Month: June 2020

4/5 Stars: The Crown and the Flame Series

Julie Gilbert Choices Stories, dragons, Fantasy ,

Genre: Fantasy

Summary:

You play the part of Kenna, exiled queen of Stormholt. Occasionally, you get to play as Dominic, Kenna’s friend.

Additional Comments:

  • This is the first Choices series I ever completed.
  • Pretty sure I bought most of the diamond options, so replay will be fun.
  • I’m far behind on newer series so I haven’t gotten around to a replay, but it was a great story.
  • I enjoyed the twists they managed to insert in the plotline.
  • There are 3 books in the series. You can choose amongst several love interests, but that doesn’t affect the storyline much.
  • Queen Kenna’s awesome. She’s everything a YA heroine should be: bold, brave, sassy, and willing to fight for her people.
  • I can’t remember which of the 3 stories I enjoyed the most. Probably the last one because it has the most closure.
  • Most of the diamond choices were to get weapons and perks while fighting the bad guys. I don’t think the plot would have changed significantly if you didn’t spend money on it. But the scenes would have been rougher for the heroes.

Conclusion:

Choices is about to release a new fantasy story, which I’m excited for. This is a solid fantasy series. I might replay it someday.

Audiobook Crave is no longer a thing. I have also moved to have 11 of my books go wide…so I can put it on more sites. When that happens, codes for these books won’t work.
5 Steps to Surviving Chemistry
Spirit’s Bane (Guardian Angel Files Book 1)
Kindred Spirits (Guardian Angel Files Book 2)
Violence in Vegas (Eagle Eyes Book 1) – not relisted yet
Rescue in Reno (Eagle Eyes Book 2)
Danger in Dallas (Eagle Eyes Book 3)

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.

Check out my other titles available on Audiobooks Unleashed:

Beyond Broken Pencils – contemporary, literary
Shadow Council Combo (Books 1-4)
The Individual titles are available but not yet listed on an ad site
SC 1: Money Makes it Deadlier
SC 2: Revenge Makes it Sweeter
SC 3: Christmas Makes it Chaos
SC 4: Treachery Makes it Tense)

Eagle Eyes – mystery thriller

Scratched Off – mystery, thriller; FBI agent vs serial killer, more intense than Shadow Council/Eagle Eyes

Awakening – Redeemer Chronicles Book 1, MG fantasy
The Holy War – Redeemer Chronicles Book 2, MG fantasy
Reclaim the Darklands – Redeemer Chronicles Book 3, MG fantasy

The Collins Case – Heartfelt Cases Book 1, Christian mystery
The Kiverson Case – Heartfelt Cases Book 2, Christian mystery
The Davidson Case – Heartfelt Cases Book 3, Christian mystery

Other titles:
5 Steps to Better Blurbs – for authors
Innova – Christian Dystopia
The Golden City Captives – short fantasy
Fatal Interest – short mystery/thriller

Choices Stories: 5/5 Stars The Royal Masquerade

Julie Gilbert Choices Stories ,
picture from google…I think it’s a general promo pic they prepped

Genre: Renaissance era romance.

Summary:

You’re a lowly scribe attached to a prominent house that’s about to become noble. Then all heck breaks loose. The queen is murdered and the kingdom is plunged into a courtly battle royale of sorts. The 5 noble houses compete for the favor of the other houses to see who will become the new king or queen.

Additional Comments:

  • Twists 5/5: I can usually predict stories. And this one was no different for the most part, but they did manage to slip in a few very nice twists.
  • There’s decent replay value in that you can court the king-regent or the Crown shield. I re-named them Dean and Caden, respectively. I think a different spelling of Caden might be the default.
  • I chose to go with fiery red hair and the Rosario name.
  • Characters stood out in being memorable. Even the purposefully annoying or villainous ones had their charms. Won’t say too much so I don’t spoil anything. Emery was truly annoying, but Percy came across as adorable. Annalisa might be my favorite.
  • The writers packed in a lot of danger and court intrigue.
  • Ending: Slightly bittersweet, but also just like a fairy tale.
  • I may play again to see what it’s like romancing the Crown shield. It probably changes some of the dialogue.
  • It takes quite a good story for me to consider replaying because I don’t think they give you as many diamonds on replay.
  • The danger’s pretty real sometimes. They don’t pull punches in several chapters.

