Audiobook Review: The A.I. Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole

Author: Alyssa Cole

Narrator: Regina Hall, Mindy Kaling, Feodor Chin, Therese Plummer, Dina Pearlman, Neil Hellegers, Adenrele Ojo, & Kyla Garcia

Title: The A.I. Who Loved Me

Genre: SciFi, Romance, Novella, Fantasy

Format: Audiobook

Published: December 3, 2019

Where I got It: Audible 

Summary: 

Trinity Jordan leads a quiet, normal life: working from home for the Hive, a multifunctional government research center, and recovering from the incident that sent her into a tailspin. But the life she’s trying to rebuild is plagued by mishaps when Li Wei, her neighbor’s super sexy and super strange nephew, moves in and turns things upside down. Li Wei’s behavior is downright odd—and the attraction building between them is even more so. When an emergency pulls his aunt away from the apartment complex, Trinity decides to keep an eye on him…and slowly discovers that nothing is what it seems. For one thing, Li Wei isn’t just the hot guy next door—he’s the hot A.I. next door. In fact, he’s so advanced that he blurs the line between man and machine. It’s up to Trinity to help him achieve his objective of learning to be human, but danger is mounting as they figure out whether he’s capable of the most illogical human behavior of all…falling in love.

Review:

I have been seeing this book everywhere on every system and site that has audios. I also have adored other books by this author so I finally caved and decided to read this. It is/was a freebie on Audible for those with a Plus membership. 

Trinity Jordan has been living a quiet and "normal" life since an incident sent her into a tailspin. She is trying to get back on track, mentally, working remotely before she goes back to work at the Hive. The Hive is a multifunctional government research center. However, life is getting complicated and plagued by mishaps when Li Wei moves in with his aunt to recover from an accident he suffered recently too. His behavior is weird and the attraction between them is growing quickly. When an emergency pulls his aunt away, Trinity decides to keep an eye on him for the aunt. Turns out he is more than just human....he is an AI. He is SO advanced that he blurs the line between man and machine. It's up to Trinity to help him achieve his objective of learning to be human. However, danger and love are heading their way.

This started off fine enough. I was liking this for the most part...until I didn't. 

I'm not sure where the disconnect happened for me. There is a great cast of narrators....and the story is fresh. I know I struggle with SciFi in general but this sounded like it would be a win. I also am super meh about robots, but this AI was super human and super hawt. However, I struggled to finish. 

The first 10% was good...and the last 10% was good. The middle 80%? Ugh. I had to speed up the narration to make it go by quicker. I didn't want to DNF because I adore the author and have liked her stuff in the past. I was just hoping I would connect again with the story. I did for the last chunk. Or was I just happy it was coming to an end? I couldn't honestly tell you. 

Sighs. 

In the end, there are a lot of parts and components I liked, but as a whole, I was meh about this. It just didn't pull together for me. There are loads of people that adore this, but it was for me sadly. I'll give this 2 stars and only because there are pieces I did like. 

Challenge(s):
- #15 for Audiobook challenge

- #11 for Romance Reading Challenge - SciFI

Audiobook Review: How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa Cole

Author: Alyssa Cole

Narrator: Karen Chilton

Title: How to Catch a Queen

(Runaway Royals #1)

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit

Format: Audiobook

Published: December 1st 2020

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

When Shanti Mohapi weds the king of Njaza, her dream of becoming a queen finally comes true. But it’s nothing like she imagined. Shanti and her husband may share an immediate and powerful attraction, but her subjects see her as an outsider, and everything she was taught about being the perfect wife goes disastrously wrong.

A king must rule with an iron fist, and newly crowned King Sanyu was born perfectly fitted for the gauntlet, even if he wishes he weren’t. He agrees to take a wife as is required of him, though he doesn’t expect to actually fall in love. Even more vexing? His beguiling new queen seems to have the answers to his country’s problems—except no one will listen to her.

By day, they lead separate lives. By night, she wears the crown, and he bows to her demands in matters of politics and passion. When turmoil erupts in their kingdom and their marriage, Shanti goes on the run, and Sanyu must learn whether he has what it takes both to lead his people and to catch his queen.

Review:

Been itching to read more by this author! Love her books and characters and this world!

