4/5 Stars The Mark of the Golden Dragon by L.A. Meyer

October 14, 2021September 16, 2021 Julie Gilbert Action Adventure, Audiobooks Bloody Jack Series, Katherine Kellgren, L.A. Meyer

Narrated by Katherine Kellgren

Run Time: 10 hrs and 20 mins

Genre: Adventure, historical (sorta)

Summary:

Jacky’s back in England, and so is Jaimy. But Jaimysort of insane and robbing people because he thinks Jacky’s dead and Flashby and another intelligence agent put her there in a round about way.

Additional Comments:

A lot happens but it doesn’t seem like a lot happens.
Jacky’s scheme is kind of eloquent, but it would be a whole lot easier if she just sanctioned a bullet to the back of the bad guy’s head.
I do like the ties this story had to the old poem, The Highwayman. Poor Bess just can’t catch a break no matter which story she’s in.
I find Jacky’s relationship with pretty much every guy but Higgins kind of disturbing. I mean she seems to be all about Jaimy but she’s also attracted to the cavalry captain.
They’re still good books, but they are sort of spinning their wheels to nowhere.
There are sweet moments, then confusing moments.
The conclusion was satisfying but is sort of undone at the beginning of the next book.
Ravi’s still around.
The audiobook covers make her look like 13 … that may be where the series started but she’s supposed to be 17 now.

Conclusion:

Definitely don’t start the series with this one. I read the others out of order and they’re fine, but these are becoming much more adult in nature.

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Many of my 55 audible titles are listed on Audiobooks Unleashed.
Whether you’re looking for mystery or suspense or fantasy, I’ve got a title for you. Free codes are probably on audiobooks unleashed.
Normal links go to audible. *The Amazon labeled links are affiliate links. That means I get a very small payment from Amazon if you go through with a purchase.*
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
There are plenty of UK codes, but not many US ones left.

Redeemer Chronicles (Fantasy)

Awakening – Redeemer Chronicles Book 1, MG fantasy (Amazon) (free codes)
The Holy War – Redeemer Chronicles Book 2, MG fantasy (Amazon) (free codes)
Reclaim the Darklands – Redeemer Chronicles Book 3, MG fantasy (Amazon) (free codes)
River’s Edge Ransom – Prequel to Redeemer Chronicles (Amazon) (email devyaschildren @ gmail.com for free codes)

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Devya’s Children Series Links:

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – short stories featuring Jillian. (Amazon) (free codes)
The Dark Side of Science – official prequel to Devya’s Children; Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live. (Amazon) (Please email devyaschildren @ gmail.com for free codes)
Ashlynn’s Dreams – Genetically altered Dream Shaper learns her gift. (Amazon) (free codes)
Nadia’s Tears – Jillian tries to awaken her sister, Nadia, from a coma. (Amazon) (free codes)
Malia’s Miracles – Jillian and her siblings try to save a friend’s mother. (Amazon) (free codes)
Varick’s Quest – Jillian and Danielle get kidnapped. Nadia’s also in trouble. (Amazon) (free codes)
More Scifi:
Reshner’s Royal Ranger (epic sci-fi) just made it there. (Amazon) (free codes)

Guardian Angel Files:

Spirit’s Bane – Allister and Mina are training to be Guardians. Satan’s out to get them. (Amazon) (free codes)
Kindred Spirits – Mina’s exiled to Earth. Allister’s stuck in the Heavens. (Amazon) (free codes)

3.75/5 Stars Ties that Bind by Anne Patrick

October 13, 2021October 3, 2021 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Christian, mystery Anne Patrick, Christian Mystery, Leonor A Woodworth

Narrated by Leonor A Woodworth

Run Time: 9 hrs and 34 mins

Genre: Christian romantic suspense

Summary:

Jo McDaniels has a psychic gift to see and hear and experience what the victims do if she visits the crime scenes. She’ works with Sheriff Austin Garrett to catch a killer dropping bodies all over the sheriff’s county.

Additional Comments:

This was 75% romance with about 25% crime solving and about 95% of the page time got dedicated to dinners, swooning, or stating the MC’s a strong, independent woman.
Austin’s the typical knight in shiny badge armor.
Jo’s the typical stellar FBI agent who happens to have a cool psychic gift. That angle surprised me because it’s not usual for this brand of story.
The book is about 3 hours too long for the story here. The fluff just rehashed stuff.
The conclusion and bad guy could be seen from about 9 miles away, but some serious effort went into the red herring suspect too.
The Christian aspects were reasonably well integrated.
Jo’s brother didn’t ring true. His anger at her didn’t seem to have any substance.
Why do all Anne Patrick’s characters have mommy issues?

