Audiobook Review: The Snow Angel by Glenn Beck

Title:  The Snow Angel

Author:  Glenn Beck and Nicole Baart

Narrators:  January LaVoy and Ron McLarty

Unabridged Length:  Aprox. 6 hrs

Here is a summary of the book from the publisher's website:

The woman in the picture was so young she looked like a child. Her hair was loose, eyes wide, blue T-shirt stark against the pale lines of arching collarbones. I felt the air leave me in a quiet rush. Not because of the way the photo captured her fleeting youth, but because of the way it highlighted the bruise.

It was a photo of me.

Rachel Price has just one happy memory from her childhood: the moment her father took her hands while playing outside on a cold, snowy day and called her his angel. It was a rare and sacred moment in her young life, one in which she finally felt safe, loved, and protected.

But it didn’t last long.

Years later, Rachel’s daughter is the only light in what has become a dark life. Rachel repeats the patterns she learned as a child and exposes her own daughter to those same destructive behaviors. Consumed by an abusive marriage, but secure in the safety of the familiar, she is too afraid to escape.

Rachel accepts what her life has become, even as she makes excuses for those who keep her in a constant state of despair and regret. But then, an unexpected phone call from an old friend changes everything. Her ordered world is turned upside down as she’s set on a journey that might be her last chance to salvage the life she’d given up on long ago.

While new friendships tentatively blossom, Rachel realizes that everything she once believed may be nothing but lies and misunderstandings. But knowing the truth is not as easy as it seems. Sometimes ignorance truly is bliss. As the snow falls and the promise of Christmas redemption nears, Rachel begins to see her entire childhood in a brand-new light and must now decide what her future holds—and what her past really means. Will knowing the truth set her free, or will it condemn her to a life full of regret and “what ifs”? 

The Snow Angel is a poignant tale about family, forgiveness, and the freedom to live a future free of the past.

My Review:
I have to start out by telling you that this audiobook was such an emotional journey for me.  I listened to half of it in one sitting when I had to pick my daughter up for Christmas break.  Ok, that was probably my mistake.   As this book continually tugged at my heart, I also fell in love with the story and characters.

This book alternates between perspectives of both Rachel and Mitch.  Rachel has been living her life in an abusive marriage and trying to protect her daughter from all that comes with this situation in any way she can.  It is a sad and lonely world for Rachel as her husband has basically destroyed any friendship or relationship that she had outside of their home.

Mitch is an elderly man living in an assisted living center that has been diagnosed with Alzheimer;s Disease.  He lives a desolate existence himself as he doesn't have many visitors at the center, except for the nicely dressed gentleman that he meets in the dining hall now and then.  Mitch seems to be losing his grip on reality as he can barely recall the little girl that he so dearly misses.

This was a great Christmas book to listen to and I really don't want to give any more of it away.  If I have a complaint, it would be that it was just so darn sad.  I mean I was practically sobbing as I was going down the highway.  With themes of love, friendship, abuse, and family I think that many of you will enjoy this book.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure: This book was provided to me through the Audiobook Jukebox reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: Iron House by John Hart

Title:  Iron House

Author:  John Hart

Narrator:  Scott Sowers

Unabridged Length:  14 hours







Here is a summary of Iron House from the Macmillan website:

An old man is dying.

When the old man is dead they will come for him.
And they will come for her, to make him hurt.


HE WOULD GO TO HELL
At the Iron Mountain Home for Boys, there was nothing but time. Time to burn and time to kill, time for two young orphans to learn that life isn’t won without a fight. Julian survives only because his older brother, Michael, is fearless and fiercely protective. When tensions boil over and a boy is brutally killed, there is only one sacrifice left for Michael to make: He flees the orphanage and takes the blame with him.

TO KEEP HER SAFE
For two decades, Michael has been an enforcer in New York’s world of organized crime, a prince of the streets so widely feared he rarely has to kill anymore. But the life he’s fought to build unravels when he meets Elena, a beautiful innocent who teaches him the meaning and power of love. He wants a fresh start with her, the chance to start a family like the one he and Julian never had. But someone else is holding the strings. And escape is not that easy. . . .

GO TO HELL, AND COME BACK BURNING
The mob boss who gave Michael his blessing to begin anew is dying, and his son is intent on making Michael pay for his betrayal. Determined to protect the ones he loves, Michael spirits Elena—who knows nothing of his past crimes, or the peril he’s laid at her door— back to North Carolina, to the place he was born and the brother he lost so long ago. There, he will encounter a whole new level of danger, a thicket of deceit and violence that leads inexorably to the one place he’s been running from his whole life: Iron House.

My Review:
I have found that I usually do not like to read books from the mystery/suspense genre, but listening to them is a different story!  I love the action that these stories provide for my listening pleasure.  I have read several great reviews from other bloggers who read this book, so I was looking forward to it.  I have to tell you that the audioversion fell a bit short for me though.

Michael and his younger brother Julian were raised at an orphanage in a remote community in North Carolina.  When Michael flees the orphanage to make a life of his own, Julian stays on and is eventually adopted by a family that holds substantial political influence.  Although Julian grows up with a privileged lifestyle, the ghosts of the Iron House orphanage will haunt him forever.

Michael starts his life over in New York City and finds himself in a lucrative career within the circle of organized crime.  A life containing all of the crime and deceit can only last so long, and when it is over, it ends quickly.  Michael eventually flees the city and returns to the only home he has ever known in a quest for answers.  Little does he know that he will unravel secrets that were never meant to revealed from years ago.

So this audiobook had a great plot, but like I said, it just didn't measure up for me.  I found my attention wandering quite often and although I was able to get caught up with the family drama between the two brothers, there were still parts of the book that I missed and just didn't understand certain parts of the storyline because of that.  With themes family, love, and crime, this story may be of interest to fans of the thriller genre.

