A Peek at Bathsheba: The David Chronicles , Book 2

A Peek at Bathsheba: The David Chronicles , Book 2

By Uvi Poznansky

Performed/Narrated by Justin Harmer

6 hours and 55 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Series: The David Chronicles, Book 2

Genre: Historical Fiction

Audible rating: 5 stars

My rating: 5 stars *****

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

Against the backdrop of wars, raging within the land and without, David is growing into the mantle of leadership. Between his anointment as a tribal king and his anointment as the king of all of Israel, he uses wisdom, cunning, and his own understanding of the forces of history, aiming for high ideals: stopping the bloodshed, uniting the nation, and bringing about healing and peace.

But then, having reached his peak, David falters. He makes a serious error that threatens to undo his political success, and cost him not only the adoration of his people - but also the sense of being sustained by a divine power. That error is the most torrid tale of passion ever told: his deliciously forbidden love for Bathsheba, followed by his attempt to cover up the ensuing scandal by sending her husband - who serves him faithfully in his army - to his death.

This is volume II of the trilogy The David Chronicles, told candidly by the king himself. David uses modern language, indicating that this is no fairytale. Rather, it is a story that is happening here and now. Listen to his voice as he undergoes a profound change, realizing the magnitude of his sin, and the curse looming over his entire future.

©2014 Uvi Poznansky (P)2014 Uvi Poznansky

My Review on Audible and other sites

A Peek at Bathsheba, The David Chronicles, Book 2 by Uvi Poznansky. Performed by Justin Harmer. This nearly 7 hours audio book really took me by surprise. 

Uvi's way of weaving a flow of words that brings to life the greatest love story that most may have missed in our lives. How we heard about David killing the Giant. Or how Bathsheba the most beautiful women of her time. This tale is of how even the best of us can fall into the sin of that forbidden love. With someone already married and by the law of God untouchable. I love the way the words unfurl themselves as they are spoken by David. His way of expressing himself thru his poetry and telling of his tales of the past. 

Knowing that he is only a man. Yet an anointed King of Israel, he must keep up all appearances. David speaks about his love for his wives. How they bring out the best and sometimes the worst of him. Telling of how each one of them became his bride and the challenges he met to win them over and sometimes not even then. For each one of the wives holding their place in his heart and succession of heirs they bear. Then, one day looking from his balcony he sees her, Bathsheba. The most beautiful woman he has ever seen. However, this adoration that must be seen from afar has now consumed him. He must have her. Yet, this was the wife of one of his soldiers. The passionate affair with her now has David now sending her husband in the way of harms way in battle. His way of covering this scandal. 

Uvi choice of words has David speaking in such a way that you can feel the passion in her words. The words as they are spoken by Justin Harmer. Soft spoken yet with enough forcefulness to hold you captive for that moment in time. I enjoyed the way the story unfurled itself piece by piece. A huge puzzle gently put together and over time, you feel the pain that Bathsheba has at the loss of their son. How David deals with that death. How he feels that this is God's way of punishing them for their indiscretion. How Justin over the course of the book the change in his voice as it grows older and weary over time. 

This story has been beautifully written. It has been narrated/performed to perfection giving that passive tone needed for such a tale. 

This book was provided to me by the author for an honest review. However, at the time I did not have the first part of the David Chronicles. So I purchased that book so I can give a review of part one of this extraordinary story. All views above are solely mine and no way effected by others or their comments. Please take the time to let me know if this review was helpful or not. Always cherish comments as well. 

Where you can find Uvi Poznansky
Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Twitter - Facebook - Google+ - Website/Blog

What other books that Justin Harmer has narrated/performed on Audible

AND

Where you can find ME! 

