1 to 17 of 17
Review Date: 3/22/2024
You know...for a debut novel...this book has got it going on! This is not only salacious, but it's juicy and cunning, all wrapped up in one! Jamie Day is one author that you should keep tabs on, because she's got what it takes to become literary' s next greatest! If she can do what she did with her first book, just imagine how good they will get over time! Gosh...I have goosebumps!
This book was a quick read that you can easily devour in one sitting! And the neighborhood is one that everyone knows exactly what you're talking about...there's one in every town! But someone in town is a murderer, and there are plenty of people that could or should be suspects!
The characters to the story, to the secrets, to the twists all offer the perfect combination of a summer blockbuster hit! I could totally see this being turned into a movie!
The Block Party is narrated by Megan Tusing and Suzy Jackson. Megan Tusing is one of my favorite narrators, but both seemed to be an absolute perfect fit for this book, which makes a huge different in how a book comes across!
Overall, I am incredibly impressed with the likes of Jamie Day and The Block Party! You can't go wrong when choosing this for your next read!
I'd like to thank Jamie Day, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for providing me a copy of The Block Party which allowed me to contribute this honest and unbiased review!
This book was a quick read that you can easily devour in one sitting! And the neighborhood is one that everyone knows exactly what you're talking about...there's one in every town! But someone in town is a murderer, and there are plenty of people that could or should be suspects!
The characters to the story, to the secrets, to the twists all offer the perfect combination of a summer blockbuster hit! I could totally see this being turned into a movie!
The Block Party is narrated by Megan Tusing and Suzy Jackson. Megan Tusing is one of my favorite narrators, but both seemed to be an absolute perfect fit for this book, which makes a huge different in how a book comes across!
Overall, I am incredibly impressed with the likes of Jamie Day and The Block Party! You can't go wrong when choosing this for your next read!
I'd like to thank Jamie Day, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for providing me a copy of The Block Party which allowed me to contribute this honest and unbiased review!
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings: 101 Stories of Gratitude, Fortitude, and Silver Linings
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
2
Author:
Book Type: Paperback
2
Review Date: 3/21/2024
I absolutely love the Chicken Soup books and Count Your Blessings was no exception. I felt like I needed something a little inspirations and this book sure did the trick! I have also been trying to physically read more books, so this helps with that also because of all the short stories, I can read one or two at a time when I have a free minute!
I love all the individual stories written by real people, talking about real problems and real life. Just like the title depicts, this book is full of stories of gratitude, fortitude and silver linings, and it just might help you see the positive side of things yourself in your own life!
Overall, you can't go wrong picking any of the Chicken Soup books (they've only been uber popular for HUNDREDS of editions) for a reason and this one is a great start!
I love all the individual stories written by real people, talking about real problems and real life. Just like the title depicts, this book is full of stories of gratitude, fortitude and silver linings, and it just might help you see the positive side of things yourself in your own life!
Overall, you can't go wrong picking any of the Chicken Soup books (they've only been uber popular for HUNDREDS of editions) for a reason and this one is a great start!
Review Date: 1/20/2014
Hillier does an excellent job at her debut novel, however, the ending was left pretty open-ended. I am hoping that is because she was leaving herself enough room to write a sequel to Creep, and that's just not the way the book ends, so we will see!
The title is totally fitting for the entire book, and you will see that early on. Everything about this book is creepy, from the characters to the happenings within the book!
The story line is a great story, which leaves you absolutely certain that you know what is going to happen, that is until it does, and you sit back and say, whoa...I totally didn't see that coming!
Overall, if Creep is any indication of Jennifer Hillier's writing abilities, I will be watching for future releases from her! I think she has such potential to be an amazingly successful mystery and suspense author and can't wait to see what else she has up her sleeve!
The title is totally fitting for the entire book, and you will see that early on. Everything about this book is creepy, from the characters to the happenings within the book!
The story line is a great story, which leaves you absolutely certain that you know what is going to happen, that is until it does, and you sit back and say, whoa...I totally didn't see that coming!
Overall, if Creep is any indication of Jennifer Hillier's writing abilities, I will be watching for future releases from her! I think she has such potential to be an amazingly successful mystery and suspense author and can't wait to see what else she has up her sleeve!
Review Date: 6/26/2013
Title: Daddy Love
Author: Joyce Carol Oates
Narrator: Christine Williams
Unabridged Length: 6 h, 45 m
Published by: Highbridge Audio, 2013
Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Horror
Rating: ✮✮✮✮
Summary:
From one of the most acclaimed writers of our time comes a horrifying tale about a young boy kidnapped by a sadistic killer and sexual predator known only as Daddy Love, a part-time reverend whose twisted desires know no bounds.
Review:
This was my first Joyce Carol Oates book and definitely won't be my last. I found the writing to be concise and well-developed with what seemed to be great detail to each of the characters. I enjoyed that the main characters were more taboo than your regular main character!
The story seemed like an actual story straight out of the headlines which is exactly what caught and kept my attention! I also really liked how the ending worked out!
The narrator did a wonderful job of reading this story! She was able to really capture my attention and maintain it throughout the entire story.
Overall, I really enjoyed listening to this book and will not hesitate to seek out more Joyce Carol Oates books in the near future!
Author: Joyce Carol Oates
Narrator: Christine Williams
Unabridged Length: 6 h, 45 m
Published by: Highbridge Audio, 2013
Genres: Mysteries & Thrillers, Horror
Rating: ✮✮✮✮
Summary:
From one of the most acclaimed writers of our time comes a horrifying tale about a young boy kidnapped by a sadistic killer and sexual predator known only as Daddy Love, a part-time reverend whose twisted desires know no bounds.
Review:
This was my first Joyce Carol Oates book and definitely won't be my last. I found the writing to be concise and well-developed with what seemed to be great detail to each of the characters. I enjoyed that the main characters were more taboo than your regular main character!
