The Laws of Nature: A Collection of Short Stories of Horror, Anxiety, Tragedy and Loss by Ashley Franz Holzmann, Narrated by Mr. Creepy Pasta ~ Audiobook Review

Book Description: 

There is a dark side to human nature that neither can be wished away nor completely mitigated. Ashley Holzmann details just several of these "Laws of Nature" before taking his readers on a journey through the bizarre, the terrifying, and, ultimately, the disturbingly real truths that underlie much of modern American life.

Ashley makes his debut into the horror genre with "The Stump," a story about an afternoon trot through the woods that quickly becomes a blood bath--and, much as it does for that story's creature, the scent of fear will only lure veteran horror readers further through the forest. A teenager's vanity will likely cause his town to be consumed by a roaming swarm of insects that burst forth from his acne-riddled skin in "White Heads;" entire populations vanish into the void of the Alaskan tundra in "Glass Houses;" and superiority takes the form of a murdering, sadistic woman in "Lady Macbeth."

But Ashley's best retellings focus less on gore and adrenaline and instead take human psychology as their medium, as demonstrated in "Plastic Glasses," where readers are brought into a world of disturbing personality and mental disorders. Ashley's work abounds with stories in this vein, stories which grab a hold of a common failing--such as marital friction in "Hush," or American male frustration in "Orpheus's Lot"--and take it to an extreme that is nevertheless not inconceivable for most people.

Coming from the mind of a man who has experienced more than his fair share of humanity, "The Laws of Nature" is, at its finest, a description of universal emotions of loss, nostalgia, anxiety, and soul-penetrating terror. Ashley's stories elicit empathy from his readers and draw them into worlds where they both acknowledge and cuddle with their fears and which leave them, ultimately, more human.
 
Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

Ashley Franz Holzmann was born in Okinawa, Japan and raised in a variety of countries while his parents served in the Air Force. He considered attending art school, but is instead a graduate of West Point, where he enjoyed intramural grappling and studying systems engineering and military history. He majored in sociology and is currently a captain in the Army. Ashley speaks Korean, enjoys backpacking, and is the cook in his family. He currently lives in North Carolina with his wife, two sons, and their two dogs.

Connect: Website | Goodreads | Twitter  | Facebook |
 
Narrator: Mr. Creepy Pasta  YouTube | Website |


Review: This review was originally posted on Audiobookreviewer.com

This is a novel of short stories of horror, mental illness, trauma and more. A few of these stories are very unbelievable - The Stump especially but it is more of a horror story. The rest of them are more believable and very creepy. One story that really got to me was Clarissa, the story is set out as an "writer" recording his story about meeting a killer named Clarissa and how she went about killing her victims. The narrator does a great job pulling the listening into this story, making you fell like he is speaking to you. At the end of it the "writer" ask how is your writing going Jennifer and a few other questions. Because I am a Jennifer and was totally engrossed into this story I was totally thrown off and freaked out. It was likely my favourite story. I also enjoyed the one about a truck driver explaining about how he drives truck and the safety that he has to deal with all the time, the other drivers out on the road and accidents. Another story is about a man who talks about losing his son to SIDs and hearing the baby still crying at night on the baby monitor, as the reader I felt he was just going through his grieving but in the end it isn't what you would expect.  If you enjoy creepy stories this is a great compilation that you should check out.

The narrator, Mr. Creepy Pasta, is amazing, he engages the readers and makes you feel like he is just talking to you. He really gets into the stories and "acts" them out verses reading them. There is music playing in the background for most of it but it really adds to the stories and makes things seem creepier. Mr. Creepy Pasta is an amazing voice for horror stories. I really enjoyed his narration so much that I looked him up on YouTube and have listened to more horror stories on his channel.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. I will look for more from this author and the narrator.

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Flexible Wings by Veda Stamps, Narrated by Natalie Hoyt ~ Audiobook Review & Signed Book Giveaway!

Book Description: 

Summer Stevenson is an eleven-year-old military kid who dreams of having a permanent home and swimming in the Olympics one day, just like her idol Olympian Lia Neal. But those things seem out of reach as her parents “the heroes” continually move the family from house to house like boxed-up toys.

After their last move, she thought her life would never change, but now the moving truck is idling in front of her house again, this time taking the family to Valencia, a small town in southern California known for its bike trails, roller coasters and great schools. But things aren't so great for Summer. She worries constantly that her fighter-pilot mom could be redeployed at any moment, and she struggles to make new friends, finding herself in humiliating circumstances with her neighbors.

Summer sees a glimmer of hope when her parents sign her up for competitive swimming, but she turns out to be the worst swimmer on the team! Inspired by nature and drawing support from friendships both old and new, including those with Grandma "Bachaan," her coaches, and other kids on the swim team, Summer seeks the courage she'll need to tackle life's challenges. It isn't until her little sister is in an accident that Summer truly finds the source of her inner strength and uses it to face her greatest fears head-on.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. Enter to win a signed copy on Goodreads!

