Audio: Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire

Audible Audio, 5 pages

Published January 9th 2018 by Macmillan Audio

Series: Wayward Children #3

Fantasy

Own

These are so much fun, and this was definitely the lightest so far.

Cora is a student at Eleanor's house for Wayward Children. All she wants is to return to her world where she was a mermaid.

Christopher wants to return to his skeleton girl. Cade wants to find answers.

In comes Rini, looking for her dead mother Sumi, who died before Rini was before. And off they go to a world of nonsense where everything is made out of sugar, loved that! That world truly was nonsensical. Pure craziness.

I enjoyed this quest, and as always, I want everyone to find their doors again! This series is so much fun

Narration

I liked the narrator and I felt she did a good job with different voices and the craziness of the story

Sumi died years before her prophesied daughter Rini could be born. Rini was born anyway, and now she’s trying to bring her mother back from a world without magic.

Joint Discussion: Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine

Hello all! Carole and I will be discussing "Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine" by Gail Honeyman. I am in red and Carole in purple.

Author: Gail Honeyman
Narrator: Alexandra Harris
Title: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
Genre: Fiction
Published:  May 9th 2017 
Format: audiobook & Hardcover
Pages: 336 

Summary: No one’s ever told Eleanor that life should be better than fine

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: she struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding unnecessary human contact, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy.

But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen, the three rescue one another from the lives of isolation that they had been living. Ultimately, it is Raymond’s big heart that will help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one. If she does, she'll learn that she, too, is capable of finding friendship—and even love—after all.

Discussion:

So this was one of our try one at sort of random and do not look for the one we really want to read.

It was fun going random! I think it took off the stress a little bit!

And it did work out, this book was good, weird, I’d still not recommend it, I am so torn, lol.

It did! I liked it. I totally recommend it. Buuuuut I did the audiobook so maybe the audio was better than the paper/ebook version?

I think I am torn because I am not sure everyone would like it, but considering I could not put it down, and that ending was wow. Who knows, maybe I would rec it too

Ahhhh true. I didn’t think of that. Eleanor...she is an interesting character. She is hard to like and even remotely understand. She for sure went through a lot of traumatic things as a child and there is something mentally wrong with her. I think I read somewhere she has Asperger syndrome I believe. 

I felt at once when I read it that she had Aspergers, and that is why I worried when you went the audio route, if the narrator could bring that to life. Because reading it is so obvi. And yes, poor woman, trauma shaped her. Not to mention she does seem to be a functioning alcoholic too

Yess and I think she just fell down that rabbit hole. She had no friends or family to care about what she was doing and when. I think once she started getting friends it was easier for her to get off the juice. Poor thing. I am so glad Raymond realized how awesome she was. 

Her coworkers, ugh. Raymond was the sweetest man ever! I am glad he accepted her for the person she was. The rest were so blind cos she was not “normal.”

Screw her coworkers, they were asshats. I liked her boss tho. He seemed very nice. Yassssss Raymond was adorable. Such a good pal. His mama was sweet too. 

I liked her boss.Ray’s mom was a cutie. Eleanor finally found better people to talk with. 

 Yesss Eleanor needed friends. Maybe one day she’ll find a guy who really loves her. But she has a lot to work out. I would love a book 2 even if it's just a quick little novella/short story. I want to see her happy! 

I had some weird pink stuff in my writing, weird..

I still have hope for her and Raymond, wait, is that a spoiler?!

Nawww I don’t think so. This isn’t a romance and it made clear at the beginning they are only friends. We can always cover it that bit!

Ok, yes not a romance. Just a story about a messed up woman who needs to deal with her past. Why is her mum in prison? Oh and damn that ex of hers! I know she was not bothered, but damn!

I think deep down she was bothered, but it is just another layer of her terrible, sad past. It’ll probably bubble up as well one day and she’ll have to work through that, but it won’t be nearly as traumatic as her mummy. OMG I hated that she called her mummy. Hahaha I think that is my only complaint. Esp how the narrator said it. It bothered me. Maybe it was because we knewwwwwwww she was a bad person and you only say mommy or mummy to a mom you really adore and care about (or little kids).. It’s very childish and it felt wrong because that lady was a monster!

