June J

Good stand alone short story by this author

Revisado: 10-17-23

3.5-4.0 stars
More than decent Audible Original (7hrs 55mins) by Dervla McTiernan, whose other books I have also enjoyed. I especially liked her Cormac Reilly Galway detective series (0.5, 0.7 and #1-3)
At this time, no Kindle version available.

What this book is about:
The setting is Australia. There are separate A and B storylines taking place in different years for quite awhile and of course the reader wonders how they will merge. The A story is about sisters Flynn and Kaiya whose parents are killed in an accident when the girls are young. They are cared for well by an uncle until Flynn is old enough to take responsibility as Kaiya's guardian. While Flynn seems to be managing their changed situation with effort, Kaiya is not. She begins to see a therapist and joins a climate action groups which provides her some community and direction. The group is on a camping trip when fire breaks out and Kaiya goes missing. The B story is about Noah, who has lost his mother through violence. He is cared for by a father he never knew. When he is old enough to get out on his own, he sets up a studio where he trains others in self defense.
Flynn ends up in one of Noah's classes and what follows is the dramatic adventure part of the story.

What I thought:
Really well narrated by Ben Chapple and Harriet Gordon-Anderson.
Not especially complex and the story was occasionally drawn out. The ending was a quick wrap up, but I don't know that there was more to say without starting a new adventure.
Not at all a waste of time, but not as engaging as the aforementioned Cormac Reilly homicide detective series.
Will continue to read this author's work.

Some tough emotions - loss, grief, guilt - and situations including violence and attempted suicide.

Review also posted on goodreads.com

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No wonder it was 2022 Audiobook of the Year

Revisado: 05-04-23

Just finished this great book on the recommendation of my daughter, who has a degree in Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology.
I wavered between a 4 and 5 start rating. I usually reserve 5 for books that I would read again. Don't think I will read this again, but can recommend it as excellent.
I primarily listened to this book with Audible (16 hrs 10 mins). Andy Weir's writing and narration by Ray Porter are both easily 5 stars. No wonder it was Winner of the 2022 Audie Awards' Audiobook of the Year! The 4 part is because a lot of story is pretty "sciency" and I do not have the science gene. I was reminded of the Far Side cartoon "What We Say To Dogs vs What They Hear." Example: we say "Good dog, Ginger" and they hear "Blah Blah, Ginger" Lots of the language in the book was "Blah Blah" to me, but I had absolutely no trouble following the story and I was very engaged.

See Publisher's Summary for storyline.

This review is also posted on Goodreads.

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If you've been on a group tour this is fun

Revisado: 03-28-23

Enjoyable read about an Irish tour guide and the people whom he has just picked up for his current tour. Having been on a bus tour in Ireland myself, I could relate to the different personalities of his small group: the teen who didn't really want to be there, the police officer from the US who was raised in an Irish family and thought he would find the Ireland that his parents spoke of, the desperate woman looking for a single man in her tour group, a man who was so tied to his work that he couldn't get into the tour at all, and the woman who wanted to visit the place where she was born.
Nicely written with the kind of happy endings and friendships that can occur when you meet just those one or two special people on a tour.

Review also posted on goodreads.com

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Why did I wait so long to listen to this book?!

Revisado: 03-28-23

I added this to my "To Read" shelf in August 2021 and although my husband kept telling me to read it, I have no idea why I put it off for so long!
This is my third book by this author (Daisy Jones & The Six, Malibu Rising) and each of the books has been different.
I was invested as soon as I began reading. (Audible 12 hrs 10 min). Aging Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo has contacted an unknown magazine reporter, Monique Grant, to write her biography. Hugo wants to "tell all" about her entire life in Hollywood from the 1950's-1980's, how she ended up with seven husbands, and who her greatest love truly was! Hugo tells a fascinating story, and reveals herself as ruthless and calculating.
Grant begins to feel a friendship with the actress, but a twist/reveal near the end of the novel explains why this unknown report was chosen for the job.
I only give 5 star ratings to books I am likely to read again, but this is a really great read!

Review also posted on Goodreads.com

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Another enjoyable book in the series

Revisado: 10-02-22

I used both Kindle and Audible to read the latest book in this enjoyable series by Marie Force. The first several books are all in the "Fatal..." series, i.e. all book titles begin with the word "Fatal." Three books ago, the titles changed to start with the words "State of..." Should you decide to follow this series, I strongly recommend enjoying the books in order, beginning with the Fatal books.

President Nick Cappuano is preparing for his first State of the Union address, and at the same time First Lady and Metro PD Homicide Lieutenant Sam(antha) Holland Cappuano and her team are trying to find a serial rapist/murderer in the DC area.
I enjoy following this series, which contains a regular cast of characters whose characters evolve in each subsequent book. The story lines are "formula" and include family ups and downs, life and death, romance and sex, a homicide or two, and a bit of DC politics. Marie Force is a fast writer and although this book was just released in September, the next book is due to be released in December. These are not the grittiest of stories and are penned for a mainstream audience. If you are a fan of Dervla McTiernan, Michael Scanlon, or Harlan Coben, I would say that this series is a lighter fare and you don't have to think as hard.
But, to be clear, I enjoy the lighter book every once in awhile! I especially like that one of my BFFs, Juliane, is a beta reader for this series and I picked it up after she recommended it.

Regarding narration, I like Eva Kaminsky, with one exception. She uses "upspeak" frequently. (The ending of a statement spoken as a question.) Other than that, her diction is clear and her character voices are consistent.

Whispersync was very unpredictable between my devices.

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Great narration. Great story.

Revisado: 08-15-22

I read and listened to this book on a combination of Kindle and Audible after seeing a 5 star review from my friend and avid reader, Russ Bertetta. Have not read any other books by this author.
I'm kind of stingy with my 5 star reviews but for me a 4 star rating is a good review!
Audible narration by January LaVoy and others was very good.
Husband and I read this at the same time and agreed that it was a well researched story in the areas of both 1960's Hollywood, and the realities/dangers of an African safari.
Throughout the book, there were backstories of all main characters helping you get to know what kind of people they were, leaving you to "judge them a bit" for lack of a better phrase. The same backstories help the reader to relate to the fears of the characters as they faced uncertainties at the hands of their kidnappers and the possibility of animal attack. (Not a spoiler if you read the book synopsis.)
While I am pretty sure that a safari is not in my travel plans after reading this book, I am sure that I will read another of Chris Bohjalian's books!

Also posted on Goodreads.com

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The Wrong One for me

Revisado: 05-01-22

This short story is available via Audible only. (3 hrs 54 min)
I really liked the author’s Cormac Reilly series but was disappointed by this one. I realize that it was a short book, but I developed no interest or empathy for any of the characters. It was too easy to guess who was behind the murder, and at some point the author started to point to the supernatural for no reason and with no follow up or closure on that angle.
The narration was crummy-both narrators. When men narrate women, they go into a head tone that annoys me. The woman’s speech was too enunciated for real life.
This one is forgettable and the only redeeming factors were that it was short and free.

(Review also posted on Goodreads)

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So terrific I don't know what to say

Revisado: 02-19-20

“What does it take to be a good parent? Not much. Just everything. Absolutely everything.”
― Fredrik Backman, Us Against You

This is a difficult review to write, because this book was so terrific that I don't think I can write anything that could convey it properly.
I listened to "Us Against You," the sequel to "Beartown" via audio from my local library. (~14 hours) In a way, I wish I had read this on Kindle so that I could have highlighted all of the great words of wisdom - the brilliant insights - throughout the book. Such good writing, and Marin Ireland's narration is excellent.
The first book, Beartown, (5 stars) came out in 2016 so there was a lot of time in between the two books and I hoped I would remember the original story and characters. No problem; there is enough review of the original book to make sure you recall the important parts. Ideally, one should read Beartown first.
Although the book(s) pretend to be about the importance of hockey in Beartown and neighboring Hed, this is not a story about hockey. It is about SO MANY THINGS. Parenting. Marriage. Loyalty. Loss. Kindness. Hardship. Big Mistakes. Bullies. Love. The Human Condition.
I believed that the people in this remote Swedish town were real, and what was tearing them apart was tearing me apart. I couldn't put this down.
So, what is it about? Fallout from a girl being assaulted in the original book, causes Beartown ice hockey to be disbanded and several players go to the team in the neighboring town of Hed. Tensions mount. Rivalry and pranks ensue. Mistakes are made. Beartown hires a new coach and builds a new team who plays Hed in the finals. From the publisher's description: "By the time the last goal is scored, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will be forced to wonder if, after everything, the game they love can ever return to something as simple and innocent as a field of ice, two nets, and two teams. Us against you."
Unforgettable book. Great author. I need to read more of his titles, and the next time I read this one, I'm doing in Kindle so I can highlight those wise quotes.
*Review also posted on Goodreads

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The crime solution was well constructed

Revisado: 11-04-19

I listened to this book via Audible and read some via Kindle. The Marie Force Fatal series is only available in these formats from Audible/Amazon.
I am plowing through this multi-book series, and find these books to be 3-4 stars, depending on the subject of the crime. In this book, the crime involves multiple murders at a teen party when the parents were away. One of the young people who escaped alive is the niece of the lead female character in the series, Lieutenant Sam(antha) Holland, Washington D.C. Metro Police.
As I have mentioned in my reviews of the 6 prior books, I like the recurring characters in the series which focuses on Sam, her husband Nick Cappuano, their colleagues, family and friends. This series should be read in order. (The books do contain "swears" and a healthy dose of sex, in case you need to know that as a plus or minus prior to reading.)
The crime and the police investigation was well constructed, with good logic in solving it. I think that is why I gave this one 4 stars instead of 3. The solution is not obvious and comes about through good police work. Good series. Quick reads/listens.

*Also posted on goodreads.com

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So that's how they met!!

Revisado: 09-01-19

I've become a recent fan of the Fatal Series by Marie Force. My thumbnail sketch of my reading experience is that these books are light crime/whodunnit police stories that take place in Washington, D.C. featuring a regular cast of characters. The main male/female characters are in a romantic relationship - she is with the police department and he is a senator - so the stories include a healthy dose of sex. Easy to read, not too deep, and the crime solutions are not totally obvious from the get go.
This is a novella in the series, and although numbers 0.5 I would not recommend reading it until AFTER you've read at least book 1 in the series.
This book is about how the two main characters met and the "one night" they had together that is referred to in all of the early books.
If you are reading this series, I think you will enjoy going back to this book after you read at least one of the primary books.
Enjoyable.

*also posted on goodreads.com

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