Audio Book Review: Brighteyes by C.T. Phipps and Michael Suttkus

Brighteyes by Michael Suttkus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book with Ashley and her adventures, picking up where we left off in the first book. It's also set in a larger world where other series cross with this one.

The story picks up loose threads from the first book. We see Gilroy, again. Ashley's siblings and their conflicts are a focus, leading to a whole problem of it's own with the Magestic 13, vampires, and even trafficking.

We get to dive back into Ashley's past. We get to see what she remembers of her family when younger. We even get to see how things went when she was lost to her vampire addiction. And, as things unfold, we learn more about her family in the end. Very interesting how things go!

There's action as we go into battles. Ashley's sword is still cool. I love this. I know Ashley always has things running through her mind and spirals out on strange thoughts, which is fun because she relates to comics and such. Always fun throw backs too. I did feel at times we got a lot of information told to Ashley at one time. Then into action we'd go.

Ashley starts to see who her friends are and maybe even rekindling of a relationship...if she wants?

I ended this audiobook with a "No. You didn't just do that to me." This goes to the authors. That was a surprise ending. Now I need to know all about how that came to be. lol.

I struggled some with the narrator and her voices in this audiobook. She has Ashley sounding whiny. She has a slower pacing to her speaking.

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Audio Book Review: Uncontrollable by Sean Oswald

Uncontrollable by Sean Oswald
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Crafty play with Roll Playing rules in this story.

I really liked the play with words and creating the ephemeral theme. Ever changing. This would be something interesting to try to play out as a character. And with it being a story, it's all a strange shock to the main character, Tim.

Tim doesn't have any friends in the world he just woke in. Making friends can be a little complicated if you look different today as you did yesterday. This is what he rolled, ephemeral, and he's trying to make his way in the world with it.

Tim's at the center of what's happening. For the good or for the bad? I'm not sure. I bounce back and forth depending on the god we see interact with Tim. He's over powered yet has so much to learn. The events in this book are getting Tim ready for what's to come. So what's to come?

There's more going on in the world. With the gods and rulers. They haven't told Tim yet, but we see it in the Prologue and Epilogue. I'll be listening to the next books as this is a fun idea and I'm curious as to what's happening that we aren't seeing, yet.

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Audio Book Review: Which Upon by Jayne Bicker

Which Upon by Jayne Bicker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this audiobook at no-cost from AdoptAnAudiobook.com. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

There's a lot of fairy tale themes blended into this world. Some go with names of the characters or themes in their life's events. Like Hook and Peter and their taverns. Red and Wolf along with others. I'd love to compare names and connections with you. I had fun seeing the connections and references to the fairy tales, and looked forward to reading more of them as the book unfolded.

Dusk is our main female character here. She had me curious at the beginning. It appeared she's the witch and the villain of the story. (I do love a good villain.) But there was something...just a little more to her. I was picking up on other things in her thoughts.

Can a character be both, a villain and one that helps? That's what drew me to Dusk even more. The crafting of her actions. And she's my damaged kind of character.

Dusk lives with the consequences of her actions along with her mother's past. She's a witch, after all. So she's built her own barriers to protect herself, even from her adoptive family.

Then Willoak, or Oak as friends call him, comes along.

Yes, this has a romance that happens and is for adults with a few scenes.

Oak has his own reason for being in Dyr kingdom, from his kingdom - Clubs. He's a fun main male character to balance Dusk. He's also a halfling. That's part of the game between him and Dusk, what type of halfling is he? We will find out in the end. And I think I love him even more!

Dusk has her own internal struggles and journey to go on, which happens in this book with the events that unfold and happen. I loved that the movement of the story kept going forward and the events kept the story interesting as Dusk learns about how she is handling things.

The narrator is a lovely voice. I enjoyed listening to her. All is clear and clean.

I did love the ending as well. I want to continue with this series and see how others continue to do in the world.

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Audio Book Review: Never Been Witched by Molly Harper

Never Been Witched by Molly Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the last of this trilogy with these ladies and I enjoyed it.

It held the same feel as the first two with Riley and Caroline. Alice has some past she doesn't want to share with the girls because she may have shared a few things with the wrong person. Innocently, of course. So with Alice feeling like she doesn't belong and cutting herself off from her coven, she's also cut her magic off from them. And she along with they are seeing things feel different. Alice also will face her grandparents and how they look down on others, along with her.

Alice is coming into her own now. She has friends that stand by her and appreciate her. Sure, there's always pasts and things to work through.

