Quote from “A Lady by Midnight,” by Tessa Dare [image]
★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Nicely read by Carolyn Morris. The men sound like meQuote from “A Lady by Midnight,” by Tessa Dare [image]
★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Nicely read by Carolyn Morris. The men sound like men and the women like women, all with their own distinguishing voice. Accents are good, as well as inflections. Good pacing.
I’ll admit that I’m reading my way though this series in order to get to book #5. However, I thought I would have to trudge through one or two of the books - and instead find I am quite enjoying the journey, as TD is an excellent writer. Lovely story, this one. A very tender love story, thus different from book #2, which has been my favorite thus far. Even though this installment is more tender, the characters are strong, if the heroine is a bit consistently optimistic. I was in the mood for optimism, so hers worked for me.
I like that I really, really thought the book was going to go one way - on more than one occasion - and it didn’t. Plus, there is a wonderful epilogue - years in the future! Yay!...more
★★★★★ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Wonderfully narrated by Joan Walker. She is a skilled
Elsa’s beloved Gryffindor House Scarf
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★★★★★ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Wonderfully narrated by Joan Walker. She is a skilled narrator, bringing the book to live with her excellent delivery. It is like she inhabits the character for the time she is delivering their lines and thoughts.
Fredrik Backman is so good I’ve put him on my “auto-buy” authors list. (Henning Koch translates again, so I suspect I must give him some credit, too.) I’ve got a stack of FB’s books to read, so I’m glad I finally had an excuse to get to another one when SOS’s Book Shelf Bingo called the “Magical Realism” shelf. While not all his books fall on this shelf, this one does.
It is not a fast book, however, it is worth the wait of the plot development. You have to pay attention, to get connections by the end. It was easy to relate to the main characters in this book, and I think the grandmother steals the show. Such a wonderfully, eccentric character who loves her granddaughter fiercely. She tells her granddaughter, Elsa, of an “alternate universe” filled with fairy-tales in “the land of almost awake.” (I say fairy-tales, but they really aren’t for children.) Then she gives Elsa a task, or a quest, if you will, and Elsa learns many life lessons....more
★★★★★ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Renée Raudman’s narration of this book made it even better. Al
...The Tear of the Aegean...
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★★★★★ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Renée Raudman’s narration of this book made it even better. Almost perfection. I did notice she used the same voice for tertiary characters from other books for new ones here, but really, who could blame her? Her repertoire is pretty darn good. She is great with differentiation, even between the males. She has the pacing of the snarky dialogue perfect, too.
How is it possible that I fall more and more in love with Mad Rogan with each installment? Amazing. And the sizzle between Mad Rogan and Nevada is still there. Nevada holds her own with the Dragon. Nevada’s grandmother on her mother’s side, Grandma Frieda, continues to be relied on for comic relief, but the one on her father’s side...Victoria Tremaine? She is one seriously scary matriarch.
What can I say? I love this series. It has absolutely got to continue. Please don’t say this is the last! The episode is not left with any loose ends; however, there is much more to tell in the series’ arching story-line between the Magic Houses. All characters bring exciting surprises this round. Great world-building, plenty of action, wonderful secondary characters -- especially Nevada’s siblings, whose stories I want! Like, right now!...more
One of my favorite quotes from “One Fell Swoop.”
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★★★★★ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Renee Raudman, as a narrator for Ilona And
One of my favorite quotes from “One Fell Swoop.”
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★★★★★ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Renee Raudman, as a narrator for Ilona Andrews, is on point. Gosh, I’m fickle. I can’t decide which series she narrates the best! However, she seems to be enjoying these stories as much as I so - and is just as hooked. LOL! Ms. Raudman’s pacing and inflection are great in this action-packed installment of The InnKeeper. She gives a unique voice to each of the many marvelous characters, even the males.
As far as the story-line, Caldenia says it all. This is far and away from any version of boring. The action starts at the opening chapter and doesn’t let up. But, it still finds time for a little fun and romance. And just when I think these two authors can’t possibly be more creative with their world-building, they prove me wrong. Amazing. They sure had me worried for Dina in this one!! Yikes!
Be warned: There isn’t a big, shinny bow to wrap up the series, with all our questions neatly answered. For one, what is the fascination with Sean by all the other werewolves? Intriguing. This is a good thing, as this means this book is just the last in Volume One, not the end of the series. There is another volume to come. Maybe more? Yay!...more
★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) I enjoyed Renée Raudman’s narration of this book. She breathes life into many of Ilon Apple trees... [image]
★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) I enjoyed Renée Raudman’s narration of this book. She breathes life into many of Ilona Andrews's works and this is no exception. Her pacing is wonderful and her voices varied, all while having the appropriate emotion in all the right spots. (Yes, that is exactly what I said about #1. Verbatim. But, it all still applies.)
Wow. I just love this series. There are so many things to like about it: the strong but feminine heroine, the amazing secondary characters, the futuristic setting, the plot and its pacing, the intertwined mysteries, the budding romance. **sigh** Event the pets are wonderful. LOL!
This, the second in the series, was a great read. Or listen, as Ms. Raudman’s narration kicks it up a level. This one is even better than the first, which I didn’t think was possible. This is mostly due to the character development. I don’t usually like political storylines; however, I was caught up in this one. It pulled me in with it tapestry of peace negations, magic and mystery.
I will admit that I referred the the eBook, as there were a lot of characters in this installment. I had to reference it to keep them straight.
