3.45/5 Stars The Saloon Girl’s Journey by Angela Castillo

November 12, 2021October 23, 2021 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Christian, historical Angela Castillo, Clean, historical

Narrated by J. Grace Pennington

Run Time: 4 hrs and 49 mins

Genre: historical-ish fiction

Summary:

Darla North escapes life as a saloon girl and comes to live in a place for “unfortunate women.” Ethan Downs is the saint that falls in love with her.

Additional Comments:

This kind of book generally relies upon one of the characters (usually the woman) doing something incredibly stupid and the other (usually the man) chasing them. It’s true to form. In this case, it’s an frustrating series of misunderstandings nobody bothers asking about that leads the MC to basically run away from a loving home.
There is one tiny spot of danger that sort of redeems some of the nonsense.
Narration is fine.
The book started out fine. I liked the small bits of her character in the two other books in this series. Largely, Darla was a disappointment though.
Oh, it ends with presumed happily ever after, but with the past the author gave Darla, there was so much more potential for her shady past cropping up. I felt like that part never panned out.

Conclusion:

If you’re a completionist and have read the others, might as well finish the series. It’s a clean, historical style Christian book.

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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)

3.45/5 stars Empress Wu Zetian by Laurel A. Rockefeller

September 22, 2021August 11, 2021 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, historical, Nonfiction historical, Laurel A. Rockefeller, nonfiction, Richard Mann

Narrated by Richard Mann

Run Time: 1 hr and 5 mins

Genre: nonfic, historical

Summary:

Wu Zhao is the woman who went from low-level concubine to trusted confident of Emperor Taizong. Got that from the back cover copy. This is a very short history. It was not clear in the story that she was 14 at the time she was married off to the emperor. I think the back cover copy stretches the truth a bit from the presentation in the book. It didn’t seem like she climbed the ladder, the emperor was like “yo, you want to be my trusted confidante and secretary? These other jerks only want power” and she was like “yup.”

Additional Comments:

She’s presented in very favorable light here. The account kind of glosses over a few things like her ordering the death of pretty much anybody who didn’t agree with her utopian, very progressive ideals. And stealing power whenever she needed to because she could run the country better than anybody else.
Lady’s got grit, gotta give her that.
She also behaved exactly like those she fought against, having male concubines of a sort. Excuse: everybody else is doing it. Awesome, there’s who we should hold up as the moral paragon.
The reforms she wanted were great. It probably moved the country many leaps and bounds forward, but the greater good theory of excusing bad behavior just doesn’t fly.
I haven’t read many of these, but this was the better of the two.
The author’s views definitely flavor the telling.
The main message is twofold: positions should be given out based on merit not wealth and prestige already inherent to certain families and anything men can do, women can do.
I think the point the author is semi-burying under a rug of heaping praises is that power corrupts. Even in the name of doing good, power corrupts.

Conclusion:

If you can get around the very heavy-handed slant of setting this woman up for sainthood, it’s a decent story of a strong lady.

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Audiobook Promotions …

Many of my 50 audible titles are listed on Audiobooks Unleashed.
Whether you’re looking for mystery or suspense or fantasy, I’ve got a title for you. Free codes are probably on audiobooks unleashed.
Normal links go to audible. *The Amazon labeled links are affiliate links. That means I get a very small payment from Amazon if you go through with a purchase.*
Note: Filter by US if you’re looking for those codes as many titles are out.
Ones I think may still have US codes: Reshner’s Royal Ranger, Never Again, Innova, The Golden City Captives, The Holy War, Reclaim the Darklands, Eagle Eyes, Treachery Makes it Tense, Ashlynn’s Dreams Shorts, The Dark Side of Science, Ashlynn’s Dreams, Nadia’s Tears, Malia’s Miracles, and Varick’s Quest
There are plenty of UK codes, but not many US ones left.

Redeemer Chronicles (Fantasy)

Devya’s Children Series Links:

Guardian Angel Files:

4/5 Stars Abandoned Wharf Sisters by Faye Godwin

August 5, 2021July 30, 2021 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, historical British, Faye Godwin, Gareth Richards, historical

Narrated by: Gareth Richards

Run Time: 4 hrs and 17 mins

Summary:

Effie and John, 13 and 10/11 respectively, struggle to help their 3 younger sisters alive. But the best they can do is beg or work on the docks selling fish. London in 1895 is unforgiving to poor people in the winter, especially kids on their own.

