H. McDonald

Worth the wait for St. Cyr's latest mystery tale!

Revisado: 04-25-23

It was well worth the wait for this latest book in my favorite mystery series. Now, the waiting begins all over again for the next installment. So well researched and cleverly written, you are kept guessing until the last chapter. Gritty and graphic, C.S. Harris delves into the darkest and most poverty-stricken element of London society while flirting with the social taboos of the aristocracy and the powerful of the time. Harris is a masterful storyteller. Narration by Jenny Sterling is superb.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Another WINNER from Julia Brannan!

Revisado: 03-26-23

The only bad thing about The Ladies' Tale was that it had to end. Splendid in every way. The combo of Julia's storytelling and the narration of the tale by Mary Jane, & Will is outstanding!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Harriet -- You are going to love this one!

Revisado: 02-14-23

Will Watt and Mary Jane Wells have done it again -- brought to life one of Julia Brandon's most beloved characters. This time it is Harriet, who rivals sir Anthony with her eccentricities, sharp wit, and courage. It is a fast-paced tale of one woman's struggle to live her life on her own terms while fighting to protect those she loves from the machinations of people of power and the Crown. You are going to love this book!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A delightful romp of a story!

Revisado: 01-18-22

M.R. Street has written a beautiful young adult story that is filled with humor, drama, and friendship among a circle of teens in a small town in North Carolina. Dallas Britt's narration delivered in a youthful, energetic tone complete with southern accent,
is perfect for the first-person voice of the young protagonist. I highly recommend this book for young adults and above.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

How can it be over? I'm not ready to say good-bye!

Revisado: 07-24-21

Such a long wait for this last audio to come out, but it was so worth it! I will muddle through, knowing Julia is writing more books focusing on some of the characters and I can hardly wait. I'm preparing to read the three already out...Sarah's story, Harriet's story, and Caroline & Philippa's story. Waiting with bated breath for Alex's book!

This book lets you down so neatly and beautifully in the end, but not before our protagonists go through some thrills and adventures as they get there. Our favorite characters will live on because I have these books tucked neatly away and will take them out over and over again to enjoy! What a wonderful series this was!

As in Book 4, the narration was something of a disappointment though I had begun to grow accustomed to the new female voice and its distracting lilt and frustrating, lack-luster tones when reading the narrative. Interestingly, she was at her best when voicing her Highland characters, so wonder if she might be of that nationality. Again, Will Watt carried the day and gave his usual flawless performance. The introduction of two new narrators was an interesting addition with their strong Caribbean accents. I like them a lot.

In conclusion, I would say that I have nothing but good to say about Julia Brannan's Jacobite Chronicles. It was a wonderful adventure made even more enjoyable by great narrators and knowing how well-researched this historical story was. I will read/listen to everything this author creates!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Five Stars, but it was a near miss!

Revisado: 07-24-21

I am delighted by Julia Brannan's historical pieces that she tags on at the end of each book in this series. Until then, I believed the story was taking a departure from accurate events and becoming just a wonderful tale created in order to continue our protagonists' story. But nothing of the sort is going on! What an eyeopener to realize that so many of the new characters introduced into the story were actual people and how Beth's ordeal was able to fit seamlessly into their slot in history. I've gained even more respect for Julia's meticulous research.

As for the things Alex and his family continued to experience, would have been so typical of what other survivors of Culloden went through. The aftermath was brutal under the direction of blood-thirsty, greedy commanders.

I had a hard time giving this book five stars, however, because Rosalyn Landor has left the studio. Her replacement was a bitter disappointment. There is a distinct lack of chemistry between the two narrators and it caused the presentation to suffer. I gave the five stars because Will Watt carried it with his amazing voice and that made up for the poor performance by the new female narration. Julia's remarkable story with the support of Watt made it a not-to-miss event!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Never a hiccup as one volume flows into the next!

Revisado: 07-24-21

I knew before I began this series that there would be six volumes, but as I closed out Book 3, I was already dreading the finish of Book 6! I never dreamed I would find an author who could top the portion of Outlander that covered the Jacobite Rebellion, but Julia did it! Her ability to immerse her characters so fully into the lives and happenings of real historical figures is mastery! And she's done that without compromising any accuracy of those. I believe that is one thing that has me so completely hooked. Nah...I'd be hooked anyhow...it's just much too good!

The story builds along with the volatile events of the period with our characters right in the thick of it. Alex, our intrepid hero does his hero things, both in plain sight and covertly, while, Beth, our heroine manages to keep events on the domestic side of our tale neck & neck with the looming war that is inevitable.

It is all brought alive by those incredible narrators, Will Wat and Rosalyn Landor! Their voices are incredibly versatile and you won't have any difficulty in keeping the characters straight. Knowing those two, I doubt either of them would have a problem voicing the entire series on their own! Bravo to them!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Wow! Brutal, but beautifully done!

Revisado: 07-24-21

I made the mistake of reading a few of the reviews prior to writing this and I wish I had not! All I can say is that those disappointed readers clearly had expectations of a cozy romance read; the 'Jacobite Chronicles' is far from that! It is accurate historical fiction at its best! How could any accurate depiction have allowed all the characters to live through any novel that covers that particular war as graphically as Brannan does? It could not have; the loss of those beloved characters offers the emotional angst that was reality. This was Colluden and anybody who has heard of that battle knows that a major portion of the Highlander forces perished. Those who survived the actual battle were killed by the British Army afterward...very few escaped. Truth be told, I was surprised that as many of Brannan's characters escaped as they did! I breathed a sigh of relief as sad as the losses left me.

The brutality of war must be hard to write! I think the research must be grueling and to portray it as graphically as Julia did must have been an emotional undertaking. I believe we readers are lucky the battle was such a quick one. Heaven knows, the aftermath was almost as brutal for all who survived.

Again, beautiful narration by Will Watt and Rosalyn Landor. They bring the characters and their experiences to life. I am an audiobook reader and I am so thankful that the last two books in this series have now been released in audio!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

I am so glad the Jacobite Chronicles is a series!

Revisado: 07-24-21

I am so glad the Jacobite Chronicles is a series because I can't get enough of it! Julia Brannan has done her homework, that's for certain! The best I've read where the story of fictional characters has been woven into such accurate historic events! Bravo, Julia! I love all these characters, even the villains, because they're so beautifully developed and rounded out! If you love the villains, imagine how you will love the good guys! As with 'Mask of Duplicity,' I'm blown away by the masterful narration of Will Watts and Rosalyn Landor. There is wonderful chemistry between them and their ability to portray so many characters is amazing. Watt's ability to switch voices and personalities within scenes is amazing.

Brannan paints such a vivid image of events, both in her accurate historical presentation of politics and events of the era and in the lives of her fictional characters as they live it! The romance between Alex and Beth is swoon-worthy, but don't deceive yourself into thinking this series will be a cozy read. It is historical fiction at its best, but it gives you all of it...history, romance, mystery, thrilling suspense, and adventure that you won't soon forget!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

I was hooked on this series from page one!

Revisado: 07-22-21

I just binged this series for the third time and have to say I've gained a more in-depth understanding with every listen! This is a beautifully researched historical series with complex, deeply developed characters and a story that grabs you and won't let go! Julia has documented, with clarity and accuracy, historical events as they transpired while skillfully inserting her characters into the thick of the action and the politics surrounding the Jacobite Rebellion. Her characters are folks you want to know...at least some of them are, and those you would not want to know are portrayed with depth. The character, Richard, may seem at first to be stereotyped, but that is not the case. He is a badly damaged, mentally ill man and his character is much like serial killers everywhere. The grit and graphic portrayal of the rape scene that seems to disturb some people in other reviews I've read would be diminished if watered down. It has been skillfully handled and it is a pivotal point early in the story, the effects of which impacts those characters throughout.

The narration of Will Watt and Rosalyn Landor could not have been better performed. Their broad vocalizations of the various characters are masterful and the chemistry between the two is vibrant and strong throughout. Did I mention that the love story is rich and deep and rivals that of Jamie and Claire?

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña