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Showing posts from July, 2018

Audio Book Review: We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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Release Date:  January 31, 2017 Publisher:  Random House Studios Format:  Audio Length:  45 minutes Narrator:  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Genre:  Essay Buy:   Audible  |  Kindle   Synopsis:  In this personal, eloquently-argued essay—adapted from the much-admired TEDx talk of the same name—Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie offers readers a unique definition of feminism for the twenty-first century, one rooted in inclusion and awareness. Drawing extensively on her own experiences and her deep understanding of the often masked realities of sexual politics, here is one remarkable author’s exploration of what it means to be a woman now—and an of-the-moment rallying cry for why we should all be feminists. Review: Short essay which beautifully illustrates what it means to be a feminist.  Gender equality should still be at the forefront of our minds, just as racial equality. They are not the same and they are not something that we shou...

Audio Book Review: A Reason to Believe by Diana Copeland

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Release Date:  October 22, 2012 Publisher:  Carina Press Format:  Audio Length:  10 hours 06 minutes Narrator:  Jack LeFleur Genre:  Mystery / Romance/LGBT M/M Buy:   Audible  |  Kindle  |  Synopsis:  Detective Matthew Bennett doesn't believe in ghosts. So when the spirit of a murdered child leads him to her body, he's shaken to the core--and taken off the case. Unable to explain his vision, or to let go of the investigation, Matthew turns to renowned medium Kiernan Fitzpatrick. Though he has doubts about Kiernan's claims to communicate with the dead, Matt is nevertheless drawn to the handsome psychic, who awakens feelings he thought were long-buried. Haunted by the lingering spirit of the little girl, Kiernan is compelled to aid in the search for her killer. The chance to get closer to the enigmatic Matt is an unexpected bonus. Although Kiernan's been betrayed by people who turned out to be more interested in his fame...

Audio Book Review: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

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Release Date:  August 2, 2007 Publisher:  Random House Audio Format:  Audio Length:  7 hours 9 minutes Narrator:  Phillip Franklin Genre:  Travel Biography Buy:   Audible  |  Kindle   Synopsis:  In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. His name was Christopher Johnson McCandless. He had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter.  How McCandless came to die is the unforgettable story of  Into the Wild . Immediately after graduating from college in 1991, McCandless had roamed through the West and Southwest on a vision quest like those made by his heroes Jack London and John Muir.  In the Mojave Desert he abandoned his car, stripped it...

Audio Book Review: This is Me: Loving the Person You are Today by Chrissy Metz

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Release Date:  March 27, 2018 Publisher:  Harper Audio Format:  Audio Length:  6 hours 26 minutes Narrator:  Chrissy Metz Genre:  Self Help/Memoir Buy:   Audible  |  Kindle   Synopsis:  In  This is Me,  Chrissy Metz shares her story with a raw honesty that will leave readers both surprised but also inspired. Infused with the same authenticity she brings to her starring role, Chrissy’s  This is Me  is so much more than your standard Hollywood memoir or collection of personal essays. She embraces the spirit of Shonda Rhimes’  Year of Yes , and shares how she has applied the lessons she learned from both setbacks and successes. A born entertainer, Chrissy finds light in even her darkest moments, and leaves the reader feeling they are spending time with a friend who gets it. Chrissy Metz grew up in a large family, one that always seemed to be moving, and growing. Her father disappeared one day, leavin...

Book Review: Orphan X: A novel by Gregg Hurwitz

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Release Date:  January 19, 2016 Publisher:  Minotaur Books Format:  ebook Pages:  367 pages Genre:   Mystery/ Thriller Buy:  Kindle  |  Paperback  | Audio Synopsis:  The Nowhere Man is a legendary figure spoken about only in whispers. It’s said that when he’s reached by the truly desperate and deserving, the Nowhere Man can and will do anything to protect and save them. But he’s not merely a legend. Evan Smoak is a man with skills, resources, and a personal mission to help those with nowhere else to turn. He’s also a man with a dangerous past. Chosen as a child, he was raised and trained as an Orphan, an off-the-books black box program designed to create the perfect deniable intelligence asset: An assassin. Evan was Orphan X—until he broke with the program and used everything he learned to disappear. But now someone is on his tail. Someone with similar skills and training who will exploit Evan’s secret new identity as the Nowh...

ARC Book Review: The Boy at the Door by Alex Dahl

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Release Date:  July 24, 2018 Publisher:  Berkley Format:  ebook Pages:  368 pages Genre:   Mystery/ Thriller Buy:  Kindle  |  Paperback Synopsis:  Cecilia Wilborg has it all--a loving husband, two beautiful daughters and a gorgeous home in the affluent Norwegian town of Sandefjord. And she works hard to keep it all together. Too hard. Because one mistake from her past could bring it all crashing down around her. Annika Lucasson lives a dark life with her abusive, drug-dealing boyfriend. She's lost everything one too many times and now she's got one last chance to save herself, thanks to Cecilia. Annika knows her secret--and just how much she's willing to do to make it all go away... When someone forgets to pick up their little boy at the local pool, Cecilia agrees to take him home, only to find an abandoned, empty house. It's the first step in the unraveling of her meticulously crafted life, as her and Annika's worlds collide. R...