Conclusion:

If you’re in need of a good distraction, this book has a lot to offer. Magic, mystery, court gossip, court intrigue. Highly recommended. (And I don’t even like most romance books.)

Audiobook Promotions:

25 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.
The newest aren’t yet listed on AU. Never Again (mystery, suspense) and Reshner’s Royal Ranger (epic sci-fi). You’d have to email me for those codes.

Spirit’s Bane (Guardian Angel Files Book 1) – fantasy
Kindred Spirits (Guardian Angel Files Book 2) – fantasy
Violence in Vegas (Eagle Eyes Book 1) – not relisted yet; mystery
Rescue in Reno (Eagle Eyes Book 2)
Danger in Dallas (Eagle Eyes Book 3)

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.

Check out my other titles available on Audiobooks Unleashed:

Beyond Broken Pencils – contemporary, literary
Shadow Council Combo (Books 1-4) – mystery; no more US codes
The Individual titles are available but not yet listed on an ad site
SC 1: Money Makes it Deadlier
SC 2: Revenge Makes it Sweeter
SC 3: Christmas Makes it Chaos
SC 4: Treachery Makes it Tense
Short stuff:
Innova – Christian Dystopia
The Golden City Captives – short fantasy
Fatal Interest – short mystery/thriller

Eagle Eyes – mystery thriller

Scratched Off – mystery, thriller; FBI agent vs serial killer, more intense than Shadow Council/Eagle Eyes

Awakening – Redeemer Chronicles Book 1, MG fantasy
The Holy War – Redeemer Chronicles Book 2, MG fantasy
Reclaim the Darklands – Redeemer Chronicles Book 3, MG fantasy

The Collins Case – Heartfelt Cases Book 1, Christian mystery
The Kiverson Case – Heartfelt Cases Book 2, Christian mystery
The Davidson Case – Heartfelt Cases Book 3, Christian mystery

Other titles:
5 Steps to Better Blurbs – for authors
5 Steps to Better Audiobooks – for authors and narrators
5 Steps to Surviving Chemistry – for chem students

Audiobook Revies 4/5 Stars: Kate and the Horses

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, children's, Fantasy, middle grade , ,

Narrated by Kae Denino

Run Time: 6 hrs and 27 mins

Summary:

Kate’s socially awkward. She loves reading and books, but she always seems to say the wrong thing. Her parents want her to have real friends. Oh, and she can talk to horses.

Additional Comments:

  • It’s a good book for middle school girls.
  • Clean. Easy to read.
  • 4/5 Main character: Has a relatable character. She’s as charming as she is socially inept. Though nothing’s mentioned because the MC is the narrator, she seems to fall on the spectrum. Could lead to some good conversations about accepting people who just don’t seem to fit in. She only annoyed me at one point when she was being bratty because she broke the rules and had to face the consequences.
  • 3/5 side characters: There are a lot of side characters. Her mother’s a singer and arguably the most fleshed out of the characters. Her father’s a dentist, but kind of just there. The camp people are a tad harder to keep track of at some points if you listen to the audiobook because there are sections with both people and horses. I think the horses have more personality than the kids though. They seem to fall into types: popular boy, silly boy, mean girl 1, mean girl 2, etc.
  • 4/5 performance: Kae Denino does an excellent job of coming up with unique characters. A few seemed to blend, but as noted previously, there were a LOT of characters and multiple scenes with a large number of those characters. She also fit the main character very well.
  • 4/5 humor: There wasn’t much, but I did laugh aloud when the kid fell hard and rolled, thinking how her father (the dentist) would be proud she protected her teeth. The performance added some humorous moments with the narrator’s inflection.
  • 4/5 plot: Typical kid-drama. Girl goes to camp and fits in better with the horses and the aged volunteer than her peers.
  • Given the MC, I can see this appealing more to middle school girls than boys.

Conclusion:

Clean, light read perfect for young readers (or older ones who love young reader material).

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.

