Anubis Book 2 in the Wolves Incarnate series Author Adrienne Wilder Narrated by Kirt Graves Publication date Mar 28, 2023 Running time 21 hrs 16 min Audio review: Hearing Kirk Graves's narration of Anubis was wonderful. Hearing Nox, Luca, and Dante again was like listening to an old friend after an absence. His distinct voices for NoX, Luca, Dr. Reese Dante, and Mrs. Laura Phillips are joined by the new characters like Jonathan, Seung, and Isaiah. Kirt Grave's voice creates a masterful narration, the uncertainty and fear of Dr. Dante, the power of the Anubis, the love between Luca and Nox, Isaiah's zealotry, and Jonathan righteousness. It is a joy to lose myself in Adrienne Wilder's story brought to life by Kirt Graves. Book Review: For almost two years I sung the praises of Nox. In a year where I read or listened to 511 books in total, Nox easily outshone the others. I wanted more, as people tend to do when they love something. When that more arrived, it was glorious. Anubis is a worthy successor to Nox. The world-building in Anubis is complex and very good. It opens up a world that Nox only hinted at. The reader finds out what the Anubis truly is and how it fits in the world of the Varu. Adrienne Wilder is one of my favorite authors. His ideas are intriguing. The language and descriptions paint such detailed pictures in my mind. For example: "The wolf appeared from nothing beside Isaiah. The lack of light and night vision of the Anubis didn’t strip away its gold coloration. Stars glittered in its coat, and nebulas filled its blue eyes." That description stopped me in my tracks the first time I read it. Wolves are beautiful animals but imagine one made of stars with swirling nebulas in its eyes. It is beyond beautiful. Characters that I loved from Nox had significant growth and depth in Anubis. Luca and Nox are still my all-time favorite couple. The concept of loving someone so much you are willing to die to protect them is something I think everyone yearns for. Dr. Reese Dante is in the center of the action this time. His motivation is simple: “I’m not brave. I’m paying penance. There’s a difference.” He is also one of my favorite characters because he is such a good man. Watching him grow into a fuller character was wonderful. The action is well written. It is easy to follow. I could easily discern what was happening to who. The big battle scene is exciting and helps push the story forward. It is not just fighting for fighting's sake. Adrienne Wilder has promised there is more to come. I am ready to preorder the next book as soon as it is available. Go on a journey with Luca, Nox, and Dr. Dante. Explore this world. New friends and foes, not necessarily signaling who is what at first, are waiting. I received an advance review copy from Tantor Media. I listened to Anubis and wrote an honest review. I also bought a copy through Audible.
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Breathe My Name is the second book in the Welcome Boulevard series by Davidson King. The first book was They Call Him Levity (review here: https://gatun.weebly.com/blog/audio-review-of-they-call-him-levity-by-davidson-king) I enjoyed Breathe My Name. Two of the side characters, not the main characters, from the first book, were Clove and Marcel. Marcel is the right-hand man of Sal the mafia boss. Clove is Levity's best friend. Clove and Levity are similar to fighters standing back to back. They take care of each other, fight for each other, and want all the best for each other. Clove has had a thing for Marcel from the beginning. But being homeless and often living on the streets he did not think Marcel was within his reach. Clove doesn’t wear thousand-dollar suits like Marcel. Marcel on the other hand has been captivated by Clove since the first time he saw him. But he feels a responsibility to his boss not to do anything to mess up the business. So it takes a while for Marcel and Clove to finally act on their attraction for each other. It also takes a little meddling. But when they do it is amazing. If you enjoy a good romance with opposites attract and a little bit of possessive protection, you will enjoy Breathe My Name. I received an advance review copy from the author. I read it and wrote an honest review. Sinful Mafia Prince Book 2 in the Malvagio Duet series Author Ella Frank, Brooke Blaine Narrated by Aiden Snow Publication date Mar 21, 2023 Running time 6 hrs 14 min Sinful Mafia Prince is the second book in the Malvagio Duet by Ella Frank and Book Blaine. It is the not a standalone. You can find my review of the first audiobook here gatun.weebly.com/blog/audio-review-of-forbidden-mafia-prince-by The audiobook is narrated by Aiden Snow. If you have read any of my previous reviews, you know I am a big Aiden Snow fan. Spoilers from Forbidden Mafia Prince start here. The first book ends with the attack in the parking garage that has the Fiores capturing Luca. Sinful Mafia Prince picks up immediately after the ending of the first book. Luca is locked in the trunk of the Fiore's car and he has no idea of what is happening. Same day, same sh*t for poor Luca. No matter what the Fiores have planned for their lost heir, Dom will not allow any harm to come to Luca. Luca is his and he is going to get him back. I loved the narration of this book. Aiden Snow has a versatile voice. Dom's voice can be commanding, full of rage or, in this book, vulnerable. Luca sounds exactly what he is, a young man ripped from his life. He too has moments of rage but also frustration at his situation. First the prisoner of the Rossettis, then the Fiores. Aiden Snows voice catches the many different characters in a way that makes them distinct from each other. The Malvagio Duet is wonderful for fans of M/M romance and Mafia romance (my favorite genre). I received a copy of Sinful Mafia Prince from Tantor Media. After listening to it, I wrote an honest review. #TantorAudio #AidenSnow #Ella Frank #Brooke Blaine I choose The Cabinet of Dr. Leng because I really enjoyed The Cabinet of Curiosity, an earlier book in the series. I did not realize how many books I missed in the series. It left me confused and trying to pick up the series threads. This is on me and not the authors. Prendergast is one of my favorite characters in literature. He is odd and compelling. Constance is a good character. For a woman out of her time, she is independent and fearless. Without understanding how the events/characters of this book connect to the last book I read, I still enjoyed the book. Preston and Child are terrific writers. Both their joint books and individual books are worth reading. Netgalley provided a copy of the book. After reading it, I wrote an honest review. @Netgalley The River Prince is the second in the Realms of Love series. Both books are lovely stories that I really enjoyed. Elia is the youngest son of the King of Eistrea but he is not treated well by his family or the people of the kingdom. In a land that outlaws magic, where having magic can lead to death or slavery, Elia must hide his gifts. Elia's family is composed of a sister and two brothers, one of whom beats Elia regularly to the point of serious injury. An ambassador from the Hellebore Empire and his retinue travel to meet with the king of Eistrea. In this group, is Merrick a soldier in the highly respected Hellions. Merrick sees Elia and knows he has magic. Both the Helleboren and Eistrea groups travel together to the Holy City to celebrate the Soltice and renew their treaty. Elia's older sister is expected to marry the Helleboren Emperor. Nothing goes as the King of Eistrea and his daughter plan. There is a spy in one of the groups and they will turn both groups of royalty upside down. I really enjoyed this story. I look forward to hearing it narrated by Joel Leslie. I received a copy of the book from the author the day before it was released. I bought a copy of the book the next day. Subsequent titles in this series will be an automatic buy. Blurb: After the murder of his parents, the rules of high society dictate that omega werewolf Shay find an alpha mate—and fast. While struggling with his overwhelming grief and being forced into a marriage he's never wanted, his courting celebration yields yet another nightmare when fate makes an unfortunate appearance. Alfie is a gossip reporter and alpha werewolf who latches onto the same theory as everyone else; that Shay is responsible for the deaths of his parents. When Alfie sneaks into a courting party to get a look at the guilty young man for his column, he expects to see a murderer but finds his fated mate instead. Despite mutual disdain, Shay and Alfie are now inescapably entangled—all while a double homicide remains unsolved. As their affections grow, so does the danger to their lives. Shay and Alfie might be fated, but can love conquer suspicion, grief, and the threat of death? Fate of the Moon has two premises that have to be understood from the start. The wolves (wolf shifters) are part of society. Wolves are born, not made by bitting. The wolf society is arranged by ABO (Alph/Beta/Omega) principles. Mpreg is discussed but not on the page. Shay is the main character. He is a young Omega. The only child of an Alpha/Omega pair. As the heir, society would expect Shay to make a marriage based on selecting an Alpha to run his father’s company and sire the next generation of heirs. But Shay was raised differently than the majority of Omegas. He learned about his father’s business by working with his father at home. At twenty, he is unmarried because his parents were seeking the perfect match for Shay, not his fortune. When Shay’s parents are brutally murdered, the human authorities believe Shay is to blame but cannot find proof. Shay must now select a husband—no more delays. While Shay is preparing to meet the pool of Alphas who will vie for his hand, he tries to stave off panic, a stranger walks into the room. Alfie Evans works for a newspaper, think gossip rag as opposed to New York Times. He had planned to sneak into Shay’s house to report firsthand on the Murder Boy’s coming out. When he follows his intuition, he stumbles into the room and sees Shay. Everything changes at that moment. The story follows Shay and Alfie’s journey to become a cohesive team who trusts each other. Many obstacles stand in their way: Alfie’s status as an Alpha from the middle class; Shay’s father’s business’s demands that his husband runs the company, not shay; Shay’s belief in his right to be enough; and last, Alfie’s belief that Shay is responsible for his parent’s death. Tanner, Shay’s best friend, and Oscar, the family retainer/butler, support Shay. This is not the first book by the author I've read. I have enjoyed her other books. What I enjoyed about this book was how she was able to overcome society's expectations of who and what he would be. He had to help of Alfie Oscar and Tanner. They did not try to change him or redirect him. They accepted his dreams and helped him achieve them. I always appreciate an underdog who is thought to be helpless and only has one purpose for being rising above it all and living their own life. I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review. |
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