Showing posts with label AudioBooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AudioBooks. Show all posts

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Audiobook Review: The Girl of Many Crowns by D.H. Morris

Recently, I read and reviewed The Girl of Many Crowns by D.H. Morris and, today, I want to share my thoughts about the audiobook version of the novel! Learn about the book and the author, read my thoughts on the book and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post. 

 


​Book Title:  The Girl of Many Crowns by D.H. Morris
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  305 pages
GenreHistorical Fiction 
Publisher:  New Classics Publishing
Release date:  October 4, 2024
Content Rating: PG due to some mature subject matters, but no graphic violence, language, or sexual content.



"The Girl of Many Crowns offers a riveting glimpse into the tumultuous life of Judith, the first princess of France, against the richly detailed backdrop of medieval Europe. D.H. Morris masterfully blends history and human drama, making Judith’s struggles both personal and profoundly symbolic of the era’s precarious politics.- review by Gina Rae Mitchell

"D H Morris' talent shines through in this debut. She no doubt did extensive research to bring this story to life. I loved how they were able to portray Judith. The historical details were so vivid, I felt as though I was transported back in time and living in the medieval times." - review by Amy Campbell, Locks Hooks and Books.

"The book sent me down the rabbit hole of reading more about Baldwin Iron Arm, which itself was a super exciting bonus activity (and yes, a bonus – the author is a descendant of Baldwin Iron Arm and Judith – can you even imagine finding your ancestors back to… years 837 – 879?)." - review by @this.human.reads

Many of our posts contain affiliate links.

Should you purchase an item via our links--we may receive slight compensation from an
affiliate partner. 



About the Book


The true story of a powerful Knight and a runaway Queen who unite to defy an empire.

The Kingdom of Francia  – 856 

Thrust into the political intrigue surrounding the throne of Francia, young Princess Judith loyally supports her father, King Charles.  She strengthens his kingdom by marrying twice for political alliance.   

But, when Judith refuses to marry a third time at her father’s command, King Charles imprisons her in one of his palaces.

Baldwin “Iron Arm” is a trusted knight and companion to Princess Judith’s brother, Prince Louis. Baldwin helps protect Francia and the king’s family from Vikings, rebel Lords, wars, and assassinations plots. 

When Judith and Baldwin fall in love without the blessing of the king, will they be able to hold on to their faith and each other after unleashing the fury of an empire?
 
My Review

Expect an Engaging Story.
I enjoyed this novel. Based on the true story of a powerful Knight and a runaway Queen who unite to defy an empire.--who also happen to be the author's ancestors--it's an interesting novel filled with many characters, relationships and events. Since I had already read the print version of the book, I was familiar with many of the characters and events. I settled more easily into the narration than I did into the print novel, but it may take a second listen at times to connect and place all of the scenes correctly in your mind.
The Audiobook Gives an Author Reading. The author tells a very organized and interesting story in print--and by offering her own narration for her story, she gives an exciting perspective to the audiobook as well. If you enjoy author readings--this audiobook feels like that type of experience. There is no overly done voice acting. Instead, the author speaks her characters to life as she guides listeners through the chapters.
Would I Recommend The Girl of Many Crowns by D.H. Morris? If you enjoy historical fiction--or historical dramas based on true characters, this novel is well-researched and interesting from start to finish.  The presentation of the audiobook by the author herself strengthens her connection to the story at times and brings this out well for the listener.
Buy the Book
Bookbaby
Amazon B&N 

Audible
(coming soon!)
​add to goodreads


 Meet the Author


A native of San Diego, California, D. H. Morris has lived on four continents and traveled through many countries. She has four children and eleven grandchildren and currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Choral Music education and pursued graduate work in English at USU and law at the University of Utah. She is also a published playwright.

As a descendant of Judith and Baldwin, the author discovered their intriguing story while doing a genealogical project. This journey inspired her to research everything about the 9th Century – including food, politics, travel, war, education, clothing, jewelry, religion, holidays, marriage customs, and medicine. She loves talking about this remarkable time in history when the European countries we know today were being formed and fighting for their very existence.​

connect with the author:  website pinterestgoodreads
 

Enter the Giveaway
THE GIRL OF MANY CROWNS Audiobook & Book Tour Giveaway



Thursday, January 16, 2025

Audiobook Review: The Axe by Linda Griffin

This morning, I have a mystery suspense story in our featured book review spot! Check out The Axe, read my thoughts on the audiobook, learn about author Linda Griffin, and enter the book tour giveaway at the end of this post. 


