Lavender House A Novel By: Lev AC Rosen Narrated by: Vikas Adam Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins Unabridged Audiobook Release date: 10-18-22 Language: English Publisher: Macmillan Audio From blurb: When your existence is a crime, everything you do is criminal, and the gates of Lavender House can’t lock out the real world forever. Running a soap empire can be a dirty business. Lavender House was one of my favorite books of 2022. The story was complex and the characters were complicated. The story has characteristics of class Noirs like Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett. Take one man down on his luck. He is so down that his next planned step is off the Golden Gate Bridge. Put that man is a house with astounding characters, each with their own agenda, where one of them is a murderer. A house that is far removed from any neighbors. Stir in a little corporate rivalry. Now that man needs to solve the murder against the wishes of a few of the characters. He also needs to stay alive. Vikas Adam's narration was marvelous. In fact, I bought the audiobook of The Far Pavilions simply because he was narrating it. The voice of the main character is rough and his emotions come through clearly. The other members of the household, whether male or female, young or old, are all very well done. I was quickly immersed in the story. The mystery was fun to try to solve. I did not. Lavender House left me wanting more, especially from the main character Andy. The 1950s time period with a queer private detective written by Lev AC Rosen would be an automatic buy. I received a copy of the audiobook from Netgalley and then won one from McMillian Audio through an Instagram post. I listed to the audiobook multiple times and wrote an honest review. (less)
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I read War of the Wicked when it was on a reading app and was titled Lucifer's Landing. I enjoyed it. War of the Wicked was not so much rereading as rediscovering it. The author, Davidson King, did not rewrite it as much as make it more complete. I love it! Davidson King is my favorite mafia author for a reason. Two mafia heads who are like night and day and have a history together. A young man who has seen the worst of life and made the best of what he has. Dante Scavo is the head of his family after the unexpected death of his father. The other heads of families are watching closely to find a weakness. All except Ren, the head of the Ikeda family. Childhood friends, Dante and Ren have respect for each other. Rainn Blessing, yes that is really his name, was rescued from a very bad situation by one of Dante's father's men. Instead of going back out on the streets, Rainn is offered the opportunity to become a high-priced and well-protected sex worker. Once the story begins, it does not stop. It is a fast-paced story that kept me reading when I should have been asleep. I enjoyed the romance between Dante and Rainn. I equally enjoyed the character of Ren. This is the start of a new series for Davidson King. I am excited to see where she takes it. I received an Advance Review Copy. I read it and wrote an honest review. Forbidden Mafia Prince The Malvagio Duet, Book 1 By: Ella Frank, Brooke Blaine Narrated by: Aiden Snow Series: The Malvagio Duet, Book 1 Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins Unabridged Audiobook Release date: 11-15-22 Language: English Publisher: Tantor Audio Forbidden Mafia Prince had my favorite genres in the title. I love a good mafia romance and this book was definitely that. I went into it knowing the book would be a cliffhanger. Since I knew it before starting the book, I was ok with that. The main characters, Dom and Luca, come from very different worlds. Unfortunately for Luca. their worlds overlap in a frightening Venn diagram. Just one very small section that is going to cost Luca his life. Dom is the mafia prince from the title. Luca is a doctor doing his internship. Two men who should have not ever met do. This is a dark romance. The big mystery that began the book is still not revealed at the end of book 1 and I cannot wait for book 2 to be released. Aiden Snow narrates the book. He may be familiar as the voice of God from AE Via's Nothing Special series. The voice he creates for Dom is deep and commanding. When Dom is being nasty (not the fun kind), there is no doubt in the listener's mind what emotion is being conveyed. Luca's voice reflects a very intelligent and driven individual. There are so many emotions between Dom and Luca and they are well portrayed. Mafia + Aiden Snow = Please and thank you. #TantorAudio #AidenSnow #Ella Frank #Brooke Blaine Head Rush By: Davidson King Narrated by: Alexander Cendese, John Solo Series: Haven Hart Length: 4 hrs and 19 mins Unabridged Audiobook Release date: 11-01-22 Language: English Publisher: Tantor Audio Head Rush is excellent. The ninth book in a series and it is