Captain

The story was good. It was laugh out loud funny at times. However, my biggest problem with this story was with the narrators. When I was deciding if I should select this book, I noticed that the author was reading for the main female character. I have never listened to an erotica romance story where the author had read her own work. My first thought was not to purchase this book for that reason. I finally decided to give the book a chance. Well, I should have followed my first mind.

Lauren Rowe (the author) over-acted most of the story. It is not my intent to be mean spirited, just honest. Lauren Rowe is clearly a good writer but the book would have been a better listen if a proven professional narrator had read & act out the story. The male narrator, John Lane, was a lot better. His reading of the male character was credible the majority of the time. There were times, however, where he over-acted (and sometimes under-acted) his characters scenes

I gave the story 4 stars, the narrators 2 stars & overall a 3 star rating.

Would I recommend this book? Not really. I do believe however, that everyone should make up their own minds.

25 people found this helpful

Terrible Female Narrator, D-Bag Characters.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I hate books and movies where a misunderstanding is propelled well out of proportion when in reality if these people had the most basic of communication skills it would have been resolved much sooner.

The book would have been a better experience for me if there was a bit more originality to the story instead of the regurgitated trope it was. The characters weren't likeable, much less sexy.

What could Lauren Rowe have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Lauren Rowe isn't a *terrible* narrator, but she's not that good either. Her voice is shrill and she talks way too fast and it makes the character she's narrating sound hysterical and neurotic which is really irritating.

How could the performance have been better?

As above.

I had no issues with John Lane's performance - he has a very sexy voice. His narration of female characters isn't the best, but I don't hold it against him.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was definitely disappointed with this book and will be asking for my credit back.

Any additional comments?

This book was really unoriginal and boring. The old misunderstanding-that-makes-the-characters-dislike-each-other trope. The characters weren't relatable at all. The female lead is an uninteresting and shallow ditz and her counterpart is basically the same, but in male form.

I am no prude, but the way the main characters and their family and friends talk about the opposite sex is disrespectful and gross. The male characters sound like frat boy douchebags and the female characters try too hard with the saucy talk but just end up sounding crass and over the top.

10 people found this helpful

Was hoping for a smart romance

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I love the Morgans, don't get me wrong, but the female lead wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Be that as it may, this was a great fun story. I would recommend, but only to those who are looking for cute and crazy fun who doesn't mind an annoying female lead.

Who was your favorite character and why?
My favorite character was Ryan. He's sweet and all around good guy. Not sure if I would've been as patient with f in the story. I would've given up on her and moved on to someone else.

What about Lauren Rowe and John Lane ’s performance did you like?
Mr. Lane's performance was, and always is perfect. The author didn't do a bad job at all.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The powerpoint presentations were very fun to listen to.

Any additional comments?
My only gripe with Captain is that the female character tended to jump to too many conclusions, (to the point where I'm convinced she's just not very smart or unable to learn from her mistakes.) and was wishy washy with her feelings for Ryan. So many authors do this, and it's tiresome.

Everything else in this book was pure gold.

8 people found this helpful

It's a small miracle I finished this book.

I cannot tell you how many times I was screaming at this book as I drove down the freeway (I mean if she called him Ryan F*cking-lying-cheating-@ssh*le Morgan one more time I was going to throw my phone out the window at 80 mph). Tessa is just the most insufferable character I've ever met. I did not find her smart, I did not find her sweet, and I did not find her sexy. There was not an endearing quality about her and I did not find the ending redemptive in her case, either. In fact, I was down right indignant about it because she didn't deserve it and I cannot understand what Ryan saw in her to make him put up with all of it. Basically, every problem within the book boiled down to a misunderstanding that, often, Tessa would not let Ryan try to explain. Apparently, she's completely unaware that there can be two sides to a story.

I started this series with "Hero" and I loved it because the characters were all so honest and respectful, both toward each other and themselves. This was the COMPLETE opposite. I didn't have a problem with Ryan, other than the fact that she was just an absolute monster to him and he just kept on going because of their apparent "soul connection." Maybe I'm just an old-fashioned girl, but I cannot imagine chasing a "soul connection" with someone who kept calling me an @ssh*le and man-whore. Likewise, she continually said she did not have a sliver of respect for him, but would keep having relations with him, even seeking him out for it! UGH! I often listened to the love scenes with a look of disgust on my face. I just can't imagine people actually acting like this, but I suppose it does happen every day. But who wants to read a "romance" novel about it? Ick.

Another thing, the writing in this book veered toward infantile. Delicious and beautiful are probably the most used adjectives and f*ck was used so often Rowe, I suppose, decided she needed to change it up somehow by using "f*ckity-f*ck" a few times. Oh, and "holy f*ck-burgers." Like, what!? Do people actually talk like this? I mean, I don't hang out with the most intelligent of folks, and I have never heard people using variations of the F-word in that way and I just found it incredibly immature and just down-right annoying. Also, the insane amount of times the word pops up throughout the story is just tiresome. I mean, jeeze, find a new expletive.

Also, Lauren Rowe as narrator, is just atrocious. I tried to be nicer about my review of her narrating in "Hero" (maybe because I loved Lydia's character) but I can't do it anymore. She overacts, she reads either too fast or two slow and her voice is grating. I actually get the feeling she is uncomfortable reading her own writing. John Lane is great, again, which is why the performance got three stars.

