4.5 Stars for ORPHANS: ORIGINS by Mike Evans – AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

Title: ORPHANS – ORIGINS

Author: MIKE EVANS

Series: ORIGINS: Book One

Type of Book: Audiobook – Unabridged 

Narrator: Jack Wallen Jr.

Length: 11 Hours

Genre: Contemporary Science Fiction, Zombie Fiction 

Release Date: August 3, 2015

Publisher: Mike Evans

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~ I received a free copy of this audiobook through Audiobook Blast in exchange for an honest review. 

I have read A LOT of zombie fiction and it takes quite a bit to impress me – ORPHANS: ORIGINS did just that. 

When the audiobook first started I was worried that there would be nothing new in this audiobook and that I would be bored listening to it. My concerns were quickly put to rest as the story began to unfold.

Frank Fox is a man who gave up his prestigious position as an army research doctor to raise his four-year-old son after his wife dies of cancer. Sounds noble right? 

Well, twelve years later, his son, Shawn doesn’t think so. All Shawn remembers from that time is that his father was not there for Shawn or for his mother. Shawn is angry and feels that his father abandoned them. Shawn was only 4 years old and was left to care for his dying mother alone. You can’t blame Shawn for feeling that way. Imagine a tiny four year old left alone to watch his mother (the Center of his life) wither and ultimately die. 

Obviously from what I just wrote, you realize that this book has much more depth than just your typical zombie story. 

I do not want to give too much of the story away, but I do want say that this book contains one of the most plausible explanations as to the circumstances of how the zombie virus originates that I have ever read. I think future readers will agree.

Not only is there lots of action and some very scary scenes, but it also contains very believable human drama. 

The characters are well written and it is easy to visualize the people in the book.

I rate this book as 4.5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I highly recommend ORPHANS: ORIGINS Book One to all lovers of zombie fiction.

It is well written and the narrator does a terrific job and keeps listeners on the edge of their seats. 

The half star loss came from me being overly nit picky. There were a couple of pronunciation issues but nothing that was so glaring that it detracts from the story as a whole.

I will be looking forward to listening to the next audiobook in this series. I am very interested to know what happens next with Shawn and his friends. 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

MIKE EVANS lives in Iowa with his wife and children. He writes for character depth because he wishes for you to love the character, regardless if they are the villain or the hero. He likes to write from a unique perspective, doing things with books that no one has done before. He keeps his characters realistic, there are no superhero like events that will happen. There are no perfect characters in his books, everyone has their flaws much like that of life.

Visit the author’s website  

Facebook 

Twitter

ABOUT THE NARRATOR: 

The path to becoming a professional writer was certainly the one less traveled for Jack. 

Originally, Jack’s artistic bent led him to a career as an actor. Working on Broadway and with regional and Shakespeare theatres across the country, Jack is proud to have held his own as an actor for over twenty years.

Before the economy had a chance to completely destroy the theatre arts, Jack decided to take his final curtain call during a production with the heralded Stage One Theatre for Young Audiences. It was, however, during that long career that Jack discovered he had a knack for the written word. His first, full-length novel was written between 2000 and 2003. That book, A Blade Away, eventually became his first published work. It didn’t take Jack long to fall in love with the creative process of writing and he followed that first book up with the cult-favorite, Shero.

It wasn’t until Jack woke up one summer morning with a simple question on his mind, that he would finally dive into the craft of horror fiction tooth and nail. That question, “What would it be like to transform into a zombie?”, led Jack to pen the first novel in the I Zombie series — I Zombie I. From there, Jack dove into the deeper waters of horror and has never looked back.

You can follow the mis-adventures of Jack in a number of ways. 

Website 

Facebook 

Twitter 

Zombie Radio 

4 Stars for BOKO HARAM by Charles River Editors – AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

Title: BOKO HARAM: The History of Africa’s Most Notorious Terrorist Group

Author: Charles River Editors

Type of Book: Audiobook – Unabridged

Narrator: Wanda J. Dixon McKnight 

Length: 1 hour and 19 minutes

Release Date: April 23, 2015

Publisher: Charles River Editors

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

* I received a free copy of this audiobook through AudioBookBlast in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Boko Haram was not a group that was on anyone’s radar until one day in April of 2004, when the group kidnapped 276 girls from a school in Nigeria. It was not a coincidence that most of those kidnapped girls are Christian.

