Book Review: Freed

Freed

By:  Amanda Carlson

Publish Date:  June 28, 2017

Format:  eARC

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  2nd in Phoebe Meadows series; Book 1 ~ Struck

Impression:  Pheobe's learning to be a Valkyrie but still has human ways.

Synopsis:
Phoebe Meadows has one thing on her mind: Free her mother.

For the last month, Phoebe has been training in the Valkyrie stronghold readying for battle. But when she stumbles into a secluded valley after a day of grueling practice, she’s given a dire prediction. Phoebe must leave the stronghold immediately with the aid of the giant, Junnal, to rescue her mother from the dark elves. If Phoebe fails, Leela will be transported to a place that can no longer be reached.

Leaving Fen behind threatens to undo her, but Phoebe stays true to the mission. Along the way, she allies with the god Baldur and an old white elf mage. Together, they storm the realm, and with the help of an angry wolf and her Valkyrie sisters, they just might stand a chance to free the valiant shieldmaiden.

But Phoebe soon learns that in order to save her mother, she might lose something too precious to sacrifice…

First Sentence:
"Don't worry about it, Phoebe.It'll come." Ingrid's voice was confident as she handed me a new weapon.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository 

My Thoughts and Summary:
Phoebe has to work to catch up at being a Valkyrie, so she can go find her mother. When she's ready, she stumbles across the portal to take her to where her mother's a prisoner. Junnal is all who can travel with her. But while in the realm of the dark elves, Phoebe meets new allies that can help her accomplish her goal - bring her mother home safe.

Phoebe is a strong woman. She is learning about being a Valkyrie but she also retains much of her human feelings. She's spent her life as a human and not as the hard nosed Valkyrie so she has feelings that's different than the way things are in the world of her mother's.

We spend a good bit of time with Junnal in this book. Oh, we start with Fen, Tyr, Sam, and the others but the action in the book is with Junnal. Junnal is awesome! He has benefits as to why he goes with her and not the others, and he totally is strong in a fight too. We do get to see the others once again. And meet Phoebe's birth mom.

Phoebe has to learn many things, and she does this with those she meets along with experiencing it all first hand. She meets a demi god and a white elf/mage mix in this realm. Even a dark elf/human mix. All are excellent characters to bring into the world with Phoebe. I'm thinking they all are going to have their way of helping her in the books to come as well.

One thing I noticed with Phoebe in this book, she makes lots of promises. Phoebe wants to help everyone, especially if they help her. These are a lot of promises to keep. Most of them are to help get out of this dreadful realm, but a few might be for later too. I'm wondering how much the Valkyries will take of Phoebe bringing stray people into their stronghold.

This book is hard for me to rate. It's well written and a lot happens. But Phoebe feels much like Jessica from Amanda's Jessica McClain series, just with different powers. She bravely, yet blindly, goes on her adventure coming across new friends and allies as she finds trouble. Phoebe learns about herself and becomes stronger as she faces many fights, mental and physical. These are all good things. We also know we are going to get great action and exciting secondary characters (and hot men) as the book goes along.

It's always a blast to read Amanda's writing as it's well done with the magic and world along with the action and character combinations I enjoy.

Audio Book Review: Empire of Bones

Empire of Bones

By:  Terry Mixon

Publish Date:  January 25, 2014, Audiobook Release December 16, 2014

Format:  Audiobook - 7 hrs 24 mins
Narrated By:  Veronica Giguere

Genre:  Science Fiction

Series:  1st in Empire of Bones series

First Impression:  Sci Fi with a high fantasy feel with adventure and danger!

Synopsis:
The Terran Empire is dead. Long live the Empire!

Commander Jared Mertz, the bastard son of the Emperor, and his half-sister, Princess Kelsey, barely speak to one another. To their dismay, their father seizes an opportunity to change that and sends them on a dangerous quest to explore the fallen Empire.

Separated from home by an impassable gulf and struggling to redefine their relationship, they find themselves thrust into a vicious war. Unless they work together to stop the Empire’s deadly legacy, billions face a horrific fate.

First Sentence:
Commander Jared Mertz, captain of the Fleet destroyer Athena, looked up from his console when his tactical officer spoke.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

Jared is leaving for at least eighteen months to explore outer boundary space. Kelsey is drawn to the ruins and possibilities of finding the Old Terran Empire that was long ago lost. Jared is not happy when the Imperial Princess, second in line to the throne, arrives on his ship as a Diplomatic Representative for this exploration on orders from the Imperial Emperor. Also that she's his half sister who hardly knows him or speaks with him since learning he's an illegitimate child to the Emperor. Now, they are on a ship directed into the unknown. Together for at least a year.

I really enjoy Veronica and her many voices. She makes it so easy to differentiate the characters by voice and personality. She doesn't have as many accents as she's known for, but the personalities are clear. She speaks clear with a distinct feel to the words, there is no way to think they blend together when she speaks. This is one of her earlier works, it's from 2014, which shows she's always tried to differentiate different characters through tone, timber, and personality in voices.

This is the sort of science fiction I really enjoy. It has the feel of a high fantasy setting with adventure and danger, yet set in space. No magic or dwarves in that manner, but in the story telling it resembled high fantasy to me. I really enjoyed the adventure into the dark unknown of space with this crew. There are times I smiled and others I felt the worry. Their are well placed thoughts that make us worry of what could possibly come next on the road ahead of them.  Dare I say a sort of space opera in a sense with the characters?

I listened closely to catch as much as I could about the history of the Old Terran. There feels to be so much there and a troubled history with the Rebels. Nice set up and drawing us into it. I had questions and was curious to learn about Old Terran and what happened in the Empire as much as the explorers in the book, hoping to find some clue to the past.

There was mention of Flip Points in space that are used to travel between systems. At first I wasn't sure what these were or how they worked. When I really understood what they were was when we got to use one. I shouldn't have been worried in hoping I understood because Terry made it easy to understand when the time came to know. Thank you Terry.

We get the story from Jared and Kelsey's point of views. Two very different views of each other and the world, which gives us strong feelings for what is happening around them.

Jared is a great captain, in my book. He doesn't live better than his marines and he's not afraid to do the work as well. He earns respect from his crew and well deserves it. He's a genuine guy that you could like but he's stern when it comes to the way things are done on his ship. He cares about his people.

I really like Kelsey. She fits in so well with the rough and tough guys of the Marines. She's strong in her mind and intelligent. Kelsey is of the age that Jared was when he joined the Fleet, learning of his parentage. Kelsey now learns news that could shatter her and her twin brother's world. She's living with something that is very similar to what Jared had to face at the same age, bringing her to have a new view on her half brother. Kelsey also knows, somethings are best left untold, and I think all would agree with this information being one of them. But can it be kept that way? Could this jeopardize who Kelsey is and what Kelsey does?

As the story went we got to see new things and how some people have evolve with what they have. People at different levels of technology evolution. There are implants that are a curiosity, attacks from what appears to be a salvage race of people, and what of the old empire. So many different avenues that seem to cross and connect, but how? It was great how it was presented through actions and events that kept me interested, invested, and learning more and more. The empire is divided, yet there are pieces of it evolving at different rates in unknown systems.

I'm hooked! I enjoyed the adventure into the unknown. All the new we see and the battles we fight. The events our characters live through, and what they will have to live with is challenging. I WANT to continue with these characters as they learn to adjust to new tech they come across. Along with meeting all out in space, friend and foe.



**If you found my thoughts helpful, please click Yes at Amazon and/or Audible. Thank you!

Audio Book Review: Tranquility

Tranquility

By:  Dave Creek

Publish Date:  December 2015, Audiobook Release July 21, 2016

Format:  Audiobook - 3 hrs 10 mins
Narrated By:  Kristin James

Genre:  Science Fiction

Series:  Stand-alone

First Impression:  Moments in one woman's life as she grows.

Synopsis:
An explosion in Tranquility City on the Moon kills 14-year-old Dacia Stark's parents and sends her on a quest to find Julian Walker, the terrorist who admitted to the crime.

