Picking up a couple weeks after the conclusion of the previous story, Cursed Claws opens with Cora dealing with employee issues. Her candle shop is doPicking up a couple weeks after the conclusion of the previous story, Cursed Claws opens with Cora dealing with employee issues. Her candle shop is doing well, but the staff she’s hired isn’t working out. So when she gets a large order from Winterspell Chalet millionaire August Nell, she knows she needs more help. But when those candles put their users into an unwakeable coma, Cora needs to find out what happened to her candles before her shop has to close for good… or worse.
Cursed Claws is the third offering in the Nine Lives Magic series. I enjoy that there is a substantial plotline that continues from book to book, and that we witness character growth and development over the course of the series. The book’s standalone mystery is very personal to Cora: she is accused of hexing people with her candles. Since the police don’t believe she’s innocent, Cora must investigate solo (with the help of her familiar, Selene, of course). While it is a good mystery, and I enjoyed the plotline, I didn’t love that Cora’s wares are used in the crime for a second book.
As for the ongoing missing Aunt Lavender storyline, Cora and Selene make some decent headway. They also enlist the potential help of another female witch treasure hunter. Additionally, I enjoyed the continuing romance between Cora and Clint. Overall, I enjoyed the balance between the mystery, Lavender’s disappearance, and Cora’s personal life. And while Selene still annoying at times, she is growing on me.
Narration: Ms. Ronconi continues to provide the voice of Cora and her friends. Shared in the first person POV of Cora, Ms. Ronconi provides an upbeat voice for Cora, matching emotion fitting to the story. Ms. Ronconi alters each character’s voice based on age, gender, background, and species. And Selene’s voice is still awesome- a perfect fit for the annoying cat.
Cursed Claws is another fun entry in this paranormal cozy mystery series. I enjoyed the story, but really like that we see progression in both Cora’s personal life and the missing Aunt Lavender story.
Rating: B Narration: B+
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About Review copy provided by publisher...more
Black Arts, White Craft picks up a few weeks after the conclusion of the first book. To open, we find out how Asa’s demon (and Asa) have claimed Rue. Black Arts, White Craft picks up a few weeks after the conclusion of the first book. To open, we find out how Asa’s demon (and Asa) have claimed Rue. Additionally, listeners gain insight into Rue’s past. I loved seeing how Rue is letting both her human friends and paranormals like Clay and Rue into her heart.
Asa and Clay are back in town because they need help with a case involving a resurrected wednigo (zobmigo) and a black witch. The trio, along with Colby, go to investigate, and in the process they uncover more secrets and perils. The mystery is complex with dangerous implications for Rue and Colby.
Overall, the story is good. I’m still enjoying the mythology. I liked that there is forward movement on the relationship between Asa and Rue, but I felt it overwhelmed the storyline at times. I also found the storytelling a bit repetitive at points. For example, I know Rue is worried about (fill in the blank), but I don’t need her thinking about it and reminding me of it all the time.
There is much about Rue that fascinates me. I want her to succeed and have it all; I’m invested, so I’m worried. I wonder how long she’ll be able to straddle her two lives: human and witch, now that she’s back with Black Hat. I am enjoying Rue’s evolution, especially in light of her relationship with Colby.
Narration: The story is shared via first person POV of Rue. Ms. Richardson uses a strong, upbeat feminine voice for Rue/the narrator, which suits the character and storytelling. The narrator alters dialogue, giving some characters a unique voice, suited to the age, gender, species, etc. Some voices are immediately identifiable, like that for Clay, whose voice is deeper, slower, and large, just like him. Some males, like Asa, aren’t quite as distinguishable, and at times I confused Asa and Rue. I enjoyed Colby, whose young voice sounds a bit cartoonish, which is perfect for the mythological friend.
In the end, I enjoyed Black Arts, White Craft and continue to find the series interesting and entertaining. I want to see what happens next and how Rue can remain friends with humans while working for Black Hat.
Ratings: Story: B/B- Narration: B/B+
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About Review copy provided by the publisher...more
Wesley is a mundane human who accidentally gets mixed up in the more dangerous aspects of magic. Sebastian feels he has many amends to make after he wWesley is a mundane human who accidentally gets mixed up in the more dangerous aspects of magic. Sebastian feels he has many amends to make after he was forced to do the bidding of some power-hungry paranormals. Together, they pair up to stop a powerful paranormal from gaining a foothold in Europe. Proper Scoundrels shares what happens to two of the more important side characters following the events of the Magic in Manhattan series.
Although they start off on shaky ground, Wesley and Sebastian are so good together; they both are damaged scoundrels. Both have been hurt by war, by life, by men. Because they have suffered in their own ways, each can relate and connect, and both are are in a place where they can open to the other, finding love and acceptance. I enjoyed the little acts of kindness each does for the other and how they lift up and support one another.
The action-adventure aspects of the story are fun. Listeners will recognize important characters from the original series. There is new magic and more detailed history of paranormals. I enjoyed following Wesley and Sebastian as they uncover the evil growing in Europe and discover the terrifying repercussions if they cannot stop the bad guys. Both the romance and storyline are contained within the book, which has a satisfying conclusion.
