Download the Popular Authors Audiobooks in Fiction, Contemporary

Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind Audiobook by Ann B. Ross

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Ann B. Ross) — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 06:58:28 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind Author: Ann B. Ross Narrator: Karen White Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins Language: English Release date: 06-20-12 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 247 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Miss Julia, a recently bereaved and newly wealthy widow, is only slightly bemused when one Hazel Marie Puckett appears at her door with a youngster in tow and unceremoniously announces that the child is the bastard son of Miss Julia's late husband. Suddenly, this longtime church member and pillar of her small Southern community finds herself in the center of an unseemly scandal - and the guardian of a wan nine-year-old whose mere presence turns her life upside down. With razor-sharp wit and perfect "Steel Magnolia" poise, Miss Julia speaks her mind indeed - about a robbery, a kidnapping, and the other disgraceful events precipitated by her husband's death. Fast-paced and charming, with a sure sense of comic drama, a cast of crazy characters, and a strong Southern cadence, Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind will delight listeners from first minute to the last. Members Reviews: Miss Julia is 60+ yrs old.. reader is too young Would you listen to Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind again? Why? yes.. not if same narrator Would you be willing to try another one of Karen Whites performances? NO!!!! over acting with over the top southern accentI am from the south, I should know. It was like Scarlett O'Hara in the 21st century Over actiing to the point of rolling my eyes Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry? Narrator ruimed this book, I have listened to ALL Miss Julia books; love them and the Cynthia Darlow is perfect for these books!!! Best series ever!!! Great characters set in a charming southern town. I love how Miss Julia has evolved through this series. Silly, but sweet Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind grasped my attention and charmed me in the first chapter! The narrator's sweet southern accent and quick speech pattern remained consistent throughout the book. The characters' personalities were all fleshed out quickly and each easy to imagine. On the other hand, some of the scenes droned on and on and were a little farfetched. Still, the book made me laugh out loud a couple times and I just put up with the ridiculousness of some of the plot pieces. The religious characters certainly could be compared to some of the silly, self-righteous, brainwashed, hypocritical people in my life! Miss Julia is a Trip! I'd listened to this book years ago, but didn't realize it until I was well imp it. Miss Julia is the merriest of widows after her controlling husband dies. But when his illegitimate son shows up, Miss Julia's world is turned upside down. A very clever book with likeable characters. A must listen I can't remember how many times I have listened to this book. I had read it years ago so when I saw it on audible, I knew I had to try it. Extremely entertaining with many laugh out loud places. Well worth the price you pay. I just wish the entire series were available

Beautiful Player Audiobook by Christina Lauren

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Christina Lauren) — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 13:29:44 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Beautiful Player Author: Christina Lauren Narrator: Grace Grant, Sebastian York Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins Language: English Release date: 10-29-13 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2386 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A bombshell bookworm. A chronic Casanova. And a lesson in chemistry too scandalous for school. When Hanna Bergstrom receives a lecture from her overprotective brother about neglecting her social life and burying herself in grad school, she's determined to tackle his implied assignment: get out, make friends, start dating. And who better to turn her into the sultry siren every man wants than her brother's gorgeous best friend, Will Sumner, venture capitalist and unapologetic playboy? Will takes risks for a living, but he's skeptical about this challenge of Hanna'suntil the wild night his innocently seductive pupil tempts him into bed - and teaches him a thing or two about being with a woman he can't forget. Now that Hanna's discovered the power of her own sex appeal, it's up to Will to prove he's the only man she'll ever need. Members Reviews: This book is about 50% sex...just saying... STORY (romance) - Hanna selects her brother's best friend, Will, to help her lead a more balanced life with less emphasis on grad student work and more emphasis on having a little fun. What follows is how Will, a no-strings-attached player, becomes her "teacher" in the world of dating, sex and love. The story is well-written and enjoyable. Will is a very successful bad boy and hot as they get! Hanna is beautiful, smart, sweet and sexually inquisitive. Their relationship progresses from awkward to sensual and ultimately very sweet. All this being said, I only rated the book a three because I like my books with more plot or character development and just a sprinkling of hot sex scenes...like maybe only 20 minutes of it in a 10-hour-book. While I wasn't counting, I'll bet there was probably five hours of sex in this book, which was way past my personal taste. PERFORMANCE - The book alternated between a deep, sexy male voice reading Will's perspective and a young woman reading Hanna's. The performances were both very good. OVERALL - Even though this is Book 3 in the series, the story stands alone. There is lots and lots of very explicit sex and sexual language as well. If you like a lot of hot, this is definitely the book for you! 5 Smoking Hot Stars! I just love the Beautiful B* series. It's so hard to pick a favorite when it comes to these guys. I wasn't sure I would even like Will since he is such a player. However, he was so charming and honest that I couldn't help but fall for him. Like the other books in this series there is plenty of HOTNESS! Which is what I love best about this series. I just hope we get more from this fantastic writing duo. another hot installment in the Beautiful series! Honestly, this is a definite improvement from the first book. Beautiful Playeris about Hanna and Will. We meet Will briefly inBeautiful Bombshellwhen the guys are in Vegas for Bennetts bachelor party. He is successful, smart and handsome player- lives by his own rules and doesnt want to commit to a serious relationship. Then he receives a phone call from his best friends little sister Ziggy aka Hannah. After meeting up for an early morning run the pair strike up a friendship and find themselves meeting up daily. The more time Will spends with Hannah the more he begins to doubt his own no strings attached lifestyle.

The Bonesetter's Daughter Audiobook by Amy Tan

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Amy Tan) — Fri, 17 May 2002 03:57:13 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Bonesetter's Daughter Author: Amy Tan Narrator: Amy Tan, Joan Chen Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins Language: English Release date: 05-17-02 Publisher: Phoenix Books Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 804 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: The story conjures the pain of broken dreams, the power of myths, and the strength of love that enables us to recover in memory what we have lost in grief. Over the course of one fog-shrouded year, between one season of falling stars and the next, mother and daughter find what they share in their bones through heredity, history, and inexpressible qualities of love. Critic Reviews: "In the end, it's the novel's depth of feeling that resonates and lingers. Tan writes with real soul." (Washington Post Book World) "Storytelling in its oldest and truest form." (AudioFile) Members Reviews: A Touching Story I found this book extraordinary and touching. It begins in contemporary San Francisco where a 40-ish, Chinese American woman struggles to deal with her aging mother. At first the mother's fractured English and superstitions seem to make her a comic stereotype, as does her descent into senile dementia. But, as the daughter (and the reader) read the mother's newly translated diary, this tiny Chinese woman's old world eccentricities begin to make sense in the context of the struggles and the tragedies that brought her to America where she tried to fit into a new country and a new culture. In addition to a terrific narrative, Ms. Tan works with beautiful motifs, images and themes. The motif of writing as each successive generation takes it a step forward - from ink maker to calligrapher to author - lends this very personal story an epic touch. The symbolism of the fossilized bones of Peking Man and the treasured oracle bones adds depth. This is the work of a wonderful author, unafraid to let her characters speak for themselves. Highly recommended. Exceptionally good I enjoyed this book tremendously. The writing was very nuanced and descriptive which allowed for vivid images to appear in my imagination according to what was happening throughout the book. That, in my opinion, takes some great talent. The story was very different for me as I normally go for mysteries. However, my interest never waned. I enjoyed it so much that I will probably read more of Ms. Tan's books. I would recommend this to anyone. Also, if you liked Memoirs of Geisha, I know you'll like this as well. Wonderful This book kept me enthralled to the end. It is the story of mothers, daughters, and the unknown love between them. The narration is excellent and there is a bit of "suspense" because you are just aching to know the whole story! It is a marvelous book. Mothers, Daughters, Aging My Mother first introduced me to Amy Tan by lending me "Joy Luck Club." This book far surpassed that book in describing the complex relationship of mothers and daughters. What made this story all the more touching is that my own mother is now facing some of the challenges that Ruth's mother faces. So, mirrored in the story of a grandmother, mother and daughter, experiencing life and passing on a personal history that twists and turns from one generation to the other, is the story of my own mother and me, facing similar disagreements and reconcilliations.

The Emperor's Tomb Audiobook by Steve Berry

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Steve Berry) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:57:52 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Emperor's Tomb Author: Steve Berry Narrator: Scott Brick Format: Unabridged Length: 14 hrs and 4 mins Language: English Release date: 11-23-10 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1553 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: The tomb of Chinas First Emperor, guarded by an underground army of terra-cotta warriors, has remained sealed for more than 2,000 years. Though its regarded as one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world, the Chinese government wont allow anyone to open it. Why? That question is at the heart of a dilemma faced by former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone, whose life is shattered when he receives an anonymous note carrying an unfamiliar Web address. Logging on, he sees Cassiopeia Vitt, a woman whos saved his life more than once, being tortured at the hands of a mysterious man who has a single demand: Bring me the artifact shes asked you to keep safe. The only problem is, Malone doesnt have a clue what the man is talking about, since Cassiopeia has left nothing with him. So begins Malones most harrowing adventure to dateone that offers up astounding historical revelations, pits him against a ruthless ancient brotherhood, and sends him from Denmark to Belgium to Vietnam then on to China, a vast and mysterious land where danger lurks at every turn. Critic Reviews: Perfect for thriller fans and history buffs alike. (David Morrell, on The Romanov Prophecy) Steve Berry gets better and better with each new book. (The Huffington Post, on The Paris Vendetta) Controversial, shocking, explosive. (Katherine Neville, on The Third Secret) Members Reviews: Dull A disappointing offering from the usually reliable Berry. The plot is disjointed and boring, the characters lacking in anything resembling reality. Even Malone doesn't measure up. Scott Brick doesn't help the book. He's trying to control the annoying lilt at the end of each sentence with about 90% success. He doesn't do accents or character voices well, and in this book it's a major failing. It's hard to tell which character is talking. Glad to be done with this one. Hope Berry's next book is a lot better. Fascinating Ride! A great combination of Chinese history, present Chinese political environment AND usual Cotton Malone/Casiopia Whitt action. Anyone up-to-date with current events knows that the China's need for oil outpaces even that of the US. This book's premise is current and thought-provoking while entertaining with the usual "will they make it" (although you know they will) tension. That said, this isn't really the book to start with in the Cotton Malone series. Steve Berry's earlier books set the stage so I'd recommend buying his first book and then following them sequentially. Highly entertaining and I would definitely recommend. Just okay... I really enjoy both Steve Berry and Scott Brick, however I found my mind wandering while listening to this one. Normally I'm sad when the books are over, but I was ready to be done with this one. There seemed to be a lot of background or historical information, which is necessary, but maybe this was too much. The action scenes were good, but I didn't find myself on the edge of my seat. It's an okay listen - I'm glad I bought it at the introductory price. Great book if interested in Chinese history .... Well-written book about Chinese history. Well narrated. If you're interested in a mystery story, however, it's not with the introductory price of $9.95 and definitely not worth a credit. Quite interesting I've just finished listening, and have also gone through some of the other reviews.

The Book Club Audiobook by Mary Alice Monroe

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Mary Alice Monroe) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:27:00 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Book Club Author: Mary Alice Monroe Narrator: Deanna Hurst Format: Unabridged Length: 14 hrs and 33 mins Language: English Release date: 09-01-10 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 58 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: New York Times best-selling author Mary Alice Monroe invites you to meet five remarkable characters as she explores the power of friendship with tenderness, honesty, and understanding. Critic Reviews: "Monroe's new novel opens as five friends, all members of a monthly book club, face turning points in their lives. Eve's husband dies suddenly, shattering her comfortable lifestyle, while Midge's mother makes an unannounced and unwelcomed reappearance. Annie finally feels ready to have a child, only to find her health and her marriage in jeopardy. Gabriella strains to make ends meet after her husband is laid off; Doris slides into depression as she tries to deny signs of her husband's infidelity. Sometimes close to and sometimes at odds with each other, the friends struggle to face harsh realities and, in the process, gain new independence.... Monroe offers up believable characters in a well-crafted story." (Publishers Weekly) "Monroe makes her characters so believable, the reader can almost hear them breathing. (Booklist) Members Reviews: Female friendships endure and thrive Enjoyed overall. Another book about female friendships--all five women have very different lives, yet have a wonderful bond. Worth a credit if this appeals to you. Easy to Predict! The dialogue between the characters was not reality. Not how a typical conversation would go between friends and seemed so mechanical. You easily knew how the book's direction was going and easily predict each and every next line. No surprises here. Beware: Title Is Deceptive !! What would have made The Book Club better? An exploration of the characters' interest in each other and books. What could Mary Alice Monroe have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you? She could have written a book about women who are friends, who enjoy reading and discussing books, stories, plots, etc., together. The characters in this book are not friends, they don't even like each other. A book club - don't think so - there are no discussions about any particular book, only an occasional reference by title. What didnt you like about Deanna Hursts performance? Her narration was dull and flat. It is difficult to distinguish one character from another. What character would you cut from The Book Club? Doris - she is more interested in showing off her china and table settings than being "friends" or in literary pursuits; she is a 50 year old woman who speaks in clichés about the activities of her husband's mid-life crisis as if it were not patently obvious he is having an affair - his interest in pornography for example, silk boxers - please Doris - get a clue !! Eve - hopelessly naïve about her own husband's extra-marital affair - the weeping red head at his funeral, condoms in his overnight bag, pictures of another woman in a locked box - OMG. Her pretense of a year-long period of grief is unbearably tedious. Annie - is this woman stupid ?? She is an attorney by trade and any first-year law student could have told her - "do your research lady" - having a child at 40+ years of age and all she can do is complain about what is required to accomplish that goal ?? Any additional comments? Forget about this one - save your money, time and attention. Check out a library copy of "The Jane Austen Book Club" - delightful book.

The End of Summer Audiobook by Rosamunde Pilcher

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Rosamunde Pilcher) — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 07:16:43 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The End of Summer Author: Rosamunde Pilcher Narrator: Jilly Bond Format: Unabridged Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins Language: English Release date: 12-12-17 Publisher: Macmillan Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 9 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: From beloved British author Rosamunde Pilcher comes a charming audiobook as warm and soothing as The End of Summer. After years in the United States, Jane returns to the tranquil Scottish estate Elvie, where she spent a magical childhood. Memories of Elvie had always summoned the image of Sinclair, the rakish man Jane had once dreamed of marrying, but now that she is home, she finds Sinclair a different man. His charm has a purpose, and Jane can no longer trust him...or herself, in The End of Summer. When you listen to a novel by Rosamunde Pilcher, you enter a special world where emotions sing from the heart. A world that lovingly captures the ties that bind us to one another - the joys and sorrows, heartbreaks and misunderstandings, and glad, perfect moments when we are in true harmony. A world filled with evocative, engrossing, and above all enjoyable portraits of people's lives and loves, tenderly laid open for us.... Critic Reviews: "Her genius is to create characters you really care for." ( Daily Express) Members Reviews: good story again pilcher good story again pilcher !! so boring always the same thing artists and their daughters I can't get past the first chapter....so boring always the same thing artists and their daughters..... :( maybe sometime in the future I will pick it up again..... LOVE Rosamunde Pilcher LOVE Rosamunde Pilcher, I read her books at least 3 times a year! I wish she would have one more come out! Wish she'd write more!! I have read every thing Rosamund Pilcher has written - I love her books - I love that they are (mostly) set in Scotland. Recomended reading - not heavy - just enjoyable. Five Stars Rosamunde Pilcher is one of my favorite authors. The characters she creates are well-drawn, authentic, and believable.

Finding Fraser Audiobook by KC Dyer

biacuaduc@gmail.com (KC Dyer) — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 11:30:53 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Finding Fraser Author: KC Dyer Narrator: Romy Nordlinger Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins Language: English Release date: 08-11-15 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 580 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: I met Jamie Fraser when I was 19 years old. He was tall, redheaded, and, at our first meeting at least, a virgin. I fell in love hard, fast, and completely. He knew how to ride a horse, wield a sword, and stitch a wound. He was, in fact, the perfect man. That he was fictional hardly entered into it. At 29 Emma Sheridan's life is a disaster, and she's tired of waiting for the perfect boyfriend to step from the pages of her favorite book. There's only one place to look, and it means selling everything and leaving her world behind. With the aid of an unexpected collection of allies, can Emma face down a naked fishmonger, a randy gnome, a perfidious thief, and even her own abdominal muscles on the journey to find her Fraser? Contains mature themes. Members Reviews: Quirky romantic adventure Entertaining romantic adventure for an Outlander fan, but you dont have to be. Heroine is charmingly flawed, full of insecurities but full of spirit. Some surprise twists. As cute as this is in a way, this could happen to anyone, and that makes it all the more charming. The narrator really hit the mark on being sassy and vulnerable at the same time, and got the quirky feel of the writing. Having been to Scotland, I can say that the accents have just the right mix of authenticity and being able to understand them. Great mix of voices and characters. Highly entertaining, great characters A cute romantic caper in the highlands, funky characters that are full of surprises, and a pretty good story. I liked Emma a lot and found myself relating to her more than I expected, for such a light hearted romp. Its not my usual kind of thing, but Im glad I gave it a listen. Particularly for the narrator Romy Nordlinger, who really shines in this one. You can tell shes having fun with the ironic romantic ups and downs, and a host of diverse characters. She did a great job. Good, worth a credit I didnt really believe the plot as much as I would have liked, but overall this was very enjoyable, and I liked the narrator and all the characters. The main character was very funny, good dry delivery. Horrible Narrating I was looking forward to listening to this book, after having finished the big eight narrated by the wonderful Davina Porter. Unfortunately, I can't even get through the first chapter. Narrator Romy Nordinger has a sharp pitched nasal voice that is just plain irritating. Also, the performance was so poor I felt like she was reading a story to a group of kids rather than embodying the character. I couldn't get past the sound of her voice or her delivery to listen and enjoy the story. I know this is very critical, but honestly I was so put off I won't be listening to any of her other narrations. Time to get the book in print :( A fun trip, enjoyable listen This book is just plain fun. I love the character of Emma, and her looking to find her own Fraser. Its both funny and touching and makes me want to go to Scotland. I particularly liked the narrator, Romy, who has just the right mix of sensitivity and humor, shes one of my favorites. If anybodys looking for Outlander with this, thats not what it is. But I thought the ride was thoroughly enjoyable.

Visions of Sugar Plums Audiobook by Janet Evanovich

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Janet Evanovich) — Mon, 16 Dec 2002 21:34:31 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Visions of Sugar Plums Subtitle: A Stephanie Plum Holiday Novel Author: Janet Evanovich Narrator: Lorelei King Format: Unabridged Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins Language: English Release date: 12-16-02 Publisher: Macmillan Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1011 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Sure, this has happened before. Strangers, weirdos, felons, creeps, and lunatics are always finding their way to her front door. But this guy is different. He's mysterious, sexy - and he's a man on a mission. The question is, What does he want with her? Can he help her find a little old toymaker who has skipped out on his bail right before Christmas? Can he survive the Plum family holiday dinner? Can he get Stephanie a tree that doesn't look like it was grown next to a nuclear power plant? Plus, Stephanie needs to find a bunch of nasty elves, her sister Valerie has a Christmas "surprise" for the Plums, her niece Mary Alice doesn't believe in Santa anymore, and Grandma Mazur has a new stud muffin. So bring out the plastic reindeer, strap on your jingle bells, and get ready to celebrate the holidays - Jersey style. Critic Reviews: "A Plum-crazy Christmas classic." (Publishers Weekly) "This magical little sweetmeat is clearly a Christmas present from Evanovich to the legions of fans of Stephanie Plum." (Booklist) Members Reviews: Dissappointed This is no where near as good as the other books in this series. Tongue-in-Cheek Christmas Humor If you like Stephanie Plum and the regular Evanovich cast of characters, you'll get a kick out of this chance to revisit them. Yes, it's a little far fetched in the "Sandy Claws" theme and the elf toymakers, but I embarrassed myself often by laughing out load in grocery store lines, malls and at home (I was wearing headphones), while listening to the antics of Grandma Mazur, Lulu and the rest. Plum Silly This is a light story, silly and funny. I don't care for the 'paranormal' aspects, but I enjoyed the story. Hard not to - Janet Evanovich is plum hilarious! Great Christmas Tale Great characters. Hilarious story in the Christmas tradition. If you like the Stephanie Plumb novels, you will love this one. Hilarious Bounty Hunter Would you consider the audio edition of Visions of Sugar Plums to be better than the print version? Definitely! I have read the book as well. What was one of the most memorable moments of Visions of Sugar Plums? Family sitting down to eat a Holiday meal together! Hilarious! What about Lorelei Kings performance did you like? She does a splendid job of doing the different voices. If you could take any character from Visions of Sugar Plums out to dinner, who would it be and why? LuLu. She' s wild and dresses to suit herself. Any additional comments? I love reading the books by Janet Evonovich, because she never fails to make me laugh.

Pigs in Heaven Audiobook by Barbara Kingsolver

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Barbara Kingsolver) — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 17:47:22 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Pigs in Heaven Subtitle: A Novel Author: Barbara Kingsolver Narrator: C. J. Critt Format: Unabridged Length: 13 hrs and 24 mins Language: English Release date: 07-12-16 Publisher: HarperAudio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 105 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Picking up where her modern classic The Bean Trees left off, Barbara Kingsolver's best-selling Pigs in Heaven continues the tale of Turtle and Taylor Greer, a Native American girl and her adoptive mother who have settled in Tucson, Arizona, as they both try to overcome their difficult pasts. Taking place three years after The Bean Trees, Taylor is now dating a musician named Jax and has officially adopted Turtle. But when a lawyer for the Cherokee Nation begins to investigate the adoption, their new life together begins to crumble. Depicting the clash between fierce family love and tribal law, poverty and means, abandonment and belonging, Pigs in Heaven is a morally wrenching, gently humorous work of fiction that speaks equally to the head and to the heart. Members Reviews: thank you so much u do a really great job.keepitup I really appreciate this website you are #1 everyone is recommended to use this site A story I wish would never end I am a huge fan of Barbara Kingsolver's work. As a social worker and a biologist, I find that her descriptions of the natural world inspire a mindful peace and her treatment of individual characters and the broader human condition both challenging and insightful. I rarely write reviews. After finishing this two part series, I find myself feeling connected to these characters and sincerely wishing to know more about their story. Some of the broader themes explored in the series include immigration, racism and white privilege, Native Americans, Foster care and adoption--topics with which we continue to struggle. This book is interesting and emotional. I will listen to it again and again. What happen... I loved Prodigal Summer ... it was a beautiful book beautifully narrated. I am having trouble listening to Pigs in Heaven because of the narrator. The narration is flat and uninteresting. awesome a heartwarming story about a mother's love and get commitment to be a great mother

The Water Is Wide Audiobook by Pat Conroy

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Pat Conroy) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:35:51 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Water Is Wide Author: Pat Conroy Narrator: Dan John Miller Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins Language: English Release date: 08-10-10 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 814 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: The island is nearly deserted, haunting, beautiful. Across a slip of ocean lies South Carolina. But for the handful of families on Yamacraw island, America is a world away. For years the people here lived proudly from the sea, but now its waters are not safe. Waste from industry threatens their very existence unless, somehow, they can learn a new life. But they will learn nothing without someone to teach them, and their school has no teacher. Critic Reviews: "A hell of a good story." (The New York Times) Members Reviews: Conroy's early autobiography Conroy describes and quotes the students from Yamacraw Island in such an amusing and endearing way that it's hard not to fall in love with them. Dan John Miller, who did such an amazing job narrating Lords of Discipline, once again brings each characther to life with his superb narration. I found this book fascinating as it describes Conroy's early life as a teacher and touches on many of the stories that he used in later novels. He also describes some real life characters (including himself) who are recognizable from his other books. LOVE IT!! Would you consider the audio edition of The Water Is Wide to be better than the print version? I have only listened but I have to say, the narrator really made this book fun! What did you like best about this story? The humor! What does Dan John Miller bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book? As I said above, he really made the book fun! His interpretation of the kids was fabulous! Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? YES. Any additional comments? I am a huge Pat Conroy fan - this is by far by fave! Anything Pat Conroy writes is wonderful to me. After reading all his big books, I took this one on recently and was thrilled that it didn't read like a memoir in the traditional sense. It reads like fiction and it feels like truth. If I have one complaint about it, it is that for the audio, I would have liked Pat's voice instead of the narrator. The narrator was good, but Pat's distinctive voice would have made this even more wonderful. A storyteller at his best I've been a Conroy fan all my life but somehow never got around to reading this book. I had, of course, seen the movie:-). So glad I got it. Though I don't necessarily agree with some of his characterizations of people and I imagine he exaggerates some things-as most good storytellers do-it is definitely worth your time. The narrator is excellent too, and captures how would imagine different people would speak perfectly. The world lost a great writer when Conroy died. Written in 70s still timeless and current! This book could have been written today and describes the workings of school boards, vengeful "old school" administrators, southern attitudes and reflections of predjudices that are still looming. Maybe not as flagrantly spoken today, but just as insidious. So well written through the eyes of a young, idealistic white teacher setting out to try to make a difference only to find out the hard way, being right isn't always rewarded with a pat on the back from on high.

Be More Chill Audiobook by Ned Vizzini

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Ned Vizzini) — Fri, 12 Aug 2005 21:14:18 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Be More Chill Subtitle: A Novel Author: Ned Vizzini Narrator: Jesse Eisenberg Format: Unabridged Length: 4 hrs and 51 mins Language: English Release date: 08-12-05 Publisher: HarperAudio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 146 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Jeremy Heere is your average high school dork. Day after day he stares at beautiful Christine, the girl he can never have, and dryly notes the small humiliations that come his way, until the day he is told about the "squip". A pill-sized supercomputer that you swallow, the squip is guaranteed to bring you whatever you most desire in life. By instructing him on everything from what to wear to how to talk and walk, the squip transforms Jeremy from a supergeek to one of the most popular guys in class. Soon he has made friends and has the attention of the hottest girls in school. But his real dream, Christine, remains out of his reach. Jeremy eventually finds out that there is also a dark side to having a computer inside your brain, and it can lead to disastrous consequences. ©2004 Ned Vizzini; (P)2004 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. Critic Reviews: "Wacky, irreverent....This novel has substance as well as flash, and lots of appeal to bright teens....Literary and funny." (School Library Journal) "Readers will identify and groan with embarrassment for Jeremy, whose candidly uncool voice rings very true." (Booklist) Members Reviews: What a blank-blank book! I was a little hesitant to buy this book at first. I graduated from high school 55 years ago, and today's youth are from another planet as far as I'm concerned. But I have to admit both the book and the reader had me lmao from the beginning. This really isn't a science fiction book (too bad in a way... I have always liked sci-fi). It's a very funny, and at the same time heartwarming story about a NJ teenager growing up. Being from NJ myself, I had a special appreciation for his perceptions of the Garden State. I recommend this book enthusiastically. so good this is a new favorite book. i got it because i like the musical, but the book is even better. fun, don't take it too seriously The main character goes to a party, thoroughly depicted nudity, drug use and profanity- parents beware. Otherwise, humerous, lighthearted, central character well defined. Great listen, terrific narration This is the first time I've felt compelled to write a review. "Be More Chill" is a terrific, engrossing listen. The narrator perfectly fits the story and makes you remember what it was like to be in high school. The idea of a supercomputer in your head teaching you how to be cool is every kid's dream and the author pulls it off. The voice of the SQUIP is perfect, a cross between HAL and Keanu Reeves. I highly recommend this book. AMAZING BOOK I loved this book and who read it because his voice. The book fits how i would react if i got shot down, told there was a super computer to tell me how to be Cool and how i would be if some one died i knew, period. Jeremy fits me and Michael fits most of my friends or how i am some times because im at school, weird hair and i have headphone i dont use to listen to music with. Jeremy, im just a loser and well i dont have much friends, dont go to parties and get shot down and luck isnt really on my side most of the time.

Once a Runner Audiobook by John L. Parker Jr.

biacuaduc@gmail.com (John L. Parker Jr.) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 08:22:60 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Once a Runner Author: John L. Parker Jr. Narrator: Patrick Lawlor Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins Language: English Release date: 08-15-09 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 583 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Once a Runner is the story of Quenton Cassidy, a collegiate runner at fictional Southeastern University whose lifelong dream is to run a four-minute mile. He is less than a second away when the political and cultural turmoil of the Vietnam War era intrudes into the staid recesses of his school's athletic department. After he becomes involved in an athletes' protest, Cassidy is suspended from his track team. Under the tutelage of his friend and mentor, Bruce Denton, a graduate student and former Olympic gold medalist, Cassidy gives up his scholarship, his girlfriend, and possibly his future to withdraw to a monastic retreat in the countryside and begin training for the race of his life: a head-to-head match with the greatest miler in history. This audiobook is a rare insider's account of the incredibly intense lives of elite distance runners; an inspiring, funny, and spot-on tale of one man's quest to become a champion. Critic Reviews: "The best novel ever written about running." (Runner's World) Members Reviews: Spellbinding! A great story, particularly if you are a runner or are involved in aerobic sports. Wind in Your Face In a field, far deprived from human contact, Quenton Cassidy and Bruce Denton clip off sixty-second quarters in preparation for the inevitable dance with fate – the ever, elusive four-minute mile. In Once a Runner, John L. Parker, Jr. masterfully captures the collegiate running experience while following his main character Quenton Cassidy. The research behind this novel is right on the mark. The famed Millrose Games, with its long, rich history is best known for its Wanamaker Mile. John captures the allure of this event, and other great events like the Drake Relays with excitement and passion. Southeastern University is the home to its greatest athletes that are full of college politics, back history, athletes that have Olympic and World hopes and some drama. Rolling through campus, bobbing and weaving through campus students, Quenton Cassidy and his merry gents feel the wind in there faces, and the ground beneath them. I listened to this book in the car and I found myself lost in my childhood. As a kid, I grew up running with a local track club and then eventually in high school. I remember how it made me feel. I remember the joy of the wind in my face and the rolling hills of a single-track trail winding through a wooded forest. I detested the intervals much like the characters in this book; however, nonetheless this book is a must read for anyone who loves running. After reading this book, you will want to hit the trails or streets for some exercise – that alone is inspiring. motivating, inspiring. This book will take you to the limit. immpossible to put down! worth your money, every penny of it! the way it really is This book was a pretty realistic telling of the typical journey to being a world class competitive runner. There are many distractions along the way, and John Parker does a good job of laying them out. For my first read a running book it was good Is it a coincidence that when I listened to "The Perfect Mile" (a great book) part of it sounded like this book....did the author of this book use the ideas of The Perfect Mile and change the characters and story around a bit? It was a good book but I found the first part really boring and dragged on until the storey finally started to emerge.

It Had to Be You Audiobook by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Susan Elizabeth Phillips) — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 11:36:32 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: It Had to Be You Author: Susan Elizabeth Phillips Narrator: Anna Fields Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins Language: English Release date: 04-02-07 Publisher: Books on Tape Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1713 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: It's Dan Calebow's worst nightmare: Phoebe Somerville, a trendy New York knockout, inherits the Chicago Stars, the football team he coaches. And she wants to help him run it. Phoebe's sure he needs her. He's a sexist good-ol'-boy jock with a one-track mind. Surely she can straighten him out....So why should each find the other attractive? Call it the competitive urge, but these two stubborn people play the game for keeps. ©1994 Susan Elizabeth Phillips; (P)1996 Books on Tape Critic Reviews: "A sleek, romantic comedy." (Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: Classic Susan Elizabeth Philips What I love about Susan Elizabeth Phillips is that you are guaranteed a story that is charming, funny and sexy. She has a great way of making the reader feel like they are in the story. This book was entertaining and great to listen to. This book is the first in the "Chicago Stars" series. I listened to them out of order but each story can stand on its own. It was good however, to where it all started. Phoebe is such full of life yet lacks confidence due to her bad history with men. I think many women can relate in one way or another with her story. This was a heartwarming enchanting story and I would list it as one of my favorites by this author. Romance & Football - Somehow it works... The plot is predictable, but the narration is excellent (Anna Field never disappoints) and the romance is quite...um, effective. A fun, frolicking story about a dysfunctional family, an evil cousin, a woman battling childhood abuse to come into her own in the middle of the most unlikely environment: the locker room of a football team fighting their way to the Superbowl. The romance is well written and well read. Not high literary material, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. One of SEP' top two books ever! I have listened to this book a number of times, and it never disappoints. I adore the main characters, and this is a fantastic start to Phillips Chicago Stars series. I hope she continues it! Wonderful, delightful, chuckle out loud Loved this book from the very beginning. Shortly after "meeting" Dan Calebow, I never could seem to get the picture of Matthew Mcconnaughey out of my mind, so there he stayed, as Dan, for the entire time I listened to Anna Fields' excellent narration. It was a fun romp (and there were several descriptive "romps") and, as usual, great character development. Refreshingly Different... Even though it was written over a decade ago, this is still a refreshingly different kind of romance novel. Phoebe is unlike any heroine I've read about before or since and she taught me a lot about how we categorize people based on very limited information. Kudos to Susan Elizabeth Phillips for creating a character and a situation that was so wholly unexpected and a lot of fun to read.

Full House Audiobook by Janet Evanovich

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Janet Evanovich) — Fri, 03 Jan 2003 14:20:36 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Full House Author: Janet Evanovich Narrator: Lorelei King Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins Language: English Release date: 01-03-03 Publisher: Macmillan Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 719 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: I've heard that many of you would like more books that entertain you the way my Stephanie Plum novels do. So my good friend Charlotte Hughes and I have teamed up to bring you a brand-new series of books written in the Plum tradition with fast-paced action, dysfunctional loveable characters, steamy sex, suspense, and lots of laughs. The series is kicked off by Full House, a story I originally wrote and published in 1989 under the name Steffie Hall. Nick Kaharchek senses danger the minute he sees Billie Pearce. She represents everything he's always avoided. Happy in her home life, a divorced mother of two, Billie is the epitome of stability. She's also irresistibly fascinating to the footloose Kaharchek...in a car-crash sort of way. Their fateful meeting leads to a story filled with seduction and mayhem and, of course, love everlasting. Janet Evanovich This program is produced for mature audiences. Members Reviews: It's not Plum but it's a good story. I normally don't write reviews but I felt a need after seeing the other reviews for this audio book. I didn't think it was all the bad as the other reviewers thought. It's a nice story to listen to when your in your car, however I'm getting tired of the music in the background at times seems out of place. Since this is an early Janet Evanovich prior to the Plum creation you can tell. It's not written in the character point of view like the Plum books and there are more characters to deal with so naturally will not be as developed and the story is a bit rushed. It's a pretty good setup for the Full Tilt characters and then the continuing series for Max Holt. This is not Stephine Plum but it is a good listen. If you like a little romance, comedy, and a slight bit of detective stories then I think you'll enjoy this Janet Evanovich offer. Not too bad but... Janet Evanovich managed with her Stephanie Plum novels to do what every writer dreams of... create a character everyone loves and with each book gets funnier, sexier, and more intriguing. But somehow she lost it with the characters in Full House. While diffinately not a total waste of time (in my opinion) it was still not the hilarious laughs and constant tension that one would expect as a Plum fan. Full House did provide some really funny moments and Billy is likeabe (especially if you can identify with her simple "housewify" life) but as everyone seems to agree, not quite on par with what we fans have come to expect from Evanovich. Still it's a fun listen. A little too much inter-personal conflict than seems to fit the genre but some good laughs provide the comic relief. If you try this one just don't expect to see Stephanie Plum in any of the characters here. Great fun story! I loved this book! I am a big fan of Janet Evanovich, and this book did not disappoint! When I listened to it, there was a lot going on in my life and I wanted to listen to something that would be light and fun and take my mind off of everything. It delivered! I will definitely listen to it again! Sucker for a good adventure If Nick senses danger, you should too. I believed that I would find another enjoyable heroine to live life vicariously through, unfortunately as the story progressed I couldn't find anything I would want to experience or realize through this unimaginative or simplistic character.

The History of Love Audiobook by Nicole Krauss

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Nicole Krauss) — Wed, 04 May 2005 17:28:09 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The History of Love Author: Nicole Krauss Narrator: George Guidall, Barbara Caruso, Julia Gibson, Andy Paris Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins Language: English Release date: 05-04-05 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1945 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: It has been decades since Leo Gursky first surrendered his heart, then wrote a book about it, at the tender age of 10, and he's been in love with the same person ever since. Leo believes his book is lost to time, but what he doesn't know is, not only has it survived 60 years without him, it has also been an inspiration to others. Fourteen-year-old Alma was even named for a character from the book. When she realizes how deeply the story touched her lonely mother, she embarks on a search for answers. The History of Love is an imaginative tale of love and loss that is at once funny, mysterious, and deeply passionate. Critic Reviews: "An intriguing books-within-a-book narrative....Venturing into Paul Auster territory in her graceful inquiry into the interplay between life and literature, Krauss is winsome, funny, and affecting." (Booklist) "Writing with tenderness about eccentric characters, [Krauss] uses earthy humor to mask pain and to question the universe. Her distinctive voice is both plangent and wry, and her imagination encompasses many worlds." (Publishers Weekly) "If for no other reason than the range of voices she has persuasively created, Ms. Krauss would stand out as a prodigious talent....Ms. Krauss's work is illuminated by the warmth and delicacy of her prose." (The New York Times) Members Reviews: Inventive style, engaging novel I think the title drew me to the novel, but I wouldn't have expected to enjoy it as much as I have. The voices that the narrators give to the voices that Nicole Krauss created are perfect. Though I found the voice of Alma irritating at times, it is the right voice for the character. Leo Gursky's humor is priceless and his pain is palpable. The manner with which all the novel's characters are connected seems extraordinary and improbable and yet completely plausible at the same time. Like Garcia-Marquez on Anti-Pschyotics What a surprise, a divine revelation to find this treasure buried among the cast offs in Audible's last sale. How is it possible that the title "A History of Love" is not shouted from the roof-tops, bill-boarded along reader's highways and passed around slyly like a rumor between friends-in-the-know. Or perhaps it is, and I am just out of the loop, confused by the lack of awards notices on a book that is so far superior to the NY Book Review, Pulitzer, Oprah and Best Seller marks plastered on less-deserving works. Though mysterious and filled with shadings of poetry, magical realism and literary allusion this book is nonetheless well grounded in the here-and-now, and straight forward in narrative. Of note, the audio version may be superior to the printed in that the listener is spared the work of guessing when voices change, and who is narrating. Also, because the four actors in this recording give outstanding, lyrical and pitch-perfect performances. PS: Please save discovery of the narrative for your own pleasure, and avoid pre-reading the plethora of (mostly favorable) reviews about this book. I went through a few after listening, and felt the destructive weight of the spoilers among the praises, even for a book I had already read.

The Burning Girl Audiobook by Claire Messud

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Claire Messud) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 05:10:46 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Burning Girl Author: Claire Messud Narrator: Morgan Hallett Format: Unabridged Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins Language: English Release date: 08-29-17 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 110 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A bracing, hypnotic, coming-of-age story about the bond of best friends, from the New York Times best-selling author of The Emperor's Children. Julia and Cassie have been friends since nursery school. They have shared everything, including their desire to escape the stifling limitations of their birthplace, the quiet town of Royston, Massachusetts. But as the two girls enter adolescence, their paths diverge and Cassie sets out on a journey that will put her life in danger and shatter her oldest friendship. Claire Messud, one of our finest novelists, is as accomplished at weaving a compelling fictional world as she is at asking the big questions: To what extent can we know ourselves and others? What are the stories we create to comprehend our lives and relationships? Brilliantly mixing fable and coming-of-age tale, The Burning Girl gets to the heart of these matters in an absolutely irresistible way. Members Reviews: Notable more for the ideas an insights than story. A powerfully insightful view into the human, especially female experience; each alone but seeking others. To what extent can we really know another? The book explores the world of girls coming of age. It is honest in its exploration of the layers that females grow for protection and survival. Not Very Captivating I struggled to finish this book. There were several moments that sparked a curiosity within me, then the glimpse of an almost-intriguing plot would pass and I was left uninterested again. There were some moments that mildly captured my curiosity, but at no point was I impassioned. The climax to this book was lacking, and the performance was less than captivating. I wouldn't recommend. Teenage angst Teenage angst. That's really all this story is about, unfortunately. There just isn't enough story development. This was a waste of time NYT had high praise for this book so i ordered it. The plot was extremely thin. The Times review said that anything with the word "girl" in the title seemed to do extremely well. That seems to be this book's only hook

Dexter Is Delicious Audiobook by Jeff Lindsay

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jeff Lindsay) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:29:19 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Dexter Is Delicious Author: Jeff Lindsay Narrator: Jeff Lindsay Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins Language: English Release date: 09-07-10 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1829 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Americas most-read, most-watched, and most beloved serial killer - Dexter Morgan - is back. After selling more than one million copies and inspiring the wildly popular #1 Showtime series and top-rated crime drama on pay-cable television, New York Times best-selling author Jeff Lindsay returns with his most hilarious, macabre, and purely entertaining novel yet. Dexter Morgan has always lived a happy homicidal life. He keeps his dark urges in check by adhering to one steadfast rule... he only kills very bad people. But now Dexter is experiencing some major life changes - don't we all? And they're mostly wrapped up in the eight-pound curiosity that is his newborn daughter. Family bliss is cut short, however, when Dexter is summoned to investigate the disappearance of a 17-year-old girl who has been running with a bizarre group of goths who fancy themselves to be vampires. As Dexter gets closer to the truth of what happened to the missing girl, he realizes they are not really vampires so much as cannibals. And, most disturbing... these people have decided they would really like to eat Dexter. Jeff Lindsay's best-selling, dark, ironic, and oftentimes laugh-out-loud hilarious novels about the lovable serial killer with no soul (but a redeeming desire to kill only people who deserve it) have gained a legion of fans and assumed a place in our culture Members Reviews: Odd even for Dexter, but enjoyable! I enjoyed this Dexter novel - was nice to see him gain a little more humanity related to Lilly Anne. The cannabalism... well, that was an interesting twist! I am looknig forward to seeing what happens to Dexter next! I have to ask why Jeff Lindsay felt the need to narrate... he doesn't do a terrible job, but there were a lot of monotone sentences, and I missed the "dark delight" that Nick Landrum seems to bring to Dexter's voice! Getting Dexter Nick Landrum really "got" Dexter. I started off to write this review only to discover that the reader that is boring me to tears is none other than the author! All I can think of as I attempt to wade through this audiobook is that the reader doesn't really get Dexter. Nick Landrum really characterized Dexter with his reading/acting skills. He brought us that sardonic side of Dexter just with his tone of voice. The author as reader is just reading. I so loved the other Dexter novels (via audiobook) but I'm not sure I can finish this one. I would have loved to hear Landrum's Dexter bring this new twist to Dexter's life. I hope the publisher will consider doing another version as this one is not up to par. Yes, I agree wtih others, Jeff Lindsay is a brilliant writer but not so hot as an audiobook reader. Let the pros put the polish on your work, Jeff! Dexter Books are the Best I love all the Dexter books (and the TV series) including this one. I really got use to Nick Landrums voice and style as Dexter though. To have kept Nick's narration would have definitely been a better move. I hope Nick's voice returns for the next books. Jeff great writer poor reader....sorry bud. Great addition to the series enjoyed the story immensely. But Jeff Lindsay is not an animated reader to say the least. Bless his heart though he does try. Back to the book. More of the great Dexter we've come to love. Solid writing although is it just me or are the first few chapters kind of wishy washy.

Burial Rites Audiobook by Hannah Kent

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Hannah Kent) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 20:46:50 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Burial Rites Author: Hannah Kent Narrator: Morven Christie Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins Language: English Release date: 08-29-13 Publisher: Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 197 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Longlisted Baileys Womens Prize 2014 They said I must die. They said that I stole the breaths from men, and now they must steal mine. I imagine, then, that we are all candle flames, greasy-bright, fluttering in the darkness and the howl of the wind, and in the stillness of the room I hear footsteps, awful coming footsteps, coming to blow me out and send my life up away from me in a grey wreath of smoke. In northern Iceland, 1829, Agnes Magnúsdóttir is condemned to death for her part in the brutal murder of her lover. Agnes is sent to wait out her final months on the farm of district office Jón Jónsson, his wife and their two daughters. Horrified to have a convicted murderer in their midst, the family avoid contact with Agnes. Only Tóti, the young assistant priest appointed Agnes spiritual guardian, is compelled to try to understand her. As the year progresses and the hardships of rural life force the household to work side by side, Agnes story begins to emerge and with it the familys terrible realization that all is not as they had assumed. Based on actual events, Burial Rites is an astonishing and moving novel about the truths we claim to know and the ways in which we interpret what were told. In beautiful, cut-glass prose, Hannah Kent portrays Icelands formidable landscape, in which every day is a battle for survival, and asks, how can one woman hope to endure when her life depends upon the stories told by others? Members Reviews: Worth stepping out of your comfort zone Would you listen to Burial Rites again? Why? Yes, I'd like to listen again to pick up on some of the smaller details/descriptions Who was your favorite character and why? Agnes, the character really drew me in. Which character as performed by Morven Christie was your favorite? Agnes. Morven Christie is an amazing performer. As Agnes her often breathy tone really brought across the feeling of despair. All of the characters are done well. You hardly notice a change in her voice yet it sounds like different people are reading. If you could rename Burial Rites, what would you call it? Hmm not sure. Any additional comments? I bought this book purely based on the fact that Morven Christie was the narrator. I hadn't heard of it before and probably wouldn't have given it a second glance otherwise. I was not at all familiar with the real life event and found this work to be quite surprising and very interesting. I'm now off to google it to learn more :) Heartfelt Story This is such a great story...Used a box of tissues. Couldn't stop listening! Loved the characters! Could feel the harshness of the environment. Will listen again... an ok story beautifully narrated Would you consider the audio edition of Burial Rites to be better than the print version? Undoubtedly. The story itself, though well written is a bit disappointing. There is a lot of build up but it doesn't end up leading anywhere. I might not have continued to the end if it weren't for the wonderful narration. How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable? The detail of life in 1800's Iceland was infinitely more interesting than the story itself. What about Morven Christies performance did you like? EVERYTHING. This is actually the second book I have bought from Audible with Morven Christie narrating, though I didn't notice at first as the other performance was very different and in a Scottish accent.

Whispering Rock Audiobook by Robyn Carr

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Robyn Carr) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:54:19 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Whispering Rock Author: Robyn Carr Narrator: Therese Plummer Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins Language: English Release date: 07-21-09 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1783 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: In Robyn Carr's Whispering Rock, wounded LAPD Sergeant Mike Valenzuela finds the help and healing he needs in Virgin River. Now he longs for the marital bliss his Marine Corps buddies enjoy. And he thinks he's found the right woman. But after she's brutally attacked, Mike must show her how to trust again. ©2007 Robyn Carr; (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC Critic Reviews: "Realistic romance and tough topics....make this a fine read." (Booklist) Members Reviews: Special stories This series touches your heart, the characters are so alive you can feel their emotions. I am all sure if there was a real Virgin River we would all want to live there. This series is exceptional! Virgin River Series I really like these books and Robyn Carr's style of writing. The narrator is terrific. In this book you see the story of Brea and Mike coming together and how they fit into the town of Virgin River along with all the folks you already know from reading the previous books. Another fantastic Robyn Carr book! I was so excited to see this book added to Audible. It is the third in the series (please give us more!) The story of Mike and Brie was excellent. I loved hearing about all the other characeters we met in the earlier books. Emotions from happy, sad, anger, joy, all the changes that come in real life this book has it. It deals with very real issues that we see in the world today but told in a beautiful way. Love the narrator too. This is a MUST listen book! I loved every minute of this story... Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why? Absolutely! It's interesting, the romance is very well developed. And the narrator does an amazing job in differentiating the characters and bringing life and feelings to the story. Who was your favorite character and why? Mike was my favorite character. His story is te resting and you can see how he changes through the story. Which scene was your favorite? My favorite scene was when Brie came back to Virgin River to see Mike after her ex husband went to see her wanting to get back with her. If you could take any character from Whispering Rock out to dinner, who would it be and why? Mike the sexy Latin lover. Any additional comments? Great romantic story, and an even better narrator. Robyn Carr is just a great storyteller I love this writer. She writes for the modern reader but improves it! Her subjects are current and the interplay between all the characters is so believeable. I can't wait for all the Virgin River series to be available. This subject matter was harder for me to handle but Ms. Carr writes it tastefully as possible. Her characters have honor, caring. She is so worth reading. Don't miss out...Virgin River is still my favorite. But this author ties her books without boring you. Great Narrator..she gives such life to the characters. Thanks Audible for this author.

