Saturday, October 29, 2016

Daisy Does It All


Daisy Does It All: Clover Park, Book 2

Written by: Kylie Gilmore
Narrated by: Charles Lawrence
Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
Series: Clover Park, Book 2
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:07-14-16
Publisher: Extra Fancy Books

My Review

I really understood where Daisy comes from with her fantasy blog what I had trouble understanding was how she thought she would get away with what she did and the whole family and friends going along with it. Too many people in town know her it would have come out sooner or later. So for me this was a little over the top but it sure made for a good listen even if I didn’t find it believable lol. I really enjoyed this from the narration to the plot I enjoyed the humor the bickering between Daisy and Travis. This story takes off where book 1 stops. Daisy is having a hard time being a single mother she starts a blog on being a new mother with it getting out of control telling how wonderful being a mother and wife is. What a wonderful baby and husband she has. When it grabs so much attention a talk show wants to come interview her. Before she knows what she has done she has agreed wow she has really messed up and goes back and forwards whether she should go it or not. It doesn’t take long for things to get out of control first one things and then another happens. You will not believe all the bad luck one women can have as the author puts a few twists in the way spinning story of humor and mayhem.

The narration of Mr. Lawrence is outstanding as he brings the characters to life for me with his many wonderful character voices. I could really feel the frustration in Daisy as she comes to terms on her life what she wants, needs and desires along with a few home truths. Travis you can really feel what he is going through as he supports Daisy but uses a little blackmail to get what he wants. I really enjoyed all his characters voices. I am amazed that he knew which voice went to which character from book 1. His male voices are just as great as his female ones. He has the right tone for each emotion that you can really feel what each character is going through. I did not hear any background noise if any breaks were taken you could not tell. There was not anywhere the volume was higher or lower than the chapters before what he deliverers is a clear, clean audio that you really get into. Between him and the author they had me laughing out loud a few times. This is one narrator that can pull me in giving me a very highly entertaining listen that keeps me invested in the characters. I can’t wait to listen to more from this narrator I hope you will take the time to check out his work.

I did enjoy this I thought it was a little much but truly made a delightful story. It wasn’t long before I was taken in with the humor as the author takes you through each road block that comes their way. The throws a few surprises in. Not everything is coming up roses for this couple as it looks like the I do’s will be coming soon the author throws a twist that brings much pain. The past comes back to haunt Daisy in the worst way at the worse time. Not everyone here is likable there are a few you would like to harm, give them a piece of your mind as you drag them from the book to give them a taste of reality. I really loved seeing the past characters. That grandmother is up to her old tricks keeping you on your toes with her many over the top ways. You are so going to love this lady as you find what she keeps in her kitchen as well as around her home. I know I had my mouth fall open a few times as I laughed my way through shaking my head. My heart really went out to Daisy as I look back and remember my time of being a new mother. The author sure hits the emotions right on the head with the feelings of not being good enough, being too tired, the scream and so much more. The reason for the 4.5 stars is I can’t buy into Daisy really going through with the interview. The blog fantasy yes I can believe that but the rest no. It does make a very good listen and very entertaining with an audio I could not put down. Nothing wrong with a little fantasy. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I have I can’t wait to see what the next book in this series is all about.


Buy Links
Audible

Amazon


B&N

Kobo

Summary

Reality is overrated.
Exhausted single mom Daisy Garner is shocked when her blog about life with Darling Husband and Baby Delight in their charming Victorian home brings a national talk show to her door.
Amazing! Except she made the whole thing up.
Panic! Now she needs to borrow a Victorian house and find a man to play her fake husband on TV.
Travis O'Hare steps up for the role, as long as she'll marry him for real. He wants their son to have the stable home life Travis never had.
But before the wedding can happen, Travis and Daisy have to get through the interview with a ratings hungry host and a slick producer with ties to Daisy's troubled past. When a winter storm traps them all, it begs the question: can two people pretending at love finally discover the real thing?

Witness for the Defens


Witness for the Defense: Kali O'Brien, Book 4

Written by: Jonnie Jacobs
Narrated by: Cindy Piller
Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins
Series: Kali O'Brien, Book 4
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:04-29-16
Publisher: Jonnie Jacobs


My Review
I honestly did not see the end coming I was kept in suspense as to who the killer was until the end. This was a very suspenseful thrilling exciting listen that keeps you guessing to the outcome. I will be very surprised if you can guess it. I also found it to be very emotional with the life of a baby is left in the balance as to who will become its parents. One man no one likes comes up dead leaving so many people to point the finger at. One woman must put all the pieces together why another holds on for justice as the race is on to find the true killer and what their reason for the killing was. This is a top head line story could the accursed be guilty or is someone else to blame. First you must look at his friends there is something fishy going on there.  You will meet his ex’s and a few surprises along the way as the days go by still leaving you wondering who is guilty. The author gives you a story inside a story of a woman and man who feel guilty for their past love as lives are taken with no answers. As they renew their relationship not knowing what step to take. The ending will come as a big surprise shocking you as all the answer are given to all your questions. I never saw it coming….