Additional Comments:

The title fits but is kinda unfair to poor John because he too was abandoned.
One can’t help but want to hug Effie and her siblings. Not sure how anybody could just abandon their kids, but I guess people do what they do.
There are several time skips in here, but it makes sense in this story.
There are quite a few repeated lines in the book, which is downright disconcerting to hear.
The romance angle was okay. The kid didn’t have much choice even if she didn’t fall in love with her childhood friend.
Several plot points were a stretch.
I had to stop listening at some points because it was just downright depressing.
I wondered why they selected a male narrator when the MC was a 13-year-old girl. He did a nice job, but a woman probably would have fit Effie better. As this did not have a first-person perspective, it worked out fine.

Conclusion:

Not much happens if you think about it. Try not to starve. Try not to starve. Rinse and repeat. But rendered in the lovely British accent and complete with the descriptions of the 1890’s, it’s still worth experiencing.

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:

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

October 18, 2019October 9, 2019 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, ghosts, historical, time travel Christy Sassmen, ghosts, historical, time travel

Narrated by Christy Sassmen

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 Stars: Davenport House by Marie Silk

April 8, 2018March 21, 2018 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, historical America, historical, murder

Introduction:

This is most definitely a period piece

Summary:

Mary Davenport deals with the death of her father and a slew of intrigue within her own house.

Additional Comments:

– The dialogue is very, very, very formal. That comes across as stiff. I experienced the audiobook, so it didn’t bother me as much. But hearing it might actually turn some people off more.

– The plot’s decent.

– The saga vaguely reminds me of Downton Abbey.

– Some characters really came across as annoying. They’re either pure evil (selfish manipulative louses or drunken, useless heaps of humanity, etc) or pure good (selfless, kind, compassionate people walking around with an unseen halo over their heads). I think the most neutral one was the jealous servant.

– End twist was cool. Unrealistic but cool.

– Content warnings: none

– It never comes up how the Davenports are rich. What kind of business does Mr. Davenport do?

– Mary is a character one can root for.

Conclusion:

If historical fiction is your thing, this is a decent series to start.

Associate links to follow…

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Amazon Prime

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Audible – If you’d like some free codes, please email me at [email protected] with requests for any of my works.

Audiobook Edge Matchmaker Program – for Readers

March 25, 2017 Julie Gilbert Audiobooks, Reader Resource audiobooks, free, genre, historical, match, mystery, nonfiction, thriller

Introduction:

I’d like to introduce you to an exciting new opportunity within Audiobook Edge. You can see the full post on that at this blog post. I’m starting a Matchmaker Program. If you’re not a member yet, that’s cool, there’s a direct link below for you to join if it sounds like something you’d enjoy. Long and short of AE – Readers get free/discounted audiobooks.

Pros:

Access to many more genres. A book might be “rejected” from the normal Audiobook Edge list for one of several reasons: wrong genre (large list aimed at mystery, thriller, scifi, and fantasy), too much violence, sex, or strong language, too long, etc. Genres I hope to add through this: nonfiction, contemporary romance, historical fiction, and slightly darker mysteries.
You get a much better chance of grabbing the audiobook. (competition for it will be much smaller) I will only be sending matchmaker emails to 1-5 people at a time for any particular title.

Details:

Most of these books will be those “rejected” from the standard Audiobook Edge list as that will be highly focused on mystery, scifi, thriller, and some YA appropriate fantasy. I will try to be as clear as possible about what you’re getting.
That said, I will not have read these books, so it will be based on a proposal from the author. I cannot guarantee that you will love every book I send. The success of a match will depend largely on how well you fill out the interest survey. (Be as thorough and clear about your preferences as possible.)
I will still not represent several very dark genres. (ie. erotica, dark horror)

Fine Print:

This will involve way more email communication between you and me and you and the author I match you with. As such, you must grant me permission to use the public email address for this purpose. (Consent is implied in your application to this program.) I will not sell your email address to anybody. You will be working through me. The decision to contact the author after you see the pitch is completely yours.
You must apply for this. I’m looking for people who love authors, can communicate well, and will review the audiobook if they happen to enjoy it. All readers are welcome to the larger list, but the authors are paying a small fee for this program, so I want to be sure they have a good experience.
I reserve the right to remove you from Matchmaker if too many authors report poor experiences. (This is meant to be a great experience for everybody. If it’s just not working out, it’s best just to part ways.)

Questions and comments may be directed to me at devyaschildren @gmail.com.

Not a part of Audiobook Edge yet? No problem. Go to this page to sign up.