You Don't Have to Say You Love Me Audiobook by Sarra Manning

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Sarra Manning) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:21:23 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: You Don't Have to Say You Love Me Author: Sarra Manning Narrator: Julie Maisey Format: Unabridged Length: 18 hrs and 14 mins Language: English Release date: 09-07-11 Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 242 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Girls like Neve Slater dont get gorgeous guys like William. But Williams been in L A for three years, and Neves been slimming down in preparation for his return. Then her sister Celia points out that if Neve wants William to think she's an experienced love-goddess then shed better get some experience - a man to show her the ropes, like Celias colleague Max. And since hes not Neves type, she certainly wont fall for him... Members Reviews: Authentic and entertaining Any additional comments? Neve and William have an intellectual connection and, while he's been in America the past few years, Neve has been working hard to ensure they have a physical connection when he gets back. She has lost a lot of weight and is no longer obese, but she's still doesn't feel ready for William's not-too-distant return. Aside from shifting the last few pounds, she needs more relationship experience - ANY would be handy - so she comes up with the idea of a "pancake relationship", a first relationship that you can chuck away like you throw away the first mangled pancake in a batch. Her sister's hot but sleazy boss Max is the perfect candidate for her first pancake, and he agrees to try the relationship because he's never really been in one himself, and it's ideal for him coz Neve doesn't care if he sleeps with other people coz she certainly doesn't want to sleep with him. With this hijinksy set up, I was expecting You Don't Have to Say You Love Me to be a lot of fun. And it certainly was. Charming, funny and completely entertaining. But what I wasn't expecting was just how touching it would be - and how much I would relate to it. Neve is a complete mess, and boy did I see my own messy self in her. She is intelligent and attractive, but so incredibly insecure it's painful to read about at times - all the more painful because it was like hearing my own thoughts repeated back to me. From the way she froze when a guy tried to cuddle her across her tummy, to the way she held up her fingers to indicate she was just a LITTLE bit drunk when she was actually very drunk, it was bizarre just how much I felt like Neve WAS me sometimes. Some readers may find all her insecurities annoying, but they felt completely authentic and relatable to me. She also experiences a lot of character growth over the course of her book, and her journey towards accepting and even loving herself is heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once. The funniest moments, as well as a number of incredibly moving ones, come when Neve interacts with Max. They are complete opposites in so many ways, and it makes for some hilarious and really fun scenes. Even more fun is the amazing chemistry they have, which gets harder and harder for them to resist. Max is a bit of a douche at times, but of course he has a big heart underneath. He is blokey and messy but he's also sexy and charming and respectful and lovely and a little bit broken himself. It's hard not to fall in love with him by the end. The secondary characters are really great, and I especially loved Neve's family relationships. The way they hurt each other but love each other so much was realistic and really got under my skin. On a lighter level, Neve's work friendships and the office politics she deals with made for an entertaining subplot.

The Art of Fielding Audiobook by Chad Harbach

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Chad Harbach) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 06:47:57 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Art of Fielding Subtitle: A Novel Author: Chad Harbach Narrator: Holter Graham Format: Unabridged Length: 16 hrs Language: English Release date: 09-09-11 Publisher: Hachette Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1692 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: At Westish College, a small school on the shore of Lake Michigan, baseball star Henry Skrimshander seems destined for Big League stardom. But when a routine throw goes disastrously off course, the fates of five people are upended. Henry's fight against self-doubt threatens to ruin his future. College President Guert Affenlight, a longtime bachelor, has fallen unexpectedly and helplessly in love. Owen Dunne, Henry's gay roommate and teammate, becomes caught up in a dangerous affair. Mike Schwartz, the Harpooners' team captain and Henry's best friend, realizes he has guided Henry's career at the expense of his own. And Pella Affenlight, Guert's daughter, returns to Westish after escaping an ill-fated marriage, determined to start a new life. As the season counts down to its climactic final game, these five are forced to confront their deepest hopes, anxieties, and secrets. In the process, they forge new bonds, and help one another find their true paths. Written with boundless intelligence and filled with the tenderness of youth, The Art of Fielding is an expansive, warmhearted novel about ambition and its limits, about family and friendship and love, and about commitment - to oneself and to others. Critic Reviews: "Reading The Art of Fielding is like watching a hugely gifted young shortstop: you keep waiting for the errors, but there are no errors. First novels this complete and consuming come along very, very seldom." (Jonathan Franzen) "Chad Harbach's The Art of Fielding is one of those rare novels--like Michael Chabon's Mysteries of Pittsburgh or John Irving's The World According to Garp--that seems to appear out of nowhere and then dazzles and bewitches and inspires until you nearly lose your breath from the enjoyment and satisfaction, as well as the unexpected news-blast that the novel is very much alive and well." (James Patterson) "Chad Harbach has hit a game-ender with The Art of Fielding. It's pure fun, easy to read, as if the other Fielding had a hand in it - as if Tom Jones were about baseball and college life." (John Irving) Members Reviews: Not Quite ~ I wanted to like this book - and the writer has wonderful prose - but I just didn't fall in the love any character nor did the story line captivate me. I did like the narrator, but I wouldn't recommend this one. There are too many great books to read via audio, and this isn't one of them. Entertainingly Simple Although somewhat simple with some of the writing amateurish and predictable, I found the overall story entertaining and fun. I looked forward to each listening session and was usually quite entertained. The reader was excellent, and his character depiction very good. Don't buy into the hype You have to be kidding me. After reading the reviews on this book I couldn't wait to check it out . What a disappointment. The writing style is juvenile, the characters are paper thin and there is nothing remotely believable or insightful. With so many quality writers out there, how did this one get so much press? I rarely give up on a book more than half way in but this one forced me to. The Art of Fielding- A Work of Art Where does The Art of Fielding rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? I would have to say that 'The Art of Fielding' is probably one of the best audiobooks I've listened to.

An Irish Country Christmas Audiobook by Patrick Taylor

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Patrick Taylor) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:25:11 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: An Irish Country Christmas Author: Patrick Taylor Narrator: John Keating Format: Unabridged Length: 16 hrs and 40 mins Language: English Release date: 10-28-08 Publisher: Macmillan Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 844 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Along with his senior partner, Doctor Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly, Barry has his hands full dealing with seasonal coughs and colds, as well as the occasional medical emergency. To add to the doctors' worries, competition arrives in the form of a patient-poaching new physician whose quackery threatens the health and well-being of the good people of Ballybucklebo. Can one territory support three hungry doctors? Barry has his doubts. But the wintry days and nights are not without a few tidings of comfort and joy. Between their hectic medical practice, Rugby Club parties, and the kiddies' Christmas pageant, the two doctors still find time to play Santa Claus to a struggling single mother with a sick child and not enough money in the bank. Snow is rare in Ulster, and so are miracles, but that doesn't mean they never happen.... Critic Reviews: "Full of stories and vivid characters, the novel recalls a good night in a pub. Its greatest charm lies in homey Ulster idioms....Good, light entertainment." (Booklist) Members Reviews: A wonderful christmas listen Any additional comments? I really enjoyed this book as my month of December listening from Audible. It was a great warm up for the holiday season. The quirky stories are jumble of funny silliness and difficulties of every day life. The reader gets the feeling and mood of Ireland from the past. Much like a James Herriot book but with human patients. Highly recommended. Perfect holiday listening The setting: holidaying on the tropical beaches of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Wanted: the ideal holiday book: engaging characters who are in caring, construction relationships (that is, not maiming and killing) and who live in an interesting community. The narrator: sympathetic reader with convincing characterisation . Solution: Patrick Taylors An Irish Country Christmas and An Irish Country Courtship. Id already read and thoroughly enjoyed An Irish Country Doctor and my holiday decision to continue the series did not disappoint. John Keatings gentle Irish accented narration comfortably changes to create voices that become intrinsic to each character. Taylor, himself an eminent doctor, clearly enjoys writing these books. He devises a wonderful little village in Ireland, fascinating medical scenarios, interesting relationships and gentle humour. We are drawn into a delightful world fuelled by people the author clearly admires or dislikes. It is enriched with medical knowledge and nostalgia for world of the 1960s where intuition and care played key roles -- and doctors made home visits. Simply marvelous! I stumbled upon this marvelous series by Patrick Taylor who depicts life in Ballybuckleboo a village in County Down in the 1960's. The two main likable characters are Dr. Barry Laverty, a recent graduate who is spending his first real job as an assistant to the sightly irascible but genuinely kind-hearted Dr. Fingal O'Reilly. They share the office practice in this rural setting and as they serve as country doctors they also nurture a budding friendship. Both men live in the same residence which also acts as their surgery and they are "looked after" by a delightful, witty middle age housekeeper, "Kinky" Kincaid. If you want to get in the Christmas spirit, this is a dependable way of doing it - reading "An Irish Country Christmas".

Avenue of Mysteries Audiobook by John Irving

biacuaduc@gmail.com (John Irving) — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 05:45:20 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Avenue of Mysteries Author: John Irving Narrator: Armando Duran Format: Unabridged Length: 20 hrs and 50 mins Language: English Release date: 11-03-15 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 639 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: John Irving returns to the themes that established him as one of our most admired and beloved authors in this absorbing novel of fate and memory. As we grow older - most of all, in what we remember and what we dream - we live in the past. Sometimes we live more vividly in the past than in the present. As an older man, Juan Diego will take a trip to the Philippines, but what travels with him are his dreams and memories; he is most alive in his childhood and early adolescence in Mexico. "An aura of fate had marked him," John Irving writes of Juan Diego. "The chain of events, the links in our lives - what leads us where we're going, the courses we follow to our ends, what we don't see coming, and what we do - all this can be mysterious, or simply unseen, or even obvious." Avenue of Mysteries is the story of what happens to Juan Diego in the Philippines, where what happened to him in the past - in Mexico - collides with his future. Members Reviews: Irving Out of the Park! If you could sum up Avenue of Mysteries in three words, what would they be? Surreal Mind Painting What did you like best about this story? Juan Diego, a 50 year old novelist travels to the Philippines to keep a promise he made forty years ago to a dying hippie as a 14 year old boy living in a garbage dump in Mexico with his younger sister/savant Lupe, who reads peoples minds (though only Juan can understand her.) It is a touching tale about a brilliant but reclusive dreamer who has lost everyone he ever loved as the years have gone by. He is a dreamer, because about half the book is narrated in a dream state. And believe me, like a narcoleptic, this guy can fall asleep on a dime,and always gets a bucks worth of dream meat every time he nods off. There are some very funny dialogues between Don Juan and Lupe during these dream/ flashbacks (between the now and the then). And if that's not confusing enough, when Juan arrives in the Philippines he is immediately adopted by a gorgeous mother and daughter team, who are certainly not what they appear to be (even after the book they remain so). The only way I can describe the story is that it melts together nicely like a surreal hot caramel sauce ladled over a real world frozen custard, both rich,and wonderful. To date, this is my favorite Irving book. Which character as performed by Armando Duran was your favorite? Lupe, was a hoot, particularly because of the great voice the narrator gave her. You could not help but to laugh Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? Absolutely. It was a big read, but it still went too fast. Any additional comments? My favorite book of the year! Not his best work, but... even a sub-par John Irving novel is better than what most other novelists produce. So giving a star rating is tough for me; I guess four stars is about right. His usual techniques shine through the strange story leaving his fingerprints all over the novel. He is brilliant at constantly moving his readers through time yet never losing them. True to form his protagonist is the most mundane of the characters, allowing all the other quirky, bizarre, or at least interesting characters in the story to come into clear view. Again, he is a master of such elements. For variety's sake, the words "New Hampshire" don't even appear anywhere in the book. He brings us into colorful and vibrant Mexico and the Philippines, a nice change.

Lily and the Octopus Audiobook by Steven Rowley

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Steven Rowley) — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 04:42:40 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Lily and the Octopus Author: Steven Rowley Narrator: Michael Urie Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins Language: English Release date: 06-07-16 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 897 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Named to the American Library Associations Reference & User Services (RUSA) Listen List! Combining the emotional depth of The Art of Racing in the Rain with the magical spirit of The Life of Pi, Lily and the Octopus is an epic adventure of the heart. When you listen to Lily and the Octopus, you will be taken on an unforgettable ride. The magic of this novel is in the listening, and we don't want to spoil it by giving away too many details. We can tell you that this is a story about that special someone: the one you trust, the one you can't live without. For Ted Flask, that someone special is his aging companion, Lily, who happens to be a dog. Lily and the Octopus reminds us how it feels to love fiercely, how difficult it can be to let go, and how the fight for those we love is the greatest fight of all. Remember the last book you told someone they had to listen to? Lily and the Octopus is the next one. Critic Reviews: "Michael Urie narrates with a heartfelt passion that makes one giggle and laugh, nod in understanding and sob with sorrow. Urie's authentic emotion comes out in every character, whether it's Lily the dog's excitement, Ted the human's frustration, or the nameless octopus's apathy." ( AudioFile) Members Reviews: Dog sighs.... This book is amazing. Maybe because I am a singleton and doggy parent - but this book made me FEEL. I had some laugh out loud moments and some sobbing - but I will definitely be putting this in my top 10 Audible books! Be prepared for tears Any additional comments? As a person with an eleven year old dachshund I found this store extremely difficult to listen to, yet I could not stop. I totally understand the love and devotion Ted had for his dear Lily. Letting go is so painful. One of at the cruelest things is in life is the fact that a dogs life is just way to short. My heart ached... filled to overflow with love What did you love best about Lily and the Octopus? I loved Ted's metaphoric journey through Lilly's last days. I just lost my own loving pet a few months ago {when Lilly told Ted '30 days is enough' I had to sob aloud because I'm still grieving months beyond that}. I can commiserate with his battle to save her, and loved that he had a protagonist in the octopus to fight against... I had no such villian in my own story. But I had no less heartache even when my girl left on her own before I was forced to 'help' her on to a better path than the one she was struggling upon What other book might you compare Lily and the Octopus to and why? I think this one stands alone; I really had no idea what I was getting into when I started listening to the story & as it was developing, I think I really BELIEVED that Ted's battle was real What about Michael Uries performance did you like? I believed he was Ted... and Lily. And feeling the love and the ache from both sides of the story. He was beautiful. Who was the most memorable character of Lily and the Octopus and why? The cantankerous octopus & his non-nonchalance attitude while taking Lily's live away in thin slices. I think it gave Ted hope to personify death in an effort to save Lily. It gave him something to attempt to fend off, something to direct his fear towards.

It Audiobook by Stephen King

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Stephen King) — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 00:00:26 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: It Author: Stephen King Narrator: Steven Weber Format: Unabridged Length: 44 hrs and 52 mins Language: English Release date: 09-20-16 Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 123 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: To the children, the town was their whole world. To the adults, knowing better, Derry, Maine, was just their hometown: familiar, well ordered for the most part. A good place to live. It was the children who saw - and felt - what made Derry so horribly different. In the storm drains, in the sewers, IT lurked, taking on the shape of every nightmare, each one's deepest dread. Sometimes IT reached up, seizing, tearing, killing.... The adults, knowing better, knew nothing. Time passed, and the children grew up, moved away. The horror of IT was deep buried, wrapped in forgetfulness. Until they were called back, once more to confront IT as IT stirred and coiled in the sullen depths of their memories, reaching up again to make their past nightmares a terrible present reality. Members Reviews: Eerie reminder So this book made me think back to my childhood and hit the nail on the head on how when we are children the world seems so different. Funny how the older we get the less durable and because of that we take less risks. I loved how the past and present play out at the same time and how children had to become grown up before their time to fight a seemingly unstoppable evil! Terrifyingly Wonderful Incredibly absorbing and intricate story with impeccable vocal performance. Enjoyed every second of it, a true Stephen King classic come alive with Webers many voices. You'll float too Great voices and reading. I enjoyed this a lot, and down here you'll enjoy it too. Could of done with an editor Once you listen to this story, you feel that there was much that could of been cut out to get the story moving. Some things are just fillers like characters and descriptions of action. I think the sex scenes were not needed and there were opportunities missed where the book could of been more heavily layered and scarier. I am sure if Stephen King was to write this book again he would make it even better. Will be interesting to see how the new film version works with this book. Steven Weber is excellent with the narration. Worth listening to even before tucking into bed. Excellent performance I have read this book many years ago and thought it was quite good. This time around I thought it was a bit too long. Steven Weber's performance was however excellent. He gave life to the book and I will definitely look for other books that he narrated

The Language of Hoofbeats Audiobook by Catherine Ryan Hyde

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Catherine Ryan Hyde) — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 13:23:26 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Language of Hoofbeats Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde Narrator: Kate Rudd, Laural Merlington Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins Language: English Release date: 12-09-14 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 820 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: From the bestselling author of Pay It Forward comes a story of the heartbreak and healing power of family. New to a small town, Jackie and Paula envision a quiet life for their kids: a young adopted son and two teenage foster children, including the troubled Star. However, they quickly butt heads with their neighbor, Clementine, who disapproves of their lifestyle and is incensed when Star befriends her spirited horse, Comet. Haunted by past tragedy and unable to properly care for Comet, Clem nevertheless resents the bond Star soon shares with the horse. When Star disappears with Comet, the neighbors are thrown together - far too close together. But as the search for the pair wears on, both families must learn to put aside their animosity and confront the choices they've made and the scars they carry. Plumbing the depths of regret and forgiveness, The Language of Hoofbeats explores the strange alchemy that transforms a group of people into a family. Members Reviews: Simple yet captivating story I almost passed over this book because the premise seemed so simple. However from the first 5 minutes I could barely turn it off. The performance was excellent and the story had just enough unpredictable turns to keep my attention at a time when I was highly distractable. I expect I will remember it better than most of the 35-40 books I read and listen to each year. Well written story, narration falls short The story itself is enjoyable, touching, and well paced. The narrators do an okay job with the adult voices, but the children's voices are difficult to listen to. The youngest child's voice is monotone and always shouting. The voice of the 13 year old boy sounds more like a middle aged man. A better narrator would have made this book a 5. A Girl and Her Horse Star is a new girl in a new town where there is nothing for the town's teens to do and she has two moms. What's a girl to do? Why in the great tradition of girls and horses she gets tight with her new neighbors horse. The only trouble with the plan is the horse's owner Clementine; a woman seemingly angry with the world and everyone in it. Throw in the fact that Star does have two moms and a test of wills between the two of them begins. Though the two of them eventually begin to wear each other down an event occurs that will tear them even further apart. This is the type of selection that makes any audiobook by Catherine Ryan Hyde worthy of some consideration. The relationships formed between people are the strength of this author's work and the ones between Star and Comet, (the horse) Star and Clementine are classic Ryan. The roles played by the mothers is understated as is the Sheriff's until the last quarter of the book. This is one of the better works of an excellent writer. Great performers and strong story The book is about family with two mums and three foster kids moving to a new town and the ensuing turmoil when Star, a troubled teenager, steals their new and very difficult neighbour's horse. The story is told from the perpective of Clementine, the mean and abrasive neighbour and Jackie, one of the Forster parents. The story is beautifully written and read. The characters start to feel like friends and family as you get to know them. Highly recommend this book to all Happily ever after . . . . This story was not as good as the two previous Ryan Hyde books I read/listened to.

Blood Honor Audiobook by Russell Blake

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Russell Blake) — Thu, 05 May 2016 06:43:28 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Blood Honor Subtitle: The Day After Never Series, Book 1 Author: Russell Blake Narrator: John David Farrell Format: Unabridged Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins Language: English Release date: 05-05-16 Publisher: Janda Management Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 268 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: They said it could never happen - that the day would never come. They were wrong. Five years post-collapse, former Texas Ranger Lucas Shaw is surviving hardscrabble in a kill-or-be-killed wasteland. When an enigmatic young woman enters his life with a desperate plea, Lucas must face impossible odds and battle an adversary who will stop at nothing to destroy them. Lightning-paced and gritty, Blood Honor, the debut novel in The Day after Never trilogy, is a non-stop adrenaline rush set in a chillingly plausible dystopian future. Members Reviews: Wonderful western flavor. This is the first apocalyptic-style book from Russell Blake I have come across. Halfway through this first book of the series I have decided it is an excellent book. The flavor is more western than anything else. Though strange sounding, how much different would it be should a grid-down apocalypse take us back to the 1800's. This also makes more sense since our main character Lucas is a former Texas Ranger. The things that bring me back to current day are the weapons being used. Excellent writing, good characters, with this wonderful western flavor to the story. One of the better stories I have come across in recent weeks. I'm liking this so far. I wish Audible had the next two books. Entertaining Read I have listened to both books in this series and I must say they are probably my favorite of all post apocalyptic novels I've read. It's almost like Clint Eastwood meets mad max. What's different about these stories is the fact that they are not heavy in the bible banging or the preaching to buy silver and gold. But they are heavy on action and story line. I loved that, as I have grown weary of the former. They read like a western but better. I love Lamore, so this was right up my alley. I would strongly urge those of you who love post A novels but are sick of the religious overtones to read it. Patterson bores me half to death. But I suffered through them because I never give up. Now, don't get me wrong, I am religious. I just don't need the nonstop chatter about JC. I crave action and man this is packed with it. The narrator is excellent and brings the story to life. Far far better than some others who have strange intonation and speaking habits. Great range of voices. Just excellent. I am disappointed that I have to wait for book three. But hopefully I will get to hear it soon. Great book to sit out side in a hammock witch a beer, chill, close your eyes and let the story unfold. Good survival story leaving you wanting more I have listened to over 500+ audio books and I will say this story is in my top favorites. The only grip I have is that it's only 7 and half hours long, it leaves you wanting allot more. Is it worth the 7 hours? He'll yes it is. The stories protagonist isn't only surviving but helping a little girl and an apparent hotty which in my book is as good as any reason, he has a good backdrop story and really doesn't want to do it, but because he's a good guy does. It seems simple but it works. I don't give books under 10 to15 hrs a 5 star rating and I know allot of audio book lovers love longer stories like me, however like I said before it's worth it. Gritty with a good storyline This was a good addition to the series.

Winter's Bone Audiobook by Daniel Woodrell

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Daniel Woodrell) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:09:06 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Winter's Bone Subtitle: A Novel Author: Daniel Woodrell Narrator: Emma Galvin Format: Unabridged Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins Language: English Release date: 07-20-10 Publisher: Hachette Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1047 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: The sheriff's deputy at the front door brings hard news to Ree Dolly. Her father has skipped bail on charges that he ran a crystal meth lab, and the Dollys will lose their house if he doesn't show up for his next court date. Ree's father has disappeared before. The Dolly clan has worked the shadowy side of the law for generations, and arrests (and attempts to avoid them) are part of life in Rathlin Valley. With two young brothers depending on her and a mother who's entered a kind of second childhood, 16-year-old Ree knows she has to bring her father back, dead or alive. She has grown up in the harsh poverty of the Ozarks and learns quickly that asking questions of the rough Dolly clan can be a fatal mistake. But along the way to a shocking revelation, Ree discovers unforeseen depths in herself and in a family network that protects its own at any cost. Critic Reviews: "Like his characters, and especially his teen characters, Woodrell's prose mixes tough and tender so thoroughly yet so delicately that we never taste even a hint of false bravado, on the one hand, or sentimentality, on the other. And Ree is one of those heroines whose courage and vulnerability are both irresistible and completely believable - think of not just Mattie Ross in True Grit but also Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird or even Eliza Naumann in Bee Season. One runs out of superlatives to describe Woodrell's fiction. (Booklist) At its best, the novel captures the near-religious criminal mania pervasive in rural communities steeped in drug culture. Woodrell's prose, lyrical as often as dialogic, creates an unwieldy but alluring narrative that allows him to draw moments of unexpected tenderness from predictable scripts. (Publishers Weekly) In spare but evocative prose, Woodrell depicts a harsh world in which the responsibilities for survival ultimately give Rees meaning and direction. He depicts the landscape, people, and dialects with stunning realism. A compelling testament to how people survive in the worst of circumstances. (School Library Journal) Members Reviews: A Masterpiece I have listened to audiobooks for 10 years at about 15 books per year. I have loved many books but I have never been moved to write a review before. "Winter's Bone" is a remarkable book. It is "The Road" (whose language I loved, which I found too bleak to finish) but with a more human scope that makes the directness and frequent brutality of the story moving rather than depressing. It is written in spare but evocative language that cuts straight through to the essence of the story and its characters. The narrator is perfect for the role. This is an absolute must listen. Do not skip this book. It will stop you in your tracks. Stunning combination of story and narration... A masterful melding of language that paints vivid, photograph-quality pictures of hardscrabble life in the Ozarks, with narration that conveys the authenticity in every word of tragedy and survival. Although far too short, this is by far among the very best of the many Audible selections I've enjoyed. I look forward to more from this author and narrator! Dark and Beautiful Anyone who reads even the first page of Winter's Bone will not deny that Daniel Woodrell can write. This book centered on the milieu, and on the struggle of the main character, Ree, who is one of the toughest heroines I've ever encountered.

The Tiger's Wife Audiobook by Tea Obreht

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Tea Obreht) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:33:55 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Tiger's Wife Subtitle: A Novel Author: Tea Obreht Narrator: Susan Duerden, Robin Sachs Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins Language: English Release date: 03-08-11 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 1051 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Weaving a brilliant latticework of family legend, loss, and love, Téa Obreht, the youngest of The New Yorkers 20 best American fiction writers under 40, has spun a timeless novel that will establish her as one of the most vibrant, original authors of her generation. In a Balkan country mending from years of conflict, Natalia, a young doctor, arrives on a mission of mercy at an orphanage by the sea. By the time she and her lifelong friend, Zóra, begin to inoculate the children there, she feels age-old superstitions and secrets gathering everywhere around her. Secrets her outwardly cheerful hosts have chosen not to tell her. Secrets involving the strange family digging for something in the surrounding vineyards. Secrets hidden in the landscape itself. But Natalia is also confronting a private, hurtful mystery of her own: the inexplicable circumstances surrounding her beloved grandfathers recent death. After telling her grandmother that he was on his way to meet Natalia, he instead set off for a ramshackle settlement none of their family had ever heard of and died there alone. A famed physician, her grandfather must have known that he was too ill to travel. Why he left home becomes a riddle Natalia is compelled to unravel. Grief struck and searching for clues to her grandfathers final state of mind, she turns to the stories he told her when she was a child. These stories, Natalia comes to understand, run like secret rivers through all the other stories of her grandfathers life. And it is ultimately within these rich, luminous narratives that she will find the answer she is looking for. Editorial Reviews: The youngest author included in The New Yorkers 20 under 40 fiction issue last year, 25-year-old Tea Obreht is no doubt one of the most talked about novelists in the business right now. And her highly anticipated debut novel, The Tigers Wife, has more than lived up to the deafening hype; it is an engrossing story that masterfully mixes realism and fantasy, exploring intricate themes of life, death, and wartime. Both Obreht and her main character are skilled storytellers, and to hear their beautifully woven narratives performed by Susan Duerden and Robin Sachs only makes it that much easier to escape into The Tigers Wife. Set in an unnamed, mysterious Balkan country, The Tigers Wife tells the story of a special bond between Natalia Stefanovic and her recently deceased grandfather. Natalia is a physician charged with inoculating orphaned children vulnerable to disease in the war-torn countryside. She grew up very close to her grandfather, also a physician, and his sudden death in a village he had no known ties to sends her on a pilgrimage to understand the circumstances of his passing. Along the way, she remembers and discovers details of her grandfathers past, including two stories he told her when she was a child one of the deathless man, and another of an escaped tiger cared for by a deaf-mute girl. Obreht weaves Natalias story with the two fables seamlessly. It is a delicate balance of realism/science vs. myth/superstition Duerden and Sachs guide the listener through the intricate structure with their affecting narration. The Tigers Wife features a cast of dynamic, unforgettable characters, some with even supernatural qualities.

This Is Where I Leave You Audiobook by Jonathan Tropper

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jonathan Tropper) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:23:33 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: This Is Where I Leave You Author: Jonathan Tropper Narrator: Ramon De Ocampo Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins Language: English Release date: 09-24-09 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2897 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Simultaneously mourning the death of his father and the demise of his marriage, Judd joins the rest of the Foxmans as they reluctantly submit to their patriarch's dying request: to spend the seven days following the funeral together. In the same house. Like a family. As the week quickly spins out of control, longstanding grudges resurface, secrets are revealed, and old passions reawakened. For Judd, it's a weeklong attempt to make sense of the mess his life has become while trying in vain not to get sucked into the regressive battles of his madly dysfunctional family. Editorial Reviews: Judd Foxman has not had a good year. Shortly after catching his wife in bed with his boss (a Howard Stern-like DJ whom he works for as a producer), he learns that his father has died. Not only must Judd attend the funeral, he then has to honor his dad's dying request sitting shiva for seven days with the rest of his eccentric family, including his sex therapist mom, older brother Paul (who's married to Judd's high school sweetheart), sister Wendy, and youngest brother Phillip, who leads a carefree life of hedonism. While a few of the storylines ring cliché (namely catching your wife with your boss), this book is anything but. The dialogue between the family members is realistic, witty, and caustic. And just when you're hysterically laughing at a scene, the next one sucker punches you with the vulnerability and authenticity of Judd's emotions. Narrator Ramon de Ocampo delivers the right tone for this novel written from Foxman's point of view dry and defeated but the nasal quality of his voice is sometimes distracting and can even border on effeminate. Besides that, his pace is perfect, as well as his voice changes for the dialogue of different characters he really shines as Judd's mother and some of the older Jewish men that drop by to pay their respects. While This Is Where I Leave You is very funny, the truly laugh-out-loud scenes are few and far between, with the heart of the book being the very real, and very emotional trials of Judd Foxman and the relatable love/hate relationship he shares with his family members. Colleen Oakley Critic Reviews: "The affectionate, warts-and-all portrayal of the Foxmans will have fans wishing for a sequel (and clamoring for all things Tropper)." (Amazon.com review)"Tropper strikes an excellent balance between the family history and its present-day fallout, proving his ability to create touchingly human characters and a deliciously page-turning story." ( Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: Greatly entertaining, not for all audiences. My boyfriend and I listened to this on a road trip last week. We both thoroughly enjoyed the book. The crude humor was perfect for the two of us and we each laughed out loud more times I could count. However, I would not recommend this book to my mother, way to much real life for her or any one who is a conservative listener. So know yourself and what to expect. If you know ahead of time that the book has incredibly graphic sex scenes, mild drug use, homosexuality, etc., and you are okay with these topics then you will enjoy it. If any of those things bother you, then I would recommend staying away because you will be offended. Humorous, but Flat Sarcastic humor pervades this and all Jonathan Tropper novels. Judd's having a bit of a rough patch.

The Wangs vs. the World Audiobook by Jade Chang

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jade Chang) — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 18:39:24 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Wangs vs. the World Author: Jade Chang Narrator: Nancy Wu Format: Unabridged Length: 14 hrs and 1 min Language: English Release date: 10-04-16 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 301 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A hilarious debut novel about a wealthy but fractured Chinese immigrant family that had it all, only to lose every last cent - and about the road trip they take across America that binds them back together. Charles Wang is mad at America. A brash, lovable immigrant businessman who built a cosmetics empire and made a fortune, he's just been ruined by the financial crisis. Now all Charles wants is to get his kids safely stowed away so that he can go to China and attempt to reclaim his family's ancestral lands - and his pride. Charles pulls Andrew, his aspiring comedian son, and Grace, his style-obsessed daughter, out of schools he can no longer afford. Together with their stepmother, Barbra, they embark on a cross-country road trip from their foreclosed Bel-Air home to the upstate New York hideout of the eldest daughter, disgraced art world it-girl Saina. But with his son waylaid by a temptress in New Orleans, his wife ready to defect for a set of 1,000-thread-count sheets, and an epic smash-up in North Carolina, Charles may have to choose between the old world and the new, between keeping his family intact and finally fulfilling his dream of starting anew in China. Outrageously funny and full of charm, The Wangs vs. the World is an entirely fresh look at what it means to belong in America - and how going from glorious riches to (still name-brand) rags brings one family together in a way money never could. Members Reviews: Fun at first, but succumbs to fatal whininess Would you try another book from Jade Chang and/or Nancy Wu? I'd try another book from Jade Chang, even if it contains untranslated Chinese. Not sure I can listen to any more of Nancy Wu's voice, though. When the conversations got whiny, she was far too good at conveying that, to the point I just had to turn it off. What was most disappointing about Jade Changs story? One originally likable character suddenly revealed herself to be spoiled and whiny in a way that pulled the rug out from under me. Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Nancy Wu? Perhaps if the narrator could somehow have delivered the whiny dialogue without such an unbearably grating, whiny tone, I might have survived, but she didn't, and I couldn't. You didnt love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities? The book was entertaining and thought provoking for much of the way. I regret not being able to get through the narrative arc. A Spin On the Classic All-American Road Trip Story You know its serious when you re-up your lapsed audiobook subscription for just one book. It was so worth it for The Wangs vs the World by Jade Chang, the story of a wealthy immigrant family that loses their fortune in the financial crisis and regroups on a (hilarious) road trip across America. What I love most about this audiobook, besides its spin on the classic All-American road trip story, is its delicate balance between comedy and compassion. I LOVE the entire Wang family theres the embarrassing dad, the cold stepmother, the art world ingenue, the college bro, the millennial fashion blogger, and the ironic hipster farmer. Jade Chang playfully teases each character about their individual personality quirks while ultimately digging into the humanity beneath, making you grow to love each one.

Dirty Money Audiobook by Ashley & JaQuavis

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Ashley & JaQuavis) — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 12:08:20 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Dirty Money Author: Ashley & JaQuavis Narrator: iiKane Format: Unabridged Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins Language: English Release date: 02-07-17 Publisher: Buck 50 Productions Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 302 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: After her world is brutally destroyed, Anari becomes the epitome of a good-girl-turned-bad. Consumed with a desire for revenge, she and her best friend, Monica, enter a life of drugs, fast money, and betrayal - adopting the very lifestyle that pushed them into the game in the first place. Hiding their true identities, they quickly rise to the top of New Jersey's dope game. Using everyone who crosses their paths, nothing - not betrayal or addiction - will stop them from dispensing their street justice. Members Reviews: OMG!!!!! Love Ashley & JaQuavis Sitting on the edge of my seat! Need Dirty Money 2 ASAP!!! Hurry Please. T it's ok ok story. it was just one thing after the other. reader is horrible...omg she rushes as she reads which rushes the story so freaking gooooood!!!!! I love this book! so freaking gooooood!!!!! this is a must read! yall did da dam thang! This sound too familiar This book sound like a previous book by the authors!! For it to be recently published it just sounds so fam Great Read This book kept my attention from beginning to end. I can wait to order the next book in this series.

Look Homeward, Angel Audiobook by Thomas Wolfe

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Thomas Wolfe) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:09:21 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Look Homeward, Angel Author: Thomas Wolfe Narrator: Scott Sowers Format: Unabridged Length: 26 hrs and 22 mins Language: English Release date: 10-24-08 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 214 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: The works of Thomas Wolfe cemented his legacy as one of the very best of the American Southern writers. Wolfe's largely autobiographical novel features Eugene Gant, who pines for a more expansive life after being born to a father whose bouts of maniacal raving are fueled by a prodigious appetite for drink. ©1957 Edward C. Aswell (P)2008 Recorded Books, LLC Members Reviews: One Of The Gret Novels Of The 20th Century My purpose in writing this review is to provide a balance. It would be unfortunate if someone in the new Century, coming upon Thomas Wolfe for the first time, and unaware that they held within their hands one of the masterworks of the Twentieth Century, were deterred, and thus denied themselves a significant reading pleasure. If in reading it some 80 years after Wolfe wrote it, you feel it is too wordy, has too much description, or could have been edited more, remember this: Wolfe was in his mid twenties when he wrote it. Max Perkins, who is universally acknowledged as the greatest Editor of the Twentieth Century (he discovered/first published Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings etc.) was his Editor. Perkins, after much struggle, got him to cut 90,000 words from the original manuscript. If you love the language; if you value wordcraft and the evocation of imagery in a sublime form; if you appreciate Steinbeck, Pat Conroy, Waltari and Shirley Haggard for these reasons, if you are a writer or want to be; if you hunger for a book that has masterful characterisation that will imprint the characters indellibly on your mind, then listen to and enjoy "Look Homeward, Angel". You will then know the Gants and the Pentlands like your own family and you will know why, as someone who averages reading / listening to 137 books per year (over 1200 since January 2000), I count this as one of my ten favourites, and why is has been for over 35 years. In addition, Scott Sowers has done a Masterful job of narration. It is worth the credit! A Classic for a reason This is not the easiest listen/read but to me, well worth the time and money. A voice from another time, The tone of Wolfe's writing adds to the story, giving a sense of the time period. Narration is #1 with any audio book for me and Scott Sowers is great. A classsic read I saw that this book was one of Pat Conroy's favorites, and since he is my favorite author and I need to read some classics, I listened to this one. Thomas Wolfe's language is amazing and I see why they study this in school. Wow. Marvelous I don't know which I loved more, Wolfe's poetic flourishes and a Woolfian ability to inject philosophical wonder into the mundane, or Sowers's flawless voicings and performance. I played this at a more comfortable 1.20x speed. I got hopelessly sucked into the world of the Gants, audibly gasping in wonder at some of Wolfe's most beautiful lines. A favorite from minute 1. I wish Sowers would record the sequel and the more recent uncut, unedited release. The smallest of complaints - the chapters didn't line up with the Audible chapter breaks. Very minor issue that I could live with. the king of the adjective what a painting of life lived out, if not wrung out, of such a diverse set of characters

The Horse Dancer Audiobook by Jojo Moyes

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jojo Moyes) — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 09:51:09 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Horse Dancer Subtitle: A Novel Author: Jojo Moyes Narrator: Fiona Hardingham Format: Unabridged Length: 16 hrs and 4 mins Language: English Release date: 04-11-17 Publisher: Penguin Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 241 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A quintessential Jojo Moyes novel about a lost girl and her horse, the enduring strength of friendship, and how even the smallest choices can change everything. When Sarah's grandfather gives her a beautiful horse named Boo - hoping that one day she'll follow in his footsteps to join an elite French riding school, away from their gritty London neighborhood - she quietly trains in the city's parks and alleys. But then her grandfather falls ill, and Sarah must juggle horsemanship with school and hospital visits. Natasha, a young lawyer, is reeling after her failed marriage: her professional judgment is being questioned, her new boyfriend is a letdown, and she's forced to share her house with her charismatic ex-husband. Yet when the willful 14-year-old Sarah lands in her path, Natasha decides to take the girl under her wing. But Sarah is keeping a secret - a secret that will change the lives of everyone involved forever. Members Reviews: Sorry when it ended! I absolutely adored this story! Mojo Moyes has an uncanny sense of human nature and emotions and uses them so subtly to make her characters entirely real! As a horsewoman myself, I especially appreciated the equestrian side of the story and could easily relate to the Saras feelings and experiences. Superb storytelling! The best book I have ever read. The best book I have ever read. It's touched me in the way no other audiobook did. Beautiful story. Beautifully narrated. Highly recommend it to anyone who is unafraid to feel emotions. Not the best by JoJo Moyes, but still ok Characters were good, narration good but storyline just dragged out to long. If ur a fan of the author it's worth a listen, if this is ur first JoJo book - try the others they are SO much better. Meh. Sad and slooooow. I love Jojo Moyes - but this was a swing and a miss. Great book Great horse book but you can also enjoy it even if your not a horse person and I loved the ending of the book. Only criticism is they speak French in parts and do not translate it...

Tucker's Way Audiobook by David Johnson

biacuaduc@gmail.com (David Johnson) — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 01:53:30 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Tucker's Way Subtitle: The Tucker Series, Book 1 Author: David Johnson Narrator: Laural Merlington Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins Language: English Release date: 06-02-15 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2726 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: After enduring a childhood of horrific abuse and crushing poverty, Tucker seeks refuge in her rural Tennessee home. The three grandchildren she is raising are her only connection to the outside, and her demeanor is purposefully rough. But her world is turned upside down when a new neighbor, Ella, moves into the old McDaniel place next door. Ella seeks solace on the same country road after overcoming cancer. Although she is Tucker's peer agewise, she was raised in a world of privilege and opportunity. Still, Ella shares a tragic part of Tucker's experience - she also suffered abuse. Hers was at the hands of her husband, a prominent judge in the community and Tucker's sworn enemy. When Tucker finds herself at risk of losing custody of her beloved youngest grandchild and worse, the child's mother is murdered, she draws support and strength from her new friendship with Ella. These two women from disparate backgrounds form a fierce bond, and they weather life's storms together with faith, love, and determination. Members Reviews: Best novel I have read in a long time; anxious to listen to sequels!!!! Great story. Fantastic narrator. Well developed characters. Being familiar with family codependent dynamics it is rich in every way. Once you start listening/reading you will not want to put it down. PLEASE OFFER SEQUELS WITH WHISPERSYNC!!! Thank you. Okay While the book isn't particularly well written, it was a story that drew me in and made me keep reading to find out what happened to the characters. There were many times I rolled my eyes at how it was a bit like an after-school special- though seriously- some of the scenes were NOT appropriate at all for that age group! It deals with child molestation and murder- in uncomfortable detail. That said, in spite of the predictability of it, it had an all too human aspect of there being characters that couldn't be characterized as good or bad, but complex, real, abrasive, but true, honest, and often principled. I liked that bit. I have to admit, I regret buying the second book prior to reading the first, but it was a bargain, so maybe I will read the next one. I would not recommend the book, as I think the same themes are dealt with in other books with more subtlety, and without the sappy unrealistic scenes that undermine the trauma of everything that was going on in that family. Just when you think it's over... Tuckers way had some difficult parts about child abuse and domestic violence. However, also great friendship and morality issues came up. well worth the read and just when you think it's over there are more surprises! Spellbinding! Seldom have I read such a well written book. Everything in this story is intertwined together to form a tale of down to earth characters with all the best and worst of mankind. Both the horrors and shortcomings of humanity and the love and loyalty are here. The author drew such vivid characters that listening to this book created visions in my mind of a movie. Almost turned it off, so happy I didn't! Who was the most memorable character of Tucker's Way and why? Any additional comments? When I first started listening to this book I just hated Tucker. A women that chews tobacco and is hateful to her dog is no character I want to read about, or so I thought. I meant to return the book but never got around to it.

The Rumor Audiobook by Elin Hilderbrand

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Elin Hilderbrand) — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 17:00:25 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Rumor Subtitle: A Novel Author: Elin Hilderbrand Narrator: Kathleen McInerney Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins Language: English Release date: 06-16-15 Publisher: Hachette Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1227 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A friendship is tested in this irresistible pause resister from New York Times best-selling author Elin Hilderbrand. Nantucket writer Madeline King couldn't have picked a worse time to have writer's block. Her deadline is looming, her bills are piling up, and inspiration is in short supply. Madeline's best friend, Grace, is hard at work transforming her garden into the envy of the island with the help of a ruggedly handsome landscape architect. Before she realizes it, Grace is on the verge of a decision that will irrevocably change her life. Could Grace's crisis be Madeline's salvation? As the gossip escalates and the summer's explosive events come to a head, Grace and Madeline try desperately to set the record straight - but the truth might be even worse than rumor has it. Members Reviews: Could not put it down I listened to this audio book every chance I had. Work breaks, in the car and working in the garden. A great read/listen. Waiting for the ending but never wanting it to end. Colorful characters and surprises around every corner. Not my typical book, but it was really good. I hope to see a sequel. Ehhhh Boring characters (many with idiotic names) and a predictable story. The voice actors do a good job but the characters were all so 2 dimensional and dumb (literally) it was still a very long book to listen to. Great listen great story about how even people who are good can make poor decisions and life does go on Cute, entertaining, and easy listen. What made the experience of listening to The Rumor the most enjoyable? I enjoyed the charaters in this book. Liked listening to the different lives of each yet the lives and story was interwoven in a very believale way. I live in a small town and it is so true the different rumors that can start because of the different preception people conclude. What did you like best about this story? Cute, real to life and very easy flowing and good fun listen. Which character as performed by Kathleen McInerney was your favorite? I think she did a wonderful job and could ,listen to her on and on. Who was the most memorable character of The Rumor and why? I liked Grace and Eddie. The story between them was very believable. Any additional comments? Nice summer listen. Enjoyable My first book with this author, but I enjoyed this so much I will listen to her other books. Good evocative descriptions of Nantucket.

Tara Road Audiobook by Maeve Binchy

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Maeve Binchy) — Tue, 13 Jun 2000 06:04:19 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Tara Road Author: Maeve Binchy Narrator: Katherine Borowitz Format: Unabridged Length: 17 hrs and 37 mins Language: English Release date: 06-13-00 Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1041 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Drawn into lifestyles vastly differing from their own, at first each resents the news of how well the other is getting on. Rita seems to have become quite a hostess, entertaining half the neighborhood, which at first irritates the reserved and withdrawn Marilyn, a woman who has always guarded her privacy. Marilyn seems to have become bosom friends with Ria's children, as well as with Colm, a handsome restaurateur, whom Ria has begun to miss terribly. At the end of the summer, the women at last meet face-to-face. Having learned a great deal, about themselves and about each other, they find that they have become, firmly and forever, good friends. Members Reviews: Material good - quality, not-so-much Get through part 1 (it can move slowly and makes you wonder if you've downloaded the right book based upon publishers comments), and get ready to enjoy a much more engaging story once the women exchange homes. The narrator is very good, but the quality of the recording is quite disappointing. I didn't, by the way, pick this up in the sample provided. Volume and sound quality can change drastically from one chapter to another, and at times the sound of other people (readers??) in the background is extremely distracting. This seems to be worse in some chapters than others, and particularly noticeable in part 2. I should note that I finally found an excellent pair of ear buds, which may contribute to my irritation concerning quality issues. I wish Audible would consider establishing an area relating to quality where you could see if there have been comments, both negative and positive about recording studios/production companies before choosing a book to download. Come to think of it, I'm not sure the name of the production company is listed in the catalogue, which leads me to the obvious recommendation that if it isn't included in the book description, it should be. I'm happy I read the book; the story is hard to put down (as in unplug the ear buds) - particularly once you hit part 2. Put it this way: if the material wasn't good enough to hold my attention solidly, I would have abandoned ship somewhere in part 1 due to quality and consistency of the actual recording. I wonder if the author gets to listen to and approve a recording before it is published? Loved It Engaging and a real "trip" through Dublin. Maeve is a master storyteller. Well worth your time! Good Story, poor recording The poor quality of the recording of this book was very distracting. It is to Ms Binchy's credit that I completed the tale given the uneven sound quality and continual background noises as if the reader were in a large room with many other readers doing their thing at the same time. A shame really, as it was a good read. A Solid Terrific Read This story has it all/ love, romance, betrayal, death, friendship (loyal and otherwise), children, travel, house and home, organized crime, addiction, men's and women's issues, power, control and abuse. It is all about messy life. I loved it, every bit of it. A truly great listen, so sad when it ended, I was so invested in these people and their lives. ENJOY! Very Enjoyable! This book was right up there with "The Secret Life of Bees". Extremely enjoyable and I had a hard time turning it off and was anxious to get back to it.