 I felt it fitted. She was a child back then, her mommy was her mommy even if she was a bad person. So she still thinks of her mother as her mommy. She never had another mommy. In her brain the 10 year old child is saying it. Also, well  that stuff ;)

Valid, valid. I guess it makes sense when the big ol’ secret and truth comes out. It still bothers me LOLLLL. 

I guess the narrator went full out on the mommy then ;)

Yesss she really did. And when the mom called herself mummy. Like “Tell your mummy”.  I got goosebumps. Her evil lady voice was spot on. It was creepy. 

I want to listen to that too! Cos her mother was the worst!

She really was! Gah. Poor Eleanor.

Ok, what else. That ending? Wasn’t it amazing!

THAT ending. I guessed one of the secrets but the big one? SHOCKER! I had backed it up and re-listen so I could make sure I heard what I thought I heard. LOL. 

It really was all wait!? What?! Damn! I did feel it was the best part of the book

It was. Everything built up to that reveal. Like holy cannoli batman. Dang gurl. 

Anything more to add? I am still conflicted. Hard to put down. I binged it, but it might not be for everyone. I am glad I read it, and yes ending, WOW!

Yess I binged too esp near the ending. The last 4 hours I could not stop. So good. But nothing more to add for me without major spoilers ;)

The end then

The end! Until next time folks!

About the Authors

Carole and Blodeuedd have been blogging for a long while now. The last few years the epic duo has been discussing books, watching movies, and even wetting the pen and sharing their stories with the worldwide web. They both love cats, chocolate, and a good story.

Audiobook challenge mid-year check in

I will easily reach marathoner 50+ that I am reaching for since 100 is out of my reach these days.

40. Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLean

 How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps

Rowe, Andrew *

Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways, #1)

Kleypas, Lisa *

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

Hendrix, Grady *

Alpha Night (Psy-Changeling Trinity, #4; Psy-Changeling, #19)

Singh, Nalini *

Daughter of the Reich

Fein, Louise *

Nothing Compares to the Duke (The Duke's Den, #3)

Carlyle, Christy *

Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows, #1)

Harrison, Kim *

Chaos Reigning (Consortium Rebellion, #3)

Mihalik, Jessie *

The Jane Austen Society

Jenner, Natalie *

Always Be My Banshee (Mystic Bayou, #4)

Harper, Molly *

Night Shift Dragons (DFZ, #3)

Aaron, Rachel *

The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska #1)

Morgenthaler, Sarah *

The Easy Part of Impossible

Tomp, Sarah *

Race the Sands

Durst, Sarah Beth *

First Comes Scandal (Rokesbys, #4)

Quinn, Julia *

A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe (The Wyoming Cowboy #3)

Clare, Jessica *

Wild Country (The World of the Others, #2; The Others, #7)

Bishop, Anne

Badger to the Bone (Honey Badger Chronicles, #3)

Laurenston, Shelly

If I Never Met You

McFarlane, Mhairi *

The Earl Takes a Fancy: A Sins for All Seasons Novel

Heath, Lorraine

Smoke Bitten (Mercy Thompson, #12)

Briggs, Patricia

A Cowboy Like You (Heart of Texas #4)

Donna Grant *

For the Sake of a Scottish Rake (Besotted Scots, #3)

Bradley, Anna *

Love Hard (Hard Play, #3)

Singh, Nalini *

Undone (Start Up in the City, #3)

Rimmer, Kelly *

Yes No Maybe So

Albertalli, Becky *

Chasing Cassandra (The Ravenels, #6)

Kleypas, Lisa *

Sword of Fire (The Justice War, #1)

