romance

Choices Stories Review 5/5 Stars: The Royal Heir Book 2

Julie Gilbert Choices Stories, drama, romance ,

Summary:

You finally have your baby! I’m kind of a traditionalist, so of course, I chose to marry the king. This round is all about fighting for your baby’s right to not be betrothed to a bratty little prince from a kingdom of manipulative meanies.

Side note about diamond scenes:

This is a romance book. Though plenty of things you can spend diamonds on are items and intrigue side quests, quite a few are dates that can quickly heat up to become way more adult than kid-friendly.

Additional Comments:

  • From moment one, Bradshaw and Isabella have been strong-arming Concordia. Needless to say, the MC and her husband do not appreciate it.
  • The book does some meandering to keep the story going, but there’s enough adorable baby art to make you not care.
  • As with most of the Royal Romance/Heir series, most of the diamond opportunities are either dresses or dates. The ones that always catch me are the pets, the duchy upgrades, and the missions with Olivia.
  • In the original series, Olivia Nevrakis functions as one of the rivals and an antagonist, but by now, she’s a close friend of the MC, the king, and the rest of the crew. She’s also way cooler in this series as a duchess/ spy. Seeing and altering her dossier was hilarious.
  • I like how they weave in the politics in and around family drama, friend drama, and the like.
  • The default name for the baby is Lilly. It fit well enough that I altered it only to Lillian, with Lil for short. That face is undeniably adorable. The entire book only covered about 3 months, but they have the kid making enough baby babbles to keep the audience content. I like that the MC and the kind are trying their utmost to take care of the baby themselves (instead of a nanny, though I do love that “wait, that was an option?” is one of the dialogue choices).
  • End twist: By blundering around, I actually got spoiled, but I still enjoyed the end twist. Won’t say more so as to avoid spoiling you if you’re going to play through this story. Let’s just say it makes you wanna punch somebody.
  • I happened to finish both Blade of Light and Shadows and this in the same week. They certainly have different feelings, but the to be continued moment here feels more natural than the other book. I think the other book has more replay value, but the cast of characters feels more familiar and comfortable with each other (because of being in many other books together).
  • The four-book Rules of Engagement series features Prince Leo, but it’s not quite as good as The Royal Romance series, The Royal Masquerade (history), The Crown and the Flame (history + TV), and this series.
  • Oddly, though I really tend to hate middle books of trilogies, this ending works for me as long as they release a book 3 to wrap things up satisfactorily.

Conclusion:

I’m excited for the next installment in the series, but like most books, I will tackle it at a pace that lets me see the whole thing within a few days. I don’t do waiting week to week for something to release, and I’m behind enough in the books to wait for it.

Audiobook Promotions …

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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.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is DC-set-ad-1024x536.jpg

Mystery:

Shadow Council Combo (Books 1-4) (Amazon) (free codes)
The Individual Titles:
SC 1: Money Makes it Deadlier (Amazon) (free codes)
SC 2: Revenge Makes it Sweeter (Amazon) (free codes)
SC 3: Christmas Makes it Chaos (Amazon) (free codes)
SC 4: Treachery Makes it Tense (Amazon) (free codes)

Eagle Eyes – mystery thriller (Amazon) (free codes)
The Individual Titles:
Violence in Vegas (Eagle Eyes Book 1) (Amazon) (free codes)
Rescue in Reno (Eagle Eyes Book 2) (Amazon) (free codes)
Danger in Dallas (Eagle Eyes Book 3) (Amazon) (free codes)

There is a third series, but it’s not on audible yet.

