Kimberly reviews Never Stop On The Motorway by Jeffrey Archer

never stop on motorwayTITLE: Never Stop On The Motorway
CHARACTERS: Diana
AUTHOR: Jeffrey Archer
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/04/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Taken from Jeffrey Archer’s third collection of short stories, Twelve Red Herrings, comes this irresistible, witty and ingenious short read. Diana, a busy single mother, looks forward to her regular retreat into the countryside to have dinner with friends. A horrible shock she receives as she is driving along the motorway unsettles her – and when she realizes that a black van is increasingly in her rear-view mirror, Diana begins to feel seriously scared. Soon terrified for her life, she does whatever it takes to stick to the stark warning given to motorists: never stop on the motorway . . . Praise for Jeffrey Archer ‘Probably the greatest storyteller of our age’ Mail on Sunday

REVIEW:
This story is very short, only about 25 pages, so it is a very quick read. Even though short it is complete. There is suspense and Diana is a fully developed character. This story will keep you on the edge of your seat but not for long.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kimberly reviews Wired by Julie Garwood

wiredTITLE: Wired
SERIES #: Buchanan-Renard #13
CHARACTERS: Allison & Liam
AUTHOR: Julie Garwood
PUBLICATION DATE: 07/04/17
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A beautiful computer hacker and a bad-boy FBI agent must collaborate—in more ways than one—in the sizzling new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood.

Allison Trent doesn’t look like a hacker. In fact, when she’s not in college working on her degree, she models on the side. But behind her gorgeous face is a brilliant mind for computers and her real love is writing—and hacking—code. Her dream is to write a new security program that could revolutionize the tech industry.

Hotshot FBI agent Liam Scott has a problem: a leak deep within his own department. He needs the skills of a top-notch hacker to work on a highly sensitive project: to secretly break into the FBI servers and find out who the traitor is. But he can’t use one of his own. He finds the perfect candidate in Allison. Only, there’s one problem—she wants nothing to do with his job and turns him down flat.

What Liam doesn’t know is that Allison is hiding secrets that she doesn’t want the FBI to uncover. But Liam will do nearly anything to persuade her to join his team, even break a few rules if that’s what it takes. A temptation that could put his job—and both of their futures—on the line…
and longing for more . . .

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts Ok first let’s address the elephant in the room. This is not the same Julie Garwood that her fans are used to. Her writing has changed for some reason. The writing is different but that does not mean the story is bad. Garwood still brings an interesting story with characters worth getting to know.

The reason this writing is so different is there is no true POV. A lot of times the chapter is from one POV (his) and the next chapter from the other POV (hers). This story changes POV’s right in the middle of pages and even paragraph.

Now to the story itself. Allison is sweet and smart. Her brain is more like a computer. She can see paths that others can not especially when it comes to codes. Liam needs Allison to help him find a leak in the FBI. There is a connection right away but they work together so they shouldn’t but they will. After all how will they get the HEA if they didn’t?

While I liked Allison I wanted to cry for her sometimes. She seems to be a bit lost and sad. She allows herself to be a doormat by her aunt and uncle. And honestly a bit from Liam. She allows him to come and go way too much if you ask me. Liam seems to be a good guy but is a bit selfish if you ask me. Most times I find myself wishing I could crawl into the book and be with one of Garwood’s men but not with Liam. I just thought he was a nice guy but for someone else.

A good read but not the best of Garwood’s novels.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kelly reviews The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E Reichert

simplicity of ciderTITLE: The Simplicity of Cider
CHARACTERS: Sanna & Isaac
AUTHOR: Amy E Reichert
PUBLICATION DATE: May 16, 2017
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Fall in love with The Simplicity of Cider, the charming new novel about a prickly but gifted cider-maker whose quiet life is interrupted by the arrival of a handsome man and his young son at her family’s careworn orchard by the author of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake and Luck, Love & Lemon Pie.

Focused and unassuming fifth generation cider-maker Sanna Lund has one desire: to live a simple, quiet life on her family’s apple orchard in Door County, Wisconsin. Although her business is struggling, Sanna remains fiercely devoted to the orchard, despite her brother’s attempts to convince their aging father to sell the land.

Single dad Isaac Banks has spent years trying to shield his son Sebastian from his troubled mother. Fleeing heartbreak at home, Isaac packed up their lives and the two headed out on an adventure, driving across the country. Chance—or fate—led them straight to Sanna’s orchard.