Having said all of that, I'm still going to listen to "Ball Peen Hammer" because I do love the Morgan family, and the banter Rowe writes for those characters, I think, is pretty great and still quite funny. Hopefully the female character in that book will actually be smart and a character I find endearing and can relate to.

7 people found this helpful

I guess I'm just sick of "romance"?

I finished this book because I was just making my way through a work day and needed something to listen to but honestly it drove me crazy.
I could not find it in me to be very sympathetic for Theresa.
I mean, really. She actually lied to Ryan at the bar about her name and occupation, and called it a "victimless crime", then got all bitchy when he became upset with her. He never lied to her about who he was or his relationship status, but she refused to accept his honesty (or even listen to him), and instead chose to take the word of a woman she didn't know who called her a C-word.
Like look, I know you have problems and your ex messed with your brain or whatever but please...if you don't have the basic decency to have a serious and considerate conversation with a man you thought you were in "insta-love" with then you really don't deserve to have a relationship. Insta or otherwise.

I guess I just don't have the patience for romance novels that build themselves on a foundation of piss-poor communication. Time to move on to mysteries and sci-fi in my 30s.

5 people found this helpful

Rum Cake for the win!

What made the experience of listening to Captain the most enjoyable?

The audiobook truly enhances Lauren Rowe's witty and heartfelt writing. Every joke is funnier and every emotion is more sincere thanks to the wonderful performances by John Lane and Lauren Rowe.

What did you like best about this story?

The best part is Captain Ryan Morgan himself. I loved that he didn't waver even when things looked grim. He was loyal, patient, loving, charming, sexy, and just the right amount of cocky.

What does Lauren Rowe and John Lane bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

These characters are sometimes enthusiastically over the top and both narrators hit it out of the park. John Lane was especially sinfully sexy as Rum Cake, but was also able to convey the sweeter and more vulnerable Ryan as well.

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

Ryan's power point presentation at the end had me grinning ear to ear. It was perfect and brought the story full circle.

Any additional comments?

Captain really took me by surprise. I am never a fan of the manwhore hero, but when we meet Ryan, it's clear that part of his past is exactly that - the past. I really loved him and Tessa both individually and together and their meet cute was adorable, well, until it wasn't. Yes, it's instalove/lust and misunderstandings and assumptions are made, but what transpires afterwards and in Maui really helped make the connection more believable. Ryan's references to Moby Dick and the quotes at the start of many (if not all) of his chapters were a wonderful addition. The Morgan family truly shines and each and every one of them give such heart to the story. The secondary characters are just as amazing and round out the cast of characters so well that everything comes together beautifully.

4 people found this helpful

Blah

I love romance, this just didn't do it for me. I'm not sure if it was the way the audiobook was performed or the female voice in itself. I loved the epilogue, and I slightly smiled a little throughout the book, but I didn't connect with the characters. I don't think this is a bad story, it just wasn't the type that I am interested in. I usually listen to books on 1.25 speed, this one I listened too on 1.5 and still skipped chapters.

4 people found this helpful

Took a while to finish

This is a book for those who like a little story between the sex scenes. I happen to prefer a good story. I spent a lot of time fast forwarding through the sex scenes (FYI having an Echo Dot aids in this.) The characters are fine, but I had a hard time buying into some of the things they did, especially Tessa.

3 people found this helpful

FASTEN YR SEAT BELTS..THIS CAPTAIN'S FLYING HIGH

OK.. so now that you've been seduced by the cover, been tempted by the synopsis or maybe you were drawn by the author's name alone. Whatever the reason, let me assure you, this story lives up to expectations, delivers a plot that has humor, heart and heat.. all set within the backdrop of a loving group of family and friends. And it centres on two unforgettable characters who fall instantly in lust, and maybe love, with each other.. but thankfully it takes a wee while longer to clear up wrong misconceptions, crazy misunderstandings and unnecessary misgivings. I say thankfully because I would've been robbed of all the vibes.. the flirtatious witty banter, the butterflies, the chills and thrills, the goosebumps, the deliciously hot sexcapades, the swoonworthy sentiments and the feel-good happy ending. Everything was perfectly written because this author knows how to bring you into a story, knows how to capture your attention from the get go, knows what you're looking for and delivers it in spades.

Worth a credit? Oh boy YES.. and, not only does Lauren Rowe know how to write an awesome rom/com, she is very talented when it comes to narration too so, together with the sexy voice of John Lane, they brought this dual POV storyline to life, gave it wings and made it soar high above a lot of other listens in this genre. So prepare to smile, to swoon, to laugh, to get frustrated, to drool, to fall in love.. and to dream.

18 people found this helpful

Started out good...

I was really into the beginning of this one. But first of all, a story in a genre that has an obvious ending should NOT BE 72 chapters long. So many parts could have been cut from this book and it would have been less boring. And holy crap was I tired of Tessa by the end of it. How can someone so smart be so stupid? It made me hate the narrator (who happens to be the author) as well. So from a story standpoint this was just bleh.

2 people found this helpful