Tag: audiobook

Book Review: Beautifully Broken Pieces (Sutter Lake #1) by Catherine Cowles

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Romantic Suspense
Length: 300 pages
Author: Catherine Cowles
Publisher: The PageSmith LLC
Release Date: February 25th, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A woman who’s lost everything.

Taylor is looking for peace and quiet away from the memories of all she’s lost. A small mountain town where no one knows her seems like the perfect escape.

A man battling the ghosts of his past.

Walker loves his life just the way it is. His town, his family, his brothers in blue. Everything simple and easy—until a chance encounter changes it all.

When Taylor’s solitude is interrupted by the rugged cop, they find that the very thing they were avoiding might be just what they both need. As their iron wills clash and passion flares…a killer lurks.

And you never know who might be caught in the crosshairs.

HERE WE GO.

I have loved Cowles most recent two series and wanted to dive back into some backlist series of hers too. This is one of her oldest ones and it has all of the same vibes of why I enjoy all of her books. I love that they have this formulaic vibe that I highly appreciate but with enough small twists that I feel always slightly shocked by the last 20%.

Taylor and Walker grew on me. I will say I didn’t feel as connected to them as I hoped but what can I say? I love a hot cop. Taylor was intensely stubborn about every single thing which got a bit dry, and I’m glad it’s a short book so it was remedied eventually.

The reveals at the end surprised me because I definitely had my eye on multiple other characters who I thought were causing the murders. I love the suspense elements and the found family happening and can’t wait to continue!

Overall audience notes:

  • Romantic Suspense
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 3 open door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, murder, serial killer, obsession, kidnapping, loss of a mother, loss of loved ones

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Book Review: One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fiction + Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Laura Hankin
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: June 18th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A struggling writer is forced to walk down the aisle at her best friend’s wedding with the man who gave her book a very public one-star rating in this fresh romantic comedy from Laura Hankin.

Natalie and Rob couldn’t have less in common. Nat’s a messy artist, and Rob’s a rigid academic. The only thing they share is their devotion to their respective best friends—who just got engaged. Still, unexpected chemistry has Natalie cautiously optimistic about being maid of honor to Rob’s best man.

Until, minutes before the ceremony, Nat learns that Rob wrote a one-star review of her new novel, which has them both reeling: Nat from imposter syndrome, and Rob over the reason he needed to write it.

When the reception ends, these two opposites hope they’ll never meet again. But, as they slip from their twenties into their thirties, they’re forced together whenever their fast-track best friends celebrate another milestone. Through housewarmings and christenings, life-changing triumphs and failures, Natalie and Rob grapple with their own choices—and how your harshest critic can become your perfectly imperfect match.

Thank you to Berkley #BerkleyPartner for the gifted book.

I LOVED THIS.

I wasn’t expecting to love this and I’m oh so happy I did. I did know prior that this is not a ROMANCE, but a fiction story with a side of romance. With that set in my mind I could really enjoy Natalie’s journey. I actually liked the time jumps in this one. The story telling was fantastic and that I didn’t feel like we were slogging through details that had happened, but instead pushing the story forward. It kept things from dragging and I had a hard time putting my headphones down for this book.

And even though this wasn’t a romance, I still loved the slow burn between Natalie and Rob. They both have to grapple with a lot that life throws at them. I liked that this felt true to life without being overly dramatic or feeling like it was nonsense. I could understand the thoughts and feelings and it is a book with such readability that it was easy to fly through.

I loved Natalie’s path. The ups and downs. Making mistakes and righting wrongs. Holding tightly to friendships and realizing the love of her life was so close to her for so long. It was a beautiful story and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fiction + Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Content Warnings: cancer (side character), a parent develops dementia

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Book Review: Winter’s Heart (The Wheel of Time #9) by Robert Jordan

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 705 pages
Author: Robert Jordan
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: November 7th, 2000
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

Rand is on the run with Min, and in Cairhein, Cadsuane is trying to figure out where he is headed. Rand’s destination is, in fact, one she has never considered.

Mazrim Taim, leader of the Black Tower, is revealed to be a liar. But what is he up to?

Faile, with the Aiel Maidens, Bain and Chiad, and her companions, Queen Alliandre and Morgase, is prisoner of Savanna’s sept.

Perrin is desperately searching for Faile. With Elyas Machera, Berelain, the Prophet and a very mixed “army” of disparate forces, he is moving through country rife with bandits and roving Seanchan. The Forsaken are ever more present, and united, and the man called Slayer stalks Tel’aran’rhiod and the wolfdream.

In Ebou Dar, the Seanchan princess known as Daughter of the Nine Moons arrives–and Mat, who had been recuperating in the Tarasin Palace, is introduced to her. Will the marriage that has been foretold come about?

A BIT CHAOTIC.

I will admit that this one was easier to get through than book eight. But the same glaring issues continually popping up just holds me back from really connecting with the story (and I have put myself in for the long haul of finishing this series to read all of Sanderson’s books).

The romantic sub plot is a dumpster fire I can’t look away from. Rand is not all that and these women need to find someone more consistent in their lives. I don’t even know what to do with it all other than just jump on the train to see what wild thing happens next.

I wish there was a better balance between the POV’s. Staying in one story line for so long gets me in the groove and then changing to someone else’s kind of throws me off. Wash and repeat the entire book. I’m still trying to figure out why these books were so popular.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: hallucinations, battle themes, loss of life, weapons and magical altercations

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Book Review: Sing Me to Sleep (Sing Me to Sleep #1) by Gabi Burton

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Author: Gabi Burton
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: June 27th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In this dark and seductive YA fantasy debut, a siren must choose between protecting her family and following her heart in a prejudiced kingdom where her existence is illegal.

Saoirse Sorkova survives on lies. As a soldier-in-training at the most prestigious barracks in the kingdom, she lies about being a siren to avoid execution. At night, working as an assassin for a dangerous group of mercenaries, Saoirse lies about her true identity. And to her family, Saoirse tells the biggest lie of all: that she can control her siren powers and doesn’t struggle constantly against an impulse to kill.

As the top trainee in her class, Saoirse would be headed for a bright future if it weren’t for the need to keep her secrets out of the spotlight. But when a mysterious blackmailer threatens her sister, Saoirse takes a dangerous job that will help her investigate: she becomes personal bodyguard to the crown prince.

Saoirse should hate Prince Hayes. After all, his father is the one who enforces the kingdom’s brutal creature segregation laws. But when Hayes turns out to be kind, thoughtful, and charming, Saoirse finds herself increasingly drawn to him-especially when they’re forced to work together to stop a deadly killer who’s plaguing the city. There’s only one problem: Saoirse is that deadly killer.

Featuring an all Black and Brown cast, a forbidden romance, and a compulsively dark plot full of twists, this thrilling YA fantasy is perfect for fans of A Song Below Water and To Kill a Kingdom.

I’LL READ BOOK TWO.

At first, I felt like the beginning lacked a focus. I didn’t know the WHY of the book and it didn’t feel strong enough to carry the whole story. I will say that as the book progressed and that focus became known, things were much better.

I LOVED that the main character was super morally gray. She was fierce, a siren, and one of the most loyal sisters I’ve read recently. Watching her slowly come undone to the golden retriever energy of Prince Hayes was beautiful. I love this slow burn romance and can’t wait to see where it continues.

There’s some good twists and turns. An interesting magic concept and the audiobook was stellar. I loved seeing Saoirse grapple with tough decisions and trying to make the right choices while handling the compulsions of her nature. I think this was a really solid debut and I look forward to the next book!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: light
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, physical and weapons violence, magical violence, drownings

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