The Love Connection by Denise Williams

The Love Connection is a short story originally written as a straight to audiobook title about Ollie who manages an in-terminal dog grooming business with her BFF and the frequent flyer, Bennett, who catches an escaped and sudsy puppers.

The book has great structure, good pace, and the audiobook narrators could handle the accents. My biggest critique was that the story didn't feel like it was written to be performed.

I know.

I get it.

I work in theater.

I'm particularly sensitive to this kinda thing.

But it should have been written more like a play. What stuck out to me were some phrases or sentences that were structured to be read, not spoken. Some moments just sounded weird to the ear.

I can admit, the narrator's performances could have helped, but again: I'm a professional, and I think it fell back to the word-smithing. I wonder if Denise Williams read her chapters aloud. Or better yet, had fresh eyes to read them cold.

I liked the story but I also didn't connect with Bennett's motivations and reasons for instigating the black moment. I just never felt their connection and wasn't rooting for them.

All this to be said, I will listen to the next one. Denise Williams will have to work at getting me to stop reading her books! -Ford