This audiobook explains the deeply religious ideology that Boko Haram espouses. Boko Haram members are Muslim and they believe that Sharia law is the only true law. 

The narrator of this audiobook was the perfect choice. Many of the African names and pronunciations are extremely difficult for most people to pronounce but Wanda J. Dixon McKnight was flawless in her performance.

Much of the initial information in this audiobook is quite ‘dry’ but it was necessary to include it in order to really understand the African region and its complicated history. 

I found this audiobook very interesting although at times it came across less like a “book” and more like a university lecture. 

I rate this book as 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Charles River Editors is an independent publisher of thousands of ebooks on Kindle , Nook , Kobo , and Apple iBookstore & provider of original content for third parties.

To find out more visit https://m.facebook.com/pages/Charles-River-Editors-LLC/184364271587581 

To find out more about Boko Haram and the kidnapping of the schoolgirls visit the following links: 

Multiple Articles from Newsweek

ARTICLE FROM THE GUARDIAN: The night Boko Haram kidnapped our girls: a Chibok resident remembers

FACT SHEET FROM THE COUNTERTERRORISM GROUP 

3 Stars for THE KILLING COUSINS by Jack Rosewood – AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

  

Title: THE KILLING COUSINS: The True Story of the Slaying Cousins 
Series: True Crime by Evil Killers, Book 11

Author: Jack Rosewood 

Type of Book: Audiobook- Unabridged 

Length: 3 hours and 8 minutes

Narrator: Miles Taylor 

Genre: Non-Fiction, True Crime

Release Date: February 9, 2016

Publisher: Wiq Media

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
~ I received a free copy of this book through AudioBookBlast in exchange for an honest review. 
Description by Audible.com: 

When Killing Cousins David Alan Gore and Fred Waterfield realized as teens that they shared the same sick, twisted sex fantasies of raping helpless, bound women who were completely at their mercy, Florida’s quiet Vero Beach would be never be the same.

 

DAVID ALAN GORE

 
Some of the least remorseful of all American serial killers, the deadly duo stalked their victims, often hitchhikes they believed would never be missed, using Gore’s auxiliary deputy badge as a ruse to lure them into their vehicle. After that, they were most likely to be driven to their deaths. 

Their evil, sadistic story from the annals of Florida history is one that will chill even longtime fans of true crime murder, especially after reading excerpts from the letters Gore wrote from prison, in which he shared deplorable secrets that made him one of the most demented sex criminals of all time. 

Gore once told a psychologist that “the devil made me do it,” but those who came in contact with Gore – including the law enforcement officials that ultimately put him on Death Row – believed he was the devil due to his depraved levels of cruelty.

Among the psychopaths and sociopaths that have walked the earth, Gore was one of the worst, although those who knew them say that it was Fred Waterfield, the more popular cousin who always played the good guy to Gore’s bad, who was the true brains of the outfit. As it happens, he probably was, because Waterfield almost got away with murder.
MY REVIEW: 

 Before listening to this audiobook I had never heard of Cousins David Alan Gore and Fred Waterfield which is surprising since their crimes must have garnered a lot of media attention. I assume the reason for my lack of information on the subject is due to geography. I live in Ontario, Canada and the cousins’ crime spree took place in Florida. 

I have listened to and read many True Crime books over the years and they all tend to follow a particular pattern. First, you learn about the killer’s childhood and family life; any early signs of psychopathy are outlined. This leads to the telling of the escalation of the killer’s crimes.

In “The Killing Cousins” this formula is only partially used. Other than learning that both David Alan Gore and his cousin, Fred Waterfield both had violent and deviant sexual fantasies during their adolescence, I did not feel that their early histories were adequately examined. 

I did find the story interesting, but felt there were a few problems with the way it was presented to the reader/listener. 

It was lacking in cohesiveness and the story came across as disjointed. For example, the listener learns that David Alan Gore was executed before they learn the details of his crimes. I believe that the author assumes that his readers will have previous knowledge of this criminal duo, but that is not always the case.

