Modern Persuasion

Modern Persuasion

By: Sara Marks

Narrated by: Diane Lehman

Length: 4 hrs and 6 mins

Unabridged

Release date: 11-20-17

This is such a sad story of lost love to a second chance.  Years ago Emma chose her career and family over love for many different reasons. Now she comes face to face with her past love that has a book and movie out. This book she did the editing years ago she knows this story by heart and the changes she knows are about her. Spending time with him she isn’t sure she made the right choice. As they get to know each other again, working through their past dealing with the anger and the people today it is a long road that they might not ever over come.

I loved this narrator she brings so much to the audio you can hear the laughter and sadness in her voice. Giving pause where it is needed to let it all sink in. Her emotions are outstanding as well as her character voices. Her male voices sound so manly, strong and real. They really fit the character so well even the one with the gay man it was just wonderful. Her female voices are just as good soft sweet to the older women and the one that acts so much younger than she is. There are no background noises, no repeating of words and no volume changes. If any breaks were taken I could not tell. Her normal voice was just as great as her character voices. She really adds so much to this audio. She has a way of changing her tones to really pull the reader in giving you a wonderful listen. There were times I felt like crying and others where I couldn’t help but chuckle.This is the first time I have listen to this narrator and it sure will not be the last.

What a touching and emotional read that really grabs you from the characters to their emotions. You never really know if things will work out until the end.  You are held spellbound until the end as you watch people’s hearts break others trying to control people and how it all affects them.  I loved the humor and emotions that went with this story. Yes it was sad and emotional but it also makes you chuckle. I have not read the Austen classic but this book was just a wonderful listen that really held my interest. I had trouble putting it down.

Buy Links

Audible

https://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Modern-Persuasion-Audiobook/B077GZB15G

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Persuasion-21st-Century-Austen-ebook/dp/B071L17J9K/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/modern-persuasion

B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/modern-persuasion-sara-marks/1126479970?ean=9781545527832&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20Inc

Summary

Which would you pick: the person you love or your own dreams? What would you do if given a second chance at that decision?
Eight years ago, Emma Shaw picked her career and family over the man she loved, Fredrick Wentworth. Since then, she has built a career in publishing and spends her free time making sure her father and sisters are taken care of. Fredrick has spent the same years building his career as a screenwriter under increasing public scrutiny as a celebrity.
When the editor of Fredrick's first book is injured, Emma is forced to travel with Fredrick on his book tour. Tension builds for the two former lovers over the course of the tour. Emma and Fredrick must face their emotional baggage and their misunderstanding about how their break-up impacted the other. Will they be able to find their way back together for a second chance at love?

Mail Order Mystery

Mail Order Mystery

Chance City Series, Book 1

By: Robin Deeter

Narrated by: Jay R. Smith Audio Publishing

Length: 4 hrs and 15 mins

Unabridged

Release date: 12-20-17

What a delightful story with both strong male and female roles just with different strengths. Cyrus owns a small ranch but doesn’t know a thing about ranching if the ranch was left in his hands there wouldn’t be one.  Leigh knows a lot about ranching but her father in law won’t give her credit for anything since her husband died. He uses her as a slave with nothing in return. She has had an enough and plans to find a way out. Cyrus decides he needs a foreman Leigh decides she wants the job they agree to get married a win win for both of them. He get a free foreman and do his job as a sheriff, she gets a place to call her own to do things as she wants everyone wins or do they?

The narrator does a great job but at times is a little slow not pausing when he needs to and pausing before he does. As you get into the audio I didn’t notice that and was taken away by a great story. Some of his female characters voices need a little work but for the most part they are very nice. His male voices are great I loved Cy voice it was very sexy and deep. I had no trouble knowing who was talking or what they were feeling.  He shows great emotions from sad, to humor as needed. I found no background noises or any volume changes. If any breaks were taken I could not tell.

I loved this audio with the strong characters learning how to get along but knowing their weakness and doing what they do best. I loved the humor and do some majorly chuckling as well as the serious things. There is a little bit of everything in here from racism to robbery and everything in between. Cy has mixed blood and most people don’t like it. I liked how the author keeps the story moving with many different cases that Cy was on. It is a win for me with Leigh being able to take over and the praise she gets for a job well done. The supporting characters are wonderful some I would love to see have stories of their own. I really liked how Cy and Leigh get along from their teasing to their bricking. Leigh isn’t afraid to tell it like it is she is one very entertaining women that holds her own very well. The slow steady build up of the romance is great, the little side stories are wonderful.  The twists and turns kept me hooked and very entertained.  I really enjoyed this audio from start to finish.