 

​Book Title:  The Axe by Linda Griffin
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  66 pages (1 hour, 46 minutes)
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
PublisherACX (ebook edition by The Wild Rose Press)
Release date:  July 2024 (ebook edition September 2023)
Content Rating:  PG-13A few f-words. Sexual violence that is not depicted, but is described by the victim (not explicitly) and may trigger some listeners. ​



Many of our posts contain affiliate links.
Should you purchase an item via our links--we may receive slight compensation from an
affiliate partner.  
 

About the Book

Sweethearts Eric Leidheldt and Desiree Chauveau are spending a weekend at his uncle's cabin when they encounter two strangers cutting wood. Eric is knocked unconscious, and Desi is viciously attacked. The following day two police officers come to their apartment to arrest Desi. Her assailants are dead, murdered with an axe, and her fingerprints are on it. She confesses but is she really guilty? Eric is determined to stand by her, but the physical and emotional effects of the attack severely challenge their relationship.
  ​
 
My Review
 
 
The Axe Packs A Lot of Action into a Short Space. The story is short, with the written version hitting only eight chapters and 66 pages. The author packs a lot of action and dialogue into the short space. The action and suspense launch immediately, and the pace carries through to the last few pages. The gnawing suspense keeps readers engaged and invested in finishing the mystery puzzle and hearing the pieces lock into place.
 
The Author's Writing Style Works Well in the Audiobook Format. The novel is very dialogue-driven and the plot is more psychological drama than convoluted mystery. The storyline is simple, with only a few characters, and the author leaves enough breadcrumbs that readers will expect the ending. Having said that, readers should expect to become engaged enough in the dramatic scenes that they will be invested in the main characters' stories through the last page.
 
The Narration Creates an Emotional Journey in a Short Space. The narrator successfully gave each character a distinct voice that pulled readers into the emotional, dramatic story. There was never a point in the story when I couldn't "hear" which character was "speaking."  
 
Would I Recommend The Axe by Linda Griffin? I didn't find the first part of the story very realistic, so it took a bit for me to settle into the book. If you are seeking a technical, convoluted mystery with deeply developed characters--this short novel is not that book. However, if you focus on the psychological drama and the character interactions, the novel is very engaging and interesting. You will solve the mystery before the end, but still have plenty of reasons to stay invested in the novel's outcomes. It's a simple, easy-to-understand story that will hold reader or listener interest to the end. The novel's subject matter is a difficult one, but it creates a very engaging, dramatic storyline here. 
 


 
 
Meet the Author



Linda Griffin knew she wanted to be a "book maker" as soon as she learned to read and wrote her first story at the age of six. Her passion for the printed word also led her to a career with the San Diego Public Library. She retired to spend more time on her writing and has had stories published in numerous literary journals The Wild Rose Press has published nine of her novels. In addition to the three R's—reading, writing, and research—she enjoys travel, movies, Scrabble, and visiting museums and art galleries. .

connect with the author: website ~X ~ facebook ~ instagram ~  goodreads
 

Enter the Giveaway

THE AXE by Linda Griffin Book Tour Giveaway 




Monday, September 4, 2023

Young Adult Audiobook Spotlight: Frogman's Response by Heidi Voss

This morning, I have a young adult audiobook to share!  Check out Frogman's Response, learn about author Heidi Voss and enter the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.




YA Fiction

Date Published: 09-06-2021

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press


photo add-to-goodreads-button_zpsc7b3c634.png

 

Many of our posts contain affiliate links.
Should you purchase an item via our links--we may receive slight compensation from an
affiliate partner.  

 
 
About the Book

 

Matthew Shaw is banned from his school's online counseling forum. Is it a crime his advice posts and anarchy blog are more popular than those on the school website? Though he's being as sincere as possible, Matthew, posting as "Frogman" online, wreaks havoc at Henry Blake High with advice that causes breakups, instigates a cheerleader fistfight, and turns a school assembly into an angry mob. When Matthew's private notebook goes missing, he worries not only about blowing his secret identity but about being suspended and ruining his shot to escape Mom's hoarding house.



About the Author

Heidi Voss’ debut novel Frogman’s Response has been praised as being “instantly engaging” and her award winning short fiction has been featured in multiple anthologies. When not writing or promoting her work, she enjoys video games and exercise.

 

Connect with the Author

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Instagram

TikTok

 

Buy the Book

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

iBooks

 

 Enter the Giveaway


RABT Book Tours & PR

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Audiobook Mystery Spotlight: Dogged Pursuit by Tracy Carter

Today, I have a mystery to share!  Check out audiobook Dogged Pursuit and learn about author Tracy Carter in this book spotlight feature!  