The story seemed like an actual story straight out of the headlines which is exactly what caught and kept my attention! I also really liked how the ending worked out!
The narrator did a wonderful job of reading this story! She was able to really capture my attention and maintain it throughout the entire story.
Overall, I really enjoyed listening to this book and will not hesitate to seek out more Joyce Carol Oates books in the near future!
Review Date: 3/25/2024
After reading some of the other reviews, I think it's important to remember that this book is a YA book. If that's generally not your thing...then you might not like it or it may seem "immature" to you. But it's not you that is the target audience.
With that being said, I think that this book fits right in with the young adult crowd. There are inferences of sex, drinking and drug use, but it wouldn't even be close to reality if that wasn't included, because let's face it...that's what kids (especially those that are almost 18) are doing these days!
As for the book itself, it almost read like a non-fiction book, which I actually appreciated! I really liked the fact that it was a unique story, with evolving characters, which all kept me interested from beginning to end.
I've never read anything by Kate McLaughlin before, but I am impressed with her writing. Sometimes, I have a tendency, to put off reading new authors because, let's get real, you have no way of knowing if it's actually going to be good or not, but I can tell you I was impressed and will seek out more books by this author!
Daughter was narrated by Justis Bolding, which was a first for me also, but she did a super impressive job! She seemed to fit Scarlet's character like a glove, which is always a beautiful thing!
Overall...I'm incredibly impressed with Daughter and look forward to reading more from Kate McLaughlin in the future!
I would like to thank Kate McLaughlin, RB Media, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Daughter which allowed me to contribute this honest and unbiased review!!
With that being said, I think that this book fits right in with the young adult crowd. There are inferences of sex, drinking and drug use, but it wouldn't even be close to reality if that wasn't included, because let's face it...that's what kids (especially those that are almost 18) are doing these days!
As for the book itself, it almost read like a non-fiction book, which I actually appreciated! I really liked the fact that it was a unique story, with evolving characters, which all kept me interested from beginning to end.
I've never read anything by Kate McLaughlin before, but I am impressed with her writing. Sometimes, I have a tendency, to put off reading new authors because, let's get real, you have no way of knowing if it's actually going to be good or not, but I can tell you I was impressed and will seek out more books by this author!
Daughter was narrated by Justis Bolding, which was a first for me also, but she did a super impressive job! She seemed to fit Scarlet's character like a glove, which is always a beautiful thing!
Overall...I'm incredibly impressed with Daughter and look forward to reading more from Kate McLaughlin in the future!
I would like to thank Kate McLaughlin, RB Media, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Daughter which allowed me to contribute this honest and unbiased review!!
Review Date: 1/7/2014
Title: [book:Don't Go|15793165]
Author: [author:Lisa Scottoline|20258]
Narrator: Jeremy Davidson
Length: 9 Discs, 11 hours, 25 minutes
Publisher: MacMillion Audio
Publishe: April 9, 2013
Genres: Fiction; Suspense; Mystery
Visit my review: http://chorleychronicals.blogspot.com
My Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
Synopsis:
Bestselling author Lisa Scottoline has thrilled millions with her emotionally-charged novels that feature strong women exploring the boundaries of family, justice, and love. In Dont Go, she breaks new ground and delivers the story of a soldier who discovers what it means to be a man, a father, and ultimately, a hero.
When Dr. Mike Scanlon is called to serve as an army doctor in Afghanistan, hes acutely aware of the dangers hell face and the hardships it will cause his wife Chloe and newborn baby. And deep inside, he doesnt think of himself as a warrior, but a healer.
However, in an ironic turn of events, as Mike operates on a wounded soldier in a war-torn country, Chloe dies at home in the suburbs, in an apparent household accident. Devastated, he returns home to bury her, only to discover that the life he left behind has fallen apart. His medical practice is in jeopardy, and he is a complete stranger to the only family he has left - his precious baby girl. Worse, he learns a shocking secret that sends him into a downward spiral.
Ultimately, Mike realizes that the most important battle of his life faces him on the home front and hell have to put it all on the line to save whats dearest to him his family. Gripping, thrilling, and profoundly emotional, Dont Go is Lisa Scottoline at her finest.
My Review:
This book was such a heartwarming, gut wrenching, truly touching story to read (or in my case, listen to!) It is a story of love, loss, war and conflict, military spouses, and life after war. It is of my opinion that most people would find it difficult to dislike this book.
This was my first read by Lisa Scottoline, and I have to say, that I thought this book was exceptional! I listened to it on audio, and it had me captured from the first few moments clear through the bitter end. I thought that Scottoline did a superb job of writing a believable and emotional story.
The narrator, Jeremy Davidson, did a phenomenal job narrating this story. He is such a great reader, that I would consider listening to book narrated by him, just to see what else he can do! He was able to make you feel like you really were listening to Mike, hearing his story, and feeling his raw emotions.
I felt that Scottoline was very in depth and thorough with her characters in Don't Go, and I felt like they all appropriately fit each of them. Of course, there were characters that I loved and characters that I absolutely had complete disdain for! One of those was Bob! I was also carefully guarded with Danielle. I kept feeling the need to root for Mike!
The story was the farthest thing from predictable and I loved that! Scottoline gives you just enough bits and pieces to know that something is amiss, but never enough to know exactly what it is until the very end. Speaking of the end, it was a very peaceful, acceptable ending, that left me with a feeling of closure. There was mystery and suspense, but not enough to be gory, just enough to keep you hanging on to every last word!
Overall, I loved listening to this book. It has got to be one of my favorite audio books that I've ever listened to. This book was made to be an audio book! I also can't wait to try out more of Lisa Scottoline's book's to see what else she has up her sleeve!
Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book by the Publisher, MacMillion Audio, via Audiobook Jukebox in ,return for an honest, unbiased review.
Author: [author:Lisa Scottoline|20258]
Narrator: Jeremy Davidson
Length: 9 Discs, 11 hours, 25 minutes
Publisher: MacMillion Audio
Publishe: April 9, 2013
Genres: Fiction; Suspense; Mystery
Visit my review: http://chorleychronicals.blogspot.com
My Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
Synopsis:
Bestselling author Lisa Scottoline has thrilled millions with her emotionally-charged novels that feature strong women exploring the boundaries of family, justice, and love. In Dont Go, she breaks new ground and delivers the story of a soldier who discovers what it means to be a man, a father, and ultimately, a hero.
When Dr. Mike Scanlon is called to serve as an army doctor in Afghanistan, hes acutely aware of the dangers hell face and the hardships it will cause his wife Chloe and newborn baby. And deep inside, he doesnt think of himself as a warrior, but a healer.
However, in an ironic turn of events, as Mike operates on a wounded soldier in a war-torn country, Chloe dies at home in the suburbs, in an apparent household accident. Devastated, he returns home to bury her, only to discover that the life he left behind has fallen apart. His medical practice is in jeopardy, and he is a complete stranger to the only family he has left - his precious baby girl. Worse, he learns a shocking secret that sends him into a downward spiral.
Ultimately, Mike realizes that the most important battle of his life faces him on the home front and hell have to put it all on the line to save whats dearest to him his family. Gripping, thrilling, and profoundly emotional, Dont Go is Lisa Scottoline at her finest.
My Review:
This book was such a heartwarming, gut wrenching, truly touching story to read (or in my case, listen to!) It is a story of love, loss, war and conflict, military spouses, and life after war. It is of my opinion that most people would find it difficult to dislike this book.
This was my first read by Lisa Scottoline, and I have to say, that I thought this book was exceptional! I listened to it on audio, and it had me captured from the first few moments clear through the bitter end. I thought that Scottoline did a superb job of writing a believable and emotional story.
The narrator, Jeremy Davidson, did a phenomenal job narrating this story. He is such a great reader, that I would consider listening to book narrated by him, just to see what else he can do! He was able to make you feel like you really were listening to Mike, hearing his story, and feeling his raw emotions.
I felt that Scottoline was very in depth and thorough with her characters in Don't Go, and I felt like they all appropriately fit each of them. Of course, there were characters that I loved and characters that I absolutely had complete disdain for! One of those was Bob! I was also carefully guarded with Danielle. I kept feeling the need to root for Mike!
The story was the farthest thing from predictable and I loved that! Scottoline gives you just enough bits and pieces to know that something is amiss, but never enough to know exactly what it is until the very end. Speaking of the end, it was a very peaceful, acceptable ending, that left me with a feeling of closure. There was mystery and suspense, but not enough to be gory, just enough to keep you hanging on to every last word!
Overall, I loved listening to this book. It has got to be one of my favorite audio books that I've ever listened to. This book was made to be an audio book! I also can't wait to try out more of Lisa Scottoline's book's to see what else she has up her sleeve!
Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book by the Publisher, MacMillion Audio, via Audiobook Jukebox in ,return for an honest, unbiased review.
Review Date: 3/22/2024
I have to be honest, this wasn't my favorite Katherine Center book, which is really unusual! Normally I absolutely adore everything I read by her! I'm not quite sure what the disconnect was...but there seemed to be one!
This was a quick and easy read, and resonated with me in so many ways, so I hated that I just didn't feel that elatedness that I usually get when reading/listening to Center books! She's usually a consistent go-to fluff story author, for me! Although...that won't stop me from grabbing any other books by her!
Everyone is Beautiful is narrated by Kirsten Potter, which I normally love, but I feel like some of my disconnect with this book was between the story and the narrator. For some reason, they just didn't mesh well together!
Overall, this was a heartfelt, quick and easy read and I look forward to many more Katherine Center books in the future!
This was a quick and easy read, and resonated with me in so many ways, so I hated that I just didn't feel that elatedness that I usually get when reading/listening to Center books! She's usually a consistent go-to fluff story author, for me! Although...that won't stop me from grabbing any other books by her!
Everyone is Beautiful is narrated by Kirsten Potter, which I normally love, but I feel like some of my disconnect with this book was between the story and the narrator. For some reason, they just didn't mesh well together!
Overall, this was a heartfelt, quick and easy read and I look forward to many more Katherine Center books in the future!
Review Date: 8/10/2014
Title: The Face Of Deception
Author: Iris Johansen
Length: 480 pages
Publisher: Bantam
Published: June 1, 1999
Genres: Fiction; Mystery Fiction
Visit my review/blog HERE!
My Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
Synopsis:
An unidentified skull...
A trail of terrifying secrets...
And a woman whose talented hands could reveal the shocking truth...
As a forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan helps identify the dead from their skulls. Her own daughter murdered and her body never found, the job is Eve's way of coming to terms with her personal nightmare. But more terror lies ahead when she accepts work from billionaire John Logan. Beneath her gifted hands a face emerges from the skull he has given her to reconstructa face no one was ever meant to see. Now Eve is trapped in a frightening web of murder and deceit. Powerful enemies are determined to cover up the truth, and they will make certain that truth goes to the grave...even if Eve gets buried with it.
My Review:
The only regret that I have about this book is that I didn't read it sooner! This was the first book that I've read from Iris Johansen and I can assure you that it will not be my last. As soon as I finished this book, I made sure I put Book #2 in the Eve Duncan series, The Killing Game, on hold! This book was right up my alley, as I love forensics and am fascinated with this sculpting process!
The story was in depth, flowing smoothly, with twists and turns in every directions that you wouldn't expect. Just when you thought you knew what was going on, Johansen threw you for another twist. It was an interesting story to read about and kept me captivated throughout! I felt that the facts of the story were thoroughly researched and accurately depicted.
As for the characters, I loved Eve Duncan! I think that the characters were put together nicely to make a great balance in the story. I think that each characters puts their own advantage to the story, making it fill out nicely.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this read and can't wait to read more! I don't think that I will stop with the Eve Duncan series either. I can see Iris Johansen ranking right up there with Lisa Gardner on my favorite author list!