Another issue I had was with the recording quality. In two separate places the narrator repeats himself. I believe is probably when he took a break and went back to it later and a few words ended up being said twice; either that or whoever did the editing made the errors. 

I also would have liked to hear more about the victims. While there were a few details given, such as their ages, I felt that not enough details were given for the reader to feel any true empathy for them. They came across as victims in a story, rather than real people.

Based on the comments above, it would seem that I did not enjoy this audiobook, but that is not true. I found it interesting and I have to admit that the psychopathic mind is fascinating to me. What turns seemingly ordinary people into depraved monsters? I guess we will never really know.

If you are looking for a shortened version of the story of David Alan Gore and Fred Waterfield this audiobook is perfect for you.

I rate this audiobook as 3 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
If you are interested in more information about this crime spree, visit the following links:

THE PALM BEACH POST ARTICLE OUTLINING GORE’S CRIMES:

TAMPA BAY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ABOUT DAVID ALAN GORE’S EXECUTION

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

  
Jack Rosewood is the author of many books on True Crime.

Jack lives in Jupiter, Florida with his wife, two kids and their golden retriever, Vincent. 

Jack Rosewood has been a full time author for the last 15 years and he wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world!

His father was a journalist and wrote about some of the worst crimes you could ever imagine, and that’s where Jack’s interest from serial killers and other horrible crimes comes from. Just to hear his father talk about the evil acts of Ted Bundy as they were out fishing when he was a kid are some of his best memories.

Join His Newsletter and get a FREE E-Book and more deals: http://jackrosewood.com  

Facebook Fan Page   

ABOUT THE NARRATOR:

Miles Taylor is a voice actor from Upstate NY. He specializes in adult romance, fantasy, mystery & thrillers. 

4 Stars for DEATH’S DRIVER by Jack Larson – AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

Title: DEATH’S DRIVER: The Life of a Body Transporter

Author: JACK LARSON

Type of Book: AUDIOBOOK – Unabridged

Narrator: J. SCOTT BENNETT

Length: 1 hour and 49 minutes

Genre: NON-FICTION, MEMOIR

Release Date: December 18, 2015

Publisher: ZA Productions

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars ****

~ I received a free copy of this book through AudioBookBlast in exchange for an honest review.

PUBLISHER’S SYNOPSIS:

My career in the death care profession spanned a decade but encompassed the industry from several perspectives. What tied all these together was my role as a driver for the dead.

Sometimes I was a funeral driver, other times I picked up from morgues, and in another capacity I picked up the deceased from the scenes of car accidents, shootings, hit and runs, and worse. Finally, I cleaned up after homicides, accidents, and suicides as a side business.

I could have organized it in a logical, linear fashion, but that’s not how I remember it. My experiences varied widely and the pacing of the job was frenetic, fascinating, heartbreaking, and strangely edifying. Like death itself, it was always unpredictable.

MY REVIEW:

This audiobook is just under two hours in length and in it, Jack Larson relates short anecdotes about his time as “Death’s Driver.” Most of his anecdotes are about picking up bodies at accident or crime scenes and at times he goes into gory detail about the condition the body was in when he arrived to transport it to the morgue.

This audiobook is definitely not suitable for listeners under the age of 18 as I believe it would give children nightmares. It may even give some adults nightmares, but at least adults know what to expect when they read the synopsis, so, if it causes them nightmares, that is their own fault.

All of the anecdotes in this audiobook are very short. I found this frustrating at times. I guess I wanted a bit more of the backstory for each anecdote. Without the backstory I never really felt connected to the stories. But, I assume that author Jack Larson had to stay unattached and dispassionate to be able to do his job, so I guess this detachment is to be expected.

I really liked the narrator. He did a great job of describing some horrific situations with just the right mix of reverence for the dead and clinical dispassion. He never allowed his own personal feelings about any of the situations to show in his voice and if you choose to listen to this audiobook, you will realize just how difficult that must have been for him. I rate the narration as 5 out of 5 stars. *****

Overall, I found some of the anecdotes interesting and I found some of them just ridiculous. I just wish there was more personal detail so that I would have felt some connection to the author.