Rabbit, Run Audiobook by John Updike

biacuaduc@gmail.com (John Updike) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:05:56 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Rabbit, Run Author: John Updike Narrator: Arthur Morey Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins Language: English Release date: 12-23-08 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 528 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: But happiness is more elusive than a medal, and Harry must continue to run - from his wife, his life, and from himself, until he reaches the end of the road and has to turn back.... Critic Reviews: "Brilliant and poignant...By his compassion, clarity of insight and crystal-bright prose, he makes Rabbit's sorrow his and our own." (The Washington Post) Members Reviews: Great, but gritty and depressing A great novel in the American tradition of Twain, Hemingway, Salinger. That sounds really lofty, but Updike's character is cranky, funny and perceptive about the stupidities of society in just the same ineffable way as those writers' creations. Be prepared for a somewhat depressing story set in industrial PA in the early 60's. Good reader, too. A Thinking Man's Novel This book centers on Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom, ex high school football star who feels trapped in a mediocre marriage. He refuses to grow up or accept any responsibility and runs away from his pregnant wife in search of some meaning...with disastrous results to all those around him. Rabbit is a selfish coward in all that he does. And yet I (and the other characters in the book) couldn't help liking this amoral anti-hero. However, I'm not sure how much I actually "enjoyed" this novel as it portayed a disturbing picture of man and life and provided no solutions: so beware this is not a happy, "feel good" story. But I did appreciate the excellent writing with its vivid metaphors, explicit descriptions and convincing characters. I became engrossed in the tragic story as it unfolded and found it hard to put down. The narration was perfecly paced and clear. All in all, I think it's well worth listening to and am now wondering whether to wait for the audioversion of the sequel 'Rabbit Redux' or just to read the printed version. A Masterpiece! Updike Delivers Complexity, Simply I had no idea what to expect with this book, as the title does not give much help--at least at first. John Updike is a masterful writer, and his direct and simple style should not be mistaken for anything but genius. He brought these characters to life in a way that made all of my senses lose come alive! I know that many of the themes in this book, and frankly the series, are/were highly controversial in their day. Yet, Updike is so elegant in his word choice as he shines the light of truth on these characters and their stories that you cannot help but relate. Rabbit is an everyman, and unless you live in a cave or are lying to yourself, one or more of his qualities or points of view will resonate. I think this is a must read for the serious audiophile, and I promise that before you know it you will be finishing with "Rabbit Remembered" a novella which ties up all the lose ends of one of literatures most intriguing characters, and an enduring story about being American. I read this book nearly two years ago, and I still think about it all the time. Do not get in your own way or allow any of the poor reviews by the hermits to dissuade your purchase. Updike is a master, and his stories are real and believable. Disturbing This is a disturbing book at many levels. Speaks volumes of the shallowness of the American character developing in the 60's that has grown more prevalent today. If you aren't troubled by this book, something is wrong with your listening skills.

Her Sister's Shoes Audiobook by Ashley Farley

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Ashley Farley) — Tue, 31 May 2016 16:11:33 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Her Sister's Shoes Author: Ashley Farley Narrator: Tanya Eby Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins Language: English Release date: 05-31-16 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 44 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: For fans of Dorothea Benton Frank, Her Sister's Shoes is a contemporary women's novel that explores and proves the healing power of family. Set in the South Carolina Lowcountry and packed with Southern charm and memorable characters, Her Sister's Shoes is the story of three sisters - Samantha, Jackie, and Faith - who struggle to balance the demands of career and family while remaining true to themselves. Samantha Sweeney has always been the glue that holds her family together, their go-to girl for love and support. When an ATV accident leaves her teenage son in a wheelchair, she loses her carefully constructed self-control. In the after-gloom of her dreaded 50th birthday and the discovery of her husband's infidelity, Jackie realizes she must reconnect with her former self to find the happiness she needs to move forward. Faith lacks the courage to stand up to her abusive husband. She turns to her sisters for help, placing all their lives at risk. In the midst of their individual challenges, the Sweeney sisters must cope with their mother's mental decline. Is Lovie in the early stages of Alzheimer's, or is her odd behavior normal for a woman her age? No one, including Lovie, understands her obsession with a rusty key she wears around her neck. Members Reviews: Enjoyable Read I enjoyed this book. it was filled with Mystery, moments of real concern for the characters, bad guys, good guys, heartbreak and love. The Narrator was good at differentiating her voice for each character and giving each scenario it's correct voice. Overall a good read. Heartwarming family issues. First fiction I listened to after a non-fiction medical book. It was heartwarming, full of action and family issues that occur In real life. Well written and I loved the narrator's voice and presentation. I would like to read more from this author and listen to more books by the narrator. pathetically predictable narration was OK... story was exceptionally predictable, with simple characters and too many coincidences. the good guys are all good, the answers always around the bend, the bad guy... well, let's just say it's kind of silly. entertaining, but that's about all the story has to offer. Don't judge. Instead walk a mile in my shoes. Her Sister's Shoes by Ashley Farley is a great beginning to The Sweeney Sisters series. We meet three very different sisters, who each have their own set of challenges to deal with. Not only are they different, they have their differences that pull them apart and yet, in the end, the family bond is the strongest pull of all. The story is fast paced with real-life situations that Farley infuses with drama and emotional tension. The characters are true-to-life and evocative--readers will get caught up in their lives. Family dilemmas covered by a whole lot of love and loyalty. I listened to the audiobook edition that is narrated by Tanya Eby. She does a great job of narration, making for an enjoyable listening experience. nice story I liked this story. I will probably read the next book so I can see what happens to the characters

The House We Grew Up In Audiobook by Lisa Jewell

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Lisa Jewell) — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 13:18:29 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The House We Grew Up In Author: Lisa Jewell Narrator: Karina Fernandez Format: Unabridged Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins Language: English Release date: 09-05-13 Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 452 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: The Bird children have an idyllic childhood: a picture-book cottage in a country village, a warm, cosy kitchen filled with love and laughter, sun-drenched afternoons in a rambling garden. But one Easter weekend a tragedy strikes the Bird family that is so devastating it tears them apart. Many years later something will call them home, back to the house they grew up in - and to what really happened that Easter weekend all those years ago. Critic Reviews: "Poignant, heart-wrenching & beautifully told, the author's best tale yet. (Sun) Beautiful, moving and unputdownable Jojo Moyes on Before I Met You) Jewell has moved up a gear into David Nicholls territory (Bookseller on The Making of Us) Members Reviews: Dysfunctional Squared! This book could have been dismissed as a huge joke if it wasnt so well written. I was hooked almost from the start and by the time I was about a third of the way in, I found it hard to put down. I loved the story of this impossibly dysfunctional family, and the characters were surprisingly so believable even after one over-the-top-preposterous-plot-twist after another! I cant possibly describe this story in any way that does not make it sound crazy and ridiculous so I wont just trust me; it was great! The House We Grew Up In Oh how I loved this story! I purchased the book as a Kindle/Audible Audio version but to be completely honest I didn't read a page. The narrator (Karina Fernandez) was so spectacular that I wanted nothing more than to listen to her weave the story with each character's individual personality and voice and had trouble pulling myself away when I had to get anything else done. That isn't to say the story itself isn't as wonderful as the narration. This was a perfect combination of an excellent story and the right narrator able to pull off the complicated emotions and circumstances it presented. The story weaves back and forth in time, from Meg, the oldest Bird child, her daughter and, eventually, her father, sister and brother Rory, cleaning out their mother Lorelei's home back to various Easter weekends over the course of their lives. When we first meet Meg in 2011 we discover that Lorelei was a hoarder (think of the worst possible episode of Hoarders and you'll have a good idea of how badly she lived). As we go back in time we see her sickness evolve from a sort of whimsical, free spirited quirkiness into a brutal, sometimes aggressive need to keep everything until there is literally walls of junk and only one chair she can sit in. She pushes everyone away and refuses to bend or compromise with anyone. This sickness, along with the tragic incident that happened one Easter, pushes each member of the Bird family in opposite directions and effects how each of them develops as a person. We get to see each character battle with their guilt and lack of control and the author really does an astonishing job of presenting the heartache and damage done to them (and that they do to each other) by the circumstances of their lives.

Jerusalem Inn Audiobook by Martha Grimes

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Martha Grimes) — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 03:58:53 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Jerusalem Inn Subtitle: A Richard Jury Mystery, Book 5 Author: Martha Grimes Narrator: Steve West Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins Language: English Release date: 07-30-13 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 248 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: From the rough but colorful pub that provides the novel's title, to the snowboard Gothic estate nearby, the chilly English landscape has never held more atmosphere - or thwarted romance. And Jury will never have a more mysterious Christmas. Five Days Before Christmas - On his way to a brief holiday (he thinks) Jury meets a woman he could fall in love with. He meets her in a snow covered graveyard - not, he thinks, the best way to begin an attachment. Four Days Before Christmas - Jury meets Father Rourke, who draws for him the semiotic square - "a structure that might simplify thought," says the priest, but Jury's thoughts need more than symbols. Three Days Before Christmas - Melrose Plant, Jury's aristocratic and unofficial assistant, arrives at Spinney Abbey, now home to a well-known critic. Among the assembled snowbound guests he meets: Lady Assington, Beatrice Sleight, and the painter Edward Parmenger. When they all assemble in the dining room, Lady Assington announces, "I think we should have a murder." Members Reviews: Great Narrator Where does Jerusalem Inn rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? Very high up. I enjoyed listening to West's narration almost as much as I do Davina Porter... may Her Voice never fail.. The narrator is crucial to enjoying a book. One of my all time favorite books is Heinlein's THe Moon is a Harsh Mistress. However, the narrators voice was so mechanical I could not finish listening, even for the story. So thank you Mr. West for being one of the good guys. Among the best of the Richard Jury mysteries! Martha Grimes wrote a great series of books featuring Richard Jury (cerebral detective from Scotland Yard), and his ensemble of friends--each of whom has their own distinctive (often amusing) personalities. Among them all, there is the ever-solid Melrose Plant--who has voluntarily given up his aristocratic titles to live a freer lifestyle--to the great consternation of his American aunt Agatha (who generally supplies the comic relief in the stories) and his butler Ruthven. Plant tends to be Jury's unofficial assistant in most of the mysteries. In this one, among her best in my opinion, Jury independently meets a woman who will soon be murdered. Melrose Plant & friends separately decide to spend Christmas at an old stately home where murder will occur again. Both would initially appear unrelated, but of course, they are not. And the Jerusalem Inn (aptly named since this occurs around Christmas time, and the attempts there to produce a nativity scene would in some ways underscore the themes of family which appear all through the story) provides a key central point for all the further action. The narrator is very good, and the story equally so. This was originally published in 1984, so it is still echoing much of the vintage british mystery genre. (It is difficult to believe that Grimes is actually an American author!). I love all her books--and this is 5th in the series, and she is really hitting her stride at this point. Well worth reading! "God Bless " Another fine story from Martha Grimes. I really enjoy the Richard Jury series. Always something more going on behind the scenes. A Christmas who done it Well worth listening to. Excellent characters, suspenseful to the end. I am listening to the Richard Jury books in order, and this one is the best one so far.

The Seventh Most Important Thing Audiobook by Shelley Pearsall

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Shelley Pearsall) — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 17:42:22 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Seventh Most Important Thing Author: Shelley Pearsall Narrator: Nick Podehl Format: Unabridged Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins Language: English Release date: 09-08-15 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 106 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: One Kid. One Crime. One Chance to Make Things Right. It was a bitterly cold day when Arthur T. Owens grabbed a brick and hurled it at the trash picker. Arthur had his reasons, and the brick hit the Junk Man in the arm, not the head. But none of that matters to the judge - he is ready to send Arthur to juvie for the foreseeable future. Amazingly, it's the Junk Man himself who offers an alternative: 120 hours of community service...working for him. Arthur is given a rickety shopping cart and a list of the Seven Most Important Things: glass bottles, foil, cardboard, pieces of wood, lightbulbs, coffee cans, and mirrors. He can't believe it - is he really supposed to rummage through people's trash? But it isn't long before Arthur realizes there's more to the Junk Man than meets the eye, and the "trash" he's collecting is being transformed into something more precious than anyone could imagine.... Inspired by the work of American folk artist James Hampton, award-winning author Shelley Pearsall has crafted an affecting and redemptive novel about discovering what shines within us all, even when life seems full of darkness. Members Reviews: Such a touching story This is such a heart warming and touching story. I loved this book so much! What a Dramatic and Awesome story It was more than that it was moving so thrilling and amazing and super lovely Inspirational, Heart-Warming Story Would you listen to The Seventh Most Important Thing again? Why? Yes. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would like to review it again. Who was your favorite character and why? Arthur. He is a troubled kid just trying to sort out his feelings. Which character as performed by Nick Podehl was your favorite? I can see Officer Billie's hand in the air every time she says, "Stop!". If you could take any character from The Seventh Most Important Thing out to dinner, who would it be and why? I would want to hear The Junkman's stories about the war, and about his masterpiece. Any additional comments? The narrator really brings the characters' personalities to life! Great! This is a good book, I really enjoyed it. I would love to visit the museum to see the art work.

Chasing Fireflies Audiobook by Charles Martin

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Charles Martin) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:36:08 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Chasing Fireflies Author: Charles Martin Narrator: Andrew Peterson Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins Language: English Release date: 12-04-08 Publisher: Oasis Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 730 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: When paramedics find a malnourished 6-year-old boy near a burning car that holds a dead woman, they wonder who he is - and why he won't talk. Seth, a small-town journalist who was raised by foster parents, is assigned to cover the story and investigate the boy's identity. But will his search unearth long-buried emotions - and answers to his own history? ©2007 Charles Martin (P)2008 Oasis Audio Members Reviews: Meaningful This book is written in the "I", a man, so at first I had a little trouble getting it. But, it didn't take long until I was very interested in the story as well as attached to the characters. The story has such depth and is loaded with true meanings of life. Tears and laughter at times, I truly love 'Uncle Willie'. This story will stay with me and I would even listen to it again. Thanks Mr. Martin and I sure look forward to your other books. I would like an audio to be made of the book "When Crickets Cry" because it was recommended to me by a friend as the "best book she had ever read" - she is an 84-year-old avid reader. /debR I've read twice in a week - a first Can I just say this book is amazing. About a chapter into it, there is a "historical, background building" section that made me think the ratings were off and I had picked a loser. I listened much closer the second time through... realizing then how important this information would become. The characters are people I want to have in my life - Uncle Willie, oh my goodness his little one liners just cut right to the truth, his resilience and understanding of grief allows him to help others process. The story weaves four life stories, two parallel stories of abandoned children separated in time by a decade... cross woven with the story of Uncle Willie and his niece both emotionally injured by the same man. This cross weaving of stories does take a little concentration to follow... but it is beautifully done. Clean, positive, uplifting, but not preachy. Humility, Knowing Where Your Treasure Is This is the first audio book that I have listened to twice. The narration is great, the story is better. I don't know another tale that quite "strips" all the layers of one's soul down to the core, the way this one does. And really when it comes right down to it, our character and those we hold most dear, are all we truly have on this earth. But few ever come to realize this truth. Abandoned, neglected, and abused children find trust, acceptance and love in this amazing story . . . don't miss it . . . it is a clear picture of all that is WRONG in our world, unvarnished . . . and a little tiny window into just a few things that are still right. What a happy mistake! Awhile ago, I decided to spent a few Audible credits, and knew for sure one of the books I wanted to buy -- I couldn't quite remember the title, but it had something to do with fireflies, and was written by P. T. Deutermann, who's thrillers I've loved. So -- I found the book, bought it, downloaded it, and then a few days ago clicked on it to listen. It started out a little odd, but as the minutes ticked away, the whole thing seemed a little strange -- this wasn't anything at all like Deutermann's previous books -- I was enjoying it, but this was very different from what I'd been expecting.

Choke Audiobook by Chuck Palahniuk

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Chuck Palahniuk) — Fri, 20 Dec 2002 13:33:12 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Choke Author: Chuck Palahniuk Narrator: Chuck Palahniuk Format: Abridged Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins Language: English Release date: 12-20-02 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 933 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Victor Mancini, a dropout from medical school, has devised a complicated scam to pay for his mother's elder care: Pretend to be choking on a piece of food in a restaurant and the person who "saves you" will feel responsible for the rest of his life. Multiply that a couple of hundred times and you generate a healthy flow of checks, week in, week out. Between fake choking gigs, Victor works at Colonial Dunsboro with a motley group of losers and stoners trapped in 1734, cruises sex addiction groups for action ("You put 20 sexaholics around a table night after night and don't be surprised"), and visits his mother, whose anarchic streak made his childhood a mad whirl and whose Alzheimer's disease now hides what may be the startling truth about his (possibly divine?) parentage. An antihero for our deranging times, Victor finds that his whole existence is a struggle to wrest an identity from overwhelming forces. His creator, Chuck Palahniuk, is the visionary we need and the satirist we deserve. "Even I can't write this well," says Thom Jones, and Bret Easton Ellis opines, "Maybe our generation has found its Don DeLillo." Choke is also available in print from Doubleday. Critic Reviews: "One of the freshest, most intriguing voices to appear in a long time. He rearranges Vonnegut's sly humor, DeLillo's mordant social analysis, and Pynchon's antic surrealism (or is it R. Crumb's?) into a gleaming puzzle palace all its own." (Newsday) "At times very funny. Also sick and perverted....Readers will love it. Readers will hate it and be offended by it. Must listen to figure out what you think." (AudioFile) "Displays a Swiftian gift for satire, as well as a knack for crafting mesmerizing sentences that loom with stark, prickly prose and repetitive rhythms." (San Francisco Examiner) Members Reviews: Oh please, not another abridged!!! Will you please stop featuring such appealing novels only available in abridged format? I am continually stumped as to why oh why anyone with a brain would even bother to read an abridged novel. Several times I have found on your site what promised to be a good read, but only available in the abridged version, and I have gone to the competition and rented the unabridged cassettes. Please stop the insanity! Oh please, not another abridged!!! Will you please stop featuring such appealing novels only available in abridged format? I am continually stumped as to why oh why anyone with a brain would even bother to read an abridged novel. Several times I have found on your site what promised to be a good read, but only available in the abridged version, and I have gone to the competition and rented the unabridged cassettes. Please stop the insanity! Stop the Abridged Madness! It is sometimes an appropriate response to reality to go insane. Philip K. Dick, VALIS I'm not sure how this one slipped by me. I normally don't purchase abridged novels or audiobooks. Perhaps, I just really wanted to hear Palahniuk read his own stuff (his voice is uncannily like a friend of mine who suffers from Triskaidekaphobia, but I digress...), but I can't give it a great review because it is ABRIDGED. Half the Mona Lisa might still be 1/2 a Da Vinci, but it isn't the Mona Lisa anymore. It is a piece. A sleave. Ugh. I really liked this book.

Dear John Audiobook by Nicholas Sparks

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Nicholas Sparks) — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 07:51:13 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Dear John Author: Nicholas Sparks Narrator: Holter Graham Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins Language: English Release date: 10-19-06 Publisher: Hachette Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 963 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read, and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love - and face the hardest decision of his life. Critic Reviews: "[Dear John] brims with longing." (Publishers Weekly) "Sparks, a perennially popular novelist whose name is synonymous with romance and bittersweet endings and whose work translates so readily to movies, lives up to his reputation with his latest novel, a tribute to courageous and self-sacrificing soldiers." (Booklist) Members Reviews: As always my favorite I love Nicholas Sparks and he didn't let me down! Great book for us romance people. Ending wasn't what I expected but still loved the way it ended. Can't wait for his next! Dear John The listen was wonderful, I listened to it while crossing the country, and it tugged at my heartstrings and the ending just made my heart melt. I would definately recommend this. Thankfully not a typical love story In the beginning of the story, I thought it was too detailed and the dialogue a little bland. At one point Savannah says "Duh!" which isn't really a good fit for the linguistics of the late 90's. I held on though, and was rewarded in the end. The detail from earlier helped create the emotional climax near the end...and the characters had grown and blossomed into extraordinarily complex people. I found myself surprised at several twists in the road, both by the way the story was unfolding and the depth of emotion I felt for the characters. The reader did a good job with voices too. I would definitely recommend it as a sweet emotional journey that isn't too typical of love stories. Have the kleenex ready I enjoyed the book, but I had to get the kleenex out several times. book vs movie My second Sparks and a different type of review. I saw the movie adaptation to this book circa 2011 and enjoyed it, even watched it twice. I told myself to remember the title of the movie and the author so I could watch it again sometime or maybe get the book. Of course, after a couple of months I forgot both. But the story stuck with me and from time to time I'd look for it thinking who wrote books set mostly in the Carolina's? I checked Pat Conroy and others but wasn't familiar enough with Sparks to make the connection until recently. The book stayed fairly close to the movie, often you read the book then see the movie and are disappointed as the movie typically doesn't develop the characters as well. In this one, soldier is home in Wilmington, NC on leave and meets gal on the beach one day and it's love at first sight. But he's stationed in Germany then 9/11 happens and life gets in the way. It's a good story, a typical Sparks from what I can tell looking at his body of work. If anything I liked the ending in the movie better than the book. Maybe I'd better go watch it again!

Holding the Dream Audiobook by Nora Roberts

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Nora Roberts) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:47:43 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Holding the Dream Subtitle: Dream #2 Author: Nora Roberts Narrator: Sandra Burr Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins Language: English Release date: 12-01-08 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 580 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Her childhood had been a lie. Her father had been a thief. Her mind struggled to absorb these facts, to analyze, to accept. Kate Powell had been orphaned at an early age, when she had, essentially, watched her parents die. Her family had been taken away, but she had been given another. The distant kinship didn't matter to Thomas and Susan Templeton. They had taken her in, raised her as their own, given her a home and love. Now, 20 years later, she has learned the truth from a colleague of her father. A man who did not realize that the Templetons had gone to great lengths to protect the child from knowledge that would hurt and shame her. Members Reviews: Good Series Nice example of Nora's earlier work. I like the diversity of the characters and the storyline is humorous and believable. Worth the listen. Laid back easy listening I always enjoy Nora Roberts. Light and easy to hear. The reader did excellent. I will definitely hear the entire series. Love this series This is one of my favourite Nora series. The characters are great, storyline is great, narrator is great. I am looking forward to the last book! Great story The narrator did the story great justice in her understanding of the characters roles and what the author wanted the reader to get from it truly wonderful amazing The narrator was much better in this book. Loved the whole story and little twist in it. Nora Roberts is an amazing author.

Beautiful You Audiobook by Chuck Palahniuk

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Chuck Palahniuk) — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 00:15:44 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Beautiful You Author: Chuck Palahniuk Narrator: Carol Monda Format: Unabridged Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins Language: English Release date: 10-21-14 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 344 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: From the author of Fight Club, the classic portrait of the damaged contemporary male psyche, now comes this novel about the apocalyptic marketing possibilities of female pleasure. Beautiful You is Palahniuk's much-anticipated satire of the emerging erotic thriller genre, a mash-up of mommy porn and chick lit à la Sex and the City, and fantasy lit à la Clan of the Cave Bear. Imagine if Ira Levin had a baby with Jean Auel. Penny Harrigan is a low-level associate in a big Manhattan law firm with an apartment in Queens and no love life at all. So it comes as a great shock when she finds herself invited to dinner by one C. Linus Maxwell, aka "Climax-Well", a software mega-billionaire and lover of the most gorgeous and accomplished women on earth. After dining at Manhattan's most exclusive restaurant, he whisks Penny off to a hotel suite in Paris, where he proceeds, notebook in hand, to bring her to previously undreamed-of heights of orgasmic pleasure for days on end. What's not to like? This: Penny discovers that she is a test subject for the final development of a line of sex toys to be marketed in a nationwide chain of boutiques called Beautiful You. So potent and effective are these devices that women by the millions line up outside the stores on opening day and then lock themselves in their room with them and stop coming out. Except for batteries. Maxwell's plan for erotically enabled world domination must be stopped. But how? Members Reviews: So weird Every time I had to pause this book to continue with my life I thought "what the f**k just happened?" This book is heavily sexual, some points to nauseating lengths. Like way sexier than Christian Grey and nastier than eating humans. Yet I couldn't stop listening even when I found myself saying ew ew ew out loud at work. It was a really great read. If you like indie films like Horns and Blue is the Warmest Color you'll probably still be freaked out. Happy listening. Don't play this out loud in front of kids, parents, or anyone in he generally normal population. I think I may have outgrown Chuck P.I What did you like best about Beautiful You? What did you like least? This was an interesting concept and some good points about sexuality and gender are made, I just feel it would have been best served in a story or novela instead of a book. Would you be willing to try another book from Chuck Palahniuk? Why or why not? Yes... He's been one of my favorites for a long time. But, I have to admit that I haven't really been moved by anything he's written since Rant. I can't tell if Chuck is "losing it", or if I've just kind of grown out of his style. The last few seem to be trying too hard to be edgy or controversial or something. Was Beautiful You worth the listening time? I guess. It was entertaining, I suppose, but I didn't gain anything from it. I'll start by saying I love Palahniuk... What did you like best about Beautiful You? What did you like least? I liked the idea that I felt was being presented in a very satirical story. I loved the overall theme of excessive self indulgence leading to complacent mediocrity, and the anti-materialism that is so present in most Palahniuk novels. On the other hand, I hated the story line. I hated that there was no development of any character.

Ginny Moon Audiobook by Benjamin Ludwig

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Benjamin Ludwig) — Tue, 02 May 2017 21:58:03 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Ginny Moon Author: Benjamin Ludwig Narrator: Em Eldridge Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 1 min Language: English Release date: 05-02-17 Publisher: Harlequin Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 138 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: READ THE BOOK CRITICS ARE RAVING ABOUT! A brilliant debut. Graeme Simsion, New York Times bestselling author of The Rosie Project A heartwarming and unforgettable page-turner. Booklist, starred review A powerful affirmation of the fragility and strength of families. Publishers Weekly, starred review At once captivating and heart-wrenching. Ginny's is a unique and compelling voice. Ginny Moon is original, revealing and timely. And, with any luck, it will spark much-needed conversations around foster care, adoption and autism. The Toronto Star Full of great big heart and unexpected humor, Ludwig's debut introduces the lovable, wholly original Ginny Moon who discovers a new meaning of family on her unconventional journey home. Ginny Moon is exceptional. Everyone knows ither friends at school, teammates on the basketball team, and especially her new adoptive parents. They all love her, even if they don't quite understand her. They want her to feel like she belongs. What they don't know is that Ginny has no intention of belonging. She's found her birth-mother on Facebook, and is determined to get back to hereven if it means going back to a place that was extremely dangerous. Because Ginny left something behind and she's desperate to get it back, to make things right. Benjamin Ludwig's whip-smart, unforgettable novel is an illuminating look at one girl's journey to find her way home and one of the freshest debuts in years. Critic Reviews: "Ginny Moon is a brilliant debut.... I was unable to put the book down.... This novel has all the elements for critical and popular success!" (Graeme Simsion, New York Times best-selling author of The Rosie Project) Members Reviews: Wonderful As a social worker who works with children at risk I found this to be a very truthful account. It deals with things not only from the parent perspective but from the child perspective, who in this case is a child who has autism. Very informative read with a great storyline! Great story, easy listening This book was great, I enjoyed listening from the perspective of an autistic mind. There was a little mystery about "her baby" and I liked the twists and turns. Kept me interested and an easy read. Frustrated Me as a Reader I waffled between rating this book 3 and 4 stars. Years ago, I read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and had a similar 3-star reading experience. Both books are critically acclaimed, loved by readers, and told from the perspective of an autistic child. Bottom line: I did not love either of these books but I am happy I read them. I appreciate Ginny Moon as a work of art based on the experiences of the author, and trust its accuracy in capturing the thought and speech patterns of a 14-year old autistic girl. I understand that my frustrations with this narrator are mostly unfounded - but I was still a frustrated reader most of the time. Readers up for the challenge should proceed with caution - but this could be a very satisfying journey for some. Wow, just wow! I have never read a better book about a person with autism. The voice of Ginny, the fourteen-year-old, is perfectly portrayed by both author and narrator. They capture the disconnect between the world in Ginny's mind and the outer world where she doesn't feel that she belongs.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane Audiobook by Katherine Howe

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Katherine Howe) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:29:58 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane Author: Katherine Howe Narrator: Katherine Kellgren Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 48 mins Language: English Release date: 06-09-09 Publisher: Hyperion AudioBooks Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1435 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Curious things start to happen when Connie finds the name "Deliverance Dane" on a yellowed scrap of paper inside an old Bible, and begins to have visions of a long ago woman condemned for practicing "physick," or herbal healing, on her neighbors in 1690s Salem. Interspersed with modern-day sections are chapters on the actual witch trials, revealing the fascinating story of Deliverance Dane and how she got caught up in the tragic events. Connie meets an intriguing young steeplejack named Sam, who's also interested in the history of the area. But just as Connie starts to unravel some of the mysteries surrounding Deliverance's identity, Sam has a horrifying accident, and Connie has to figure out a way to save him that involves an ancient and mystical cure. And to do that, she needs to locate the actual "physick book" once owned by Deliverance Dane herself. Immediately compelling, with powerful historic insight and detail, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane is that rare find - a literary first novel with a very commercial premise and pacing. Editorial Reviews: A darkly quirky tale with enough twists and turns to make a tornado seem like a gentle rainfall, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane will keep you on the edge of your seat. The suspense is due partly, of course, to debut novelist Katherine Howe's frequent cliffhangers (who knew a story with frequent library scenes could be so compelling!), but it's also due to narrator Katherine Kellgren's expert inflections and pacing. A master of accents and tone, Kellgren's skills are put to good use in this tale that flashes back and forth between the academic world of Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1991 and the Puritanical one of Salem, Massachusetts 300 years earlier. You believe her equally as young Ph.D. candidate Connie Goodwin, embittered sextagenarian academic Manning Chilton, and the cold judges and hysterical accusers of the Salem Witch Trials. Authors and historians (Howe is both) learned long ago that any account of the Salem Witch Trials offers a mesmerizing narrative. But Howe takes the conceit one step further. As Connie, read by Kellgren in a perfectly-cast sing-songy voice, begins considering her dissertation in American Colonial studies in earnest, she must move to her grandmother's thoroughly unmodern house for the summer. While there, a mysterious key and a piece of paper with the name Deliverance Dane drops out of a family Bible. In flashbacks to the 1690s, we learn of the real Deliverance Dane's life as a town healer and, ultimately, her conviction of practicing witchcraft. Meanwhile, back in the 20th century, we follow Connie's exhaustive search for Deliverance's elusive journal of recipes, of witchcraft, she doesn't know first for academic reasons then to save the life of her love interest. Along the way, as Kellgren's narration gets faster, louder, raspier, and stronger, we, like Connie, discover that perhaps there really were some magical women in Salem then, and now. Critic Reviews: "In all, a keen and magical historical mystery laced with romance and sly digs at society's persistent underestimation of women." (Booklist) Members Reviews: Odd It took a little bit of time for me to discover why I didn't particularly enjoy this book. At first I wasn't sure if it was due to the story or to the narration.

Little Bee Audiobook by Chris Cleave

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Chris Cleave) — Tue, 03 May 2016 16:17:41 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Little Bee Subtitle: A Novel Author: Chris Cleave Narrator: Anne Flosnik Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins Language: English Release date: 05-03-16 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 187 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Little Bee, the young female refugee from the Nigerian delta, must master the Queen's English and the Queen's England if she is to escape her past and make a life in the UK after two years in a refugee detention center. The novel opens on the day Little Bee is released from the center with no identification papers and only the address of an English couple, Andrew and Sarah, whom she once met on a Nigerian beach. All three of their lives were horribly changed by that meeting on the beach. When Little Bee unexpectedly appears at Sarah's doorstep, it is the day of Andrew's funeral. Told in turns in the first person by Little Bee and Sarah, the novel follows these two women as they struggle to save each other and themselves. Little Bee tries to make a life for herself in a totally alien land while Sarah must come to terms with her choices in London, including an extramarital affair and her seemingly frivolous career path. United by their past and by love for Sarah's young son, Charlie, Little Bee and Sarah become indispensable to each other. But their bond will face the ultimate test when the system catches up with Little Bee, and each woman must make a devastating decision. Members Reviews: Little Bee Another favorite. I've listened to it 4 times. Anne Flosnick is one of my favorite narrators. She made this character come to life. It was easy to lover Little Bee. What a disappointment Great idea, poor execution. I thought a story about the connection between a young Nigerian refugee and grieving British woman would be powerful and moving. But I found the story far-fetched and the characters annoying. I often didn't believe the dialogue or the character's choices, which meant that I stopped caring what would happen. The narration was fine, but in this instance it would have made sense to have two narrators, since there are two clear voices in the book telling the story. I am often a fan of one narrator books, but in this case it would have been better with two. Not that that would have made me enjoy the story... but, still. Hard to press stop The book was great, easy listen. After I pause, I was always looking for the next opportunity to listen again,. Character and plot annoyingly implausible Although it is well narrated, this book irritated me for 3 reasons. 1. In several places the plot is moved along through implausible devices. E.g. When Little Bee is selected to phone the police, even though she barely knows how to use a phone. 2. The thought and speech of characters is often implausible. E.g. The tiresome way Charlie the little boy makes a grammatical mistake in every utterance. 3. It employs predictable, well-worn stereotypes: e.g. the white working class racists that Bee encounters everywhere telling her to get back to Umbongo land. There are some clever and sometime witty conceits (e.g. Bee's thoughts about the queen). And I wouldn't say it was a bad book--just an annoying one. great book! This book definitely opens your eyes to issues in other countries. It's definitely a cliff hanger though.

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his Years of Pilgrimage Audiobook

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Haruki Murakami) — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 17:57:42 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his Years of Pilgrimage Author: Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel (translator) Narrator: Bruce Locke Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins Language: English Release date: 08-12-14 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 930 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: The new novel - a book that sold more than a million copies the first week it went on sale in Japan - from the internationally acclaimed author, his first since IQ84. Here he gives us the remarkable story of Tsukuru Tazaki, a young man haunted by a great loss; of dreams and nightmares that have unintended consequences for the world around us; and of a journey into the past that is necessary to mend the present. It is a story of love, friendship, and heartbreak for the ages. Members Reviews: Good, brooding book, terrible reading The dialogue was read with this incredibly grating Japanese accent. It's in translation, it's not about Japanese speakers try to speak broken, stilted English. I mean, FFS, it's not like Japanese speakers sound like they have accents when they're speaking to each other in their native language, this came off as a stupid affectation. Charlie Chan The narrator has the worst fake Japanese accent. Sounds more like the old racist Charlie Chan movies. It was astoundingly bad. There was absolutely no need for that fake accent. It was as though the narraration was making fun of Murakami being Japanese. I stopped listening because it was so distracting to the story. Why didn't anyone else notice ? Amazing. As a Japanese I felt insulted. Very unfortunate narration... What did you love best about Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his Years of Pilgrimage? A big fan of Muruakami - so I love it all. How could the performance have been better? The accents used in the narration our horrible. Sorry, but no other word to use. I'm having a hard time finishing the book, which I'm sure I would have loved otherwise. Any additional comments? Please do not use those voice accents ever again. Thank you. Beautiful Story. Odd dialogue narration It Is hard for me to believe that Murakami is not aware of the odd dialogue in Bruce Locke's performance. I have listen to nearly 300 books and most of Murukami's material. The use of the Japanese accent is inconsistent with all of his other books. Why do it here? The depth and tone of the story could have been extraordinary if the dialogue had been performed normally. The book is definitely worth a listen. But really should be redone with the accented English removed. When Locke simply narrates the story the results are dark and moving. Poor narration Unfortunate that the narrator chose to use Japanese accents for the main characters. It made them sound stiff and wooden and fer chrissakes, I KNOW they're Japanese, thanks. The Japanese accent sounded inauthentic too, sometimes veering into what sounded like German. Otherwise narration was great. He even did a good Finnish accent.

Where We Belong Audiobook by Catherine Ryan Hyde

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Catherine Ryan Hyde) — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 02:52:28 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Where We Belong Author: Catherine Ryan Hyde Narrator: Vanessa Johansson Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins Language: English Release date: 03-03-15 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1296 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Fourteen-year-old Angie and her mom are poised at the edge of homelessness...again. The problem is her little sister, Sophie. Sophie has an autism-like disorder and a tendency to shriek. No matter where they live, home never seems to last long. Until they move in with Aunt Vi, across the fence from a huge, black Great Dane who changes everything. Sophie falls in love immediately and begins to imitate the "inside of the dog", which, fortunately, is a calm place. The shrieking stops. Everybody begins to breathe again. Until Paul Inverness, the dog's grumpy, socially isolated owner, moves to the mountains, and it all begins again. Much to Angie's humiliation, when they're thrown out of Aunt Vi's house, Angie's mom moves the family to the mountains after Paul and his dog. There, despite a 50-year difference in their ages, Angie and Paul form a deep friendship - the only close friendship either has known. Angie is able to talk to him about growing up gay, and Paul trusts Angie with his greatest secret, his one dream. When the opportunity arrives, Angie decides to risk everything to help Paul's dream come true, even their friendship and her one chance at a real home - the only thing she's dreamed of since her father was killed. A place she can never be thrown out of. A place where she can feel she belongs. By the best-selling author of Don't Let Me Go, When I Found You, and Walk Me Home, Where We Belong is a poignant, heartfelt, and uplifting story about finding your place in the world no matter how impossible it seems. Critic Reviews: "Hyde has a sure touch with affairs of the heart." (Publishers Weekly) "Hyde is a remarkable, insightful storyteller, creating full-bodied characters whose dialogue rings true, with not a word to spare." (Library Journal) Members Reviews: Another Great Book By This Author After reading a couple of okay to pretty good books by this author I enjoyed her return to a great book immensely. Once again it's about finding family in the the world, when the family you have isn't up to the job. It's the story of a child that stumbles upon and then chooses to act in loco parentis for someone they happen to meet in their life. The actual parent is not so much a bad person as they are a poor parent and thus the child is in need of a real adult in their lives. The author's ability to create a few very likable characters and relationships is good enough that I've listened to six of her audiobooks ranging from good to really good or great and mostly enjoyed listening to very similar stories six times. This one might be the best of the six and at worst is third best. A full five stars for the story of a child who is forced to become an adult far too soon; and the adult who chooses to take on something very close to a parental role. I recommend both this author and this book heartily. Interesting book I have read several of Ms. Hyde's books now. I find a recurring theme of poor or absent parenting skills runs through them. I find her topics thought provoking, but am disappointed in her recurring view that poor parenting builds character. I really enjoyed the relationship in this book between the main character and the "lonely neighbor. Overall I would recommend this book. Good one view point This book portrayed a very stable intelligent resourceful teenager that didn't have trust issues, amazingly.

The Bookshop at Water's End Audiobook by Patti Callahan Henry

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Patti Callahan Henry) — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 00:56:57 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Bookshop at Water's End Author: Patti Callahan Henry Narrator: Andi Arndt, Lauren Fortgang, Shannon McManus, Dorothy Dillingham Blue Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins Language: English Release date: 07-11-17 Publisher: Penguin Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 70 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: The women who spent their childhood summers in a small Southern town discover it harbors secrets as lush as the marshes that surround it.... Bonny Blankenship's most treasured memories are of idyllic summers spent in Watersend, South Carolina, with her best friend, Lainey McKay. Amid the sand dunes and oak trees draped with Spanish moss, they swam and wished for happy ever afters, then escaped to the local bookshop to read and whisper in the glorious cool silence. Until the night that changed everything, the night that Lainey's mother disappeared. Now in her early 50s, Bonny is desperate to clear her head after a tragic mistake threatens her career as an emergency room doctor, and her marriage crumbles around her. With her troubled teenage daughter, Piper, in tow, she goes back to the beloved river house, where she is soon joined by Lainey and her two young children. During lazy summer days and magical nights, they reunite with bookshop owner Mimi, who is tangled with the past and its mysteries. As the three women cling to a fragile peace, buried secrets and long ago loves return like the tide. Members Reviews: Very satisfying Why Read it? Do you need to ask? It has bookshop in the title what other reason do I need! I have listened to at least one other by this author and liked it as well. Plot. Two summer friends end up back at the beach house they knew as children. Lainey lost her mother there when she was 13 yrs and has never got over it - lost as in went missing. Bonnie is a doctor who had something go wrong in the emergency room and she is awaiting the outcome. And she has just left her husband. As well there is her daughter Piper who has a few issues. Mimi runs the bookshop and she knows what her buyers need to read, not what they might want. What Appealed to me? I loved this story of three women, lost somewhat, at turning points in their lives. It was thought provoking as well. It was about loss and love, making mistakes, finding out who you really are. I listened to the audio version of this book and the three narrators were excellent. I think this will be one of my favourite books of 2017. Almost a really good book I had read another book by this author, The Stories We Tell, and liked it, and was looking forward to this one. I liked the female characters, their very real anxieties, foibles, and struggles with authenticity. But as with many books of this genre, I find the male characters sorely lacking in depth. They may have depth, but they just arent fleshed out. They seem to be foils for the female protagonists, love interests who are rather one-dimensional. With a little more attention to their stories, I think this could have been an even better book. Wonderful loved it. Bonnie s voice was my favorite. so smooth and clear . recommend this book to all women half good the first half of the book was good a nd then it became sloop slow and boring

Woman at 1,000 Degrees Audiobook by Hallgrímur Helgason

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Hallgrímur Helgason) — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 18:57:20 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Woman at 1,000 Degrees Author: Hallgrímur Helgason Narrator: Suzanne Toren Format: Unabridged Length: 14 hrs and 42 mins Language: English Release date: 01-11-18 Publisher: Recorded Books Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: "I live here alone in a garage, together with a laptop computer and a hand grenade. It's pretty cozy." And...she's off. Eighty-year-old Herra Bjornsson, one of the most original narrators in literary history, takes listeners along with her on a dazzling ride of a novel that spans the events and locales of the 20th century. As she lies alone in that garage in the heart of Reykjavik, waiting to die, Herra reflects - in a voice by turns darkly funny, bawdy, poignant, and always, always smart - on the mishaps, tragedies, and turns of luck that took her from Iceland to Nazi Germany, from the United States to Argentina and back to a post-crash, high-tech, modern Iceland. Born to a prominent political family, Herra's childhood begins in the idyllic islands of western Iceland. But when her father makes the foolish decision to cast his lot with a Hitler on the rise, she soon finds herself abandoned and alone in war-torn Europe, relying on only her wits and occasional good fortune to survive. For Herra is, ultimately, a fierce survivor, a modern woman ahead of her time who is utterly without self-pity despite the horrors she has endured. With death approaching, she remembers the husbands and children she has loved and lost, and tries, for the first time, to control her own fate by defying her family's wishes and setting a date for her cremation - at a toasty temperature of 1,000 degrees. Each chapter of Herra's story is a piece of a haunting puzzle that comes together beautifully in the book's final moments. Originally published in Icelandic and based on a real person whom author Hallgrimur Helgason encountered by chance, Woman at 1,000 Degrees was a best seller in Germany, France, and Denmark, and has been compared to "John Irving on speed." But it is deeply moving as well, the story of a woman swept up by the forces of history. With echoes of All the Light We Cannot See and The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, as well as European tours de force such as The Tin Drum, Woman at 1,000 Degrees is, ultimately, original, introducing a fresh new voice to American audiences. Members Reviews: An example of the genre of elderly-person-reflecting-on-life, this looks ... An example of the genre of elderly-person-reflecting-on-life, this looks at a slice of the world most Americans don't know- Iceland. Helgason has created a fairly repugnant character in Herra and takes us through her life, especially focusing on the war years. So many of the characters in this genre are unlikable and she's no exception. Much as I hoped for a positive with this, as I've been to Iceland and follow news there, I found this not my cup of tea and DNF. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. a good premise, but the presentation falls short "Woman at 1,000 Degrees" by Hallgrimur Helgason is a novel about an old woman, and the memories she chooses to share about her life, which involved travel and much experience. The author's style is somewhat clever and he tries to be wry and tongue-in-cheek as he speaks in the protagonist's voice, but it mostly comes off as just snarky and needlessly provocative. The author writes well, but the material fails to hit the mark. Funny and Sarcastic. I love this book. It's highly entertaining, clever and funny. The deathbed confession of a woman who lived her life way ahead of her time.

April's Rain Audiobook by David Johnson

biacuaduc@gmail.com (David Johnson) — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 08:45:45 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: April's Rain Subtitle: Tucker, Book 3 Author: David Johnson Narrator: Laural Merlington Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins Language: English Release date: 08-05-15 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 625 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Eight years after losing her closest friend, Tucker struggles to keep her rebellious, self-destructive granddaughter under control. When April accidentally kills her boyfriend while defending herself from his attack, Judge Jack helps Tucker ferry her granddaughter away to Spirit Lake, a remote treatment facility in the mountains of eastern Tennessee. There, April creates a false identity, painting herself as a young socialite, and blocks Tucker's attempts at communication. Tucker's grandson March, missing for eight years, is discovered half-dead, having lost both his sight and his memories. As he recovers, March's blindness persists but fragments of his life reemerge. When he finds himself at Spirit Lake, he runs headlong into his past. Will Tucker be able to reunite her family after their paths have splintered? Members Reviews: Aprils Rain Any additional comments? These comments address the The Tucker Series, as of this writing four novels written by David Johnson. All of the unabridged audiobooks are narrated by Laural Merlington. Lengths vary from just under six hours to just over ten. I was introduced to the first book via an Audible Daily Deal and enjoyed the story enough to finish the entire series. The stories center around the lead character, Tucker. Tucker is an elderly woman, a victim of child abuse, who has been saddled with the raising of her three grandchildren. The setting is a life of extreme poverty in rural Tennessee. My initial reaction is positive with a few codicils. Working through all four novels became a bit tedious, many areas a bit too preachy for my taste .. especially in books three and four. The characters were also very teary, lots of crying and angst. For those squeamish of the topic, some terrible child abuse is vividly described. There are many instances that had me rolling my eyes some situations and character behavior lacks credibility. Reason I liked these stories? Character development and narration. David Johnson does a terrific job with the character of Tucker. Im sure youll find other characters in the stories that are well developed and believable. Narration by Merlington is excellent unique voices for all characters. If you are interested in a familial tale, with character development exceptional, you will enjoy The Tucker Series. If youre turned off by books that are very preachy and loaded with christian values, these are not for you. Poweerful, intense, inspiring, & beautiful! Novels simply do not get better than David Johnson's 5 book Tucker series. April's Rain, her tears, is Book 3. I had to stop for lighter fare after Book 2 due to the intensity. Now I'm ready for March On which is book 4. Laural Merlington narrates the audiobook and she does a great job. Book 5, Who Will Hear Me When I Cry, is not available (yet?) in audiobook format, so I guess I'll have to read it in Kindle ebook format. Audible, how about Book 5? My genres of choice are all in the mystery/thriller category, but I am very happy I found this contemporary fiction series. I recommend this series with one reservation: avowed atheists may not like the religious aspect which is present but not overwhelming. It is certainly far less intensely religious then novels by Catherine Coulter or Joel C Rosenberg. Amazing! April's Rain The third book in the Tucker series. I have enjoyed the entire series so far.