About the Author: 

As a child growing up in New Orleans, Veda Stamps developed her lifelong love for storytelling while exchanging pen-pal letters with her cousin in California.

Flexible Wings is her first full-length novel, and is inspired by her community’s spirit of volunteerism and the kindness of the parents on her daughter’s neighborhood swim team.

She currently lives with her husband, two daughters, and three dogs in southern California, where she co-owns a community planning firm.

Connect: Website | Twitter | Goodreads |

Narrated by Natalie Hoyt

Review: 

I really enjoyed this book. I listened to the audiobook version of it and loved every minute of it. There are some books that draw the reader in right away and this was one of them. The author choose a really good narrator. She has the perfect voice for Summer, very engaging and kept me wanting to listen to more. Natalie doesn't sound like she is reading the book. I flew through this novel. Perfect for a middle grade kid or really anyone else.

It is a middle grade novel about a girl who has two parents in the military, her father has just left the service. Summer moves yet again and has to make new friends at their new "home". Her biggest dream is to be an Olympic swimmer and here is her chance to really be part of a swim team. Summer struggles with leaving her best friend, making new friends at her new "home", being part of the swim team. This novel is a great lesson for kids to learn about the hard times but also how to overcome the obstacles and being part of a community. Summer's mom is deployed again and this leaves Summer very upset, in the end she learns so many lessons and makes new friends.    

I give this audiobook a 5 stars. I look forward to reading more from Veda Stamps and listening to more audiobooks narrated by Natalie Hoyt.


~*Disclaimer: I received the above book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.*~

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Mail-Order Bride: A Breckenridge Romance (Book #2) by Julie Pollitt Narrated by Leonor A. Woodworth ~ Audiobook Review

Book Description: 

Christmas in the Colorado Rockies

Jonah Tomlinson spent the last year mending a broken heart. He wanted marriage and children, but didn't want the worries of love and another broken heart. But no woman would ever agree to that, so he sent off for a mail-order bride with the condition that they marry for mere companionship--and not love.

Annie Reed spent the past year mourning the loss of her fiance to a horse accident. She vowed never to fall in love again. When she answered Jonah's letter, the two agreed to marry without the entanglement of love. They both decided to stick to the plan. Until they met.

It's winter time in the Colorado Rockies, and Christmas is right around the corner in the small town of Breckenridge. Sleigh bells ring, Christmas decorations are up, and Annie and Jonah are doing something they promised not to do--fall in love with each other. Both find themselves unable to stick to the agreement, but not wanting to disappoint the other by breaking their promise. Before they say their vows, can they admit their feelings for each other and truly give in to love? Or will Annie return to New York and never see her true love again?

Come for Christmas in the Colorado Rockies.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 
Author Julie Pollitt grew up in Denver, Colorado at the base of the Rocky Mountains. She quickly fell in love with the history of Denver and the frontier. Throughout her life she traveled all over the country and the world, but always loved coming back to Colorado.

For many years Julie worked for a pipeline construction company handling payroll in the field. She loved her coworkers and had the opportunity to work in many different states. It was on one of the jobs where she met her husband, John.

Julie now lives in Southwestern Florida with her husband and two boys. She spends a great deal of time volunteering at her church and the school her boys attend. Julie is most content when she is hanging out with her family, writing, or drinking a Starbucks. Although she does miss the snow and loves breaking out a sweater when the weather turns cold.

Julie worked as an editor at a small town newspaper in Southwest Colorado, in the Four Corners region. She has seen her work published in the Cortez Newspapers, USA Today, and eHow. She has also published several devotions.

Find out more at http://juliepollitt.com.

Review:  

This is book 2 in the Mail-Order Brides series but I didn't find it confusing. I am thinking it is more a stand alone series. Its a cute, clean romance set back in time of the horse and buggy. For being a very short read, the characters are well developed and you will fall in love with Annie and Jonah right away. Both characters have sworn off falling in love again and have made an agreement that they would be companions in marriage but not more, until both start to fall in love with the other. I love Annie, she is a country girl who doesn't mind to get dirty and help out. She is a sweet girl.

The narrator, Leonor Woodworth does a fantastic job with this story. She has a soft voice that is fitting for the story, especially for Annie, her cadence and volume is perfect. Leonor makes this an enjoyable audiobook. I will listen to more from Leonor in the future. 

I also look forward to reading more by Julie Pollitt. I give this novella a 4 out of 5 stars. 
 

~*Disclaimer: I received the above audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*~

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Double Steam: A BWWM romance by Gallery Stories Publishing, Narrated by Aundrea Mitchell ~ Audiobook Review

Book Description: 

High school chemistry teacher Shelly Lewis is looking for love, passion and companionship. Given the extra padding on her petite frame she figures settling for companionship and deep caring would be enough.

That is until she meets Jase, who sets her on fire and keeps the fire within her burning brightly. But she thinks she’s better suited for someone more reserved and less handsome…someone like her widowed neighbor Drew.

After a series of amazing dates and more chemistry than should be legal, Shelly realizes she can’t settle for anything less than she has with Jase.

