Gunman's Reckoning

Gunman's Reckoning

Written by: Max Brand

Narrated by: Al Kessel

Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:12-27-16

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

What a delightful listen from a very talented narrator. The author has lived out his time in book he wrote long ago. It is really a shame this author die as a war correspondent in Italy in 1944 at the age of 51. He was a very talented author with a lot of stories published. This was one of his best that is very entertaining with characters that are down on their luck trying to make a buck. The author gives vivid details that you have no trouble picturing in your mind add the narrator and you have one heck of a listen. I had a little trouble getting into this but once I was I couldn’t wait to see what happened.

Mr. Kessel adds so much to this story with his very talented voice giving me a story I really got hooked on. His character voice fit each character to a T pulling the listener in making them believe it is real. I had no trouble at all picturing each scene with vivid detail in my mind. Mr. Kessel characters are wonderful he gives them such emotion from chuckling when the character does to anger when mad and sad when heartbroken. His male voices are just as good as his female ones. There was no background noise, not a place where the volume was higher or lower than anywhere else in the audio, if any breaks were taken I could not tell. He gives you a clear, clean and crisp listen that hooks you almost from the start. His performance is outstanding he knows how to deliver a wonderful audio.  I really feel like I would enjoy the audio over the book it feel more alive more real. When you get to the part about the housekeeper you just get a creepy feeling just as the author plans you to the narrator really carries it out giving you a compelling listen I could not put down.

The story is based on lies, adventure, excitement, love, mystery, forgotten love, old love, new love that twists it way into your heart. At times I felt sorry for Donnegan and other times I thought he got what he deserved. No matter what he always put the colonel’s daughter first. Her happiness over his even in danger she always comes first. It is hard not to like a man like that. I am not sure just what I think of the Colonel he is so wishy washy at times you cannot really get a handle on him. You think you know him and he changes right before your eyes. He is a very wise man but I do think more of a BS than most which makes him in dearing at times.

Buy Links

Audible

http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Gunmans-Reckoning-Audiobook/B01N0TUV3U

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Gunmans-Reckoning-Max-Brand-ebook/dp/B0084B2H4O/ref=cm_cr_if_orig_subj?_encoding=UTF8&linkCode=xm2&tag=audiblecom0f-20

B&N

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gunmans-reckoning-by-max-brand-max-brand/1029560995?ean=2940012164650

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/gunman-s-reckoning-7

Summary

Frederick Schiller Faust was a prolific writer who wrote under a number of pseudonyms. One of these was Max Brand. Gunman's Reckoning is the story of a drifter who is given the job of righting a great wrong. In the midst of carrying out his task, he finds out that he was not told the entire truth. He continues anyway, because in doing the job, he has stumbled on the answer to a long quest of his own. This book is a western romance that has a bit of everything: love, mystery, lies, action and humor. It's a must listen for all those who love westerns.

A gunman agrees to do a rich man’s dirty work in this classic Western from one of the genre’s early masters

Donnegan is not proud of his past. But when words ran dry and matters could only be settled with a gun, he never hesitated to make things right. Now fate has led him to The Corner, a wide-open gold-mining town in the valley where two rivers join. An invalid by the name of Colonel Macon wants Donnegan to settle a long-standing land claim that’s been taken over by outlaws. Charmed by the colonel’s beautiful daughter, the gunman agrees. But nothing is as it seems in The Corner, where the line separating good from evil is so badly blurred it might not be there at all.

A contemporary of Zane Grey and a major influence on Louis L’Amour, Max Brand was a true master of the Western. Gunman’s Reckoning is a fine example of the moral complexity, fluid prose, and nonstop action that defines the best of his wor

The Mormon Marshal

The Mormon Marshal

Written by: Jack R. Stanley

Narrated by: Ben Tyler

Length: 2 hrs and 47 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:11-28-16

Publisher: Jack R. Stanley 

This was a highly entertaining read from the first page to the last base on western life and one man’s faith how he will bring justice and stay true to it. I really love everything about this story it is full of excitement, adventure, danger, justice as well as compassion.

