TOPSY TURVY THURSDAY - TEDDY BEARS IN WONDERLAND By Justin Sloan

NEW!!! TOPSY TURVY THURSDAY

TEDDY BEARS IN WONDERLAND 

By Justin Sloan

Performed by Michael Gilliland

2 hours and 59 minutes

Genre: Kids 8-10 years old and young at heart

Unabridged Audio

4.9 stars Audible

5.0 Stars from me!

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

A teddy bear must travel into the land of monsters to rescue his boy who was taken in the night. In the process, he discovers a much larger plot that threatens all children everywhere.

Welcome to a world where teddy bears come to life at night to protect the children, and shadow monsters are controlled by goblins and orcs.

The first book in the Teddy Defender series will entice young readers that enjoy fantasy and adventure in the style of Pixar or Disney, as well as older readers who enjoy parallels to the tales of Orpheus or Dante's Inferno.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

©2014 Justin Sloan (P)2015 Justin Sloan

My review Now on Audio Book Reviewer (ABR)

Teddy Bears in Monsterland: An Urban Fantasy Novel: Teddy Defenders, Book 1.Series: Teddy Defenders. Written by: Justin Sloan. Narrated by: Michael Gilliland. Length: 2 hrs and 59 mins. Kids 8 to 10. Any age would enjoy this book from Parents listening with kids to Grandparents with the grandkids. As a reviewer and listener this was a cute and different take on a hero that you will not expect. A great short trip listen to keep the kids from wriggling in their seats!

Justin Sloan has written this cute story about a young boy Rick and his teddy bear Ari. Rick and Ari enjoy each other’s company. Rick loves watching monster shows with his bear Ari at bedtime. Rick pretending that he is fighting monsters using that “Hi Ya” saying as he karate kicks at the pretend monsters. Or are they imaginary? One night Ari hears something and wakes up and sees these glowing eyes. Before he could help Rick a monster starts pulling his boy Rick under the bed and they disappear. What can he do? Since his boy’s mom did not know that teddy bears come to life at night. Thought she will now, he had to save Rick. So as fast as he could make his little legs run to her bedroom door. Knocking as hard as his little paws could. Then all of the sudden he hears Rick’s sister calling out and as Ari enters her room and sees her being dragged under her bed and unable to save her as well.

What is Ari going to do? The mom could not hear him knocking on her door. He needed Rusty the old bear in the living room to help him. After begging for his help, Rusty pulls off his one loose eye and hands it to Ari and tells him that he will give this to a bear that will help him. He will know when he gets to the other side. That he needs to go through the attic to get to Monsterland. Pretty intense huh! It can be a bit scary so I would recommend that young children really should listen this with an older sibling or adult.

They will love to follow Ari and his rescue mission into Monsterland to save his boy Rick and his sister. Ari meets many characters throughout from the bears that just seem to care to others that do not care for humans. To the monsters that have not only Rick and his sister but, many other children. What are they doing with these kids? Can he and with the help of other bears save the humans? What does that button that Rusty gave him mean to the bear that it belong to? Will Rick and his sister make it back in time for Thanksgiving?

Michael Gilliland did an amazing job with his performance of storytelling and character voices. He made each scene come alive with the way he presented his voice. The concern, the silliness, the growling voices of the monsters to the fun voices of the bears. I hope to see that he will be the continuing narrator for this series. Just like adults, children bond with the voices that they listen to and want to hear them in the future of this series.

The cover of the book is really cute. Fits the story on how some of the bears have the blue glow coming from their paws.

Please like and leave your comments below. Love to hear from you.

Where you can Find Justin Sloan

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

What books you can also hear Michael Gilliland perform/narrate

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

MONDAY MAYHEM - THE MIRRORED ROOM by Anthony Crowley

Monday Mayhem Review

The Mirrored Room

By Anthony Crowley

Performed/Narrated by Cory Mikhals

2 hours and 19 minutes

Unabridged Audiobook

Crime - Thrillers - Suspense

No ratings on Audible.co.uk

My rating on the UK site is 5 stars

Book Blurb from Audible UK site

Publisher's Summary

Simon Kessler is a reality television psychic who is about to embark on the biggest show of his career. But he eventually learns that he has been living in denial since the murder of his true love, Isabelle.

Gradually he discovers a secret conspiracy which has been undiscovered for many years. This is a story of deception, lies, and betrayal of the untold truth of Simon Kessler's life. Soon he begins to learn more about himself and the dark magickal past of his friends and family.

©2015 Anthony Crowley (P)2015 Anthony Crowley

My review found on Audible UK and on American sites as well.

Anthony Crowley's short story was ear catching to listen to. The story itself is about 2 hours. Yes, it does show 2 hours and 19 mins but, it is a lead into another one of his stories, 'The Gathering' being release this year 2015. So onto, the review of this suspenseful thriller story that will grab you as it did me.

The narrator, Cory Mikhals did a great performance on the cast of characters. He really held this story together like glue. I love the way he reads through this story at a nice not to fast pace but, quick enough to bring across the suspense of each scene. It is definitely something I look for in narrators and how it fits the story. 

As Cory begins the story of Simon Kessler, TV Psychic Star heading to his 500th anniversary show. All Simon can think of his his lost love Isabelle. What had happened to her? Never any answers and now something is happening to him spiritually that he cannot explain. As he is driving into the studio his friend and agent Jack calls him to see where he is. "On my way in" says Jack. During the show the first person that he calls out to in the audition turns out to be the mother of the boy that was charged with Isabelle's disappearance. Was this random, planned? His thoughts and feelings are so strong in him that by the end of the show he was completely exhausted. It was not until his agent Jack tells him who that lady was. More shock hits Simon. 

Telling his agent Jack that he will be taking the next week off. Needed to clear his head and Jack highly agrees. Like that is going to happen. Simon can hear a voice in his head. A familiar one and needs to find out who before he goes crazy. He calls his long time friend of his and Isabelle's, Jennie. Maybe she can shed some light on his situation. If Jennie had any info of anything that Isabelle may have shared with her. While visiting her, that night Simon has a dream about his grandfather. About something his grandfather gave him. Rushing back to his home to retrieve it. Now this is where the book really takes off! 

For this short listen/read you will need to see how Anthony Crowley spins a web of deceit from those Simon thought he could trust and from those he is trying so desperately to get away from. Who killed Isabelle? What link does she have to a secret society? Who or what is the Sanctuary of the Red Sun? Why are the people around him acting so strangely? What does his grandfather and uncle have to tell him from this world and beyond? Non-stop action. And what does Jack and Jennie have in common? 

The con is that the story ends abruptly and found myself re-listening to the end a couple of times. I look forward to the sequel to this novella. So if you are looking for a stand alone this is not it. You could wait for the sequel but, what fun is that. Then it just went into the sample of the next book. Not sure if this is what Anthony had in mind. But, I guess the con of the book is not so bad. It really does leave you wanting more and more NOW! (laughing)

About the author, Anthony Crowley has stepped outside the boundaries of conventional story telling. He will be around for a long time. I would love to see longer books from him but, for now I will take all that he has to write. After, the first book of Tombstones, he has me hooked on his Thriller stories. 

This audio was provided to me by the author for an honest review. All my comments above are solely mine and no one has effected that outcome. Please like and comment on my review love to hear from you all! Love to know if my review helped you read or listen to his book and see what I seen in his work.

Where you can find Anthony Crowley

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

Other books performed by Cory Mikhals on Audible UK and Audible US.

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

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

WEDNESDAY WILDS: BLOOD DRIVE: Anna Strong, Book 2 by Jeanne C Stein

NEW! WEDNESDAY WILDS

Blood Drive: Anna Strong, Vampire, Book 2

By Jeanne C Stein

Narrated/Performed: Dina Pearlman

9 hours and 11 mins

Thriller, Paranormal, Mystery, Vampires

Anna Strong Series

Unabridged Audiobook
4.10 stars on Audible (536 ratings)
My rating on this book is 5 stars!

Book Blurb from Audible

Publisher's Summary

Anna Strong was a tough-as-nails bounty hunter, until the night she was attacked-and changed forever. Now a vampire, Anna discovers that her long-dead brother may have had a daughter - and the girl's in serious trouble. There are some very dangerous people after her, but they're about to learn that to a bounty hunter with an unnatural thirst for blood, even the deadliest human predators are easy prey.

Listen to more of Anna Strong. 

©2007 Jeanne C. Stein; (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

My review from Audible 4/2/2012

following this review some more thoughts on this series!

"Another winner!!!"

Overall

Performance

Story

What made the experience of listening to Blood Drive the most enjoyable?

Having the same narrator Dina Pearlman preform the book!

What did you like best about this story?

How it keeps you caught up to wait and hear what the character will do next. thinking or speaking outloud - watch out!

Have you listened to any of Dina Pearlman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Book one: the becoming

Wow, my reviews were so lame then, LOL! So to be more detailed on this series of books by Jeanne C Stein. This series was my first audio version of a series. Read series or character based books that are stand alone reads. So now time to fill in the empty spots above.

The experience that made me keep coming back for each book in the series and could not wait for each one to come out! It was the consistency of the story lines. The characters never changed only new ones were added. It captured me into the story as I could not wait to see how Anna managed to keep her family and doing it at arms length knowing that one day that it will have to end all contact with them. Knowing she will never age as they will. 

In this book, Anna comes to find out that her brother who past away in college. May indeed have a daughter the family knew nothing about. Anna comes to her rescue from a life that no young teen should ever be subjected to. How can she get her from her mother and show this young girl that there is others to love her. While still learning how to handle her new lifestyle as a vampire. 

The most enjoyable part is Dina Pearlman's performance she consistently has in each of the books in the series. I base a lot of my comparisons to other female narrators to Dina! 

If you have not read or listen to this series, please do you are in for a treat!

Where you can find Jeanne C Stein

Audible - Amazon - Goodreads - Twitter - Facebook - Website

Other 222 books on Audible that Dina Pearlman performs 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

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, 

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