Reality TV Romance Done Well

I'm not a huge reality TV fan but if I had to pick a "favorite" it would be "Survivor". Rosalind James puts a twist on reality TV by having the story center around a pioneer theme circa 1885. Without giving too much away . . . pairs on the show spend weeks living much like the homesteaders that settled the midwestern/western states. James does a brilliant job of giving insight into the struggles of daily life that settlers experienced while trying improve the land. She even addresses the injustices brought about by the Homestead Act. Of course, this is romance and James also does a fantastic job in this area. Twin brothers Gabe and Alec are selected for the show, as are couple Scott and Mira. Throughout the story of how the game progresses, relationships evolve including a new one between Gabe and Mira. However it's not just their story. James weaves the other contestants into the story so that we get a good picture of what they are like as well as helping to reveal the true nature of Gabe, Alec, Scott, and Mira. As always, James adds just the right amount of steaminess to the story. If you don't want some slightly dirty "encounters" (including a sizzling session of shaving down by the stream) done in a tasteful but provocative manner, this book isn't for you.

Emma Taylor does an outstanding job with the narration. She gives individual voices to each character (of which there are a dozen+) that are easily recognizable as their own. Her rate and inflection are very pleasant and she does a great job with the right amount of emotion--nothing unbelievable because it's so over the top. In fact, Gabe really comes alive and I liked him even more in the audiobook (I had also read the print book). She gave him just the right amount of "rakishness" while still preserving his "gentleman" tendencies. Her Mira came across as sweet but not in a sickening way while preserving her quiet strength. Characters I didn't like when I read the book REALLY annoyed me while listening--and not because of a poor performance but because Taylor does them so well you really hear them if that makes sense. The book is a great one when read but Taylor's performance really takes it to the next level, bringing everything to life.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own--If I didn't enjoy the audiobook, I'd have no problem stating so.

9 people found this helpful

Just shy of the fence

I can see how giving a voice to that many characters could be a challenge, but I've heard some narrators (best example Susan Ericksen) do 10 to 12 very distinctive voices naturally and smoothly. In my opinion Emma Taylor had a problem trying to accomplish that and putting some heat into the more passionate scenes which sounded awkward and unsexy.

As for the story, I've read all of Rosalind James' NZ series and enjoyed most of them thoroughly, but in this case it felt like too little of too much. The concept of the reality show was interesting, however we dove into that world really fast without much prior development of the main characters which made them, especially Mira, very inconsistent. I can see a woman not having a lot of options and being so insecure, dependent and afraid she stays with a man like Scott. The way Mira is portrayed from the start, a professional woman from an upper-middle class family, does not make her being with such an asshole believable at all. I have no doubt having an anti hero helps, but you don't need to go that far to make someone dislikable unless you're willing to build a credible story around it. Rosalind James is a good writer but I really felt she introduced too many things and thus lost her focus and some of my interest.

5 people found this helpful

Lovin paradise

Where does Welcome to Paradise rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I have my favorite narrator, but I did like and felt for the books justice,more then one narrator was needed, they did an amazing job,and hoping they were used for the next two books of RJ!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Welcome to Paradise?

Mira,coming into the light and standing on her own with Scott!

What does Emma Taylor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Major expression,for so many different personalities,feelings!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I think it had me happy,mad sad,laughing crying and rallying for the good ones!! It was full of all kinds of expressions!

Any additional comments?

I have read many of this Author books, this is different then the NZ seriers but awesome in America just the same. I am one who does not like to put out much on the book because it spoils it for others. as a reader of 5-6 books a week. I found I so couldn't put this book down but I also did not want it to end . the only disappointment I can really say is the book was finished , AS FAR AS AUDIO:
What great narration, being use to one narrator,I was pleased that this book there was more narrators to capture the characters!
The Audio still made me want to ring the next of Scott but Mira maintained a woman who is verbally abused in a passive aggressive way!
It first I saw Mira as a puppet ,but she was in control she just didn't think she knew how to handle Scott without messing up what she promised him and the game.
The way she handles the love scenes have you in tha wow or as in the book hitting the target! You won't be disappointed!
She nailed the details of it all, the passion,the way Mira is treated is so easily played out hearing the difference in tones and expressions ,were very well done!!
Rosalind was far passed doing this story line,with the TV show coming out! Seeing how RJ played it out before even on TV!
This Author gives us an incredible fresh writing skill,that not been seen in a long while! Now a days we see copy cat writing,now with RJ writing! You will fall in love with her romance and the way romance novels use to draw us in!.RJ is going to be the next top Author!