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  This audiobook was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: One Summer by David Baldacci

Title:  One Summer

Author:  David Baldacci

Narrators:  Ron McClarty and Orlagh Cassidy

Unabridged Length: 8 hrs, 15 mn


Here is a summary of One Summer from the Hachette website:

It's almost Christmas, but there is no joy in the house of terminally ill Jack and his family. With only a short time left to live, he spends his last days preparing to say goodbye to his devoted wife, Lizzie, and their three children. Then, unthinkably, tragedy strikes again: Lizzie is killed in a car accident. With no one able to care for them, the children are separated from each other and sent to live with family members around the country. Just when all seems lost, Jack begins to recover in a miraculous turn of events. He rises from what should have been his deathbed, determined to bring his fractured family back together. Struggling to rebuild their lives after Lizzie's death, he reunites everyone at Lizzie's childhood home on the oceanfront in South Carolina. And there, over one unforgettable summer, Jack will begin to learn to love again, and he and his children will learn how to become a family once more.

My Review:
This novel is so unlike Baldacci's thrillers that we are accustomed to, but it is a welcome change for me.  As an audiobook McClarty and Cassidy embraced the listeners by making me want to hear more every day I was in my car.  Quite often when I am listening to a book I find that my attention does have a tendency to wander, but I don't think that happened once, and if I happened to miss something I had to rewind it to make sure I didn't miss a thing!

Jack is terminally ill with three children that need parental guidance at home.  Knowing his time on earth is limited, he agrees with his mother-in-law as he watches his children being separated to live with various family members, while he lies alone in a hospice center  just waiting to take his last breath.  He ends up spending a lot of time in the hospice center when he not only lives longer than expected, but suddenly seems to recover.  When he is finally given a clean bill of health months after his admittance, the doctors are amazed at the miracle that Jack seems to have spun.

At the hesitance of his family members, Jack is able to get his kids back together again and living with him.  Not long after their reunion, when life seems to be getting back to some form of normalcy, the kids maternal great-grandmother passes away and leave a South Carolina beach home to Jack and his family.  Jack is surprised that he was chosen to inherit this piece of property, but as a carpenter she figured that Jack is the one who would give the home the care that it needed.

So Jack, his kids, and his best friend Sammy, pack up all of their belongings to go investigate the beach property, that the family has always called 'The Castle'.  When they arrive at the castle they are astonished to find The Castle is basically a dilapidated beach house, but the kids have hope that this will not be their permanent residence.  Although things look rough on the surface, Jack sees the beautiful home that this could be once again.

A lot happens to Jack and his family during that summer at The Castle.  For a bit Jack seems to lose himself in the construction projects, while his kids drift further away from him.  When he finally realizes that his priorities are out of whack they all make some changes that bring them back to a family level.  The only problem is that it may be too late for these changes.

This was a great audiobook, one that I think I enjoyed more than if I had actually read it.  With themes of love, miracles, and family obligations, you will want to hear every word that is spoken.  I do not hesitate in recommending this selection in the audioversion.

My Rating: 4/5

Disclosure:  This audiobook was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

2011 Audiobook Challenge Completed!

Well it looks like I have another challenge under my belt!  This time it's the 2011 Audiobook Challenge that was hosted by Theresa's Reading Corner.  About five years ago we moved to a more rural location that required me to have a longer commute to work.  So I figured if I was going to be spending 30-45 minutes in my car every day, I might as well start listening to audiobooks!  I will tell you that I am so glad that I started doing this!  Since I've never been able to be a very fast reader at least I have been able to experience more books since I started listening to them.

I signed up for the addicted level, which required me to listen to at least 12 audiobooks and here is what I have listened to so far:

1. Still Missing by Chevy Stevens--Completed 1/12/2011
2. The Brave by Nicholas Evans--Completed 2/1/2011
3. The Bourne Objective by Eric Van Lustbader--Completed 3/4/2011
4. An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin--Completed 3/17/2011
5. A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnday--Completed 3/31/2011
6. Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson--Completed 4/15/2011
7. When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson--Completed 5/9/2011
8. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley--Completed 5/29/2011
9. The Good Guy by Dean Koontz--Completed 6/10/11
10. Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith--Completed 7/1/11
11. The Camel Club by David Baldacci--Completed 8/2/11
12. Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand--Completed 9/6/11
13. To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNeal--Completed 10/7/11
14. The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta--Completed 10/31/11
15. One Summer by David Baldacci--Completed 11/12/11
16. Iron House by John Hart--Completed 12/14/11
17. The Snow Angel by Glenn Beck--Completed 12/24/11

You should be able to click on the title if my review has been posted already.  I hope to keep adding titles to this post as I keep listening to books throughout the rest of the year.  I can't wait to see how many I actually finish with!

Audiobook Review: The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta

Title:  The Leftovers

Author:  Tom Perrotta

Narrator:  Dennis Boutsikaris

Unabridged Length:  approx. 11 hrs.


Here is a summary from the Macmillan website:
What if—whoosh, right now, with no explanation—a number of us simply vanished?  Would some of us collapse? Would others of us go on, one foot in front of the other, as we did before the world turned upside down?

That’s what the bewildered citizens of Mapleton, who lost many of their neighbors, friends and lovers in the event known as the Sudden Departure, have to figure out. Because nothing has been the same since it happened—not marriages, not friendships, not even the relationships between parents and children.  

Kevin Garvey, Mapleton’s new mayor, wants to speed up the healing process, to bring a sense of renewed hope and purpose to his traumatized community. Kevin’s own family has fallen apart in the wake of the disaster: his wife, Laurie, has left to join the Guilty Remnant, a homegrown cult whose members take a vow of silence; his son, Tom, is gone, too, dropping out of college to follow a sketchy prophet named Holy Wayne.  Only Kevin’s teenaged daughter, Jill, remains, and she’s definitely not the sweet “A” student she used to be.  Kevin wants to help her, but he’s distracted by his growing relationship with Nora Durst, a woman who lost her entire family on October 14th and is still reeling from the tragedy, even as she struggles to move beyond it and make a new start.

With heart, intelligence and a rare ability to illuminate the struggles inherent in ordinary lives, Tom Perrotta has written a startling, thought-provoking novel about love, connection and loss.

