Beautiful Sacrifice

A Novel

By: Elizabeth Lowell

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

“This author delivers pure, undiluted excitement.""
—Jayne Ann Krentz

“Romantic suspense is her true forte.”
—Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“Elizabeth Lowell’s keen ear for dialogue and intuitive characterizations consistently place her a cut above most writers in this genre.”
—Charlotte News & Observer

Perennial New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Lowell boldly puts the romance back into romantic suspense with Beautiful Sacrifice—a story of passion and intrigue centered around the ancient Mayan prediction of the apocalyptic end of everything. Lowell’s thrillingly imaginative tale unites a dedicated female archaeologist with a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officer on a mission to recover priceless South American artifacts that could bring deadly chaos into our world. Beautiful Sacrifice is action, suspense, and love on a bestselling par with Lisa Gardner, Linda Howard, Jayne Ann Krentz, and Nora Roberts…and exactly the sort of romantic adventure that inspired Johanna Lindsey to declare, “Lowell is great!”

Beautiful Sacrifice

Good story , but got a bit dry in some areas - my attention tended to wander. Reader did a great job...I would listen again but not sure about this romance novel.

I love the fact the author had current events and knowledge and the subject.

One of her better books, I like that the sexy female lead wasn't the typical SWF.

Mayan Calendar adventure/romance-average

Elizabeth Lowell's "Donovan" series is both educational and fun to read..I'd hoped for a new series and this may be it-but it sure isn't up to past Lowell work.

Added to the confusing Mayan history, dialect and words is the tepid narration done by Richard Ferrone. Granted he had a real complication with all the Mayan names to work thru, still I think his female voice is blah and generally wasn't impressed with his work.

All in all, this isn't a listen I'd recommend even though it's topical since it has to do with Mayan calendar history and potential disaster there was no real incorporating of the date with the book.

Don't waste your credit on this.

Long, involved and yes...tedious.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I'm still struggling to finish this book. I have a bout 90 min left and I can't seem to do it. So no, not time well spent. I am seriously contemplating skipping a head to listen to the last 10 min and be done with it, but I'm not even sure I care that much about what happens to the main characters.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I think there is just too much detail about the Maya, or maybe it was just too dry. I think it needed more action, or maybe more sympathetic characters. The one character I liked got shot close to the beginning and hasn't made a reappearance yet.

Which character – as performed by Richard Ferrone – was your favorite?

Richard Ferrone did a good job with the narration, but I just can't bring myself to care for any of the characters.

Do you think Beautiful Sacrifice needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I think this book should just be left to lie in peace.

For the 2012 Doomsdayers, this is for YOU

Would you listen to Beautiful Sacrifice again? Why?

Yes ~ it was an awesome story. A little overwhelming on the all the artifact talk/facts, so listening again I know I'd only pick up things I might have missed the first listen. I loved the hero/heroine, the way they sparked off one another.

What other book might you compare Beautiful Sacrifice to and why?

I'd have to say her Donovan books or earlier, for the simple reason she concentrates so hard on the artifcate industry, both the scholarly part as well as the market and digs. I love the way Elizabeth Lowell can just pull you into those worlds...and really FEEL what you're reading.

Have you listened to any of Richard Ferrone’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I haven't. But I wasn't, and am still not, convinced he was the best narrator for this. I liked his voice, but just...he did pretty much a male voice the whole way through. I wasn't thrilled when he was doing Lina's POV...just thought it would have been better served w/ maybe a male AND a female, or a male who could do the female part better

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It did make laugh in several parts, and though it didn't make me cry, it certainly made me gasp, and my heart hurt when Jase was hurt and we weren't sure if he'd make it or not.

Any additional comments?

I was upset that Ms. Lowell AGAIN stopped a series ~ wanted more St. Kilda's books, but this was a great book, and I'm glad she went with it. It couldn't have come out at a better time, what with this being 2012. The legend of the Maya calender is on everyone's minds, believer or not, and this tale was so fitting and perfectly timed.