Popular Posts

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Adam's Cross: Witchfinder Book 1 Audiobook Review

This book was right up my alley!



My Review:
I love a good spooky book so when I read the blurb for this book I was immediately interested and not disappointed. In the story the reader watches Adam grow up. His younger years spent with his dysfunctional parents; a mom who’s abusive and a father who won’t step up to stop the abuse. Adam is also a remarkable young boy and violinist prodigy. His life takes many twists and turns after an encounter with a strange doll. He see’s visions and dead people. His grandmother’s house is located in witch country where a creepy legend still lives and breathes.

Adam’s plight is made real through the author’s words and the many twists kept me guessing. I actually had the opportunity to listen to the entire story in one sitting. That’s a pleasure I usually don’t have. I also couldn’t put it down. The ending was a little abrupt and that’s when I checked and noticed it was book one in a series. Whew! I almost freaked out.

The narrator Alexander Misiti is great, great pacing with the story and overall performance. I received this book free from Audiobook Boom for honest review and so glad I did. Loved it!

Amazon/Audible

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Sparks and Flames by CS Patra Audiobook Review

Great Read!



Review:
The setting is in the future. The world has changed dramatically and a new structure and society has formed. The wealthy live in the hills, amongst them are elementals – people who have abilities to wield Earth’s elements. The most feared of the elementals are those who wield fire. Below the hills live the poor humans who have no power over the elements. There is a group who live in this area called the Velt who hunt and slay the fire starters.

Kian is a hunter and Rukia is a fire starter but they don’t know this about each other. Their friendship blossoms into a romance. The story between them is sweet. It’s not so much a cautionary tale as being able to look past our differences to see our likenesses. I enjoyed the story and listening to the innocent love develop between these characters.

The narrator Jonathon Johns did a great job. Each character had their own voice, his pace was steady with the story.

Great story!

Amazon
iTunes

Monday, August 22, 2016

Lady's Slipper by Alison Gray Audiobook Review

Lady's Slipper is one of the best mystery books I've listened to or read this year!



My Review:
What a fantastic mystery! This book kept me on the edge. Abby is a single mom and investigator who is given the case. Kathy Walker’s murderer is about to be released from prison and she’s re-investigating. There’s nonstop action and intrigue as she talks with those connected in any way with the crime. Kathy Watson’s daughter Caleigh is now an adult but as a two year old she was present when her mother was murdered. She struggles throughout the story to remember.

The story is British and I enjoyed the various differences in terminology in the English language as opposed to the U.S. version. At times it was a puzzle in itself to figure out the meaning of the word. No need to worry plenty of context clues. The narrator Carrie Goodwiler performance was top notch. She did various accents depending on the character and where they were from as well as adding a nasally touch when a character fell ill with a cold. She went the extra mile to make this already fabulous story even better.

A plus mystery!

Amazon
Audible
iTunes

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

The Lost Eve of the Serpent by Jeremy Phillips Blog Tour




I know this sounds crazy when I say it, but I think my sister Rose really is Sherlock Holmes.  How else can I credit what she achieved, during that long, strange summer of 1893?  And when she was still only a girl of fifteen, no less?  I mean, who ever heard of a girl of fifteen being a Detective?


The trouble started quickly.  My family and I were minding our own business (that business being the opening of our hotel, the Delacroix), when the Emerald Serpent jewels showed up.  They had come all the way from China, but they weren’t in our hotel safe for even twenty-four hours before somebody stole them.  What’s worse, the blame for their theft fell right on my brother Bill, who was minding the hotel front desk when the jewels disappeared.  Pretty soon, it seemed as though the whole town of Hope Springs was out to get him.  Our hotel business fell right off, what with everybody in the area believing that the Delacroix family was a bunch of thieves.  Dad was afraid we might even have to sell off our hotel.

But then Rose stepped in.  Rose was interested in the Sherlock Holmes stories, and more than anything she wanted to be a detective when she grew up.  Before I even had time to think about it, Rose and I were both trying to find the person who had really stolen the jewels.  It was the right thing for us to be doing, but I knew we’d have to get it done quick.  Poor Bill was already locked up in the town jail, and I had a bad feeling that if he wasn’t freed soon, some town hothead was going to do something a lot worse than wait for him to go to trial…  


 Buy Links
Paperback 
Kindle

Rose Delacroix and the Lost Eye of the Serpent



About the Author

Jeremy Phillips has lived and worked in Spokane, Washington for most of his life. When he isn’t writing or keeping busy being a father and husband, he works as a Respiratory Therapist at several different hospitals. He lives in Spokane with his wife, children, dogs, and bonsai trees. This is his second novel.


Author links:

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/Jeremy.Phillips.Author

Twitter:
www.Twitter.com/Jphillips2323


Interview
Questions with Jeremy Phillips
 

Why do you write? 
I write because I enjoy it, and I feel compelled to express my ideas in written form. I have always been a big reader, and I enjoy exploring the idea of writing, creating stories that I would find myself reading if I were the one doing the reading.
 



Do you work from an outline or plot or do you prefer to just see where an idea takes you?
I always create an outline for how I want the story to go, but then when I am writing the story, it always organically changes from that outline into something else, hopefully something better. I think that if I found myself writing something that didn’t change somewhat and offer itself up to alteration as I am writing it, then I would know that I’m just going through the motions. That would probably be time for me to stop writing that story, at least for the day. Perhaps forever. Some stories just don’t make it, they are dead on arrival, and it’s important for me to be honest with myself when that happens and try something else instead.
 



What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?
The hardest thing about my new book, and perhaps the most fun thing, was doing some good research on the historical period in which it is set. The story is set in 1893, so we’re talking post-Old West stuff. It’s not the chaotic Gunslinger West, but it also isn’t the modern America, either. So that’s an interesting time to write about, as there would have been elements of both, Old West and Modern, present in such a time and place. And often, those two elements would not get along nicely.


How did you develop the idea for ‘The Rose Delacroix Files Book One: The Lost Eye of the Serpent’?

To be honest, I originally wrote the story with the idea in mind that the kid detectives in the story would be younger than they ended up being. But as I started to write the story, I realized that if Rose and Jon were actually fifteen years old, then they would be on the cusp of adulthood. People grew up fast in those long-ago days, and these kids would be expected to be nearly adults at that age. With the two protagonists as near-adults, the story ends up being much richer and more interesting. Rose would be expected to be looking around for a suitor to marry and start a family with, either that year or in her very near future. This is an expectation that Rose rejects soundly, as she has a much more modern view of what a woman can be and can do. She ends up rejecting a lot of expectations of her time, and for the reader, that will give them a window into her world, too.

What is your main character like?

My main character is Rose Delacroix, who is a young woman of fifteen, who stubbornly believes that women can do the same things that men can do, if they feel like it. In her case, that involves wanting to become a detective like her hero, Sherlock Holmes. As the story develops, especially throughout the other books in the series, she will grow into becoming something larger than that; but at first her intention is to become like Sherlock Holmes. The story is told through the eyes of her brother Jon, who is her twin brother, and who takes an almost Watson-like role in Rose’s story, to Rose’s Sherlock Holmes.


Monday, August 8, 2016

Weaving the Web: A Cold Hollow Mystery Volume 2 by Emilie J. Howard Audiobook Review

Intriguing and unique story!



My Review:
Most residents of the town are ex-cons. When they’re paroled the state sends them. They are given jobs, a place to live and bank information to start their lives fresh. A town made up of criminals doesn’t seem like a real safe place and it isn’t. One of them has a penchant for wrapping women in silk thread much like a spider and killing them.
Overall this was an interesting story with a unique setting. The plot gets deeper and twists unexpectantly as the story proceeds. The characters are well developed and the story follows a steady pace. It’s not a horror story and isn’t too suspenseful but has a certain quality about it that I enjoyed. Probably the mystery. I love to piece things together in my head.
The narrator J. Scott Bennett does a fair narration giving character to the many personalities in the story.

Amazon

A Life She Didn't Take by Marie Krepps Book Review

A short hot read!



My Review:
This is possibly the shortest review I've ever written but if you're a lover of a good paranormal romance than check this book out. It's well written and a super hot read.

Seraphine is an ancient vampire who finds herself attracted to a human male. They soon find each other with the arms of the other. This is a really short paranormal romance. It’s short enough to read just before bed or waiting in the doctor’s office. It’s filled with steamy sweetness and intense erotic scenes.

Amazon

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Taming the Thief by CS Patra Audiobook Review

I've listened to quite a few of CS Patra's books now. I can say they are all very different. This one had a ton of potential.