excellent. There are very few series that can continue to be excellent after a book or two let alone nine. I have been hooked on the Haven Hart series since Snow first stepped onto the page. The growth of the characters, not just the physical growth, is well written. This growth relates to some of the characters who were in the first book but it is also the newer characters introduced in Simon Says. What did I like about Head Rush? Rush's struggle to accept Simon's life of danger is relatable. Rush loves Simon. Does he wish Simon sound insurance instead of being the heir to a large criminal empire? You bet he does. As the danger from the last book becomes more then he bargained for, Rush has to decide if he is all in, if Simon is worth it. One of my favorite quotes from the book reflects this struggle, "I know it's not easy to life this life, Rush, but it's near impossible not to love this family and not be willing to die for them." What I didn't like was the way all of Black's technological wonders seem to end is a massive explosion. It is like Roland Emmerich personally plans his destruction. The book is fantastic, explosions included. If you have enjoyed any of the Haven Hart books, Head Rush is a sure good read. John Solo and Alexander Cendese do a good job narration. I've heard their narration in the previous book Secret Simon. As in the previous book, John Solo is too quiet at times. Rush's voice Honestly I still prefer the original voices of Philip Alces and Joel Leslie While I read and listened to an advanced review copy to submit an honest review, I also paid for the Kindle version because Davidson King is a one-click author. I received a copy of the audiobook from Tantor Media and wrote an honest review. #DavidsonKing #HeadRush #HavenHart Tread of Angels By: Rebecca Roanhorse Narrated by: Dion Graham Length: Not Yet Known Unabridged Audiobook Release date: 11-15-22 Language: English Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Dion Graham could read me the phone book. Hell, he could read me any book, cereal box, or even Ikea instructions. The man's voice is liquid gold. He does an amazing job narrating Tread of Angels. So many different types of voices, angels, demons, elect, Virtues, Fallen, and the main characters. Mr. Graham creates them all. It was easy to know who was speaking because the voices he creates are unique. Now that I am done fangirling, let's discuss the book.
I have read two other fantastic books by Rebecca Roanhorse and this one did not disappoint. The world-building is amazing. This is not a long book but it manages to create a whole world, populated with unique characters, and leave me wanting more. The time period is 1883 and the location is the West. The ones who live there are descended from the Great Battle between the Angels and the Demons. Take that crazy world building and add a murder mystery, which I did not get until the book solved it. I came away from the book thinking about people I know like Celeste and feeling profoundly sad for them. I hope this is the start of a new series. There is so much richness in this short novel. I would like to see more. I received a copy of the audiobook from Simon & Schuster. After listening to it attentively, I wrote an honest review. Sins of the Fathers is the sequel to Morgan Brice's Kings of the Mountain. Sins accomplishes something sequels rarely do; it is as good as the first one. It picks up not long after the events of Kings of the Mountain. While Dawson and Grady have finally admitted their love for each other, the world around them seems to be trying to burn them down. The mysteries of Dawson's parents and Grady's parents deaths take center stage with attempts to kill individual family members. The action starts almost immediately and does not stop. There is more depth revealed in the characters. It made me more invested in the outcome of the story. I hope this series continues. There are so many possible plot bunnies to explore. I received a copy of the book from Story Origin. After reading the book, I wrote an honest review. If all your favorite friends from Haven Heart got together for a murder party . . . It is Halloween and everyone is jazzed for a night of fun at Joker's Sin. Atlas and his crew have pulled out all the stops in decorations, music, and drinks. Everybody has their costumes on and is enjoying the fun. But what's this? A dead body in the Men's Room? No one, me included, expected that. In the following days the Manos, Poe, and Black families (not blood but choice) struggle to find a connection between the multiple dead bodies and the method of their death. It was fun to see all my favorite Haven Heart characters ago, especially now that they have aged. Snow is just as sharp as ever. He never needs a weapon, his words are the killers. Eight and Rush are still "pinch your checks" sweet except that one of them is a murdery person. Fred makes a brief appearance. I would like more Fred, please. Maybe with a side of a big, possessive mobster? I enjoyed the book but it was short for all the action it contained. Law of Retaliation is a good read that left me wanting more. I must mention the cover which is exquisite. I received an Advance Review Copy which I read. I wrote an honest review. Blurb from Goodreads:
