Sophia Rose

Locked in an Asylum With Ghosts and Murder

Revisado: 03-19-25

A locked room-style mystery in a haunted insane asylum, a gangster ghost other than Frankie, and more hair-raising mystery than Verity can shake a stick at made The Mint Julep Murders another sensational installment in Angie Fox's Southern Ghost Hunter series of paranormal cozy mysteries.

The Mint Julep Murders is the eighth in the series. It can be listened to standalone, but there are mentions of previous events that are better understood when read in order.

The Mint Julep Murders begin as many of Verity and Frankie's adventures when Verity, Frankie and Ellis head to an old insane asylum that has been bought and turned into an entertainment venue for those who want to explore and stay in a genuinely haunted locale for an expensive, exotic trip. With the owner's permission, they arrive for their own purpose- meet with a ghost gangster who sent word that he'll give them the answer to who murdered Frankie in exchange for a favor.

On arrival, they discover their simple meet up goes all to hash when the owner, Barbara, has a married couple who have come to stay the night, the rains have flooded the only bridge out, the power gets knocked out, the owner is murdered and the strongest ghost in the asylum has locked them all in until they solve the murder. Meanwhile, Ellis is injured, Frankie has his own criminal hijinks going on, the asylum ghosts are as disturbed/disturbing in death as in life, and Verity is less confident by the minute that any of them are getting out alive.

The historical context of this latest is the often brutal and horrendous treatment of asylum patients from ice water baths, electrical shock therapy, lobotomies, and, of course, the sad, but true reasons that perfectly sane people were put away into places like this. The set up of the therapies and exam rooms and treatment of the patients made a chilling ghostly setting for Verity's latest.

Verity got cocky in this one. She got more lucky than right and she could see why Ellis and even Frankie thought her new "vocation" of helping ghosts was dangerous and even deadly. She even gets mad when she overhears Ellis' concerns. But, she ends up in a tight spot and no help in sight and realizes that maybe Ellis has a point.

It was fun with a bit of extra thrill and chill as Verity stumbled and bumbled her way to the truth. That big reveal at the end is a great teaser for making me ready to snack up the next book and see where things go next.

Tavia Gilbert is the voice of the series and there is no one I'd rather hear voicing these characters and stories I love. Wise-cracking Frankie, sweet and good Verity, and solid and loyal Ellis among all the guest characters.

The Mint Julep Murders was a rush and had some hair-raising moments. Paranormal Cozy Mystery fans really need to tag this series for their reading stacks.

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An Audio Delight Capturing a Fab First in Series

Revisado: 03-07-25

When a coyote shifter Volkswagon mechanic takes in a homeless new werewolf teen, her goal of keeping her head down and minding her own business in the local Tri-Cities supernatural community is blown to bits. This is not my first time reuniting with the first book in the Mercy Thompson urban fantasy world, but it was my first encounter with the Graphic Audio full cast edition which took a good story and made it even better.

Mercy had a unique upbringing and is a unique individual. She's young, but she has hidden depths that come out as the story progresses. She considers herself low in the supernatural power hierarchy, but it was fun seeing this underdog-erm under coyote find a way to get it done. Much of the story is introducing Patricia Briggs' urban fantasy world, but this does not bury the exciting story crescendoing to an action-packed climax.

Getting the sound effects, music, and full cast dramatization was sensational and I liked the voices chosen. I had to laugh at how Stefan was voice- very different from the one I had in my head for him.

All in all, a fun and exciting outing making me excited to listen in as Graphic Audio continues to release the rest of the series.

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Family Grief and Guilt, Sisterhood, Small Town Rom

Revisado: 02-08-25

This was one of my favorite books last year so when I had the chance to revisit it on audio, I was excited to do so. I already enjoy Brittany Pressley's narration work and she did a fab job, no surprise. My feelings about this story didn't change so I'll just copy over my original review for the ebook copy.

After the death of her last living relative, a woman in her mid-thirties realizes for the first time that she is free of her father’s stifling expectations and is free to be herself. What will she do with her life now?