Moth to a Flame Audiobook by Ashley Antoinette

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Ashley Antoinette) — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 05:47:38 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Moth to a Flame Author: Ashley Antoinette Narrator: Nicole Small Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins Language: English Release date: 03-24-15 Publisher: Buck 50 Productions Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 502 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: In the little city of Flint, Michigan, the good die young, and the people left standing are the grimiest of characters. With reign over the city's drug trade, Benjamin Atkins made sure that his precious daughter, Raven, was secluded from the grit that the city had to offer. But when Raven's young heart gets claimed by Mizan, a stick-up kid in search of a come-up, there's nothing Benjamin can do about losing her to the streets. She chooses love over loyalty and runs off with Mizan, but her new role as wifey soon proves to be more than she can handle. Puppy love always feels right, but things turn stale, and Raven soon finds that everyone she loves has disappeared. All she has is Mizan, but when hugs and kisses turn to bloody lips and black eyes, she realizes that Mizan is not who she thought he was. Raven becomes desperate for a way out, but this time Daddy can't save her. Every time she finds the courage to leave, fear convinces her to stay. Like a moth to a flame, Raven is drawn to Mizan even though she knows he'll be the death of her. When the hood life she chose becomes unbearable, and the only way out is in a coffin, what will she do? Members Reviews: Excellent....Excellent....Excellent If you could sum up Moth to a Flame in three words, what would they be? Pure.....Satisfying......Greatness!!! What did you like best about this story? I loved the fact that this book wasn't predictable. Which character as performed by Nicole Small was your favorite? I loved Ethic Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you? The end when Raven was almost at Ethics location Any additional comments? Great Job....Great narration!!! Keep them coming... Great Listen!!!!!! Have you listened to any of Nicole Smalls other performances before? How does this one compare? Yes I have listened to the title "The Prada Plan" and both books are great. Any additional comments? The storyline is great. However, if Raven was near me I would definitely give her a beating after all the things that happened to her she kept faithful to the guy which did not desire her. Overall great book. Book was a little difficult to listen to. As always Ashely Antoinette is an awesome writer and Nicole Small is an excellent narrator but I struggled through this book. The repeated bad decisions of Raven the going back and forth to an abusive, disrespectful, manipulating, and murdering man....WTF!!!! The first couple of times I could chop Ravens bad decisions to being inexperienced and young minded, but you would think after Raven found out that Mizan was behind all of the madness and disarray in her life (her parents, etc) she would be stronger than ever and not let a grimy man (or anyone) negatively influence her. I would have rather read that Raven went after revenge and put a cold barrel to Mizan temple in the end. I don't usually write this long of a review and I apologize if I sound a little stiff but this book was more personal for me because my own mother was very much like Ravenfrail minded until her death. There's a lesson in this book....please take heed to it!!!!! great book I liked this book. Very unpredictable from beginning to end. I would definitely recommend this book I couldn't put it down. the narrator did a really get job. I loved every second of this book can't wait to read another.

I Love Dick Audiobook by Chris Kraus, Eileen Myles - foreword

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Chris Kraus) — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 12:06:23 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: I Love Dick Author: Chris Kraus, Eileen Myles - foreword Narrator: Teri Schnaubelt, Susan Ericksen, David de Vries Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins Language: English Release date: 04-21-17 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 44 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: In I Love Dick, published in 1997, Chris Kraus, author of Aliens & Anorexia, Torpor, and Video Green, boldly tore away the veil that separates fiction from reality and privacy from self-expression. It's no wonder that I Love Dick instantly elicited violent controversies and attracted a host of passionate admirers. The story is gripping enough: in 1994 a married, failed independent filmmaker, turning forty, falls in love with a well-known theorist and endeavors to seduce him with the help of her husband. But when the theorist refuses to answer her letters, the husband and wife continue the correspondence for each other instead, imagining the fling the wife wishes to have with Dick. What follows is a breathless pursuit that takes the woman across America and away from her husband and far beyond her original infatuation into a discovery of the transformative power of first person narrative. I Love Dick is a manifesto for a new kind of feminist who isn't afraid to burn through her own narcissism in order to assume responsibility for herself and for all the injustice in the world and it's a book you won't put down until the author's final, heroic acts of self-revelation and transformation. Members Reviews: Almost Had To Abandon Entirely This book is awful. The main character is so pretentious with almost no redeeming qualities so you have no reason to care about her or what happens to her. The obsessing over Dick and inability to get out of her head and vapid desires on top of trying to be over the top academic makes the story and characters completely unrelatable. Worst book purchase in a very long time. Pretentious nonsense/not my cup of tea I was not impressed by the authors effort to impress me. The whole scenario was ridiculous rather than interesting or amusing or intelligent. Audible gave me my credit back. Thank you audible. Possibly the tv show is better but I don't see Kevin bacon as a sex symbol (and I don't know any women who do).

South of Broad Audiobook by Pat Conroy

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Pat Conroy) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:25:00 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: South of Broad Author: Pat Conroy Narrator: Mark Deakins Format: Unabridged Length: 20 hrs and 1 min Language: English Release date: 08-11-09 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1690 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Eventually, he finds his answer when he becomes part of a tightly knit group of high school seniors that includes friends Sheba and Trevor Poe, glamorous twins with an alcoholic mother and a prison-escapee father; hardscrabble mountain runaways Niles and Starla Whitehead; socialite Molly Huger and her boyfriend, Chadworth Rutledge X; and an ever-widening circle whose liaisons will ripple across two decades-from 1960s counterculture through the dawn of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. The ties among them endure for years, surviving marriages happy and troubled, unrequited loves and unspoken longings, hard-won successes and devastating breakdowns, and Charleston's dark legacy of racism and class divisions. But the final test of friendship that brings them to San Francisco is something no one is prepared for South of Broad is Pat Conroy at his finest; a long-awaited work from a great American writer whose passion for life and language knows no bounds. Members Reviews: Authors Need to Review Pronunciations I am actually in the process of listening to the book and am only about a third of the way through. Pat Conroy is one of my favorite writers and this is the first book of his that I have listened to. I read the actual books of all the others. I am enjoying the book. However, I continue to be amazed at the improper pronunciation of proper nouns by narrators on audio books. Mr. Deakins mispronounces one of the most notable names from Charleston and I don't understand why Pat Conroy or someone else did not correct this! Huger is properly pronounced like "You gee". It makes me cringe every time I hear him say it wrong. A similar thing happened with another SC author in another audio book set in SC. Please people, do your pronunciation research! Someone from the local area might just be listening!!! And yes, I am from SC. Long Overdue It has been at least 10 years since Pat Conroy had written a sweeping passionate great American novel. South of Broad left me wishing there was another page another chapter. Write about anything but most importantly what happens next even if it means that they changed a diaper and went to the grocery store. Mr. Conroy's love of the English language gives the reader that rare joy of both enjoying the plot as well as enjoying the way the sentences float onto the pages as if delivered by an Angel and not a bic pen. A Conroy novel will never disappoint you and this installment takes it to an entirely new level. Treat yourself, spoil yourself today, and take your time with this one. Savor every word. Take your time and sip in each sentence allowing you to enjoy the romantic poetry of his language and develop the passions for his deeply created characters. You will not regret it!! The Masterful Storyteller has a new offering. I wanted to find out why Conroy took so long to complete this manuscript. But I nearly failed to order the download. So many of the other reviewers were negative about the story and many hated the reader. But from the very first few moments this book held me -- with a great story, simply told through a wonderful selection of characters. Leo King is a Catholic. His mother is a former nun. Conroy could not have told his tale effectively without the repeated reference to the Catholic faith. In the process of enjoying South of Broad, I soon learned that the numerous compelling and will-crafted stories.

A History of Loneliness Audiobook by John Boyne

biacuaduc@gmail.com (John Boyne) — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:51:31 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: A History of Loneliness Author: John Boyne Narrator: Gerard Doyle Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins Language: English Release date: 02-03-15 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 146 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: The riveting narrative of an honorable Irish priest who finds the church collapsing around him at a pivotal moment in its history. Propelled into the priesthood by a family tragedy, Odran Yates is full of hope and ambition. When he arrives at Clonliffe Seminary in the 1970s, it is a time in Ireland when priests are highly respected, and Odran believes that he is pledging his life to "the good." Forty years later, Odran's devotion is caught in revelations that shatter the Irish people's faith in the Catholic Church. He sees his friends stand trial, colleagues jailed, the lives of young parishioners destroyed, and he grows wary of venturing out in public for fear of disapproving stares and insults. At one point, he is even arrested when he takes the hand of a young boy and leads him out of a department store while looking for the boy's mother. But when a family event opens wounds from his past, he is forced to confront the demons that have raged within the church and to recognize his own complicity in their propagation, within both the institution and his own family. A novel as intimate as it is universal, A History of Loneliness is about the stories we tell ourselves to make peace with our lives. It confirms John Boyne as one of the most searching storytellers of his generation. Members Reviews: Emotional and Powerful Wow, what a compelling book ! I was completely pulled into the story, empathizing with the characters, especially Odran, the first person narrator. This is a tough topic to write about. John Boyne is a fabulous writer, and listening to this book was a very emotional experience. Excellent narration by Gerard Doyle. He really personified the character of Odran. History of Loneliness - Excellent. Yes. The book met my expectations. The narrator did a fine job of telling the story. The story itself gave voice to s lot of half understandings on sex, religion and being of Irish descent. Riveting and well told. Elephant in the living room exceptional story. exceptional writing. He somehow spends most the prose talking around the issue. The expertly and tastefully lays it all out. Thoughtful Piece with Little Plot My current fascination with the narrator Gerard Doyle is sending me off in some unexpected directions. I doubt if I would ever have noticed this book if it were not for the narrator. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Because in spite of the fact that this book, has no discernable plot, I found the author's style and prose very appealing. I will likely read other books by Boyne. So for that reason alone, reading this was worth it. This tells the story of a Catholic priest in Ireland who entered the priesthood in the 1970s, a couple of decades before all hell broke loose within the Catholic church due to the sexual abuse and pedophile scandal that shook the church in Ireland even more than it did in the US. The narrator was not a pedophile and did not participate in any illegal or immoral activity. But he implicitly endorsed the behavior by choosing to ignore it and by failing to recognize the obvious activity going on right before his eyes, even when it involves a member of his own family. Father Yates, the narrator is essentially a "good" man at least as respects his personal behavior. He is also genuinely likeable but not a sympathetic man, because no one as gullible and intentionally ignorant as he is can be sympathetic.

Sharpes Havoc Audiobook by Bernard Cornwell

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Bernard Cornwell) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:02:49 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Sharpes Havoc Subtitle: Portugal, 1809 Author: Bernard Cornwell Narrator: Patrick Tull Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins Language: English Release date: 07-21-11 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 377 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Best-selling novelist Bernard Cornwell crafts a thrilling tale from his immensely popular Richard Sharpe series. In 1809 Lieutenant Sharpe and his riflemen are in Portugal, preparing for Napoleons next strike. The smaller English force will probably pull out before its too late, but not Sharpe. His orders are to find the missing daughter of an English wine shipper. Just as Sharpe and his men begin their mission, the French launch their punishing assault. Members Reviews: Not Exactly Unabridged If you could sum up Sharpes Havoc in three words, what would they be? Sharpe's adventures are always entertaining, rich in historical detail, and good action-adventure. This particular story is a little below the usual high grade yarn Cornwell tells, but only a little. The climax is a modestly improbable in what does *not* happen to Sharpe (I am avoiding a spoiler). For much of this book, this story also takes Sharpe further from the actual historical events than is the norm for the series. The Sharpe series was originally a series of 11 books. They were sufficiently successful that some sequel and prequel books were written, plus a few (like this novel) that were shoe-horned in between the original volumes. This particular story is taking place in the spring of 1809, as French Marshal Soult conquers northern Portugal, and then prepares to move on to Lisbon with his seemingly unstoppable army of 25,000 veterans. The small British army is in Lisbon, commanded by General Cradock, perhaps waiting to embark on British shops and sail home. All of Portugal is ready to fall, and Soult is being encouraged to dream big dreams for his personal future. But of course, Soult never planned on Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, Sergeant Patrick Harper, and their fearsome dogs of war, their fellow refugees from the British 95th Rifles. Any additional comments? Unlike the original 11 books in the Sharpe series (I believe all read by Frederick Davidson), the narrator of this book neglects to read the closing "Historical Notes" provided by the author. For me, at least, it is always interesting to know when the story's done what was real history and what was fiction. I'm fortunate enough to have a hard cover version of the book, and so able to look this information up, after listening to the book in my car. I would strongly encourage Audible to include the "Historical Notes" of Cornwall's books. Hard to go back I am a huge Sharpe fan and have read or listened to all the books at least twice. I do notice that when Mr. Cornwell goes back to insert a battle into the original timeline the story is not as crips as before. Mr. Tull does a very fine job but once you listen to Mr. Davidson read, he is so very hard to beat. The story is good. What I am saying is if you have not heard all the other Sharpe stories, start with them and go back and insert these, as Mr. Cornwell did. Does not sink well the books either side of it but a good read As this book was written years after Sharpe's Rifles and Sharpe's Eagle it should fit nicely between the two and a few facts don't quite work well. Yes they mention his poor dead estrange wife and child, which are never mentioned in any of the other books besides Sharpe's Trafalgar, and Sharpe's Prey.

The Tenth Circle Audiobook by Jodi Picoult

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jodi Picoult) — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 23:26:19 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Tenth Circle Subtitle: A Novel Author: Jodi Picoult Narrator: Carol Monda Format: Unabridged Length: 13 hrs and 12 mins Language: English Release date: 03-29-16 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 140 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult shares a powerful novel about the unbreakable bond between parent and child, the temptation to play God, and the dangerous repercussions. Fourteen-year-old Trixie Stone is in love for the first time. She's also the light of her father Daniel's life - a straight-A student; a pretty, popular freshman in high school; a girl who's always seen her father as a hero. That is until her world is turned upside down with a single act of violence. Suddenly everything Trixie has believed about her family - and herself - seems to be a lie. Could the boyfriend who once made Trixie wild with happiness have been the one to end her childhood forever? She says that he is, and that is all it takes to make Daniel, a seemingly mild-mannered comic book artist with a secret tumultuous past he has hidden even from his family, venture to hell and back to protect his daughter. With The Tenth Circle, Jodi Picoult offers her most powerful chronicle yet as she explores the unbreakable bond between parent and child and questions whether you can reinvent yourself in the course of a lifetime - or if your mistakes are carried forever. Members Reviews: Worth the read! I Love Jodi Picoult the most because of her unpredictability! This story was not one of my favorites, but did not disappoint in the predictability area! The narrator was annoying to listen to, especially when she changed her voice to the men in the story. Overall, worth reading or listening to! People are never who you think. Trixie was an egocentric brat with parents who adored her. It was weird that Trixie's mother took the blame for everything, whether true or not leaves the reader wondering...but I did not like that ending. This was not one of the best Jodi Picoult books I have listened to; but I did like all the Eskimo folklore culture that was shared. She made it sound so believable. Her worst book Well that was hours of wasted time. I used to love her novels, but this one really was not good. The ending was so predictable. And all it left me was hoping I never have to go to Alaska disappointed I have read many of this authors books but I really didn't enjoy this one, I felt like the ending was left in mid air and tge characters never really developed. I found this a little monotonous towards the end I got really bored towards the end, and the ending came out of nowhere which wasn't teally an ending at all after listening for all those hours. I was disappointed. The narrator is excellent.

Invisible Cities Audiobook by Italo Calvino

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Italo Calvino) — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 17:09:41 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Invisible Cities Author: Italo Calvino Narrator: John Lee Format: Unabridged Length: 2 hrs and 47 mins Language: English Release date: 06-24-13 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 214 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: In a garden sit the aged Kublai Khan and the young Marco Polo - Tartar emperor and Venetian traveler. Kublai Khan has sensed the end of his empire coming soon. Marco Polo diverts the emperor with tales of the cities he has seen in his travels around the empire: cities and memory, cities and desire, cities and designs, cities and the dead, cities and the sky, trading cities, hidden cities. Soon it becomes clear that each of these fantastic places is really the same place. Critic Reviews: "Of all tasks, describing the contents of a book is the most difficult and in the case of a marvelous invention like Invisible Cities, perfectly irrelevant." (Gore Vidal) Members Reviews: Beautiful prose poems read too quickly Invisible Cities is a perfect book, endlessly beautiful and thought-provoking. It can be read many times and you'll find new jewels in it every time. I usually like John Lee, but he reads this book too quickly. It needed to be treated as poetry more than prose. Eventually I discovered that if I slowed the playback down to x0.75 speed my experience was much improved. It made Lee sound a little pompous, but at least he now seemed to be savouring every word. This is my advice to you! Magical Mystery Tour Less a book than a series of prose-like poems, where language seems a magical tool that paints landscapes and cityscapes not confined by just what is known or possible. The words flow through your mind and spark the imagination, leading the listener on a guided imagery trip through worlds that seem suspended in another dimension and time. It is like a fabulous dessert -- it needs to be experienced, savored, and languished over. Originally published in 1972 with a cover that depicted a city of stone towers that rise from a large floating rock above an ocean; a picture that teased and hinted at what was inside (I still own my original dog-eared copy). There is no plot -- but plot seems irrelevant as you listen to Marco Polo conjure up cities that float between webs, joyous carnival cities, serious cities where no one makes eye contact or speaks, cities that you won't be returning to, "this is a city just for leaving," all to entertain the aging Kublai Khan. He creates his own cities that might dwell in his empire, asking Polo if he has seen these in his travels. You ponder the meaning of the words as they are used in this game between the two men, as well as the structure of the cities and their purpose. Reading this was wonderful; listening is another experience altogether. Close your eyes and experience a journey. Very short, just over 2 hours; something I will leave on my ipod and listen to again, like a beautiful and creative guided meditation. Lavish language! This is an outstanding book and performance. The language is so rich that I listened to certain portions more than once since it was hard to take everything in on the first pass. Falling down the Rabbit Hole Having just read Invisible Cities by Calvino today, just about everything is at least swirling in newness of possibilities, like Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, or Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's travels. I'm still in the rabbit hole, and don't know what I may have been smoking. The story is of tales of cities visited by Marco Polo, as told to Kublai Khan.

Dark Heart Audiobook by James Phelan

biacuaduc@gmail.com (James Phelan) — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 16:35:14 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Dark Heart Subtitle: Jed Walker Series, Book 4 Author: James Phelan Narrator: Adrian Mulraney Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins Language: English Release date: 12-22-16 Publisher: Hachette Australia Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 27 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: From the rubble of Damascus to the corridors of Washington, a frightening new conspiracy of terror emerges. In war-torn Syria, a massacre survivor is pulled from beneath a pile of bodies. She is given one instruction: 'find Jed Walker'. Walker is ex-CIA - a man who thought he was long out of the game. Discovering a terror outfit is running people-smuggling from the Middle East and into the United States, he is drawn back in to fight their evil trade. At first Walker thinks these human traffickers are driven purely by profit and greed. But it is much worse than that - and it has ties to the highest levels of power. As the body count rises and deadly enemies stalk from the shadows, Walker uncovers the shocking truth behind an operation intended to bring America to its knees. As he attempts to make things right, Jed Walker will learn the true cost of life - and pay a devastating price. James Phelan is the best-selling and award-winning author of 28 novels and one work of nonfiction. From his teens he wanted to be a novelist but first tried his hand at a real job, studying and working in architecture before turning to English literature, spending five years at a newspaper and obtaining an MA and a PhD in literature. For Hachette Australia, James has written five titles in the Lachlan Fox thriller series and the Alone trilogy of young adult postapocalyptic novels. The ex-CIA character of Jed Walker was first introduced in The Spy, which was followed by The Hunted, Kill Switch and Dark Heart. James has also written a 14-book adventure series for Scholastic, titled The Last Thirteen. He has been a full-time novelist since the age of 25 and spends his time writing thrilling stories and travelling the world to talk about them. To find out more about James and his books, visit www.jamesphelan.com. Follow and interact with James: www.facebook.com/realjamesphelan, www.twitter.com/realjamesphelan, www.instagram.com/realjamesphelan, www.whosay.com/jamesphelan. Critic Reviews: "A terse, tense brand of hard-boiled action suspense...addictive." ( Members Reviews: Great series! You will be hooked! Make sure you read them in order! Very well written and takes you on a great adventure! Wow! Another cracker of a thriller! Wow! Another cracker of a thriller from Aussie author James Phelan! Jed Walker had been recuperating in hospital after the last operation (Kill Switch) and when Eve came to take him home, Jed was looking forward to nothing more than rest and recovery. That was until a desperate young woman convinced him he was going to be attacked in a short time â someone was after him and they wanted him dead. The atrocities in Syria, the global terrorism, a people smuggling business from the Middle East into the US â Jed was right in the middle of it in short order. He had no idea who he could trust but he also knew the clock was ticking and the race was on. The bodies were mounting. But was Jed one step ahead of the bad guys? He knew he had to win â the worldâs safety counted on itâ Dark Heart by Aussie author James Phelan is the 4th in the Jed Walker series and I loved it! I devoured it in a matter of hours; the pace is relentless, the tension gripping! Action packed suspense ripples through the pages â this author knows how to write thrillers! Highly recommended. An entrancing read! I absolutely LOVE this book! The characters are so alive here.

Something Borrowed Audiobook by Emily Giffin

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Emily Giffin) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:20:56 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Something Borrowed Author: Emily Giffin Narrator: Jennifer Wiltsie Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins Language: English Release date: 07-29-09 Publisher: Macmillan Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1023 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Rachel has always been a good girl--until her 30th birthday, when her best friend Darcy throws her a party. That night, after too many drinks, Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy's fiancé Dex. Rachel is horrified to discover that she has genuine feelings for Dex. She prays for fate to intervene, but when she makes a choice she discovers that the lines between right and wrong are blurry, endings aren't always neat, and you have to risk all to win true happiness. ©2004 Emily Giffin (P)2009 Macmillan Audio Members Reviews: Love, friendship, betrayal and guilt Thoroughly enjoyed the entertaining story --- I actually looked forward to my hour-long commute so I could listen to it. On top of that, the reader, Jennifer Wiltsie, was terrific --- great job with all the voices. I'm looking forward to the sequel, Something Blue, but just wish I could find the unabridged version so I can listen to the entire story. Ugh... This story just left me feeling cold. The characters and story were well written but I was looking for something a little more "feel good" and this wasn't it. A romance based on cheating is a hard sell anyway and it's hard to stand up for the protagonist when she isn't taking responsibility for her actions and is constantly rationalizing them by pointing out what a jerk her friend is. The friend is selfish, so it was disgruntling to find myself feeling bad for her. The boyfriend was weak and I couldn't get on board for someone so spineless, and Rachel, the lead, just seemed to be trying to show how much more she deserved the guy. This stuff happens in real life. The story is a much more realistic version than what I wanted it to be but, in real life, I avoid these people. I hope the movie is better The narration by Jennifer Wiltsie is the only thing I enjoyed about this booked. I read this booking thinking that it would explain to me why I would like a character that has an affair with her best friend's fianc??. On the surface this character is not likeable and I thought the book would give her some likeable depth that I could buy in to. It didn't. I hated her more with every chapter and almost stopped listening to the book all together. Rachel whines and complains about being a victim through the entire book. I just felt that if you lie on the floor, you shouldn't complain about being stepped on. Rachel chose her path and could change it but she just blames her unhappiness on Darcy. Plus the writer does everything possible to make sure you dislike the Darcy character; as Darcy is clearly self indulgent and self centered. Then Rachel's friends that are practically gleeful at her betrayal of Darcy mainly because of how Darcy treated Rachel in grade school...COME ON! This book tries to justify deep betrayal with trivial nonsense and it just didn't work for me. Don???t waste a credit on this one; I wish I had read the reviews before I did. You Don't Want To Spend Time With These People First, the good: Jennifer Wiltsie is a great narrator. Now, everything else: The people in this book are universally horrible. The lead character--Rachel--is a spineless victim who spends most of the book moaning about things that she has the power to change. Dexter (Rachel's beloved) is a cowardly cheater who continually makes decisions that mark him as stupid and morally deficient.

Past Imperfect Audiobook by Julian Fellowes

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Julian Fellowes) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:52:02 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Past Imperfect Author: Julian Fellowes Narrator: Richard Morant Format: Unabridged Length: 16 hrs and 44 mins Language: English Release date: 09-10-09 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 853 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Damian Baxter is hugely wealthy and dying. He lives alone in a big house in Surrey, England, looked after by a chauffeur, butler, cook and housemaid. He has but one concern--his fortune in excess of 500 million and who should inherit it on his death. Past Imperfect is the story of a quest. Damian Baxter wishes to know if he has a living heir. By the time he married in his late 30s he was sterile (the result of adult mumps), but what about before that unfortunate illness? Had he sired a child? He sets himself (and others) to the task of finding his heir. ©2008 Julian Fellowes (P)2009 BBC Audio Members Reviews: Read Snobs instead I loved Snobs and immediately downloaded Past Imperfect. I have to say I was very disappointed. The idea is good, but poorly executed, making the stories of all the characters seem way too disconnected. Julian Fellowes, who makes his point about the British Upper Class so masterfully in Snobs, sounds more like a lecturer here. Instead of letting us "see," he tells us what he knows (and goes on and on about each point, interrupting the storyline constantly). It sounded more like an anthropological treatise than a novel. At times, it was even boring. Yes, there is one scene towards the end that is incredibly well written and moving because of it -- but I wish there had been more like it. That said, I would definitely give Mr. Fellowes another chance if he were to write another novel -- simply based on Snobs and Downton Abbey (which I had not seen until after I listened to these two books and to which I am absolutely addicted to now). Richard Morant is absolutely perfect as the narrator. I think I could listen to him read the London phone book and be engrossed. Really good plot...but got lost.. The story idea sounded great. The style of writing with wordy descriptions painted a clear picture, which was good in the beginning, but then...well I kept falling asleep listening to it. The parts where things actually happen are good, but the description in between the actual story line is coma-inducing. Get on with the story already!! Modern Great Gatsby I loved this book! Julian Fellowes writes beautifully and Richard Morant has the perfect voice as the long-suffering friend of all the debutantes and the quietly bemused observer of British social history. Fellowes uses a small group of debutantes from the 1960's to demonstrate the huge changes to the British social structure from the last half of the 20th century to the present. But this is not "Sex and the City Goes to England", although it is just as lively and topical in references. I was struck by how much it mirrors The Great Gatsby in theme and characters. This book is every bit as good as that old war horse. As an ex-video clerk from Sacramento, CA I have no personal experience with British Aristocracy but there's something about authenticity, you can smell it like a ripe peach, and Julian Fellowes writing has all that. Post WWII England What made the experience of listening to Past Imperfect the most enjoyable? After engaging in a Masterpiece Theatre television series spree, I was still thirsting for more British entertainment. This novel sated my desire. It takes place in post WWII England when the landed gentry were trying to practice their traditions despite the tumultuous social upheaval of the 60's breaking out around them.

Lying on the Couch Audiobook by Irvin D. Yalom

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Irvin D. Yalom) — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 16:24:24 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Lying on the Couch Subtitle: A Novel Author: Irvin D. Yalom Narrator: Tony Pasqualini Format: Unabridged Length: 15 hrs and 42 mins Language: English Release date: 11-19-15 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 627 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: From the best-selling author of Love's Executioner and When Nietzsche Wept comes a provocative exploration of the unusual relationships three therapists form with their patients. Seymour is a therapist of the old school who blurs the boundary of sexual propriety with one of his clients. Marshal, who is haunted by his own obsessive-compulsive behaviors, is troubled by the role money plays in his dealings with his patients. Finally, there is Ernest Lash. Driven by his sincere desire to help and his faith in psychoanalysis, he invents a radically new approach to therapy - a totally open and honest relationship with a patient that threatens to have devastating results. Exposing the many lies told on and off the psychoanalyst's couch, Lying on the Couch gives listeners a tantalizing, almost illicit glimpse at what their therapists might really be thinking during their sessions. Fascinating, engrossing, and relentlessly intelligent, it ultimately moves listeners with a denouement of surprising humanity and redemptive faith. Members Reviews: Fresh Fun! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Irvin D. Yalom holds the subject matter of psychology in a fresh, fun (and, yes, fictional) light. This alluring, seductive story is fresh and mature and down right interesting. Husbands and wives and gamblers and shysters and the whole kit-and-caboodle-- including psychologists-- spend their share of time on the couch. The characters are timid and feisty and right and wrong-- and Yalom skillfully interweaves their deceits and truths and varying perspectives to create a tapestry of seriously good story telling. Theres not a lot of action, just interesting, likable people and relatable problems and some happy endings. This book is loaded with snob-free intelligence and (I have to say it again)-- FUN. Narrator Tony Pasqualini did a terrific job complimenting this delicious piece of work. great! a great cast of characters that were surprisingly intermingled! interesting how things turned out. amazing narrator! captivating story Good narrator Interesting character's Clever weaving of characters into each other's lives Anyone who has read Irvin's other books will appreciate this Intense interwoven plot with multiple 1st person internal thoughts I would recommend this to psychotherapists, particularly guys, who need to remind themselves of the pitfalls of working so closely with human beings. This story shows how we cannot afford to be naive about our own nor others' weaknesses. Well, I finished it Really not a bad tale, tiresome in parts, cynical, predictable in some ways, but with occasional surprises. Really tough on analytic psychologists and humans in general. I had to finish it to see if it would come out as I expected. It did. Doubt I would read any other books by this author.

Roar Audiobook by Nicole Trope

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Nicole Trope) — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 16:08:00 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Roar Author: Nicole Trope Narrator: Susan Strafford Format: Unabridged Length: 31 mins Language: English Release date: 07-19-16 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 102 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A short story for fans of Jodi Picoult and Anita Shreve. Step into the fragile domestic world of Roar and discover the unforgettable voice of Nicole Trope, best-selling author of The Secrets in Silence, Three Hours Late and The Boy Under the Table. The baby sleeps peacefully, filled with milk and contentment. The man on the bed breathes his way into the darkness, filled with rage. Was there ever really a choice? From the queen of searing family drama and suspense comes a short story about the fierce bonds between mother and child, the things we sacrifice to protect the ones we love and the desperate choices we make when there's nowhere left to run. Members Reviews: Hard to follow, but very captivating. I loved being invited into this poor abused woman's world. I found the story a bit hard to follow, but listening to it twice was a treat. suprising!!! This went decidedly left when I thought it woyld go right. Lol. Don't push people cause you never know just how close to the edge they may be.... Describes desperate murder This was a really sad and cowardly way to get out of this situation. This tells a story of a woman who married a man seeking self worth. And didn't have the means or the courage to get out and away when she really needed to. What is even sadder is that so many parents stop parenting and fail to tell their married children, especially their daughters, that they still have so much potential. Our children should be independent and strong before they ever marry a loving equal to share an amazing life with. Also, that older couple had a surprise child and didn't have anything saved up to give her or a life insurance in her name. Yes, I'm angry at this story for showing such depth of desperation, yet thankful to the author for highlighting these particular problems. Strength True love of a mother and strength to move on. the only choice she could make. Wow! What does Susan Strafford bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book? Her narration adds to the tension of the story. Her well-paced narration ups the suspense. Who was the most memorable character of Roar and why? The mother Any additional comments? Wow! This very short audio book was crammed with attention grabbing detail and tension. The story set my nerves on end, and the narration ramped that up several notches in it's delivery. It was perfect in almost every way. My one question concerns the use of insulin. The protagonist goes to her mother's every day to inject her with insulin, so her mother won't have to do it herself. There's no mention of blood testing. I wonder whether it's a common practice to do a once a day insulin injection like that? Isn't it supposed to be dosed based on blood glucose levels, amount of food eaten, and activity level? Other than that one small thing, I think this was a great book and would recommend it to those who love mystery, thriller, and suspense books. Highly recommended!

The Family Corleone Audiobook by Ed Falco

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Ed Falco) — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:56:22 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Family Corleone Author: Ed Falco Narrator: Bobby Cannavale Format: Unabridged Length: 14 hrs and 58 mins Language: English Release date: 05-08-12 Publisher: Hachette Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 226 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: New York, 1933: The city and the nation are in the depths of the Great Depression. The crime families of New York have prospered in this time, but with the coming end of Prohibition, a battle is looming that will determine which organizations will rise and which will face a violent end. For Vito Corleone, nothing is more important than his family's future. While his youngest children, Michael, Fredo, and Connie, are in school, unaware of their father's true occupation, and his adopted son Tom Hagen is a college student, he worries most about Sonny, his eldest child. Vito pushes Sonny to be a businessman, but Sonny - 17 years old, impatient, and reckless - wants something else: To follow in his father's footsteps and become a part of the real family business. An exhilarating and profound novel of tradition and violence, of loyalty and betrayal, The Family Corleone will appeal to the legions of fans who can never get enough of The Godfather, as well as introduce it to a whole new generation. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio. Critic Reviews: "Channels the original so well that readers will be vividly reminded of Puzo's strengths...His moments of blam-blam-blam are ace. Best of all, he supplies a grand set-piece finale--a parade--that will have readers dreaming of just one more movie." (Booklist) "What works well is Falco's depiction of Vito Corleone, which captures both the cool reserve of young Vito and the insight he demonstrates as Don....A worthy addition to the lurid world of the Five Families." (Kirkus) Members Reviews: Outstanding: An Instant Classic! Where does The Family Corleone rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? This could possibly be the best book I've ever listened to. The writing is excellent, the narrator is amazing and the story is one of the best ever told and is just as good as the other books that were written as part of the Godfather saga. Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How? The plot is superb. Such an interesting take. Doing a prequel for the Godfather was in ingenius idea. The whole time you are just wondering what will happen next and whether or not it will tie into one of the Godfather movies that have already been published. I can't wait for the movie to come out for this version! Which scene was your favorite? There isn't one particular scene that is my favorite but I loved learning about Luca Brasi and the smart man he was prior to evolving into the not so smart monster that he was in the original Godfather movie. I also loved learning about how Michael, Fredo and Sonnie were as kids growing up in the Corleone family. If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be? Becoming the Godfather Any additional comments? The narrator truly is one of the best narrators I've heard. Every character he does sounds exactly like the characters sounded in the movies. This is must listen for anyone who likes the Godfather. Bobby Cannavale, perfect voice for a mob book. Would you consider the audio edition of The Family Corleone to be better than the print version? I read a copy of the book along with the audiobook so i think for The Family Corleone Bobby Cannavale voice is just as good as the print.

Rhythm and Bluegrass Audiobook by Molly Harper

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Molly Harper) — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 00:54:57 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Rhythm and Bluegrass Author: Molly Harper Narrator: Amanda Ronconi Format: Unabridged Length: 5 hrs and 57 mins Language: English Release date: 10-07-13 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1491 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: In the second e-novella in Molly Harpers Bluegrass series of contemporary romances, two people determined to fulfill their own agendas come head to headand find love in the process. Kentucky Tourism Commission employee Bonnie Turkle is up Mud Creek without a paddle. When she gets permission from the state historical society to restore McBrides Music Hall in Mud Creek, Kentucky, to its former glory, she thinks the community will welcome her with open arms. Instead, her plans interfere with a proposal to sell the property to a factory that would bring much-needed jobs to the town. Even though Bonnie is trying to preserve mayor Will McBrides family heritage, he is more concerned with the welfare of his people than memories of the past. Will finds her optimistic sentimentality extremely annoyingbut that doesnt stop him from kissing Bonnie senseless. With an inspection deadline looming and local saboteurs ruining her restoration, Bonnie must find a way to compromise with Will to save McBrides and the townwhile hopefully winning a few more kisses in the process! Members Reviews: SO SO SO SO SO GOOD! Some of the first books I listened to when I joined Audible was Molly Harper's Jane series. They were all read by Amanda Ronconi and I listened to them all in a row, as fast as I could. I then went back and purchased every Molly Harper book available to me on Audible. I pre-ordered this book because I knew that the story would be great and I wouldn't be disappointed. I've listened to tons of audiobooks since I started and I've heard some really good stories. But Molly Harper's books are special. I've listened to them all several times and they never get old. The books are witty and smart and funny. Her dialogue is true and her characterizations are spot on. Amanda Ronconi's voice is a perfect fit to Ms. Harper's stories. I dare anyone to listen to one of her books and not be cheered by the experience. Her books make me happy! Typical Molly Harper Formula Ok so I love Harper/Ronconi but every one of her stories are starting to seem predictable and familiar just with different character name. I am still an avid fan and she never ceases to make me laugh. She is still an auto download for me I just wish she would switch it up a bit and keep us guessing. Ronconi is one of my top 3 narrators HAPPY LISTENING!!! Rhythm and Bluegrass Molly Harper is one of my favorite authors. Though the titles in the Bluegrass series don't have people staring at me because I'm snort-laughing and wiping tears from the corner of my eyes like the Naked Werewolf books do, they are still authentic Molly Harper and are wonderfully light, funny, and entertaining. Rhythm and Bluegrass follows Kentucky Tourism Commission's Bonnie Turkle as she tries to salvage historical treasures from a once famous music hall that's scheduled to be demolished (and replaced with a factory site that might just save the town). Mud Creek mayor/volunteer fireman/occasional damsel-in-distress rescuer Will McBride doesn't have much love for the music hall and what it's meant for his family, but he still doesn't mind Bonnie ...

March On Audiobook by David Johnson

biacuaduc@gmail.com (David Johnson) — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 07:55:59 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: March On Subtitle: The Tucker Series, Book 4 Author: David Johnson Narrator: Laural Merlington Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins Language: English Release date: 09-16-15 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 515 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: In the fourth book of the Tucker series, Tucker's grandson March is at a crossroads as he tries to reconcile his troubled past with his hopeful future. Debbie has given March her heart completely, and though he loves her desperately, he struggles to fully commit to her. Meanwhile, it seems as if evil is stalking March's family. An old nemesis comes looking for him and, frustrated in his search, takes Tucker hostage. March's sister, April, is also in peril after her workplace crush turns ugly and she unwittingly finds herself in harm's way, becoming the victim of an unspeakable crime. Can March rescue Tucker, help April, and finally put his past to rest, so he and Debbie can find the happiness they both deserve? Members Reviews: March On Any additional comments? These comments address the The Tucker Series, as of this writing four novels written by David Johnson. All of the unabridged audiobooks are narrated by Laural Merlington. Lengths vary from just under six hours to just over ten. I was introduced to the first book via an Audible Daily Deal and enjoyed the story enough to finish the entire series. The stories center around the lead character, Tucker. Tucker is an elderly woman, a victim of child abuse, who has been saddled with the raising of her three grandchildren. The setting is a life of extreme poverty in rural Tennessee. My initial reaction is positive with a few codicils. Working through all four novels became a bit tedious, many areas a bit too preachy for my taste .. especially in books three and four. The characters were also very teary, lots of crying and angst. For those squeamish of the topic, some terrible child abuse is vividly described. There are many instances that had me rolling my eyes some situations and character behavior lacks credibility. Reason I liked these stories? Character development and narration. David Johnson does a terrific job with the character of Tucker. Im sure youll find other characters in the stories that are well developed and believable. Narration by Merlington is excellent unique voices for all characters. If you are interested in a familial tale, with character development exceptional, you will enjoy The Tucker Series. If youre turned off by books that are very preachy and loaded with christian values, these are not for you. The Tucker series books should be read in order! This is Book 4 in the Tucker Series. Almost 20 years have passed since Tucker's Way and Tucker's three grandchildren (August, March, and April) are now adults. This is March's book. We finally find out who his father is, and that he is a very bad man. This is a superb novel that may deserve a 5 star rating, but it has a bit much religion for me. Nevertheless. March On does fill in some previously unknown aspects of March's life. This novel, like the others in the series, is classified as in the contemporary fiction genre; however, as a stand alone novel it fits better in the mystery/thriller category. Narration is superb! I recommend all books in the Tucker series. Phenomenal series!! Happened upon the first book in this series and have been enthralled right through the last. Gripping story and layered characters kept me coming back for more. Great read with a deeper message. I recommend this series to all. this is a wonderful series of books This is the final book in the series. I will truly miss these strong characters.

Love Comes Softly Audiobook by Janette Oke

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Janette Oke) — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 13:52:19 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Love Comes Softly Author: Janette Oke Narrator: Ruth Ann Phimister Format: Unabridged Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins Language: English Release date: 08-22-05 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 320 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: When it was first published in 1979, this novel introduced inspirational fiction to people hungry for well-told stories based on Christian values. Since then, over a million copies have been sold, and it has been made into a popular Hallmark movie. Janette Oke has won the Christy Award, the Gold Medallion, and scores of other awards. Generations of fans have laughed and cried over this story of Marty and Clark, two grieving people thrown together by necessity who find unexpected love as they work together as a family. ©1989 Janette Oke (P)1989 Recorded Books, LLC Members Reviews: Good, gentle audiobook At first I found the narrator's 5-pack-a-day voice irritating. However, Soon I was so entranced by the story of Marty and Clark and their lives on the prairie that I forgot my initial annoyance with the narrator. This is a wonderful book full of great values and with endearing characters. While it *is* an Inspirational book, Oke's writing lacks the 'heavy-handed' preaching of some Christian Inspirational fiction. As someone who reads a wide variety of literature I found "Love Comes Softly" to be quite restful and entertaining without being bombastic in 'spreading the word.' Two things about this book grated. I found it completely unbelievable that as a woman of her era Marty would not know how to bake anything but pancakes... Um... She'd been married how long before she meets Clark? What exactly did this girl expect to cook for her husband when they were married?I *know* there were published cookbooks at the time. Second. I would've liked more background on Marty and her family. She doesn't send any letters, or communicate with them at all. It seemed a bit simplistic. A bit more backstory would've added depth to her character. Overall, an excellent book, sure to delight those longing for a good read in the vein of Anne of Green Gables or Little House on the Prairie. Love Comes Softly Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why? Yes. I already have. Have you listened to any of Ruth Ann Phimisters other performances before? How does this one compare? I have not. Any additional comments? I am disappointed only the first three books in the series of ten are available on Audible. ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS SERIES I so wish all eight books in this series were on Audible. Only the first three are, so the rest I'll have to buy and read the hard copies. Bummer!! Good story, unpleasant narrator. I love this book and have a hard copy, but like to listen to them on my commute and during my workouts. It is a wonderfully sweet story. I love Janette Oke. However, I have to say that I believe the narrator was a mistake. She has a somewhat grating voice and she sounds very old, while the character in the story is a young woman. Very disconcering. I think this one is better read than listened to. wonderful book I really enjoyed this book, but I did not like the narrator's voice. She must have been very close to the microphone when she read, because her constant swallowing, deep breaths and rustling around were very distracting. I noticed that she's read for a lot of other books and on most of those her voice sounded much younger and more pleasant. She also doesn't change her voice at all for the various characters ~ she just pretty much reads it straight through.

Double Feature Audiobook by Owen King

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Owen King) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 07:34:23 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Double Feature Subtitle: A Novel Author: Owen King Narrator: Holter Graham Format: Unabridged Length: 16 hrs and 11 mins Language: English Release date: 03-19-13 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 129 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: An epic debut novel about a young man coming to terms with his life in the process and aftermath of making his first film - from critically acclaimed short story writer Owen King - for listeners of Joshua Ferris, Sam Lipsyte, and Chad Harbach. Filmmaker Sam Dolan has a difficult relationship with his father, B-movie actor Booth Dolan - a boisterous, opinionated, lying lothario whose screen legacy falls somewhere between cult hero and pathetic. Allie, Sams dearly departed mother, was a woman whose only fault, in Sams eyes, was her eternal affection for his father. Also included in the cast of indelible characters: a precocious, frequently violent half-sister; a conspiracy-theorist second wife; an Internet-famous roommate; a family friend and contractor who cant stop expanding his house; a happy-go-lucky college girlfriend and her husband, a retired Yankees catcher; the morose producer of a true crime show; and a slouching indie film legend. Not to mention a tragic sex monster. Unraveling the tumultuous, decades-spanning story of the Dolan familys friends, lovers, and adversaries, Double Feature is about letting go of everything - regret, resentment, ambition, dignity, moving pictures, the dead - and taking it again from the top. Combining propulsive storytelling and mordant wit against the backdrop of indie filmmaking, Double Feature brims with a deep understanding of the trials of ambition and art, of relationships and life, and of our attempts to survive it all. Members Reviews: Is good writing inherited?? I'm a HUGE Stephen King fan, and so it's been with great interest that I've collected the works of his two sons, Joe Hill and Owen King. I liked Joe's work for sure as he is following in his father's footsteps. Owen, however, is his own man, and I really, really enjoy his style. He definitely has a great sense of humor which I think is so very important to a well-told story. While some of the things the characters do in this book might seem like a bit of a stretch, when you put it into the context of most of them being "Hollywood" or "artistic" types, it's not that far-fetched at all. Owen King must've paid attention to his father's excellent ability for character development. Not to take away anything from the younger Mr. King - it's a compliment, really. I found myself wondering days after I finished this book what happened to the central characters like they were real people I'd been eavesdropping on for the last couple of weeks. The narration was also very good - not distracting or annoying - but actually perfectly executed with a true and obvious grasp of the story by Mr. Graham throughout. I won't rehash plot lines as the book description and other reviews will give you that. What I wanted to get across is that if you're a fan of good storytelling (regardless of genre), then give this book a chance. You won't be disappointed. King and Graham Give a Fun Double Feature Have you ever felt like the best parts of your life might get left on the cutting room floor? Owen King's Double Feature is a modern-day coming of age story - one win which the characters only figure out how to redeem the errors of their youth as adults.

A Dog's Journey Audiobook by W. Bruce Cameron

biacuaduc@gmail.com (W. Bruce Cameron) — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:13:25 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: A Dog's Journey Author: W. Bruce Cameron Narrator: George K. Wilson Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins Language: English Release date: 05-08-12 Publisher: Macmillan Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1344 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Direct sequel to the New York Times and USA Today best-selling A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron. Buddy is a good dog. After searching for his purpose through several eventful lives, Buddy is sure that he has found and fulfilled it. Yet as he watches curious baby Clarity get into dangerous mischief, he is certain that this little girl is very much in need of a dog of her own. When Buddy is reborn, he realizes that he has a new destiny. He's overjoyed when he is adopted by Clarity, now a vibrant but troubled teenager. When they are suddenly separated, Buddy despairs - who will take care of his girl? A charming and heartwarming story of hope, love, and unending devotion, A Dog's Journey asks the question: Do we really take care of our pets, or do they take care of us? More than just another endearing dog tale, A Dog's Journey is the moving story of unwavering loyalty and a love that crosses all barriers. Members Reviews: A Darker, Sadder Sequel I adored A Dog's Purpose, both the plot and the performance by George K. Wilson. The sequel left me with some heart-warming moments, but overall sadder upon completion. The lead human character was more tragic, and the supporting characters were either far more heroic or far more despicable than any in A Dog's Purpose. Gloria was easy to hate, and Trent spent time between scenes having his halo polished and his wings adjusted. I won't be giving the hardcover of the sequel as gifts as I did with A Dog's Purpose. Not a bad book to be sure, but a different mood from the first volume. Outstanding!!!! Would you consider the audio edition of A Dog's Journey to be better than the print version? Yes, the narrator brings a certain something to the book that cannot be fulfilled by just reading, When I listened to the book I felt as if someone was sitting in my house telling me a story that was part of their life. Who was your favorite character and why? With out a doubt it was all the different dogs, or should I say the same dog in different lives. My wife and I are real animal lovers but really have a special place in our hearts for dogs. What does George K. Wilson bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book? As I said before a narrator brings things to the story you could never have if you just read the book. If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be? The movie tag line of "You'll Laugh, you'll cry, but you'll leave with a new spring in your step and love in your heart" Corny but true. Any additional comments? I listened to Mr. Cameron's first book and afterwards sent him email asking when the next book would come out, the same goes now when is the next one to be published, we look forward to that day. Sigh, a loving tribute from Man's best friend... This put a lump in my throat and a smile on my face many times through the reading. I has made me look at my dog and cat in a whole new light. What is there purpose and what is my role in helping them fulfill it. If you love your pets and feel a strong connection to your dog..this is a must read. Especially if you have loved and lost a pet, your heart will sing to have a unique perspective. A lovely follow up to a Dog's Purpose by the same author. The narrator is terrific as well.