Isaac’s helping hands are much appreciated at the apple farm, even more when Sanna’s father is injured in an accident. As Sanna’s formerly simple life becomes increasingly complicated, she finds solace in unexpected places—friendship with young Sebastian and something more deliciously complex with Isaac—until an outside threat infiltrates the farm.

From the warm and funny Amy E. Reichert, The Simplicity of Cider is a charming love story with a touch of magic, perfect for fans of Sarah Addison Allen and Gayle Forman.

REVIEW:
Sanna has always been an island of her own making. Growing up in a broken family didn’t help matters either. So when Isaac and Bass stumble upon their orchard Sanna doesn’t know how to be a civilized person.
Another wonderful read from Ms. Reichert. I really enjoyed watching Sanna try to figure out how to be a person. She was great with Bass, even when he messed up and broke things. Sanna and Isaac were wonderful together and the ending!!! There were tears!! I am looking forward to what Ms. Reichert has in store for us next.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts
4 Hearts

Kissin’ the week of June 26th- July 1st Goodbye

June 26th

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Our Interview with Roger Wayne

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Guest Blogger Darynda Jones

June 27th 

Audiobook Lovin’ Presnets: Viviana’s interview with Molly Harper & Amanda Ronconi

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Guest blogger Sasha Summers

June 28th 

Julie Ann Walker’s Pre-Order Blitz + a giveaway

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Our Interview with Luke Daniels

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Spotlight Feature of Lara Adrian

June 29th

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Our Interview with Narrator Kirsten Potter

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: A Spotlight Feature of Author Lori Foster

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: A Spotlight Feature of Narrator Johanna Parker

June 30th

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: A Spotlight freature of Tara Lain

Audiobook Loving’ Presents: Guest Blogger Antony Ferguson

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Guest Blogger Author Nina Bocci

Audiobook Lovin’ week five recap

June 26th

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Our Interview with Roger Wayne

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Guest Blogger Darynda Jones

June 27th 

Audiobook Lovin’ Presnets: Viviana’s interview with Molly Harper & Amanda Ronconi

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Guest blogger Sasha Summers

June 28th 

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Our Interview with Luke Daniels

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Spotlight Feature of Lara Adrian

June 29th 

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Our Interview with Narrator Kirsten Potter

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: A Spotlight Feature of Author Lori Foster

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: A Spotlight Feature of Narrator Johanna Parker

June 30th

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: A Spotlight freature of Tara Lain

Audiobook Loving’ Presents: Guest Blogger Antony Ferguson

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Guest Blogger Author Nina Bocci

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Guest Blogger Author Nina Bocci

2017 Audio Book Lovin Banner UPDATED

Viviana, Enchantress of Books and I, Books-n-Kisses are honored to have author Nina Booci on the blog today. 

NinaAuthorB&WNina Bocci is a novelist, publicist, eternal optimist, unabashed lipgloss enthusiast, constant apologist, and a hopeless romanticist. She has too many college degrees that she’s not using, and a Lego addiction that she blames on her son.

You can find Nina at Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon |Audible

 

I now will turn over the blot to Nina.

I’ve found that when talking about audio books, people either love them or hate them. There aren’t many ‘meh’ answers but they’re the people that you can sway with a great narrator.

I’m in the LOVE category. I’ve listened to audio for so long, I remember when you could buy a big pack of CD’s from Waldenbooks. In fact, my first set of Harry Potter was on discs!

Speaking of Harry, Jim Dale is my favorite narrator. If you haven’t listened to him, please take a moment to get a sample from iTunes or Audible and enjoy the hell out of it. Most of the books I listen to on audio are MG, YA or non-fiction.

For me, the narrator makes all the difference. It can make or break the book in my opinion. I love that most publishers and self-pubbed authors get to choose their own narrator. It helps to have someone that is, in your mind, perfect for your book.

A suggestion that many people share is to get samples before buying any of them, it helps tremendously when deciding to buy. I’ve found some of my favorite books that way.

My nearly ten-year-old son is also an audio book fanatic. We listen to them everywhere lately. To and from school, piano, the mall, wherever. Even when we’re cooking dinner, we’re listening to something. His favorites are Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, The Secret Keepers, the Mr. Lemoncello series, The Mysterious Benedict Society and basically anything read by Jesse Bernstein who is his absolute favorite narrator.

The thing with audio books, is that you can listen anywhere. On a walk with your dog, on a road trip, at the store perusing the shelves or my favorite, cooking dinner. It helps pass the time and you get to immerse yourself in another world. Especially when this one seems so bleak, it’s a great escape.