Kerr, Katharine *

Terminal Uprising

Hines, Jim C. *

This Light Between Us: A Novel of World War II

Fukuda, Andrew

A Heart of Blood and Ashes

Vane, Milla

How the Marquess Was Won (Pennyroyal Green, #6)

Long, Julie Anne *

Just Breathe 

McGovern, Cammie *

Loveboat, Taipei

Wen, Abigail Hing

All the Ways We Said Goodbye

Williams, Beatriz *

Three Things I Know Are True

Culley, Betty *

Lake Silence

Bishop, Anne

What I Did For a Duke (Pennyroyal Green, #5)

Long, Julie Anne *

The Claiming of the Shrew (The Survivors, #5)

Galen, Shana *

-------------------------------

As for my Carole's for fun Romance bingo I do have bingo!

But I will continue cos omg how do I NOT have a short story? Among other things

Audio: How to defeat a demon king in 10 easy steps by Andrew Rowe

Narrated by: Suzy Jackson, Steve West

Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins

Original Recording Audiobook

Release date: 04-30-20

Language: English

Publisher: Audible Original

Categories: Fantasy

In exchange for an honest review

Oh this was fun fun fun! Think playing a game, but instead of game you live in that world, that makes no sense in a way, but make total sense to them.

The world is being taken over by a demon king, but that happens every 1000th year. Which makes no sense. Cos he has not been defeated every time, but the world still stands. Oh this world is crazy, I loved it.

A hero also always rises to fight the demon king. But this demon king is smart and will have conquered everything by the time a hero comes along. Oh and the hero always has to do the same thing too, wear the same clothes, same weapons, same dungeons. Same songs. How this world still stands I do not know.

Anyway in comes Yui, f that hero bs. She will save the world! By her way. And her way is awesome. The ways by how she does it, I applaud her. I also really liked her at once. She does not give up, even if she has to fight every slime monster in the world.

Humor, adventure, and an unlikely hero that turns out to be the best heroine the world can ever want. What was there not to like! Recommended for the weird fun

Narration

The narration was spot on. There are two narrators, one for Yui and one for levelling up, the "video game voice" ;)

The narration for Yui was filled with everything she was. She truly nailed it there. Her demon king voice, oh my, loved it, but then the demon king was *laughs, spoilers!* Fun!

Great narration with the feel of the book done perfectly.

For thousands of years, there has been a cycle: a Demon King rises and conquers, and a Hero is reborn a hundred years later to defeat him. Each time, civilizations are ground to dust beneath the Demon King's hordes, but humanity has remained secure in the belief that a Hero of legend will always save them. There's just one slight problem. It's only been 23 years since the Demon King's latest rise, and this time, he's already conquered more than half the world. If humanity simply waits for the Hero's return, there may be no world left for him to save.

And so, Yui Shaw sets out with an ambitious plan. A 10-step plan.

She'll find a way to obtain the Hero's legendary sword. She'll earn obscure classes, gain levels, and increase her skills. She'll travel to the meticulously-crafted dungeons that seem designed for one specific Hero to complete. And, if she's truly (un)fortunate, she might even find a fairy.

She might not be a Hero—but if she can fake it long enough, she might still be able to save the world.

The fiery crown by Jeffe Kennedy

Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages

Published May 26th 2020 by St. Martin's Press

Series: Forgotten Empires #2

Fantasy

To review

I know my example might sound like a cliffhanger, but hear me out;

The end, omg so intense. It was like the author took the characters, took them to a cliff, laughed manically and then pushed them all over, and made them hit everything on the way down. "Luckily" they did land before the ground, and they did break everything. So it was not a total freefall, and for now they are safe on a tiny tree sticking out from that cliff and it might break any second.

Poor Lia. How could you be so cruel to Lia! In the first book I was a bit blaze about everyone, but here, Lia is not truly human, I do not get the whole thing. I wonder about so much since well queen of something that might waken, that will be intense too.

Conri, I was not impressed by him either in book 1, frankly he deserved to be pushed from that cliff and not saved. But he saves himself here, and I will not push him. I get that his life has been hell and all he wants is revenge.