Now a detective on Tranquility's police force, Dacia has seen more than her share of blood, death, and grief. But that's only stiffened her resolve, not just to track Walker down -- but to kill him.

First Sentence:
Inevitably, whether from a newby officer in the squad room, or an onlooker making small talk at a crime scene, or a kid during a school assembly, comes the question: "What made you want to become a detective?"

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

Dacia Stark is determined to find the man who admitted to bombing Tranquility City, killing her parents. Julian Walker. Julian promises more attacks until humanity gives up the unnatural desire for space exploration and send the galactic intelligent race Arols away.

I do enjoy Kristin's voice acting. When the moment is explosive and needing to move quick, Kristin brings that rush to her voice yet she's still clear and easy to understand. Kristin puts the feel into Dacia's voice along with others that are present in Dacia's small group of friends.

Right at the beginning we see a huge turning point in Dacia's life, when Tranquility City was bombed and she lost her parents. Though, here we meet her doctor. I really don't like the doctor. Dr. Portillo has no bedside manner with a 14 year old girl, telling her point blank that her parents are dead then what is/was wrong with her. Harsh. They want to keep her from feeling overwhelmed, but they hit her with all the terrible things. Though we learn that Dacia's emotions are muted, so telling her these things abruptly won't affect her at this moment. Then a week later she goes to the Memorial Service for all lost in the bomb with Dacia. The doctor feels contradictory to me this early in the book. Though as we get to see the doctor later in the story, she's a nice person and wants well for Dacia.

Dacia... Living through what she did and having the drive to find the man who did it is wonderful. But she's living her life on this obsession. She's kept her emotions muted until she finds Julian Walker and feels her hands squeezing his throat. She misses all other things in life by living this way. Eventually Dacia realizes this and with the help of her friends makes a big change in her life.

I think this story is to short. There are times where there's a lot of information that feels important and I was noting like crazy. Then there were times that I felt we were being told about Dacia instead of living with her, in this case I think the story could be better and longer if we got to live these short sections with her and through her actions.

The format of telling this story feels like it's an anthology of short stories in Dacia's life. We see different times in her life and different cases she solves. All don't feel to connect except that she's always got in the back of her mind, in each short section, that she will always look for Julian Walker. In the end, mostly they come together as to why those moments were selected to be shared.

Basically, I wanted more from the story. Bring me into the world and make those cases Dacia is working connect to what is happening and finding Julian. I feel like I'm getting news clips of Dacia and her life. (are they all important?) Even to show the rules of Tranquility a bit more clearer by living through them.

This story felt a bit rough for me going through the first time with the connections and quick glimpses in Dacia's life over a large span of years. All the moments are important in the end though, that's what saved this book from a lower rating.



**If you found my thoughts helpful, please click Yes at Amazon and/or Audible. Thank you!

Sunday Post #147

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share new about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

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Another week to the dust. Crazy how fast this year is flying by in the last few months! Before I know it, it'll be Christmas and then 2017.

I don't know what to say about the week. What did I do? I have no idea. The hours are flying by and I can't keep up!

I've signed up to do a few blog hops in the next few months. I'm excited about this as I have a few audiobooks to share! :D Exciting!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Fit Booker:

Goal:  Workout in any form of exercise (or on Wii Fit) 2x's a week. (to feel better and hope to drop a few pants sizes)

How did I do last week... I did get some exercising in this week. I only been getting 2 days a week in with all that's going on. They are days working on the weight equipment at the gym.

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What's Happening in Books:

Current Read:

Freed by Amanda Carlson
The Side of Good / The Side of Evil edited by Danielle Ackley-McPhail

Content editing work.


Current Audiobook:
Anubis Nights by Gary Jonas

Current Podcast Book Listen:
Stonebriar Casefiles: Bad Alchemy by Laura Nicole Spencer (You can listen for free too!)

Finished Last Week: 

xxx by xxx

Audiobooks from Audible:

Empire of Bones by Terry Mixon
The Cryptic Lines by Richard Storry


Finished Podcast Book Listen:

Nothing yet.