The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove Audiobook by Christopher Moore

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Christopher Moore) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:13:06 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove Author: Christopher Moore Narrator: Oliver Wyman Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins Language: English Release date: 08-04-09 Publisher: HarperAudio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1295 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Suddenly, morose Pine Cove turns libidinous and is hit by a mysterious crime wave, and a beleaguered constable has to fight off his own gonzo appetites to find out what's wrong and what, if anything, to do about it. Critic Reviews: "Moore is Daniel Pinkwater for grownups, but a lot funnier; and his irreverent antics reveal a buoyant wit and surreal authority even while rendering the emotional range, sex life, and murderous tendencies of a sea monster." (Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: A Good Introduction to Moore What does Oliver Wyman bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book? Mr. Wyman, thank goodness, is possessed of excellent comic timing, which is the difference between life and death for a book this silly. He can also handle a number of voices without making any of them seem stereotypical, which is essential for a book with this many characters, most of whom you are encouraged to love. This is no mean feat, and he does the job perfectly. Any additional comments? Christopher Moore's work tends to have gangs of lovable misfits menaced by some crazy monster (or in some other bizarre situation) in a way that permits more serious reflection on a few larger issues. (In Lust Lizard, it's the wide prevalence of overprescribed Prozac, and how we deal with sadness in our lives.) His work feels like it's in a direct line of descent from Kurt Vonnegut through Tom Robbins, with a relative of Carl Hiaasen somewhere in the lineage. The magical-realist philosophical caper comedy. If this is your thing, Lust Lizard is a terrific example of the genre. If you're never tried it before, this isn't a bad place to start. Very funny, but perhaps not for everyone I stumbled across this author in a bookstore looking for a book-on-CD before taking a long road trip. The sales clerk recommended "Island of the Sequined Love Nun". What a discovery! Truly laugh-out-loud funny. After that, I downloaded "The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove", which was equally funny. Both books start off a little slow ... but they take off quickly, and then it's quite a ride. Oliver Wyman does such a great job narrating, especially with the wide variety of characters that Moore presents. I can see that not everyone will like Moore's offbeat humor, but his characters are very human and his narration and commentary convey a dry wit that often doesn't translate well. Highly recommended. Chuckleworthy Moore What made the experience of listening to The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove the most enjoyable? Having already read a few of Christopher's novels as well as listened to a few others, The Lust Lizard proved to be another book right in his wheelhouse -- a few interesting real life themes (drugs, both prescription and illicit, along with the trusted professionals who promote their abuse; psychosis and psychiatry; and environmental disaster), a broad array of memorable characters, and Moore's signature device, a fantastical, mythological, or supernatural entity, in this case the title character, an aphrodisiac and a maneater (who comes to be known, simply, as Steve).

The Shipping News Audiobook by Annie Proulx

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Annie Proulx) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 03:21:50 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Shipping News Author: Annie Proulx Narrator: Paul Hecht Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins Language: English Release date: 04-28-11 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 298 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Pulitzer Prize, Fiction, 1994 National Book Award, Fiction, 1994 At 36, Quoyle, a third-rate newspaperman, is wrenched violently out of his workaday life when his two-timing wife gets her just desserts. He retreats with his two daughters to his ancestral home on the starkly beautiful Newfoundland coast, where a rich cast of local characters all play a part in Quoyle's struggle to reclaim his life. As three generations of his family cobble up new lives, Quoyle confronts his private demons - and the unpredictable forces of nature and society - and begins to see the possibility of love without pain or misery. A vigorous, darkly comic, and at times magical portrait of the contemporary American family, The Shipping News demonstrates why Annie Proulx is recognized as one of the most gifted and original writers in America today. Critic Reviews: "The Shipping News is that rare creation, a lyric page-turner." (Chicago Tribune) "The writing is charged with sardonic wit - alive, funny, a little threatening; packed with brilliantly original images... and, now and then, a sentence that simply takes your breath away." (USA Today) "Annie Proulx's stunning, big-hearted The Shipping News thaws the frozen lives of its characters and warms readers." (San Francisco Examiner) Members Reviews: Can't Explain Why I Love This Book This book is written in a style I've never come across before. The sentences are short, almost choppy. The characters are equally strange, and the story took me by surprise many times. In reading this book, I felt as though I was on a child's roller coaster; it seemed slow and easy, but suddenly and unexpectedly jerked to the right or left. I felt sure that certain characters had secrets, and so I listened with building interest. The setting (Newfoundland, Canada) was new to me as well, and wrapped its cold grey arms around me. As I look back, I think the locale may be the main character of this novel. Very powerful. And, as I say in my title, I am not sure why I loved it, but I did. I recommend this book. A great companion Where does The Shipping News rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? I really enjoyed reading this book years ago and having grown tired of listing to the radio have taken to exclusively listing to audible books while driving to and from work. I now relish the traffic and find myself sitting in the driveway for a few more momments when i get home to continue to listen. The Shipping news is a favorite of mine and i greatly enjoyed listening to the narration. Paul Hecht did a fantastic job; bringing the characters back to life for me. So far it is my favorite audiobook. What other book might you compare The Shipping News to and why? I would compare the Shipping News to anything by John Irving, Anne Tyler, Amy Tan. All favorites. the stories that encompass a lifetime and all its events are the best to me. Full character development, historical references, and characters so rich and deep. They are my companions of the road.

Talk of the Town Audiobook by Lisa Wingate

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Lisa Wingate) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 08:43:31 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Talk of the Town Author: Lisa Wingate Narrator: Johanna Parker Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins Language: English Release date: 02-06-09 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 75 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: In this compelling tale by Lisa Wingate - award winning author of the national best-seller Lone Star Café - the associate producer of TV's hottest show fears Amber Amberson's tiny Texas hometown already knows its Amber who is an American Megastar finalist. But after several hilarious culture clashes, the Hollywood pro enlists the help of the quirky townsfolk when the sweet and naïve Amber goes missing. ©2008 Lisa Wingate (P)2008 Recorded Books, LLC. Members Reviews: narrator narrator was great in the way they read the story. it was really brought it to life Great story and great narration I loved this book! Funny, witty, romantically, but just a good hometown story of a Central Texas community. Thank you Lisa Wingate and Joanna for your story and narration! Looking forward to book 2! Anything Lisa Wingate is Great! The story is cute. At times laugh out loud funny. The narrator is fantastic. I look forward to hearing her again. LOVED this story and characters This book had so may funny lines I found myself laughing out loud. I usually don't like the Christian literature, but I loved this book. I grew very attached to the characters. Loved the performance. Our narrator really captured each character perfectly. Refreshing book without a lot of darkness and bad language. If you just want a fun book on vacation...this will keep you laughing and entertained. The story moves along pretty well and kept my interest the whole way through. Not preachy. Lisa Wingate & Johanna Parker I thoroughly enjoy this Story of Lisa Wingate. As always she builds a delightful plot and story. I also love Johanna Parker's ability to bring out a characters personally. She is a gifted reader and I think she and Ms. Wingate make a superb team. If you enjoy entertainment in your books I highly recommend this audio book.

The Girl on Legare Street Audiobook by Karen White

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Karen White) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:54:14 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Girl on Legare Street Author: Karen White Narrator: Aimée Bruneau Format: Unabridged Length: 13 hrs and 52 mins Language: English Release date: 12-28-09 Publisher: Listen & Live Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 899 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A this sequel to The House on Tradd Street. When Melanie Middleton was seven years old, her mother, Ginnette, left home, abandoning her husband and her daughter. Now, nearly 33 years later, Ginnette has returned to Charleston, South Carolina, to confront her past and make amends with the daughter she left behind. Melanie is less than thrilled when her mother reappears in her life and asks for her help in buying back the family home. But before she can slam the door in her mother's face, Ginnette tells her it was a premonition that brought her back - a premonition involving old family secrets and a malevolent presence. It has come for Melanie, and to fight it, they will have to stand together. Karen White, author of 10 award-winning novels, is a graduate of Tulane University and the American School in London. She currently lives in Georgia with her husband and two children. When not writing, she spends her time rewading, singing, scrapbooking, carpooling children and avoiding cooking. Aimee Bruneau is an actor, director, professor and student of theater. She earned her MFA in acting from the American Conservatory Theater. Aimee has been telling tales in Seattle for more than a decade. She has also worked for theaters in Chicago, San Francisco, Savannah, and in Southern France. Members Reviews: Believable Paranormal Ghostly Story Despite what some various reviews have said, I enjoyed this novel just as much as the first one. Yes, the the female protagonist is prissy, yes, there is predictability but it still was fun to see how the mystery unravelled and yes, I guessed at a few additional plot twists. BUT, reflecting back on it I really am amazed at how well Karen White made me suspend reality to think the ghosts and psychic abilities of several characters exist. So much so, I expect the ghosts to materialize. As I said about the The House on Tradd Street, I like the narrator. She keeps the characters clear enough to distinquish and her characterization of Melanie fits! I feel like I am back home again with the somewhat exaggerated accents. If you are interested in the book I recommend you read Tradd Street first because it lays the groundwork for the characters although I think Legare Street will stand alone ok. If you're not especially picky, I think the story is light-hearted reading and fun. Go for it! I am embarrassed that I listened to this This main character "Melly" is beyond obnoxius, why I continued to listen to this ridiculous banter, I don't know, I had along trip and nothing else on my ipod, but this one was horrible. disappointing The House on Tradd Street led me to believe this book would either be as good or better. I found myself really disliking our heroine but liking the folks around her. I don't care to read or listen to books where the main character does not grow or become likeable. The mystery aspect is great, the romance aspect is painfully awful. I really like the supernatural aspect to this story, I love a good ghost mystery & it makes me want to visit Charleston , SC but the idea of meeting any of the characters makes me roll my eyes. Melanie is beyond annoying & acts like a preteen and the people she surrounds herself - her 'family & friends' are so condescending and pushy they're making me run away from this series of books.

White Oleander Audiobook by Janet Fitch

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Janet Fitch) — Thu, 16 Dec 1999 05:59:52 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: White Oleander Author: Janet Fitch Narrator: Oprah Winfrey Format: Abridged Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins Language: English Release date: 12-16-99 Publisher: Hachette Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 378 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Astrid is the only child of a single mother, Ingrid, a brilliant, obsessed poet who wields her luminous beauty to intimidate and manipulate men. Astrid worships her mother and cherishes their private world full of ritual and mystery - but their idyll is shattered when Astrid's mother falls apart over a lover. Deranged by rejection, Ingrid murders the man, and is sentenced to life in prison. White Oleander is the unforgettable story of Astrid's journey through a series of foster homes and her efforts to find a place for herself in impossible circumstances. Each home is its own universe, with a new set of laws and lessons to be learned. With determination and humor, Astrid confronts the challenges of loneliness and poverty, and strives to learn who a motherless child in an indifferent world can become. Oprah Winfrey enjoyed this gripping first novel so much that she not only made it her book club pick, she asked if she could narrate the audio release. Check out more . ©1999 by Janet Fitch; (P) and ©1999 Time Warner AudioBooks (Packaging Elements Only), A Division of Time Warner Trade Publishing Critic Reviews: "...[an] impressive first novel.... her startlingly apt language relates a story that is both intelligent and gripping." (The New York Times Book Review) Members Reviews: White Oleander I was caught up in the rhythm and language of this book from the first paragraph...In its original form. Too much is lost in the edited version. Oprah has a very rich voice, but I think the maturity and depth is wrong for this book. I hope Audible will post a different version when/if one is available. Like the wings of a dark bird on a September night This book has more adjectives then a democratic convention. Fluff that takes it's time getting to the point. I found the story interesting but was VERY disappointed that 1) it is the abridged version 2) it isn't true. (my fault for not checking) Top that off with Oprah's reading. I've nothing against Oprah but there is a time and a place for everything. It's hard to get the feeling that a teenaged blond white girl is telling the story who has a voice and accent like Oprah's. Everyone in the story had a "unique" accent that didn't fit (or even come close to) the background they were supposed to be from. This is just a bad match. not the real version I bought the paper back book and read about a 1/4 of it- today I had to make a very long drive so I decided to download the audiobook and finish it that way. well this was not the same as the novel I bought. this is edited and numerous chapters and characters left out. I think it may be the screenplay version not the real, good, version. I wish that would have been included in the information section because then I wouldn't have wasted my money. I listened to it anyway because I didn't have anything else prepared. very disappointing. I would suggest to everyone to buy the book rather than listen to this dulled down version Great book, dissappointed about it being Abriged. Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not? The book, yes, this version, no. I felt there was a lot that was missed by having it abriged. Glad I read it. I had seen the movie several years ago and decided to read the book. Excellent story.

Brida Audiobook by Paulo Coelho

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Paulo Coelho) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:03:60 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Brida Author: Paulo Coelho Narrator: Linda Emond Format: Unabridged Length: 5 hrs and 38 mins Language: English Release date: 06-24-08 Publisher: HarperAudio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 297 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: She meets a wise man who dwells in a forest, who teaches her about overcoming her fears and trusting in the goodness of the world, and a woman who teaches her how to dance to the music of the world, and how to pray to the moon. As Brida seeks her destiny, she struggles to find a balance between her relationships and her desire to become a witch. This enthralling novel incorporates themes that fans of Paulo Coelho will recognize and treasure. It is a tale of love, passion, mystery, and spirituality from the master storyteller. Members Reviews: Brida This was a simple book, easy to listen to and follow along. It is in the same category as The Alchemist, in terms of content, so if you liked The Alchemist, you'll probably appreciate this book. I would recommend for fans of this author. Excellent read! I loved this book and found myself randomly stopping the narration to contemplate the ideologies and spiritual concepts presented therein. This is a lovely story that encourages us to view the world with a different set of eyes and openness to the less obvious aspects of our existence in the universe. If you are a Paulo Coelho fan, you don't want to miss this one. Not for me I did not enjoy this book in fact I had a hard time finishing it. The characters left me cold and the story line was ragged. I felt the author was trying to combine a philosophy with a novel and neither clearly presented, It just never worked for me. World of magic Firstly, the story is simply amazing. I also enjoyed this book because of the narration. The book creates a world of mystery and magic. Read it with an open mind, like you must do for all Paulo Coelhos books. magical, a bit heart breaking but good book Another great fantasy and magical story from Paulo. good read. Couldnt relate to how sex plays part in this story but maybe thats me.

The Sea of Tranquility Audiobook by Katja Millay

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Katja Millay) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 20:00:06 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Sea of Tranquility Subtitle: A Novel Author: Katja Millay Narrator: Kirby Heyborne, Candace Thaxton Format: Unabridged Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins Language: English Release date: 06-04-13 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1309 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the Earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk. Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her - her identity, her spirit, her will to live - pay. Josh Bennetts story is no secret: Every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at 17 years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space. Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and wont go away until shes insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets shes been hiding - or if he even wants to. The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances. Members Reviews: Totally Engaging Any additional comments? The character development was excellent...Nastya and Josh are captivating young people. Even secondary characters, e.g., Drew are well developed. The characters speak like young people including cursing and sexual innuendo, and it feels authentic to the characters, not forced or obvious that it's written by an adult. This fictional book evokes real emotions; the grief and angst are almost tangible. The author doles out the tragic plot in a way that was manageable...the reader is allowed time to digest information about a character and given just enough information to wonder what will be revealed next. The dual narration was well done. The narrators sounded age appropriate, that is, they sounded like the teenagers they were narrating without sounding immature or too young. I enjoyed every minute of this book and I am anticipating listening to it again fairly soon. There is NOTHING wrong with this book This sounds like lackluster praise. To the contrary, it is the best thing I can ever say about a book. You know how you read a book and you get aggravated by some little annoyance, or you feel something was left out or unexplained, or you start to feel differently towards the characters than you think you should? Or maybe you know how a turn of phrase or plot line can make you roll your eyes. All these things pull you from the story. It can still be a great book. You can still love it. But there are things wrong with it none the less. In my opinion, there is NOTHING wrong with this book. If there were any imperfections, it was so completely fantastically amazing that I didn't even notice. I was not pulled from the story once. I am still thinking about the characters now. It was all real. Funny, witty, heartbreaking. Let me repeat - funny (in case you missed it). Yes there is heartache and anguish. But there is humor and redemption, too. Just like life. This is my first Audible review.

The Horse Dancer Audiobook by Jojo Moyes

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jojo Moyes) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:36:59 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Horse Dancer Author: Jojo Moyes Narrator: Julia Franklin Format: Unabridged Length: 17 hrs and 27 mins Language: English Release date: 10-05-09 Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1012 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Natasha is a lawyer whose job is to represent the best interests of children. Her confidence in her judgement has been shaken and her marriage has died - but an encounter with Sarah may lead to Natasha learning all she needs to know about life from a fourteen-year-old girl and a large horse named Boo... Members Reviews: Wow! Amazing story start to finish I hung on every word of this novel. I loved the narration, her animated voice was perfect for each character. The story line was well woven. Jojo did a fabulous job with the horse terminology. Being an avid dressage rider, I will suffer through a lot if it is horse related, but I never found the horse parts cliche. I even got my husband hooked on the second half after he started listening. This is a true coming of age novel for all ages! The best! I'd give it 10 stars if I could... (By Carol, not Mark.) I listen to LOTS of audio books, and this is simply THE best I've ever heard, the first I've ever felt compelled to comment on. The narrator is superb, and the storyline mesmerizing; I acutally took it to bed with me a couple of evenings because I was simply unable to turn it off! The characters are fully developed and fresh,and the horse angle authentic. The author's commentary at the end about the origins of the story is the frosting on the cake. Listen to this book! (Now I'm going to go purchase a hard copy so I can read it for myself!) You Get More That One Credit's Worth! I long for REAL horse stories and was surprised to find this one so superbly bound together with the myriad of human experiences from the tween years to middle age to dying and death. I cannot fathom a world without my horses. I admire the complexity of characters, plotting, and settings in which this author deftly weaves together. Though at times, it seems that too much incidental description is included, then comes the comes the moment this book needs it all so that it may be stitched back together for a satisfying conclusion. The only down side for me was the pacing of the reader, and that is simply a cultural difference. After the first hour, I was finding it a simply elegant rendering of a very satisfying book. Well worth the credit! Wonderful wonderful story Great characters, good drama interesting story all make this book a winner. Absolutely a great read especially for the horse addicted. Have the Hankies Nearby I dare the reader/listener to keep a dry eye. This book about a young girl and her horse and her foster "family" made me feel and held my interest every in chapter. Jojo Moyes is becoming a favorite for me. This is the second book from this author I've truly enjoyed. And this one had a horse as a main character who develops a unique bond with his young rider. This is a story with adventure, family bonds, romance, betrayal, danger and redemption. I so enjoy a book that invites you in and brings you along for the ride.

Beach Colors Audiobook by Shelley Noble

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Shelley Noble) — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 02:36:39 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Beach Colors Subtitle: A Novel Author: Shelley Noble Narrator: Erin Bennett Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins Language: English Release date: 10-20-15 Publisher: HarperAudio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 183 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: While renowned designer Margaux Sullivan was presenting her highly praised collection during New York City's Fashion Week, her husband was cleaning out their bank account. A week after he disappeared, the bank foreclosed on Margaux's apartment and business. Suddenly broke, betrayed, and humiliated, Margaux has nowhere else to turn to but home: the small coastal town of Crescent Cove, Connecticut, where she once knew love, joy, and family before she put them behind her on the climb to fame. When she's stopped for speeding by local interim police chief Nick Prescott, Margaux barely remembers the "townie" boy who worshipped her from afar every summer. But Nick is all grown up now, a college professor who gave up his career to care for his orphaned nephew, Connor. Though still vulnerable, Margaux is soon rediscovering the beauty of the shore through young Connor's eyes...and, thanks to Nick, finding a forgotten place in her heart that wants to love again. But as she continues to work on a bold new line that will get her back into the game, Margaux realizes that soon she will have to make the most important, most difficult decision of her life.... Members Reviews: Great Read!!! This is a great read. The narrator great !!!! Very entertaining I would get to the point I could not get back soon enough to see what was happening. A very sweet love story and what life is all about Wonderful! What a wonderful story! I listen as I drive for work in the car and sometimes wanted to drive further because I didn't want to stop for the day. cute but predictable Interesting story but after the first chapter you can guess the whole entire story. The best part of the book was the narrator. Erin Bennett didn't make the male characters sound like dorks or weirdos. Great job! not my favorite. Story was very bland. Ive enjoyed this natrator and author on other recordings but this fell quite short. Mediocre At Best This was the first novel I ever read by Ms. Noble but I probably won't read any more. I found the writing mediocre, at best and boring at worst. The story was tired and predictable. I found Margot to be very selfish. She didn't even realize that she used the fine folks of Crescent Cove to make her comeback in the design world and then deserted them. Don't waste your time with Shelley Noble. Read something by Barbara O'Neal/Samuel instead of you want some quality writing.

The Secret of the Villa Mimosa Audiobook by Elizabeth Adler

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Elizabeth Adler) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:31:24 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Secret of the Villa Mimosa Author: Elizabeth Adler Narrator: Monica Buckley Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 25 mins Language: English Release date: 03-23-10 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 13 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A beautiful Jane Doe with no memory of who she is or how she got to the bottom of a treacherous ravine...and a psychiatrist who joins her on her search for her identity. Dr. Phyl Forster was intrigued by the lovely woman who had been recovered from a San Francisco hillside and taken to the hospital where Forster was a resident psychiatrist. When Jane Doe regained consciousness, Dr. Phyl was at her side. It was then she realized that the patient had lost all memory of who she was or why she was in a hospital. Was it an accident, or was she, as Detective Franco Mahoney was beginning to suspect, the victim of attempted murder? In an attempt to reconstruct her past, patient and doctor travel back in time across continents to Hawaii, Paris, and the South of France. It is a long and circuitous journey - one that leads to mortal danger and thrilling romance. Critic Reviews: "Adler is expert at digging deep into her characters' psyches and showing what makes them tick. Her villain here is obvious but wonderfully portrayed-as are all the other characters in this well-plotted, entertaining work." (Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: Good listen perennially Good read, characters. Romance and mystery abound. Character is everything, when it comes to standing up to the fast balls life tends to toss our way. Not the best Elizabeth Adler Would you try another book from Elizabeth Adler and/or Monica Buckley? Yes, I have loved all her other books. What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!) Expected Which character as performed by Monica Buckley was your favorite? Phil Do you think The Secret of the Villa Mimosa needs a follow-up book? Why or why not? Maybe Any additional comments? The "memory" sections were too long. Generally it was too wandering. Ran out of steam The story is intriguing but it seemed like the author changed in the last 1/3 of the book and the connections were too neat and tidy. The audio recording/narrator was above par.

Friends Forever Audiobook by Danielle Steel

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Danielle Steel) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 19:25:53 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Friends Forever Subtitle: A Novel Author: Danielle Steel Narrator: Nick Podehl Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins Language: English Release date: 07-24-12 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 414 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Five children meet on the first day of kindergarten. In the years that follow, they become friends and more than friends. Together, they will find strength, meet challenges, face lifes adventures, endure loss, face stark realities, and open their hearts. In this moving novel, number one New York Times best-selling author Danielle Steel traces their unforgettable journey - full of tests and trials - as three boys and two girls discover the vital bonds that will last a lifetime. Gabby, Billy, Izzie, Andy, and Sean - each bursting with their own personality, strikingly different looks and talents, in sports, science, and the arts. Each drawn by the magical spark of connection that happens to the young. At the exclusive Atwood School, on a bright September day, starting in kindergarten, they become an inseparable group known to outsiders as the Big Five. In this rarefied world, five families grow closer, and five children bloom beside one another, unaware of the storms gathering around them. As they turn from grade-schoolers to teenagers, seemingly perfect lives are buffeted by unraveling families, unfortunate missteps, and losses and victories great and small. And, one by one, they turn back to the Big Five to regain their footing and their steady course. But as they emerge from Atwood and enter the college years, the way forward is neither safe nor clear. As their lives separate and diverge, the challenges and risks become greater, the losses sharper, and the right paths harder to choose, in a journey of friendship, survival, and love. In what may be her most intricate and emotionally powerful novel yet, Danielle Steel tells a heart-wrenching, ultimately triumphant story that spans decades, weaves together a vivid cast of characters, and captures the challenges we face in life - sometimes, if were lucky, with a friend forever by our side. Members Reviews: Disappointed for the last time. For years I was often heard saying "Danielle Steel is my favorite author". However, I'm so sad to say I will never be heard saying those words again. I've havent been able to finish listening to her last 7 or 8 books! It seems that she now repeats things over and over, like she takes large portions of a particular chapter and just rewords them 2 or 3 times! It makes me sad to have to say goodbye but unless I hear she has made huge writing style changes, I wont bepushing "buy" for a DS book anytime soon! Did a 3rd grader write this? What would have made Friends Forever better? Better writing and an original thought. What was most disappointing about Danielle Steels story? It is boring and poorly written. How could the performance have been better? The reader did the best they could with the material given. What character would you cut from Friends Forever? I can't remember any of them because they were all so uninteresting. Any additional comments? Nah - I will know better next time not to buy anymore Danielle Steel. Can I get my money back? Pretty sad and not too deep This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more? This book was very superficial. I prefer books with more depth and character development. The plot seemed very contrived. Has Friends Forever turned you off from other books in this genre? Yes. What aspect of Nick Podehls performance would you have changed? I really think it was more the writing of the book than his performance that left much to be desired.

The Children Audiobook by Ann Leary

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Ann Leary) — Tue, 24 May 2016 04:45:55 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Children Subtitle: A Novel Author: Ann Leary Narrator: Gretchen Mol Format: Unabridged Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins Language: English Release date: 05-24-16 Publisher: Macmillan Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 298 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: From New York Times best-selling author Ann Leary comes the captivating story of a wealthy but unconventional New England family, told from the perspective of a reclusive 29-year-old who has a secret (and famous) life on the Internet. Charlotte Maynard rarely leaves her mother's home, the sprawling Connecticut lake house that belonged to her late stepfather, Whit Whitman, and the generations of Whitmans before him. While Charlotte and her sister, Sally, grew up at Lakeside, their stepbrothers, Spin and Perry, were welcomed as weekend guests. Now the grown boys own the estate, which Joan occupies by their grace - and a provision in the family trust. When Spin, the youngest and favorite of all the children, brings his fiancée home for the summer, the entire family is intrigued. The beautiful and accomplished Laurel Atwood breathes new life into this often comically rarefied world. But as the wedding draws near and flaws surface in the family's polite veneer, an array of simmering resentments and unfortunate truths is exposed. With remarkable wit and insight, Ann Leary pulls back the curtain on one blended family as they are forced to grapple with the assets and liabilities - both material and psychological - left behind by their wonderfully flawed patriarch. Members Reviews: Even better than The Good House! Interesting plot--even a little mystery--interesting characters, location...interesting everything! Great voice performance too. I was a little worried reading some of the reviews on Amazon but I liked Leary's The Good House so much, I decided to risk it. And I'm glad I did. This one was even better. I'm not sure what the other reviewers are talking about when they say "unlikeable characters." You like who you're supposed to like, dislike who you're supposed to dislike, and feel ambivalent about other characters--like you're supposed to. In other words, Leary did her job without banging you over the head. All the main characters were complex and fully realized, as was the plot, the sense of place, the relationships between characters, etc. Brilliant family comedy/drama Ann Leary knows what she's doing. Take a few interesting characters with amusing flaws/quirks, put them in a challenging situation, add an interloper, money, unanswered questions, resentment and humor, and then turn the whole thing upside-down. Witty at times, dark at others. Not only is this a great character study, it's got a riveting plot too. The level of depth takes this book from good to great. A lively story that kept me engaged, entertained and which moved me deeply. Thank you Gretchen Mol for your superb narration. Many audiobooks suffer from narration that does not serve the book as much as the performer's ego. Overacting is such a turnoff. Finally, a narrator who gives us a book rather than a self-indulgent performance. Five stars. Leary is developing into a formidable writer Any additional comments? I enjoyed Ann Leary's first novel but I think this new one is even better. The protagonist presents many of the other characters as virtuous and lovable but the reader slowly begins to detect the unreliability of these views. The writing is subtle, the insights into human frailty are forgiving and the narrative is compelling.

Red Phoenix Audiobook by Larry Bond

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Larry Bond) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:19:20 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Red Phoenix Author: Larry Bond Narrator: J. Charles Format: Unabridged Length: 23 hrs and 28 mins Language: English Release date: 10-16-08 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 463 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: From the author who collaborated with Tom Clancy on Red Storm Rising, this is the book that dares to show us the military hardware, global upheavals, and raw combat a second Korean War would unleash. How F-16s would blast across the 38th Parallel. How ultra-modern submarines would vie for the seas. And how two armies would turn the snowfields of Asia red with blood. A thundering geopolitical thriller of vast scope, this is Red Phoenix - and a new standard for military/political suspense fiction. ©1990 Larry Bond; (P)2006 Brilliance Audio, Inc. Critic Reviews: "Gripping...masterfully accurate...Mr. Bond is in complete command." (Baltimore Sun) "Harrowingly real and persuasive." (Newsday) "A direct hit! The techno-thriller has a new ace, and his name is Larry Bond." (Tom Clancy) Members Reviews: A Second Korean War, as Fought in 1989 One of my favorite books growing up was Red Storm Rising. The silent partner behind that Cold War classic went on to produce this what if exercise of a novel. Because of the inherent limitations of the genre, the story quickly became outdated, notice that it was copyrighted in 1990, meaning that it came out the same year Iraq invaded Kuwait, making it something of a time capsule of military thinking. At the same time, this necessary anachronism does not in and of itself render the book irrelevant. As the critical acclaim quoted above notes, it was considered at the time a thoroughly credible hypothetical scenario for a Second Korean War. Another reviewer criticized the plausibility of the politics and military technology depicted in the conflict. It is important to remember though that at the time, strategic focus was centered squarely on Europe, meaning political calculations and allocation of modern hardware flowed accordingly. Thus, the stage is set for a sort of worst case scenario, where US and South Korean forces standing alone without the benefit of the 1980s modernization face the best Soviet armor employed with the sufficient numbers and ruthless disregard for losses that made the American military modernization at the end of the Cold War such a priority for so many, or so it seems to an armchair quarterback looking back over two decades. At any rate, like he did with Clancy, Bond asks a number of interesting questions, and enlists a number of unfortunate characters to act as observers in his thought experiments. This includes anti-submarine warfare officers trying to get convoys into Pusan with North Korean and Russian subs prowling the shallow approaches, navy and air force pilots trying to outmatch MIG-29s while not being drowned by a tide of MIG-21s, carrier crews trying to sustain combat operations against built up air defenses, infantry officers leading what was meant to be a tripwire force asked to hold against an unending stream of heavy armor, and even logisticians trying to manage the flow of needed supplies from the states while trying to avoid being blown up. So long as one heeds another reviewer's warning to be mindful of the time in which this book originates and is nominally set, there's quite a bit to chew on here. Unfortunately, the narration leaves something to be desired. I actually have a copy of this book in what I believe to be its original form, eight cassettes with a different track on the left and right stereo channels.

Map of the Heart Audiobook by Susan Wiggs

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Susan Wiggs) — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 18:33:28 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Map of the Heart Subtitle: A Novel Author: Susan Wiggs Narrator: Christina Traister Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 46 mins Language: English Release date: 08-22-17 Publisher: Harper Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 110 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Love and family. War and secrets. Betrayal and redemption. New York Times best-selling author Susan Wiggs returns with a deeply emotional and atmospheric story that spans oceans and decades, from the present-day Delaware shore to the battlefields of WWII France. Widowed by an unspeakable tragedy, Camille Palmer has made her peace with the past and settled into the quiet safety of life with her teenage daughter, Julie, in a sleepy coastal town. Then the arrival of a mysterious package breaks open the door to her family's secret past. In uncovering a hidden history, Camille has no idea that she's embarking on an adventure that will utterly transform her. Camille, Julie, and Camille's father return to the French town of his youth, sparking unexpected memories - recollections that will lead them back to the dark days of the Second World War. And it is in the stunning Provençal countryside that they will uncover their family's surprising history. While Provence offers answers about the past, it also holds the key to Camille's future. Along the way she meets a former naval officer who stirs a passion deep within her - a feeling that she thought she'd never experience again. Now this hugely popular author has created her biggest, most powerful story yet - a beautiful and heartfelt novel that celebrates the bonds of family and pays homage to the sacrifices of the past. Members Reviews: Great story
Deep, rich story! Amazing narrator-male, female, old young, French voices. Blending of history and contemporary story, with heartbreak of loss and fulfillment of love and family. interesting So this is the typical "chick flick" type of book i.e widow afraid to love is brought back to life and love when she meets her perfect man. everyone even the teenager is happy in the end. really? in this day and age? but the book is interesting Too much fluff and nonsense Could only make it through first three chapters to get to the story but gave up. Loved it! Another wonderful story that hit home on so many levels. The characters were unique, and endearing, I can only hope this is a series! Great Read! Not vintage Wiggs, but better than some of her more recent books I thought Susan Wiggs's early books were really great. In this book she gets back towards those early efforts. The book is not as formulaic as some from her Lakeside series. But it still lacks the gritty real life characteristics of her first novels. The narrator is weak. I was able to continue listening. But she doesn't have very good read them or sensitive matching her voice to the level of intensity of the passage in the book. And her male voices need a lot of help.

The Sisters Brothers Audiobook by Patrick deWitt

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Patrick deWitt) — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 06:19:40 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Sisters Brothers Subtitle: A Novel Author: Patrick deWitt Narrator: John Pruden Format: Unabridged Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins Language: English Release date: 04-26-11 Publisher: HarperAudio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 768 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Hermann Kermit Warm is going to die. The enigmatic and powerful man known only as the Commodore has ordered it, and his henchmen, Eli and Charlie Sisters, will make sure of it. Though Eli doesn't share his brother's appetite for whiskey and killing, he's never known anything else. But their prey isn't an easy mark, and on the road from Oregon City to Warm's gold-mining claim outside Sacramento, Eli begins to question what he does for a living - and whom he does it for. With The Sisters Brothers, Patrick deWitt pays homage to the classic Western, transforming it into an unforgettable comic tour de force. Filled with a remarkable cast of characters - losers, cheaters, and ne'er-do-wells from all stripes of life - and told by a complex and compelling narrator, it is a violent, lustful odyssey through the underworld of the 1850s frontier that beautifully captures the humor, melancholy, and grit of the Old West and two brothers bound by blood, violence, and love. Critic Reviews: gritty, as well as deadpan and often very comicDeWitt has chosen a narrative voice so sharp and distinctiveits very narrowing of possibilities opens new doors in the imagination. (New York Times Book Review) Weirdly funny, startlingly violent and steeped in sadness Its all rendered irresistible by Eli Sisters, who narrates with a mixture of melancholy and thoughtfulness. (Washington Post) [T]heres something cinematic about Mr. deWitts unadorned prose style, which at first made this reader do a double-takecan this be serious?only to continue flicking the pages with pleasure. (Wall Street Journal) Members Reviews: Beautiful, Absurd & Melancholic Frontier Noir. Absurd, fantastic, and the narrative almost measures up to the cover art. A book about two frontier assassin brothers in search of the 'pot of gold' over the rainbow. Two killer angels seeking to "understand why, or how they might change things for the better." This novel is about that quest. A quest to change, to understand, to alter lots, cheat fate and better predicaments. Fundamentally, however, it is about the things that link us: blood, death, family, lust and greed. The book's absurdity lacks nihilism, its craziness exists without meanness, and the killings and murders seem to echo with a beautiful melancholic fatalism of Charles Portis and Mark Twain. The Cruelty To Animals is Hard to Take Great narrator, I would say perfect for this story. The prose is enchanting, that's why I stuck with it. The Sister Brothers have no regard for human life, so it is hard to like them. The treatment of animals in the story is abhorrent. I realize this may have been realistic for the period, but if that bothers you (and it should,) you may want to avoid this book. The dialogue is glorious, and for that reason I recommend it. Oddly compelling! I loved this book, despite my general avoidance of stories featuring this much violence. But the viiolence is so embedded in the context of the times that it seems, if not okay, at least understandable. This is a perfect Coen brothers story--I would love to see it filmed. The dialogue is pitch perfect and the narration is sensational. I truly could not stop listening--got lots of extra exercise in just to have an excuse to keep listening. Enjoy! If you liked "True Grit"... And I mean the book, "True Grit", you will find much to like in this story.

A Rather Lovely Inheritance Audiobook by CA Belmond

biacuaduc@gmail.com (CA Belmond) — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:58:38 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: A Rather Lovely Inheritance Author: CA Belmond Narrator: Katherine Kellgren Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins Language: English Release date: 05-21-10 Publisher: Listen & Live Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1030 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: This is your life Penny Nichols.... Penny Nichols is a historical researcher working on a big-budget film in the south of France when she gets an urgent call. Her Aunt Penelope has just died, and Penny's presence is required in London for the reading of the will. A rather lovely inheritance.... With only a slim recollection of her eccentric aunt, Penny is astonished to learn that not only is she the bona fide heiress - but she's also been invited to put her research skills to work. This time, the history she's researching happens to be her very own. To the irresistible dare of a lifetime.... What she discovers about Aunt Penelope, a pair of wills, double lives, secret histories, and a family tree of 'vultures' is about to sweep Penny and a long-lost relative across France, over the hills of Italy, and through half of Europe on the adventure of several lifetimes. This is her life, her past, her chance at love - and Penny's going to live with the kind of passion she's always dreamed of! Members Reviews: Fast, Breezy and Thoroughly Enjoyable... What made the experience of listening to A Rather Lovely Inheritance the most enjoyable? Katherine Kellgren as narrator...she is probably my most favorite when I want a light and breezy story to listen to over breakfast each morning. The story was interesting, lively with just the right mixture of suspence and humor delivered with precision by Katherine Kellgren. I had never read, nor listened to C. A. Belmond before so I had no basis for comparison with this author, but was certain that it would be good because I so enjoy the narrator. What other book might you compare A Rather Lovely Inheritance to and why? This story has the same lightness and appeal as Her Royal Spyness series by Rhys Bowen and the same narrator which was great for me since I've exhausted that series and was searching for a similar adventure. Which scene was your favorite? I liked the entire storyline but I guess my favorite scene was when Penelope found herself in London for the reading of her great aunt Penelope's will and once again reunited with her "cousin" Jeremy whom she had known and played with as a child on a visit to her mother's family in London for a summer. Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? LOL...ALL of the audible books that I have listened to have that quality! But I try and pace myself to listen to only a chapter or two each morning, although I confess that I did listen to several chapters at one sitting during the more exciting middle of the story. Any additional comments? I throughly enjoyed listening to this presentation and I hope that C. A. Belmond and Katherine Kellgren team up again...and soon. I've listened to a wide variety of stories with my "breakfast" and have never been disappointed by audible, nor Katherine Kellgren's delivery she has the ability to transport you to whatever she is reading with different voices for each character and an ease of confidence that brings the listener the same "lost in the story" that I get when I read a good book, or watch a good show. A nice change of pace This was a charming story about a young woman who becomes an heiress unexpectedly, and then events ensue where it all gets threatened as she has to figure out who is trying to steal it all away from her.

Cotillion Audiobook by Georgette Heyer

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Georgette Heyer) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:36:55 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Cotillion Author: Georgette Heyer Narrator: Phyllida Nash Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins Language: English Release date: 02-19-09 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 940 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: The three great-nephews of cantankerous Mr Penicuik know better than to ignore his summons, especially when it concerns the bestowal of his fortune. His freakish plan is that his fortune will be his step-daughter's dowry. ©2007 BBC Audiobooks Ltd; (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Members Reviews: One of my Favorites I have read and listened to many of Georgette Heyer's books, and Cotillion one of my favorites. The characters are engaging, humorous, and memorable. My only caution is that the first two chapters are a bit slow, featuring mostly the supporting characters instead of the main protagonists. However, from the third chapter on I expect that you will find the book is delightful. My favorite Georgette Heyer book sounds great as an audiobook. The narrator is excellent. One can easily distinguish the characters and the book is even funnier read aloud. Cotillion is Heyer's best book because its hero is totally unlike her standard, rather annoying, heroes. And the Regency slang is great. The book starts a little slowly but hang in for the first couple of chapters. You'll be glad you did. One of Georgette Heyer's truly good books This is an excellent Heyer book. As usual, there are humorous characters, a strong female lead and a great plot. The fun part of Cotillion is the love interest and "hero" - and you must find out who that is on your own. One of her Funniest, and with a Unique Hero Oh, do buy this! Phyllida Nash is a wonderful narrator, and "Cotillion" is one of Heyer's most sparkling books. Things don't turn out exactly as the heroine or the reader expect, but, in this case, that is a very good thing. I know Heyer's romances aren't steamy or action-packed. But you cannot beat her for witty writing and a great time with a superior piece of fluff. Great story for all ages I love the story of Freddy or Jack and was worried that the audiobook couldn't do it justice....but it certainly did! I have a very serious literature critic in my 12 year old daughter, I encouraged her to get past the start and a heroine who begins as VERY unexciting (a common Georgette Heyerism-we learn to love our heroine for her actions, rather than initial looks and sparkling personality) and she just loved it! This got her into reading and listening to more Georgette heyer, and in a world of sex and violence, Georgette is a refreshing choice for all of us.

Lord of the Flies Audiobook by William Golding

biacuaduc@gmail.com (William Golding) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 06:05:37 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Lord of the Flies Author: William Golding Narrator: Martin Jarvis Format: Unabridged Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins Language: English Release date: 09-06-12 Publisher: Canongate Faber Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 131 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A plane crashes on a desert island and the only survivors, a group of schoolboys, assemble on the beach and wait to be rescued. By day they inhabit a land of bright fantastic birds and dark blue seas, but at night their dreams are haunted by the image of a terrifying beast. As the boys delicate sense of order fades, so their childish dreams are transformed into something more primitive, and their behaviour starts to take on a murderous, savage significance. Members Reviews: Classic - if a bit disturbing. Another classic that I have been seeking on audio to add to my library for a while. This one because I had read it as a boy and enjoyed it greatly and wanted to add it to my rotating library of repeat listens. It makes it to that list very very easily. The basic story is probably fairly well known. Group of boys. Desert Island. Add some time and wait for chaos to reign. I remembered that much from my boyhood read but there are layers here that I didn't get as a spotty teen. And I'm coming to the conclusion that this is what makes a great book great. Every time you read it it makes you think about some element of it differently and see some feature in a new light. Ostensibly this is a book about how small boys will happily become savages if left without authority. It is also wider, deeper and longer than that if you pause the recoding every now and then and let your mind wander over a scene for a few minutes and think about whatever else it throws into your head. Bit like tasting a good wine where you can (I'm told - cheap plonk man myself) start to seperate out individual notes from the flavour. "I'm getting - the beginnings of religion - the draw of superstition - mans inhumanity to man.........." That said , if all you want is a good book with a good story well told and well read then this will do that for you too. Just that there is more there if you want it. Martin Jarvis does an excellent job on the narration. Story of cruel innocence It's a story of spiralling down into savagery and brutality, a story of making a choice between good and evil, peace and war, God and Satan. The name Lord of the flies is actually translated as Beelzebul, one of the three main fallen angels along with Lucifer and Astaroth. It is revolting to see how quickly and without compunction children can lose their innocence and become unruly bloodthirsty criminals. As for the narrator, I was overwhelmed listening to M. Jarvis' performance. His rendition was exceptional. Important Ideas but a boring story I appreciated the writing, themes, and ideas. However, the plot is slow and cumbersomeand I struggled to finish the book. Really great! I liked the story quite a lot, apparently it's a classic. The narrative is good, a little silly sometimes, but it's all about kids anyways. A good one for a listen, and one for the old "I've read it" bank Was forced to read this book but it was ok Decent book, decent story line, better than reading the words. And I have to add another 10 words to make this count

Kafka on the Shore Audiobook by Haruki Murakami

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Haruki Murakami) — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 20:32:01 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Kafka on the Shore Author: Haruki Murakami Narrator: Sean Barrett, Oliver Le Sueur Format: Unabridged Length: 19 hrs and 8 mins Language: English Release date: 04-19-06 Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1982 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Murakami's new novel is at once a classic tale of quest, but it is also a bold exploration of mythic and contemporary taboos, of patricide, of mother-love, of sister-love. Above all it is an entertainment of a very high order. Editorial Reviews: Haruki Murakami is the David Lynch of literature; everything doesnt always make sense, but it's so compelling you can't stop listening or trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. Such is the case with Murakami's mind-bending Kafka on the Shore, which follows the lives of 15-year-old Kafka and an old man named Nakata, who might be aspects of the same person...or maybe not. What we do know is that Kafka runs away from home to find his lost mother and sister and winds up living in a library in the seaside town of Takamatsu, where he spends his days reading literature. Then he's suspected of being involved in a murder. In alternating chapters, we also hear the story of Nakata, who makes a living as a "cat whisperer," searching for lost pets. He embarks on a road trip searching for a particularly hard to find cat, traveling far away from his home for the first time, and the narrative suggests he's fated to meet Kafka. But does he? Oh, and there's also truly bizarre appearances by Johnnie Walker and Colonel Sanders. Oliver Le Sueur as Kafka and Sean Barrett as Nakata both give hypnotic readings of the main and supporting characters. Le Sueur performs double duty for Kafka and the teen's inner voice, Crow, reading with such gravitas that you might find yourself leaning forward a bit with expectancy for the next line of dialogue or intricate detail. Barrett's deep, warm voice is perfectly grandfatherly as Nakata, whose uncertain destination and deep wonder at the world he has never seen is the lynchpin of the novel. Barrett's voice is a national treasure in Britain having voiced Shakespeare, Dickens, and Beckett and you'll wish he narrated just about every book once you hear how he commits to Nakata. As Kafka prepares to leave home, his alter ego tells the boy that he's about to enter a metaphysical and symbolic storm. "Once the storm is over you won't remember how you made it through how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure if the storm is over, but one thing is certain when you come out of the storm you won't be the same person who walked in." That can also be said of any listener who chooses to explore Murakami's beautiful, enigmatic world. Critic Reviews: "I've never read a novel that I found so compelling because of its narrative inventiveness and love of storytelling....Great entertainment." (Guardian) "An insistently metaphysical mind-bender." (The New Yorker) "Daringly original and compulsively readable." (The Washington Post's Book World) Members Reviews: Brilliant Meandering--what was in those brownies.. In Haruki Murakami's own words: "It's all pointless--assuming you try to find a point to it." Kafka on the Shore "It's not that meaning cannot be explained. But there are certain meanings that are lost forever the moment they are explained in words." 1Q84 I read this book last year, my first HM read, which I jumped into with no knowledge of the author, and having read no reviews of the book at all.