A couple comes to see Kali about adopting a baby that isn’t born yet. These are famous people who have a girl living with them that will give them her baby. You would think this is all clear and straight up but the author weaves some mystery here leaving you wondering what will happen. Kali doesn’t feel comfortable helping as she finds out new things. She is in too deep now to walk away as Steven comes back into her life leaving her feeling uneasy. Things are going well the Harper’s give so much to the unborn babies mother helping her anyway they can going so far as to move her in. Everything is going great, the baby is born, the papers signed finally the end is near until a man comes forward saying he is the baby’s father.  No one but No one wants this evil man to take charge of this innocent baby. One person is very serious about him not getting his hand on her they went as far as killing him. All evidence points to Ms. Harper. All the clues at the scene can tie her to the crime but there is not enough DNA to prove it. Leaving Kali with not much to go on she must piece this puzzle together before and innocent women is sent to jail or is she innocent? What you will find here will surprise you as the author throws in a surprise to keep you guessing, and then some more that will leave you spinning looking first at one and then another.

The narrator really brings this story to life she puts so much of herself into it from the emotions to the excitement, mystery and thrills.  She paints a very vivid picture you have no trouble picturing in your mind as she takes you through each step right down to the ending that will blow your mind. Her character voices are outstanding you have no trouble feeling what each character feels with each emotion laid right out for you. Ms. Piller hits each tone right on the money from the fear, tears, sorrow, sadness, happiness right down to the feeling of lost. Her male voices are just as good as her female ones with the males being strong, powerful, lost, fear, degrading and downright mean to her female ones that show fear, sorrow, hate, and confusion as she takes you on a spellbound journey of finding a killer and giving justice.  There were no background noises or any place where the volume is higher or lower than any other places in the audio just a clear, crisp listen that keeps you hanging on as she takes you through a compelling listen.  If any breaks were taken you could not tell. Ms. Piller puts her heart and soul into this audio pulling the listener in taking you through to a very surprising ending. I did not find anything about her performance that I did not like. She did a wonderful outstanding job. I can’t wait to listen to more of her work.

The ending is very happy and sad at the same time leaving with your mouth hung open saying WOW. I have to wonder if I was in the same shoe what I would have done. I can’t say I didn’t like it or even that I did like it. What I can say is it left me feeling so sorry for a few and so happy for some others. The author put a lot of thought and time into planning this story as she twist and turns her way through the complex story. She throws in a few surprises along the way from the babies really father who is a very nasty man who doesn’t like women leaving you wondering why he would want to keep this baby girl. Just when you think you have a handle on it the author throws a new twist in leaving you with your mouth hanging open. So many people have reason to want this radio talk show host dead from women group to his ex’s even the baby’s mother can’t stand him. Heck I can’t even stand him and would be happy to end his life if someone hadn’t done it for me.  So many people to point the finger at so few clues as to whom the real killer is. What the author brings to the read is thrills, excitement, sorrow, mystery, lose, love, needs, wants and justice. For me this was a very emotional listen that really tore at my heartstring for so many reasons. I hope you will pick this audio or book up I am sure you will find it as compelling as I did.

Buy Links
Audible

Amazon

B&N

Kobo


Summary

With her unique blend of courtroom drama and feverish suspense, critically acclaimed author Jonnie Jacobs has won a legion of fans for her Kali O'Brien thrillers. Now the edgy San Francisco attorney is back to handle a simple adoption - and winds up defending her client for murder....
Straightforward and short term: that's precisely the kind of case Kali O'Brien needs at the moment. Yet the Harper adoption makes her uneasy from the start. Maybe it's because psychologist Steven Cross - a man whose path hasn't crossed hers since the tragedy that shattered his life and their forbidden relationship years ago - unexpectedly referred the couple to her. Or could it be that Ted and Terri Harper's previous brush with parenthood ended in heartache when the birth mother changed her mind?
This time around, the former star quarterback and his lovely blonde wife aren't taking any chances. They've even moved pregnant Melissa Burke into their lavish Pacific Heights home. As Kali watches her determined clients shower the lonesome teenager with love and attention, she can't help wondering just how desperate they are to claim the unborn child. When Melissa delivers a healthy baby girl and promptly signs the final adoption papers, Kali breathes a sigh of relief...until Bram Weaver surfaces.
The controversial, chauvinistic radio talk show host announces he's the baby's father - a claim Melissa can't dispute. With a sinking heart, Kali prepares to defend the Harpers in a bitter custody battle that's certain to end in the birth father's favor - until the case takes a shocking turn when somebody murders Weaver. Despite Terri Harper's staunch denial, the police have compelling evidence linking her to the crime, leaving Kali to wonder how far an emotionally fraught new mother will go to protect her child.