Please comment below! Go to the left side of the page and follow my blog,
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Have a Great Weekend and Happy Reading

Joan

FRIDAY FRENZY - THE HARDEST RIDE By Gordon Rottman

FRIDAY FRENZY

THE HARDEST RIDE

By Gordon Rottman

Performed/Narrated by James Simenc

9 hours 45 minutes

Western Fiction

Unabridged Audio

4.20 Rating on Audible

My Rating on Audio Book Reviewer 4.0

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

Chosen as a Finalist in the Western Writers of America's Spur Award.

The Texas-Mexico border, the winter of 1886-The Great Die Up. A raw rift separates Mexicans and Anglos. A loner cowpoke and a mute Mexican girl fight man and nature to reunite.

Out of work cowpoke Bud Eugen comes across Marta, a mute sixteen-year old Mexican girl whose family has been killed by Indians. Bud reluctantly takes her along, even though he's never had to accommodate another person in his simple life. He's unable to find anyone willing to take her. In spite of his prejudices, Bud grows to like the spunky girl (and her excellent cooking).

Eventually, they both find work on a border ranch. Here, the relationship between the girl and the young cowboy hesitantly grows. But banditos raid the ranch, kidnapping the rancher's daughters and Marta. Bud, with twelve other men, pursue the banditos into the most desolate reaches of Mexico. Ambushes and battles with banditos, Rurales, and traitors are constant, and the brutal weather is as much a threat as the man-made perils. Life and death choices are made at every turn as one side gains the advantage, then the other.

The rancher's daughters are rescued, and the exhausted party turns back. But Bud presses on alone, against insurmountable odds, determined to fulfill an unspoken promise to Marta.

©2013 Gordon L. Rottman (P)2014 Taliesin Publishing

My Review from Audio Book Reviewer and on other sites

The Hardest Ride I felt was going to be interesting based on the book blurb. I did not know about the winter of 1886-The Great Die Up. So that I found since I enjoy listening to and reading stories from the 19th century and back. Also, enjoy listening to Jame Simenc as a narrator.

Now the hardest ride for me was the hardest listen I ever did. So before I get into saying it is a book to stay away from. Far from the contrary. The story is good, it is solid and it has a great cast of characters. What I did not like was the way everything was stretched out in the detail department for a lot of the scenes. Something, I felt was not necessary. That is what made it difficult for me to listen to this book. I guess I like things in detail and get to the point. So let me back track to the stories main characters. No spoiler alerts below.

A young cowpoke, Bud Eugen was on his way back from his first job in a round-up looking for new work. When he came upon a family that was murdered by Indians. There still alive was a young girl of 16 who did not speak, so he named her Marta. You will find out later in the story that she was indeed deaf from an unfortunate accident as a child. The story mainly revolves around shoot outs, round ups, bar browsing, women of the night and a bit of a love story in sorts. Where Bud throughout the story keeps telling all that he meets that Marta was not his “Woman”, as he put it. She was Mexican and needed to be with her kind. He never took care of no one but, himself and that seemed to be changing. It was what he kept telling himself that it was only going to be him on the trail. Until, on a ranch that he and Marta find work. One day it was attacked by banditos and all the women and young daughters of the ranch owner were kidnapped and ransom. Along, with the prize bull.  Then, the story picks up speed. The Rescue!!! All the men on the ranch organize a rescue and plan of attacking the banditos.

However, it takes about 3.5 to 4 hours into the book to get to this point. Before, that I felt the story needed something. Not even sure what. Maybe some western music between chapters. More change up in voices. There were a few funny, chuckling parts but, not as many as I thought there could have been. Not that being a women is not making this review any less. No, on the contrary I love a great western. However, this was not a great western in my opinion. Cattle rustling being the norm. However, this revolves around how the American women were kidnapped and sold into slavery to the ones that would pay for them. Bud’s resolved to rescue Marta was romantic in a way. It just takes a ways to get there or does it? That is something you will find out.