Audiobook Reviews 2.5/5 Stars: Infiltration (Kid Sensation 3)

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Fantasy, middle grade, superhero , ,

Narrated by Mikael Narramore

Run Time: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Summary:

Jim, a.k.a. Kid Sensation, spends some quality time with his old man, Alpha Prime, but the festivities get interrupted by a strange, almost meaningless attack. He then spends some time at an expo meant to improve superhero public images and raise money. The strange attackers return and Jim formulates a daring plan to stop the bad guys.

Additional Comments:

  • Main character 3/5: Jim’s overpowered. That’s kind of the point, but it makes character development tough. It worked for book one, but the trouble with being all powerful is there’s very little room for growth, aside from a little maturity, maybe.
  • First half Plot 1/5: Everything for the first three hours of the audiobook was like reading a middle school journal. The competition itself had a few cool moments, but the side romance plot went nowhere.
  • Second half Plot 3.5/5: Much improved. Finally, action happened.
  • Side characters 2/5: Essentially nonexistent. There were some processing conversations with BrainTrust and Mouse, but mainly just as sounding boards for the unstoppable Kid Sensation.
  • I really hesitate to say “you’ll like this if you’re in the target audience” because I think people use it as a cop-out. However, this is one instance where being in middle school or high school may make Jim’s adventures in the first half more relevant.
  • Series feel to date 3/5: Like I said, very cool concept. It’s got super heroes, super villains, building destruction, etc.
  • Clean read.

Conclusion:

  • If you have young listeners, especially boys, this is a great series for them. That’s worth noting for the rarity.

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: The Carpenter by S.A. Wilson

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Fantasy ,

Summary:

This is a fantasy-laced retelling of Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem.

Additional Comments:

  • Haven’t read many retellings, so I can’t really compare to others.
  • Action packed for a story of one journey given half a line in the Bible.
  • Delves quickly into fantasy realm. (not necessarily bad)
  • Characters are interesting for the most part, but Joseph’s emotional development got annoying. He’s the hero through ¾ of the book, then once Mary has to save him and he has a distinct blue spell where he’s questioning everything. “Maybe I’m not cut out for this job” sort of thing. (Seriously, man pride, now? Mary’s pregnant, being dragged all over creation, pursued by Roman soldiers and now she’s gotta prop up your wounded ego too?)
  • The use of interludes was confusing. I’m not entirely sure why the horde chapters were identified as interludes.
  • Performance was okay, but Lars Mikaelson sounded almost exactly like Mikael Narramore and that was distracting.

Conclusion:

Worth reading or hearing if you can suspend disbelief.

*I was given a free copy of the audiobook. I freely chose to review it.

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.

3.45/5 Stars: Invisible Me by Debbie Mack

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, children's ,

Portia’s dealing with a lot. Like any kid, she really wants to fit in, but it gets complicated.

Additional Comments:

  • Secrets, betrayals, and discovering your real friends.
  • Deals with a lot of issues kids face: bullying, family drama, the hierarchy of popular kids, friends vs real friends, etc
  • It’s kind of hard to pin down the audience. Probably upper middle school age would be right, but not sure I’d give kids that age something with consistent hard language. Yes, I’m aware they hear and use it a lot, but that doesn’t mean they should be given more of such on a whim. Not sure the plot has enough pull to attract other age-groups.
  • Performance: Was decent, but the way the narrator said chapter numbers totally did not give me YA vibes.
  • These are supposed to be middle schoolers, but they talk like college-age kids.
  • Content warnings: contains 3 f-bombs (technically 2, but one chapter that contains it was repeated); a few other curses

Conclusion:

It was okay. Not really my thing, but it could be your thing. Check out the sample and give it a chance.

*I was give a free audiobook. I chose to review it.*

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.

4.45/5 Stars: An Improper Death by Paula Paul

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, historical ,
Please note, this cover is different than the audiobook.

Read by Deborah Greenfield

Run time: 7 hrs and 54 minutes

Summary:

An admiral washes up dead wearing inappropriate attire and pretty much everybody’s wondering whodunit.

