This Treacherous Journey

This Treacherous Journey

Heart of the Mountains, Book 1

By: Misty M. Beller

Narrated by: Leonor A. Woodworth

Series: Heart of the Mountains, Book 1

Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 02-01-18

What a lovely Christian historical story written with such emotions you can feel the sorrow, pain as one woman runs for her life leaving behind a dead husband only taking with her an unborn child and her brother. The author does a great job with detail of showing us how the wilderness is wild and dangerous as the characters have one set back after another. Emma has been through so much losing everything she owns because her husband was not a good man, the towns people feels she must have been in on it when in truth she knew nothing. Her brother takes her on the run trying to outrun the law and the reward on her head. Her brother has a bad fall leaving him unable to take care of her or his self when a strange steps in helping them. They want him to be their guide, there is no way he will take another woman into the wilds, but he is given little choice with one expecting woman and a man who can’t help his self must less his sister. This was a very emotional roller-coaster ride that is well worth your time. A great read with true emotions and faith.

Ms. Woodworth’s really brought this story to live for me as she pulled me in using emotion filled with sorrow, anger, hurt and pain along with excitement, danger and thrills. I had no trouble picturing the events as they unfold. Her character voices are wonderful as she held me spellbound from each character that is hiding something. Her tones are right on the mark keeping the listener on the edge waiting for the next shoe to drop. There are no volume changes, no background noise or any repeating of words. If any breaks were taken I could not tell. Her male voices were just as good as her female voices, you have no trouble knowing who is talking and just what they are feeling. Her character voices are just great as well as her normal voice is very pleasant and easy to listen to. The narrator really pulls you into the mystery as the romance unfolds under danger and deceit. You can feel the uneasiness of the characters as they work through the emotions of loss, facing the outcome and the heart break of the past. Ms. Woodworth’s has no trouble pulling of this very emotional listen that captivates you and holds your attention.

I really enjoyed this story from the start, the author gives you a wonderful story that is vivid you can picture the details she gives in each scene. My heart went out to Emma taking on a journey of this kind can never be easy but to be carrying an unborn child dealing with all the issues that brings has got to be trying to say the least. The fear of not knowing when someone will catch up with you, taking you back for the reward, wondering if your child will make it to take it first breath and if it does will it have a mother. Joseph story is just as heartbreaking he has lost so much and fears to lose even more as the love grows between him and Emma. I liked the plot, the characters, the mystery and how it all unfolds. The author knows how to pull on your heartstrings pulling you in keeping you hooked from the first page. The ending is wonderful I just about cried. The author gives a wonderful clean read with faith as the base and a growing romance coming in a close second.

Buy Links

Audible

https://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Secrets-Charades-Audiobook/B07CRNC715?ref=a_a_library_c4_libItem_4_B07CRNC715&pf_rd_p=ae76b2bb-e63d-4a67-b357-dab3dee05ca1&pf_rd_r=PVKEP6JMGHCYJZJ3F7YG&

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Charades-Cindy-Ervin-Huff-ebook/dp/B01N6SDL7Y/ref=cm_cr_if_orig_subj?_encoding=UTF8&linkCode=xm2&tag=audiblecom0f-20

Summary

Jake Marcum’s busy ranch leaves him no time for courting, and his wounded heart has no place for love. When battlefield nightmares disturb his peace and his tomboy niece Juliet needs taming, somehow a mail-order bride seems like a logical solution.
Dr. Evangeline Olson has no idea her niece is writing to a rancher on her behalf, and she sure isn’t interested in abandoning her medical practice for a stranger. But when an inheritance threatens to reveal a long-buried secret, she travels west to become Jake’s wife.
Jake soon realizes Evangeline is more than he bargained for, especially when her arrival causes a stir in the community. As the two try to find their way in a marriage of convenience, their fragile relationship is further tested by cattle rustling and kidnapping. Can their hearts overcome past hurts to create a real marriage?
General Content (G) (I): Contains little or no; sexual dialogue or situations, violence, or strong language. May also contain some content of an inspirational/religious nature.

Secrets & Charades

Secrets & Charades

By: Cindy Ervin Huff

Narrated by: Meghan Kelly

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 05-01-18

What you will find between these pages is a wonderful clean read full of spiritual faith, wrapped around forgiveness, overcoming, moving on, family, friends, helping others and believing in yourself. We meet normal people with normal problems and issues. Jake needs help to raise his niece who is a little on the wild side, he wants her to outgrow her tomboy ways and become more lady like. He feels she needs a woman in her life to teach her the things she needs to know. Evangeline has problems of her own which her niece decides she just needs to start over with a new life. The niece starts writing and makes her a male order bride. Evangeline isn’t thrilled about this but decides maybe just maybe this is the best for her. What follows is danger, cattle rustling, murder, a plot of deceit, not everyone is who they say they are, mystery, growing, learning and love.

