Audiobook Review: One of the Boys by Jayne Cowie
One of the Boys
Author: Jayne Cowie
Narrators:
Clare Corbett
Joshua Acehurst
Published: July 11, 2023
Audiobook: 8 hours 3 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: June 12-17, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Audiobook Description:
A mother knows best… Doesn’t she?
Antonia and Bea are sisters. They are both doting mothers to their sons. But that is where their similarities end. Antonia had her son tested at an early age to ensure her little angel did not possess the ‘violent’ M gene.
Bea refuses to let her son take the test. His life should not be determined by a positive or negative result.
Both of these women will go to any length to protect their sons. But one of them is hiding a monster. And there are going to be fatal consequences for everybody…
Jessica’s Review:
Much like Cowie’s first book I listened to, One of the Boys is one that make you think, and I have enjoyed them both.
In the world of One of the Boys, there is the ‘M gene’ has been discovered in boys. It is a gene that shows the propensity of violence/ antisocial behavior in a boy’s future. And voluntary testing is done at birth. Depending on the results will depend on how the boy is treated for life, and untested is also treated as though the young man had a positive result.
We have two mothers of boys who are also sisters: Antonia and Bea. They are extreme opposites in every way, including their life circumstances and decisions: One sister had her child tested and the other did not.
One of the Boys shows the mother/son relationship and how far mothers will go for their children. We have a twist that I didn’t expect and I enjoyed this book! I’m not a mother, but it made me think!
I did have some issues with the narration: I had issues with the narrator’s accent. I had to start the book over as I had no idea what was going on and who was whom. I actually had to write it down to keep it straight for me for a good bit of the book. This is a ‘me’ issue and not one to blame the narrators on.
I really hope Cowie continues to write books like these, I will keep reading them! I enjoy books that are speculative fiction, and written to make you think about what you might do in a future that might become reality one day.
Book Review: I’m Divorced Now What?: A Guide to the Rest of Your Life
I’m Divorced Now What?: A Guide to the Rest of Your Life
Author: Adrienne Rothstein Grace
Published: June 1, 2023
Paperback: 175 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: July 19-28, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Divorce is one of the most difficult things a woman can go through. Unfortunately, the difficulty doesn’t end when the divorce becomes final. There are many challenges and many potential pitfalls as you enter this new phase of your life. From practical matters like finances to emotional issues of self-worth, the question “Now what?” comes up time and time again. Adrienne Rothstein Grace has helped countless woman answer that question. Now, in her latest book, Adrienne and a select group of experts share insights that will help you move forward with confidence. I’m Divorced, Now What? A Guide to the Rest of Your Life will empower you to make the right decisions and take the right steps on the path to a new life and a new you.
Jessica’s Review:
This review will be one with emotions on mainly how 2024 has gone for me. You know how it is, you just need to get it out and since this is a self help book on divorce, this book gets some of my story. This is a sort of therapy in a way.
2024 became a year I never expected: My husband had been having some issues for a few years and finally told me. Needless to say, I was beyond devastated. I tried to help the marriage and we went to counseling even though he didn’t want to. In the third session I realized that there is no fixing it and changing his mind. Then it became about taking care of MYSELF. He even told me that it is not my fault, it’s all him. (And it is!) I found myself having to figure things out: Money (as everything is so expensive now!), where I was going to live (again… how am I going to afford it on my own on a government worker’s salary) and the end of a life that I thought I was going to have.
I have a great support system of friends and family. I say friends first as my family is at least an hour away in heavy traffic. They have all been so much help. The divorce is final now (it was very quick too, my lawyer was on it!) , and I have two of the cats. I would have taken all three if I could have. And I am doing much better now. I continued therapy and am now at a point where I don’t need to see my therapist unless something major comes up. I have received my new driver’s license with my maiden name (and a terrible picture! It’s like they try to take the worst possible one of you! Can you do that close up of my face any closer!?!?! LOL) and still working on getting everything set up for my new chapter of life.
Now that I have gotten that out, some tears out of the way, and you know some of my divorce story, here are my thoughts on the book:
The book is made of two sections: Practical and Personal Development. It seems like this book was written for a different type of divorcee than what I am. It seemed like it was written for someone who was totally dependent on the ex-husband and may or may not have children. I have always been independent, so it felt like this book wasn’t totally for me. The Personal Development section was better for me. We didn’t have children, but I had three cats, now two as he kept one. I would have taken all three but apartments only let you have two pets.
Each chapter in the two sections seemed like it was a conversation between the author and an expert that was typed up. The chapter ends with a biography of whom the author talked with along with their contact information. The chapters also come with ‘takeaways’ where you can write down your thoughts to questions the author poses.
Needless to say, the author has done this for over 30 years and helped many women as they start their new chapter. I did like her Facebook page.
It will take some time, and I know some things will be very hard to do, but I do know I will be ok! I am at a complete 180 from where I was in January. I hope you don’t, but if you ever find yourself in this situation, I totally know how it feels: It feels like a death and in some ways it is, but the other person is still alive. It feels like the end of the world, and even though it doesn’t feel like it, YOU WILL BE OK! I know I will be!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
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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!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK