Sam

Wickedly funny satire of tent revival culture

Revisado: 04-05-25

The Gospel Singer is wickedly funny Southern Gothic literature pushed to its most extreme limits. Crews parodies the institution of tent revivals, taking on racism, misogyny, poverty, illiteracy, ableism, dishonesty, and a whole host of other human and societal failings as he explores the hypocrisy, greed, and blind faith and superstition so often found in the human component of religious institutions. Crews takes aim at everyone and everything with savage wit. If you are easily offended, this is probably not the book for you. But if you like satire, the absurd, and unconventional and irreverent ways of reflecting on culture and society, Crews is hilarious.

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Classic, hilarious, dry British wit

Revisado: 03-17-25

Hilarious late-Victorian, British dry humor—parts actually made me laugh aloud. This book is exactly about what the title says it is—three men taking a boat on the Thames on holiday and all of the absurd little incidents that happen along the way. Ian Carmichael’s audiobook performance is outstanding.

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How would the world change if everyone knew when they were going to die?

Revisado: 02-01-25

How would the world change if everyone knew when they were going to die? That is the question Erlich explores in The Measure. On their 22nd birthday, everyone mysteriously receives a box containing a string corresponding to the length of their life. In a fast-faced and compelling novel of shifting perspectives, the stories of individuals dealing with the fallout of the news is revealed as the world around them experiences revolutionary change. I listened to the audiobook, and the performance was really well done.

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Brave, detailed, and honest account of 1/6 and its aftermath

Revisado: 12-30-23

First, let me begin by admitting that ordinarily, beyond the fact that water is wet, I would expect to agree with Liz Cheney on precisely NOTHING. However, I also never expected to live to see a day in which a major political party’s leading candidate in the Presidential Primaries would be a twice impeached ex-President already found guilty of libel for sexually abusing and defaming a woman in civil court, as well as engaging in fraudulent business practices in a pretrial hearing. And oh yeah—there’s also those 91 indictments still to go…As I said, extraordinary times….

So while I would normally expect to take issue with anything put forward in a book by Cheney, even I must admit that Oath and Honor is an incredibly brave, important, patriotic, and intelligent look at the tragic events of January 6 and its aftermath. Cheney gives a clear, detailed, and dramatic account of what happened that day and the January 6 Committee’s investigation of the key players’ roles in those events from the planning through the attempts to obstruct the investigation and spin the insurrection into a “tourist excursion.” There were quite a few bombshells I hadn’t heard before in the mainstream cable news ether, and the way Cheney joins each link in the chain of evidence is truly condemning of both the Trump insiders and the paramilitary groups and individuals who coordinated and executed the attempted coup and the Republican apologists who excused it. Cheney’s writing style is straightforward and no nonsense, and her signature intimate and personable speaking voice makes Oath and Honor ideal for listening to as an audiobook. (Cheney narrates the audiobook version herself.) Her honest depiction events and the dangers they pose for democracy in America is vitally important and should be on everyone’s reading list before the 2024 election cycle.

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Imaginative portrait of Italian Renaissance Duchess

Revisado: 01-07-23

I listened to the audiobook version of this novel and I found it rather entertaining. Little is known in of the real woman who inspired the subject of both the novel and the portrait referenced by the title, however; O’Farrell does an excellent job weaving those few tantalizing threads into an intriguing novel that kept me entertained from start to finish. As seems to always be the case with historical fiction novels, many of the reviews I read before purchasing the book bemoaned the lack of hard, credible biographical historical information. To them, I suggest they select future reading material from the “history” or “biography” sections (or in this case, perhaps even “art”). This is called historical fiction precisely because much of it is fiction and makes no apology whatsoever for it—nor should it. If you are simply looking for an entertaining read and you are drawn to the Italian Renaissance and are prepared for a fictional work (albeit a well-researched and realistic one), The Marriage Portrait will deliver on your expectations.

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Cute holiday story about woman realizing her own worth and finding love

Revisado: 12-22-16

In this Christmas novella, Kelsey Parker suddenly realizes what a jerk her boyfriend and boss is when he goes on their vacation--alone--after she is forced to cancel due to a family emergency. Making matters worse, he then has the gall to ask her to work on a huge project while he and the rest of his family are away! When an old friend re-enters her life and shows her how a woman should be loved, sparks fly. In this sweet and uplifting novella, Kelsey is inspired by her new love and the magic of Christmas to turn her life around. The story is pretty sappy and predictable, and Blake is so clueless he becomes unbelievable. For some reason, however, I did keep listening, so the story and the narrator were able to keep my attention. I have not read any other books in the Bell Harbor series and had no trouble following the plot, however, it is possible I would have enjoyed the novella more if I had read the previous books.