 


A Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery, Book 1


Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Date Published: March 22, 2023

Narrator: Alyssa Baumann

Run Time: 11 hours, 4 minutes


photo add-to-goodreads-button_zpsc7b3c634.png

 

Many of our posts contain affiliate links.
Should you purchase an item via our links--we may receive slight compensation from an
affiliate partner.  

 
 
About the Book

 

"An action-packed adventure blended smoothly with mystery and hope.... The character development is well done and complete.... The plot twists...are smooth and deliberate. Carter did an excellent job of making the story feel authentic and realistic through dialogue and rich imagery. It was well-written, and engaging and the narrator was the right fit!.... Alyssa Baumann captured and projected the personality of Veronica perfectly. She is very adept at projecting emotions and situations in a clear and intense manner. The excitement and energy she brought to the book were spot-on." — AudioBookReviewer

 

The debut book in the Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery series opens with escalating suspense and intensifies into a resilient fight for survival. With its engaging combination of canine and human personalities, thrilling plot, and gorgeous Colorado backdrop, Dogged Pursuit will appeal to dog lovers, outdoors enthusiasts, and mystery lovers alike.

Veronica Kildare cannot believe her luck–being shot at, again, by the bad guys. The sound, the feel of the bullet, and the hatred resonate for more than just the transitory moment of impact. She has relocated to a new state, but brutality has rampaged into this life as well. As the survivor of a senseless act of violence in her former life, Veronica struggles to recover from the lingering physical and emotional scars by working as a dog handler near Boulder, Colorado. Empowered by her intense bond with her search and rescue and drug detection dog, Leda, she finally begins to shake off the pain of her past. Then Veronica is drawn into the puzzling search for a scientist who has vanished near Rocky Mountain National Park.

Dr. Randy Jeffers has inexplicably disappeared on the eve of his testimony in the high profile murder trial of a pro basketball player and the police are baffled. As Veronica and Leda traverse rugged Roosevelt National Forest in a desperate search testing the limits of their abilities, it is not initially clear who has targeted Dr. Jeffers, or why. But it becomes shockingly obvious that someone will stop at nothing to silence him forever. The kidnappers with murder on their mind have guns, but Veronica has Leda and her own blossoming resilience as her weapons in their struggle for survival.

 



About the Author

Tracy Carter graduated from the University of Glasgow, Scotland with a master's degree in history. Her lengthy career as a legal assistant has included stints at international law firms and prosecutors' offices, followed by jobs as the horse identifier at two thoroughbred racetracks — all while training dogs in obedience and rally. She lives near Cleveland, Ohio, with her husband and Llewellin Setter (aka the diva).


Connect with the Author

Goodreads


Buy the Book

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Audible


RABT Book Tours & PR

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

The Bones of Amoret Audiobook Spotlight, Guest Post & Giveaway

This morning, I am featuring mystery audiobook, The Bones of Amoret, by Arthur Herbert!  Check out the book, learn about the author, read a guest post from him, & be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.



​Book TitleThe Bones of Amoret - A Novel by Arthur Herbert
Category:  Adult Fiction 18+, 320 pages
Length:  10 hours, 59 minutes
GenreMystery, Suspense
Publisher:  Stitched Smile Publications
Release Date: April 2022
Content Rating:  PG-13 - no sex, explicit or otherwise; almost all violence is off-screen; mild profanity
 

Many of our posts contain affiliate links.
Should you purchase an item via our links--we may receive slight compensation from an
affiliate partner.  

 
 
About the Book


In this enigmatic follow up to his critically acclaimed debut novel The Cuts that Cure, Arthur Herbert returns to the Texas-Mexico border with this saga of a small town’s bloody loss of innocence.

Amoret, Texas, 1982. Life along the border is harsh, but in a world where cultures work together to carve a living from the desert landscape, Blaine Beckett lives a life of isolation. A transplanted Boston intellectual, for twenty years locals have viewed him as a snob, a misanthrope, an outsider. He seems content to stand apart until one night when he vanishes into thin air amid signs of foul play.

Noah Grady, the town doctor, is a charming and popular good ol’ boy. He’s also a keeper of secrets, both the town’s and his own. He watches from afar as the mystery of Blaine’s disappearance unravels and rumors fly. Were the incipient cartels responsible? Was it a local with a grudge? Or did Blaine himself orchestrate his own disappearance? Then the unthinkable happens, and Noah begins to realize he’s considered a suspect.

Paced like a lit fuse and full of dizzying plot twists, The Bones of Amoret is a riveting whodunit that will keep you guessing all the way to its shocking conclusion. 
​ 
 
 
Read the Guest Post
 
Thank you, Angela, for granting me the privilege of posting on your blog!

