Monica Khan
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Broomsticks and Board Games
- A Spooky Games Club Mystery, Book 1
- De: Amy McNulty
- Narrado por: Danielle Daly
- Duración: 7 h y 4 m
- Versión completa
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General4.5 out of 5 stars 30
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Narración:4.5 out of 5 stars 26
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Historia4.5 out of 5 stars 26
Dahlia Poplar is a genuine witch, an unofficial gofer, and Luna Lane’s only cursed resident. With a werewolf best friend, a vampire ex-boyfriend, and a ghost for a hanger-on, Dahlia is far from the most unusual dweller of her sleepy small town, but she’s the only one unable to leave. Dahlia has to perform at least one good deed per day - or she’s one step closer to turning to stone.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Entertaining and Remarkable: A MUST READ!
- De Anthony Avina en 03-04-21
- Broomsticks and Board Games
- A Spooky Games Club Mystery, Book 1
- De: Amy McNulty
- Narrado por: Danielle Daly
Review - Broomsticks and Board Games
Revisado: 03-06-21
Initial Thoughts
I was excited to be chosen for this tour. I don’t get to read cozy mysteries that often but I really enjoy them when I do. I also love all things involving witches so I thought this would be a fun listen.
Some Things I Liked
Witches and magic. I love supernatural themes in a cozy mystery. I’m easily scared so I don’t read anything spooky but I love witches and the like so seeing them in less scary settings is perfect for me.
Board game theme. I thought the board games angle was really unique and something I hadn’t seen before. I love it when an author can take something ordinary or that I hadn’t seen before and make a really interesting story that doesn’t come across as cheesy. I think the board games theme was really well done here.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
Lack of romance. I can’t exactly fault the book for not having much romance when it’s not pegged as a romance story, but I felt there were opportunities for romance and they were not explored. I wanted more romance and therefore, thought the book felt a bit incomplete.
Series Value
I enjoyed this book. I’m not sure if I’d pick up the next one any time soon but I definitely wouldn’t rule it out. I liked the narrator so I might wait until book 2 is available as an audiobook before continuing.
Audiobook Value
I listened to this book at 3x speed without issue. Well no, that’s not entirely true. I did have one issue. I thought I was misunderstanding “Cable” and I was hearing “Caleb” but with an accent. This is not the narrator’s fault at all, it’s the character’s name that was different than what I was expecting. I was, in fact, hearing the name as it was intended, I just didn’t think that was the name.
I liked that the narrator had distinct voices for each character and I enjoyed the drama she added to the story with her storytelling.
I didn’t love her voice for this story though. Perhaps it was the lowness of the voice, but I found myself getting easily distracted with other things while listening. Essentially, the voice didn’t “grab me” the way I would have liked for the nature of this story.
Overall, I think Danielle Daly is a wonderful voice actress but for this story, the sound of her voice didn’t keep my attention as well as I’d like.
Final Thoughts
I liked this book. It was a quick listen (all in one shot) and has a promising storyline. I’d like to see more romance develop in the future but I would continue with this series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommendations for Further Reading
Haunted on Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase – if you enjoyed the cozy mystery vibes but are looking for something with more romance and steam, try this series. It’s also great on audio!
Southern Magic by Amy Boyles – if you’re looking for another audiobook, cozy mystery with witches, look no further than the Sweet Tea Mysteries series.
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The Yes Factor
- De: Erin Spencer, Emma Sable
- Narrado por: Ava Erickson, Andi Arndt
- Duración: 6 h y 51 m
- Versión completa
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General4.5 out of 5 stars 81
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Narración:5 out of 5 stars 79
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Historia4.5 out of 5 stars 79
Liv just wants her best friend Bex to find love. Bex just wants to stay in bed with Outlander. With 40 just around the corner, divorced single mom Bex is too busy being a chauffeur for her teenage daughter to bother swiping for dates. Her best friend Liv, who is married to the supposedly perfect man, swoops in from London on a mission to get Bex out of her own bed and in to someone else’s. Liv pushes Bex into a week-long whirlwind of dates, awkward kisses and missed connections.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Friendship is the most important thing!
- De Chris Cox en 07-15-20
- The Yes Factor
- De: Erin Spencer, Emma Sable
- Narrado por: Ava Erickson, Andi Arndt
Review - The Yes Factor
Revisado: 02-03-21
Initial Thoughts
I was super excited to be chosen for this tour. I love a rom com and this sounded so fun. My best friend from high school and I are separated by a ton of distance so it’s always fun to read stories of friends who stay in touch despite that.
Some Things I Liked
Humor and wit. I loved the humor in this story. I know it’s tagged as a romantic comedy, but sometimes, comedies aren’t that funny. So not the case here. I found myself laughing out loud at several moments and I just loved that.
Realism. Again, I must applaud the realism in the storyline. I think the dual narrators really helped with this. The conversations between Liv and Bex were so authentic and tackled some heavy issues with heartwarming elegance. Their lives aren’t perfect and the grass often times appears greener. I loved watching both Liv and Bex puzzle that out in their own ways.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
I didn’t love Liv’s ending. I just thought she deserved more. That being said, I’d love a sequel about her.
Series Value
Speaking of sequels, I think this could easily be the start of a series of Bex and Liv’s adventures together. I’d love to read more about them.
Furthermore, I’d love to keep reading Erin Spencer and Emma Sable’s books.
Audiobook Value
I listened to this book at 2.5x speed and I had absolutely no issues understanding the story or the narrators. This might be somewhat blasphemous, but I actually judge an audiobook by its ability to be sped up. I talk really fast and I find that I need to listen to books at a pace similar to that to really enjoy them. If there’s something about the narration that prevents me from speeding it up, I have a hard time listening. So, that being said, I had no issues here. In fact, I think the speed gave the narrators an infection energy that was very reflective of the adventures they went on together.
I also loved that both narrators sounded like how I’d have imagined these characters should sound. The voices really fit the characters. And, more importantly, they fit together. Ava Erickson and Andi Arndt have great chemistry and they sound like they could easily be best friends in real life.
Given that this is first person narration and that the narrators are so excellent, I think this book is best as an audiobook. Listening to it really enhanced the experience for me.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun listen with a lot of humor that also tackled some heavier topics. I thought it was well balanced and I really enjoyed the narrators and writing. I’d definitely look to read more of Erin and Emma’s writing as well of Ava and Andi’s narrating.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommendations for Further Reading
Coming Home to Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters – if you liked the idea of rekindling long standing friendships, try this series by Victoria Walters.
The Jake Ryan Complex by Bethany Crandell – if you liked the idea of a main character approaching 40 (and all of the jokes and references that go with that 😂), try this standalone by Bethany Crandell.
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Summoned
- The Demon Summoner Trilogy
- De: Mckayla Eaton
- Narrado por: Becci Martin
- Duración: 6 h y 17 m
- Versión completa
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General4.5 out of 5 stars 7
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Narración:4.5 out of 5 stars 7
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Historia4.5 out of 5 stars 7
On an empty baseball diamond in a quiet Toronto suburb, a demon has been summoned. Seventeen-year-old Alton is miles away, just wishing he had a tutor he didn’t outsmart or outmatch. His prayers are answered when Professor Victor Orvius makes an unexpected visit, offering to teach Alton magic without the restrictions. The only condition is that he follow Orvius’s rules and not ask too many questions. Alton soon discovers he’s not Orvius’s only student.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Demons, Getcha Demons Here!
- De Jonas Lee en 03-04-21
- Summoned
- The Demon Summoner Trilogy
- De: Mckayla Eaton
- Narrado por: Becci Martin
Review - Summoned
Revisado: 09-09-20
Initial Thoughts
I listen to a ton of audiobooks. Before COVID, I had quite a lengthy commute to work so they were a huge lifesaver. Since I work from home now, I wasn’t sure how audiobooks would fit into my life. Turns out, I listen to them even more now. So, I am always looking for new audiobooks to listen to.
Some Things I Liked
Length. This was a really quick listen for me. I easily finished the book in one sitting. I have found that when an audiobook is too long, I sometimes lose interest in the story but because of the length. Here, I did not find that to be the case at all. The story was fast paced and kept me engaged.
Magic school in a modern setting. I really enjoyed the elements of magic woven into every day tasks as well as the way the magic system was explained to the reader. It wasn’t overly complex (to the point of being contradictory or convoluted) but rather, gave me enough context, that I felt I understood it and not bogged down by it.
Subtle romance. I enjoyed the lite romance in this story. I’d be eager to see it expanded on in future sequels, but, I found the amount of romance to be just right for the length of the story.
Series Value
I would definitely continue with this series. I really enjoyed the audiobook but I am so captivated by the story, I would definitely consider reading the next installment just to find out what happens to the characters.
Audiobook Value
I listened to this book at 2.5x speed. I listen to most audiobooks at a minimum of 2x speed so that’s a huge factor for me when listening. That being said, the narration was easy to follow and clear to understand even at that speed.
Similarly, the distinction of voices was excellent. Another issue I’ve seen with audiobooks is that conversations between characters are nearly impossible to decipher as the narrator sounds the same for all characters involved. Not the case here at all. Becci Martin’s voice acting is superb and I had no issues following any conversations. Not once while listening did I find myself needing to rewind because I missed or misunderstood something.
Because of the third person narration, the audiobook read as though someone was telling me a story. Therefore, I believe the audiobook would be the best way to receive this story. Please note, I have not read the physical book to directly compare, but, from what I heard, I am very happy that I listened to this one.
Final Thoughts
I’m so glad I was able to listen to this book. It was not on my radar before seeing the tour opportunity and it’s definitely a book that I’d have been bummed to miss out on. I thought the world building was unique, I am eager to know more about the characters, and the audiobook narration was bright and engaging. This is definitely a series I plan to stick with.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommendations for Further Reading
Scythe by Neal Shusterman – if you’re looking an engaging audiobook with a similar structure (two students and one teacher in a semi-modern world with a twist), look no further than this series. Please note, Scythe is sci-fi where Summoned is fantasy.
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine – if you enjoyed the idea of students training to become teachers as well as traveling all over the world mixed with magic, try this series about a magical library and library apprentices. Please note, I read this series and can’t speak to the audiobook format.
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