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Last Week on the Blog:

Cover Reveals: (click titles to go to post & learn more)

Guest Posts:

Posts:

Spellbound in a Flash:
This week I didn't post with working on writing. Sorry!


Challenged Writers:
I'll share again at the beginning of October.

Around the Internet...


Reviews:

Hidden Deception by Colleen Helme

"I just love Shelby. She's a light personality that's fun to listen to. She makes me smile with the goofy things she does or says to lighten the moment. I am also drooling over Ramos, Uncle Joey's guard, and Chris, Shelby's husband. Oh man."


Glistens by Chess Desalls

"It feels like a lovely little story for young adults, in middle school and up, to read/listen to."

Tarah Woodblade by Trevor H. Cooley

"There is a moral to the story, it's tied to Tarah struggling with who she is. "

Podcast Review:

Mama Bitchstress Reviews:

GIVEAWAYS:

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This Week to Come on the Blog:

I have 3 reviews scheduled. Hope you visit!

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Received Last Weeks:

For Review Consideration:

Of Flame and Light by Cecy Robson
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Taran Wird holds the unique ability to conjure fire and lightning. She is mated to Gemini, Second in Command to the Squaw Valley Pack of the Lake Tahoe Region, and the sole werewolf to possess the ability to split into two wolves. And although they are mates, Taran's insecurities have driven them apart.  

Devastated by an injury that left her with a zombie-like limb, Taran struggles to regain command over her magic. But when her arm and her power turn against her, lashing out on those she most loves, she knows she can no longer carry this burden alone. Not that she likes the alternative. 

The only way to regain control of her magic is to align and learn from the local coven of witches―the very ones who sought to banish her when she and her three unique sisters first moved to the mystical region. But although Taran is trying, the teachings don't come easy, and the tasks leave her weak and emotionally shattered. 

Yet Taran must learn and learn fast. Time is running out. The fire she once mastered so easily has become her greatest adversary and is now slowly burning her alive . . .

Audio Books Requested for Review:

Destroyer of Worlds by JF Penn
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
An ancient weapon threatens the heart of India.

From New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, J.F.Penn.

A bomb explodes in the center of London and a fragment of an ancient Hindu sculpture is stolen from the ARKANE Headquarters by a secret organization bent on mass murder. If the sculpture is put together again, it will reveal the key to the Brahmastra, a weapon with the power of a nuclear explosion.

As those they love are threatened, ARKANE agents Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber must search for the pieces of the relic before it can be activated at the Kumbh Mela, the greatest pilgrimage on earth.

In a fast-paced adventure from the slums of Mumbai to the temples of Kolkata, the Taj Mahal in Agra to the killing fields of Rwanda, Morgan and Jake must find the pieces of the sculpture before it’s too late.

>>> Destroyer of Worlds is Book 8 in the ARKANE action adventure thriller series, but can be read as a stand-alone story.

Veil of Shadows by Terry Mixon
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
It's always darkest before the dawn! 

In Empire of Bones, Commander Jared Mertz and Princess Kelsey scored a stunning victory over the savage Pale Ones. Yet they paid a terrible price for it, one that left their ship crippled and changed the Princess forever. 

As Kelsey struggles to master the combat enhancements the Pale Ones forcibly implanted inside her and Jared works feverishly to resurrect an ancient battlecruiser, they discover the Pale Ones aren’t as defeated as they seemed. 

Jared and Kelsey race to unravel the secrets behind the ancient rebellion that destroyed galactic civilization and thwart unseen foes determined to take their new ship and their lives. If they fail, an entire planet dies.



Purchased/Winnings/Gifts:

Book:

Audio:

Free Ebooks:

(On my Kindle App) Links to books under title. They may or may not be free at this time.

Edge of End by H.G.Suren
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Jonathan wakes up in a desert, his past wiped from his mind. A search of his clothes for clues to his identity yields no results. Who is he? Who brought him here? And why? 

He has only two choices to move forward: certain death in an endless desert or a little town he sees in the distance. 

