Audio: Toxic - Lydia Kang

Narrated by Amanda Ronconi, Vikas Adam

Publication date Nov 20, 2018 by Tantor Audio

Running time 11 hrs 7 min

Sci.fi YA

Thank you Tantor for this review copy

My Thoughts:

Ronconi and Vikas Adam! What could go wrong? Yes I only chose this book cos of them.

Poor Hana, she spent 17 years in one room. Hidden from everyone. Because if they found out she would have been killed. Only those meant to be born are born, and she was not meant to. But she has her life in her room, she learns things, she speaks with the ship. She hopes to one day come out and see the world.

I get that her mother wanted to keep her safe, but it was so very selfish. Wanting a child. Keeping that child hidden in her room. But then again, who can blame her mother for longing for something.

And then she wakes up and everyone are gone. Spoooky! What happened?

Well, that is no spoiler. The ship is dying and they all left and left her behind. That has me wondering so much. Her mother would not leave! Or would she?

And that is how we meet Fennec, voiced by Vikas Adam. He and his crew are there to study what happens when the ship dies. This guy had a chip on his shoulder. He was a thief. He had made mistakes, but come on, Fen! You are just a kid!

The ship is alive, so freaky. I would certainly not want to fly in a ship that is alive, that has thoughts, even if most of the crew though of Cyclo as only a ship. Hana knew it was more, so much more. Poor ship.

There is romance too. Two teens meeting, obliviously things will blossom. I get why Hana falls, and I get why Fen falls.

Not to mention there is suspense, murder! Is there someone else there too?

And the real reason Fen was there was, oh I hate that corporation that made Cyclo.

Conclusion:

It was a good book. It had a bit of everything and I do like the idea of a ship that lives. It is interesting. Too bad it was a stand alone. I would have liked to read more set in this world.

Narration.

Vikas Adam is great, I just find his voice lovely.

Amanda Ronconi is great too. She really is a reason to choose a book for.

They are perfect together.

Blurb

Cyclo, the first and largest biological ship of its kind, is dying. A small crew of mercenaries have handed over the rights to their life to document the death of the ship, but the abandoned ship is anything but abandoned―one girl has been left behind.

Hana has known nothing but the isolation of a single room and the secret that has kept her there for seventeen years. When she meets Fennec, the boy assigned to watch her, she realizes that there is a world she has yet to experience but she is doomed to never meet.

When crew members begin mysteriously dying, Hana and Fenn realize that they are racing against the death of the ship to find a way to survive―unless someone kills them even before Hana’s truly had a chance to live. 

Seasons of Sorcery anthology

Kindle Edition, 370 pages

Published November 13th 2018 by Brightlynx Publishing

Fantasy romance/UF

for review

My Thoughts and Synopsis

WINTER'S WEB BY JENNIFER ESTEP

An assassin at a renaissance faire. What could possibly go wrong? Everything, if you’re Gin Blanco. This Spider is trapped in someone else’s icy web—and it seems like they don’t want her to leave the faire alive . . .

The story was ok and all, but, I have only read one Gin book and that was ageeees ago. I never read more. And I did feel like fans would love this so much more. While I was all, ok she is an Assassin. I guess those are her friends and BF. So she kicks some ass and saves the day

A CURSE FOR SPRING BY AMANDA BOUCHET

A malevolent spell strangles the kingdom of Leathen in catastrophic drought. Prince Daric must break the curse before his people starve. A once-mighty goddess trapped in a human body might be the key—but saving his kingdom could mean losing all that he loves.

This was a nice fantasy romance. Leathen grows up with the former Goddess of Spring. Oh I would have liked more of that. I know that this was only a novella, but still! This would have been a great book.

The country is dying. Can Leathen and Rain save the day? There are baddies trying to stop them and well obvi these two will have feelings for each other. Took them long enough!

Nice story

THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER BY JEFFE KENNEDY

As unofficial consort to the High Queen, former mercenary Harlan Konyngrr faces a challenge worse than looming war and fearsome dragons. His long-held secrets threaten what he loves most—and he must make a choice between vows to two women.

I know I often say that everything works as a stand alone, but here, well you really should read the rest.

As for what happened...FINALLY! OMG I HAVE WAITED FOR THAT. Happiness is something all should have.