Mr. Tyler’s does an outstanding job making this audio very realistic with voices and tones that fit the part of the Wild West.  There are no repeats of wording, no changing of volume and no background noise just a smooth clear and clean listen that really pulls you in. His males voices are just as wonderful as his females one. You always know who is talking and what emotion they are feeling. You can really hear the laughter, sorrow in his voice making this more of a movie that really pulls you in. He has a voice that I had no trouble listening to and fit the character. I was so pulled into this story I didn’t want it to end. The narrator puts true emotion into this audio giving you a very entertaining listen. I had no trouble picturing the scenes as they unfolded, I almost felt like I was there seeing it live.  I have not listened to anything by this narrator. I am really looking forward to checking out more of his work.

The author puts a lot into small time frame with no fillers just fact that gives the readers everything they need to know. I never felt anything was missing or lost every word gave meaning to a delightful story. You are given such vivid details you have no trouble picturing the scenes the author as put together. The only thing I could complain about is it wasn’t long enough. I really got into this story and loved the characters. From my understanding of the Mormon faith the author was true to it, giving the reader a little more understanding. There were times I held my breath thinking this can’t be good as my heart started beating double time. I really was taken back in time being held on the edge of my seat waiting to see just how justice would be found. I haven’t read anything by this author and found him to be a delightful. I love his writing style. He has a way of pulling the read in from the first page until the end. I am really looking forward to reading more of his work from this very talent author.

Buy Links

Audible

http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/The-Mormon-Marshal-Audiobook/B01N6777DE

 

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Mormon-Marshal-Jack-R-Stanley-ebook/dp/B013XKRCJ0/ref=cm_cr_if_orig_subj?_encoding=UTF8&linkCode=xm2&tag=audiblecom0f-20

Summary

Joshua Guymon is a small town sheriff in the mostly Mormon Star Valley of Wyoming Territory. This is back in the days when to be Mormon was to be an outsider in the American West. His younger prodigal brother seems to have settled down from his wild ways and married. Joshua goes to meet his brother's bride and see how the newlyweds are doing on a ranch in the southern part of the territory. But trouble has a way of finding Joshua, from a crooked gambler to a highwayman to an escaped prison killer. What starts out as a social visit to his brother becomes a western adventure and a decision between his faith and being a US deputy marshal.

A Perfect Christmas with Chaos

A Perfect Christmas with Chaos: Harbingers of Chaos, Book 2

    Written by: Darby Briar
    Narrated by: Honey Scarlett , Leeroy Will
    Length: 1 hr and 8 mins
        Series: Harbingers of Chaos, Book 1.5
    Unabridged Audiobook
    Release Date:12-12-16
    Publisher: Darby Briar 

If you enjoyed Burning Ember you will definitely want to read this. It was great to see these two characters again getting an update on how they are and what is new in their life.

Honey Scarlett, Leeroy Will narration was out of this world each hitting tones right on the money. You know just who is talking and what they are feeling. For me they made this audio what it is any other narrators would just not do it justice. Honey takes on the life of all the female roles with Lerroy taking on the male. Their many different voices were outstanding never leaving you guessing who was talking and just how they felt. There are no background noises or any places where the volume are higher or lower or tones off.  There was one place where Lerroy repeated his self but no way does it take away from this outstanding narrator. They give you a listen you won’t be able to put down. If they took a break you cannot tell it is just one smooth listen that hooks you from start to finish. They made you feel the emotions at times you even wanted to cry and lord did they make you laugh. There performance was just outstanding giving the listener everything they want as the characters take on a life of their own. Just outstanding narration at its finest. I can’t wait to listen to more from this duo.

 It is very short so there isn’t a lot one can say beside I love this author and her writing style. She really pulls you in giving you a very entertaining read that hooks you from the start.