My Review:
Taming the Thief, where do I start? It was a fun story. The premise is Laura is a scientist who saves a gorgeous guy when he attempts to steal a formula from the company she works for. She does this to show her family she has a man to get them off her back and because he’s everything they’d hate. For a woman with that much formal education it doesn’t really make sense. Anyways, they form a close relationship and his reasoning behind thieving is to help take care of his brother who was his sister. He recently had a sex change and is now a man. Their parents didn’t approve. Along with that the younger sister left the parents’ home too. Let me mention the thief has a masters in engineering. My question is why doesn’t he cut his hair and get a real job? Damn he has the education. It would have made more sense if he was arrested in college and nobody would have hired him because of a felony. 

What I enjoyed was the creative, out of the box thinking. What I didn’t enjoy was the repetition and plot holes. The reasoning behind his motives was spelled out in every chapter. As a reader/listener I don’t need that. Once is enough. I prefer a story to move forward from there. This story stalled then progressed at a slow speed which is OK, depending on the listener. For me I have a short attention span and get plots very quickly and need to see progress or I’m bored. This story, although, a wonderful enticing premise stalled too long and my attention diverted.

The narrator Coulter Evans did a great job but I didn’t think a male was appropriate for the job. In this story I think a female voice would be a better choice. However, he did a great job!
It’s a cute story that in my opinion needs a little plot work but entertaining.

Amazon

The Last Omen by Steve Nedelton

OMG! The narrator, Adam Hanin, was AMAZING!


Book Review:

I love spooky stuff so it surprises me that I didn’t read this sooner. In this case I listened to it. At first the reader is introduced to Mr. Adam’s a thriller novelist who inherited a nice fortune from his uncle. He notices strange occurrences such as the teller at the bank going freaky on him and strange creaks and noises coming from his attic. Then we’re introduced to a Norwegian ex-soldier who comes to America. For the record I couldn’t stand his wife and wished through the entire story that somebody would put her out of her misery. The two characters don’t seem to have anything in common but of course knowing they do I continued reading.

On a fear/suspense level I’d give this book a three only because the pace slowed at times it should have sped up. Overall it was an entertaining read and I’m glad I finally took the time to read/listen to it. The plot and characters are well developed and there are many interesting turns of event. It’s a clever novel.

Reading the book I would have enjoyed it but so glad I listened. The narrator Adam Hanin is amazing. If I could give him 6 stars I would. His voices and the way he managed accents and noises, strange speeches gave this book an extraordinary touch!

Amazon

Curious I upgraded the kindle to audio and found there are two authors attached to the books. LT Reece is attached to the kindle and Steve Nedelton is attached to the paperback and audio. I doubled checked thinking I had the right book name and wrong author but I don't. Obviously a pen name but why they don't all have the same pen name is haven't a clue.

The Graveman A Sam Prichard Mystery by David Archer Audiobook Review

Sam as a character is a bit cliche. A good cop injured in the line of duty but still fighting the good fight. Kind of a Die Hard vs. Jessie Stone. Either way an exciting read.



My Review:
Sam Prichard is the epitome of a good cop depicted on TV. He’s a cliché, nonetheless, the novel is exciting. Sam is a cop who fights drug lords and gets injured on the job and is placed into early retirement. He teams up with a homeless single mother, invites them into his home. She is a computer whiz. They put their skills together and find a missing child which is part of a larger mystery. Sam gets mixed up with some really bad guys and at times is difficult to determine who’s bad and who’s good.

There’s a lot of detail to character and plot along with enough twists to keep the reader guessing and cringing with the turn of each page. Think TV tough guys, Die Hard, comes to my mind. Great story!


I listened to the audio version narrated by Mikael Naramore. Overall he did a great job and brought out qualities in the characters that one might not notice reading the book.

Amazon
If you're on a budget like me but love audio. Download the Kindle free and upgrade to audio for 1.99.

Secrets Untold: The Craftfield Series by Brooklyn Shivers Book Review

This was a really fun story. I'd say it's more of an NA mystery/ paranormal.



My Review:
Lily is an only child of a single mother. After years of hard work her mother is able to buy an ice cream shop. Lily goes to college but remains at home helping to run the ice cream shop. Strange things start to happen as Lily has extra vivid dreams.

There far too much going on in the story to write it into this review but what got me was the intrigue. The author brings out the suspense with each event and character. There’s far more going on than meets the eye with suspicious characters such as Lily’s disappearing aunts, questionable police officer and ex-boyfriend just to name a few. The story kept me guessing and was a quick read.

I'm going to add I adore the cover!

Amazon