Audiobook Review : For a Rainy Afternoon (A Tale of the Curious Cookbook) by RJ Scott ~ Includes Audio Excerpt

Title: For a Rainy Afternoon

Author: RJ Scott

Narrator: Ian Gordon

Length: 2 hrs + 5 mins

Release: 29th September 2015

Genre: M/M (contemporary)

Synopsis

Robbie MacIntyre manages a small post office in the old Station House on the outskirts of sleepy Barton Hartshourn northwest of London. He’s stunned when the owner, Maggie, a close friend, bequeaths him not only the post office, but also Station House.
The rest of her estate is left to an American writer, Jason Young, and when he moves to the village, Robbie is thrown by the attraction he has for the man who has more of a claim on the Station House than he does.
Then there is a box that holds several rare first editions and a cookbook. Only when the secrets of the ingredients in a particular recipe are finally revealed does everything begin to make sense, and a love cut short seventy years earlier is finally discovered.

Rating

BOOK

NARRATION

Mark’s Review

I’m just loving Granny B’s recipes and this story had a very British flavour to it. I was intrigued at how Granny B’s recipes would make from the USA to the UK but then the wonderful plot by RJ Scott made it all seemingly plausible.

I loved the way that in this story we get a feeling of “voices from beyond the grave.” A very poignant plot device I felt and this made for a super sweet romance. Robbie lives in a small village and his best friend, Maggie, an almost octogenarian sees him almost as a grandson. She never married and therefore sets Robbie up in business and when she dies bequeaths him the post office that he runs with a small shop and small library / reading corner with coffee,, tea and cake. All very typically quaint and British. RJ Scott manages to create this quaintness n the story perfectly and I could imagine and feel rural England perfectly.

Even after Maggie dies she still has a few surprises up her sleeve. A long lost relative turns up from the USA to whom she has left her cottage, her great nephew Jason. Although they never knew each other Jason comes to see for himself. I loved this cultural differences thing. Robbie is always second guessing himself with that typical British self-effacing, diplomatic, polite way. Jason is also adorable and due to a number of circumstances Jason ends up staying with Robbie for a while. I loved the way the two of them, or I should say especially Robbie, dance around the attraction that is there. Jason is a little more self-assured than Robbie but once the ice is broken then a beuatiful romance flourishes.

But there is the mystery of Maggie. Why did she never marry? What did she do? Bit by bit the mystery of Maggie’s life unravels and we’re treated to a wonderful subplot that is perfect. Even before she died she’d known how things would pay out and made sure that she gave things a helping hand. Loved this whole idea of Maggie reaching out and helping Robbie to find the last thing that is missing in is life and that is someone to love, hold and cherish.

Of course it wouldn’t be A Tale of the Mysterious Cookbook if Granny B’s recipes didn’t make an appearance. How they turned up is imaginatively done and once again work their magic. This common thread running through the stories I find wonderful and fascinating but more than that the consistency between all the authors on how they write about the book is truly marvellous. So another happy end guaranteed but without any angst and emotional turmoil, just a beautiful story that ends on a note as sweet as Granny B’s applesauce cake.

Narration

First it’s wonderful to listen to a British narrator reading this story. As the story is mostly told from Robbie’s point of view then it’s only correct to have a British speaker. It could have been done with an American narrator had the story been told from Jason’s point of view. So once again the narration suits the story perfectly.

However, I did feel that the narration was a little flat or monotone at times. I would have liked a little more dynamism in the voice at times. I know we Brits keep our feelings and emotions guarded but I just felt that even when Robbie was excited, pensive or enraptured I just missed a certain change in tone of voice. Also for some reason with this recording there were at times a noticeable background hiss, nothing that was too distracting but it was there which is also a bit of a shame.

After all is said and done though it was fun to listen to and wanted me to go home and bake an apple cake immediately.

Audio Excerpt

Meet RJ Scott

My goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.

I've has been writing since age six, when I was made to stay in at lunchtime for an infraction involving cookies and the mixing bowl. You can't tell a six year old not to lick the bowl!

I was told to write a story and two sides of paper about a trapped princess later, a lover of writing was born.
As an avid reader myself, I can be found reading anything from thrillers to sci-fi to horror. However, my first real true love will always be the world of romance. I love my cowboys, bodyguards, firemen and billionaires (to name a few) and love to write dramatic and romantic stories of love and passion between these men. (Yum)
With over 70 titles to my name and counting, I am the author of the award winning book, The Christmas Throwaway, which was All Romance Ebooks best selling title of 2010.
I'm also known for the Texas series charting the lives of Riley and Jack, and the Sanctuary series following the work of the Sanctuary Foundation and the people it protects.

Sunday, November 01, 2015