Leota's Garden Audiobook by Francine Rivers

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Francine Rivers) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:44:12 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Leota's Garden Author: Francine Rivers Narrator: Melissa Hurst Format: Unabridged Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins Language: English Release date: 03-13-13 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 424 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Once Leota's garden was a place of beauty - where flowers bloomed and hope thrived. It was her refuge from the deep wounds inflicted by a devastating war, her sanctuary where she knelt before a loving God and prayed for the children who couldn't understand her silent sacrifices. At 83, Leota is alone; her beloved garden is in ruins. All her efforts to reconcile with her adult children have been fruitless. She voices her despair to a loving Father, her only friend. And God brings a wind of change through unlikely means: one, a college student who thinks he has all the answers; the other, the granddaughter Leota never hoped to know. But can the devastation wrought by keeping painful family secrets be repaired before she runs out of time? Members Reviews: Another Great one from Francine Rivers Any additional comments? After reading "Her Mother's Hope" and "Her Daughter's Dream", I couldn't imagine enjoying a book any better. But Leota's Garden came very close. The story almost paralleled my own life dealing with a self-centered mother and a self-less grandmother. It brought tears to my eyes many times. I enjoyed it and can't wait to see what Francine Rivers come up with next! One of the best books I've ever read Heartwarming and inspiring on how I should live. I wish every member of my family would read it. Mixed feelings I usually go through audio books pretty fast, yet this audio took me a couple of weeks. I had a hard time getting into the book. I liked it, liked the story line just kept clicking off. Parts of it would not hold my attention and my mind world drift off and I would have to start the chapter over again, I did that a lot! I did not like parts of the book that were not answered. Especially with how the grandma died. But it is a book, I can make my own endings. I would buy another book from this author, love the Christian aspect of the books. Good overall, but drawn out I have listened to all but two or three of Francine River's books, and this was the least captivating. The story seemed to be longer than it should have been, and somewhat exhausting with the repetition of the characters expressing the same feelings and thoughts (but I realize the story was about long suffering). I enjoyed it, but her other books set a high standard. Leota garden The book was quite good but I was very upset because the got murderer got away with the grandmother murder. I need to do better ending is there going to be another book I can't wait

The Bookseller Audiobook by Cynthia Swanson

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Cynthia Swanson) — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 13:08:30 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Bookseller Subtitle: A Novel Author: Cynthia Swanson Narrator: Kathe Mazur Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins Language: English Release date: 03-03-15 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 411 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A provocative and hauntingly powerful debut novel reminiscent of Sliding Doors, The Bookseller follows a woman in the 1960s who must reconcile her reality with the tantalizing alternate world of her dreams. Nothing is as permanent as it appears.... Denver, 1962. Kitty Miller has come to terms with her unconventional single life. She loves the bookshop she runs with her best friend, Frieda, and enjoys complete control over her day-to-day existence. She can come and go as she pleases, answering to no one. There was a man once, a doctor named Kevin, but it didn't quite work out the way Kitty had hoped. Then the dreams begin. Denver, 1963. Katharyn Andersson is married to Lars, the love of her life. They have beautiful children, an elegant home, and good friends. It's everything Kitty Miller once believed she wanted - but it exists only when she sleeps. Convinced that these dreams are simply due to her overactive imagination, Kitty enjoys her nighttime forays into this alternate world. But with each visit, the more irresistibly real Katharyn's life becomes. Can she choose which life she wants? If so what is the cost of becoming Katharyn? As the line between her worlds begins to blur, Kitty must figure out what is real and what is imagined. Members Reviews: Meh Interesting premise. Too bad that it's stretched out to a point it's very anticlimactic. The narrator is pretty good, the story is not bad. It just lacks luster I guess. mixed feelings The idea was wonderful but the narrators voice grew old quickly and the plot lost steam. Wasn't too hard to figure out where she was going with the story and if I had been literally reading the book I would have skimmed. Description of Denver in the 1960s was enjoyable as was the relationships between "sisters" and mother/father/daughter. Relationship with children felt too Norman Rockwell on one hand and too uncomfortable on the other. Very disturbing emotional reaction to special needs. Unexpectedly Intriguing - I couldn't stop listening! If you could sum up The Bookseller in three words, what would they be? Intriguing, complex, relatable Who was your favorite character and why? Katherine/Kitty I loved the contrast of the same character struggling to find reality in two very different lives. She was able to see herself from two perspectives and specifically how other key people in each life shaped the woman she had become.I related to her in many ways but particularly how she deeply cared for her loved ones and their happiness. Furthermore, I think any wife/mother/career woman can relate to how she had to prioritize and shift her time, effort, and interest as her life evolved as Katherine. Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry? I did not have an emotional reaction but I had an extreme need to keep listening to this book. It captured my attention from the beginning (which doesn't happen often). I found myself listening every free minute I could find and increasing the reading speed to get to the end within 3 days. Any additional comments? This book really made me think not only about the interesting storyline of two parallel lives; but about being a woman--wife, mother, friend, and daughter--in the 1960s. I don't often take the time to write a review as soon as I finish a book but this one inspired me to encourage others to listen to this intriguing book! No no no Yuck.

Her Mother's Shadow Audiobook by Diane Chamberlain

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Diane Chamberlain) — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:20:11 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Her Mother's Shadow Subtitle: Kiss River, Book 3 Author: Diane Chamberlain Narrator: Arielle DeLisle Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins Language: English Release date: 10-28-14 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 372 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Annie A loving mother and wife, Annie O'Neill was the heart of the small community of Kiss River. But her generous nature hid a darker side that remained secret for years after her tragic death. Lacey When Lacey O'Neill finally learns the shattering truth about the mother she's spent a decade emulating, the foundation of her life begins to crumble. Then her close childhood friend dies, leaving her teenage daughter, Mackenzie, in Lacey's care, and Lacey unwillingly finds herself in the role of mother. Mackenzie Uprooted by her mother's death, Mackenzie resents her new home of Kiss River. She wants nothing to do with the father who never knew she existed - and especially not her mother's oldest friend. But the person who could understand her best might be the one she resents most: Lacey. Critic Reviews: "Complex, credible characterization. . . . Even readers who are not already fans will sympathize with the flawed but caring people [Chamberlain] compassionately evokes." ( Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: Nice ending for the trilogy The narrator was Terrific! Tempo was right & I always knew who was speaking because she altered her voice for each character. The story tied up all the loose ends from the other books. Enjoyed it a lot. Great trilogy Diane Chamberlain does it again. I loved hearing how the members of this family grew up & continued on through the stories. I love the twists & turns. And to hear the same awesome narrator through series kept the stories flowing. Great job!!! MUST READ! I read the triology ( listened ) these books are well written and filled with surprises, I really enjoyed them. inspiring This book reminds one to forgive, not forget and how to move on from there. lacey is a very brave young lady but already had to deal with things that most people never go through. Nice story to end the series. A few spots were slow but overall it was intriguing. The readers voice was a bit high for my taste but her voice was very clear.

Four Fires Audiobook by Bryce Courtenay

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Bryce Courtenay) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:55:20 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Four Fires Author: Bryce Courtenay Narrator: Humphrey Bower Format: Unabridged Length: 29 hrs and 9 mins Language: English Release date: 07-16-10 Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1569 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: The four fires in this story are passion, religion, warfare, and fire itself. While there are many more fires that drive the human spirit, love being perhaps the brightest flame of all, it is these four that have moulded us most as Australian people. The four fires give us our sense of place and, for better or for worse, shape our national character. Critic Reviews: "Humphrey Bower, speaking as Mole, delivers every possible nuance and emotion of his characters story, and shows a startling aptitude for other dialects as well. Close family friends and enemies include surviving Polish Jews, an East Indian healer, an Irish Catholic priest, Japanese prison camp soldiers, and many others. All of them, young and old, male and female, spring to vivid life in Bowers versatile voice. Narrative passages and dialogue elicit tears and laughter by turns, without a minute of boredom in the 30-hour production." (AudioFile magazine) Members Reviews: Hit in the solar plexus I try to rate a book not so much on how much I liked it but on how well I thought it was written. This becomes even more compounded/confounded by the fact that I mostly listen to audiobooks and there is the matter of this person called the narrator. I cannot say this too strongly, I believe a narrator can make or break a book. So, for my reviews, there is this other dimension to consider. I believe that Four Fires by Bryce Courtenay is a phenomenal book all by itself. It is not, however, a book I probably would have gravitated to nor enjoyed as much in paper form. I picked this selection based on reviews and particularly the reference in these reviews to the narrator Humphrey Bower. I was not disappointed. To call Mr. Bower a narrator does not do him justice. An actor? Okay, that works. He flawlessly plays the roles of so many of the characters in this book. And that would make him an artist. That's good too. But, like the author himself, Bower is a Storyteller extraordinaire and for me, that was the magic of this selection. I was blown away by every aspect of this book in a "good way" until Mole's dad takes him into the bush and tells him of his time in the war. For me, at that moment, the book became something completely different. It was like it was not even the same book written by the same person. And, while I concluded that the descriptions of all the brutality of war could be taken in context, it might not be for everyone. These events are not pure fiction, but, we are told, are descriptions based on historical facts and perhaps we should not avoid nor look away from such things if we are to diminish their chance of reoccurrence in the future. So, for the record, I give the Four Fires: 5 stars for personal enjoyment 5 stars for general skill in writing 5 stars for storytelling, acting and narration. His very best! I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the intriguing characters, the humor, just everything about this book. Nothing else can be added about Humphrey Bower - he brings the pages to life. I could listen to Humphrey Bower read a telephone book. I have read most of Bruce Courtenay and I agree with other reviewers, this is his best.I didn't want the story to end. Another feature I enjoy about Bruce Courtenay is that he teaches the reader - I learned a lot about forest fires. Fascinating. This is a "must listen" book.

In the Blood Audiobook by Lisa Unger

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Lisa Unger) — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:05:45 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: In the Blood Subtitle: A Novel Author: Lisa Unger Narrator: Gretchen Mol, Candace Thaxton Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins Language: English Release date: 01-07-14 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 413 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: In the Blood is the Lisa Unger novel we've all been waiting for - and a return to the dark psychological suspense that made Beautiful Lies a bestseller around the world. Lana Granger lives a life of lies. She has told so many lies about where she comes from and who she is that the truth is like a cloudy nightmare she cant quite recall. About to graduate from college and with her trust fund almost tapped out, she takes a job babysitting a troubled boy named Luke. Expelled from schools all over the country, the manipulative young Luke is accustomed to controlling the people in his life. But, in Lana, he may have met his match. Or has Lana met hers? When Lanas closest friend, Beck, mysteriously disappears, Lana resumes her lying waysto friends, to the police, to herself. The police have a lot of questions for Lana when the story about her whereabouts the night Beck disappeared doesnt jibe with eyewitness accounts. Lana will do anything to hide the truth, but it might not be enough to keep her ominous secrets buried: Someone else knows about Lanas lies. And hes dying to tell. Lisa Unger's writing has been hailed as sensational (Publishers Weekly) and sophisticated (New York Daily News), with gripping narrative and evocative, muscular prose (Associated Press). Masterfully suspenseful, finely crafted, and written with a no-holds-barred raw power, In the Blood is Unger at her best. Members Reviews: Possibly the BEST psychological thriller EVER ! For me, there's nothing better than a thrilling mystery, and exciting story with lots of twists, turns, and surprises, but without all of the unnecessary gore. This was quite possibly the best psychological thriller I have ever read/ listened to. At first I thought the narrator wasn't quite right, but I quickly changed my mind. I was also pleased with myself for figuring some of "it" out early, but there was so much more! I can't recommend this one highly enough...well worth the credit! brilliantly performed story from page 1, this was a winner for me. It sucked me right in and kept me enthralled until I finished it in 2 listening sessions. Lisa Unger has a magic ability to create a wonderful suspenseful tension in her writing that keeps you 'turning pages' well into the night. The narrators were nothing short of brilliant, especially the voice of 'Lana.' The two perfmormers brought the book to life and made the story perfectly believable. Can't recommend this book more highly for those who love good character development and psychological suspense. Can't wait for Unger's next delectable treat! I love evil children! If you could sum up In the Blood in three words, what would they be? Psychological thriller esque Which character as performed by Gretchen Mol and Candace Thaxton was your favorite? This is one where the performances were great! Paced nicely and engaging tones. Who was the most memorable character of In the Blood and why? The bad kid! Any additional comments? I am partial to psychological thrillers with twists, and add in evil children and I'm there! That being said, this had some cheesy turns of plot - but it was entertaining enough to get me through exercising! Wow Wow Wow What a delicious treat! A truly suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat, nail biter. And, it's not a revamp of a story that someone else told previously. Well worth the price.

Eleven Minutes Audiobook by Paulo Coelho

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Paulo Coelho) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:24:07 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Eleven Minutes Author: Paulo Coelho Narrator: Emilia Fox, Derek Jacoby Format: Abridged Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins Language: English Release date: 01-15-09 Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 330 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Eventually, Maria's despairing view of love is put to the test when she meets a handsome young painter. In this odyssey of self-discovery, Maria has to choose between pursuing a path of darkness, 'sexual pleasure for its own sake', or risking everything to find her own 'inner light' and the possibility of sacred sex, sex in the context of love. A daring modern fable about the nature of love and sex. Members Reviews: so true love is the answer to all questions Excellent narrations. Enjoyed every line especially love making description. Beautiful Story & A Good Example Of Determination What made the experience of listening to Eleven Minutes the most enjoyable? This is my second book by Paulo Coelho and it can only be discribe with one word PERFECT. Great story line, good examples of using the natural laws of the universe, just PERFECT. Good start - became boring. I enjoyed the first chapters of this book and rather liked the narrators. I found the concept interesting but it was as if Paulo Coelho ran out of inspiration and decided to write about sexual fantasy. I found some of it fairly nauseating and otherwise was simply bored. I really wanted the book to end. I would not really recommend this book. I loved the way book makes a listener to deeply feel the feeling of actors Speakers are so much in the flow of the book, with a great way of passing soul of the play Brilliant narrator and capturing plot Fruitful lessons to be learned from the book about goals, perseverance and stretching oneself beyond your own perceived limits. If one looks past the explicit sex scenes, the moral of the story is truly profound.

The Happy Return Audiobook by C. S. Forester

biacuaduc@gmail.com (C. S. Forester) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:22:17 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Happy Return Author: C. S. Forester Narrator: Christian Rodska Format: Unabridged Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins Language: English Release date: 10-04-10 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 588 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Exclusively from Audible The year is 1808 and somewhere off the coast of Nicaragua, C.S. Forester's hero returns, ready to embark on his next swashbuckling adventure. The fifth instalment in the series, The Happy Return follows Captain Horatio Hornblower as he commands the thirty-six-gun frigate, HMS Lydia. Sent out on a mission to weaken the colonial Spanish government, Horatio must form an alliance with a narcissistic revolutionary leader with delusions of grandeur, who goes by the name of 'El Supremo'. Simultaneously faced with an advancing Spanish fleet and their far superior fifty-gun ship, Natividad, Horatio must find a way to 'take, sink, burn or destroy' his enemies or fail and be made to face the British courts. Adding insult to injury, Horatio is furthermore challenged by the arrival of a singularly attractive passenger, the influential Lady Barbara Wellesley. Vulnerable, alone and seeking passage to England, Horatio cannot refuse the lady, but as a happily married man, he finds himself tortured by Barbara's tempting nature and astounding beauty. An English novelist, C.S. Forester was highly praised by his contemporaries for his Napoleonic naval warfare series, and later for the publication of The African Queen. Despite his natural ability and endless imagination, Forester came to writing much later than expected. Having originally studied medicine at Guy's Hospital, it was only after his travels with the Royal Navy that he was artistically inspired, developing in particular, a fervent love of story-telling. Sadly stricken with arteriosclerosis whilst voyaging to the Bering Sea, C.S. Forester was crippled in his later life, but his imagination and his skill with a pen survived for years to come. Narrator Biography Christian Rodska is an English television and voice actor best known for his role in the 1970s series Follyfoot. From The Monuments Men and The Eagle of the Ninth to The Likely Lads, Z Cars, The Tomorrow People, Coronation Street, Bergerac and Casualty, his extensive and diverse acting career has led him to become a highly solicited radio and audiobook narrator. He has now voiced over 150 unabridged audiobooks including Winston Churchill's biographies, Evelyn Waugh's Men at Arms and Sebastian Faulks' A Possible Life. He has been praised for his ability to vary in vocal pace and style and as such, Christian boasts 12 Earphone Awards from Audiofile Magazine. Members Reviews: AKA "Beat to Quarters" "The Happy Return," also known as "Beat to Quarters," is the first-published (1937) adventure of Captain Horatio Hornblower, RN. It was followed in 1938 by "Ship of the Line" and "Flying Colours." Later books, published after WWII, went backward to cover Hornblower's early career, and forward to his rise to admiral and the peerage. "Midshipman Hornblower," chronologically the first story, was published in 1950. Having listened to all the Aubrey/Maturin books and feeling bummed that there were no more left to hear, I decided to try this book, since I knew it sailed similar seas (British navy during the Napoleonic Wars). This first Hornblower adventure does not disappoint.

Hunger Games (Hunger Games 1) Livre Audio par Suzanne Collins

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Suzanne Collins) — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 17:08:48 GMT

Écoutez ce livre audio dans son intégralité gratuitement sur https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> Titre: Hunger Games (Hunger Games 1) Auteur: Suzanne Collins Narrateur: Kelly Marot Format: Unabridged Durée: 11 hrs and 39 mins Langue: Français Date de publication: 06-11-14 Éditeur: Audiolib Evaluation: 4.5 sur 5 sur 51 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Résumé de l'éditeur: Les Hunger Games ont commencé. Le vainqueur deviendra riche et célèbre. Les autres mourront... Dans un futur sombre, sur les ruines des États-Unis, un jeu télévisé est créé pour contrôler le peuple par la terreur. Douze garçons et douze filles tirés au sort participent à cette sinistre téléréalité, que tout le monde est forcé de regarder en direct. Une seule règle dans l'arène : survivre, à tout prix. Quand sa petite sœur est appelée pour participer aux Hunger Games, Katniss n'hésite pas une seconde. Elle prend sa place, consciente du danger. À seize ans, Katniss a déjà été confrontée plusieurs fois à la mort. Chez elle, survivre est comme une seconde nature... ©2008 / 2009 Titre original : The Hunger Games. Publié pour la première fois en 2009 par Scholastic Press, un département de Scholastic Inc., New York. Copyright by Suzanne Collins. Editions Pocket Jeunesse, département d'Univers Poche, pour la présente édition (P)2014 Audiolib Avis des membres: Engaging, fast paced, great narrator! Would you listen to Hunger Games (Hunger Games 1) again? Why? This was a wonderful book to listen to in French. It was an engaging story, tense, good plot, and if you could bypass the fact that everyone needed to knock each other off, it was an adventuresome read & a love story. I have tried to find Audible books in French, this was was especially good; good pace, interesting voice. I had a hard time stopping the story ! What about Kelly Marots performance did you like? Kelly is a great narrator. Her voice adopts to the characters very well and she moves along quickly and narrates clearly. Any additional comments? Please add more audible books in French! Its a fantastic way to stay with the language. Amazing! Any additional comments? I like to listening Hunger Games in french, because I could pratice the french language, and I think the fact that I had not read the book yet, helps me to focus on this version. I usually listen french books that I already know the story. Listening a book I didn't know the plot improve more the language skill. Howerver, sometimes was dificult to understand Kelly's pronuciations. In the spite of this fact this version is very good, with a vocabular easy to understand. Voix J'ai particulièrement apprecié que ce soit la voix francophone de Katniss au cinéma qui narrate l'histoire <3 French and English Versions The story and performance were both great. I really appreciated that this title and a few others are now being offered in both French and English. That way I can improve my comprehension skills by switching from one to another without carrying a translation dictionary. Was in French, I reordered in English Was in French, I reordered in English. It took a bit to have it replaced in English. But I have it now.

Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead Audiobook by Christiana Miller

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Christiana Miller) — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 12:26:44 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead Subtitle: Toad Witch Series, Book 1 Author: Christiana Miller Narrator: Marie Rose Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins Language: English Release date: 06-25-14 Publisher: HekaRose Publishing Group Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 473 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A little magic can go a long way - to really screwing up a girl's life! Mara is having the worst month of her life. At least, that's what her cards tell her and they've never been wrong. She's evicted from her apartment, loses her job, and is banned from Beverly Hills. So when the tarot cards predict her imminent demise, she uses a little magic to make her world right. Suddenly, an aunt she's never met dies, leaving Mara as her sole heir. But when Mara moves into her inherited home, she discovers Aunt Tillie never moved out. She's still one pissed-off old lady, even postmortem, and she blames Mara's magical meddling for her death. When Mara accidentally releases a demon and awakens the spirit of the most powerful witch in history, Tillie's ready to kill her - literally. It's the only way she can think of to save the girl from herself. The witch and the demon, however, have other plans for Mara's body! Members Reviews: Aunt Tillie Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why? Yes. Fun, quirky chick lot with a good reader. Easy to become absorbed in the story. What did you like best about this story? It was just fun and light. Love the relationship between Mara and Gus. Which character as performed by Marie Rose was your favorite? Gus. So funny! If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be? Great film to lose yourself in. Any additional comments? Liked the story and the light, witty banter between Mara and Gus. Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead Any additional comments? I truly enjoyed this book!Narrated beautifully by Marie Rose ,this is the story of Maura who is tossed out of her apartment and is trying to live in Aunt Tillies old house.Maura is a witch with a curse on her and what can go wrong usually does for her.Tillie is a ghost with an agenda.A fun,funny romp through the world of witchcraft!"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast or MalarHouse dot com" great tale, superb narration Would you consider the audio edition of Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead to be better than the print version? I really enjoy audiobooks so Im biased yes, but the narration brings new life to an old format What did you like best about this story? spooky elements surrounding Aunt Tilley's death ! Suspense.... Have you listened to any of Marie Roses other performances before? How does this one compare? none yet but would definitely consider If you could take any character from Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead out to dinner, who would it be and why? love the Scottish accent, hard for Americans to pull off Any additional comments? can't wait for the sequel... Witchy fun! A perfect combination of witchy ghost story, romance, humor, and light thrills, this story provided a perfect escape from life for a while. I've read this book before, in ebook (not that I retained it, I read ALOT, but I remembered that I loved it, so when I heard about it being offered up for free to select reviewers, I absolutely signed up!) This narrator is freaking hilarious! Gus's voice is GENIUS! Her regular reading voice, in Mara's POV, is properly affected by events; Mr.

Where the Line Bleeds Audiobook by Jesmyn Ward

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jesmyn Ward) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:01:28 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Where the Line Bleeds Author: Jesmyn Ward Narrator: Myra Lucretia Taylor Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins Language: English Release date: 03-09-10 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 10 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A stunning debut novel from Jesmyn Ward, Where the Line Bleeds is a rich tale of twins raised by their grandmother in a stiflingly poor rural community on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. Upon graduating from high school, growing tensions between brothers Joshua and Christophe test their loyaltiesand a violent altercation forever changes their lives. Critic Reviews: "Too ashamed to admit that he spends his days in the park selling marijuana, Christophe secretly contributes to the family's expenses with regular deposits to his grandmother's purse. But when Christophe decides to start selling more dangerous drugs, tensions between the twins grow, and the arrival of their long-absent drug addict father sparks a violent confrontation. A fresh new voice in American literature, Ward unflinchingly describes a world full of despair but not devoid of hope." ( Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: This isn't alway the easiest to read but in the end you'll walk away with a better sense of the lives of others This is a short book but it packs a wallop. What a horror story Katrina was- both during and after the storm. Twins Joshua and Christophe react so differently to their circumstances, much as their parents did. The dichotomy of this is especially intriguing. Ward clearly loves the area where she has created Bois Sauvage, which is as much a character as the people. Her language can be frustrating at times but the novel hangs together so well that you'll look for her again. I didn't read this when it was first published (I suspect very few people did) so the success of Ward's most recent novel is a boon to all of us because it meant that her earlier writings have been reissued. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. This isn't alway the easiest to read but in the end you'll walk away with a better sense of the lives of others. The first of three novels I received a free electronic copy of this southern novel from Netgalley, Jesmyn Ward and Scribner in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work with me. This is Jesmyn Ward's first novel written in 2008, which has been followed by two more novels in this series. Where the Line Bleeds is completely stand alone, and an excellent novel it is. Set in Bois Sauvage on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the time frame is vaguely modern. Christophe and Joshua are twins, graduating that spring from high school. Their single mother lives and works in Atlanta and has since they were five. Their dad has never had a part in their lives, often in jail or rehab and always drugged up. The boys are reared by their Grandmother Ma-mee, who has slowly gone blind from untreated diabetes, but Ma-mee is still the boss, though the boys have taken on many household chores and learned to cook at her side over the last few years. Bois Sauvage is like many - most - very small towns everywhere in the south and west - there are no job possibilities for the kids coming up and shopping has to be done further and further away as town centers die. MacDonalds, Walmart, gas stations and 7-11 stores are for the most part offering all the jobs that are available to each new class of graduating young adults. Waitressing or washing dishes at locally owned eateries are only very occasionally offered as turnover is rare. Strong, stout guys can often get on at the docks several cities down the river, loading and unloading boats and barges.

The White Plague Audiobook by Frank Herbert

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Frank Herbert) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:37:59 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The White Plague Author: Frank Herbert Narrator: Scott Brick Format: Unabridged Length: 19 hrs and 54 mins Language: English Release date: 01-29-09 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 244 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: From this shocking beginning, the author of the phenomenal Dune series has created a masterpiece. The White Plague is a marvelous and terrifyingly plausible blend of fiction and visionary theme. It tells of one man's revenge, of the man watching from the window who is pushed over the edge of sanity by the senseless murder of his family and who, reappearing several months later as the so-called Madman, unleashes a terrible vengeance upon the human race. John Roe O'Neill is a molecular biologist who has the knowledge, and now the motivation, to devise and disseminate a genetically carried plague - a plague to which, like those that scourged mankind centuries ago, there is no antidote, but one that zeroes in, unerringly and fatally, on women. As the world slowly recognizes the reality of peril, as its politicians and scientists strive desperately to save themselves and their society from the prospect of human extinction, so does Frank Herbert grapple with one of the great themes of contemporary life: the enormous dangers that lurk at the dark edges of science. The White Plague is a prophetic, believable, and utterly compelling novel. Critic Reviews: "A tale of awesome revenge." ( The Cincinnati Enquirer)"A speculative intellect with few rivals in modern SF." ( The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction) Members Reviews: Good story once through The White Plague is a decent story, well told, with good narration. It's especially interesting for its portrayal of the terrorist mentality from the perspective of the 1970s and 80s, when the most commonly reported terrorist attacks were those of the IRA and the Palestinians. Given the advances in genetic engineering since those days, I suspect that Herbert barely scratched the surface of what could be accomplished now by a brilliant, or even mediocre, genetic engineer, but I give him high grades for his vision of the future. Another aspect of the "let's knock off a huge percentage of the human race and see what happens" genre is how the aftermath is handled. What is the author's vision of the remolded world? Again, Herbert does a credible job imagining what things would be like and throws in some interesting twists. We are allowed to see the new world as it is walked by the protagonist. This could become tedious, but is instead well paced and interesting. In the final analysis, however, I only give the book three stars. While the story is well told, I really didn't care a lot about any of the characters. For that reason, I was ready for the book to be over about two hours before it ended. I doubt that I will ever bother to listen to this book again, and that is something I really look for in audio books. The difference between sentiment and sentimental: "The difference between sentiment and being sentimental is the following: Sentiment is when a driver swerves out of the way to avoid hitting a rabbit on the road. Being sentimental is when the same driver, when swerving away from the rabbit hits a pedestrian." Frank Herbert's The White Plague holds up remarkably well over the decades. I recently took a class in genetics and the plague the "Madman" creates seems completely plausible to me. The story starts out with John Roe O'Neill in Ireland doing research when his wife and twins are blown up in an IRA bombing.

The Beach Club Audiobook by Elin Hilderbrand

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Elin Hilderbrand) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:33:14 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Beach Club Subtitle: A Novel Author: Elin Hilderbrand Narrator: Christina Delaine Format: Unabridged Length: 14 hrs and 37 mins Language: English Release date: 03-19-13 Publisher: Macmillan Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 315 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: In this juicy first novel by Elin Hilderbrand, a series of personal dramas are played out during one summer at a Nantucket Beach Club. It's about the love of summer, summer love, and the special feelings we all have for that special summer place - in this case, a hotel and an island. Mack Petersen, manager of the hotel, has been working at The Beach Club for 12 summers. Only this summer is different. His boss, the owner of the hotel, Bill Elliot, shows up in the spring with a new set of demands. His girlfriend, Maribel, is pressing Mack to get married and Vance, the African-American bellman, who has hated Mack since the day Mack stole his job 12 years ago, threatens him in a deadly scene. Mack knows something's got to give. Love O'Donnell, the new front desk person straight from the slopes of Aspen, is desperately searching for a stranger to father her child. The bellman, Jem Crandall, who posed as Mr. November in his college calendar, is on his way to LA to break into agenting, until he falls in love with Maribel. Emotions are at a peak when a hurricane threatens to wash away The Beach Club and all it stands for. An engrossing, sexy novel that will sweep you away to the beach any time of the year. Members Reviews: Wonderful Loved it. Got me thru 2 long drives to and from a doctor's appointment beautifully., as well as worry over looming surgery. A lovely read. A great escape. Thank you Elin for keeping me entertained. Wonderful Escape I love Elin Hilderbrand's books! I get to listen to a lifestyle that is so different from mine and feel as if I am there. Beach or no beach, an Excellent Listen! This is the first of Hilderbrand's novels and it's easy to see why she became loved by many. Her books take place on the small island of Nantucket but each novel has its own plot, not an alteration of the same old story as is the case with some best-selling authors. This story is based in a successful family-owned hotel/beach club and the dynamics of family, employees and guests are fun and intriguing. There are many characters in the story, each unique enough in their own relationships with one another to show different facets of their personalities. Very good book, glad I came across it! What a great listen! Would you listen to The Beach Club again? Why? Yes! What did you like best about this story? Mack Peterson is a great character! It is interesting to watch him struggle with his life choices. What does Christina Delaine bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book? The narrator does a wonderful job differentiating the characters. Not my favorite My least favorite of her books. Did not enjoy the storyline or characters. Try her other books because she has some wonderful novels about Nantucket.

Hannah Coulter Audiobook by Wendell Berry

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Wendell Berry) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:06:36 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Hannah Coulter Subtitle: A Novel Author: Wendell Berry Narrator: Susan Denaker Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins Language: English Release date: 01-06-09 Publisher: christianaudio.com Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 178 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: "Ignorant boys killing each other," is just about all Nathan Coulter would tell his wife about the Battle of Okinawa in the spring of 1945. Life carried on for the community of Port William, Kentucky, as some boys returned from the war while the lives of others were mourned. In her 70s, Nathan's wife, Hannah, now has time to tell of the years since the war. Members Reviews: Very sweet story! Where does Hannah Coulter rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? It was very enjoyable. The story flowed. It made me want to live on the land with a community or as they would say, become a What other book might you compare Hannah Coulter to and why? It reminded me of Mrs. Mike in how a young girl moves to a new place and finds love and a sense of community. What does Susan Denaker bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book? She has the beautiful older woman voice that reminds you of a full life. Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry? It did evoke emotion. The war was very sad, but the family had such a sense of togetherness that it was heartwarming. Grandmam was such a loving character for an abandoned girl that it was heartwarming as well. Elegantly narrated and beautifully written Elegantly narrated and beautifully written . . . another wonderful book by Wendell Berry. Susan Denaker's understated Hannah is utterly believable and deeply moving. Even though I'm not Southern, I heard my grandmother's voice and was glad. Wendell Berry Needs no "Help" Wendell Berry is a profoundly beautiful writer. Though I haven't read all of his books, those I have read were thoughtfully provoking, sensitive, subtle, and genuine, with true, memorable characters. In my opinion, Hannah Coulter is among his best, with a narrative that speaks particularly to me as a woman but is not exclusive to men. The story is sensitively drawn, and while it spans decades from before WWII, it gives me as a younger woman a sense of belonging while simultaneously understanding our differences. I feel a great deal of gratitude to Mr. Berry for urging me to my best both as reader and life participant. Having said this, I reluctantly add that this reader, while dramatically gifted, does not mesh well with Berry???s style. I believe I would have been fine with her as reader of some other literary works, but for Wendell Berry--well, she nearly ruined the book. In trying to figure out why, I can only conclude that Berry's prose contains its own subtle drama and poignancy. Hanna Berry is a simple woman, though possessing a lifetime of wisdom which she speaks in her direct way. Because her character has no artifice, it is jarring for the listener when the reader adds dramatic emphasis, pause, and affectation that were never intended by the author and would never be uttered by Hannah Coulter--unless she were ridiculing for some purpose the very type of "fancy" and pretentious voice inflection this reader imposes on her. It doesn't work. After 10 chapters I had grown so weary of this narrator's false interpretation of Hannah???s character that I quit listening. I waited a few days, then borrowed a copy of Hannah Coulter in print and read the book fresh.

The Bastard Audiobook by John Jakes

biacuaduc@gmail.com (John Jakes) — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 00:45:21 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Bastard Subtitle: The Kent Family Chronicles, Book 1 Author: John Jakes Narrator: Marc Vietor Format: Unabridged Length: 19 hrs and 12 mins Language: English Release date: 11-05-13 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 803 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Set against the colorful tumult of events that gave rise to our fledgling nation, this novel of romance and adventure introduces Phillipe Charboneau. The illegitimate son of an English nobleman, Phillipe flees Europe and, as Philip Kent, joins the men who set our course for freedom. The Bastard is the first volume in the Kent Family Chronicles, a series of novels that details one family's journey in the early years of the American nation. Members Reviews: An Amazing Tale I am really happy audible released this book and hope they release all the sequels I think there are 6. This book is an amazing piece of literature. It brings the revolutionary war to life from an unorthodox point of view. A wealth of great historical events and characters is included and this is really a phenomenal book by a well seasoned author. A great Modern Classic Got me hooked for the rest of the series: Just as good as the North and South trilogy. A great way to view the history of early America. John Jakes is a great story teller who creates memorable scenes and characters and Mark Vietor is a talented narrator with distinctive character accents. Thank you Audible for this series... As good as I remembered! I first read this book (and the complete series) back in the 70s when it was originally released. I enjoyed it then and again now. wonderful! Where does The Bastard rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? In the top 10! Who was your favorite character and why? Well the bastard himself of course! His struggles are so real, any young man would be confused and hurt is his shoes. He does not give up! Have you listened to any of Marc Vietors other performances before? How does this one compare? I have not. I like an audiobook where you can hear differences, making the people come to life. Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you? Many! Most of all when the Bastard finally realizes he is not alone! History of the United States What made the experience of listening to The Bastard the most enjoyable? In this 1st book you will learn about the Revolution War using the 1st Kent as a main charater. It is one thing to read history, but Jakes let you live it though the Kent family.

The Fifth Season Audiobook by N. K. Jemisin

biacuaduc@gmail.com (N. K. Jemisin) — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 22:11:08 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Fifth Season Subtitle: The Broken Stone, Book 1 Author: N. K. Jemisin Narrator: Robin Miles Format: Unabridged Length: 15 hrs and 27 mins Language: English Release date: 11-19-15 Publisher: Hachette Audio UK Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 110 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: This is the way the world ends. Again. Three terrible things happen in a single day. Essun, masquerading as an ordinary schoolteacher in a quiet, small town, comes home to find that her husband has brutally murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter. Mighty Sanze, the empire whose innovations have been civilisation's bedrock for a thousand years, collapses as its greatest city is destroyed by a madman's vengeance. And, worst of all, across the heartland of the world's sole continent, a great red rift has been been torn which spews ash enough to darken the sky for years. Or centuries. But this is the Stillness, a land long familiar with struggle, and where orogenes - those who wield the power of the Earth as a weapon - are feared far more than the long, cold night. Essun has remembered herself, and she will have her daughter back. She does not care if the world falls apart around her. Essun will break it herself, if she must, to save her daughter. The first novel in a new series by award-winning author N. K. Jemisin where a mother struggles to find her daughter in a postapocalpytic world. Critic Reviews: "Jemisin proves yet again that she is one of the important new writers in the sff scene." (Kate Elliott, author of Cold Fire, on The Killing Moon) "[A] gripping series launch...as well as a rousing political and supernatural adventure." (Publishers Weekly on The Killing Moon) "Lush and evocative." (Naomi Novik on The Inheritance trilogy) "This is a book that readers won't be able to put down.... A magnificent novel and one of the best books this reviewer has read this year." (RT Book Reviews on The Inheritance trilogy) Members Reviews: Excellent Narrator was excellent at bringing the story to life and the story itself was gripping, entertaining and completely unlike anything I've read before. I can't wait to start Book 2. OMFreakingG THE FIFTH SEASON the structure, the POV's, the characters, the world building, the way systemic oppression is interwoven into this fantasy narrative .... makes this book one you will either hate or fall madly in love with. With this book I really needed to savour and digest everything that was revealed within those chapters about Damaya, Syenite and Essun ... to have my mind blown towards the end Since I've just finished the first installment, that sort of left my heart in ruin ... I've decided that I need some time to properly recuperate before I pick up the sequel. So far this was a truly magnificent reading experience. #NKJemisin #TheFifthSeason #2015 #Dystopia #ScienceFiction #Adult #Bibliophile #Bookstagram #Books #Reader #Booknerd Very interesting world Good stuff all around. Not sure what I feel about the fact that none of the main characters had a normal sexual orientation. Mostly it just felt like the book desperately tried to be very current with all the fuss about genders and whatnot. Anyway the book didn't put too much focus on it so I wasn't distracted by it. Struggled. Struggled to get into this one. For me, the narration by Robin Miles was quite stilted. The muddied accents she put on for some of the characters were very strange. The sci-fi aspects of the story were very compelling though. Well read, decent characters, plodding plot This is an odd book.

The Good Neighbor Audiobook by A. J. Banner

biacuaduc@gmail.com (A. J. Banner) — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 00:20:33 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Good Neighbor Author: A. J. Banner Narrator: Rebecca Roberts Format: Unabridged Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins Language: English Release date: 09-01-15 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 1175 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: From a phenomenal new voice in suspense fiction comes a book that will forever change the way you look at the people closest to you... Shadow Cove, Washington, is the kind of town everyone dreams about - quaint streets, lush forests, good neighbors. That's what Sarah thinks as she settles into life with her new husband, Dr. Johnny McDonald. But all too soon she discovers an undercurrent of deception. And one October evening when Johnny is away, sudden tragedy destroys Sarah's happiness. Dazed and stricken with grief, she and Johnny begin to rebuild their shattered lives. As she picks up the pieces of her broken home, Sarah discovers a shocking secret that forces her to doubt everything she thought was true - about her neighbors, her friends, and even her marriage. With each stunning revelation, Sarah must ask herself, Can we ever really know the ones we love? Members Reviews: fun but silly This is one of those super easy to read, whodunit. Entertaining enough for a car ride, but it certainly does not offer anything new or particularly exciting. Okay...But not even close to Gone Girl The Good Neighbor was a quick read. Fairly predictable, except for the stupid ending. No real exciting twists. And the prose was flat. Narration was decent, but there wasn't enough definition between characters and I got confused about who was speaking at times. The story was good enough to hold my attention, but it was nowhere near Gone Girl or The Girl On The Train. Those books were skillfully written and expertly paced. The prose, haunting and gut-wrenching and mesmerizing. The plots, mind-blowing. You believed even in their unlikeliness. But The Good Neighbor was a good try. Just don't compare it to greatness. Easy audio book Good story, short story, easy listening to. I would recommend this book for a nice car ride. Unexpected! Very enticing and have to read all the way through. There twists and turns throughout! Meh Narrator did voices. Ugh. I almost couldn't listen because of her. Read like a romance novel with descriptions of men.

The Unknown Ajax Audiobook by Georgette Heyer

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Georgette Heyer) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:45:43 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Unknown Ajax Author: Georgette Heyer Narrator: Daniel Philpott Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins Language: English Release date: 02-04-10 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1100 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Miles from anywhere, Darracott Place is presided over by irascible Lord Darracott. The recent drowning of his eldest son has done nothing to improve his temper. For now he must send for the unknown offspring of the uncle whom the family are never permitted to mention. Yet none of that beleaguered family are prepared for the arrival of the weavers brat and heir apparent. Members Reviews: Another great Georgette Heyer romance This is the story of Lord Darracott bringing his heir to his estate so he can whip him into shape for his interitance. The Lord, nor any of his family, have ever met the heir because the Lord never thought the estate would go to him (there were two others ahead of him). In fact the Lord never told his family that the person even existed. The new heir was born to a son that the Lord had thrown out of the house and his life because of what the Lord thought was a very imprudent marriage. The new heir comes to the estate to meet the family. As the family sizes him up, he is also taking their measure. I love the heir (his name is Hugh). I think Hugh is one of Heyer's best characters in all her novels. There are also some other truly great characters in Unknown Ajax. Hugh's cousins are all vivid characters with totally different personalities. Of course there is a romance involved (a very entertaining one) and I find this to be one of the most humourous of Heyer's novels. The scene at the end of the book (all the activity relating to "the shooting") is so funny I lauched until I cried. In fact, I found the book even funnier in the audible version (and this reader's performance) than it was when I read it. What a wonderful book. It is one of my favorite Audible purchases. The Unknown Ajax As always, Georgette Heyer is a delight!!! Daniel Philpott's narration was perfect!!! Enjoyable This is a good book that was well read by a reader who was easily able to distinguish between the different characters. The book was more amusing than I had remembered. Very enjoyable listening. so well read, it adds to the pleasure of the story I have read and re-read Georgette Heyers for more years than I care to count. The Unknown Ajax has always been a favorite yet I derived new pleasure and more enjoyment from the fabulous voicing of the main character Hugo. Reading it myself, I was never able to do justice to the language or the subtle humour that comes out when someone reads it well and with the right sort of accent. What a pleasure! Light and Lively -- Just right! I read mysteries and thrillers almost exclusively. However, every now and then, I need a change of pace -- something different to "clear the palate". A Georgette Heyer Regency romance is the perfect thing to direct my mind away from all the crime and violence I've been reading about. Heyer's books are light, lively and full of wit. "The Unknown Ajax" is one of the best of Heyer's stories, with all the usual elements : aristocratic characters, a fortune or lost fortune, an unmarried daughter, a handsome young man, another plot bedsides the romantic one, Heyer's excellent writing, lively, witty dialog and always a happy ending.. But in addition to those things, in this case, cantankerous Lord Darracott is obliged to recognize as his heir a grandson by the Lord's second son, who becomes the heir upon the deaths of the oldest Darracott son, along with his son.

Blue Moon Bay Audiobook by Lisa Wingate

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Lisa Wingate) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:42:50 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Blue Moon Bay Subtitle: Moses Lake, Book 2 Author: Lisa Wingate Narrator: Johanna Parker Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins Language: English Release date: 04-24-12 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 138 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Award-winning, best-selling crossover author Lisa Wingate pens inspirational Southern fiction that tugs at the heartstrings. Blue Moon Bay takes Seattle architect Heather Hampton to quiet Moses Lake, Texas, where a promotion at her firm hinges on the sale of family farmland for a proposed industrial plant. Her plans hit a few snags thanks to her quirky family and a handsome banker opposing the land deal. It soon becomes clear that providence has other ideas for her future, and maybe this small town is the place where all her dreams could come true. Members Reviews: Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate Would you listen to Blue Moon Bay again? Why? I would listen to Blue Moon Bay again because the characters were well developed and the narration excellent. What did you like best about this story? The plot, play on words and the setting. What does Johanna Parker bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book? She is able to draw a picture of each character through by the reflection she has in her voice. She could make a character believeable or not by the tone of her voice. She added humor that might have been missed if read silently. Real people, real life, real Love Where does Blue Moon Bay rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? First or second What did you like best about this story? Lisa's words flow like a leaf on a spring stream, sometimes gentle other times fast. She personifies the excellent wordsmith. The solid plot, real characters with real problems keep the reader involved. I especially like the way she shares romance. Real raw emotions that makes the reader feel sweet and tender after reading it--not dirt and used as some do. Nor do you think these are paper people without substance, without true longs and desires. Have you listened to any of Johanna Parkers other performances before? How does this one compare? Great. Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? Yes Captivating I very rarely write reviews I do not usually find them helpful when it comes to books. My first and rather lengthy impression of our lead character was way less than favorable, there were times I just couldnt stomach her my way is the only way I know everything attitude, but I kept coming back to see if she every got out of her own way. I was captivated and listened to the last three hours twice to make sure I didnt miss anything Not my favorite but enjoyed the ending This particular book wasnt as interesting as some of her other books. Have enjoyed the other ones very much!! Excellent I didn't want to turn it off, and I didn't want it to end. Good story clean language good morals. I will listen to this author again

An Irish Country Courtship Audiobook by Patrick Taylor

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Patrick Taylor) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 07:11:42 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: An Irish Country Courtship Author: Patrick Taylor Narrator: John Keating Format: Unabridged Length: 13 hrs and 50 mins Language: English Release date: 09-28-10 Publisher: Macmillan Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 581 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Welcome to the colorful Ulster village of Ballybucklebo, where two doctors work hand in hand to mend the bodies and spirits of the town's diverse and engaging inhabitants. But who is looking after the wounded hearts of the doctors? After less than a year, young Barry Laverty, M.B., is settling in to the village, with only a few months to go before he becomes a full partner in the practice. He's looking forward to becoming a fixture in the community, until an unexpected romantic reversal gives him second thoughts. Will he truly be happy tending to routine coughs and colds for the rest of his career? After all, even when a more challenging case comes along, like a rare tropical disease, all he can do is pass it on to a qualified specialist or big-city hospital. As much as Barry enjoys the rough and tumble of life in County Down, is running a humble GP's shop all he wants out of life? Barry's mentor, Doctor Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly, is going through some personal upheavals as well. After mourning his deceased wife for decades, he's finally allowed a new woman into his life. But this budding courtship is not going over well with Kinky Kincaid, the doctors' redoubtable housekeeper, who fears having her position usurped by O'Reilly's new flame. Tact, diplomacy, and a fair amount of blarney may be required to restore peace to the household. Meanwhile, life goes on in Ballybucklebo, presenting both doctors with plenty of distractions from their own troubles. From a mysterious outbreak at the local school to a complicated swindle involving an unlucky racehorse, the two partners will need all of their combined wit and compassion to put things right again - just in time for their lives to change forever. Members Reviews: My favorite book series Another slice of life from Drs. Lafferty and O'Rielly with the every charming Mrs. Kincaid. This is the 4th in the series and I've loved every single one of them. The Narrater, John Keating, is absolutely perfect with his Irish brogue and his ability to give each character a different voice. This series is a feel good, enjoyable and lively listen! I can't wait for the next book in the series. I hope there will be more in the series! I've read the entire Irish Country series. Firstly, I love John Keating as a reader! His knowledge of Irish accents is awesome, and he has a delight in his voice as he creates voices for each of the characters. For anyone who may be disappointed by his accents, thinking they are not Irish, please know that the difference between Northern Ireland and the south such as Cork are major. Having spent a fair amount of time in Northern Ireland, which I love, it was a joy to listen to him and think about the people I have met and grown to love. None of the books is a thriller. Rather, Patrick Taylor is delightful because of the characters in this imaginary village in the 1960's. This was the time when Ireland was just beginning to change and leap forward. Yet, many still had no phones, or still used primitive plumbing and heating. We don't think of a fire as a main heat source, but it still was in many homes in Ireland. Taylor brings it all to life. If you want a series that will make you smile, and sometimes laugh out loud, then I would recommend this. My husband did not enjoy them as much as I did, but agreed about John Keating's narration.