My Review:
What an interesting book this was that sets us in a town after a portion of it's citizens have disappeared.  The people that were left behind struggle with reasons as to why they weren't taken and where exactly the missing people went.  They were here one second and gone the next...but gone where?

Kevin is the mayor of Mapleton and although his family weathered the Sudden Departure, it definitely left them all broken in their own way. Kevin's wife Laurie does not think that the way they are living is benefiting society, so she joins a group that believes they are fulfilling a greater purpose.  His son Tom was in college when the Departure took place, so after losing half of his classmates to this event, he withdrew from school to follow an odd character who also thought had all the answers.  Kevin's high school daughter Jill still lives at home, along with her best friend that moved in, but high school has been elevated to a new level since the Departure.

We follow all of these characters lives throughout the novel, as we get a closer look at their hopes and fears.  They are all trying to move on with their lives, but find themselves stalled as there is so much uncertainty in the world where they live.  Half of the population is gone and who is to say that the rest of us won't be gone tomorrow?

There is so much to contemplate within this novel and I really feel that I shouldn't disclose any more about it that would ruin the story for you.  I love stories that make me stop and think, "How would I react in this situation?"  That is the type of book this is and the narrator did a great job of keeping the listener's attention.   With themes of end times, forgiveness, love and redemption, this book will give the reader or listener plenty to ponder long after you have turned the last page or listened to the last track.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  This book was provided to me through the Audiobook Jukebox reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNeal

Title:  To Be Sung Underwater
Author:  Tom McNeal
Narrator:  Susan Boyce
Unabridged Length:  15 hrs, 15 mn.

Here is a summary of the book from the Hachette website:

Judith Whitman always believed in the kind of love that "picks you up in Akron and sets you down in Rio." Long ago, she once experienced that love. Willy Blunt was a carpenter with a dry wit and a steadfast sense of honor. Marrying him seemed like a natural thing to promise. But Willy Blunt was not a person you could pick up in Nebraska and transport to Stanford. When Judith left home, she didn't look back.

Twenty years later, Judith's marriage is hazy with secrets. In her hand is what may be the phone number for the man who believed she meant it when she said she loved him. If she called, what would he say?

TO BE SUNG UNDERWATER is the epic love story of a woman trying to remember, and the man who could not even begin to forget.

My Review:
When this audiobook starts out, it seems that Judith is unhappy with the direction that her life has taken her.  She appears to have a beautiful family after marrying her college sweetheart and having a lovely daughter.  But after suspecting that her husband is having an affair she can't help but wonder if she passed up her one chance for true love long ago.

Although this story takes place in present day, Judith reflects back on her teenage years when she met young Willy Blunt.  We find out how her relationship with her parents helped to shape her into the person that she has become.  After her parents divorce, Judith seems to lose touch with her mother when it seems that living with her father would be in her best interests.

It is during the time that Judith is living with her father when paths cross with Willy.  They fall in love at such a young age and while Willy seems to already have a life for himself in a small town, Judith is thinking about college and where that life may take her.  She just isn't sure if she can live with herself if she doesn't move forward to a prospective future.

I don't want to give any more of this audiobook away, but I will tell you that Judith was not happy with the person that she has become.  It seemed to me that she even tried to reinvent herself, which was a part of the story that I just did not understand and found a bit unnecessary.  But Judith finds that she must confront her past and accept the decisions that she has made in order to move on with her life.

This audiobook was narrated by Susan Boyce, who I feel did not attribute much to the story itself.  As I was listening to the story I thought to myself several times that this may be a book that I would have enjoyed actually "reading" rather than listening to.  Overall I did enjoy this novel with themes of true love, secrets, and family obligations.

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  This audiobook was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

Title:  Silver Girl
Author:  Elin Hilderbrand
Narrators:  Janet Metzger, Marianne Fraulo
Unabridged Length:  14 hrs, 28 mn.

Here is a summary of Silver Girl from the Hachette website:
Meredith Martin Delinn just lost everything: her friends, her homes, her social standing - because her husband Freddy cheated rich investors out of billions of dollars.

Desperate and facing homelessness, Meredith receives a call from her old best friend, Constance Flute. Connie's had recent worries of her own, and the two depart for a summer on Nantucket in an attempt to heal. But the island can't offer complete escape, and they're plagued by new and old troubles alike. When Connie's brother Toby - Meredith's high school boyfriend - arrives, Meredith must reconcile the differences between the life she is leading and the life she could have had.

Set against the backdrop of a Nantucket summer, Elin Hilderbrand delivers a suspenseful story of the power of friendship, the pull of love, and the beauty of forgiveness.

My Review:
This is the second Hilderbrand novel that I have listened to as an audiobook, so can I just start by saying that I really would love to spend a summer vacation in Nantucket!  Whether her characters are living in a beautiful mansion or a rustic cabin, Hilderbrand brings out the dynamics of family and friends in a way that makes my heart yearn for more.

Meredith and Connie had a rift in their friendship years ago, but when Meredith finds she has no-one else to turn to, she takes a chance by escaping from her trauma with the only person that hasn't shunned her.  As Connie is getting ready to spend the summer in her beautiful Nantucket home, she invites Meredith to join her.  Since Connie has still been mourning the loss of her husband, she is nervous about all the publicity that could come along with her new roommate so they try to keep Meredith's presence known from as many people as possible.

There is still tension between Meredith and Connie as their broken friendship never really had a chance to recover earlier on.  While both of these women are dealing with their own demons and issues, they must once again learn to trust and confide in each other so they both can move on with their lives.  The men they both loved and trusted have been ripped away from them and it seems that they need to come to terms with their lives and friendship before they can open their hearts again.

As both of these women come to terms with their lives, we find out exactly how they got to the place that has caused so much turmoil.  Meredith recalls periods of her life with Freddy and even though she fell in love with him, she slowly learns that most of Freddy's attention to her was just a front to get him further ahead with his investors.  Connie misses and loves her husband, but she can't seem to stop blaming herself for his death and the fractured relationship that she has with her daughter.  Since Meredith and Connie both feel alone in their misery they really do not have any other choice than to seek comfort from each other.