Conclusion:

Overall, a solidly okay story.

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Audiobook Promotions …

Many of my 57 audible titles are listed on Audiobooks Unleashed.
Whether you’re looking for mystery or suspense or fantasy, I’ve got a title for you. Free codes are probably on audiobooks unleashed.
Normal links go to audible. *The Amazon labeled links are affiliate links. That means I get a very small payment from Amazon if you go through with a purchase.*
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
There are plenty of UK codes, but not many US ones left.

Review copies for many titles are available from StoryOrigin.

Redeemer Chronicles (Fantasy)

Devya’s Children Series Links:

Books 1-4 were re-released in audiobook form in 2021.
Ashlynn’s Dreams – Genetically altered Dream Shaper learns her gift. (Amazon) (Request a Review Copy)
Nadia’s Tears – Jillian tries to awaken her sister, Nadia, from a coma. (Amazon) (Request a Review Copy)
Malia’s Miracles – Jillian and her siblings try to save a friend’s mother. (Amazon) (Request a Review Code)
Varick’s Quest – Jillian and Danielle get kidnapped. Nadia’s also in trouble. (Amazon) (Request a Review Code)
More Scifi:
Reshner’s Royal Ranger (epic sci-fi) just made it there. (Amazon) (click for sample)
If you’re all in and want to review the entire trilogy (~35 hrs!) go here.

Aeris Legends Books 1-3 ~17 hrs of epic fantasy. (Request a Review Copy)

Guardian Angel Files:

I have Author Direct codes from Findaway Voices for the combo book that has Spirit’s Bane and Kindred Spirits. (Click here for a review copy.)

4/5 Stars The Wake of the Lorelei Lee by L.A. Meyer

October 11, 2021October 3, 2021 Julie Gilbert Action Adventure, Audiobooks Bloody Jack Series, Katherine Kellgren, L.A. Meyer

Narrated by Katherine Kellgren

Bloody Jack Series #8

Run Time: 14 hrs and 53 mins

Genre: Mostly YA Adventure à and then it flips to Adultish Adventure

Summary:

This is another high-seas adventure featuring the crazy, smart, sassy, sometimes dumb, and very impulsive Mary “Jacky” Faber. Jacky gets arrested in England and sentenced to an Australian penal colony.

Additional Comments:

It’s got about 7-hours of random, sometimes raunchy filler material. Long-winded does not begin to describe it. I think it takes about 3 hours to get to the arrest that sends Jacky on this journey. There are also a LOT of side trails, some necessary, some not so much.
Katherine Kellgren’s performance is stellar as usual. She had a lovely singing voice, but even so, most of those were just filler.
Jacky seems to work hard at keeping her girls out of trouble, but then has 0 trouble being the “pet” of a Chinese pirate. That alone would flip this well out of YA range for me, which is kinda a shame because the rest of the series is absolutely fantastic and YA friendly.
I don’t remember much about Joseph Jarred so the tension with him just came across as uber weird.
Content Warning: There’s a LOT of cursing, some understandable. It includes 4 ish f-bombs, mostly by Jaime or the Irish crew. Their sections were fine, but the story could very easily have skipped over those or summarized later.

Conclusion:

This is an adult version of Jacky Faber. She’s still spunky and on many adventures, but if you’re giving this to kids, tap out at book 7 and mentally end with happily ever after.

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Audiobook Promotions …

Review copies for many titles are available from StoryOrigin.

Redeemer Chronicles (Fantasy)

Devya’s Children Series Links:

Aeris Legends Books 1-3 ~17 hrs of epic fantasy. (Request a Review Copy)

Guardian Angel Files:

I have Author Direct codes from Findaway Voices for the combo book that has Spirit’s Bane and Kindred Spirits. (Click here for a review copy.)

4/5 Stars The Declaration by Lars D. H. Hedbor

October 10, 2021September 16, 2021 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, historical Lars D.H. Hedbor, Shaaman Casey, Tales of a Revolution

Narrated by Shamaan Casey

Run Time: 5 hrs and 1 min

Genre: Historical Fiction; Revolutionary War Tales

Summary:

Justin Harris struggles to keep his tobacco farm up and running in the midst of the revolutionary war.

