This audiobook is narrated by Nick Mills, Christina Moore, and Rebecca Quinn Robertson. I adored the narrators voices. They were each absolutely perfeThis audiobook is narrated by Nick Mills, Christina Moore, and Rebecca Quinn Robertson. I adored the narrators voices. They were each absolutely perfect for the character they voiced. I love it when each character has their own voice. It also helped as this was twisty.
This was my first novel by this author, but it surely won't be my last. This has 3 main character pov chapters. The wife and physician, Eve, her husband, Nathan, who works at or manages a tow truck company and the detective, Rita.
This had cozy series elements surrounding Rita's character and that of her love interest. I could easily see the 2 of them heading up a series of strange cases.
At the same time, Eve & Nathan were interesting characters but didn't feel like a married couple. Eve's character also felt somewhat flat or one dimensional. It felt like the most fleshed out character was Rita, the detective.
This had multiple reveals, and each chapter brought imcreasing mysterious incidents. I wasn't really attached to the characters, but the story was paced in such a way that I did not care about that.
Thank you to Terri Parlato, RBmedia/Recorded Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
I've studied a fair bit of Medieval Era history. It's an interesting time in history, and much of what makes up the modern Western world has roots in I've studied a fair bit of Medieval Era history. It's an interesting time in history, and much of what makes up the modern Western world has roots in this time period. This is also an extremely sexist and oppressive period in history, so finding powerful women is always a worthy endeavor.
The women chosen to be highlighted for this text are solid, interesting, and quite unique for the times they lived in. They are successful rebels, and the intricate dance required for women who defied their prescribed roles did not diminish their power.
Marie de France was the daughter of another powerful woman ruler who defied the place set for her with both of her husbands. In fact, I'm primarily familiar with Marie through the biographies I've read on her mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. I was aware she was a poet, as the descendant of Troubadours. How could she be anything less?
Julian of Norwich was probably the least well known to me, though I had heard of her. Christine de Pizan was probably the character with which I was the most familiar with peripherally, simply from my studies on the Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War in France. Margery Kempe, I knew about but in a very outlinish way. She was fascinating and possibly the woman whose story I found the most interesting.
This is easily accessible to casual readers of history, especially those interested in the medieval era and women during that era. This was very well researched and meticulously laid out. I plan to purchase this for my collection on audiobook. It reminded me not in detail or style but in the tone of Gemma Hollman's Royal Witches, which I revisit regularly.
Another recommendation I'd give for this is an immersive reading experience. The narrator of this novel is Amy Noble. Amy does a wonderful job conveying emotion and making these women feel accessible and almost modern. Making this an excellent candidate for reading the text while also listening to the audio. I especially like this method with history texts like this because I retain so much of the information I've read. I find this works best with books that are paced a certain way, and this is perfectly paced. If you're into such experiences.
Thank you to Hetta Howes, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This was fascinating. My maternal grandmother was born in Norway, and so the history of the Viking Age has always held interest for me. Of course, theThis was fascinating. My maternal grandmother was born in Norway, and so the history of the Viking Age has always held interest for me. Of course, the viking age doesn't just hail from Norway or even Scandinavia. Viking age culture is part of a much larger and richer history than has been conveyed thus far.
This author divided the history by chapters such as: love, beginnings, unfreedom, travel, etc. This format allowed this historian to really maximize Viking age history and tell a very human, everyday story of this period using relatable items like combs or other grooming tools. This method helped the subject matter feel applicable to today and familiar to the casual reader of history.
I saw in the posted reviews that some reviewers found this style a bit dry but I actually found it to be quite easily accessible. History is full of lists and other less exciting details. Historians are writing for and with accuracy, not pacing. If readers are unaccustomed to this kind of history text, I highly recommend the audiobook. I think it maintains the research integrity but balances that with faster pacing.
I truly loved the style and layout of this book. I think the layout helped to give such a personal view of folks who were alive during this time period. This is not like the TV show Vikings or common Hollywood depictions of the viking age.
This audiobook is narrated by the author, Eleanor Barraclough. This is a nonfiction history book and I enjoyed hearing the authors own excitement conveyed in the narration.
Thank you to Eleanor Barraclough, HighBridgeAudio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This was a sheer delight to read and review. I requested this from NetGalley as soon as I saw it was available. Unfortunately, it was approved during This was a sheer delight to read and review. I requested this from NetGalley as soon as I saw it was available. Unfortunately, it was approved during my birthday getaway. As a result, my review is being posted much later than I had hoped.
The author shares her own hair journey, which is used both to introduce the reader to the topic of Black natural hair care but also allows the reader a personal stake in the journey. If the reader is interested but unfamiliar, the author's own hair journey allows the reader an inside view, so to speak, into the world of Black hair care period.
I appreciate the author quietly but directly explaining how and why Black hair is so political. How this political pressure has impacted the Black Community as a whole and Black women in particular.