Humankind discovers intelligent life in an octopus species with its own language and culture, and sets off a high-stakes global competition to dominate the future. Rumors begin to spread of a species of hyperintelligent, dangerous octopus that may have developed its own language and culture. Marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen, who has spent her life researching cephalopod intelligence, will do anything for the chance to study them. The transnational tech corporation DIANIMA has sealed the remote Con Dao Archipelago, where the octopuses were discovered, off from the world. Dr. Nguyen joins DIANIMA’s team on the islands: a battle-scarred security agent and the world’s first android. The octopuses hold the key to unprecedented breakthroughs in extrahuman intelligence. The stakes are high: there are vast fortunes to be made by whoever can take advantage of the octopuses’ advancements, and as Dr. Nguyen struggles to communicate with the newly discovered species, forces larger than DIANIMA close in to seize the octopuses for themselves. But no one has yet asked the octopuses what they think. And what they might do about it. A near-future thriller about the nature of consciousness, Ray Nayler’s The Mountain in the Sea is a dazzling literary debut and a mind-blowing dive into the treasure and wreckage of humankind’s legacy. I chose A Mountain in the Sea from Netgalley because the blurb mentioned octopuses/octopi. I have been fascinated by octopi for years. Their intelligence and problem-solving capabilities are concepts I have surprised have not been mined in fiction more. Marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen is researching the octopi which seem to have language and culture. Many chapters begin with quotes from a book she wrote called How Oceans Think. The quotes from the book are interesting. I would read it if it was published. The author Ray Nayler presents the information in a way that I can understand. This information enriches the book. The story takes place in our future when there have been massive upheavals in the geopolitical sphere, and wars that caused environmental catastrophes in addition to killing large portions of the population. The main part of the book is about Dr. Ha and the two who are on the island with her. One is a woman who has been enhanced so she is as much a machine as a human. The other is an android whose perfection scared the population to the point where there were riots and social unrest. Now they are hidden on this island to help Dr. Ha with her research. There are several other strands that weave through the story and eventually meet in Dr. Ha’s story. Eunice Wong does an incredible job narrating. Each main character has a distinct voice. The narration is always clear even when describing actions like battles. I do not possess the words to describe how incredible and wonderful this book is. I have listened to it three times already. I am discovering new gems each time I listen. I have truly enjoyed this book. It took my imagination to new places and definitely new situations. It also made me think about what being human really means. @raynayler @Netgalley @EuniceWongActor Have mercy was a lovely romance but at times it made me so mad. The main characters Kerry and Julian are both men dealing with damage. Julian has serious PTSD from dealing with tours of duty in the army. A year after discharge and still, at loose ends, he accepts an invitation to go to his cousin's ranch in Wyoming to help with a building project. He's lived in New York City all his life but visited Wyoming several times as a child.
Kerry is a man who did the right things for the wrong reasons. He bowed to his family's demand that their ranch is the center of his life. Although he knew in high school that he was most probably gay, he hid himself because he did not want to disappoint his family. He married his high school sweetheart and they had one child Ainsley. When Kerry's wife Sienna found out he was gay, it was not a smooth, happy coming out. It was followed immediately by his family shutting him out. And then his daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. Through all of this and continuing throughout the story, he has carried such a burden of guilt. That burden affects him just as much as Julian's PTSD affects him. I enjoyed the characters. I enjoyed the setting. The story was lovely. It was a gentle reaching of two men for each other and recognizing in each other the damage. What I did not like and what made me so mad was the pressure that was put on Kerry that even though he came out he still needed to keep quiet. He still needed to not date anybody. He still needed to make his family's ranch and now his and Sienna's farm the center of everything. The pressure on him to carry the burden of guilt and anger from everybody else. I just wanted to go slap his family upside the head. Nick Russo did a nice job narrating. He has distinct voices for Kerry and Julian. I was somewhat surprised that Julian did not have a definite accent coming from New York. Other than that the voices were all very good and easy to understand. I received a copy of Have Mercy from Audible because I won a contest on Facebook run by the author. I listened to the book and then wrote an honest review. I am going to look for more from Christina Lee since I really enjoyed this story. The Ferryman is world-building at its best. Having read Mr. Cronin’s Passage trilogy I expected nothing less and this book blew me away. The story takes place in a rigid class society on the island nation of Prospera. Those who live on Prospera have all they need to live comfortably. They are educated. They do not have to worry about the necessities of food and shelter. Those that live on Annex serve those on Prospera. They are given only enough to do the manual and servant labor that Prospera needs. The final island is the Nursery and this is where the world-building tells you that this is a science fiction/fantasy story. All the islands exist within a veil that protects them from the catastrophes of the world. Proctor is the main narrator. His story is told in the first person. At times the story switches to a third-person view to illustrate what is happening beyond Proctor’s surroundings. The story begins when Proctor is forty-two and fifteen years into his marriage with Elise. He and his wife and their families all live on Prospera and are privileged. There are characters from the Annex who play a large part in the story. I am not sure what plot points I can discuss without giving away the majority of the twists and turns this book takes. And it does have some really big turns. Arrival at the end is satisfying and breathtaking. I needed to take a moment to just appreciate the journey The Ferryman took me on. I have already preordered the Audible version of the book which releases May 2, 2023. The Ferryman is on my list of the best books I have read or listened to in 2022. I received an advanced review copy of The Ferryman from NetGalley. I read the book, read it again, and then wrote an honest review. #TheFerryman #NetGalley Kings of the Mountain by Morgan Brice Kings of the mountain really was an excellent book. I love the main characters. Dawson is returning from two tours overseas during the war. Not all his injuries are apparent. He has some severe PTSD. He's coming home to take up the family business. The family business is killing monsters. Grady is two two years younger than him and a cousin but not by blood. Dawson and Grady have had feelings for each other for years but Dawson always stopped anything because Grady was younger. The relationship in the book is interesting. They both love each other. There is a back and forth caused by Dawson coming to accept it is ok to love Grady, his cousin, and grieving the traumatic death of his father. The world-building is terrific. A world where monsters exist but the public does not know. In the rural area surrounding the mountain where the King family lives, long-time residents know to call the Kings for help with unusual problems. Kings of the Mountain is the first book in a series. I am on board for the rest of the series. I received a copy of Kings of the Mountain from Story Origins. I read it and wrote an honest review. Project Hero By: Briar Prescott Narrated by: Kirt Graves, Joel Leslie Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins Unabridged Audiobook Release date: 09-13-22 Publisher: Tantor Audio Project Hero is the first book I have read by Briar Prescott. It was a sweet, low angst story. Andy is a lovable, cuddly geek. His brilliant and loyal to fault to his best friend Falcon. Falcon sees Andy as his little brother. Andy has decided to use the summer to remake himself into someone Falcon would consider adult and want to date. Law has stepped back from playing hockey, his dream, due to health issues. He is not off the ice though. He is coaching and planning a career as a coach instead of a player. Law has the summer to get his freshmen players to pass chemistry or they will be cut from the team and lose their scholarships. When they first meet, Andy does not like Law because Falcon has a grudge against Law. From the first Law finds Andy adorable. As they work together, they become friends. Andy helps Law tutor his freshmen and Law helps Andy with his project to be Falcon's hero. The story has a happy ending for everyone. It was a relaxing, fun story. When I was offered a chance to review the book by Tantor Audio, I jumped on it. Two of my