The Shadow Wife Audiobook by Diane Chamberlain

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Diane Chamberlain) — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 08:46:10 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Shadow Wife Author: Diane Chamberlain Narrator: Arika Rapson Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins Language: English Release date: 02-02-16 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 273 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Joelle D'Angelo's best friend, Mara, is left with brain damage after she suffers an aneurysm giving birth to her son. Alone and grieving, Joelle turns to the only other person who understands her pain: her colleague - and Mara's husband - Liam. What starts out as comfort between friends gradually becomes something more. Torn by guilt and the impossibility of her feelings for Liam, Joelle sets out determined to find help for Mara, no matter how unconventional the source. Her search leads her to a mansion in Monterey, California, and into the life of a woman shrouded in mystery. Carlynn Kling Shire is a healer and, according to Joelle's parents, saved Joelle's life when she was an infant. As Joelle is guided down an unfamiliar path by a woman keeping her own shocking secrets, she discovers that while some love is doomed, some love is destined to survive anything. Members Reviews: Must listen! I hardly find any audio books that keep me listening till the end. This book did just that! From the soothing narrator voice throughout to the likeable characters. Very easy to follow and simply entertaining. Would definitely recommend! Wow! I very rarely find a Chamberlain book that I do not enjoy however, the word of enjoy is a vast understatement for this selection. This book takes you through modern day with reflections of the past by intertwining two very compelling stories. The last few chapters is sure to raise your eyebrows then reach for tissues. Loved!!! WONDERFUL BOOK!! Another great book and story by Diane Chamberlain. Enjoyed from beginning to end. Lots of twists and turns that keeps you drawn in which is always typical of her work. I would recommend for sure. Enjoy! not crazy about the narrator I actually stopped listening to this one after about 5 minutes bc of the narrator s voice and manner of speaking. listened to a different book, came back to this and managed to get past the annoying voice. Very good story, well written and intriguing, not predictable. Good overall. Story interesting, Narrator was terrible. Narrator ruined the book for me! Good story but the voices were irritating. Would not buy another book with this narrator

The Secret Daughter Audiobook by Kelly Rimmer

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Kelly Rimmer) — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 12:20:29 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Secret Daughter Subtitle: A Beautiful Novel of Adoption, Heartbreak and a Mother's Love Author: Kelly Rimmer Narrator: Vanessa Coffey Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins Language: English Release date: 01-26-16 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 194 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: As I saw my newborn babys face for the first time, I tried desperately to capture her face in my mind - to stamp it onto my eyelids. As she was taken from me, I knew I might never see my daughter again. Thirty-seven years later... 'You were adopted'. Three short words and Sabinas life fractures. There would forever be a before those words and an after. Pregnant with her own child, Sabina cant understand how a mother could abandon her daughter or why her parents have kept the past a secret. Determined to find the woman who gave her away, what she discovers will change everything, not just for Sabina but for the women who have loved her all these years. From the best-selling author of Me Without You comes another touching, beautifully told story about the pain of separation and the enduring strength of love. Members Reviews: Great Story Very good story about a painful time in history. It takes place in Australia but that is not the only place such things happened. Good character development. Good story. I've listened every available minute since I started the book. wonderful story enjoyed this very much. finished in one day. i was sad i was happy. narrarator was good. not boring or monotone at all another excellent book by Kelly Rimmer Again I fell in love with and felt the heart breaks and joys of the characters. I usually only listen to books as I crochet. but with books by this author I couldn't stop listening. the narrator does an excellent job making the book even more enjoyable. Good Good read. Thank you kelly for a wonderful book with a happy ending. I loved it! decisions made with the best intentions. enjoyed it. the title sort of gives the story away so not many surprises . heartwarming with twists and turns

A Million Little Things Audiobook by Susan Mallery

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Susan Mallery) — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 15:34:28 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: A Million Little Things Author: Susan Mallery Narrator: Tanya Eby Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs Language: English Release date: 02-28-17 Publisher: Harlequin Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 205 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: From the best-selling author of The Girls of Mischief Bay and The Friends We Keep comes a twisty tale of family dynamics that explores what can go terribly, hysterically wrong when the line between friendship and family blurs. Zoe Saldivar is more than just single - she's alone. She recently broke up with her longtime boyfriend, she works from home, and her best friend, Jen, is so obsessed with her baby that she has practically abandoned their friendship. The day Zoe accidentally traps herself in her attic with her hungry-looking cat, she realizes that it's up to her to stop living in isolation. Her seemingly empty life takes a sudden turn for the complicated - her first new friend is Jen's widowed mom, Pam. The only guy to give her butterflies in a very long time is Jen's brother. And meanwhile, Pam is being very deliberately seduced by Zoe's own smooth-as-tequila father. Pam's flustered, Jen's annoyed, and Zoe is beginning to think "alone" doesn't sound so bad after all. Friendship isn't just one thing - it's a million little things, and no one writes them with more heart and humor than book club sensation Susan Mallery! Members Reviews: Well ... I finished it You didnt love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities? The narration was good, but the book itself was boring. I found myself skipping entire chapters because they were so repetitive. I finished it because it was Spring Break and I didn't have another book handy. Third time not a charm I really enjoyed listening to the first two books in this series. They were entertaining, non-taxing and left me wanting more. Not this one, the characters weren't believable and their characterization by the author was filled with redundancy. I will not be seeking the 4th book. It's obvious there isn't anything left in this tank Not as good. This being the 3rd series in the Mischief Bay series wasn't quite as good as the previous 2. This one was a little predictable and almost anticlimactic. I enjoy the series and hope they continue but this has been my least favorite. I did enjoy the adult scene in the book. It was graphic enough to make it adult but not so graphic it makes it erotic. Good plot but the sex scenes are pretty graphic Is there anything you would change about this book? Sex scenes are too graphic. I had to skip over them because it felt pornographic to me. What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!) Good ending. Everything tied together. A little slow I didn't get fully interested until half way into the book, but I do love Susan Mallory.

Lunch with Buddha Audiobook by Roland Merullo

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Roland Merullo) — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 13:49:30 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Lunch with Buddha Author: Roland Merullo Narrator: Sean Runnette Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins Language: English Release date: 02-10-15 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 686 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A novel about family, open-minded spirituality, and the American road, Lunch with Buddha accompanies the characters from Breakfast with Buddha as they move further along the path toward lasting peace of mind. Facing one of life's greatest emotional challenges, Otto Ringling takes comfort in a loving family and offbeat lessons from eccentric spiritual teacher Volya Rinpoche. Funny at times, heartbreaking at others, Lunch with Buddha offers a fresh and engaging perspective on the life we live now. Critic Reviews: "Merullo's is a beautifully written and compelling story about a man's search for meaning that earnestly and accessibly tackles some well-trodden but universal questions." (Kirkus starred review) Members Reviews: Better than Breakfast! Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why? I love the soothing and calm demeanor of this book in audio format. I find myself drifting off and imagining the landscape, the people, the essence of where they are, what they are doing and what is being said or felt at that moment in time. What was one of the most memorable moments of Lunch with Buddha? This books comes with a sense of sadness, a edge of your seat profoundness. I appreciate the experience of letting a loved one go in this book, different from Breakfast, and I love the break in sadness with a tough of the Rinpoche's unassuming humor. Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry? Every moment of this book brings me close to emotions felt in my own life. I've laughed and cried at many moments throughout. A book I can relate to and yet it still takes me away from my day to day. Any additional comments? Roland Merullo is a genius! His books are relatable, profound, and intense. No matter what religion you are or what level of spiritual awakening you've had, his Buddha books are written in a way that opens a window or a door, they hint at questions that have always lurked in the depths of your mind. I'm in love with this serious and look forward to others written by Roland! Learn through fiction I appreciate the self-improvement ideas about calmness and acceptance bundled inside an enjoyable piece of fiction. A Must Read Triology Shocking beginning to Lunch but I still love the spiritual aspect, the journey to enlightenment Otto is taking and the beautiful way the author allows us to get to know each character. If you haven't read Breakfast, it's a must! Off to listen to Dinner now--I so love this trilogy! Absolutely brilliant The narrator should get an Oscar for his performance. I laughed out loud and had tears rolling down my cheeks at other times. I loved breakfast and could not imagine a sequel that could be at least as good. It is. I pre-ordered dinner with Buddha, in the meantime I am going to listen to breakfast and lunch again. I have never listened to a bookagain because there is too much good stuff out there. This time I am. Amazing, down to earth, emotional, beautiful and absolutely totally utterly brilliant. This is for everyone, blue collar, white collar, religious, atheist, computer geek, farmer, house wife or bank clerk. These are feel good books that make you think and think a bit more. Delicious A tale of travel. Inner and outer. Fed me in ways that tasted fresh and fulfilling yet made me long for more. Looking foward to "Dinner" and "Dessert".

The Memory Keeper's Daughter Audiobook by Kim Edwards

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Kim Edwards) — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 20:31:11 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Memory Keeper's Daughter Author: Kim Edwards Narrator: Ilyana Kadushin Format: Unabridged Length: 15 hrs and 50 mins Language: English Release date: 10-18-16 Publisher: Penguin Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 64 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A New York Times best seller by Kim Edwards, The Memory Keeper's Daughter is a brilliantly crafted novel of parallel lives, familial secrets, and the redemptive power of love. Kim Edwards' stunning novel begins on a winter night in 1964 in Lexington, Kentucky, when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy, but the doctor immediately recognizes that his daughter has Down syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need to protect Norah, his wife, he makes a split-second decision that will alter all of their lives forever. He asks his nurse, Caroline, to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret. Instead she disappears into another city to raise the child herself. So begins this beautifully told story that unfolds over a quarter of a century - in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by the fateful decision made that winter night long ago. A family drama, The Memory Keeper's Daughter explores every mother's silent fear: What would happen if you lost your child and she grew up without you? It is also an astonishing tale of love and how the mysterious ties that hold a family together help us survive the heartache that occurs when long-buried secrets are finally uncovered. Members Reviews: well written. This book is extremely well written. The character development is strong. Personally, I just prefer a little more action. Interesting read/ Predictable ending I bought this because of my interest in literature that includes characters with disabilities as part of the story. While that was not the primary focus of the book, it did play a pivotal causal role. The disillusion of the fairy dust period in many relationships is interesting in a psychological way. I found myself almost liking, and certainly having some sympathy for our misguided male lead. I wanted to shake him by the shoulders and tell him to take responsibility for his behavior and the pain he had cause others. He never did. The last third was a little bit anticlimactic. I was sure that there was going to be a twist, or a turn in a direction beyond what would just be a natural conclusion...a chance meeting, a glimpse across a distant room. Nope, there was not. I was drawn into the story and looked forward to my next opportunity to listen, it just fell flat in the end. Really enjoyed it! Highly engaging characters. A well written story, engaging and well told. The characters, the struggles and the time come alive! A favorite This is one of my favorite books of all time. Read it several years ago and bought it on audible recently and it was even better this time around. A love/hate for the characters but you can't image leaving their lives. Such a unique storyline and very well written. The reader of this Audible did a GREAT job!

The Reader Audiobook by Bernhard Schlink

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Bernhard Schlink) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:04:49 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Reader Author: Bernhard Schlink Narrator: Campbell Scott Format: Unabridged Length: 4 hrs and 16 mins Language: English Release date: 11-17-08 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 829 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: When he falls ill on his way home from school, 15-year-old Michael Berg is rescued by Hanna, a woman twice his age. In time she becomes his lover--then she inexplicably disappears. When Michael next sees her, he is a young law student, and she is on trial for a hideous crime. As he watches her refuse to defend her innocence, Michael gradually realizes that Hanna may be guarding a secret she considers more shameful than murder. Critic Reviews: "A formally beautiful, disturbing and finally morally devastating novel." (Los Angeles Times) "Moving, suggestive and ultimately hopeful. . . . [The Reader] leaps national boundaries and speaks straight to the heart." (The New York Times Book Review) "Arresting, philosophically elegant, morally complex. . . . Mr. Schlink tells his story with marvelous directness and simplicity." (The New York Times) "Haunting. . . . What Schlink does best, what makes this novel most memorable, are the small moments of highly charged eroticism." (Francine Prose, Elle) Members Reviews: Dysfunctional When I was finished this book I felt empty. I couldn't decide if I liked it or not, however, it continues to pop into my thoughts and haunt me, and that is a sure sign that the book affected me. Being a second generation holocaust survivor from both of my parents, I was raised with the holocaust in my veins, always learning and feeling the emotion of what my parents, their families and friends went through, one horror story after the other. I never took the time to understand what the second generation German people went through, a completely different perspective. This dysfunctional "kid" (as he is referred to in the book), who even as an adult could not come to terms with his relationship with Hannah, was full of unresolved feelings and emotion too. Hannah herself could not admit and own up to what she had done. Also dysfunctional. A very dramatic book, which more than once, sent chills through me. I am not sure if I would recommend this book to everyone. It is different. I can't quite put my finger on why. The narrator was fine, nothing special, but not a hindrance either. What I will say is for a 4 hour book it certainly packs a punch. Will definitely see the movie. The Reader, whew I had no idea that this book was already in theaters. I can't imagine how it will be on the big screen, but as for the book, the writer and the reader, all I can say is that I could not put the book down. How courageous this book is! I cannot say that it answers the questions posed, but I very rarely have heard or read the questions asked. I read a lot, I totally recommend this book. Warning, it is heavy. Not for everyone The Yahoo group for Audible users highly praised this book, and since it was short and inexpensive, I bought it and listened to it right away. I was not as impressed as some. It's a tenderly told coming-of-age story about some very damaged individuals in Germany, in the decades following WW2. Campbell Scott reads beautifully, without resorting to any dialects, which is refreshing, and the narrative is plaintive but fulfilling. In many ways an autopsy of a society, the novel excuses no one and gives a rare glimpse into the souls of a hapless persons in circumstances beyond their control and understanding. Incredible. My audio library is 900 books. This is the first time I have felt so compelled to comment that I can't not do so.

The Witch of Portobello Audiobook by Paulo Coelho

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Paulo Coelho) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:46:04 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Witch of Portobello Author: Paulo Coelho Narrator: Rita Wolf Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins Language: English Release date: 11-16-07 Publisher: HarperAudio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 329 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: The Witch of Portobello is the story of a mysterious woman named Athena, told by the many who knew her well - or hardly at all. "People create a reality and then become the victims of that reality. Athena rebelled against that - and paid a high price." -Heron Ryan, journalist "Athena's great problem was that she was a woman of the 22nd century living in the 21st. Did she pay a price? She certainly did. But she would have paid a still higher price if she had repressed her natural exuberance. She would have been bitter, frustrated, always saying, 'I'll just sort these things out, then I'll devote myself to my dream,' always complaining 'that the conditions are never quite right.'" -Deirdre O'Neil, known as Edda Like The Alchemist, The Witch of Portobello is the kind of story that will transform the way listeners think about love, passion, joy, and sacrifice. Critic Reviews: "Best-selling fabulist Coelho continues to transform his trademark combination of mysticism and storytelling into spellbinding examinations of the human soul....Narrated from multiple points of view, the portrait of Athena that emerges is as provocative and spiritually complex." (Booklist) Members Reviews: the toughest kind of book to write.... Although I admire the intent behind "The Witch of Portobello," I was disappointed that a writer as significant as Paulo Coelho was not able to create what I suspect he intended. I have to acknowledge how hard this kind of book is to write: a "message" book that assumes this kind of narrative structure is just asking for trouble from the get-go unless much more developed. Coelho has an initially unnamed "reporter" collect narratives from several people whose lives touch "The Witch's" and we readers are to believe that Athena (how is that for cliche name!) profoundly impacts life after life when she is depicted as a two-dimensional character whose new age style pronouncements and teachings are meant to stir the reader and those who come into contact with her with soul-moving prophecy and rapture. I think it's possible to write such a book, but it's extraordinarily difficult, and it doesn't work here. The New Age pronouncements come across as thinly-disguised authorial preaching. Messianic characters only work if you believe in them -- okay to dislike them-- but in this case, the entire atmosphere feels so very false. I think Coelho could have taken a more mythic approach and this novel could have worked, he could have made of this novel a much deeper sort of fable or parable, or he could have fully developed a gritty, more fully realized novel. But he didn't take this book in any of those directions. He mixes too much of the mundane with cliche and platitude so that the book becomes to me, a muddle. I wish he would have pushed the book further in one direction or another, but as it stands now it's a raw sketch that doesn't work. Think and Rejoice A tale spun in a way that gets you thinking and then rejoicing. A necessary "hearing" quite revealing, amazing, thrilling and well done! Paulo writes with a passion to transform. This tale uncovers the feminine side of God. A MYTH = A dance with a thought that never was.

The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon Audiobook by Alexander McCall Smith

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Alexander McCall Smith) — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 21:25:02 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon Subtitle: No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Book 14 Author: Alexander McCall Smith Narrator: Lisette Lecat Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins Language: English Release date: 11-05-13 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1074 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Precious Ramotswe has taken on two puzzling cases. First, she is approached by the lawyer Mma Sheba, who is the executor of a deceased farmers estate. Mma Sheba has a feeling that the young man who has stepped forward may be falsely impersonating the farmers nephew in order to claim his inheritance. Mma Ramotswe agrees to visit the farm and find out what she can about the self-professed nephew. Then the proprietor of the Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon comes to Mma Ramotswe for advice. The opening of her new salon has been shadowed by misfortune. Not only has she received a bad omen in the mail, but rumors are swirling that the salon is using dangerous products that burn peoples skin. Could someone be trying to put the salon out of business? Meanwhile, at the office, Mma Ramotswe has noticed something different about Grace Makutsi lately. Though Mma Makutsi has mentioned nothing, it has become clear that she is pregnant . . . But in Botswana - a land where family has always been held above all else - this may be cause for controversy as well as celebration. With genuine warmth, sympathy, and wit, Alexander McCall Smith explores some tough questions about married life, parenthood, grief, and the importance of the traditions that shape and guide our lives. Members Reviews: Comfort, Comfort, Comfort It is with thorough approval that I declare "The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon" to be just exactly like all the other Mma Ramatswe stories. Predictability, reassurance, comfort are not bad things in every case, and Alexander McCall Smith keeps reminding us why. In a modern, fast-moving, cynical world it's a wonderful pleasure to put up your feet in front of the fire, relax, and listen to the superb Lisette Lecat reading about the good woman of Botswana. Reader and character are never cloying, never "cute" - just a reminder that simplicity and goodness can still exist. I like that this world changes little, that the quiet humor and unfailing kindness and tolerance of our lady detective can be depended upon. These gentle books are not for every mood, to be sure. But I hope they keep coming - I love these visits! Delightful I have read all of the 1st Ladies Detective Agency series and can hardly wait for the next book to be released. The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon is the newest book; I believe it is number 14. McCall Smith manages to portray the leisurely pace of Africa in the book. I love how he weaves philosophical arguments into each of his stories. In this story the philosophical arguments are about good and evil, on importance of friendship and to a discussion of traditional vs. modern beliefs. His writing is excellent and he builds such unique and believable characters. In this book Mma Grace Makutsi is pregnant then later delivers a baby boy. Phut Radiphuts aunt moves into the house with Mma Makutsi and Phut which creates a difficult situation as she insist on following the traditional ways and Grace the modern way. Precious Ramotswe takes on 2 puzzling cases. The first one is for solicitor Mma Sheba, who is the executor of the will of a farmer Edgar Molopo. She thinks the man who came forward to claim the inheritance of a farm is not really his nephew. Mma Sheba asks Mma Ramotswe to find out if he is actually the nephew.

A Thousand Acres Audiobook by Jane Smiley

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jane Smiley) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:11:36 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: A Thousand Acres Author: Jane Smiley Narrator: C. J. Critt Format: Unabridged Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins Language: English Release date: 04-23-08 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 299 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Three daughters and their husbands are pulled into a tangle of love, jealousy, and fear when their father, Larry Cook, grows too old to manage the family's fertile thousand-acre farm. As each couple struggles with their own tragedies and challenges, they know their father is judging them in light of the weighty inheritance that hovers within their reach. The Cook family, and the farm community around them, are part of a mosaic that is as enduring as the fences and fields of the broad midwestern landscape. But this endurance exacts an immense price from them in return. You will find that this nationally-acclaimed, breathtaking story, in a stirring narration by C. J. Critt, is an unforgettable listening experience. Critic Reviews: "[A] magnificent, haunting family drama, an American retelling of Shakespeare's King Lear set on a contemporary Iowa farm....a favorite choice of reading groups everywhere (it would be a natural for Oprah)." (Entertainment Weekly) Members Reviews: good book bad reader I stopped listening and will buy this book to read. The narrator was awful--she read as if the book were as simple as the characters are "supposed" to be--as if she did not have a clue about what is really inside the book she was reading. This recording is a reminder to me of how I can sometimes take the important contributions of good readers for granted! A great read. What did you love best about A Thousand Acres? There were so many good things about this book...the characters and their development, the details that made you feel like you were right there, the unveiling of relationships, the contrast points to King Lear...and the narration. Who was your favorite character and why? Ginny was my favorite, although I liked her more in the beginning than the end. Her self discovery was surprising and amazing. It made me like the characters with their flaws. What does C. J. Critt bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book? This was read so well, I don't know how she accomplished it! With so many different people to play, her voice managed to give faces to them all. She gave weight to small things, didn't overdramatize the heavy moments. When playing Larry, she made him so mean and threatening, it was visual. She is an amazing reader. Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? No, not all at once. Brilliant modern re-telling of King Lear! Would you consider the audio edition of A Thousand Acres to be better than the print version? Patience is a virtue and it pays off in the telling of this story. Allow the story to lull you into its magnificent plot. I did both audio and book when it first came out--enjoyed both for different reasons. Both are superb! Who was your favorite character and why? Loved all--each finely drawn and well-developed! Have you listened to any of C. J. Critts other performances before? How does this one compare? No, a first for me...but, beautifully done! If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be? Everyone is a favorite child...rigjht? Any additional comments? Love. Love. Love. King Lear set on an Iowa farm. I picked up this book as part of a challenge I am participating in this year. I had not heard anything about it previously. I am grateful for the challenge because this is a wonderful book.

A Salty Piece of Land Audiobook by Jimmy Buffett

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jimmy Buffett) — Thu, 09 Dec 2004 00:04:51 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: A Salty Piece of Land Author: Jimmy Buffett Narrator: John David Souther Format: Abridged Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins Language: English Release date: 12-09-04 Publisher: Hachette Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 456 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: If Tully Mars had known what he was getting himself into when he agreed to help find the lost lens belonging to the lighthouse on Cayo Loco, well, he might never have agreed to help in the first place. Then again, maybe he simply would have taken a slightly longer nap before setting off on his wild adventure. And it isn't just Tully, whom Buffett fans will remember well from Jimmy's best-selling Tales from Margaritaville, on the madcap quest. There's Ix-Nay, an Indian shaman with a dislike of the media; Mr. Twain, Tully's loyal steed; Cleopatra Highbourne, the 102-year-old owner of Cayo Loco and Cuban baseball addict; Captain Kirk, fishing trip leader and boatman extraordinaire; former country music star Sean Spurl, aka Tex Sex; Bucky Norman, a Wyoming cowboy who has found his way to the ocean; and even a fellow named Jimmy Buffett, who decides he might as well join in on the party. Critic Reviews: "A groovily laid-back, ramblingly anecdotal, sun-soaked bit of Caribbean escapism....This book is as cheery and tropical as Buffet's music." (Publishers Weekly) "Tully reminds us why Buffet's laid-back lyrics and stream-of-consciousness prose are almost hypnotically addictive....This mystical, mind-bending journey will appeal to fans of Buffet's uniquely fuzzy blend of comedy and insight." (Booklist) Members Reviews: ParrotHead Reading This is a fun book, good for a story, a little island jib and a mental vacation away from the beats of this hectic life. The story follows an Ex-Pat who's adventure stories fall just under tall-tales. If you are familiar with Buffett's music, the great gulf coast, or life at sea, then this book if for you. At a literally point, some parts in audio form are a bit difficult to follow. If you are looking for a true adventure, try a classic. If you love tales from the islands, Jimmy's lyrics and a good fish tale, give it a try. Parrot-Head Gold, Island silver, Reader's Bronze Great information for a mullet toss! Not Much New Ground As someone who has listened to Jimmy Buffett's music for over forty years I purchased this audio with certain expectations. This collection of stories disguised as a book met those; which I suppose is both a positive or a negative. That is to say that if you're familiar with his songs then you've heard most of these stories. Many of the characters were introduced in Buffetts 1989 CD collection "Off To See The Lizard." Given his proficiency in musical output it isn't all that surprising that these characters as well as their stories seemed pretty familiar. There are some facts about Lighthouse Lens,' Cuban baseball, and tropical sea battles that are new. However once again the attitudes and the back stories of both positive and negative characters are so familiar they're trite. This was a nice summer listen; or winter listen for those who wonder where the summers went. Great Escapism After reading the reviews, I decided to take the plunge. Sure, Buffet is no Tolstoy but I bought this book to enjoy Jimmy's brand of humor and his off center view of the world. This was my first audio book and the perfect companion on a recent trip to the Islands. What better way to spend a little time on a deserted beach under a palm tree enjoying a JB book with a cool rum drink.

Look at Me Audiobook by Jennifer Egan

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jennifer Egan) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:55:46 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Look at Me Subtitle: A Novel Author: Jennifer Egan Narrator: Rachael Warren Format: Unabridged Length: 20 hrs and 6 mins Language: English Release date: 02-01-12 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 126 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: From the Pulitzer Prize winning author! At the start of this edgy and ambitiously multilayered novel - the National Book Award Finalist - a fashion model named Charlotte Swenson emerges from a car accident in her Illinois hometown with her face so badly shattered that it takes 80 titanium screws to reassemble it. She returns to New York still beautiful but oddly unrecognizable, a virtual stranger in the world she once effortlessly occupied. With the surreal authority of a David Lynch, Jennifer Egan threads Charlottes narrative with those of other casualties of our infatuation with the image. Theres a deceptively plain teenage girl embarking on a dangerous secret life, an alcoholic private eye, and an enigmatic stranger who changes names and accents as he prepares an apocalyptic blow against American society. As these narratives inexorably converge, Look at Me becomes a coolly mesmerizing intellectual thriller of identity and imposture. Critic Reviews: "Brilliantly unnerving.... A haunting, sharp, splendidly articulate novel." ( The New York Times) Members Reviews: Good story, horrible narrator. I don't know if I will make it through this! Jennifer Egan is a great writer, but the narrator's delivery is ruining this listen. Every word is drenched in dramatic urgency. Nauseating. Boring! Couldn't even make it through. Normally I force myself to finish books, but nothing about this caught my attention. Sad I spent my Audible credit this month. A most irritating story and narration I had high hopes for this story, thinking it might underscore our obsession with appearance and then pull the rug out from under it. All it did was show how it doesn't matter what happens, appearances rule (for some unfortunates) . The narration was so over articulated I thought I was in pre-school. Sorry ... A total disappointment Could not finish due to terrible narration Would you try another book from Jennifer Egan and/or Rachael Warren? Yes, I loved A Visit from the Goon Squad Any additional comments? I may finish this later, but can only stand listening to this narrator for short periods. Boring. A superficial read. I found this they seriously boring and trite book. And the reader added to this with her sing song he voice. I tolerated about an hour and a half of that and then had to return it

Secret Lives Audiobook by Diane Chamberlain

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Diane Chamberlain) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:38:40 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Secret Lives Author: Diane Chamberlain Narrator: Johanna Parker Format: Unabridged Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins Language: English Release date: 06-17-13 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 390 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Actress Eden Riley's decision to make a film about her mother plunges her into a shattering confrontation with her own past, irrevocably altering her life and the lives of those she loves. Her mother, Katherine Swift, was a renowned children's author who died when Eden was very young. Now Eden, recovering from a divorce and disillusioned with her glamorous life, returns to the childhood home of the mother she barely knew. She moves in with her uncle, archaeologist Kyle Swift and his wife, Louise. Eden gets more than she bargained for when Kyle gives her the journal her mother had kept from the age of 13 until her death. Eden is spellbound by the powerfully written, intimate diary that chronicles a life of hardship, madness, and tragedy. But her fascination turns to horror when she discovers the shocking truth about her mother's life. Eden turns for comfort to Ben Alexander, Kyle's colleague, not knowing that Ben has a secret of his own that could ruin Eden and her career. Now Eden must make a heartbreaking decision as she struggles to lay the ghosts of the past to rest and come to terms with her own future. Shifting gracefully between Eden's world and Katherine's, Secret Lives seduces with the power of its images and the lyricism of its prose. Members Reviews: Dark Family Drama This is the fourth audiobook of Chamberlains that I have listened to this year. The performer does a wonderful job of bringing all of the characters - young, old, male, female, Southern and Northern - to life. And Chamberlain takes a family drama with the darkest of elements - child molestation, incest and yet somehow makes her audience genuinely care about each of these characters, even while being repulsed at times by their actions. Its an engrossing story and though it does feel on the predictable side, it is one of of those audiobooks that I found myself listening to as much as possible. I will definitely continue to both read and listen to her work! Wow. Just, wow. A multi-layered book of dysfunction, misfortune, and varying forms of mental health catastrophes. Yet... I hated to put it down. Performance is really annoying at first, but either the whine becomes less noticeable as the story picks up, or is abandoned altogether. Just Didn't Enjoy... Diane Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors, but this book- not so much. The subject matter was difficult to take in. At times the narrator read so fast and monotonous, I would find myself zoning out. Not my favorite Diane Chamberlain book... While I enjoyed this book, I didn't like it as much as many other Diane Chamberlain novels. It felt "romance novel-ish", sort of Danielle Steele like, as opposed to her other works. So not good.... Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not? No. The book was medicore. The perfomance was medicore. What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting? The mystery. What three words best describe Johanna Parkers performance? She is great as Sookey Stackhouse, but not the best reader of this book. Do you think Secret Lives needs a follow-up book? Why or why not? I don't care to follow up. This books leave alot to be desired. Any additional comments? Just don't waste your money/credit on this one.

About Grace Audiobook by Anthony Doerr

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Anthony Doerr) — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 10:22:00 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: About Grace Subtitle: A Novel Author: Anthony Doerr Narrator: George Newbern Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 55 mins Language: English Release date: 07-07-15 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 137 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: When Anthony Doerr's The Shell Collector was published in 2002, the Los Angeles Times called his stories "as close to faultless as any writer - young or vastly experienced - could wish for." He won the Rome Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Discover Prize, Princeton's Hodder Fellowship, and two O. Henrys and shared the Young Lions Award. Now he has written one of the most beautiful, wise, and compelling first novels of recent times. David Winkler begins life in Anchorage, Alaska, a quiet boy drawn to the volatility of weather and obsessed with snow. Sometimes he sees things before they happen - a man carrying a hatbox will be hit by a bus; Winkler will fall in love with a woman in a supermarket. When David dreams that his infant daughter will drown in a flood as he tries to save her, he comes undone. He travels thousands of miles, fleeing family, home, and the future itself, to deny the dream. On a Caribbean island, destitute, alone, and unsure if his child has survived or his wife can forgive him, David is sheltered by a couple with a daughter of their own. Ultimately it is she who will pull him back into the world, to search for the people he left behind. Doerr's characters are full of grief and longing but also replete with grace. His compassion for human frailty is extraordinarily moving. In luminous prose he writes about the power and beauty of nature and about the tiny miracles that transform our lives. About Grace is heartbreaking, radiant, and astonishingly accomplished. Members Reviews: Anthony Doerr is one of the best writers of our time I like to listen to audiobooks when I'm taking road trips. Last year I happened upon All The Light We Cannot See, my favorite book of all time. For the trip I just took I chose About Grace. Mr. Doerr has such a way with words, it's incredible. He also has a talent for weaving together the stories of different people, bringing the, together in a meaningful way. Listen to About Grace, you won't be disappointed. A good read and listen - but slow going A beautifully written book and excellent narration. I enjoyéd the first half immensely, but found the second half drag on too long. You will like this book if you are interested in stories of the heart, and do not mind that there is little action to keep your interest otherwise peaked. A modern story of Job Sad, endearing characters. Winkler is representative of the curiosity, loneliness, and hope so many of us feel. Redemption comes with a high price. The language and descriptions are exquisite. Sweet story beautifully written Although the story begins a little slow, About Grace, like Doerr's other work, is written so well, so descriptively, that it easy to imagine a man's fear of his own tortured dreams. Doerr writes elegantly using his words like a musical instrument painting beautiful pictures of the countries which he describes. Brutally cold Alaska and the warmth of the sun on a tropical island, Doerr takes you with his characters as they live out their lives.

Almost Missed You Audiobook by Jessica Strawser

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jessica Strawser) — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 04:33:14 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Almost Missed You Subtitle: A Novel Author: Jessica Strawser Narrator: Therese Plummer Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins Language: English Release date: 03-28-17 Publisher: Macmillan Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 251 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Violet and Finn were "meant to be", said everyone, always. They ended up together by the hands of fate aligning things just so. Three years into their marriage, they have a wonderful little boy, and as the three of them embark on their first vacation as a family, Violet can't help thinking that she can't believe her luck. Life is good. So no one is more surprised than she when Finn leaves her at the beach - just packs up the hotel room and disappears. And takes their son with him. Violet is suddenly in her own worst nightmare and faced with the knowledge that the man she's shared her life with she never really knew at all. Caitlin and Finn have been best friends since way back when, but when Finn shows up on Caitlin's doorstep with the son he's wanted for kidnapping, demands that she hide them from the authorities, and threatens to reveal a secret that could destroy her own family if she doesn't, Caitlin faces an impossible choice. Told through the alternating viewpoints of Violet, Finn, and Caitlin, Jessica Strawser's Almost Missed You is a powerful story of a mother's love, a husband's betrayal, connections that maybe should have been missed, secrets that perhaps shouldn't have been kept, and spaces between what's meant to be and what might have been. Members Reviews: AMAZING! Original story. Amazing narration I connected with all the characters! Absolutely loved this book! Absolutely! Different kind of love story I wasn't sure where this book was leading but I enjoyed the trip. I liked how it was quite a different plot and it kept you guessing. I felt the build up didn't quite match the reveal - would have liked more intensity. Overall, well narrated and interesting enough to keep me listening. Violet and Finn's past come back to haunt them This book was definitely a page turner. I had no idea what to expect and I listened to the entire audiobook in one sitting. At the center of this book was a missing three-year-old boy and his frantic mother desperately looking answers to help her find him. Violet and her husband Finn took their three-year-old son Bear to Florida for their first big family vacation. Finn takes Bear out so Violet can catch some sleep but when she wakes up, Finn and Bear have vanished. The question became, why would Finn take Bear and disappear. I knew something wasnt right after I heard how perfect Violet and Finn were. Those kinds of comments foreshadow some unfortunate revelation that the only insiders would be privy to know. Then there was Caitlin, Finns best friend but also a close friend to Violet who was caught in the middle. The author weaved this tale using the viewpoints of Violet, Finn and Caitlin both using the past as well as the current situation. I was able to follow the audio without getting lost because each person has different voice and different motive. As the secrets began unraveling, the true fear and driving force behind each characters actions were exposed. This story reminds me that communication is the foundation of any lasting relationship. These characters didnt divulge some seriously important facets of their pasts and those secrets came to threaten their shallowly built future. It was well written and completely absorbed in the story. I was desperately trying to figure out what the mystery at the heart of the abduction of a little boy.

The Silver Linings Playbook Audiobook by Matthew Quick

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Matthew Quick) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:18:15 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Silver Linings Playbook Subtitle: A Novel Author: Matthew Quick Narrator: Ray Porter Format: Unabridged Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins Language: English Release date: 10-09-08 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3382 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: When Pat goes to live with his parents, everything seems changed: no one will talk to him about Nikki, and his new therapist seems to be recommending adultery as a form of therapy. Then, Pat meets clinically depressed widow Tiffany, who offers to act as a liaison between him and his wife - provided he agrees to a secret contract that includes giving up football and performing in the next Dance Away Depression competition. Critic Reviews: "This offbeat story has all the markings of a crowd-pleaser." ( Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: A remarkable achievement. Matthew Quick has accomplished several amazing things here, and it's really hard to list them all. First, he has documented the nature of mental illness in general and bipolar disorder in fine detail, the first book (in my experience) to do this in novel form. Second, he has drawn a terrific, touching love story between two people who are both fragile and suffering from loss. They are both determined, nonetheless, to find the "silver linings" in life. Three, he has depicted a suffering family which is trying to cope with a deeply disturbed, isolated and enraged father. Fourth, he has portrayed the love story between a community and its football team, the Philadelphia Eagles. The passion that the fans have for their team is almost unimaginable in its ferocity, a love that many men understand and many women cannot. If you are a woman, just think of sports as male emotionality. Fifth (I am counting) he has depicted a very unusual relationship between a therapist and his patient. Cliff, the psychiatrist who follows Pat after his four-year involuntary commitment to a psychiatric hospital, is also a raving Eagles fan, who delights in jumping out of his chair and doing the Eagles chant. When Pat is puzzled by this (as who wouldn't be), Cliff says, "When I sit in this chair, I am your therapist. When I get out of this chair, I am your friend and fellow Eagles fan." Can you imagine any psychiatrist, if you know any, who could do such a thing? I have lost track of all that Mr. Quick has done here, but, trust me, it is an awe-inspiring thing. For one in the profession (I am a psychologist), it is all the more astounding. That the book works so well on all of these levels, and more, is just a pleasure. I think Mr. Quick is a young author, and I hope we will hear more from him. Mr. Porter does a great job with this challenging material. Serious mental illness is frightening, and both these men have done a wonderful job of conveying the torment that these patients suffer. Even so, the book is uplifting. If you have seen the movie, you know that it is wonderful as well, but it is quite different.. A movie has much different rules than a book, and it just can't convey the richness of this work of fiction. The book may be hard to listen to at times, as Mr. Quick does not pull any punches, so just put it down for a while and then come back to it. The book and the movie combined have contributed to the process of destigmatizing mental illness, which is all very much to the good. I am preaching here, so I will stop. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Eagles Victory Pat has returned home after spending time in a "bad place" with no recollection of the last 4 years. His mother, brother, best friend, and new therapist provide support and are all avid Eagles fans.

Fool for Love Audiobook by Marie Force

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Marie Force) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:08:53 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Fool for Love Subtitle: Gansett Island Series, Book 2 Author: Marie Force Narrator: Holly Fielding Format: Unabridged Length: 6 hrs and 29 mins Language: English Release date: 01-30-13 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 397 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Joe Cantrell, owner of the Gansett Island Ferry Company, has been in love with Janey McCarthy for as long as he can remember. At the same time, Janey has been dating or engaged to doctor-in-training David Lawrence. When things go horribly wrong between David and Janey, she calls her "fifth brother" Joe, one of the few people in her close circle who lives on the mainland. Janey decides a few days with Joe is just what she needs before she goes home to the island to face her parents and family with the news of her broken engagement. It was bad enough for Joe loving Janey from afar, but having her in his house is pure torture. Will he take advantage of this opportunity to show her what they could have together? And what will Joes best friend and Janeys protective older brother Mac have to say about it? Members Reviews: Love this series. This book is a welcome addition to the Gansett Island series and Joe and Jenny every bit as engaging as characters introduced in the previous books. I particularly enjoyed the fact that while this listen focuses on Joe and Jenny it also includes the ongoing story of other characters in the series. Unfortunately the narration is just as bad as in the previous books. Must be a Secret - Narrated in a Whisper What disappointed you about Fool for Love? Way too long for the story, I did not think this book would ever end,. Has Fool for Love turned you off from other books in this genre? No. I have not rated many books below 3 stars. What didnt you like about Holly Fieldings performance? There was not enough distinction in voice between the characters and the whispered voice was annoying. Too much sex Would you try another book from Marie Force and/or Holly Fielding? I don't think I would try another book from these authors. The story was nice, although predictable, but the sex scenes were way too detailed and unnecessary. Has Fool for Love turned you off from other books in this genre? I like romance books but without all the detailed sex and a little bit of an unexpected story line. If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Fool for Love? I would cut the detailed sex scenes. Waiting !!!!! Joe was a man who has love her forever Janey didnt know what love really was. this audible brings you such emotions. a great book to listen to but have tissue.near by...... can wait to be taken back to the Island great story but...... Great story love the series but the narration makes it impossible to listen to. Already read this a couple of years ago and decided to get it with narration. I couldn't listen to much because the main male character is read in the same voice as the main female character Who's idea was that. Too creepy for me, especially in a love scene

Outcast of Redwall Audiobook by Brian Jacques

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Brian Jacques) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:07:55 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Outcast of Redwall Author: Brian Jacques Narrator: Brian Jacques, full cast Format: Unabridged Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins Language: English Release date: 10-24-08 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 169 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: In this stirring, sword-rattling chapter in New York Times best-selling author Brian Jacques' beloved series, questions of right and wrong do not have simple answers. Abandoned by his evil warlord father Swartt Sixclaw, the ferret Veil is raised at Redwall. But when he commits an unforgivable crime, he is banished forever. So when Swartt goes on a rampage, Veil must make a choice. He can either fight for the father who orphaned him, or for those who turned him away. ©1995 The Redwall Abbey Compar; (P)2006 Reorded Books, LLC Members Reviews: Uneven, but still enjoyable Like the its source material, the audiobook of "Outcast of Redwall" is very uneven. The original book suffers from being so drawn out, overcrowded (even by RW standards) and literally all over the place.But it's still a fun, exciting story with likable, memorable characters and actions scenes that feel like Lord of the Rings with animals. Some performers are better to listen to than others. For example, Bryony & Sunflash sound real good while while Swartt varies from scene to scene and Veil is clearly voiced by someone too old (trying too hard to sound young) who misses the mark a lot, sounding better as a bad guy than when he's supposed to be good/sympathetic. But the real fun is in the songs. Adapting the verses from the book could've been a drag, but having them fully orchestrated and sung often made them a hoot, especially when there's a chorus. First time I ever experienced a musical audiobook! So while not the exactly the best audiobook in the Tales of Redwall, it can certainly be quite entertaining. adult Redwalll addiction in Vermont My favorite Redwall book. Full cast great songs I love it. I am from Verrmont which is basically southern Quebec. Before cable we got only Canadian cbc. Redwall! GUOSIM! Great one This is one of the better Redwall books. It breaks from the traditional, puzzel being solved at redwall, while a hero goes on a quest way to young and co.es back a hero that Brian did for several others. Great book overall. A Spectacular Must Read Adventure!! What made the experience of listening to Outcast of Redwall the most enjoyable? The fact that the story is narrated by the Author and his associates makes this audiobook one of the most enjoyable I've ever heard! Tie that in with a fantastic story and acting along with songs and poems makes this audiobook a must for any reader! What did you like best about this story? This story is the one that got me to enjoy reading in the first place! Until I read this book, I hated reading, the normal predictable plots of children's books left a sour taste in my mouth. When I was assigned this book by a teacher, I looked at how thick it was and absolutely dreaded reading it; however, once I actually started reading it I was swept into an epic of daring adventure, endearing characters, great battles, great humor, and sorrowful events, making it the first book that made my heart cheer and cry and laugh and leap. The tale of Sunflash the Mace and his faithful kestrel companion Skarlath is one that I would ever wish to share with those around me, both young and old alike! disappointing story line I liked the performers, they brought the story to life. I thought the music was a bit annoying, but that's a personal opinion base on how I like my book, not because the music it's self was bad.

Barefoot Audiobook by Elin Hilderbrand

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Elin Hilderbrand) — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:16:26 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Barefoot Subtitle: A Novel Author: Elin Hilderbrand Narrator: Rachael Warren Format: Unabridged Length: 16 hrs and 44 mins Language: English Release date: 05-08-12 Publisher: Hachette Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 171 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: It's summer on Nantucket, and as the season begins, three women arrive at the local airport, observed by Josh, a local boy, home from college. Burdened with small children, unwieldy straw hats, and some obvious emotional issues, the women - two sisters and one friend - make their way to the sisters' tiny cottage, inherited from an aunt. They're all trying to escape from something: Melanie, after seven failed in-vitro attempts, discovered her husband's infidelity and then her own pregnancy; Brenda embarked on a passionate affair with an older student that got her fired from her prestigious job as a professor in New York; and her sister Vickie, mother to two small boys, has been diagnosed with cancer. Soon Josh is part of the chaotic household, acting as babysitter, confidant, and, eventually, something more, while the women confront their pasts and map out their futures. Members Reviews: Another page turner by Elin Hildebrand! This is another page turner by Elin Hildebrand. The characters were written with sensitivity and depth. This book is a great book any time of the year. It is not just a summer read. OMG...spoiler alert: I am cancer free as of now(about two and a half years after diagnosis) and this book really hit me hard. I would buy it again despite the knowledge I have after reading it.
must read
very much loved the book, it flowed like water . could not stop listening when I would come home from work I would sit in my vehicle and listen, on my way to work I would sit in the parking lot and listen . I was addicted ,very good book great summer read lighthearted, characters you can grab on to, great reader. a book you want for the beach! A fun AND thoughtful novel sweet but with a dose of heavy. a quick listen. enjoyable. love hearing about nantucket

Tandia Audiobook by Bryce Courtenay

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Bryce Courtenay) — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 08:11:50 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Tandia Author: Bryce Courtenay Narrator: Humphrey Bower Format: Unabridged Length: 26 hrs and 39 mins Language: English Release date: 10-27-05 Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2009 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Tandia is a child of all Africa: half Indian, half African, beautiful and intelligent, she is only sixteen when she is first brutalized by the police. Her fear of the white man leads her to join the black resistance movement. With her in the fight for justice is the one white man Tandia can trust, the welterweight champion of the world, Peekay. Now he must fight their common enemy in order to save both their lives. ©1992 Bryce Courtenay; (P)2000 Bolinda Publishing Pyt Ltd by arrangement with Penguin Group (Australia) Critic Reviews: "Humphrey Bower is brilliant....[Tandia] will resonate in the hearts and minds of listeners long after the final chapter." (AudioFile Magazine ) Members Reviews: Thanks for this wonderful collaboration I read Power of One several years ago and was a fan of Courtenay already. I found Courtenay on audible when Brother Fish was released and bought that. I was immensely impressed with the Humphrey narration and wanted more. Then I discovered this sequel to Power of One and snapped it right up. Having just finished it, I was sorry to have it end. Humphrey's narration of this book was, like that of Brother Fish, superb. The best I have found on Audible. That is important since I try to buy only books over 20 hours for my bike commute. I was moved by this sequel to Power of One and would recommend it to anyone-- although I would strongly recommend reading or listening to Power of One first. There are enough back references that much will be lost without the experience of Power of One. (And the movie is no substitute; not even close. I saw the movie when it first came out and it kept me from reading the book for years. The book is lightyears better than the movie.) In Tandia, I am impressed with Courtnay's ability not to paint all Afrikaaners with one brush, and the same for the South African blacks and the rest of the cast. I am even more impressed with his ability to deal with themes of racial pride, hatred and tolerance; culture; religion; love; and faith without trivializing them. Thank you Courtenay and Humphrey for this wonderful collaboration !!!! A wonderful story I listened to the Power of One first, and was drawn deeply into Peekay's world, South Africa during apartheid, in no small part through the masterful reading by Humphrey Bower. Tandia, the sequel, is a more grown up tale, which is just as it should be as Peekay embarks on adulthood only towards the end of the first book. Tandia is where we see Peekay finally realise his full potential and where he puts into practice the convictions he developed as a child. Without this book, the story would have been half told. This book also introduces a number of unforgettable non-white characters who give a richer perspective on life in South Africa during this period. The author's love for his country of birth clearly shines through. A beautiful, emotionally draining story. The ending left me desperately wishing for a sequel. I'M TELLING YOU SOMETHING FOR NOTHING YOU GOT TO USE PRETTY, WHILE YOU GOT PRETTY This is a sequel to The Power of One. The book starts with Tandia and she is a main character, but it is really mostly about Peekay. I believe it has even more boxing matches in it then the first book did. This book is not as strong as the first book, but it is a good listen.

