Jaxslady

Devilishly Delicious Food for Your Imagination

Revisado: 03-06-23

Only author Jeffrey Deaver can write a novella that keeps you enthralled from the first word to the last. His characters are fresh, interesting & blend smoothly into today's modern day world, so much so that you will surely be reading the daily news, just to keep tabs on their whereabouts! He manages to include a plot twist or two, certain to keep the armchair detective guessing and when you're sure that you've solved the crime, there's one last curve ball thrown your way just to keep you on your toes.... No question about it, this author is a master storyteller. I've enjoyed all of his novels including this novella. The narrator did a great job bringing the story to life. I've given this novel 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟 all around.

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Quick fun listen

Revisado: 02-02-23

It was my first time listening or reading this cozy mystery writer. Ms. Danielle Garrett has an interesting angle on the life of witchcraft in modern day America. Without giving anything away, it appears that life in certain cites relies more on witchcraft than other more technologically based centres. I enjoyed her blend of the use of both kinds of technologies in the solving of this modern day crime. I particularly enjoyed the addition of her feline roommate 😂. This is the first cozy in the series therefore the author spends some time with world building & characterization of what I’m presuming will be recurring members of the cast. There is a hint throughout as to the possible mystery to be solved in the second novel but it doesn’t quite end on a cliffhanger, which I appreciate. The first novel’s mystery is solved in the first book, as should be, for those readers who wish to stop 🛑 at that point. The narration is well done and will not detract from the storyline. All around, this is a 4 🌟🌟🌟🌟 🎧 audiobook 🎙️ that I have no problem recommending to cozy mystery lover friends❗️

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Good Start to a New Series

Revisado: 01-31-23

'Narrated by Hillary Huber 🌟🌟🌟

'Before She Disappeared ' by Lisa Gardner is the first book of a new series starring a civilian investigator who chases away demons of her own, by searching for cold case missing persons that the police have not had any luck with finding but the Family have not yet given up hope. The protagonist is a far cry from a perfect investigator but does tend to be at the right place at the right time, to ask the right question(this, she does have a knack for), which then leads her to the next place to ask her next question(s). It's an effective and interesting approach that yields results that have eluded the official investigators that have been on the missing person file for umpteen years. This causes friction between the official investigators and the civilian investigator & often the Family is trapped between both sides. Ms. Gardner spends time developing the character of Frankie Elkin, the civilian investigator, providing some background information to fill some gaps while keeping the reader up to date with current events in her life. It seems that this new career choice in her life will be leading her across the US on more searches. I look forward to listening to more of this author 's series. A solid 🌟🌟🌟🌟 that I would recommend to any mystery lover❗

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Very Interesting Listen 🎧

Revisado: 01-29-23

This is one of the first novels that I have listened too written by Robert Dugoni and I was pleasantly surprised. Robert Dugoni, the author introduces main characters using an interesting backstory that grabs the reader's interest right from the get go. Having provided the needed background, the author then moves the reader forward to the main story and the search for a serial killer. As if the protagonist doesn't have enough work searching for the killer, she also has to delicately manoeuvre the problem politics of her Chain of Command. The characters are well developed and the author follows an organised storyline. This is a psychological thriller & police procedural with some romance thrown in the mix that will keep you guessing for quite awhile as to WHO really is the killer❗My only complaint would lie in the fact that I would have preferred a male reader read some of the voices, however, the performance by the narrator was still at minimum 3⭐⭐⭐. Overall, this audiobook was a solid 4⭐⭐⭐⭐ & I would have no problem recommending it to friends.↔ There is very little swearing, but there is some description of sex acts & violence associated with the serial killer.

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Can't Believe this Smog Killed 12,000!

Revisado: 05-04-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

"Shades of Black (The Life and Death of George Weeks) " by Debbie Manber Kupfer is a thought provoking narrative on the effects of air pollution on the population of London, England in 1952, and the scarier implications for the rest of the planet. At first, I didn't realise that this was based on an event that actually happened at the time.  I was amazed by the amount of information that I learned in this short story. Prior to 1952, London was prone (& still is) to the smog because it sits in a type of valley & thus weather systems like anticyclones caused the smog to stall until blown away by a strong wind. These weather systems usually lasted 1-2 days but in 1952 it lasted 5 days which accounted for such a loss of life. My city also sits in a valley, and I can attest to the fact that living in a "bowl" does trap more pollutants as I never had an asthma attack until I moved here, as an adult, from a larger, more industrialised city. It was the respirologist who explained the weather phenomenon to me.  It took Londoners until 1956 to realise that 12,000 people had died during the Great Smog of 1952. Part of the reason for the delay in collating the in , themselves. So in effect, one area might have simply thought that they were having a bad week.
The author reversed the 1956 Parliament vote by introducing the character of George Weeks. By blocking The Clean Air Act, he started a chain of events that Debbie Manber Kupfer portrays in a rather unique way. The story is short but the message conveyed is as valid today as it would have been in 1956. It is a worthwhile short story to listen too, keeping in the back of your mind that we owe a thanks to the 12,000 Londoners who gave their lives, as it brought about the Clean Air Act of 1956 & 1962 which spurred other countries to do the same.
Some reviewers commented that their audio was of a very poor quality. That is rather unfortunate. The narration by Paul Winter, on my copy, was very well done and the audio was very clear. I had no difficulties enjoying this novelette and it deserves the 4.5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🎉 that I have given it.

I requested this ebook or audiobook from the author, through StoryOrigin, but I am not related too nor am I friends with this author. This review is my opinion after reading or listening to the novel in it's entirety.

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Yellow Dragon Surprised Everyone

Revisado: 04-25-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I love stories about dragons 🐉 and I was looking forward to the storyline that was described by the publisher as "A little girl who quells 👧🏻👿 demons. An aging 👴🏽🐲 dragonslayer. Can they stop the Yellow 💛🐉 Dragon before it destroys an entire nation?". Pingzi Po 👧🏻👘is 10 1\2 years old & is the only 🎐👿📯demon queller in the medieval Far East. The Emperor Po 🎌🏯 sends her on a quest ✍ with her Dragonslayer 👴🏽🐉, Benzel of the 🐺 Wolf, from the Northlands, 🌲🏔 to a nearby province 🗾of a lessor Emperor who has been threatened by a Yellow 💛🐉 Dragon. Benzel 🐺 has been charged with killing 🏹🗡🛡 the Yellow💛🐉Dragon and Pingzi👧🏻👘 will act as his 🎤interpreter . But upon arrival to the province, both are in for a surprise when the lessor Emperor changes the rules of the game. He reveals to Pingzi 👧🏻 👘 that the Yellow 💛🐉 Dragon is not exactly what she expects it to be. Perhaps instead, it is a demon 😈 that must be quelled. Pingzi 👧🏻 👘 must expose this 👿 demon before anything happens to the Emperor. She 🖋📜 methodically sets about to solve the mystery that will reveal once & for all who is the Yellow 💛🐉Dragon.

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Great Medieval Story

Revisado: 04-24-21 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I love Dragon novels and worry that the author will not meet my expectations when I pick up a new title to read/listen too.  "The Last of the Silver Wings" does not disappoint. Villagers are awakened with a shock when they are attacked by a very angry dragon. She feels betrayed by mankind when she returns from hunting and finds her hatchling has been stolen. Those who have survived the initial attack are taken hostage and this includes all of Nadine's family.  Nadine must grow up quickly if she is to save the Dragon hatchling and ultimately save her family. She lives in a medieval world of kings & queens where the struggle for world domination can turn ugly. There is excellent character development by the author. There is also a very descriptive narrative that some readers might find off-putting but that is what life was like during medieval times.  The narrator did a good job with all the the characterisations. I had no difficulty knowing who was speaking . If you like Christian fantasy and adventure this is a must for you. This is the first book in The Chronicles of Nadine Series. A solid 4 ❗I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
This novel was previously published as The Great Dragon Rescue.
I requested this audiobook from the author but this review was given honestly and voluntarily.

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Three Cheers 🎉 for Smart & Kind Adana!

Revisado: 01-28-20

I listened to this audiobook with a group of younger children and they became completely invested in this story. They were sad when the little dragon was sad and were able to relate similar events when they felt the same way. The storyline is based on a small, earth Dragon who is not accepted by the other dragons because she is different. Then one day, while she is snoozing in her cave, a giant appears in their land and scares all the other dragons who hide in Adana's cave. When Adana awakes to find a rather crowded cave, the other dragons look to her for a solution. Can she defeat the giant? This is a great book to explore emotions, being different and friendships with youngsters who are just starting to experience similar problems either in the playground, daycare or school. I stopped the narration whenever they wanted to divulge a personal experience and also part-way as I was interested to see what type of solutions the children would come up with for Adana’s encounter with the giant. Even the toddlers had very creative ideas and understood that being small doesn't equate with inadequacy. The narration was very well done & kept the children’s attention, which is important especially with a group of younger children ( ages 2-7 ). As a treat, and because I had access to the book through Kindle Unlimited, we read the story a second time with both the audiobook & the picture book. I had to do this twice since the artwork actually distracted the munchkins during the first run through.😊 They exclaimed their appreciation of the pictures with the typical chattering of young children. The artwork is basic but colourful & the giant is drawn with care not to give young children nightmares. Overall this is a very good book for young children ages 2- 8 and their parents to read/listen together and then talk about. Kudos to the author, narrator & illustrator. 4🌟🌟🌟🌟

A ginormous thank you to my friends for sharing an awesome group of young children for storytime. This circle of critics made themselves comfortable and settled in without difficulty to listen to the first of several books on the afternoon's proposed agenda. Subsequently, or often during the playing of the audiobook, the little critics shared their vociferous thoughts and opinions on the books that they had heard. Surprisingly, even the youngest were very good judges of the genre of stories that they liked to be read and then talk about. Other than nutritious snacks, the children were not bribed nor coerced into providing their opinions. They were in a warm, comfortable and safe environment and were free to wander or leave with their parent at any time. No children or parents were harmed for the purpose of obtaining these opinions. The reviewer however, being of an older age, was left slightly dented.

I received a complementary copy of the audiobook of " Adana the Earth Dragon" by Debbie Manber Kupfer from StoryOrigin in exchange for an honest review. I am not related nor friends with this author. The opinions expressed in this review are fully mine unless identified as that of another person

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My New Superhero is Mouse & it's NOT Mickey!! 🐁

Revisado: 01-27-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

This is my first Kevin Hartman novel and it won't be my last. The action starts in the first chapter and from there it's just go, go, go. Talk about being on a mouse's exercise wheel, round & round we go! The storyline is novel and interesting with lots of fascinating characters that create an exciting energy throughout the story. The violence is typical of superhero novels but not overly graphic, and the minor sex scenes are not explicit therefore the story can be enjoyed by youngsters who love fantasy and are old enough not to repeat the foul language that escapes our heroes lips. The narrator, Mikael Naramore, does a fabulous job with the voice characterizations. I had no difficulties differentiating between the characters. He is an enthusiastic narrator whose expression filled voice added quality to the overall experience. I felt as if I was sitting in a cinema watching one of the first Star War movies, many years ago. Thank goodness this audiobook was only 8 hours long because I just could not stop listening as I was enjoying myself way too much. Mouse is such an unforgettable character whose grit and courage touches the heart. He creates cool gadgets, stays one step ahead of everyone and uses his intellect to defeat his foes. I sure hope that there are other books in this series as I'd love to see what the Alpha-League Supers and Mouse tangle with next. The audiobooks would be great to listen with your tweens & YA's, especially during a long car trip. They will enjoy this rich world of make-believe as they meet Mouse and his new Alpha League Supers. If you want something fun to read as an escape from your stressful work week, this audiobook will do it. 4🌟🌟🌟🌟

I received a complementary copy of this audiobook from StoryOrigin in exchange for an honest review. I am not related nor friends with this author. The opinions expressed in this review are fully mine unless identified as that of another person.

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Catch that Note 💸

Revisado: 01-27-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

After listening to David Fuentes', first novella in this series entitled " The £20 Note " , I searched for the subsequent novellas in the series but despite looking on several sites, I was unable to locate them. As such, jumping into " The £20 Note, A Twist of Fate", Book 5, left some gaps in the storyline. I preferred this novella despite its occasional foul language as I didn't have to worry if the younger teenagers walked in while I was listening. The content in this novella was considerably less sexually explicit. Despite missing novellas 2-4, this title wraps up some of the crimes that occurred in the first installment of " The £20 Note ", which was a pleasant surprise. I would have enjoyed pursuing the money's progress, and I may continue to search for the complete series so I can follow the storyline to its conclusion. The author continues to introduce quirky characters which gives these novellas a certain charm. The narrator, Matthew Kerslake, does a great job with voice characterizations. His enthusiasm for the storyline comes through in his reading which strengthens his performance. I wouldn't recommend reading this novella as a stand-alone. It requires, at minimum, the first story " The £20 Note " for this novella to have some context. I thought the premise of the author's storyline very interesting however I believe reader/listeners would be better served if all the novellas were combined into a novel. The continuity of the story would be maintained and the length of the novel would justify the spending of a credit.
4 🌟🌟🌟🌟

I received a complementary copy of this audiobook from StoryOrigin in exchange for an honest review. I am not related nor friends with this author. The opinions expressed in this review are fully mine unless identified as that of another person.

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