Oh and the evil emperor must die a really painful slow, like really slow, like brought to death, nursed back, brought to death, nursed back and then have every piece of him..oh oh bloody eagle. Yes let's eagle that sucker!

Two people dancing around each other because they both want to save the world. Then darkness, so much darkness. Romance, no, this is not a romance. But it might be. One day.

Omg Lia! I am still in freefall from that cliff.

Book 3 will be something else 

Conri and Lia’s marriage of convenience has turned into an uneasy alliance. If only the two leaders could agree on something. Driven by revenge, Conri wants to attack Emperor Anure before the tyrant gets to them first. But Lia needs to keep Calanthe safe, and refuses to sacrifice her kingdom. Their ongoing battle for control has built up tension they’re both more than happy to release in bed, the only place where they find common ground. But Conri and Lia are developing deeper feelings for each other that are complicating matters. In the second book in the Forgotten Empires trilogy, Conri and Lia find their loyalties torn, and with Emperor Anure’s threat growing, will they be able to risk everything with each other before it’s too late?

TMST

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

June 23: Books by Authors of Color (thanks to Jen at That's what I am talking about)

I seem to talk specific books, cos that is how I roll :) I will also list genres so then you can def find an author to try

PNR/contemporary romance: I have read and enjoyed Nalini Singh for years, but omg when I started her books in audio it was like another level for me.  Her paranormal books, her contemporary romance books!

Fantasy: R.F.Kuang. Ok so I have only read her first book, The Poppy War, but damn that shit got dark! It was fantasy that got really really dark and it was good, because sadly it was real. War is evil.

Historical romance: Jeannie Lin, I have enjoyed her historical romance books :D I need to read more by her!

Novella sci.fi: Ok so I have only read the novella, but you all need to read The murders of Molly Southbourne by Tade Thompson. That was FREAKY!

Fiction: The convenience store woman by Sayaka Murata. She had this easy way of writing.

Romance: Helen Hoang and her Kiss Quotient series!

Thriller: Oyinkan Braithwaite, My sister the serial killer. Light easy, with lots of dead bodies i Nigeria!

YA romance_ When Dimple met Rishi by Sandhya Menon. MUST LISTEN! I love Vikas Adam narration ;)

YA romance: To all the boys I have loved before series by Jennie Han

Carole's Monday: Honeymoon alone

Author: Nicole Macaulay 
Title: Honeymoon Alone
Genre: Romance, Contemporary set, Chick Lit
Format: ebook
Pages: 312
Published: December 3rd 2019 
Where I Got It: My shelf (Netgalley) 

Summary:
Just how reliable are psychics - specifically psychics hired by your sister for wedding entertainment?

When irrepressibly romantic Lucy Gray is ditched at said wedding by her date in front of her whole family, the promises of a psychic seem better than her pity-riddled reality. The psychic's advice seems insightful: stop ignoring fate's signs - fate will lead you to love. But when "fate" leads Lucy to London, she finds herself tangled in a web of lies. In a story about finding independence and taking chances, Lucy learns that leaving everything up to fate can be dangerous - and jeopardize her chances at happily ever after



Review:
Sooo this was an explosion of genres! Chick lit with some romance with some comedy and some action near the end there! I am glad I read this. 

The story follows boring ol' Lucy Gray. She is ditched at her sister's wedding by her date in front of her whole family. A psychic at the wedding provides some solid advice to allow fate to lead her to love. Take a chance! A chance appears like a miracle for Lucy to go to London during Christmas time. Maybe the psychic is right as she finds herself on a vacation that gives her the independence she deserves, but there is some danger, too, that can ruin everything.  

Awww Lucy. She has a huge and overprotective family. I can see why she took that leap of faith and got on the plane. I would've. I want to! Someday Carole...someday. *grumbles about still needing to get a passport*. 

This was a fun book. I even had BF curious when I would provide updates. Lots of drama especially near the end. I had zero ideas about what was going to happen...especially with the big ol' twist! RUN LUCY RUN!

