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,
So you don't miss the My Tweets on Twitter, 

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

Audio Book Reviewer under Joan Pavlick!

You can also see the reviews posted to iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and other sites! Give me a shout out!

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

sapphirereader25@gmail.com

Have a Great Weekend and Happy Reading

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)
Goodreads profile, Audible profile for new reviews and 

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 - See No Evil, My Pretty Lady by Miss Mae

FRIDAY FRENZY

See No Evil, My Pretty Lady 

by Miss Mae

Performance Artist: Marcus Hyde

4 hrs 34 mins

Mystery, Thriller, Historical

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

What if you lived in Victorian London, the time of Jack the Ripper? What if you were one of the women he attacked, yet you managed to escape? And what if you knew he needed to find you and silence you before you identified him?

New maid Dorcy Edwards flees the scene of where her employer's body is found. His murder sparks a chain of macabre events. Cloistered on a remote island with five strangers, including Gareth Davenport, her late employer's brooding, but darkly handsome heir, Dorcy encounters baffling questions with what she fears may be terrifying answers. Who cut the telegraph lines? Who left a mutilated animal carcass outside her bedroom door? What is the reason for Gareth's black gloves and eye patch? Can he be "Jack the Ripper", the madman suspected to be Mr. Davenport's killer? Dorcy must solve the mystery, and soon, or her growing attraction for Gareth could be her very death sentence.

©2010 Miss Mae (P)2014 Miss Mae

My Review from Audible and other sites

Depicting a Victorian setting in Old England was the perfect backdrop for Miss Mae’s Murder Mystery Romance of “See No Evil, My Pretty Lady”. Set in the early 20th century around the time of Jack the Ripper murders. Even though reference is made about him the story only generalizes on the possibility he is the culprit. I was not sure how a romance would enter this story line. Only recently listening to another authors work and it worked into her story. Miss Mae made it work for her as well. The story had me from the start right to the end in a single listen to! No breaks! Kept me right into the story like I was watching a movie.

Plot: Starting with the basic plot of the story as it opens up in that foggy night scene we are all too familiar with these types of English mysteries. The first main character that the story surrounds is Dorcy Edwards, kitchen maid. A reluctantly shy girl that comes running through the streets from her new employer Mr. Davenport, to whom she has found dead. While running to get away, someone reaches out and tries to strangle her. Maybe the murderer to silence what she has just discovered? Or could it be Jack the Ripper? Scratching her way from his grip she ends up at her patron’s home that help her acquire the job as kitchen maid for Mr. Davenport. When one of them was coming home finding her on the doorstep. Bringing her in from the fog. What good timing for Dorcy. Or is it? As she is wrapped and seated by the fire comes a knock at the door. Entering the second main character, Gareth Davenport, heir to the estate of the recently murdered man. Was he the murderer or was he just here visiting old friends as he so leads to make all believe? Dorcy does not let her guard down while telling her account of her events. Why did he have a patch over his eye and wearing gloves? Is he the one she scratched to get away? You will find this out as you listen/read. Have to keep some of the suspense going!

Moving into the next scene. As the case proceeds into the death of Mr. Davenport. Inspector Sosby from Scotland Yard enters the home and starts his interrogation. With the Who? What? Where? And Whys? The next day the solicitor comes to collect Dorcy to have her attend the reading of the will. Why? She was only in Mr. Davenports service for 3 days. Upon arrival with her patrons she among 5 others. As the will is read they are told that they will be spending a weekend to learn which among them is the murderer and very possibly maybe behind the Jack the Ripper murders. Along with them is included Gareth Davenport and the Inspector where they all would be going to a private island owned by the Davenport family. To discover out who murdered Mr. Davenport. 
This is where you will find out as many twist and turns in the events played out keep you guessing until the end. What secrets lie within the walls of this house? Why was Mr. Davenport’s brother on the island and suddenly shows up after all the years he did not come around? So what about this being a murder romance. 
Well from the moment Gareth laid his eyes on Dorcy he was smitten. Dorcy shy’s from him. Still believing that he is the murder. Through moments of saving her throughout the story she keeps her guard up finding herself thinking about him in other ways. Where will this all lead to between them? That you will have to find out for I will not give up the good parts of them, just them alone.

