4/5 Stars Mrs. Tedesco’s Missing Cookbook by Christa Nardi and Cassidy Salem

March 18, 2022February 27, 2022 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, middle grade, mystery Cassidy Salem, Hannah and Tamar

Narrated by Julie McCarthy

Run Time: 2 hrs and 13 mins

Genre: YA mystery (low end, would even say MG)

Summary:

A high school project to do good deeds for the residents of an old folks’ home leads Hannah and Tamar into another mystery.

Additional Comments:

Characters aren’t well developed, but they’re in that brand of inherently good and wholesome mystery solvers like classic Nancy Drew. (Pretty sure it’s designed that way.)
The girls’ involvement in the mystery is a bit of a stretch.
The story goes through a few twists, so that’s nice.
Kind of wish there was an actual sense of danger. Waiting for somebody to get kidnapped here. Guess it’s not that kind of series. Pity, would make it a bit more zippy. As is, it’s okay. Closer to the rebook Nancy Drew where she was running around solving who stepped on the garden green squash.

Conclusion:

If you like 100% safe and tame mysteries for your young readers, this is a great series to try.

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

Have You Tried Kindle Vella Yet?

Christmas Shorts – (Mystery, thriller, Christian, suspense; Ongoing; story 1 is complete) Only one story right now, but will be a collection of short stories with characters from across my series. Typically, FBI agents with personal drama. Might feature an abundance of cute puppies.

The Minder Project Season 1 – (scifi, genetic engineering, superpowers; shares characters with Dustin’s Decision, Updated Wednesdays) The government gave her genetic Gifts. Now, it wants what it paid for from the program.

5 Steps to Better Dialogue – (nonfiction, writing skills; Complete) I feel like nonfiction titles should come with spoiler tags. This is a book for writers seeking to learn more about the creation of realistic characters and dialogue.

Assassin School Season 1 – (thriller, YA; Complete) Teen spies try to survive the rigorous training and other drama as powerful people battle to control the Ghost children.

Dustin’s Decision Devya’s Children Book 5 – (YA scifi, shares characters with The Minder Project; Complete) Genetically altered teens struggle to navigate the murky world and control their Gifts.

3.75/5 Nowhere Man by David Gerrold

February 28, 2022February 13, 2022 Julie Gilbert Action Adventure, Audiobooks, middle grade Daniel Penz, David Gerrold, heroes, superpowers, vigilante

Narrated by Daniel Penz

Performance 4 stars

Story high 2, low 3-ish

Summary:

A geeky genius and his older genius cousin invent a super suit to exact revenge on a middle school then freshman year bully.

Additional Comments:

The performance was good. The narrator put a lot of energy into the production.
Nickname Squish and its explanation are hilarious.
I’m really not sure who the target audience is. It’s billed as a YA, but the cover does NOT say that and 85% of the book is the technical how-to build the suit. It’s essentially a short story about getting back at a bully stretched way the heck around a tech manual and philosophical dissertation about theoretical physics.
I did find some of the deep discussions of troubleshooting the machine that made the super suit interesting, but I’m a chemistry teacher. I like science. And even I got very, very bored with the in-depth babbling. I honestly don’t see it being appealing to the target audience of teens, though I do have a friend (very much an adult with a doctorate who theorizes and does experiements) who might like it.
There are pacing problems too. For example, the section on the uses of a brick started as a conversation between the cousins and went on and on and on. He must have listed at least 25+ uses. To get the point, we needed maybe 5 and then skip ahead to the well I’m a genius so I thought of 300+ line. Done. The narrator did a credible job with that section, but it still managed to be interesting point to okay way, way overboard. Just because the first-person narrator is supposed to be socially awkward, does not mean that he needs to prove it in the private space of his own head.
The end was largely good but once again went way overboard in an attempt to prove the hero status of our MC.
Super nit-picky point. American middle and high schools typically go with marking periods, a genius should know that, yet at least twice, he referred to semesters. That’s a college thing. Maybe certain prep schools use semesters, but not your general run of the mill public school.

Conclusion:

Interesting read despite its story flaws.

Have You Tried Kindle Vella Yet?

Assassin School Season 1 – (thriller, YA; Complete) Teen spies try to survive the rigorous training and other drama as powerful people battle to control the Ghost children.

