Tag: audiobook

ALC Book Review: The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 304 pages
Author: Tracey Garvis Graves
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: March 26th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

New York Times bestselling author Tracey Garvis Graves takes readers on a life affirming journey, where two lost souls find the unexpected courage to love again.

Thirty-four-year-old Wren Waters believes that if you pay attention, the universe will send you exactly what you need. But her worldview shatters when the universe delivers two life-altering blows she didn’t see coming, and all she wants to do is put the whole heartbreaking mess behind her. No one is more surprised than Wren when she discovers that geocaching―the outdoor activity of using GPS to look for hidden objects―is the only thing getting her out of bed and out of her head. She decides that a weeklong solo quest geocaching in Oregon is exactly what she needs to take back control of her life.

Enter Marshall Hendricks, a psychologist searching for distraction as he struggles with a life-altering blow of his own. Though Wren initially rebuffs Marshall’s attempt at hiker small talk, she’s beyond grateful when he rescues her from a horrifying encounter farther down the trail. In the interest of safety, Marshall suggests partnering up to look for additional caches. Wren’s no longer quite so trusting of the universe―or men in general―but her inner circle might argue that a smart, charismatic psychologist isn’t the worst thing the universe could place in her path.

What begins as a platonic road trip gradually blossoms into something deeper, and the more Wren learns about Marshall, the more she wants to know. Now all she can do is hope that the universe gets it right this time.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the audiobook.

WISH I HAD KNOWN.

Some might find this *spoilery* regarding a specific trope. Read at your own discretion.

I know there’s plenty of discord over whether or not tropes should be included when discussing a book, but y’all, this is prime example number one why I appreciate them and how I wish just one review I happened to scan through had mentioned the surprise in this one.

It made me feel like things could have been handled better. With only a week together and confessing a lot of things about yourself, but not feeling that reciprocity (and calling the MMC out on it) to then being secretive yourself? I don’t know, didn’t work for me.

This was a super quick (less than 9 hours) audiobook and I will say, I LOVED the narrator. I had no issues with the production or anything of that nature. My issues are about the book themselves.

And I was really loving all of the outdoorsy content that after the halfway point just disappeared. I feel like a little more length within the book would have allowed some deeper exploration of feelings and combining what felt like two different halves of this book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low-moderate
  • Romance: 2-3 brief, low explicit open door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a fiancé, infidelity, loss of a sibling, brief mentions of gun violence, birth scene

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Book Review: The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Historical Fantasy
Length: 325 pages
Author: Katherine Arden
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: February 13th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

During the Great War, a combat nurse searches for her brother, believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise, in this hauntingly beautiful historical novel with a speculative twist from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale

January 1918. Laura Iven was a revered field nurse until she was wounded and discharged from the medical corps, leaving behind a brother still fighting in Flanders. Now home in Halifax, Canada, she receives word of Freddie’s death in combat, along with his personal effects—but something doesn’t make sense. Determined to uncover the truth, Laura returns to Belgium as a volunteer at a private hospital. Soon after arriving, she hears whispers about haunted trenches, and a strange hotelier whose wine gives soldiers the gift of oblivion. Could Freddie have escaped the battlefield, only to fall prey to something—or someone—else?

November 1917. Freddie Iven awakens after an explosion to find himself trapped in an overturned pillbox with a wounded enemy soldier, a German by the name of Hans Winter. Against all odds, the two men form an alliance and succeed in clawing their way out. Unable to bear the thought of returning to the killing fields, especially on opposite sides, they take refuge with a mysterious man who seems to have the power to make the hellscape of the trenches disappear.

As shells rain down on Flanders, and ghosts move among those yet living, Laura’s and Freddie’s deepest traumas are reawakened. Now they must decide whether their world is worth salvaging—or better left behind entirely.

BEAUTIFULLY POIGNANT.

I am the biggest fan of historical fantasies. They get me every dang time and this was no exception. I’m also a major fan girl of all books Katherine Arden, so I shouldn’t be surprised by this development.

I thought this was beautifully written and explored many nuanced aspects of WW1. The fantasy dynamics intrigued me and I highly recommend reading the author’s note at the end. It brought the whole book (and certain characters) into an even better focus and the complexity is next level.

Freddie and Laura were great main characters. Giving two sides to this moving tale. The fierce love between siblings to find each other again, amidst the war, and ghosts, and love and all of these factors yanking and tugging them in different directions.

