So, so, so bad

What would have made Forever Black better?

This story had potential. The first 1/3 of the book would have been okay if the grammar and sentence structure issues weren't so distracting. Once the couple finally decided they loved each other, it just got ridiculous. They loved each other! They had a fight and broke up over something stupid! Wait, now they're back together! Whoops, another breakup! Someone was always storming out and swearing they were over. And don't even get me started on all the throwing of cell phones, vases, glasses -- the heroine was always shattering something and having to pick up the pieces, at which point the hero would swoop in out of nowhere (even if he had previously stormed out and slammed the door) and tell her not to pick that up because she was going to cut herself. After the breakups, they suddenly got back together without even discussing what caused the breakup to begin with.SPOILER ALERT:The cancer thing could have been a really interesting/challenging conflict in the book, but instead it's completely unrealistic. It was 3/4 of the way through the book that they finally mentioned what kind of cancer she had (seriously, who confides in their best friends that they have "cancer" without specifying? Is it breast cancer? Lymphoma? A brain tumor?), and once it was revealed, she was suddenly in a magical clinical trial with few side effects, and then she was cured.

Has Forever Black turned you off from other books in this genre?

No. But it's turned me off from other books by this author.

What three words best describe Felicity Munroe and David Benjamin Bliss ’s voice?

I can't do it in three words :) Felicity Munroe was fine on the women's voices. She's very perky sounding, which would annoy me on most books, but I thought it worked for this heroine and her best friend. I thought she made Connor sound a little robotic, especially during the love scenes, which I assume were supposed to be steamy but somehow weren't. David Benjamin Bliss only read one, very short chapter, which seemed kind of thrown in for no apparent reason. He did an okay job reading it, but the chapter itself didn't seem to advance the story at all.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Forever Black?

If I could play editor, the first thing I'd do would be to correct all of the atrocious grammar and sentence structure issues. I haven't read the book in print, thank goodness, but based on the Amazon reviews, the spelling and punctuation errors are just as bad as the grammar. Descriptions are simplistic and repetitive (drinking game: take a swig every time someone "lightly laughs" or "heavily sighs" -- you'll be drunk by the second chapter), and the author switches back and forth from past to present tense at random, often in the middle of a sentence. There are also word choices that just don't make sense. How do you touch someone "fluently"?After a thorough copy edit, I'd probably cut the random Connor chapter because it did nothing to advance the plot or even give any insight into Connor's character.

Any additional comments?

I could have ignored some of the weaknesses in the story, but when you can actually HEAR how badly a story is edited, that's a deal breaker for me.

13 people found this helpful

Just... no.

Apparently there are a lot of rich guys out there with emotional issues who meet a mousy by accident and immediately fall in love despite a horrible outlook on dating. I admittedly listened to it all but it was like a train wreck you couldn't look away from. I almost didn't review it but there are too many people giving it 5 stars and that's just... wrong.

Perhaps this will get a bit spoilery.

How many fights can be had? And why are they all nuclear explosions? Why does either person need to run away the minute they have a fight?

And, I'm sorry, you have cancer? What kind? Just cancer? As someone who has been with people during a battle of cancer this whole line was a bit insulting. And I so wish there was a miracle drug out there that just cures it as simply. This happily ever after was just too... I don't even know... so HEA it's unbelievable.

I honestly wanted to rant for my review but I took a breath and listened to a few other series. This book still haunts me as time wasted. If you're looking for a Crossfire or 50 Shades this is a striped-down bare-bones mockery (and that's saying something).

12 people found this helpful

Forever Fabulous !!

Any additional comments?

This book has moved me beyond words. I've read some of the reviews about it being compared to 50 shades and it's NOTHING LIKE IT! I don't know what book they were reading. The storyline is very beautiful and touching. I cried and laughed and just plain loved this book. It's emotional and beautiful and doesn't fail. For this being the authors first book ever published, I must give her more than 5 stars because she wrote this well. People are saying there were some errors but I didn't find any as a friend told me she fixed them and republished the book. Kudos to you Ms. Lynn for an outstanding first novel that tugged at my heartstrings. I am a huge fan now.... For people who are sick of a story about a rich sex crazed bachelor - Stay away. The description gives a very good detail of what to expect in this story..