I rate this audiobook as 4 out of 5 stars. ****

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

This picture is an original piece of art created by Jack Larson – Click the picture to see more artwork

Jack Larson is an artist based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. His work is displayed in private collections around the world.

Several of his paintings have been published as book covers and one has been featured as an “Easter Egg” within Android smartphones. His work has been excoriated in reviews, exorcised by fundamentalist preachers, and appreciated by art collectors since he started painting zombies in 2009.

Click here to visit Jack Larson’s blog.

Follow him at: Instagram @zombiemarketing  

Click here to visit his Facebook Page.

 

ABOUT THE NARRATOR:

Scott was a Minister for twenty years, and also served in the United States Airforce as a Spanish translator before becoming a Middle School English and Language teacher. He is fairly new to the world of audiobook narration since he only began narrating audiobooks in July of 2015. However, in that short length of time he has narrated over 40 audiobooks

In high school and college he was active in drama and forensics even competing at the state and national level. He has years of public speaking experience, especially since he is a sixth grade reading teacher. He loves to do “read-alouds” with his students on a daily basis.

Visit Scott’s Narrator page on Goodreads

Visit Scott’s Page on Audible

4 Enthusiastic Stars for AFTERSHOCK by Valerie & Daniel Lioudis – AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

 

Cover Photo obtained from http://www.audible.com

 
Title: AFTERSHOCK: A Collection of Survivor Tales

Authors: Valerie and Kristopher Lioudis

Type of Book: AUDIOBOOK – Unabridged 

Narrator: Daniel Rose

Length: 7 hours and 28 minutes

Genre: Horror, Post-Apocalyptic Fiction, Zombie Fiction

Release Date: August 27, 2015

Publisher: Valerie Lioudis 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
~ I received a free copy of this audiobook through AudioBookBlast in exchange for an honest review. 

**This book contains explicit language and violence and is not suitable for listeners under the age of 16**

This audiobook alternates between the survival stories of several people after a virus decimates the world’s population. Most people are either dead or have turned into “Moaners” (zombies). 

This is the same storyline that almost every zombie novel adheres to; at least that is what I thought at first. 

Then comes the twist. Several survivors have one thing in common and that trait may just be the key to humanity’s survival. 

There are problems however. The survivors may be able to either outrun or outgun the Moaners, but what about other survivors? 

It is unfortunate, but there is one universal truth that is highlighted in apocalyptic fiction. Not unfortunate that it is included in the story, but because it is so realistic. That truth is that there are always people who will exploit any situation to their own personal benefit. This is as true in real life as it is in fiction. You need only to look at the price gouging that took place after Hurricane Katrina to find a real-life example of this concept. That is a very mild version of people doing bad things – the instances in this book are worse, much worse.

Each section or chapter of this book focuses on a specific survivor. My favourite parts were those that told the story of Max and Rocky. Max is a pre-teen and out of necessity he has had to grow up almost overnight. Fortunately for him, his dog Rocky is his constant companion. It is impossible as a parent not to root for the child to survive. And, of course, I love dogs so I wanted Rocky to survive as well. It is obvious that the authors are dog lovers because they really nailed the bond that develops between a boy and his dog. 

This audiobook stands out from other zombie novels because of the author’s incredible character development. There is a priest who has lost his faith. This to me makes him seem more real. In other books of this genre you often see religious characters that are so devout that even the walking dead are unable to shake their faith. Pardon my French, but BULLS**T. How could anyone not question their belief in a higher power when people are returning to ‘life’ after death and are attacking and eating anyone who is not yet infected with the virus?

Then, there is Daniel. He’s a soldier who was left behind by his unit. I guess the “No Man Left Behind” credo does not apply in the Zombie Apocalypse. There are other terrific characters, but I don’t want this review to be too long, so you will have to buy a copy of this audiobook to find out about the rest of them.  

