Month: May 2020

Awesome Audiobooks 4.5/5 Stars: When the Drums Stop by D.W. Roach

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Based on True Story, historical ,

Narrated by John Tanner

Run Time: 10 hrs and 5 mins

Summary:

A young man lies about his age to join the Union army in Tennessee. The book follows Private Roach from that fateful decision all the way through the rest of the Civil War.

Additional Comments:

  • I think this book picks up late in 1863. The kid joins the army because his older brother did. He ends up in the cavalry.
  • Haven’t heard many Civil War books, but I always enjoyed the history. This doesn’t give you a heck of a lot of facts or dates to track anything, but it describes the day to day life of the cavalry soldiers decently.
  • The framed portion wasn’t necessary. The author could have jumped immediately to the story itself without the part about the guy answering questions for the young woman.
  • Tanner’s performance fit the script well.
  • Content Warnings: Besides general war descriptions, there’s at least one very disturbing scene where something horrible happens to Roach’s friend. There are 7 f-bombs and a smattering of lesser curse words.

Conclusion:

If you enjoy Civil War stories and can handle some language and at least one really gruesome scene, you should check this out.

Audiobook Promotions:

33 of my 34 audible titles are listed on Audiobooks Unleashed.
Whether you’re looking for mystery or suspense or fantasy, I’ve got a title for you. Never Again (mystery, suspense) and Reshner’s Royal Ranger (epic sci-fi) just made it there.
Note: Filter by US if you’re looking for those codes as many titles are out.
Ones I think may still have US codes: Reshner’s Royal Ranger, Never Again, Innova, The Golden City Captives, The Holy War, Reclaim the Darklands, Eagle Eyes, Treachery Makes it Tense, Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts, The Dark Side of Science, Ashlynn’s Dreams, Nadia’s Tears, Malia’s Miracles, and Varick’s Quest

Devya’s Children Series Links:

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – short stories featuring Jillian.
The Dark Side of Science – official prequel to Devya’s Children; Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.
Ashlynn’s Dreams – Genetically altered Dream Shaper learns her gift.
Nadia’s Tears – Jillian tries to awaken her sister, Nadia, from a coma.
Malia’s Miracles – Jillian and her siblings try to save a friend’s mother.
Varick’s Quest – Jillian and Danielle get kidnapped. Nadia’s also in trouble.



4/5 Stars Sunshine in the Rain by Barbara Goss

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Christian, historical , , ,

Narrated by Cathy Schrecongost

Run time: 6 hrs and 52 mins

Summary:

Susannah has the misfortune of being within hearing distance as her entire family is murdered by Indians. The story’s set in the mid to late 1800’s a little after the Civil War in Missouri. When her nightmares and screaming disrupts her aunt and uncle’s house, her aunt insists the girl be sent to an asylum. There, she meets a PTSD soldier named Ben and Dr. Carter Harding.

Additional Comments:

  • This is a clean romance, so it should be a surprise that Susannah and Dr. Harding eventually meet and marry. There’s a lot of talk about them doing things newlyweds do, but nothing’s described in any detail that would offend sensibilities.
  • I only yelled at the MC a few times for being stupid.
  • The narrator didn’t bother me. I always listen at 2x speed, which ruins some of the nuances of a performance but also moves them along when they’re downright slow. I went to 2.5 with this lady. Though I don’t think she had a huge range of male characters, the book really only required 2 main gents, so its was fine. If you think the narrator’s too slow, speed up the playback rate.
  • Carter and Susannah’s relationship is sweet.
  • Cecelia’s obsession seemed a tad far-fetched, but I guess there are all sorts of nutjobs in the world. It could just be my modern senses just don’t get how truly limited women’s prospects were back then.

Conclusion:

Romance isn’t my first go-to genre, but Barb Goss’s are always intriguing. This one had a tad more action than the last I’d read by her, which I truly appreciated.

Audiobook Promotions:

33 of my 34 audible titles are listed on Audiobooks Unleashed.
Whether you’re looking for mystery or suspense or fantasy, I’ve got a title for you. Never Again (mystery, suspense) and Reshner’s Royal Ranger (epic sci-fi) just made it there.
Note: Filter by US if you’re looking for those codes as many titles are out.
Ones I think may still have US codes: Reshner’s Royal Ranger, Never Again, Innova, The Golden City Captives, The Holy War, Reclaim the Darklands, Eagle Eyes, Treachery Makes it Tense, Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts, The Dark Side of Science, Ashlynn’s Dreams, Nadia’s Tears, Malia’s Miracles, and Varick’s Quest