Here we follow Sanyu and Santi. Sanyu is the newly crowned king and Shanti is his arranged wife. All her life she wanted to be a queen and make a difference in the world. She thought her prayers were answered when she wed the new king of Njaza, but her dreams are shattered. There is an obvious attraction between her and her new husband, but he wants nothing to do with her. The people and advisors see her as an outsider and will not listen to her. Sanyu doesn't think he can take his father's place and he doesn't think he can lead this nation his father built. When turmoil erupts in their kingdom and their already shaky marriage, Shanti decides to leave. Sanyu must learn whether he has what it takes to lead his people and catch his queen and actually have her by his side instead of in the shadows. 

Sanyu was for sure set up for failure. I felt so bad for him! He father never kept a wife. Also tossed them to the side...including Sanyu's own mother. The advisors will not listen and think they know best. There is an advisor who is supposed to be like a second father to him, but constantly undermines him and tells him he is nothing but a failure. Ya....and how is Sanyu supposed to rule effectively? SMH

And yes, I felt for Shanti. She has dreams of wearing a crown and making an actual difference in the world. She wants to give people rights and do good. The wrong kingdom to marry into that is for sure! The old king was known for tossing many a wife. None of them stuck. 

But right away you can see they are meant to be together. They fit each other perfectly for marriage/love and for ruling a nation together! However...it took FOREVER for them to see it too. Which worked, but drove me to insanity.

So that is the obvious issue for me. It took forever and when they finally step up and tell the advisors to back-off and admit they love each other...it was done. We did get an epilogue, but it wasn't enough for me. I really wanted to see a little bit more of them fighting side-by-side and loving each other at night. Some of the boring parts of her being all alone could've been trimmed a bit. Give us more of the love!!

But that was my only issue. 

The narrator was PERFECT for these two!!!

In the end, I wanted more of them being an actual loving couple fighting for their people. We only got a little bit of that before the story ended. Other than that, I adored them finding their way to each other and finding themselves. Can't wait to read more! 4 stars from me. 

Challenge(s):
- #29 for Audiobook challenge

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: How to Catch A Queen by Alyssa Cole

Narrated by: Karen Chilton

Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins

Release date: 12-01-20

Publisher: HarperAudio

Contemporary romance

To review

Arranged marriage story! A woman who really wants to be queen!

Shanti has prepared all her life to be queen, ok yes I admit, a tad weird, I mean how many chances are there in the world to achieve that, but hey this is a romance so a lot more pretend kingdoms. I did not know how to take this ambition of hers, but then, I mean she really went all in for it. She studied, she mastered everything and when she finally got her chance she started to plan how to help her new country.

But, yes not that kind of story. Cut to her being mostly alone for 3 months, moving from her room to the library. No one giving an f or wanting her there. All her plans in turmoil. This is not a queen friendly country. No they have for decades had a queen for 4 months and then a new one and a new one and a new one and a new one.

But then she finally gets a chance and gets to speak to her husband. And he notices her brilliant mind (oh and how fine she is.)

Sanyu, yes i liked him. Not everyone wants to be king and his dad, and their advisor sure did a number on him. First, all those queens, so never any mother for him. An advisor ho kept telling him he was a failure, and a father who was known for his iron fist. This poor guy pops antacids like they are candy. But it felt so real, hell it would be scary to be king and suddenly must know what to do.

And no one told him he was to marry either so resentment there too.

She is the only queen ready to save this country, and together they could be great. But there is a road there and yes some drama on the way. It is fun, it makes you want to smack someone over the head and it felt new. I have sure never read about someone this driven to be queen!

I remember the couple for an earlier book and wanting to read it, and I finally had the chance. Enjoyable and refreshing.

Great narration by Chilton. She gets to portray characters from two made up kingdoms, and she gives the characters different accents so well. She has a nice range with her male and female voices and she truly brings the story together.

When Shanti Mohapi weds the king of Njaza, her dream of becoming a queen finally comes true. But it’s nothing like she imagined. Shanti and her husband may share an immediate and powerful attraction, but her subjects see her as an outsider, and everything she was taught about being the perfect wife goes disastrously wrong.

A king must rule with an iron fist, and newly crowned King Sanyu was born perfectly fitted for the gauntlet, even if he wishes he weren’t. He agrees to take a wife as is required of him, though he doesn’t expect to actually fall in love. Even more vexing? His beguiling new queen seems to have the answers to his country’s problems - except no one will listen to her.

By day, they lead separate lives. By night, she wears the crown, and he bows to her demands in matters of politics and passion. When turmoil erupts in their kingdom and their marriage, Shanti goes on the run, and Sanyu must learn whether he has what it takes both to lead his people and to catch his queen.