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2nd son tries to emerge from brother's shadow

Revisado: 12-17-16

I am voluntarily submitting my honest review after receiving an ARC of the audiobook generously provided by the author.

In this enchanting sequel to Desert Moon, we return to Twin Moon Ranch as Cody comes into his own. Most of his life, considered a playboy and jokster, Cody has lived in the shadow of his brother, Alpha wolf shifter Ty. But Cody now feels ready to step up and claim a more important role in the pack and find a mate of his own. Investigating a series of murders a little too close to the Ranch is the chance he needs to prove his worth. And when Heather Luth arrives and accepts a temporary teaching job, Cody knows almost right away that she is his mate. The only problem--she's human, and she clearly is hiding secrets of her own--secrets that keep her from trusting men. As this enchanting novel unfolds and Ty and Heather rediscover themselves and each other, the author's descriptions bring the desert alive. This book is by turns uplifting and inspiring as we see Ty and Heather become the people they are meant to be, then heartbreaking and maddening when we see outside forces conspire against them. The story and well-drawn characters draw you in and you just can't help but cheer them on! I think my experience of this novel was enhanced by having previously read Desert Moon, I think you could probably still like this book just as much as a standalone novel. I listened to the audiobook version of Desert Blood, and I highly recommend experiencing the book this way. The narrator's sense of timing and pace is spot on--especially during the steamy scenes which she somehow makes even hotter! Her smooth, lyrical voice, combined with Anna Lowe's descriptive prose truly makes the desert come to life if you close your eyes while listening to certain passages of the book. This is a great series that fans of shifter fiction are sure to enjoy!

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Would you change your life if you could?

Revisado: 12-12-16

I am voluntarily submitting my honest review after receiving an ARC copy of the audiobook generously provided by the author.

In this short story, just when a young widower seems to be considering moving on with a new romantic interest, he acquires a magical door that allows them to time travel into the past. At first, stunned by the mere thought of time travel, the couple are fascinated simply by observing life in the past. But then our hero realizes that he now holds the power to manipulate time in such a way as to speak with his wife once again, and to potentially warn her of the cancer that ultimately takes her young life. But even though he can change the course of his life, should he? In this thought-provoking, insightful and inspiring work, Bunker challenges both his hero and the reader to examine life and the nature of regret, loss, guilt, acceptance and ultimately, moving on. The audiobook narration of this short tale is well-done, with the narrator's drawl adding local flavor to the story (the door is a portal to Jessup, TX). I listened to this story in one sitting, and it stimulated my thinking for the rest of the day.

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Is the sexy new she-wolf the Alpha's mate?

Revisado: 12-12-16

I am voluntarily providing my honest review after receiving an ARC copy of the audiobook generously provided by the author.

This shifter romance has it all--romance, drama, pack politics, rivalry, and lots of action. Among the author's many talents is her gift for the development of human, flawed, but likable characters you can't help but love. In this series kick off, we meet Ty and Lana, the Alpha of Twin Moon Ranch and the she-wolf he knows must be his mate. But despite his position at the top, Ty still questions himself at every turn, not wanting to repeat his father's mistakes, particularly his father's faithlessness with women. Lana, a bold, brave warrior at heart, is Ty's match in every way--she challenges him, loves him, and mesmerizes him, but she too carries the scars from her past, making her that much more relatable to the reader. Together, Ty and Lana light up the sheets in a magical desert setting that Lowe's lyrical descriptions elevate to another character in its own right. Desert Moon engages all your senses and doesn't let go. For fans of shifter romance, this book is one that shouldn't be missed!

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Can a sexy she-wolf be his salvation?

Revisado: 12-05-16

I am voluntarily providing my honest review after receiving an ARC copy of the audiobook release generously provided by the author.

This novel is a perfect mix of sweet and hot romance. After meeting these characters in previous Blue Moon Saloon installments, I couldn't help but cheer for Janna to find love and contentment. (But while having read the previous stories enhanced my experience of this novel, I think it could still be enjoyed as a stand-alone book.) Without giving away any spoilers, rest assured that outside forces conspire once again to provide tension and action for the plot. This novel also features a sense of the forbidden that adds a delicious sexual energy to the main characters' romance. As always with Anna Lowe's books, plan to set aside some time, because once you get going, you'll get hooked and you won't want to stop! Listening to this book on audiobook format evoked a whole different experience of this novel for me. The slow pacing and sultry timbre of the narrator's voice makes the steamy scenes burn even brighter, and her varied inflections perfectly evoke different auras for the different types of shifters in the novel (bears v. wolves). While I highly recommend the audiobook performance of the novel, fans of shifter romance will enjoy Temptation.

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