The narrator for this audiobook, Daniel Rose, did an absolutely outstanding job of narrating the male voices. In fact, he did such a great job that I would recommend to the author that he keep this same narrator throughout the series. However, the one complaint I do have regarding the narration is that the chapters that focused on female survivors were also narrated by the same person – a male. Daniel Rose has such a wonderfully rich, deep and masculine voice that it would have have been preferable to have a second narrator; a female, to read those particular chapters. I think that if there were both a male and a female narrator that this audiobook would be a chart-topper in it’s genre. 

My favourite quote from this book is: “You can have all the supplies in the world, but if you can’t trust the group you’re with; you’re dead. It’s that simple.”

I enjoyed this audiobook and I do intend to listen to the next book in the series, especially since the ending of this one was a cliffhanger. I am interested to see what direction the survivors are headed and if all the separate groups and individuals will eventually end up together. 

I rate AFTERSHOCK as 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The only reason I did not rate it as 5 stars was due to the lack of a female narrator. 

• ABOUT THE AUTHORS: 

KRISTOPHER LIOUDIS

   

Father of six from the South Jersey Shore, Kris has always had a love for writing, horror and zombie fiction, and absurd, inappropriate humor. He co-wrote his first full-length novel, Aftershock: A Collection of Survivors’ Tales, with his total MILF of a wife Valerie. The two now live in the Pine Barrens with their pile of children and enough stockpiled Nerf weapons to take down an army of the undead.

More information about him and his books can be found here:

http://www.amazon.com/Aftershock-Collection-Survivors-Valerie-Lioudis-ebook/dp/B00QO04KCY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418845543&sr=1-1&keywords=aftershock%3A+a+collection

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10684738.Kristopher_Lioudis

https://twitter.com/NotUnamused
VALERIE LIOUDIS  

Valerie was born and bred in New Jersey. She is what people refer to as a “Creative Soul”. 

Valerie is afraid of just about everything so she turns to zombie movies and books to hash out what she would do to survive if the apocalypse ever hits New Jersey. 

Valerie is the mother of SIX (yes, you read that correctly) kids. They range in age from a newborn to teenagers so she has had to become a multitasking master. 

More information about her and her books can be found here:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10684737.Valerie_Lioudis

https://twitter.com/valeriebougher

4.5 Stars for REBEL RADIO by Boyd Craven III – Audiobook Review

  
Title: REBEL RADIO: A Post-Apocalyptic Story 

Author: Boyd Craven III 

Type of Book: Audiobook – Unabridged 

Narrator: Kevin Pierce

Length: 4 hours and 38 minutes 
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

Release Date: October 7, 2015

Publisher: Self-Published by Boyd Craven III

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

This audiobook is a stand-alone story. It does take place in the world of Boyd Craven III’s “The World Burns” saga, but it is the unnecessary to have any knowledge of those books to understand or enjoy “Rebel Radio”.

An EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) has destroyed all electronic devices and the world has been sent back to a time before electricity. This is a fairly common storyline in the post-apocalyptic genre. There is some of the typical hunt for supplies and shelter going on in this audiobook, however there is much less of this than one would expect. This is a story first and foremost about people. Yes, the setting is post-apocalyptic, but that is really just the backdrop to the actual tale. 

This book is written from two different points of view. Each chapter is either told from Don’s perspective or from Z’s perspective. Don is male and around 33 years of age and Z is a 23 year old female. 

The narrator does an incredible job as the voice of Don; the depressed, alcoholic, but I found it both strange and disconcerting that the same voice also narrated the chapters that were written from Z’s perspective. I would have preferred to hear two different narrators (one male & one female) so that it would always be clear whose perspective that chapter was being told from. 

Boyd Craven III has created amazingly realistic and completely believable characters. It is those characters that drive the story. 

Ben is a severely depressed, suicidal alcoholic and was this way even before the EMP. He decides each morning whether or not he is going to kill himself that day. 

Z is a gamer girl who has spent most of her recent years living life through her computer screen. She now realizes that no matter how amazing she was at playing (and winning) post-apocalyptic video games, that those skills are completely useless in her new reality. 

When the two misfits cross paths they each need to decide how to proceed with their own survival, and whether or not to team up and help each other, especially considering that their individual trust and faith in humanity is in short supply. 