I hattteeeddd Oliver. Ugh. Surrrreeee after a certain scene I did understand him and...I liked-ish him then, but still. Bleh. 

I was meh about Cary too.

There were huge lulls especially in the middle when Lucy was just exploring London and Paris. It was nice to just see the city through her eyes since I've never been. However, I do feel like some of the lull could've been cut a hair. 

THAT ENDING. Holy cannoli batman. That was good. Again...I didn't see THAT happening. I had a bunch of theories, but nope...nope. 

Overall, I did really like this. I would love to see this become a movie or something. It was a lot of fun. Some lull and a couple of characters I was meh about, but I highly recommend this for those that love a good chick-lit. I'll give this 4 stars. 

Audio: Mine till midnight by Lisa Kleypas

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Series: Hathaways, Book 1

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 06-23-20

Language: English

Publisher: HarperAudio

Historical romance

In exchange for an honest review

An oldie Kleypas, I could not say no to that. I have never read the Hathaway books and now was a good way to start with audio.

Amelia and her 4 siblings are "orphans", ok so she is 26 but her two youngest sisters are young. Her older brother is drinking himself to death for some reason, and he recently became a viscount too.

Flee to the countryside! I liked Amelia, she was such a mother hen. But she had too with one ill sister, and two younger ones running wild, and yes that brother of hers! But it is explained why he turned out this way, poor man.

Cam was mysterious, and not proper one bit. In an era where Roma got chased out then falling for one is perhaps not the best way to get polite society to accept you. But he is always there, and he is that steady influence that she needs. But he does not need to be closed in, house or marriage.

And then they live happily ever after! Obviously. But the road there is long with two people who is not seeking marriage.

Narration

I liked the narrator. She had this nice upper crust accent at times that fit so well. I fell into the story and she was good with distinct voices, and male and female. It was enjoyable listening to

And the rest of the siblings sound fascinating so I can't wait

When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton. Even more challenging: the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome Cam Rohan.

Their desire consumes them both.…

Wealthy beyond most men’s dreams, Cam has tired of society’s petty restrictions and longs to return to his “uncivilized” Gypsy roots. When the delectable Amelia appeals to him for help, he intends to offer only friendship—but intentions are no match for the desire that blindsides them both. But can a man who spurns tradition be tempted into that most time-honored arrangement: marriage? Life in London society is about to get a whole lot hotter.…

Thursday Movie Review: Movie 43

A series of interconnected short films follows a washed-up producer as he pitches insane story lines featuring some of the biggest stars in Hollywood.

Directors: Elizabeth Banks, Steven Brill |

Writers: Rocky Russo, Jeremy Sosenko | 

Stars: Emma Stone, Stephen Merchant, Richard Gere

 1h 34min | Comedy 

Omg, this was amazing, it was SO stupid, SO STUPID. I loved it. It was over the top crazy.

Lots of stars too.

Omg the neckballs, sheesh, this was stupid fun.

Recommend. YES! 

Audio: The southern book club's guide to slaying vampires by Grady Hendrix

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 04-07-20

Language: English

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Horror Thriller

To review

I did not know what to expect and when it started with a bunch of women in a book club, and Patricia going on with her life, and her MIL with dementia, and, yes then came the punch. A stranger moves to town. The book changed tone, got darker and it got me hooked.

Patricia likes her new neighbor, until doubt creeps in. Children are in trouble. Does her new neighbor have something to do with it? Oh and then the darkness started and I was all what is happening? It got me, it really got me.

So it's like horror thriller? Whatever it is it was good.

Patricia and her book club aren't exactly kick-ass, or they do not always have each other's back either. But hey I get it, when Patricia starts talking about her theories, and everyone else is all what are you saying`?! Well, I get how people would not believe things and how she would stop believing herself.

After that rather what is happening and slow start it got really good. It is certainly not your normal type of vampire book. It is horror, it is drama, it is a lot more.