Buy Links

Audible

https://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Mail-Order-Mystery-Audiobook/B078HQLN31

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Mail-Order-Mystery-Sensual-Historical-ebook/dp/B01EIOL840/ref=cm_cr_if_orig_subj?_encoding=UTF8&linkCode=xm2&tag=audiblecom0f-20

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mail-order-mystery-chance-city-series-book-one-slightly-spicy-historical-western-romance-a-brides-of-beckham-book

B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mail-order-mystery-robin-deeter/1124350906?ean=2940156977239

Summary

A lady farmer and a disgraced detective - will what starts as an arrangement turn into something more?
Leigh Hawthorne, a widow and local farmer in Tucker Springs, Massachusetts, answers an unusual letter from a man out west, who wants to marry a woman with ranching expertise. Hoping to find a better life, Leigh embarks on a journey to Chance City, Oklahoma.
Fired for breaking Pinkerton rules, former detective Cyrus Decker just wants to live a quiet life as a cattle rancher. The problem is that he knows nothing about ranching - and his bank account shows it. Dogged by Chance City's sheriff to join his staff and plagued by money woes, Cy desperately needs help to turn their ranch around. He hopes that Leigh is the answer to his prayers.
Brought together by necessity, will Leigh and Cy find love, or will their attempt to find lasting happiness meet with disaster? Join the Chance City adventure as its citizens battle opposing forces and mayhem in their searches for love and a brighter future.

Silent Love

Silent Love

By: Barbara Goss

Narrated by: Kandace Peppers

Length: 4 hrs and 5 mins

Unabridged

Release date: 01-23-18

Language: English

Publisher: Barbara A. Goss

Oh my what a heartbreaking story of one women who lost her whole family but one cousin she is trying so hard to get to. She starts out on a wagon train only to have the daughter of the family she is traveling with get very sick. They can’t go on but she isn’t giving up so easy, she will stay and find another way. After many road blocks she has one last choice only to find the man she asked to be his cook turns her down. What is she to do now? They do finally decide on a way they can help each other only to find it isn’t as easy as they thought. Caroline will have to face issues she never has before, one learning how to cook on an open fire. You think it can’t be that hard but you are so very wrong, turn you back just for a minute and you can find charcoal. This is just one of many things these two will have to deal with.

The narrator is good although at times she pauses when she should not and doesn’t where she should have. I thought she gave the characters true emotion that was easy to feel. Her character voices were very good you knew who was talking and what they were feeling. Male and female voices were very nice.  There are no background noises and only one place that I could tell she repeated a word, my guess this is when a break was taken. I had to trouble feeling the pain Caroline went through trying to get to her family. The narrator’s normal voice is just as pleasant as her character voices. You could really hear the emotions from sadness to excitement. Except for the pauses she did a wonderful job and gives a very nice listen. I do look forward to hearing more of her work.

Caroline is strong, demanding and so caring, she takes things on the chin will give her last breath and still give another. Simon is a true gentleman he is caring, sharing and so giving. This does get him into trouble and way over his head at times. These characters are amazing how they give and take learning how to work together only to have their feelings go a little farther than they would have liked. I had no trouble at all feeling like I was part of this story walking the trail, picking up firewood or buffalo chips. I would have to agree with Caroline that is nasty lol. The story is very realistic and to some point I feel may have happened. It is a lovely Christian based sorry with soul and meaning giving the read some excitement, thrills and even a few heart stopping moments. Very well written with no filler just some very good old fashion romance as two people help each other towards a common goal. What happens along the way is delightful, fun and dangerous. It is a well balanced story with a little of everything in it. There are misunderstanding which lead them to have to work out some issues. People get in the way and some aren’t very nice. I did enjoy the characters and all that they bought to the story. I loved the faith the characters had not only in those around them but in God. The author knows how to pull you in giving you a very well written entertaining read that you can’t put down.  This is one of the best books the author has written, it is exciting, daring and cute along with sad, painful and at time bittersweet.

Buy Links

Audible

https://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Silent-Love-Audiobook/B0786VYPRB

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Love-Barbara-Goss-ebook/dp/B00U3881BE/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Summary

Caroline is desperate to reach Oregon and find her only living relative. She persuades Simon, a man traveling on a wagon train, to let her pose as his wife. As they face and overcome capture by Indians and other dangerous adventures along the Oregon Trail, Caroline and Simon bond as friends. When they reach Oregon and Caroline's Aunt Hattie, they go their separate ways as agreed upon at the beginning of their farce. Soon, they both realize that parting was a mistake. Did love come too quietly for them to recognize it--and have they lost their chance? Will they find each other again? Clean romance.

