Julie

A royal mystery

Revisado: 02-20-24

I enjoyed this adventure into the magical book club that is like no other. I love the whole series and just the very idea of going inside the book to solve the mystery is very appealing, especially as the mysteries take place in unusual places. Some place even only exist in the authors imagination. This means each journey is very different from the last but gets better and better with each book and the more you get to know the characters. Anything can happen or you can end up going anywhere, it is just one of the reasons I can't wait for the next book to come out. I love the characters, especially as in this book we learn more about the mysterious talking library cat, Frank who has been keeping a big secret from us all. The mystery was good and contained a number of clues to help you figure it out, that's not to say there isn't a few surprises as well.
Paige and the gang choose to head to the kingdom of Everglow for there next book club adventure. The enchanted land soon has them investigating a murder when one of the Queens trusted advisor is murder at a concert in the park. As everybody panicked not knowing what was going on but seeing the body drop, evidence is lost. As guest of the royal family they are in the perfect place to question suspects but when one of the princess fails to wake up, they wonder if it could be an inside job. Who would want to target the Queen and her family? Paige and her friends will need to use all there skills and tricks to get to the bottom of this royal problem.
I have heard a number of stories narrated by virtual voice now and while not as good as a human, you don't the Inflection a human would provide, I have found that it doesn't interfere with the enjoyment of a well written story and doesn't sound at all robotic. I would listen to another book narrated by virtual voice

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Avast Ye mystery lovers

Revisado: 01-31-24

As a pirate would say Avast Ye mystery lovers, I looked it up and Avast Ye is a command meaning pay attention or listen, so it seemed appropriate for this adventure. What I love about this series is you never know where the author is going to take you but it will be entertaining and fun. You also learn things. While it isn't a murder mystery as such, as the deaths only occur because of greed and an old curse, the gang still needs to work out who is responsible and question suspects. I love the characters and would be hard pressed to choose a favourite, I liked the way Molly the ghost found new friends in this adventure and I really thought the author was going to shake things up again. The author lets her imagination go and with this series anything is possible, which is why I hope there is a lot more to come.
With a new member joining the group things are bound to get interesting. For the mystery adventure this time round they choose a book containing pirates and a lost treasure. The small island town is being plagued by pirates but once Pagie and the gang meet four dead pirates. They are attached to a ship that has washed up on shore after a storm, it soon becomes apparent that it is the four ghosts that need there help. Their treasure was stolen and they need the gang to pull of a magic trick and find the men responsible before the ship is broken up or the treasure that was stolen will unleash a curse on the unwary.
Virtual voice is the narrator for this series and while it took a while to get use to the voice I actually liked it because it meant you could enjoy the story as the author meant, without the narrator putting there own spin on what they thought was important.

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Bake off with a twist

Revisado: 01-30-24

I enjoyed this book but it's no good if you are on a diet, then again maybe it is because you dont get to eat the creations, just imagine them. I love how the cover art for this series gives you an idea of what to expect and yet you still get surprised. Normally a story gets a bit boring with characters describing everything that passes there lips but with each cake brought or spoon mixed there is a reason and it goes towards investigating the murders. I like how the author changes the series up once again, this time by having the opening credits of the special book they have chosen, having been written by the the killer, giving you a reason behind the deaths before they even enter the book. The characters are a lot of fun and I am glad that the ghost from the previous book gets to help. Although the series does work as a standalone I think it works even better listened to as part of a series, that way you get to know the characters and the mysterious library a lot better. The mystery kept me guessing or maybe I was distracted by imagining the cakes that are described. I can't wait for the next book to see what the library has in store for them next.
The book club have always liked there food, so when one of the members picks a book called The Great Cake Rivalry everybody jumps at the chance to investigate the mystery and to try a few treats. A small quiet town comes alive for one week when it holds its yearly cake competition but somebody doesn't want it to go ahead and will stop at nothing to make sure it doesn't, even going so far as to commit murder. The book club members have one clue, after the murders failed to stop the competition this year the killer is thinking big and planning an explosion. Can they put a stop to it before anybody else gets hurt? Or will the temptation of the cakes on display prove to be to much?
The story is narrated by virtual voice and while not as good as a human narrator, it isn't bad. You don't get male and female voices but as the story is so we written you somehow always know which character is speaking and it never gets confusing.

