I had fun with this story by Xina Marie Uhl. I confess the title influenced my decision to accept this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. My curiosity in relation to what this book would offer had me diving into with great enthusiasm, and it did not disappoint.
The story which took place in Antartica in the year 1900 follows the romance of Commander Gorge Elderbatch and Electa Yellowsmith. Interesting names, don’t you think? The author infused the story that spanned several months with humour, which had me laughing out loud several times. The characters enhanced my enjoyment of the story with their quirks and all. Electa knew what she wanted, and she had no qualms going after it and she wanted Gorge. Now that his wife left him for another man there was nothing in her way, well except for Gorge himself. I laughed at his many attempts to dissuade her from her pursuit of him. The manner in which he described himself revealed he suffered with low self-esteem. This formed the basis of his attempts to dissuade Electa.
Narration
Penny Scott – Andrew narrated, and I thought she did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life. She made it easy for the listener to distinguish between each character. Her pleasant tone made for an easy listen.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Readers who are looking for a humorous but short story should treat themselves to a copy Of All Mouth and No Trousers.
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Title: Blackburn
Author(s): Brynne Asher
Series: Special Forces: Operation Alpha,
Narrator(s): Virginia Rose, Aaron Shedlock
Published by Spectrum Audio on November 18, 2020
Length: 2 hrs 35 mins
Genre(s): Romantic Suspense
Source: Kindle Unlimited, Netgalley
Format: Audiobook, eBook 
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
Rating:
Series Rating:
Heat Level: 
She’s my employee.
I’m her boss’s boss. Hell, I own the company.
Pursuing Lillian Burkette was a line I shouldn’t cross.
Until a work trip from hell changed everything.
I didn’t just step over the line. I annihilated the damn thing.
When it comes to her, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do. I’d even kill for her.
When they say the corporate world is a jungle … they have no idea.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
Blackburn by Brynne Fisher began on an exciting note, however, somewhere along the journey it lost the excitement and ended up being an average read for this reader.
This is the first book in the Special Forces Operation Alpha series. It tells the story of Gabe Blackburn and Lillian Burkette. Gabe is a tech genius, a former ranger owner and CEO of a top tech company. Lillian is a marketing rep in Gabe’s company. Gabe’s attracted to Lillian, but being his employee, he keeps her at a distance with his frosty attitude. So, when he stepped in to accompany her on a business trip to Nicaragua, because her immediate boss could not make it, she was not enthused. Then, to make matters worse, while returning from conducting business with a potential client, they got caught in an ambush.
The author delivered a story broken down in to two parts. I found the first part of the story exciting. Fraught with danger, Gabe and Lillian found themselves in a perilous situation while trying to stay alive and make their way safely back to the States. In the middle of their crisis, Lillian will learn of Gabe’s protective nature, which made her see him in a different light. Lillian may not have been a kick-ass heroine, but she proved to be strong and never allowed her fears to overwhelm her. It disappointed me to see how this aspect of the story played out. It ended abruptly and left me with questions as to the identity of the mastermind of the ambush and the primary reason for it.
The second half of the story focused on Lillian’s issues with her family upon her return to the states. I am not clear as to the reason for inclusion, as it had no connection to character’s experience in Nicaragua.
Narration
The narrators Virginia Rose and Aaron Shedlock did a great job in bringing the story to life and in portraying the voices of the characters. I would listen to them again if given the chance.
Conclusion/Recommendation
This had the potential to be a four-star or higher read, however, because of unfinished storylines and the lack of fluidity between the two plotlines it ended up being a three-star read for me. That being said, I would read more of the author’s work.
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About Aaron Shedlock
Aaron Shedlock is a passionate and highly versatile voice artist with a broad range of styles and character voices in his repertoire. Known for his engaging and deep, resonant tones, he is the voice of several national and international commercial brands and a rising star in the world of audiobooks. A huge fan of classic and modern literature, he spends the majority of his time buried in a good book, either in print or audio, being inspired by his favorite authors and audiobook narrators with a hot cup of coffee close at hand.
About Brynne Asher
Brynne Asher lives in the Midwest with her husband, three children and her perfect dog. When she isn’t creating pretend people and relationships in her head, she’s running her kids around and doing laundry. She enjoys decorating and shopping, and is always seeking the best deal. A perfect day in “Brynne World” ends in front of an outdoor fire with family, friends, s’mores, and a delicious cocktail.
About Xina Marie Uhl
Author Xina Marie Uhl lives in sunny Southern California with her husband and assorted furry and scaly pets. The setting of her first novel, NECROPOLIS, has been heavily influenced by her interest in ancient history. She holds both a BA and an MA in history. In addition to fiction writing, she teaches college history courses and writes educational materials. When she isn’t reading and writing, she enjoys hiking, yoga, and planning new travel adventures.
Xina’s available ebooks include both humor – The Cat’s Guide to Human Behavior, and fantasy – Necropolis, The Gauntlet Thrown and The Challenge Accepted, Books One and Two of the Gauntlet Trilogy.
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I enjoyed both reviews and the title of book one is fantastic. Thanks Nadene
I enjoyed both reviews and the title of book one is fantastic. Thanks Nadene
The title of the first one and then the humor that appeared in it sounds really fun.
The first one sounds so fun – totally my kind of book! Thank you for sharing.
The first one sounds so fun – totally my kind of book! Thank you for sharing.
All Mouth and No Trousers sounds like such a fun read. Blackburn sounds like it had to the potential to be much better. Great reviews!
All Mouth and No Trousers sounds like such a fun read. Blackburn sounds like it had to the potential to be much better. Great reviews!
Gads I love the setting of the first and could totally see myself enjoying it.
Gads I love the setting of the first and could totally see myself enjoying it.
Neither are rating well on your scale – I am reading between the lines and think I’ll be passing. 😉
Neither are rating well on your scale – I am reading between the lines and think I’ll be passing. 😉
Love the title and I like a short story. Great review.