I was drawn in to the audiobook and listened to it in a single session. It’s length of only 4 hours and 38 minutes made this easy to do. 

I do not want to reveal any spoilers, but I will say that I recommend this audiobook very highly. 

If not for the male/female issue, I would have rated this audiobook as 5 out of 5 stars. But, I have decided to deduct half a star because of that; resulting in a 4.5 out of 5 Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

~ I received a free copy of this audiobook through AudioBookBlast.com in exchange for an honest review

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

  
Boyd Craven III is the author of “The World Burns” Saga as well as “The Scorched Earth” books. 

He describes himself on his website as a “regular guy”. He owns and works on his own farm and is part of a co-op that sells vegetables at a farmer’s market. 

To learn more visit his website at http://www.boydcraven.com 

Find him on Facebook at https://m.facebook.com/boydcraven3 

View his author page on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6951271.Boyd_Craven_III 

Follow him on Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/boydc3 

ABOUT THE NARRATOR:

  
Kevin Pierce is an audiobook narrator and producer who lives in Fort Myers, Florida. To learn more about him or to view the massive list of audiobooks that he has narrated at http://www.kevinpiercepresents.com 

4 Stars for THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF M VALDEMAR by Edgar Allan Poe – AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

 

 Title: THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF M. VALDEMAR

Author: Edgar Allan Poe

Type of Book: Audiobook – Unabridged

Narrator: Walter Zimmerman

Length: 25 minutes

Genre: Horror, Short Story

Release Date: November 20, 2008

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
~ I received a free copy of this audiobook through AudioBookBlast dot com in exchange for an honest review. 

This audiobook is only 25 minutes long which makes it a great lunchtime listen. 

It a classic horror short story written by Edgar Allan Poe. 

The main characters in this story are Mr. Valdemar and a Mesmerist. Valdemar is on his death bed and the Mesmerist wants to place him in a hypnotic state at the exact moment of his death. The reason for attempting such a strange experiment is to determine whether or not it would be possible to communicate after physical death. 

When it was first published there was much controversy surrounding the tale. Why? Well, Mr. Poe did not tell people that it was a work of fiction. Many believed that it was a true account. Eventually Poe had to put an end to the gossip and announced that it was indeed a work of pure fiction. 

I enjoyed listening to this audiobook but it has been a long time since I have read any of Poe’s work and I had forgotten how archaic the language of the time seems.

I rate this audiobook as 4 out of 5 stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

  

Photograph obtained from http://www.biography.com

Edgar Allan Poe was born in 1809 and died forty years later in 1849. 

Poe became a literary sensation in 1845 when he published his poem “The Raven”. 

Poe is famous for his horror tales. Two themes that seem to appear in his writing are: Death and Loss. 

To read a full biography of Edgar Allan Poe visit: http://www.biography.com/people/edgar-allan-poe-9443160#major-works 

  

ABOUT THE NARRATOR: 

 Walter Zimmerman is both a published author and an audiobook narrator. 

4 Stars for PROTECT HER: Part One by Ivy Sinclair – AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

 

Title: PROTECT HER: Part One

Author: Ivy Sinclair 

Type of Book: Audiobook – Unabridged 

Narrators: Angel Clark and Robert Neil DeVoe 

Length: 2 hours and 21 minutes 

Genre: Paranormal Fiction 

Release Date: May 29, 2015

Publisher: Ivy Sinclair 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

~ I received a free copy of this audiobook through http://www.audiobookblast.com in exchange for an honest review. 

~ Due to strong language this audiobook is NOT suitable for listeners under the age of 18. 

Riley Stone is a Necromancer. He has a fearsome reputation amongst the Demon population. Paige Matthews is a regular young woman who knows nothing about demons and who, like most of the population does not believe in the supernatural. 

Calamata Island is a declared demon-free zone and is under the protection of the Archangel Benjamin. So, when Paige is attacked on Calamata Island by what she sees as a shadow with fiery eyes and is saved by Riley, she has no idea what is happening. 

Riley is perplexed as well. Why would a Demon risk Benjamin’s wrath just to attack a normal human? 

