Audio: Thornbound by Stephanie Burgis

The Harwood Spellbook, Volume 2

By: Stephanie Burgis

Narrated by: Emma Newman

Series: Harwood Spellbook Series, Book 2

Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins

Release date: 06-25-19 Tantor Audio

Historical fantasy

I do like these because they are short, and short can be so good at times. They also work while being short.

This is a historical fantasy where there is magic, fae and elves. Angland is ruled by women, and they marry mages, and it is the men who has to care for their reputations. It is an intriguing world, I do want to learn more about elves and fae.

Cassandra has magic and was allowed to study, and I can't believe it but I kind of agree with the women politicians. If she is allowed, and more is allowed, then men can become politicians too, and then men can rule Angland, just as they do the rest of the world. I do see their point in not wanting more women to study. But at the same time women have the right to be mages too, and the same goes for men who do not want to be mages.

So in this one she is trying to start her school for female mages. But the politicians are not happy, the mages are not happy, Cassandra has no magic anymore, her husband is away all the time, and it is bluebell season...that is not good.

It is an amusing book set in an interesting world.

Narrator

I liked her voice, it felt so very English and the time. She had nice young and old voices.

Cassandra Harwood scandalized her nation when she became the first woman magician in Angland. Now, she's ready to teach a whole new generation of bright young women at her radical new school, the Thornfell College of Magic…

Until a sinister fey altar is discovered in the school library, the ruling Boudiccate sends a delegation to shut down Thornfell, and Cassandra’s own husband is torn away from her.

As malevolent vines slither in from the forest and ruthless politicians scheme against her, Cassandra must fight the greatest battle of her life to save her love, her school, and the future of the young women of Angland.

Audio: Cowboy Summer by Joanne Kennedy

By: Joanne Kennedy

Narrated by: Johanna Parker

Series: Blue Sky Cowboys Series, Book 1

Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 06-25-19

Language: English

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Contemporary romance

I got this in exchange for an honest review

Oh these two, it is time to take out the slap on the head thing. *slaps both over the head* I need a gif like that *ponders this*

Jessie is living the big city life, but then her dad has a heart attack, and she goes back. She loves the ranch, but it needs to be sold cos her dad can't handle it.

She is having issues with her new stepmum, why I do not know, cos Molly is great! Tsk, Jessie!

She is avoiding her old boyfriend that she left behind and she is upset that he married someone else, Jessie, Jessie! Like he would pine forever.

She believes something even when he tells her the truth (they need to be locked in a room for two days and talk things through) *slap in the head*

Cade is a cowboy, that does say it all. Yes he married an idiot, but he was sad and drunk. He did divorce her sorry behind. She was a piece of work. Poor guy has issues, drunk dad, girlfriend left, married an idiot. Poor Cade.

Though then he does believe something that does not make any sense so he gets a slap on the head for that too.

These two love each other, but they have so much to work through. And they belong together, everyone knows it.

I liked her dad and Molly. They were fun.

I enjoyed it (even if they really needed to be thrown in a room together). It also built something interesting for the next book.

Narrator

I like her style and I really get the feel of living there. She has great female and male voices. I have listened to her before, and I will again. She fits western so well.

Jess Bailey broke Cade Walker's heart when she left for the city - but she was just trying to find her own way in the world. When Jess's dad calls her home and tells her he's selling the ranch, she realizes she's about to lose the life she was born to live. And when she sees Cade again, she knows how much she's lost already.

As their nearest neighbor, Cade is always trying to help. But he's got his own ranch and his horse training business to think about. Even though his heart fills with hope for a second chance when he sees Jess, she left him once when things got tough. And she knows he moved on without her.

As the sale of the Bailey ranch looms over them, Jess and Cade start looking to the future. But can they ever trust one another again?

Audio: The Vampire Knitting Club by Nancy Warren

Narrated by: Sarah Zimmerman

Series: Vampire Knitting Club, Book 1

Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 06-11-19

Language: English

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Paranormal cozy mystery

I received this book in exchange for an honest review

This was short and amusing. Plus is has vampires knitting, that was strange and good.

Lucy inherits a knitting store from her gran, and Lucy can't even knit! She also starts wondering if her gran was murdered...

Which ok the blurb does spoil it and then there is the whole title, so yes her gran was murdered and she is now a vampire. And vampires in Oxford seems to enjoy knitting.

Something strange is happening. Who kille her gran. Is there something else going on? Ok, I can't say more, but things are going on. And since it is a short book the mystery is solved quickly...but i was still wrong!

There is a cat, there is a hot vamp, an interesting cop, yes things might turn interesting in this town after all for Lucy.

Fun story.

narrator

She did a great job with all the characters. I liked her Lucy voice, it felt very, well that I would have liked Lucy in rl too 

At a crossroads between a cringe-worthy past (Todd the Toad) and an uncertain future (she's not exactly homeless, but it's close), Lucy Swift travels to Oxford to visit her grandmother. With Gran's undying love to count on and Cardinal Woolsey's, Gran's knitting shop, to keep her busy, Lucy can catch her breath and figure out what she's going to do.  

Except it turns out that Gran is the undying. Or at least, the undead. But there's a death certificate. And a will, leaving the knitting shop to Lucy. And a lot of people going in and out who never use the door - including Gran, who is just as loving as ever, and prone to knitting sweaters at warp speed, late at night. What exactly is going on?  

When Lucy discovers that Gran did not die peacefully in her sleep, but was murdered, she has to bring the killer to justice without tipping off the law that there's no body in the grave. Between a hot 500-year-old vampire and a dishy detective inspector, both of whom always seem to be there for her, Lucy finds her life getting more complicated than a triple cable cardigan. The only one who seems to know what's going on is her cat...or is it...her familiar?

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.

August 6th: Are there genres that you keep trying only to be disappointed?

I would say YA fantasy, YA paranormal, no, they just do not work for me. Not in print, not in audio. In audio they are better, and there I might even enjoy them. But they are never amazing. And I never know why.

I always find a lack of world building
Or the stupid love triangle
Or the dang teens who are expert this or expert that. Just no, and they are always so bad at things too even though they are supposed to be the best *eyeroll*

Yes I have an issue with YA fantasy, too many disappointments with books that were over hyped.

I should give up, I really should, and I should also stop reading them with Carole (sorry Carole! ;)

I think that is it. Other genres might dissappoint, but this one always hit me hardest cos I love fantasy