Audible

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Review: Heart of Gold

Heart of Gold Heart of Gold by J.A. Cipriano
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a fun listen! I guess I’m just a sucker for stories where the “hero” is an average guy who, due to circumstances beyond his control, rises above his pay grade in life, to do awesome things.

Frank Butcher, works for a package delivery service and his last stop of the day is a clinic he frequents on his route. His world is turned upside down after an attack on the clinic by a group of zealots. Dr. Gabriella Perez saves Frank’s life by throwing him to the ground just as a fireball sails past them and when Gabriella tells Frank to scram, he does the exact opposite, which surprises even Frank and when he finds out that the life of Gabriella’s kid is in danger, Frank, yes he's sweet on the doctor, decides that he’s all in.

This audiobook has absolutely everything I enjoy in SciFi/Horror, it’s action packed, filled with humorous one-liners, gory, violent and has monsters and zombies! Come on what more could you ask for?

Joe Hempel is the narrator of this fantastic little audiobook which clocks in at just over five hours and he is an absolutely perfect fit for this type of book. Seriously, the writers couldn’t have done any better than choosing this reader. He’s a true storyteller and lifts what is a very good book to a great one.

This audiobook was given to me to me at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review, thanks, Audiobook Boom!


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Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Review: King's

King's King's by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mia Turner goes to Mexico in search of her brother who’s gone missing while on an archaeological dig, she’s barely closed the door to her hotel room, when a knock at the door produces two strange men who tell her in no uncertain terms to leave Mexico immediately or die and don’t even think about coming back. How rude!

As a last resort, she implores King to help her find out what happened to her brother and King is all too willing to help… for a price. Yep, the title says it all, King wants to own Mia Turner, lock stock and barrel. King is callous and uncaring as he effectively cuts Mia off from everything, demanding that she quit her job and just wait in his office, soon she out of money, her apartment and adding insult to injury, she is still brotherless. When Mia is just about to break under the pressure, King finally summons her to Mexico, umm… maybe Mia left out some important details about her previous visit to Mexico and maybe King will find he has a heart and that Mia’s not the only one getting owned.

I enjoyed this story so much, but I have to warn you this is a trilogy, so expect the dread cliffhanger and while some serious sparks fly between King and Mia there is no consummation of their relationship in this book. I found the story so engaging I didn’t miss it.

This was the first audiobook that I’ve listened to by the narrator, Helen Wick and I thought she did a wonderful job, the character voices were well defined and I had no problem discerning which person was speaking. The sound quality was excellent as well.



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Review: Sparrow

Sparrow Sparrow by L.J. Shen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sparrow Raynes has known of Troy Brennan practically her whole life, yet their worlds have never, ever intersected, until, out of the blue, Troy kidnaps Sparrow and forces her to marry him.

The pair forge an uneasy alliance of sorts, with Troy continuing to live his life as he did before they married and while his character is completely amoral and brutally violent, he never forces himself upon Sparrow, and that’s just about his only redeeming quality.

Slowly and unwittingly, even to Sparrow, she starts to worm her way into his heart, by just being herself and having her own internal sense of morality, like not touching any of his ill-gotten money, a stance that she never waivers from, but she’s not preachy about it, she lets her actions speak for her proving the old adage true, that actions speak louder than words.

LJ Shen’s Sparrow is one of the best dark romances I’ve listened to this year, if you’re sensitive to, graphic violence and explicit sexual content, you might want to skip this book, hell you’ll probably want to stay away from LJ Shen period because she doesn’t sugar coat anything.

Can we talk about the enigma that is Michael Pauley? I have been critical of his narrating in the past, so imagine my pleasant surprise when he delivered a five-star performance and that’s saying something, because he had to do it all with a Southie dialect, and I think he did an amazing job! He was engaging and conveyed emotion and energy in this fully voiced performance. Kudos to both LJ Shen and Michael Pauley!


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Review: The Hero

The Hero The Hero by Donna Grant
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Natalie Dixon has a meeting in Dallas with Oren Loughman the father of Owen Loughman, the man she fell in love with years and broke her heart when he ended things when they graduated high school. Now working for the Russian embassy an innocuous question from Oren about Ragnarok opens up a Pandora’s box,

Owen heads home to Dallas after being gone for six years when he arrives at his Uncle and Aunt’s house and finds them murdered. Owen and his two brothers believe their father’s dangerous missions in espionage are somehow to blame for the murders, just like the death of their mother years before.

Fate brings Natalie and Owen back together after 14 years and puts Natalie in the cross hairs of danger, the very reason he broke things off with her all those years ago.

Buckle up, this mystery/thriller roller coaster ride will leave you breathless, this audiobook never lets up, murder, mortal hand to hand combat, kidnapping, espionage, scorching hot sex, and three patriotic alpha brothers, what more can a girl ask for? The Hero, nicely wraps up Owen and Natalie’s story arc, but it’s just the beginning of the Loughman family saga, I’m excited to hear what happens next with Owen’s two brothers who have some serious daddy issues to solve.

Carly Robin narrates and she does a good job voicing all of the characters in this book, she expertly expresses the emotions of the scenes, without being over the top, the audio production of this book is of the highest quality.

This audiobook was gifted to me exchange for an unbiased review!

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Monday, December 19, 2016

Review: Into Thin Air

Into Thin Air Into Thin Air by Marla Josephs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lela Charles is spending time with the Alexander clan out at the ranch, trying to get a handle on her special abilities and her growing attraction to Jordan Alexander. When the Alexander’s ask Lela for help she agrees, even though she’s still wary of this strange but loving family. But when Jordan asks her to give their budding romance a try, Lela shoots him down, despite the way he, and no one else makes her feel.

This, the second book in the Alexander Ranch series, has much more of a romantic element to it, but don’t worry, there’s still plenty of action and suspense as well, I have to admit, I was a little frustrated by the way Lela kept thwarting Jordan and then something would happen in the story that would make me think Jordan has every reason to be cautious, and perhaps she’s much wiser than me.

The paranormal storyline is a major focus in this book and I look forward to seeing where book three goes from here!