Now my thoughts on these parts. I did enjoy it but when you get to the end of the book I felt that more could have been played into their relationship. Maybe longer story to showing the outwardly affection. Maybe Dorcy showing the affection back at one point to Gareth before the abrupt ending. Who was the murderer and the relationship with Dorcy and Gareth? I don’t want to give away the ending. 

Author: Miss Mae certainly has done her research to the time period and has made this an enjoyable listen/read. I look forward to her next book. She will be around a long time with stories like these. I really enjoy mysteries with a twist. 

Now moving onto the narrator, Marcus Hyde. He did play out each character with each having a voice to match their personalities. Now this book was provided by the author for me to review and she was concerned about the female voices in the book. I feel Marcus did as well as any male narrator does with the female voices. So I was not disappointed in the least. However, I think I would have chosen a bit different voice for Gareth. Reminded me of Boris Karloff in a way and it stuck in my head. Though he did make his voice seem sexy. The inspector was dead on. The transition from one character to another was well played. You can tell the one guest sound of heavy weight. The women were well played. Not every woman has a high pitch or mousy voice, they are deeper tone as it seems to be for a lot of European women in movies. He made me better visualize Dorcy from the cover art. 

Art Cover: I did like the artwork. However, was not keen on the font chosen. Thought to heavy over the artwork. Not sure what I would have chosen but, this was not a favorite. Maybe in a thinner look. 

Thanks all for reading!

Note: This book was provided by the author Miss Mae for review. She and no one else had any influence on my review that I have provided. All thoughts and ratings are my own and any comments about my review are always welcome.

Where you can find Miss Mae

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Facebook - Twitter - Website

Other books that you can listen to that Marcus Hyde performs on Audible

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

THROWBACK THURSDAY - MOUNT VERNON LOVE STORY BY Mary Higgins Clark

THROWBACK THURSDAY

MOUNT VERNON LOVE STORY

BY Mary Higgins Clark

Narrated by Linda Edmond

5 hrs 54 mins

Fictional - Historical

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

Charming, insightful and immensely entertaining in its unique presentation of one of America's legendary figures, Mount Vernon Love Story, by famed suspense writer Mary Higgins Clark, shows the reader the man behind the legend, a man of flesh, blood and passion, and in the author's skilled hands, the story and the man come fully and dramatically alive.

Mary Higgins Clark's interest in George Washington was first sparked by a radio series she was writing in the 1960s, called "Portrait of a Patriot," vignettes of American presidents. Always a lover of history, she wrote this biographical novel -- her first book -- and titled it Aspire to the Heavens, which was the family motto of George Washington's mother. With all events, dates, scenes and characters based on historical research, the book was published in 1969. Its recent discovery by a Washington family descendent led to its reissue under its new title, Mount Vernon Love Story.

In researching George Washington's life, Mary Higgins Clark was surprised to find the engaging man behind the pious legend. He was a giant of a man in every way, starting with his physical height. In an era when men averaged five foot seven inches, he towered over everyone at six foot three. He was the best dancer in the colony of Virginia. He was also a master horseman, which was why the Indians gave him their highest compliment: "He rides his horse like an Indian." She dispels the widespread belief that although George Washington married an older woman, a widow, his true love was Sally Carey Fairfax, his best friend's wife. Martha Dandridge Custis was older, but only by three months - she was 27 to his 26 when they met. Mary Higgins Clark describes their relationship from their first meeting, their closeness and his tenderness toward her two children.

©2008 Mary Higgins Clark; (P)2008 Simon & Schuster

My thoughts on this book

AMAZING! 

So getting ahead of myself. With my excitement about it when I listened to this book so many years ago. I found that this was an intriguing book outside something that Mary Higgins Clark would write. As I read the book blurb above my love for history just coupled with her writing set me popping that first cd into my player. (Yes, that long ago lol). 

The performance by Linda Edmond was so brilliant as telling it as a story teller. How Ms. Clark researched out this story of George and Martha's life together. His love for another that he knew he could not have. Only to find his infatuation with Martha so filled his life and heart. 

This is one book that maybe not in the near future but in time will be revisited again. For the less than 6 hours. You will find yourself hanging on every word of her book. Linda Edmond does it so well that you will other books that she narrates as well.

So do yourself a favor if you have not listened to this wonderful story. Make the time. You will surely be pleased with the tale especially if you are a history buff. 

Where you can Mark Higgins Clark

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Facebook - Website

Where you can find Linda Edmond other

narrations 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!,
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