I could pick a few things I’d love a bit more of, but overall, this is a really solid standalone and one I would highly recommend to others. A book that is dark and vibrant at the same time and one that will stick with you.

Overall audience notes:

  • Historical Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: blood and gore depiction, WW1 themes

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Book Review: The Blood Vier (Blood Vier #1) by Christy R. Harrill

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 392 pages
Author: Christy R. Harrill
Publisher: Rose Hollow Press
Release Date: September 6th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A puzzling murder.
A crumbling diarchy.
A Blood Vier summoned to quell the ashes of corruption.

Taryn wants nothing to do with the father who abandoned her. She bolts at her first glimpse of freedom, only for a mysterious man to track her down, claiming her father was murdered and she is the key to finding the killer. She strikes a bargain, traveling to the kingdom’s capital where she becomes an unwilling player in a political game against the opposing sovereignties and her father’s suspected killer.

As a Blood Vier, a blood heir come to vie for her father’s position, Taryn is now the prime target of assassination for her interference. She seeks evidence to bring down her deadly opponent, enlisting the help of the cocky prince and a despised healer. But as her father’s secrets begin to slowly unravel, Taryn is caught between duty and freedom, questioning where her allegiances lie and how much she is willing to sacrifice.

Treason haunts the kingdom halls, death stalks close behind, and betrayal is only the opening act. Taryn has spent her life shrouded in secrets and deception, and she’s done playing the pawn.

Thank you Book of Matches Media and Christy R. Harrill for the gifted audiobook.

NOT A BAD START.

Audiobook notes: I loved the male narrator. He did amazing and I thought the female narrator did too. As a stylistic choice I thought the FMC came off angry about everything all the time. Which occasionally bugged me.

This book is definitely high action. Lots of good altercations throughout that kept things moving. You are literally thrown into it at the start, and while jarring I felt like this worked. I ran fast with this book and it was easy to establish the world building and political dynamics.

I loved that this had dual POV. In future books I’m even more curious if those will be added upon. There’s some subtle romances brewing that I enjoyed too. There’s some tender connection moments where I felt the characterization of everyone deepened. The antagonists are the only ones I didn’t love. They felt over created and lacked substance.

I would be up for trying book two, but I would definitely do it as an audiobook again rather than physical read.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: low
  • Romance: flirting
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Infinity + One by Amy Harmon

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Length: 327 pages
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 8th, 2014
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

When two unlikely allies become two unwitting outlaws, will two unforgettable lovers defy unbeatable odds?

Bonnie Rae Shelby is a superstar. She’s rich. She’s beautiful. She’s impossibly famous. And Bonnie Rae Shelby wants to die.

Finn Clyde is a nobody. He’s broken. He’s brilliant. He’s impossibly cynical. And all he wants is a chance at life.

One girl. One boy. An act of compassion. A bizarre set of circumstances. And a choice – turn your head and walk away, or reach out your hand and risk it all?

With that choice, the clock starts ticking on a man with a past and a girl who can’t face the future, counting down the seconds in an adventure riddled with heartbreak and humor, misunderstanding and revelation. With the world against them, two very different people take a journey that will not only change their lives, but may cost them their lives as well.

Infinity + One is a tale of shooting stars and fame and fortune, of gilded cages and iron bars, of finding a friend behind a stranger’s face, and discovering love in the oddest of places.

IT WAS GOOD.

Another enjoyable Harmon read. I wouldn’t count this in the favorites column though, but I did like the story and had a hard time putting it down.

I love way Harmon’s stories are crafted. They’re lyrically written with characters that FEEL. I love the tangled web of emotions and life and everything in between that comes together. Bonnie and Finn had this undeniable immediate chemistry. Not one generally for insta-love I did think this was pretty well accomplished. I was invested in the story from the beginning and freaking out at the end waiting for the HEA to happen.

There’s many layers to this that I loved. Coping with grief and loss of a sibling. Dealing with the stress of a tough career. Handling tough situations you didn’t mean to be a part of and all within falling in love with the last person you thought you’d meet.

A beautiful story. I’m loving catching up on Amy Harmon’s backlist!

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: one vague open door
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: suicide attempt (the book starts with this), suicidal thoughts, gun violence, car wrecks, incarceration, loss of a sibling (from cancer) and (from gun violence)

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