4/5 Stars: Serenity Engulfed by Craig A. Hart

October 30, 2020September 27, 2020 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, mystery, thriller Craig A. Hart, Shelby Alexander Series, Theo Holland

Shelby Alexander series #5

Narrated by Theo Holland

Run Time: 3 hrs and 50 mins

Summary:

Shelby’s enemies crawl out of the woodwork for another round. It’s definitely personal. They go after his daughter. He’s still growing apart from Carly, but they’re still close enough that she calls in a favor when her friend gets in big trouble.

Additional Comments:

This is a novella, so things happen pretty quickly.
If this is your first Shelby Alexander story, you’ll be treated to lifelike characters and not so realistic circumstances. But that’s the nature of thrillers.
If this is not your first Shelby Alexander story, you’ll probably notice that almost every character has the same brand of humor. It works in most cases. It’s a great sense of humor. It’s just bizarre that almost every character, except the bad guys has it.
The story’s certainly action packed.
I enjoy Shelby as a character, but in the real world, he would be sued so many times, he wouldn’t have two cents to rub together. As it happens, everybody who might think to sue him happens to wind up dead, so that’s … convenient.
Content Warnings: Adult content. Check. Very strong language. Also check, but it seemed a tad less than previous books.
Shelby gets stuff done.
There was pure 5-ish minutes of the bad guy infodumping, but everything else moved at lightning speeds.

Conclusion:

Whether you’re just coming into the series or have followed each of Shelby’s adventures, it’s a nice, intense piece of escapism, if you can take the strong language. Would NEVER be thrown on a clean reads list. I only mention that because I tend to read/listen to clean reads.

Audiobook Promotions …

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33 of my 41 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

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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.

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Were on Audiobookcrave.com (which just went under). Ones with links are relisted at Audiobooksunleashed.com.
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:

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
5 Steps to Better Audiobooks – for authors/narrators, but mostly authors.
Innova – Christian Dystopia
The Golden City Captives – short fantasy
Fatal Interest – short mystery/thriller

4/5 Stars: Pinkie Promise by John Thornton

October 27, 2020September 27, 2020 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Christian, Family, romance, Young Adult Amber Schueler, audiobooks, John Thornton, Pinkie Promise

Narrated by Amber Schueler

Run Time: 6 hrs and 19 mins

Summary:

Aaron and Erin Thibodeaux aren’t related, but they happen to have names that are pronounced the same way and the same odd last name. They meet at a summer camp, make a pinkie promise to marry if they’re both unattached and old (26??).

Additional Comments:

I’m going to start with this (Christian romance) isn’t my go-to genre.
I’ve got no issues with the values presented in the book. Wish more books held to them. It did belabor the point a few times though. Most notably, Misty’s conversation with Aaron at the camp reunion of sorts.
I enjoyed the little bits of background on Erin and Aaron later. I missed the connection between Erin’s boss’s brother being one of her failed dates, but that was kind of glossed over. It’s also not a huge point. Their reactions did seem a tad overdone though.
The Erin and Aaron thing I can easily buy. The fact that they both happen to have the same weird last name, not so much. If they were both Smith, sure. Apparently, it’s a prominent French surname. Good to know.
There are a few other coincidences that had to happen to move the plot forward. They’re handled very well. (Jacky and Jackie)
I liked that it’s not set in the modern world, so it’s a time without cell phones.
Narrator’s performance is good. Kinda hated the voice she used for Russell, but he wasn’t in there enough to become a problem.
I had to stop listening for a while at the third act comedy of errors part. It works for the story, but the amount of times the two MCs jumped to conclusions was disturbing.
Story is predictable but satisfying.
I enjoyed that the author worked in some action near the end.
Content Warnings: None. It’s sickeningly sweet. Totally kid-friendly.

Conclusion:

If you’re in the mood for sweet Christian romance and don’t mind coincidences, give this one a chance.

Audiobook Promotions:

Devya’s Children Series Links:

Check out my other titles available on Audiobooks Unleashed:

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

4/5 Stars: Davenport House #6: House Secrets by Marie Silk

October 24, 2020September 27, 2020 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, historical, mystery, romance Allyson Voller, Davenport House, Marie Silk

Narrated by Allyson Voller

Run Time: 4 hrs and 40 min

Summary:

Clara tries to push problem aside by hosting a masquerade ball. (Yay, the cover makes sense. Not always a thing in this kind of book.) Her husband’s still a shady cad. She’s still dumb, but circumstances might set her free.

Additional Comments:

Bridget (Fiona’s sister) comes home with a warning Clara absolutely won’t hear, but that’s near the middle/end of the story.
I get that the bad guy should be bad, but it seems like our antagonist has way farther reaching schemes than any normal person has a right to run. The connections and secrets and affairs and whatnot are enough to fuel any soap opera, though it’s all very clean and proper. That said, if you’re like most people, you’ll be counting the seconds until he gets his comeuppance.
It’s a series you can get invested in the characters, even if the genre’s not really your thing.
Ethan and Vollenti (sorry about spelling, I heard the audio) finally make peace.
For those new to the series, stop, go back and start at one or you’re probably going to be really confused.
If you get heavily invested in characters, be prepared to explain why you’re yelling at random if you listen in public.
I find it intriguing that in the midst of Covid-19 making people lose track of their senses, several book series I’ve been going through have mentioned pandemics.