Jaime Lamchick continues to narrate the series and she does an even better job in this second book, which clocks in at just under six hours. Jaime has fully voiced all the characters in this audiobook and her subtle nuances in tone make it easy to follow which characters speak. The audio production quality is flawless.

This audiobook was gifted to me exchange for an unbiased review!

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Sunday, December 18, 2016

Review: Cyborg Seduction: A Science Fiction Cyborg Romance

Cyborg Seduction: A Science Fiction Cyborg Romance Cyborg Seduction: A Science Fiction Cyborg Romance by Lisa Lace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s official, I’m in love with the Burning Metal series! The stories are just a little bit darker than the Terra Mate series, and that suits me just fine.

What rotten luck, news reporter Rachel Halliday’s first assignment is to follow scientist as they attempt to bring in a rogue squad of cyborgs in serious need of a software update, anxious to get the scoop Rachel blatantly disregards orders to stay far away from the cyborgs and next thing you know she’s face-to-face with their leader Wrath, who has a serious chip in, umm, err on his shoulder, believing that Central Command left him and his cohorts for dead in the desert several years ago.

Funny thing about Wrath, though, he looks just like Rachel’s first and only true love, high school sweetheart Robert, and once she’s convinced that it truly is Robert, Rachel’s on a new mission to help Wrath regain his memory and humanity. But for Wrath trust is dead and if Rachel’s not careful, she may be too!

This story has, action, suspense and if you know anything about Lisa Lace, smoking hot sex scenes and an HEA.

Michael Pauley narrates and he does a wonderful job on this audiobook. He nails the emotions of the characters, he has been the reader for all of the books in the series and his comfort and familiarity as a narrator with the series is evident. The audio production quality is perfect.


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Thursday, December 15, 2016

Review: The Courier

The Courier The Courier by Gerald Brandt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Poor orphan courier Kris Ballard barely ekes out a living and after a hard day of work she just wants to go home to her small flat and take a nice shower before the water’s cut off, when she gets a call from dispatch asking her to deliver just one more small package, with her job on the line Kris reluctantly agrees to the assignment, but “the corporation” wants that package and Kris dead.

So begins the cat and mouse chase set in the dystopian megalopolis of San Angeles a 7 level city, level one relegated to those in abject poverty and the most elite on level seven where the sun still shines.

What I enjoyed most about this cyberpunk, science fiction based story is the non-stop action, Kris is on the run from Quincy her nemesis and she’s thrown into one situation after another, escaping each time, but not totally unscathed. The suspense level in this book is high and many times I was holding my breath right along with the characters! When Kris meets her savior Miller her odds of surviving increase exponentially, but will it be enough?

This audiobook employs dual narration from Ali Ahn and James Colby and they both do an excellent job, the voicing of the characters is appropriate to the age of the characters in the book. Recorded Books is the publisher, so you know the production quality is on point.

This audiobook was gifted to me exchange for an unbiased review.

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Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Review: No Good Deed Left Undone

No Good Deed Left Undone No Good Deed Left Undone by Ginny Fite
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I haven’t read a police procedural in awhile and this book made me wonder why the hell not? Police detective Sam Lagarde and his sidekick sergeant Lawrence Black investigate the death by pitchfork of small town lothario Grant Wodehouse, his mojo must have been on point because he managed to bed just about every available (and unavailable) woman in Jefferson County, West Virginia. Even in a horse barn.

Soon there’s another grisly murder putting Sam and Lawrence in a race against time to piece the clues together before a clearly unhinged killer strikes again.

I would classify this more of a suspense/thriller novel than a mystery because, to me at least, it’s pretty clear halfway through the book who the killer is. But trust me it in no way lessen the tension and suspense that Ginny Fite builds in this story.

The writing is excellent, Ginny Fite knows her craft well. I searched to see if any of her books were available on audio and they are not! Come on Ginny there a whole legion of potential fans that would love to hear your stories! I can hear D C Coles narrating them now!

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Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Review: A Lantern In the Window

A Lantern In the Window A Lantern In the Window by Bobby Hutchinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Got a couple of hours to kill? This little book will make the time fly by. Anne Tompkins answers Noah Ferguson’s ad for a wife to help him run his farm in the Canadian prairies in 1886. Anne insists that they have a marriage by proxy before she steps foot on the prairie and it’s for a good reason, she has secrets she’s hiding.

Noah is still grieving the death of his first wife and child, but he’s got a farm to run and after his father takes ill, Noah is desperate for help, he wants a wife but not an emotional attachment that would “betray” the love he still has for his first wife.

I was impressed that the author was able to tell this short story without it feeling rushed, I also like the fact that the storyline wasn’t contrived and the physical relationship between the two, wasn’t staved off to a ridiculous length of time.

The narrator did a good job, and the production quality was good as well, there were a few points where extraneous sound could be heard on the recording but nothing major.

So if you need a little light, but heartwarming fluff in your life, this audiobook will do.

This audiobook was given to me to me at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review, thanks, Audiobook Boom!


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Review: Alexander Ranch

Alexander Ranch Alexander Ranch by Marla Josephs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First, let’s address the elephant in the room, the cover art for this audiobook is horrible and it’s a shame, because as horrible as it is, the exact opposite is true of this wonderful story and since most people buy with their eyes, this little gem of a book, I’m certain, gets overlooked. (Drops mic) Okay on with my review.

All Lela Charles wants is to spend some alone time enjoying the great outdoors, but fate, it seems thinks Lela needs a little bit of excitement, and she stumbles upon 3 men in the forest, one of them on his knees, the other two with guns in their hand. When a fight between the men ensues, Lela quietly beats feet to find help, but not quiet enough and soon Lela’s in a fight for her life as well! Fortunately for her, she gets some unexpected and unwanted help from the Alexander clan.

I absolutely loved this cat and mouse thriller which throws in a touch of the paranormal. The Narrator Jaime Lamchick did a good job voicing the characters in this 5 plus hour audiobook and the production quality was excellent.