I love novels that show how important it is to have strong female relationships.  With themes of love, friends, heartbreak, and loss this novel really does have a lot to offer.  And within the story Connie even gives Meredith a couple of cooking lessons that leave you salivating!  I would have loved to read this book while lounging on a beach somewhere, but I also think it would make a great book club selection.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  This audiobook was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: The Camel Club by David Baldacci

Title:  The Camel Club
Author:  David Baldacci
Narrator:  Jonathan Davis
Unabridged Length:  16 hrs, 10 mn.
 

Here is a summary of book from the Hachette website:

Welcome to THE CAMEL CLUB.Existing at the fringes of Washington, D.C., the Club consists of four eccentric members. Led by a mysterious man known as "Oliver Stone," they study conspiracy theories, current events, and the machinations of government to discover the "truth" behind the country's actions.Their efforts bear little fruit-until the group witnesses a shocking murder...and become embroiled in an astounding, far-reaching conspiracy. Now the Club must join forces with a Secret Service agent to confront one of the most chilling spectacles ever to take place on American soil-an event that may trigger the ultimate war between two different worlds. And all that stands in the way of this apocalypse is five unexpected heroes.

My Review:
The Camel Club is the first novel in a series by David Baldacci that introduces us to an extraordinary group of individuals that have their own way of trying to keep our country safe, even from people that would not usually be suspected.  Jonathan Davis narrated this audiobook and did a great job of building the action and suspense within the novel.

There are many characters that are introduced within the book, but Oliver Stone, who also leads the Camel Club is the character that we get to know the most.  Stone is quite a mysterious man as he doesn't seem to have a past but yet knows many of the in's and out's of secret government issues.  When the Camel Club gathers for a meeting in the beginning of the novel, they unfortunately witness a murder, which lands them knee deep in the middle of a conspiracy that will add excitement to all of their lives.

Shortly after the murder takes place, we learn about a plot to kidnap the President of the United States.  Plans have been in place by a terrorist organization that include people that have been working as nannies to medical doctors.  Once the President is kidnapped the Secret Service picks up a trail that somehow leads them right in the path of Oliver Stone and the rest of the Camel Club.

These events are somehow linked to the conspiracy and the Camel Club finds themselves working with the Secret Service to unravel the mystery.  As I indicated, this audiobook is full of action and suspense to keep your attention through most of the book.  I did find my attention wavering in a few parts, which is why I am going to give this audiobook just an average rating.  I'm sure that Baldacci fans will eat this one up though!

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  I borrowed this audiobook from my local library and listened to it for my own entertainment.

Audiobook Review: Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith

Here is a summary of Love Over Scotland from Alexander McCall Smith's website:

The third installment in Alexander McCall Smith’s beloved 44 Scotland Street series is sure to delight his many fans.


This just in from Edinburgh: the complicated lives of the denizens of 44 Scotland Street are becoming no simpler. Domenica Macdonald has left for the Malacca Straits to conduct a perilous anthropological study of pirate households. Angus Lordie’s dog, Cyril, has been stolen, and is facing an uncertain future wandering the streets. Bertie, the prodigiously talented six-year-old, is still enduring psychotherapy, but his burden is lightened by a junior orchestra's trip to Paris, where he makes some interesting new friends. Back in Edinburgh, there is romance for Pat with a handsome young man called Wolf, until she begins to see the attractions of the more prosaically named Matthew.

My Review:
This was another interesting segment of the 44 Scotland Street series as many of our favorite characters return and we are even introduced to a few new ones.  I have always enjoyed Alexander McCall Smith's novels as they are full of delightful elements that never fail to put a smile on my face.  The narration of Robert Ian MacKenzie only enhanced my experience that much more.

In the last novel it seemed to me that Bertie's father was actually stepping up to his wife to loosen the controlling grip on the young boy.  It seemed that she was willing to allow Bertie to enjoy being a young boy for awhile.  In this third installment she seemed to forget her change in parenting methods as the stress of being a child prodigy is placed on Bertie's shoulders once again.  There are a few surprises with this small family though that I won't reveal as they really had quite a shock factor.

Since Pat had to leave Bruce's flat she found a new place to stay with a young gal close to her own age.  Things don't go very well with Pat's new living arrangements as there appears to be a mutual attraction between herself and her roommate's boyfriend.  Pat finds herself needing to find another place to live before the situation gets out of control and surprisingly Matthew offers her a place to lay her head.  All I will say about this is, very interesting indeed!

Angus Lordie is dying of loneliness after Domenica leaves to study the lives of pirates.  An odd young woman is staying in Domenica's flat while she is away and Angus doesn't seem to take a liking to her at all.  Between this new resident of Scotland Street and Cyril's narration within the novel there was not a dull moment to be had.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel as we get to revisit some of our favorite characters from 44 Scotland Street.  Smith is such a talented writer and he throws in a few surprises and some romance to keep us turning the pages in this installment.  I don't hesitate in recommending this novel or even the series for that matter.  I've been listening to these on audiobook but I think they would be just as enjoyable to actually read them.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  I borrowed this audiobook from my local library for my personal entertainment.

No Audiobook Review for The Good Guy by Dean Koontz

Here is a summary of The Good Guy from Dean Koontz' website:

Timothy Carrier, having a beer after work at his friend’s tavern, enjoys drawing eccentric customers into amusing conversations. But the jittery man who sits next to him tonight has mistaken Tim for someone very different—and passes to him a manila envelope full of cash.

“Ten thousand now. You get the rest when she’s gone.”

The stranger walks out, leaving a photo of the pretty woman marked for death, and her address. But things are about to get worse. In minutes another stranger sits next to Tim. This one is a cold-blooded killer who believes Tim is the man who has hired him.

Thinking fast, Tim says, “I’ve had a change of heart. You get ten thousand—for doing nothing. Call it a no-kill fee.” He keeps the photo and gives the money to the hired killer. And when Tim secretly follows the man out of the tavern, he gets a further shock: the hired killer is a cop.