Scratched Off – mystery, thriller; FBI agent vs serial killer, more intense than Shadow Council/Eagle Eyes (Amazon) (free codes)
Never Again (mystery, suspense)

Christian Mystery:

The Collins Case – Heartfelt Cases Book 1, Christian mystery (Amazon) (free codes)
The Kiverson Case – Heartfelt Cases Book 2, Christian mystery (Amazon) (free codes)
The Davidson Case – Heartfelt Cases Book 3, Christian mystery (Amazon) (free codes)

4.45/5 Stars True Nobility by Lori Bates Wright

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Christian, historical, romance , , ,

Narrated by Austenne Grey

Run Time: 8 hrs and 44 mins

Summary:

Victoria Haverwood and her father, the Earl of Wrenbrooke, go to America to keep her safe. Her father contracts Nicholas Saberton to bring them both across the ocean from England. But trouble follows.

Additional Comments:

  • Don’t read the blurb. It pretty much spells out the entire book.
  • Plot 4/5: It’s fun even with the super far-fetched parts. I typically find these kinds of books (Christian historical romance) terribly boring, but this one had enough action to keep things somewhat interesting at least the second half of the book. There were even a few nice twists.
  • Characters 4/5: The earl’s not very likable start to finish, which is weird because he’s all the girl has so she adores him. Victoria’s somewhat painfully naïve, but a nice enough lady. I liked her aunt and cousin. The villains are cookie cutter, but they function properly.
  • Humor: There was one section where Tori’s aunt was trying to explain marital relations to her that was downright hilarious. Nicholas and his family have a little lift to them.
  • Christian integration 3/5: Kind of superfluous. If you’d just told me this was a “clean” romance, I’d have gotten exactly the same vibe from it. About the only thing that would nudge it toward Christian are random scripture verses thrown in as epigraphs. According to some definitions, this wouldn’t even qualify as Christian fiction because there’s no distinguishable character development that supports it, but that’s nitpicky.
  • Narration 5/5: Austenne Grey put in a stellar performance. The voices of both male and female characters are distinguishable. Her British accent is distinct yet understandable.
  • Not sure how this works with being book 1 in a series unless later titles key in on somebody else loosely connected to the MCs. Not sure why this one focuses ¾ on Tori and ¼ on Nicholas if it’s about the Saberton Legacy, but my guess is that books 2 and so on have to do with his brothers.

Conclusion:

Intriguing historical fiction with fun characters, nice plot twists, and superb narration.

Audiobook Promotions …

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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)

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)

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is DC-set-ad-1024x536.jpg

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)

Narrator Interview: Rebecca H. Lee

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Interviews, romance ,

Featured Book

Wired Love by Ella Cheever Thayer

What brought you to working on this project?

I had been a part time audiobook narrator before Covid, but then got laid off from my safety net jobs and suddenly had a lot of free time. I wanted to learn audiobook production from the rights holder side and I had recently read this story, which sounded like a fun, old-timey version of “You’ve Got Mail”. I love rom-coms and this was perfect!

What was the hardest part of bringing this story to life?

There is a lot of archaic language and old spellings that I had to almost translate. Also, many old authors, and this one in particular, used a lot of very long sentences, and seemed to under punctuate. I had to go through the script and add a lot of extra commas, and even parentheses in order to remind myself of the inflection that the author intended.

Do you have a favorite character voice from the project? Why/ why not?

Oh my gosh, there were three that I absolutely loved! Two of them because of their quirkiness, and one, named “Cyn”, who was the kind of best friend character, who was just really cool and optimistic. I wanted her to be MY best friend!

Do you have a favorite chapter from the project? Why/ why not?

Yes! I can’t remember whether it was “The Feast” or “Unexpected Visitors”, as they almost could have been one big chapter, and I don’t want to give too much away, but it was such a fun and quirky scene where you really get to know the characters’ unique personalities. 

Is there anything you’d like listeners to know about this work before they hear your performance?

The book was a best seller for 10 years and was the only novel by Ella Cheever Thayer.

Me: Cool. Thanks for sharing that.

About your other works:

What was the most challenging other work you’ve voiced? Easiest? Most fun? What made it hard, easy, fun??

I would say this (Wired Love) was the most challenging, for the reasons I said before. The most fun (other than this one) was probably another classic novel I did recently called “Patty Went to College” by Jean Webster. It is almost more like a series of vignettes than a single story, which meant I got a lot of closure all the way through, and I really loved playing the main character who kept getting herself into trouble. The characters were so well developed that I could clearly see and hear them in my mind.

