Audiobook Review: A Daughter of Fair Verona by Christina Dodd
A Daughter of Fair Verona
Series: Daughter of Montague #1
Author: Christina Dodd
Narrator: Suzy Jackson
Published: June 25, 2024
Audiobook: 8 hours 23 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: June 18-25, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Audiobook Description:
Once upon a time a young couple met and fell in love. You probably know that story, and how it ended (badly). Only here’s the that’s not how it ended at all.
Romeo and Juliet are alive and well and the parents of seven kids. I’m the oldest, with the emphasis on ‘old’—a certified spinster at twenty, and happy to stay that way. It’s not easy to keep your taste for romance with parents like mine. Picture it—constant monologues, passionate declarations, fighting, making up, making out . . . it’s exhausting.
Each time they’ve presented me with a betrothal, I’ve set out to find the groom-to-be a more suitable bride. After all, someone sensible needs to stay home and manage this household. But their latest match, Duke Stephano, isn’t so easy to palm off on anyone else. The debaucher has had three previous wives—all of whom met unfortunate ends. Conscience forbids me from consigning another woman to that fate. As it turns out, I don’t have to . . .
At our betrothal ball—where, quite by accident, I meet a beautiful young man who makes me wonder if perhaps there is something to love at first sight—I stumble upon Duke Stephano with a dagger in his chest. But who killed him? His late wives’ families, his relatives, his mistress, his servants—half of Verona had motive. And when everyone around the Duke begins dying, disappearing, or descending into madness, I know I must uncover the killer . . . before death lies on me like an untimely frost.
Jessica’s Review:
Everyone read Romeo and Juliet in high school or knows their story. A Daughter of Fair Verona is a novel written with a basis of “What if…” Romeo and Juliet had not died at the end of their story? Needless to say, it wouldn’t be the ‘end’ of their story. And this story is narrated by their daughter Rosaline aka Rosie. And yes, she is named after that Rosaline!
I have always enjoyed the story of Romeo and Juliet and looked forward to reading this continuing story. I was sent a audio copy to listen to from the publisher and really enjoyed it! We have Rosie who knows her parents’ story as does everyone in Verona. Rosie is feisty, smart, and independent. And she despises poetry! She is also our narrator.
Romeo and Juliet have tried to find a suitable husband for Rosie several times, but in the end Rosie find a much better wife than she would have been. Until she meets her parents latest match in Duke Stephano. But he meets an untimely death and she therefore doesn’t have to marry him. The same night of the Duke’s death, Rosie has a love at first sight encounter. Rosie also becomes he suspect in the Duke’s murder, but then so many people had a reason to want the Duke dead.
This is a fun and entertaining murder mystery if you enjoy the Romeo and Juliet story. I found myself not liking Juliet’s love a first sight suitor, I was rooting for another to win her heart. A Daughter of Fair Verona ends on a cliffhanger, but the ending is just getting you ready for book two in the series. I find myself looking forward to it!
The narrator is Suzy Jackson and she was perfect to narrate this story: She brought Rosie to life with her total spunky attitude!
Many thanks to the publisher for granting me a copy to listen to and review! I really enjoyed it!
Audiobook Review: The Housemaid is Watching by Freida McFadden
The Housemaid is Watching
Series: The Housemaid #3
Author: Freida McFadden
Narrators:
Lauryn Allman
Ina Marie Smith
Published: June 11, 2024
Audiobook: 11 hours 42 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: July 1-17, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Audiobook Description:
“You must be our new neighbors!” Mrs. Lowell gushes and waves across the picket fence. I clutch my daughter’s hand and smile back: but the second Mrs. Lowell sees my husband a strange expression crosses her face. In that moment I make a promise. We finally have a family home. My past is far, far behind us. And I’ll do anything to keep it that way…
I used to clean other people’s houses—now, I can’t believe this home is actually mine. The charming kitchen, the quiet cul-de-sac, the huge yard where my kids can play. My husband and I saved for years to give our children the life they deserve.