Path to the Chosen Redeemer by Julie C. Gilbert

August 1, 2021July 20, 2021 Julie Gilbert Action Adventure, Audiobooks, Fantasy, middle grade Aeris Legends, fantasy, Julie C. Gilbert, Middle grade, Young Adult

This is the box set cover … Individual audiobooks have their own covers.

River’s Edge Ransom, Aeris Legends Books 1-3, and Redeemer Chronicles

Note: There’s no rating b/c these are my books.

Summary:

River’s Edge Ransom tells the tale of what happened in the Bereft village of River’s Edge. That incident sets many things into motion. Things that lead to Redeemer Chronicles. On the surface, it’s a story about greed and sibling rivalry. It’s got a little magic and mystery.

Aeris Legends Books 1-3 continues weaving the backstory for Marina Castaloni, Daniel Saveron, and Jackson Castaloni.

Redeemer Chronicles switches gears in several ways. The biggest, most notable switch is a flip to first person narration. Awakening picks up immediately after The Lady’s Grace. Vic starts on her journey to find her father. It’s also where we really start to get to know her, Katrina, Tellen, and Shadow. They show up in Aeris Legends as children, but those stories aren’t truly theirs.

Additional Comments:

These are my books, so the rating’s going to be extremely biased.
Teralyn Davis’s performance was spectacular on all 4 of the first stories. She’s got a very impressive range of voices in her. (Raelyn is one of my favorite voices.)
Caitlin Jacques was actually the first narrator hired to do one of the stories. Awakening was written first. I lost touch with her after that book though, so Jacqueline DeGraff picked up where Caitlin left off for The Holy War and Reclaim the Darklands. Both women did a stellar job with their assignments.
There are a few production (2-ish) mistakes that made it through to the final version of Aeris Legends, but I’m pretty sure people who aren’t me and/or don’t have a manuscript in front of their faces might only catch one of them.
Story: Aeris Legends is kid-safe, but the main characters aren’t kids. The MCs in Redeemer Chronicles, which this was meant to lead to, are teenagers. Aeris Legends is the backstory for Vic’s parents and scheming uncle.
If you’re willing to review the book, I might still have a free code for some of these stories. I am likely out of Redeemer Chronicles unless you’re willing to do Author’s Direct codes. Audible ones are likely gone.

Conclusion:

I generally don’t end books on cliffhangers, but this one was always meant to dump the reader right on Redeemer Chronicles’ doorstep. If you want the full Aeris tale, you’ll have to continue on to get Vic’s tale (and the story for Shadow, Tellen, Sara, and Katrina) in Awakening, The Holy War, and Reclaim the Darklands.

Audiobook Promotions …

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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)

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)

Clean Reads – Fiction That Fills the Mind and Soul

March 20, 2021March 13, 2021 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Family, Fantasy, middle grade, Writing, Young Adult clean reads

Introduction:

I only write clean fiction. That was a personal choice when I started writing that came about because that’s what I grew up with.

Personal Definition of Clean:

In reviewing a lot of books for the Audiobook Edge list, I’ve had to develop a definition of “clean.” I’m aware my definition is much looser than many others because I’m trying to cater to a wider adult audience. I typically stop listening after 4 f-bombs. Even if I continue, it’d be off my “clean” list. Curse words in general are only occasional. Adult scenes aren’t described in any sort of detail.

I just finished a book, and honestly, it would have been better without the curse words. They didn’t add much. The problem in general is that people use cursing so casually, it loses all shock value and just becomes filler.

People curse in real life, so why avoid it in books?

It’s a simple concept of in and out. I may mention that a character curses, but I see no reason to include the actual curse word. Same for violence. Hard things befall my characters for sure, but the reader does not need to have disturbing images blazed onto their brains. You will internalize what you see. I want my stories to take people on grand adventures, not traumatize them.

Why are clean fiction reads important for children and young adults?

There are plenty of books out there in the world. Clean reads allow you to focus on the action and the characters without drowning in a sea of hard language or reading gory scenes that stick with you. Life’s got enough problems without adding a layer of brutality and hard edges to fictional adventures.

Awful things happen in the real world, why shy away from describing things?

There’s a very big difference between reading that a character lost their head and reading a point-by-point description of how that came to be. Nobody needs that mental image in their heads.

Enjoy being a kid

Kids have a lot to deal with. Stories have many functions. They bring people together. They teach us. They entertain us. Clean reads opens the way for people of several age groups to enjoy the same tale.