Falling in love never felt so good or so right, but after one night of passion Shelly gets a glimpse of the demons haunting Jase and she has to wonder, who is this man I’ve fallen for?

Will Jase be able to overcome his past and be the man Shelly needs? Will Shelly forgive his bad behavior so they can forge the future they have, ready or not?

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Narrator: 

After receiving her B.S. and MBA Aundrea fell madly in love and decided to start her family.  Ten years and five children later she was quickly living the full time wife, mother and household management life.  Needing a temporary escape from time to time Tovah returned back to her first love - reading!  Devouring anything that peaked her interest  she soon found that she was addicted to stories and how they are woven and couldn't get enough.  After having the idea that she could get a lot more accomplished in her day if she listened to these stories she was becoming enamoured with while following her daily schedule (in particular her daily drop off and pick up of her oldest boys from their rigorous karate training) and idea struck.  What if she could mix her love of performance and literature in a professional capacity?  Once getting involved in the world of book narration she quickly became hooked and when not with her family  you can find her in her homemade studio working hard to grow in her own story telling abilities.  You can follow her on twitter @A5Mitchell to learn more about her upcoming projects or see what is going on in her very full, very busy household.
 
Review:  

I listen to this book on audible, which is narrated by Aundrea Mitchell. I have listened to a couple other novellas narrated by her and really enjoy them. She makes the books easy to listen to and enjoyable. Sometimes I did chuckle at the "male" voice but I think that one can be hard for a lot of females.

This story is a quick one that doesn't go to in depth but we learn a bit about our main character and her dating troubles. She has two men wanting her and she has to decide. It turns out to be easy to choose due to a couple reasons. Jase the sexy club owner or Drew the widow next door, I would have to choose Jase. This is a lesson learned novella. I really wish there would be a book two or this had been a novel as I think there would have been enough story to make it longer.

I give this a book a 3.5 stars out of 5. 


~*Disclaimer: I received the above audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.*~

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Wrong or Write 2 by Sky Corgan Narrated by Aundrea Mitchell ~ Audiobook Review

Book Description: 

Kim Naramore has loved Dominick Parker since she first understood what love was. An admittance of her feelings puts her face to face with the realities of adulthood. Everything in her hopes that he'll be the man of her dreams, but when a lie ruins her perfect moment, she quickly realizes that her storybook romance might not get the happy ending she thought.

Being seduced by the billionaire author is not without consequences. When Kim discovers that he's still clinging to the past, she wonders if there's any hope for a future with him. It's all in the pages of his books.

Content warning: This story contains content too steamy for this blurb. For listeners 18+ only!

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

Sky Corgan is a USA Today Best-Selling author. When she's not typing away at the next steamy romance series, she's busy planning for future vacations.
 
Connect with the author on Goodreads or Amazon. 

About the Narrator:   

After receiving her B.S. and MBA Aundrea fell madly in love and decided to start her family.  Ten years and five children later she was quickly living the full time wife, mother and household management life.  Needing a temporary escape from time to time Tovah returned back to her first love - reading!  Devouring anything that peaked her interest  she soon found that she was addicted to stories and how they are woven and couldn't get enough.  After having the idea that she could get a lot more accomplished in her day if she listened to these stories she was becoming enamoured with while following her daily schedule (in particular her daily drop off and pick up of her oldest boys from their rigorous karate training) and idea struck.  What if she could mix her love of performance and literature in a professional capacity?  Once getting involved in the world of book narration she quickly became hooked and when not with her family  you can find her in her homemade studio working hard to grow in her own story telling abilities.  You can follow her on twitter @A5Mitchell to learn more about her upcoming projects or see what is going on in her very full, very busy household
Review: 

Book two picks up where the first novella left off! Right in the middle of the sexy heat, OMG will Kim go through with it or not?? I again listened to the audiobook version and loved it for the most part. The only part of this novella I didn't like was when the author used the word cu*t to explain Kim's sex. I am okay with pretty much any term except that, as I find it to be a derogatory term, turning a sexy erotica to something nasty. Other than that this novella is sexy/hot. Dominick, le sigh. I really started to fall for Dominick more in book two. I also feel Kim starts to realize things are a lot different from how she remembers Dominick when she was twelve. She is a naive college student but then again I think a lot of us are when in our late teens, early twenties. Kim hasn't had many boy encounters before hand. In this novella we learn more about Dominick and his feelings. We also hear more about the novels he has written. It is a very quick paced story.

The narrator, Aundrea Mitchell does another fantastic job in book two. I really enjoy listening to Aundrea narrator stories. I find some narrators had to concentrate with and Aundrea is the opposite. I can easily put on the audiobook and commute to work or take a walk with the dogs.

I give this book a 3.5 stars out of 5. I look forward to reading more from Sky and listening to more audiobooks narrated by Aundrea. 


