Road Trip Listens

Fire and Bones by Kathy Reichs (read by Linda Emond)

Always apprehensive about working fire scenes, Tempe is called to Washington, DC, to analyze the victims of a deadly blaze and sees her misgivings justified. The devastated building is in Foggy Bottom, a neighborhood with a colorful past and present, and Tempe becomes suspicious about the property’s ownership when she delves into its history.

The pieces start falling into place strangely and quickly, and, sensing a good story, Tempe teams with a new ally, telejournalist Ivy Doyle. Soon the duo learns that back in the thirties and forties the home was the hangout of a group of bootleggers and racketeers known as the Foggy Bottom Gang. Though interesting, this fact seems irrelevant—until the son of a Foggy Bottom gang member is shot dead at his home in an affluent part of the district. Coincidence? Targeted attacks? So many questions.

As Tempe and Ivy dig deeper, an arrest is finally made. Then another Foggy Bottom Gang-linked property burns to the ground, claiming one more victim. Slowly, Tempe’s instincts begin pointing to the obvious: somehow, her moves since coming to Washington have been anticipated, and every path forward seems to bring with it a lethal threat.

Tempe gives up her vacation to help out with a case that turns into a bigger mystery than she expected. Secondary characters add to the intrigue of the story. After 23 books Tempe is still interesting and finds herself in intriguing situations. Linda Emond does a great job narrating the characters with great tone and pace. 

Middletide by Sarah Crouch (narrated by Kaleo Griffin)

One peaceful morning, in the small, Puget Sound town of Point Orchards, the lifeless body of Dr. Erin Landry is found hanging from a tree on the property of prodigal son and failed writer, Elijah Leith. Sheriff Jim Godbout’s initial investigation points to an obvious suicide, but upon closer inspection, there seem to be clues of foul play when he discovers that the circumstances of the beautiful doctor’s death were ripped straight from the pages of Elijah Leith’s own novel.

Out of money and motivation, thirty-three-year-old Elijah returns to his empty childhood home to lick the wounds of his futile writing career. Hungry for purpose, he throws himself into restoring the ramshackle cabin his father left behind and rekindling his relationship with Nakita, the extraordinary girl from the nearby reservation whom he betrayed but was never able to forget.

As the town of Point Orchards turns against him, Elijah must fight for his innocence against an unexpected foe who is close and cunning enough to flawlessly frame him for murder in this scintillating literary thriller that seeks to uncover a case of love, loss, and revenge.

This debut "whodunit" draws you in and doesn't let go despite some repetition and drama. It is told in then and now sections that did get confusing at times while listening. Many times you wonder if the narrator can be trusted.  Very well narrated by Kaleo Griffin and probably saved the story for me. 

*Thanks to Simon & Schuster audio for these review copies

The Paradise Problem (audio)

 

Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways.

Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch.

Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents—his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife.

But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie

Anna and Liam married in college for the student housing. When Liam, who she knew as West, shows up at her door she is shocked to learn they are still married and he needs her help to retain control of his billion dollar trust.  The plan is to show up together at a family wedding an convince all they have been happily married for almost 5 years.  Free spirit Anna is willing especially since she needs the money for her father's treatments.  The wedding is being held on a private island and as they get to know each other an attraction builds, but the family drama threatens Liam's trust as well as their budding romance.  An enjoyable listen narrated by Patti Murin and John Root filled with plenty of laugh out-loud moments.

 *Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for this review copy*

Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda

Sometimes the darkest secrets are buried the deepest . . .

When Hazel Sharp, daughter of Mirror Lake's longtime local detective, unexpectedly inherits her childhood home, she's warily drawn back to the town - and people - she left behind almost a decade earlier.

But Hazel's not the only relic of the past to return: a drought has descended on the region, and as the water level in the lake drops, long-hidden secrets begin to emerge, including evidence that may help finally explain the mystery of her mother's disappearance .

My thoughts:

Hazel returns home for her father's memorial.  She plans to attend and then get back to her business.  The family attorney tells her that the house has been left to her, and granted as the step-daughter, her brothers are confused, especially Colton. When things begin to rise to the surface literally, Hazel is drawn into the mystery of what really happened to her mother as well as to her best friend that has gone missing.  Pace begins slowly and picks up as the secrets are revealed with a reveal that I figured out Overall a good listen narrated very well by Ines del Castillo

*Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for this review copy*

Brooklyn

 

Eilis Lacey has come of age in small-town Ireland in the years following World War Two. Though skilled at bookkeeping, she cannot find a job in the miserable Irish economy. When an Irish priest from Brooklyn offers to sponsor Eilis in America--to live and work in a Brooklyn neighborhood "just like Ireland"--she decides she must go, leaving her fragile mother and her charismatic sister behind.

Eilis finds work in a department store on Fulton Street, and when she least expects it, finds love. Tony, a blond Italian from a big family, slowly wins her over with patient charm. He takes Eilis to Coney Island and Ebbets Field, and home to dinner in the two-room apartment he shares with his brothers and parents. He talks of having children who are Dodgers fans. But just as Eilis begins to fall in love with Tony, devastating news from Ireland threatens the promise of her future.

Eilis' coming of age story in 1950s Brooklyn is told in 4 parts. Each part we get to know Eilis as she leaves Ireland, travels to Brooklyn, meet the people in her life. Part 4 was a little rushed, the abrupt ending almost ruined it. The brilliant narration of Kirsten Potter held it all together.

*Thanks to Simon Schuster Audio for this review copy*

A Death In Live Oak (audio)

When the body of Jamal Cousin, president of the pre-eminent black fraternity at the Florida's flagship university, is discovered hogtied in the Stygian water swamps of the Suwanee River Valley, the death sets off a firestorm that threatens to rage out of control when a fellow student, Mark Towson, the president of a prominent white fraternity, is accused of the crime.

Contending with rising political tensions, racial unrest, and a sensational media, Townson’s defense attorney, Jack Swyteck, knows that the stakes could not be higher—inside or outside the old Suwanee County Couthouse. The evidence against his client, which includes a threatening text message referencing "strange fruit" on the river, seems overwhelming. Then Jack gets a break that could turn the case. Jamal's gruesome murder bears disturbing similarities to another lynching that occurred back in the Jim Crow days of 1944. Are the chilling parallels purely coincidental? With a community in chaos and a young man’s life in jeopardy, Jack will use every resource to find out.

As he navigates each twist and turn of the search, Jack becomes increasingly convinced that his client may himself be the victim of a criminal plan more sinister than the case presented by the state attorney. Risking his own reputation, this principled man who has devoted his life to the law plunges headfirst into the darkest recesses of the South’s past, and its murky present, to uncover answers.

For Jack, it's about the truth. Traversing time, from the days of strict segregation to the present, he’ll find it—no matter what the cost—and bring much-needed justice to Suwanee County.

Jonathan Davis narrates this 14th book in the Jack Swyteck series that will have you  gritting your teeth at the truth of history as well as vacillating back and forth about what really happened and why. The author handles the subject matter  it in a way that is riveting and entertaining. Jack's FBI wife Andi becomes involved in a way that makes a big impact on their lives. Looking forward to Jack's next case.

*Thanks to HarperAudio for this review copy*

A Nantucket Wedding (audio)

A few years after losing her beloved husband, Alison is doing something she never thought she would do again: getting married. While placing the finishing touches on her summer nuptials, Alison is anxious to introduce her fiancé, David, to her grown daughters: Felicity, a worried married mother of two, and Jane, also married but focused on her career. The sisters have a somewhat distant relationship and Alison hopes that the wedding and the weeks leading up to the ceremony will give the siblings a chance to reconnect, as well as meet and get to know David’s grown children.

As the summer progresses, it is anything but smooth sailing. Felicity stumbles upon a terrible secret that could shatter her carefully cultivated world. Jane finds herself under the spell of her soon-to-be stepbrother, Ethan, who is as charming as he is mysterious. And even Alison is surprised (and slightly alarmed) by her new blended family. Revelations, intrigue, resentments—as the Big Day approaches, will the promise of bliss be a bust?

.

