Second chances!

I lived the book when I first read it and the audible version brought it to life.

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a little gem.

really enjoyed this, different from the majority of les fic, especially the start and the use of flashbacks. The story was incredibly sweet and heart warming, but with lots of intimate hit scenes too. A good balance. finished it quickly. Hadn't listened to this narrator before, not as good as Lori Prince etc but you get used to her and you can tell who is who etc :) would listen to her again. All in all, a little gem.

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Rich girl...Poor girl!

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I have read all of Gerri Hill's books, now I am listening on Audio. 'At Seventeen' has a great story-line, and quite heart-rending. A story of rich girl Madison Lansford, and poor girl Shannon Fletcher, with some exceptional secondary, but not unimportant, characters in the form of Shannon’s mother, who is the housekeeper, and Madison’s young, and very wise, intellectual son Ashton. Madison is controlled by her mother who dominates her life, planning her marriage from a young age, and overwhelming her very essence. Madison's husband takes over the role after marriage. Madison and Shannon have loved each other since childhood but it has taken years for Madison to come to terms with who she is, and who she wants that it is heart-breaking the time that is wasted between her and Shannon. I really enjoyed this Audiobook and all of Gerri’s work. Gerri knows how to draw her readers into the story....Carly Robins was outstanding as narrator.

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5 people found this helpful

Have the tissues handy.

cried through alot of it. About a first love that never faded. definitely recommend

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Lovely story

I really enjoyed this heart warming story of two childhood sweethearts destined to be together despite the obstacles. I loved every minute x

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Rich Girl Poor Girl 💞💞

relatively predictable story & outcome. I still enjoyed the general storytelling. narrator was very good. it also makes a change for a Lesbian story/movie to have a happy ending. Geri hill is a prolific writer but this is not one at the top of my list, tho' still worth a read I would say ....

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unbalanced, but developers emotional engagement

I say unbalanced because I felt the start was too long (or needed more depth to sustain it) and it didn't really hook me into the story. The first ten or so chapters being different encounters as the childhood friendship then love grew until Madison is married. I think I didn't like this so much because the character interacts included very few normal activities. I understand this is because of their situation, but I would have liked more life events above the intimacy, e.g. a bully or at school, dealing with a crises at home, saving a raccoon from a ... I don't know.

The middle was more interesting as with the main characters getting on with their lives, and facing up to fears, confronting each other. But end felt rushed and it was odd how her friends for many years were rejected. There were moments where I felt listening to the writer creating the story rather then the story itself; by I mean, there were passages when I felt the they where there to resolve something in the prose rather then be part of the story.

That being said I rated it overall a four, higher then I would normally. This is because Gerri Hill, is a bit of a master of the tear jerker, and brings a lot of emotion into the novel, which she carries forward to a happy ending. The reader's strong emotional engagement and sweetest of the characters marks it up.

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3 people found this helpful

Narrators voice made this listen disappointing

story was ok but found it hard to get into it. I found the narrator's voice hard to follow,the voices all sounds similar so hard to know which person was talking. I usually find Gerri hill books great to listen to so a little disappointed with this one.

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different families

young love, lost love, true love
rich girl and the maids daughter, forbidden love

parental pressure on a child can scar them emotionally for many years into adulthood, having to follow strict behavioural requirements, and still in 21st century with white upper social families arranged marriages.

I have 5 children and offered my opinion and guidance with care but allowed them to follow thier own path and support them.

the story covers all this really well, showing exact opposites especially in motherhood, its a fascinating insight into how little has changed in attitudes, the snobbery rich people often inflict on the poor. the characters are so real, even interfering friends ,
the narration is excellent and varied in voice and tone, I felt real empathy with the mcs.

definitely a read again book, superb.

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Enjoyable happy story

Easy going pleasant tale, likeable characters with normal names. An average story, nothing heavy or exciting bit really enjoyable. Oddly nice\charming. This author is unpredictable, not a favourite as I've been hugely irritated having bought some of her books, only to fond them awful, populated with vacuous characters with annoying daft names that have caused me to abandon listening to, a shame and disappointment, but in this book she writes well paced fiction. I remain wary of her books still, I'll update this review if I find her other books as good as this by her. Narrator has nice tone, but doesn't differentiate the characters voces much, but reads efficiently. A pleasant surprise, nice story with a good ending, albeit abrupt, but that seems to be the way with some writers. Doesn't detract anything from the book though, a satisfying read.

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2 people found this helpful