Suddenly, Tim Carrier, an ordinary guy, is at the center of a mystery of extraordinary proportions, the one man who can save an innocent life and stop a killer far more powerful than any cop…and as relentless as evil incarnate. But first Tim must discover within himself the capacity for selflessness, endurance, and courage that can turn even an ordinary man into a hero, inner resources that will transform his idea of who he is and what it takes to be The Good Guy.

My No Review:
Yes, you read this correctly!  I don't intend this to be a review for The Good Guy, but more of a way of venting my frustration with my local library about the condition of these discs from this audiobook.  I actually looked at these discs before checking the book out from the library and thought I would let them know that they should be cleaned.  Well, I was informed that they don't clean them until patrons bring the discs back and complain about them.  Ok, well I will take the book anyway as I knew I had to work at the video store in the next couple of days and I will just buff the discs then.

So that is what I did.  Buffed the discs when I was done working one night and proceeded to listen to the audiobook.  Well not only did this book still skip all over the place, including over entire chapters, but the last disc, that basically sums up why this guy was trying to kill some woman he didn't know and who he was working with to accomplish the task, basically skipped over the entire ending.

Please don't get me wrong, because I am very grateful for our local library, as they offer a wonderful service to our community.  Why can't they just clean the discs before people check them out if they look bad?  Or if one disc looks bad out of the whole book even replace it?  I don't understand!  I clean movies for people at the video store all the time, so I don't see why it is out of the realm of possibility.

So because I didn't get to listen to this audiobook in it's entirety I feel that I cannot offer an honest review, so I'm not giving you one.  I can tell you that this book definitely held the suspense that Koontz usually delivers but that is as much as I will share with you.

Hmmmm....I think I need to check out Audible.com.

Audiobook Review: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

Here is a summary of the book from the author's website:

Great literary crime detectives aren’t always born; they’re sometimes discovered, blindfolded and tied up in a dark closet by their nasty older sisters. Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce’s bitter home life and vicious sibling war inspires her solitary diversions and “strange talents” tinkering with the chemistry set in the laboratory of their inherited Victorian house, plotting sleuth-like vengeance on Ophelia (17) and Daphne (13), and delving into the forbidden past of her taciturn, widowed father, Colonel de Luce. It comes as no surprise, then, that the material for her next scientific investigation will be the mysterious corpse that she uncovers in the cucumber patch. 

Fearless and darkly imaginative, Flavia hurries to solve the murder and acquit her father of suspicion. Following the lead of its clever protagonist, Sweetness is entirely inventive, fast-paced, and quick-witted, with tongue-in-cheek humour that derides the macabre seriousness of subject.

Alan Bradley plants the story deep into the setting of 1950s England, with a portrait of an eccentric home life that is all too wickedly familiar. The story’s twists are supported by the time and place as well as the unusual interests of the characters which range from stamp-collecting to making poisons all of which are highly researched and ingeniously incorporated.

My Review:
I have read some very interesting reviews of this book, but it had been so long after reading reviews that I really did not know what to expect with this novel.  It was a quite an enjoyable audiobook and the narration by Jayne Entwistle made it even more enjoyable!  I am glad that I didn't realize that this book is actually the first in a series as I have been trying to stay away from getting caught up in new series.  I will probably follow this one through audiobooks so that should be fun!

Flavia de Luce is a fascinating eleven year old girl who also happens to be our little heroine.  She finds herself fascinated by chemistry, but especially poisons, and you catch glimpses of this obsession throughout the novel as she thinks of ways to experiment on her sisters.

Flavia finds a new way to occupy her time after stumbling upon a dead body in the garden.  She is surprised when she realizes that the dead body is someone that she heard arguing with her father in the study the evening before.  She can't help but launch her own investigation to find out who exactly killed the mysterious man found in the garden.

It is understandable that Flavia would think that her father is the main suspect, considering the argument that she overheard.  After her father explains to her how he knew the man who is now a corpse, she gets to know a side of her father that she has never seen before.  He opens up to her in a way that makes her realize that he could never commit a crime of this magnitude.

This was a delightful mystery that takes us back to 1950's England and gives us a glimpse into a conspiracy that was created revolving around some very rare postage stamps.  I loved this novel that was told from young Flavia's perspective as her life, energy and humor resonated throughout.  I do not hesitate in recommending this novel as an audiobook to listen to.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  I borrowed this audiobook from my local library and listened to it for my own entertainment.

Audiobook Review: When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson

Here is a summary of the book from Kate Atkinson's website:

In rural Devon, six-year-old Joanna Mason witnesses an appalling crime. Thirty years later the man convicted of the crime is released from prison.

In Edinburgh, sixteen-year-old Reggie works as a nanny for a G.P. But Dr Hunter has gone missing and Reggie seems to be the only person who is worried.

Across town, Detective Chief Inspector Louise Monroe is also looking for a missing person, unaware that hurtling towards her is an old friend -- Jackson Brodie -- himself on a journey that becomes fatally interrupted.

My Review:
This was an audiobook that started out with a punch as it details a crime that is witnessed by young Joanna.  After the unfortunate incident the book fast forwards to the life of an adult Dr. Joanna Hunter, who for some reason appears to be missing.  But is she really missing, or is she just visiting a sick aunt as this is what her husband is telling people.

As indicated in the summary, Reggie is a 16 year old girl that works for Dr. Hunter.  I must admit that I really was under the impression that Reggie was much younger than this as I was listening to the book.  I was thinking that she was maybe 11 or 12 years old, just from the odd jobs that Dr. Hunter hired her to do and from how she came up with her conclusions.  She didn't seem to get along with or trust Dr. Hunter's husband, so she finds it curious when he tells her that Dr. Hunter went to visit her aunt.  After a little bit of investigating she decides that Dr. Hunter never would have left town in the manner that it appears she did.

Jackson Brody is an interesting character that has found himself involved in various police investigations throughout his career.  He is intrigued although a bit skeptical when young Reggie decides to report Dr. Hunter as a missing person.  Why would a babysitter be reporting her as missing rather than her husband?