Carolyn Brown is among my favorite authors and pretty much one that I barely glance at the blurb before reading. Much of the time, the reader gets light, heartwarming country charm full of multi-generational family and small town romance. But, every once in a while mingled among these is a book with all that, but a whole other thin layer of the bittersweet.

In the case of Meadow Falls, the bittersweet is the result of Angela Marie reaching the age of thirty-five, living at home and working the wealthy peanut farm that has been in the family for generations, but never once feeling love, acceptance, or approval from either of her recently deceased parents. Her mother died of cancer and her father most recently passed and theirs had been a cold marriage of convenience with Angela Marie experiencing that plus her own disconnect from both. Thank goodness Mandy the long-time nanny raised her on love and common sense.

This heavy feeling of sadness for what was and could have been permeates not just Angela Marie’s life, but also her best friend like a sister, her nanny’s great-granddaughter Celeste, another woman left unaccepted by either parent and reared by Mandy.

This could have felt dreary and depressing, but Angela Marie has old Mandy and soon Celeste is back home. Soon followed by Celeste’s army buddy, Devon, to work the farm as equipment manager with his bright outlook and friendly attractiveness that Angela Marie is determined to resist at first. Angela Marie discovers the healing and joy of found family and new chances.

But, what Angela Marie and Celeste find mostly are answers and eventual healing. Mandy is persuaded to finally give both women the answers to why they were emotionally abandoned as well as physically abandoned in Celeste’s case.
Mandy’s stories go back to the beginnings of the farm. The family saga for both women is spread out over the whole book so there is a past timeline in story form from Mandy as well as the current situation of Angela Marie determined to move on and break the mold that has kept her family rigidly on a self-destructive course.

Meadow Falls moves from sadness to hope and, finally, to triumphant happiness and I was carried along with it. Carolyn Brown outdoes herself and plunges into the emotional depths of life. A sure-thing read for women’s fiction fans who like a smidge of small town romance in the background.

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Is Her Mom a Witch? A Coming of Age Short Story

Revisado: 01-27-25

Having taken note of her most famous book and others on her backlist, I figured I'd get to Margaret Atwood's books at some point, but was in no rush. Then I was offered My Evil Mother on audio as a freebie. It was a short story and it was narrated by an already favorite narrator. I decided this was my hint to finally give Atwood's storytelling a try.

As the story opened in a Canadian suburban neighborhood of the 1950's with a story told by the daughter, I was uncertain of the genre of the story having decided to plunge in without reading synopsis or details. Was it a horror? a magical realism? a modern historical? I mean this daughter did claim her mother was a witch who actually seemed to brew potions and talked like a witch.

A teenage girl has been reared by a single mom in an era and place when this would make her an oddity because all the other kids had two-parent homes and their moms didn't present themselves as witches or the odd personality who warned of an evil gym teacher rival witch, said the dad was turned into the garden gnome in the yard, or gave the pointed finger curse warning if she didn't leave off seeing a certain boy.

My Evil Mother is a tale focused on a mother-daughter relationship. Sometimes it was close and loving with just them against the world and sometimes it was antagonistic when the mother got overbearing as the daughter hit her adult years and things come full circle in life. The whole quickly listened to piece is told from the daughter's perspective as she came of age and living as an adult. She looks back on her childhood and her current life and curiosities and mysteries start to be unveiled. There is a bittersweet taste to this story particularly as the magic of childhood gives way to stark truth of adulthood, but this is balanced by the humor sprinkled throughout.

I was very taken with the development of characters, situation, and story. This is what I would describe as general fiction. Hilary Huber narrated with aplomb and I enjoyed the way she chose to voice this story and the few characters. All in all, my first dip of the toe into Margaret Atwood's writing was a resounding success.

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Poor Relation Finds Country Estate Mysterious

Revisado: 01-10-25

Regency Romances, Historical Fiction, and Mysteries dot the Georgette Heyer booklist. She wrote them all and in a style of sparkling banter, the era so splendidly described without neglect of the plot or characters so that her light, coquettish works rival Austen for most readers. However, among her splendid list of offerings, there is the occasional cross-genre piece that draws from her Regency Romance and her Mystery writings’ both.