Author: Iris Johansen
Length: 480 pages
Publisher: Bantam
Published: June 1, 1999
Genres: Fiction; Mystery Fiction
Visit my review/blog HERE!
My Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
Synopsis:
An unidentified skull...
A trail of terrifying secrets...
And a woman whose talented hands could reveal the shocking truth...
As a forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan helps identify the dead from their skulls. Her own daughter murdered and her body never found, the job is Eve's way of coming to terms with her personal nightmare. But more terror lies ahead when she accepts work from billionaire John Logan. Beneath her gifted hands a face emerges from the skull he has given her to reconstructa face no one was ever meant to see. Now Eve is trapped in a frightening web of murder and deceit. Powerful enemies are determined to cover up the truth, and they will make certain that truth goes to the grave...even if Eve gets buried with it.
My Review:
The only regret that I have about this book is that I didn't read it sooner! This was the first book that I've read from Iris Johansen and I can assure you that it will not be my last. As soon as I finished this book, I made sure I put Book #2 in the Eve Duncan series, The Killing Game, on hold! This book was right up my alley, as I love forensics and am fascinated with this sculpting process!
The story was in depth, flowing smoothly, with twists and turns in every directions that you wouldn't expect. Just when you thought you knew what was going on, Johansen threw you for another twist. It was an interesting story to read about and kept me captivated throughout! I felt that the facts of the story were thoroughly researched and accurately depicted.
As for the characters, I loved Eve Duncan! I think that the characters were put together nicely to make a great balance in the story. I think that each characters puts their own advantage to the story, making it fill out nicely.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this read and can't wait to read more! I don't think that I will stop with the Eve Duncan series either. I can see Iris Johansen ranking right up there with Lisa Gardner on my favorite author list!
Review Date: 1/8/2014
Title: Fifteen Minutes: A Novel
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Narrator: Kirby Heybourne
Length: Unabridged; 12 hours 1 minute
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Published: October 29, 2013
Genres: Fiction; Christian Fiction
http://chorleychronicals.blogspot.com - Visit my review/blog HERE!
My Rating: ✮✮✮✮
Synopsis:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury comes a dramatic story about fame, true love, and the cost of having it all.
Zack Dylan made a promise to God and his college sweetheart as he left his familys horse farm in Kentucky to compete on the popular reality television show Fifteen Minutes: If he makes it, the fame wont change him.
Overnight, Zack is the nations most popular contestant, a country singer with the looks and voice of a young Elvis. As his star rises, Zack is asked to compromise and quiet his beliefs, and also something more. Something Zack could never have imagined. Just as America is falling in love with Zack, just as hes on the verge of winning it all, his choices lead him to the brink of personal disaster.
At the same time, Reese Weatherly, a therapeutic horse instructor, is no longer sure about her relationship with Zack, or the wedding they had dreamed about. While Zack advances from one round of the competition to the next, an offer comes to Reeseone that will take her to a home halfway around the world.
Then Chandra Olsonreigning diva pop star and one of the Fifteen Minutes judgesintervenes. Chandra has suffered so much public pain and private agony since her days as a Fifteen Minutes contestant. Now she wants just one thing: meaning.
Can Chandras private losses help Zack find his way, or will his fifteen minutes of fame cause him to lose the life he once loved? Fifteen Minutes is a story of character, compromise, and the cost of having it all. A story that raises the question: Who are the real winners?
My Review:
I must say that I don't really read much Christian Fiction, but was happy with the content of Fifteen Minutes. It wasn't overly Godly or religious, but was enough to know that Karen Kingsbury is comfortable writing about her faith and beliefs, which I really respect. I found the Fifteen Minutes really grasped me and I had to know what happened to Zack on the show and where that left him and Reese. I also found the sub stories of Kelly and Chandra very interesting and liked how they were woven in with the stories of Zack, Zoe and Reese.
The narrator, Kirby Heybourne did a wonderful job reading the book. The only quirk that I had was not with the narrator in particular, but the fact that when it came to a song in the book, the song or lyrics were just read. I think that it would have made this book over the top, and possibly that 5th star read for me if the songs would have actually been sung. It didn't even have to have music to accompany it, aA' Capella would have been just fine, at least for me! I was able to easily following Kirby's reading and kept in tune with the story just fine. He did a great job of distinguishing between characters and made the listening of Fifteen Minutes an enjoyable experience.
I thought that the characters were well thought-out and thorough. I felt like they came from a different breed than the characters I usually read about in mystery and suspense books, however, that different breed was quite refreshing! I thought that there was a great amount of diversity between the characters and they mixed well together to create a great novel. However, I was quite irked by the Zoe kink in the story and every part of that annoyed me, from the beginning and her introduction, to the end result. I felt like she instigated it all from the very beginning to the end, and was disappointed that Zack just let it go when he was confronted with information that she was behind it! That's about the only thing that really got to me, other than the songs not being sung!
The story was a great, lesson-learning story, that I am thrilled to have been able to read. I didn't necessarily care for the ending too much, because I felt like it left too much open, left too much for me to guess what happened. I would have liked a more defined ending as to this is exactly what happened. I could easily see the theme of the book and the point that Kindbury was trying to convey to her readers that even people with the strongest faith, can be changed in a matter of seconds, without even realizing it, that it is harder to be true to yourself and your faith than you may think that it is.
Overall, I really enjoyed listening to Fifteen minutes while driving, and found myself just wanted to drive more or wait in the car just a little bit longer just so that I could listen to a little bit more. This was my first read/listen by Karen Kingbury, as well as my first real Christian Fiction book, but I can assure you that it won't be my last from either! I really did enjoy this book!
Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book by the Publisher, Simon & Schuster Audio via Audiobook Jukebox in return for an honest, unbiased review.