As always Ms. Kelly’s narration is great she pulls you in with the facts the author gives with wonderful character voices. Her characters are very wide range giving a multiple variation of well blended characters. You can hear true emotions of each character as they go through their day to day life. You can hear her shock, fear, happiness and laughter in her voice. She makes you believe what is happening and pulls you in taking you back in time to another place where it was very wild, and dangerous. There are no repeating of wording, no background noise, no volume changes and no breaks that I can tell. What you get is a wonderful delightful audio that is clean and clear with a great plot that you can almost smell the earth, see the land that lays out before your eyes. Ms. Kelly’s performance is wonderful and gives a delightful listen.

I really liked this plot, there are surprises I didn’t see coming, yes it is a romance but it is so much more than that. The author does a wonderful job showing us what it would have been like back then from the danger to PSTD from being a survivor of the civil war. Jake lost so much from the love of his life who picked another, losing his brother and his wife, and maybe even his ranch but Evangeline has lost just as much in a time when woman didn’t have a career she made one but lost it. Now she spends her time hiding her skills until she has no choice but to show them. She was a delightful caring character who gives so much. Jake is very supportive, caring and loving man who gives so much of his self. This maybe a marriage of convenience but it turns into so much more as they learn to live, love and grow taking each set back on the chin. I enjoyed the mystery around the cattle rustling, as well as who is hiding what and for what reason. Not everything is as it seems the author gives you surprise after surprise with a few shocks. I thought it was well written with wonderful characters, very entertaining and just a wonderful Christian read.

Buy Links

Audible

https://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Secrets-Charades-Audiobook/B07CRNC715?ref=a_a_library_c4_libItem_4_B07CRNC715&pf_rd_p=ae76b2bb-e63d-4a67-b357-dab3dee05ca1&pf_rd_r=PVKEP6JMGHCYJZJ3F7YG&

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Charades-Cindy-Ervin-Huff-ebook/dp/B01N6SDL7Y/ref=cm_cr_if_orig_subj?_encoding=UTF8&linkCode=xm2&tag=audiblecom0f-20

Summary

Jake Marcum’s busy ranch leaves him no time for courting, and his wounded heart has no place for love. When battlefield nightmares disturb his peace and his tomboy niece Juliet needs taming, somehow a mail-order bride seems like a logical solution.
Dr. Evangeline Olson has no idea her niece is writing to a rancher on her behalf, and she sure isn’t interested in abandoning her medical practice for a stranger. But when an inheritance threatens to reveal a long-buried secret, she travels west to become Jake’s wife.
Jake soon realizes Evangeline is more than he bargained for, especially when her arrival causes a stir in the community. As the two try to find their way in a marriage of convenience, their fragile relationship is further tested by cattle rustling and kidnapping. Can their hearts overcome past hurts to create a real marriage?
General Content (G) (I): Contains little or no; sexual dialogue or situations, violence, or strong language. May also contain some content of an inspirational/religious nature.

Dreams in Deadwood

Dreams in Deadwood

Seven Brides of South Dakota, Book 1

By: Kari Trumbo

Narrated by: Meghan Kelly

Series: Seven Brides of South Dakota, Book 1

Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 05-11-18

A story about forgiveness not only of yourself but seeking it from others, an emotional listen with humor, danger, a few thrills, excitement and overcoming one's past. I chuckle, laughed and signed a few times. There is nothing worse than trying to make your family proud and doing everything you can for their approval why living in your siblings shadow as Aiden is. He is doing the best he can but it just doesn’t seem good enough. Telling his family he was leaving was hard but not as hard as trying to make enough money to help them and make them proud seems to be. One choice after another has him spending out of control. Every time he takes one step forward he falls back to. My heart really went out to him and all he has gone through. Jennie is following her sister and her husband leaving behind a dead father and a mother who can’t take care of them. The last place she wants to be is where she is and when Aiden comes all long that is just the last straw. How can one man be so full of his self? He is driving her nuts. With his teasing and bantering she can’t seem to do anything right. Why won’t he just go away? That is until he does, and she goes nuts over worry for him. This really was an exciting, fun read filled with drama, love, passion, compassion, troubles and sorrow.

Ms. Kelly does a great job with her narration, I loved her character voices and the emotions she gives them. I love her accents and the true emotions she gives her narration. She gave so much of her talent to this audio really getting into the characters. I could hear the pain, sorrow, confusion, love in her voice she truly brought this story to life. Her character voices are outstanding making you believe what you are listening to. You have no trouble picturing each scene as it unfolds. There are no repeating of words, no background, and no volume change but when the character goes in thought. Ms. Kelly has no trouble changing character roles the transition is smooth, easy with true passion, showing amazing chemistry between the characters. I always knew who was talking and what they were feeling. Her male characters are as wonderful as her female ones. You always know who is talking and what they are feeling. It is always a delight to listen to one of her audios.

