Jenny's Audio Slave Review: Lingus by Mariana Zapata

Title: Lingus
Author: Mariana Zapata
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Mariana Zapata
Pub Date: August 7, 2015
Story Rating: 3 Stars
Narrator Rating: 4.5 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

I was excited to hear Callie Dalton narrating because she really does have a great grasp of Zapata's stories and characters. She adds a lot to the story and I recommend checking her out.

But the story...I wanted to love it.

Jenny's Audio Slave Review: Rhythm, Chord, & Malykhin by Mariana Zapata

Title: Rhythm, Chord, & Malykhin
Author: Mariana Zapata
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Mariana Zapata
Pub Date: August 21, 2015
Story Rating: 3 Stars
Narrator Rating: 2 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

I'm starting to realize that reading all of Zapata's books in a row is a mistake. I enjoy them; they're cute and so funny, but they follow an almost identical formula. I'm not going to break it down because it feels too critical for something I still enjoyed, but the repeated outline is becoming more and more obvious. 

Jenny's Audio Slave Review: Under Locke by Mariana Zapata

Title: Under Locke
Author: Mariana Zapata
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Mariana Zapata
Pub Date: January 19, 2014
Story Rating: 3 Stars
Narration Rating: 4 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

Okay…third book in and I am not impressed. I could tell this was an earlier work of the author’s because it didn’t have the polish, the flow, or the development of the other two I have read so far. Was it enjoyable enough? Yes. Was I captivated? No. In fact, I often spaced out through this one but I’m pretty sure I didn’t miss much. 

Jenny's Audio Slave Review: Kulti by Mariana Zapata

Title: Kulti
Author: Mariana Zapata
Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance
Publisher: Mariana Zapata
Pub Date: March 20, 2015
Story Rating: 4 Stars
Narrator Rating: 4 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

This is the second book of Zapata’s that I’ve been cruising through lately and I enjoyed it. The heroine is strong and admirable, and the hero is a brute on the outside and a loyal softy on the inside. This dynamic leads to a lot of engaging, entertaining, and fun scenes. 

Jenny's Audio Slave Review: The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata

Title: The Wall of Winnipeg and Me
Author: Mariana Zapata
Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance
Publisher: Mariana Zapata
Pub Date: February 28, 2016
Story Rating: 4 Stars
Narration Rating: 4 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

I am diving in the Mariana Zapata’s catalog and The Wall of Winnipeg and Me is the first one up. I didn’t read the synopsis, I only knew that most of my book friends love this author. I was not expecting what unfolded in front of me, but I was pleased and impressed. 

Jenny's Audioslave Review: When Dimple Met Rishi by

Title: When Dimple Met Rishi
Author: Sandhya Menon
Genre: Contemporary NA Romance
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pub Date: May 30, 2017
Story Rating: 3 Stars
Narration Rating: 3 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

This story is very sweet and cute and I LOVE the cover. I had some minor issues here and there but nothing worth complaining about. I enjoyed seeing things from Dimple and Rishi's perspectives and learning new things. I especially liked seeing how the characters and I are so different and yet still so similar (well, college-me). I wasn't wowed but I enjoyed myself and recommend picking it up.

Regarding the narration: the narrator for Dimple did a very nice job but the gentleman who narrated for Rishi was inconsistent and had the tenancy to add drama that made him sound like he was auditioning for the voice-over guy role in trailers for suspense movies. He was hit and miss and I honestly think it affected my impressions of the story negatively.

Audiobook Giveaway: Dating-ish by Penny Reid

Penny Reid is graciously giving away one audiobook copy of Dating-ish. This book is Jenny's favorite read so far this year! Read on for entry information, synopsis, Jenny's review, and another giveaway from Penny!

Joy Nash is the narrator and she does a fantastic job, as always!

Jenny's Audio Slave Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Six of Crows
Series: Six of Crows #1
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co./Audible
Pub Date: September 29, 2015
Book Rating: 5 Stars
Narration Rating: 4.5 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

I have finally read/listened to Six of Crows and I am so thrilled that I did. I enjoyed it so much I immediately listened to it again before writing this review. There are two reasons why I did that but I’ll get into that later. Just know that if you like well-written books that have been plotted impeccably well and are full of rich characters, this book is for you. Forget the whole young adult tag on this baby. That just tells you the age of the characters but believe me, these aren’t your average teenagers. These are some of the fiercest opponents around.

Jenny's Audio Slave Review: Bad Boy by Elliot Wake

Title: Bad Boy
Author: Elliot Wake (FMA: Leah Raeder)
Genre: New adult, suspense, LGBTQ
Publisher: Atria
Pub Date: December 6, 2016
Story Rating: 5 Stars
Narration Rating: 4 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

Bad Boy is a suspenseful, insightful, provocative read that I strongly recommend picking up. It is centered around a transgender guy named Ren who is a popular vlogger by day and the muscles of a vigilante group by night. Conflict arises in both facets of his life as well as demons from the past and present.

Jenny's Audio Slave Review: The Angels' Share by JR Ward

Title: The Angels' Share
Series: The Bourbon Kings #2
Author: JR Ward
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Penguin Audio, NAL
Pub Date: July 26, 2016
Story Rating: 4 Stars
Narration Rating: 5 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

Do not read this review if you have not read book one, The Bourbon Kings. I’m not spoiling anything but just to be safe, go listen to book one (definitely listen) and then come back here.