So pull up a pair of ear buds or Beats and fall in love with a great story.

 

 

*****

Roman Crazy: Audible | Amazon | B&N

Giveaway Time!!!!

Make sure to swing over to Viviana, Enchantress of Books blog and make sure to enter our giveaway below!!!!

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Audiobook Lovin’ Series MONTH LONG Widget:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Audiobook Loving’ Presents: Guest Blogger Antony Ferguson

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Viviana, Enchantress of Books and I, Books-n-Kisses are honored to have narrator Antony Ferguson on the blog today. Antony is telling us about his top 5 reason being a narrator is so awesome. 

Antony FergusonAntony Ferguson is a native of London, England. Upon leaving Drama school, he worked extensively in English repertory theatres; most notably playing the lead in Edward II, Don Juan, and Lord Byron in a production of Camino Real for Alan Ayckbourn’s theatre company. He has twice appeared on London’s West End, winning the award for best actor as Jimmy Porter in (an award winning production of) Look Back In Anger, and playing the lead in The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew, by Robert Bolt. Upon moving to New York City, he worked regularly Off Broadway, in regional theatre and on national tours. He has a wide experience in performing Shakespeare, Chekov, Shaw etc., and has won several awards for his work.

Antony got involved in audiobook narration several years ago, as an extension to his regular voice over work, and has recorded over 160 books. He loves all genre of audiobooks, but has a special love of recording Romantic Fiction. The characters, the situations, and the passion are just so much fun to perform! He is an Audiofile Earphone Award winner.

You can find Antony at Website | Goodreads | Audible | Tantor

5 things I love about being a narrator

1          I get to act every day.

Most actors are out of work more than they are in work, but I get to play different characters and tell different stories every day.

2          I love that I work from home.

It is wonderful to be able to work from my home studio and set my own schedule.

3          I learn a great deal

I learn several new things with every book I record. Naturally, more with non fiction, but it is great to see things through someone else’s eyes.

4          I love to entertain people.

It feels wonderful, knowing that by using my imagination when creating characters, that people are at home enjoying and being entertained by my work.

5          Variety

I love the fact that no two books are the same and I get to record constantly changing projects.

 

Here are a few samples of Antony’s work. 

Firestorm: Audible| Amazon | B&N

https://soundcloud.com/enchantressdesign-promo/firestorm-dark-kings-book-10-by-donna-grant-narrated-by-antony-ferguson

One Last Sin: Audible| Amazon | B&N

The Goblin King: Audible| Amazon | B&N

https://soundcloud.com/enchantressdesign-promo/the-goblin-king-the-kings-4-by-heather-killough-walden-narrated-by-antony-ferguson

Edmund Burke: Audible| Amazon | B&N

https://soundcloud.com/audiofilemagazine/edmund-burke-by-jesse-norman-read-by-antony-ferguson

Giveaway Time!!!!

Make sure to swing over to Viviana, Enchantress of Books blog and make sure to enter our giveaway below!!!!

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Audiobook Lovin’ Series MONTH LONG Widget:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: A Spotlight freature of Tara Lain

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Viviana, Enchantress of Books and I, Books-n-Kisses are hosting a spotlight feature for author Tara Lain. 

 

Author Pic 1Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 32. Her best-selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Paranormal Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft.  She lives with her soul-mate husband and her soul-mate dog near the sea in California where she sets a lot of her books.  Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!

You can find Tara Lain here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Amazon | Audible

Here is a sample of Tara’s books

Sinders & Ash: Audible | Amazon | B&N

https://soundcloud.com/dreamspinnerpress/audiobook-sample-of-sinders-and-ash-by-tara-lain

Outing the Quarterback: Audible | Amazon | B&N

https://soundcloud.com/dreamspinnerpress/audiobook-sample-outing-the-quarterback-by-tara-lain

Winters Wolf: Audible | Amazon | B&N

https://soundcloud.com/dreamspinnerpress/audiobook-sample-of-winters-wolf-by-tara-lain

Beauty, Inc.: Audible | Amazon | B&N

https://soundcloud.com/seanpatrickhopkins/beauty-inc-by-tara-lain-narrated-by-kale-williams

Giveaway Time!!!!

Make sure to swing over to Viviana, Enchantress of Books blog and make sure to enter our giveaway below!!!!

