck chords of recognition and also of dismay.

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Title: Rose Harbor in Bloom

Subtitle: A Rose Harbor Novel

Author: Debbie Macomber

Narrator: Lorelei King

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-13-13

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 444 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Hailed as "the reigning queen of women's fiction" (The Sacramento Bee), number-one New York Times best-selling author Debbie Macomber is renowned for her novels of love, friendship, and the promise of fresh starts. Now Macomber returns to the charming Rose Harbor Inn, where each guest finds a second chance and every room comes with an inspiring new view.

Since moving to Cedar Cove, Jo Marie Rose has truly started to feel at home, and her neighbors have become her closest friends. Now it's springtime, and Jo Marie is eager to finish the most recent addition to her inn. In memory of her late husband, Paul, she has designed a beautiful rose garden for the property and enlisted handyman Mark Taylor to help realize it. She and Mark don't always see eye-to-eye - and at times he seems far removed - yet deep down, Jo Marie finds great comfort in his company. And while she still seeks a sense of closure, she welcomes her latest guests, who are on their own healing journeys.

Annie Newton arrives in town to orchestrate her grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary celebration. While Annie is excited for the festivities, she's struggling to move on from her broken engagement, and her grandparents themselves seem to be having trouble getting along. Worse, Annie is forced to see Oliver Sutton, with whom she grew up and who has always mercilessly teased her. But the best parties end with a surprise, and Annie is in for the biggest one of all.

Rose Harbor in Bloom is Debbie Macomber at her heartwarming best.

Members Reviews:

Lorelei King Rocks!

Where does Rose Harbor in Bloom rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Not so much the story as was a light read as I read the first book in the series as love B&B stories, since I handle marketing for hotels; however, purchased the audio versus e-book, based on the narrator - Lorelei King (she is outstanding) - good choice by Debbie to attain Lorelei. I loved her in the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum Series. (too bad Lorelei is not reading The Heist by Janet, as would not buy it based on the guy reading it.

What other book might you compare Rose Harbor in Bloom to and why?

Some of Nora Robert's B&B series - due to the nature of the inn business. Of course they are similar in nature to her Cedar Cove series. Debbie does a good job on engaging her readers especially in small town settings.

What about Lorelei Kings performance did you like?

I love her! I kept waiting on Grandma Mazur, Joe, Stephanie, and Ranger to stop by! She is excellent!

Who was the most memorable character of Rose Harbor in Bloom and why?

I like Jo Marie, the owner of the B&B, as looking forward to her new romances down the road after she has had time to grieve for her late husband.

Wonderful!!!

After months of waiting this book was finally released. Rose Harbor is such a magical place, I just wish it was real. Debbie Macomber has a way of making you feel just like you are a part of book. I was really hoping that Jo Marie's husband had survived but in the end I felt like Jo Marie was finding her way back and together with Mark will once again find the happiness that she had lost. This is a heart-warming book that will make you laugh and cry.

Another GREAT BOOK!!!

I love the way the characters are revealed and intertwined. Debbie Macomber has a way of making these characters your friends.

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Title: First Sight

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Danielle Steel

Narrator: Arthur Morey

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-16-13

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 247 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Paris, L.A., and the world of ready to wear fashion provide rich backdrops for Danielle Steels deeply involving story of a gifted designer whose talent and drive have brought her everything - except the ability to erase her past and trust relationships. New York. London. Milan. Paris. Fashion Week in all four cities. A month of endless interviews, parties, and unflagging work and attention to detail at the semiannual ready to wear fashion shows - the famous prêt-à-porter.

At the center of the storm and avalanche of work is American Timmie ONeill, whose renowned line, Timmie O, is the embodiment of casual chic, in fashion and for the home. She has created a business that inspires, fills, and consumes her life. With an unerring instinct for what the next trend will be, an innate genius for business, tireless labor, and sheer fearlessness, starting from nothing, over two decades Timmie has built an international empire that has brought her enormous satisfaction and success.

In a world where humility and compassion are all too rare, her humor, kindness, integrity, and creativity are inspirational. Yet as blessed as she feels by her success, Timmie harbors the private wounds of a devastating childhood and past tragedy. She is too smart, too experienced, and too hurt to want much in her personal life beyond a succession of convenient, very limited relationships. Always willing to take risks in business, she never risks her heart. But despite her well-ordered and highly controlled world, it turns out that Timmie ONeill is not immune to magic when it strikes. And it strikes in Paris during Paris Fashion Week, when an intriguing Frenchman comes into her life when she gets sick.

Members Reviews:

Maybe one novel too many....

Would you ever listen to anything by Danielle Steel again?

I have been reading and listening to Danielle Steel for most of my adult life and have absolutely loved most of her early books. I am so disappointed in this predictable and repetitve story though. From almost the outset it was clear what the outcome would be.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The narrators voice was nothing special and I am suprised that Audible feels that Danielle Steel's novels should be read by males all the time.

Any additional comments?

Danielle Steel is now just writing to turn out books not so much as to entertain her audience. If you want to read/hear the real Danielle Steel listen to her early books and really enjoy what this author is capable of..

So disappointing

I have continued to buy almost every Danielle Steel book on audible. I loved The Sins of the Mother one of my favourites however it is very hit and miss now if they are good or a waste of time. To me this book was that. I cannot get past the first two chapters. There is just nothing to keep my interest the story is boring. The narrater is possibly the worst choice for any book. He sounds as if he is almost asleep his monotone voice with no expression is just not suitable.

I cannot understand along with many others comments on Danielle Steel reviews why Audible choose men for her books. The occasional male voice has worked for me but I find a female voice suits this type of book so much more.

I think I am done on her books after this one and the last one which I did not buy just listening to the preview was bad enough.

Danielle Steel books used to be a given you would enjoy them now it is just hit and miss.

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Title: Blue Skies

Author: Robyn Carr

Narrator: Therese Plummer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-21-13

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 379 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Nikki Burgess survived a terrible marriage and a worse divorce. She's just about given up hope of ever finding happiness. But when her ex-husband suddenly dies, she gets custody of her kids again - and a chance to start over. Dixie McPherson, on the other hand, has had way too much love. She has 11 tennis bracelets, dozens of trinkets, piles of sexy lingerie, and a tarnished reputation when all she ever wanted was true love, a partner, and a family. Carlisle Bartlett is loyal, kindhearted, and the funniest guy slinging drinks in the back of an airplane. But he has an ugly little secret. The only kind of love he's used to comes with bruises. When Nikki, Dixie, and Carlisle are offered the chance to join a new airline in Las Vegas, they don't hesitate. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, these three friends are going in search of their own blue skies.

Members Reviews:

Earlier G rated Robyn Carr

When I read the other reviews, I knew this was going to be a story that focused more on the airline industry and the strong woman pilot than romance, but didn't realize it was from a story she wrote in 2005. I really like Robyn Carr, and usually get to know and love her characters. However this book treats three main characters almost equally, so you don't ever get inside the head of any one of them. The very mild G-rated romance of one of the secondary characters (Dixie) is sweet but hardly draws you in, and the expected happily ever after ending for the main character (Nikki) is wrapped up so quickly and neatly at the end that I was left saying, huh? This is a perfectly pleasant read (listen) but if you're expecting Virgin River, you'll be disappointed.

Not my thing

What did you like best about Blue Skies? What did you like least?

I loved The House on Olive Street and thought I'd give another Robyn Carr book a try. But I thought Blue Skies was a little dumb and really didn't identify with any of the characters.

Would you recommend Blue Skies to your friends? Why or why not?

I would not recommend it unless they were somewhat interested in the airline industry.

Slightly Different BUT Still Great

This is slightly different to the normal Robyn Carr but she is without a doubt a great storyteller and Therese Plummer is a fabulous narrator.

Strong characters and storyline. There is nothing more to say than - enjoy.

Incomplete

This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I actually enjoyed listen to this book. I found the story line of the three characters were incomplete.

Has Blue Skies turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, I will read the reviews a little more carefully in the future

How did the narrator detract from the book?

She did not Theresa Plummer reading was perfect for the characters

What character would you cut from Blue Skies?

Yes, Joe I believe was his name, he was the one starting up the airlines.

Top story.

This is a delightful story with an aviation background. It is entertaining without any harrowing or frustrating aspects. A story the charm of which doesnt lessen with second or third readings. I thoroughly enjoyed it.