First, let me say that I am neither familiar with Laurel K Hamilton and Anita Blake, nor have I ever experienced an audiobook or any other type outside traditional and kindle books. I bought this novella in spite of the negative reviews I saw because I have already read the rest of the IAD stories and am seriously contemplating spending $11.99 for the next installation (& outside of one really-the latest..Dreams of a Dark Warrior-I have truly enjoyed this addictive series), and I am glad I ignored those poor reviews. At the end of the day, it all comes down to taste. I love an excellent story ESPECIALLY if there's an erotica/romantica aspect involved, and while I think this is certainly the hottest thing I have read by Cole, there are others out there who blow her out of the water in that dept. Yes, it's hot compared to her full length stuff, but I liked that about it. It was a great change of pace (I know this was the first one, but since I read it last, it felt like a change, especially after the latest one which I gave only 2.5 stars-in my head). Yes, there is quite a bit of hotness in this one, but there is also a lot of story to go along with, including allusions to things in stories to follow. No, there aren't as many fight scenes and she doesn't drag out the sexual tension to the point of frustration as she has in many of her other books, but I think for a novella, she gave a perfect balance for my particular tastes. I really liked this one and decided to give a review since there seems to be a few bad ones based solely on the performances of the actors doing the reading rather than the actual story. I think it's kind of unfair to the author and to the story itself to judge it based on that. Plus, I believe it sort of pollutes the ratings.
I would definitely recommend this story, and I think that others should try it as well-maybe just not in audio format. At $1.99 for Kindle, I think it's an AWESOME deal given that it's nearly the length of some other authors' actual books (furthest location=2065). My only complaint about the series and what kept me from giving this five stars, and this isn't an issue with KC only but with several of my faves, is the lack of color in this and the rest of her stories. As a black woman I find, what I consider the general ethnic-deficiency in literature a total shame, but I won't go there today other than to say to Cole, if she reads these reviews, that given your chosen setting for the majority of the IAD series, I find it rather disconcerting that in nearly a dozen stories based out of New Orleans, not ONCE has anyone encountered someone of color. Just saying... No. Really. ;-) I mean it IS NOLa, and if anyone has ever been, as I have many times given I have fam there and all over the South, they would see where my confusion might stem from. And I'm not saying your main shero has to be AA or Latina, etc. but it would be nice in one of your stories if maybe one of her homegirls was. Just a splash of color here and there would be great and IMO (emphasis on M), would definitely elevate your stories even higher and add more authenticity to them. I mean, we DO live in an extremely diverse and multi-cultural world here. Why not reflect that in your writings? Again, just saying... I know it's fiction, and paranormal at that, but am I supposed to suspend my belief on that note as well? I don't know...
Nonetheless, I'm glad I purchased this. It was a great after-dinner treat for Tofurkey Day that kept me up half the night before tryptophan got the better of me, but I awoke and finished the story which compelled me to review. Others reading this should give the story a try. I'm glad I ignored those bad reviews, particularly the ones due to the quality of the audio version, and gave it a chance. As far as the eroticism of book, that's hit or miss and all in how hot you like your story. I will say this, I am now going to look into those other two authors mentioned above to see if they rate anywhere near Cole's talent in my book. I tried an author who was likened to KC in a review for another of her books. I won't mention who because I really don't like to speak badly of others or give unfavorable ratings unless something is truly awful, but I will say that her work was nowhere NEAR the caliber of Cole's. So hopefully people will give this one a try with an open mind and enjoy it. Happy Reading!
Note** As many others have said in their reviews, you don't NEED to read the books in order to get them or even to enjoy them. However, having started them out of order only to backtrack halfway through and begin again at AHLNO, I can't stress reading them in order enough. It just makes the series sooooo much better since the stories overlap and some parts happen concurrently.