Empty streets, dilapidated houses, and dusty cars suggest an abandoned town. There's no one to ask for help, nowhere to go. Jonathan wanders the town in search of any sign of life as he tries to regain his lost memory. Disturbing visions haunt him, and apparitions call to him, causing him to doubt his sanity. Soon, Jonathan comes to the realization that absolute evil dwells in the town, always seeking fresh souls. The seemingly dead town is only outwardly empty. 

Grey skies, no sun, no days, and no nights mean no sense of time. With only one entrance and one exit, the path to escape is filled with terrifying creatures and phenomena Jonathan has never envisioned, even in his worst nightmares. 

He meets a beautiful woman named Elizabeth, who seems to be normal and friendly, but is she? Jonathan has to work his way through the horrendous town, figure out his past, and find his future if he has one.


Free Audio Books/Stories:

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Reviews to Come:

Soulless by Skyla Dawn Cameron

The Sentinel by Chris Lester

The Muse by Chris Lester
Metamor City: Making the Cut by Chris Lester
Metamor City: Whispers in the Wood by Chris Lester

Lex Talionis by Starla Huchton

Spark by Starla Huchton
Heir to Kale by K.L. Bone

Tales from the Archives Vol 4 #5 - Old Sinner's Bones

The Death of Dulgath by Michael J. Sullivan

Tranquility by Dave Creek

Empire of Bones by Terry Mixon

The Cryptic Lines by Richard Storry

Audio Book Review: Tarah Woodblade

Tarah Woodblade

By:  Trevor H. Cooley

Publish Date:  March 10, 2014, Audiobook Release January 29, 2016

Format:  Audiobook - 11 hrs 35 mins
Narrated By:  Andrew Tell

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  1st Book in Jharro Grove series, 6th Book in The Bowl of Souls series

First Impression:  Sometimes finding and accepting yourself is the hardest journey.

Synopsis:
A Bowl of Souls Novel

The war is over, but there is a void of power that must be filled and no shortage of souls eager to fill it.

Tarah Woodblade was the best guide and tracker in the land, but she ran away from the war. She returns to Dremaldria expecting to be labeled a coward, but finds herself lauded as a hero. It seems a hero is needed too, because someone is hunting rogue horses . . .

First Sentence:
"Shh. Yer gonna be alright, Puppy," said Lenui Firegobbler softly as he stood in front of the rogue horse, its bridle in his hands.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

The land of Dremaldria has been ever changed due to the war. It's over now, and people try to rebuild.

Tarah returns to her home land expecting to be seen as the coward who ran from the war. She hopes, the guild will accept her because she's one of the best trackers around. When she returns home she finds the exact opposite. She's viewed by the people as a hero.

Tarah had taken what appeared to be a magically spelled sword from a bandit on her way to Sampo. With no post of someone looking for it, Tarah agrees to take it to the Mage School for a finders fee. And while on her way there, she agrees to take an easy job of escorting a couple and their son to the school. Easy money... right? Tarah sees the tracks to a rare, unbelievable beast but keeps moving with the family. At the Wizard Academy, Tarah's asked to be a specialist on a contract job. To help track a Rogue horse. For the money and easy sound of the job, she takes it.

I've grown to really like background music when narrators read the title page of a book. Sets the mood for what's to come. Andrew is a narrator I've listened to and enjoyed. When I see a book in the genre I enjoy, I have to have it. This book holds true to his fantasy narrations. He does different tones and emotions for each character, making them distinct for us. I do enjoy his different inflections and timber for individualizing the characters. His voice is clear and easy to listen to.

Tarah knows what she did when the war was happening. She ran. People died. She wasn't here to help them. And it all weighs on her mind because they think her a hero for what she did in Pinewood. Tarah also has her Papa and Grampa Rolf in her mind reminding her how she should act and what she should do. They are like her conscious.

There's Djeri. He becomes Tarah's travel companion, co-worker in a sense. But Djeri the Looker becomes much more than just that to Tarah. They both start to realize it as they are there for each other through this travel and obstacles of threats. I like how this relationship evolves through the book.