This is the first audiobook in the series and I look forward to listening to the next book in the series

This audiobook was gifted to me exchange for an unbiased review!


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Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Review: Teach Your Heart

Teach Your Heart Teach Your Heart by Tracey Alvarez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gracie Cooper has a lot of baggage, a critical and overbearing father who’s a wealthy, high-powered lawyer and losing her mother just as she’s starting to enter adulthood. Trying to find her purpose in life, Gracie heads to Europe and drifts from one low paying menial job to another. Gracie witnesses the aftermath of a brutal terrorist attack in London and that sends her scurrying back home to Australia and back under the critical eye of dear ole dad!

Doctor Owen Bennett has his own set of baggage, the son of free-spirited parents, he revels in working hard at his profession and having complete control over his life. The total opposite of how he was raised. When his mother takes ill he unexpectedly becomes the temporary legal guardian of his three orphaned nieces and nephew. Who completely upend his life.

When his frazzled elderly neighbor quits the nanny position, Owen is desperate to find a full-time, live-in nanny, when Gracie rescues the two younger kids who ran away from home, Owen offers her the position.

This heartwarming, humorous and sometimes tragic story is well told and you’re rooting for the two broken people who fill a need in each other if the can both just open their hearts and embrace the possibility of love.


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Sunday, December 4, 2016

Review: Dead Apocalypse

Dead Apocalypse Dead Apocalypse by Tim Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Listening to Dead Apocalypse is hearing my worst ZA fear out loud, stuck on an airplane and people all around you are falling ill and that’s how we meet Ben Chase our reluctant hero, who rises above his pay grade in life when the zombie apocalypse follows him and his best friend Ty to the big island of Hawaii.

If you’ve been following me for any length of time you know I love a good zombie story and I’ve written reviews on several of them, this may lead you to think that there are plenty of decent zombie books out there… you would be wrong! I just refuse to waste my time writing about the plethora of god awful zombie books out there.

Tim Moon's story is a breath of zombie stench free fresh air. I had to sit and cogitate awhile on why I liked this book so much and, other than the awesome narration by Maxwell Zener, who, I think has found his niche, it’s the pacing of the story, every time you breathe a sigh of relief, thinking they’ve escaped imminent danger, they’re unexpectedly thrown right back into the mayhem.

The production quality of this audiobook, which clocks in at just under 4 hours is good, there is one glaring error in chapter 2 where a whole sentence is repeated and of course it’s at the height of an intense scene, hopefully, it will be corrected, but it can’t take away the solid 4 star rating of this little gem.

The book is part of a series, but the story wraps up nicely, but you just know this show ain’t over yet and I look forward to the next installment.

This audiobook was gifted to me exchange for an unbiased review!


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Saturday, December 3, 2016

Review: Preppy: The Life & Death of Samuel Clearwater, Part One

Preppy: The Life & Death of Samuel Clearwater, Part One Preppy: The Life & Death of Samuel Clearwater, Part One by T.M. Frazier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We first meet Preppy, aka Samuel Clearwater, in the first book of the King Series and in that book he struck me as a sociopath, with only two people in the world that he cared about, King and Bear.

On a side note, if you haven't read the first four books in the series, stop right here and go download, King, trust me when I say you’ll get more enjoyment out of this book if you know more about Preppy, because you’ve got to build up your tolerance for Mr. Clearwater.

As the series builds you come to think of Preppy as the lovable sociopath, but still a sociopath nonetheless. This the fifth book in the series puts all the puzzle pieces on the table and I can’t wait to see what the finished picture looks like!

Andrea “Dre” Capulet is a strung out junkie and when her “boyfriend” decides to uproot and abscond with Preppy’s marijuana growing operation things don’t go well for either one of them and when Dre is at the end of her rope and decides to end it all, Preppy surprises even himself by saving her. This story is about how two terribly broken people use each other to hold on to their humanity.

This seven plus hour audiobook ranks right up there with the first two books in the series, it’s a fantastic listen! The dual narration by Lance Greenfield and Kirsten Leigh was perfection, they both conveyed the right amount of emotion and that’s saying a lot because this book deals with some pretty weighty subject matter and is sexually explicit. The production quality was top notch.

It’s a cliffhanger, but it tied things up nicely and leaves us with just enough of a teaser. I’m looking forward to the final book in the Preppy story.


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Friday, December 2, 2016

Review: Noah Padgett and the Dog-People

Noah Padgett and the Dog-People Noah Padgett and the Dog-People by Sarah Potter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Take one part Cinderella’s evil step-mom and one part Alice in Wonderland’s rabbit hole, swap out said rabbit hole and insert computer screen, throw in Dorothy’s we’re not in Kansas anymore and stir in dogs. That’s the recipe for Noah Padgett and the Dog People.

It’s a wonderful 6 plus hour children’s audiobook that follows loner Noah Padgett, an awkward adolescence, as he battles first the stepmother from hell and then Monsieur Percival Poodle, the poodle from hell when Noah and his dog Bluebell are sucked into an alternate universe where dogs rule. This audiobook has suspense and dry British humor, which may go over the youngsters' heads, but makes it a listen that adults will enjoy as well.

At the beginning it took me a bit to warm up to Mil Nicholson’s style of narrating, to an eleven-year-old listening to this story the best description I can give is, imagine your feisty ole grandma gleefully reading you a scary bedtime story and acting out every character. By the end of the story, I was a fan! The audio quality isn’t the best, there were several studio noise moments where extraneous movements could be heard and the sound quality overall was a little thin. But these minor grievances should not detract from the overall enjoyment of this audiobook.

I look forward to hearing more from author Sarah Potter.




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Thursday, December 1, 2016

Review: SpaceMan

SpaceMan SpaceMan by Tom Abrahams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, what an amazing story and it marries two of my favorite sci-fi scenarios, being stranded in space and a post-apocalyptic thriller. Clayton Shepard and two fellow astronauts are docked at the International Space Station when a catastrophic solar blast hits the earth, taking the entire planet “off grid” and deals a fair amount of damage to the space station and its inhabitants. The story builds just enough tension in the space odyssey segment and then switches gears and paints a pretty terrifying picture of what’s transpiring at the same time on earth.