I learned to care for my natural hair in my mid 30's. By that time, I had PCOS & Endometriosis, so severely I had a total hysterectomy plus ovaries and including half of my bladder. Both illnesses as well as fibroids are the long arm of using permanent relaxers as a hair styling tool. I didn't know this when I joined the natural hair movement.
I just joined because I finally was no longer working professionally, and I could. I hadn't relaxed my hair in years, so I avoided the big chop. Mostly, I just needed to use the right products. Suddenly, I had a head full of stunningly gorgeous curls.
My absolute favorite parts of this book are the hair journeys shared by other Black women across the Diaspora. This is beautifully handled, and each woman's individual experience shines through in their own voice.
Offered in this text is also a history lesson, so with that in mind, I'd recommend it for readers of history, Black hair, Black contemporary issues, curly hair history, and more. Enjoy!
This audiobook is narrated by L. Malaika Cooper. I love her narration because it feels relatable, and her voice translates warmth, excitement, and sadness beautifully.
Thank you to Chelsea Mary Elise Johnson, HighBridge Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This was a fast-paced, twisty, and mind-blowing story. It's set at a remote winter campground, giving this the locked room mystery energy I love. The This was a fast-paced, twisty, and mind-blowing story. It's set at a remote winter campground, giving this the locked room mystery energy I love. The location itself felt a bit like a character, as did the weather. The story itself was complex and a bit too convenient in hindsight. However, in the heat of the story, each reveal intrigued me and kept me deeply invested.
Theo has joined her fiancé, Conner, at his wealthy families exclusive and private winter retreat. This is Theo's introduction to the extended family after a somewhat whirlwind courtship. Conner's family is stand offish and not exactly inviting to Theo. Who begins to slowly realize that she isn't entirely sure this is her first time at this Conners family compound. The reveals are shocking and unexpected with a satisfyingly tidy ending.
This audiobook is chillingly narrated by Karissa Vacker. Karissa really brings Theo to life and helps some of the overdone elements of the story feel tense and suspenseful. The narrator added to the atmosphere created by the narrative perfectly. I highly recommend the audio for this story.
Thank you to Kate Alice Marshall, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
Ruth and Teo are having the wedding of the year in a small coastal town in Florida that Ruth spent summers in growing up. Blue Compass is a haven for Ruth and Teo are having the wedding of the year in a small coastal town in Florida that Ruth spent summers in growing up. Blue Compass is a haven for new money and the Bancroft family. This story is told by Ruth, Teo, Marcus (the town sheriff), and Marcus' daughter, Kayla, the local wedding planner. Ruth has 2 older sisters, a brother in law, twin niece & nephew, an obnoxious mother of the bride, and an estranged father. Teo's therapist mother is also featured in the story. One of Ruth's sisters is a popular social media influencer that adds its own layer of chaos to the mess. This story has struggles with class and race as well as the standard rich people being clueless and awful. Many of which are favorite thriller themes of mine. Yet the sum was less than the total of its parts somehow.
This is fast-paced and suffers from a few too many twists and story points. As a rule, I prefer when thrillers are told from multiple character viewpoints. However, in this novel, it just served to muddy the waters. There wasn't enough character building to make this method work in an audiobook, and I found myself needing to rewind in order to figure out who's pov I was listening to. This story has so much going on that it's difficult to keep all of the moving parts of the story straight. The reveals were uneventful, and I wasn't shocked or engrossed.
In many respects, it felt like the narrative overly relied on stereotypes of characters' role in life over the skillful building of characters that live with the reader. It made this story a bit hard to get into or care about. Usually, I finish thrillers in a single sitting, unable to move on until I know the reveals. In this case, my mind kept wandering because the story just didn't hold my attention.
This audiobook is narrated by Marni Penning. Marni does a great job using accents to distinguish between the revolving cast of point of view characters. The only complaint is that the accent was only used in sharing a sentence. It wasn't used during the narration of the pov character's thoughts or actions. This made it somewhat difficult to distinguish between characters until they were quoted.
Thank you to Jen Marie Wiggins, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This is a high-quality audiobook production with a light instrumental soundtrack dominated by drums and rhythm. This is beautifully and excitedly narrThis is a high-quality audiobook production with a light instrumental soundtrack dominated by drums and rhythm. This is beautifully and excitedly narrated by the author, Adiba Nelson. The audio is engaging and fun.
This is about a Sunday wash day ritual for Yadira. I love this books focus on the joy and expression involved in natural Black hair styles, the accouterments, and style. During the process of fixing her hair, Yadira'a Mami, tells her the story of Orisha Oshun's creation story. This is a beautiful expression of West African historical mythology and how it relates to the modern Diaspora and grounds us with the root knowledge of our ancestors. I am advance ordering this for my granddaughter. My own small Oshun:)
Thank you to Adiba Nelson, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This high-quality audiobook production has a full soundtrack with fart sounds, which plays underneath the narration of Tim Campbell. The music is instThis high-quality audiobook production has a full soundtrack with fart sounds, which plays underneath the narration of Tim Campbell. The music is instrumental and mostly happy sounding if a bit cartoonish. Honestly, Tim's narration is what sells this hilarious and very short comparison. He manages to deliver quite funny lines using an ironically serious but understanding voice. He has a few chuckles, too.
