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!

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*

The Operator (audio)

Peri Reed’s job eats her mind, but for a special task agent in hiding, forgetting the past can be a blessing.

Betrayed by the man she thought she loved and the agency who turned her into the very thing she fought against, Peri abandoned the wealth and privilege of Opti for anonymity riddled with memory gaps and self-doubt. But when a highly addictive drug promises to end her dependency on those who’d use her as a tool for their own success, she must choose to remain broken and vulnerable, or return to the above-the-law power and prestige she once left: strong but without will—for whoever holds her next fix, will hold her loyalty.

Yet even now as then, a love based on lies of omission might still save her life

This is the second book in the Peri Reed Chronicles and is best read after the first book The Drafter. It picks up shortly after the first book. Perri is in hiding from Opti. She is tired of being used, manipulated, and having her memory wiped. They find her and she has to either join them or figure out a way to be free of them. Unfortunately, OPI is not the only organization that wants her for her abilities. This introduces a few new characters that really added to the action, suspense and roller coaster ride of this book.  It is easy to get on Peri's side and along with her, wonder who can be trusted.  I felt the story was a bit repetitive, but it didn't distract from the overall enjoyment of it.  I look forward to the final book that will hopefully get Peri where she wants to be.
January LaVoy did a great job with the character voices, the crazy twists and turns the story takes and especially Peri's desire for freedom.  

*Thanks to Simon and Schuster for this review copy*

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*

The German Girl (audio)

1939 before everything changed, Hannah Rosenthal lived a charmed life. Her family moved in Berlin’s highest social circles, admired by friends and neighbors. Eleven-year-old Hannah was often taken by her mother for an afternoon treat at the tea room of the beautiful Adlon Hotel, both dressed in their finest clothes. She spent her afternoons at the park with her best friend Leo Martin. But, in an instant, that sunlit world vanished. Now the streets of Berlin are draped with red, white, and black flags; their fine possessions are hauled away, and they are no longer welcome in the places that once felt like home. The two friends make a pact: come what may, they promise to have a future together.

As Hannah and Leo’s families desperately begin to search for a means of escape, a glimmer of hope appears when they discover the Saint Louis, a transatlantic liner that can give Jews safe passage to Cuba. After a frantic search to obtain visas, the Rosenthals and the Martins depart from Hamburg on the luxurious passenger liner bound for Havana. Life aboard the ship is a welcome respite from the gloom of Berlin—filled with masquerade balls, dancing, and exquisite meals every night.

As the passengers gain renewed hope for a bright future ahead, love between Hannah and Leo blossoms. But soon reports from the outside world began to filter in, and dark news overshadows the celebratory atmosphere on the ship; the governments of Cuba, the United States, and Canada are denying the passengers of the St. Louis admittance to their countries, forcing them to return to Europe as it descends into the Second World War. The ship that had seemed their salvation seems likely to become their death sentence.

After four days anchored at bay, only a handful of passengers are allowed to disembark onto Cuban soil, and Hannah and Leo must face the grim reality that they could be torn apart. Their future is unknown, and their only choice will have an impact in generations to come.

Decades later in New York City on her eleventh birthday, Anna Rosen receives a mysterious envelope from Hannah, a great-aunt she has never met but who raised her deceased father. In an attempt to piece together her father’s mysterious past, Anna and her mother travel to Havana to meet Hannah, who is turning eighty-seven years old. Hannah reveals old family ties, recounts her journey aboard the Saint Louis and, for the first time, reveals what happened to her father and Leo. Bringing together the pain of the past with the mysteries of the present, Hannah gives young Anna a sense of their shared histories, forever intertwining their lives, honoring those they loved and cruelly lost.

This debut book is wonderfully written, pulls you in and won't let you go as you grit your teeth for Hannah, her family and friends. Hannah and her family escape Germany for Cuba in this historical event that I didn't know much about. Joy Osmanski does a great job with the tension, fear, anger, hope and triumph of the characters. She easily takes us from Hannah's to Anna's POVs. If you liked The Nightingale and All The Light We Cannot See, read this book. .

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

The Mistletoe Inn (audio)

At thirty-two Kimberly Rossi, a finance officer at a Lexus car dealership, has had her heart broken more times than she wants to remember. With two failed engagements, a divorce and again alone with no prospects, she hardly seems the type to dream of being a published romance author. Dreading another holiday alone, she signs up for The Mistletoe Retreat, a nine-day writing retreat in Burlington, VT. Deep inside Kimberly knows she’s at a junction in her life and it’s time to either fulfill her dream or let it go. The other reason she decides to attend the conference is because famed romance writer, H.T. Cowell, once the bestselling romance writer in America, and the author whose books instilled in her the desire to be a writer, will be speaking in public for the first time in more than a decade.

In one of her breakout sessions Kimberly meets another aspiring writer, and one of the few men at the conference, Zeke, an intelligent man with a wry wit who seems as interested in Kimberly as he is in the retreat. As Kimberly begins to open up to him about her stories and dreams, she inadvertently reveals her own troubled past. As Zeke helps her to discover why her books fail to live up to their potential she begins to wonder if he’s really talking more about her life than her literature. But as she grows closer to him, she realizes that Zeke has his own darkness, a past he’s unwilling to talk about.

I chose this audio based on the  narrator alone as I have not read this author. I am so glad I did or I would have missed this gem of a story. Kim is one of the unluckiest in love people ever!  As her story is told you will realize why. She really wants to publish her "perfect" romance, and figures this conference is her last chance.  She befriends two people at the conference, Samantha and Zeke, both fellow writers. She opens up to Zeke, but not totally and you figure out the secret he is keeping (at least I did). Zeke offers to read her book and give her an honest critique. When it is not what she wants to hear she bails and returns home which is the best thing she could have done as this is where the real healing begins. Great story with wounded characters that give love a chance. Madeline Maby always delivers a pitch perfect read no matter the plot or characters. A story that can be read/listened to anytime of the year. 

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

The Passenger (audio)

Forty-eight hours after leaving her husband’s body at the base of the stairs, Tanya Dubois cashes in her credit cards, dyes her hair brown, demands a new name from a shadowy voice over the phone, and flees town. It’s not the first time.

She meets Blue, a female bartender who recognizes the hunted look in a fugitive’s eyes and offers her a place to stay. With dwindling choices, Tanya-now-Amelia accepts. An uneasy―and dangerous―alliance is born.

It’s almost impossible to live off the grid today, but Amelia-now-Debra and Blue have the courage, the ingenuity, and the desperation, to try. Hopscotching from city to city, Debra especially is chased by a very dark secret . . . can she outrun her past?

With heart-stopping escapes and devious deceptions, The Passenger is an amazing psychological thriller about defining yourself while you pursue your path to survival. One thing is certain: the ride will leave you breathless.

Right off you know that Tanya has a past that she is running from when she needs to run again. This time she needs help and makes cryptic call for help. She gets that she thinks/hopes is an identity that will last for awhile. But shortly after meeting a kindred soul her life is threatened and she has to run again, but what happens is a twist that she never saw coming. Woven into her story are letters that tell a story, but we a left wondering what it all means.  Her past comes for a reckoning and we learn the truth. Madeleine Maby narrated the book that kept me listening wondering if this character was believable, but wanting to know what happened to her. 

*Thanks to Simon and Schuster for this audio copy*

The Way I Used To Be (audio)

Eden was always good at being good. Starting high school didn’t change who she was. But the night her brother’s best friend rapes her, Eden’s world capsizes.

What was once simple, is now complex. What Eden once loved—who she once loved—she now hates. What she thought she knew to be true, is now lies. Nothing makes sense anymore, and she knows she’s supposed to tell someone what happened but she can’t. So she buries it instead. And she buries the way she used to be.

Eden is a normal freshman 14 year old girl until she is raped by her brother's best friend.  The book opens on the morning after, so you don't go through the trauma with Eden.  She chooses not to tell because she is afraid. She changes drastically while ignoring the pain, anger and fear (which others sorta recognize, but don't pursue with her).  Told in four sections of her high school years, Eden spirals downward until she is confronted with it happening to another girl.  The first and last section were the best and the book does end on a positive note. Eden's story unfortunately happens too often, but is one that needs to be told especially if it gives courage to those that need to speak up. This debut novel was narrated by Rebekkah Ross.

*Thanks to Simon and Schuster for this review copy*

The Lion's Mouth (audio)

Hanne Wilhelmsen’s fourth investigation brings her into conflict with the highest powers in Norway: what secrets lie behind the death of the Prime Minister?

Less than six months after taking office, the Norwegian Prime Minister is found dead. She has been shot in the head. But was it a politically motivated assassination or personal revenge?

The death shakes the country to its core. The hunt for her killer is complicated, intense and gruelling. Hanne Wilhelmsen must contain the scandal before a private tragedy becomes a public outrage, in what will become the most sensitive case of her career…

This is a story of lies, intrigue and politics. The Lion’s Mouth questions who holds the power in Norway, and how far they will go to use it.

Rosalyn Landor does a fantastic job narrating this crime novel.  The twists and turns the novel takes kept me listening to find out who could have killed the Prime Minister.  Hanne is off in California, but Billy T is on the case, and when she returns for a short visit he is more than thankful for her help with this strange case. There are connections that were surprising, but the resolution of the crime was a bit of a let down. I've read these books out of order, but feel they stand well alone.  Looking forward to the next book that is released in the US.   

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

Wicked Sexy Liar (audio)

London Hughes is very content to surf daily, tend bar, hang out with her group of friends, and slowly orient herself in the years after college. Everything’s going great and according to the non-plan.

But when a wave knocks her for a loop one morning, then Luke Sutter’s flirtatious smile knocks her for another that evening, she veers slightly off course…and into his path. Sure, he’s a total player, but the Why not—it’s only one night is a persistent voice in her ear.

For his part, Luke’s been on hookup autopilot for so long that he rarely ever pauses to consider what he’s doing. But after an amazing time with London, he realizes that he hasn’t been moving on from a devastating heartbreak so much as he’s been drifting to wherever—and whomever—the current takes him. With London he wants more.

Every relationship involves two people…plus their pasts. And as much as she enjoys her fling with Luke, when London learns about his past—more specifically, who’s in it—everything becomes the brand of complicated she strives to avoid. It’s up to Luke then to change some things in order to try and ensure he’s not something she’ll outright avoid as well.

Book four in the Wild Seasons series featured Luke (former boyfriend of Mia from book one) and London (Lola's roommate from book three).  I listened to and loved the first two books in the series, and was looking forward to listening to the final two books.  This one was fun and an easy listen while walking, but didn't love it as much as the previous books.  There was a narration change with this book. Olivia Song and Deacon Lee did a nice job, but I didn't invest in the characters as much as I wanted. 

Thank you to Lauren and Simon and Schuster for this review copy.

Things You Won't Say (audio)

How far would you go to save your family?

Every morning, as her husband Mike straps on his SIG Sauer and pulls on his heavy Magnum boots, Jamie Anderson tenses up. Then comes the call she has always dreaded: There’s been a shooting at police headquarters. Mike isn’t hurt, but his long-time partner is grievously injured. As weeks pass and her husband’s insomnia and disconnectedness mount, Jamie realizes he is an invisible casualty of the attack. Then the phone rings again. Another shooting—but this time Mike has pulled the trigger.

But the shooting does more than just alter Jamie’s world. It’s about to change everything for two other women. Christie Simmons, Mike’s flamboyant ex, sees the tragedy as an opportunity for a second chance with Mike. And Jamie’s younger sister, Lou, must face her own losses to help the big sister who raised her. As the press descends and public cries of police brutality swell, Jamie tries desperately to hold together her family, no matter what it takes.


My thoughts:

A very timely book that is told in the voices of Jamie, Christie and Lou.  Their back stories are intertwined with the present story.  It was frustrating that Jamie and Mike do not communicate as I thought they should.  Jamie comes across as overly whiny, even though her distress is understood, which made it hard to be sympathetic towards her.  The resolution was a bit rushed.   Cassandra Campbell's narration kept me listening.  

*Thanks to Simon and Schuster for this review copy*

Short Audios

Holy Frigging Matrimony by Emma Chase

Marriage: the final frontier. Steven went first. He was kind of our test subject. Like those monkeys that NASA sent off into space in the fifties, all the while knowing they’d never make it back.

And now another poor rocket is ready to launch.

But this isn’t just any posh New York wedding. You’ve seen my friends, you’ve met our families, you know you're in for a treat. Everyone wants their wedding to be memorable. This one’s going to be un-frigging-forgettable.

I choose this audio based on the narrator alone. I had no clue what this short story would be about or that it is part of a series. Holy frigging hilarious! Drew and Kate are attending a wedding of friends. Told in Drew's unapologetic, witty, one-liner, absolutely laugh out-loud voice. What happens at the wedding is so funny and out of control that I hope Drew gets it right back at his own wedding. Sebastian York, of course, does a fantastic job on this quick 52 minute listen.  I will listen again when I need a good laugh. 

Sweet Filthy Morning After by Christina Lauren

After a crazy Vegas weekend celebrating her college graduation—and terrified of the future path she knows is a cop-out—Mia Holland makes the wildest decision of her life: follow Ansel Guillaume—her sweet, filthy fling—to France for the summer and just…play.

This 30 minute audio is a section of Sweet Filthy Boy from Ansel's point of view. Ansel is from France in Vegas with friends and meets Mia. Listening to Jason Carpenter narrate Ansel's POV with ear candy french accent made me fall in love with him all over.

This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Simon and Schuster Audio and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Hopeless and Finding Cinderella

Would you rather know a truth that makes you feel hopeless, or keep believing the lies?

Beloved and bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with the spellbinding story of two young people with devastating pasts who embark on a passionate, intriguing journey to discover the lessons of life, love, trust—and above all, the healing power that only truth can bring.

Sky, a senior in high school, meets Dean Holder, a guy with a promiscuous reputation that rivals her own. From their very first encounter, he terrifies and captivates her. Something about him sparks memories of her deeply troubled past, a time she’s tried so hard to bury. Though Sky is determined to stay far away from him, his unwavering pursuit and enigmatic smile break down her defenses and the intensity of the bond between them grows. But the mysterious Holder has been keeping secrets of his own, and once they are revealed, Sky is changed forever and her ability to trust may be a casualty of the truth.

Only by courageously facing the stark revelations can Sky and Holder hope to heal their emotional scars and find a way to live and love without boundaries. Hopeless is a novel that will leave you breathless, entranced, and remembering your own first love.

A chance encounter in the dark leads eighteen-year-old Daniel and the girl who stumbles across him to profess their love for each other. But this love has conditions: they agree it will last only one hour, and it will be only make-believe.

When their hour is up and the girl rushes off like Cinderella, Daniel tries to convince himself that what happened between them seemed perfect only because they were pretending it was. Moments like that happen only in fairy tales.

One year and one bad relationship later, his disbelief in love-at-first-sight is stripped away the day he meets Six: a girl with a strange name and an even stranger personality. Unfortunately for Daniel, finding true love doesn’t guarantee a happily ever after . . . it only further threatens it.

Will an unbearable secret from the past jeopardize Daniel and Six’s only chance at saving each other?

My first Colleen Hoover book was Maybe Someday on audio. I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this new adult book and quickly looked for her other book. I read/listened to both books without knowing what they were about which added to these stories. Hopeless was amazing as it unfolded slowly with a couple of surprises. I loved Holden and Sky immediately. Finding Cinderella features Six, Sky's best friend and Daniel, Holden's best friend. I had to suspend belief about the unbearable secret in order to enjoy this book. I thought it would have been better without that secret (could be my age). It was narrated by Jason Carpenter.

This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Simon and Schuster Audio and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.

Face Off

FACEOFF

EDITED BY

DAVID BALDACCI

For the first time ever

the world’s greatest thriller characters meet head-to-head

in 11 electrifying stories

Where else will you be able to read about Jeffery Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme meets John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport? Fans of Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone and James Rollins’ Gray Pierce have waited for years to see those characters together. Then there’s Lee Child’s Jack Reacher meeting up with Joseph Finder’s Nick Heller in a bar in Boston. Steve Martini’s Paul Madriani becoming entangled with Linda Fairstein’s Alex Cooper. Plus, you can’t forget the ever-odd Aloysius Pendergast coming face to face with the scary world of R.L. Stine.

In an unprecedented collaboration, twenty-three of the world’s bestselling and critically acclaimed thriller writers have paired their series characters in an eleven-story anthology curated by the International Thriller Writers (ITW). Edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci, FACEOFF  is a who’s who of not only the most beloved contemporary thriller writers, but also their iconic characters—putting them head-to-head with their most worthy opponents.

As worlds collide, the characters you think you know best are thrown into unpredictable situations and partnered with, pitted against, and, in some cases, romantically entangled with, characters you’d never suspect—and some that you would. With introductions to the stories that describes the writers, their characters, and a bit about the story’s creation, FACEOFF is truly a treasure trove for thriller fans.

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This collaboration sounded like such a great idea, I just had to read it.  Even if you are not familiar with some of the characters (as I was), you will enjoy these stories.

In The Laughing Budda by M.J. Rose and Lisa Gardner and antique dealer is found dead in his Boston office.  D.D. Warren finds Malachai Samuel's business card clutched in the hands of the dead man.  She discovers he is a person of interest in numerous crimes and travels to New York to interview him.  Much to D.D.'s frustration, Dr. Samuels is not helpful. The crime is solved in a unique way.

In Surfing the Panther by Steve Martini and Linda Fairstein, Paul Madriani and Alexandra Cooper are at a lawyer's conference participating on a panel where they are pitted against each other.  A man approaches them after while they are having a drink together and says he has important information about Paul's current case.  Does this information help or hinder Paul's case?

In Good and Valuable Consideration by Lee Child and Joseph Finder, Drifter Jack Reacher finds himself in a Boston Bar watching the Yankees vs Red Sox game.  Nick Heller is there as well.  A man acting strangely is sitting between them.  Both Jack and Nick know something is up with this man, and whether or not they want to they end up helping him as only these two can.

About ITW: The International Thriller Writers is an honorary society of authors, both fiction and nonfiction, who write books broadly classified as “thrillers.” This would include (but isn’t limited to) such subjects as murder mystery, detective, suspense, horror, supernatural, action, espionage, true crime, war, adventure, and myriad similar subject areas. One of the main purposes of the organization is to provide a way for successful, bestselling authors to help debut and midlist authors advance their careers. In addition, ITW promotes literacy, gives money to worthy organizations, supports libraries, and advances the genre. For more information, visit: www.thrillerwriters.org.

The writers involved with FaceOff will be featured at Thriller Fest 2014


This complimentary review copy was received thankfully from Amanda and Meryl L. Moss Media and in no way influenced my review of this book. These are my personal thoughts and reactions to the reading of the book.