This is the first audiobook in a series and ends with no resolution at all which I found frustrating. Of course, it ended with a cliffhanger which will make listeners want to purchase the next audiobook in the series to find out what happens next. 

The cliffhanger ending is a terrific marketing strategy, but is frustrating for audiobook listeners. However, in author, Ivy Sinclair’s defence, it is obvious that this book is only part of a series since the title is ” PROTECT HER: Part One”. 

The characters of Riley Stone and Paige Matthews are only beginning to discover who they are in this book. I am sure that they will develop further over the course of the next ten episodes. One thing that comes across quite clearly is the fact that Riley Stone is gorgeous. I was reading the author’s blog and came across a picture of Riley and WOW, he is definitely eye candy:

  
The best thing about this audiobook was the decision to use two different narrators. I really liked having a female (Angel Clark) performing the part of Paige and a male (Robert Neil DeVoe) performing the part of Riley. It made the changes in perspective much more effective. 

Angel Clark has a terrific voice for audiobook narration. She speaks clearly and uses exactly the right inflection for her part. 

Robert Neil DeVoe was an inspired choice for the part of Riley Stone. He makes the character come alive and uses the perfect mix of emotion and cynicism to portray the jaded character of Riley Stone. I do not think I would have rated this audiobook as highly as I did if it weren’t for the amazing narration. The narrators both deserve a 5 star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

PROTECT HER: Part One is only two hours and twenty-one minutes long which makes it an easy listening experience.

I enjoyed his audiobook and my only complaint is that it didn’t contain more of the story. It would be nice to have a single audiobook containing all episodes of this story. 

I rate this audiobook as 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

  
Ivy Sinclair cut her romance teeth on classics like Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, An Affair to Remember, and Sabrina. She is a firm believer in true love, a happily ever after ending, and the medicinal use of chocolate to cure any ailment of the heart. Ivy’s guilty pleasures include sushi, endless Starbucks lattes, and wine. Readers of Ivy’s stories can expect smoldering sweet stories of romance that tug at the heartstrings.

Ivy Sinclair has both a blog at http://www.ivysinclair.com and a private Facebook reader’s group called “Ivy’s Front Porch” 

• ABOUT THE NARRATORS:

ROBERT NEIL DeVOE: 

  

Robert Neil DeVoe was born in New York and raised in Washington state. He now lives in Shanghai where he is pursuing acting, directing and of course, audiobook narration. 

More information about Robert Neil DeVoe can be found on Facebook at https://m.facebook.com/Robert-DeVoe 

ANGEL CLARK: 

  

Angel Clark hosts her own online radio show in addition to narrating audiobooks. 

Follow her on Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/sussexangelc 

Listen to her radio show at: 

https://www.spreaker.com/show/the_angel_clark_show_1 

Follow her on Facebook at https://m.facebook.com/AngelClarkShow/

  

4 Stars for KENTUCKY BLOODBATH by Kevin Sullivan – AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

  
Title: KENTUCKY BLOODBATH: Ten Bizarre Tales of Murder from the Bluegrass State

Author: Kevin Sullivan

Type of Book: Audiobook – Unabridged

Narrator: Kevin Pierce

Length: 2 hours and 58 minutes

Genre: True Crime, Non-Fiction

Release Date: August 14, 2015

Publisher: WildBlue Press 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

~ I received a free copy of this audiobook through AudioBookBlast in exchange for an honest review.

This audiobook is a compilation of ten criminal homicide cases that took place in the state of Kentucky over the past 50 years. 

The title “Kentucky Bloodbath” is very appropriate. The murders and heinous attacks that are detailed in this audiobook are truly bloody and horrific.

I enjoy reading true crime novels, but this one is particularly graphic. That is because it is not just a single story about a single crime.

~ I would caution potential listeners that this audiobook should not be played where anyone under the age of eighteen might hear its content.

The length of this audiobook is perfect. It is neither too long nor too short. I listened to this audiobook on my daily commute to work and was able to hear the entire book in two days. 

Author Kevin Sullivan has extensively researched each of the ten murder cases and has included background information on each of the victims and perpetrators. This makes listening to this audiobook much more interesting since there is almost always something the listener can relate to and therefore he/she becomes personally invested in each story. 