There isn't really much of a story involved. This is also very true. I admit that I had never thought of the similarities between feelings and farts, but the author made her case. I fully agree. I laughed through this entire short story. This is short, cute, and feels tailored for small people full of big emotions. After all, you can't hold feelings or farts in forever, as the book wisely points out.
Thank you to Christopher Willard, Tara Wosiski, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
The narrator of this audiobook is Sarah Mollo-Christensen. In a rare experience for me, I found the narrators voice grating. This wasn't based on a naThe narrator of this audiobook is Sarah Mollo-Christensen. In a rare experience for me, I found the narrators voice grating. This wasn't based on a narrative style choice by the narrator or anything. It's just one of those weird coincidences, I find the narrators voice works my nerves badly. I adore audiobooks, and I've found the narrator is crucial to my enjoyment of an audiobook. I did not really like this, and I think it was impacted by my finding the narrators voice wearying.
This is set at a destination wedding and is a mix of romance and mystery. In many ways, this felt a bit like it wasn't sure if it wanted to be a cozy mystery or a psychological thriller. Kate is a best-selling mystery author who is attending her ex-fiance's destination wedding. This had a great setup: isolated location, complicated backstory, and a dead body. I think had the author fully committed to the campy cozy storyline, this could've been a blast. Instead, it attempts to take itself too seriously while suffering from pacing issues.
Thank you to Jenny Elder Moke, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This is a high-quality audiobook production with a full soundtrack attached that is narrated by Melinda Sewak. The music plays underneath the narratorThis is a high-quality audiobook production with a full soundtrack attached that is narrated by Melinda Sewak. The music plays underneath the narrators voice. The music is primarily spa music, nature sounds with light instrumental music added. It creates an atmosphere of wonder for the story.
This focuses on Ms. Khan's art class as they explore a forest ecosystem. The uniqueness of the inhabitants of the forest is highlighted by each student finding something that reinforced the beauty of human diversity. I asked to review this for the diversity angle, which is important now more than ever. However, I found myself charmed by the exploration of forest ecosystems. What a delightful description of underground fungi networks!
This also features a diverse group of kids as students tackling ethnic, racial, and disabilities which are part of what makes each individual unique. This is beautifully handled and a delightful story.
Thank you to Roz MacLean, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This is a high-quality audiobook production with a musical soundtrack and narrated by Melinda Sewak. I love the soft ragtime/jazz feel of the soundtraThis is a high-quality audiobook production with a musical soundtrack and narrated by Melinda Sewak. I love the soft ragtime/jazz feel of the soundtrack. It's fun and I think helps to get kids excited about the story.
This is primarily a biography of engineer Yvonne Clark. Yvonne is compared to a superhero living in your own neighborhood. What I find the most interesting is that Yvonne managed all of this in the 1930s, which is the height of the Jim & Jane Crow Era. This isn't addressed in the book because the story is kept at kid appropriate levels.
The musical soundtrack plays throughout the entire story. It plays lightly in the background and works to enhance rather than detract from the story.
This story is perfect for grade school-aged children. This has the feel of a Black History Month selection. I highly recommend this educational and fun story.
Thank you to Allen R. Wells, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more
This audiobook is narrated by Robin Miles. Ms. Miles is one of my favorite audiobook narrators. Her voice is rich, which works to 4.5 Stars Rounded Up
This audiobook is narrated by Robin Miles. Ms. Miles is one of my favorite audiobook narrators. Her voice is rich, which works to both hold my interest and increase my immersion into the narrative. Her voice also conveys a lot of emotion, which is much needed for this text.
This starts in 1968 in Oakland, California. This focuses on Nettie, a Haitian student, who gets involved with the Black Panther along with her best friend, Clia. Nettie dreams of a new world and takes action to create in actuality what she's only dared to dream in her heart. Nettie becomes involved with Defense Captain Melvin. Soon pregnant and more into Melvin than he is into her, she follows him to Chicago where disaster finds them and shakes their relationship.
This isn't just about Nettie's relationship with Melvin. It's also about love. What we sacrifice for love, how love uses us, and more. This isn't what I thought it would be. It's not just about the Black Panther Party, but I like the focus on the relationships within the party. I think we grow as people not just from the choices we make but also from the people we love, romantically and otherwise.
The parts that do focus on the Black Panther party really focus on the strengths and the flaws. I was born in 1974, so I'm familiar with how women within the party were treated and sidelined. This is an important aspect not exlpored often enough in novel form. This really explores misogynoir and how it comes both from outside the community and within it.
Thank you to Fabienne Josaphat, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own....more