favorite narrators, Kirt Graves and Joel Leslie. Andy is adorable on the page and Joel Leslie brings that to life with his narration. His uncertainty about how to capture Falcon's attention. Law is lovely and let's Andy be Andy. If only he could convince Andy that he is prefect as he is. Both narrators do a fantastic job. Tantor Audio gave me a copy of Project Hero. I wrote an honest review after listening to it (several times). Review of audiobook King's Ex-Cons By: Ki Brightly, M.D. Gregory Narrated by: Andrew Ladd Series: The Kings of Men MC Length: 2 hrs and 54 mins Unabridged Audiobook Release date: 09-07-22 King's Ex-Cons is the ninth book in The Kings of Men MC series by Ki Brighty and M.D. Gregory. It focuses on the relationship between Charley Hughes and Colton “Scar” Hebb, characters introduced in the 3rd book of the series. They met while in prison and formed a relationship. After several years, cracks have appeared but Scar seems oblivious. Scar is very comfortable, comfortable enough that he does not truly listen to Charley anymore. When Charley raises a problem, Scar tries to use sex to distract Charley and not, as in never, discuss what is bothering Charley. It works until the issue Charley wants to talk about is sex. The authors do an excellent job of showing what a relationship looks like when one partner takes the other for granted. The narrator, Andrew Ladd, really gave me problems. His voices for Charley and Scar are good. His secondary characters, not so much. Scar's mom and McKenzie a good examples of this. The narrator's sound effects took me out of the story. Around 5 mins into chapter 7, there is a kissing scene and the sound effects are unsexy, at least to me. I really like the story because it illustrates how important it is for relationships to be open to communication as well as balanced in power. I will try another narration by Andrew Ladd as it may have just been this book that threw me off. I received a copy of King's Ex-Cons from the author. I wrote an honest review. Blurb: A visit from Button Man means only one thing: someone wants you dead. Duke is born into the world a hired killer. It’s his birthright—all he knows, all he thinks he’ll ever be. Then one fateful night, the unthinkable occurs and in the most tragic of moments, a promise is made. That promise is kept for almost fifteen years, until he comes face-to-face with a target he never expects and a future he never sees coming. Kelly spends his days in a classroom, while his nights couldn’t be more different. Unbeknownst to those around him, their friendly neighborhood teacher is the handler for a hit man. For over a decade he has watched Button Man’s back from behind a computer screen. He is content living his double life, believing he will never cross paths with the dangerous assassin, but fate has a different plan. When the past collides with the present, Duke and Kelly must prevent it from destroying the future. It’s not just their lives they need to think about—the entire world of a fourteen-year-old girl is about to spin on its axis. Dodging bullets and uncovering truths bring the two closer than they could have imagined. But lust takes a back seat to survival when enemies threaten to drown them both in blood. Can they navigate these twists and turns when death is lingering at every corner, or will they die trying? Review: I had never considered "mafia romance" as a genre. Then I read Davidson King. Now it is my favorite genre. The Button Man is yet another wonderful mafia romance. I loved it. Duke and Kelly are a wonderfully complicated couple. Their relationship is new and old and full of secrets. They are in the same room for the first time when Duke is sent to kill Kelly. This is not a meet cute story. The action is quick and sustained. The mystery/thriller aspects are very good. I literally did not see it coming. The romance is wonderful. Davidson King writes flawed characters who together overcome almost all things. Even the things that do not overcome cannot keep them apart. I am looking forward to more books in this universe. I am also looking forward to the audiobook which I had is sooner rather than later. I received an advance review copy from the author. I wrote an honest review. As soon as I finish the book, I pre-ordered the next book in the series. This was by far one of those books that is a five-plus star read. What a way to start a new series. It is spectacular. The character of Jack was introduced in Vow of the Vigilante. He was an interesting character as soon as he was introduced. A hitman who was demoted to escorting the Monster of the Morellis and his FBI-on-the-lamb boyfriend. The book also introduced the Castellani Family. And what a family they are! In His Lethal Desire, Jack takes center stage. He is tasked by Don Castellani with finding a missing starlet. When he finally talks to the young man who has been staring at him during his weekly visits to a