Clayton Shepard’s wife Jackie has been holding down the fort at home when the apocalypse hits and she’s no wallflower when the going gets tough Jackie gets tougher and her only priorities are keeping her family together and reuniting with Clayton. Even though the connection between Clayton and Jackie is told strictly through flashbacks, the strength of their bond is undeniable.

My favorite character in the book is Nikki, my shero, look up the word kick ass and her picture should be there! This is one woman you want on your side in the apocalypse. This Audiobook has stellar writing and great supporting characters that you care about, I can’t wait for the next installment.

If you’ve ever listened to a Tom Abrahams audiobook, chances are you’ve heard Kevin Pierce narrating and there’s a reason, he’s one of the best, especially in the sci-fi genre. You know you’re going to get a first-rate audio production and he’s that rare narrator who does an outstanding job fully voicing all of the characters, you never get lost wondering who’s talking, each character is distinct and Kevin Pierce makes it sound so effortless.

Buy or credit this book is a definite add to your library!

This audiobook was given to me to me at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review, thanks, Audiobook Boom!


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Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Review: Love in the Time of Zombies

Love in the Time of Zombies Love in the Time of Zombies by Jill James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yep, It’s a story about zombies and love, I know, I know mention the word love or romance and some zombie book aficionados, hold their nose and run off like… well… a zombie hoard was at their doorstep!

If you’re one of those I’m here to tell you that you’re missing out on one great audiobook. This book has everything you expect from a great zombie listen, graphic descriptions of the horrifying carnage wrought by zombies, exposing the flaws of man under stress causing the rise to power of wicked men and a team of kick ass heroes who won’t go gentle into that good night.

A virulent strain of influenza is wreaking havoc on the world population and a grieving, US President orders the vaccine to be sprayed into the water and food supply, a great way to throw gasoline on the fire Pres!

Soon the dead are rising and two people from disparate lifestyles before the zombie apocalypse, Emily Gray an unhappy trophy wife and Seth Ripley a long distance truck driver discovers they have what it takes to survive in this harsh new world.

I enjoyed Jill James’ writing style and there were small sprinkles of humor at just the right times and I always appreciate that especially in this genre.

The audiobook is narrated Maxwell Zener and this is the first audiobook that I’ve listened to from him and he does a wonderful job voicing most of the characters in the story, sometimes though I did lose track of which character was narrating the scene, there wasn’t enough variation in tone for my ears between Emily’s character and Seth’s. That aside, I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to another audiobook with him as a reader.


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Sunday, November 27, 2016

Review: Dangled Carat

Dangled Carat Dangled Carat by Hilary Grossman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this humorous, heartrending and ultimately triumphant memoir of navigating a relationship with someone who has commitment issues. It has to be a painful experience in retrospect to tap into your emotions and feelings, I’m not that brave, nor would I have the patience of Job that Hilary had.

The story centers around Hilary a 27-year-old woman who meets Marc the man of her dreams and a confirmed bachelor, but what happens when the confirmed bachelor begrudgingly falls in love too?

Sometimes I felt as though Marc’s character was needlessly cruel, but I couldn’t see him as mean-spirited but probably just completely oblivious in some ways to other people’s feelings, although on the other hand, you could tell he was a caring person to those he deemed worthy of sharing his inner circle. The big question in the story was whether Hilary was part of that inner circle or just flitting on the periphery.

Would I suggest this as a playbook for young women who find themselves in a similar situation? Not likely, but for every Warren Beatty, there’s an Annette Bening out there somewhere!

Lisa Beacom did an excellent job narrating Dangled Carat and she also narrated Hilary Grossman’s first audiobook Plan Bea, which I recommend also. The audio quality, for the most part, was top notch there were a couple of areas where the audio was a little breathy, but it was corrected quickly.


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Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Review: Into the Storm

Into the Storm Into the Storm by Melanie Moreland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this romantic thriller! The story begins with a badly beaten Elizabeth on the run from her abusive husband, her bad luck is compounded when she heads straight into the worst snow storm of the season. Lost and in pain, she loses control of her car in the storm and ends up crashing headlong into a tree.

Author, Joshua Bennett lives in a self-imposed exile, refusing to leave his remote property since a vicious attack almost ended his life, when he hears the crash his dog Bear races off towards the car, Joshua reluctantly follows and begrudgingly rescues Elizabeth.

I really enjoyed this audiobook, which is almost 12 hours in length and the time flew by, this story never, ever lagged and was filled with suspense, heartbreak, and is a tender love story.

Into The Storm is a dual narration production by John Lane and Tatiana Sokolov, it's mostly narrated from Joshua's point of view and John Lane did a wonderful job fully voicing all the characters in this audiobook and of course, Tatiana Sokolov always does and awesome job, she's one of my favorite narrators and does an amazing job voicing male characters.

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Monday, November 21, 2016

Review: Shopping for a CEO's Fiancée

Shopping for a CEO's Fiancée Shopping for a CEO's Fiancée by Julia Kent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a fun and spirited audiobook, since this was my first listen to in the Shopping Series I felt a little like I dropped in late to the party. But that's ok because unlike a party I get to go back and listen to all the previous stories.

If you want to listen to an audiobook that will make you smile and guffaw out loud give Julia Kent's series a try, it's a hoot!

Sebastian York narrates this 7 1/2 hour audiobook and his voice style suits this lighthearted tale and you know when you see his name, the audio production quality will be excellent.

This audiobook was given to me to me at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review, thanks, Audiobook Boom!

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Friday, November 18, 2016

Review: Ruined Wings

Ruined Wings Ruined Wings by Ashley Fontainne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

17-Year old track star Callie Novak has been living a charmed life until reality comes crashing down when her twin brother Colton and her father are both killed in an auto accident. When it’s determined that Colton was the driver and under the influence of drugs, Callie goes in search of answers, but the answers just bring further heartbreak.

