She Can Run

Started Off Slow

I almost returned this book because it started off so slow but the pace and storyline eventually sped up and I ended up enjoying it.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Good story poor narration

The story was engaging and enjoyable but at times the narration was akin to nails drug across a chalkboard. Amy's soft spoken, monotone voice did not do this book any justice.
In the end the story was worth putting up with the poor narration.

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

Just Couldn't Finish This

If you really want to listen to your GPS read a cross between a romance novel and "The Perils of Pauline;" this is the book for you. It began with just a really bad reader but a story that seemed interesting. By the beginning of part 2, I realized I was dreading turning on my book. I had thought I wanted to find out how it ended. I decided it wasn't worth my time. I am amazed Amy Rubinate has narrated other books. I will never get another one by her.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Must Hire New Narrator

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would change the narrator.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

She said Hor-sass one too many times. Who doesn't know how to pronounce horses? She was breathy for no reason. At first I thought maybe it was to emphsize the fear of the situation but then realized she wasn't going to stop using that ridiculous voice.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Amateurish and predictable....

So you are running from an abusive husband and you and your kids spend the night in a house with three strange drunk men.....that is the amateurish and of course you fall in love with one of them and almost get murdered...twice! In the end, all is happily ever after....that is the predictable. I did not get the narrator and I will not continue on with the series.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

I am not a fan of this narrator

What disappointed you about She Can Run?

I haven't finished the book, as the narrator speaks in a way I find distracting and annoying. I am taken away from the story.

What was most disappointing about Melinda Leigh’s story?

I haven't completed it, and probably won't, unless I am trapped with NOTHING else to listen to.

How could the performance have been better?

The pronunciation of words like 'horses', was what turned me off right away. Actually, I purchased the book thinking it was more of a mystery and less of a romance, so that is my error.I guess I still don't know what genre it best fits. When the animals kept being referred to as 'Horse as", I quit. It is odd how a quirk like that can turn a reader of instantly. I listen to many, many books, and have listened to a wide range of narrators. Rarely does one bother me enough to quite reading a book entirely.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Distracting narrator

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I'd recommend the author, as I thought the book well written. It was compelling enough to grit my teeth and not let the narration keep me from finishing it.

If you’ve listened to books by Melinda Leigh before, how does this one compare?

Haven't listened to her work before, but would again.

What didn’t you like about Amy Rubinate’s performance?

I love listening to books and have a very high tolerance for different styles of narration. But this time I was so distracted by the breathy voice, which alone might have been ok, but when combined with a cadence that rises at the end of phrases instead if dropping naturally, I found my attention focused on figuring out what was bothering me rather than the story. I kept waiting for her voice to drop. It gave an over dramatic flavor to the reading without which the work itself was quite ok.

Any additional comments?

I rarely post a review, but I think this author deserves a different narrator.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Interesting story...poor performance

What did you like best about She Can Run? What did you like least?

The story was mostly predictable, but had a few interesting twists and the pace was good in that the story kept moving. The biggest minus was the performance.

What was one of the most memorable moments of She Can Run?

Can't really say there was one, but that was because the poor performance was distracting.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

This woman had a saccharine voice suitable to children's books and fair tales, not a murder mystery. Her lack of vocal inflection throughout the entire book drained any suspense from an otherwise suspenseful story. It also make it very difficult to distinguish between "thoughts" the characters were thinking to themselves and their actual conversations. Perhaps they are instructed not to add any acting skills to the job, but that totally ruins it for me. If a comeback is sassy, that does not come across reading it deadpan. I've noticed this in other Audible books, but not all of them. Some performers change their voices so you can tell the characters apart, they are excited in exciting passages, angry in angry ones...they give you the emotion along with the words. They ACT. Sadly, this performer did none of that.

What would have made this romance irresistible?

A performer with some acting range.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable listen

I enjoyed this book and the development of characters throughout the book. Its was fast paced all the way through and kept me listening into the wee small hours.

The narrator Amy Rubinate did a great job with the voices and the actual narration of the book.

The book reminded me a bit of Sandra Brown's style of writing.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Excellent!

Imagine getting a job, on the day to start work you show up and there is a hearse in the driveway. What do you do now, especially since you have 2 young children with you and this was to be their new home? I admired the heroine in this story. She was a strong, caring mother, determined to protect her family. The synopsis for this story is spot on, but there is a side murder mystery going on in the story that was very interesting and kept me riveted. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Now my only problem is the narrator. She sounded too girlish, a young girl if you will. The woman in this story is a mature woman, twice married, with 2 children, the narrator made her sound like a high school valley girl. I was able to get past this because the story was very interesting, so if you can over look her lil girlish voice you will find the story is very good.

10 of 13 people found this review helpful