We also meet Collin. He's new to town but he spent years here in his youth. He comes with his own past and struggles. Something he needs to work past is his ex...girlfriend/fiance and family. All while he's trying to bring the Dutchess back to her glory hotel days, starting with removing that awful orange. He'd like to add antiques to the rooms, and Alice is knowledgeable about antiques and what will fit the design he's looking to create.

There's a connection there with Alice and Collin. And not realizing it, they help each other through some tough times with people. And ghosts.

There's a ghost story that goes with The Dutchess that others didn't know, and it's connected to Alice too. Great story there.

We also get the finish with the Ghost Locks in Shaddow House along with who the Willing is that's in town and wants it all and why. I was hoping we'd get this finally, and you'll be surprised how it all connects. Did you expect that person to be the Willing? I didn't.

There's a new series that's starting soon with people in another area but in the same world. I'm definitely going to pick it up when it comes out. :)

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Audio Book Review: Big Witch Energy by Molly Harper

Big Witch Energy by Molly Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We have an over all arch of the Ghost Locks in the house and finding haunted items to tend to the ghosts. But this is Caroline's story, her life and actions.

I really like Caroline. She's head strong and sassy. She was one I really loved hearing speak up in the first book. She says the things that others whisper or think about. She's one to do what needs to be done for her family. She also doesn't do a steady relationship. And we get her reason for it in her book.

Her family has a curse...They can't leave the island, or at 24 hours they have a terrible accident.

This curse has dictated what Caroline will do. She's stayed home and working the family bar. Even when her high school love left to become a doctor and live his life. He never believed in the curse, thinking it was her way to stay at home and try to help her family that seem to take advantage of her kindness.

Ben has returned to the island with his two teenage children. This is going to be a tough conversion for them all. He still has feeling for his high school love, after all these years.

Seeing Caroline and Ben reconnect is fun. Also with the kids. The kids are smart and witty. I loved meeting Mina and Josh. And they have great ideas, advice, and add spontaneity to the story. They also are more than we know. Love this little connection that is created.

We do get to see ghosts. There's one that needs help and one that's causing big trouble, especially for the Wilton family. Caroline is determined this could very well be connected to the curse of her family.

I enjoyed this. And diving into the third book ASAP. These are fun and light stories I needed right now.

The narrators are the same as the first book, which is nice because they have voiced all the characters and know their personalities. We have a female narrator for Caroline's POV and a male narrator for Ben's POV. I like this dynamic, really gives the feel from two different minds.



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Audio Book Review: Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper

Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wanted a light, fun listen. This book fit my need perfectly.

This book is done from two views, Riley and Edison. Riley comes to Starfall Point, an island town, to meet an aunt she didn't know she had until after her mother passed away six months ago. After a dreadful trip on the ferry, Riley learns her Aunt Nora passed away and she's inherited the estate.

Riley's one who likes to try different jobs. This job of house steward at Shaddow House is a position that she accidently falls into. Oh Shaddow House. I love Shaddow House. Ghosts! There's so many ways this can go. There's an unbelievable number of ghosts here. Maybe Riley can help them. And there's more history to the house that could become a problem for Riley.

Riley is in a small town now, that can become like the big family she never thought she'd have yet always wanted. She will find herself a coven of great ladies. I do love their personalities. And maybe even a man. Yes, this is where Edison comes in. But both Edison and Riley have personal things to work through.

Riley's retorts to all things make me smile while helping keep the story light and moving forward with fun. This was a series I needed. Well written and the audiobook was nicely done.


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Audio Book Review: A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Everyone heals and rebuilds in different ways.

This is a nice interlude to all the action of the series. Winter Solstice is nearing and it's a nice time to see the family, even chosen family, together to enjoy the time and celebrate.

There's a lot of rebuilding to be done, and it's the theme of the story. Rebuilding physically with Velaris after the battle here. Rebuilding in helping people through this time. Rebuilding of relationships; family, friends, and allies. Even working to rebuild ones self after all you've been through. All of it are small steps and work. It's seen that any healing is done differently, personally and physically. We see that here.

We also get to see everyone have a bit of fun in this celebrating time. It's kind of like a Christmas celebration with everyone.

This story also is a bridge for bigger things yet to come. It shows where a few of those hit hard in the battle are at now. Even talks about things that are stirring. Things that will need attended in the story to come. This is nice seeing these ties, as even though there's a celebration for the season, life doesn't stop and work still happens.

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