Narrator: The story is shared via the alternating third person POVs of Sebastian and Wesley. Froomkin uses the same voice for the narrator, regardless of POV. Overall, his performance is dramatic and exaggerated with a slight British-sounding accent. Froomkin successfully alters the dialogue voice of each character, making each unique. He does a good job with several different accents including Spanish and Scottish. He softens and pitches his vocal tones higher for females.
In the end, I enjoyed Proper Scoundrels, even if I didn’t love the narration. The story is a nice epilogue of sorts to the Magic in Manhattan trilogy. While it is a standalone story, I don’t know if others would like it as much without having read the original series (which is excellent). But I liked seeing Wesley heal and discover love, and I enjoyed tying up of loose ends.
My ratings: Story: B Narration: C
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About Review copy provided by publisher...more
The Best Worst Christmas is a delightful holiday story set in small-town UK. Lily moved to Sidney, Australia, right after she finished school to escapThe Best Worst Christmas is a delightful holiday story set in small-town UK. Lily moved to Sidney, Australia, right after she finished school to escape her broken heart. She hasn’t been home for Christmas in seven years. To her dismay, when she arrives home, she discovers that her mom is dating her next door neighbor, who happens to be the father of Lily’s first and only love, Tom. Now she’s got to spend her two week holiday trying to bury her lingering hurt and the fact she still loves Tom.
The Best Worst Christmas is a touching story about a woman discovering what makes her happy and learning to embrace change. Both Lily and Tom must come to terms with the past in order to move forward. The story is sweet with some fun comedic moments. Even though it’s a novella-length story, I never felt short-changed. The story is entertaining from beginning to end and filled with plenty of emotion. There are a few continuity and POV errors that should have been edited, but they didn’t detract from the story.
Narration: The story is shared via the third-person POV of Lily (with a few from Tom that weren’t well defined). The narrator uses a partially-voiced method with slight changes in dialogue for the different characters. She has a pleasing, heavily accented (British-sounding) voice and reads the story with just a hint of emotion.
In the end, I really enjoyed connecting with Lily in The Best Worst Christmas. It’s a wonderful holiday listen.
After enjoying the second book in the Catskills Pet Rescue Mystery series, I grabbed the first title, Furbidden Fatality, from my library. There were After enjoying the second book in the Catskills Pet Rescue Mystery series, I grabbed the first title, Furbidden Fatality, from my library. There were no spoilers over whodunit found in the second book, so I was able to enjoy the standalone mystery while getting reintroduced to main character Kari and learning how she came to own her beloved animal shelter.
The mystery over who killed the hated dog warden was good, although there are a few red herrings. Because she is the main suspect and the police seem to be a bit inept, Kari actively goes after clues and purposefully sticks her nose into the case. This causes her to make a few enemies, and her start as the shelter owner is very difficult. What I don’t love is how Kari is mistreated by some, especially one of the shelter workers who is quick to judge. But, Kari has a wonderful heart and passion for the animals, which helps her make friends in the end.
Narration: The narrator for this first story is different than that for the second book, which I listened to first. It took me about three to four chapters to adjust to the change, but overall, I enjoyed it. The story is shared via the third person voice of Kari. The narrator has a calm, feminine voice which doubles as Kari’s dialogue voice. This narrator sounds older than the other narrator, which makes me question how old the main character is (I honestly don’t know). The narrator alters the voices for each supporting character during dialogue, making some distinguishable and others slightly different. All adjustments are appropriate to gender and background (but not certain about the age). My biggest issue after adjusting to the change is that the narrator sounds like she’s saying “Gary” for “Kari”.
In the end, I enjoyed listened to Furbidden Fatality and loved seeing where Kari came from and learning her background. After two books, I call this cozy mystery series a must listen to for me, and I look forward to the third book out next year.
As someone who loved the Off-Campus series, I found The Legacy to be a wonderful way to catch up with old (book) friends. The book is split into four As someone who loved the Off-Campus series, I found The Legacy to be a wonderful way to catch up with old (book) friends. The book is split into four parts, with each of the parts focusing on a different couple—one each from the original four books. Each part is shared via the alternating POVs of the two main characters of the couple.
The book starts with Logan and Grace and their New Year’s Eve adventure. Next up is Dean and Allie, who are in Boston for Tucker and Sabrina’s wedding. In Part 3, we follow Tucker and Sabrina on their honeymoon, and the final part of the book focuses on the original couple, Garrett and Hannah. Each part gets progressively more serious, but we still have four HEAs. Each part weaves together the lives of the group and how the friends have remained an important part in each other’s lives. There are a few bumps and surprises, a few tears, and lots of laughs. Each part shares just enough with each couple to catch up listeners.
Narration: All of the mail POVs are read by Zachary Webber. His has a familiar, deep voice that is perfect for these overgrown boy-men. He adjusts each speaking voice enough for distinction, but the narrator voice stays the same for each part and POV. This does add a bit of confusion when the story transitions to a new first person POV at the beginning of each part.
The female POVs are read by Stella Bloom. She has a light voice both soft and feminine. It is perfect for the four leading ladies. She does adjust the dialogue voices to provide distinction; however her males, while deeper, aren’t overly masculine. In the end, the dual narration is well done considering the wide cast of characters and the changing first person POVs.
In the end, I enjoyed my time back with the Briar gang and am thankful to the author for giving fans this delightful epilogue.
Animal rescuer and shelter owner Kari and her kitten Queenie are ready to help best friend Suz make this year’s annual dog show a success, despite SuzAnimal rescuer and shelter owner Kari and her kitten Queenie are ready to help best friend Suz make this year’s annual dog show a success, despite Suz being a last minute replacement to run things. Unfortunately, when a local breeder is found murdered, Suz is the primary suspect, and Kari joins the investigation to prove Suz’s innocence. Although this is the second story in the series, I was able to jump in without any issues. The author brings listeners up to speed without info dumping.
Doggone Deadly is a wonderful story: the perfect mix of cozy mystery solving and personal life of main character, Kari. The author lays out the clues, allowing Kari to discover tidbits here and there. I like that she works with her friends to help put seemingly random pieces together. I love that the mystery is well-thought out and makes sense, is cozy, and isn’t over the top. Kari has a wonderful heart and passion for all animals, especially Queenie, who is very much part of the mystery solving team.
I really enjoyed how the author immerses the listener in Kari’s world, providing details and attention to Kari’s surroundings. Kari is smart and kind, noticing details others may not. But she doesn’t go it alone, instead she relies on others to help her. The subtle romantic storyline adds emotional depth to the story.
Narration: The story is shared via the third person voice of Kari. The narrator has a calm, feminine voice which doubles as Kari’s dialogue voice. I found her more mature tone well suited for Kari. Ms. Jennings really brings Kari to life, adding noticeable feelings into the performance of the empathetic character. The narrator alters the voices for each supporting character during dialogue, making each unique. All adjustments are appropriate to gender, age, and background. Overall, Ms. Jennings performs the story wonderfully, keeping me engaged and interested.
In the end, I really enjoyed Doggone Deadly. It is a great story and an interesting mystery. I look forward to reading more about Kari and Queenie.
My Ratings: Story: A- Narration: A-
Review copy provided by audiobook publisher Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About...more
Hexed Hiss-tory opens about two weeks after the conclusion of the previous book, Witchy Whiskers. Cora and Selene are looking for the missing Aunt LavHexed Hiss-tory opens about two weeks after the conclusion of the previous book, Witchy Whiskers. Cora and Selene are looking for the missing Aunt Lavender, who they now know was kidnapped. They aren’t getting any leads and the sheriff doesn’t seem to be overly willing to help.
When their first solid lead for finding Lavender is found dead, Cora and Selene think his accidental death is really murder. I like that Cora falls into sleuthing rather that goes at it with intent. She’s trying to find out what happened to her aunt. This leads to finding a dead body. Since she believes there may be a connection, she looks into his death since it was ruled an accident. She is definitely more actively involved in the whodunit this time around.
We get more about Cora’s personal life in Hexed Hiss-tory. Her ex is still in town and hanging around. I don’t like how her family is blatantly ignoring Cora’s wishes to keep her ex as a friend, but in the end, the storyline works out. I do enjoy the budding romance between Cora and Clint.
Narration: Ms. Ronconi continues to provide the voice of Cora and her friends. Shared in the first person POV of Cora, Ms. Ronconi provides an upbeat voice for Cora, matching emotion fitting to the story. Ms. Ronconi alters each character’s voice based on age, gender, background, and species. And Selene’s voice is still awesome- a perfect fit for the annoying cat.
Hexed Hiss-tory is another fun tale in the Nine Lives Magic series. I am enjoying following Cora as she finds her place with Selene and Clint and growing into an amateur sleuth. Selene is still annoying as all, but has her moments.
My Rating: B+ Narration: B+
Review copy provided by publisher Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About...more
Store owner Cora lives in Winterspell (the magical community introduced in the Sugar Shack Witch Mysteries). She is ready to have dinner with Clint, tStore owner Cora lives in Winterspell (the magical community introduced in the Sugar Shack Witch Mysteries). She is ready to have dinner with Clint, the handsome stranger who comes in to purchase a gift for his mom, when her ex-husband strolls in her shop after an 18-month absence. When Clint’s brother is found murdered a few days later, Cora reluctantly agrees to help Clint clear his name.
Although the setting is a little familiar, and I’ve read many paranormal cozies from this author, Witchy Whiskers has it’s own unique flavor. I love that Cora doesn’t want to solve mysteries and only gets involved because of her kind heart. I enjoy watching her weigh the pros and cons of getting involved with Clint, considering the impact to her clientele and her shop’s image, etc. Overall the mystery makes sense, and Cora eventually figures it out using some supernatural assistance.
One of the main characters is Selene, Cora’s talking cat familiar. Cora inherited her from her aunt Lavender, who is missing. While I think Selene is supposed to be a fun part of the world, I found her rude to the point of annoying. I constantly wondered why Cora keeps her around. I’m hoping her attitude gets a bit softer in future titles.
Narration: As per the other series by this author, Cora and her friends are brought to life through the delightful performance of Amanda Ronconi, who has consistently done a wonderful job with other magical series. The story is shared in the first person POV of Cora. Ms. Ronconi provides an upbeat voice for Cora, matching emotion fitting to the story. Ms. Ronconi alters each character’s voice based on age, gender, background, and species. Although I found the character and voice a little annoying, Selene the cat is actually well-done, a whiny voice for the whiny character.
Witchy Whiskers is a solid start for the new series written by a familiar author. I look forward to listening to more as Cora and Selene try to find out what happened to Lavender.
My Ratings: Story: B Narration: B+
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About review copy provided by Tantor Audio...more
Jack Taggart, the younger brother, the spare, enjoys being a queen’s agent, especially because it keeps him away from his mischievous older brother anJack Taggart, the younger brother, the spare, enjoys being a queen’s agent, especially because it keeps him away from his mischievous older brother and meddlesome mother. Cait is a unique woman who is immune to various venoms and poisons, but running tests on herself and working in a lab isn’t what she really desires. If only she could find an agent to marry, then she too could be a queen’s agent. When a mysterious woman, known as the London Vampire, starts attacking Londoners with an unknown venom, Jack and Cait’s paths cross, and it may just be the perfect match.
Venomous Secrets is an exciting adventure and heart-warming romance. Cait, sister of both Alec (MC from The Iron Fin, book 3) and the mysterious Mr. Black, is a determined young woman. She wants to find out more about who her unknown father is and why she is immune to snake (and other) venoms, and she wants to become an agent like her brothers. When she and Jack get tangled up in the investigation of the London Vampire, the pair is given a choice to marry or be kicked off the case (and never become an agent). I love the emotional roller coaster as they decide to marry. At first it’s all positives, but as other details come to light, they each start to question if long-term marriage is the best course of action. Of course, as the pair works together on the case and discuss their desires, dreams, and fears, the pair grows close, ultimately finding love.
The case of the London Vampire is complex, involving many people and taking the pair to several locations around the country. At times the story moves very quickly, and all I could do is listen and enjoy. I loved the detailed scientific discussions and hypotheses over what the vampire truly is and how she kills. There isn’t as much “steampunk tech” in this one as in previous stories, with most of the gadgets in the background, except for one important tool needed to potentially save Jack’s life. My biggest complaint is there are times when a character would be in the middle of something stressful or intense, yet would find time for lengthy hypothesizing and vetting out their thoughts. It was interesting, but when a character is in near mortal danger, they shouldn’t have time for lengthy internal monologues. It would take me out of the immediacy of the situation.
Narration: The story is shared from the alternating third person POVs of Cait and Jack. Both narrators do a good job, although I preferred Ms. Quick’s work a tad more, especially when portraying characters of the opposite gender. Ms. Quick uses a neutral British accent for the narrator, altering her voice for the various character dialogue. Her performance is spot on for Cait as Ms. Quick alters her accent to match that of a Glaswegian. Mr. Furlong also used a neutral narrator and his performance of Jack was excellent. I didn’t care for his female characters as much, sometimes they could be a bit overdramatic. He did work in the appropriate accents for each character and made each unique.
In the end, Venomous Secrets is a wonderful addition to Ms. Renwick’s Elemental Steampunk world. I enjoyed the detailed scientific discussions and the tie-in with characters from previous stories, and I look forward to finding out what happens next in this exciting series.
My Ratings: Story: B/B- Narration: Moira Quick: A- Gary Furlong: B
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About Review copy provided by author...more
Opening about two months after the conclusion of the previous tale, the gang is caught by surprise when Charlotte receives a request to meet from Mr. Opening about two months after the conclusion of the previous tale, the gang is caught by surprise when Charlotte receives a request to meet from Mr. Baxter, none other than Moriarty himself. While his request seems simple enough, discover how his daughter fares while residing at a group compound known to celebrate the occult, Charlotte recognizes that anything Moriarty does is complex and most certainly dangerous.
Miss Moriarty, I Presume? is another engrossing mystery with its intricate layers and misdirections. Charlotte’s gang is well developed at this point, with each person knowing their part. The group fosters and supports each person’s talents, together brainstorming and allowing Charlotte to hypothesize in her own time. They are a well-functioning group, with each character adding value to the story. I especially enjoyed watching Olivia come into her own as she takes risks, following her own “gut instincts,” and helping discover important clues.
Overall, the story was well written, with little clues left dangling for Charlotte, Ash, and the reader to grab and piece together. I felt that the way they finally figured out Marbleton’s message was a bit of a stretch, but I loved watching all the team work together. Additionally, I loved watching Charlotte learn to embrace her more base emotions, learning to process them without as much detachment as she once did. I absolutely adore the playfulness between Ash and Charlotte. Is it out of character for her? I don’t know. But they built this relationship over the course of several books, and I appreciate that now they can find happiness within and around each other.
Narration: The story is shared from multiple third-person POVs, both male and female; primarily Charlotte and Ash. This is the sixth book in the series, and the character voices and overall narrator are very familiar to me. I rather enjoy Ms. Reading’s performance. Her narrator has a feminine, accented voice. The dialogue is altered based on who is speaking - enough to identify each character out of a group. Ms. Reading’s male voices are fairly deep and genuine. She does a wonderful job infusing the dialogue with just a hint of emotion, or in Charlotte’s case, her attempts to express the appropriate emotion, making the entire story come to life.
In the end, Miss Moriarty, I Presume? is a wonderful, exciting tale. The ending was a little abrupt, in that I anticipated more, but it really wasn’t necessary. The story pulled me in at the start, and I was engaged the entire time. The Lady Sherlock mysteries continue to impress and captivate me. But it’s Charlotte’s circle of trust and network of friends, along with the developing romance with Ash, that keeps me coming back for more.
My Ratings: Story: A- Narration: A
Review copy provided by audiobook publisher Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About...more
Having originally read Shards of Hope in 2015, I took the opportunity to listen to the audiobook for my re-read as part of Books of My Heart’s 2021 PsHaving originally read Shards of Hope in 2015, I took the opportunity to listen to the audiobook for my re-read as part of Books of My Heart’s 2021 Psy-Changeling read-along. This was my first time listening to a Psy-Changeling book, and I’m glad I did. I also want to mention that I jumped right into Shards of Hope without going back to the start of the series. After I finished listening and reviewed my notes, I went back and read my original review, and I have to say, I still feel pretty much the same way. Much of this review comes from my 2015 review, but I’ve edited and adjusted it as needed.
Opening shortly after the conclusion of the previous book, Shards of Hope shares the story of a post-Silence world, one which sees the fierce and deadly Arrows trying to adapt. Arrow leader Aden, along with one of his top commanders, Zaira, is taken captive by an unknown group, resulting in a temporary disconnect from the PsyNet. This opens up the opportunity for Aden to learn from a Changeling pack and begin to implement post-Silence ideas into his “Arrow pack.”
Overall, I enjoyed Shards of Hope, bringing the Psy and whole world from Silence into post-Silence. I enjoyed Aden and Zaira’s romance and feel their pairing a good one. The relationship is slow moving (which is expected being a Psy-Psy pairing), but their love began well before the start of this book, even before the fall of Silence - they just didn’t realize it. Individually, I found both Aden and Zaira strong and likable characters. I was interested in their personal growth and development, which is well-written. But at times, I feel their romance took a backseat to the rebuilding of the Arrows and the other subplots. I also found that Ms. Singh uses a lot of repetition in her writing, continually mentioning the same feelings and personality traits or how each was treated by their parents.
Ms. Singh spends a lot of time bringing readers inside the Arrows and running us through the different worldwide groups and groundbreaking changes. Aden is a wonderful leader and the perfect man to take this group of the most damaged Psy into the post-Silence world. Taking actions to mirror that of an alpha of a changeling pack, Nalini is successful in creating a relatable group for the reader.
Similarly, I enjoyed reading about the familiar powerful players work through misunderstandings generated by the mischievous Consortium. Knowing that this dangerous and dark group would have been successful in its endeavors to throw the world into chaos just a few books ago, makes the changes all the more rewarding for longtime readers of the series. As someone who has read well beyond Shards of Hope, it was surprising to see the kernels of future plots, as well as how some of the plots have yet to completely develop.
Narration: Angela Dawe does a wonderful job with her performance. The story is shared from multiple POVs, and Ms. Dawe uses the same feminine narrator throughout. She alters the dialogue for every character, making each entirely unique. She transforms her voice so completely from character to character that it sounds like a full cast. She handles various accents, ages, and genders seamlessly. I was also impressed with the amount of emotion she infuses into her performance, as well as how she fits her voice to the actions - like whispering entire covert conversations.
In the end, I enjoyed my re-read of Shards of Hope, and find it a worthy entry as one story in a huge series.
Thief of Souls is the second story in the Court of Dreams fantasy series. The story picks up three months after the conclusion of the previous novellaThief of Souls is the second story in the Court of Dreams fantasy series. The story picks up three months after the conclusion of the previous novella with Zemira being tortured by her father, the of king of the wraiths, for failing to steal the Heart of the Dragon. When her father discovers another artifact that may be used to end the curse on the wraiths, he sends Zemira to the Court of Blood. Meanwhile, Keir searches for the same artifact, demanding Zemira’s help after bonding her to him in the previous book.
I have mixed feelings about Thief of Souls. It was slow moving at first and hard to follow at times. I was frustrated with Zemira and the depth of subterfuge needed to survive. At one point she was bound to complete tasks for three different fae. However, the overall mythology is interesting and complex. There is a strong romantic element and love story, but no HEA. Some of the best parts are when Zemira and Keir talk and confide in one another. And while there are sexy times, I wouldn’t label this a romance. Within the story, there is plot development, character development, and forward progression, but no real conclusion. It’s a little frustrating.
Narration: The story is primarily shared in the first person, present tense POV of Zemira. The female narrator reads with what sounds like to me a British accent, and I found it suited Zemira. The dialogue for each character is adjusted appropriately, making each character unique. The male characters are generally deeper, but sometimes sound off a bit. There is a change in the POV for a short while, and the narrator adjusts her performance perfectly. My biggest complaint is that I often had trouble distinguishing between Zemira’s internal discourse and actual dialogue.
In the end, I am enjoying the mythology despite my frustrations. I’ll probably listen to the next book, hoping it’s the last, or at least there is a solid conclusion and no cliffhanger ending.
My Ratings: Story: B- Narration: B-
Review copy provided by Tantor Audio Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About...more
Revolutionary is the final book in the Clandestine Magic trilogy, a series that must be read from the first book for maximum enjoyment. There will be Revolutionary is the final book in the Clandestine Magic trilogy, a series that must be read from the first book for maximum enjoyment. There will be spoilers for the first two books in this review.
Our story opens just a few weeks since the conclusion of Radical, with Peter in a coma after barely surviving the explosion of a magical weapon fueled by his life source. Although unconscious, his mind is very much awake, and in fact, listeners are privy to his POV while in the coma. From there, we follow Beatrix’s attempts to cure Peter, help her sister and the League win rights for typics, and figure out what the Vice President wants with a weapon of mass destruction.
Revolutionary is a non-stop, heart-pounding adventure! There are so many ups and downs, I had to take a breather more than once. Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse for our main characters, the author would lift them up (and my heart), giving them a reprieve. But not for long, because Peter and Beatrix find themselves in dire straights over and over. It was an exhausting read in some ways, but well worth the journey!
The story starts with Beatrix working to save Peter, then the pair is forced to address their feelings while in the spotlight and working on the campaign for typic rights. The author uses a new narrative style for large parts of the book - giving readers headlines and bits of articles written by various news sources. It’s an effective and entertaining way to share different views the nation has towards the couple. Finally, the story shifts focus to the climatic plotline - trying to discover why the government is so intent on continued development and testing of the weapon Peter helped develop at the Pentagram. Overall, the story flows well and the entire book gives this reader a perfect conclusion to the series. However, I became a bit frustrated at points, when the low points seemed to be too much or go on too long. Yet, the author always pulled the pair out of the depths before I was ready to toss the book!
Narration: The story is shared from the third person alternating POV‘s of the two main characters Beatrix and Peter. The narrator is a neutral feminine narrator who alters dialogue slightly, adjusting for age, gender, etc. Her voice is gentle and easy to listen to; very suiting for the narrator and characters. Her males are generally lower pitched. Her younger characters tend to be suitably bubbly and more vivacious. She does a good job creating unique character voices, and the voices work great together when performing dialogue between Peter and Beatrix, even with few to no dialogue tags.
In the end, Revolutionary is an emotional ride filled with ups and downs and surprising twists. It’s a wonderful conclusion to this unique and entertaining trilogy, with a bonus peek into the future. I highly recommend the entire trilogy, and when you are finished, check out the author’s website for links to a prequel and an epilogue story.
My Ratings: Story: A- Narration: A-
Review copy provided by author Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About...more
Silver Charms opens shortly after the conclusion of the first Midlife Elementals tale. To my surprise, and ultimately my delight, the story is shared Silver Charms opens shortly after the conclusion of the first Midlife Elementals tale. To my surprise, and ultimately my delight, the story is shared with listeners via a different character than that of the first book. This time we hear from the POV of Rose, not Luella. While I thought it would be jarring to switch gears, it actually works well and enhances the overall storyline for the series. And due to the nature of the overall story, these books should be read in order, starting with Silver Spells.
Rose is a newly minted fire witch, and unlike her two best friends, doesn’t have a mentor, until Hilda Milafleur, the antagonist from book one, offers to help. I like that even though Mrs. Milafleur is invested in Rose’s progress and the success of the Sparkle Beach witches, she’s not a reformed soul. She continues to keep dangerous secrets and does not regret her previous actions. Because of the connection of fire magic between Rose and Mrs. Milafleur, we learn more about her past and reasons for her actions.
Like the first book, the story has a subtle romantic subplot. Rose connects with Mrs. Milafleur’s chauffeur, Oliver, who has secrets of his own. I enjoyed watching them dance around one another and learn to open up. Their burgeoning romance adds to the story, but never overtakes the primary plot, which sees our Ride-or-Die witches facing an unknown threat.
Rose’s sister is in the midst of a bitter divorce, and Rose thinks she may be able to help out using her magic. Additionally, a magical circus comes to town, bringing with it more elemental witches. Finally, someone is trying to steal the witches’ powers, putting the Sparkle Beach witches right in the middle. I enjoyed figuring out what was going on, and how Rose outwits the bad guy. What I don’t like is one of the actions she took in the process - it was really dumb, and as soon as it happened, I groaned out loud. I guess we’ll see in the third book if there are consequences to her actions.
Narration: Shared via Rose’s first person POV, the narrator of the book is Rose. Ms. Sands performs using her distinct voice, which I love. She’s got a deep feminine voice that is somewhat soft and slightly raspy. Ms. Sands changes her tone for the characters’ dialogue, deepening for males, adding slight accents when called for, creating a unique set of voices for the cast. My only minor issue is that Oliver is supposed to have a British accent, and while Ms. Sands gives him a unique, slightly accented voice, it doesn’t sound British to me.
In the end, I continue to enjoy the Midlife Elementals series and look forward to listening to the next exciting tale as soon as it’s out!
My Ratings: Story: B Narration: B
Review copy provided by author Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About...more
Dawn Unearthed is the first title in the new Ravenwood Coven paranormal romance series. The story focuses on Sage who, at the request of her aunt, is Dawn Unearthed is the first title in the new Ravenwood Coven paranormal romance series. The story focuses on Sage who, at the request of her aunt, is moving to Ravenwood to start anew after mourning the loss of her husband. As soon as Sage enters the town, she realizes things are not “normal.” She finds herself immersed in a world of magic, shifters, witches, and fae. One thing I really liked is that Sage does’t magically come into her powers, rather she’s got to practice and do the time in order to gain power.
Dawn Unearthed is a good PNR. It’s got all the best of the PNR world, including a sizzling fated pairing and lots of interesting paranormal characters. I appreciate that the author creates a fascinating mythology for her series. I also like that the fated mates isn’t quite set in stone, nor does it cause a lot of drama. Sage and bear shifter Rome have a connection that may seem sudden, but it fills a void neither realized was present. Their mating is sexy and sweet. I enjoyed the romance aspect of the story.
What didn’t work well for me were the villains of the tale. Faith, a necromancer witch, felt over-the-top and a bit cliche. She even performs a supervillain monologue outlining her evil plot. I also didn’t like how “things go down” (being vague to prevent spoilers). The final battle of the book was “too much” for my liking.
Narration: I enjoyed the performances of Victoria Mei and Aiden Snow. The story is primarily shared in the alternating, first person POVs of Sage and Rome, and both narrators are equally suited to their roles. Mr. Snow has a gravely, deep voice, giving gravitas and a very sexy vibe to the bear shifter. His female voices are softer and distinguishable, and while not overly feminine, they are unique and identifiable. Ms. Mei uses a soft and gentle voice for the curious Sage, softening the tone when Sage expresses sorrow, but hardening it during high-intensity moments. Her males are deeper than the females and fitting for the story. She provides unique voices to each of the primary characters. My biggest issue with the narration is due to the writing - there is a character named Rowen, which sounds a lot like Rome and caused confusion at times.
While Dawn Unearthed is a satisfying PNR, I’m finding that unfortunately, I just don’t love this genre like I once did. With that said, I will probably pick up the second book to see which direction the author takes the cast of characters.
Radical picks up about two months after the conclusion of the first title, Subversive. The beginning of the book continues to see Peter working on a dRadical picks up about two months after the conclusion of the first title, Subversive. The beginning of the book continues to see Peter working on a defense against the weapon he created, while Beatrix and Ella work on their Plan B - teaching women how to use magic in hopes of storming Washington D.C. if Lydia and the League cannot force changes to the magiocracy. The stakes get higher and higher as each progresses in their task. The Clandestine Magic series should be read in order as each book is only one part of the larger picture.
The first half of the book moves a bit slowly as the author details Peter and Beatrix’s individual efforts to move forward with their plans. Beatrix is full of anxiety, worried that Peter will discover her plans. Meanwhile, the pair continue to see their magical bond grow stronger, causing a more fevered desire between their dream-side selves, spilling over into their dayside selves. I enjoyed the book, especially learning more about Peter’s friend Martinelli. There is also a silly side plot involving the town’s young women trying to win Peter’s favor. Although it moves a bit slowly, the author uses the space to ratchet up the stakes while developing the conflicting feelings between Beatrix and Peter.
I continue to love the evolution of Peter and Beatrix’s relationship. What begins with questionable intent develops, changes, and grows. The author allows her characters to ponder some difficult questions and evaluate their morals as Beatrix and Peter analyze their feelings. Their romance is unconventional and heart-wrenching, yet fantastic. The second half of the book moves with speed and left my heart racing at times. Truths come to light, and some of the facts are quite ugly once uncovered. More than one character finds themselves in potentially mortal danger. The author begins to pull all of the various threads together and surprised me with a couple “AH HA!” moments. And once again, Ms. Cowley leaves listeners at a pause in the story, with many questions unanswered.