When we meet Arkon I'm caught by him. It's a quick intro to him and Melinda. Their connection is a unique one here in this world, and I'm getting the feel an unwanted one. The magic and assassins sent after them are wild. I love it! Arkon is a mage and has his own tricks. I'm thinking he might be my favorite character but because of the mystery surrounding him.

I've not read or listened to any of The Bowl of Souls series, though I'm wanting to. I've started in with this book with fresh eyes. I'm not aware of the ways of this world or the war that has ravaged the lands, but it was easy to understand the world. Tarah is even haunted by her past during the war, those that she didn't save and how she ran. It leaves a mysterious feel to Tarah and keeps me wondering the whole story with her past, keeping me listening to learn.

There is a moral to the story, it's tied to Tarah struggling with who she is. She doesn't understand who's inside because she's left other people's thoughts of her affect her. She comes to learn from Djeri, who becomes dear to her, that she's who she is through actions not what people think of her. This is a strong lesson for Tarah, and what readers can take from the story too.

The epilogue introduces new characters and new troubles to be followed in the next book. I'm curious how this will cross with Tarah Woodblade's next mission, which we know of by how this book ends.



**If you found my thoughts helpful, please click Yes at Amazon and/or Audible. Thank you!

Audio Book Review: Glistens

Glistens

By:  Chess Desalls

Publish Date:  July 11, 2016, Audiobook Release August 16, 2016

Format:  Audiobook - 2 hrs 8 mins
Narrated By:  Julie Hinton

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  Stand alone

First Impression:  A story for the young, how helping others makes a difference.

Synopsis:
Marian Spritz won’t gain guardian fairy status if she fails her summer school project. But when she hears a call for help—a song felt only by Glistens—she must choose between not letting her schoolwork and teammates suffer and protecting a ward who faces grave danger.

A guardian can't shine without the song of her ward.

First Sentence:
"You, Marian Spritz, are the poorest excuse for a Glisten I have ever seen.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review at my request.

Marian Spritz is in summer school due to poor grades, and still struggling with spells with her best friend Sal and Endrik, the handsome boy, seems to like Marian where Minx, the mean girl, is jealous of their flirting. Along with their Last Chance Project, helping a fictional ward, they will also have to help a real live being. Should something happen, they are to use their group to help them. Twelve students now have their projects, due in three weeks. The song for help sings through a Glistens veins, when the veil is lifted which their professor does. When Marian's ward asks her to keep her troubles a secret, and ward to guardian secret, it complicates Marian's school project as she's to work with Sal and Endrik to finish, and now can't.


Julie is a new voice for me. And listening to her in the first chapter, I liked her. She does different attitudes with slight voice differences for us to easily separate and get a feel for the characters. This is something that really pops with audiobooks, we don't get when reading. But I think there is a slight ting to Julie's voice, almost an echo. It's hard to tell and could be nothing, or could fit with the fairy feel. For the most part, Julie flows the words as she narrates. However there are moments where she feels as she's working to enunciate the words properly and clearly.


This is a short story at just over 2 hours audio. It feels like a lovely little story for young adults, in middle school and up, to read/listen to. It brings to the front that promises are made and you honor them, but it's also good to talk to others. That others can help. Sometimes, working as a group is better than alone. And, sometimes, helping those that are not so nice means a great deal to them.

I like Marian. She worries and feels bad, but she's also not perfect. Her attention strays when in class, causing her to miss information from class and such. But this feels like a normal person. But when she learns she's got a ward, she does worry about that person, even if it's someone she never expected.

Enrik is the possible boy distraction, love interest, in this story. He sounds sweet. He's also concerned for Marian when he sees her during her moments that she feels the song. Marian is determined to not let him be a distraction, I like this take on her relationship with Enrik.

Sal is so worried. She comes across as whiny at times, but that's her personality. She's so stressed over the great chance of failing this summer course and never becoming a Glisten. She's so worried that she doesn't want Enrik and Marian to become romantically involved as it would be a distraction from their projects, and they'll fail. And much on her mind with her father's disappearance.

One thing I find cool, it's near my home town! They are in Pennsylvania and near the Allegheny River. Pittsburgh is even mentioned. Cool beans!