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Audiobook Lovin’ Series MONTH LONG Widget:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: A Spotlight Feature of Narrator Johanna Parker

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Viviana, Enchantress of Books and I, Books-n-Kisses are spotlighting the amazing Johanna Parker today!!!!!

johanna ParkerJohanna Parker is an Audie Award Winning, Earphone Award Winning actress living and working in Midcoast Maine. Since narrating her first audiobook for Recorded Books in 2002, Johanna has received high praise for her work in all genres, including the young adult Mediator series by Meg Cabot, Earlene Fowler’s Bennie Harper Mysteries, and her portrayal of Sookie Stackhouse in Charlaine Harris’s Southern Vampire books of which Audiofile has said, “Parker personifies Harris’s perky Southern heroine, Sookie Stackhouse. Her splendid pacing allows listeners time to absorb the action and emotions…listeners will be enthralled.”Johanna received her BFA in Acting from Boston University and studied Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. She has performed on stages in London, Los Angeles, Seattle, and New York and has numerous film and television credits. Now a sought after voice over actress, Johanna has voiced commercials, video games, documentaries and web sites.

Johanna writes: “I love books. I loved them long before I could read them myself and I will love them long past the time I can only listen to them. Telling stories, in whatever way, has always been my passion, and audiobook narration has become the unexpected niche where my love of books and my love of storytelling come together in an incredible, inevitable fusion. I get to play all the parts. I get to truly utilize my training. And my hair can look like #@$%&!”

You can find Johanna at Website | FacebookGoodreads | Audible | Tantor
Dead Until Dark: Audible | Amazon | B&N

Mischief in Mudbug: Audible | Amazon | B&N

Maplecroft: Audible | Amazon | B&N

Giveaway Time!!!!

Make sure to swing over to Viviana, Enchantress of Books blog and make sure to enter our giveaway below!!!!

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Audiobook Lovin’ Series MONTH LONG Widget:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: A Spotlight Feature of Author Lori Foster

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Viviana, Enchantress of Books and I, Books-n-Kisses are hosting a spotlight feature of Lori Foster.

LoriFoster_02-webSince first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author of over 90 novels and novellas. She currently writes single titles for HQN.

Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader and Author Get Together,” aka RAGT16, in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the the no-kill animal shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation; The Conductive Learning Center, a school for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy; and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home for abused and abandoned children. See more about the annual event here: http://readerauthorgettogether.com/ 

Each year Lori also writes a “benefit book,” a romance short story with all advance & royalties going to a local charity. You can see all the benefit books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/

You can find Lori at Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Youtube | Audible

Hard Justice: Audible | Amazon | B&N

Don’t Tempt Me: Audible | Amazon | B&N

Scandalized: Audible | Amazon | B&N

Giveaway Time!!!!

Make sure to swing over to Viviana, Enchantress of Books blog and make sure to enter our giveaway below!!!!

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Audiobook Lovin’ Series MONTH LONG Widget:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Audiobook Lovin’ Presents: Our Interview with Narrator Kirsten Potter

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Viviana, Enchantress of Books and I, Books-n-Kisses had the great honor of chatting with the amazingly talented Kirsten Potter!!!  Let me introduce you to her!!

Kirsten PotterKirsten Potter is an actress and narrator who has performed in dozens of major theaters nationwide, voiced over a hundred audiobooks, and portrayed numerous vixens, villains and polar bears in various video games. Favorite audiobook titles she has narrated include Station Eleven, Madapple, Hattie Big Sky, Brooklyn; and Lisa Gardner’s DD Warren, Diane Duvall’s Immortal Guardians, and Joanna Bourne’s Spymaster series’. She currently voices the Queen of the Reef for the Bungie franchise “Destiny”, a role she likes to imagine she was born to play.

You can find Kirsten at Website | Twitter  | Audible |Tantor

 

 

 

I present to you our interview

 

 

Here are some samples from Kirsten’s work 

Primal Law: Audible | Amazon | B&N

https://soundcloud.com/audiofilemagazine/primal-law-by-j-d-tyler-read

A Sorceress of His Own: Audible | Amazon | B&N

https://soundcloud.com/audiofilemagazine/a-sorceress-of-his-own-by-dianne-duvall-read-by-kirsten-potter

The Unthinkable: Audible | Amazon | B&N

The Couple Next Door: Audible | Amazon | B&N

Giveaway Time!!!!

Make sure to swing over to Viviana, Enchantress of Books blog and make sure to enter our giveaway below!!!!

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Audiobook Lovin’ Series MONTH LONG Widget:
a Rafflecopter giveaway