Silence: The Faces of Evil (prequel)

Monday, 30 November 2015

Written by: Debra Webb

Narrated by: Alicia Bordon

Length: 2 hrs and 12 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:07-21-15

Publisher: WebbWorks, LLC

Available from Audible

Publishers Summary

"Ten years ago... Special Agent Jess Harris has closed another tough case, and now she's determined to make it home to spend Christmas with her only family, her sister. Jess needs a break, and taking it far away from work is the only way to keep her mind off the many faces of evil waiting in the stack of case files on her desk. Running into the past wasn't part of the plan...

Daniel Burnett was Jess' first love. She'd fallen hard for him in high school. Together they'd gone off to college with big dreams. But not all dreams come true. Jess hasn't seen Dan in ten years when they run into each other on Christmas Eve night...yet no force on Earth can keep them apart."

My Review

"Silence" is the prequel to Debra Webbs "The Faces of Evil" series featuring Special Agent Jess Harris and Daniel Burnett. Readers of the series say that it's good to now have the full story of their early history together as the books only provide a few brief details.

Jess hasn't been home to Birmingham to visit her sister in years, now she has just wrapped a case that has made her realise just how important her family are to her, so she sets off home for Christmas.

I liked how the story is told, each chapter alternates between Jess' latest case and her trip and arrival home.

With this being such a short story I'm not going to reveal much here, too difficult to avoid spoilers, however, it's a really good dark mystery, quite engrossing. Although not your usual feel good cosy warm and fuzzy Christmas story, there are some lovely heartwarming moments. I could have done without the sex scene really, too explicit for my taste but I am a bit prudish!

Now, all you Americans will know exactly what Publix is, but we don't have them here in Australia or the U.K., and even though it does later become obvious that it's a supermarket, it would be nice if all authors gave a nod to their overseas readers.

What did surprise me though was hearing Jess's accent, as she comes from Birmingham, I was expecting it to be Southern!

Narrator

Narrated by Alicia Bordon who did a great job, I love it when a narrator is easy to listen to, when the story just flows without distraction.

Happy to listen to more of this narrators work.

Silent Night: A Raine Stockton Dog Mystery

Saturday, 17 January 2015

Silent Night: A Raine Stockton Dog Mystery

Written by: Donna Ball

Narrated by: Donna Postel

Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins

Series: Raine Stockton, Book 5

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:06-02-14

Publisher: Blue Merle Publishing

Audible.com

Publishers' Summary

It's Christmas time, and for Raine Stockton and her Search and Rescue dog, Cisco, Hansonville, North Carolina is just like a Norman Rockwell painting - except for the rash of thefts of baby Jesus figurines from nativity scenes, an abandoned box of golden retriever puppies that someone leaves beside her mailbox, and a mysterious gift from one of Cisco's a grateful admirers. Raine already has her hands full with her own misbehaving pooches, unexpected house guests, and a complicated new relationship. But when a newborn is abandoned in the manger of the town's living nativity and Raine walks in on what appears to be the scene of a murder, she has more to worry about than keeping the Christmas spirit alive.

My Review

Prior to "Silent Night" I hadn't read any in the Raine Stockton Dog Mystery series, I was assured however, that this Christmas story can be read as a stand alone. This is true, but I enjoyed it so much I wish I had started from Book One!

This is a story that hooks you in from the very beginning, I found the first chapter engrossing, chilling and full of the anticipation of something about to happen! Well, it certainly did, but not quite as I expected, which only added to my enjoyment.

Raine, our heroine is quite a woman, she is doing it really tough at the moment, suffering financial hardships and a degree of emotional turmoil. Her old love has a new love and this takes some getting used to, a bit more difficult perhaps than Raine had expected. I thought the author added a clever little touch when she mentions the way way in which the male colleagues of Raines ex now felt entitled to treat her with disrespect. Now, they somehow feel no compunction in being rude and snubbing her whenever they get the chance, this, despite the fact that Buck, her ex, treats her respectfully.

I loved how Raine, more used to dogs than children, adapted her dog training methods to modify the behaviour of a very unhappy little girl - the 10 year old child of her very new love interest. These methods worked too, (along with lots of human and puppy love thrown in).