The Killer Net


The Killer Net


Written by: Matthew W. Grant
Narrated by: Jeannie Lin
Length: 4 hrs and 7 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:04-16-15
Publisher: Granite Gate Media



My Review
This starts out with a bang and ended with one that is full of excitement, it is a pretty fast pace suspenseful listen leaving you guessing at the victim and who the killer is. There were times I held my breath thinking just maybe it would work out. Who the killer was did cross my mind once but I thought no that can’t be him. There were times I thought how dumb can a victim be only to find out at times they aren’t too smart but you are let wondering if it was you would you have done the same things at times like this no one things to clear. There were times the killer made me chuckle I know that isn’t how it is suppose to me but I found his action at times a little on the humor side. There were also times when I felt so low and bad for the victim I just wanted to jump into the book and get them out. The cover of this book fits it so well you can see the face of the victim in the knife you find as you listen you are picturing the same thing. You will find thrills, chills, horror, suspense.fear and pain here as a mad man teases the cops leaving them at a lost on how to stop him and one woman who tries to outwit him at every turn that is until he has her in his sites.

I totally LOVED Ms. Lin as the narrator she really brought this story to life for me pulling me in leaving me hanging to the edge of my seat waiting to see what else the author came up with. I really loved her many different character voices they were delivered with clean, clear tones that really put the fear into the victim and those listening. She put the correct emotion into each scene when the victim screamed so did she giving it the feel of a movie coming to life before your eyes. If any breaks were taken you could not tell, there were no places where the volume was higher or lower than any other place in the book. I found no background noises or sounds just a clean crisp listen. Her male voices where as pleasing as her female ones. The males are very strong, sexy, delightful and at times very scary. Her females were soft, at times sexy, strong and fearful. There was nothing I didn’t like about her narration she did a wonderful great job pulling the reader in giving a very vivid listen that will stay with you for awhile. I am so looking forward to listening to more of her work in the near future.

This is one author that knows how to keep you in suspense as he takes you through the twists and turns giving you a compelling listen. I really felt sorry for Jennifer wanting a dream job that she is so close to yet so far away. Some of her choices were not always wise but I feel if we were in her shoes we would have went the same way. I know I got weird looks as I shopped when I would whisper no, no run, run or yes, yes do that again or OH NO this can’t be good. I loved the poems they were just so natural and so like a killer would do. I started feeling like the police did, lost and totally looking like a fool. The author gives a very detailed story that you have no trouble picturing in your mind. It isn’t too graphic but you are in no doubt what happen. There were times I was cheering for the victim when they got the upper hand and times I got very upset with the killer for the things he did. This is a story that could be pulled out of today’s headlines. It is very believable. It is one that will really sink in and not let you go. I found it to be very suspenseful, fast pace thrilling and exciting that kept me on the edge. You are going to love the twists and turns as the author takes you through each scene leaving you breathless and your heart racing.

 It is a race against the clock as the killer counts down to number one….leaving us guessing who that might be. Will they find the killer before time runs out and they lose someone they dearly love or know? I highly recommend this to anyone who likes thrills, suspense and serial killers you will find this to be a wonderful listen. From the author to the narrator it is a wonderful exciting listen. I enjoyed this so much I picked it as one of my favorite listens.


Buy Links
Audio
http://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/The-Killer-Net-Audiobook/B00W688Z1K

Amazon

B&N

Summary

Ten little girls sat at their computers
Wondering who they'd find on line
One entered a chat room with a killer
And then there were nine. . .
On the eve of the new millennium, thousands of people logged on to the Internet for the first time every day. Some were looking for love. Some were looking for victims.
In The Killer Net, courageous police department secretary, Jennifer Warren, matches wits against a computer genius who lures women in under the pretense of looking for a relationship. He boldly taunts the police with e-mail poems about their murders sent from the crime scenes. The cops continue to arrive only to discover another dead body and no way to find a killer who has disappeared without a trace.