Soon Callie finds herself on the very same path that led to her brother’s death as she begins to self-medicate as a means to cope, this begins a devastating downward spiral that Callie is helpless to stop. Callie has to dig down deep to find the strength that her brother lacked to turn her life around.

This book is suitable older young adults because it deals with the gritty realities of drug addiction and contains violence, strong language, and sexual exploitation. Ashley Fontainne packs a lot of story into this relatively short, but well-written book. The audiobook is over 3 hours in length and the fully voiced, expressive narration by Andrea Emmes was perfectly suited for the age of the main character and the genre. The sound quality was clear throughout the production.

I look forward to seeing what’s in store for both this author and narrator! This audiobook was gifted to me exchange for an unbiased review!


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Thursday, November 17, 2016

Review: Coffee, Tea or Me

Coffee, Tea or Me Coffee, Tea or Me by Rich Amooi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s Official! Anytime I need a pick me up, forget about Xanax, I’m listening to a Rich Amooi novel, his stories never fail to put a smile on my face. This light-hearted rom-com is just what the doctor ordered.

Susie McKenna is the queen of scones and she opens her quaint little tea shop right next door to Jack Robbins coffee house! Her timing couldn’t be any worse, at least not from where Jack’s standing, he’s close to sealing a deal to take his coffee house brand to the next level, but falling sale due to that pesky little tea shop threatens to throw a monkey wrench into his plans!

Hilarity ensues as Jack and Susie compete to make a living and fight the growing attraction they feel towards each other.

Greg Tremblay narrates this quick listen and his voice is perfect for this type of story, his pacing is flawless, and his delivery definitely helped increase the comedy factor. The audio quality of this book, which clocks in at just under 4 1/2 hours, is excellent.


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Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Review: SEAL Brotherhood: Lucas


SEAL Brotherhood: Lucas by Sharon Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love a good SEAL romance and on the whole, I enjoyed this one! Lucas Shipley may be an ace SEAL able to make the correct decision when it can mean the difference between life or death, but when it comes to women he definitely skipped reading the book.
Lucas’ current situation consist of living in the equivalent of a SEAL frat house, sleeping on a couch and expecting a phone call any moment from his estranged wife Connie begging him to come back home, instead he gets served divorce paper and a call from his wife’s realtor Marcy Gelland who's tasked with liquidating their real estate, Marcy coolly requests his John Hancock on the dotted line.

When Marcy gets to know Lucas she discovers he’s nothing like the picture that Connie painted of him and when she and Lucas head up to Northern California, they end up in an ill-advised and poorly timed relationship.

When Lucas is summoned back to San Diego, he asks Marcy to retrieve some of his belongings from his remote cabin and a wrong turn close to a nearby terrorist training camp puts Marcy in the crosshairs of the terrorist organization. I really enjoyed the terrorist plotline in this story it was suspenseful, tense and kept my interest in the story high and that helped push this book to a 4-star rating.

What I didn’t like about the story was Lucas' soon to be ex-wife Connie’s character, she’s slightly unhinged and borderline abusive towards their child and it’s never adequately addressed by either Lucas or Marcy, in fact, I don’t recall there being any interaction in this story at all between Lucas and his child.

The production of Sharon Hamilton's audiobooks are always high-quality and J.D. Hart does an awesome job narrating, he really brings character and emotion to the story and his delivery is engaging in this 8-hour audiobook.


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Friday, November 11, 2016

Review: Worth the Fight

Worth the Fight Worth the Fight by L.D. Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was super stoked when I saw that L.D. Davis’ Worth the Fight was finally available in audio form, Worth the Fight is the final audiobook in the Accidentally On Purpose trilogy, and the first audiobook AOP was released 3 ½ years ago. Worth the Fight is Luke Kessler’s story and would I highly suggest you listen the AOP before listening to this book

Luke’s story starts off with my favorite passage from AOP, when a desolate Luke confronts girlfriend Emmy Grayne over her affair with boss Kyle Sterling, it’s the most heartbreaking part of their story and hearing it told from Luke’s POV loses none of its intensity.

We learn what Luke’s been up to since the breakup and before Emmy comes to town and drops a bombshell on is life. This is an emotional listen as Luke and Emmy try to rebuild basic trust and then rebuild their relationship, but it’s not easy because even though a year has passed Luke is still very hurt and Emma has come back into Luke's life a completely broken woman, the harsh words Luke spoke to Emmy when they parted end up coming to fruition in the most painful of way. Realizing just how deeply wounded and depressed Emmy is, Luke comes to the realization that for both their sakes he must help to heal Emmy's heart.

I loved this story and it's a satisfying completion to the AOP series. Joe Arden narrates and he did an awesome job voicing the characters and I found his delivery completely engaging, this audiobook clocks in at almost 11 hours and it went by way too fast, I never wanted to put the story on pause, it’s that entertaining.

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Thursday, November 10, 2016

Review: Enthrall Secrets

Enthrall Secrets Enthrall Secrets by Vanessa Fewings
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off, I'm so glad that authors, like Vanessa Fewings, who really know how to tell a story are starting to write erotica, one day soon I hope it becomes so commonplace that I won't be so deliriously happy when I find that rare author in the erotica genre that I like!

This story has suspense, heartbreak and hot sex! The heartbreak was a real surprise for me, I mean I actually teared up at one point In the story and I rarely do that!

Scarlet Winters is a dominatrix at a BDSM club, when she has a scene with reluctant sub Ethan, there's some serious chemistry between these two, but Ethan has ulterior motives. When it all goes terribly south, against her boss Cameron’s wishes she heads to Ethan house to apologize and instead ends up in a fight for her and Ethan's life. While cowering in a back office with an unconscious Ethan, Scarlet flashes back on her life with billionaire Danton Belfort.

This book is the first that I've listened to in the Enthrall series, but it's the seventh book in the series which makes me very happy because that means I have six more audiobooks to put on my list!

The audio quality excellent and the narrator Olivia Hart did a fantastic job, her pacing of the story and voice suit this genre well and I would not hesitate to purchase any book that she's narrating.

This audiobook was gifted to me exchange for an unbiased review!