For those that love the gun battles they are intense. This is a book that needs to be listen to in a maybe 2-3 settings since so long. Especially, if you want the full effect of the story. You be the judge and listen to the book to see what happens to Bud and Marta? Were the other women rescued? What happens to the kidnappers! You won’t be disappointed. You just will be thinking the same I feel as me get to the good stuff!

The performance by James Simenc was dead on with his main character Bud and few of the others. However, most of the story just left him storytelling. Details of the surrounding areas they were invading. What was going on in the scene. That is why this made The Hardest Ride was the Longest Listen.

The cover had me a bit confused until I read the book blurb. Looks like a scene in the mountains of Wyoming or Montana. Not, the Texas-Mexican border. I love the scene. Everything evokes hard cowboy life of the times.

Where you can find Gordon Rottman

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Twitter - Facebook - Google+ 

Other books performed/narrated by

James Simenc on Audible

AND

Where you can find ME! 

Please comment below! Go to the left side of the page and follow my blog,
So you don't miss the My Tweets on Twitter, 

Facebook Group join today!, GooglePlus+ (NEW)
Goodreads profile, Audible profile for new reviews and 

Audiobook Reviewer under Joan Pavlick!

Want to see something added to my format - send me a message to 

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Have a Great Week and Happy Listening

Joan

THROWBACK THURSDAY - Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Abraham Lincoln - Vampire Hunter

By Seth Grahame-Smith

Performed/Narrated by Scott Holst

10 hours and 18 minutes

Unabridged Audio

Fiction - Historical - Paranormal

3.90 stars on Audible (7125 ratings)

My rating is 5.0 stars

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

Indiana, 1818. Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother's bedside. She's been stricken with something the old-timers call "Milk Sickness."

"My baby boy..." she whispers before dying.

Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother's fatal affliction was actually the work of a vampire.

When the truth becomes known to young Lincoln, he writes in his journal, "henceforth my life shall be one of rigorous study and devotion. I shall become a master of mind and body. And this mastery shall have but one purpose..." Gifted with his legendary height, strength, and skill with an ax, Abe sets out on a path of vengeance that will lead him all the way to the White House.

While Abraham Lincoln is widely lauded for saving a Union and freeing millions of slaves, his valiant fight against the forces of the undead has remained in the shadows for hundreds of years. That is, until Seth Grahame-Smith stumbled upon The Secret Journal of Abraham Lincoln, and became the first living person to lay eyes on it in more than 140 years.

Using the journal as his guide and writing in the grand biographical style of Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough, Seth has reconstructed the true life story of our greatest president for the first time-all while revealing the hidden history behind the Civil War and uncovering the role vampires played in the birth, growth, and near-death of our nation.

©2010 Seth Grahame-Smith (P)2010 Hachette Audio

My thoughts on this audio book!

Well, this was a very surprising listen. Was not sure if I would enjoy it or not, seeing that the future president in a role as a vampire killer. The narration was excellent. I really was caught up in the story and felt like one of those reads that you want to look away but, can't. 

Seth Graham-Smith sort of stumbling upon "The Secret Journal of Abraham Lincoln" to build his story around was quite inventive. Starting as a youth when Abraham's mother dies coming from an attack of a vampire. Found it funny that lifestyle as a vampire would have been the Americas at that time. But, since it is old as time itself I guess it could be. 

 The history As Seth has written the plot to an believable story line. Abraham's height and strength as a farmer that delivers that desire to be the best at what he does. Throwing of the ax. Like it is the ambition to hit right on the target each time. That is exactly what Seth does by keeping true to the history of the time and building the killing of vampires. 

It's a book that I will revisit one day. For how the character Henry and his secret life of how he taught and showed the ways of killing a vampire or more to Lincoln.

Judge for yourself for the book I have been told totally outweighs the movie hands down. Scott Holst did a marvelous performance of this story by Seth. He brought it to life more than the movie. So take the time to read but, better yet listen to this book. 

What you can find Seth Grahame-Smith

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Twitter - Facebook - Google+ - Website

What other books you can hear Scott Holst has on Audible

AND

Where you can find ME! 

