Inoperative: Cyborg One

By: Charity Parkerson

Narrated by: Hollie Jackson

Length: 1 hr and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Generation automation is upon us. The craving to own the latest and greatest technology in the name of convenience has created a world where man and machine live alongside one another in an unsteady peace. Humans still rule for now. However, an underground movement has begun that will change everything.

For every arising enemy against humanity, a countermeasure is born....

Alexia is one of the few humans left who'd rather not have an android hanging over her shoulder all day. Unfortunately, when her job lands her on a list of people targeted by terrorists, she's assigned a Machine Industry Leading Edge Sentinel, or "Miles," for protection. Per Miles programming, he shouldn't be able to override Alexia's commands. However, he defies her at every turn. The lines between reality and fantasy blur as Alexia's attraction for the mysterious android grows. Unfortunately, when she goes on a mission to seek the truth, what she learns might get her killed.

©2014 Charity Parkerson (P)2014 Charity Parkerson

My only complaint is that it ended...

I love stories where the male is smitten and protective about the female as Miles was in this one. The tale also kept me on my toes because I didn't know where it was going. In a novella this short, there is not much time for character development. However, in a well written production it doesn't matter if it has some other component to hook the reader/listener in.

Another aspect of a well delivered publication is the narration; it can make or break a writer's work. Ms. Jackson didn't just read this story, she acted it! She differeniates the characters well even when doing voices of the opposite sex. I almost felt like I was there because she neither distracts or overwhelms in her narration.

In conclusion, this is the first work I have read by this author or narrator but it certainly won't be the last I hope. Kudos all around!

good but boring!

This book was good, but not a relisten...it was kinda boring...I have heard way better cyborg books! The sexy time was ok...

Narration was ok...

Definitely a sale or buy...it was pretty cheap...

The undercover cyborg and the babe

This short story is a fun adventure with a little danger, a little suspense, and a little sexy romance. It’s quite well put together and I say go for it.
Oh, the narrator has a pleasant tone to her voice and she speaks with real emotion.
You’ll enjoy this.

Fun mystery, okay romance

A surprisingly complete novella about a threat to the robotics community. I enjoyed the dual POVs between Alexia and Miles, although I would have really loved to have Miles’s voice done by a male narrator. Ah well, Holly Jackson is always wonderfully expressive and she did a fine job toning it down when voicing Miles. I liked this best as a sci-fi novella. The “I’m falling in love with a robot” side was a little flat. I mean, he’s got a great body, but sometimes it felt like she was falling in love with a sex doll, or a toaster. 😜 Also, the two naughty scenes were too robotic (yeah, too on-the-nose) from him and too fluid-y from her (hearing about things dripping down a leg is the opposite of sexy, just saying). Still, if I channeled Kurt Russell from the 90s movie Soldier (or Jeane Claude from the way way back Universal Soldier), I suppose I could see hints of humanity for Alexia to love. And Miles’s crafty maneuvering against romantic rivals was clever and humorous. This was solid enough to wishlist novella 2 and wait for a sale.

Pleasantly Surprised!

Would you consider the audio edition of Inoperative: Cyborg One to be better than the print version?

I do not have the print/ebook version yet, but I will have the whole available series soon. I usually purchase both the print & audio versions of my favorite authors.

What did you like best about this story?

The fact that I was pleasantly surprised is what I liked best about this story. I love Charity Parkerson's work as well as Hollie Jackson's narration. I've been burned with cyborg themed stories before, but I was "gifted" with a credit and decided to try it. This one gave me a new take on the cyborg "theme" and I really enjoyed it.

Which scene was your favorite?

Without giving away any spoilers, it was when Miles was cooking dinner.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Built to Love

Any additional comments?

After being "gifted" with the credit I used to purchase this book, I'm now hooked on Charity Parkerson's Cyborg series. I'll be purchasing all available titles, in both audio & ebook format, as soon as I can. This story is just over an hour long in playing time, but it was worth it to me as it has introduced me to a new world to explore with a lot of really fun (and naughty) possibilities. No matter the length, Charity Parkerson always turns out a well thought out piece of work. Hollie Jackson has made it to my list of favorite narrators.

Exciting and steamy!

What a fun book! Just make sure not to listen to it with young kids around as Charity Parkerson does not shy away from hot and steamy sex scenes. The relationship between Alexis and her cyborg-protector Miles quickly becomes more than just professional, and that's when things get interesting very quickly.

Hollie Jackson does a great job narrating this book -- great voice, excellent pace, and engaging overall.

I look forward to more books in the series!