My name’s Arthur Herbert and I’m the author of the newly released mystery The Bones of Amoret. Bones is my second novel and was much, much more fun to write as my debut, an inverted mystery titled The Cuts that Cure, was in part about exorcising some demons. Bones, on the other hand, was just pure story-telling, and doing so through the voice of a main character whom I absolutely loved.

The premise for Bones is that it’s an interview with Doctor Noah Grady, a garrulous old-timer who spent his entire career practicing in the small Texas border town of Amoret (a fictionalized version of Alpine, Texas). A reporter from an El Paso newspaper has travelled to Amoret on the 40th anniversary of the disappearance of Blaine Beckett, a prominent but unpopular Amoret citizen. The mystery of Blaine’s disappearance was never solved and has apparently become something of a D.B. Cooper case in the region over the intervening years. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear there were multiple possibilities as at various turns it appears the culprits may have been the incipient cartels, various locals with a grudge, or even Blaine himself. Whenever one sets out to write a mystery, there’s always a nagging critic in the back of one’s brain giving voice to insecurities: does this or that twist work? Are the clues too obvious? Not obvious enough? Is the explanation, the big reveal, believable? Well, I’m happy to report that based on the early reviews, readers and listeners seem to think I nailed it.

I’ll thrown you one little Easter Egg here. As I mentioned above, the town of Amoret is a fictionalized version of the real Texas town of Alpine. Alpine is home to about 6,000 people not counting the 2000 students who attend Sul Ross University. I needed a town close to the Mexican border that contained a small college for the plot (Blaine Beckett is a professor at the school prior to his disappearance), and so the choice of Alpine made sense. In fact, anyone who has spent time in that region will quickly realize from the geographic references of highways and directions that it’s Alpine I’m discussing. But fictionalizing it had two benefits. The first is just the pragmatic need to add or delete details about the town that wouldn’t make sense. The second though, had to deal with the choice of the town’s name. And that was where I had some fun.

For those unfamiliar with the name, Amoret is a character from Spenser’s The Faerie Queene who represents married love. Amoret is married to Scudamour but is kidnapped by the evil Busirane on her wedding day. Busirane shackles her and begins attempting numerous charms and enchantments to make Amoret fall in love with him, all to no avail as her love for Scudamour is too great. In the end she is rescued by the warrior princess Busirane and returns unsullied to her husband.

I’ll admit that at first glance the literary theme of married love would seem strange as an anchor for a mystery that has elements as dark as those found in Bones. And I don’t want to give you the wrong impression (trust me, Bones isn’t some egg-heady piece of literary fiction that could have been xeroxed from the MFA thesis of a hairy-legged Oberlin graduate student whose Prius has a bumper sticker reading “God is coming back and boy is she pissed”). I never lose sight of the fact, after all, that my job first and foremost is to entertain you with a good yarn. But when you see how strong the pulls and pushes of married love are throughout the book, you’ll see why naming the town for her brought a smile to my face.

I’d like to end by thanking you, the reader, for giving me a few minutes of your day. I know that there’s literally a million other ways you could spend your time, or authors you could read. I know I’m supposed to use words for a living, but I can’t find the ones that adequately express my gratitude to you for making this dream possible. Until next time, stay safe.


Buy the Book 
 
 
 
Meet the Author

Arthur Herbert was born and raised in small town Texas. He worked on offshore oil rigs, as a bartender, a landscaper at a trailer park, and as a social worker before going to medical school. He chose to do a residency in general surgery, followed by a fellowship in critical care and trauma surgery. For the last eighteen years, he’s worked as a trauma and burn surgeon, operating on all ages of injured patients. He continues to run a thriving practice.

He's won multiple awards for his scientific writing, and his first novel, The Cuts that Cure, spent ten days as an Amazon #1 Best Seller. His second novel, The Bones of Amoret, will be released on April 1, 2022 through Stitched Smile Publishers. Arthur currently lives in New Orleans, with his wife Amy and their dogs.

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ goodreads
 
 
Enter the Giveaway

BONES OF AMORET Audiobook Tour Giveaway

 


 

Thursday, September 23, 2021

No Names to Be Given Audiobook Review & Book Tour Giveaway

I rarely listen to audiobooks--but, the description of this book caught my interest. Learn about women's fiction novel No Names to Be Give and author Julia Brewer Daily, read my thoughts and enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.


Book Title:  No Names to Be Given
CategoryAdult Fiction (18 +)  
Genre
Vintage Women's Fiction
Publisher:  Admission Press Inc
Release date:   08/2021
Content RatingPG + MNo bad language, but mature subjects like suicide and a rape scene. These are both mild and not explicit. Fade to black kind of scenes. 