All events seem to come full circle in this novel.  Is someone trying to finish off the job of Joanna Hunter that was left incomplete from years ago, or is her disappearance revolving around a new set of circumstances?  She possibly could have just went to visit a sick aunt.  This book does leave you wondering, stringing you along until the very end.  Ellen Archer is the narrator of this novel and for some reason I just did not find myself immersed in her voice and the story.  This was an interesting story, but as an audiobook it did fall a bit short for me.

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  I borrowed this book from my local library and listened to it for my own entertainment.

You can check out more great reviews over at Cym Lowell's Book Review Party Wednesday!

Audiobook Review: Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson

Here is a summary of Gods in Alabama from the Hachette website:

For 10 years Arlene has kept her promises, and God has kept His end of the bargain. Until now. When an old schoolmate from Possett turns up at Arlene's door in Chicago asking questions about Jim Beverly, former quarterback and god of Possett High, Arlene's break with her former hometown is forced to an end. At the same time, Burr, her long-time boyfriend, has raised an ultimatum: introduce him to her family or consider him gone. Arlene loves him dearly but knows her lily white (not to mention deeply racist)Southern Baptist family will not understand her relationship with an African American boyfriend.

My Review:
Gods in Alabama includes characters from Jackson's book, Backseat Saints, but after listening to both books on audio now, I really don't think it matters what order the books are read in.  I think I may have actually enjoyed Backseat Saints more by reading this book later.  If you are interested you can also check out my review of Backseat Saints here.

Arlene has spent the last ten years of her life in Chicago as she tries to forget the events that led up to her departure of her childhood home in Possett, Alabama.  She has changed her life around as she no longer will sleep with any man that walks through the door and has received a great education that will give her a stable future.  Things are about to change for Arlene when her boyfriend Burr is ready to take their relationship to a new level.  To make things more complicated, Arlene is caught off-guard when Rose Mae Lolly happens to show up at her door inquiring about the whereabouts of Jim Beverly, since Arlene was probably the last one to see him.

Arlene's aunt Flo has been hounding her for the last ten years to come back home to visit, but she vowed she would not step on Alabama soil again.  Now that Rose Mae is on a quest to find Jim Beverly and will be heading to Alabama herself she finds that she must face her fears and go back home to where all of the secrets are kept.  This will give her the opportunity to introduce her African American boyfriend to her traditional Southern family and also keep Rose Mae at bay.

I really don't want to go into too much of the story as it really is a story that should be revealed as you are reading it.  The secrets are uncovered as Arlene faces her past and confides in Burr and her family.  She learns how important her family really is and the lengths they will go to protect her.

This audiobook was read by Catherine Taber and I think she did a wonderful job of narrating this novel.  With themes of family, love, and mistakes, this book has so much to offer.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and don't hesitate in recommending this one for leisure or a book club selection.

My Rating:  4/5

Disclosure:  I borrowed this book from my local library and listened to it for my own entertainment.

Audiobook Review: A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay

Here is a summary of A Secret Kept from the Macmillan website:

This stunning new novel from Tatiana de Rosnay, author of the acclaimedNew York Times bestseller Sarah’s Key, plumbs the depths of complex family relationships and the power of a past secret to change everything in the present.

It all began with a simple seaside vacation, a brother and sister recapturing their childhood.  Antoine Rey thought he had the perfect surprise for his sister Mélanie’s birthday: a weekend by the sea at Noirmoutier Island, where the pair spent many happy childhood summers playing on the beach.  It had been too long, Antoine thought, since they’d returned to the island—over thirty years, since their mother died and the family holidays ceased.  But the island’s haunting beauty triggers more than happy memories; it reminds Mélanie of something unexpected and deeply disturbing about their last island summer.  When, on the drive home to Paris, she finally summons the courage to reveal what she knows to Antoine, her emotions overcome her and she loses control of the car.

Recovering from the accident in a nearby hospital, Mélanie tries to recall what caused her to crash.  Antoine encounters an unexpected ally: sexy, streetwise Angèle, a mortician who will teach him new meanings for the words life, love and death.  Suddenly, however, the past comes swinging back at both siblings, burdened with a dark truth about their mother, Clarisse.  

Trapped in the wake of a shocking family secret shrouded by taboo, Antoine must confront his past and also his troubled relationships with his own children.  How well does he really know his mother, his children, even himself?  Suddenly fragile on all fronts as a son, a husband, a brother and a father, Antoine Rey will learn the truth about his family and himself the hard way. By turns thrilling, seductive and destructive, with a lingering effect that is bittersweet and redeeming, A Secret Kept is the story of a modern family, the invisible ties that hold it together, and the impact it has throughout life.

My Review:
I was very excited to have a copy of this audiobook in my possession that was read by Simon Vance.  I've heard such wonderful things about his narration but have yet to listen to one of his stories.  Although this isn't a suspenseful audiobook, it is quite emotional as we journey with Antoine to his past as he recalls what life was like when his mother was alive and how it changed after she died.  This event obviously impacted him in a way that would affect how he cares for his own family and children.

Antoine is a divorced father who decides to take his sister Melanie on a special birthday vacation.  How could he know that the vacation would spur Melanie's memory to recall something about their mother that would cause a serious accident?  The accident would put Melanie on a long path of recuperation and also introduce Angele into Antione's life, who becomes a welcome love interest to him.  He finally can stop pining after his ex-wife as he now has the sexy and exciting Angele to look forward to spending time with.

When Melanie and Antoine were quite young their mother died, and it doesn't seem that either of them were given the opportunity to properly grieve for her.  As the emotions finally have a chance to surface, memories and questions about her death follow closely behind.  As Antoine surveys his mothers medical records he seems to have more questions, but will the answers bring him resolution or only create more heartache?  As Antoine deals with his feelings about his mother he finds that helps him to become a better father to the children that he seems to be growing apart from.

I must admit that this wasn't an audiobook that I found much enjoyment from.  I did enjoy parts of the story but I don't think I would have liked it more had I actually read it either.  With themes of secrets and parenting it was an interesting book to listen to, but you may enjoy it more than I did.

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  This audiobook was from my personal collection and I listened to it for my own entertainment.

You can check out more great book reviews over at Cym Lowell's Book Review Party Wednesday!