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Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Review: Choosing Henley

Choosing Henley Choosing Henley by Anne Jolin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lennon Montgomery and Jamie Henley have a one night stand, unfortunately for Jamie, Lennon only sees their tryst as a one time deal, she refuses to believe that Jamie’s really into her and afraid of being hurt she rebuffs his attempts for their relationship to be more and send him into the arms of another woman, but the chemistry between these two cannot be denied and Jamie on mission to prove that Lennon is the one that he chooses.

This book suffers from my major pet peeve when it comes to romance novels, the conflict is contrived, Lennon’s constant questioning of Jamie even though he has made it perfectly clear he’s all in, is annoying, I mean I can understand needing a little reassurance but Jamie goes out of his way to prove his love for her but it falls on deaf ears. Still, it’s a decent listen and has a fair amount of heat and a fair amount of language too!

The audio quality of this production is flawless and Lucy Rivers is truly a professional and does a decent job, one problem though she repeatedly mispronounced the word “charade” not sure how that made to past QC.

This audiobook was gifted to me exchange for an unbiased review!




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Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Review: Meet Me in the Dark

Meet Me in the Dark Meet Me in the Dark by J.A. Huss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

On the cover of this book, it says a dark suspense, and that's what it is and it's not an understatement! The story centers around Sydney and Merc, they first meet up when Sydney is seventeen, begging Merc to save her from bad guy boyfriend Garrett, but Merc is no hero and after roughing her up, he serves her up to Garrett on a silver platter, but he leaves an ominous message with her that he will be back, when she least expects it to finish her off.

Several years later, engaged to be married to a man named Brett, happiness is within her reach, but a feeling of dread overcomes her and she decides to run, unfortunately for her right into Merc’s clutches. Kidnapping her, Merc sets about breaking down Sydney and attempting to extract information from her about Garrett, who disappeared from her life without a trace years ago.

This book is a difficult listen and if you have triggers you’ll want to stay far away from this book, it’s a terrifying tale and there’s extreme violence, degradation, dubious consent, and explicit sexual content, this is more of a thriller/suspense novel but it does have romantic elements and an HEA, but you feel like you’ve been through war to get there!

The dual narration by Troy Duran and Anna Riordan was flawless, what they do really is acting and they both did a wonderful job. The audio production quality was first class and I look forward to listening to more from these narrators!


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Review: Hitched: Volume Two

Hitched: Volume Two Hitched: Volume Two by Kendall Ryan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Just when things seem to be going right, Olivia has abandoned Noah at the Alter after her douche bag Ex threatened to release damning photos of her. What Olivia doesn’t realize is that she’s gotten under, cocky, foul-mouthed, and abrasive Noah’s skin in a big way and he’s her biggest supporter and secret weapon!


This is the second book in the Hitched series and while I haven’t listened to the first book, the author did a great job of bringing the highlights from volume 1 into this book, so pretty quickly I was able to glean what happened in the previous book. That being said, this book should not have been broken out into three books, volume 2 is under 4 hours and I think that listeners will have a problem spending almost $30 for 11 hours of audio.


I enjoyed this romantic comedy written by Kendall Ryan, but I’m kinda iffy on the narration by Alexander Cendese he definitely has the cocky bad boy vibe down, but there’s wasn’t enough variation in his tone when voicing multiple characters and several times I found myself confused who was talking, sometimes I couldn’t tell if it was Noah or Olivia talking! So, that took a story that was tilting into the 4-star category and toppled it solidly back to a 3-star rating.


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Monday, October 31, 2016

Review: Walk Through Fire

Walk Through Fire Walk Through Fire by Kristen Ashley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Millie Cross made the difficult decision to not stand in the way of the love of her life, Logan Judd's future happiness, too bad she didn't talk to Logan about it before she cut him loose. When she crosses his path 20 years later, the anger and resentment Logan feels toward Millie hasn't lessened one degree.

#Suspense #Romance #SteamyReads

When Millie seeks him out to give him "closure" his pent up rage boils over leading to an explosive confrontation, but whenever there are strong feelings involved there's passion also and that hasn't dimmed with time either!

Soon, Millie and Logan's emotions swing wildly from hatred to sexually charged encounters. Millie still finds it painful to tell Logan the real reason she left him and when she finally breaks down and confesses the truth to him all bets are off as Logan tries to heal both their hearts.

Kate Russell performs the narration on this audiobook which in pure KA fashion clocks in at over 17 hours and Kate Russell's reading of each of the many characters in this book is just awesome.

I highly recommend this book and any of the other books in the Chaos series.

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Review: Raven

Raven Raven by Scarlett Finn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story starts off with a bang! Good for us listeners bad for Zara Bandini, who's first date with Tim ends up being his last, literally, as he is shot dead while kissing her! Talk about a buzz kill.

Raven comes to her rescue, but is he really a good guy or just using Zara to get her to spill the goods on her boss?

So begin Zara's spiral into deceit, intrigue and the hidden motives of her boss Grant.

This is such a good book and I enjoyed it very much. This is the first audiobook that I've listened to from both Scarlett Finn, the author and Tieran Wilder who is the narrator, Tieran did a good job voicing the many different characters, the only thing that bothered me was her voicing of Zara when she was excited, whether she was in bed making love or if she was in danger fearing for her life, it was very screechy. She just needs to tone it down a bit.

I can't wait for the next installment!

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Sunday, October 30, 2016

Review: Initiation

Initiation Initiation by Rayna Noire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This rating is for the Kindle version of this book! I had to sit on writing this review for a couple of days so I could formulate my thoughts on this book, the actual book is 4 stars, it’s a well-written story about Leah, a teenage girl who just so happens to be a witch. Leah has trouble embracing her Wiccan side, but when she’s thrust back in time, a time when witches were burned at the stake, her innate abilities save her in more ways than one. Sounds good, doesn’t it? What ruined the book for me was the narrator, she takes way too many pauses and I just found her delivery boring and I kept drifting off, I can’t imagine this audiobook keeping the attention of a young teen, not a good sign. Considering that I listened to a sample before requesting this audiobook, I had to go back and relisten to the sample, and yep it has the same problem, how did I overlook it? Purely because of the writing of Rayna Noire, the sample was so interesting I didn’t pay as much attention to the delivery by the narrator as I should have, but when you start listening long term the problem becomes glaringly obvious and I gave up on listening to it.

