Tag Archives: audiobooks

“Dark Wolf,” by Christine Feehan, Dark Series, Book 25

Dark Wolf by Christine Feehan Image

Image above from url: http://www.audiobookstanddl.com/9F06783A-2485-4B86-822F-90B59FC19C7B/10/119/en/SearchResults.htm?SearchID=38726141&SortBy=title

What happens when Carpathians meet Mage? You get “Dark Wolf,” by Christine Feehan. This Carpathain novel is special not only due to the Mage element but also because Skyler from “Dark Legend” is coming of age. Skyler is a key in both novels and I enjoyed being reintroduced to Skyler this time as a young woman instead of a damaged child that Francesca saves in “Dark Legend.”

Here’s a quote from “Dark Wolf,”
“‘No. You’re my best friend, Sky. Dimitri probably despises me and wishes I was dead, but he’s your lifemate and he’s been literally thrown to the wolves.’ Josef sent her a little grin, pleased with his pun. ‘Of course I’m going to help you. I helped you come up with this plan, didn’t I? And it will work.”

Skyler, Josef and Paul are on a mission to save Dimitri from a slow tortuous death at the hands of the Lycans. The wolves mistake Dimitri for a monster that will destroy them all when all he’s ever done is protect them.

Skyler learns she has more gifts than she thought, but will they be enough to keep them all safe as they attempt to free Dimitri? Will they reach Dimitri before his heart is attacked by the silver the Lycans have been injecting into his body?

I enjoyed this story, “Dark Wolf,” by Christine Feehan. The scenes are vividly described. The characters are people I’d like to get to know more because I appreciate their loyalty and love for one another.

The audiobook is well produced by Brilliance Audio at http://www.audiobookstanddl.com/. The two narrators, Phil Gigante and Natalie Ross, do an excellent job team reading “Dark Wolf.” Trading off when the male or female characters are prominent in the scenes. The characters are easy to identify and the story free flowing with dialog that lends itself well to reading.

“Dark Wolf,” brings new life to the Carpathian story adding new possibilities to the characters and their journey fighting vampires and evil where ever they find it.  Christine Feehan’s characters bring healing to those that need it the most.  The evil elements in the stories are brought to justice in ways that are fair and equatable.   The women are strong and capable of taking care of themselves and those they love.  Keep on writing, Christine.

I’m thankful that Hennepin County Library had this title available on Overdrive rented downloads.

Here are other places to acquire “Dark Wolf.”

Audiobook
http://www.audiobookstanddl.com/9F06783A-2485-4B86-822F-90B59FC19C7B/10/119/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=E87F76CB-C69F-499A-BBAC-55EB91DBCD77

Book

Kindle

“Hidden Away” by Maya Banks KGI Series Novel

Hidden Away by Maya Banks Kindle e-book on Amazon

Garrett Kelly is sent on a mission to capture Marcus Lattimer – a man that had cost the lives of the very men sent in to save him years earlier. Its personal with Garrett – a point of honor to see Marcus pay for his treasonous acts. So when Resnick wants Garret to stake out Sarah Daniels, a pawn that will bring Lattimer out of hiding, he’s eager to take the assignment.

Here are some quotes from the beginning of Maya Banks’ “Hidden Away”:

“‘I’m so sorry, Marcus. It should have been me who killed him,’ she [Sarah Daniels] whispered.”….

“‘So where do I come in?’ Garrett asked.”….

“‘Yeah. He’ll [Marcus Lattimer] show. Sarah’s too important to him. She’s the only … thing he seems to care about in the world….'” [from Resnick]

Garrett senses a connection with Sarah from the beginning. He knows she’s been badly hurt but is torn. He must stay true to the mission – catch Marcus Lattimer.

Will his reasons for deception be enough to convince Sarah he had honorable intentions?

Harry Berkley delivers again with an emotionally charged reading of Hidden Away. The characters take on a new vivid life as I listen. Really first rate rendition.

Maya Banks tackles the tough topics in this story with grace and dignity. She gives the women in her stories difficult roles that they are well able to handle. I enjoy reading about strong women taking on tasks that have been given to men for far too long.

Maya also gives her male characters compassion and the ability to show their emotions. Garrett is powerful yet vulnerable which makes me admire him all the more.

“Hidden Away” is full of drama, mystery and romance. A great addition to the KGI Series. Hope you get a chance to read the book and/or listen to the audiobook. Happy reading.