Joyce Bean does a great job narrating each character's voice. The author gives a variety of characters to either really like or dislike. The narrator got the emotion of blending a family of adult children that kept me listening to this book. The setting of a beach house on Nantucket was a character itself.  A great choice for a summer,/vacation read.  A perfect listen for anytime!

The Cuban Affair (Audio)

US Army combat veteran Daniel “Mac” MacCormick, now a charter boat captain, who is about to set sail on his most dangerous cruise.

Daniel Graham MacCormick—Mac for short—seems to have a pretty good life. At age thirty-five he’s living in Key West, owner of a forty-two-foot charter fishing boat, The Maine. Mac served five years in the Army as an infantry officer with two tours in Afghanistan. He returned with the Silver Star, two Purple Hearts, scars that don’t tan, and a boat with a big bank loan. Truth be told, Mac’s finances are more than a little shaky.
One day, Mac is sitting in the famous Green Parrot Bar in Key West, contemplating his life, and waiting for Carlos, a hotshot Miami lawyer heavily involved with anti-Castro groups. Carlos wants to hire Mac and The Maine for a ten-day fishing tournament to Cuba at the standard rate, but Mac suspects there is more to this and turns it down. The price then goes up to two million dollars, and Mac agrees to hear the deal, and meet Carlos’s clients—a beautiful Cuban-American woman named Sara Ortega, and a mysterious older Cuban exile, Eduardo Valazquez.

What Mac learns is that there is sixty million American dollars hidden in Cuba by Sara’s grandfather when he fled Castro’s revolution. With the “Cuban Thaw” underway between Havana and Washington, Carlos, Eduardo, and Sara know it’s only a matter of time before someone finds the stash—by accident or on purpose. And Mac knows if he accepts this job, he’ll walk away rich…or not at all.

Scott Brick did an excellent job narrating this action, adventure story. When the novel gets a bit bogged down with historical aspects, he made it easy to listen Mac knows the deal is too good to be true, but figures what the heck, he'll give it a go. With his snarky humor and inner dialog, Mac is a great character that I hope turns up in another book. 

*Thanks to Simon and Schuster Audio for this review copy*

Unraveling Oliver (audio)

Oliver Ryan, handsome, charismatic, and successful, has long been married to his devoted wife, Alice. Together they write and illustrate award-winning children’s books; their life together one of enviable privilege and ease—until, one evening after a delightful dinner, Oliver delivers a blow to Alice that renders her unconscious, and subsequently beats her into a coma.

In the aftermath of such an unthinkable event, as Alice hovers between life and death, the couple’s friends, neighbors, and acquaintances try to understand what could have driven Oliver to commit such a horrific act. As his story unfolds, layers are peeled away to reveal a life of shame, envy, deception, and masterful manipulation.

The first sentence, I expected more of a reaction the first time I hit her, grabs your attention and the story unravels from there told in multiple voices of those who have known Oliver over the years. Oliver is a reliable narrator even though he is unlikeable.  I could not stop listening to the audio, not only to find out what caused Oliver to do what he did, but because it was a well crafted story with engaging, interesting characters.  Many times a multiple narrators can be distracting, but the choices for this novel (Sam O'Mahony, Roy McMillian, Tracy Keating, Kevin Healey, Steven Hogan, Kathy O'Brien, Steven Lovadee, Michelle Moran)  were perfect. For me this book lived up to the hype at BEA. .

*Thanks to Simon and Schuster Audio for this review copy*

Dating You, Hating You (audio)

Despite the odds against them from an embarrassing meet-awkward at a mutual friend’s Halloween party, Carter and Evie immediately hit it off. Even the realization that they’re both high-powered agents at competing firms in Hollywood isn’t enough to squash the fire.

But when their two agencies merge—causing the pair to vie for the same position—all bets are off. What could have been a beautiful, blossoming romance turns into an all-out war of sabotage. Carter and Evie are both thirtysomething professionals—so why can’t they act like it?

Can Carter stop trying to please everyone and see how their mutual boss is really playing the game? Can Evie put aside her competitive nature long enough to figure out what she really wants in life? Can their actor clients just be something close to human? Whether these two Hollywood love-hatebirds get the storybook Hollywood ending or just a dramedy of epic proportions, readers will get to enjoy Christina Lauren’s heartfelt, raucous, and hilarious romance style at its finest.