dive, they hit it off and they spend the evening talking. The next day when Jack seeks the missing starlet's twin brother for information, he finds the young man from the bar. The danger and mystery in this book are very well written. I truly had no solution in mind until the author began to review it piece by piece. The ending was terrific, much more than I expected, and sets up the next book (which I already preordered). The underworld of LA is much different from the NYC one. I am invested in seeing how these characters deal with the murder that I believe is the overarching one for the series. Pack of Lies is a book adjacent to Charlie Adhara's Big Bad Wolf series. It is not necessary to read the Big Bad Wolf series but it will increase your joy of Pack of Lies immeasurably. One of the man characters is featured in that series. Eli Smith is a werewolf. He is a fashion plate. Sometimes a thief. Always snarky and on guard to protect himself in all ways. His friendship with one of the most powerful werewolves leads to him running a retreat. It is advertised as a place for those fleeing domestic abuse. It is really a safe house for werewolves without the protection of a pack. Julien Doran is a Hollywood has been. He is still friends with his ex-wife. He is also in the closet. He travels to Maudit Falls, NC trying to understand the death of his brother a year ago. He found papers of his brother's that indicate he traveled to Maudit Falls prior to his death to find something he felt would change his life. The first chapter sets up Eli and Julien for their first meeting. From Eli's first sentence, the snark is strong. The characters are all well developed. Both Julien and Eli have backstories that are given to the reader. In Eli's case, it is not the entire story. The secondary characters are also well written. The mystery is solved but leaves other questions and fears. There are references to events from The Big Bad Wolf series which a reader will get on a surface level. The reader who has read The Big Bad Wolf series will get much more from those references. The writing is amazing, as always. For example, as Julien is driving on a narrow mountain round with worsening snow conditions, he ponders why he is even there, "A man who thought he could open a wound so recently closed, it still wept as the edges. A man who went looking for monsters." The emotions, which are very strong and complex, are written so the reader does see what the character feels. Really amazing writing. I am looking forward to the audio release with Joel Leslie as the narrator. He is an excellent narrator and Pack of Lies will do well in his hands (and vocal chords). I have it preordered. Pack of Lies is a book adjacent to Charlie Adhara's Big Bad Wolf series. It is not necessary to read the Big Bad Wolf series but it will increase your joy of Pack of Lies immeasurably. One of the man characters is featured in that series. Eli Smith is a werewolf. He is a fashion plate. Sometimes a thief. Always snarky and on guard to protect himself in all ways. His friendship with one of the most powerful werewolves leads to him running a retreat. It is advertised as a place for those fleeing domestic abuse. It is really a safe house for werewolves without the protection of a pack. Julien Doran is a Hollywood has been. He is still friends with his ex-wife. He is also in the closet. He travels to Maudit Falls, NC trying to understand the death of his brother a year ago. He found papers of his brother's that indicate he traveled to Maudit Falls prior to his death to find something he felt would change his life. The first chapter sets up Eli and Julien for their first meeting. From Eli's first sentence, the snark is strong. The characters are all well developed. Both Julien and Eli have backstories that are given to the reader. In Eli's case, it is not the entire story. The secondary characters are also well written. The mystery is solved but leaves other questions and fears. There are references to events from The Big Bad Wolf series which a reader will get on a surface level. The reader who has read The Big Bad Wolf series will get much more from those references. The writing is amazing, as always. For example, as Julien is driving on a narrow mountain round with worsening snow conditions, he ponders why he is even there, "A man who thought he could open a wound so recently closed, it still wept as the edges. A man who went looking for monsters." The emotions, which are very strong and complex, are written so the reader does see what the character feels. Really amazing writing. I am looking forward to the audio release with Joel Leslie as the narrator. He is an excellent narrator and Pack of Lies will do well in his hands (and vocal cords). I have it preordered. EDIT: I finished listening to Pack of Lies narrated by Joel Leslie. It was all I expect it to be. His characters have distinct voices and reflect their emotions well. He