What do you love about what you do?

I love getting to play all of the characters in a story. When I do theater, I am limited to just one (or a small handful if it is improv). I get to play characters of all different ages and genders, and I am responsible for telling the whole story, rather than just part of it which makes it so much more fulfilling than stage work.

Which work are you most proud to have been a part of? Why?

Whichever is my newest release is always what I am the most proud of. It is great to be able to say I contributed to a piece of art that is accessible to so many people, not just a couple hundred people in a theater.

Me: So, that was all about your work. Now, tell us more about Rebecca the person.

What drew you to voice acting?

I think it started when my family would play around with a tape recorder when I was a kid and do pretend radio shows and commercials. I always loved performing, and majored in Drama and Music in college. It was probably inevitable that I would eventually end up back in front of the “tape recorder”.

Me: What’s a tape recorder? (Kidding! They were around when I was a kid.)

Is this the only acting you do? If you do other forms of acting, which is your favorite and why?

I still do improv, even online improv currently during lockdown. I love to be able to play a wide range of characters, and comedy has always been my favorite genre of art. It also scratches a writing itch that I have, since you are simultaneously writing and acting. Other than that, I love performing musical theater, but it takes a huge commitment, and a LOT of memorization, which, to be honest, I am less enthusiastic about since having improv and audiobooks to fulfill me.

Me: That does sound like a lot of work.

Do you have a process when you approach a work? Please describe it for us. 

I always skim the entire book before accepting a project. Once we decide to go forward with it, I read it and highlight the dialogue in different colors for each character, underline and look up words I don’t know how to pronounce, and make bold any words I think need a bit more emphasis. I never italicise because I don’t want to confuse them with words that the author actually italicized. Same with punctuation. I may add an extra space or two in long sentences so that I know I should take a breath, but I never add extra commas.

I usually don’t plan ahead with character “voices” but I let my improv instincts do the work. I record the first line of dialogue of each character into my phone so that if they disappear for a few chapters, I can quickly refer to it to remind myself if they come back.

Me: That’s super interesting. Most narrators I know are like “I have 8 pages of notes on this character.” (At least in spirit, even if they haven’t told me that to my face.)

What’s one random thing people don’t really know about you?

I have had a lot of different jobs in entertainment, and people I meet always comment on that. I think they may believe that I change my mind about what I want to do with my life or something, but to me, everything is the next progression of my journey of storytelling. I developed a lot of acting skills from working as a theme park character performer. I learned public speaking and got to know people from all around the world while working as an emcee on cruise ships. I use all of the skills and experiences when I narrate audiobooks. One day, I might even write my own books, but for now, I find this work extremely fulfilling.

Do you get to read for fun? Do you have a favorite genre to read for fun?

I listen to audiobooks for fun. Mostly cozy mysteries, rom-coms, and non-fiction, but honestly, any genre as long as it is well written.
Me: You should get on the Audiobooks Edge Reader’s list. I’ve gotten a lot of cozies of ate.

Do you have other hobbies? What do you do to relax? 

I love hiking (in the woods). I tried hiking in the desert when I lived in LA and I was not a fan! To relax, I do yoga, and spend time with my husband-figure and my pets.

What kind of movies do you enjoy?

Comedies, currently I’m on a Taika Waitiii kick.

If you could meet one person from history or present time, who would it be and why?

Robin Williams. He was such a unique individual and a comedy legend. Also, I used to have dreams that he was my uncle for some reason.

How can readers and prospective clients reach you?