Not one of my favorites by this writing duo, but it was an enjoyable listen narrated by Shayna Thibodeaux and Deacon Lee.  There was quite a few laugh out loud moments and the hated boss climax was a bit of a let down.

*Thanks to Simon and Schuster Audio for this review copy*

Tycoon (audio)

He wasn’t always this rich. This hot. This difficult.
Aaric Christos was a guy who protected me. Wanted me. Maybe even loved me.
That man is gone.
In his place is the most powerful real estate tycoon in the city.
He’s a cold, ruthless, aggressive businessman.
The only one who can save me and my startup from ruin.
It takes every ounce of courage to put my pride aside and ask for his help.
I didn’t expect him to offer it easily.
And he doesn’t.
Instead, he vets me harder than he’s vetted anyone.
Don’t invest in what you don’t know, he says.
He’s assessing every piece of me, to the point I’ve never felt so bare.
I yearn for the boy I once knew, whose touch once craved me.
Putting it all on the line will be worth it, I tell myself.
Until I realize—too late—that some risks are not worth taking.

I stumbled across Katy Evans while looking for an audio to listen to at night. Since I enjoyed the previous two audios, and this one was narrated by Sebastian York and Elizabeth Louise (both favorites) it was a no-brainer for me. I am a sucker for second chance love stories. Aaric and Bryn knew each other as young adults, but she was a bit afraid and didn't take a chance on him. Years later she needed his help to get her business started. She is determined to make a success of her business and tries her best not to allow Aaric to distract her. It is a losing battle. A quick, enjoyable listen narrated by two seasoned romance pros. The emotions are spot on, never overdone or syrupy. Secondary characters Jensen and Sara added to the story and I hope will get their own stories soon.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster Audio for this review copy

MatchUp (audio)

Edited by Lee Child, this is the follow-up to FaceOff, but this time 11 female thriller writers with 11 male thriller writers.

"Honor & ..." by Sandra Brown & C.J. Box (Lee Coburn & Joe Pickett)
Read by Jay O Sanders
"Footloose" by Val McDermid & Peter James (Tony Hill & Roy Grace)
Read by Gerald Doyle
"Past Prologue" by Diana Gabaldon & Steve Berry (Jamie Fraser & Cotton Malone)
Read by Robert Petkoff
"Rambo on Their Minds" by Gayle Lynds & David Morrell (Liz Sansborough & Rambo) Read by Laura Benanti
"Short Story" by Karin Slaughter & Michael Koryta (Jeffrey Tolliver & Joe Pritchard)
Read by C.J. Wilson
"Dig Here" by Charlaine Harris & Andrew Gross (Harper Connelly & Ty Hauck)
Read by Dennis Boutsikaris,
"Deserves to be Dead" by Lisa Jackson & John Sandford (Regan Pescoli & Lucas Davenport) Read by Robert Petkoff
"Midnight Flame" by Lara Adrian & Christopher Rice (Lucan Thorne & Lilliane)
Read by January LaVoy
"Getaway" by Lisa Scottoline & Nelson DeMille (Bennie Rosato & John Corey)
Read by Dennis Boutsikaris
"Taking the Veil" by J.A. Jance & Eric Van Lustbader (Ali Reynolds & Bravo Shaw)
Read by Karen Ziemba
"Faking a Murderer" by Lee Child & Kathy Reichs (Temperance Brennan & Jack Reacher) Read by Linda Emond

I enjoyed listening to each of these "match-ups" and couple of them has me wanting to get started reading the character's stories that were new to me. All of the narrators did an excellent job and kept me riveted to every story. Lee Child introduces each author and their history as a writer as well as detailing their process of working together.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster audio for this review copy 

Lost Rider (audio)

Maverick Austin Davis is forced to return home after a ten-year career as a rodeo star. After one too many head injuries, he’s off the circuit and in the horse farming business, something he’s never taken much of a shine to, but now that it’s his late father’s legacy, familial duty calls. How will Maverick find his way after the only dream he ever had for himself is over?