~*Disclaimer: I recevied a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*~

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Wrong or Write by Sky Corgan Narrator: Aundrea Mitchell ~ Audiobook Review

Book Description: 

Kim Naramore has always been in love with her sister's best friend Dominick Parker. The problem is that with a twelve-year age difference between them, he never saw her that way. Growing up together, she always fantasized that he would be her husband someday, but as the years passed, she realized it was her sister he was after.

Fate often isn't kind, and Dominick moves away to escape his past and pursue his dreams. When circumstances of chance give Kim the opportunity to get closer to Dominick, she takes it. But years have passed since they've seen each other, and he's not the same man he was before.

Content Warning: This story contains adult content. For readers 18+ only!

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

Sky Corgan is a USA Today Best-Selling author. When she's not typing away at the next steamy romance series, she's busy planning for future vacations.
 
Connect with the author on Goodreads or Amazon. 

About the Narrator:   

After receiving her B.S. and MBA Aundrea fell madly in love and decided to start her family.  Ten years and five children later she was quickly living the full time wife, mother and household management life.  Needing a temporary escape from time to time Tovah returned back to her first love - reading!  Devouring anything that peaked her interest  she soon found that she was addicted to stories and how they are woven and couldn't get enough.  After having the idea that she could get a lot more accomplished in her day if she listened to these stories she was becoming enamoured with while following her daily schedule (in particular her daily drop off and pick up of her oldest boys from their rigorous karate training) and idea struck.  What if she could mix her love of performance and literature in a professional capacity?  Once getting involved in the world of book narration she quickly became hooked and when not with her family  you can find her in her homemade studio working hard to grow in her own story telling abilities.  You can follow her on twitter @A5Mitchell to learn more about her upcoming projects or see what is going on in her very full, very busy household

Review: 

This is a quick and fun audiobook/novella. Kim has a childhood crush on her sisters best friend, Dominick. Dominick is in love with Kim's sister. He is a lot older than Kim and helps Kim's sister take care of the two of them after their parents die. Kim is love struck and holds onto that love for Dominick for years after he moves away broken hearted because of Kim's sister. 

Years later Kim gets to have Dominick. This is a fun little novella that is a quick listen to or read. I found Kim really naive as she was still imagining Dominick in the same light from when she was twelve, now a college student and still a virgin she thinks Dominick wouldn't have changed over the years. The story gets heated and of course ends with a cliffhanger, ack, really? Well, since the rest of the series is out it is no big deal just carry on to book two. It could have been made into one book instead of three novellas, just my opinion as I am not big on cliffhangers when it comes to romance and erotica. 

I really enjoyed Aundrea Mitchell's narration. Aundrea is easy to listen to and changes tones with the different characters. I found her narration very suiting for Kim's character. I didn't have any trouble focusing on the story or understanding the change in characters. Aundrea doesn't have a thick accent or anything that will draw away from the story. I look forward to listening to book two and more from Sky and Aundrea. 

I give this audiobook a 3.5 out of 5 stars.  
 


~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.*~

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Locket Full of Secrets by Dana Burkey ~ Audiobook Review

Book Description: 

After over 4 years, Olena comes rocketing back into Claire's life, changing everything for the worse. Picking up the shattered pieces, Claire is not sure who to believe. Is Olena who she says she is, or is she a killer to stay away from? Leaning on her new boyfriend Steven for support, Claire is faced with the choice on who to trust: a friend she barley knows, or a history lesson she barely remembers. Together, the three will begin a journey that will take Claire from the safety of her home to the last place she thought she would ever be: The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. With the wreckage of rector four looming behind her, Claire will have to see Olena's plan through until the end if she wants any chance of making it out alive.

Purchase a copy on Amazon (ebook, paperback & audiobook) 

About the Author: 

Dana Burkey ~ I graduated college from Youngstown State University in 2009 with a degree in theater and a minor in creative writing. I am currently living in Washington State in a little cabin in the woods with my cat Cato. I work full time at a kids camp, and spend my free time doing community theater and adventuring in nature! I am an avid geocacher, and love watching reality TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance, Project Runway, and Big Brother! I am currently working on my next project that includes a few YA romances and a YA dystopian series!

Connect: Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | 

Review:

Romance, suspense, twists, murder, and a whole lot of European history mixed all together to make this book a great YA story. I am reviewing the audiobook. I really enjoyed this narrator and found that she made the story flow nicely without sounding like she was reading the book. The author keeps the story moving at a steady pace, with twists and turns off events that I wasn't expecting.

Poor Claire, she is has had a rough time through this story, meeting a great best friend in Olena, only to have Olena leave without giving her any reasons. Years later Olena is back with a ton of trouble trailing her. Pulling Claire into a whirlwind of trouble, on the run from murder and mystery men after them, they end up in Russia. Claire has a little romance thrown into this story but don't get to happy because the author throws in some twists but I did enjoy how it ended.

The characters are all in college and I found Claire to be very naive, who would just up and take off to Russia with a crazy friend who is being followed by dangerous men? The history part of this story was really interesting as I didn't know anything about this event that happen in Russia.

