Audio: The Season - Sarah MacLean

Audio CD, 9 pages

Narrator: Gabrielle Baker

Published August 24th 2018 by Tantor Audio (first published March 1st 2009)

YA Historical romance 

For review

My thoughts:

I remember seeing this one long ago, and wanting to read it. Mostly cos it was a YA his rom.

Alex is a smart young woman filled with opinions. Not a good thing when you are about to have your first season. She is headstrong. Has 3 annoying brothers and 2 besties. What more can a girl want.

The two best friends Ella and Vivi sadly do not get enough room in the book. It did feel like this was a novel that should have had follow ups. You know, when Ella and Vivi finds love too. But I say they found it with Alex's brothers...what? I want HEAs since there are no more books ;)

There is also Gavin, the next door neighbor who suddenly is a man, and no longer that 4th pretend brother.

Balls, dresses and drama. Someone is after Gavin (and not to marry him). Of course I still say they should have told their fathers and let it be, but hey, I did say she was headstrong.

I get that it was YA, but she did roll her eyes a bit too much. It felt too teen, too modern, too disrespectful.

Conclusion:
But it was a fun tale and it would have worked just as well as a adult his rom. Just then insert more passion and less eye rolling ;)

Narrator

I do like Baker's voice. She is cheerful! And perfect for YA

Blurb:

Seventeen year old Lady Alexandra is strong-willed and sharp-tongued; in a house full of older brothers and their friends, she had to learn to hold her own. Not the best makings for an aristocratic lady in Regency London. Yet her mother still dreams of marrying Alex off to someone safe, respectable, and wealthy. But between ball gown fittings, dances, and dinner parties, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get herself into what may be her biggest scrape yet.

When the Earl of Blackmoor is mysteriously killed, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. But will Alex's heart be stolen in the process? In an adventure brimming with espionage, murder, and other clandestine affairs, who could possibly have time to worry about finding a husband? Romance abounds as this year's season begins!

Audio: Miranda's big mistake - Jill Mansell

Audio CD, 15 pages

Published August 7th 2018 by Tantor Audio (first published 1999)

Romantic fiction /women's fiction

For review

My thoughts.

I like Mansell's books. They are always sweet and they never disappoint. Of course this one I actually wanted to listen to because of Gabrielle Baker, and she made is so much better. Her voice was perfect for it.

Miranda works in a fancy hair saloon. So far she does she lowly jobs, and hey, with her luck and messing things up, that might be a good idea. Her boss forgives a lot. Things others would not. But then she is sunshine. Happy, nice and funny. Who would not want to work with her. She is the one that the book is about, but since this is a Mansell book everyone else gets a lot of time in the spotlight too.

Like her boss ..Fen or Ben? I could actually not get that right. Anyway, the hot guy who owns the saloon and dates supermodels. But he is such a good guy.

Bev, who is the receptionist for the place. She is dyyyyyyying to meet someone, and this woman needs to calm down.

Flo, who owns the house where Miranda rents a room. Oh FLo was hilarious! I wish I am that cool and sassy when I get old.

Chloe, whose husband dumped her when she got preggers. That ahole! Chloe is so sweet and nice!

But as the blurb can tell you she will meet someone and fall in love, and dang he made is so hard to dislike him. Cos he is an ahole, but he does seem to like Miranda. There is also another mistake she makes early on that comes back through out the whole book, and I will not say more there, except, some mistakes are worth making.

The only weird thing was when she fell for someone and...let's just say, she got over it so fast. It felt like, why even write that particular story. It was strange and I can not say more.

But do not worry, everyone will be happy (except for Greg, he does not deserve too).

Conclusion:
I enjoyed it

Narrator Gabrielle Baker
Oh she is just wonderful! I really like her voice and she makes for a great Miranda

Cover
She does not take a single bikeride...cute still

Blurb:
Revenge is a dish best served sweet . . .

Miranda's most recent male-related catastrophe is the seemingly perfect Greg. He's gorgeous, witty, and they're on the brink of falling madly in love . . . until Miranda finds out he's just left his pregnant wife.

With the help of her friends, Miranda plans the most delicious revenge a heartbroken girl can get. But will Miranda learn from her mistake, or move on to the next "perfect" man and ignore the love of her life waiting in the wings?

Audio. Summers at Castle Auburn - Sharon Shinn

As a child, Coriel Halsing spent many glorious summers at Castle Auburn with her half-sister-and fell in love with a handsome prince who could never be hers. But now that she is a young woman, she begins to see the dark side of this magical place . . .

Audio CD, 14 h
Published March 27th 2018 by Tantor Audio (first published April 1st 2001)
Fantasy
For review

My thoughts:
When it started I was a bit weary, cos I honestly did not know what to expect. But soon I fell in love with this place thanks to the wonderful Gabrielle Baker. She really was Coriel, as a young girl and later.

Do a lot happen? Well, not exactly. It is not that kind of book. I also feel it is perfect for audio, it makes you happy to listen. And you can feel the woods around you and the magic.

We first meet Coriel on a hunting trip. The Magical creatures from Alora. Who then becomes slaves to those rich enough to afford them. Which is when you start thinking of it, truly horrible. These are kind "creatures", they bring warmth and happiness. to their masters. But they are slaves. And they kind of look like humans. So that is one thing that the book follow. Because Coriel loves her sister's slave, even if they do not think as it as a slave.

There is also a lot around court. The handsome prince whom everyone loves. Who loves to flirt with all the ladies and who only thinks of fun and games. The prince Coriel's half sister has been engaged to since her birth.

Then there is the prince's cousin, a nice young man, a bit more levelheaded. A young guardsman who is not afraid to banter and be a friend in need. Coriel's two besties who loves to gossip. Her Uncle who hunts the Alora, and of course her sister, who is sweet and kind. Oh and her grandma, the witch (which here are good, so yay for that.

She comes back at 17 again. Yes she was there previous years too, but now she starts to open her eyes. It is also a story about growing up, and seeing things in a new light. And for every year after 17 it gets harder and harder to return. Life as a woman is not the same as when she was a kid.

And through out the book, through the good and the bad, it continues to be enchanting. A rich tale with a wonderful heroine.

Conclusion:
I do recommend it, and it must be audio. There lies the magic.

Narrator Gabrielle Baker

Oh she was absolutely wonderful. Her voice was so familliar too, but no, I have not listened to her before. It really felt like listening to an old friend.