And, as an added bonus, George, Jack and Sophie are in it! (They’re from The Edge series.) Woohoo!...more
“Dina & Beast (her über Shih Tzu); Sean (a werewolf), Arland (a vampire), Caldenia (alien), with Gertrude Hunt (the Inn in the center) from Innkeeper “Dina & Beast (her über Shih Tzu); Sean (a werewolf), Arland (a vampire), Caldenia (alien), with Gertrude Hunt (the Inn in the center) from Innkeeper Chronicles.” Art by Doris Annette Disanthus that appears in the book & on the author(s)’ site. [image]
★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) I enjoyed Renée Raudman’s narration of this book. She breathes life into many of Ilona Andrews’s works and this is no exception. Her pacing is wonderful and her voices varied, all while having the appropriate emotion in all the right spots.
Wow! This book is so many things; it is hard to pick just one adjective: extremely creative, intriguing, funny, thrilling, containing witty dialogue, and just plain entertaining. This book is fast-paced and has the ability to make far-fetched things seem very, very believable. And there are a lot of far-fetched things in this book: aliens, werewolves, vampires, witches, magic brooms, sentient dwellings, and an über Shih Tzu! All set in a small Texas suburban neighbor where Dina’s Bed & Breakfast is supposed to remain neutral. Yeah. Good luck with that!...more
★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Several people have complained about the narrator’s stacc
Alex’s Chinese Crested, AKA “PC.”
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★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Several people have complained about the narrator’s staccato deliver for this series’ debut; however, I thought Emily Durante did a nice job. I also listen to audiobooks somewhere between 1.25 and 2.00 speed (This one I listened at 1.5 speed.) This book is First Person POV, and I felt Ms. Durante was Alex Craft, telling me her experiences. Sure, she doesn’t have a wide repertoire of voices and accents, but what she has gets the job done more than adequately. I’m glad to see she continues the series’ readings.
I just loved this book! Real Life got in the way of my devouring it in one sitting; however, I stayed up all night and finished it off the first chance I got. I don’t read a lot of Urban Fantasy (Historical Romance is my drug of choice). Nevertheless, I do keep up with most of the major ones, which have become my favorites: Mercy Thompson, The Dresden Files, Alpha & Omega, The Others, Immortals After Dark, Psy-Changling, Parasol Protectorate, Daughter of Smoke & Bone, & The Edge. They are certainly ones I have kept close on my “anticipation” pile. This series is definitely going in that section of my bookshelf, too. In fact, I've already downloaded the next book.
Alex Craft came across as very “real” to me. Well, as real as a witch in fairy land can be. She tough, but not Rambo Kick-Ass tough. Very likable. The pace of the story and the mystery held my attention, along with the futuristic world atmosphere where magic is recognized. Also, I'm NOT one for love triangles, but there is a hint of one here, and it is very well done; it doesn’t come across as a YA or NA book at all....more
★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) I haven't heard the narrator, David Chandler, read before. At first, neither he nor the book grabbed me. I ★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) I haven't heard the narrator, David Chandler, read before. At first, neither he nor the book grabbed me. I mean, I was interested, but not captivated. That changed as the book progressed! Looking forward to listening to him narrate the rest of this series, as he certainly became Joe Pickett to me.
Excellent start to the series. Nice slow build, that comes to a believable and satisfying conclusion. Sure, at times, I knew where the story was going, but there were certainly some surprises. And my heart was in my throat more than once. I was on the edge of my seat by the end. I've already downloaded the next in the series.
★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) So very glad that Ashford McNab is back to reading this series. (They hadSweetest Scoundrel stepback [image]
★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) So very glad that Ashford McNab is back to reading this series. (They had someone else do a few occasionally, and one was a disaster!) This book has fully developed characters from different class echelons, expressing a wide range of emotions, and she handles them all wonderfully. Her vocal differentiation of characters brings them all alive. And the love scenes? **LK fans self over the carriage scene** She gives these earthy sizzlers the narration they deserve.
Eve Dinwoody and Asa Makepeace are a devilishly wonderful, flawed couple. Talk about opposites attracting! Whoa. I’m pleased that Eve is a bastard daughter of a Duke, as these persons are often overlooked in Historical Romances. She’s plain, shy, and lives a quite life, but is by no means a push-over. And - finally, finally - we get Ash’s story! Masculine, loud, brash, foul mouthed, overwhelmingly virile, and extremely focused on rebuilding Harte’s Foley, his preeminent pleasure garden in London. He turns his attentions on Eve, to grovel (after first being rude) when she threatens to cut her brother’s purse strings, only to eventually see her inner allure, help her overcome her fears, and inevitably fall in love.
I adore the way Ms. Hoyt writes her Maiden Lane series. Not a lot of HRs are set in the Georgian era, but her setting comes alive in these books. This was a time of harsh social unrest, from which this author hasn’t shied away. However, with Ash’s rebuilding of his gardens, we now get to see the beauty of this period. I also delight in her always making me have to look up the definition of a word or two, but by contrast, not having me stumble over these words; they just flow. Love, Henry, the dog in the story, too. But most of all, I love the way there is no doubt of a HEA for these two deserving characters....more
★★★★✩ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Okay, you definitely have to suspend belief in this series. There must have been a dozen time when Abby ★★★★✩ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Okay, you definitely have to suspend belief in this series. There must have been a dozen time when Abby should have gone to the police...99% of the population would have! But then, her not doing so make for many more "Eeep!" moments. ...more
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