It was a cute short story.



**If you find my thoughts helpful, please click Yes at Amazon and/or Audible. Thank you!

Audio Book Review: Hidden Deception

Hidden Deception

By:  Colleen Helme

Publish Date:  August 12, 2016, Audiobook August 11, 2016

Format:  Audiobook - 9 hrs 3 mins
Narrated By:  Wendy Tremont King

Genre:  Mystery

Series:  9th in Shelby Nichols series; Book 1 ~ Carrots, Book 2 ~ Fast Money, Book 8 ~ Devious Minds

Impression:  Not only does Uncle Joey has troubles he needs Shelby's help with, but she finds her own troubles too.

Synopsis:
Book 9 in the Shelby Nichols Adventure Series
Just back from Paris, Shelby barely has time to get over her jet lag before she is right back in the thick of things. Uncle Joey, the local mob boss, needs her help to find out what his son is hiding from him. Detective Harris, AKA Dimples, has an unsolved homicide on his hands, along with a missing engagement ring. Shelby's husband, Chris, just got promoted to partner in his law firm, and she has yet to see his new office or meet his new secretary. Add to that the opportunity to purchase a beautiful home, and Shelby is racing from one thing to the next while trying to keep them all straight.

When a courier in Uncle Joey’s organization turns up dead, it’s up to Shelby and her mind-reading powers to find out who killed him and why. The house Shelby wants to buy has a few problems that go beyond the building code, and the murder she’s helping Dimples solve has ties to Chris’ law firm. Even using all of her skills, Shelby finds one hidden deception after another. And if she’s not careful, it might be the one she least expects that will kill her.

First Sentence:
Today began like any other Monday.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

Audible


My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was proved by the author, publisher, or narrator for an honest review at my request.

Shelby starts Monday like any other, after returning from an adventure of a lifetime in Paris on Friday. Life picks up like nothing happened except she owes Uncle Joey, yet again, for sending Ramos to keep and eye on her, and save her.

Chris is now partner of the law firm and received a raise. With the raise Chris has set up an appointment to look at the house Shelby's admired. It could be possible to purchase her dream home. Touring the house Shelby falls further in love, until she comes out side. At a hidden part of foundation that's crumbled, she hears a kid crying. A dead child? Now Shelby is determined to find out what happened.

Joey's next job for Shelby, to go see his son Miguel at school. Miguel's not telling Joey anything but he has the feeling something is wrong. Joey wants Shelby to go have lunch with Miguel and listen to him and all around him, to make sure no one's bullying him or a prejudice from teachers. And, after seeing a dead employee of Uncle Joey's at his shop, to listen in on a meeting with the Russians.


Wendy returns for the ninth installment of Shelby's adventures. She is wonderful at the feel of Shelby. We really get a feel for her emotions with her thoughts. She makes me smile listening to Shelby's easy thoughts. Wendy does make slight differences for different characters as we go, which helps make them easier to differentiated with their personalities. Wendy gets to voice a Russian accent for this story.

Shelby is busy as ever with all that's greeting her this week. Visiting with Miguel, homicide case with Dimples, The Russians and missing diamonds, looking at a possible new house, and the dead child's cries. Wow can a day fill up fast! Oh and the dangerous troubles Shelby finds herself in. And this book is thanks to Uncle Joey and his use of Shelby and her ability with the Russians. But things get dangerous with Dimples too, when not expected.

There are many memories of all the troubles Shelby's been through. If you start with this book, they'll make you curious what fun troubles Shelby has found herself in. And you know it always had to be fun, if even scary for Shelby. Sure, you could start here as each book has it's own story to tell, and there are hints to the relationships with all the characters by now.

I just love Shelby. She's a light personality that's fun to listen to. She makes me smile with the goofy things she does or says to lighten the moment. I am also drooling over Ramos, Uncle Joey's guard, and Chris, Shelby's husband. Oh man. These two men are amazing! And as much as they are complete opposites, I see similarities in them too. *sigh*

I look forward to continuing stories with Shelby and all of the great cast of characters around here!



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