Audiobook Review: An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin

Here is a summary of An Object of Beauty from the Hachette website:

Lacey Yeager is young, captivating, and ambitious enough to take the NYC art world by storm. Groomed at Sotheby's and hungry to keep climbing the social and career ladders put before her, Lacey charms men and women, old and young, rich and even richer with her magnetic charisma and liveliness. Her ascension to the highest tiers of the city parallel the soaring heights--and, at times, the dark lows--of the art world and the country from the late 1990s through today.

My Review:
This is my first experience with Steve Martin's writing and I'm hoping it will not be my last.  This audiobook was narrated by Campbell Scott and he really seemed to capture the essence and the voice of Steve Martin for me.  Martin drops us right in the middle of the retail art world and brings to surface events that I wouldn't even have considered.

Daniel Franks realizes early on that he could never have a lasting and realistic relationship with Lacey Yeager.  When Lacey becomes a critical element to the Sotheby's Art Gallery she will basically do anything for anyone if the action will give her a step up the ladder in the art world.  Daniel is a nice young man who really is not looking for the additional stress in his life that this kind of person can bring.

As the story goes on, Lacey does become quite successful and actually does open her own gallery that flourishes with her touch.  It seems that Lacey may be about to lose everything from some illegal art dealings that have taken place in the past so now she must figure out what can be done so this does not happen.

This was a pretty good story but one part that did create a bit of confusion for me was the narration.  The book was supposedly narrated by Lacey's friend Daniel, but only a small portion of the book seemed to take on his voice.  Most of the novel seemed to be told in third person to me, which I really don't have a problem with, but it just didn't seem to flow well as it bounced between the voice of Daniel and the third person narration.

Besides my problem with the narration of the novel I did find some enjoyment of the story.  Although I didn't love the book, I did enjoy the story overall and would definitely suggest it to those that are interested in the art world.  I think I may have mentioned in the past that I am not a big 'lover of art', and that may have helped my appreciation of this book.

My Rating:  3/5

Disclosure:  This audiobook was provided to me from Anna at Hachette in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: The Bourne Objective by Eric Van Lustbader

Here is a summary of The Bourne Objective from the Hachette website:

After Bourne is ambushed and nearly killed while in Indonesia, he fakes his death to take on a new identity and mission- to find out who is trying to assassinate him. In the process, Bourne begins to question who he really is and what he would become if he no longer carried the Bourne identity. Across the globe, an American passenger airliner is shot down over Egypt-apparently by an Iranian missile-leaving the world wondering if it was an accident or an act of aggression. A massive global team lead by Soraya Moore is assembled to investigate the attack before the situation escalates.

When Bourne's search for his would-be assassin intersects with Soraya's search for the group behind the airplane bombing, Bourne is thrust into a race to prevent a new world war. But it may already be too late.

My Review:
I was very excited to listen to this audiobook read by Scott Sowers since I have seen the Bourne movies and enjoyed all of them.  I usually enjoy action-packed audiobooks but I must admit that this is one that I didn't enjoy at all.  Maybe it is actually because all of the excitement going on in my life right now, but I just found that I could not focus on the story at all.

So you all know that Jason Bourne is a secret agent, for what agency I don't know.  But it does seem that someone is always chasing him and trying to kill him.  This story is not any different in that aspect.  I really do not even know what Bourne was trying to accomplish in this novel, except for trying to locate a laptop that obviously had some very important information on it.  Besides the quest for the laptop, there is also some lesbian activity and even a shark attack at some point, but who was attacked I can't recall.

The one part of the story line that I was able to follow had to do with Bourne reflecting on a past romantic relationship with a gal named Tracy, who happened to die in his arms.  Bourne recalls his relationship when he is introduced to Tracy's sister and her little girl.  Since Bourne has made contact with this mother/daughter duo, their lives are also now in danger.

I actually did listen to the whole audiobook thinking that I would enjoy it as time went on, but it didn't happen for me.  The story did not grab me at any point and I still don't really know what Bourne was trying to accomplish, except for what the summary indicates above.  I'm not really sure who would like this one as an audiobook, but I can assure you that it wasn't for me.

My Rating:  1/5

Disclosure:  This book is from my personal library and I listened to it for my own entertainment.

Audiobook Review: The Brave by Nicholas Evans

Here is a summary of The Brave from the Hachette website:

Tom Bedford is living alone in the isolated wilds of Montana. Having distanced himself from his own troubled past, he rarely sees his ex-wife, and his son, Danny, is away in Iraq and hasn't spoken to him for years. Tom hasn't always been so removed from society. As a boy, his mother was a meteoric rising star in the glitzy, enchanted world of 1960s Hollywood. There, she fell in love with the suave Ray Montane, who played young Tom's courageous onscreen hero, Red McGraw, the fastest draw around. Tommy and his mother lived in a glamorous, Hollywood version of the Wild West.

Everything was perfect, until the gold flaking on their magical life began to chip away, revealing an uglier truth beneath. Ray was not who he seemed. Tommy and his mother fell into a deadly confrontation with him, and they fled Hollywood forever, into the wilderness of the real West.

As a man, Tom has put all of that behind him--or so he thinks. Unexpectedly, his ex-wife calls, frantic: Danny has been charged with murder. In the chaos of war, his son has been caught in a violent skirmish gone bloodily awry. The Army needs someone to pay for the mistake. Tom, forced into action, is now suddenly alive again and fighting to save the son he'd let slip away. To succeed, he must confront the violence in his own past, and he finds that these two selves--the past and the present--which he'd fought so long to keep separate, are inextricably connected. As father and son struggle to understand one another, both are compelled to learn the true meaning of bravery.

Beautifully interlacing the past and present, the author of The Horse Whisperer reminds us that we are tied to the glories and mistakes of our own history. The Brave lives up to its name, as one the most courageous and full-hearted novels of our time.

My Review:
The Brave turned out to be a very emotional audiobook that left the reader wondering how things could turn out good in the opening of the story, with a young boy visiting his mother in prison.  The story is read by Michael Emerson who I believe did an outstanding job of bringing to life the character of both young Tommy, and the man he grew to become known as Tom.

