Author: Rachael Huszar
Narrator: Jenn Lee
Length: 5 hours and 31 minutes
Producer: Audiobook Empire
Publisher: Rachael Huszar
Released: January 20, 2022
Genre: Historical Thriller
Tag Archives: audiobook
Book Review: The Union by T.H. Hernandez @TheresaHernandz @AnAudiobookworm
Title: The Union
Author: T.H. Hernandez
Series: The Union Series, Book 1
Narrator: Alexa Elmy
Publisher: Theresa Hernandez
Released: Nov. 19, 2021
Genre: Fiction; Young Adult
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The Union
The Union Series #1
T.H. Hernandez
Narrated by Alexa Elmy
Theresa Hernandez, November 2021
Downloaded Unabridged Audiobook
After global warming and a second civil war devastated the former United States, two different societies rose from the ashes – the Union, a towering high-tech utopia, hugging the perimeter of the continent, and the devastated, untamed midsection known as the Ruins.
Seventeen-year-old Evan Taylor has an easy, privileged life in the Union. What she doesn’t have is any idea what to do with the rest of her life. She only knows she wants to do something meaningful, to make a difference in the lives of others.
When she’s kidnapped and taken into the Ruins as a pawn in a dispute involving her boyfriend, Bryce, her ideal world is turned upside down. What she learns while in the Ruins shakes her faith in everything she’s ever known, from Bryce to her family and even the Union itself.
Now Evan must choose whether to stay with Cyrus, the sexy, resourceful survivor who believes she’s in the Ruins for a reason, or return to the only life she’s ever known. But when she stumbles upon a dangerous plot that threatens both worlds, her decision could tear her apart.
It’s been a while since I’ve read any post-apocalyptic and/or dystopian books, mainly because I guess you could say I got obsessive. Okay, I greatly overindulged to the point of being saturated 😄. Anyway, this one piqued my interest, especially since I was being offered the audiobook, and I’m SO glad I decided to join the tour.
Evan’s story is downright enthralling, aided by the author’s vivid worldbuilding so that I understood from nearly the beginning what her young life is like and the restrictions placed upon the populace by the powers that be…and some of the consequences of flouting those restrictions. If there was anything I still don’t quite get it’s why the teens go on this sort of walkabout in the first place but that doesn’t really matter.
Shortly after Evan goes on her trip with her best friends Lisa and Colin, later meeting up with her crush, Bryce, Evan is kidnapped by a pair of very unsavory characters and her real adventure begins. Eventually, a new dude, Cyrus, enters the scene along with his family and she begins to learn the truth, the REAL truth, about the Ruins, the supposedly barren area outside of the Union where only the dregs of America’s former society live. This is when Ms. Hernandez’s story truly takes off and I was listening to my audiobook as often and long as I could. And then comes a whopper of a twist, not entirely believable but exciting nonetheless.
Speaking of the audiobook, narrator Alexa Elmy was an excellent choice. Her voice is young enough that she can easily carry off teen girl voices but mature enough that she does a more than decent job with males. I couldn’t always differentiate between characters but, no matter, the prose always let me know who was speaking.
So, thanks to an intriguing story and very engaging characters, I thoroughly enjoyed my return to this subgenre and, while there are occasional flaws, I’m hooked again. Can’t wait to listen to the next book!
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, February 2022.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by T.H. Hernandez. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
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T.H. Hernandez is a published author of young adult novels. THE UNION, a post-climate change dystopian adventure, was a finalist in the 2015 San Diego book awards in the Young Adult Fiction category. SUPERHERO HIGH, an urban scifi teenage romance, set in San Diego, about the offspring of the world’s superheroes. Her first young adult contemporary, co-written with Jennifer DiGiovanni, PROM-WRECKED, is published through Entangled Teen.
She thrives on coffee, peanut butter-flavored anything, Doctor Who marathons, Bad Lip Reading videos, and all things young adult, especially the three young adults who share her home.
When not visiting the imaginary worlds inside her head, you can find her in usually sunny San Diego with her husband, three teenage spawns, a bearded dragon, a couple of cats, and Artemis, a neurotic rescue mutt.
Alexa is a NYC based actor and voice over artist. Born in Connecticut, Alexa has been creating art in all its forms since childhood. She graduated from Fordham University with a BA in Theatre and a concentration in Performance. Alexa previously trained at the London Dramatic Academy (UK), the Stella Adler Studio of Acting (NYC), the New York Film Academy, and the Greenwich Performing Arts Studio.
She is pursuing performance opportunities on the stage, screen, and in audio. Her recent acting credits include the tv show Shattered (Investigation Discovery), Innards (Troma Ent.), Ray Gun Say0nara (New Ohio Theatre) and a voiceover for Google. Alexa’s other talents include playwriting, painting, playing piano, and singing. Her favorite play is Oil by Ella Hickson and her favorite genre is comedy.
She is represented by Innovative Artists and Stefanie Talent & Entertainment.
Q&A with Author T.H. Hernandez
- Tell us about the process of turning your book into an audiobook.
- I’ve been wanting to turn this series into audiobooks for awhile now, but with the pandemic and my ever-increasing time spent at home instead of out and about, I figured now was the right time. But I had no idea where to begin.
Queue online writing conferences in 2020. I attended one where two narrators broke down the process into easy steps I knew I could complete. They also explained the pros and cons of the various ways to bring my audiobook to life.
Finally, in 2021, I was ready to begin the process. I signed up on ACX and put my book up for audition, but I just wasn’t connecting with any of the samples. Frustrated, I did my own search, putting in search parameters for what I was looking for. I stumbled upon two amazing narrators and asked them if they’d be interested in auditioning. Luckily they did, but the moment I heard Alexa Elmy read in Evan’s voice, I knew I had my narrator!
Alexa has been amazing. She’s an experienced narrator and really held my hand through everything. I firmly believe without her by my side, The Union would still not be an audiobook.
- I’ve been wanting to turn this series into audiobooks for awhile now, but with the pandemic and my ever-increasing time spent at home instead of out and about, I figured now was the right time. But I had no idea where to begin.
- Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?
- Actually, no, believe it or not. When I was drafting, I didn’t really think much beyond the eBook and paperback formats. Even though I’m a devoted audiobook listener, this didn’t occur to me, because it seemed so far beyond what I was capable of doing. I’m a writer. I write. Both for my day job and my hobby. I put words on the screen, not in the air. But now that I’ve been through the process, you can be sure, this will be in the back of my mind with every future book I write.