Hundreds of years later, Katie Harris helps her grandmother clean out her house and stumbles upon the find of a lifetime.

Additional Comments:

The author didn’t have much to say in this story; hence, the frame. It provided an interesting touch. The inner and outer tales worked well, but neither had much of a plot.
The main characters didn’t do much of anything. I felt like I was hearing a short story.
I love Shamaan Casey’s voice. I’m fairly easy to please in terms of narrators, but there are still voices that stand out as exceptional, such as Casey.
The historical note at the end didn’t annoy me as much as some others have.
Several threads were left unresolved, such as Terrence’s fate. He got a quick, this happened, then this happened, then this happened sort of wrapup, which helped but wasn’t as satisfying. We learn they sold the main document, but nothing is said about the other pieces or if the family learns about who did what in terms of who’s descended from whom.

Conclusion:

You can read the series in any order. They’re always clean and have an interesting tidbit or two about the revolutionary war.

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Audiobook Promotions …

Redeemer Chronicles (Fantasy)

Devya’s Children Series Links:

Guardian Angel Files:

Anotech Chronicles by Julie C. Gilbert

October 7, 2021August 23, 2021 Julie Gilbert Action Adventure, Audiobooks, scifi Julie C. Gilbert, Liz Brand, scifi

pic from audible

Narrated by Liz Brand

Run Time: 35 hrs and 54 mins

Genre: Scifi

Summary:

This trilogy follows the Royal House through about 20 turbulent years. It starts off with a prince just trying to prove himself. Being the younger prince, Terosh never expected to be king. Reia Antellio just wants to keep the prince alive. Both get way more than they bargained for during Terosh’s Kireshana journey. To tell you much more would walk straight into spoiler territory.

Additional Comments:

This combo is likely my longest to date.
The Reshner series isn’t quite done, though I’m a big fan of closure, so there should be a decent sense of that at the wrap of Reshner’s Royal Guard. Someday, I’d like to write a 4^th novel.
The trilogy had an unusual pedigree. It started with the 3^rd book and then went to 1 and 2 as I unraveled the complicated history that led to the events in book 3.
It’s hard to pick a favorite character. I’m intrigued by Mavis’s history. Maybe someday, I’ll get to explore that. Taytron and Deanna’s love story is untold as yet too.
The story went through several iterations. What you have now is the cleaned up version that had some of the perspectives slimmed down because it was getting too complicated.
I typically don’t like the middle books of trilogies, they’re dark and depressing, but there was just too much to end with book 1 and open with the events of book 3.
It’s a time investment, no question.
Liz’s performance is top notch, as usual. She’s got an excellent range of voices.
Content Notes: I consider this book clean. There are no curse words. But there are some references to heavy topics. I think it even opens with a murder.
Tie-ins to other stories. The Anotech Chronicles is mentioned in Devya’s Children. A random scifi series featuring kids with special powers sort of strikes too close for Jillian and Danielle.

Conclusion:

If you’re looking for a quick and easy story, this ain’t it. If you like getting swept up in a different time and place, dive in.

If you want to get 5 clean audio promos a month. Sign up here.

Audiobook Promotions …

Many of my 50 audible titles are listed on Audiobooks Unleashed.
Whether you’re looking for mystery or suspense or fantasy, I’ve got a title for you. Free codes are probably on audiobooks unleashed.
Normal links go to audible. *The Amazon labeled links are affiliate links. That means I get a very small payment from Amazon if you go through with a purchase.*
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
There are plenty of UK codes, but not many US ones left.

Redeemer Chronicles (Fantasy)

Devya’s Children Series Links:

Guardian Angel Files:

4.5/5 Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson

October 6, 2021October 3, 2021 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Fantasy Brandon Sanderson, Michael Kramer, mistborn

Series: Mistborn 6

Narrated by Michael Kramer

Run Time: 14 hrs and 41 mins

Genre: fantasy

Summary:

Wax, Wayne, MeLaan, Steris, and Marasi set out on an epic adventure to find the bands of Mourning. They need to recover some spikes to restore a condra and keep the powerful Bands out of the bad guys hands.

Additional Comments:

The prologue is pretty long but worth it. That could have been a separate short story altogether.
I would have liked more background on Wax’s uncle and the history of how Wax’s sister fell into his hands.
Brandon Sanderson is a master of intriguing characters. MeLaan’s hilarious in a dry way. The way she keeps pulling stuff out of her body is amazing, kind of gross, and amusing all at once.
Wayne’s penchant for swapping out stuff is good for some light moments.
Marasi and Steris are polar opposites. Steris’s lists were hilarious. Point 17 – framed for a crime. That poor innkeeper.
The adventure works out well enough. There are some neat sort of steampunk turns.
The twists at the end were okay, but there are really only so many twists, so they become predictable all the same.