Additional Comments:

  • Dr. Alexandra Gladstone wants to run an autopsy, but the local constable seems dead set against the idea.
  • Characters 4.5/5 stars: Charming cast that revolves around a curious doctor, a literal nosy Nancy, an angry young man, a quiet victim, and an intrepid barrister
  • Plot 3.5/5: It kind of meanders. It’s not bad in audio form, but I can see it being annoying to read. There’s not much action.
  • Performance 4/5: Characters are distinguishable.
  • Mystery’s conclusion 4.5/5: Typical but satisfactory.
  • I added a random half point because no matter how slowly a story unfolds, a satisfying end can erase many wrongs.

Conclusion:

I didn’t read book 1 and didn’t really need to. It’s a standalone mystery with interesting characters.

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.

Audiobook Reviews 4.45/5 Stars: Efferus by Kevin Hardman

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, scifi , ,

Narrated by Mikael Naramore

Run time: 8 hrs and 47 mins

Summary:

Gant Maker and his small company of misfits set out to find the dreaded Vacra.

Additional Comments:

  • I enjoyed the story, but it’s more about the characters than the plot. My favorite parts were near the beginning when it turned more into a heist book than a quest to hunt down the bad guys.
  • Not sure how they get fuel in this universe. They seem to be doing an awful lot of traveling.
  • The romance angle seemed tacked on for the sake of having one.
  • The series is compelling because it’s got a likable character in Maker. Sort of the military man who’s misunderstood but still loyal. He’s a bit like Reacher in attitude and action.
  • The world-building’s cool too. Erlen especially is a fun addition to the crew. Revered, misunderstood alien who’s part chemical factory and part puppy dog at heart.
  • Performance was fine. Naramore’s not my favorite narrator, but he’s got talent and puts a lot into his performances.

Conclusion:

If you’re looking for excellent scifi, check out the Fringe World series. You can read this without having consumed the first, but as with most series, it will be better in order.

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.

Audiobook Reviews 4/5 Stars Captured Heart by Barbara Goss

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Christian, historical ,

Narrated by Jan Ross

Run time: 5 hrs and 12 mins

Summary:

Amanda’s family dies along the Oregon Trail. Two men are interested in her for different reasons. She’s not really talking to God.

Additional Comments:

  • Amanda’s anger with God was justified, but her solution (not talking to Him) seemed childish and pointless. Guess grief doesn’t make people rational. Left a lot of room for her to grow though, which is a good thing.
  • The narrator didn’t fit the main character very well (IMHO), but she fit my favorite side character perfectly. I enjoyed that character’s redemption arc.
  • Luke and his family were fun to hear about. Don’t remember much about the other guy. I finished this a few weeks ago.
  • The jealousy angle with some of the side characters took some interesting turns.

Conclusion:

This is clean Christian romance. The book follows genre guidelines pretty closely, but it’s still a compelling story. If that’s not your thing, you’ll probably be disappointed. If it is your thing, then you should find it satisfactory.

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.

Audiobook Reviews: 4/5 Stars A Just and Upright Man by R J Lynch

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, historical

Narrated by Deborah Greenfield

Run time: 11 hrs and 5 min

Summary:

James Blakiston has the unenviable job of tracking down a killer even when the victim isn’t very likable. Kate Greener is a laborer’s daughter, but she’s more enchanting to Blakiston than any other woman since Jane.

Additional Comments:

  • There are a lot of side characters.
  • The mystery is complicated and compelling. A twisty whodunit with a lot of class unrest and changing times as farms get consolidated and sold off in favor of coal mining.
  • There are good characters and evil ones, but even some of the “good” guys seem to take a pretty dim view of women. Guess that’s the historical part coming out.
  • James is likable.
  • Not much in the way of action until the very end with one of the subplots.
  • Narration was handled well. There are a lot of characters with regional accents. It worked out fine, but it does make one listen harder.
  • Content Warnings: There’s a lot of talk of rape and at least one adult scene with a tad too much description. Even the rape scene was handled more tactfully than one scene near the end of the book. 1-2 Fbombs. Some other language, all pretty mild.

Conclusion:

Historical mystery set in a small village.

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

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.

Devya’s Children Series Links: