Narration

So sad to hear a different narrator . It really took away from the story. Tristian James is the cast.

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Not the same

I loved the previous books in the Marshals series, they are my go to when I don’t have anything new to listen to. But Balanced and tied not so much, this book has a new narrator he was okay but I was expecting the voices to sound the same as in previous books.

3 people found this helpful

I Get It

I had read some of the other reviews about the change in narrator for Eli's story and I agree that it does lack nuance in areas but we don't read Mary Calmes for the narration though let's be honest Tristan James has pretty much spoiled us for anyone else, we read it for the story and that was worth dealing with a different narrator for. Eli is not Sam, Ian, or even Miro he is a different kind of character, and his story, therefore, should not be judged by or even against the others. I loved Eli in the other books and I am glad he got his HEA. Also, I'm super glad we got to have the secret revealed about Jer's real name that was a payoff years in the making. We also get to see our boys in a sort of after the break up of our favorite team and they are all still in each other's lives and living happy lives and thriving in their new roles and that too is an amazing payoff. I thought the story was engaging and entertaining and these characters are like old friends at this point so seeing them all is like a happy reunion. I want more of these beautiful men. sooo hope Mary can come up with a reason for our boys to get the band back together again.

1 person found this helpful

Good story. Good narration.

Hmm. I enjoyed the story. I liked having a chance to get to know Eli better, but I expected something a bit different from his personality based on the earlier books in the series. I couldn't reconcile the Eli in this book with the one in my head based on previous references.

The story had some interesting moments. I was a ballerina once upon a time so I am always curious about how other people see ballet. The melodrama associated with dancing is one of the reasons I ditched my toe shoes for running shoes. Calmes does a decent job of portraying the circus surrounding dance. I would have liked to see a bit more passion about dance incorporated into Cel's character, but that is a very hard thing to describe even if you have spent time bleeding and sweating for your art.

The performance by Scott R Smith was well done. The story was entertaining, and I look forward to the next book.

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Different headliner = different narrator

I still loved it. The story is fun and exactly what you’d expect in this series. It’s like a fuzzy blanket of adventure & romance with a character I wanted to know more about.

Different but just as great!

Book 5 in the series shifts focus off the main couple of Ian and Miro onto their co-worker, Eli. It fast forwards a few years to a place where Eli is heading up the PR department of the Marshall’s office (instead of being a regular Marshall with his partner Jer). The story focuses on a ballet company, mystery and murder, and Eli’s best friend from the dance company. This is a best friends (one gay, one straight) turning a deep long term best friendship into something more. No insta-love here, and the romance is well into the later chapters, giving a solid foundation to the well developed story. There is not quite as much action as previous books, and there is a different feel to this book, but these are not bad things. We still get cameos by our heroes Ian and Miro, but this story is just a different flavor from the same amazing author. Scott Smith did a good job narrating. I am glad Calmes decided on a new narrator for this book, as the focus is completely changed from the beloved Doyle and Jones. Great audiobook! Highly recommend!

Had potential

This book had potential, but the returning characters didn’t sound like themselves. The performance from this different narrator played a part in it, but the story was just so boring that I never made it to the fourth chapter. I’m used to long inner dialogue and repetitive dialogue between characters with this author, but the story still moved forward in her previous books in this series.

Fan Fiction??

This story is ok, but it has very different voice from the rest of the books in the Marshal's series. This is the only book that changes perspectives between MCs. The Marshals from the previous books seem to have different personalities. This may be due the change in narrator. This book feels like fan fiction, or that Ms. Calmes has forgotten her characters. I have read, and re-read the Matter of Time and Marshal's books, but this book really misses the mark. I don't recommend this book.

enjoyed it

📖 Story comment: I liked getting to know Eli, the story was interesting, the pace was good, the characters familiar. Celso as a dancer was interesting as was the drama that comes with dancing at a professional level. Had kind of a different "feel" to the other Marshal's books, but I enjoyed the story and it was nice to revisit the Marshals world after so long.

🎧 Narrator comment: I will admit to being bummed at the change of narrator in the beginning, but as with any good voice actor, I soon adapted. Scott R Smith's interpretation of "pre-loved" characters fit with the story and I enjoyed its portrayal of Eli and Cel, he suited the characters giving them each their own voice and personality, has good timing, inflections and intonations and bought the story to life. ... i'm off to explore other titles he's narrated starting with No Quick Fix 😁

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📌 Where does it fall on my personal scale? 7
• 1 not my thing • 2 didn't like the narration • 3 didn't keep my attention • 4 was good, but once was enough [3⭐] • 5 enjoyed it [4⭐] • 6 will listen again if i'm in the mood for the narrator [4⭐] • 7 goes on the "re-listen" list [4⭐] • 8 kept me up past bed-time [4.5⭐] • 9 recommended to family/friends [4.75⭐] • 10 own it in all formats [5⭐] • 11 keep a copy with me at all times [5⭐]

Wasn't what I was expecting from the series but happy now that I stayed w it.

I can recommend this as a stand-alone because it is basically removed from the tone, intensity, and references/involvement of the other books & MC's. But for fans of the series I say, stay with it, eventually it works very well. In the end there is a treat of a phone call from a character who reminds you how much the series has meant to its readers. Some icing on the cake. A last thought, it IS Mary Calmes, so you can never go wrong.