MONDAY MAYHEM - The History and Folklore of Vampires... by Charles Rivers Editors

MONDAY MAYHEM

The History and Folklore of Vampires: The Stories and Legends Behind the Mythical Beings

By: Charles Rivers Editors

Performed/Narrated by: Jack Chekijian

1 hour 21 minutes

Unabridged Audio

Audible 5.0 star rating

My rating is also 5.0 stars

World, History, Vampires

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

People have always been afraid of the dead. Since the dawn of humanity, people have both cared for those who are deceased yet also tried to keep them away. There are a myriad of legends and beliefs about the dead coming back, and one of the more persistent ones is of the vampire.

Everyone has heard of vampires, but few people are truly familiar with the history and folklore that have made the mythical beings so popular. Indeed, there are so many legends from so many cultures that it is difficult to come up with a hard definition. And folklore is by its very nature unscientific, but most people in the Western world think of vampires as those who come back from the grave to suck the blood or life essence from the living.

This common understanding of vampires actually obscures many European and most non-European traditions of bloodsucking monsters. For example, in China, Japan, and the Middle East, there are spirits that will drain the life force of an unwary person, but these magical beings were never mortal humans. In African and Native American traditions, there are monsters that do the same, but while they are supposed to be of this Earth, they, too, are not human beings.

Furthermore, folklore changes over time, so the vampires people are familiar with today (and the ones some people claim to actually meet) bear little resemblance to the vampires of early modern Europe. Stories change, fiction turns to fact and vice versa, and beliefs are constantly reinvented. Ideas are adopted, adapted, and presented as true. All the while the legend of the vampire remains.

The History and Folklore of Vampires chronicles how vampires became so popular.

©2012 Charles River Editors (P)2015 Charles River Editors

My Review on Audible and other sites

This was a comprehensive short book on the History of Vampires. I found the information quite enlightening on the history of vampires. We all think of Bela Lugosi's image of Count Dracula, from the 1931 movie. The strong Hungarian face to portray such an evil entity. However, this book is more than that movie. 

A true account of the traditions behind the folklore of the vampire. Not all of them sleep at night as being accounted for that the sun will burn them up and poof they are gone. Quite, the contrary there is one country where they come out in the afternoon for a feeding. They all don't have fangs but, cut the victims to draw on the blood from other places than just the neck. How culture plays a pivotal role in the creation of what they thought as vampires. How they destroyed them and how they felt that it passed on from generation to generation. From the European countries and how it wraps around the world in the different countries and cultures.

I found this information quite compelling and will listen to it again. A great research tool and listening to it seem to bring the folklore legend to life. Jack Chekijian does a great narration of this short 1 hr  21 mins, of this legend. Smoothly moving through the book. He made it that you were not yawning waiting for it end. Quite the opposite kept you wanting to hear more long after the book ended. This book is only an overview of the folklore and not a deep detail of each culture. It basically, just getting you hearing buds a taste of creating a want to search out for more.

This book was provided to me by the narrator Jack Chekijian. for an honest review. The review provided has not been effect by other views and are solely my thoughts. Please comment good or bad and like my review. 

What other 628 books are by Charles Rivers Editors

Other 77 books narrated by Jack Chekijian on Audible

AND 

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Joan

MONDAY MAYHEM - THE END By Adam M.Booth

MONDAY MAYHEM

THE END

BY Adam M. Booth

Performed/Narrated by Shiromi Arserio

1 hour and 51 minutes

Unabridged Audio

Contemporary, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Zombie Apocalyptic

Rating on Audible 4.3

My rating on Audiobook Review 4.75

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

A zombie horror told from the zombie's perspective, The End is one woman's account of the end of her life, her family, and everything.

Like many single parents in their thirties, Zoe is overworked, overburdened, and low on company, and when the zombie apocalypse begins, she is forced to face the monster that has taken her over, the horrors he shows her, and her own murky past.