Overall I give this book a 3.5 stars out of 5. I found the narrator did a great job on the audiobook and I was engaged in the whole story.


~*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*~

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Bones on Ice by Kathy Reichs ~ Audiobook Review

Book Description: 

It is called the “death zone”: the point on Everest, nearly five miles high, above which a climber cannot be rescued. More than 250 souls have lost their lives there. Most of the bodies remain, abandoned, frozen in place. When an earthquake leads to a miraculous recovery, Dr. Temperance Brennan is hired to identify the frozen mummified human corpse. The victim is the daughter of a wealthy Charlotte couple who never got the chance to say goodbye. But far from offering solace and closure, Tempe’s findings only provoke more questions. What happened on Mount Everest? Was the young woman’s death an accident? Why aren’t the other climbers talking? And how far will those hiding the truth go to make sure the past stays buried?

Purchase a copy on Audible or Amazon. 

About the Author: 

Kathy Reichs is a forensic anthropologist for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of North Carolina, and for the Laboratoire des Sciences Judiciaires et de Médecine Légale for the province of Quebec. She is one of only fifty forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and is on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. A professor of anthropology at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Dr. Reichs is a native of Chicago, where she received her Ph.D. at Northwestern. She now divides her time between Charlotte and Montreal and is a frequent expert witness in criminal trials.

Connect: Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook |

Review: 

I really enjoy Kathy Reichs Bones series. This is one of the newer novellas in the series. It is a very quick and enjoyable reads. I listened to the audiobook version and found the narrator did a great job. I was drawn into this story right from the beginning. Temperance Brennan brings us on one of her many interesting cases, this one is about a frozen body. The girl was climbing Mt Everest when she died three years ago. They were only now able to bring her body off the mountain. We learn about how body decomposition happens when it is frozen and how Temperance has to defrost the body before doing the test to determine if this is actually the right woman. Of course there are twists in the plot that has us trying to figure out who dun it and if it was murder not an accident. Will Temperance solve this mystery? Is she in too deep? It is a great story for Bones fans/mystery/adrenaline junky fans!

I give this a 5 stars out of 5!
 

~*Disclaimer: I borrowed a copy of this audiobook from the library. All thoughts are honest and my own. *~

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On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King ~ Audio Book Review

Book Description:

“Long live the King” hailed Entertainment Weekly upon the publication of Stephen King's On Writing. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer's craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have. King's advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported near-fatal accident in 1999—and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it—fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told.

Purchase a copy on Amazon. 

About the Author: 

Stephen King is the author of more than fifty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes The Bazaar of Bad Dreams, Drunken Fireworks, Finders Keepers, Revival, Mr. Mercedes, Doctor Sleep, and Under the Dome. His novel 11/22/63, adapted as a 2016 series on Hulu starring James Franco, was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. King is the recipient of the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters and the 2014 National Medal of Arts. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

Connect: Website | Twitter | Goodreads |

Review: 

I am reviewing the audio download of this book, read by Stephen King himself. As a lover of books, I read as many as I can squeeze into my time, I have always loved to learn how and why someone does what they do. Reading memoirs are a great place to start to get to know someone a little better. I love that the first few chapters we are taken down memory lane with King. We learn more about his time growing up as a kid and where his writing started. He was so young when he first started writing stories.

Chapter 4 to the end is the bag of novel tricks from the writing master. Listening to the audiobook was like sitting down with Stephen King, talking over a coffee about how to write well. King is to the point about what he does to make his novels how they are, not adding any fluff to make it a longer book. He is straight to the point and tells the reads this is how he has become successful.

Do you know that writers should have a tool box? What should go in there and in each level? This is all explained to a tee and makes a lot of sense when you hear King talk about it. I found this novel to be great for all readers, not just people who want to write. I think this would be great for bloggers and book reviewers alike. It gives you an idea of story, narrative, characters, dialogue and so mch more that you can really use that when critiquing your next book for review. 

I devoured this novel over a few days and I am sure to listen to it again soon. I am actually going to pick up a paperback copy to have on hand to go back through. If you are a Stephen King fan you will also love the memoir part of getting to know your favourite writer a bit better. 


I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars and also a 5 out of 5 stars for the narrations by Stephen King. 



~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Peppermint Pandemonium A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book 5) by Constance Barker ~ Audiobook Review

Book Description: 

Traveling Gypsies, Sick Kitties, and Attempted Murder

When one of Sweet Home’s seniors is conked on the head and left for dead, it’s time for Lily and Jules to figure out the who and the why. But with the holiday markets in full swing, a group of gypsies in the middle of the fracas, and a sick Miss Pickles the cat, the girls and Officer Eli have their hands full.

Find out what happens as Lily’s entire life changes. 

Purchase a copy on Amazon or Audible. 

About the Author: 

Constance Barker lives in the Midwest with her husband and two Akitas where she can look out from her screened porch onto a wooded area brimming with activity. Since she was a young girl she read mysteries, often given to her by her grandmother. She loved figuring out who the culprit was and sometimes she was right and other times startled at who the author picked as the assailant. Now she enjoys writing mysteries herself. When she isn't writing stories, she can be found in her favorite vacation spot, Las Vegas or shopping for bargains.