I got my copy from One Click Digital provided by Hennepin County Library. It is also available via these links:

e-book:

audiobook:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/hidden-away-unabridged/id544976257

“The Darkest Hour” by Maya Banks

AmazonImageofTheDarkestHourbyMayaBanks
Ethan Kelly believed his wife had been killed a year earlier.  He’s broken by the loss due to his sense of guilt over how they had last parted and subsequent awakening to how much he loved and needed her in his life.  Then suddenly he receives an envelope with information that contains a photo of a woman that looks very much like his late wife.  Could it really be Rachel and if so, how will they find her?

Here’s some quotes from Maya Banks’ “The Darkest Hour” from the opening chapter:

“The FedEx package lay to the side,….”

“He dragged out a stack of papers….”

“It was a photo of a woman, obviously a prisoner in some … jungle camp.  If Ethan had to guess, he’d place odds on South America or maybe Asia….”

“The woman looked remarkably like Rachel.  His wife, Rachel who was dead.”

Ethan believes the woman in the photo is his wife so the KGI team are called together to go on a rescue mission to get Rachel back.  It will be a fight like none they’ve ever done in the past.  Ethan is in a hurry so they go in with limited help but they all believe that the woman, could it really be Rachel, has limited time.

The narrator of the audiobook, Harry Berkley, does an excellent job bringing out the depth of emotions that Ethan is experiencing. Listening, you feel like you’re in the jungle fighting for your life. Very well written and produced on the audiobook side.

Maya Banks really gets to the root of the consequences of drug abuse and the many layers that go into making a marriage.  No matter your age or gender this book is written for anyone living the human experience.

I must stress the writing in this book was superb, so much emotional depth was given to the characters I feel like I’d know them if they walked up on the street.  Keep on writing, Maya Banks you have a gift for storytelling few ever master.

I listened to the One Click Digital audiobook from my local library, Hennepin County Library.  Thank you @HCLIB for having the greatest selection of audio and e books of comparable libraries of your size. Keep on doing what you do.

You may also get this title on kindle at this link:

Or Audiobook at this link:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/darkest-hour-kelly-group-international/id573395305

“Enticed by His Forgotten Lover” by Maya Banks

Rafael is at a very exclusive fund raiser that he’s throwing and bumps into a pregnant woman that claims to know him. He has no memory of her but is intrigued so tracks her down to her hotel room. She not only doesn’t back down but claims he fathered her unborn child as well.

Here’s a quote from Maya Banks’ “Enticed by His Forgotten Lover”, from beginning of the book, that sums up Rafael and Bryony’s relationship while giving us a  glimpse of the mystery that unfolds throughout the story:

“It was hard for him to discern why he was so arrested by her….
“….’Met? Have we met?’ Her voice was barely above a whisper, but he felt each word like the crack of a whip. ‘You sorry bastard!’
“Before he could process the shock of her outburst she nailed him with a right hook….”

I love Maya Banks dialog – it flows into the narration seamlessly. When the narrator, Harry Berkley reads the manuscript there’s no breaks with he said or she said type repetition its perfectly scripted for audio. Harry also gives Rafael’s character depth with the accent he chooses.

“Enticed by His Forgotten Lover” is a mystery romance that will keep you guessing to the end. I enjoy Maya Banks’ descriptive scenes and her ability to make up intriguing characters that I want to learn more about.

Maya is an engaging author, I want to know how it ends so I listen at every opportunity until the very last word. Thanks, Maya for delivering with “Enticed by His Forgotten Lover”.

Also thanks to my local library for providing this title on One Click Digital provided by Hennepin County Library – love this libraries selection of audio and e-books.

You may also purchase audiobook at the link below:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/enticed-by-his-forgotten-lover/id627801063

Or Kindle e-book at the link below:

Book Reviews – Melissa Style

Hi Everyone,

Hope where you are the weather is getting milder, frozen North is still frozen but we have hope – around 40 today so all things are possible.

This is a note on my philosophy on book reviews.  I’m not doing my reviews for money or any sort of compensation – such as free books or other give a ways.

I’m doing my reviews because a librarian once told me to read only what you like when its for entertainment. So I read for enjoyment and hope you’ll be able to pick out books you’ll like based on my reviews.

Since I’m doing this as a way to share my likes you won’t see critical reviews on this site.  Sometimes I wonder why, with our finite time on earth, some feel it necessary to be critical.  You’ll accomplish much more by promoting and supporting authors you like and you’ll feel better when you’re sharing positive energy.

I do the same with any reviews on Amazon or iTunes where my user name is MissMed51.  In those cases it will cover reviews not only on books, but movies, TV or equipment I may need to buy.

This is my soap box talk for tonight – won’t promise never to do another post like this one but will if needed.  A good rule of thumb is this, if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.  Don’t know who said that but have been hearing it in one form or another all my life and whenever I follow the advice my life goes very smoothly.

