Showing posts with label ebook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ebook. Show all posts

Saturday, 12 April 2025

PATH OF BONES


Path Of Bones by L.T. Ryan & K.M. Rought
Book 1 in the Cassie Quinn series
Narrated by Patricia Santomasso & Sean Patrick Hopkins
Genre: paranormal crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobookAudiobook


The dead do not forget.

Cassie Quinn was their voice. As a medium working with the FBI and police nationwide, she communicated with murder victims, giving them a shot at justice from beyond the grave. But after an abduction that stole her powers, Cassie escaped to the quiet life of an art museum curator.

That peace shatters when the ghost of a murdered woman invades her home, reigniting her lost gift. Now, Cassie is back in the game, racing against time to decipher the dead woman's message and stop a heartless killer. She's teetering on the edge of life and death, one step away from crossing into the eternal silence.
Source: Info in the "About Path Of Bones" was taken from amazon on 02/03/2024.


Buy Link(s):
  Audible Books


My Thoughts:
This is my first L.T. Ryan & K.M. Rought read. Glad I stumbled upon these authors!

However, I had a bit of trouble getting into this book at first. It was slow going for the first few chapters. It did pick up though!

I am an old urban fantasy reader. 99.9% of urban fantasies are slim on the plot side. I was expecting this book to be the same. It was not!

I bought the boxset version containing the first three books in this series. And I am glad that I did because as soon as I hit the ending of the first book, I wanted to dive straight away into the next book and find out what happens next! So my suggestion is to get the boxset.

The main character, Cassie, sometimes act like an idiot and I find that annoying! That is one of the main reasons why the character development will never get a 5 out of 5 rating with me.

This is not my first Patricia Santomasso audiobook listen but this is my first Sean Patrick Hopkins audiobook. They work well together. It is just very unfortunate for Hopkins that he is reading the bad guys' lines.


Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = (7 hrs and 8 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 5


Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Cassie Quinn Series:
Book 1: PATH OF BONES Book 2: WHISPER OF BONES Book 3: SYMPHONY OF BONES Book 4: ETCHED IN SHADOW Book 5: CONCEALED IN SHADOW Book 6: BETRAYED IN SHADOW Book 7: BORN FROM ASHES Book 8: RETURN TO ASHES Book 9: RISEN FROM ASHES Book 3: (TBC)


 
Meet The Authors

About L.T. Ryan:
L.T. Ryan is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, renowned for crafting pulse-pounding thrillers that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Known for creating gripping, character-driven stories, L.T. Ryan is the author of the Jack Noble series, the Rachel Hatch series, and more. With a knack for blending action, intrigue, and emotional depth, L.T.'s books have captivated millions of fans worldwide.

Whether it's the shadowy world of covert operatives or the relentless pursuit of justice, L.T.'s stories feature unforgettable characters and high-stakes plots that resonate with fans of Lee Child, Robert Ludlum, and Michael Connelly.

When not writing, L.T. enjoys crafting new ideas with coauthors, running a thriving publishing company, and connecting with readers. Discover the next story that will keep you turning pages late into the night.


About K.M. Rought:
K.M. Rought is a writer and editor hailing from Upstate New York. Though she graduated with a degree in Art History, she fell into a career of freelancing, fulfilling her childhood dream of being a published author.

Now residing in Ohio, K.M. spends her days writing, playing video games, and telling her cat that no, it's not time to eat yet. Her obsessions include foraging for mushrooms, daydreaming about her next tattoo, and adding to her to-be-read pile.


The Narrators

About Patricia Santomasso:
Patricia Santomasso has always been an avid reader and storyteller. Her love of literature led her to earn a BA in English, and shortly afterward she moved from Connecticut to New York to study theater. She worked for years on stages around the country doing mostly classical plays and Shakespeare. It was there she met her husband, narrator Sean Patrick Hopkins, doing a production of As You Like It. Now she has merged her love of acting and the written word and happily reads stories out loud from the comfort of a booth. To date she has recorded over 150 audiobooks.

Patricia's youthful voice and comic timing give heroines a warm relatability, and her surprising dips into baritone make her male characters engaging and believable. Paste Magazine has called her narration style "warm-but-tart," which she agrees is a fitting description. Patricia and Sean have a sweet baby daughter, Lyra Róisín, who isn't much interested in hearing either one of them read to her.


About Sean Patrick Hopkins:
A student of neuroscience and speech pathology, Sean Patrick Hopkins has translated his understanding of human behavior and vocal performance into a career in storytelling. His classical training and versatility with dialects has helped to create distinct and varied characters across many genres. In addition to narrating over 100 audiobooks, he has been seen and heard on film, television, video games, and stages in New York City and across the country. When not in the booth, you can find him buried in genealogy research, out exploring our National Parks, and raising an amazing daughter alongside his wife, fellow narrator Patricia Santomasso.



FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.

Saturday, 5 April 2025

ENDLESS KNIGHT


Endless Knight by Annabel Chase
Book 1 in the Midnight Empire: The Restoration series
Narrated by Jill Smith
Genre: urban fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobookAudiobook


About Endless Knight:
Return to the world of the Midnight Empire where darkness reigns and vampires rule.
New York is my prison.

Once a sought-after assassin, a single error in judgment landed me in servitude to House August, the most powerful vampire family in North America. Now I use my special brand of magic as a member of their security team, fighting monsters in the city and keeping the royal family’s many enemies at bay.

When the queen summons me for an assignment and offers my freedom in return, I want to jump at the chance — until she tells me what the assignment is.

Like a valiant knight, I am to escort her son from the family’s stronghold in Florida back to New York, which would be difficult enough without my messy romantic history with the rogue prince.

I accept the job because my freedom means more than my wounded pride.

Darkness and monsters stand between us and our destination. Thankfully I’ve never been afraid of either one.

I soon discover there’s more at stake than the return of the prodigal son. Even if we survive our enemies, I’m not sure I’ll survive the journey with the vampire who broke my heart.

Endless Knight, Midnight Empire: The Restoration, is the first book in a new urban fantasy trilogy set in the same world as Wild Knight, Midnight Empire: The Tower.
Source: Info in the About Endless Knight was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60434851-endless-knight on 09/05/2022.

Buy Link(s):
  Audible Books


My Thoughts:
This is my first Annabel Chase read and at first it was hardgoing to get into the story! I first read the kindle ebook sample and that sample stewed in my knidle for like a couple of months before it got finally read. I just keep putting it down. Then when I was in the GP (General Practitioner or doctor's office) waiting room for like an hour and a half before I was seen, this book got dredged up and read little bit more. Then I decided to buy the audiobook version in the hopes that this book might go quicker with a narration. By that time I was past chapter one and the story has started to pick up.

There isn't much of a plot. But then again this is not a crime fiction book, so I can forgive that.

My first Jill Smith listen and I like he way she reads.


Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4
Character development = 4
Story itself = 3
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 4
World building = 4
Cover art = 4
Pace = (6 hrs and 57 mins listening time)
Plot = 2.5
Narration = 4.5

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Midnight Empire: The Restoration Series:


Meet The Author

About Annabel Chase:
Annabel Chase is the author of urban fantasy and cozy mystery novels. She would love to live in a magical town where she can shop at Ready-to-Were for the the perfect outfit, flirt with hot angels and vampires, and cook gourmet meals without exerting any effort.


The Narrator

About Jill Smith:
Hi! I’m Jill Smith, an Ohio-based voice actor specializing in audiobook work. I have a background in theater and creative writing, so I value collaboration and understand how exciting and important it is as an author to hear your project come to life in audio. I work with you to make sure you get the results you want! Please feel free to reach out with any questions or for more information at jillsmith.voice@gmail.com.




FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook copies of the book were purchased with private funds.
No money received for this review.

Saturday, 29 March 2025

PAPER GIRLS


Paper Girls by Alex Smith
Book 1 in the DCI Kett series
Narrated by Tim Bruce
Genre: crime fiction
Format: ebook & audiobookAudiobook


The one case he couldn't crack was the one that finally broke him.