Review: 

I love a great cozy mystery and this was one of those. It was a quick audiobook at just around three hours long. I didn't want to stop listening so I put it on every chance I had. 

There are a couple mysteries that take place in this small town where everyone knows everyone. Who is making the cats sick and who hurt the older lady in the market square? Lily and Jules will figure it all out. Super cute and a lot of fun, this story makes a great Christmas mystery read/listen. A lil romance and mystery all rolled into this story.

Narrator ~ Angel Clark: The narrator sounds like she had a blast doing this book. I love how she changes her voice for all the characters and I didn't find any of them to be annoying to listen to. I found she has a great voice for story telling and can't wait to listen to more by Angel Clark. 

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars and look forward to reading/listening to more from this author.


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Operation Nimrod: The Iranian Embassy Siege by Russell Phillips Narrator: Phillip J. Mather ~ Audiobook Review

Book Description: 

On 29th April 1980, British police assured Iran that their embassy was secure. The very next day, terrorists stormed the embassy and took twenty-six hostages. With the Iranian government willing to let the hostages become martyrs, and the British government only willing to talk if the terrorists surrendered, twenty-six lives hung in the balance.

What followed was six days of tension and terror. It was finally ended when the SAS launched a daring rescue mission, broadcast live on television. Millions held their breath, waiting to see the outcome of Operation Nimrod.

Purchase a copy on Audible.com 

About the Author:

Born and brought up in a mining village in South Yorkshire, I have lived and worked in South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Cumbria and Staffordshire. I currently live in Stoke on Trent with my wife and son.

I write books and articles about military technology and history. My articles have been published in Miniature Wargames, Wargames Illustrated and the Society of Twentieth Century Wargamers' Journal. Some of them are available on my website.

This book was Narrated by Phillip J. Mather. 

Review: 

Each year I try and step outside of my comfort spot for books and this is one of them, normally I do not read/listen to war/history/military stuff. My husband is the war/history buff and to be honest I am usually lost when it comes to that type of stuff. I am also just venturing into audiobooks with a few under my belt. 

Operation Nimrod, I'll be honest I didn't even know that this had happened almost 35 years ago. When I first started listening to this I was thinking is this for real or a fiction story? I never really paid attention when I read the synopsis. I know that sounds awful but it is honest. I actually went back to the synopsis and also went online to check it out and found a ton of information on this event. I am actually really glad I listened to this audiobook. I have learned about a huge event in UK history and was able to hold may own in a conversation with my history/war buff husband. It was nice for a change to have more info on something I didn't know anything about. 

The author did a great job making this book easy to follow along and I didn't find it as a dry read. He has researched this event really well and was straight to the point without all the extra fluff. 

I really enjoyed the narrator, Phillip J. Mather. Mather's did a great job, he has a very deep British voice. I think he would make a great narrator for mystery/crime novels. I look forward to more books from both this author and narrator. 

I give this audiobook a 4 stars out of 5.


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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I Will Survive! tips and hints to help you survive in this zombie infested world by Dana Burkey ~ Audio Book Review

Book Synopsis: 

If you are reading this, congrats! You are still alive, and doing a great job. But why just be alive, when you can really survive? That’s right. I’m talking about really living it up,despite those annoying zombies that are roaming the streets. My name is Addison, and I want to give you some tips on how to make living in this crazy world more than just a run for your life. Usually I would post this on my blog, but since the internet is no longer an option I hope this stack of mostly clean pages will be a good guidebook for you. Feel free to read it and take it with you, or leave it for the next person hiding out in wherever you are. Oh, and be sure to keep an eye out for future guidebooks on subjects near and dear to my heart. Things like “Doing your makeup without a mirror or flashlight,” “Best beaches without dead bodies,” and my favorite “Great places to rest during a run for your life.” 

For now, without further ado, here are my tips and hints to help you survive in this zombie infested world!

Purchase a copy of the book on Amazon or Audible. 

About the Author: 

Dana Burkey ~ I graduated college from Youngstown State University in 2009 with a degree in theater and a minor in creative writing. I am currently living in Washington State in a little cabin in the woods with my cat Cato. I work full time at a kids camp, and spend my free time doing community theater and adventuring in nature! I am an avid geocacher, and love watching reality TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance, Project Runway, and Big Brother! I am currently working on my next project that includes a few YA romances and a YA dystopian series!

Connect: Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook |

Review: 

This audio book was super fun to listen to and quick. I believe it was just over an hour long, prefect for my commute to work. It has lots of great tips for when the Zombies take over the world. After listening to it, I am sure I will survive the Zombie infested world!

There were some tips I didn't even think of but they really are a good idea. If you are planning on surviving the Zombie apocalypse then you will want to grab a copy of this Audio or ebook and learn from Addison what you will need to know to get through it. It is super quick but full of ideas on how to stay alive. I look forward to reading about Dana's Zombie series.

I give this audio book a 4 out of 5. The narrator did a great job and I found it easy to listen to.
 

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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47 Little Love Boosters by Marko Petkovic ~ Book & Audio Review

47 Little Love Boosters: Amazingly Simple Little Things Successful Couples Do: Connect and Instantly Deepen Your Bond No Matter How Busy You Are 

Do You Want To Be Able To Connect and Instantly Deepen Your Bond With Your Loved One No Matter How Busy You Are?

>>> Why you need to read this book

Whether your relationship is a new romance, or one that has passed the test of time, there might be days when you wonder how to keep the fire burning.

As you read this book, you’ll discover amazingly simple little things successful couples do to show their love and connect with their loved one in just minutes a day, even if they’re busy parents with young kids!

We call them the “Little Love Boosters for a Happy Marriage” because they:

✓ require no cooperation from your spouse

✓ take very little of your time—sometimes only seconds!

✓ you can do them at home

✓ are free!

>>> Your secret to lasting love

You are here. It’s your time now, and you’re ready to take action.

When you download the book, you’ll get the complimentary, beautifully designed golden collection with 47 little love boosters and a FREE success checklist. You can save it to your phone or print it out and have a quick peep anytime and anywhere you want.

This will become your little secret to achieving a lasting love and a happy marriage even if you’re not an overly creative person or a hopeless romantic.

>>> No fancy jargon

You won’t be wasting your time sifting through useless jargon. Instead, you’ll find straight-to-the-point advice, proven by the author and his wife themselves.

>>> Bonus FREE Audio Book Included!

This book comes with a FREE bonus audio book. You can listen to it while driving the car, cleaning the house, working out, or going for a jog—when your mind is available. This way you don’t have to take any extra time out of your life to make the happy marriage you and your partner deserve.

>>> The results are magical. Download this book now to find out how you can achieve them too.

Get your copy FREE on Amazon.

About the Author: 

Marko Petkovic is the author of the 47 Little Love Boosters and
Feel Good Marriage and creator of feelgoodrituals.com, dedicated to helping people achieve healthy, fulfilling relationships, personal success and abundance by developing habits and rituals that make us feel good.

He believes that successful relationships are acts of doing, not having, and can therefore be learned. Marko believes that every person has a choice, and that everyone can change.

Married for more than fifteen years to a beautiful woman who has a successful career of her own,
Marko writes for modern women and men of the twenty-first century who struggle balancing their professional work with home and raising kids while trying to be good partners to their life mates.

Marko is also the father of two boys. He would like to consider himself to be a kickass husband and father, but he still screws up every now and then. When this happens, he says to himself, “Tomorrow, I’ll do better,” and sees those everyday family challenges as inspiration for his own work. He starts his day early and believes that hope is not a plan. 

Connect: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | 

Review:

I am reviewing the audiobook on here. The author narrates his own ebook onto audio. I really enjoyed listening to Marko Petkovic read his book. He doesn't read it too slow or fast and has a great cadence. I also love his accent, which could be hard for some people to listen to though as it is pretty thick. 

Marko's book is about making positives and rituals in your relationship with your partner. Doing little things to show you respect and care for your spouse. Marko gives examples of some little things we sometimes don't even think about like making a coffee for our partner or saying encouraging words. It is simple and easy to say I love you but the actions do speak louder than words. Surprise your partner, have meaningful conversations, spend time together having fun, this one can be hard sometimes as we all get busy with the kids and their activities, work etc forgetting to actually spend quality time with our partners doing fun activities not just cleaning the house or paying bills.  Marko shares 47 love boosters to use in your daily life to help keep the magic going in your relationship. Included in a checklist you can print off his website. 

I give this audiobook a 3.5 out of 5 stars. It is nice to have the little reminders to do something just for your partner for no reason and give them touches to feel connected in our busy lives.  

~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received the above book for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Hearts to Follow Series (Hearts to Follow #1-3) by Dana Burkey ~ Audiobook Review

Book Description:

The Hearts to Follow Series is made up of three YA contemporary romance novellas!

JUST PRETENDING:When Nick comes back into Cam's life she is crushed to see his new girlfriend Gina is with him for the summer. Hoping jealousy will win Nick back, Cam convinces Josh to help her play the role of happy couple. Will their plan win Cam her dream guy, or will her dreams change the more they lie?

CHANGED?:Summer has known Nick for years. His reputation around school is less than desirable, but when school starts something is different. Nick is no longer with cheerleader Gina, but despite the rumor he cheated on her Summer is finding herself falling for his charm. Is he really different, or he is still the same guy from the rumors of partying and failing classes?

STAGE LIGHTS:Tessa has always been confident both on stage and off. However, this summer she lands a roles as Juliet and finds herself face to face with a real life Romeo. Can Tessa concentrate on the play instead of focusing on Anthony? Will their on stage romance lead to an off stage one as well? Only time will tell, under the stage lights!