Audio Book Review: Seven Series 7-1- by Dannika Dark

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Publisher: Tantor Format: Audible Narrator: Nicole Poole   Genre: Romance Buy: Amazon Synopsis:  The Seven Series follows the lives of the Westin pack. Most of the males in this pack are part of the same family. The Cole brothers all follow their brother Austin who is the leader of the Westin pack. As each man struggles to find and keep their mate they also struggle against outside forces that try to tear them all apart. These books count down from 7 so 7 is the first and it goes from there. Review: These books are a great mix of romance and action.  This combined combined with a pack made up of family members and a few others that care about each other. Even when that caring isn’t always reciprocated the way it should be. These are great paranormal romance books.  Each one can be read as a standalone but they all seem to have a common thread that is best read in order. Discover other books or products I like:  https://www.amazon.com/sh...

Audio Book Review: Old Loyalty, New Love (L'Ange book 1) by Mary Calmes

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Release Date:  September 22, 2014 Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press Format:  Audio Length:  8 hours 3 minutes Narrator:  Tristan James Genre:  Romance/Supernatural Buy:   Audible  |  Kindle   Synopsis:  When jackal shifter Quade Danas was banished from his pack for being gay, he spent years in the military escaping his father's prejudice before returning to civilian life as a bodyguard for Roman Howell, the teenage son of a very rich man. After Roman is in an accident that leaves him physically scarred and emotionally distant, Quade is the only one who can get through to him. As Roman becomes a man, he realizes what he wants—his bodyguard by his side and in his bed. Unfortunately, Quade can’t seem to see past the kid Roman once was to the man he has become, certain Roman’s feelings are merely misplaced gratitude. But Roman knows a lot more than Quade realizes, and he’s used to persevering, no matter how many impediments life thr...

Audio Book Review: Garrett, Brent, Grant & Bryce (Bound and Controlled Books 1-4) by Shaw Montgomery

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Publisher:  Shaw Montgomery Format:  Audio Narrator:  Kenneth Obi Genre:  Romance Buy:   Kindle  Synopsis:  Garrett:  Garrett was at his breaking point. There were only so many times in a week you should have to see someone you were...attracted to...infatuated with...but certainly didn’t have a crush on. Doms didn’t have those. Especially on a customer who probably wasn’t even gay, much less a sub. Business 101 - do not flirt with a client. Wyatt was losing his mind. Hiding his obsession was getting harder and harder. All he wanted to do was kneel in front of Garrett and call him Master. But the sexy insurance agent never seemed to see him. He only noticed the nervous, awkward insured who came in way too often. When the two men are missing what’s right in front of their faces, it might take family stepping in to point out the obvious. That they were meant for each other. Brent:  Brent had fallen for the one Dom he couldn...

Audio Book Review: Ripper by Isabel Allende

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Release Date:  January 28, 2014 Publisher:  Harper Audio Format:  Audio Length:  14 hours 32 minutes Narrator:  Edoardo Ballerini Genre:  Mystery/Thriller/Crime Buy:   Audible  |  Kindle  |  Paperback Synopsis:  The Jackson women, Indiana and Amanda, have always had each other. Though their bond is strong, mother and daughter are as different as night and day. Indiana, a beautiful holistic healer, is a free-spirited bohemian. Long divorced from Amanda's father, she's reluctant to settle down with either of the men who want her - Alan, the wealthy scion of one of San Francisco's elite families, and Ryan, an enigmatic, scarred former Navy SEAL. While her mom looks for the good in people, Amanda is fascinated by the dark side of human nature - as is her father, the SFPD's deputy chief of homicide. Brilliant and introverted, the MIT-bound high school senior Amanda is a natural-born sleuth addicted to crime novels and to ...

ARC Book Review: Erasing Memory (a MacNeice Mystery) by Scott Thornley

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Release Date:  June 26, 2018 Publisher:  Spiderline Format:  ebook Pages:  332 pages Genre:   Mystery/ Thriller Buy:  Kindle  |  Hardcover  |  Paperback Synopsis:  Detective Superintendent MacNeice is returning from a pilgrimage to his wife’s grave when he’s called to a crime scene of singular and disturbing beauty. A young woman in evening dress lies gracefully posed on the floor of a pristine summer cottage so that the finger of one hand regularly interrupts the needle arm of a phonograph playing Schubert’s Piano Trio. The only visible mark on her is the bruise under her chin, which MacNeice recognizes: it is the mark that distinguishes dedicated violinists, the same mark that once graced his wife. The murder is both ingenious and horrific, and soon entangles MacNeice and his team in Eastern Europe’s ancient grievances. Review: This is a really good police procedural set in Canada. MacNeice leads an interesting team of ...

Audio Book Review: Lady X by Claudy Conn

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Release Date:  August 6, 2012 Publisher:  Carina Press Format:  Audio Length:  14 hours 12 minutes Narrator:  Ian Ruane Genre:  Romance Buy:   Audible  |  Kindle   Synopsis:  Exerilla is a white witch. Her father is a dark and dangerous warlock with an agenda to marry her to someone she despises. He has the power to do this before she reaches her majority, which will occur at Samhain, Halloween. Her mother has a plan and against her daughter's will, implements that plan, which sends Exerilla into the past, where she must remain until October 31st - months away. And magic is something she can't use because her father could trace it to her. Here is the problem, plans have a way of seeping from black and white into gray. Review: This book had some potential but it wanted to be too many things at one time. The romance worked for me but then toward the end everything just sped quickly toward a neat ending. It could have used a...