Haunted by his inability to track down and save his missing wife, DCI Robert Kett leaves the Metropolitan Police behind and moves to Norwich with his three young children, hoping to heal their broken family.

But his newfound peace doesn’t last. Two newspaper delivery girls have gone missing in the city, and the clues point to a serial kidnapper.

Kett is dragged into the centre of one of the darkest cases of his career — a case that pits him head to head against a horrifying evil.

And a case that might uncover the terrible truth of what happened to his wife.
Source: Info in the "About Paper Girls" was taken from amazon on 28/04/2024.


Buy Link(s):
  Audible Books


My Thoughts:
What JD Kirk and David J. Gatward said about this book is true. It is gripping and it is brilliant!

And this kinda worries me because when one starts in a high note, it is usually downhill from there... I hope not! Anyway already bought the second book.

The plot is not that twisty. But twisty enough!

The ending is as good as can be. But it is good!

I thought that the fight scenes there in the end is not quite believable but I am wilfully ignoring that for the lovely reading time that this book gave me.

This is my first Tim Bruce audiobook and I would listen to him again.


Quantitative Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 5
Ending = 4.5
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = (7 hrs and 59 mins listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 5


Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries


Books In The DCI Kett Series:
Book 0.5: CRY BABY Book 1: PAPER GIRLS Book 2:BAD DOG Book 3: THREE LITTLE PIGS Book 4: WHIP CRACK Book 5: RUN RABBIT RUN Book 6: STONE COLD DEAD Book 7: EVERY MOTHER'S SON Book 8: SWEET BRIAR ROSE Book 9: JAW BREAKER Book 10: KNOCK KNOCK Book 11: KING RAT Book 12: KNUCKLE BONES Book 13: LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN Book 14: UNHOLY SAINTS Book 15: TRULY MADLY DEADLY Book 16: EVERY LAST DEVIL Book 17: RED LINE Book 18: COLD IRON KILLS Book 19: (TBC)


 
Meet The Author

About Alex Smith:
Hi there, and welcome to my Amazon author page! Thanks for stopping by and checking out my books. If you want to be the first to know about new releases then feel free to follow me by clicking on the follow button on my book pages or on my author page.

I've been a writer for almost all my life. I wrote my first book when I was six, and even though it wasn't very good it did have monsters in it. It was a sign of things to come, as I spent most of my twenties and thirties writing horror books for children and teenagers under my full name, Alexander Gordon Smith, including the award-winning series Escape From Furnace. It was only after I had my three daughters that I thought about writing a series of thrillers about a detective with young children, and DCI Robbie Kett was born.

I live in Norwich with my family, where I spend half of my time writing and the other half trying to keep up with my three girls.


The Narrator

About Tim Bruce:
Essentially a British RP actor-narrator, Tim was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the North East of England (native Geordie), but spent most of his life (when not on tour!) in London. He currently stars alongside comedian Phill Jupitus in CITV’s popular children’s comedy series ‘Bottom Knocker Street’, in which he plays 21 different on-screen characters! Tim’s other work includes the BBC’s BAFTA award winning drama series ‘Bleak House’; long-running TV soaps such as ‘Hollyoaks’, ‘Family Affairs’ and ‘Byker Grove’; the West End production of ‘Blood Brothers’; films such as the BAFTA award winning ‘Supertramp’, Stephen Fry’s ‘Bright Young Things’ and the RTS award winning opera film ‘Boheme’; voice-overs and cartoons. Audiobook authors include Peter James, Mark Billingham, Terry Brooks, Lisa Jewell, William Blake and the Oxford Book of War Poetry. Comfortable with all kinds of accents and languages, Tim can even be heard singing Hindi, Urdu, Marathi and Sanskrit!

Described by AudioFile™ Magazine as ‘a chameleon with language… who keeps listeners on the edge of their seats…a great storyteller who can really deliver’, Tim Bruce is an Earphones Award-winning British actor with over 25 years experience narrating best-selling audiobooks for publishers all over the world.



FTC Disclosure:
The ebook and audiobook were bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.