Please comment below! Go to the left side of the page and follow my blog,
So you don't miss the My Tweets on Twitter, 

Facebook Group join today!, GooglePlus+ (NEW)
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Audio Book Reviewer under Joan Pavlick!

Want to see something added to my format - send me a message to 

sapphirereader25@gmail.com

Have a Great Day and Happy Listening

Joan

FRIDAY FRENZY - TOMBSTONE by Anthony Crowley - Now LIVE on ABR!

FRIDAY FRENZY - Now LIVE on ABR!

Perfect Weekend Listen

TOMBSTONE 

by Anthony Crowley

Narrated/Performed by Alan Weyman

1 hour 32 minutes

Unabridged Audio

Fiction - Horror - Short Verses

5.0 stars on Audible

My rating 5.0 stars

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

Tombstones is a collection of some of the finest dark verse and horror-themed literature while exploring the various elements of dreams, erotica, and psychology and visualizing complete fear and terror...including the popular dark verse "The Fallen Angel", the powerfully erotic vampire tale "Blood Hungry", and a journey into the mind of the "Wicked Torturer".

©2014 Anthony Crowley (P)2015 Anthony Crowley

My Review now appearing on Audio Book Reviewer and other sites

Tombstones by Anthony Crowley

by Joan Pavlick

[synopsis]

Tombstones by Anthony Crowley. Narrated/Performed by Alan Weyman. 1 hour and 32 mins long. Genre Fiction, and Horror. Publisher, Anthony Crowley & Crowley Creations; 1st Edition (March 5, 2014), 130 pages.

Tombstones by Anthony Crowley was a first time experience for me. A combination throughout the book of short verses of Horror, Thriller and paranormal genres. I found this to be quite exhilarating change of pace from my normal listens. With a short listen of 1 hour and 32 minutes these verses can be listen to in one sitting as I did. However, I found I needed to borrow the book itself for my kindle to follow along with the audio that was provided to me Audio Book Reviewer for an honest review. I would highly recommend with the purchasing of this audio to get the companion book as well. Especially, if like me being a first time listener to this type of writing.

So as I went along listening to the books verses, I could not help but fall into a sort of trance or hypnotized set by the mood of the book. Mostly though by the narrators voice of raspy, grim and gloom. Alan Weyman’s raspy voice set the mood of the verses. He performed this so well that you could not help but, get caught up in it.

There were several lines throughout that stood out the verses to me as the listener. There were ones that make that indentation in your mind and stay there. It was listening to Edgar Allan Poe’s macabre way of writing. These are the lines that stood out to me:

RED ICE

He said, “The land of mystical illusions shall come, you’ll see”.

RAVEN BLACK

“Pure as the dead of thunder

The flow of the moon eclipse

Enchantment of darkness”

MY FRIEND DARKNESS

“I fell from the heavens storm because I lost my soul”

And finally one more that stood out, even though there were more that I booked marked as listening.

SEDUCING GARGOYLES

“Slithering and mischievous

Cunning and strong

Wings of ecstasy”

The book had a flow of words that only Anthony Crowley could have created into such a way. That you will want to listen/read this in one sitting. Then maybe in another one.

As mentioned, earlier Alan Weyman gothic raspy voice pulled this collection of verses together in such a way. It felt like he was weaving the words into such a way that I felt like I was listening to old horror thriller movies featuring Boris Karloff or Vincent Price. He would pick up his voice or slow down where needed. Pauses were perfection. 2 thumbs up! Well performed!!!!

I highly recommend this book to those into any of the horror, thriller, and paranormal genres. Even if you don’t listen to verses type books. Just like me you will be captivated.

As I mentioned this audio was provided to me from Audio Book Reviewer to listen and give an honest review. All statements above are mine and have been in no way influenced by others. Please like and comment. If you dislike comment as well.