Enter Leighton Elizabeth James, an ugly duckling turned beauty from Maverick’s childhood—his younger sister’s best friend, to be exact, and someone whose heart he stomped all over when she confessed her crush to him ten years back. Now Leighton is back in Maverick’s life, no longer the insecure, love-stricken teen—and Maverick can’t help but take notice. Sparks fly between them, but will Leighton be able to open her heart to the one man who broke it all those years ago?

Elisabeth Louise and Jason Carpenter narrated Leighton and Maverick's second chance love story exceptionally well. Mavericks need to deal with a very painful past that his family and friends have no idea how bad it really got. Leighton also has hurts that make her hesitant to give Maverick a second chance.. As he works to prove to Leighton that he is back and all in she slowly lets down her defenses and falls in love all over again. Their story is extremely emotional and well written. Looking forward to Quinn and Clay's stories.

*Thanks to Simon and Schuster Audio for this review copy*

Happy Birthday to my son James!

The Twilight Wife (audio)

Thirty-four-year-old marine biologist Kyra Winthrop remembers nothing about the diving accident that left her with a complex form of memory loss. With only brief flashes of the last few years of her life, her world has narrowed to a few close friendships on the island where she lives with her devoted husband, Jacob.

But all is not what it seems. Kyra begins to have visions—or are they memories?—of a rocky marriage, broken promises, and cryptic relationships with the island residents, whom she believes to be her friends.

As Kyra races to uncover her past, the truth becomes a terrifying nightmare. A twisty, immersive thriller, The Twilight Wife will keep readers enthralled through the final, shocking twist.

Narrator Cassandra Campbell does an excellent job with building the tension of  Kyra's memory as she gets flashes of events and can't put them into context.  There is a little bit of repetition as the character is building upon each remembered event, but it did allow for me to figure out what Kyra was trying to remember. The setting of an Island is perfect for the suspense. 

*Thanks to Simon and Schuster for this review copy*

Happy 30th to my son Caleb!

June is Audiobook Month Blog Tour and Giveaway

Whether it’s for traveling this summer, relaxing at the beach, or running or walking outdoors, June is the perfect time to discover the awesomeness and variety of audiobooks.  

Today is the last day of JIAM.  Twenty-Nine other lovers of audiobooks shared their favorite audibooks, narrators and why they think audiobook are so great.

APA - Audiobook Listeners Community with list of blog participants  and their giveaways.

I've been a long time listener to audiobooks, some of my first listening experiences were sitting with a book on my lap, a record on the turntable listening to the book being read and turning the pages at the ping. Then graduating to cassette tapes! 

 It would be very hard to pick only five favorites since I've been listening for years.  The audiobooks I am recommending are ones that the narrators have helped land them on my favorite of the year lists.

The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon narrated by Davina Porter
Listening to this series narrated by the phenomenal Davina Porter is an experience that enhances the storytelling by leaps and bounds  Each book is a commitment, but so well worth the time and effort
I have laughed and cried through hours of pure loveliness.

The Desperate Duchesses Series by Eloisa James narrated by Susan Duerden
I always listen to audiobooks narrated by Susan Duerden. She does such a great job that I looked for reasons to listen.  She is brilliant with the character's individual voices as well as their interactions.

Michael Bennett series by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge narrated by Danny Mastrogiorgio.
His pacing is spot on and he does a great job with the variety of voices and accents. He is the voice of Michael Bennett for me.

Katherine Kellegren - Bloody Jack series
This is a young adult historical series that is full of adventure, hilarity and is well worth the listen.







Narrator Sebastian York:
Meghan March's series, Christina Lauren's series, Emma Chase's series
His alpha males narrations are like butta!  He finds a way to make each book distinct. I appreciate that his female voices are not high and squeaky.

I look for a voice that does not distract from the story, one that oozes the character(s) and compels me to find reasons to keep listening.  