The author brings a historical western to life with all the dangers it entitles keeping you on the edge of your seat at times. Filled with passion and clean fun with a well-thought-out plot that hooks you from the first page. It is a believable story with great characters, scenes and true love from family and friends. New love that grows with a few twists and turns to make it interesting. I loved how the family life is brought into it, showing how much love these families have for each other but at the same time how some can’t get along but with time things can be worked out. There is a story inside a story which holds your attention and makes you want to read about each sister. The twin I can’t wait to read her wild story I think it is going to be heartbreaking. The author does a great job building up for the next books in this series which kind of leaves you hanging but in no way is this a cliff hanger just a few unanswered question about the one twin. There is drama, doubt and so much sorrow it pulls on your heartstrings but at the same time there is fun, love and humor that makes you smile. Just as it was back then there is danger all around some you can see some you can’t and lots of twists and turns that keeps you hook. I truly loved this book and can’t wait to listen to the rest of the series when it comes out.

Buy Links

Audible

https://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Dreams-in-Deadwood-Audiobook/B07CZ4T363?ref=a_a_library_c4_libItem_18_B07CZ4T363&pf_rd_p=ae76b2bb-e63d-4a67-b357-dab3dee05ca1&pf_rd_r=NC228FTV9120YGMRQRYD&

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Deadwood-Seven-Brides-Dakota-ebook/dp/B06W2K6QD2/ref=cm_cr_if_orig_subj?_encoding=UTF8&linkCode=xm2&tag=audiblecom0f-20

Summary

He has a vice as bad as her father. 
Jennie Arnsby wants nothing more than to turn around and go home. Her family is on their way to Deadwood, South Dakota, when Aiden finds his way to their small wagon train. His teasing and banter leave her wanting to toss him out the back and in the dust. When they are separated outside the city, she is left wondering if she'll ever see him again.
Aiden Bradly wants to find his gold and return home. Nothing more. He can't afford to get tangled with a woman. He's doing just that until he meets the feisty Jennie. She gets him thinking about his past and forgiveness, but what's more important, his past or his new future?
Aiden will either redeem his past or claim a treasure greater than he could ever imagine, but he must choose one.
Dreams in Deadwood is book one of the Seven Brides of South Dakota series by Kari Trumbo. A romantic, Wild West romp in pioneer South Dakota.

The Final Vow

The Final Vow

Hearts of Hays, Book 2

By: Barbara Goss

Narrated by: Persephone Rose

Series: Hearts of Hays, Book 2

Length: 3 hrs and 34 mins

Unabridged

Release date: 10-02-17

Language: English

Publisher: Barbara A. Goss

I can’t think of much worse than not having a family, not knowing what a normal day to day life is but not to have this and take a vow to become a nun without experience it is just to much as Laura finds out once she gets a taste of what a normal life is like.

Mr. Rose narration was very good there was one place where I could hear him sallow but beside that there are no background noises, no volume changes just a very clear clean audio. His character voices both male and female were good, he does need to work a little more on the female voices but they were pretty good. You had no trouble knowing who was talking or what they were feeling.   He did hold me on the edge with the outlaws throughout the story. I had no trouble buying into his buildup with excitement and some scary times. I look forward to listening to more of his work.

Ms. Goss gives you a delightful tale of a woman just about ready to take her last vows giving God all her love until she is kidnapped by outlaws and the man who chasing them down bring her back to town. He is her hero one she is very attracted to. She gives a compelling read of mixed feeling of a young women and her love for two which will she pick her vows to God or her vows to the man she is coming to care for. I like how the author showed the confusion, the pain and sorrow of being pulled two different ways. I really enjoyed Jesse’s family with a medaling mother who is ready for her son to settle down.  The author gives you suspense, a few thrills, mystery of Laura’s past and the love of children who need a family. It was very touching seeing how this town came together making room for a few more, giving them the love that children need.  I really enjoyed this delightful clean read as I am sure you will to.

Buy Links

Audible

https://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/The-Final-Vow-Audiobook/B075ZXH5XW

Amazon on KU

https://www.amazon.com/Final-Vow-Hearts-Hays-Book-ebook/dp/B00UXQO3Q8/ref=cm_cr_if_orig_subj?_encoding=UTF8&linkCode=xm2&tag=audiblecom0f-20

Summary

Christian romance
Left on the steps of a church as an infant, Laura struggles with her decision to dedicate her life to God. On her way to a mission in Texas, a train robber snatches the novice nun and uses her as a hostage. Jesse Collins, her rescuer, not knowing what else to do with her, takes her home to his family. Never having experienced family life, Laura is touched by it and is confused by her building affection for Jesse. However, someone wants her gone and takes steps to make that happen.