12 people found this helpful

I'm an Ellery Fan

I really enjoyed this book. While I loved the interaction between Connor and Ellery it was the feisty personality of Ellery that kept me so involved. I love that she is her own person and doesn't bow down to Connor. This was a very easy and enjoyable listen.

11 people found this helpful

New Adult/College

This book is considered New Adult/College. Not a teen book but not quite an adult book. The characters are usually 19-26. Generally this category is for 17 and up readers due to the mature theme, language and a little more detailed sex scenes. For me, the NA/C books are a hit or a miss. This book was a miss for me. I didn't hate the book, I just felt like the characters were too immature, I am probably older than the targeted audience for this book The narrator sounded very young but did a great job.I won't be listening to the next 2 books in this trilogy. . .

10 people found this helpful

So many emotions!

I am finding that I really enjoy books that are more deep and have more details into the lives of the totally F'd up. As are we all, this couple is real and has major hangups. I can totally see this couple, they are both strong but in different ways, they are both weak but in different ways. I love the story, beginning to end, there are times I was so angry, cried and laughed, truly wonderful. Narration was good/great, Felicity Munroe did really well, I don't recall hearing her before but she did well. David Benjamin Bliss was good as Connor, we only hear David's narration in one chapter, 35 I think in this book. David's other voices are a bit strange, his voice for Ellery was difficult but I got used to it, doesn't take away from the story. Can't wait to listen to the next one. I couldn't fall asleep until this one was finished!

9 people found this helpful

Boring, predictable …

What did you like best about Forever Black? What did you like least?

Ellery has an interesting problem, She otherwise was predictable and stubborn. I was hoping for some sort of twist that never came. It was kinda depressing.

Would you recommend Forever Black to your friends? Why or why not?

No it was predictable and depressing

What aspect of Felicity Munroe and David Benjamin Bliss ’s performance would you have changed?

The narrators were good.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

7 people found this helpful

Forever Black Very good

I really enjoyed this story. Conner and Ellery were great characters, full of passion and heat. As well as, spit and fire. Their friendship in the beginning was great. I really liked their banter, and the way she tells it like it is. But, that did become frustrating when she would fly off the handle at Conner and just take off. That part of the book bothered me. I felt like she could have been a little more mature than that, considering what she's been through in her life. Her reactions to the other women eyeing Conner were hilarious, and I would have loved to have read more of those scenes. I did feel like it was rushed. Several times throughout the book, I felt like things happened so quickly and then they were moving on to something else. I would have liked more of a build up and more after thought for some of it. I did enjoy her reaction to Kyle coming back. He definitely deserved that. Ellery is such a great character overall. She's suffered so much loss in her life, as well as her own battles with cancer. She is entitled to some anger and self-pity, but I thought she did take it too far on occasion. Conner was the typical bad boy character with no feelings for women. He could be harsh at times, but I could see him growing into more of a well-rounded man. Overall, I really enjoyed the story-line of this book, and I look forward to reading Conner's POV. I'm hoping it will fill in some holes for me.

Felicity Munroe , David Benjamin Bliss did a great job with the delivery of the story

6 people found this helpful

Not a favorite

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The story was weird. The main character "El" plays games and somehow Connor manages to fall in love despite their instant arguing and fighting. A stronger more believable storyline where the female character has some sense and the make character responds like a real man would respond not something this unbelievable.

What was most disappointing about Sandi Lynn’s story?

The female character was weak and needy.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Felicity Munroe and David Benjamin Bliss ?

Sure

Was Forever Black worth the listening time?

Not unless you have nothing else to do

4 people found this helpful

Immature Behavior

Would you try another book from Sandi Lynn and/or Felicity Munroe and David Benjamin Bliss ?

No sure about reading any more Sandi Lynn but thought the narrators were decent.

Has Forever Black turned you off from other books in this genre?

No

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

They were good.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Forever Black?

The excessive childish fighting scenes started by Ellery. She was so sweet and caring to everyone else but she was constantly antagonizing Connor.

Any additional comments?

I think the falling in love and fighting through the cancer was unique story line but Ellery was extremely frustrating, immature and had double standards. She would hide information from Connor but go bat shit crazy on him. She was excessively stubborn and constantly goading Connor to fight then would run away and expect him to always chase after her. She always need her "space" and at some point, Connor should have dumped her it was getting so ridiculous. There were times I just wanted to rip out my ear plugs.

2 people found this helpful