I do want to try more from this author, since he does have that "Ikea" book. And the audio was a perfect format for it.

I have not tried this narrator before but she was good. Distinct voices. Great in tone and acting. She was everyone and really brought the thriller into it.

Fried Green Tomatoes and "Steel Magnolias" meet Dracula in this Southern-flavored supernatural thriller set in the '90s about a women's book club that must protect its suburban community from a mysterious and handsome stranger who turns out to be a blood-sucking fiend.

Patricia Campbell had always planned for a big life, but after giving up her career as a nurse to marry an ambitious doctor and become a mother, Patricia's life has never felt smaller. The days are long, her kids are ungrateful, her husband is distant, and her to-do list is never really done. The one thing she has to look forward to is her book club, a group of Charleston mothers united only by their love for true-crime and suspenseful fiction. In these meetings, they're more likely to discuss the FBI's recent siege of Waco as much as the ups and downs of marriage and motherhood.

But when an artistic and sensitive stranger moves into the neighborhood, the book club's meetings turn into speculation about the newcomer. Patricia is initially attracted to him, but when some local children go missing, she starts to suspect the newcomer is involved. She begins her own investigation, assuming that he's a Jeffrey Dahmer or Ted Bundy. What she uncovers is far more terrifying, and soon she--and her book club--are the only people standing between the monster they've invited into their homes and their unsuspecting community.

TMST

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

June 16th: Do you tag authors in your (overall) positive reviews? How do you feel about authors not acknowledging them or opting out? (Courtesy of Roberta@Offbeat YA)

I never tag authors, my reviews are not for them. I would only tag if I am part of a blog tour, or something like that and we are meant to tag, if it is positive that is.

And if they do not acknowledge them, well why would they have to? 

Since we all know there are those who tag in negative ones, and that is just mean. Totally 100% on with someone writing a negative review, but then tagging the author, yeah not cool. If they go looking they have themselves to blame, but if you tag, just do not.

Carole's Monday: A princess in theory by Alyssa Cole

Author: Alyssa Cole
Narrator: Karen Chilton
Title: A Princess in Theory
(Reluctant Royals #1)
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction
Format: Audiobook 
Pages: 360 
Published: February 27th 2018
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)


Summary: Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn’t have time for fairy tales…or patience for the constant e-mails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. Sure. Right. Delete! As a former foster kid, she’s learned that the only things she can depend on are herself and the scientific method, and a silly e-mail won’t convince her otherwise.

Prince Thabiso is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, shouldering the hopes of his parents and his people. At the top of their list? His marriage. Ever dutiful, he tracks down his missing betrothed. When Naledi mistakes the prince for a pauper, Thabiso can’t resist the chance to experience life—and love—without the burden of his crown.

The chemistry between them is instant and irresistible, and flirty friendship quickly evolves into passionate nights. But when the truth is revealed, can a princess in theory become a princess ever after?

Review:
I wanted to read book 2 of the series, but I decided I needed to read book 1 first since it seemed there might be some stuff I would need to know. 

I am glad I did that!

This story follows Naledi who doesn't have time for fairy tales or princes or anything of that nature. She has a career she wants and she wants to make something of her self. She learned a long time ago, as a foster kid, that she can only depend on herself. She won't be falling for any scam emails telling her she is supposed to be betrothed to some prince! But...what if she was supposed to be betrothed to some prince? On the other side of the world, there is Prince Thabiso who is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo. His parents are pushing him to forget his childhood betrothed and move on. The kingdom needs an heir and they want him to be happy. He decides to head to the US and find his missing bride. 

I simply adored this story. It was pretty much a modern-day version of 'Coming to America'. A lot of similar story points, but veryyyyy different in other ways. It was a lovely mixture. A nod to that story and it was unique in its own way. 

I adored Naledi! Girl power all the way! I did want to shake her to stand up to that boss of hers. F that guy. 

It took me a moment to warm up to Prince Thabiso. I get WHY he pretended to not be a prince but still...there were times he really needed to tell her the truth especially when she really opened up about her parents and her time in the foster system. Sighs. Dumb boy. 