Tom is a divorced father living alone in Montana needing to offer support to his son Danny who is facing a military crisis.  Tom has never had a real relationship with his son since Danny was a young boy, and soon starts to revisit the memories of his own childhood as a way to come to terms with the man that he has become.  So the story proceeds to alternate between the present and the events that stand out in Tommy's childhood.

Tommy lived his early years in England and as many young boys at that age were, found himself obsessed with a cowboy show.  He seems to be a boy that is picked on quite often and that only gets worse when he is sent away to the Ashlawn Preparatory School.  That all changes for Tommy when his sister Diane shows up at the school to visit Tommy with his idol from his favorite cowboy show, Ray Montane.  Diane wanted to be an actress for as long as Tommy could remember and it appears that she has had her lucky break.  Ray pledges his love to Diane and offers to take both her and Tommy back to Hollywood with him and hopefully give her a chance at the 'big screen'.

When they arrive in Hollywood, life for Tommy and Diane is more than they ever could have imagined!  There was the glitz and glamour, Hollywood parties where Diane showed up on the handsome Ray's arm, and the opportunity for Diane to make herself known in the world of 'show biz'.  With this wonderful lifestyle how could it not have a happy ending?

As Diane's career seems to be evolving and is making a name for herself, Ray's career seems to be fizzling out as it appears to be the end of the cowboy era.  Diane see's a new side of Ray that is not as appealing as the man she first met.  And as he continues his downward spiral secrets and emotions will come full circle as we follow Tom's journey through his childhood memories.

I must admit that I wasn't really enjoying this audiobook when I first started it, but by the time I was done with the second disc there was no way I couldn't complete it.  It is full of great characters, family secrets, old time Hollywood, and turned out to be quite an emotional ride.  I do not hesitate in recommending this audiobook.

My Rating:  4/5


Disclosure:  This audiobook was provided to me from Anna at Hachette in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

Here is a summary of Still Missing from Chevy Stevens website:

On the day she was abducted, Annie O’Sullivan, a thirty-two year old Realtor, had three goals—sell a house, forget about a recent argument with her mother, and be on time for dinner with her ever- patient boyfriend. The open house is slow, but when her last visitor of the day pulls up in a van as she's about to leave, Annie thinks it just might be her lucky day after all. 

Interwoven with the story of the year Annie spent captive of a sadistic psychopath in a remote mountain cabin, which unfolds through sessions with her psychiatrist, is a second narrative recounting events following her escape—her struggle to piece her shattered spirit back together and the ongoing police investigation into the identity of her captor. 

The truth doesn’t always set you free. 

My Review:
This was a suspenseful and heartbreaking novel that brought us along on a journey of a young lady that was kidnapped and held captive for nearly a year.  The audiobook was narrated by Angela Dawe, whom I believe did a wonderful job of capturing the character and emotions of our main character, Annie.

When Annie is found she must go through therapy to learn how to cope with her feelings and basically how to live again.  It is through these therapy sessions that Annie gives a very descriptive account of the events that took place from when she was first abducted at the real estate open house to the day she found her way back to society.

Upon Annie's kidnapping, her captor takes her to a secluded cabin nestled in some mountains.  Annie doesn't have any way of knowing if they are one hour from home or ten hours away from her home.  The 'Freak' has cut themselves off from all communication from the outside world, except for his weekly trips into civilization to get supplies.  He controls all of Annie's actions from when she sleeps, eats, and even relieves herself in the bathroom.  As Annie's body becomes conditioned to this schedule that he has created she finds a way to withdraw into herself so she hopefully doesn't anger him.

Since most of Annie's story is told through her therapy sessions I don't think it's a spoiler to share with you that fortunately Annie is lucky enough to be granted freedom from this monster.  Although she returns home, she finds nearly impossible to live a normal life again.  She is always looking over her shoulder, jumps at any odd noise in her home, and can only get a good nights sleep by hiding in her bedroom closet.

As they try to identify Annie's kidnapper many truths are brought to light that will shock you as a reader.  This was such a heart-wrenching and suspenseful story, but what I found interesting is that the suspense kept building after Annie was found.  There is some language in the book that a more reserved reader may not appreciate, but if that language is taken in the context of the story it seems appropriate to me.  I highly recommend this book, especially in the audio format.

My Rating:  5/5

Disclosure:  I borrowed this audiobook from my library because my friend Miranda wouldn't stop hounding me until I did!  I obviously loved it, so thanks for being so persistent Miranda!

2011 Audiobook Challenge

I'm very excited to see this challenge that is being hosted by Theresa's Reading Corner because I am listening to audio books all the time!  Seriously, I love my alone time in my car because that is when I get to listen to books, and when others are riding with me they usually do not like the experience quite as much as I!  The challenge runs from January 1st through December 31st, 2011 and here are the various levels of participation:

Curious: 3 Audio Books
Fascinated: 6 Audio Books
Addicted: 12 Audio Books
Obsessed: 20 Audio Books

So I am going to take a chance and sign up for the addicted level and try to listen to at least 12 books during 2011.  I will update this post as I complete books for this challenge.  Sound like fun to you?  You can join in the challenge at the sign-up page here.

1. Still Missing by Chevy Stevens--Completed 1/12/2011
2. The Brave by Nicholas Evans--Completed 2/1/2011
3. The Bourne Objective by Eric Van Lustbader--Completed 3/4/2011
4. An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin--Completed 3/17/2011
5. A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnday--Completed 3/31/2011
6. Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson--Completed 4/15/2011
7. When Will There Be Good News by Kate Atkinson--Completed 5/9/2011
8. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley--Completed 5/29/2011
9. The Good Guy by Dean Koontz--Completed 6/10/11
10. Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith--Completed 7/1/11
11. The Camel Club by David Baldacci--Completed 8/2/11
12. Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand--Completed 9/6/11
13. To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNeal--Completed 10/7/11
14. The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta--Completed 10/31/11
15. One Summer by David Baldacci--Completed 11/12/11