Focus on the characters

Some characters have special gifts, some don’t. A lot of my books feature people put in challenging situations. I want readers to focus on the characters and their actions, not their language unless that’s relevant.

I write my adult books without strong language or describing adult scenes. It can be done at all levels of fiction.

Learn to express yourself without resorting to strong language.

Sure, cursing is a way of expressing dismay or trying to sound cool, but children and young adults are still developing and discovering themselves. I’d rather let them learn how to express their feelings without curse words.

Some people, like me, grow up in homes where strong language is a rarity. This is good. There are so many words in the English language. There’s always a way to describe a situation tastefully or with just a few details.

Things you see and watch will shape the way you think and behave.

Have you ever been around somebody with a very strong accent, and then, unconsciously started slipping into that accent? The same concept holds true with things you read, listen to, and watch. Where possible, fill your mind with edifying things.

Conclusion:

I’m not saying every story has to have a happy, uplifting, sickeningly sweet ending, but stick to clean reads and get the most out of a story.

Links:

Website: Juliecgilbert.com

Email:

Amazon page: https://smile.amazon.com/Julie-C-Gilbert/e/B002BMB2LG/

If you want to check out my audiobooks, go here in the US and here for the UK site.

Interested in a fun writing course designed for teens? Check out Storyquest Academy. (Note: affiliate link – if you sign up for the class through this link, I earn a commission … you get a great deal – win-win 😉 … seriously, most writing courses are a LOT more expensive.)

Audiobook Promotions …

Many of my 42 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:

A New Old Way to Read Books – Clean Audios for Kids

March 17, 2021March 13, 2021 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Fantasy, middle grade, mystery, Prequel, scifi, short stories audiobooks, clean fiction, clean fiction blog tour, clean reads

Introduction:

I’ve always loved audiobooks, even from way back in the day when they were on CDs. When I started driving, I quickly learned the skill of flipping out the CDs if I was going on a lengthy trip. A few years after I started writing, I looked into getting my stories published in audiobook format. It’s a very expensive process, but well-worth it.

How are audiobooks made?

I’m sure it differs for traditionally published books, but indie rights holders would follow this general path: claim the book, open auditions, choose a narrator, listen to the performance, approve the performance, pay the narrator, and wait for it to go on sale. There are a lot of details I’m skipping because this is just an overview.

Whatcha got available?

If you want to check out my audiobooks, go here in the US and here for the UK site. Keep in mind though that of the 44 titles that are mine in this search, only about half are geared to YA, MG, or Children’s audiences.

I’ve hired about 16 people to bring my stories to audiobook format. Check out the samples to hear the wide variety.

Why listen to audiobooks instead of reading an ebook or a physical book?

Audiobooks are a different medium than physical books or movies. For me, it’s nice to be able to take in stories while taking a walk or doing a chore or a puzzle or something else where I don’t have to think too much. Others have long commutes. Still others like to experience stories as a family. Audiobooks let you have the best of both worlds in the sense that you can join others listening to something and get the full tale.

There’s also a performance aspect to most audiobooks that’s amazing to experience. If done well, the narrator can bring the words to life in a whole new way. I’ve experienced that even with stuff I’ve written.

For nonfiction, it can be helpful to hear things spoken aloud. Some people are auditory learners. Typically, people learn multiple ways. Auditory learners tend to soak in more if they hear something.

How does one find affordable (or free) audiobooks?

You probably noticed that audiobooks are much more expensive than ebooks or paperbacks. They cost a lot to make, so they are marked higher than the other versions. But there are definitely ways to get them cheaper.

Note: most methods apply to audios in general, not necessarily clean audios. AE is different because I run it.

Tip: Many books are whispersynced, so if you buy the ebook through amazon, you can also add the audiobook for a discounted price. This is useful if you keep on top of what books are free. If you got the free ebook from a promotion, you can still add audio for the discounted price.

If you join Audiobook Edge, you’ll receive my personalized list of clean audios every month. That means I’ve listened to each of the books listed and approved it for clean content. It comes out the first Sunday of every month. Of the 5-ish titles each month, there’s usually a pretty good chance of hearing about ones geared toward kids.

Otherwise, you can find some on free audiobook code sites, but be forewarned, those sites are NOT only for clean books. You’ll know that quickly if you see any of the covers.