Gah. I am not a fan of Naledi's BFF. I believe she is the star in the next one? I can't remember, but I know it will take me a while to warm up to her more. She did get better near the end though. There is hope for her yet. 

I loveddddd Thabiso's assistant. I WANT HER TO FIND LOVE DARNIT! 

The mystery with that virus was fun. I had my suspicions and it turned out I was right. I really thought I was being cynical, but my gut was right. Even though I guessed it, I was still shocked at the big reveal there. 

Oooo the narrator was fun. She did well. I liked her accents. Her boy and girl voices were good too. However, the voices she used were pretty similar. Like I had to really pay attention when Naledi and her BFF were chit-chatting because they both sounded near the same. I still liked the narrator overall. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this. I am SO glad I decided to tackle book 1 first before diving into book 2 like I normally do. It was totally worth it. It was such a fun story. I'll give this 4 stars. 

Challenge(s):

- #25 for Audiobook Challenge

Audio: Alpha Night by Nalini Singh

Book 4 in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series 

Author Nalini Singh 

Narrated by Angela Dawe 

Publication date Jun 9, 2020 by Tantor Audio

Running time 15 hrs

Paranormal romance

To review

All the feels. I really like Singh's books in audio! It makes me want to listen to them all, since I might have missed like 3 or 4 at the end, i know! Anyway Angela Dawe is great, and Singh is always great.

This one was great, I mean there was insta mating. But it worked so great. It was like these two truly were meant to be, and they accepted it, and moved forward in falling in love.

Selenka is an alpha, Ethan is an arrow with a broken brain. She is a born leader, and he, well he follows. He willingly follows her from the first moment. They are mated. This is meant to be. I loved him, he was the knight to her queen and srsly, you all, all the feels.

The romance fell into place at once, they were truly made for each other.

But yes drama, there is still this person wanting to take down the Psy network. Ethan's brain might explode since he can feel his powers wanting to burst out. There is always suspense.

I can't wait for more! Bring down the architect! Also I need to know what couple is next

Narration

As I said before Dawe is great. At first, like with Silence, I wondered about her gruff Russian voices, but I just fell into them. She brings emotion and truth into her words. Distinct voices, and good with cold and warm as witht he psy changeling world. 

It made me want to listen and forget everything else. This was a quick listen. 

Alpha wolf Selenka Durev's devotion to her pack is equaled only by her anger at anyone who would harm those under her care. That currently includes the empaths who've flowed into her city for a symposium that is a security nightmare, a powder keg just waiting for a match.

Ethan Night is an Arrow who isn't an Arrow. Numb and disengaged from the world, he's loyal only to himself. Assigned as part of the security force at a world-first symposium, he carries a dark agenda tied to the power-hungry and murderous Consortium. Then violence erupts and Ethan finds himself crashing into the heart and soul of an alpha wolf.

Mating at first sight is a myth, a fairy tale. Yet Selenka's wolf is resolute: Ethan Night, broken Arrow and a man capable of obsessive devotion, is the mate it has chosen. Even if the mating bond is full of static and not quite as it should be. Because Selenka's new mate has a terrible secret, his mind surging with a power that is a creature of madness and death . . .

Blog Tour: The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

Narrated by: Richard Armitage

Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 05-26-20

Language: English

Publisher: Macmillan Audio 

Historical fiction

To review

Ok, so people who read my blog know that I do like my Austen, but to be perfectly honest, this one I picked because Richard Armitage! I wanted to listen at him narrate a book.

And he has a fine voice, such a dreamy voice. I did enjoy it, and he does know what he is doing. Character wise, and with voices.

The book is about a couple of people who all love Austen. They live in a village where she stayed for 10 years. One is a farmer who just goes through life not really living, another a village doctor, then there is a young widow who is expecting, and a maid who left school at 14 but who loves reading and is a researcher in the making, and not to mention a Hollywood movie star who is making an Austen movie.

