WOLF MAN

Wolf Man by Craig Zerf
Book 1 in the Project Bloodborn series
Narrated by Matt Waldron
Genre: urban fantasy
Format: ebook & audiobook

About Wolf Man:

Brenner is not a werewolf...

He is the result of a secret US Army experiment. The creation of a government controlled Super Soldier.

And no one asked if he wanted to take part.

So, he escaped. And for the last fifty years has been living in the backroads and the small unknown towns of America. Never aging. Searching for a cure. At the same time avoiding the dark ops experts who are looking for him.

But just because he can become a seven foot, four hundred pound killing machine, it doesn't mean that Brenner is bad. In fact, he sticks to a strict code.

And like the High Plains drifters of old, anyone who crosses the Wolfman's code is sure to suffer.

They took his humanity ... and now it's time for payback.

Source: Info in the "About Wolf Man" was taken from GppdReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36178703-wolf-man on 12/06/2021.

Buy Link(s):

 

My Thoughts:

Great start to a promising new-to-me series!

This is my first Craig Zerf read and I am fast becoming a fan. His author's voice is compelling enough to make me buy book 2, Wolf Spirit, even though it does not have synopsis. Having no synopsis is very annoying...

This is also my first Matt Waldron listen. He reads fine. I just sometimes wish he would give some characters a different voice than his usual ones that would be more befitting the character. Like deepen his voice a little perhaps when he is reading the lines of a deep-voiced character. Like that. He does sometimes does it. But not all the time.

The plot is pretty straight-forward. Hero meets bad guys. There was a fight. Boom! Boom! Blood and gore... More bad guys, more fight. The end. But hey, this is urban fantasy, not crime fiction!

This book is violent so I do not recommend it to young readers.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 3.5
Pace = 4
Plot = 3.5
Narration = 4

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries


Books In Project Bloodborn Series:

Meet The Author

About Craig Zerf:

Craig Zerf is a full-time writer who has been awarded the Golganooza Gold medal for Fantasy as well as being voted 'Best Read' by radio BBC United Kingdom.

His novels have been translated into French, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish and German.

Craig has lived in America, Africa and Europe and now resides in England with his wife and two imaginary cats.

His books have reached the number one Best Seller spot in both the United Kingdom and Germany and he reckons that writing is about the most fun that you can have without actually blowing things up!

czerf.wordpress.com | twitter | facebook | instagram | pinterest | amazon | goodreads

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

ACCIDENTAL MAGIC

The Book

Accidental Magic by Iris Beaglehole
Book 1 in the Myrtlewood Mysteries series
Genre: urban fantasy
Format: ebook

About Accidental Magic:

Welcome to Myrtlewood, a quirky town, steeped in magic, tea and mystery…

Life’s a struggle for Rosemary Thorn and her teen daughter, Athena. But their regular troubles are turned upside down after Granny Thorn’s mysterious death.

Despite her cousin's sinister manoeuvrings, Rosemary returns to Myrtlewood and the sprawling, dilapidated Thorn Manor. But there's more to the old house than meets the eye, as Rosemary and Athena soon find out — in a whirlwind of magic, adventure, mystical creatures and endless cups of tea.

Life in Myrtlewood would be bliss if Rosemary could only clear her name in a certain murder investigation, solve the mystery and stay out of mortal peril — for at least a little while!

A small town with endless secrets, strange activities and a house with a mind of its own.

Source: Info in the "About Accidental Magic" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60471457-accidental-magic on 09/09/2022.

Buy Link(s):

My Thoughts:

I like the premise and the cover art of this book and that is why it got bought. However, I had a little bit of a hard time getting into this book. It most probably me that was at fault at that time. I was coping with a lot of life's drama then.

I totally like the mother-daughter dynamics. That is not how my relationship with my mother goes, but it is totally believable that such a thing could happen.

Quantitative Evaluation:

Story telling quality = 4
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 4
World building = 4.5
Cover art = 4.5
Pace = 2.5
Plot = 4

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 cherries

Books In The Myrtlewood Mysteries Series:

 

Meet The Author

About Iris Beaglehole:

Iris Beaglehole is many peculiar things, a writer, researcher, analyst, druid, witch, parent, and would-be astrologer. She loves tea, cats, herbs, and writing quirky characters.

twitter | facebook | instagram | amazon | goodreads

FTC Disclosure:
This book was bought with private funds.
No money received for this review.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

SIMON SAYS... HIDE

The Book

Simon Says... Hide by Dale Mayer
Book 1 in the Kate Morgan series
Narrated by Kristi Alsip
Genre: psychic thriller
Format: ebook & audiobook

About Simon Says... Hide:

Newly promoted detective Kate Morgan stands up for the victims in the world, never backing down or giving up. From a family of victims, Kate will not tolerate those who take advantage of others. The worst ones prey on the hopes of desperate people to line their own pockets.

And when Kate finds a connection between more than a half-dozen cold cases to a recent case — where a child's life is in jeopardy — she'll make a deal with the devil himself to protect the child.

Having the gift of Sight, Simon St. Laurant knows that once he uses it, he can never walk away. But when nightmares of his own past are triggered, Simon can’t stand back and watch child after child being abused. Determined to help, Simon vows to save these children — even if it means dealing with the cranky and critical Detective Kate Morgan.

Source: Info in the "About Simon Says... Hide" was taken from GoodReads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56546246-simon-says-hide on 20/08/2022.

Buy Link(s):

 

My Thoughts:

Wonderful start to a new-to-me series!

This is my first Dale Mayer read and I am glad that I stumbled into her! Slow start but picks up about three-quarters through. It is interesting to follow the journey of a psychic who didn't want to be one...

What's even better?!? There are a few more books in the series!!

Being book 1, the book is about introducing the readers into this world. It's not that the author did not spin a good tale, because she did. But the coming-of-age theme is salient in this book.

This is also my first Kristi Alsip listen and I like the way she reads. Fast becoming a fan! However, I have a whinge with the audiobook format... Chapter 2 comes after chapter 3... WTF! And the kindle ebook and audible audiobook is not whispersync! Darn it!! So, no! I am not happy with the audiobook!

Quantitative Evaluation:

Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4.5
Story itself = 4.5
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 4
World building = 4
Cover art = 4
Pace = (10 hrs and 25 mins listening time)
Plot = 4.5
Narration = 4

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 cherries

Books In The Kate Morgan Series:

 

Meet The Author

About Dale Mayer:

Dale Mayer is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her Psychic Visions and Family Blood Ties series. Her contemporary romances are raw and full of passion and emotion (Second Chances, SKIN), her thrillers will keep you guessing (By Death series), and her romantic comedies will keep you giggling (It's a Dog's Life and Charmin Marvin Romantic Comedy series).

She honors the stories that come to her — and some of them are crazy and break all the rules and cross multiple genres!

To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series. All her books are available in print and ebook format.

dalemayer.com | twitter | facebook | facebook author page | tiktok | bookbub | instagram | pinterest | youtube | amazon | goodreads

The Narrator

About Kristi Alsip:

From: Chicago, IL, USA

SAG-AFTRA
Voiced radio and TV spots, nationally and regionally
Narrated several audiobooks of various genres
20 years of acting experience in Chicago theatre
Lead vocalist in rock band Crawford's Daughter
Represented by Lori Lins Ltd, Chicago

www.kristialsip.com | twitter | facebook | instagram | goodreads

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