Audio Slave Review: Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters

Title: Tears of Tess
Author: Pepper Winters
Genre: Dark Romance
Book Publisher: Pepper Winters
Audio Publisher: Punch Audio
Audio Pub Date: June 9, 2016
Story Rating: 4 Stars
Narration Rating: 2.75 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

It has taken me a long time to write this review because I have so many mixed feelings and they all have to do with the audio side of things. I have no real issues with the story. I thought I was going to have a lot, especially with how the story starts, but Winters managed to answer every question I was harboring. I was pleased and yet felt cheated out of my ranting. Mainly pleased (but pouty). The story is very dark and not for people with major triggers, but it is well-written and well-done. The relationship works, makes sense, for them and only them. Any other situation and I would be furious. They are a perfect storm. That’s all I’m going to say about the story because I enjoyed it but I had some major issues with the audio. It’s been several weeks and I’m still brooding a little, as ridiculous as that is. 

Audio Slave: Audiobooks.com Memoir Giveaway and Win Your Wishlist contest!

Audio Slave: Audiobooks.com Giveaway and Win Your Wishlist contest!

Audiobook Blog Tour: In Flight by Rachel Orman

Available Now On Audible and iTunes

In Flight by Rachael Orman


Jenny's Audio Slave Review

Audio Slave Review: In Flight by Rachael Orman

Title: In Flight
Author: Rachael Orman
Narrator: Sierra Kline
Genre: Erotica, Short Story
Publisher: Rachael Orman
Pub Date: April 1, 2016
Story Rating: 3.75 Stars
Narration Rating: 3 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

In Flight is a short story so don’t expect well-developed characters; that’s not what this story is about. This story is about hot sex between two strangers and eventually a bonus twin brother. Summer and Ben are strangers on a plane that very quickly evolve into something more. I’m talking The Flash-quick. But that’s okay because this book isn’t meant to create emotional connections to these people, but rather what these people do. And what they do is quite…enticing. You really need to go into this story knowing you’re getting a quick fix or you’ll miss out on the whole fun of it. 

The narration started off promising. Sierra Kline has a nice voice and a good cadence. What got me, and what I could not get past, was that Summer’s inner monologue sounded drastically different from her actual voice. The voice in her head sounded great; very “independent, sexually aware woman” but her actual voice was mousy. For some strange reason, Kline decided to make Summer sound meek and insecure whenever she opened her mouth. This difference annoyed the dickens out of me. Other than that, though, Kline does a fine job doing the other characters and building intensity. 


Grab In Flight if you are looking for a “quickie” (it’s currently free on KU) but I would recommend reading over listening.

In Flight on Goodreads
Audio sample of In Flight on Amazon

Audio Slave Review: Anathema by K.A. Tucker

Title: Anathema
Series: Casual Enchantment, #1
Author: KA Tucker
Narrator: Khristine Hvam
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Publisher: Audio Studios/Papoti Books
Pub Date: January 2016/May 2011
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Rating: 5 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

Anathema is centered around newly-eighteen Evangeline, who has been starving for human connection for years. She’s so hungry for it that she is willing to blindly accept the first person who acknowledges her and shows personal interest. Desperation can be deadly.

Audio Slave Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Narrator: Jennifer Ikeda
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Publisher: Bloomsburry 
                  Children's/Recorded Books
Pub Date: May 5, 2015
Story Rating: 5 Stars
Narration Rating: 5 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

Anjee did such a great job reviewing this story (HERE) so I’m not going to talk about it too much and focus more on the audio.

Audio Slave: Overruled by Emma Chase

Title: Overruled
Series: The Legal Briefs #1
Author: Emma Chase
Narration: Jason Carpenter & Charlotte 
                   Penfield
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pub Date: April 2015
Story Rating: 3.5 Stars
Narrator Rating: 4.5 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

Overruled is full of the humor many readers have come to anticipate from Emma Chase. One of my favorite things about her writing is how her male voices so closely sync up with the guys I know. They don’t read like a woman writing a man, sounding off and slightly more endearing than is realistic. Instead, the men feel like guys we all know and love, speaking like we would expect them to. Chase’s male characters are more authentic and less fairytale. 

Audio Slave Review: The Offer by Karina Halle

Title: The Offer
Author: Karina Halle
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Metal Blonde
Pub Date: June 13, 2015
Story Rating: 4 Stars
Narration Rating: 2.5 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

This is another solid showing by Karina Halle in the contemporary romance department. I appreciate how her characters deviate from the typical people we read about. Take Nicola Price, The Offer’s leading lady, for example. She’s a single mother working hard to provide for her little girl at all costs. She isn’t whiny, she isn’t selfish, and she isn’t blaming the world. She is strong, passionate, intelligent, and on a mission to raise her girl the right way. Halle’s characters tend to be flawed and aware which makes them easy to relate to.

Audio Slave Review: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Title: Outlander
Series: Outlander #1
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Narrator: Davina Porter
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Recorded Books
Pub Date: July 2006 (Orig. 1991)
Story Rating: 5 Stars
Narration Rating: 5 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

Outlander is one of my all-time favorite audiobooks. The story is charming and captivating with characters I can’t help but love. The setting is a complete world that is inviting and as easy to fall into as Claire falls into the past. I’m not going to review the story due to my blind love for the tale but I do want to talk about the audiobook performance.