This story moves along well, plenty of action to keep the listener interested, it's a Christmas feel good story, and also a darned good mystery.

Narrator

It never takes too long for the listener to know when they have found a new gem! Donna Postel is my new gem, I am a fussy listener, for me, the narrator is the most important element of an audiobook. Donna is master of narrative and of characterisation, no overacting here, a class act all the way. Talent and experience are the magic combination and Donna is now in my top three favourite narrators.

Coming Home for Christmas

Friday, 16 January 2015

Coming Home for Christmas

Author Jenny Hale

Narrator Teri Schnaubelt

Length 8 hours 45 minutes

Unabridged, Audiobook

Published by Bookcouture, released 16/12/14

Audible.com

Publishers' Summary

Coming Home for Christmas is a beautifully observed story about the importance of family, the magic of Christmas, and falling in love one snowflake at a time.

Fans of Trisha Ashley, Susan Wiggs, Carole Matthews and Susan Mallery - and anyone who loves the sound of carols and the twinkling of lights on the Christmas tree - will adore Jenny Hale's feel-good debut.

Christmas is a time for family... isn't it?

Allie Richfield loves Christmas, so when she lands a job as House Manager for the amazing Ashford Estate - which includes organizing the Marley family festivities - she is in her element. With a budget bigger than her life savings and a team of staff, how hard can it be?

As one-by-one she meets the Marleys, she’s about to find out...

Allie’s new boss, Robert, might be gorgeous, but he’s also colder than the snow outside and refuses to come home for Christmas. Robert’s playboy brother, Kip, flirts with her relentlessly; and his sister, Sloane, arrives home with baggage - both the divorce-kind and the Louis Vuitton kind. Their ninety-two year old grandmother, Pippa, spends her day grumbling at them all from her mobility scooter.

With Robert intending to sell Ashford, it’s the Marley’s last chance to create some happy memories in their family home - and Allie is determined to make it happen... even if it takes a little Christmas magic! With the festive spirit in full swing, she might even discover a little happiness of her own...

My Review

Enjoyable up to a point, but I didn't really take to Allie, she is an ex nanny, with a degree in Early Education, but one who doesn't seem to be very bright.

Finding herself jobless and living back in her childhood home, after much thought (and the flip of a coin) she takes a job that her sister finds her, as a house manager.

The main characters are: Robert, the rich, reticent absentee home owner, who suffered psychological trauma in childhood. Robert is Allies' employer, he demands daily email contact with her. Kip; Kip is Roberts younger brother, indolent and charming, he knows how to play the ladies, including Allie. Grandma Pippa; she who once ruled the roost, now powerless, old and disabled, costs Robert a fortune to keep at home. Oh, and a sister, Sloane, who's kids come in handy for the plot.

Robert intrigues Allie, determined to evoke some sort of response from him, she tries to achieve this by shooting off a series of ever more ludicrous emails. Somehow, his odd responses causes her to believe she can heal him - or something - and during this process she falls deeply in love with him.

Meanwhile, whilst all this is going on, she encourages and maintains a highly flirtatious relationship with Kip. This is where my interest in the story evaporated completely, she allowed Kip to spend nights in her bed!! All the while being in love with another man! Just for kisses and cuddles you understand, followed by a good nights sleep? The shameless hussy! Unbelievable, (really) and very unlikely, or maybe our playboy was tuckered out. So it all went on .... And on.

Anyway ..........

Of course, there has to be a happy ever after ending, which, I admit was nice, unfortunately it took the creation of a series of ludicrous and tedious scenarios to achieve this.

Since writing this, I checked out a few Amazon reviews, seems I am greatly in the minority, it feels like they all read/listened to a different story to me.

Narrator

Teri Schnaubelt did a wonderful job, causing a tedious story to be more easily tolerated, she has a pleasant voice. Her excellent characterisations leave the listener in no doubt as to which character was holding forth. Who could ask for more? Her performance was tip top, I will certainly be interested in any work she puts her name to.

She is now one of my "TTB" narrators, that is one who can tip the balance in favour of an audiobook when I am undecided

This audiobook was gifted to me in return for this, my honest opinion.

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