I loved a Bad guy part LOL lips sealed. I promise you will Love it ! And at an amazing price made it that much easier to read, its refreshing that we can get a good read under a few bucks vs 15-20 bucks.

thank you to the Author for allowing me to yet Escape to a place away from the day to day life . You did a wonderful job !

hope your fingers are typing as I type ,I need more :)

This is a three book series, and reading one then three doesn't matter the order you read, you will just not want them to end!!!!!

5 people found this helpful

My kind of reality tv

Any additional comments?

If only reality shows were really this good, I might be able to stand to watch them. The large cast of characters and their struggles to live like it's the 1880's for a History Channel reality series makes an intriguing backdrop for romance.

Mira gets talked into participating with her boyfriend, but she is excited to prove to herself what she can do. It's pointed out early that in the group's living situation you can't hide who you really are, and we soon discover that Mira's boyfriend is a class A jerk.

Gabe is recruited, along with his twin, by the producers and over time shows Mira what a real man is supposed to be like. Gabe and Mira dance around their attraction and become the big storyline while trying their best to avoid the cameras.

The competitions, the character clashes with many twists and turns make this a fun story that you want to listen to straight through...because you can't wait to see what happens next.

Good job by the narrator distinguishing the voices of about 12 different characters--no easy feat.

4 people found this helpful

Cute

Good fun summer read. Narrator was good too. Not great but did a nice job. I am downloading the other books in the series.

4 people found this helpful

Armageddon; Setting of a Book is a Reality Show

Vaguely reminiscent of CMT's Cowboy U, modern urban and suburban dwellers are living the pioneer life for cash and entertainment. The central characters in this drama are twin brothers Gabe and Alec Kincaid, and Mira Walker and her too obnoxious for words boyfriend Scott. As an obvious plot device the couples are split up and first friendship then love bloom between two of the central characters. Despite the trite predictable plot line we all ended up caring about Gabe and Mira and hoping for the best for them, especially Mira; Surely she deserved better than Scott. This is a first class romance and the beginning of an excellent trilogy about the Kincaid family.

3 people found this helpful

Very interesting plot

Loved this unique story. Much better than expected. Rosalind James writes deep and loving characters. Secondary characters were good too.

3 people found this helpful

A Fun and Entertaining Listen

Any additional comments?

Return to Paradise is a fun listen written by one of my favorite authors, Rosalind James. It has an interesting setup involving a reality television show which tries to recreate frontier life in the year 1885. The book includes the playing of the game, romance and a great deal of character interaction. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved that Ms James capitalized on the ongoing fascination with reality television in such an entertaining fashion. The romance developed gradually over the course of the book, though the sparks were instantaneous. By and large, the secondary characters and the interaction between all the characters were interesting. There were a few characters who were more one dimensional than I would have preferred, but I also recognize that it would be very difficult to fully develop a large number of characters and, within the framework of an elimination game, not necessary. Most notably was Melody who came across as too stupid to have graduated from college. That said, it was clear from the beginning that Melody and her partner were unlikely to go far in the game. It also seemed that the narrator amplified Melody's negatives. Not unusual for any real broadcast reality TV show, the imaginary game in the book had a clear villain. That said, other secondary characters were very well written, fully rounded and people that would be nice to spend time with.

Again, I thought the concept of writing a book centered in the world of a reality television show was clever, amusing and quite entertaining. I highly recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

3 people found this helpful

Let down

The idea behind this romance was great - a reality show, and a survival one at that! Plus a bonus that all the "extras" were likeable characters and added to the plot. The shame is that the story goes on too long and in unnecessary fashion. You don't always need a hero and near death scene to make a good romance. The last quarter was a real let down.

2 people found this helpful

Tales of 2 Bullies and a Wimp

I enjoyed the first 3/4 of Welcome to Paradise, more due to my love of history and fascination with human nature. The reality show plot was definitely engrossing, although the "voting out people" part was unsettling.

Mira was such a wimp in the beginning that I wanted to scream, allowing her boyfriend Scott to insult and degrade her in public. Mira seemed to temporarily grow a backbone and learn self-respect, after she was separated from Scott the jerk for a while.

For a long glance, Gabe the doctor appeared to be a great guy who treated Mira with respect and kindness. However, the first time they had an intimate moment, Gabe told Mira that he enjoyed hitting and restraining women for kicks (of course he used euphuisms). When Mira didn't tell him to drop dead, I wanted to scream again.

It was sad and ironic when Scott slapped Mira before Gabe could stop him. What, Gabe thought he was the only man who should be allowed to hit Mira? Scott was a total asshole but at least he was honest about his contempt for women. Gabe was simply a better actor, pretending to care when in reality he was a sexual bully.

While Rosalind James is a gifted writer, I wish she had written Mira as a stronger, more confident character rather than a pathetic wimp who kept volunteering to be a victim. Gabe the bully was not really an improvement over Scott the bully; Gabe was just more subtle.

2 people found this helpful