Starting with a familiar favorite will help you to get acclimated to listening to audiobooks.   Choose any book that you've reread a few times as long as it is not a 36 disc audiobook, unless you are really committed.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

In addition to the earbuds and 3 audio downloads (must be downloaded by July 15th)  giveaway above:

I am hosting a giveaway of my gently used (previously listened to) audiobooks. Enter by commenting on my Friday audiobook posts as well as this post.

 I will draw a few winners on July 7th for the audios below. Please let me know which audiobook(s) you are interested in listening to of the group pictured here. 

Last Words by Michael Koryta narrated by Robert Petkoff
Distress Signals by Catherine Ryan Hyde narrated by Alan Smyth, Bronson Pinchot and Suzanne Torren
Always A Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller narrated by Jack Garret
Here's To Us by Elin Hilderbrand narrated by Erin Bennett
A Duke To Remember by Kelly Bowen narrated by Polly Lee
Spinning the Moon (2 classic stories) by Karen White narrated by Susan Bennett and Pilar Witherspoon

#loveaudiobooks

Cross The Line (audio) + Giveaway JIAM

Alex Cross chases a cold-blooded killer...with a conscience.

Shots ring out in the early morning hours in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. When the smoke clears, a prominent police official lies dead, leaving the city's police force scrambling for answers.

Under pressure from the mayor, Alex Cross steps into the leadership vacuum to investigate the case. But before Cross can make any headway, a brutal crime wave sweeps across the region. The deadly scenes share only one common thread – the victims are all criminals. And the only thing more dangerous than a murderer without a conscience, is a killer who thinks he has justice on his side.

As Cross pursues an adversary who has appointed himself judge, jury, and executioner, he must take the law back into his own hands before the city he's sworn to protect descends into utter chaos

The Alex Cross series has remained one of my favorites. Have I loved every book? Nope, but I like this character and his family. He is good at his job, but loves his family more than anything. It has been great to watch them grow, change and become closer as the years have passed. There are three cases pulling both Alex, his partner Samson and wife Bree in many directions. Could they be connected?  A couple of twists, fast paced with plenty of action made for an entertaining listen. What frustrates me with this series is that I listen on audio and there have been a few narrators for the voice of Alex Cross. Most of them has done a good job, but this latest voice was too young sounding for a veteran Detective with three kids. I loved Peter Bradbury's voice of the villain.  Despite the change in narrators, I will listen to the next Alex Cross book that releases in November.

*Thanks to Hachette Audio for this review copy*

I am hosting a giveaway of my gently used (previously listened to) audiobooks. Enter by commenting on my Friday audiobook posts. I will draw a few winners on July 7th. Please let me know which audiobook(s) you are interested in listening to of the group pictured here. 

Last Words by Michael Koryta narrated by Robert Petkoff
Distress Signals by Catherine Ryan Hyde narrated by Alan Smyth, Bronson Pinchot and Suzanne Torren
Always A Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller narrated by Jack Garret
Here's To Us by Elin Hilderbrand narrated by Erin Bennett
A Duke To Remember by Kelly Bowen narrated by Polly Lee
Spinning the Moon (2 classic stories) by Karen White narrated by Susan Bennett and Pilar Witherspoon

IQ by Joe Ide JIAM + Giveaway

A resident of one of LA’s toughest neighborhoods uses his blistering intellect to solve the crimes the LAPD ignores.

East Long Beach. The LAPD is barely keeping up with the neighborhood’s high crime rate. Murders go unsolved, lost children unrecovered. But someone from the neighborhood has taken it upon himself to help solve the cases the police can’t or won’t touch.

They call him IQ. He’s a loner and a high school dropout, his unassuming nature disguising a relentless determination and a fierce intelligence. He charges his clients whatever they can afford, which might be a set of tires or a homemade casserole. To get by, he’s forced to take on clients that can pay.

This time, it’s a rap mogul whose life is in danger. As Isaiah investigates, he encounters a vengeful ex-wife, a crew of notorious cutthroats, a monstrous attack dog, and a hit man who even other hit men say is a lunatic. The deeper Isaiah digs, the more far reaching and dangerous the case becomes.