Libraries. Most libraries are connected to some audiobook programs. The problem here tends to be availability. You’d then find a title by searching as you would with your library. Many libraries will let you request certain products, so if you have your heart set on a particular title, ask your library to buy it for you.

Subscription services. Some sites let you pay a monthly service to get access to their collection of audios.

Chirp has some discounted audiobooks.

Connect with the author or narrator on social media. Many have free codes for kobo, audible, or authorsdirect. The ones with the most codes available are indie titles because typically the Rights Holder is the author.

The best way to get free audiobook codes is establish yourself as a reviewer. This doesn’t necessarily have to be formal reviews that show up on amazon or audible. Go with something you know. If you have a following on a certain social media platform (Youtube, Instagram, facebook, tiktok, etc), you can probably get people to give you review copies in exchange for you sharing your thoughts with your audience.

Review codes

I have review codes for Princess Melia’s Plight, River’s Edge Ransom, The Dark Side of Science, and a few others. The first two can be requested through Story Origin. The third you can request via email (devyaschildren @ gmail.com – take out the spaces). Dark Side I still get paid for, so I’m much more willing to give those out. The first two, I’m looking for people willing to leave their honest thoughts on audible. By necessity, I’ve become much stingier with those codes because the company changed the way codes are handled and decided to make way less available. The first two are very short though, so they’re also not that expensive to buy outright.

The Age Question:

While it’s certainly useful to stick to books that are age appropriate, don’t be afraid to branch out into clean adult books too. There’s only one title of mine that I’d say is probably best reserved for late teens/ adults and that’s Scratched Off. Not because it’s gory or filled with unsuitable language (it has neither), but it does feature a serial killer and some of his thought processes.

Reading levels are guidelines, not fences.

Titles from my Audible library that are kid-friendly:

Be Thou My Vision: Hymns of the West, Book 2 by Faith Blum (Christian, historical)

Holly and the Coat Mystery: Holly Lewis Mystery Series by Diane Harmon (YA mystery)

Nickle Brickle’Bee: In the Heart of EarthWorks by Sterling Nixon (fantasy)

The Smoke (Tales From a Revolution – New-York): Tales From a Revolution, Book 3 by Lars DH Hedbor (historical; these may occasionally have a curse word or war-intense scene; good for high school)

The Collar and the Cavvarach: Krillonian Chronicles, Book 1 by Annie Lima Douglass (adventure? Not quite sure how to place the genre, it’s about a teen trying to protect his sister in a society where they’re slaves.) highly recommended

The Binding Witch and the Fortune Taker: The Kate Roark Magic Series, Book 1 by Laura Rich (fantasy)

Sensation by Kevin Hardman (Superhero)

Swim Season by Marianne Sciucco (YA contemporary)

The Case of the Missing Crown Jewels by Robert Martin and Keira Ely (Children’s, mystery)

Dragonia: Rise of the Wyverns: Dragonia Empire, Volume 1 by Craig A. Price Jr. (fantasy)

The Pygmy Dragon: Shapeshifter Dragon Legends Book 1 by Marc Secchia (epic fantasy)

The Book of Dragons by E. Nesbit (fantasy)

The Afterlife Academy by Frank L. Cole (Middle grade, fantasy)

The Carpenter: A Retelling of the Story of Joseph of Nazareth by S.A. Wilson (fantasy retelling)

Adana the Earth Dragon: An Elemental Tale by Debbie Manber Kupfer (Children’s)

A Turtle’s Magical Adventure by Wanda Luthman (Children’s)

The Three Royal Children and the Batty Aunt by Angela Castillo (Children’s)

Dragon’s Future: Dragon Courage, Volume 1 by Kandi J. Wyatt (fantasy)

Dragon’s Curse: The Dragon and the Scholar, Volume 1 by H.L. Burke (fantasy)

Mercy’s Prince: He Who Finds Mercy, Book 1 by Katy Huth Jones (epic Christian medieval fantasy)

Apprentice Cat by Virginia Ripple (shapeshifters, fantasy)

More Fables and Fantasies: A Five Story Collection by Dale T. Phillips

Missing: Lessons from Fiori, Book 2 by Peggy M McAloon and Aneeka Rogers (fantasy)

Conclusion:

Audiobooks are a great way to take in stories. Sometimes it can be difficult to find clean reads, but if you know where to look and are willing to write some reviews or use your existing platforms, you can find an endless supply of great audiobooks.

