NO EASY WAY OUT

AudioBook Review: Stars:   Overall 5  Narration 4 Story 5  Some of our most interesting awkward moments come when we take a chance and step out of our comfort zones.  Whether those moments become enjoyable or merely uncomfortable depends on your own ability to not take yourself too seriously.  This is exactly what happens to Virginia, but what could go wrong with a masquerade party where she isn’t expected to appear anyway. Dragged to the party by her best friend, Virgina appears in a retro magazine-famous bunny suit, complete with fuzzy tail. Has a marvelous time too, after a makeover brings out her inner goddess, and indulges in more than a little flirtation with the Bandit, another masked party guest. When the moment of truth arrives, and guests are to reveal their identity, Virgina darts away from the party and the Bandit, leaving behind her fuzzy tail.  For his part, Alex is less vulnerable to Virginia’s attempts at duplicity, he is attracted to the woman in the lab AND is smart enough to realize that one has to talk sometimes.  There is a curious sort of chivalry and old-world manners that he displays that are less chauvinistic and more alpha-like in his position in the relationship, and his obvious approval of Virginia’s curves are blatant and brilliantly included. Conversations run from patently absurd topics to cleverly phrased and written banter that feels true to each character, and none better epitomizes the perky, pushy and often bossy best friend Diane, who is never at a loss for advice, even when some is badly thought out.   Narration in this story is provided by Katie McAble and the effects varied for me.  Her voice is young and fresh, and she did capture the delivery inflection needed to distinguish characters so important in an AudioBook.  I did have a few issues with the speed of her speech, adjusting the speed of the playback only seemed to diminish the qualities of her voice that I appreciated.  I’d most certainly look for more titles that she is narrating, and not hesitate to listen to more. From the clever set up to the final ending, this was an enjoyable, light story with some interesting perspective from Virginia about her struggles as a woman working in a traditionally male field, and her inability to find a balance between her professional life and the personal life and femininity that she longs to display.  While this story showed just how more of Virginia’s problems may be a direct result of her attitudes and beliefs that men are incapable of falling for women with brains and ambition, not all of her fears are irrationally based.  Even if she is proved wrong. I received an audioBook copy of this title from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.