Luckily, Pagan Eyes is available on Kindle and I cared enough about finishing the story to buy and download the book and I highly recommend it, not only for teens but anyone who likes a good urban fantasy or paranormal book.

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Saturday, October 29, 2016

Review: Outbreak

Outbreak Outbreak by Timothy W. Long
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Buckle up because there's no slowing down with this story! Navy machinist Jackson Creed has been floating through his Navy career doing the bare minimum, that comes to an abrupt end when a virus quickly overtakes the crew onboard the USS McClusky. Jackson has the good fortune to run across Marine Sergeant Joel Kelly and together they manage to make it off the ship only to discover San Diego hasn't been spared the outbreak either.

Their only mission is to find supplies and stay alive, and try to make it north, they meet many characters good and bad along the way, this book has it all humor, heartbreak, suspense, in other words, it's perfect!

Todd Menesses narrates and I'm still in awe of his ability to voice so many different characters. He definitely has a part in making this a 5-star read!



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Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Review: Impact Earth: Symbiosis

Impact Earth: Symbiosis

Impact Earth: Symbiosis by Timothy W. Long

My Good Reads rating: 5 of 5 stars

This audiobook is fantastic! I have to admit though I almost felt like I needed a flow chart in the beginning to keep track of everyone in this book! But don't worry by the end you really feel connected to each and every one of the five main characters in this audiobook. It also took a little getting used to the author jumping between characters, but once I got a feel for each character, I honestly enjoyed how the story was told multiple points of view, it made total sense. What really helped was the narration by Todd Menesses, but we'll talk more about that later. So, in this ensemble cast, you have Brian, the overweight pimply faced 16-year-old kid. Elise, an abused woman just starting to rebuild her life. Sean, the big, kind-hearted divorcé. Martin, a crotchety old veteran dying of cancer and last but not least, Victor, the family man.

While the entire population of Seattle is caught up in an alien invasion, these five characters are fighting not one but two alien invasions. Talk about sensory overload! I'm not one for spoilers, so I'll leave it at that. Timothy W. Long really takes his time building this story, so expect this tale will roll out over several books because I really feel like book one is just the beginning! Speaking of that, I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but when I went to Long's website to see when the next book in the series was scheduled for release, I looked high and low and found zilch, so I'm assuming it will be awhile before book two is released... sigh.

OK, so let's talk about narrator Todd Menesses, I dare anyone to tell me that narrators are not actors of the highest caliber and that one person is voicing ALL of the characters major and minor! Genius! Each character has their own distinct voice and not once did I have to question which character was talking and trust me it's quite a feat to keep that many characters straight!

Amazing story, awesome narration!

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Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Review: Settling Up

Settling Up Settling Up by Eryn Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my type of rom-com, I found the inner musings of neurotic Lauren, um...er... amusing! If a book can make me laugh out loud, I know it's something special and this book has many of those such moments!

30 something mathematician Lauren has a list for absolutely everything, a list of where she should be monetary wise, a list of where she should be career wise, and an extreme vetting list for prospective husbands! It's no wonder the stress of it all has caused her to start losing her hair, it's enough to make me want to pull mine out!

Lauren usually talks out her problems at the blackjack table of the local casino, but when her regular dealer is a no show, she starts up an unlikely platonic relationship with the tattooed new dealer Mack, it has to be a platonic relationship, because Mack has absolutely zero of the requirements on Lauren onerous list.

Instead, Lauren's relegates Mack to the infamous "friend zone" and uses Mack, a recent widow, as a sounding board for her dating life and in the process they start to share parts of their life outside of the casino, in essence becoming BFF's. When Lauren thinks she's found her perfect match on paper, she starts to question if perfection is what she's looking for, can Lauren look past her list and see the perfect fit in front of her?

Great story? Check! Great narration? Check! This book is awesome, start to finish!

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Monday, October 10, 2016

Sugar Free by Sawyer Bennett



New Release 10/11/2016!




But you need to read the Sugar Daddy - Book 1 and Sugar Rush - Book 2 first!

Blurb

Sela Halstead lost her innocence in a way that no sixteen-year-old should ever have to endure. She’s spent years trying to forget that night even while wondering about the identities of the monsters who brutalized her—until a telltale tattoo flashes across Sela’s TV screen. The incriminating ink belongs to Jonathon Townsend, the millionaire founder of The Sugar Bowl, a website that matches rich older men with impressionable young women. Obsessed with revenge, Sela infiltrates Townsend’s world, only to come face-to-face with a tantalizing complication: Beckett North, his charismatic business partner.
 
The tech mastermind behind The Sugar Bowl, Beck always gets what he wants, in business and in bed. And yet, for a man who’s done every dirty thing imaginable, there’s something about the naĂŻve, fresh-faced Sela that sparks his hottest fantasies. Because with her, it’s not just about sex. Beck opens up to her in ways he never has with other girls. So why does he get the feeling that she’s hiding something? In a world of pleasure and power, the shocking truth could turn them against each other—or bind them forever.

End Blurb



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Saturday, October 8, 2016

Cover Reveal of Living Dead Boy 2


Horror writer Rhiannon Frater released the cover for Lost In Texas her second book in the Living Dead Boy series.
The book's official release date is October 25, 2016, just in time for Halloween!
You can pre-order the book here!


This zombie filled post-apocalyptic children's book... Scratch that pre-teen book should be an instant hit with kids and adults alike.
Blurb:
In the zombie apocalypse, no one is safe. Not even children. That’s what twelve-year-old Josh and his friends in the Zombie Hunters Club discovered when the undead invaded their school in The Living Dead Boy.