If you want to hear more about some of my series, check out my website (http://www.juliecgilbert.com/) or the previous blog post from 3/3/21.

There’s lots more to come. Catch up if you need to.

March 1^st Story Quest Academy

March 2^nd Ellie Naomi

March 3^rd Julie Gilbert

March 4^th Jasmine Natasha

March 5^th Liz Delton

March 6^th Mark Hansen

March 7^th Ian Vroon

March 8^th Story Quest Academy

March 9^th Nicholas Kotar

March 10^th J.M. Hackman

March 11^th Mark Hansen

March 12^th Courtenay Kasper

March 13^th Debbie Schreffler

March 14^th Story Quest Academy

March 15^th Steven Guglich

March 16^th Laurie Lucking

March 17^th Julie Gilbert

March 18^th Meg Dendler

March 19^th Nicholas Kotar

March 20^th Courtenay Kasper

March 21^st Story Quest Academy

March 22^nd Molly Casperson

March 23^rd D.J. Edwardson

March 24^th Marty C Lee

March 25^th Molly Casperson

March 26^th Mark Hansen

March 27th Allison Tebo

March 28^th Story Quest Academy

March 29^th Debbie Schreffler

March 30^th Nicholas Kotar

March 31^st Molly Casperson

Audiobook Promotions …

Many of my 44 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 Nickle Brickle’Bee by Sterling Nixon

November 26, 2020November 18, 2020 Julie Gilbert Action Adventure, Audiobooks, Fantasy, middle grade Jason Finch, Nickle Bricklebee, Sterling Nixon

Narrated by Jason Finch

Run Time: 11 hrs and 19 mins

Summary:

A young dwarf finds himself in the middle of a power struggle.

Additional Comments:

Hits a lot of the classic fantasy tropes and hits them well.
4/5 Main character – Nickle’s pretty much a Chosen One. There’s even a prophecy about him in the prologue. He’s also your typical, bumbling hero who comes through when it counts. He’s obsessed with knowing more about his parents. He’s respected because of his father. He doesn’t really fit in where he was before he got swept off into the magical part of the world. He’s not really good at most things, yet he picks up the right friends and can beat seasoned fighters in a pinch. The kid even inherits magic armor. His heritage gives him the ability to participate in animal pod races (essentially).
4/5 Performance – Voice variation was okay. I can’t comment much on cadence since I was listening at 2.3 speed. There were a lot of minor characters who came and went.
3.5/5 side characters – Jason’s kind of annoying. He’s kind of a cross between the mentor figure and the sidekick. The elf chick sort of seemed an add-on as she had almost 0 role except to accompany the MC and the sidekick on a portion of the journey.
4/5 Most of the world-building works. It’s a very neat world that weaves fantastic and the familiar. It’s not completely seamless, but it’s a valiant effort. The dynamics of the elves, dwarves, gnomes, and humans is interesting, though to be honest, the humans seemed like an afterthought. Some sections spent on building the world were essentially half-hour bunny trails (visiting the club, scouring the library, cleaning the camp, deciding to race random pigs, vampire chase, fight in the garden, trippy jaunt into the cursed city, etc).
If you enjoy modern classic fantasy, like Harry Potter, you may enjoy this.
3/5 Prologue – I’m not sure how that beginning part with Hector fit in. It felt completely disconnected from the rest.
4/5 End – A lot of things come together in the end. Even though many things are predictable, it’s a satisfying conclusion with good balance between closure and enough room for more.

Conclusion:

This is a classic fantasy story suitable for middle grade readers. YA and adult fantasy fans may also enjoy it. Check out the sample and judge for yourself.

Audiobook Promotions …

Redeemer Chronicles (Fantasy)

Devya’s Children Series Links:

Guardian Angel Files:

4/5 Stars Holly and the Coat Mystery

November 20, 2020November 18, 2020 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, cozyish, middle grade Dianne Harman, Holly Lewis Cozy Mystery, Kathleen Li

Performed by Kathleen Li

Run time: 4 hrs and 9 mins

Summary:

Holly and some friends do a good deed by helping sort some coats for a church drive. A discovery provides a new mystery for the amateur sleuth.

