I like this review!

For Courtney Milan's Unraveled - I've gotten so many negative reviews, and a lot of positive ones too, but this is my favorite, a convert!  Thank you, Marcheta!

MarchetaSuffolk, VA, United States05-02-13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Good story-narrator grew on me"

The narrator annoyed me the first time I started to listen to this audio - she sounded a little over the top for some of the lower class voices.

But a few weeks later I started over because the story was interesting - and the author sounded fine once I got used to all the different voices. Actually, I thought she sounded great half-way through the story. I would definitely listen to another book read by Nicole Quinn.

You have voted on this review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A revelation!

I've been getting some scathing reviews on Audible from the listeners of UNRAVELED.  MOST OF THE BAD REVIEWS REFER TO THE SPEED OF THE READING.  I have purchased a copy and tried it on my itunes (mac-pro), on cds, and on my kindle, all sound fine.  I tried it on my ipod touch and it was HORRIBLY SLOW.

I didn't know that I could adjust the speed, and that my default is at 1/2 speed.  If any of you find that you are having trouble with audiobooks being VERY SLOW on your i-machines -- tap the screen while the audiobook (podcast) is playing (does not work for music).  There will be a small icon in the upper right corner (1/2x, 1x, or 2x)  tap on it to change to preferred speed.  UNRAVELED sounds normal at 1x.

Live and learn!

Unraveled by customer reviews

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.

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.
___________________________________________________________

"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.

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.

_________________________________________________________________

• SandraMC ALLEN, TX, United States07-02-12

  Overall

  Performance

  Story

  "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.

UNRAVELED!

UNRAVELED by NY Times bestselling author Courtney Milan is now available on Audible, Itunes, Amazon.  A Dickensian cast of characters and a lively heroine.  I enjoyed recording this one!

I hope you like it too.

DALSTON JUNCTION ON SALE NOW!

Dalston Junction by Lynne Siprelle writing as MeiLin Miranda, is now available at Audible, Itunes, and Amazon!

I am amazed at how this happens.  I always thought that there would more steps between my home computer and the point of sale.  But no.  Wonder of wonders!

This is a beautifully written novella about baby-farming in Victorian, England, with a twist.  It's an atmospheric journey....

Unraveled by NY Times best selling Harlequin romance writer, Courtney Milan, is up next.  I suspect it will be available through the same vendors by the end of the month.

Street: Empathy, the first of a cyberpunk trilogy featuring feisty mk5 taser toting, Gina, is on sale now!  Don't let the cover fool you.  If you like fast paced action on a futuristic Earth, this could be the listen for you!

I've recorded/edited five chapters of Desiree, chapters 6 and 7 today!  My daughter, artist Caitlin Quinn, is crafting the cover for this audiobook.  We plan to use the most famous portrait of the silk merchant's daughter by   François Gérard, who would become Notre Dame de la paix! for all of Europe.

Something like this with writing:

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

UNRAVELED APPROVED!

UNRAVELED has been approved by the author!

Dalston Junction, a chilling novella with a twist, by MeiLin Miranda, is in the ACX quality check queue.  Unraveled by NY Times bestselling Harlequin Romance author, Courtney Milan, will join the approvals line today!

Dalston Junction is Victorian, atmospheric, baby-farming with a sci-fi twist.

Unraveled is an epic romance set against the backdrop of the legal system of Bristol, England, 1894.  A Dickensian cast of characters in a literate romp - I laughed and I cried.

Street: Empathy, book one of a cyberpunk series by Ryan A Span is on sale now! (Audible, Itunes, Amazon)

I've started giving voice to Desiree by Annemarie Selinko, and with each new chapter I'm reminded anew of why I have read this sweeping account of Napoleon's first love, again and again.   Wonderful intimate storytelling set against the backdrop of epic history (herstory?).  The narrator is cheeky and bright, a shaper of history, as all women are, by just living her life!

Many thanks to  Annemarie Selinko's estate -  Annemarie and Erling Kristiansens Foundation, and to Anneli Høier, of the Leonhardt & Høier Literary Agency, in Copenhagen, Denmark, for making this happen.