Website: becksvoice.com

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisisrebeccahlee

Twitter: https://twitter.com/beckcentric

Audiobook Promotions …

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is rc-1-3-audio-ad-1024x536.jpg

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: Innova, The Golden City Captives, Treachery Makes it Tense, Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts, The Dark Side of Science
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)

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is DC-set-ad-1024x536.jpg

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)

Choices Stories Review 4/5 Stars: The Royal Heir Book 1

Julie Gilbert Choices Stories, romance
general promotion pic from pixelberry

Genre: Romance

Summary:

The Royal Romance series took our heroine from NYC waitress to queen if you played your cards right. Otherwise, you married one of the inner circle of Concordia’s royalty. Really not sure how that worked because I went the traditional route.

Additional Comments:

  • This one took me a bit of getting into.
  • The main focus of this is around the wedding of Bertrand Beaumont and Savannah Walker
  • Recurring characters: Olivia Nevrakis (I love her in this series – so much more intrigue), Penelope, Madeline (one of the king’s ex suitors), security people (Mara and Bastien), resident cutie (Bartie), Kiara Theron, Godfrey (Madeline’s papa)
  • New side characters: Amalas, Leona (Drake’s aunt?), Bianca Walker (Drake’s mama), Bradshaw and Isabella (jerks), Queen Eleanor (the king’s mom), Savannah Walker (Drake’s sister), some paparazzi dudes, Jackson Walker (Drake’s dad)
  • Midway through, the MC does in fact get pregnant. Yay.
  • Court intrigue continues. This round, Amalas and Bradshaw/Isabella are both courting the betrothal of your future child. Poor kid isn’t even made yet and she’s already being fought over. Traitors and parties and spies make for entertaining times.

Conclusion:

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I’m looking forward to the sequel. As usual, I’ll wait until most of the chapters are released because they like to throw little plot twists that are super annoying.

Audiobook Promotions …

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 1.20.20-audio-ad-1024x536.jpg

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.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is DC-set-ad-1024x536.jpg

Mystery:

Shadow Council Combo (Books 1-4) (Amazon) (free codes)
The Individual Titles:
SC 1: Money Makes it Deadlier (Amazon) (free codes)
SC 2: Revenge Makes it Sweeter (Amazon) (free codes)
SC 3: Christmas Makes it Chaos (Amazon) (free codes)
SC 4: Treachery Makes it Tense (Amazon) (free codes)

Eagle Eyes – mystery thriller (Amazon) (free codes)
The Individual Titles:
Violence in Vegas (Eagle Eyes Book 1) (Amazon) (free codes)
Rescue in Reno (Eagle Eyes Book 2) (Amazon) (free codes)
Danger in Dallas (Eagle Eyes Book 3) (Amazon) (free codes)

There is a third series, but it’s not on audible yet.

Scratched Off – mystery, thriller; FBI agent vs serial killer, more intense than Shadow Council/Eagle Eyes (Amazon) (free codes)
Never Again (mystery, suspense)

Christian Mystery:

The Collins Case – Heartfelt Cases Book 1, Christian mystery (Amazon) (free codes)
The Kiverson Case – Heartfelt Cases Book 2, Christian mystery (Amazon) (free codes)
The Davidson Case – Heartfelt Cases Book 3, Christian mystery (Amazon) (free codes)

4/5 Stars: Pinkie Promise by John Thornton

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Christian, Family, romance, Young Adult , , ,

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.

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Audiobook Promotions:

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

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is rc-1-3-audio-ad-1024x536.jpg

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.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is DC-set-ad-1024x536.jpg

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:

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

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

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, historical, mystery, romance , ,

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 …

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 1.20.20-audio-ad-1024x536.jpg

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:

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
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

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

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, historical, romance ,

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.

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:

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: 3.5/5 Stars Memories Lost by Jessie Cal

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, romance, scifi, suspense , , ,

Narrated by Emma Faye

Run Time: 5 hrs and 16 mins

Summary:

Mia’s amnesia after a car accident dominates much of her life. She’s sleepwalking, getting headaches, and having strange memories.