Audiobook Review: A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole

Author: Alyssa Cole
Narrator: Karen Chilton
Title: A Duke by Default
(Reluctant Royals #2)
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction
Format: Audiobook 
Pages: 374  
Published: July 31st 2018
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)



Summary: New York City socialite and perpetual hot mess Portia Hobbs is tired of disappointing her family, friends, and—most importantly—herself. An apprenticeship with a struggling swordmaker in Scotland is a chance to use her expertise and discover what she’s capable of. Turns out she excels at aggravating her gruff silver fox boss…when she’s not having inappropriate fantasies about his sexy Scottish burr.

Tavish McKenzie doesn’t need a rich, spoiled American telling him how to run his armory…even if she is infuriatingly good at it. Tav tries to rebuff his apprentice, and his attraction to her, but when Portia accidentally discovers that he’s the secret son of a duke, rough-around-the-edges Tav becomes her newest makeover project.

Forging metal into weapons and armor is one thing, but when desire burns out of control and the media spotlight gets too hot to bear, can a commoner turned duke and his posh apprentice find lasting love?

Review:
Book 2! I was a little worried about starting this because I wasn't a fan of Portia in the first book. However, I believe in second chances and I wanted to get to know her and see her find love. Andddd being set in Scotland certainly helps ;) 

The story follows Portia who is done disappointing everyone and herself. She accepts an apprenticeship with a swordmaker in Scotland. She has stopped drinking and having sex so she can find the real her. She did not expect that her gruff and sexy boss would get under her skin. Tavish doesn't need or want the spoiled American telling him how to improve his armory even though all the points she makes seem legit. He tries to rebuff her and ignore the growing attraction, but when she discovers that his absent father is a duke? Well...they will need each other during this whirlwind of change. 

Okay..I was wrong about my opinions on Portia. I AM SORRY! I actually adore her. Sighs. She got under my skin. I felt so bad for her when we get to dig into her thinking and feelings and her family life. Screw her parents. They suck. >_> I want to throttle them. Maybe we'll get some more closure with them when we read Portia's sister's little novella. IDK but I feel so bad for Portia. 

I liked Tav the moment he and his grumpy-ass came onto the scene. LOL He was a big jerk, but I liked him. He is rough around the edges, but he is very sweet in his own way. It took him a bit to really come around to anything and everything, but Portia is equally stubborn. It took foreverrrrr and a day for the two to find out they needed and loved each other. I wanted to kick both of them, but it makes sense it took so long. Lots of hurdles and issues to get around. 

This was really good. I think I liked it a hair better than book 1. Shocker! I know! 

I think what really made me appreciate this was the very serious issues underlining a lot of the story. Racism and anti-immigrant issues. It made me sad, but it made the story feel more realistic. I am so glad Tav will have a chance (in this fictional world) to make a difference. He is such a good guy. 

The narrator was good. Her Scottish accent was a lil hit or miss if I am, to be honest. Everything else worked okay. I did have some moments when I had to rewind so I knew who was speaking. Some of her voices for some characters were very similar to each other, so I would forget who was speaking. Her old lady British Queen accent was SO on point though! loved it. She pulled that off so well. I hope she can use that voice more ;) 

Overall, I really, really liked this. Maybe even a touch more than book 1! I am glad my opinion on Portia was flipped. I actually adored her. Tav was awesome too. I'll give this 4 stars. 

Challenge(s):

- #26 for Audiobook Challenge
- #17 for DUKE in title. 

binngooooo

Audiobook Review - A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole

Author: Alyssa Cole
Narrator: Karen Chilton
Title: A Princess in Theory
(Reluctant Royals #1)
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction
Format: Audiobook 
Pages: 360 
Published: February 27th 2018
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)



Summary: Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn’t have time for fairy tales…or patience for the constant e-mails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. Sure. Right. Delete! As a former foster kid, she’s learned that the only things she can depend on are herself and the scientific method, and a silly e-mail won’t convince her otherwise.

Prince Thabiso is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, shouldering the hopes of his parents and his people. At the top of their list? His marriage. Ever dutiful, he tracks down his missing betrothed. When Naledi mistakes the prince for a pauper, Thabiso can’t resist the chance to experience life—and love—without the burden of his crown.