Conclusion:

It’s an American Downton Abby. Drama left and right because half because people are dumb and half because life happens. If you like historical fiction, check this series out.

Audiobook Promotions …

Devya’s Children Series Links:

Check out my other titles available on Audiobooks Unleashed:

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

3.5/5 Stars Louise’s Chance by Sarah R. Shaber

October 21, 2020September 20, 2020 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, historical, mystery Jenny Hoops, Louise Pearlie, Sarah R. Shaber

Louise Pearlie series #5

Narrated by Jenny Hoops

Summary:

Louise gets a transfer to a new position. She’s assisting in black propaganda. Her new boss gets a gig to go to a prisoner of war camp so they can interview people and see if any can be recruited to the war effort.

Additional Comments:

This isn’t as good as some of the others, but it’s not the worst of the series either.
The end isn’t as satisfying as some, or as exciting as some.
The mini-mystery is kind of fun until the big reveal.
I get that there’s a lot of repetition in case anybody is new to the series. Doesn’t make it less annoying.
Louise is an awesome character, but her worldview is somewhat tiresome after a while. Every other character meant as a foil then comes across as an flat, ignoramus. She also makes pretty dumb decisions, especially the whole affair with Joe.
Nicely performed by Jenny Hoops.

Conclusion:

It’s a worthwhile series, but honestly, the first book I read was book 4 and that was the best.

Audiobook Promotions:

Devya’s Children Series Links:

4/5 Stars Serenity Submerged by Craig A. Hart

October 18, 2020September 20, 2020 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, mystery, thriller Craig A. Hart, Shelby Alexander Series, Theo Holland

Narrated by Theo Holland

Summary:

Shelby’s camp-owning friend has a shady past that comes back to bite him in a big way. Of course, Shelby gets in the mix.

Additional Comments:

Shelby’s relationship with Carly is on the rocks, sort of. They’re growing apart because she wins an unpaid internship that will take her to New York City (far from Michigan). He wants to be supportive, but he knows the writing’s on the wall for them.
Getting Shelby involved this time is kind of a stretch, but it wouldn’t be a series if the main man didn’t get dragged into trouble.
The Sherriff finally reveals his true colors in this book.
The twist at the end is predictable yet still satisfying.
The tie-in to the title was pretty weak this time, but it too makes sense when you get to the last page of the book. (Or last few minutes of the audio if you listened.)
I didn’t like it quite as much as the previous ones, but it’s a decent entry in a good series.
Content warnings: perpetual strong language, pervasive violence. Not just gun battles this time, this goes deeper into the torture of at least one character. The last book kind of skirted details.

Conclusion:

You could read these novellas as standalone stories, but it’s probably more satisfying to have the knowledge of the previous books.

Audiobook Promotions:

Devya’s Children Series Links:

3.5/5 Davenport House #5 by Marie Silk

October 15, 2020September 20, 2020 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, historical Allyson Voller, Davenport House, Marie Silk

Narrated by Allyson Voller

Summary:

Phillip and Ethan are both off to WWI for different reasons. Meanwhile, Clara’s still being stupid. Oh, she’s fighting for women’s rights, then she marries the first arrogant thing to make her an offer.

Additional Comments:

I enjoyed most of the story line. It’s really part 5 of a longer story. It doesn’t really have the traditional book arcs of rising action, falling action. It’s more like character studies. While interesting, I don’t like all the characters, which made it difficult to listen to at times.
Clara has a lot of potential, but she makes repeated incredibly dumb decisions that make her hard to like. I’m hoping by the end of the series, she has her redeeming moment.
Did I mention I really dislike Lawrence? I have mixed feelings about disliking characters. It takes a certain amount of skill to write somebody that annoying, but still, the annoyance kind of overshadows the admiration.
About the only redeeming quality to Clara’s storyline was the preview to the next book, which fulfills my hope for Clara’s husband.
Mary becomes a midwife.
Abigail and Ethan have marital issues because he comes back from the war with PTSD.
The series is kinda an American Downton Abby. People who inherited more money and not so much sense living their lives with their house full of servants.

Conclusion:

If you enjoyed the previous books, you’ll like this one. If you’re in it for a standalone, avoid.

Audiobook Promotions:

Devya’s Children Series Links:

4/5 Stars Louise’s Dilemma by Sarah R. Shaber

October 12, 2020September 20, 2020 Julie Gilbert historical, mystery Jenny Hoops, Louise Pearlie, Sarah R. Shaber

Narrated by Jenny Hoops

Summary:

OSS flags a mysterious postcard from a sketchy part of France. Louise is the OSS liaison with the FBI sent to investigate the postcard.

