Two Lonely Hearts 💕

I was pleasantly surprised that this book was a delight to listen to. It takes you on a journey from infatuation to friendship and from friendship to love. The characters seem so real with their quirkiness and flaws. The story progresses into a lovely story of small-town life of gossip & misunderstandings and a love story that features two lonely hearts who feel undeserving. It's a lovely story and worth a credit.

I loved the narration on this book. Each character's voice was unique which added to the enjoyment and ease of listening. 😁

Please Note: This book contains sexual encounters, etc.

My sincere thanks to the author for providing me a review copy of this book at my request in exchange for my honest review.

9 people found this helpful

Great story!

What did you like best about this story?

I really like that the story was a sweet one. There wasn't any of the relationship back-and-forth, (you know the kind... misery chasing misery before finally getting to the working it all out at the end), it was about the growing relationship. There were some great characters, and I like that though there were some people you probably never want to be friends with, there's no real "evil" except for a nasty old lady with a bad attitude. It was also nice that there were other characters in the story, with stories of their own.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Stevie Puckett?

I am actually really surprised at all of the "gushing" reviews! I have listened to a lot of books and while this narrator wasn't the absolute worst, she definitely wasn't the best I've ever heard. At first I felt like I was listening to the story in slow-motion and had to speed it up. Once I found a speed that was tolerable, 1.25 I believe, it made it much better. I didn't dislike the narrators voice per se, but there are some narrators that are true story tellers and some that are just readers. Stevie was somewhere in the middle. Like the difference between a good movie and a cartoon. LOL. Hard to explain. I definitely would not seek her out again, but nor would I turn away if I saw her.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I don't really want to give anything away, but I really liked the part where Titus Penny came to Corus house. I didn't expect him to handle it the way he did, nor did I expect Jedwin to respond to the visit the way he did.

Any additional comments?

I didn't have high expectations as the author was totally new to me and I actually really enjoyed this book. There were a lot of good parts to it. Even though the narration wasn't my favorite, I looked for reasons to do household chores just because it gave me an opportunity to listen to the book. I would listen to other of the authors book if they were on sale, or in a 2 for 1 sale.

6 people found this helpful

Very Enjoyable Historical Romance Set in Oklahoma

Any additional comments?

Wild Oats is a very heartwarming and comical historical romance. Set in early 1900's small town Oklahoma, our hero is a momma's boy who inherited the family funeral business when his father died. Basically, Jedwin Sparrow is a mortician who hates his job. Because his mother controls every second of his life, he's never sowed any "wild oats" or known a woman's touch. When someone suggests he visit the divorcee who lives on the edge of town, Cora Briggs takes him on a merry dance before she'll let him in her bed.

Like other books written by Pamela Morsi, her characters surprise you and are not at all what you expect. For example, Cora is not the typical scorned divorcee, but rather a nice kind-hearted and modest young lady.I n short, Wild Oats is well written and filled with great secondary characters that are well developed.

Since I only listen to audiobooks, I was extremely happy to see this book given an excellent update with Audible narration. Stevie Puckett did an admirable job narrating. However, I found the recording to be a bit slow, so I listened to it at 2x the normal speed. Once I did that, I found Stevie's narration natural and easy to listen to. This book was given to me for free at my request and I provide this review voluntarily.

2 people found this helpful

Wild Oats

Any additional comments?

I have read several of Pamela Morsi's books and I was really looking forward to this book, unfortunately I had a really hard time with it. It just wasn’t holding my attention. I started and stopped it several times. It just never drew me in completely. I set it aside for a while then came back to it a few days later and started over. The second time around I was more drawn into the story but it still wasn't a book I wanted to listen to in one sitting. I think I would have enjoyed this story more if I had read it instead of listening to it.

As far as the story goes, overall it's interesting, entertaining and enjoyable but it moves at a slower pace. Of coarse there is much more going on throughout the story than just a budding relationship between Jedwin and Cora, but the main story is about an unexpected romance that begins to develop between the two after Jedwin makes his "indecent" proposal to Cora. It's delivered with a good amount of humor and some eye opening truths into the stereotypes and moral judgments people feel entitled to thrust onto one another in a small town during this time period. It does have not one but two HEA's. I told you there was more than just story going on inside this story.

This is the first time I have listened to Stevie Puckett narrate a book. She has a pleasant voice. She also has a wide range of really good character voices, her character voices had well....plenty of "character", but her voice for Jedwin to me sounded like he was an idiot/simple minded at times. This just pulled me out of the story. As the story progressed I didn't notice it as much. At times her straight narration seemed flat and didn't always flow smoothly. She has a good singing voice. Overall she did a good job with the narration there was just something about it that was a little "off" for me. I would definitely listen to another book she narrates, this just may be a case of it's me not you.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily provided this review.

1 person found this helpful

Awesome Read ! Highly recommend

I really enjoyed this book! At the beginning I had to speed up the narration. I'm not sure if it was my account or the way the narriator reads but once I upped the speed it was great! The character's were really well written and the story just flowed! Will definitely listen to it again in the future!

1 person found this helpful

Loved this!

If you could sum up Wild Oats in three words, what would they be?

Sweet, steamy, funny.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wild Oats?

When Cora chases Jedwin with the hammer, I was laughing so hard.

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

Several funny scenes had me doubled over laughing and there were a few scenes that had me tearing up.

Any additional comments?

Loved this story! The relationship between Cora and Jedwin is surprisingly sweet and often times funny. Great historical romance with plenty of humor. The narrator was amazing and I really enjoyed her performance. This review is for a free copy of this audiobook that I received at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

1 person found this helpful

I enjoyed this book.

Would you consider the audio edition of Wild Oats to be better than the print version?

Audio is always better than the print version.. Narrater is like a person performing a play for you.

What did you like best about this story?

I love the time it was set in when men and women had a more gentile side to them. Jed certainly had a gentile side to him.

What about Stevie Puckett’s performance did you like?

Stevie Puckett did a great job on all the characters, she made them all seem real and did a great performance.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and I did listen to it all in one sitting. I am writing this review very late.

Any additional comments?

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

1 person found this helpful

Enjoyable and Entertaining!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Wild Oats to be better than the print version?

I haven't actually "read" it, but I know for a fact that my imagination wouldn't have gone to the happy places it did having only "read" the story and not having Stevie Puckett's AWESOME narration! She made the story SOOOO much better!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Wild Oats?

I just LOVED how Haywood puts Amelia in her place, and she just listens and takes it...

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

She was amazing...you could tell she had fun narrating this sweet story and it definitely showed in the way she portrayed each character. She did an awesome job, and made the book even more fun than just a plain 'ol read...

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

Oh, I definitely laughed...Stevie Puckett had me laughing right along with her and the characters

Any additional comments?

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

1 person found this helpful

A unique romantic comedy & a romance classic

The audiobook quickly drew me in with its funny first scene and kept me entranced. There was not a dull moment! The story is full of humor, humanity, affection, coziness, moral questions, and vivacious people.

I would classify it as a small town romance, a romantic comedy, a Western romance, and a classic romance. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes any of those subgenres. I loved it even better than the author's "Simple Jess" audiobook.

It takes place in 1906 in the small town of dead dog in the Oklahoma territory. This small town is populated with colorful characters: some good, some mean, and some with a mix of moral failings. The nosy neighbors and self-righteous Protestant conservatism have made life difficult for Cora Briggs, 29, a divorced woman. It seems that being a divorced woman in that time and place was almost as bad in people's minds as being a prostitute. For the last 6 years, Cora has led a lonely, poverty stricken, ostracized existence in her cottage. She is actually a morally upstanding and proper woman, unlike what the gossip says in town. Then one day, the town undertaker visits her and gives her and indecent proposal! Edwin Sparrow, 24, a successful businessman, is a virgin who has had a crush on Cora Briggs ever since he was 15 years old. The nerve of Jedwin Sparrow to ask her to be his mistress! Cora at first wants to tell him no but then decided to ask for romance and maybe get a little revenge on his mother, the self-centered Amelia Sparrow who spread lies about Cora. However, Jedwin is such an honest, sincere young man who enjoys romancing Cora in the form of poetry and fixing her fence in the middle of the night. [LOL!] He might win her over.

Jedwin is an unusual hero for a romance novel. Although he is fit and has a handsome face, he is a virgin, a momma's boy, and an undertaker. In addition, his hair is thinning and he throws up when he smells formaldehyde. He is very aware of his annoying mother's many faults, but he loves her and spends time with her anyway.

There are a bunch of nuanced, vivid characters. For example, Tallulah Mae is a lovely, intelligent teenager who has remarkable wisdom for one so young. Also, the preacher was more fascinating than he at first appeared. Plus, we get two romantic relationships for the price of one because Amelia Sparrow slowly gets together with Haywood, who is the outspoken, sensible employee of Jedwin. There is a lot of wonderful character development for at least five characters in the book.

The narrator did an excellent job! Her wide cast of character voices were all very distinctive. At first I was not fond of Cora's voice, but it grew on me. It was a bit nasal with an awkward accent, but after a chapter it seems perfect for the character. The narrator's pacing, pronunciation, comic timing, and emotiveness were all top notch. I was highly impressed, and I will look for more work by this narrator in the future.

There are a few sex scenes with mild to moderate steaminess. I think that they were tastefully done with lovely intimacy and respect.

I received a free copy from the author, and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.

1 person found this helpful

A very charming listen!

Would you consider the audio edition of Wild Oats to be better than the print version?

I do. I really enjoyed being completely immersed in this world, and hearing the characters speak and talk each other brings you so much deeper into the story.

What other book might you compare Wild Oats to and why?

Hmmm.... you really get to feel the town and people living in this Oklahoma town, I would say something like "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe," except this is a romance novel, but it has that hometown quality. And being from Oklahoma, it made me a little homesick.

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

I loved the way she could laugh in dialogue. You really felt listening to these conversations. She really brings the characters to life.

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

It made me smile... a lot. It really was a lovely story.

1 person found this helpful