Also, when will we meet Jenna again? Is she still alive? Arghhhh

A WILDERNESS OF GLASS BY GRACE DRAVEN

The stretch of sea known as The Gray rules the lives of those in the village of Ancilar, including widow Brida Gazi. In the aftermath of an autumn storm, Brida discovers one of the sea's secrets cast onto the shore—a discovery that will change her world, mend her soul, and put her in the greatest danger she's ever faced. 

I did not expect that and I did learn something I always wondered about, well at least Draven came up for one explanation lol.

I have read a story set in this world before, or two? Interesting little town and now it is Brida's turn, a widow, to find something and oh I can not say too much! Spoilers.

Like maybe there is some romance *whistles*

Conclusion:

Two of these are stand alone and worked great as that. Another one does work on it's own, but I feel you get more for your money if you know the series. And the final one really should be read in its series. How else can you love Harlan and Essla!

Audio: What Ales the Earl - Sally MacKenzie

Book 1 in the Widow’s Brew series

Narrated by Justine Eyre

Publication date Oct 23, 2018 by Tantor Media

Running time 9 hrs 7 min

Historical romance

Thanks to Tantor for this review copy

My Thoughts

I liked that this one did keep true to time. For most of the book it does not even hit Harry that he could marry Pen. Why would he? He is an Earl, she is a farmer's daughter. And that was the sad facts. But hey, this is romance. Do NOT worry.

Pen and Harry spent a glorious summer together. He went off to War, she found out she was pregnant and fled. He is now back and is an Earl. She is making ale and living with a bunch of other women. He wants to marry a lady to get an heir and a spare. She wants a secure home for her daughter.

Harry was like a nobleman would have been. He would marry someone equal to him, he would not love her and they would do their own things. And then he sees Pen and offer to have her as his mistress (after some time, he is not a total arse.) Yes, I thought that was perfectly reasonable. It's not like he would have seen her and thought must marry her! Everyone would gossip after all. His first thought was mistress and it took some time for his mindset to change. I thought it was stupid of him, but yes reasonable.

Pen knew these things too. But she also wanted more, and I admired her for that. Good for you!

They have a lot of talking in front of them. And him getting to know their daughter. A crazy lady will emerge. And when he finally sees the light it is wonderful. Because this is a romance and even farmer's daughters get those HEAs.

Conclusion:

Romance, a bit of ale and some nekkid times.

Narrator.

Justine Eyre is great, I have nothing bad to say about her. I like all her voices and her accents.

Cover

cute

Full Synopsis
Scandal does not define the "fallen" ladies of Puddledon Manor's Benevolent Home. Instead, it's a recipe for an intoxicating new future as the women combine their talents—to operate their own brewery and alehouse . . .

When Penelope Barnes arrived at the Home with her young daughter, she discovered a knack for horticulture—and for cultivating the hops needed to produce a superlative pint. She put her scandalous affair with Harry Graham firmly in the past, along with the wrenching pain she felt when he went off to war. After all, she'd always known a farmer's daughter had no future with an earl's son. Now she has the pleasant memory of their passion, and she has little Harriet . . .

Harry went off to fight for the Crown unaware that his delightful interlude with his childhood friend had permanent consequences. Now he's back in England, catapulted into the title by his brother's untimely death. He sorely misses his former life of unfettered adventure, so when he has reason to explore Little Puddledon, he jumps at the chance. But what he finds there is something—and someone—he never knew he'd lost, and a once forbidden love whose time has come, if only he can persuade Pen he's home to stay . . .

TMST. Commenting

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November 13th: Why Should You Comment?

Ok so I know that comments are not everything, but to me they are! I do not want to write to empty space. That is no fun! I want people to read my reviews and yes to comment. I would not be happy if a million people read my reviews, and not a single one made a comment. I rather have one person read and comment. Then that one person would make my dead every single time :D

So commenting is good. You interact with the other person, you might make them happy. You make them feel like their say matter.

I do feel like a bad commenter at times. I never have anything to say, it's always short. But I try to tell myself that I'd rather have something short said on my reviews than nothing at all. And if someone find those boring, then oh I do not know. I love all my comments, short and long. Insightful ones, funny ones, wavey ones and so forth.

Talking about books are what I am here for and that is what comments are for