Category: Audiobook

Delivered Through the Storm – Nicole Garcia

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Delivered Through the Storm

Narrated by Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross

Find it on Audible

If you’d rather the book, you can find Nicole Garcia on Amazon

OH, Ryder! Just a sweet, good guy! Madison deserves him and the calm and love that he brings to her and the boys. Especially after dealing with that asshole of an ex, Mitch!

Nicole Garcia does a wonderful job writing a story that really captures what a struggle it is to be a single parent and to be “on” and in charge of everything -all the time! I don’t personally have to deal with that, but I’ve got close friends who do and I see how they struggle and conquer every day!

***Don’t Read, Momma!***

So, lets talk about Ryder’s cock piercing! I got way too excited for something that I’ve never even experienced. hahaha! And for a split second, I sad that I never will!!

***********************

Fucking Mitch! I just wanted to beat him with my fucking flip flop. I have friends who are/were married to this motherfucker and he just makes me so angry!

As always, Kai and Wen were perfection! I could really feel Madison’s exhaustion, frustrations, and finally acceptance. Kai never fails to make you want to climb into a story and be friends with the heroine, and this wasn’t any different! There were also other female characters with accents in this audiobook, that Kai does without losing her cadence and warmth! Amazing as always!

Wen did so many characters for this book – He was Aiden (a 7 year old), Ryder (all sexy and sweet), Tyler (the gay best friend), Rico (Ryder’s Cuban best friend), and Mitch (the nasty asshole ex-husband) – And he just proved how wonderful of a narrator and voice actor that he is. If nothing else, the way that he fed that hate for Mitch with his squeaky, condescending, and snide tone. I’m not so sure had I just read the words on the page, that I would have been so invested in my hate for Mitch!

**Spoiler Alert** As a mom, I was scarred as hell and could really relate to the pain Madison was feeling while Aiden was missing! When Ryder started punching Mitch at the hospital, I wanted to cheer!

 

The Underachieving Ovary – JT Lawrence Narrated by Jennifer Swanepoel

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The Underachieving Ovary

Find it on Amazon

Find it on Audible – Narrated by Jennifer Swanepoel

This book is a twist and turn of emotions! From the beginning I was brought right along with the ugly ride that is endometriosis and infertility. The hope and the despair. It was done with such wit and sarcasm that it wasn’t a whiny tale, which would have been so easy to turn into. Her journal of infertility is such an emotional and personal journey, that I feel like I’m a friend of JT Lawrence and she’s kept me updated all along. The book was more like getting letters of updates than something that was written for public consumption. I found myself rooting for Her and Mike so much that every heartbreak and setback they encountered, I was in my car crying right along with them. Sometimes the road to parenthood is rocky. Sometimes easy. Sometimes it never makes it there. I am in love with JT’s sense of humor. I so wish she could be my friend!

It wasn’t until I was pregnant with my daughter that I realized what an ordeal getting (and staying) pregnant is for a lot of us out in the world. It really is a miracle anyone has babies!

This is the first audiobook I’ve listened to narrated by Jennifer Swanpoel. I am a new fan! I have such a hard time with female narrators, because I feel like they are over produced and robotic. This is so not the case with Jennifer! She truly made it sound as if she WAS JT reading her journal. She had such emotion, like she was feeling it herself! I really really enjoyed her narration, and I will definitely be looking into other audio narrated by her!

Shock Jock – A.M. Madden

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ShockJock

Find the audiobook on Audible

And here’s the book on Amazon

Find A.M. Madden on Facebook

 

This was the first book I read (listened to) by A.M. Madden. I really liked it. While I was looking up the book on Amazon, it’s actually listed as ‘Shock Jock – A Lair Novel’. Vaughn has a cousin who is a rock star who makes an appearance in the book. Turns out, there is a whole series about that band. So, this is a spinoff.. Sorta… I did not know that, and the way that it was worked into the book, I wouldn’t have known had the title on Amazon not gave an indication. So, for those who have read the 4 books in The Back-up Series, this will be a nice cameo. I will have to put those at the top of my “Books to read by A.M. Madden” list. If you haven’t read any of The Back-up Series, it’s way okay. I hate anything that is part of a series or spinoff, not in order. I always feel lost. That was not the case with this story!

I love a good friend to lovers romance. And enemies to lovers too, if you must know. This was great! Not only are Vaughn and Haven best friends, but she is his assistant. He is a radio sex therapist – Think a hot Dr. Ruth. It was sweet listening to Vaughn realize that he was as interested in Haven as she has always been in him. And, in fact, once he realized he was into her that way he jumped in with both feet. Haven? Not so much. I mean. Maybe if you’re in love with your best friend for 10 years and work with them, perhaps you’re overwhelmed a bit. And while she didn’t go so far as to whiny about not telling people they were together and not believing that he was into her, she was close and sometimes I wanted to smack her. Ha.

Haven has a secret. I figured out her secret from the very beginning. So, I assumed some of that was because of her secret. Still irritated me. Ha.