Additional Comments:

This one had a pretty slow start.
Louise is Louise, a New Dealer, a progressive woman, a perfectly happy single woman ready to jump into an affair with a foreign national. There’s enough info that you can catch on if this is your first experience with the series. It’s a tad tedious if it’s not your first, but still a great series.
Kind of an adult Nancy Drew but closer to Agent Carter. Set during WWII. There’s some cursing, but no adult scenes beyond Louise and Joe kissing. Talk of plans for more, but that’s about it.
As usual, it’s a period piece, so avoid like a plague if you’re gonna have a heart attack over the fact that the word “colored” is used. Otherwise, enjoy the ride.
This one had a slightly more exciting end than some of the other entries. Our heroine gets herself into yet another fine scrap.
I do find it amusing that she can’t tell anybody the truth about what she does. She’s just a “government girl.”
I enjoy the fact that she’s not the perfect detective. She can—and often does—make mistakes.
Jenny Hoops doesn’t have a huge range of character voices, but you’ll be able to tell males from females. Her voice for Louise is perfect, which is great because it’s first person narration.

Conclusion:

Decent entry in a fun series. Relatively clean, though there is some cursing, even casual cursing.

Audiobook Promotions:

Devya’s Children Series Links:

4/5 Stars Serenity Stalked and Serenity Avenged by Craig A. Hart

October 9, 2020September 1, 2020 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, mystery, thriller Craig A. Hart, Shelby Alexander Series, Theo Holland

(Shelby Alexander Series Book 2 and Book 3)

Narrated by Theo Holland

Book 2 Summary:

There’s a serial killer on the loose and he’s got Carly in his sights.

Book 2 Additional Comments:

High on action. Not always high on sense.
The killer’s got a typical sob story. Kinda wish he was a little more likable, that would make him more complex as a character.

Book 3 Summary:

Shelby races to his daughter’s side when she has some complications with her pregnancy. His ex-wife, Helen, is also present to support their daughter. But Helen’s got a debt that’s placing everybody in danger, so of course, Shelby gets involved.

Book 3: Additional Comments:

Several portions of the story are from Jimmy’s perspective – he’s the mob enforcer sent to collect Helen’s debt. He’s also barely more than a kid and nephew to the boss man.
High-action, quick listen. These aren’t deep thinkers, but they’re fun. There’s decent humor sprinkled throughout dialogue.
Content Warnings (for both books): a LOT of adult language; a lot of violence. Skirts the edge but doesn’t quite step over the line to distasteful.
Not very realistic, but kinda like the mystery version of an old-school Rambo episode.

Conclusion:

Either could be read as a standalone, but they are probably more fun if you know Shelby already and have heard book 1.

Audiobook Promotions:

33 of my 36 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:

Audiobook Review: 3.5/5 Stars Louise’s Gamble by Sarah R. Shaber

October 6, 2020September 1, 2020 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, historical Jenny Hoops, Louise Pearlie, Sarah R. Shaber

Narrated by Jenny Hoops

Run Time: 7 hrs and 37 mins

Summary:

Louise gets recruited to be the go between for a possible informant. Somehow, the tale goes deeper, landing her in a place to tangle with both super rich people and mafia lackeys.

Additional Comments:

Technically, this is Lousie Pearlie’s second adventure, but I somehow got the series out of order. So, this is the third story I’m hearing of her exploits as a government girl.
Jenny Hoops is awesome. Her performance is spot-on for the character.
Louise has a lot of heart, but she’s still normal enough for a 1940’s woman.
The series is an interesting peek into that time period in American history. (high patriotism, rightful fear of communism, beginnings of social change) If reading the word colored gives you blood pressure spikes, maybe skip the series.
It’s not my favorite of the series, but it’s still pretty good.
The main character gets into some fine scraps, but she pulls out of it all right.

Conclusion:

Good entry in a great historical fiction series set in WWII Washington, D.C..

Audiobook Promotions:

Devya’s Children Series Links:

3.5/5 Stars We’ve Only Just Begun by Kathleen Ball

October 3, 2020September 1, 2020 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, historical, romance Kathleen Ball, Tom Jordan

Narrated by Tom Jordan

Run Time: 5 hrs and 2 mins

Summary:

Susan Farr joins a wagon train by marrying the first louse that will have her. The handsome wagon master, Mike Todd, does his best to protect the woman from her bad decision.

Additional Comments:

If you’ve read the back cover copy, you’ve read the entire book.
Tom Jordan’s performance is solid. I like his voice.
Story’s super predictable. I think I already read something by Barb Goss that’s almost the same thing. (Woman marries to get on the Oregon trail. Husband is lousy but mercifully kicks the bucket somewhere along the way. Woman gets to have the hunky saint she always wanted anyway.)
Clean. Characters on the cover are not how I’d picture them, but that’s fine.
Also, there’s no way their clothes would be that pristine 3 seconds along that trail.
Spent the second half of the book just waiting for them to stop being stupid, but overall, a satisfying tale.

Conclusion:

If you like the genre/ subgenre (clean romance set on the Oregon trail), you’ll enjoy this one.