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Narrator: Kirby Heybourne
Length: Unabridged; 12 hours 1 minute
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Published: October 29, 2013
Genres: Fiction; Christian Fiction
http://chorleychronicals.blogspot.com - Visit my review/blog HERE!
My Rating: ✮✮✮✮
Synopsis:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury comes a dramatic story about fame, true love, and the cost of having it all.
Zack Dylan made a promise to God and his college sweetheart as he left his familys horse farm in Kentucky to compete on the popular reality television show Fifteen Minutes: If he makes it, the fame wont change him.
Overnight, Zack is the nations most popular contestant, a country singer with the looks and voice of a young Elvis. As his star rises, Zack is asked to compromise and quiet his beliefs, and also something more. Something Zack could never have imagined. Just as America is falling in love with Zack, just as hes on the verge of winning it all, his choices lead him to the brink of personal disaster.
At the same time, Reese Weatherly, a therapeutic horse instructor, is no longer sure about her relationship with Zack, or the wedding they had dreamed about. While Zack advances from one round of the competition to the next, an offer comes to Reeseone that will take her to a home halfway around the world.
Then Chandra Olsonreigning diva pop star and one of the Fifteen Minutes judgesintervenes. Chandra has suffered so much public pain and private agony since her days as a Fifteen Minutes contestant. Now she wants just one thing: meaning.
Can Chandras private losses help Zack find his way, or will his fifteen minutes of fame cause him to lose the life he once loved? Fifteen Minutes is a story of character, compromise, and the cost of having it all. A story that raises the question: Who are the real winners?
My Review:
I must say that I don't really read much Christian Fiction, but was happy with the content of Fifteen Minutes. It wasn't overly Godly or religious, but was enough to know that Karen Kingsbury is comfortable writing about her faith and beliefs, which I really respect. I found the Fifteen Minutes really grasped me and I had to know what happened to Zack on the show and where that left him and Reese. I also found the sub stories of Kelly and Chandra very interesting and liked how they were woven in with the stories of Zack, Zoe and Reese.
The narrator, Kirby Heybourne did a wonderful job reading the book. The only quirk that I had was not with the narrator in particular, but the fact that when it came to a song in the book, the song or lyrics were just read. I think that it would have made this book over the top, and possibly that 5th star read for me if the songs would have actually been sung. It didn't even have to have music to accompany it, aA' Capella would have been just fine, at least for me! I was able to easily following Kirby's reading and kept in tune with the story just fine. He did a great job of distinguishing between characters and made the listening of Fifteen Minutes an enjoyable experience.
I thought that the characters were well thought-out and thorough. I felt like they came from a different breed than the characters I usually read about in mystery and suspense books, however, that different breed was quite refreshing! I thought that there was a great amount of diversity between the characters and they mixed well together to create a great novel. However, I was quite irked by the Zoe kink in the story and every part of that annoyed me, from the beginning and her introduction, to the end result. I felt like she instigated it all from the very beginning to the end, and was disappointed that Zack just let it go when he was confronted with information that she was behind it! That's about the only thing that really got to me, other than the songs not being sung!
The story was a great, lesson-learning story, that I am thrilled to have been able to read. I didn't necessarily care for the ending too much, because I felt like it left too much open, left too much for me to guess what happened. I would have liked a more defined ending as to this is exactly what happened. I could easily see the theme of the book and the point that Kindbury was trying to convey to her readers that even people with the strongest faith, can be changed in a matter of seconds, without even realizing it, that it is harder to be true to yourself and your faith than you may think that it is.
Overall, I really enjoyed listening to Fifteen minutes while driving, and found myself just wanted to drive more or wait in the car just a little bit longer just so that I could listen to a little bit more. This was my first read/listen by Karen Kingbury, as well as my first real Christian Fiction book, but I can assure you that it won't be my last from either! I really did enjoy this book!
Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book by the Publisher, Simon & Schuster Audio via Audiobook Jukebox in return for an honest, unbiased review.
Review Date: 8/10/2014
"Harbor Lights" has proved to be slow-moving at times but gut wrenching at others. This book probably took me the longest of all the books to complete, but it still kept me anticipating the next story!
Right now I'm living to read about the O'Brien family!
Right now I'm living to read about the O'Brien family!
Review Date: 7/11/2022
The description of this book didn't leave too much to the imagination, so when I started this book, I honestly didn't know either way how it was going to go! Truthfully, I selected it because it was one of my shorter titles I had available and I had been really struggling to read anything so I thought if I went with something shorter, it may just jump start my reading again!
I was pleasantly surprised with this book and my feelings toward it. I had never read a book written by Tim Adler before and I wouldn't hesitate to read another by him now! I thought it had a great plot line and kept my interest throughout with an ending that I didn't see coming.
I enjoyed that Kate, as the heroine of the book, never gave up despite what seemed like NOBODY listening to her! I found her character to be relatable!
Hold Still was narrated by Katie Moore. I believe this was my first time listening to her but I wouldn't hesitate to listen to her again! She was able to decipher between the characters easily and flawlessly!
Overall, great quick story that I enjoyed surprisingly well!
I was pleasantly surprised with this book and my feelings toward it. I had never read a book written by Tim Adler before and I wouldn't hesitate to read another by him now! I thought it had a great plot line and kept my interest throughout with an ending that I didn't see coming.
I enjoyed that Kate, as the heroine of the book, never gave up despite what seemed like NOBODY listening to her! I found her character to be relatable!
Hold Still was narrated by Katie Moore. I believe this was my first time listening to her but I wouldn't hesitate to listen to her again! She was able to decipher between the characters easily and flawlessly!
Overall, great quick story that I enjoyed surprisingly well!
Review Date: 4/10/2014
For a more in depth review, please visit my blog, Chorley Chronicals!
I wasn't sure what I was going to think of this book, going into it, but I was pleasantly surprised, especially by the ending. The only other book that I've read by Lisa Unger was Fragile, and I wasn't too thrilled with at least the audio version of it. I had a lot of friends that liked it, so maybe it was the narrator that did it in for me, but let's just say it wasn't my favorite book of the year, month, week or even day!
For those of you that enjoy psychological fiction, then this is the book for your! What are you waiting for? Why haven't you reserved it from your library yet? Oh, that's right, because you are still waiting to see what I have to say, right? So lets get to it!
The two narrator's definitely do this book justice. I have learned from my time of listening to audiobooks that the narrator can either make or break a book, and these narrator's help make this book! They are clever and witty and are easy to listen to and follow. They definitely make it a good book to listen to!
Lisa Unger fills In The Blood with so many different plot twists and turns that it's unbelievably awesome to read and try to figure out what is going to happen. Just when you think you've got it all figured out, Unger puts your blinders up again, taking you into the land of the unknown. She truly shows the best of all of her writing talents in the book!!
Sure, some things about the plot are your standard, ordinary plot, like the missing best friend, but this plot and story are anything but ordinary. It is probably one of the most unique stories that I have ever read, and probably one of the hardest stories to figure out! This certainly renewed my faith in the fact that I should continue to read books by Lisa Unger.
Her characters are probably the most complex characters that I've ever met in a book and I loved that! They were flawed and imperfect...humans. They had issues, more than most normal people, and that's what made the book that much more interesting.
This book shows you that life and your friends and family, aren't always what they seem. Life's obstacles can certainly take you on the ride of your life with more than your normal loops and up-side-down turns, but it also shows that you can survive those loops and the ride. You might be slightly damaged, but you'll survive! It also goes to show you just how poisonous secrets can be on a family and your relationships!
I absolutely would recommend that, now that you have finished listening to all of my most inner, deepest, darkest thoughts, that you run out to your library, or open your browser and either loan this book or buy it because chances are it may be one of the best books that you read this year!! If you haven't picked this title up, you are missing out, especially if you like suspense and thrilling plot twists and turns! Thank you Simon & Schuster and Lisa Unger for very well one of the best books that I am likely to read in 2014!
Disclaimer: This book was provided to me by the Publisher, Simon & Schuster (Touchstone), via Audiobook Jukebox, in return for an honest, unbiased review.
I wasn't sure what I was going to think of this book, going into it, but I was pleasantly surprised, especially by the ending. The only other book that I've read by Lisa Unger was Fragile, and I wasn't too thrilled with at least the audio version of it. I had a lot of friends that liked it, so maybe it was the narrator that did it in for me, but let's just say it wasn't my favorite book of the year, month, week or even day!
For those of you that enjoy psychological fiction, then this is the book for your! What are you waiting for? Why haven't you reserved it from your library yet? Oh, that's right, because you are still waiting to see what I have to say, right? So lets get to it!
The two narrator's definitely do this book justice. I have learned from my time of listening to audiobooks that the narrator can either make or break a book, and these narrator's help make this book! They are clever and witty and are easy to listen to and follow. They definitely make it a good book to listen to!
Lisa Unger fills In The Blood with so many different plot twists and turns that it's unbelievably awesome to read and try to figure out what is going to happen. Just when you think you've got it all figured out, Unger puts your blinders up again, taking you into the land of the unknown. She truly shows the best of all of her writing talents in the book!!
Sure, some things about the plot are your standard, ordinary plot, like the missing best friend, but this plot and story are anything but ordinary. It is probably one of the most unique stories that I have ever read, and probably one of the hardest stories to figure out! This certainly renewed my faith in the fact that I should continue to read books by Lisa Unger.
Her characters are probably the most complex characters that I've ever met in a book and I loved that! They were flawed and imperfect...humans. They had issues, more than most normal people, and that's what made the book that much more interesting.
This book shows you that life and your friends and family, aren't always what they seem. Life's obstacles can certainly take you on the ride of your life with more than your normal loops and up-side-down turns, but it also shows that you can survive those loops and the ride. You might be slightly damaged, but you'll survive! It also goes to show you just how poisonous secrets can be on a family and your relationships!
I absolutely would recommend that, now that you have finished listening to all of my most inner, deepest, darkest thoughts, that you run out to your library, or open your browser and either loan this book or buy it because chances are it may be one of the best books that you read this year!! If you haven't picked this title up, you are missing out, especially if you like suspense and thrilling plot twists and turns! Thank you Simon & Schuster and Lisa Unger for very well one of the best books that I am likely to read in 2014!
Disclaimer: This book was provided to me by the Publisher, Simon & Schuster (Touchstone), via Audiobook Jukebox, in return for an honest, unbiased review.
Review Date: 4/10/2014
For a more in depth review, please visit my blog, Chorley Chronicals!
I have to be honest and tell you that despite him being a classic author, that this is the first Stephen King book that I have ever read. I was actually quite surprised at the temperament of the book, especially knowing what King is famous for!
The introduction to the book was a little slow for me and really almost lost my attention. Enough so that I actually put it away for almost a year, before deciding again to pick it back up and give it another try. I must say that I am glad that I made myself pick it back up the second time around because the story really did pick up from that point and it got pretty interesting!
The narrator, Michael Kelly, seemed like a great fit for Devin! He was a smooth reader, and made my listening experience of Joyland quite enjoyable. He was clear and concise, and overall, entertaining!
I thought that the story had a very interested concept, and I certainly didn't figure it out until it was actually happening! I did feel like there was some either misconception or false advertisement, because in no way would I have considered this book to be a horror book or hard crime.
Overall, this was a quick, easy read that I enjoyed! Even though it wasn't in the same fashion of some of Stephen King's great novels, it won't stop me from picking up another King book to see another side of his writing abilities! I enjoyed the layout of the story in the sense that it gave us snippets of Devin's life when he was younger, during his time at Joyland, and his life after Joyland! I'm happy that I gave it a second chance and finished it!
I have to be honest and tell you that despite him being a classic author, that this is the first Stephen King book that I have ever read. I was actually quite surprised at the temperament of the book, especially knowing what King is famous for!
The introduction to the book was a little slow for me and really almost lost my attention. Enough so that I actually put it away for almost a year, before deciding again to pick it back up and give it another try. I must say that I am glad that I made myself pick it back up the second time around because the story really did pick up from that point and it got pretty interesting!
The narrator, Michael Kelly, seemed like a great fit for Devin! He was a smooth reader, and made my listening experience of Joyland quite enjoyable. He was clear and concise, and overall, entertaining!
I thought that the story had a very interested concept, and I certainly didn't figure it out until it was actually happening! I did feel like there was some either misconception or false advertisement, because in no way would I have considered this book to be a horror book or hard crime.
Overall, this was a quick, easy read that I enjoyed! Even though it wasn't in the same fashion of some of Stephen King's great novels, it won't stop me from picking up another King book to see another side of his writing abilities! I enjoyed the layout of the story in the sense that it gave us snippets of Devin's life when he was younger, during his time at Joyland, and his life after Joyland! I'm happy that I gave it a second chance and finished it!
Review Date: 3/26/2024
I absolutely love it when you find an amazing book, and that amazing book just happens to be a debut author! It leads to such promising books in the future, which really makes me giddy!
The characters were amazing...a bit weird...but I think that's part of what made this book so great! They were brutally honest about a time in life that so few are honest about...a time in life that one is so brittle (or at least can be!) I think a great deal of the charm of this book is the characters and the story!
The story is not unlike others in ways, but so very different in other ways, which honestly, seems brilliant! If Aimee Molloy's first book was this great...I CANNOT WAIT to read what else she's got up her sleeve! I think this is definitely a name to watch out for! Just when you thought you knew what was going to happen, Molloy hit you with a turn that came so fast, there was no way you could predict it! It was magnificent!
The Perfect Mother was narrated by Cristin Milioti, which was a first for me! I can honestly say that I was not disappointed! I will definitely look out for Milioti for more titles because she totally rocked this one!
Overall, there's only going to be great things happening for Aimee Molloy! This was an OUTSTANDING debut novel! She definitely knocked it out of the park with this one!
The characters were amazing...a bit weird...but I think that's part of what made this book so great! They were brutally honest about a time in life that so few are honest about...a time in life that one is so brittle (or at least can be!) I think a great deal of the charm of this book is the characters and the story!
The story is not unlike others in ways, but so very different in other ways, which honestly, seems brilliant! If Aimee Molloy's first book was this great...I CANNOT WAIT to read what else she's got up her sleeve! I think this is definitely a name to watch out for! Just when you thought you knew what was going to happen, Molloy hit you with a turn that came so fast, there was no way you could predict it! It was magnificent!
The Perfect Mother was narrated by Cristin Milioti, which was a first for me! I can honestly say that I was not disappointed! I will definitely look out for Milioti for more titles because she totally rocked this one!
Overall, there's only going to be great things happening for Aimee Molloy! This was an OUTSTANDING debut novel! She definitely knocked it out of the park with this one!
Review Date: 8/10/2014
For a more in depth review, please visit my blog, Chorley Chronicals!!
I must admit that I was totally surprised with this book! I don't know if I just hadn't really payed much attention when I originally read the Synopsis or what, but I was expecting this something sweet novel, and that is certainly not what I got! However, I was pleasantly surprised! The only thing that I am slightly disappointed in, is the Publisher's Synopsis gives a pretty vivid description of the book, so it doesn't leave too much to the imagination. So I guess that I am happy that I didn't pay much attention to it until after the fact.
There were a whole lot of characters throughout this book, which as an audiobook, made it quite difficult to keep up with, especially in the beginning, however, I was really quite appreciative of the many different narrators, which helped me define which character was which! The story was told through the point of view of all the different characters, and I enjoyed that! I liked going back and forth from what one to the other to the other thought about what was going on! It was very entertaining!
I felt a variety of emotions while listening to this book! It took me back to my younger days, remembering what it was like to be a teenager again, dealing with relationships of all sorts, from that with parents, to friends, to boyfriends/girlfriends. That's a tough time in one's life and I believe that Tilt is the perfect portrayal of that fact! I also think that the title fits the story perfectly! This is a story of life, and the choices one makes, and consequences that follow choices!
The narrators did a wonderful job of portraying the characters they were playing! I was especially impressed with Kirby Heyborne and his portrayal of Shane! He really captured Shane's emotions and delivered a stellar performance!! I also felt that the voice fit each character well! I could have pictured Harley as a ready to hit the world 14 year old, and Mikayla, an almost 18 year old that knows it all, and Shane, the misunderstood homesexual 16 year old! I believe they had perfect casting for the narrators!
The only qualm that I had with this book was the ending! I felt like she left the ending way too open, and left me thinking, seriously, it's over? I wish she wouldn't have left so much to the imagination and had given a concrete ending! I felt like there was no conclusion, especially for Mikayla and even Shane! I definitely would have preferred more for the conclusion!
This was my first book by Ellen Hopkins, but I must say that I was impressed! I didn't feel like I was reading a Juvenile Fiction book and actually thoroughly enjoyed listening to this title! It was an easy listen, that I managed to finish in one day's time! I was impressed with how much I liked this book, especially given that it is considered YA/Juvenile Fiction! I will pursue other titles from this author in the future!
I must admit that I was totally surprised with this book! I don't know if I just hadn't really payed much attention when I originally read the Synopsis or what, but I was expecting this something sweet novel, and that is certainly not what I got! However, I was pleasantly surprised! The only thing that I am slightly disappointed in, is the Publisher's Synopsis gives a pretty vivid description of the book, so it doesn't leave too much to the imagination. So I guess that I am happy that I didn't pay much attention to it until after the fact.
There were a whole lot of characters throughout this book, which as an audiobook, made it quite difficult to keep up with, especially in the beginning, however, I was really quite appreciative of the many different narrators, which helped me define which character was which! The story was told through the point of view of all the different characters, and I enjoyed that! I liked going back and forth from what one to the other to the other thought about what was going on! It was very entertaining!