How does it feel to gain consciousness, only to find you have lost everything else. How would it feel to have a destructive force take you over completely and be powerless to stop the massacre that follows? And how would it feel to finally face your past and realise that perhaps, the monster has been with you all along? Find out in The End, an examination of the inhuman condition.

©2014 Adam Booth (P)2014 Adam M. Booth

My Review featured on Audiobook Reviewer (ABR)

The End by Adam M. Booth. Performed/narrated by Shiromi Areserio. 1 hour and 51 minutes long, Contemporary, Sci-fi, fantasy. Unabridged Audio. 18+ years. Some scenes are graphic in the description of the zombies eating humans. So if this is not your type of book then I would not recommend it to the faint of heart.

This book is an account of one woman’s memory of being part of a zombie apocalypse from the zombie’s perspective. I thought this was quite a unique twist on a zombie’s thoughts especially when I thought zombies were just mindless, hunger driven for the brains and flesh of their victims. But, on contra my listeners. Zoe is a single mom looking to see that her daughter is at good school. Overworked, underpaid as a single parent Zoe is heading to the train station to meet up with one of the many guys she is dating. A weekend to unwind the grind. Well, Zoe found herself right into the start of the Zombie Apocalypse at the train station. Seeing someone coming at her and not knowing at the time until he comes face to face with her. She realizes that this is not human anymore with the deep sunken eyes and flesh hanging off his face. As he grabs her and starts to gnaw on her. Screaming as he clings to her and feeling herself floating in and out of conscientious. Then, waking up wondering what had just happened in a slumped pile and then the desirable thirst for human flesh and brains comes to her.

Next Zoe could only think of one thing and that was getting to her daughter. As she goes through the countryside getting to her Zoe tells her side of her experience of attacking those to so she could survive. When she actually shows that she has feelings of quilt yet no regrets to what she has to do to survive.

Will Zoe make it in time to see her daughter? What challenges does she come across getting there? Will her daughter know that this is her mother? All great questions that Zoe will recall throughout this short novella. How she will be recalling this tale some century later. Adam M. Booth really put a lot of thought into condensing this story in such a way that it is a stand-alone book.

Shiromi Areserio is a fantastic narrator/performer. I have listen to other books that she has performed with her beautiful British/Australian accent. She speaks in such a way that you can feel that this is a thought being spoken by Zoe and when people are actually speaking – okay screaming outloud. Great job.

All thoughts are solely mine and no way influenced by others. Please like and leave comments below good or bad love to hear them.

Where to find Adam M. Booth

Audible - Audible UK - Amazon - Twitter - Facebook

The other 8 books performed by Shiromi Areserio on Audible

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MONDAY MAYHEM:Dead, Sometimes, Book 2 by Patricia Lee Maccomber

Monday Mayhem Review

Dead, Sometimes: Jason Callahan Psychic Detective, Book 2 

By Patricia Lee Macomber 

Performed/Narrated by Steven Jay Cohen 

6 hours 8 minutes 

Unabridged book 

Series: Jason Callahan, Book 2

Genre: Modern Detective, Suspense, Thriller, Paranormal

3.9 stars on Audible

My Rating 5.0 stars

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

Jason Callahan, private investigator, and his psychic partner Trina Dane return in the second installment of the Jason Callahan Mysteries.

Chloe Marsh is found dead at the scene of an accident and pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Half an hour later, as she is being taken to the morgue, Chloe suddenly sits up. But this isn't the first time Chloe has died, and it certainly won't be the last.

Enter Trina and Jason. They've worked on cases together before, but nothing like this. Investigator Jason Callahan doesn't believe for a minute that Chloe has special powers, but psychic Trina Dane does, and she thinks she knows why. But what of the other people across the country who have had the same experiences? How did they really die? And how did one boy (and Chloe) manage to survive? Only Trina and Jason can find the answers, but they must do so before Chloe runs out of lives.