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Giddy up

Revisado: 01-28-24

Giddy up for a fun adventure. This authors imagination is a delight and she uses it well to create unusual and wonderful stories that seem to get better and better. This is book three in this unusual series and once again the author transports you to a different location, situation and murder. My mum was a big fan of Westerns, so I grew up watching them with her and listening to this book took me back. I could have used some popcorn. The mystery was good with plenty of twists, some you see coming and others that you don't but it is the characters that really make this series so much fun. This time the talking cat is joined by a ghost and the rest of the quirky book club characters, I still love Zell the feisty octogenarian and her little surprises. I am off to start the next book..
Zell gets to pick the next book the book club pick and this time she comes prepared, as the book contains a little surprise for the rest of the members. The magic library transport them to the wild West where they not only have to learn to ride horses, avoid gunslingers but solve the disappearance of a saloon girl and maybe catch a horse rustler. Can Pagie and the gang find out what happened to Molly, did she runaway or did one of her many suitors harm here? What about the horse thief? With two cases to solve they have no time to gather around the campfire.
This series is narrated by virtual voice and while it does mean it is read by a computer I found that it doesn't interfere in the enjoyment and I got use to the voice and while it doesn't change up the voices like a narrator would, it doesn't sound robotical either.

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High sea murder with a difference

Revisado: 01-27-24

I read this book when it first came out on my kindle and at the time I Just knew I would be adding it to my audio book library. . This is book two in the series and I am not normally a vampire fan (because frankly they are just creepy, the whole blood thing) but when one of your favourite author's decide to write about them and it's part of an unusual and fun series, then you have no choice but to jump on board. So glad I did, it almost felt like you were on board experiencing the adventure along with the characters. I love the whole plot idea for this series, that a group of quirky characters known collectively as the magical book club members actually get to solve the mystery from inside the book, as you can imagine this means that the author gets to write about new and exciting places, in situations where anything can happen. The authors imagination has once again been let lose to come up with unusual plot idea's. I have read and listened to a number of cozy mysteries set on cruise ships but never have they involved vampires, its a good job that they didn't dampen the experience of a trip to Hawaii. As long as the author is willing to keep writing I for one am willing to keep reading or going on the adventures.
With a new book club member joining them, Paige and her Aunt Glo hold another meeting. This time the group select a book on a cruise ship heading to Hawaii. The group get sucked into the cruise life before reading all the blurb and quickly forget that they are there to solve a murder. Until they stumble over a body with puncture marks in his neck and then certain things being to make sense. The head of security is quick to come up with a suspect list and at the top of the list is there new friend and dinner companion Vincent. Have they been spending time with the killer? There is only one way to find out and that is to get a look at the suspect list themselves and find the killer.
The AI narration has grown on me and while it didn't give you accents for the different characters, it was still easy to listen too and you could always tell which character was talking.

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My kind of book club where anything can happen

Revisado: 01-26-24

My kind of book club where you need to expect the unexpected.
Have you ever enjoyed a book so much that you felt like you were apart of it? Well this is the unusual and fun idea behind this book series and I just love it. This book is so captivating right from the start and that's before all the magic starts. It's not a witchy type of story with spell casting etc but it has a paranormal side and the author certainly let's her imagination go wild, creating a wonderful story that grabs the listeners imagination. She has also backed it up with a very varied and quirky cast of characters, all of whom you can't help but like and laugh at, they are so easy to picture. The characters also have there own different personalities and skills, which sets it up nicely for future books. The mystery looked like it was heading in one direction and then a game changer was thrown in, which also explained a lot. I am off to start the next book.
Paige is trying to celebrate her birthday but as it is also the day her divorce is finale, it's hard. Then her aunt arrives with some sad and good news. The sad news is Paige's Great Grandmother has died. The good news is she has left her inn to the two of them. Paige spent a lot of time growing up there and it's the happy memories that causes her to drop everything and move in. The only requirement is that the two of them continue the book club by becoming it's first two official members. Six other members join the group a woman on probation and ordered to by the court, a hippie mother and her computer obsessed son, a prim and proper Asian woman, a feisty octogenarian and a gay man, not forgetting the library cat. Then the real fun begins because it's no ordinary book club and there first book is a murder mystery is a small town. One that they will have to solve.
This is my first time experiencing an AI narrator and while you don't get the range of voices from a narrator, especially the difference between male and female, I was pleasantly surprised how good it sounded. While I don't think AI will replace narrators I can see it becoming more popular as things develop and improve.

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Jessica Fletcher sells houses and solved murders

Revisado: 10-02-22 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I enjoyed this book. There is a lot of home life drama with this instalment in this delightful series but as it involves a pregnant woman getting rushed to hospital by her gay best friend, I didn't mind. I think I might have event chuckled during it. Even with a new baby at home Cindy is quickly back to investigating a murder and I loved it. The characters are so much fun from the playful twin boys to the over protective gay best friend. The mother in law is a nightmare and I smiled when Cindy stood up to her, hey if she can take on a killer why not a mother in law. There is a lot of suspects which kept me guessing and listening until the very end. I like the Jessica Fletcher references having grown up watching the programme and think Jessica would enjoy meeting the capable Cindy. I can't wait for the next book.
Cindy just weeks away from giving birth is desperate to sell a house and have the commission money as a back up while out on leave. So instead of awaiting for a client to find her she goes out look for “For Sale by Owner,” in the hopes of talking the owner to sign with her. She thought her luck was in when she finds a fun down mansion and the owner agreed to go with her. The problem is the reason no other realtor wanted it is because the man just got out of prison for killing his wife. Cindy's boos talks her out of representing him but when she returns to pull out she finds him bleeding to death and whispering he didn't kill his wife. Cindy believes him and when the new owner asks her to continue to list the house she uses the opportunity to investigate. Can she find out who killed his wife and possibly him? As well as sell the disputed over house. With her mother in law moved into her house to look after the children Cindy has no reason not to ask questions, especially when the police believe it's karma. But will doing so put her and somebody she loves in danger?
I like the narrator. I have listened to a number of books narrated by her, which include all the books in this series, and always find her a pleasure to listen too.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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Killer book

Revisado: 08-04-22 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I really enjoyed this book. This is book four in the series and makes for a very good standalone book, it you haven't read the rest of the series but as the others are just as good as this, I would recommend that you do. The author is a master of her craft and balances out the book nicely with home life humour and a very good mystery. I had guessed who the killer was, so no surprise but to be honest that didn't matter because it was a lot of fun discovering I was right. That's not to say there isn't plenty of suspects because there is, which is why it was good. I love the characters in this series and am hard pressed to choose a favourite because all are likeable and some are even sweet. I am normally all about the the mystery and the investigation process but I think with this book I actually wanted more of her home life drama. A nice cozy mystery that you can listen to again.
With the birth of her youngest daughter Cindy gave up work to be a stay at home mum. Now four years later and with daughter just starting day care its the perfect time to work for her best friend selling houses. Especially as an old college roommate wants Cindy to sell her house. Just a little bit paranoid she wonders it she can she break the bad habit of finding dead bodies at every house she lists? She doesn't find a dead body but instead an old friend going through a messy divorce and one who likes her drink a little to much, a sleazy husband and angry teenagers. Should she walk away? Then the unthinkable happens and she discovers the husband floating in the pool and walking away isn't an option anymore, especially with the Police focusing on on her friend. They might not have seen each other much since college but there is no way her friend is a killer and the only way to prove that is to find the killer herself. Can Cindy and her sidekick once again find a killer, just like old times? Or will A killer find her?
I would have got this book anyway because I enjoyed the rest In the series but once I saw one of my favourite narrator's was reading it then it was a done deal. Two very talented ladies working together to make a very enjoyable listen and a book that should be on everybody's to be read/listened list.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

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The circle is completed in dramatic style

Revisado: 01-10-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I really enjoyed this series and this book proves to be just as good as the rest, if not better because after five books we finally find out the fate of our favourite vampires. The group had been so much fun getting to know and each story is so interesting that they are all worth a listen to, the way true love can stand the test of time and betrayal. It is sad it has come to an end.
Snag the oldest and most powerful vampire is still to find his soul mate but as the demon Bael's army is amassing out side the Egyptian pyramid time is running out. Snag will have to let go of his final secrets and face the truth about his past. With people flooding the area looking for answers will Snag's soul mate find him in time before time runs out. Six vampires and there soul mates are all that stand in the way of the end of the world as we know it.
Gwendolyn Druyor is one of my favourite narrator's and she never puts in a bad performance, she gives each story her all and it is easy to hear. Each character gets there own distinctive voice but I just love her English voice for Xander.

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A royal book, well okay Duchess

Revisado: 12-29-19 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I really enjoyed this book. I like R.A.Steffan as a writer, she writes tight clever plots that get you hooked from the first page, so much so that you have get the rest of the books in the series, to find out what happens next for the characters. You can expect plenty of action, romance and trouble and this book certainly delivers. Can't wait to start the next book.
This time it is Duchess' turn to find her soul mate but is she ready? When the group head out to help find a missing man, who was taken by rogue monks, they find more than they bargained for. Tension in the area is high and anymore who speaks out about the monks is taken and locked in cages. The CIA have an agent inside trying to work his way up to free the kidnapped victims and put an end to the monks scare tactics but they hadn't planned for Duchess and her team to make an appearance. But things don't even go to plan for Duchess when she finds out who one of the prisoner's is and who is guarding him. Can Dutchess let go of her past for the team and finally find the peace and happiness she so desperately wants? All before the finale confrontation with Bael?
Gwendolyn is one of my favourite narrators. She gives so much to each reading that you feel the highs and lows along with her and it is worth getting the book just to hear her read it. You also get the added bonus that the story is great too!

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