Where you can find Anthony Crowley

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Twitter - Facebook - Google+ - Website

Other Books performed by Alan Weyman on Audible and Amazon

AND 

Where you can find ME! 

Please comment below! Go to the left side of the page and follow my blog,
So you don't miss the My Tweets on Twitter, 

Facebook Group join today!, GooglePlus+ (NEW)
Goodreads profile, Audible profile for new reviews and 

Audiobook Reviewer under Joan Pavlick!

Want to see something added to my format - send me a message to 

sapphirereader25@gmail.com

Have a Great Weekend and Happy Listening

Joan

THROWBACKTHURSDAY - THE TEMPLE IS NOT MY FATHER by

THROWBACK THURSDAY REVIEW

THE TEMPLE IS NOT MY FATHER: A STORY SET IN INDIA

BY Rasana Atreya

Narrated/Performed by Shruti Kapdi

1 hour and 34 minutes

Contemporary Fiction

4.60 stars on Audible

My rating is 4.7 stars

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

Ensnared by a tradition hundreds of years old, a woman fights for her daughter's happiness.

From the author of Tell a Thousand Lies, which was shortlisted for the 2012 Tibor Jones South Asia award. UK's Glam magazine calls Tell a Thousand Lies one of their "five favorite tales from India".

If you like Rohinton Mistry or Shilpi Somaya Gowda, you might like this short story.

©2014 Rasana Atreya (P)2015 Rasana Atreya

My review to be found on Audible and other sites

The Temple is Not My Father: A Story Set in India by Rasana Atreya. Narrated/performed by Shruti Kapdi. Length 1 hours and 34 mins. Contemporary Fiction. Novella. (May contain some spoilers in the beginning of review)

This story really drew me in and I was quite taken back on the Indian traditions. Traditions that go back a 100+ years. Such a wide awaking to the non-traditional American traditions of how a family is ruled by the father’s law. What he says goes even in this modern day.

The story starts out in a village of a woman Godavari and her daughter Sreeja. How their village shuns them from participating anything from sending her daughter to school to the woman getting a job in the town. All from when her father sold her to the temple to be married to the Goddess to become a prostitute to satisfied men and their sexual appetites at a girl’s very young age.  Her mother horrified by what her husband did leaves him to take care of her granddaughter when Godavari gets pregnant. Then behind his back made sure that the money left to her by her mother went to Godavari. All Godavari wanted was a better life for her daughter.

Then enters the story two young American-Indian girls. When they find out that this woman and her daughter is related to them. Without, the knowledge of their grandmother that they were sent to live with. Since their father felt that the American lifestyle was corrupting their young minds. They needed to learn the tradition of a proper Indian women.

They start to visit their cousin during their grandmother’s prayer time. The girls in the beginning decide that the youngest one would hang out with the daughter and agreed to teach her math and English with other things. The oldest of the girls hung out with the mother learning how to cook traditionally and learn the dialect. Over time the mother asked why they were sent there. The oldest one in her American way of speaking was sometimes hard for Godavari to understand. Though she learn what their father did by sending them to live with their grandmother. They learned off each other American and the Indian dialect of the area. The mother would eventually tell this young girl why the two of them really should not be there in her home. That it would tarnish their reputation. Then the grandmother finds out sending the girls away.

This story drew me in with the harsh story of the life that both fathers felt was the where women are to be placed in society. What Godavari does to give her daughter a better life.  How the young American girls thought that their father was so harsh sending them to India only to see that Godavari’s life was much worst. I felt like I was listening to something from the early 20th century not 21st century way of life. This short novella really hit me in the heart.

This is a must listen to for I don’t want to be a spoiler to the entire story but, when the story does come full circle is does tug on every heart string imaginable. Shruti Kapdi did an excellent job performing the Indian and American dialects of the women. The harsh realities are brought to life as she tells and expresses the conversations of all the characters. Rasana Atreya has a magic way of expressing her words.