Conclusion:

This probably should not be your first Brandon Sanderson story. It’s 3^rd in a trilogy and 6^th of the Mistborn stories. I think there’s a 7^th, but I’m not positive. Sanderson’s got so many series. Not all are gold, but this one (Mistborn) is excellent. I may return to the series some day and listen start to finish.

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Audiobook Promotions …

Review copies for many titles are available from StoryOrigin.

Redeemer Chronicles (Fantasy)

Devya’s Children Series Links:

Aeris Legends Books 1-3 ~17 hrs of epic fantasy. (Request a Review Copy)

Guardian Angel Files:

I have Author Direct codes from Findaway Voices for the combo book that has Spirit’s Bane and Kindred Spirits. (Click here for a review copy.)

4/5 Stars Jasmine by Blair Howard

October 4, 2021October 3, 2021 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, mystery Angel Clark, Blair Howard

Series: A Lt. Kate Gazzara Book 1

Narrated by Angel Clark

Run Time: 4 hrs and 24 mins

Genre: Mystery

Summary:

Kate Gazzara’s a character in the Harry Starke books. I’ve only listened to the omnibus for 10-12 of those. This story takes place long before the one I experienced thus far. I like it better than the original series.

This covers Kate taking on her first official case as the lead detective.

Additional Comments:

I find it amusing that it’s the Lt. Kate Gazzara series, but she’s a sergeant in this book.
There’s a dead kid in a pipe. The murder mystery isn’t all that complicated, but I think that’s pretty realistic. Sadly, the people most likely to murder somebody are relatives and family friends. It’s a very rare breed of killer who offs a complete stranger.
A dead kid in a pipe is a public relations disaster waiting to happen.
5 days is a heck of a turnaround time for a murder case. You probably wouldn’t get the results for some tests back in that timeframe.
A few voices sounded like angry rodents, but the voice for the main character fit well.
Content warning: some cursing, though not as much as in the Harry Starke series. Some talk of sex. Like the other series, nothing is described just comes up fairly regularly.
Kate was kind of lead around, which might not be too crazy if she were indeed new to this, but at this point, she’s supposedly been on the job like 7 years.
Her move to put her dumb partner in line would probably get her in a heck of a lot of trouble.
Tracy’s kind of a lump but her reaction to him helping/not helping is way over the top.

Conclusion:

Better than the Harry Starke books. Still crude, but has potential.

If you want to get 5 clean audio promos a month. Sign up here.

Audiobook Promotions …

Review copies for many titles are available from StoryOrigin.

Redeemer Chronicles (Fantasy)

Devya’s Children Series Links:

Aeris Legends Books 1-3 ~17 hrs of epic fantasy. (Request a Review Copy)

Guardian Angel Files:

I have Author Direct codes from Findaway Voices for the combo book that has Spirit’s Bane and Kindred Spirits. (Click here for a review copy.)

New Release by Annie Douglass Lima

October 3, 2021October 3, 2021 Julie Gilbert children's, Christian, Family Annie Douglass Lima, coloring book

Coloring Book Description:

Featuring inspirational verses from the Bible, these coloring pages will help you relax, unwind, and enjoy some creative fun while hiding God’s Word in your heart! All the passages have a theme of thankfulness, so you’ll be encouraged to cultivate gratitude and be reminded of all you have to thank God for as you color.

The verses are printed in color-able word art with decorative borders, blank on the back to make them easier to remove and frame or display, if desired. Each coloring page is accompanied by thought-provoking journal questions that will help you dig into the Scriptures even more as you focus on their meaning and application in your life.

Hide it in Your Heart with Thankfulness is an ideal Scripture memorization aid for Christian schools, homeschool programs, Sunday schools, or your own personal use.

Children and adults will enjoy learning, practicing, and meditating on these artistically presented verses from the New International Version Bible. Order your copy today and start hiding God’s Word in your heart with thankfulness!

Author Bio:

Annie Douglass Lima considers herself fortunate to have traveled in twenty different countries and lived in four of them. A teacher in her “other” life, she loves reading to her students and sparking their imaginations. Her books include science fiction, fantasy, YA action and adventure novels, a puppet script, poetry, Bible verse coloring books, and a fantasy-themed cookbook. When she isn’t teaching, writing, or editing, Annie can often be found sipping spiced chai or pomegranate green tea in exotic locations, some of which exist in this world.

One Link to Rule Them All – Check out this lovely coloring book today.

If you want to get 5 clean audio promos a month. Sign up here.

Audiobook Promotions …

Review copies for many titles are available from StoryOrigin.

Redeemer Chronicles (Fantasy)

Devya’s Children Series Links:

Aeris Legends Books 1-3 ~17 hrs of epic fantasy. (Request a Review Copy)

Guardian Angel Files:

I have Author Direct codes from Findaway Voices for the combo book that has Spirit’s Bane and Kindred Spirits. (Click here for a review copy.)

Guardian Angel Files Books 1 and 2: Spirit’s Bane and Kindred Spirits by Julie C. Gilbert

October 3, 2021August 23, 2021 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Christian, Fantasy Christian fantasy, Julie C. Gilbert, Reuben Corbett

Narrated by Reuben Corbett

Run Time: 13 hrs and 13 min

Genre: Christian fantasy

Summary:

Allister and Mina share a Kindred Spirit bond. It makes them powerful, but also paints a target on them. Satan and his minions want to control them.

Additional Comments:

Spirit’s Bane has a lot of Mina and Allister trying out the various roles a Guardian Angel could have: Comforter, Protector, Healer, etc. Then, things get serious.
There’s a war on in the heavens and on Earth. Mankind’s just caught in the middle.
Kindred Spirit picks up where Spirit’s Bane leaves off. Mina stays on Earth and tries to keep the weapon out of Satan’s hands. Allister tries his best to find her.
This short series has a lot of philosophy for a fantasy series.
The story seed came about from a musing about what had to happen to meet somebody you know in a grocery store.
It’s a very different flavor of fantasy for me. Probably the closest I come to urban fantasy.
Young adult genre fits well enough, but it’s not really a shapeshifter, shirtless dude kind of fantasy.
It features first person narration from Allister, Mina, and Hadeon – Director of Operations for Satan (and Than, another demon).

Conclusion:

If you like the style of writing in the Screwtape Letters, you might like this.

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Audiobook Promotions …

Redeemer Chronicles (Fantasy)

Devya’s Children Series Links:

Guardian Angel Files:

4.5/5 Stars The Iceman: The True Story of a Cold-Blooded Killer by Anthony Bruno

October 1, 2021August 23, 2021 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Nonfiction, True Crime Anthony Bruno, Bronson Pinchot, serial killers

Narrated by Bronson Pinchot

Run Time: 8 hrs and 5 mins

Genre: Nonfiction, serial killers, true crime

Summary:

Nobody knows how many people got iced by Richard Kuklinski. He got the nickname The Iceman because he once put a body on ice 2 years to see what it would do in terms of preservation.

Additional Comments:

There’s hope for the true crime genre yet!
Richard Kuklinski led quite the interesting double life. Family man and hit man.
He’s not your stereotypical mob hitman. You wouldn’t cast a Hollywood heartthrob to represent him. He didn’t lead a heart-pounding life of danger and thrills. He did dark deals in back rooms.
His first crime was running off with a crate of wine, then puking his guts out. Later he killed a neighborhood bully.
Most of the people who got killed kind of deserved it, so it was a little hard to feel sorry for them.
There were tales of bravery too. Found it intriguing that the one dude went back to die to protect his family.
It’s like a true Sith tale, a master, an apprentice, and a betrayal when things go wrong.
Kind of makes you wonder about the history of the place you live in.
Was one heck of an investigation.
Cyanide is an undervalued poison. I found the range of Kukinski’s weapons intriguing. He didn’t hesitate to shoot people, but he also claimed to be able to make it look accidental with cyanide mist.
I found it even more fascinating because I recognized some of the places in New Jersey. Most of the famous serial killers come from other places.
Narration was fine. It’s not exactly a book that calls for a million voices, but the actor did a nice job distinguishing the 8-10 different people, both male and female.
Content Warnings: flagrant use of f-bombs. It fits the moment, but I wouldn’t exactly count this as a clean book.

Conclusion:

An interesting account of Richard Kukinski’s life and work and a bit about the guy who took him down.

*I got the book from Audible plus.

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Audiobook Promotions …

Redeemer Chronicles (Fantasy)

Devya’s Children Series Links:

Guardian Angel Files: