I wonder at the venom of some customer reviews. I've had the opportunity to be on the receiving end of these reviews -- for my film, RACING DAYLIGHT, (now on Showtime!), and most recently on Audible for UNRAVELED. It seems romance listeners are very opinionated. Who knew?
I loved narrating the Courtney Milan romance novel UNRAVELED. A great story, with Dickensian characters. I gave it my best, so it's unsettling when disappointed listeners write comments like:
"I suggest the Publishing House NEVER EVER EVER uses this narrator again" and "Narrator was awful!" and "I will not buy any book where Ms. Quinn is the reader."
and this one which confuses me completely
"I am certain I will AVOID THE NARRATOR! Though gifted in voices, Nicole Quinn should save the weird voices for a science-fiction or fantasy-style book, never Historical Romance!"
Ironically, all of the romance novels for which I have auditioned asked for a "melodramatic" reading. I'm not sure what that means, but it doesn't sound tame.
What's so great about the ACX model is that, more often than not, the author is choosing the narrator and approving the final product. I would suggest to the reviewers quoted above, that they listen to the 5 min samples before they buy. This might lessen any buyer's remorse.
Personally, I generally review products I like, and couch my reviews in the realm of opinion and not as empirically evidenced fact.
On the other hand, I LOVE a rave review, and so to absolve the sting of the meanies, I share the flip side:
"More than a Romance"
What did you love best about Unraveled?
I thought that the level of story telling-both the writing and performance was particularly engaging.
The characters were full, the love story was compelling and the sub-plot was actually intriguing and
ultimately satisfying.
The characters were full, the love story was compelling and the sub-plot was actually intriguing and
ultimately satisfying.
What about Nicole Quinn’s performance did you like?
Nicole Quinn gave life to these characters. She told the story without getting in the way of it. She was
able to heighten the impact of a very dramatic plot, while keeping it very simple and real. I thoroughly
enjoyed her reading and think she is a very gifted narrator.
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able to heighten the impact of a very dramatic plot, while keeping it very simple and real. I thoroughly
enjoyed her reading and think she is a very gifted narrator.
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"Settle in for a wonderful story"
Any additional comments?
The narrators voice is a bit unique with a nice raspy tone that worked very well with the setting of
this story. Since the
story is set in the working class area of London, I really appreciated hearing a narration that fit. She
did a wonderful job with all the different characters--I could always tell when Miranda or Smite was
speaking and that is always important to me as I get distracted by my work sometimes and miss parts of
the audio. At times, some characters were harder to understand, especially the ones in the courtroom,
but that dialect can be hard for me to read sometimes as well. I will admit at first I was not sure if I was
going to enjoy the narration, but after I settled in, I grew to enjoy the performance.
I thought her accents, both male and female, worked well with the setting of this story. Overall, I thought this
was a good fit for a favorite book of mine. The dialects, romance and action all were captured in a way that I
found enjoyable.
"Unraveled all defenses"
Would you listen to Unraveled again? Why?
Yes! was so touched by Unraveled, the way the author dealt with the moral dilemma and compassion, she is a genius.
I was all ready impressed with Unveiled in regards to personal pride and the subtlety of Jessica coming into her own,
but Smite and Amanda's inner strength plus the difference between Justice and vengeance, wow!! thank you, thank you.
I was all ready impressed with Unveiled in regards to personal pride and the subtlety of Jessica coming into her own,
but Smite and Amanda's inner strength plus the difference between Justice and vengeance, wow!! thank you, thank you.
What did you like best about this story?
The last two chapters! But the whole book was necessary for such a delight
Which character – as performed by Nicole Quinn – was your favorite?
The narrator was excellent on all of them.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Cried in the final scene. The wedding present.
Any additional comments?
Sweet and beautiful with great passion.
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"Unraveled all defenses"
Would you listen to Unraveled again? Why?Yes! was so touched by Unraveled, the way the author dealt with the moral dilemma and compassion, she is a genius. I was all ready impressed with Unveiled in regards to personal pride and the subtlety of Jessica coming into her own, but Smite and Amanda's inner strength plus the difference between Justice and vengeance, wow!! thank you, thank you.
What did you like best about this story?The last two chapters! But the whole book was necessary for such a delight
Which character – as performed by Nicole Quinn – was your favorite?The narrator was excellent on all of them.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?Cried in the final scene. The wedding present.
Any additional comments?Sweet and beautiful with great passion.
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