Even though I’m wary of our new neighbor Mrs. Lowell, when she invites us over for dinner it’s our chance to make friends. Her maid opens the door wearing a white apron, her hair in a tight bun. I know exactly what it’s like to be in her shoes.
But her cold stare gives me chills…
The Lowells’ maid isn’t the only strange thing on our street. I’m sure I see a shadowy figure watching us. My husband leaves the house late at night. And when I meet a woman who lives across the way, her words chill me to the bone: Be careful of your neighbors.
Did I make a terrible mistake moving my family here?
I thought I’d left my darkest secrets behind. But could this quiet suburban street be the most dangerous place of all?
Jessica’s Review:
This is the final book in The Housemaid series and I have enjoyed getting to know Millie over the course of the three novels. This final book is unlike the other two. The focus is Millie’s family. It is also a bit slower paced, but still enjoyable with of course: twists that only McFadden can deliver.
We had a good ending to the series and I liked seeing a character from book one return all these years later! In some way this character helped to move along the story and bring back the first novel.
This final book wasn’t as strong as the other two and was it really needed? No, it wasn’t. Am I glad I read it? Yes. I adore Millie and Enzo and enjoyed saying goodbye to these characters that you grew to love over these three novels.
I started out reading it on kindle but then saw that Lauryn Allman was a narrator again! I was excited for that as she really is Millie for me. Her narration is just brilliant. We also had a second narrator: Ina Marie Smith. I won’t say who her character is as it might be a bit of a spoiler, but she also brought it on 1000% with her narration!
McFadden is one I will keep on reading! Eventually, I will get a copy of this one to add to my library!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Audiobook Review: Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Coryell
Love Letters to a Serial Killer
Author: Tasha Coryell
Narrator: Andi Arndt
Published: June 25, 2024
Audiobook: 8 hours 59 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: July 9-16, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Audiobook Description:
An aimless young woman starts writing to an accused serial killer while he awaits trial and then, once he’s acquitted, decides to move in with him and take the investigation into her own hands in this dark and irresistibly compelling debut thriller.
Recently ghosted and sick of watching her friends fade into the suburbs, thirty-something Hannah finds community in a true-crime forum that’s on a mission to solve the murders of four women in Atlanta. After William, a handsome lawyer, is arrested for the killings, Hannah begins writing him letters. It’s the perfect outlet for her pent-up frustration and rage. The exercise empowers her, and even feels healthy at first.
Until William writes back.
Hannah’s interest in the case goes from curiosity to obsession, leaving space for nothing else as her life implodes around her. After she loses her job, she heads to Georgia to attend the trial and befriends other true-crime junkies like herself. When a fifth woman is discovered, the jury has no choice but to find William not guilty, and Hannah is the first person he calls upon his release. The two of them quickly fall into a routine of domestic bliss.
Well, as blissful as one can feel while secretly investigating their partner for serial murder…
Jessica’s Review:
This was an intriguing one! It is a twisty and creepy novel with a very messed up main character. I did not like Hannah at all or agree with the decisions she made, but I found myself not being able to stop listening to this one. It was such a popcorn type thriller; a really bad car accident: You know you shouldn’t look, but can’t help it and do!
Love Letters was an addicting and ‘fun’ read. Hannah writes to William in jail as he awaits trial as a killer. He’s not just a killer but an accused serial killer of women! But Hannah keeps writing and getting caught up in the case and forming a ‘relationship’ with William without having even met him yet! She becomes so caught up in the case that she makes her way to Georgia to watch it and even becomes connected with William’s family.
I just wanted to see where it was going to go. Will Hannah become another victim? Is William a serial killer or not? You’ll have to read this one to find out.
The narrator Andi Arndt did a very good job with her portrayal or Hannah. The audiobook was a good one!
This is another book where I love the cover. Even though this cover is pretty and pink, the novel itself isn’t!
I will be looking to see what else Ms. Coryell writes!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
[Top]