Now, Josh and the remaining Zombie Hunters are stuck on a city bus traveling across zombie-infested Texas. With fires burning on the horizon, mass evacuations underway, zombies roaming the countryside, and in-fighting among the adults on the bus creating tension, Josh has never felt so helpless. Despite his father’s insistence that the adults can handle the situation, Josh knows far too well from watching zombie movies that one person can put everyone else at risk. To his absolute horror, he’s right and he and his friends are running for their lives.

Josh may have always considered himself a zombie hunter, but now he’ll have to prove it to escape the ravenous undead and lead his friends to safety.
End blurb.
Exciting huh? But you need to read The Living Dead Boy Book 1 first, and guess what? Book 1 has an audiobook version! Check out that link below.

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Thursday, October 6, 2016

Review: For 100 Days

For 100 Days For 100 Days by Lara Adrian
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed Lara Adrian's paranormal romance series Midnight Breed and knowing that this new series was a contemporary romance, I was intrigued but also a little apprehensive about her foray into more traditional romance and so this audiobook languished on my wish list for over a month before I finally purchased it. I lament that hesitation, I should have known better! Lara knows what she's doing and I loved this book!

Avery Ross’ apartment building is being renovated and she is facing eviction,



working at a local bar, she lucks upon a patron whose in need of a house sitter, Avery gratefully accepts the four-month assignment. Unbeknownst to her the apartment is in a swanky high rise. Once she arrives at the building she literally runs right into Nick Baine who lives in the building's penthouse, soon sparks fly, and they both fall hard, but Avery, in addition to not telling Nick she's just housesitting, she has secrets about her past that she can't bring herself to tell him. Nick craves absolute trust, but he's not above teaching Avery how to trust him through the use of bondage, but he senses that Avery is still hiding something from him, let the drama begin!


Warnings, this book is sexually explicit, has light BDSM elements, and has a cliffhanger, either I'm getting used to cliffhangers or writers are getting better at closing a story line so you don't feel cheated. Either way, I didn't mind it and there was just enough of a tease to make you excited for the next book, good job Lara!

This audiobook has superior audio quality and the narration by Summer Morton is excellent, buy or credit you'll be happy.

Buy the book here!


Buy the audiobook here!



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Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Obsession By Ann Mayburn

obsessionbtbanner obsession5 Synopsis This is a STANDALONE dark(ish) erotic romance with insta-obsession between two damaged soulmates(no cheating-HEA-no cliffhanger) Hannah All my life, I've only wanted one thing: someone to love me and someone who will let me love them in return. This seems like a simple request, but I was born to parents who wished I had died of childhood leukemia, instead of my younger sister, and who have ignored me no matter how much I've tried to please them. I'm starved for affection, addicted to the feeling when someone cares about me, which has led to a love life filled with either boys I've scared off, or men all too eager to take advantage of me. I thought I would never find a man who could feed my craving for constant attention--and then I met Leo. He fills the void inside of me, haunts my dreams, and does things to me in bed that are so good, they're probably illegal. I can only pray I don't scare him off once he figures out just how needy I really am. Leo There are very few people in this world I've ever been able to form an emotional attachment to, but the moment I saw Hannah, I knew she was mine. We were bound together by fate, our paths crossing first as children, then as adults, each time marking me. She doesn't know it but I've been watching her for a year now, studying her, stacking the deck so when I do make my move, there's no way she'll ever escape me. But my world is a harsh, cruel place, and the cartel I work for demands absolute loyalty and trust...a loyalty Hannah has yet to earn in the dangerous eyes of my employers. There is only one way to ensure Hannah's absolute devotion, and I hope that she doesn't hate me forever when she finds out that not only have I brainwashed her into loving me, but that I don't feel an ounce of guilt about doing it. She's mine, only mine, and I'm keeping her forever. Warning: This story features a rough and demanding Dom who's completely devoted to bringing his baby girl pleasure through such unconventional means as spanking, mild BDSM, D/S, roleplaying, and various other forms of wicked kinkery. BuyNow
AboutTheAuthor
With over forty published books, Ann is Queen of the Castle to her husband and three sons in the mountains of West Virginia. In her past lives she's been an Import Broker, a Communications Specialist, a US Navy Civilian Contractor, a Bartender/Waitress, and an actor at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. She also spent a summer touring with the Grateful Dead-though she will deny to her children that it ever happened. From a young Ann has had a love affair with books would read everything she could get her hands on. As Ann grew older, and her hormones kicked in, she discovered bodice ripping Fabio-esque romance novels. They were great at first, but she soon grew tired of the endless stories with a big wonderful emotional buildup to really short and crappy sex. Never a big fan of purple prose, throbbing spears of fleshy pleasure and wet honey pots make her giggle, she sought out books that gave the sex scenes in the story just as much detail and plot as everything else-without using cringe worthy euphemisms. This led her to the wonderful world of Erotic Romance, and she's never looked back. Now Ann spends her days trying to tune out cartoons playing in the background to get into her 'sexy space' and has accepted that her Muse has a severe case of ADD.

Monday, October 3, 2016

Review: No Second Chances

No Second Chances No Second Chances by Marissa Farrar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm a pushover for romance stories that deal with the military and the struggles of veterans, add in suspense and this audiobook is fantastic!

Gabi Weston and Cole Devonport meet at school as teenagers, both have had a rough upbringing, Gabi as the motherless child of an alcoholic father and Cole who has been brought up in the foster care system. Gabi is somewhat aloof, but eventually, Cole breaks down the understandable and natural defenses that Gabi has built up to protect herself and they become, first friends and then young lovers. At eighteen a naive Cole succumbs to the temptations of easy money and the resulting conflict ends up pulling them apart and setting them on separate paths, Cole to prison and Gabi into the military.

Eleven year later, fate brings them both back to their hometown, one broken in spirit, the other broken in body. The question is, can they overcome their past and help heal each other, can they have a second chance at love? Some nefarious characters from their past throw up some serious roadblocks, but no darn roadblock is gonna stand in the way of Cole!



A reformed Cole is determined to stay on the straight and narrow and get his girl back!

Excellent writing by Marissa Farrar and storytelling by Julia Farmer make this gem of a book shine. I look forward to more from this author and narrator.







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