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,
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Have a Great Day 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!

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sapphirereader25@gmail.com

Have a Great Week and Happy Listening

Joan

THROWBACK THURSDAY - BORN IN TRILOGY by Nora Roberts

Throwback Thursday Review

Born in Fire, Born In Trilogy, Book 1

Born in Ice, Born in Trilogy, Book 2

Born in Shame, Born in Trilogy, Book 3

by Nora Roberts

All performed by Fiacre Douglas

Between 9 hours and 5 mins to 10 hours 38 mins

All have a 4.0+ rating with several hundred reviews for each

Contemporary Romance

My rating for all three books is a 5.0 stars

My thoughts on this Trilogy! 

Back when I use to by books on CD! Even though I have not formerly rated this trilogy out in the book world I will need to get around to catching up on that! 

This was my first experience of Nora Roberts. You are thinking are you crazy! She's great! Yes, but this was back in 2007 and after that I listen to this trilogy. 

I came across these books on CD at a church rummage sale with many others. This set had the first 2 in the trilogy and being the listener that I am had to buy the third one before starting the series. 

Born in Fire: Book 1

I fell in love with this story from the beginning with Maggie Concannon and her stubborn personality that soon melted away by gallery owner Rogan Sweeney. 

How her love for making beautiful glass creations and how Rogan fell for her work and immediately knew he had to have her. Working a delicate weave of compassion till he finally wins over Maggie.

Born in Ice: Book 2

Moving into Book 2 with Maggie's younger sister, Brianna now taking the family home into a bed and breakfast. However, the winter is upon Ireland and no tourist to keep the inn going. But, that is fine now she has peace and quiet. But, that is soon to change with an american writer coming to spend the winter alone writing his book. 

In steps Grayson Thane. Will a fire be lite under Maggie's sister Brianna. A fire that will melt that ice coated heart of hers. You will surely fall deep into the book. As it ends you dive right into...

Born in Shame: Book 3

Shannon Bodine is a graphic artist that lives in New York. Then her world is turned upside down, sideways and every ways in between. When her mother tells her the true 

identity of her father. That she wants her to go to Ireland and she goes reluctantly. 

Shannon learns to go past the shame of meeting her new found family. 

Does she meet her love as well. 

You will fall in love with this Trilogy as I did. One that can be revisited at any time. One that I thought perfect for Throwback Thursday Review!

I am currently listening to her latest trilogy between reviewing other books. 

The Cousin O'Dwyer Trilogy another sure winner!!!

Where you can find Nora Roberts

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Twitter - Facebook and Website

Where you can listen to the other books performed by 

Fiacre Douglas 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

THROWBACK THURSDAY - BET ME By Jennifer Cruise

Throwback Thursday

Bet Me

by Jennifer Cruise

Performance Artist Deanna Hurst

12 hrs 3 mins

Romance comedy contemporary

4 stars from 1596 reviews on Audible!!!!

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

Min Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Cal Morrisey knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they cut their losses and agree never to see each other again.

But Fate has other plans, and it's not long before Min and Cal are dealing with a jealous ex-boyfriend, Krispy Kremes, a determined psychologist, chaos theory, a mutant cat, Chicken Marsala, and more risky propositions than either of them ever dreamed of, including the biggest gamble of all: real love.

©2004 Jennifer Crusie; (P)2004 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

My thoughts on this book!

Well, for this Throwback Thursday Review this is when I listened to books on CD. Yeah those round things that you put in that little slot in older cars! LOL!

This was my first experience with a Jennifer Cruise book and I fell in love with her Romantic comedic style of writing. Min Dobbs certainly was that fairy tale story that we wish we can put ourselves into her shoes during this story. Cal well he certainly did get more than he bargained for when he met the likes of Min! How could a bet go so wrong or is that so right no wrong. No right! How Cal thought a bet he made was going to be easy as pie. Yeah that was until he met Min and then all heck broke lose when a stray cat took Min under his paw so to speak! 

Deanna Hurst made this audio performance just come alive with all it's humor and drama. There is no way around it! I know that I will be putting her on my continuing short list of audio performing artist. Narrators that is such an old way of a story teller telling a story. Nope she is a true performer in the sense of the word as Jennifer Cruise is in the writing of Romantic Comedies!

Great job gals!!

Where you can find Jennifer Cruise

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Website

Other 32 books that you can hear Deanna Hurst perform 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

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

THROWBACK THURSDAY - 206 BONES BY Kathy Reichs

THROWBACK THURSDAY

206 BONES BY Kathy Reichs

Narrator: Linda Emond

722 ratings on Audible for a 4 star rating

10 hrs and 12 mins

Temperance Brennan Series, Book 12

Mystery Thriller and Suspense

Publisher's Summary from Audible

There are 206 bones in the human body. Forensic anthropologists know them intimately, can read in them stories of brief or long lives and use them to reconstruct every kind of violent end. 206 Bones opens with Tempe regaining consciousness and discovering that she is in some kind of very small, very dark, very cold enclosed space. She is bound, hands to feet. Who wants Tempe dead, or at least out of the way, and why? Tempe begins slowly to reconstruct...

Tempe and Lieutenant Ryan had accompanied the recently discovered remains of a missing heiress from Montreal to the Chicago morgue. Suddenly, Tempe was accused of mishandling the autopsy -- and the case. Someone made an incriminating phone call. Within hours, the one man with information about the call was dead. Back in Montreal, the corpse of a second elderly woman was found in the woods, and then a third.

Seamlessly weaving between Tempe's present-tense terror as she's held captive and her memory of the cases of these murdered women, Reichs conveys the incredible devastation that would occur if a forensic colleague sabotaged work in the lab. The chemistry between Tempe and Ryan intensifies as this complex, riveting tale unfolds. Reichs is writing at the top of her game.

©2009 Kathy Reichs; (P)2009 Simon & Schuster

My Review from April 2nd, 2012

"Makes you want to hold your breath!"

Overall

Performance

Story

If you could sum up 206 Bones in three words, what would they be?

Rivoting, Classic, typical

Who was your favorite character and why?

Of course Brennan herself

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I really think that you need to since there was some flashbacks and if you listen and then stop, takes a moment to recap in your head where you are.

This goes back to one of the first books I purchased off of Audible to listen to. I really enjoy the narrator Linda Edmond. She brought in the humor and dry wit of the characters. When the suspense of scenes were happening I remember finding myself holding my breath. Seemed funny back then when I did it but, I find myself doing it now with this type of genre.

To find Kathy Reichs

Audible - Amazon - Twitter - Goodreads - FaceBook - Website

BookShout

To find more books performed by Linda Edmond

Audible - Goodreads 

Please comment below! Go to the left side of the page and follow my blog,
Twitter 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!

Happy Listening

Joan