does a fantastic job as usual. I look forward to the next book in the series hopefully also narrated by Joel Leslie. I received a copy of Pack of Lies from Netgalley and wrote an honest review. I purchased the Audible edition. #PackofLies #NetGalley #BigBadWolfSeries #MonsterHuntSeries @Charlie_Adhara @NetGalley @joellesliefro I received a copy of Pack of Lies from Netgalley and wrote a honest review. #PackofLies #NetGalley #BigBadWolfSeries #MonsterHuntSeries @Charlie_Adhara @NetGalley @joellesliefro NetGalley, with We Are Bookish, has produced a Book Advocate Toolkit. This toolkit is the perfect way to get started and comfortable on NetGalley. It walks the reader through creating a profile and selecting titles to review. There are tips for posting on social media including video reviews. Topics include hashtags and planning to put a review across all your social media platforms. It is a great tool to help the reader start with NetGalley or improve an already established profile. This is an honest review of the title. I received it from NetGalley. They Call Him Levity Welcome Boulevard Series By: Davidson King Narrated by: Philip Alces, Alexander Cendese Series: Welcome Boulevard, Book 1 Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins Unabridged Audiobook Release date: 06-28-22 Language: English Publisher: Tantor Audio Levity is a young man living on the streets in California. Although he is not in very good circumstances, his personality is very optimistic. In fact, his name Levity comes from his sunny disposition. Salvatore Grillo, the head of his family, runs his empire of not even close to legal businesses. When the two meet, sparks fly. But there is a possible mob war in the offing and next to Salvatore may be the most unsafe place in the world. There is so much to love in this book. First of all, Levity is a wonderful protagonist. He is strong despite what it seems life has dumped on him. And he doesn't need anyone rescuing him. Although they are not equal in economic power, they are in every other way. Levity does not feel indebted to Salvatore, not having a problem with returning to the streets if necessary. I really like that about the character. He is not a damsel in distress in any form. The second thing I love about the book is the plot. It is a mystery, romance, thriller, suspense, and delicious. I am looking forward to the next book in the Welcome Boulevard series. The narration was wonderful. Alexander Cendese creates the voice of Levity. His voice is light and pleasant. He shows his vulnerability and his absolute joy in life. Levity would be someone I would love to know. Salvatore Grillo is voiced by Philip Alces. He narrates some of my favorite characters, Christopher Manos in Snow falling for one. His Sal projects authority and power. Also the voice of Sal when he is expressing his feelings for Levity is soft and sweet. Davidson King creates the most wonderful mafia characters. Salvatore Grillo joins those illustrious men. I received a copy of They Call Him Levity from Tantor Audio and wrote a honest review. For almost two years I have been singing 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. Writing this review was very difficult. NoX is an amazing book and my review will not do it justice. That being said, NoX was a great read and a wonderful audiobook. While the book was available through Kindle Unlimited, I did purchase it after my first read-through. Then I bought the Audible. I have relistened to it several times and each time picked up something I had missed. Wilder has created a book that has elements of horror, suspense, thriller, romance, fantasy, and science fiction.
“It resembled a wolf, only it was twice as big as a man, and the paws were more like fingers. Black fur covered its body, the color so flawless it became devoid of light. High shoulders and a lower rear allowed it to spread its stance. And the very space around it held weight.” The main characters are NoX and Luca are excellent. Luca is a young man who has never lived because he has been dying since he was eight years old. NoX burst into his life and everything changes. NoX is the most original character I have ever encountered. The side characters are written very well (looking at you Vic). The story was original. The epilogue caught me before I had solved anything. The author mentions wanting to write more in this universe. Please and thank you. But even if NoX is a standalone forever, it is complete in itself and well worth the time. Kirk Graves does a wonderful job of narrating. His distinct voices for NoX, Luca, Dr. Reese Dante, Colonel Harrington and Mrs. Laura Phillips. He makes the story very easy to follow. The moods of the characters are reflected in how Graves brings them to life. Dante’s voice varies between soul-crushing exhaustion and profound sadness. It really is a masterful narration. I chose NoX as the best book and the best audiobook of 2020. In a year where I read or listened to 511 books in total, NoX easily outshone the others. The Lost Girls of Willowbrook is a very well-written book. It is a fictional book based on a true story. The fact that there is truth in the bones of the book makes it more horrifying than an Stephen King book. Sage is a young lady who lost her family. She lives with her stepfather in a state of mutual loathing. Her father died when she was young. Her twin sister, Rosemarie, died six years prior. After remarrying to a man who disliked Sage, her mother died. Several years later, Sage finds out Rosemarie did not die of pneumonia. Her mother put her twin in the Willowbrook asylum. Sage decides to go to Willowbrook and find her sister. What follows is a tale of horror based in reality. As I read Sage's story, I was unable to divorce myself from the history on which it was based. That did not lessen the impact of the book. It really packed an emotional punch. It is well written. Over the years, I have read articles about horrible state of mental institutions. I have watched the Cropsey documentary and a few other videos about closed asylums. The state of mental health in this country is still in crisis. I recommend The Lost Girls of Willowbrook. I received an advance review copy from Netgalley. After reading the book, I wrote an honest review. #TheLostGirlsofWillowbrook #NetGalley @EllenMarieWise @NetGalley The Bureau of Trans-Species Affairs is a wonderful series written by Kim Fielding. Each book in the series involves a different type period and a different non-human. I was hooked on the first book, Corruption. The story was original and some mysteries left to solve. The series has continued like that. Some previous mysteries were solved, new mysteries added, and one huge mystery was still unsolved with no real clues. Caught is book 9 of the series. It involves a lab tech who has never been out of the lab, Art. He is happy with his research and helping out beyond the scenes. Not everyone can be an exciting agent. Art is sent to Nothern California with no information other than meet Jerry the forest ranger. There are dead bodies, mysteries, and monsters. Really enjoyable story. This series has become an automatic buy for me. #KimFielding #TheBureauofTrans-SpeciesAffairs Look at this beautiful cover! The very talented Morningstar Ashley can be found at Designs by Morningstar The Black Veil Series by Davidson King takes place in a world where the veil between realities/universes broke. Joining humanity on earth is a diverse multitude of lifeforms. In The Blood Boss, book 1 of the series, Black Veil is shown as belonging to the vampires. In Emperor of Dragons, as the title suggest, the emperor of all dragons is introduced. Aldrich is coming to Black Veil to propose a treaty between his realm and Cain's. There are many items on the pro list to accept the treaty. The best one is the ability of a vampire to survive on only a very small amount of dragon blood every six months. Big win for the vampires, right? Emil, Cain's best friend and bodyguard, is not thrilled by the coming visit. Every dragon he has met has been a pertinacious ass. As he waits to hear what the dragons want for their blood, he finds himself intrigued by the emperor. Then, the dragons reveal what they want from the vampires. It is not so simple anymore. Whether romance, politics, or war Aldrich and Emil must come to terms, the best terms for their own people. I received an Advance Review Copy. I read it. I wrote this honest review. We Own This City is the very complex story of corruption within the Baltimore Police Department, specifically the Gun Trace Task Force. Justin Fenton, the author, lays the story out in a manner that makes it understandable. I was not familiar with the GTTF corruption case, although I was familiar with several issues of the BPD having cops who committed crimes. Step by step Mr. Fenton leads the reader/listener from the start with drug and money robberies to the men sent to jail who while not completely innocent did not deserve the crimes they were charged with. Two parts of this book unsettled me beyond the cops who were criminals. So many people were affected, men wrongly jailed, their families losing them, and their statements were never given equal weight or even consideration to the GTTF's statements. The detective who was murdered or committed suicide with the truth never to be positively determined. I cannot imagine the pain his family has gone through. Yes, he was guilty of participating in the GTTF's crimes but his family was not. To have that question never resolved, murder or suicide, seemed a hell that no one deserves. Dion Graham is an incredible narrator. I first heard him narrating No Gods, No Monsters. We Own This City is non-fiction and in Mr. Graham's hands, it becomes a mystery/thriller that you do not want to stop listening to. |
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