time travel

3.5/5 Stars Deep Echoes by Melody Ash

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, time travel ,

Summary:

Caitlin gets pulled into the past and meets a few people in the pre-civil war era.

Additional Comments:

–  This is a short prequel to a larger work. There is a lengthy preview of the first official book at the end. It gives the feel of the work to be a long-winded ad for the next one.

– Caitlin is an interesting character. The blurb sort of oversold her as we don’t get to see her doing much in this story. It’s difficult to do much character development in a work this short, but the author manages some. She shows some promise. Given her mixed heritage, I am surprised that didn’t factor more here.

– The side characters weren’t memorable except in type. (The elderly slave healer, the master’s son who is kind, the good slave guy, the kid, etc). The exception to this is Caitlin’s goofy friend. He has a nice energy about him.

– There was a shred of romance but with the time being so short it basically went nowhere.

– about all that happens is she has some nice conversations with people in the past. There is a smidgen of action near the end.

– Cover is cool.

– Narration worked fine. The narrator handled the various voices well. 

– It’s always intriguing how much modern thoughts deep into a work like this. The MC happens to land in a place with a guy who is anti slavery.

–  The time travel aspect was fine. It’s not my favorite trope because it’s terribly illogical. This one at least doesn’t pretend it’s logical. The characters just accept. It at face value and go about their business.

Conclusion:

As a stand-alone story it’s just ok, but there is a grander feel to it like there’s a lot more to come for these people. So, as an introduction, it’s pretty good.

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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)

4/5 stars Lady of the Wood by Mark Braun

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Fantasy, time travel , ,

Narrated by Kathleen Li

3.5 stars story, 4/5 stars performance

*Spoilers possible in the discussion.

Summary:

A dying man passes on some wood pieces to a friend.

Additional Comments:

  • The story wasn’t quite sure what it wanted to be. It started out as normal contemporary with a little bit of paranormal, then flipped straight to time travel. I guess it could be seen as fantasy, but it’d be better off in a subgenre of scifi like time travel.
  • It’s a highly repetitive story that’s about 5 hours too long. I get why the multiple versions of the little side story are told (Snake vs Eagle, Whale vs. Eagle), but it’s still annoying to hear almost the same story with slight variations about 6 times.
  • Acknowledging a problem 7 times (you could change the past for the worse or for the better) is not really addressing it.
  • There are some continuity mistakes that may have been done purposefully? One character is supposed to join the confederate army then later he’s sneaking behind confederate lines.
  • The story is definitely unique, but skips around and lacks focus. It starts off with a sentient tree. Then a Native American woman. Then, it’s about John and his connection to the guy who dies. BTW, love that guy. He has the most personality of all of the characters. Then it becomes about Maggie for a hot second before flipping to be about Emily (John’s wife) and Owiyahl. About mid-way through the book, it concentrates heavily on Emily and sticks with her for most of the book, besides a rather longwinded tangent to follow her mother.
  • Narration’s nicely handled. Hat’s off to the narrator for pronouncing Owiyahl (sounded like Oleeo in the audiobook). Never would have pronounced it that way, but much easier to listen to than read something like that. It was pretty easy to keep track of who’s who.
  • Emily’s father (Bill) and her mother (Lucille) don’t feel very realistic. I guess some marriages end up like theirs, but it just seems like people at the end of this story have 0 emotions left. They’re just like “yeah, that’s life. Shucks. Let’s move on and be happy.”
  • Relatively clean despite about 3 almost rapes.

Conclusion:

If you like time travel stories and tales that weave in Native American lore, this is probably gonna be something you want to try.

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)

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)

Audiobook Reviews: 4/5 Stars Spirit Talker (Native Warrior Series Book 2) by Elizabeth Anne Porter

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, ghosts, historical, time travel , , ,

Narrated by Christy Sassmen

pic from audible

Summary:

Clementine Monroe’s imaginary friend, Wihanbla, is more than a figment of her imagination.

Additional Comments:

  • Very interesting premise, but it didn’t feel like much was happening. A lot of the beginning consisted of her sitting in a special spot talking to her friend who somehow crosses time and space to be able to see and converse with her.
  • The development of their relationship was interesting, as they finally overcome the major hurdle to anything more than friendship.
  • I always have major issues with time-travel books. Even with the giant “magic” bandage, it felt implausible. To me, this files the book under cute but illogical.
  • Narration was very well-handled. This did not come across as an easy to read story.

Conclusion:

If time-travel stories don’t bother you, this is a cool story. The back cover copy (blurb) pretty much describes everything that will happen, but the journey to get there still holds some appeal.

Audiobook Avalanche:

These are my books. I have free codes for almost everything.

New Release: Shadow Council Books 1-4. FBI Special Agent Megan Luchek finds several different kinds of trouble from Hawaii to Pennsylvania and back again.

New Release: Fatal Interest. Miranda Kale doesn’t believe in ghosts … until one sends her on a crazy case at a private school.

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.

Awakening – Vic finds out she’s the Chosen One. She just doesn’t get why people are trying to kill her.

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.

Nonfiction:
5 Steps to Surviving Chemistry – A primer for chemistry students. Breaks down concepts into simple terms. 

5 Steps to Better Blurbs – A book for writers looking to improve their book descriptions

Audiobook Reviews: 4/5 The Time Pedaler by Michael Maxwell and Tally Scully

Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, children's, middle grade, mystery, time travel , , , ,

 

Summary:

Chant Baker finds and old time machine in the basement of his parents’ shop. He uses it to visit a few key spots in history and solve a small mystery.

Additional Comments:

– It’s middle grade appropriate.

– I’m not big on time travel books in general because logic always messes with my head. They tried to address the issue of clothes a few times, but it just seemed like everywhere Chant went initially, people were very friendly and totally accepting of the fact that he appeared out of nowhere. I can see his clothes blending in well enough in the 1960’s but 1860’s?

– His family’s perfect, but that’s cool. The fact that a perfect nuclear family strikes me as abnormal is probably just a sad commentary on the state of the modern world.

– The places Chant chooses to visit do follow a certain logic, which I appreciate. (Mostly, they’re places he wants to study for history or English class.) I enjoyed the fact that he didn’t get a perfect grade even though he’d traveled back in time and witnessed the event in person because history isn’t always remembered perfectly.

– There wasn’t a real sense of danger, but that might come from the general middle grade feel than something in the plot. Probably don’t want a story like this to come across as too scary anyway.

– I hear the audio version, which was very good.

– Fun, unique premise that’s well-executed (in audio format anyway)

Conclusion:

If middle grade time travel’s something you enjoy, Chant won’t disappoint you.

 

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Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Julie C. Gilbert

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