Purchase a copy on Amazon 

About the Author:

I graduated college from Youngstown State University in 2009 with a degree in theater and a minor in creative writing. I am currently living in Washington State in a little cabin in the woods with my cat Cato. I work full time at a kids camp, and spend my free time doing community theater and adventuring in nature! I am an avid geocacher, and love watching reality TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance, Project Runway, and Big Brother! I am currently working on my next project that includes a few YA romances and a YA dystopian series! 

Connect: Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook |

Review:

I really enjoyed this little YA series on Audiobook. It was a fun listen to during my commute to work. It is made up of 3 short novellas that are geared to preteen/teen girls. The narrator was pretty good and easy to follow along with. There was one character in the first book that was super annoying and the narrator even gave this character that high pitched whinny voice that I can't stand. It was great even though she was hard to handle. haha. The books are clean romance YA/teen type where the main characters are starting to date/have crushes. High school life/drama, first crushes. The first book I have to say would be my favorite of them all as the story is fun with Cam really wanting to date Nick but playing girlfriend to Josh to see if Nick would want Cam. It was super cliche but very cute. I also loved the end.

Book two my next favorite as Summer falls for Nick and we find out more about Nick and what really happened between him and Gina. The books do have an ARC so you would have to read them to know the whole story line. They have characters that are brought into the next. The characters could be more developed but the author does a good job as these are novellas vs longer novels.

I do wish that the audiobook would tell you when you are starting the next book but it just gives a little break between chapters and books. I would listen to another audiobook by this narrator and I would read more from Dana Burkey.

I give this series a 3.5 out of 5 stars as it is a great younger teen series. 


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. I received a copy of this audiobook for review purpose. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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Where Bluebirds Fly (Synesthesia-Shift #1) by Brynn Chapman ~ Audio Book Review

This review was originally posted on AudioBookReviewer.com

Enter to win a copy click the link above!

Book Synopsis: 

Verity Montague is a servant in 1692 Salem. Her flaming red hair and mismatched eyes make her a prime target for accusation of witchcraft. Orphaned during the Indian raids, she and her brother with Asperger's Syndrome come to live with the key historical figures of the trials-The Putnams. They keep their synesthesia secret- that days, months and years appear as color in Verity's mind, and for John, that symphonies play in a Fantasia-style performance of colors and geometric patterns.

Truman Johnstone 's ability to discern people's expressions, and decipher if they were lying- made him an outspoken child. Being different kept him from being adopted till he was fourteen. He now runs an orphanage for problem youths, and is a feeding therapist in his desire to help children deal with their peculiarities. To give them the childhood he never had.

The harvest festival corn maze Truman creates every year has an unwelcome visitor. Children hear disembodied voices skipping through the corn maze amid the backdrop of eerie orchestral music. In every year of the calendar, intermittent doors of time swing open and closed, so long as the cornfield stands.

In societies set on sameness-all are outsiders.

They learn the traits that make us outcasts, may be the very ones that make us great, and that true love may heal all, and even transcend time.

Purchase a copy on Audible or Amazon

About the Author:

Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.

Connect: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |

Review:

This is my very first time listening to an audio book, well okay I know I listened to some when I was a child. This is the first adult book. I was super excited to get a chance to review Where Bluebirds Fly for a couple reasons. First I love reading about the Salem witch trials and witchcraft type stories. Second I work with people with Autism and my son has some Asperger's type habits or traits. I was interested to see how well the author would portray these subjects. 

After I was half way through this book I checked out the authors website and realized she has a background in pediatric therapy and has hands on experience with individuals with Asperger's syndrome. The author also did a great job of researching the times in Salem during the witch trials.

Chapman did a wonderful job of moving back and forth between characters and time making the story flow together nicely even when switching within the same chapter. I did find this book to be a bit more scientific or I guess you one could say medical/technical. I didn't have a hard time following it through as I already have a good understanding on Asperger's. I did learn more about Synesthesia, which the author explained through the characters. Truman and Verity both were strong characters and I really enjoyed them. It was like a match made in heaven but between different times. I found both to be very technical in personality which reminds me of my own son. I am not sure how one without a knowledge of Autism would do understanding this story, it may be a bit too much for some.

For this being the first audio book I have listened to, I found the narrator to be good at changing her voice for each character. At first I was lost with the accents for Truman and his co-worker, Rom at the orphanage but once I kept listening it became very easy to know who was who. I found myself at the beginning needing to pay close attention to the narrator to learn each characters accent and which place the story was talking about but it did become easier as the story went on. My attention was held well with the narrator, she has a soothing voice. The storyline hooked me right from the beginning so I wanted to know more and find out how this story would end. One of my favorite parts is when Verity and Truman communicate through Truman's journal. I was very happy that this book wasn't left with a huge cliffhanger. I look forward to book 2 and see what is in store for Verity and Truman within the cornfield portal. 

Rating ~ Story - 4, Performance - 4 , Production Quality - 4, Attention Holding - 4, 

Overall rating 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this series to anyone who has interest in Autism and the Salem Witch trials.


~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Genuine Jenn. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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