They all have their problem, they all love talking about Austen and then they meet each other. Village life can be very oppressive, everyone knows your business, there is gossiping, but they will all in the end get what they want, or does not know what they want.

I enjoyed it, and there was even a persuasion storyline, hint hint

Just after the Second World War, in the small English village of Chawton, an unusual but like-minded group of people band together to attempt something remarkable.

One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen, one of England's finest novelists. Now it's home to a few distant relatives and their diminishing estate. With the last bit of Austen's legacy threatened, a group of disparate individuals come together to preserve both Jane Austen's home and her legacy. These people—a laborer, a young widow, the local doctor, and a movie star, among others—could not be more different and yet they are united in their love for the works and words of Austen. As each of them endures their own quiet struggle with loss and trauma, some from the recent war, others from more distant tragedies, they rally together to create the Jane Austen Society.

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | INDIEBOUND | AUDIBLE | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE:

May 25 Jane Austen's World

May 25 Austenprose—A Jane Austen Blog

May 26 Frolic Media 

May 26 A Bookish Affair 

May 26 Courtney Reads Romance 

May 26 Margie's Must Reads

May 26 The Reading Frenzy

May 27 Book Confessions of an Ex-Ballerina

May 27 Gwendalyn's Books

May 27 Romantically Inclined Reviews 

May 28 Getting Your Read On 

May 28 Living Read Girl

May 28 The Lit Bitch

May 29 History Lizzie

May 29 Silver Petticoat Reviews 

May 30 Cup of Tea with that Book, Please

May 30 Historical Fiction Reader

May 31 Jane Austen in Vermont 

June 01 From Pemberley to Milton 

June 01 My Jane Austen Book Club 

June 01 AustenBlog 

June 02 Lu's Reviews 

June 02 The Green Mockingbird

June 03 The Interests of a Jane Austen Girl

June 03 Relz Reviews 

June 03 Impressions in Ink 

June 04 The Caffeinated Bibliophile 

June 04 Life of Literature 

June 04 Laura's Reviews 

June 05 Reading Ladies Book Club

June 05 Bookish Rantings 

June 06 From the TBR Pile

June 07 Rachel Dodge 

June 07 An Historian About Town 

June 08 Bringing up Books

June 08 Austenesque Reviews

June 09 Captivated Reading

June 09 Savvy Verse and Witt 

June 10 Lady with a Quill

June 10 Drunk Austen 

June 11 Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

June 11 Inkwell Inspirations 

June 12 Nurse Bookie

June 12 A Bookish Way of Life 

June 13 Calico Critic

June 14 Jane Austen's World

June 15 Stuck in a Book 

June 15 Storybook Reviews 

June 15 Confessions of a Book Addict

June 16 Literary Quicksand 

June 16 Becky on Books

June 17 The Reading Frenzy 

June 17 Anita Loves Books

June 18 Chicks, Rogues, & Scandals

June 18 The Write Review 

June 19 Diary of Eccentric 

June 20 Cracking the Cover

June 21 Short Books & Scribes

June 22 Reading the Past 

June 22 Babblings of a Bookworm 

June 23 My Vices and Weaknesses

June 23 The Book Diva Reads 

June 24 Books, Teacups & Reviews 

June 24 Wishful Endings

June 25 Robin Loves Reading

June 25 Bookfoolery

June 26 Lit and Life 

June 26 Vesper's Place 

June 27 Foxes and Fairy Tales

June 28 Probably at the Library

June 28 Scuffed Slippers Wormy Books

June 29 The Anglophile Channel

June 29 So Little Time…

June 30 BookNAround

AUTHOR BIO:

Natalie Jenner is the debut author of THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY, a fictional telling of the start of the society in the 1940s in the village of Chawton, where Austen wrote or revised her major works. Born in England and raised in Canada, Natalie graduated from the University of Toronto with degrees in English Literature and Law and has worked for decades in the legal industry. She recently founded the independent bookstore Archetype Books in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs.

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