An Ali Audiobook Review: Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles by Eli Easton and Tristan Wright (Narrator)

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Toby Kincaid loves being the junior librarian in his hometown of Sandy Lake, Ohio. He spends his days surrounded by books and chatting with the library patrons. He especially adores the head librarian, Mr. Miggles, who is kind, witty, knowlegable about everything, and hopelessly addicted to Christmas. Sean Miggles is also pretty cute—especially for an older guy who wears ties and suit pants every day.

But Sean keeps himself at a distance, and there’s a sadness about him that Toby can’t figure out. When Sean is accused of a crime he didn’t commit, he gives up without a fight. Toby realizes that he alone can save the library—and their head librarian.

Toby will need to uncover the darkness in Sean’s past and prove to him that he deserves a second chance at life and at love too. And while Christmas miracles are being handed out, maybe Toby will get his own dearest wish—to love and be loved by Mr. Miggles.

This was a feel good holiday story. The story is told from Toby’s point of view as he slowly learns his co-worker is a really great guy that does a lot for their small town. After a crisis in which something bad happens to Sean, Toby steps up and tries to set things right. And he enlists an assorted group of people he’s met through the library. It’s that traditional holiday story where in the end everyone comes together to right the wrongs. It’s one of those stories that helps you remember there are still a lot of good people in the world and it melts your heart just a bit. I really enjoyed this part of the book.

My only complaint was the relationship between Toby and Sean. Most of the book we’re told that Toby doesn’t know any side of Sean except his work side but then next thing you know they’re in love. There isn’t any relationship building at all. I think if this not been a Christmas story I would have been more bothered by this. As it was, I just chalked it all up to the magic of Christmas and went with it.

This was narrated by Tristan Wright and I thought he did a good job. I don’t think I’ve heard this narrator before. He did a good job on both of the main characters and I never had a difficult time telling them apart. He also did a good job on most of the side characters (and there were a lot of them). There were a few women’s voices that didn’t work for me but they were not a huge part of the story so it wasn’t a problem.

I thought this was a well done and entertaining audiobook and a good addition to the holiday story genre.

Cover: I like the cover. It is simple but catches your eye right away. (Probably because the model is so attractive.)

Sales Links

Audiobook Details:

Length: 4 hrs and 45 mins

Audible Audio
Published December 16th 2016 by Pinkerton Road (first published November 23rd 2016)
ASINB01N0QSJD9
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Barb the Zany Old Lady audiobook Review: My Christmas Present by Toni Griffin

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

After four years away, when Lucas finishes uni, he arrives just in time for the Christmas holiday season. All he wants is to work on his dad’s best friend’s cattle station and to capture that man’s heart for Christmas. He’s had a crush on Mitchell since he was a young teen, and though he had a few experiences with guys while in college, it’s the “almost forty” man who captures his attention and won’t let go.

Not knowing that the feeling is mutual, he decides he only has a few days to make his intentions known. But Mitchell is an expert at evading the sexy young man who captured his attention around the time he turned eighteen, so he doesn’t give Lucas many chances to try. Enter Lucas’s father Ben, who happens to be a lawman. What he does to help the ill-fated pair along makes a great Christmas present for both. After all, a father wants what’s best for his son, and if he happens to help his best friend along the way, it’s win-win.

This was a very short, very sweet, very fluffy, sexy story. Well narrated by Ryder Watkins, it would make a great stocking stuffer, birthday gift, or just a short, fun afternoon of listening. If you like cowboys, Aussies, or age gap, this one fits the bill.

The drawn cover is of a sexy cowboy sitting at a kitchen chair out by the corral. It makes sense after you read the story, but it is indeed colorful and attractive.

Sales Links

Mischief Corner Books

Amazon

Audiobooks Details:

ebook, 2nd Edition
Published December 18th 2013 by Mischief Corner Books, LLC (first published December 2nd 2011)
Edition LanguageEnglish
CharactersLucas Winters, Mitchell Morgan settingAustralia

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Snowed In by Teodora Kostova and Dan Rider (Narrator)

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

Be careful what you wish for…

Nate has been in love with Quinn, his brother’s best friend, for as long as he can remember. But when he finally gets the chance to show Quinn how he feels, his heart gets broken in the most unexpected way.

Second chances come when you least expect them…

Quinn doesn’t believe in miracles, especially not Christmas ones. When he decides to win Nate back he knows it won’t be easy. The last thing he expects is a health scare, a road trip and a vicious snow storm to work in his favor.

In the end, a cabin in the woods turns out to be not only the shelter they desperately need, but also Quinn’s very own Christmas miracle.

Sometimes, to forgive, you need to get snowed in…

Like many of my friends who reviewed this story, I found it difficult to get past Quinn’s character. The young man, who supposedly loved his best friend’s brother, finally declared his love, had sex with him, and then promptly disappeared the next morning, leaving behind a brief note saying that he was sorry, but he had to go. Nice job, Quinn, you jerk.

So, Quinn hit the top of my {fill in the blank} list within the first half hour of the audiobook. And pretty much remained there throughout the story. Yes, when he finally showed up again two years later, he eventually got around to telling Nate why he left. And yes, it was a good reason, but no, it was not enough of a reason to have snuck off and cut off all contact with the man he “loves” for two whole years. Just no. Sorry. That ruined the story for me.

Granted, I know people do stupid things, so I expect them to have consequences and to own up to those consequences. But not Quinn. Clueless Quinn comes back into Nate’s life without prior notice and then has the big ones to be jealous when Nate comes out of the bathroom with a one-night stand in tow.

Honestly, if I wasn’t so put off by his behavior, including later behavior of confessing his undying love etc. I may have enjoyed the story. The premise of two guys on their way home for Christmas but getting stuck in a cabin together and finding the flame of their love was never truly put out is sweet for a holiday story. But I couldn’t justify Quinn’s behaviors with his words. There was no balance there. Compounding the problems I had with the story, the narrator felt way too young for the characters portrayed in the book. Don’t get me wrong. He was good, very good, actually, but his voice sounded like he was a young teen, so I think he’d be better for YA work.

So, no recommendation on this one, unless you don’t mind that one MC is a jerk.

Cover art is nice but pretty standard with a back view of a naked man holding a Santa hat to cover his cheeks. And based on the description of the characters and the voice given to them, I can’t see either of them being as muscular as the man on the cover.

Sales Links

Audible, AudibleUK, Amazon

Audiobook Details:

Listening Length: 3 hours and 7 minutes

Audible Audio, 4 pages

Published November 14th 2016 by Teodora Kostova (first published November 30th 2015)
ASINB01MFH4G4B
Edition LanguageEnglish

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