Operation Hail Storm

Operation Hail Storm

Classroom Edition

By: Brett Arquette

Narrated by: Michael Ashcraft

Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins

Unabridged

Release date: 07-24-17

Language: English

There are so many wonderful things about this book from the action, to being a clean read but still gives you what you crave in an action adventure book at the same time giving you the just of what is going on such as the spy slept with the enemy to set him up for the next stage of the mission but you do not read all the in things in between. You have a nice steady pace filled with action, thrills, excitement to keep you blood running. A few heart stopping moments and some close calls.  So many reviews talk about spelling or grammar errors (I have not read it so this I can’t say) but with the audio you get none of that. I enjoyed that the characters were made up of teens and young adults making it like a game for them but still knowing how serious what they are doing is. The common ground is that they have been affected by the outcome of what they call the Five. It’s a seek and destroy mission taking out those that took their love ones leaving some homeless and others without their love ones. Marshall takes them on giving their live meaning as well as teaching them the things a parent would, making them well rounded teens. When all is said and done you get a high tech action adventure story that the whole family can listen to together and enjoy. 

The narrator was outstanding from showing emotions to the wonderful tones of each character. He really bought the book to life giving a realistic feeling making you feel part of the story. As the drones took off I found myself leaning with them as they curved to their destination. He added the humor the author put in the story with a chuckle to a sigh and all the ones in between. I had no trouble feeling the pain, tears and sorrow. I loved the accents he gave to some characters they fit them so well. His voice for Marshall fits to a T from his sexy, serious to angry it comes across strong, smooth and at times very sexy. The teens are so realistic from their young excitement to the slang. There were a few times he repeated words I am guessing this is when he took a break. It is noticeable but does not take away from the story. I found no background noises or any place where the volume changes from chapter to chapter or page to page. The many different character voices were just great from the male to the female I always knew who was talking and what they were feeling.  He really bought this audio to life for me it was easy to see the scenes as they unfold, knowing how it affected each character. The narrator knows how to entertain and keep your attention. This is the first time I have ever listened to this narrator and it won’t be the last. I do hope he narrators the next one in this series.

The author had me hooked from the danger, excitement to the true emotion he gives each character. I totally enjoyed the names of each drone even laughed at a few. He adds just enough humor to make it interesting but not too much that it takes away from the seriousness of the story. Marshall had it all taking dangerous waste and turning it in to something we all need, along with tons of money, a wife and two girls. Losing them is the hardest thing he has ever done. Now he wants revenge! There is a hard side to him but a must softer one as well, you can tell those kids he has working for him mean the world to him as well as his passion for clean energy. He lets the kids be kids while teaching them normal reasonability making them well rounded in a world that has taken so much away from them. The author does repeat a few things back to back in different ways but it doesn’t take away from the story.  It really is a fun read with humor but also very serious. The author shows the serious side of loss and revenge as well as building a relationship and teaching children what is important. He also shows how important it is to save the planet taking something very dangerous and making it very useful. I can see how a young teen would love this book and maybe just maybe want someone to think outside the box trying to find solutions to the world problems making this a more safe and kind world. Don’t get me wrong it is a spy thriller taking out bad guys but it also has meaning.  I really was hooked from the first page until the very end. The book ends so it can lead into the next book in the series which looks to be just as exciting as this one was. If you are looking for a book you can listen with as a family this would be a good one. I am not so sure it is for really young children but a great one for teens. You will find just about everything here from thrills, chills, excitement, danger and so much more. I can hardly wait for the next one to come out in audio.

Buy links,

 Audible

https://www.audible.com/pd/Mysteries-Thrillers/Operation-Hail-Storm-Audiobook/B0743VCVH2?ref=a_a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=JJT1XN9CRNBS92SJV14Q&

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Operation-Hail-Storm-Classroom-Edition/dp/B0744369ZB/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/operation-hail-storm-brett-arquette/1125096423?ean=9781365120725&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20Inc

Kobo 2 links

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/operation-hail-storm-1?open=true

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/operation-hail-storm?open=true

Summary

Marshall Hail was a husband, a father, a Physics Nobel Prize winner, and industrial billionaire. But when Hail's family was killed in a terrorist attack, he became a predator and redirected his vast industrial assets toward one goal - removing every person on the FBI's top 10 terrorist list.
With the help of his MIT colleagues, Hail designed and built a devastating arsenal of attack drones of all shapes and sizes that are flown by the nation's best young gamers. The world will come to realize that Marshall Hail possesses the capability of getting to anyone, anywhere, at any time - unleashing an operation so disturbing that the CIA has named it Operation Hail Storm.