The chemistry between them is instant and irresistible, and flirty friendship quickly evolves into passionate nights. But when the truth is revealed, can a princess in theory become a princess ever after?

Review:
I wanted to read book 2 of the series, but I decided I needed to read book 1 first since it seemed there might be some stuff I would need to know. 

I am glad I did that!

This story follows Naledi who doesn't have time for fairy tales or princes or anything of that nature. She has a career she wants and she wants to make something of her self. She learned a long time ago, as a foster kid, that she can only depend on herself. She won't be falling for any scam emails telling her she is supposed to be betrothed to some prince! But...what if she was supposed to be betrothed to some prince? On the other side of the world, there is Prince Thabiso who is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo. His parents are pushing him to forget his childhood betrothed and move on. The kingdom needs an heir and they want him to be happy. He decides to head to the US and find his missing bride. 

I simply adored this story. It was pretty much a modern-day version of 'Coming to America'. A lot of similar story points, but veryyyyy different in other ways. It was a lovely mixture. A nod to that story and it was unique in its own way. 

I adored Naledi! Girl power all the way! I did want to shake her to stand up to that boss of hers. F that guy. 

It took me a moment to warm up to Prince Thabiso. I get WHY he pretended to not be a prince but still...there were times he really needed to tell her the truth especially when she really opened up about her parents and her time in the foster system. Sighs. Dumb boy. 

Gah. I am not a fan of Naledi's BFF. I believe she is the star in the next one? I can't remember, but I know it will take me a while to warm up to her more. She did get better near the end though. There is hope for her yet. 

I loveddddd Thabiso's assistant. I WANT HER TO FIND LOVE DARNIT! 

The mystery with that virus was fun. I had my suspicions and it turned out I was right. I really thought I was being cynical, but my gut was right. Even though I guessed it, I was still shocked at the big reveal there. 

Oooo the narrator was fun. She did well. I liked her accents. Her boy and girl voices were good too. However, the voices she used were pretty similar. Like I had to really pay attention when Naledi and her BFF were chit-chatting because they both sounded near the same. I still liked the narrator overall. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this. I am SO glad I decided to tackle book 1 first before diving into book 2 like I normally do. It was totally worth it. It was such a fun story. I'll give this 4 stars. 

Challenge(s):

- #25 for Audiobook Challenge

Blodeuedd's Monday: A Prince of Paper by Alyssa Cole

Narrated by: Karen Chilton

Series: Reluctant Royals, Book 3

Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 04-30-19

Language: English

Publisher: HarperAudio

Contemporary romance

To review

My Thoughts

I have no idea what it is this redheaded prince fascination, I mean Harry, come on, not handsome. But for you all who think so then this is a treat for you. A redheaded playboy prince who gets in trouble a lot and whose philanthropist mother is dead. And whose name is Johan.

Johan who has fancied Nya from afar. Sheltered Nya whose dad is a traitor and who told everyone that Nya is sickly and can not do anything. Yes her dad was a real piece of work.

Back to the start. Yes this is book 3 but it works perfectly as a stand alone. She attends her cousin's wedding and I guess that was book 1? And then she has this other friend there and that I do know is book 2 because I listened to a novella about that one.  I do love a good stand alone.

I liked Johan because he did not want to be a playboy prince. He does it all to keep the attention on him and not his brother. 

Nya kept playing this mobile game and as I am currently addicted to one, then hey I get that girl! I liked how she wanted to become something else, but at the same time, there was nothing wrong with being her and she had to learn that.

They meet, they flirt, there is family drama and they live happily ever after. I enjoyed it.

Narrator

I liked her Nya voice and Johan's accent, but the Scottish one, even if I did not hear a lot, it was pretty bad. She had nice distinctive voices and her voice was nice listening to.

Romance always rocks in audio

Nya Jerami fled Thesolo for the glitz and glamour of NYC but discovered that her Prince Charming only exists in her virtual dating games. When Nya returns home for a royal wedding, she accidentally finds herself up close and personal-in bed-with the real-life celebrity prince who she loves to hate.

For Johan von Braustein, the red-headed step-prince of Liechtienbourg, acting as paparazzi bait is a ruse that protects his brother-the heir to the throne-and his own heart. When a royal referendum threatens his brother's future, a fake engagement is the perfect way to keep the cameras on him.

Nya and Johan both have good reasons to avoid love, but as desires are laid bare behind palace doors, they must decide if their fake romance will lead to a happily-ever-after.