Narration: The story is shared from the third person alternating POV‘s of the two main characters Beatrix and Peter. The narrator is a neutral feminine narrator who alters dialogue slightly, adjusting for age, gender, etc. Her voice is gentle and easy to listen to; very suiting for the narrator and characters. Her males are generally lower pitched. Her younger characters tend to be suitably bubbly and more vivacious. She does a good job creating unique character voices, and the voices work great together when performing dialogue between Peter and Beatrix, even with few to no dialogue tags.
After a slow start, Radical ended up being extraordinarily good. Filled with excitement, romance, twists, and turns, I was on the edge of my seat for the last third or so of the book, and I cannot wait for the final chapter of the Clandestine Magic series.
My Ratings: Story: A- Narration: A-
Review copy provided by author Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About...more
Danielle Garrett takes readers on one last adventure with witch Holly Bolt in Goodbye’s a Witch. It’s been roughly six months since Holly and Adam’s wDanielle Garrett takes readers on one last adventure with witch Holly Bolt in Goodbye’s a Witch. It’s been roughly six months since Holly and Adam’s wedding (previous book). The Inn and Holly’s business is running smoothly; however, there is an issue with the supernatural transport system, causing a few unwanted hiccups, and stranding a powerful witch at the Inn. Speaking of hiccups, Holly is experiencing magical hiccups, which is disrupting her spell-casting.
While Goodbye’s a Witch has a standalone, albeit short, mystery, its value is more in tying up loose ends and concluding the series with a lovely bow. The gang comes together to deal with the rogue vamps that have been plaguing the Seattle area. Additionally, they are saying farewell to Evangeline, who is moving to California to be with fiancé, Teddy. The gang has visits from out-of-town friends, and we hear about most of the Beechwood’s denizens, each finding their path to a happy life. While I feel like the author didn’t adequately address the issue of human friends Cassie and Chief Lincoln nearly finding out about the magical world, I’m happy with how the series ended.
Narration: As always, Holly and her friends are brought to life through the delightful performance of Amanda Ronconi, who has consistently done a wonderful job. Her interpretation of Holly is always spot on. Ms. Ronconi convincingly portrays Holly’s thoughts, concerns, and expressions. Her voices are all well-suited, and she gives paranormals their own fitting voices.
In the end, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Beechwood Harbor. Holly and the gang have become wonderful book friends, and I’ll miss hearing about their antics now that the series is over.
My Ratings: Story: B+ Narration: B+
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About Review copy provided by publisher....more
Imagine a world where women don’t have many rights, only certain men can perform magic, and those few men hold the highest offices in government. WhenImagine a world where women don’t have many rights, only certain men can perform magic, and those few men hold the highest offices in government. When Peter Blackwell returns to his small hometown to be its wizard, he forces Beatrix Harper to be his assistant. Beatrix is a part of the Women’s League for the Prohibition of Magic; however when she discovers that she too can perform her own magic, her world turns upside down.
Subversive is the first title in the Clandestine Magic series by Colleen Cowley. The book introduces listeners to an alternate history version of America where magic is real and an integral part of its history and shaping of its government. The details of the world are spun into the tale over time, and I enjoyed discovering new aspects with each chapter. The story focuses on a combination of a slow-burn romance and the fight for equality among citizens.
Overall, I really enjoyed Subversive; the slower pace works as readers get to know Beatrix and Peter from both of their POVs. I loved seeing Beatrix discover her talents and try to figure out her true place in the world. She supports and loves her sister and her ambition in the Women’s League, but Beatrix questions if that is what she wants moving forward. And I enjoyed following Peter as he struggles with his life choices. He’s done some rotten things and is trying to make amends, yet he continues to use poor judgment at times. The larger problems of women’s rights, as well as a horrific discovery regarding what the Army and government Wizards are doing, makes for an exciting and interesting story. The book leaves me wanting more because there is so much still to work though.
Unfortunately for Peter, he doesn’t take the time to trust Beatrix and forces her into a binding contract that puts her at odds with the wizard. Coerced to work for him, Beatrix is equally angry as she is curious. However, as the pair spends time together, they develop a unique bond. Their friendship and romance is different, complicated, and troubling. I was both a bit horrified and compelled by the story, yet enjoyed it wholly, and I look forward to seeing it play out.
Narration: The story is shared from the third person alternating POV‘s of the two main characters Beatrix and Peter. The narrator is a neutral feminine narrator who alters dialogue slightly, adjusting for age, gender, etc. Her voice is gentle and easy to listen to; very suiting for the narrator and characters. Her males are generally lower pitched. Her younger characters tend to be suitably bubbly and more vivacious. She does a good job creating unique character voices, and the voices work great together when performing dialogue between Peter and Beatrix, even with few to no dialogue tags.
In the end, Subversive is an entertaining fantasy, and I wasn’t prepared for the story to end where it did. The larger story is not over - the book is only part one of a larger tale.
My Ratings: Story: A- Narration: A-
Review copy provided by author Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About...more
Jen (That's What I'm Talking About)
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