"A gorgeous, thrilling, and important novel! These strong women will capture your heart.” Stacey Swann, author of Olympus, Texas.

“An insightful and sympathetic view offered into the lives of those who were adopted and those who adopted them.” Pam Johnson, author of Justice for Ella.

“A novel worthy of a Lifetime movie adaptation.” Jess Hagemann, author of Headcheese.
“Readers can expect deep knowledge of the world the characters inhabit.” Sara Kocek, author of Promise Me Something.

“I found myself thinking about Becca, Sandy, and Faith frequently as I went about my day—I was always excited to sit down and find out what happened next.” Sarah Welch, author of Austin Brown Dogs: The Shelter Dogs Who Rescue Us.
 



Many of our posts contain affiliate links.
Should you purchase an item via our links--we may receive slight compensation from an
affiliate partner. 
 

About the Book 
 
Today’s young women will not understand how our families made us feel shame so intensely; we surrendered our first-born children to strangers. Faith Reynolds, No Names to Be Given 
 
The widely anticipated debut novel by Julia Brewer Daily is a glimpse into the lives of women forced by society to gift their newborns to strangers. Although this novel is a fictional account, it mirrors many of the adoption stories of its era. 
 
When three young unwed women meet at a maternity home hospital in New Orleans in 1965, they are expected to relinquish their babies and return home as if nothing transpired. Twenty-five years later, they are brought back together by blackmail and their secrets threatened with exposure—all the way to the White House.
 
Told from the three women’s perspectives in alternating chapters, we are mesmerized by the societal pressures on women in the 1960s who found themselves pregnant without marriage.
 
How that inconceivable act changed them forever is the story of No Names To Be Given, a novel with southern voices, love exploited, heartbreak and blackmail.  
 
 
My Review 
 
 

Emotional Stories with Realistic Characters. The author spotlights three women as they cope with unplanned pregnancies during the '60s--and continue to face the aftermaths of their pasts in years to come. While the novel is fictional--the author chose very realistic situations for her young, unwed characters and kept the story (and her characters) in check with the historical context--and followed them through as their lives and stories developed and pasts re-emerged and reconnected.


No Names to Be Given Offers Readers Many Insights. From learning about the treatment and expectations of many unwed mothers in the '60s--to the understandable emotional trauma, grief, and guilt that carried forward throughout lives--readers will see many of the real-life types of stories that played out over those difficult years. As an adoptee herself, the author brings a lot of thought-provoking pieces into the novel. 

 

No Names to Be Given Brings Many Perspectives Together.  I enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook and the various perspectives that the author brought to the storyline. Having said that, as the book frequently moved from character to character and story to story--I may have been better settled to reading the story than listening to it. The narrator did an excellent job transitioning from section to section--but, I felt that I was moving too quickly from account to account sometimes. I am not sure if I would have felt as "rushed" if I were transitioning on my own from section to section via written pages instead of audio.

 

Would I Recommend No Names to Be Given by Julia Brewer Daily? This novel is an emotional read if you enjoy a drama with well-drawn characters and historically placed significance. While the characters face real challenges as their stories unfold, some somewhat unrealistic events and coincidences bounce into the mix. Even with some of the less believable aspects of the book, I enjoyed the characters and became attached to their stories and lives. While I enjoyed the narrator's voice and style--I think the movement and flow of this novel may have been better for me had I read it instead of listened. I would certainly recommend the story to readers who enjoy an emotional journey into and through the pains of the past.

 
 
Buy the Book  
 

Meet the Author
 
Julia Brewer Daily is a Texan with a southern accent. She holds a B.S. in English and a M.S. degree in Education from the University of Southern Mississippi. 

She has been a Communications Adjunct Professor at Belhaven University, Jackson, Mississippi, and Public Relations Director of the Mississippi Department of Education and Millsaps College, a liberal arts college in Jackson, MS.  

She was the founding director of the Greater Belhaven Market, a producers’ only market in a historic neighborhood in Jackson, and even shadowed Martha Stewart. 

As the Executive Director of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi (300 artisans from 19 states) which operates the Mississippi Craft Center, she wrote their stories to introduce them to the public.

Daily is an adopted child from a maternity home hospital in New Orleans. She searched and found her birth mother and through a DNA test, her birth father’s family, as well.  A lifelong southerner, she now resides on a ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas, with her husband Emmerson and Labrador Retrievers, Memphis Belle and Texas Star.​

connect with the author: website ~ facebook  goodreads​​

 
Follow the Book Tour
 
 
Enter the Giveaway