Kevin Sullivan has included small details that highlight the decade in which each murder took place. This assists the listener is forming a picture in their mind of where and when the murder took place. 

I admit that I had never heard about any of these murder cases prior to listening to this audiobook, but I did find them interesting. 

I rate this audiobook as 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and would recommend it to those who have a particular interest in true crime stories.

5 Stars for DAUGHTER OF THE SEA AND SKY by David Litwack – AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

  
Title: THE DAUGHTER OF THE SEA AND THE SKY

Author: David Litwack

Type of Book: Audiobook – Unabridged

Narrator: Sarah Zimmerman 

Length: 9 hours and 39 minutes 

Genre: Fantasy 

Release Date: February 23, 2015

Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

~ I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The land was split in two during the Great Sundering, with an ocean between the two lands. The only place where the two countries connected was the tiny strip of land known as “The Land Bridge” which was home to two massive gates. “They called them ‘Asylum Gates’ because any refugee who passed through them, even by a hair’s breadth, had the right to request asylum from the other side … It straddled a negotiated boundary and provided the only contact between the Minister’s people and the Soulless. Races that had kept apart except in time of war.”

Geography was not the only difference between the two groups. If you lived in “The Blessed Lands,” you referred to your people as “The Blessed” while the others were called “The Soulless.” However, if you happened to live in “The Republic” you referred to the Blessed as “Zealots” and your own people as the voice of reason. 

Helena and Jason grew up learning to quash their “passions” and to use logic and reason when problem solving or when making decisions. 

Helena grew up in a privileged family. Her mother was scientific in every way, including child rearing. Her father was a beloved teacher at the Polytechnic Institute. 

Jason grew up with Helena, but his family was not as well off. Despite the difference in their social status, they were the best of friends throughout their childhood. Jason moved away to further his education and to achieve something with his life and Helena missed him terribly. 

Through a quirk of fate, (although their analytical brains would never have accepted fate as a valid hypothesis) Jason’s new job brought him back into Helena’s life at exactly the time she needed him most. 

Helena’s father had recently died and she had watched him slowly fade away. Since she idolized her father she had been devastated by his death. Compounding Helena’s heartache was her mother’s emotional and eventually even physical absence. 

Helena was contemplating her loss and what to do with her future when she sees Jason running nearby. They both notice something in the water and quickly realize that someone is drowning. 

Jason dives in to save the person who turns out to be a nine year old girl named Kaylani. 

What neither Jason nor Helena realized at the time was that Kaylani would change their lives forever. 

You would think that just the plot lines I have already mentioned would be enough for one book, but those things are just tiny parts of a much more epic tale.

Throw in the supernatural, priests and priestesses, a government bent on jailing anyone and everyone who defies the law even in the smallest way. Add an artist commune for people with damaged souls, a retiring government official who is a stickler for the rules whether they are right or wrong and a zealot with delusions of grandeur. Once you add all these characters into the story, you have one heck of an interesting read or in my case, an interesting listen since I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook version. 

THE DAUGHTER OF THE SEA AND THE SKY surprised me, but I am very glad that I chose to listen to it. I enjoyed this audiobook very much. 

The narrator did an outstanding job of relating the story of this audiobook. Sarah Zimmerman was the perfect choice for this audiobook. Her tone, her pacing, her inflections and enunciation were sheer perfection. I rate the narration as 5 out of 5 stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

The audiobook in its entirety was well done. The characters were well written and easily relatable. The setting was unique and interesting. I loved the division of the two countries. The author does an incredible job of detailing how different groups of people see themselves and each other. 

David Litwack seems to have an ingrained understanding of how different people view the world around them. It is always interesting to me how multiple people can view the same event and draw vastly different conclusions from it. 

David Litwack also does an excellent job of portraying the many character’s personal quirks and in explaining how each character’s life experiences and their personal history has contributed to their character and beliefs. By the end of this audiobook the listener feels that he (or she) really knows each character and is able to understand what motivated them to act in the ways that they did. 

I rate the audiobook version of THE DAUGHTER OF THE SEA AND THE SKY as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