- How closely did you work with your narrator before and during the recording process? Did you give them any pronunciation tips or special insight into the characters?
- It’s more like Alexa guided me than the other way around, but I’d say we worked closely together. I had no idea how quickly she’d turn the recordings around. She was always waiting for me to listen and approve the chapters. I had a few things that came up during the process that interfered with me getting things done faster. As a seasoned professional, I only had a handful of pronunciation tips to ask of her. And because this wasn’t her first rodeo, she asked me for some background on my characters. As an avid plotter, I had details ready for her. I think she perfectly captured the essence of all my characters in her narration.
- Were there any real life inspirations behind your writing?
- I conceived of the idea behind The Union series back in 2008, when weather changes were getting to the point that we couldn’t ignore them. But it was some of the driest weather in San Diego history in 2010 that made me take the idea of climate change to extremes, and what would happen if people went to war over their disagreements of whether climate change was natural or influenced by man-made causes.
- How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for writing?
- I haven’t had much of a problem with this yet. I write for my day job, but it’s not particularly fascinating stuff. Marketing content, proposals, web content, etc. So it’s fun to roll up my sleeves in the evenings and weekends and write really fast-paced action instead of product differentiators.
- Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
- Very much so. I started back in the early days when books were on tape, then CD, and the early days of MP3 books. I used to drive over 30 miles to and from work every day. I loved being able to listen to a book during my commute. Made the drive a lot less frustrating. Now I listen when I’m knitting, walking, or doing mundane chores. It’s a great way to get more “reading” in and entertain myself when I’m doing boring tasks.
- Is there a particular part of this story that you feel is more resonating in the audiobook performance than in the book format?
- I think some of the more dramatic, emotional scenes come to life in a way in the audiobook that they may not on the printed page. There’s an immediacy in the spoken word that can’t be ignored. You can slow down when you’re reading, but the narration draws you into the tense nature of the scene and won’t let you go.
- If you had the power to time travel, would you use it? If yes, when and where would you go?
- Oh, absolutely!!! I’m intrigued by time travel more than just about any other scifi concept. Doctor Who is one of my favorite shows. If I could only go to one time and place, and not go to lots of places, I’d love to go back and relive my daughter’s birth. That was the most magical day of my life.
- If this title were being made into a TV series or movie, who would you cast to play the primary roles?
- This is hard, because the actors I envisioned when I wrote the book a long time ago, are far too old to play teens now. I don’t really have new actors in mind.
- What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
- I’d say they’re incorrect. As someone who does both, there are books I’ve read and books I’ve listened to, and I have to really think long and hard to remember which ones I listened to and which ones I read. A good story is a good story. The words are sucked into your brain, it’s just the pathways to get them there – either your eyes or your ears – that differ. I don’t think it matters beyond that. Plus, there are people who have difficulty reading due to poor eyesight or dyslexia, and audiobooks are everything to them. I can’t imagine why anyone would try to make one type of book inferior to another.
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Book Review: Girl with a Gun by Kari Bovee @KariBovee @iReadBookTours
Join us for this tour from Jan 10 to Feb 4, 2022!
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Girl with a Gun
An Annie Oakley Mystery #1
Kari Bovee
Narrated by Susanna Burney
Bosque Publishing, April 2020Downloaded Unabridged Audiobook
From the author—
She’s on the rise to fame and fortune, but her sudden notoriety comes with some deadly consequences.
Annie Oakley thrives as a sharpshooter in the Wild West Show. Finally, she has a chance to save her family’s farm—and make her dreams come true.
But her act misfires when she discovers her Indian assistant dead in her tent. Uncovering a shocking secret from her assistant’s past, the girl with the gun believes it’s murder. Determined to find the truth, she ruffles some horse feathers, making enemies along the trail.
But, when her prized gelding is stolen, Annie realizes she might have been the target all along.
Can Little Miss Sure Shot save her equine friend and find the killer before everything she’s worked for is destroyed?
If you like a cunning mystery, a feisty heroine, and a fast-paced plot that keeps the pages turning, you’ll love this wild ride with the iconic Annie Oakley in the saddle.
Kari Bovee’s first in the series is a charming introduction to the life and loves of Annie Oakley’s story, of course fictionalized but in such a way as to make the star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show very real and accessible. Set in 1885, Annie is presented as just now meeting her eventual husband, Frank Butler, while the two were actually already married when they joined the show but this is, after all, a fictional account and the author has taken reasonable liberties with Annie’s history which is somewhat entangled with the tales she made up for her career.
At any rate, I enjoyed the author’s interpretation and spending time with such real people as Sitting Bull and Lillie Smith. There are several storyarcs, including Annie’s horse, Buck, being sick and the animosity of a few other show members towards the crowdpleasing Annie. Lillie is her primary rival in the shooting exhibitions and it’s fun to watch these two and Frank work out new exciting events.
Then there is the booklong mystery, the death of Annie’s friend and assistant, Kimi. Was her death natural, despite her young age, or was she murdered? If the latter, did someone hate her that much because she was an Indian or could there be some other reason? Annie suspects not all is as it seems and is determined to learn the truth. There are a variety of twists and turns but, on the whole, I felt as though the mystery took a back seat to everything else and could have been left out entirely. The other thing I want to mention is that I’ve seen reviews that pan the book for its non-PC elements such as the words used (squaw, for instance) and the apparent lack of caring for animals used in the shooting exhibitions but Ms. Bovee strikes a decent balance and I recommend that any reader remember that attitudes were very different in 1885.
The narrator, Susanna Burney, was new to me and I found her to be quite easy to listen to. Her evocation of various characters is stronger with the women than the men but that’s certainly not surprising and, when all is said and done, I think she brought the tale to life. Between her narration and the author’s imaginative story, I quite enjoyed Girl with a Gun.
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, February 2022.
Also Available for Your Listening Pleasure:
Book Details:Book Title: Shoot Like a Girl (A PreQuel Novella to Girl With A Gun) by Kari Bovee
Category: Adult Fiction (18 + yrs), 84 pages
Length: 2 hrs, 14 minutes
Genre: Historical Fiction, Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Bosque Publishing
Release date: November 2019
Formats available for review: audiobook (audible download), MOBI (for kindle), EPUB, PDF)
Tour dates: Jan 10 to Feb 4, 2022
Content Rating: PG + M for mature themes and some swearing (damn, bitch)
Book Description:
She would do anything for her loved ones, even if it meant she’d be lost to them forever.
Young Annie Oakley never expected to be saddled with responsibility so soon. Following her father’s sudden death, the spirited girl finds herself shipped to a nearby county working for a couple promising a good wage. But when she discovers they are not what they seem, Annie suddenly fears her life may be in peril.
Determined to help her mother and siblings, she endures the hardships and mistreatment from the couple. But when that cruelty is targeted at the beautiful Buckskin horse who is her only friend, Annie decides to take matters into her own hands.
Will the spunky teen return to her loved ones, or will her decision land her in jail?
Shoot like a Girl is the prequel novella to the Annie Oakley mystery series. If you like a fiercely loyal heroine who won’t be anyone’s victim, then you’ll love Kari Bovée’s thrilling story of America’s best-loved sharpshooting sensation.
Book Details:
Book Title: Peccadillo at the Palace (An Annie Oakley Mystery) by Kari Bovee
Category: Adult Fiction (18 + yrs), 332 pages
Length: 9 hours, 52 minutes
Genre: Historical Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Bosque Publishing
Release date: April 2020
Formats available for review: audiobook (audible download), MOBI (for kindle), EPUB, PDF)
Tour dates: Jan 10 to Feb 4, 2022
Content Rating: PG +M for mature themes, mild swearing
Category: Adult Fiction (18 + yrs), 332 pages
Length: 9 hours, 52 minutes
Genre: Historical Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Bosque Publishing
Release date: April 2020
Formats available for review: audiobook (audible download), MOBI (for kindle), EPUB, PDF)
Tour dates: Jan 10 to Feb 4, 2022
Content Rating: PG +M for mature themes, mild swearing
Book Description:
She’s outgunned her opponents at every turn, but will it be enough to solve a royal case of murder? Annie Oakley can’t believe her good fortune at an imperial invitation.
Queen Victoria wants Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show to perform for her Golden Jubilee. But during the voyage to England, a royal escort is murdered and the gun-slinging star finds herself at the center of an assassination plot against the crown.
Determined to catch the killer, Annie tracks down the clues. And by the time they reach London, she thinks she’s right on course. But when her husband falls mysteriously ill, and an assassination attempt is made on the queen, the sharpshooting amateur sleuth may find herself out to sea before her ship comes in.
Can the clever markswoman solve the double-barreled mystery before it’s too late?
Peccadillo at the Palace is the second novel in the Annie Oakley Mystery Series. If you like a fast-paced mystery with unexpected plot twists that will keep you guessing until the very end, you’ll love this riveting historical mystery featuring America’s favorite sure-shot.
Book Details:
Book Title: Folly at the Fair (An Annie Oakley Mystery) by Kari Bovee
Category: Adult Fiction (18 + yrs), 322 pages
Length: 9 hours, 48 minutes
Genre: Historical Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Bosque Publishing
Release date: June 2020
Formats available for review: audiobook (audible download), MOBI (for kindle), EPUB, PDF)
Tour dates: Jan 10 to Feb 4, 2022
Content Rating: PG +M for mature themes, mild swearing
Category: Adult Fiction (18 + yrs), 322 pages
Length: 9 hours, 48 minutes
Genre: Historical Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Bosque Publishing
Release date: June 2020
Formats available for review: audiobook (audible download), MOBI (for kindle), EPUB, PDF)
Tour dates: Jan 10 to Feb 4, 2022
Content Rating: PG +M for mature themes, mild swearing
Book Description:
She never misses a target. But unless she can solve this murder, she’ll become one…
Chicago World’s Fair, 1893. “Little Sure Shot” Annie Oakley is exhausted from her work with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. But when a fellow performer scuffles with a man who threatens her harm, she has to keep
her eyes peeled. And when the heckler is found dead under the Ferris Wheel, Annie won’t rest until she proves her defender is innocent.
Before she can rustle up any clues, an old friend asks Annie to protect her young daughter. And as more bodies turn up around the grounds, she’s going to need all her sharpshooting skills just to stay alive.
Can Annie live up to her reputation and put a bullseye on the killer?
Folly at the Fair is the third book in the Annie Oakley mystery series. If you like strong heroines, Wild West adventures, and suspenseful twists and turns, then you’ll love Kari Bovée’s fast-paced
whodunit.
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About the Author
When she’s not on a horse, or walking along the beautiful cottonwood-laden acequias of Corrales, New Mexico; or basking on white sand beaches under the Big Island Hawaiian sun, Kari Bovee is escaping into the past—scheming murder and mayhem for her characters both real and imagined, and helping them to find order in the chaos of her
action-packed novels. Bovee writes the award-winning Annie Oakley Mystery Series and the Grace Michelle Mystery Series, and has more ideas than time for many, many more.
Connect with the author:
Website ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook ~
Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest
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Tour Schedule:
Jan 10 – Mystery Review Crew – books spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 10 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of GIRL WITH A GUN / giveaway
Jan 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – book review of GIRL WITH A GUN / giveaway
Jan 11 – Cover Lover Book Review – audiobook review of GIRL WITH A GUN / giveaway
Jan 11 – I’m All About Books – book series tour / giveaway
Jan 11 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of GIRL WITH A GUN / author interview / giveaway
Jan 11 – Lamon Reviews – book review of GIRL WITH A GUN / author interview / giveaway
Jan 12 – Kam’s Place – book series spotlight
Jan 12 – Celticlady’s Reviews – book series spotlight / giveaway
Jan 12 – History from a Woman’s Perspective – audiobook review of GIRL WITH A GUN
Jan 12 – 411 ON BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND PUBLISHING NEWS – book series spotlight / giveaway
Jan 13 – My Bookish Bliss – audiobook review of GIRL WITH A GUN / giveaway
Jan 13 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of SHOOT LIKE A GIRL / giveaway
Jan 13 – History from a Woman’s Perspective – audiobook review of SHOOT LIKE A GIRL
Jan 14 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – audiobook review of GIRL WITH A GUN
Jan 18 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of SHOOT LIKE A GIRL / giveaway
Jan 18 – She Just Loves Books – audiobook review of GIRL WITH A GUN
Jan 18 – History from a Woman’s Perspective – audiobook review of PECCADILLO AT THE PALACE
Jan 18 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – audiobook review of SHOOT LIKE A GIRL
Jan 18 – Literary Flits – book review of GIRL WITH A GUN / giveaway
Jan 18 – PuzzlePaws Blog – audiobook review of GIRL WITH A GUN / giveaway
Jan 19 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of PECCADILLO AT THE PALACE / giveaway
Jan 19 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of GIRL WITH A GUN / giveaway
Jan 19 – History from a Woman’s Perspective – audiobook review of FOLLY AT THE FAIR
Jan 20 – My Bookish Bliss – audiobook review of FOLLY AT THE FAIR / giveaway
Jan 20 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of SHOOT LIKE A GIRL / giveaway
Jan 21 – StoreyBook Reviews – book review of SHOOT LIKE A GIRL / giveaway
Jan 21 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of FOLLY AT THE FAIR / giveaway
Jan 21 – Faith And Books – audiobook review of GIRL WITH A GUN / giveaway
Jan 21 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – audiobook review of PECCADILLO AT THE PALACE
Jan 24 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of GIRL WITH A GUN / giveaway
Jan 24 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – audiobook review of FOLLY AT THE FAIR
Jan 25 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of SHOOT LIKE A GIRL / giveaway
Jan 25 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of PECCADILLO AT THE PALACE / giveaway
Jan 25 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of PECCADILLOW AT THE PALACE / giveaway
Jan 26 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of GIRL WITH A GUN / author interview / giveaway
Jan 26 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of FOLLY AT THE FAIR / giveaway
Jan 26 – Chit Chat with Charity – audiobook review of GIRL WITH A GUN / author interview / giveaway
Jan 26 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book series spotlight / giveaway
Jan 27 – Deborah-Zenha Adams – book series spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 27 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of SHOOT LIKE A GIRL / giveaway
Jan 27 – Literary Flits – book review of SHOOT LIKE A GIRL / giveaway
Jan 28 – Faith And Books – audiobook review of SHOOT LIKE A GIRL / giveaway
Jan 28 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of PECCADILLO AT THE PALACE / giveaway
Jan 28 – Books for Books – audiobook review of GIRL WITH A GUN
Jan 31 – Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews – audiobook review of FOLLY AT THE FAIR / giveaway
Jan 31 – Books for Books – audiobook review of SHOOT LIKE A GIRL
Feb 1 – Buried Under Books – audiobook review of GIRL WITH A GUN / giveaway
Feb 1 – @twilight_reader – audiobook review of GIRL WITH A GUN
Feb 1 – Books for Books – audiobook review of PECCADILLO AT THE PALACE
Feb 2 – Chit Chat with Charity – audiobook review of SHOOT LIKE A GIRL / giveaway
Feb 2 – Adventurous Jessy -book review of GIRL WITH A GUN / giveaway
Feb 2 – @twilight_reader – audiobook review of SHOOT LIKE A GIRL
Feb 2 – Books for Books – audiobook review of FOLLY AT THE FAIR
Feb 2 – PuzzlePaws Blog – audiobook review of PECCADILLO AT THE PALACE / giveaway
Feb 3 – Westveil Publishing – audiobook review of GIRL WITH A GUN / giveaway
Feb 3 – Adventurous Jessy -book review of SHOOT LIKE A GIRL / giveaway
Feb 3 – @twilight_reader – audiobook review of PECCADILLO AT THE PALACE
Feb 4 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of FOLLY AT THE FAIR / giveaway
Feb 4 – Adventurous Jessy -book review of PECCADILLO AT THE PALACE / giveaway
Feb 4 – @twilight_reader – audiobook review of FOLLY AT THE FAIR
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Enter the Giveaway:
GIRL WITH A GUN (Annie Oakley Mystery) Audiobook Tour Giveaway
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Book Review: Mambo and Murder by C.S. McDonald @CSMcDonald7 @iReadBookTours
Join us for this review tour from Jan 10 to Feb 4, 2022
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Mambo and Murder
A Fiona Quinn Mystery #6
C.S. McDonald
Narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg
McWriter Books, October 2018
Downloaded Unabridged Audiobook
(The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books
and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
From the author—
Three ballroom dancers were murdered over 40 years ago. Wow, that’s one old cold case. What’s more, the murderer, who was thought to have been killed during a police chase, has resurfaced in Pittsburgh. Yikes! How can that be?
Worse, ballroom dancing simply isn’t Detective Nathan Landry’s forte. After weeks of practice, Nathan still has two left feet. Can Fiona step in to guide Nathan through this dancing debacle or will it take 40 years for the detective to find his footing?
Double yikes! Join Fiona and detective Landry in this high-stepping whodunit!
Humor abounds when Detective Nathan Landry has to sign up for ballroom dancing lessons to work on a case involving a dance competition. Unfortunately for his hapless partner, Nathan turns out to be a menace on his feet. Never mind, though; his girl Fiona is happy to step in because it’s a great way to spend time together…and she gets to do some legitimate sleuthing.
*
It’s a very, very cold case indeed and the suspected perpetrator of those forty-year-old murders has apparently resurfaced after having thought to have died all those years ago. Can Nathan and Fiona catch their man on the dance floor? Plenty of clues make this a real puzzle and working it together brings laughs as well as justice.
*
I can’t say that I care for Ms. Waxenberg’s interpretation of Fiona because she gives the character a rather grating voice. Still, the narrator’s other vocalizations don’t affect me the same way and, although the main character is certainly important, she doesn’t prevent me from wanting to listen.
*
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, January 2022.
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BUY THE BOOK:
Audible ~ Amazon
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Enjoy All Four Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries:
Book Details:
Book Title: Banking on a Murder: A Fiona Quinn Quick Mystery
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: YA Fiction, 30 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: January 31, 2018
Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
Fiona’s
old college chum, Priscilla Conroy, has recently moved back to the Pittsburgh area after a most unpleasant divorce. Fiona was looking forward to reconnecting with her friend to help cheer her up and the two had made plans to meet at the bank where her friend worked after it closed—only Priscilla never shows up for the lunch date. Thinking the
worse, Fiona is beside herself and spends the entire Memorial Day weekend searching for her friend. Did her ex-husband abduct her? Has she been murdered? Somehow Fiona knows that the key to Priscilla Conroy’s disappearance lies within the bank. But how can that be?
Join Fiona Quinn for a quick mystery that’s sure to keep you guessing!
Buy the Book:
Amazon
Book Details:
Book Title: Harriet’s Heist: A Fiona Quinn Quick Mystery
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: YA Fiction, 51 pages
Length: 1 hr, 11 minutes
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: August 14, 2018
Formats Available for review: audible download, ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf)
Tour dates: Jan 10 to Feb 4, 2022
Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
Fiona Quinn arrives at her parent’s home in Daytona, Florida for a short
visit only to be informed that their usually quiet retirement community has been besieged with robberies—cash, jewelry, and more. Her mom told all the neighbors Fiona is a wiz at catching bad guys.
Yikes!
Can Fiona crack the case? Hopefully, but what’s an amateur sleuth supposed to do when her Maltese, Harriet, shows up decked out in the stolen
goods?
Double yikes!
Join Fiona, her parents, Harriet, and some pretty crazy old ladies for a real jewel of a quick mystery!
Book Details:
Book Title: Crystal Clear Confusion: A Fiona Quinn Quick Mystery
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: YA Fiction, 37 pages
Length: 1 hr, 22 minutes
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: January 15, 2019
Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
Yikes! Fiona’s been having a recurring nightmare and it’s driving her to
distraction—so much so that she’s allowed her kooky neighbor, Astrid Dingle, to search for the answer through her crystal ball. What could be the cause of the dream, and what lengths will Fiona go to get to the crux of it all? You’ll be chasing dreams with Fiona, Detective Landry and Astrid in this fun quick mystery!
Book Details:
Book Title: The Christmas Cameo: A Fiona Quinn Quick Mystery
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: YA Fiction, 32 pages
Length: 1 hr, 16 minutes
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: November 13, 2019
Content Rating: G (The Fiona Quinn Mysteries are for everyone–adults love the books and they are appropriate for teens and tweens too!)
Book Description:
A lovely cameo brooch is discovered in Fiona’s late Uncle Wilbur’s house two days before Christmas. The pin bears a romantic Christmas message from Wilbur for his new wife with the initials, D.A.S.
How very strange! To the family’s knowledge, Uncle Wilbur had never been married. So, who is this mysterious woman? Now, Fiona is on a holiday mission to locate D.A.S. and deliver the belated gift.
Question is, what happened to the marriage? Is D.A.S. still alive after all these years? And if so, can Fiona find her before Christmas?
Book Details:
Book Title: Matrimony. Mayhem, and Murder (A Fiona Quinn Mystery)
Author: C.S. McDonald
Category: Adult Fiction, 242 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McWriter Books
Release date: Nov 10, 2021
Formats Available for review: print (paperback), ebook (mobi for kindle, epub, pdf)
Tour dates: Jan 10 to Feb 4
Content Rating: G. C.S. McDonald’s books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults–no bad language or sexual content.
Book Description:
The venue is set, invitations sent, and the flowers ordered. It’s almost time for Fiona and Nathan to get married…again. What could possibly go wrong? Nothing…well, until the wedding planner is found dead.
Then the woman Fiona has never met shows up–Nathan’s enigmatic mom, Rita Landry. And she’s wearing a gorgeous but mysterious necklace. Worse, Rita is being followed by two sinister-looking men, forcing her to flee the country. And who gets dragged along? None other than the bride-to be! How does a girl prepare for all of that? Looks like Fiona’s perfectly planned matrimony has morphed into mayhem and murder!
You’re formally invited to Fiona and Nathan’s wedding. Question is: Will the wedding happen?
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Meet the Author:
For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer.
During that time, she choreographed many musicals and an opera for the Pittsburgh Savoyards. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries to that expansion. She decided to write the cozy mystery series that everyone, including teens and tweens, can read and enjoy. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries nine books with a tenth slated for 2021. The books are also available on audio, narrated by Maren Swenson Waxenberg. Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh. The female protagonist, Alexa Owl, is much different from Fiona Quinn. The Owl’s Next Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy! Ms. McDonald resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.
Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook
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Tour Schedule:
Jan 10 – Mystery Review Crew – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 10 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 10 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 11 – Olio by Marilyn – books review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 11 – Lisa’s Reading – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 12 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 12 – All Booked Up Reviews – Instagram – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER
Jan 13 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 13 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 13 – Kam’s Place – book review of MAMBO AND MURDER
Jan 13 – Buried Under Books – audiobook review of MAMBO AND MURDER/ giveaway
Jan 14 – Blooming with Books – audiobook review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 14 – My Reading Journeys – books review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 17 – Blooming with Books – audiobook review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 17 – Kam’s Place – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER
Jan 17 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 17 – Buried Under Books – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 18 – She Just Loves Books – audiobook review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 18 – Kam’s Place – book review of BANKING ON MURDER
Jan 18 – My Reading Journeys – book review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 19 – She Just Loves Books – audiobook review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 19 – Kam’s Place – book review of HARRIET’S HEIST
Jan 19 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 19 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 20 – She Just Loves Books – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 20 – Kam’s Place – book review of CRYSTAL CLEAR CONFUSION
Jan 21 – Blooming with Books –book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 21 – Kam’s Place – book review of THE CHRISTMAS CAMEO
Jan 24 – Bigreadersite – books review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 24 – PuzzlePaws Blog – books review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 25 – PuzzlePaws Blog – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 25 – The Momma Spot – audiobooks review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 25 – Bigreadersite – book review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 26 – The Momma Spot – audiobook review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 26 – Bigreadersite – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 26 – Locks, Hooks and Books – books review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 27 – @twilight_reader – audiobook review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 27 – Splashes of Joy – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 27 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 28 – The Momma Spot –book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 28 – Pause for Tales – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 31 – @twilight_reader – audiobooks review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 31 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Feb 1 – Westveil Publishing – audiobook review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Feb 1 – Chit Chat with Charity – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Feb 1 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Feb 2 – Westveil Publishing – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Feb 2 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book reviews of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Feb 2 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Feb 3 – Literary Flits – book review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Feb 3 – @twilight_reader – books review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Feb 3 – Westveil Publishing – audiobooks review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Feb 4 – Literary Flits – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Feb 4 – Chit Chat with Charity – audiobook review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Feb 4 – My Reading Journeys – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 10 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 10 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – audiobook review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 11 – Olio by Marilyn – books review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 11 – Lisa’s Reading – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 12 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 12 – All Booked Up Reviews – Instagram – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER
Jan 13 – Olio by Marilyn – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 13 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 13 – Kam’s Place – book review of MAMBO AND MURDER
Jan 13 – Buried Under Books – audiobook review of MAMBO AND MURDER/ giveaway
Jan 14 – Blooming with Books – audiobook review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 14 – My Reading Journeys – books review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 17 – Blooming with Books – audiobook review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 17 – Kam’s Place – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER
Jan 17 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 17 – Buried Under Books – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 18 – She Just Loves Books – audiobook review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 18 – Kam’s Place – book review of BANKING ON MURDER
Jan 18 – My Reading Journeys – book review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 19 – She Just Loves Books – audiobook review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 19 – Kam’s Place – book review of HARRIET’S HEIST
Jan 19 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 19 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 20 – She Just Loves Books – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 20 – Kam’s Place – book review of CRYSTAL CLEAR CONFUSION
Jan 21 – Blooming with Books –book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 21 – Kam’s Place – book review of THE CHRISTMAS CAMEO
Jan 24 – Bigreadersite – books review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 24 – PuzzlePaws Blog – books review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 25 – PuzzlePaws Blog – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 25 – The Momma Spot – audiobooks review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 25 – Bigreadersite – book review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 26 – The Momma Spot – audiobook review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 26 – Bigreadersite – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 26 – Locks, Hooks and Books – books review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 27 – @twilight_reader – audiobook review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 27 – Splashes of Joy – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 27 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 28 – The Momma Spot –book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 28 – Pause for Tales – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Jan 31 – @twilight_reader – audiobooks review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Jan 31 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Feb 1 – Westveil Publishing – audiobook review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Feb 1 – Chit Chat with Charity – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Feb 1 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Feb 2 – Westveil Publishing – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Feb 2 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book reviews of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Feb 2 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Feb 3 – Literary Flits – book review of MAMBO AND MURDER / giveaway
Feb 3 – @twilight_reader – books review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Feb 3 – Westveil Publishing – audiobooks review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Feb 4 – Literary Flits – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
Feb 4 – Chit Chat with Charity – audiobook review of Fiona Quinn Quick Mysteries / giveaway
Feb 4 – My Reading Journeys – book review of MATRIMONY, MAYHEM, AND MURDER / giveaway
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Enter the Giveaway:
MATRIMONY MAYHEM AND MURDER Book Tour Giveaway
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Book Review: Burglary at Barnard by Lynn Morrison @NomadMomDiary @mktgchair @AnAudiobookworm
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Author: Lynn Morrison
Narrator: Pearl Hewitt
Length: 8 hours 32 minutes
Series: Oxford Key Mysteries, Book 2
Released: Nov. 16, 2021
Publisher: Marketing Chair Press
Genre: Cozy Mystery
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A secret chamber. A dead body. And one ghost who won’t tell the truth!
When Nat agrees to meet a friend in the archives of historic Barnard College after hours, she doesn’t expect to find a hidden chamber or stumble across another dead body.
The Master’s assistant has been murdered, and although Nat figures out who is responsible, finding the evidence is a challenge. Especially when the one ghost who witnessed the crime refuses to say what happened.
The closer Nat comes to finding the proof she needs, the more tempers flare and threats fly. The situation becomes a race against time, and just when she thinks she’s won, Nat realizes the murderer is willing to do whatever it takes to escape justice, including getting Nat out of the way.
Permanently.
Nat’s miscalculation will cost someone their life, but whose?
If you like cozy mysteries where ghosts walk the halls, paintings come to life, wyverns play around, and magic seems within reach, the Oxford Key Mysteries are sure to delight.
Lynn Morrison lives in Oxford, England along with her husband, two daughters and two cats. Born and raised in Mississippi, her wanderlust attitude has led her to live in California, Italy, France, and the Netherlands, in addition to the UK. It’s no surprise then that she loves to travel, with a never-ending wish list of destinations to visit.
She is as passionate about reading as she is writing, and can almost always be found with a book in hand. You can find out more about her on her website LynnMorrisonWriter.com.
If you want to chat with her directly, join her Facebook group – Lynn Morrison’s Not a Book Club – where she happily talks about books, life and anything else that crosses her mind.
Website
Originally from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in Northeast England, audiobook narrator Pearl Hewitt currently lives with her husband and two children in Houston, Texas. Over the years she has worked as a customer service rep, a teaching assistant, and a teacher, but deep down there was always a performer wanting to get out. In 2007 her twelve-year-old son told her that he believed she was so good at reading stories out loud that she should do that as a job. That was her defining, eureka moment, and she’s never looked back. Pearl immersed herself in training and pursued a career in general voice acting but in 2012 she decided to focus her attention to narrating audiobooks in a wide range of genres. It was then that her professional career blossomed. She regularly works directly with indie authors but also narrates for a number of major publishers and has gained lots of recognition in the process including IAAIS awards, a Voice Arts Award nomination and Audiofile Magazine reviews. Pearl’s is comfortable narrating both fiction and non-fiction titles and has been very successful reading British Regency romance, cozy murder mysteries, fantasy/science fiction, children’s literature, the classics, history, biographies and more.
Website
Nat and her merry band of Eternals are back and, this time, Nat and Mathilde have found a body in the library at Barnard College. The unlucky victim is Master Finch-Byron’s assistant and, as it soon becomes obvious, there probably are a plethora of people who could be the murderer because Ms. Evans was not a pleasant or well-liked person. Also, as the title suggests, some thievery has occurred and that might very well be connected to the killing.
Once again, the little wyvern known as H who frequently turns into a cat so regular non-magical people won’t notice the curmudgeonly former gargoyle, is front and center and I thoroughly enjoyed his scenes. Even more fun is the appearance of a particular ghost important to Nat who helps her understand more about this wondrous magical world she has found herself in and he has some knowledge to share regarding the leaking magic affecting the university. While Nat, Mathilde and Kate keep searching for answers to this problem and to the killing, with the assistance of some of the college’s other ghosts, Edward redeems himself a bit in Nat’s eyes, being very slightly less suspicious of the three prefects as he carries out his detective duties.
Oxford is the perfect setting for this series and, having visited years ago, I can readily believe that magic exists there. After all, it’s just about as Hogwarts-ish as you can imagine and, well, I want my own wyvern, thank you very much. Ms. Morrison continues to be enormously imaginative and creative and Pearl Hewitt is fast becoming one of my favorite narrators thanks to her numerous voices and near-perfect pacing.
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, December 2021.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Lynn Morrison. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
View the full tour schedule here!
Plugging you into the audio community since 2016.
Sign up as a tour host here.
Book Review: Murder at St. Margaret by Lynn Morrison @NomadMomDiary @mktgchair @AnAudiobookworm
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Author: Lynn Morrison
Narrator: Pearl Hewitt
Length: 8 hours 16 minutes
Series: Oxford Key Mysteries, Book 1
Released: Sep. 27, 2021
Publisher: Marketing Chair Press
Genre: Cozy Mystery
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“Grief can change us… rewire our brains and shift the way we look at the world…”
A dead chef. A ruined gala. And the ghosts didn’t see a thing.
As Oxford’s new Head of Ceremonies, Natalie Payne’s first task is to organize St Margaret’s autumn gala. However, her plans are dashed when she finds their famed chef dead in the kitchen.
And then a centuries-old cat informs Nat she has her own magical legacy…and responsibilities. A murder in the halls is a sure sign that something has gone wrong with Oxford’s magical protections.
Now Nat has to solve the murder, find a new chef for the gala, and figure out why Oxford’s magical defenses are down. With the help of Oxford’s magical Eternals and some new friends, Nat has a chance.
But can she do it before St Margaret loses its connection to the magic of Oxford?
If you like cozy mysteries where ghosts walk the halls, paintings come to life, creatures play, and magic seems within reach, the Oxford Key Mysteries are sure to delight.
Lynn Morrison lives in Oxford, England along with her husband, two daughters and two cats. Born and raised in Mississippi, her wanderlust attitude has led her to live in California, Italy, France, and the Netherlands, in addition to the UK. It’s no surprise then that she loves to travel, with a never-ending wish list of destinations to visit.
She is as passionate about reading as she is writing, and can almost always be found with a book in hand. You can find out more about her on her website LynnMorrisonWriter.com.
If you want to chat with her directly, join her Facebook group – Lynn Morrison’s Not a Book Club – where she happily talks about books, life and anything else that crosses her mind.
Website
Originally from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in Northeast England, audiobook narrator Pearl Hewitt currently lives with her husband and two children in Houston, Texas. Over the years she has worked as a customer service rep, a teaching assistant, and a teacher, but deep down there was always a performer wanting to get out. In 2007 her twelve-year-old son told her that he believed she was so good at reading stories out loud that she should do that as a job. That was her defining, eureka moment, and she’s never looked back. Pearl immersed herself in training and pursued a career in general voice acting but in 2012 she decided to focus her attention to narrating audiobooks in a wide range of genres. It was then that her professional career blossomed. She regularly works directly with indie authors but also narrates for a number of major publishers and has gained lots of recognition in the process including IAAIS awards, a Voice Arts Award nomination and Audiofile Magazine reviews. Pearl’s is comfortable narrating both fiction and non-fiction titles and has been very successful reading British Regency romance, cozy murder mysteries, fantasy/science fiction, children’s literature, the classics, history, biographies and more.
Website
Q&A with Author Lynn Morrison
- Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?
- I wish! Murder at St Margaret was the first cozy mystery I wrote, and at the time, my only thought was about writing a story which would hold together. I could not have imagined how many copies of the book would sell, or even begin to dream of making an audiobook. It wasn’t until the fourth book in the series came out, and I started to see a steady income, that I began to think about making audio versions.
- Now that I am farther along in my career, I do keep the idea of audio in the back of my mind as I write. I try to cut down on the dialogue tags and introduce more motion and movements instead. But, I think some of that comes along as part of your natural progression as you get better over time.
- How did you select your narrator?
- I didn’t start thinking about producing an audio version of Murder at St Margaret until a year after it was released. By then, I had good information on what other books my readers liked. I looked up those titles on Audible and checked which narrators the authors had chosen. Pearl Hewitt’s name came up again and again. She has an incredible ability to effortlessly switch character voices as she reads, and really brings the story to life in a way only audio can. It was no surprise that listeners love her. I contacted her out of the blue via her website, and lo and behold, she said yes!
- How closely did you work with your narrator before and during the recording process? Did you give them any pronunciation tips or special insight into the characters?
- I put together character bios for each of the main characters, and prepared a 15 minute test script pulling out different excerpts from the book. I specifically chose scenes which were dialogue-heavy so I could hear how she would differentiate between the characters. There were a few smaller characters which I didn’t include in my advance preparation. After reading the book, Pearl came up with suggestions for how their voices should sound – and I have to say that she did a brilliant job of it. She recorded the 15 minute sample and I circulated it to a few fans for feedback. Pearl took on board all their comments and then took care of everything from there. I didn’t have to do anything else until the book was ready to approve in Audible.
- Were there any real life inspirations behind your writing?
- I pulled from both my own experiences of living in Oxford and being a professor’s wife, along with doing a ton of background research into the colleges themselves when writing this series. Oxford is such a unique city, and the university is full of quirks and traditions which are fascinating to outsiders. I wanted to bring my readers behind the closed doors of the colleges and let them see what life is really like. I haven’t seen any ghosts in Oxford, nor have any of the paintings come to life as I’ve walked past, but my imagination was more than happy to fill in the blanks when it came to dreaming up the magical elements.
- How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for writing?
- Writers talk a lot about the importance of refilling your creative well, and I fully agree with that sentiment. I read a LOT of books each year – 150 or more on average. I need to lose myself in someone else’s story to remember why I write.
- I also spend a long time thinking about a book idea before I sit down to start a project. I flesh it out in my mind until I am super excited to see the story come to life. I am usually thinking one or two books ahead of whatever project I’m currently doing. This helps me keep up my writing pace – each finish line marks the start of something I’m excited to tackle.
- One of the funnest parts of being a writer (and one of the weirdest) is seeing your characters take on a life of their own as you write the story. I am a plotter. I write a synopsis and outline before I put the first word onto paper. But no matter how much I prep, there is always a moment where a character will suddenly veer in a new and interesting direction. Wherever that happens, I can only sit back in amazement and see where they lead me. It keeps me guessing, even though I’m the writer.
- Is there a particular part of this story that you feel is more resonating in the audiobook performance than in the book format?
- I wrote this series in first person, present tense because I wanted the reader to feel like they are experiencing everything at the same time as my main character is doing so in the story. When put into an audio format, this gives the story a real sense of immediacy. I think it allows the listener to sink deeper into the tale, and feel as though they are sitting in on the conversations and making each discovery along with Natalie and her friends.
- What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
- As an author, I want readers to enjoy my story in whatever format is most comfortable for them. That might be a paperback, or an ebook, or the audio version. Arguing over “which format is better” misses the point – the main focus should be on accessibility. The only person who gets a vote on the format is the reader.
- On a personal note, my younger daughter is dyslexic, and for a long while she hated reading. She has, however, always loved listening to stories. Audiobooks were a natural fit for her.
- How did you celebrate after finishing this novel?
- We ate cake! I started a tradition of either baking or buying a cake whenever I finish a book. It gives me something to look forward to when I am elbow deep in edits, and it also reminds my family there is a reward for putting up with my book deadline stress. As I start to get close to the end, we all discuss which cake we want to eat when it comes time to celebrate.
- What bits of advice would you give to aspiring authors?
- Don’t stress over the quality of your first draft. I am a strong believer that anything can be fixed in edits – even if that means you have to do a major rewrite. Major rewrites aren’t that bad! The key thing is to get a first draft done so you can enjoy the satisfaction that comes from writing a book. It is an incredible accomplishment – and the warm feelings you get will support you through the editing process. I would also suggest that you start networking with other writers in your genre as soon as you can. Join author groups on Facebook or Discord, or post comments and replies to authors on other social media platforms. The writing community is filled with supportive people who are happy to cheer you on or lend a hand (or be a sympathetic ear). Writing can feel lonely at times, and knowing other writers can make a big difference on dark days.
- What’s next for you?
- I am hard at work on the next book! I jump from one project to another, and always have at least one book in progress. At the moment I’m working on two books – one is for the Oxford Key Mysteries and the other is for my Midlife in Raven series.
I love a good mystery and then you throw in a magical cat AND a wyvern (who’s really the cat) AND a few ghosts AND a setting at Oxford…well. I ask you, how could I resist?? Needless to say, I didn’t, and I’m here to tell you this story is packed with charm and appealing characters and a good conundrum to be solved. Nat and her cohorts, Kate and Mathilde, find lots of clues leading to who killed the chef that are frequently red herrings and, of course, the bigger question is what is causing the magic to fail?
Well, actually, the biggest question might be how did Nat not know about her own connection to the magical world, not to mention where did this curmudgeonly cat called H (because he hates his name) come from? But I digress.
All in all, Ms. Morrison’s Murder at St. Margaret was a most satisfying blend of mystery and urban fantasy, enhanced in a delightful way by Ms. Hewitt’s audiobook narration. I really savored the latters intonations and pacing and I think these two ladies together present an awfully enchanting tale. Now, on to book #2, Burglary at Barnard.
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, November 2021.
I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Lynn Morrison. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
View the full tour schedule here!
Plugging you into the audio community since 2016.
Sign up as a tour host here.
Book Reviews: Pineapple Lies by Amy Vansant and Pineapple Mystery Box by Amy Vansant @AmyVansant @Rosemary_Benson
Pineapple Lies
A Pineapple Port Mystery #1
Amy Vansant
Amy Vansant, August 2015
Narrated by Rosemary Benson
Downloaded Unabridged Audiobook
From the author—
Growing up in one of Florida’s age-55-plus communities, Charlotte never expected life to be wild. Golf cart racing with her surrogate mothers Mariska and Darla was about as nutty as life got… until she found the hot pawnbroker’s mom buried in her backyard.
Talk about making a lousy first impression.
Armed with nothing but her wits, Pineapple Port’s questionable cast of characters and a growing crush, Charlotte is determined to solve the mystery of Declan’s mother’s murder.
Hey, at least this guy’s skeletons aren’t in his closet.
Sometimes it takes me what seems like forever to get around to reading a book I really wanted in the beginning. It isn’t usually because I lose interest, although that occasionally happens. Mostly it’s because I am constitutionally incapable of controlling my TBR hoard, a victim of my own book greed.
The result of this is that, once in a while, I’m completely blown away by a book I’ve put off for no good reason other than having too many books to read (!) and then I kick myself for missing out for way too long and that’s what happened with Pineapple Lies. It took me approximately 30 minutes of the audiobook to decide this was going to be a terrific read for three reasons:
1. I love the players and the premise of a youngish woman who lives in a retirement community in Florida being the sleuth. I live in Florida (but not in a retirement village) so I was already predisposed to like the setting and Ms. Vansant has created a bunch of characters who are a little stereotypical but in a very good way and who each bring something to the table, so to speak.
2. The mysteries are entertaining puzzles with the main one, the discovery of the local pawnbroker’s mom buried in Charlotte’s yard, keeping my little gray cells working while the side threads provide plenty of humor and distraction. The author’s pacing is especially good and not once was I the least bit let down as the plot progressed. There’s a budding romance, too, but it’s not obtrusive.
3. I’ve found an audiobook narrator to add to my list of favorites. Rosemary Benson is, in a word, amazing. Her ability to create individual voices is beyond that of most truly good narrators and I’ve listened to some I consider among the best. I’m very sure I would have fallen in book love with Pineapple Lies anyway but Ms. Benson brings it all to life.
So, big kudos to both author and narrator—this book is going on my list of best books read in 2021 and now we’ll see if the trend continues with the second book, Pineapple Mystery Box.
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, September 2021.
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Pineapple Mystery Box
A Pineapple Port Mystery #2
Amy Vansant
Amy Vansant, January 2018
Narrated by Rosemary Benson
Downloaded Unabridged Audiobook
From the author—
When a giant inflatable Halloween witch goes missing in the Pineapple Port retirement community, Charlotte’s eager to nab the culprit. Before she can lift a fingerprint, someone threatens to kill a new neighbor who looks like an adorable Pomeranian but possesses a disturbing talent for revenge. Moments later, a stranger demands the return of a mysterious wooden box – or else.
Charlotte’s boyfriend, Declan, isn’t having a great morning either. His calculating ex-girlfriend has returned to claim she’s the rightful owner of his pawn shop. She’s livid he’s found a new lady, too.
Eh. Things could be worse. At least Charlotte doesn’t know that a mojito-swilling killer who fed his grandmother to a cat is on his way to Pineapple Port!
Some series suffer from sophomore slump but this one most certainly does not. Charlotte has decided that her calling is to be a private investigator after her achievements in the previous story and her senior citizen community is more than willing to send cases her way, things like who stole Darla’s Halloween witch and who is moving outdoor decor from one yard to another.
When pawnbroker Declan’s former girlfriend threatens to make his life miserable and a peculiar box draws unhealthy attention, he thinks things are weird enough but they can’t explain his uncle Seamus’s bizarre behavior. Throw in a potentially homicidal newcomer and Charlotte suddenly has a full detecting plate.
Following up on the first book, Pineapple Mystery Box is just as clever and filled with humor and I appreciated narrator Rosemary Benson’s talents every bit as much. I highly recommend this and I’ll soon be starting the next audiobook, Pineapple Puzzles.
Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, September 2021.
Buried Under Books 