I felt a variety of emotions while listening to this book! It took me back to my younger days, remembering what it was like to be a teenager again, dealing with relationships of all sorts, from that with parents, to friends, to boyfriends/girlfriends. That's a tough time in one's life and I believe that Tilt is the perfect portrayal of that fact! I also think that the title fits the story perfectly! This is a story of life, and the choices one makes, and consequences that follow choices!
The narrators did a wonderful job of portraying the characters they were playing! I was especially impressed with Kirby Heyborne and his portrayal of Shane! He really captured Shane's emotions and delivered a stellar performance!! I also felt that the voice fit each character well! I could have pictured Harley as a ready to hit the world 14 year old, and Mikayla, an almost 18 year old that knows it all, and Shane, the misunderstood homesexual 16 year old! I believe they had perfect casting for the narrators!
The only qualm that I had with this book was the ending! I felt like she left the ending way too open, and left me thinking, seriously, it's over? I wish she wouldn't have left so much to the imagination and had given a concrete ending! I felt like there was no conclusion, especially for Mikayla and even Shane! I definitely would have preferred more for the conclusion!
This was my first book by Ellen Hopkins, but I must say that I was impressed! I didn't feel like I was reading a Juvenile Fiction book and actually thoroughly enjoyed listening to this title! It was an easy listen, that I managed to finish in one day's time! I was impressed with how much I liked this book, especially given that it is considered YA/Juvenile Fiction! I will pursue other titles from this author in the future!
Review Date: 7/11/2022
HOLY WOWZA....WHAT A BOOK!!
It's been a good while since it felt like a book knocked my socks off, but THIS BOOK KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF!! This was my first P.J. Vernon book and it definitely won't be my last! I was thoroughly impressed with his writing, his characacters, his story...everything!
The story started out a tad slow, but it didn't take long to take off and throw your head back with intensity! And that ending...HOLY COW I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!!
There were very intricate characters. None of them were really that likeable, but it didn't seem to distract from the book at all. It was known that Gray was a drinker from the very get-go, but all I kept going back to is WHY? You see an interesting relationship with her husband, sister, and mother throughout the story and you don't really grow to like any of them throughout!
When You Find Me was co-narrated, and I think that Amy McFadden and Bahni Turpin did a FABULOUS job with this book! Both of them are favorites of mine, and this book was no different! If you haven't listened to a title narrated by either of them, what are you waiting for? They are amazing!
Overall, I am super impressed with this book! It has left a lasting, HOLY CRAP moment with me and that's the best kind of book! I honestly can't wait to see what else P.J. Vernon has written! This book was THAT good! And it was just what I needed (hopefully) to get me out of my reading slump!
It's been a good while since it felt like a book knocked my socks off, but THIS BOOK KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF!! This was my first P.J. Vernon book and it definitely won't be my last! I was thoroughly impressed with his writing, his characacters, his story...everything!
The story started out a tad slow, but it didn't take long to take off and throw your head back with intensity! And that ending...HOLY COW I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!!
There were very intricate characters. None of them were really that likeable, but it didn't seem to distract from the book at all. It was known that Gray was a drinker from the very get-go, but all I kept going back to is WHY? You see an interesting relationship with her husband, sister, and mother throughout the story and you don't really grow to like any of them throughout!
When You Find Me was co-narrated, and I think that Amy McFadden and Bahni Turpin did a FABULOUS job with this book! Both of them are favorites of mine, and this book was no different! If you haven't listened to a title narrated by either of them, what are you waiting for? They are amazing!
Overall, I am super impressed with this book! It has left a lasting, HOLY CRAP moment with me and that's the best kind of book! I honestly can't wait to see what else P.J. Vernon has written! This book was THAT good! And it was just what I needed (hopefully) to get me out of my reading slump!
Review Date: 3/22/2024
Holy Cannoli....I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
I haven't read much by Kaira Rouda yet (only this and The Next Wife), but I've given both 5-star reviews, so that is going to change VERY quickly! I am going to go out and get ALL things Kaira Rouda because she's got it going on!
When thinking about this story, and the characters, I honestly can't help but chuckle a little, because everything about this story is just the perfect combination, in my option! The story is a little like some that we've heard before, but with oh-so-many twists after twists that you'll never see coming, as well as a surprise ending, that certainly left me smiling!
Honestly...a lot of the characters were NOT likable, but for this story...it worked! Sometimes...that can completely ruin a story, but not for this one! LITERARY GENIUS!
The Widow is narrated by a remarkable cast consisting of Donna Postel, George Newbern, and Nancy Wu. Each one of these narrators are amazing, in their own right, but put them all together and what you have is absolute perfection!
Overall, this is one of my favorite books that I've read in 2024 thus far! I honestly can't wait to read the rest of what Rouda has, because I feel like all of them are going to be amazing reads!
I haven't read much by Kaira Rouda yet (only this and The Next Wife), but I've given both 5-star reviews, so that is going to change VERY quickly! I am going to go out and get ALL things Kaira Rouda because she's got it going on!
When thinking about this story, and the characters, I honestly can't help but chuckle a little, because everything about this story is just the perfect combination, in my option! The story is a little like some that we've heard before, but with oh-so-many twists after twists that you'll never see coming, as well as a surprise ending, that certainly left me smiling!
Honestly...a lot of the characters were NOT likable, but for this story...it worked! Sometimes...that can completely ruin a story, but not for this one! LITERARY GENIUS!
The Widow is narrated by a remarkable cast consisting of Donna Postel, George Newbern, and Nancy Wu. Each one of these narrators are amazing, in their own right, but put them all together and what you have is absolute perfection!
Overall, this is one of my favorite books that I've read in 2024 thus far! I honestly can't wait to read the rest of what Rouda has, because I feel like all of them are going to be amazing reads!
1 to 17 of 17
