He's My Soldier Boy

De: Lisa Jackson

Narrado por: Kate Rudd

Dark, sexy, and dangerous, young Ben Powell could steal kisses as deep and stormy as Whitefire Lake. But when he cruelly accused Carlie Surrett of unthinkable sins, he left her in the dust of her shattered dreams. Now, steelier than ever after his stint in the army, Ben is back - making Carlie curse the love that all but destroyed her...and the volcanic passion that still sears her soul.

©2013 Lisa Jackson (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

More Soap Opera than Romance

This is one of the author's earlier works and not one of her romantic suspense offerings. As a romance it had great potential, however, it misses the mark a bit. It reads more like a soap opera with much angst, wringing of hands, secret pregancies, thin plot and sterotypical characters. The narrator reads the dialogue in a highly melodramatic, soap opera style also.

The title is also a misnomer. I chose this book partly because I enjoy miltary romances. This isn't one. The "soldier" in question is merely a plot device to separate the two halves of the book. The hero, a teen in the first half of the book, runs away to join the military in order to have him return in the second half as an adult. That's where the "soldier" aspect begins and ends. If you are looking for a military romance a la Stephanie Tyler or Suzanne Brockmann - you won't find here, despite the book's title.

On the whole, it wasn't the worst romance I've ever listened to, but it lacks the author's later style and sophistication. It's OK to listen to whilst doing chores but it won't keep you up all night finishing it.

Written from the perspective of a 70 year woman

What would have made He's My Soldier Boy better?

The characters could have had a sense of humour - not one funny word spilled from their fictitious mouths. Words like 'skinflint' died in the Victorian era and should probably stay there unless of course you're writing a Victorian story.

What could Lisa Jackson have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Write it funnier, it's a romance, funny men are sexy - brooding is hot but without funny its just...eh.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Kate Rudd?

Kate Rudd sounds takes great effort to emphasise every word she's speaking it comes off sounding automated. The Midwest accent is always a tough one to listen to - if I was picking someone to read my books - I'd pick James Franco :)