Audio: Getting Wilde - Jenn Stark

Using her well-worn Tarot deck, magical-artifacts hunter Sara Wilde can find anything—for a price. And the price had better be right, since she needs to finance her own personal mission to rescue several young psychics recently sold on the paranormal black market. 

Enter Sara’s most mysterious client and occasional lover, the wickedly sexy Magician, with a job that could yield the ultimate payday. All she’ll have to do is get behind Vatican walls… and steal the Devil himself. 

But play with the Devil and you’re bound to get burned. 

Pressure mounts for Sara to join the Magician’s ancient and mysterious Arcana Council, as militant forces unleashed by even darker powers seek to destroy all magic—including the young psychics Sara is desperate to keep safe. The Council may be their only hope. . . but it could also expose Sara’s own dark past. 

From the twisting catacombs of Rome to the neon streets of Vegas, Sara confronts ancient enemies, powerful demigods, a roiling magical underworld about to explode… and immortal passions that might require the ultimate sacrifice. But oh, what a way to go. 

No matter how the cards play out, things are about to get Wilde. 

My thoughts:

Sara is a woman of secrets. She hunts for magical artifacts and does her best to protect those in need.  A good person with way too much on her plate.

In comes the Magician (oh do not make me spell his name, Armeneus?). He has a new job for her and off we go to Rome and Las Vegas. Someone is after The Connected, those with powers.

But you know what, I had issues. At times it was good, but mostly it was ok, and I just do not know why.

The Magician felt rapey, and then not. I think it was mostly her. Cos she was all her body totally wants it, but her brain says no. But I really do not know why she says no. Sheesh, have a fling with the hunky guy and leave it at that. And then he felt rapey again. And then she was annoying again. And then I just did not know why he bothered.

She was perfect. I do not love those. Every guy falls for her. Why The Magician is all over her I do not know.

Oh and she has this secret and when it came out I did not understand why she had been on the run for 10 years...why?

Like I said, I can not put my finger on it. It was an adventure. The guy should have been hot, but was not (I liked the devil more). There were interesting side characters. There are evil baddies. But...maybe it was Sara, she was so perfect and just make up your mind woman!

Narrator;  Stephanie Bentley

She did a good job and I really did not have any problems there. So it has to be the story itself I have issues with. She does her best trying to save the book

Audio CD, 8 hPublished June 19th 2018 by Tantor AudioImmortal Vegas, #1Urban fantasyfor review

TMST: Vacation reading

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.

July 3rd: Vacation Reading: What books would you pack for your vacation?

Honestly...no preference. I would pick what I am reading at the moment, or if there is something to review then that. I do read everything and anything all year round.

But...sure, if I really wanted to make it all vacay! Then I think I would go with chic-lit, nothing beats funny and cute during vacation! Light and easy.

I also would pick books about summer and beaches ;) Anything that screams summer. And now you make me want to read something like that. To make it feel like summer. But I do not think I have anything like it at the moment. Maybe next year.

My answer was then: Light and easy :D And fun!

Audio: The Wrong Stars - Tim Pratt

The shady crew of the White Raven run freight and salvage at the fringes of our solar system. They discover the wreck of a centuries-old exploration vessel floating light years away from its intended destination and revive its sole occupant, who wakes with news of First Alien Contact. When the crew break it to her that humanity has alien allies already, she reveals that these are very different extra-terrestrials... and the gifts they bestowed on her could kill all humanity, or take it out to the most distant stars. 

My thoughts:

Sci-fi on audio! Have I done that before? Is this really my first? I believe so, and I am happy to announce that it worked out wonderfully!

It did come off to a rocky start. I was all, I can not do this. But that was the narration. It felt choppy. so I slept on it and gave it another go the next day. And suddenly there was no problem at all, so always sleep on it ;)

We have reached the stars thanks to aliens, weird aliens called Liars. And in this new world we meet the crew. A captain not afraid of a new job, the "religious" doctor, the backstage crew I shall not talk too much about. And the engineer who loves loves anything tech. I liked them all, but I guess the captain could have had a few flaws to make her more human. Oh oh! I forgot one crew member! The ship, I liked him the most.

To this world Elena wakes after 500 years in cryo. But she adjusts fairly easily and hooks up with the crew of The White Raven to save the world.

Because there are more aliens out there. And secrets. And weird tech. All for the finding.

I liked the book cos it kept a nice pace and there was always something new to discover. I am so sad that there is no blurb for book 2 cos I need to know things. I need to know what comes next! I am glad that it ended on a good note. No cliffie. But obviously there will be more, but the dust has settled for now.

If I have to remark on something it's that Elena and the Kelliana, the Captain, becomes involved. And it was just weird how E thinks about smex at one time when no normal person would think about it. I get it, they are women, good for you. But he tried a bit too hard there.

Conclusion:

I do want more. Suspense and intrigues in space. What more is there to ask for.

Narration.

Like I said, I got off to a rocky start, but then I had no issues. I enjoyed his voices and how he narrated the story. The Ship and Alien were the best ones.

Publication date Jun 12, 2018 by Tantor AudioAudiobook, Running time 11 hrsNarrated by John GlouchevitchSeries: Axiom #1Genre: Sci-fi

Carole's Sunday Review: Precept

Author: Matthew de Lacey Davidson

Title: Precept

Genre: Fiction

Publication: March 2018

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my unbiased opinion)

Dublin, Ireland – Autumn, 1845. A young Irish boy, Nathan Whyte, whose life has been uneventful up to this point, is present at the arrival of a celebrity who has stepped off a boat that has just rolled into the harbour from the United States of America. This famous guest has recently achieved much renown (or notoriety, depending on the viewpoint) as an exemplary writer, and one of the greatest orators of his age – in an age of great oratory. At first confused, Nathan's curiosity is piqued as he slowly realises that this man – Frederick Douglass – the greatest voice of abolition of his day – whose talent for shattering ignorance is unique – entrances his audiences with his eloquence, dignity, sharp wit, and unparalleled public speaking skills.

However, what Douglass and Nathan have yet to discover is that in a very short period of time, Ireland – at the beginning of the Great Famine – through individual acts of compassion and by bearing witness, will have as much of a profound effect upon Douglass as Douglass is to have upon Ireland. And further, that through these events, both he and Nathan will be irrevocably transformed. 

I was intrigued from the moment I saw the cover and read the summary. I have always been interested Mr. Douglas and I like Ireland. This seemed to be the full package!

The thing I really enjoyed was the writing. The author really does have a way with words. This story was beautifully written and I feel it did justice to Mr. Douglas and his voice. 

The story was a little slow, to begin with, but then things got rolling and I was hooked. I was curious what was going to happen next. It really was sad and makes you think. 

It was a short story, but I did want more. I want to read more stories about Mr. Douglas and his adventures. I do wish that some parts went into more details. There were some parts that seemed glossed over. 

I even liked Nathan and it was interesting to see the history unfold from this POV. Poor kid. He really had some eye-opening moments. 

What else to say?

Oh! The speech was done well. I was hooked to every word. I would love a live performance of this.

Overall, I did really enjoy this. The writing really brought the story alive. I want to read more by this author especially the poetry. I also really want to read more about Mr. Douglas. I'll stamp this with 4 stars.