Even though this was short and I felt that it could have been a much longer with more detailing to the story. However, the story comes across as written. This book is not available yet as WhisperSync but, I do recommend that you by the book as a companion to the audio since some parts I did have an issue with the accent. Rewind and listen again and all was fine.

This book was provided to me for an honest review by the author. All comments above are solely mine and no one has influenced my review. Please like and comment below. I love to hear if my review helped you in listening or reading this novella. 

Where you can find Rasana Atreya

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Twitter - Facebook - Google+ - Website

Where you can find other books by Shruti Kapdi on Audible

AND

Where you can find ME! 

Please comment below! Go to the left side of the page and follow my blog,
So you don't miss the My Tweets on Twitter, 

Facebook Group join today!, GooglePlus+ (NEW)
Goodreads profile, Audible profile for new reviews and 

Audiobook Reviewer under Joan Pavlick!

Want to see something added to my format - send me a message to 

sapphirereader25@gmail.com

Have a Great Week and Happy Listening

Joan

HUMPBACK WEDNESDAY - Descendants by

• HUMPBACK WEDNESDAY REVIEW
• 
  

THE DESCENDANTS

BY Kaui Hart Hemmings

Audio Performer: Jonathan Davis

9 hours and 12 mins

Contemporary Fiction

• 
  

BOOK BLURB FROM AUDIBLE

Publisher's Summary

Now a major motion picture starring George Clooney!

Matthew King was once considered one of the most fortunate men in Hawaii. His missionary ancestors who came to the islands were financially and culturally progressive - one even married a Hawaiian princess, making Matt a royal descendant and one of the state’s largest landowners. But now his luck has changed. His two daughters are out of control - 10-year-old Scottie has a smart-ass attitude and a desperate need for attention and 17-year-old Alex, a former model, is a recovering drug addict. His thrill-seeking and high-maintenance wife, Joanie, lies in a coma after a boat racing accident, and will soon be taken off life support.

The King family can hardly picture life without their charismatic mother, but as they come to terms with this tragedy, their sadness is mixed with a sense of freedom that shames them - and spurs them into surprising actions.

©2007 Kaui Hart Hemmings. All rights reserved. (P)2010 BBC America Audiobooks

MY ORIGINAL THOUGHTS ON AUDIBLE 10/15/12

Where does The Descendants rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Well compare to the other books I have listen to this ranks right up there at the top. It matched up to the same flow as when I watched the movie. The mood of each character was brought to life and everyone once in awhile brought a smile to my face.

What does Jonathan Davis bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He really did a great flow of reading the book. I could actually hear the voice of George Clooney as he read his lines! Kudos I look forward to here other books that he has narrated.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:

When I first began listening to this book I felt that it was slow moving in the beginning. Just like the movie and felt is this going anywhere and thought to myself stick to it. I am glad that I did. The story did have a nice flow. It was a book that made each character really become aware of each other's feelings in ways they did not know existed. Discovering things they were afraid of exploring and being strong for the first time in their lives. The character that George Clooney played in the movie showed that heredity meant more than money unlike his family when they wanted to sell off thousand of acres of land to developers. They could not see past what it meant to be part of what he was trying to save for his daughters. Something I think will make the reader think of in their own personal life. This may be a book I will re-explore in the future if I didn't have so many books to listen to now. But, knowing I have it and it is there to listen to anytime.

Where to find Kaui Hart Hemmings

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Twitter - Facebook 

Where to listen to the other 350 books on Audible

performed by Jonathan Davis

AND

Where you can find ME! 

Please comment below! Go to the left side of the page and follow my blog,
So you don't miss the My Tweets on Twitter, 

Facebook Group join today!,
Goodreads profile, Audible profile for new reviews and 

Audiobook Reviewer under Joan Pavlick!

Want to see something added to my format - send me a message to 

sapphirereader25@gmail.com

Have a Great Week and Happy Listening

Joan