Additional Comments:

  • It’s kind of similar to a fantasy book in that literally anything could happen because you’re not sure if she’s remembering real stuff or fake stuff throughout about 80% of the book. That’s going to thrill some people (because of the ability to throw in twists) and annoy the heck out of others (because it seems like a waste of time to be reviewing false memories).
  • Honestly not sure why it’s billed as romantic suspense. It’s more like a mild psychological thriller. Can’t discuss that too much without headed straight into spoilers.
  • Sense of closure: Pretty much nonexistent. It might as well end “to be continued.” If you intend to continue, awesome. If not, you’re probably going to be annoyed. Don’t try it if you just want a standalone story.
  • Characters 3/5: Mia’s a mess. That makes her a sympathetic character you want to comfort one minute and somebody you want to shake the next minute. Most others are a tad stock until the twists. (The husband. The mysterious stranger. The best friend. The evil dude. Etc)
  • Pros: There are some great twists.
  • Cons: There’s a genre jump straight to scifi, which can be interesting, but can also tick off people who go into it wanting one thing (romantic suspense) and getting another (scifi). Was recently watching a youtube series by a fantasy writer who talked about the promises and payoffs. Here promises and payoffs don’t pan out as expected. While most people will be like “oh, that’s weird” and move on, it’s going to polarize the others.
  • Performance 4/5 stars: I had the story playing at 2.5x so I didn’t experience the full effect of the performance, but I still enjoyed the character variation.

Conclusion:

If you want romantic suspense, probably not the book for you. If you enjoy twisty series stuff that kind of jumps genres, you will likely really enjoy this.

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 Review 4/5 Stars: Silent Love by Barbara Goss

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Christian, historical, romance , ,

Narrated by Kandace Peppers

Run Time: 4 hrs and 5 mins

Summary:

A single lady, Caroline (Carrie), ends up on the Oregon trail with an upright, godly young man named Simon and his two hired hands. Due to restrictions, they pretend to be married, but it’s strictly an arrangement of convenience. (They each tell themselves.) She’s trying to reach her cousin, and he just wants to sell his goods and either become a lumber yard owner or a farmer with a land grant.

Additional Comments:

  • The author’s books follow similar patterns, which you’ll find amusing if you hear enough of them. Yes, I laughed near the end when the MC had something specific happen to her. Sorry, I know that’s vague. Nevertheless, they’re clean and generally have characters you can root for.
  • Simon and Caroline go through the usual comedy of errors of accidents and near-misses before sorting stuff out, though this set wasn’t quite as drawn out as some other books, so I only yelled at them a little.
  • Followed the typical CF pattern. Guy meets girl. Guy falls for girl even though she’s not a Christian. She becomes a Christian. They marry and live HEA.
  • The bad guy’s fate surprised me, but it works.
  • Kandace Peppers’s put in a decent performance. I’d listen to other books narrated by her.

Conclusion:

Clean, Christian romance and historical fiction. If you’re looking for light, entertaining read with sweet characters, you can check out any of Barbara Goss’s books, including this one.

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 Review 3.45/5 Stars: Just Like in the Movies by M. B. Feeney

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, romance ,

Narrated by Leanne Yau

Run Time: 1 hr and 34 mins

Summary:

A young British woman (Ava) stays in a beach house over the summer with a friend (Erica). She realizes some things need to change in her life. She falls for the handsome, irritating handyman and bookstore worker. (Don’t remember his name.)

Additional Comments:

  • Leanne Yau does British accents very well, so she fit the story excellently. I usually put books at 2.5x, but had to slow it down to 2x to be able to comprehend anything, but that’s neither here nor there. The performance was certainly a strong point in the experience.
  • Some stories are great for audio. Others, like this, should be adjusted before being shoehorned into the medium. The only reason for act whatever, scene whatever to be read is a lame attempt at making it like a screenplay. The tie to the title comes in about the last paragraph.
  • I probably would have rated this higher if I liked the main character more. She’s whiny, annoying, and rude most of the time. That makes her realistic, but not somebody I want to spend time with even in written form.
  • Content warnings: a few random curses.

Conclusion:

If you’re a die-hard, (relatively) clean romance fan who loves British accents, this is a good choice for you.

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.