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street Audiobook by Natasha Pulley

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Natasha Pulley) — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 01:53:44 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Watchmaker of Filigree Street Author: Natasha Pulley Narrator: Thomas Judd Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins Language: English Release date: 07-02-15 Publisher: Audible Studios for Bloomsbury Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 732 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: It's 1883. Thaniel Steepleton returns home to his tiny London apartment to find a gold pocket watch on his pillow. Six months later the mysterious timepiece saves his life, drawing him away from a blast that destroys Scotland Yard. At last he goes in search of its maker, Keita Mori, a kind, lonely immigrant from Japan. Although Mori seems harmless, a chain of unexplainable events soon suggests he must be hiding something. When Grace Carrow, an Oxford physicist, unwittingly interferes, Thaniel is torn between opposing loyalties. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street is a sweeping, atmospheric narrative that takes the listener on an unexpected journey through Victorian London, Japan as its civil war crumbles longstanding traditions, and beyond. Blending historical events with dazzling flights of fancy, it opens doors to a strange and magical past. Members Reviews: Beautiful Story There is so much going on in this book that its hard to isolate just a few things I liked. Ill talk about a couple here, but there are so many great parts in this book. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street sets a touching love story against a historic time of social and political unrest Irish terrorists are bombing London in protest of British rule; women in England and other parts of the world are dissatisfied with their inability to vote and restricted independence; and Japans feudal and agrarian society is fighting a losing battle against the influence of Western culture and technology. After doing a little web surfing, I discovered that a lot of the history relayed in the book is accurate, including the bombings that are central to the story. I find historical fiction much more impressive when it can deliver a mostly-accurate history lesson at the same time its entertaining. Another part of this story I appreciated was the subtle descriptions of what true love really looks like. In one part of the story, Mori encourages Thaniel, who has synesthesia, to draw and paint when he sees when he listens to music. Mori insists on hanging the drawings on the wall, even though Thaniel believes they are worthless. Mori describes Thaniels drawings as much more interesting than the paintings he just bought by that depressed Dutchmen (referring to, Im assuming, Van Gogh). In another part of the book, when Mori visits Grace and Thaniels new home, he is obviously unhappy that the music room is unfinished and there is no piano, though Graces laboratory in the basement is completely finished. Later, the reader learns that Mori sees Thaniel as a pianist while Grace sees him as an ordinary man who occasionally plays the piano. This makes a difference to Thaniel and affects his future choices. These are subtle parts of the story, but they say quite a lot about the relationships between the characters. The narrator, Thomas Judd, did a great job with the voices. As I was listening, I didnt think there was a lot of obvious variations in voice; but in hindsight, I never had any trouble distinguishing between characters. In particular, Thaniels, Moris, and Graces voices were perfect for their characters. There is also the sock-stealing clockwork octopus, the cheeky workhouse orphan, the way clairvoyance is imagined, the wide range of diversity in the story, and the scientific cleverness displayed at the end. I cant say more without giving too much away, but youll know what I mean when you read it.

Hidden Audiobook by Catherine McKenzie

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Catherine McKenzie) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 02:46:56 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Hidden Author: Catherine McKenzie Narrator: Jeff Cummings, Angela Dawe, Amy McFadden Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins Language: English Release date: 04-01-14 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 292 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: While walking home from work one evening, Jeff Manning is struck by a car and killed. Two women fall to pieces at the news: His wife, Claire, and his co-worker Tish. Reeling from her loss, Claire must comfort her grieving son as well as contend with funeral arrangements, well-meaning family members, and the arrival of Jeff's estranged brother, who was her ex-boyfriend. Tish volunteers to attend the funeral on her company's behalf, but only she knows the true risk of inserting herself into the wreckage of Jeff's life. Told through the three voices of Jeff, Tish, and Claire, Hidden explores the complexity of relationships, the repercussions of our personal choices, and the responsibilities we have to the ones we love. Members Reviews: The Voice of Claire I do not know if this is part of the character herself, or is a vocal tic of the woman reading her, but the intonation of a bored valley girl's complaint infects the end of EVERY SENTENCE or phrase spoken by "Claire." It is making it very hard for me to progress in the book or comment on the story. I'll come back and revise the review if there is something in the character herself to warrant the narrator applying such an appalling whine to every sentence. At least, if I can stand it that long. Ugh! Claire's voice! How did the narrator detract from the book? I have just started listening and am not sure I can continue. Claire's voice draws out the ends of every sentence!! It is annoying and difficult to listen to. I wish I had listened to a sample before I purchased. I won't make that mistake again!!! Any additional comments? If I get over the voice or it gets better I will re-rate the book. Like Nails on Calkboard What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you? None of the main characters had any redeeming factors. Would you ever listen to anything by Catherine McKenzie again? No Would you be willing to try another one of the narratorss performances? No What character would you cut from Hidden? All Any additional comments? The one female character's voice lilted up at each pause and sentence ending - could not bear to listen. #Clairesvoice Would you listen to Hidden again? Why? No, there would be absolutely no reason to ever listen to this again and put myself in that kind of agony when Claire's whiny voice was narrating. Nails on a blackboard would be a delight, a song, a chorus of angelic voices compared to it. What was one of the most memorable moments of Hidden? While the story was interesting, nothing really pops out as a "WOW" moment. It flows along and keeps you wondering how things will play out - but overall it's not edge of your seat material. What aspect of the narratorss performance would you have changed? I'm not sure which person performed Claire's voice, but it deserves its own hashtag for being one of the worst voices I've listened to in the over 70 books I've downloaded. If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be? Nothing stays a secret. Any additional comments? It's worth a credit - it's entertaining, but take a valium when Claire is reading. Story was enjoyable - audio, not so much! Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not? I can't say I would recommend the audio version of this book.

Opening Belle Audiobook by Maureen Sherry

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Maureen Sherry) — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 03:31:08 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Opening Belle Subtitle: A Novel Author: Maureen Sherry Narrator: Julia Whelan Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins Language: English Release date: 02-02-16 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 898 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A whip-smart and funny novel told by a former Wall Street insider who reveals what it's like for a working woman to balance love, ambition, and family in a world of glamorous excess, outrageous risk taking, and jaw-dropping sexism. In 2008, Isabelle - a self-made 30-something Wall Street star - appears to have it all: an Upper West Side apartment, three healthy children, a handsome husband, and a high-powered job. But her reality is something else. Her trading-desk work environment resembles a 1980s frat party, her husband feels employment is beneath him, and the bulk of childcare and homecare still falls in Belle's already full lap. Enter Henry, the former college fiancé she never quite got over, now a hedge fund mogul. He becomes her largest client, and Belle gets to see the life she might have had with him. While Henry campaigns to win Belle back, the sexually harassed women in her office take action to improve their working conditions and recruit a wary Belle into a secret "glass ceiling club" whose goal is to mellow the cowboy banking culture and get equal pay for their work. All along, Belle can sense the financial markets heading toward their soon-to-be historic crash and that something has to give - and when it does, everything is going to change: her marriage, her career, her world, and her need to keep her colleagues' hands to themselves. From Maureen Sherry, a prize-winning writer and a former managing director on Wall Street (who never signed a nondisclosure agreement when she left), Opening Belle takes listeners into the adrenaline-fueled chaos of a Wall Street trading desk; the lavish parties; the lunchtime rendezvous; and, ultimately, the heart of a woman who finds it easier to cook up millions at work than dinner at home. Members Reviews: Closing bell As a woman in the financial industry I absolutely loved this book! I'm an independent far removed from Wall Street but still connected with this story from beginning to end. I can't wait to have my husband listen to this and perhaps learn what it's like to be a female in any industry. Thank you Ms. Sherry for writing it. Good story, so-so narration. I enjoyed this compelling story, but the narration was too much. I could have done with less of the character voices; especially the male characters who all sounded like drugged up stoners. Women in Business I am absolutely in love with this little novel! As an investment banker, I was able to connect with much of what Maureen Sherry had to say. Definitely a great read! the good ol' boys of banking Awesome book for banking and non-banking women alike. Most women and bankers in general don't make this kind of money, but the actions and thought processes are dead on. Well done and kept me interested I really liked it. I work in private equity and enjoyed hearing about a similar market where the culture is pretty similar. The author did a great job about including accurate industry information that was easy to follow but she didn't dumb it down so much that I felt as if she thought the reader was completely uneducated, the latter gets boring. I was hooked most of the book but it wasn't one that I couldn't wait to read or get to the next chapter. Overall I would recommend it to a friend!

Christopher's Diary: Echoes of Dollanganger Audiobook by V.C. Andrews

biacuaduc@gmail.com (V.C. Andrews) — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 20:02:12 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Christopher's Diary: Echoes of Dollanganger Author: V.C. Andrews Narrator: Rebekkah Ross, Kirby Heyborne Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins Language: English Release date: 01-27-15 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 103 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Picking up where Christopher's Diary: Secrets of Foxworth leaves off, Kristin Masterwood and her boyfriend up the ante - by going into her attic to re-enact scenes described in Christopher Dollanganger's journal. Jealousy, tragedy, survival, and revenge - the discovery of Christopher's diary in the ruins of Foxworth Hall brings new secrets of the Dollanganger family to light and obsesses a new generation. With Flowers in the Attic and Petals on the Wind both now major Lifetime TV events, the first new Dollanganger stories in nearly 30 years is a timely look at the events in the attic - from teenage Christopher's point of view. Christopher Dollanganger was 14 when he and his younger siblings - Cathy and the twins, Cory and Carrie - were locked away in the attic of Foxworth Hall, prisoners of their mother's greedy inheritance scheme. For three long years he kept hope alive for the sake of the others. But the shocking truth about how their ordeal affected him was always kept hidden - until now. Seventeen-year-old Kristin Masterwood is thrilled when her father's construction company is hired to inspect the Foxworth property for a prospective buyer. The once grand Southern mansion still sparks legends and half-truths about the four innocent Dollanganger children, even all these decades later. Foxworth holds a special fascination for Kristin, who was too young when her mother died to learn much about her distant blood tie to the notorious family. Accompanying her dad to the "forbidden territory", they find a leather-bound book, its yellowed pages filled with the neat script of Christopher Dollanganger himself. Her father grows increasingly uneasy about her reading it, but as she devours the teen's story page by page, his shattering account of temptation, heartache, courage, and betrayal overtakes Kristin's every thought. And soon her obsession with the doomed boy crosses a dangerous line.... Members Reviews: Stupefyingly Bad A particularly humorous reviewer gave this book negative infinity stars and I must agree!!!! I dont know whats more amazing: just how BAD the story was, or the fact that I read it on purpose knowing it was probably not going to be good still I underestimated to what level of bad a story could sink. Book 1 essentially sucked, but what kept me going and tempted me to read Book 2 was the idea that there would be another side to the original story and there is!!... but it seems Ill have to slog through Book 3 to read it. This story was so preposterous!!! Basically, a girl stumbles upon Chris diary and she and her boyfriend decide to not only read it together but re-enact it! WHY!!!!! They run up to the attic together in secret and set up furniture and costumes and read aloud Dear Lord, its so stupid. Not only this that idea laughable, but the fervour the boyfriend has for the re-enactment is not only totally absurd and insane its restraining order worthy! He gets SO into it that he even has a wig custom made to make him look/feel more like Chris while reading. I dont know about you, but if I stumbled up that Id run for the hills; thats sicko behaviour! Its so stupefyingly bad, I dont care to waste more time knocking it down. V.C. Andrews is rolling over in her grave. What disappointed you about Christopher's Diary: Echoes of Dollanganger? Im so scared for our lives.

Scarlet Feather Audiobook by Maeve Binchy

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Maeve Binchy) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:60:50 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Scarlet Feather Author: Maeve Binchy Narrator: Barbara Caruso Format: Unabridged Length: 20 hrs and 12 mins Language: English Release date: 06-20-11 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 428 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: New York Times best-selling author Maeve Binchy has a way of making everyday experiences extraordinary. Scarlet Feather introduces budding entrepreneurs Cathy and Tom who, along with their extended families, meet the trials and rewards of life head on. Scarlet Feather is a new catering company formed by two friends from cooking school, Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather. Their dream is to have the best business in Dublin. Over the course of a year, from one New Years Eve to the next, Cathy and Tom struggle to make their dream a reality. Along the way, they meet their families opposition, find the support of friends, and live through the heartaches and triumphs that come with time. Author of the "Oprahs Book Club" selection Tara Road, Maeve Binchy is loved the world over for her humorous and compassionate portrayals of ordinary lives. Combined with the subtle skills of award-winning narrator Barbara Caruso, Scarlet Feather is a heartwarming glimpse into the world Cathy and Tom work to make for themselves. Members Reviews: Another Hit on My List The story is so uncomplicated and simple and the characters so very lovable........It made me keep coming back to find out what happened........Thanks again Maeve! unexpected ending Would you listen to Scarlet Feather again? Why? Yes, because it is very interesting how the author develops the characters, and weaves their lives. What was one of the most memorable moments of Scarlet Feather? The ending. I also enjoyed the way the twins were taken treated, and how they became delightful players in this story. What does Barbara Caruso bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book? listening to the expressions and the accents always adds so much to a book and was no exception in this book, I loved it. Who was the most memorable character of Scarlet Feather and why? Kathy, she had so many facets of her character which were shown in surprising ways. Any additional comments? It was a delightful book and a very good book to listen to and think about. Loved it Would you listen to Scarlet Feather again? Why? Yes! The story, characters and narration are great. What was one of the most memorable moments of Scarlet Feather? I enjoyed the entire book. What does Barbara Caruso bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book? I love her pronunciation of the Irish names and places. Any additional comments? What a sad day it was when we lost Maeve Binchy. 2nd time for this book If you could sum up Scarlet Feather in three words, what would they be? Very enjoyable What other book might you compare Scarlet Feather to and why? Anything by the author no foul language Which character as performed by Barbara Caruso was your favorite? All were great The children were great If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be? Really don,t know Any additional comments? Read this years ago. Enjoyed it more on audible Loved it. the narrator sounds just like my aunt Josephine. brought back many happy memories. I've listened to those I've several times and never tire of it. it feels like coming home. Thanks

Miller's Valley Audiobook by Anna Quindlen

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Anna Quindlen) — Tue, 05 Apr 2016 06:06:28 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Miller's Valley Subtitle: A Novel Author: Anna Quindlen Narrator: Brittany Pressley Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins Language: English Release date: 04-05-16 Publisher: Brilliance Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 818 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: A novel about family and the secrets that we keep - a young woman learning to love and leave home and realizing that, maybe, she never quite left. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Still Life with Bread Crumbs and Rise and Shine. This story begins in the 1960s, and explores how Mimi Miller comes of age, over and over again. As a young girl in Miller's Valley, an ordinary farming town that may be facing its final days, Mimi is observing adults, selling corn, growing up and changing, and watching the world around her change, too. As the years go by, the unthinkable starts to seem inevitable. Anna Quindlen's novel takes us through the changing eras of Mimi and her family, as secrets are revealed, and the heartbreaks of growing up and falling in love with the wrong man are overcome. A deeply moving, inspiring story of a young woman learning to love and leave, the place and family from which she comes. Critic Reviews: "In a quiet, unaffected performance, narrator Brittany Pressley makes 1960s Miller's Valley, Pennsylvania, incredibly real.... Quindlen's spot-on insights allow Pressley to give each family member a convincing personality--from Mimi's no-nonsense mother to her gentle father, from her two older brothers to her agoraphobic aunt. Engrossing listening." (AudioFile) Members Reviews: Quietly engaging Anna Quindlen has written a few good books and a few mediocre ones. Whatever you think of each book what comes through in all is her skill at writing and her own experiences in life. This book is about a woman reflecting on her youth in a small town and how events played out with her family, her friends, her loves.Its about the choices she made and the opportunities that presented themselves. It describes the complicated relationships we have in our lives. There is nothing earth shattering in this book, so if you are looking for that don't bother. What this book delivers is excellent character development, excellent writing and a story that keeps you listening because you develop a "relationship" with the characters and an interest in how it all turns out. Our book club read it and we generally disagree on most books, however, 90% gave it a thumbs up and we had a great discussion. The narration was excellent. I am glad I listened and would recommend it. Disappointing Story Is there anything you would change about this book? Characters are single dimensional and predictable What was most disappointing about Anna Quindlens story? The depressing tone of the story. What about Brittany Pressleys performance did you like? Good Did Miller's Valley inspire you to do anything? Move on to a new book. Any additional comments? Not typical of this author. Not Typical Quindlen- I was disappointed Normally Anna Quindlen wows me. She normally starts off her impeccable novels with normal families who do normal every day things. Her formula seems to be having a very shocking thing happen to a seemingly normal family half way through the book. Miller's Valley is the story of a family over decades. The family is normal, has normal issues (pre marital sex, pregnancy, PTSD from Vietnam War, Dad has stroke, etc). The problem is- the story doesn't seem to have a point. It rambles on and on and it's hard to care about the characters.

Tales of the City Audiobook by Armistead Maupin

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Armistead Maupin) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 06:40:06 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Tales of the City Subtitle: Tales of the City, Book 1 Author: Armistead Maupin Narrator: Frances McDormand Format: Unabridged Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins Language: English Release date: 03-26-13 Publisher: HarperAudio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 919 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: For more than three decades Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City has blazed its own trail through popular culture...from a groundbreaking newspaper serial, to a classic novel, to a television event that entranced millions around the world. The first of six novels about the denizens of the mythic apartment house at 28 Barbary Lane, Tales of the City is both a sparkling comedy of manners and an indelible portrait of an era that changed forever the way we live. Members Reviews: Sparkling, Witty and Touching! Tales of the City, published as a book in 1976, started out as separate, short articles in a San Francisco newspaper serial. As a result, this book is a true depiction of the City in the 1970's. Many references to items of the 70's come along in the descriptions and the dialog of this story. The book contains several story lines, all centered on the denizens of 28 Barbary Lane, an old house that now consists of several rental apartments, occupied by young renters, all under the benelovent eye of the landlady, Mrs. Anna Madrigal. The characters are brilliantly drawn by Maupin, and you end up liking almost everyone, even the not very nice ones. All the characters are 3 dimensional, each with his or her own failings, strong points, and flukes. And they nearly all have heart. It's all too complicated to go into detail in a review, but the reader really ends up caring about these people and what happens to them. The separate story lines all sort of intersect with each other from time to time, and I was left feeling joyous, and sad, and happy for having gotten to know each of the main characters. Mrs. Madrigal is my favorite, as I think she is for most readers. The writing is so well done, and so wittty and funny, that it was a joy to listen to, especially with the superb narration by Frances McDormand. I am so glad that there are 8 more Tales of the City books for me to read/listen to and savor! One caveat: this book is set in 1970's San Francisco, as the hippie era was ending and the LGBT community was becoming more vocal. If free love, drugs and gays make you nervous, you probably should skip this one. Otherwise, read/listen to this book! Finally... Maupin's Tales Narrated Professionally Maupin's Tales of the City series is the most well preserved slice of popular culture ever captured in fiction. Tales and its sequels follow the loves and lives of nearly every imaginable type of person in post sexual revolution, pre-AIDS San Francisco. These beloved books hold up because reading them is as good as time-travel back to the seventies. It is the seventies captured in real time as each chapter was first published in the S.F. Chronicle each day long before they were ever bound into a book. The intricate overlapping lives and loves of the characters are what make these stories so delicious. (Calling them a "soap opera" does this work an injustice.) The repartee among the characters is priceless. If you've read these books you likely consider Michael "Mouse" Toliver, Mona, MaryAnn, and the very elegant Mrs. Madrigal amongst your best fictional friends. Of course an open mind is needed because relationships and sexuality of all types are major themes of these books.

Strip Tease Audiobook by Carl Hiaasen

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Carl Hiaasen) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:18:43 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Strip Tease Author: Carl Hiaasen Narrator: George Wilson Format: Unabridged Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins Language: English Release date: 04-22-11 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1332 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: No matter what you heard or thought about the movie version of Strip Tease, forget it. Film simply cant catch the layers of humor, satire, and imagination that author Carl Hiaasen creates in each of his novels. When a deranged Florida congressman falls for a gorgeous but virtuous stripper, he dedicates himself to pursuing this tasselled princess. Not only is she a real beauty, shes a damsel in distress. The effects of his quest will ripple through the spotlights of the strip joint, the sugar cane fields of south Florida, and some powerful political careers. Fueled by innocent lust and dizzy miscalculations, this story will keep you howling with surprise. George Wilsons colorful narration is the perfect vehicle for Carl Hiaasens twisted fairy tale. Critic Reviews: Rough, raucous, and filled with lovable losers, Strip Tease is a caper novel for readers not afraid to laugh out loud. (People) Reading a Hiaasen book is always a high-speed boat ride where laughter can turn to horror and disaster at any moment. Hearing the story aloud adds a dose of realism and sensation; these characters really could be driving around the streets (AudioFile) Members Reviews: A total delightr What did you love best about Strip Tease? This has it all--humor, gore, great dialogue, characters, and plot. Any additional comments? The reader is fabulous. He is clearly an actor as well, and gets each character's individual voice spot-on. Hilarious drama Carl Hiaasen is one of a kind. Kept me laughing, as people were getting knocked off right and left. How is that possible? It's all in the slap stick writing that is so enjoyable. This tale starts out with a young mother forced to strip tease so she can afford a good attorney, in order to regain custody of her daughter. Her ex, is a lowly drugged out thief, who just happens to be a snitch for the local police. In pops an oversexed Congressman that gets himself in a compromising predicament at the strip club. The whole story is trying to cover up this Congressman's indiscretion, while Erin just wants to get her daughter back. It's crazy and zany with lovable and hateable characters, that keep you in stitches throughout. Highly recommend this one. Way Better Than the Movie What did you love best about Strip Tease? The vast array of characters, as interesting and they are unlikely. Some are too far over the top, like the Congressman and Darrell Grant, but most are engaging and funny. I love the way Hiaasen occasionally shifts point of view to previously unknown characters who hardly if ever reappear afterwards, in order to show what happens to one of the more central characters, like the Montana locals who discover the body of Jerry Killian -- it's a device that adds to the depth and charm of the story. I don't remember the movie (a bomb) being a comedy, but the book is majorly chuckle-worthy. What other book might you compare Strip Tease to and why? Just about any of Carl Hiaasen's other books, wall to wall with a variety of characters, with Florida itself acting as a major character, especially its local politics and Hiaasen's omnipresent environmental awareness.

Day of Wrath Audiobook by William R. Forstchen

biacuaduc@gmail.com (William R. Forstchen) — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 12:29:12 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Day of Wrath Author: William R. Forstchen Narrator: Bronson Pinchot Format: Unabridged Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins Language: English Release date: 10-21-14 Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc. Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 690 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: This novella by NewYork Times bestselling author William R. Forstchen imagines a horrifying scenario where, in the course of one day, the terrorist group ISIS carries out massacres in schools and on highways across the United States. With a surprisingly small but well-organized and ruthless force, the nightmarish devastation brings America to a state of near paralysis. Bob Petersen arrives with his daughter at the middle school in Maine where he teaches, expecting another regular day but worried about what recent ominous news reports might portend. Suddenly his school - along with many others across the United States - is under attack. Gunmen burst in, slaughtering children and adults alike. From the ISIS leader in Syria to the murderous rampages throughout the States, Day of Wrath reveals with chilling effect how national panic and paralyzing terror can bring a mighty country to a near standstill. Petersen's fight to save lives and stop the merciless gunmen provides edge-of-your-seat drama. This provocative work should stimulate an intense national debate. Members Reviews: Conservative Rant, but important RAMBOO FANTAZIES What little story that is presented is plausible and so very scary. Fortstchen's career started off with some fantasy/paranormal books that never got past paperback. I first heard of him, when he co wrote some historical fiction with Newt Gingrich. I read ONE SECOND AFTER shortly after it came out. It was okay, but I have not understood why it has become so popular. It was certainly Forstchen's break out book. So much so, that WF takes credit for all the prepper books that followed. WF says he hated writing this book. I disagree. I believe he needed to get this rant off his chest. What he hated was the suspected backlash. This is a political book, with lots of telling and little story. We are told about the importance of owning guns, even M16's. We are told that Texans are superior to the soft liberals on the East Coast and their anti gun laws. For some reason, WF dinks Quakers. It is good to be a Boy Scout. Actors have too many award shows (I whole heartily agree with that one.) WF really hates political correctness. The main character is the bread winner, his little wife stays at home and he does not change diapers. Oh, and the media is put down because they don't show dead bodies and rape on TV. Since WF uses this book to lecture about his politics, I feel that gives me the right to say a few things. I too have had problems with political correctness, but I know it is there for a reason. WF complains that you can not call a Muslim a raghead without being called a racist. I remember the sixties, when blacks could not date whites, unmarried women were the scum of the earth, divorce was illegal, etc.. I don't want to go back to those days. He complains and whines about being called a racist. Well, WF it is the same the other way around. I was a conservative for years, listened to Rush Limbaugh, was a ditto head. My liberal friends thought I was closed minded. Then one day on facebook, I mentioned that in a civilized country everyone should have health care. Next thing you know, I am an idiot, communist, gay and should move to Europe. When I mentioned that no one needs a military style rifle, the shit it the fan.

The Stupidest Angel Audiobook by Christopher Moore

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Christopher Moore) — Fri, 22 Oct 2004 02:05:02 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Stupidest Angel Subtitle: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror Author: Christopher Moore Narrator: Tony Roberts Format: Unabridged Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins Language: English Release date: 10-22-04 Publisher: HarperAudio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1746 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: But not everybody is feeling the joy. Little Joshua Barker is in desperate need of a holiday miracle. No, he's not on his deathbed. But Josh is sure that he saw Santa take a shovel to the head, and now the 7-year-old has only one prayer: Please, Santa, come back from the dead. But hold on! There's an angel waiting in the wings. (Wings, get it?) It's none other than the Archangel Raziel come to Earth seeking a small child with a wish that needs granting. Unfortunately, our angel's not sporting the brightest halo in the bunch, and before you can say "Kris Kringle" he's botched his sacred mission and sent the residents of Pine Cove headlong into Christmas chaos, culminating in the most hilarious and horrifying holiday party the town has ever seen. Only Christopher Moore, the man who brought you the outrageous lost gospel Lamb and the hysterical fish tale Fluke, could have devised a new holiday classic that tugs at the heartstrings and serves up a healthy slice of fruitcake to boot. Critic Reviews: "This little slice of perverse Christmas cheer is enough to make even the most cynical Scrooge guffaw." (Publishers Weekly) Members Reviews: Another Pine Cove winner This book is not about Christmas or God so if that's what you want don't click the "add to cart" button. This book is about a nerd in a cool guys body, an evil developer, a sexy divorcee, a really stupid arch angle and a fruit bat. Throw in a little murder, a pinch of zombies and the holiday season and you get vintage Christopher Moore. What's not to like? Read the title before buying I know it might seem silly to even mention this, but if you purchase a book with "A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror" as part of the title (especially when all descriptions and reviews reinforce the adult nature of the content) and you expect it to be a story for the entire family, you have nobody to blame but yourself when it contains content you might find inappropriate for your kids and easily offended adults. This was an excellent audiobook. The reading was animated and enjoyable. The content was entertaining and fun. Yes, it's written by an adult for adults. If that's what you're looking for, you'll find plenty to love with this offering. Not your usual holiday tale If you like the warmth of the holiday season, the smells, the deep sense of contentment, the feeling of peace on earth and goodwill toward men, a heartwarming serious read, then listen to another book. You'll find none of those things here. No miracles, no baby jesus, no sacrificing martyrs. What you will find is "off the wall" comedy, characters that are so quirky they are hysterical, a tale that seems written straight from the hip. A psychotic former movie star who hears voices, a sex-crazed man with a pet fruit bat, a cop who grows and smokes marijuana, a wrinkled up old bartender that wants to sleep with everyone, a 7 year old who speaks only in terms usually used to descibe wine, an inept angel - where does this writer come up with this stuff? There's sex, profanity and murder here. And those are the dull parts. I love all things holiday oriented and probably wouldn't have picked this title if it weren't for the holiday theme. I usually don't read or listen to books of this type. This story has taken me by surprise.

Breaking the Silence Audiobook by Diane Chamberlain

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Diane Chamberlain) — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 22:36:24 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Breaking the Silence Author: Diane Chamberlain Narrator: Justine Eyre Format: Unabridged Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins Language: English Release date: 09-08-14 Publisher: Tantor Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 293 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Laura Brandon's promise to her dying father was simple: to visit an elderly woman she'd never heard of before. A woman who remembers nothing-except the distant past. Visiting Sarah Tolley seemed a small enough sacrifice to make. But Laura's promise results in another death: her husband's. And after their five-year-old daughter, Emma, witnesses her father's suicide, Emma refuses to talk about it - to talk at all.Frantic and guilt ridden, Laura contacts the only person who may be able to help. A man she's met only once - six years before. A man who doesn't know he's Emma's real father. Guided only by a child's silence and an old woman's fading memories, the two unravel a tale of love and despair, of bravery and unspeakable evil. A tale that's shrouded in silence...and that unbelievably links them all. Critic Reviews: "Chamberlain deserves the highest praise for writing this emotionally compelling story of secrets and silence, love and lies." (Literary Times) Members Reviews: Narrator voice was so annoying Would you try another book from Diane Chamberlain and/or Justine Eyre? Yes just not read by this narrator. I tried to listen because the story sounded very interesting but I just couldn't do it. What didnt you like about Justine Eyres performance? NO can't listen to the narrator I can't finish the first chapter of this book because the narrator whines and sounds as though she is about to burst into tears. She sounds this way even when she's reading as the child. I have never stopped a book this early but I can't stand her voice. Terrible narration! Another great book by Chamberlain-maybe a little slow at times-or maybe just dragged down by the awful pretentious narration! Great story, terrible narration Would you listen to Breaking the Silence again? Why? no, the narrator was difficult to listen to, her voice was whispery and annoying What other book might you compare Breaking the Silence to and why? Anything else by the author, others have been great to listen to such as Silent Sister. Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Justine Eyre? anyone else Don't bother Needed a different narrator. May have just been the person reading it but the story was very hokey. One of my least favorite

The Virgin Suicides Audiobook by Jeffrey Eugenides

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Jeffrey Eugenides) — Mon, 08 May 2006 17:33:52 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Virgin Suicides Author: Jeffrey Eugenides Narrator: Nick Landrum Format: Unabridged Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins Language: English Release date: 05-08-06 Publisher: Recorded Books Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 1239 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: This nationally best-selling novel from Pulitzer Prize-winner Jeffrey Eugenides was adapted into an acclaimed film by Academy Award-winner Sofia Coppola. A haunting yet wickedly funny tale, The Virgin Suicides has captivated countless readers with its intoxicating portrait of lost innocence. A brilliant fusion of dark humor and tragedy, it is an atmospheric, allegorical masterpiece about five oppressed, suicidal sisters and the boys who dream of rescuing them. ©1993 Jeffrey Eugenides (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC. Critic Reviews: "Eugenides' voice is so fresh and compelling, his powers of observation so startling and acute, that most will be mesmerized....This is an auspicious debut from an imaginative and talented writer." ( Publishers Weekly) "A finely crafted work of literary if slightly macabre imagination....A black, glittering novel that won't be to everyone's taste but must be tried by readers looking for something different." ( Library Journal) "Mr. Eugenides is blessed with the storyteller's most magical gift, the ability to transform the mundane into the extraordinary." ( The New York Times Book Review) Members Reviews: Read this if you want to enjoy this audiobook What did you love best about The Virgin Suicides? I purchased this audiobook and was so disappointed when I found I could not tolerate listening to it. The problem was the slow, monotone voice of the narrator. I couldn't take it anymore, as listening became painful and I could not follow the story as my mind wandered. I read many similar complaints in the reviews. I came back to the book a couple months later and tried it again. This time, I set audible.com's listening app to play it at 1.25 speed instead of the default 1. I was amazed. The audible experience became perfect, as it was meant to be. I do not believe the problem was with the narrator in the first place. I believe the track was slowed down for some reason in post production the the chagrin of may listeners. If you tried listening to this book and simply could not get past the first chapter without wanting to tear your hair out, do yourself a favor and increase the speed of playback one notch. You will be surprised how wonderful this book, and it's narrator truly are. Any additional comments? Must be played at 1.25 speed to hear original recording. good listen. This book kept me engaged. While others noted somewhat negatively about the simplicity of the story telling and odd perspective (as told by the neighborhood boys), I thought that hearing about the fascinating albeit tragic story from an outside view added to it's intrigue. I have not seen the movie and I think this added to my ability to let the vague storytelling encourage my imagination. Beauty, youth, family issues, crime, sex, and mystery... this story has it all and is told in a way that is thought provoking. I look forward to listening to other books from this author. Heartbreaking - but Wonderful! Having first listened to the masterpiece, Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides, I thought that I might be disappointed by the initial offering from this author. I neednt have worried!. The Virgin Suicides is just a terrific novel. Although absolutely heartbreaking, the story provides the listener with hope and a sense of peace. Nick Landrum is superb in his reading of the story and I defy any listener to have dry eyes during the final 5 minutes of his narration.

The Dark Flood Rises Audiobook by Dame Margaret Drabble

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Dame Margaret Drabble) — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 06:17:02 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Dark Flood Rises Subtitle: A Novel Author: Dame Margaret Drabble Narrator: Anna Bentinck Format: Unabridged Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins Language: English Release date: 02-27-17 Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 62 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Francesca Stubbs has a very full life. A highly regarded expert on housing for the elderly who is herself getting on in age, she drives restlessly round England. Amid the professional conferences she attends, she fits in visits to old friends, brings home-cooked dinners to her ex-husband, texts her son, who is grieving over the sudden death of his girlfriend, and drops in on her daughter, a quirky young woman who lives in a floodplain in the West Country. This dark and glittering novel moves back and forth between an interconnected group of family and friends in England and a seemingly idyllic expat community in the Canary Islands, where we also observe the flow of immigrants from an increasingly war-torn Middle East. Critic Reviews: "This masterly novel by the great English author Margaret Drabble is beautifully served by Anna Bentinck's low-key and sensitive performance, which permits the book's language and meaning to shine.... When needed, Bentinck gives unique voices to different characters, but it's mostly her rhythm, pacing, and audible love of the book that make her performance glow." ( AudioFile) Members Reviews: Like a piano piece that evokes sentiments I'm drawn to books with older protagonists lately, so when I saw this, I had to listen. While it is all about death and dying, it is not at all depressing. Poignant at times, but not gloomy. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, and I think listening makes that harder, but that didn't really matter so much. The main character of the book was really death and the many ways in which people think about it, fear it, welcome it, prepare for it, etc. I'd never heard of Margaret Drabble before. I'll be checking out more of her books. Narrator was excellent! Life Observed By An Exceptional Writer I love Margaret Drabble's writing and looked forward to the release of this latest title. Then unfortunately I read a terrible review of the book in the Sunday New York Times. The review sounded like an eighth grade book report riddled with plot spoilers and lists of what happens in the form of "and then"....followed by many more "and thens". You know the stuff--simply written I think to prove the reviewer had read the book. It all sounded so dreadful and depressing that I crossed the title off my "to be read" book list thinking I'd skip it. When it was released here on audible I wavered and decided to ignore the review and take the plunge. Gosh I'm really glad that I did. This book is so thought provoking, so beautifully written, so expansive that I find it difficult to decide just where to start with this review. Filled with the contradictions, the conflicts and the complexity of everyday life the book presents an incredibly wide angled view. Using a web of connected characters Drabble teases apart the thorny topics of life lived, youth, aging and death. She uses the book to look at choices, decisions and random chance--really the vagaries of life. The improbability of how each life changes, develops over time and intertwines with others are key themes. In addition, hard life lessons and concepts of responsibility for ourselves and others are explored. Just in case this all sounds too heavy handed be aware the book is also filled with beauty, art, color, friendship and family.

The Devotion of Suspect X Audiobook by Keigo Higashino, Alexander O. Smith Translated by

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Keigo Higashino) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 06:29:24 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Devotion of Suspect X Author: Keigo Higashino, Alexander O. Smith Translated by Narrator: David Pittu Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins Language: English Release date: 02-01-11 Publisher: Macmillan Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 831 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: Yasuko Hanaoka is a divorced, single mother who thought she had finally escaped her abusive ex-husband Togashi. When he shows up one day to extort money from her, threatening both her and her teenaged daughter Misato, the situation quickly escalates into violence and Togashi ends up dead on her apartment floor. Overhearing the commotion, Yasukos next door neighbor, middle-aged high school mathematics teacher Ishigami, offers his help, disposing not only of the body but plotting the cover-up step-by-step. When the body turns up and is identified, Detective Kusanagi draws the case and Yasuko comes under suspicion. Kusanagi is unable to find any obvious holes in Yasukos manufactured alibi and yet is still sure that theres something wrong. Kusanagi brings in Dr. Manabu Yukawa, a physicist and college friend who frequently consults with the police. Yukawa, known to the police by the nickname Professor Galileo, went to college with Ishigami. After meeting up with him again, Yukawa is convinced that Ishigami had something to do with the murder. What ensues is a high level battle of wits, as Ishigami tries to protect Yasuko by outmaneuvering and outthinking Yukawa, who faces his most clever and determined opponent yet. Editorial Reviews: On one level, The Devotion of Suspect X channels the vogue for offbeat psychological thrillers: a cerebral criminal, a physicist who moonlights as detective, lengthy mathematical discursions, all framed by a prose style that is as cool as a blades surface. But behind this is an essentially conventional tale of obsessive love and loneliness, and its this which drives the narrative onwards the quasi-intellectual trappings dont quite mesh with the narrative to make an organic whole. Even a significant twist towards the end doesnt fundamentally alter how we perceive the preceding events. Columbo-like, we know the identity of the guilty party from the start: the pleasure of the story is in seeing if and how they deal with their consciences and the police investigation. The excellent David Pittu works hard at extracting every nuance, shade, and layer from the serviceable text. He seems to be able to anticipate the listener's own imaginative perception just where you'd imagine a tremor in the voice, or something spoken through gritted teeth, or with a sigh, he delivers just that, and right on time. It's uncanny. Where he comes up short is his performance of Yasuko, the single mother victimized by her ex-husband. Pittu portrays her with a tongue-tied gentleness, all downcast eyes and suppressed sighs; this sorrowful passivity in such a central character grates, becoming a reductive reminder of her victim status. But its author Higashino who must take the blame for this; Yasuko is a former nightclub hostess, which opens up all kinds of character possibilities and tensions that just aren't present here. Her relationship with her teen daughter is vitally important to the plot, but the daughter herself gets short shrift until a dramatic development only serves to underscore her absence from the book's main narrative. Another cipher is Dr. Yukawa, the physicist who is called in to offer gnomish words of wisdom in some kind of consultancy capacity.

No One Belongs Here More Than You Audiobook by Miranda July

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Miranda July) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:03:36 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: No One Belongs Here More Than You Subtitle: Stories Author: Miranda July Narrator: Miranda July Format: Unabridged Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins Language: English Release date: 12-07-07 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 265 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: In the brilliant opening story, "The Shared Patio", a woman longs to share her neighbor's life, but learns that her fantasy of him has no resemblance to reality. In "The Swim Team", a young woman teaches three elderly citizens in a town with no water how to swim. A man who works at a leather factory gets set-up by his co-worker for a date that never arrives in "The Sister". In "Something That Needs Nothing", a young woman's job at a peep show changes her identity in the eyes of her friend, allowing their relationship to take a different course. In these stories, Miranda July shows a remarkable skill for inhabiting the hearts and minds of a varied cast of characters, imbuing them with a tenderness and humanity that is the mark of a great writer. Members Reviews: One of the best Having listened to audiobooks for over twenty years, this is one of the best. Wanted to re-start it after it was finished. The author paints unbelievable secnarios, that stretch the imagination. Ordinary thoughts suddenly have extraordinary outcomes. Characters are complex, disturbing and likeable. It has been a along time since I have been so in awe of sheer writing. Brilliant. A wonderful collection of stories that could only have been written by Miranda July. The entire audiobook is filled with her unique brand of awkward comedy. As strange as it may be, it almost feels organic, as if these were real stories, filled with details. No one else could have read it as well as she did. Must have for any Miranda July fan. Reads your mind No one compares to Miranda when it comes to describing the many many strange feelings and parts of human nature previously unattended by other writers. You'll never get what you expect Where does No One Belongs Here More Than You rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far? This is a great audiobook What did you like best about this story? She has the capacity of twisting the stories in a way you never know what to expect. Her characters are deeply complex. What about Miranda Julys performance did you like? One of the best things of the book is the fact the author is reading her stories. Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting? It is a book you can listen story by story, but you need to listen to the complete story before pausing it. yes Awesome book. Great narration by the author. There were a few things I disliked, but these minor things didn't take away from the overall audiobook. The author should quit writing and narrate audio full time.

Then We Came to the End Audiobook by Joshua Ferris

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Joshua Ferris) — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 04:22:46 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Then We Came to the End Author: Joshua Ferris Narrator: Deanna Hurst Format: Abridged Length: 4 hrs and 32 mins Language: English Release date: 02-22-07 Publisher: Hachette Audio Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 131 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: No one knows us quite the same way as the men and women who sit beside us in department meetings and crowd the office refrigerator with their labeled yogurts. Every office is a family of sorts, and the Chicago ad agency Joshua Ferris brilliantly depicts in his debut novel is family at its strangest and best. The characters in Then We Came to an End cope with a business downturn in the time-honored way: through gossip, secret romance, elaborate pranks, and increasingly frequent coffee breaks. As one colleague after another is seen "walking Spanish down the hall" (office shorthand for being fired), the survivors obsessively parse their bosses' decisions - when they're not competing for the best office furniture left behind or trying to make sense of the mysterious pro-bono ad campaign that is their only remaining "work". Joshua Ferris has a demon's eye for the details and emotions that make up our lives, and he has written a hilarious and moving novel about the strange selves we become when we walk through the office doors each day. Critic Reviews: "Heartfelt and delivered in solemn deadpan. It may even be, in its own modest way, a great American novel." (Darcy Cosper, Los Angeles Times) "Wildly funny....At once delightfully freakish and entirely credible, Ferris' cast makes a real impression." (Publishers Weekly) "It's hilarious in a Catch-22 way, but with an undercurrent of sadness that works counterpoint to all the absurdity." (Stephen King) Members Reviews: Abridged Reading We were eager to read this, after listening together to Joshua Ferris being interviewed on the NYT book review podcast, so we downloaded the Audible version and enjoyed it quite a lot. Between listening sessions we talked about the characters and shared our thoughts about the book's narrators. We did not realize until it was over that we were listening to an abridged version. As a rule, we don't read (or listen to) abridgements. So we don't feel qualified to review the book when we're really only read part of it! However, it is clever and entertaining and any former or current cube-dwellers will almost certainly find much to appreciate. The composite narrator (much of the story is told from the perspective of "us") feels as fresh and novel as the first time we read Jay McInerney's "Bright Lights, Big City" 23 years ago. We only wish the Audible version were not an abridgement. We felt, in the end, as if someone were missing. Hilarious in book form, not so much for audio... I wondered what all the hoopla was about after I had finished listening to the audiobook version of this. I don't have anything against the reader---she was OK. But the book content is a real slice-and-dice job of the original book. This abridged version cuts out a lot of the fun, quirky stuff and you don't get a sense of how funny the book really is.

The Power Audiobook by Naomi Alderman

biacuaduc@gmail.com (Naomi Alderman) — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 06:25:36 GMT

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/705/]]> to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: The Power Author: Naomi Alderman Narrator: Adjoa Andoh, Naomi Alderman, Thomas Judd, Emma Fenney, Phil Nightingale Format: Unabridged Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins Language: English Release date: 10-27-16 Publisher: Audible Studios Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 29 votes Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Publisher's Summary: 2017 Winner of the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction 'She throws her head back and pushes her chest forward and lets go a huge blast right into the centre of his body. The rivulets and streams of red scarring run across his chest and up around his throat. She'd put her hand on his heart and stopped him dead.' Suddenly - tomorrow or the day after - girls find that with a flick of their fingers, they can inflict agonizing pain and even death. With this single twist, the four lives at the heart of Naomi Alderman's extraordinary, visceral novel are utterly transformed, and we look at the world in an entirely new light. What if the power to hurt were in women's hands? Critic Reviews: "Electrifying! Shocking! Will knock your socks off! Then you'll think twice, about everything." (Margaret Atwood) "The Power is a subtly funny, lyrical and utterly subversive vision of an impossible future. As all the best visionaries do, Alderman shines a penetrating and yet merciful light on to our present and the so many cruelties in which we may be complicit." (A. L. Kennedy) "Alderman is a fluent and powerful writer." (Sunday Times) Members Reviews: Entertaining story, nice structure, perfect performance Story flows easily and in an addictive way despite a series of characters (and perspectives) that never meet. Performance is perfect. The different characters come to life, adding richness to the story Reeling from the power of this book. I may become a bit evangelical in my wish to share this book... It is astonishingly good. This book makes me feel invincible. (Hope I remember soon that I don't, in fact, have The Power so I'm not!) Can't say too much in case of spoilers, but it's so clever and thought-provoking and engaging, it's hard to 'put down'. It is blunt in places - the reversal of women using rape as an instrument of war, for example - but some bits so subtle it's almost painful to realise how immune we are to incipient sexism until we hear it reversed in this way. The conversation between the two authors at the opening and closing of the book is a superb illustration, and the final line just says it all. Honourable mention should go to the narrator who is *phenomenal*. Great dramatic performance AND she's very good at the many different international and regional accents, which is often such an irritation. Can't praise it highly (or articulately) enough. Brilliant! This is a must read for anyone who cares about relationships, human rights and everything in between. What starts off as a fantastic twist of fate which finally sets women on the path to the potential for proper equality gently and systematically turns the tables and shows how the gaining of power can corrupt. A morality tale for the 21st century, highlighting where inequality is still riff in the world and pondering whether if women ruled the world it would be any better? It's also an incredibly brilliant read! a clever and provocative narrative This was an absolute find. Thought-provoking and compelling, I could have listened to this in one sitting. Awesome, in the true sense of the word Would you listen to The Power again? Why? Yes.