Cousin Kate is one such and I had mixed feelings about it. In truth, Cousin Kate was light on plot development though it had strong bones, plot-wise. It tried for gothic suspense and romance, but was shallow in both pools.

However, before you get the impression it was terrible and I hated it, I will say that though it wasn’t strong gothic suspense and romance that it was moderately good. While not high in the comedy or sparkling wittiness of her best books, Cousin Kate was not devoid of all typical Heyer writing strengths. It was well settled in the post-Napoleonic Regency world so that everything from dialogue to descriptions of manners, settings and social mores were pitch perfect for the time. Activities that were authentic and forwarded the plot and the reader’s understanding of the characters and situations were present.

Cousin Kate’s main character was a young woman who’d lived an exciting life as a child of a soldier-adventurer on campaign during the Napoleonic Wars. At the beginning of the story, she’s an orphan, but she has spunk. Kate is determined not to be a burden and this is even so once her old nurse gets in touch with Kate’s aunt, a woman who married for position and wealth and surprises Kate by accepting her with open arms.

Everyone tells Kate that her aunt is not generous or simply being kind. She’s ambitious and controlling. Kate chooses to ignore all this because she is profoundly thankful her aunt accepted her as family. Kate encounters her aunt’s older, invalid husband Sir Timothy who is pleased to have young, vivacious Kate around the gloomy house, her tempestuous and immature cousin Torquil, the social climbing doctor staying after looking after Torquil through his earlier illnesses and now Sir Timothy’s, and, later, encounters Sir Timothy’s nephew, Phillip, who rumor has it tried to bump off Torquil the heir and is unwelcome by her aunt.

A few mysterious events and a growing unease in the household whirling about Kate finally come to a climax. I saw it coming as the author foreshadowed heavily so that only naïve Kate is oblivious as long as she is. But, Kate makes a great gothic heroine who is neither timid nor nonsensical. She and Phillip didn’t hit it off right away, but when they spend enough time getting to know each other, they see the truth about their real characters and form a friendship that becomes an increasing necessity for Kate.

Christina Cole was a superb narrator capturing Kate’s youthful and energetic style to the lower class accents of an old man. This was my first time listening to her work, but I would like to hear more books by her.

While it isn’t the best example of Heyer, it’s still a pretty decent listen that I can recommend for light Regency romance and mystery.

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Support and Friendship in Letter Form

Revisado: 01-06-25

A story told entirely through an exchange of letters between the spouses of two cheaters. I've been meaning to try this author for some time so I took the opportunity to get a feel for her writing while taking care of my curiosity over such a story premise.

The setting is Southern California in the mid-1970's. The opening is a letter from one stranger, Carrie, to another, David, when she shares with him that their spouses are cheating on them with each other- she has seen letters. David responds after he discovers she is telling the truth. First they are incredulous and can't figure out why, then they are hurt as their spouses' infidelity makes them feel inadequate. But, a friendship forms and the story marches on as they reveal more about themselves and their situations, their hopes, dreams and fears- all through their letters.

I've always had a love for letter writing- sending and receiving- and that transfers to writing style. I love coming across stories in the epistolary form. Not all writers can pull it off and the story doesn't reveal enough about characters or a strong plot to hold interest, but I thought Evidence of the Affair, though short, revealed the pain of infidelity for the faithful spouses, what they go through, what they have to consider, and in the end how they choose to handle it. I liked both Carrie and David and their mature way of handling this awful situation they were sharing, but I also liked how that situation turns out to be more shades of gray than straight black and white as they explore the people involved, how the past and their own behavior contributed, and how their current choices would affect things.

The narrators were great. I loved how they brought out the emotions and tones of the letters. There were four narrators with two primary because there were two segments when the spouse's letters to the one they were in the affair with were read. Each narrator worked well with the story and the character they were presenting.

So, all in all, I was impressed with my first outing with the author and her epistolary novella. I definitely want to read/listen to more of her stuff. I would recommend this to those who enjoy general or women's fiction.

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An Irrespressible Orphan and a New Life

Revisado: 12-30-24

When one hears of a little orphan girl heroine in an LM Montgomery book, the mind immediately goes to Anne of Green Gables, but Montgomery wrote about other orphan heroines and one was irrepressible Emily Bird Star whose parents have both passed and now her Murray relations must decide her fate. Told with an amazing grasp of child characters' way of thinking, speaking and acting, young Emily and her world come alive for us.

Emily's story is bittersweet. Her mother died before she was very old and her father's health deteriorates so that she is forced to face his loss. She grows up quickly because she knows she's on her own to a certain extent and her father wanted her to be a free thinker and have her independence. This little prepares her for what comes after his death.

She's old enough to grasp that none of her relations save Aunt Laura and Cousin Jimmy want her or care about her feelings and she is shrewd enough to know her best chance is with Aunt Elizabeth, Aunt Laura, and Cousin Jimmy at New Moon farm, the old Murray homestead near the Bright Water. She has an awkward time of it at first with her grief over her father's death, her vivid imagination, and fitting in among locals as the new girl and adjusting to rules and routines. But, slowly Emily finds her way and carves a niche for herself. She discovers interest in poetry, a group of close misfit friends, and that perhaps life is worth living after all.

Emily's story has similarities to the Anne tales, but it has darker tones and Emily, herself is shades darker than Anne. One can appreciate both for their blend of similarities and differences.

I enjoyed this revisit to Emily of New Moon as an Amazon Classics on audio with new to me narrator Jess Nahikian. She voiced a large cast of adults, children, age ranges, classes, and genders so well. I look forward to more of her work.

All in all, Emily was as enchanting as the first time I read this book and draws me forward to want the next book in the series.

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All Time Lines Lead Home for Christmas

Revisado: 12-30-24 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Because my listening experience came close on the heels of my reading experience, I will reprise my original thoughts on the book and add in my narration comments.

When a lonesome time traveler has a strong longing to see family one last time, a sentient magical wardrobe time portal makes her holiday wish come true. Don Jacobson’s Bennet Wardrobe series completed with the emotionally impacting, triumphant eighth installment, but I was thrilled for a revisit to the series in the form of this tender holiday novella that takes place chronologically before several of the events in the regular series.

Because this is a story tucked within the other timelines of the series, it’s not a standalone and works best in release order behind book eight, The Grail: Saving Elizabeth Darcy.

In December 1919, the Countess gets a startling visitor through the magical wardrobe from the past- her youngest sister’s son tumbles into her life and makes her yearn to be spending Christmas with all her sisters and parents. The wardrobe finds a way to make it happen bringing Mr. and Mrs. Bennet from one timeline and the four Bennet sisters and their husbands from yet another.
The Wardrobe knew Kitty needed this one last fortifying visit to do what she still had to do in her time line. It gives her parents a chance to see her and make things right after she accidentally tumbled through time. It gives the Darcys who have been suffering an odd coldness in their marriage a renewing chance. But, most of all, family gets to be together for a little bit during the holidays enjoying this Christmas miracle.

Benjamin Fife is a familiar narrator and, no surprise, his talent for character voices and intuition for tone and pacing carried this heart-felt novella to greater heights. The tender feelings of bittersweet goodbye hit so much the stronger and I loved how the audio edition brought out moments throughout the story in a different way..

Rather than the big tensions and excitement that come with the earlier novels in the series, this was a gentler, thoughtful, and heartwarming piece. It was a long goodbye as some of the family saw each other for the last time. Yes, I teared up. A sweet gift to fans of the series.

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A Regency Romp With Fangs

Revisado: 10-23-24 El oyente recibió este título gratis

A mashup of two Jane Austen novels with vampires doubled down on the supernatural fun. I’ve come to expect a good time and lots of Regency era shenanigans when I pick up a Jayne Bamber book and Northfanger was no exception.

I sunk my fangs into Northfanger right away when a sketchy drawing room situation got somewhat bloody and lethal in the first scene. Wisely, the author doesn’t pause to go into a long excursus on how vampires came to be, but chose to leave it as an assumption that there is a whole shadowy world going on behind the fans, bows, and balls of polite society. Making two Austen heroines, Elizabeth Bennet and Catherine Morland, first cousins easily brought this pair of entertaining heroines into each other’s sphere so that Cathy travels with Lizzy to Hunsford and Lizzy journeys with Cathy to Bath.

There is an assumption that readers/listeners are somewhat familiar with the earlier bits and establishing of characters of both Pride & Prejudice and also Northanger Abbey, but there is also enough background for newbies to leap into the story and enjoy it just as much as aficionados.

Georgiana Darcy has been made a vampire by the despicable vampire Wickham. Elizabeth had believed in his charm and lies against Darcy right up until then. Now, she’s reeling with the truth that she wasn’t as perceptive about people as she thought and using her secret knowledge garnered from her mysterious uncle to guide the new vampire, Darcy, and his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam through the early dangerous moments after her change. Darcy is aghast, but his generous heart helps him do what he can for his sister and see Elizabeth in a heroine’s role while Fitzwilliam is more in line with hunting down Wickham and not trusting vampires.
Cathy knows something is being kept from her and her wild imagination and love for the gothic doesn’t even come close as she journeys to Bath with her cousin and the Darcys, joins in Bath society, meets two intriguing families- the Thorpes and the Tilneys, and eventually discovers there is adventure to be had for a heroine who wants it.

Northfanger is meant to be fun. This is a rollicking good vampire adventure and regency romp all in one. I was in tune with the tone of the story and had a rousing good time as a result.

Amanda S Brown was a new to me narrator, but I took to her narration and character voices right away. She brought out the fine points and made Northfanger shine. I would listen to more of her work.

All in all, this was perfect for a light spooky season listen and only added to my appreciation of the author’s work. As far as I know this is her solo shot into the paranormal, but her other Austen mashups are equally entertaining. I can recommend this one and her others to those who appreciate humor in their regency romances and a fun tossed salad of romance pairings.

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Vacation Visit, Fae Killer, and a Werewolf Mission

Revisado: 09-29-24

The fae hold to an ominous silence and the werewolf reveal is settling somewhat so Charles agrees to visit his old human friend’s Arizona ranch ostensibly to choose a new horse for Anna. Of course, their friendly visit turns dark and deadly when a fae curse hits Joseph’s family. A familiar blend of action and relationship growth in a stunning urban fantasy world make Dead Heat a riveting listen.

Dead Heat is the fourth in the Alpha and Omega series and the #12 in the Mercy Thompson world.

Charles has put off visiting knowing his friend Joseph has grown old and not wanting to deal with the pain of seeing a friend die, but he also doesn’t want to miss Joseph’s last days so he and Anna go to Joseph’s family ranch outside Scottsdale, Arizona. A fae who steals children cursed Joseph’s daughter in law and stole a child. Charles and Anna along with the local wolf pack intervene.

Charles' participation in the hunt as a lethal alpha wolf with Native magic is understood, but the locals soon learn the power and strength of an Omega too when Anna wades in right beside her husband. She is there to strengthen and help Joseph's family and stand beside Charles as he is with his old friend in his last days. The mated pair also quietly embrace the comfort and love of each other while considering an important private matter of having children. But where fae are involved, things get dark, dangerous and startling so that it takes everyone working together to save the day.

There are descriptive moments when it comes to the social moors, legends, and myths of the Navaho culture, to the gaps filled in from Charles' past, the fantastic descriptions of the horse breeding, showing and training world and of course to further character and relationship development for Charles and Anna. They love and are in love. They are pondering a change in their relationship, but it is handled as adults who know and love each other- who trust and are giving. So refreshing, that.

I think another fascinating scene was when Charles was put into the tight spot of having to change a human to werewolf when she is dying and all the ramifications of that. For the first time there is an up close and personal of a person made a werewolf and holy snikies that is not something done lightly on both the part of the werewolf doing the change and the human undergoing it. Charles isn't easy in his choice and others definitely aren't so it was a moving thing.

Holter Graham is the fabulous voice of this series for me and I love the way he digs deep into the emotional size, but can still leave me holding my breath through the action and suspense scenes. The voices are varied for a large cast and distinct with personality.

All in all a strong installment in the series that touched deep and made it hard for me to stop listening even when I had to get some sleep. Definitely the best way to experience this series and I can’t recommend the books and audio enough.

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