©2014 Patricia Lee Macomber (P)2015 David N. Wilson

My Review on Audible and other sites

I really enjoyed this listen. This book by Patricia Lee Macomber was such a light book of the paranormal in this modern detective story that even teenagers could enjoy this listen. When I started to listen to this book I found myself diving right in from the start. This is one of the books that you want to listen to from start to finish. Wish I could have but did listen in 3 sessions. Headphones on and then I found myself inside the book like sitting at a movie theater. Sitting back and watching the scenes unfold. 

What I really enjoyed was that Patricia did not go overboard with the details. Just the right amount for the scenes she was writing about. You knew at most times what the characters were thinking and going to do in certain scenes. Found myself wanting to say, ”Don’t go in there, don’t be foolish. You know what is going to happen to you.” Not that it was obvious just that each scene was clear as to what was going on. 

So now moving into the book itself. There is 4 main characters. Of course, Jason Callahan, the detective, his side partner psychic Trina Dane, Chloe Marsh and the Entity. Trina pulls Jason in on a case that she feels, is drawn into by her psychic powers that this woman Chloe Marsh that was pronounced dead at the scene of an accident and then hours later sits up and is alive. The more and more awake she becomes Chloe starts developing these special powers. 

Jason reluctantly agrees to head off to Florida to rest Trina’s concerns are going to be unfounded. Unfounded they were not. Jason gets so pulled into the case, as he starts to find links to other similar cases across the country. How did Chloe get these powers? From the woman at the bar she knew? Asking her for a ride home when she locked her keys in her car. While heading home to get her spare key since and she did not live far from the bar the woman agreed to take her back to her car. Then all of the sudden the woman goes and pulls over and before Chloe realizes she is being attacked by her. The next thing Chloe finds herself waking up in the hospital being told that she was dead for several hours. She was a miracle. So everyone thought but, Chloe. In comes Jason and Trina starting their investigation surrounding this case.

Jason and Trina find themselves in more than one way bonding with Chloe as friends and protectors. Trina is determined to get the Entity out of her once they have discovered through the investigation and what Chloe’s new found powers were. Chloe just wanted the powers and voices gone from her. Can Jason and Trina get to the heart of removing the Entity or spirit? What path will they need to go to get to the bottom of this case? Will they be able to save Chloe or will she have to die in order to destroy this Entity? 

This book will have you riveted. Not just from the story but, with the performance of Steven Jay Cohen. I have reviewed other books where the male narrators sometimes could pull off the female voices to a degree. Steven is the first that really nailed the dialect and the voices. I was in awe over this one. 

I find myself now wanting to listen and review the first book in the series. My thought is I hope that Steven Jay Cohen does the rest of the series. This book was provided to me by the author for an honest review. So all above is my sole thoughts on this book and no one has effected that outcome. Please like and comment on my review. Love to hear your thoughts as well. 

Where you can find Patricia Lee Macomber

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Smashwords

What other 13 books that Steven Jay Cohen has performed/narrated on Audible

His website http://www.stevenjaycohen.com/

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, 

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Joan

MONDAY MAYHEM With a Bit of Romance! by Jennifer Cruise

Monday Mayhem goes Romantic!

The Cinderella Deal

By Jennifer Cruise

Narrated/Performed by Susan Boyce

5 hours and 57 mins

3.70 stars from 680 ratings

Contempory romance

My rating is a 5.0

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

Daisy Flattery is a free spirit with a soft spot for strays and a weakness for a good story. Why else would she agree to the outrageous charade offered by her buttoned-down workaholic neighbor, Linc Blaise? The history professor needs to have a fiancée in order to capture his dream job, and Daisy is game to play the role. But something funny happens on their way to the altar that changes everything. Now, with the midnight hour approaching, will Daisy lose her prince, or will opposites not only attract but live happily ever after?

©1996 Jennifer Smith; (P)2009 BBC Audiobooks America

My Review from Audible and other sites

A different kind of Cinderella Story!, May 17, 2015 By Sapphire Reader (Mountain Top, PA, United States) This review is from: The Cinderella Deal (Audible Audio Edition) Daisy Flattery is a free as it can be character. Makes you want to be her. I love the way she is so giving, free-spirited and willing to take on a challenge. Even if the challenge to save her apartment is to pretend to be engaged to her obnoxious neighbor Linc Blaise. Linc on the their first meeting thought what a space cadet. She dresses like a flower child of the 60's. She is not the type of girl he would ever consider dating let alone be engaged to. However, he needs someone of her caliber to pretend to be engaged to him to land a huge job offer at an university. Upon receiving his dream job he realizes that he has to keep up the charade until they can play up a breakup. What Linc was not counting on is the infectious personality of Daisy. Will faith take over his heart or will he keep to a deal and that is the end of it? All I can say is that Jennifer Cruise has such a cute way of writing these fairy tales of love. This was one of those stories that you just want to see as a Hallmark or Lifetime movie. Susan Boyce was a delight as she performed the characters throughout the book making them all come to life and add to the personalities of each of them. Draws you into each scene as it takes place. From Daisy being her flaky, giving self to Linc's somber this is the way is should be demeanor. To the town's folk that she brings into their lives. I like this story so much this is one that I actually did listen to 2 times. I guarantee that this will be on your fav list of romance comedies. Where you can find Jennifer Cruise Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Website What other 87 books you can listen to performed by  Susan Boyce 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

MONDAY MAYHEM - PLAGUES OF EDEN by Sharon Linnea and B.K. Sherer

MonDay MayHem

Plagues of Eden

Written by: Sharon Linnea, B.K. Sherer

• Narrated by: Kristina Fuller Yuen
• Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins 
• • Series: Eden Thrillers, Book 4
  • Mystery, Thriller and Suspense
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Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

The Wheel Spins. Chaos in Unleashed.

The race is on to stop a madman bent on unleashing the ancient plagues of Egypt against the modern world.

Tell-el-Balumum, Egypt. The dig of an ancient temple is decimated by fiery hail from the heavens. And that's only the beginning. Buenos Aires. Paris. West Point. The countdown has begun. Only Army Chaplain Jaime Richards, along with rock star Mark Shepard, can stop the catastrophe and save the mysterious Sword 23 from the clutches of a psychopath...if they can find the true mastermind in time.

©2014 Sharon Linnea, B.K. Sherer (P)2014 Sharon Linnea, B.K. Sherer

My thoughts on the book from Audible and found other sites

"Non-stop Thrill Ride!!!!"

Overall

Performance

Story

Plagues of Eden is a non-stop action ride for 72 hours in book time. There is no getting off. Well, I did not want to. The collaboration of Sharon Linnea and B.K. Sherer made this a top notch espionage thriller. The first 20 minutes or so takes you thru all the characters in this who, what, where and why thriller. The authors take you thru an hour by nearly hour of what is happening where and with who. From time zone to time zone and country to country. Will it make you dizzy keeping it all straight? At first it may. Listening to the first 20 minutes or so diligently will keep you on the right track for the next 8 hours of the novel. So onto the important part the review.

The Plot: A madman wanting to take control of businesses and government ruling around the world for his benefit. In order to get his ways he is unleashing the 10 plagues. All over a 72 hour period leading up to the death of the first born. The story opens in Tell-el-Balumum, Egypt. At a gravesite digging. The head project director is summing up this very odd week on the dig site, examining the pieces that they have unearth. When all of the sudden out of the sky looks like a meteorite that hits the earth about 5 miles away. An anomaly, no more will come out of the sky. Then more start impacting the surrounding area and some burning up. As everyone starts running to take cover. Two of the friends jump in the nearby vehicle. As he approaches yelling for them to get out the vehicle it is struck by one of the meteorites killing the two inside. What is going on?

To the madman's lair, as his computer expert turns to give himself a well-deserved pat on the back for a job well done. He is thrilled he has completed the task at hand, the 3rd plague of Fire raining down from the heavens. (The first 2 plagues you find out about further in the novel). Well only 2 were killed. Not bad, everything did come down within the 5 mile radius that he wanted. But, were they meteorites. No they were actually 3 satellites that he control by hacking into their systems to have them fall back to earth. The computer expert is only a puppet under the thumb of the madman.

In the US at West Point, A wedding. How grand where two of the government’s secret operatives Army Chaplain Jaime Richards and Yani (undercover code name Sword 23 are finally getting married in a regular ceremony). Even though they were married several times before in other ceremonies. To make their family and themselves happy marry once again in a regular wedding. Heading for a honeymoon hideout as they are rudely interrupted by their commanding operations. Their objective is to stop a manic that is unleashing plagues around the world. One heading under orders of being undercover as a former operative and the other as an undercover specialist for the owner of one of the satellites. These two along with Mark Shepard are the main good guy characters of this novel. As Jamie heads to meet the plane of the owner of the satellite. Little does she know it is a former friend of hers Mark Shepard? To each other’s astonishment of how can this be? Will they be able to work together knowing their past history?

All three of them finding themselves canvasing back and forth across the globe collecting clues to stop the remaining 7 plagues. Paris, Italian vineyards, Argentina, and back at West Point. Who else is in this plot with this madman since he is so delusional? You will find him talking to someone that is not there. Though his oriental aid knows all too well that no one is there. She consuls him and makes sure he is getting his medication to keep him from getting to out of hand. Or is she? She has a plot of her own.

A little boy kidnapped. The madman does not know of the special needs that this boy has. He has a love for King Arthur and Camelot. His father works all the time so tired and sleeping. He wakes up not knowing that his son is kidnapped. Since he is in the care of a nanny thought they gone somewhere. Shortly after receiving a call from the nanny upon her release from the kidnappers. Once she arrives back to the Paris flat telling what had happened. Not knowing why anyone would kidnap his son. Why he was worth millions but others are worth billions. Who would want his company anyway?

Meanwhile, Yani/Sword 23 ends up at the same place as the little boy he calls Merlin. He realizes that they boy has special needs and lives thru his fascination of Camelot and King Arthur’s story. Will they find their way out of the clutches of this mad man? What does the wineries have in connection with this madman? Will Jamie and Mark be in time to save Yani? Will they stop the assignation of the first born? All great questions that you will have to read/listen to too find out the answers.

What I love is the way the novel was laid out. Each place and time layout prior to the event taking place so you are not wondering – Did I miss something? You knew where you were within the 72 hour period. As the minutes dwindled down. There is some light humor throughout. But, for the most part it was non-stop action. Truly a full story. No abrupt ending. Actually, when you thought it was all over it isn’t. Loved it! Well played out that will draw you in as it did me. From start to end.

Co-authors Sharon Linnea and B.K. Sherer, really have a hit with this Eden Series. This book is a stand-alone story. Even though I was given this book for review I find myself getting on board for the entire series. I purchase the other 3 books, so back to book one for me!

I absolutely love the cover. It is certainly a draw for me as a reader as with the title. That is important as some may not think. But, if I see a cover that is mediocre in artwork or photograph I usually pass it up without even reading the synopsis.

Narrator: Kristina Fuller Yuen has done an outstanding job with the characters. Especially with the small boy. Adding accents to those that have them perfectly. Transitioning from character to character flawlessly. Even when the parts are at the climax of a shootout or when Yani was been brutally interrogated. I am going to look forward to listening to her on the other book and hope that she does all of the series. Hate seeing a new narrator for a series. You cannot go wrong if you are into this particular genre.

Note: This book was provided to me for an honest and unbiased review. No one has influence my review above and I always welcome comments about the above.

Where to find the Authors

Sharon Linnea

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Twitter - Facebook - Website

THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS by Sharon Linnea

Go out to Facebook Arnudel Publishing and Like and Share the newest video promo of the book! Sharon is having a giveaway, check and join her group on Facebook.

Don't forget to go below and join me and my reviews!

B.K. Sherer

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads 

What other books performed by Kristen Fuller Yuen 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