Category: Audio Books

An Ali Audiobook Review: Counterpoint (Song of the Fallen #1) by Rachel Haimowitz and Narrated by Craig Beck

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

counterpoint_audiobook2400It is the twilight of mankind. Depleted by generations of war with a dark race, the human kingdoms and their ancient alliance stand on the brink of extinction. The outlands are soaked with the blood of the fallen. The midlands are rotting with decadence and despair.

Elfkind, estranged by past crimes, watches and waits for nature to run its course.

And then the two collide.

Ayden’s life has long been guided by two emotions: love for his sister, and hatred of all things human. When he’s captured in battle, he must for his sister’s sake swallow his pride and endure slavery in the service of a human prince, Freyrik Farr.

Freyrik’s always known elves to be beautiful and dangerous, but never has one affected him as deeply as Ayden. Can his life of service to his people leave room for this attraction? Dancing on a dagger’s edge between duty and high treason, Freyrik discovers that some choices can change a life, and some an entire world.

Between prejudice, politics, pride, and survival, Ayden and Freyrik must carve a new path, no matter how daunting. For nothing less than the fate of both their peoples rests on the power of their perseverance and their love.

I really enjoyed this story.  I had never read this author before so I had no idea what I was going in to so I was pleasantly surprised and I have a new series and a new author to follow.  There is elaborate world building and the writing was very engaging.  I loved both of the main characters and the complicated situation they find themselves in unfolded seamlessly.  While Ayden enters into the relationship as a slave there is no forced sexual situations (which I was a little nervous about going in to this).  The relationship progresses over time and as trust builds Ayden begins to care for Freyrik.  I love when an enemies to lovers trope takes the time to show how the relationship unfolds and I think the author did a great job with that here.  I could totally belief that they were falling for each other.  It was a slow build and those always pay off so well in the end for me.
There is a warning about violence and there is some, but I didn’t think it was too bad and there wasn’t much of it.  The story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger but fortunately the second book is already out so I can move directly on to that.
This story was narrated by Craig Beck.  I don’t think I’ve ever listened to him before but now I’m totally a fan.  I thought he did an excellent job on all of the voices and the story as a whole.  I would definitely recommend this audiobook.
Overall this was a really good story for me.  I would recommend it for fans of the fantasy genre and people who enjoy the enemies to lovers trope.
Cover by Simone’:  I like the cover.  It is an older cover but I still think it fits well with the fantasy concept of the story.
Sales Links

Audiobook Details:

Published  by Riptide Publishing (first published July 31st 2010)
ISBN139781937551193
Edition LanguageEnglish
URL http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/counterpoint-song-fallen-1
SeriesSong of the Fallen #1

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Love on Location by Lucy Felthouse and Joel Leslie (Narrator)

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

love-on-location-audiobookShort and sweet, this story is narrated by the very talented Joel Leslie, thereby increasing my enjoyment exponentially.

Theo Samuels is an actor, filming on location in the village of Stoneydale. There he meets Eddie Henderson, who’s working the set in a minor job, but Theo can’t seem to keep his eyes off Eddie and it appears the attraction is mutual.  That’s actually the last thing Theo wants because he’s deeply closeted and worried that coming out would affect his career.  But the two can’t deny their attraction and when they are caught in the rain one day while out sightseeing, they can’t keep their hands off each other.

Bemoaning the fact that Theo lives in London and Eddie lives in Stoneydale where he’s hoping to find a better job, they decide that they’ll just stay together temporarily and deal with their separation the next time Theo takes off to do another role. Knowing they’ll find it difficult to part, now or in the future, they take a chance and Eddie heads to London with Theo.

Without revealing any more of the fairly short plot, I can say that they do get their HEA. This story is low level angst, with two sweet MCs and an outstanding narrator. Thinking of picking up the audiobook? Don’t hesitate.

The bright, attractive cover depicts two handsome men, well representing the story.

Sales Links

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook
Published September 30th 2016
ASINB01M0XWJKU
Edition LanguageEnglish
URL http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/love-on-location/

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Lights, Camera, Cupid, the Bluewater Bay Anthology

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

lightscameracupid_audiobook-1Cupid is visiting Bluewater Bay, and he’s leaving chaos in his wake.

 

Nothing’s been the same in this sleepy little logging town since Hollywood came to shoot the hit TV show Wolf’s Landing—especially Valentine’s Day.

 

In L.A. Witt’s Just Another Day, beloved actors Levi Pritchard and Carter Samuels have an announcement for their fans, while in Z.A. Maxfield’s I’ll Be There, actor Spencer Kepler and his boyfriend Nash Holly brave a blizzard and a fan convention to spend their first February the 14th together.

 

Of course, it’s not just TV stars celebrating the day. In Anne Tenino’s Helping Hand, an aspiring artist eager to escape Bluewater Bay decides he just might have a reason to stay: lust-inspiring logger Gabriel Savage. In SE Jakes’s No Easy Way, a local teacher reconnects with an old lover working security on the film set. And in Amy Lane’s Nascha, a Bluewater Bay elder recalls how his own unconventional family used to celebrate the holiday.

 

Real life may be nothing like TV, but when Cupid comes to town, there’s plenty of romance and drama to go around.

 

This was a nice collection of stories; it was nice seeing a few characters again along with a few new ones.  These stories can mostly be read as stand-alone, but events from the characters books could be helpful and, after looking ahead, some of the other stories are kind of a pre-quel to some more books later in the series.

 

Just Another Day by LA Witt – 5 stars out of 5

It was great to see Levi and Carter again.  Levi learns that Valentine’s Day isn’t always about a token expensive gift, but being with the one you love.  Levi continues to struggle with being in an actual relationship, but can see everywhere he turns how perfect it is to have Carter in his life.

 

Nascha by Amy Lane – 4 stars out of 5

This was a nice, but very depressing.  We get a look at the life of Nascha and his family.  He gave up a lot to take care of his niece and her family, but in the end gets the chance to re-connect with his lover Raw.  I loved Nascha and my heart broke when he had to give up his lovers and then the death of one after they had reconnected.

 

No Easy Way by SE Jakes – 3 stars out of 5

Cary has pretty much been just been existing since his boyfriend, Dylan, left.  Dylan has been in the military for years and finally got the courage to come home and try to win Cary back.  That Dylan was willing to take the verbal abuse from Cary for so long without explaining was a miracle.  Though this was an interesting story, I had trouble connecting with the characters.

 

Helping Hand by Anne Tenino – 3 stars out of 5

Lucas cannot wait for the chance to get out of Bluewater Bay, he has nothing to keep him here.  He feels like the outsider in his family and the town.  It isn’t until after he is pretty much forced to come out to his family that he finds out he isn’t quite as different as he thought.  When Lucas and Gabe connect and then Gabe pushes Lucas away my heart just absolutely broke for him.  I am interested to see what happens to them when I get to their book.

 

I’ll Be There by ZA Maxfield – 5 stars out of 5

I loved Nash and Spencer in their book and it was great to see them again.  They both need and love each other so much, it’s wonderful.  I loved the look we got at Nash’s twin, Healey, too.

Nick Russo and Dorian Bane did a nice job narrating these story.  They really brought the characters to life through the voices and emotions they portrayed.

 

Cover art by LC Chase is nice and follows the pattern for the series.

 

Sales Links:  Riptide | Audible | Amazon | iTunes

 

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 6 hrs 22 min
Published: September 26, 2016 (ebook first published February 9, 2015)
Edition Language: English

Series: A Bluewater Bay Story