Buy Links

Audible

http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/A-Perfect-Christmas-with-Chaos-Audiobook/B01N1Q7OFV/ref=a_search_c4_1_2_srTtl?qid=1487469433&sr=1-2

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Christmas-Chaos-Harbingers-Book-ebook/dp/B019T5D5YE/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-perfect-christmas-with-chaos

B&N

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-perfect-christmas-with-chaos-darby-briar/1123177606?ean=2940152804263&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20IncM000004

Summary

Need more of Mav and Ember?

Or better yet... Luce and Doll?

A Perfect Christmas with Chaos is a short story that gives you a peek into Ember's first Christmas with Mav. Read a part of their story that was never told before. Find out a little bit more about your favorite couple and Mav's sexy biker brothers. It's Christmas. It's Chaos. And the Harbingers of Chaos are coming for dinner.

Adella's Enemy

Adella's Enemy (Steam! Romance and Rails Series)

by Jacqui Nelson

What a wonderful story mixing fact with fiction delivering an outstand read of two railroad in a race to see who will finish first along with one women who wants revenge for the wrong that was done to her family. The most powerful things in life is fear, revenge and guilt which will drive a person to do things they might not normal do. The author gives you a story built from the above with a twist of right and wrong along with love, wants and needs.

You have to love a woman who isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in making hard choices going after what she wants, in this case it is revenge for her brother’s death. What drivers her is the last words she said to him before he went to war and the guilt of not helping him when he needed her the most. Adella is a wonderful character she is down to earth with her own fears, needs and wants but admits when she is wrong and tries to fix her mistakes even if the outcome is her own death. She is driven by the need to bring the killer justice for the death of her brother. The author gives heart stopping moments that make you hold your breath as danger takes over life and death driven by the need for revenge by so many who feel they have been done wrong. As you turn the pages you find many trying moments with danger, suspense and a little mystery entwined with a passionate love story and what each person is willing to do for those they love. There are spies all around as the table turns when one man steps forward trying not only to get the Katie’s lines laid in record time but to keep the woman who has stolen his heart safe even from herself.

Adella and Cormac both have past that haunts them both have lost so much, neither can forgive or forget the role they have played in that lose. They are both headstrong doing their best to do their jobs. The outcome isn’t looking good for either of them as they have more choices to make that could lead to one or both along with a whole town at deaths door. Cormac characters is strong, alpha, his orders are followed to the T by men who would give their lives for him. He is kind, caring but demanding, fair and always a gentleman. Adella drives him crazy from the moment he pulls her out of the mud, he has doubts he will ever be sane again. Adella feels the same about him, every where she turns he seems to be in her way making demands of his own. Something has to give soon before their passion takes a lead, leaving them with broken hearts and death all around them.

The author gives a very believable story full of so much pain and loss but at the same time she gives you humor that makes you smile as these two go head to head with sparks flying and tempers rising. She gives you different points of view from the farmer wife’s, the town’s people, the railroad workers and the investors which gives you a very well rounded story pulling you in from the first page until the last. You can feel the pain of each character not only from what they have lost but are still losing. The chemistry and passion between Adella and Cormac is strong as well as their doubt of what they believe is true. This was a very well written story that really pulls you in keeping you invested. My heart really went out to so many for many different reasons which leaves little doubt the only winners will be the railroad investors. This story has a wonderful plot with great characters you will love. I really enjoyed the authors writing style she has a way of bring the story to life giving you a story that hooks you from the start. I haven’t read anything by her before and am looking forward to reading more of her work. This was really an emotional read with wife’s losing their homes with little or no money to show for it, so much is lost with very little to gain and two people who are trying their best to right a wrong. One can’t always believe what they are told and even less of what they read. If you are looking for a very entertaining story that really pulls you with danger, suspense and love give this author a try.

Buy Links

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EE1UW5E/ref=x_gr_w_glide_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_glide_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00EE1UW5E&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

B&N

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/adellas-enemy-jacqui-nelson/1120406328;jsessionid=EFDB57E5180D7B27C255B65C999FD1A2.prodny_store02-atgap07?ean=9781492216773&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20IncM000004

Summary

The War Between the States ended five years ago, but she still pursues her enemy...

Rebel spy turned government rabble rouser Adella Willows receives her mission straight from a Washington senator—play havoc with the Katy Railroad and derail its bid to win the race. The senator craves wealth. Adella craves revenge against the man responsible for her brother’s death. But her plans crumble into chaos when she enters a battle of wits with the railroad's foreman.

An ocean separates him from his failures in Ireland, but he’s still haunted by those who died...

Seasoned railroad foreman Cormac McGrady’s sole desire is keeping his workmen safe and employed, which means keeping the Katy ahead of its rivals. But the beautiful spy bedeviling his railroad needs protecting as well. Cormac must choose between winning the race and winning Adella's heart, while Adella must choose whether she lives for revenge or dies for love.

This novella is part of the Passion's Prize anthology and the Steam! Romance and Rails series. It can be read on its own or as part of the anthology.

~ Read an excerpt on my website

A Mail Order Bride Christmas

A Mail Order Bride Christmas: Mail Order Brides Western Historical Romance

Written by: Jessica Wolf

Narrated by: Meghan Kelly

Length: 1 hr

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:11-24-15

Publisher: Jessica Wolf

I thought for such a short story the author fit a lot in with little or no filler, you know what is going on and do not feel lost or that something was incomplete. I do wish it had been a little longer but it was well written. Other reviews said this isn’t a mail order bride story, sure it is just the parents were writing back and forward not the bride and groom. 

James want to get out from under his parents thumb, they are willing to open a new branch to their business but only if he is married. James doesn’t really want to get married but is willing to do just about anything to have a life of his own. I really liked this character he is kind and caring. He really goes out of his way to please Jessie. Jessie is so floored when she finds out she is getting married. She doesn’t want to but agrees to it. She does her best to make the most of it. She was a very enjoyable character that I really liked

Ms. Kelly does a wonderful job of narration really bring out the feelings of each character. Her character voices are very pleasant. She gives a lot of emotion to them making you feel the confusion, sorrow, pain and love each character is feeling.  There were no background noises, if any breaks were taken I could not tell. I heard no repeats of words. The volume stayed the same throughout the audio. It was very easy to tell who was talking and what they were feeling. She put a lot of passion into the wedding night as well as the blooming romance. I thought her performance was really good. I am looking forward to listening to more of her work.

The author gives you a very passionate night of love as well as a wonderful story. She packs a lot into a little. I never felt like anything was missing but I would have liked it to have been longer. I enjoyed watching them get to know each other and work through their issues. There isn’t a lot one can tell about the story and not give it away so I will just say I enjoyed it and look forward to checking out more of this authors work.

Buy Links

Audible

https://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/A-Mail-Order-Bride-Christmas-Audiobook/B018ES3N4Y

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Mail-Order-Bride-Christmas-Historical/dp/1515313573/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486692443&sr=8-1&keywords=A+Mail+Order+Bride+Christmas%3A+Mail+Order+Brides+Western+Historical+Romance+Jessica+Wolf

B&N

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-mail-order-bride-christmas-jessica-wolf/1124649073?ean=2940153498225

Kobo

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-mail-order-bride-christmas

Summary

Jessie lived with her family on their homestead and had helped the family build a successful farm raising crops and animals. Her greatest joy and passion was for training her young mare and galloping across the plains. To her shock and dismay, her family agrees to an arranged marriage with a wealthy family who traveled from back East to do business in their town.
Neither Jessie, nor her intended husband, want this union; but as she considers the situation they are both in, she realizes that their circumstances could be worse. James is being forced to marry or be disowned from the family business and all the wealth that comes from his name. He also knows that if he intends to be happy as a married man, he has to win her over and does his best to make her more comfortable with her new path in life.
They go through with the lavish celebration that is more for their families than for the couple, and soon they are bound in matrimony to try and make a life together while leading the family business in the remote prairie town.
Warning: Adults 18+ only due to sexually explicit content.