Debra Rose

Enjoyed this!

Revisado: 03-15-23

I recently read The Secret Journal by Otto Schafer, the first book in the God Stones series. It was an incredible read that really resonated with me, and I generally do not read YA. It is told from the perspectives of two young adults, and doesn't shy away from racial stereotypes and the daily challenges that POC face. Being a POC myself, Schafer did an amazing job of presenting these topics in an accessible and meaningful way. (HUGE shout out for the way Native Amercian's were represented!)

The story follows two teens that do not know each other, and are on opposite sides of the world, not to mention they lead very different types of lives. A mysterious journal is found, and a search for answers follow, which begins to build the mythos of the world. By the end of the book, its inspiring to see the journey the kids went through, but as we got answers to questions, it ultimately led to MORE QUESTIONS!

Overall, The Secret Journal was a great read. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well written YA series, and who might be bored of the Hunger Games/Divergent tropes. It's a fresh,  entertaining, and thrilling story. I look forward to reading the rest!

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A Nice Historical Story

Revisado: 12-02-15

Would you listen to His Brother's Wife again? Why?

No, but I generally do not listen to audiobooks again. There are way to many stories out there I need to listen to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of His Brother's Wife?

Without giving too much away, Hannah's sickness.

What about Pamela Lorence’s performance did you like?

Pamela is actually the reason why I listened to this audiobook. I'm familiar with her work and she is a narrator I enjoy.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Any additional comments?

This book was out of my typical genre and took me a while to get through, but I did enjoy it. As I don't have much knowledge for the time frame this book was set in, I can't make any comments on historical accuracy, but I found it very interesting.

Some of the book was a bit predictable, but not all, and it was a satisfying read.

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Great Story!

Revisado: 10-21-14

Would you listen to Dead Trees again? Why?

If my daughter or husband had an interest, I would relisten with them. Otherwise, I'll be reading book 2!

What other book might you compare Dead Trees to and why?

Well, it's an apocalyptic, dystopia book, and there are a lot of those out there, but not one quite like this that I've read. The beasties make it unique.

What does Pamela Lorence bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Pamela had a wonderful performance and really brought Elise to life. I thought she didn't an excellent job.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the cave....

Sorry, I'm not good at taglines!

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this book and immediately bought the second one for my kindle so I could continue the story. Can't wait to find out how this story ends!

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The Calm Before The Storm

Revisado: 10-20-14

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

As a die-hard Drizzt fan, it was well spent for me, ALTHOUGH, it wasn't the most thrilling of Drizzt books, even though it had its moments.

If you’ve listened to books by R. A. Salvatore before, how does this one compare?

This book was actually on the lower end of the scale for me, pretty much because it is all set up and no resolution. It IS one of the middle books of the series, so that's to be expected. Have to consider the series as a whole.

What does Victor Bevine bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Victor Bevine brings the action scenes to life, and for people familiar with R.A. Salvatore's work, there are A LOT of action scenes. Salvatore's detail during the action and Bevine's passionate delivery really drums up the excitement and puts your right there in the middle of the battle.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

ABSO-FRIGGEN-LUTELY. Hasbro, are you listening?

Any additional comments?

Love Drizzt. Will always love Drizzt. This story left the whole of Faerun dangling off a cliff, so I can't wait until March for the conclusion. Even though this book wasn't my favorite Drizzt book, it's still a Drizzt book and still good.

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I really wanted to love this book

Revisado: 09-25-14

Would you try another book from Susan Kaye Quinn and/or Kelli Shane?

I would, even though this one was difficult to get through. Kelli Shane's performance was pretty wooden through-out, but I think she has the potential to do better with a little more practice.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I absolutely love the premise of these books. I think it's unique, and I wouldn't mind exploring another 'mind-jacker' character in this universe.
Some scenes seemed a bit awkward in an unintentional way.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

As stated above, I believe Kelli just needs a bit more practice to improve on her delivery.

Did Closed Hearts: (Book Two in the Mindjack Trilogy) inspire you to do anything?

I tried to mind jack my cat to train him to poop in the toilet, but it just gave me a headache.

Seriously, though, no. :) It wasn't that type of book.

Any additional comments?

I read book one, and after I couldn't get into the second book, I saw it was on audible with a whispersync discount, and I thought what the heck. The audible version did help me get through the book, but there were times I struggled to keep my attention focused on the narration. Some scenes felt driven by the plot instead of what the characters themselves should be doing, but overall the story remained faithful to the first. I will finish the series.

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Another great Ava installment

Revisado: 08-21-14

Where does That Ghoul Ava Kicks Some Fairy A** rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

As far as performance goes, below Victor Bevine and Kate Reading, but definitely above George Guidall.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ava, the star of the books, but that's a given, so I'll go with 2nd favorite. Nose Wart!

Which scene was your favorite?

I really liked the fight scene with the fairy. I could pretty much see it all in my head as Pamela narrated it.

If you could rename That Ghoul Ava Kicks Some Fairy A**, what would you call it?

I wouldn't change a thing. The title is perfect.

Any additional comments?

This series is like a supernatural Nancy Drew for grown ups. I can't wait for the next installment!

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Great sequel!

Revisado: 08-12-14

What made the experience of listening to That Ghoul Ava and The Queen of the Zombies the most enjoyable?

This is a wonderful 2nd installment. Ava's personality really came out, and was consistent throughout the book. I found her wandering thoughts amusing. The new characters introduced were interesting, and I'm always a sucker for discovering the mythology of a supernatural world I'm not familiar with.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ava, of course. I think she's hard to beat. That part with the 'zombie arm' actually made me laugh out loud.

What about Pamela Lorence’s performance did you like?

I enjoyed Pamela's reading. I think she does a good job with all the different voices, and her portrayal of Ava is spot on.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Well, one part did make me jump. When the Queen of the Zombies got angry and busted out her mega voice, I LITERALLY leaned back in my chair and went 'woah.' It caught me off guard, and I enjoyed that the reader was able to do that to me.

Any additional comments?

Great follow up to the introductory story! If you liked the first one, you'll enjoy this one just as much.

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Awesomely fun story!

Revisado: 08-08-14

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that likes supernatural stories. Although I don't mind reading another zombie/vampire/werewolf book, this story has a fresh and new perspective that opens up the door for unexplored possibilities. The best thing about it is that it's FUN. I immediately loved Ava, and her quirky personality.

What other book might you compare That Ghoul Ava to and why?

Well, not to any of the other T.W. Brown books I've read. The one thing it keeps reminding me of for some reason is the show Lost Girl...

Which scene was your favorite?

So many scenes stand out in such a short book, but I really liked when Ava first woke up to her new... condition...

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to this book all in one sitting!

Any additional comments?

This book is pretty light on the gore, although does deal with adult situations and themes. The only reason this book got knocked one star for the performance was something that happened early on. The reader didn't differentiate the characters voices hardly at all, and a spot of dialogue was really confusing to follow who was speaking. This flaw seemed to disappear by the end of the book.

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