Isaiah Quantabe (IQ) is a genius destined for something big. With the encouragement of his older brother he is determined to get out of  the neighborhood. When his brother is gunned down his life changes. Trying to avoid foster care his intelligence helps him to figure out crimes that people bring to him which gets him a reputation. IQ is a great new character, very easy to like even when he gets himself involved with some shady characters. Sullivan Jones did a fantastic job narrating the many characters that IQ came in contact with. His narration really sets you in the story in East Long Beach It was hard at first to get the rhythm of the story going from past to present, but once I did I could not stop listening waiting to find out how this case would be solved.  This debut book will definitely be on my favorite list of 2017 and I look forward to the next book featuring Isaiah.

. *Thanks to Hachette Audio for this review copy.*

June is Audiobook Month. Check out the other bloggers celebrating this month by recommending their top 5 audiobooks and why they love to listen here. Each blog is hosting a giveaway for earbuds and  3 free audiobook downloads on Audiobooks.com. 

I am hosting a giveaway of my gently used (previously listened to) audiobooks. Enter by commenting on my Friday audiobook posts. I will draw a few winners at the end of the month. Please let me know which audiobook(s) you are interested in listening to of the group pictured here. 

Last Words by Michael Koryta narrated by Robert Petkoff
Distress Signals by Catherine Ryan Hyde narrated by Alan Smyth, Bronson Pinchot and Suzanne Torren
Always A Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller narrated by Jack Garret
Here's To Us by Elin Hilderbrand narrated by Erin Bennett
A Duke To Remember by Kelly Bowen narrated by Polly Lee
Spinning the Moon (2 classic stories) by Karen White narrated by Susan Bennett and Pilar Witherspoon

#loveaudiobooks

The River At Night

Winifred Allen needs a vacation.

Stifled by a soul-crushing job, devastated by the death of her beloved brother, and lonely after the end of a fifteen-year marriage, Wini is feeling vulnerable. So when her three best friends insist on a high-octane getaway for their annual girls’ trip, she signs on, despite her misgivings.

What starts out as an invigorating hiking and rafting excursion in the remote Allagash Wilderness soon becomes an all-too-real nightmare: A freak accident leaves the women stranded, separating them from their raft and everything they need to survive. When night descends, a fire on the mountainside lures them to a ramshackle camp that appears to be their lifeline. But as Wini and her friends grasp the true intent of their supposed saviors, long buried secrets emerge and lifelong allegiances are put to the test. To survive, Wini must reach beyond the world she knows to harness an inner strength she never knew she possessed.

Joy Osmanski narrates this debut book. The story is told in the POV of Wini, but she does a great job with the three other character's personalities. I appreciated the narrator's ability to hold my attention during the slow set up of the girl's weekend. Once their river trip gets going the story takes off and doesn't let up.  They each respond differently to the challenge to survive and their friendship is put to the test. I could not stop listening 

*Thanks to Simon and Schuster for this review copy*

Seven Minutes In Heaven (audio)

All of Eugenia Snowe’s problems start when Edward Reeve, an arrogant bastard son of an earl, bursts into her registry office. He wants a governess and he wants her. She gives him the governess he demands, but she refuses to give herself.

No question that Eugenia enjoys crossing wits with the brilliant inventor, but she will never tarnish her reputation with an affaire, particularly with a man who doesn’t realize she’s a lady!

She holds her ground…until he kidnaps her.

Ward will stop at nothing to convince Eugenia that they’re meant to be together. He promises her heaven.

She gives him seven minutes.

We met Eugenia and Ward when they were children in earlier books,they were fun, loveable characters. As adults they are even more loveable, quirky and . Ward is in desperate need of a governess that will stay and help him with his young siblings that recently became orphans. Their Grandmother is filing a petition to have them removed from his care because the kids are behaving strangely in her opinion. He is a successful inventor, but doesn't know how to help them through this grief. When his second governess leaves he demands that Eugenia provide him with another governess. She refuses and he practically kidnaps her to get her to come and meet his siblings to determine the best kind of governess for them. Eugenia has always had great success with her governess placements and is sure that Ward is at fault. She agrees to meet the children. Lizzie and Otis had an unusual upbringing, and Eugenia can relate as she had the same. She encourages them to be themselves and Ward is not happy as he wants them to conform to society rules as he believes that is how he will get permanent custody of the kids. Eugenia has been a widow of seven years and is ready for a change. Ward is attracted to her, but thinks that because of her upbringing she will not be the right kind of wife for him. His reaction was disappointing and I wasn't sure if he deserved Eugenia. Susan Duerden, as usual, does a fantastic job narrating the hilarity, banter and emotion of the characters. 

*Thanks to HarperCollins for this review copy*

Audio Bookshots #2

Life moves fast—books should too.Impossible to put down. 

Black and Blue by Candice Fox #.5
Narrated by Federay Holmes
3 hours

Harriet Black is a sex crimes Detective with the Sydney Police.  A young woman's body is found near the shore, and she is sure it is the Georges River Killer. When she arrives on scene, a lone wolf cop Tate "Tox" Barnes is primary.  Since she is sure of the killer she wants on the case.  However, partnering with Tox could be career suicide. She wants nothing to do with him, but he won't go away.The more they investigate it becomes clear this is not a victim of the Georges River Killer. A fellow cop is investigating a missing couple and their yacht.  When the two cases collide, Harry has to work even harder to prove she belongs and deserves a place on the task force. Harry is a great character, strong, independent and willing to work hard. Her background is touched upon and I hope will be explored further in the next book. Federay Holmes narrates her frustration and determination expertly. She nails the fast paced action and explosive ending with a twist that floors Harry.  Looking forward to Never, Never.

Come and Get Us By Shaun Serafin
Narrated by January LaVoy
3 hours

Miranda and her husband Aaron and daughter Sierra are taking a weekend trip.  When they are forced off a cliff and survive she has to go for help. Before Aaron passes out he tells her to be careful who she trusts.While climbing up the cliff someone shots at her.  She realizes that this was no accident. With break neck speed Miranda has to get help. When she outwits those coming for her and gets her family to their destination, she discovers their lives are still in danger.  With quick thinking she figures out a way to save her family.  January LaVoy does a great job with Miranda's fierce determination to save her family.  An enjoyable listen. 

Bookshots Audios are quickly becoming my go to audios for short trips or slow afternoons at work.






*Thanks to Hachette Audio for these review copies*

Everything You Want Me To Be (audio)

High school senior Hattie Hoffman has spent her whole life playing many parts: the good student, the good daughter, the good citizen. When she’s found brutally stabbed to death on the opening night of her high school play, the tragedy rips through the fabric of her small town community. Local sheriff Del Goodman, a family friend of the Hoffmans, vows to find her killer, but trying to solve her murder yields more questions than answers. It seems that Hattie’s acting talents ran far beyond the stage. Told from three points of view—Del, Hattie, and the new English teacher whose marriage is crumbling—Everything You Want Me to Be weaves the story of Hattie’s last school year and the events that drew her ever closer to her death.

Evocative and razor-sharp, Everything You Want Me to Be challenges you to test the lines between innocence and culpability, identity and deception. Does love lead to self-discovery—or destruction?

Hattie's last year unfolds as the investigation into her death begins. She has plans to leave her small town for New York and leave behind who she's been to become someone new. She has learned to be what those around her wanted to to be or expected her to be and she's tired of it. That is the least of the secrets she's been keeping. The new English teacher gives her day some brightness. He seems to understand her and encourages her free spirit. She is a bright spot in his miserable day as well. Recently moved to town with his wife to take care of her mother, he left behind a job and town he loved and wants nothing more than to leave.  How far will he go to escape his miserable? Sheriff Del Goodman has to sift through what little evidence is left at the scene. When it leads to someone close to Hattie, the pieces slowly begin to fit with a twist at the end. Alternating POVs tell the story seamlessly. Hattie's angst and passion were well narrated by Caitlin Thorburn.  I felt Peter's hopelessness as well as his hope, but thought John Moraitis' voice sounded "older" than the character I pictured. Del's dilemma of what to put first his job or his friendship was expertly narrated by Jeff Harding. Over all a good listen.

*Thanks to Lauren at Simon and Schuster for this audio copy*