Additional Comments:

It’s likened to Nancy Drew. Maybe the new ones where she’s a preteen, but certainly not the old classic books. I may be slightly biased because I really, really liked the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books when I was a kid.
This one’s more a middle school chapter book. It’s fine for the target audience, but the dialogue is way too formal to be realistic.
I get it. This is a cozy mystery for kids, so there’s no danger and things work out swimmingly. It’s just so “over-the-top sweet, tied up with a cute little bow” for me to really enjoy it as much as I probably should have.
Then, why did I give it 4 stars? I’m not the target audience. Aside from one annoying political-esque preachy point, the story moved smoothly from point A to B to C and so forth.
It’s a fine story. I tend to like more action in stories, but it ends up with a cute feel overall.
Holly’s got about zero flaws as a character, which makes her a tad hard to believe. Everybody in the whole town is nice and kind or comes around in the end. It’s like a cult of kindness and good feelings.
The way people treat the MC kinda makes you forget she’s supposed to be a 16/17 year-old kid. I’d have her pegged for 13 or so if judging the other characters’ reactions to her.
If you’re in the mood for something sweet, light and fluffy, then this does fit the bill nicely.
Not sure I’d personally jump on a bandwagon to continue the series, but Holly’s a decent kid sleuth.
Narration’s well done.

Conclusion:

If you like MG mysteries, give this a go.

Audiobook Promotions …

Redeemer Chronicles (Fantasy)

Devya’s Children Series Links:

Guardian Angel Files:

Audiobook Revies 4/5 Stars: Kate and the Horses

June 23, 2020June 11, 2020 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, children's, Fantasy, middle grade horses, Kae Denino, Wendy Ledger

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)

June 20, 2020June 11, 2020 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Fantasy, middle grade, superhero Kevin Hardman, kid sensation series, Mikael Naramore

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:

Devya’s Children Series Links:

4/5 Stars Mutation (Kid Sensation #2) by Kevin Hardman

December 19, 2019December 14, 2019 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, middle grade, superhero Kevin Hardman, kid sensation series, Mikael Naramore

Narrated by Mikael Naramore

Run Time: 7 hrs, 19 min

Summary:

Jim goes off to school and gets more than he bargained for. There’s also a stuffy government goon out to get him.

Additional Comments:

The series is a unique take on superheroes.
Side Characters – are really side here. Electra, Jim’s girlfriend, is in the book a bit, but it’s pretty much the Jim show 24/7, which is fine. He’s kid sensation after all. We don’t really get to know the other side characters much.
Kid Sensation (Jim) is insanely overpowered, yet he finds enough trouble to make it seem normal.
Mikael Naramore’s performance is great. He sounds a tad old for the character. Nevertheless, he puts in solid effort and it shows.
I have a slight issue with the title because it’s more about a virus than a general mutation. I think the angle is that the virus causes mutation, but even then it’s more manipulation than mutation.

Conclusion:

Entry 2 in an action-packed, relatively kid-friendly series about superheroes.

Never Again will be an Audiobook soon … Others are released.

Associate links to follow…

Note: I’m starting to use a few ad sites for audiobooks, so codes are disappearing quickly.

Available Audiobooks: I have free codes for almost everything. That will change very soon.

New Release: The Shadow Council Series 1: Money Makes it Deadlier – An FBI agent gets caught up in a robbery gone wrong.

Shadow Council Book 2: Revenge Makes it Sweeter – A midnight summons calls FBI Special Agent Megan Luchek into a fight for a young girl’s life.

Shadow Council Book 3: Christmas Makes it Chaos – The FBI agent gets a strange ally in the quest to prevent chaos from rocking a lot of people’s holiday season.

Shadow Council Book 4: Treachery Makes it Tense – The agent and the assassin have to team up if they want to survive.

Shadow Council is also available as a ~13 hr bundle.

The Collins Case – 2 FBI agents track down a kidnapped family. Kid friendly.

If fantasy’s more your thing, go Redeemer Chronicles. The first, Awakening, is available as an audiobook.

Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts – a kid deals with her parents’ divorce, bullies, and the wonder of discovery.

Try The Dark Side of Science – Genetically altered kids fight for the right to live.

Beyond Broken Pencils – Contemporary literary tale of a school shooting. Ian unleashes his inner demons on his classmates and teachers…

Scratched Off – FBI agent vs a serial killer. When Sam Kerman sets out to hunt a serial killer, he has no idea how personal the case will become.