Also, one should always remember, each of us has a bias where anything is concerned.  Know the books you enjoy reading and review those. There are many styles – find one that makes you say, yes, this is something I like.

Authors are making their living based on book sales – your opinion matters – make the most of it.  My wish is to help out a few authors while sharing my joy in having shared an imaginary world with them for the length of the book.  Hope you find something in what I write that helps you find your favorite book type that will lead to your next arm chair trip into the jungles of South America or the Carpathian Mountains in Europe. Take some time to travel.

Why I Recommend “Delusion in Death” In Death, Book 35 by J.D. Robb Book & Audiobook?

What do you look for in a good mystery?

First thing I want is a complex crime that takes some time solving. I want a strong detective that thinks through their search in a way I can share. The criminal(s) needs to have some moves that keep police guessing.

These key elements are in every J.D. Robb story. “Delusion in Death” is no exception.

The crime is particularly nasty because friends are viciously killing friends, no apparent reason is on scene, and they are dying in very large numbers.  The time of the murders is also ironic – during Happy Hour.

Eve – a strong, smart female Lieutenant of Detectives at NYPSD – knows there’s more going on than just a bad day.  She starts her investigation with her usual style – all business. Her methodical search gives me a look into the criminal mind and the motives that drive them.

“Delusion in Death” brings out the best in Eve helping her learn more about how she thinks so I, as the reader, find insight into my own thoughts.  Always more than just the main story in J.D. Robb books.  When I study the story I acquire knowledge about human nature, what it takes to keep sanity on a job, and maintain a happy, healthy home life in a stressful career.

Give “Delusion in Death” a look – you won’t be disappointed.

Why try the audiobook? Because Susan Ericksen is the narrator of the series!  She creates characters I recognize from tone and inflection alone.  Emotions come out as the story unfolds.  Better than any old time radio drama by far.

The number one reason to try the audio J.D. Robb writes dialog that’s real (doesn’t describe every conversation with said, or asked, for examples – the text flows together without identifying every nuance of the speech).  You’ll never find yourself keying in on and counting phrases like “he said” or “she said” instead of what the book is about.

Where I buy J.D. Robb is at the following links:

Audiobook:

http://www.audiobookstanddl.com/51FA9AEE-1110-4CCE-AEDD-204FCE8C8D55/10/119/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=75779298-4189-4E72-8A3C-5505161828D1

My Favorite for Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb books, audiobooks and movies:

http://ttpbooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=TTPB&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=X35DELUSIONmm

Book and Kindle:

10 Christmas Lights – Linkis.com

10 Christmas Lights – Linkis.com.

Check out this poet – she’s the best:) Regina Puckett’s writing moves the soul and spirit.

Release Date for MIRANDA WARNING, Audio Version of God’s Daughter, & Call Out for Early Readers

Love mysteries on audiobooks reminds me of old-time radio drama. Thanks for sharing I’ll be watching for “God’s Daughter,” by Heather Day Gilbert

“Whispers in the Dark” by Maya Banks – Romantic Thriller

What makes this KGI Series Book 4 a must read?

When a tough man is nearly broken its a story but when a woman this man has never met steps in with an empathetic gift to bring him comfort and new hope you have a Maya Banks romantic thriller.

Fast paced novel with lots of twists and turns but throughout you never give up hope. The images that Maya Banks writes about are still in my mind, when the hero is searching for his rescuer she describes what’s around her. Its as if I can still remember the smell of pine – the writing a vivid intense artwork.

When you finish you’ll want to read about Shea’s sister, Grace, a class act that wants the best for Shea.

Great story of family love and what really goes into defining a true clan.

Since I also benefited from the audio version of this book, I wanted to say that Harry Berkeley does a first class job with creating distinct voices for every character. Hearing the story really brings it to life.

I hope you all get the chance to experience “Whispers in the Dark,” its not your average thriller but something more.

Below is the image for Book 5, Grace’s book.

Echoes at Dawn

Here are some links to where you may find the Whispers in the Dark (I’m also thankful to Hennepin County Library for providing this excellent work on OneClickDigital last link listed below::

https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/whispers-in-dark-kgi-novel/id533299033
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/whispers-in-the-dark/id453095699?mt=11
http://hennepinmn.oneclickdigital.com/Login.aspx

Link

Enticed by His Forgotten Lover

Enticed by His Forgotten Lover

New York Times best-selling author Maya Banks presents a story of lost love and new beginnings.

This novel grabs you and won’t let go – recommend for all that love a good mystery/romance.

Listening to this title today courtesy  of OneClickDigital an excellent source of audiobooks from Hennepin Count Library

See http://www.hclib.org/pub/

Love the selection at this library in Minneapolis MN. Be sure to support your local libraries – so much more than just books are shared – check yours out today.