A Sanguine Gem


A Sanguine Gem: A Marsden Romance, Book 3


Written by: Dawn Brower
Narrated by: Beatrice Pendergast
Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins
Series: A Marsden Romance, Book 3
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:08-12-16
Publisher: Dawn Brower


My Review
I enjoyed this story very much I thought it had a great plot with good writing. I did think at times the story dragged on. I did enjoy the characters and felt the author got the male roles down just right for that time period. There were times I would have liked to have shaken a few men for not thinking before doing. The author brings out how arranged marriages were back in time but gives a little spin on it that has a little surprise to it.  I had to chuckle a few times at the mess they made of their lives trying to straighten out a misunderstanding but just making it worse.

Alfie is truly something else with his need for money and power. You will find a few twists and turns you won’t see coming as Alfie gets in the way. I enjoyed watching his down fall as Liam takes charge sweeping Gemma away as fast as he could. Leaving the reader wondering will this be the last time we see this character? He just doesn’t come across as a man who will forgive or forget easy. I guess you will have to wait and see.

There were parts of Ms. Pendergast narration I found very enjoyable but others that I did not. I enjoyed her natural voice I truly loved her accent. But when doing characters I do not hear the accent on most of them. Since these characters were British I would have expected them to all have some kind of accent. I didn’t care for the voice of Gemma she was to winey and did not show the strength I felt the author meant for her to have. I thought some of the male voices were a little too much alike and got a little confused at times.  Some of her character voices do not come across as natural as others some sound a little more robotic. There were some I really loved I thought she really got into the character not only in tone but in emotion. I found her tones to be pretty even. There were no places where the volume was higher or lower than any other place in the book. I had no trouble feeling the emotions of the characters even if I didn’t like their voices. I would like to listen to another audio from this narrator just to see if it was this audio or if all have the same issues.

Gemma was cute and funny at times when she tried to teach poor Liam a thing or two. She is a little wishy washy at times. She has found herself in a place years ago she wishes for, now she isn’t so sure. How does one find happiness when the man you are with wishes he wasn’t with you? Liam doesn’t want to be married and doesn’t really care to much for Gemma but when his father tells her story he feels he must help. When he gets to her home things comes out of his mouth he didn’t expect to. He is as shocked as Gemma is but that doesn’t stop him from moving full speed ahead. I just adored Liam’s parents I feel sure you will find them as cute and funny as I did. When having to face them I really felt sorry for both Gemma and Liam. Liam’s best friend is something else with his humor and manners he had me laughing out loud.

The plot is great the author shows the strength of her characters as well as vivid scenes. This does have a HEA ending but I have to say for me the ending was a little over the top and I just didn’t think it was needed. I was left blinking thinking really. I can’t tell you what I have issues with or it will give the story away. Does this mean I am sorry I listened NO it does not I did enjoy it very much. There were a few places I thought it dragged on a little but for the most part if was fast pace giving the reader some great entertainment. I so enjoyed the humor and the bickering between Liam and Gemma they really have the cards stacked against them unless they can both come together telling the other how they really feel. There are some love scenes a little of yes no yes no etc and then when they come together it worked for me. Be aware the green eye monster comes out in Liam he isn’t ready to admit it but he is there. It is really funny when that little monster shows his face and of course Gemma just can’t help herself in helping it long. There is a big to do with what the parents send their daughter but nothing is told about it. The author gives a few twists and turns you won’t see coming leaving you thinking OH NO this isn’t good. As Liam takes control again you let out a breath. I feel most will enjoy this story and find it very entertaining.

Buy Links
Audio
http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/A-Sanguine-Gem-Audiobook/B01K4WVJ0I/ref=a_listener__cco_1_1_t

Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Sanguine-Gem-Marsden-Romance-Book/dp/B01K4WVA02/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

B&N
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-sanguine-gem-dawn-brower/1122323370?ean=9781514878507&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20IncM000004

Summary

Lady Gemma Kemsley is in dire straits. Her cousin Alfie inherited her father's estate upon his death. He quickly bled it dry of funds and is turning his lecherous attentions toward her. Alfie wants to have complete control over her inheritance. Without Alfie's approval she can't marry. She has one option - run away and live with her best friend in America.
When his sister begs Liam Marsden to help Gemma, he reluctantly agrees. He has a past with Gemma he'd rather forget - involving a failed attempt at betrothal and her professed love. When he sees Gemma again he realizes he can't ever let her go. Instead of sending her to America he uses the old betrothal agreement to marry her.
Gemma doubts Liam truly loves her. Can he convince her of the veracity of his love or will he lose her forever?