 

Lets talk about Tor Thom’s voice. Damn. He gives me goosebumps. This is the first book I’ve listened to by him and by Charley Ongel. I will have to listen to more! I usually listen to book while I’m in the van waiting in carline to pick up my kids, and some days I was finding myself leaving the house a little early so I’d be in line longer to hear more. I was impressed with both Tor and Charley having several different characters who were interacting with each other having totally different voices. I’m always amazed when I hear good talented narrators.

 

The Virgin and The Beast – Stasia Black

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Find it on Audible

I’m guessing the book is on Amazon too, but I’m not linking that shit. Go find it if you want it.

That is exactly how I feel about this book. I like fantasy fairytale books. I like BDSM books. Except for “daddy” books, everything I’ve read, I’ve like at least 1 book in that subgenre. But for all that, I’m into consensual books.

Melanie agreed to live with Xavier for a year and have his baby to help out her asshole dad. And right off the bat, an asshole man. Ha!

Xavier was a douche from the word go. Not letting her eat at the table. She had to kneel beside him and eat from his hand. She ended up in a dog pen (pig sty) * because she wasn’t pleasing him. And he was so fucking controlling. Things like he wouldn’t let her change her own tampon. I mean, no. And it wasn’t just you’re normal/safe BDSM Sub situation. She was his unwilling pet, which she did not sign up for, with no safe word, and he wanted to bellow about and scream and hollar about trust.

He treated his horses better than he treated her. There was nothing that was going to make me like Xavier, and nothing that was going to make me not be pissed at Melanie, who should have said “fuck the father” and gotten her happy ass out of there…..

If you’re into that sort of thing, more power to you. You’ll really like this book. This is the first one I’ve read of Stasia, and I’ll try another one.

Parts of the narration got on my nerves, as if I had liked the book, it would have gotten on my nerves that there was no male voice. Xavier is a strong douche, and really requires a male voice to be him.

**It could have been either  a dog pen or a pig sty situation. It has been about 6 weeks since I finished listening to the book, and it was several months of listening because I could only take so much at a time. It was a fenced in area outside.

 

I wasn’t sure I was even gonna review this. That is why it has been so long since I listened. But, what would be the point of reviewing if I only said the good stuff and none of the bad? I don’t know…. I’m not good at the idea of hurting someone’s feelings. I am not an author, and trying to walk in and tell an author that I don’t like what they’ve written doesn’t set well with me. But, on the other hand, having a bunch of reviews that only tell what I liked doesn’t show that there is stuff out there that I don’t like. That I don’t get. That isn’t for me. Never listen to someone who says they like everything. They are lying.

 

But, lets take a minute to check out the cover. It is hot!

 

Finding a Forever Home: True Animal Rescue Stories – Mark Feldstein

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Animal Rescue

Find it on Audible

Find it on Amazon

Mark Feldstein on Amazon

 

I was sent a code to listen and review this audiobook. I never would have done so without prompting. It’s just not something that I would have ever thought about listening to. I’m glad I did, but parts of it were hard. Why are people such assholes? I mean, Yes there are some good people out there, and this book highlights that. But there are some real fucking assholes.

I started to try and listen to it when my daughter was in the van, but after the first couple of stories, I realized that it wasn’t a good idea and I didn’t want to expose her to bad shit that could happen.

Now, normally the audiobooks I listen to are romance or just plain smut. So, it was a nice change of pace. Joseph Ledford really sounded like he was emotionally invested in the stories.

The Gazillionaire and the Virgin – Lisabet Sarai

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gazillion audible

 

Get the Audiobook here

Get the book on Amazon

 

I listened to the audiobook, and this almost turned into one of my favorite stories.

I really enjoyed the way Lisabet Sarai took the Alpha/Bdsm genre and twisted it; Rachel being the high-powered “gazillionaire” and Theo the socially awkward virgin. But, during sexy times, Theo broke out and Rachel really pushing the “top from the bottom”. I loved it. I loved that she let him unleash that side of himself and even while she was submitting to him, she was still helping him and pushing him to be more. I liked how Lisabet wove computer worlds into the story. It was fun to listen to characters who were a bit nerdy and off the beaten path. Coders united!

**SPOILER** Then came Chapter 22. Oh how I hated Chapter 22. It completely ruined Theo for me. I kept waiting and listening for redemption. But, no matter what he did after that, he was done for me. It was like with a slap in the face, the story turned back into what this trope has always been: A dominant man who is an Alpha always.. He lost that sweet man vibe for me. It broke my heart, because I really really loved him. I wish I could give up to Chapter 22 5 stars, and after 3 stars. **END SPOILER**

I like Lisabet’s writing, and I’m looking forward to checking out her other books! I hate that I couldn’t say that I loved the book 100%. The writing and story were great (even after my cut point), but with the big change, it just drew a line for me. Some people may like the way it played out. Everybody but me may like the way it played out. I’m sure I’m the odd one out, but it is what it is. I hate that it is, but I can’t help it.

I think Erin Marsh did a great job narrating the story. At some parts, I wished that there had been a male voice along with hers, but for the most part, having her do all it was good. I really felt what Rachel and Theo were feeling. This was the first thing I’ve listened to narrated by her, and was not disappointed.