Tag: 5 stars

Audiobook Review: The One by John Marrs

The One
Author: John Marrs
Narrators:
Clare Corbett

Vicki Hall
Simon Bubb
Jot Davies
Sophie Aldred
Published: February 20, 2018
Audiobook: 11 hours 1 minute

Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: November 4-9, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars

Book Description:

How far would you go to find The One?

A simple DNA test is all it takes. Just a quick mouth swab and soon you’ll be matched with your perfect partner the one you are genetically made for.

That’s the promise made by Match Your DNA. A decade ago, the company announced that they had found the gene that pairs each of us with our soul mate. Since then, millions of people around the world have been matched. But the discovery has its downsides: test results have led to the breakup of countless relationships and upended the traditional ideas of dating, romance and love.

Now five very different people have received the notification that they’ve been “Matched.” They’re each about to meet their one true love. But “happily ever after” isn’t guaranteed for everyone. Because even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking than others…

A word-of-mouth hit in the United Kingdom, The One is a fascinating novel that shows how even the simplest discoveries can have complicated consequences.

Jessica’s Review:

I first read The One back in 2018 and loved it! It was a re-read for my book club that I am in for this month, and we meet on Saturday to discuss it: And I’m looking forward to it!  This time I  listened to the audiobook and it was a cast narration. 

Here is the link to my original review back in 2018. I can’t really add more to say than that as it would be spoilers.  I can add to say what I think about the narrators: Which is the narrators all did a fabulous job! They helped to distinguish the characters from each other and just brought these five people to life with their experiences.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

 

ALC Review: You Better Watch Out by James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth

You Better Watch Out
Authors:

James S. Murray
Darren Wearmouth
Narrator: Barrie Kreinik
To Be Published: October 15, 2024
Audiobook:
5 hours 47 minutes

Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: September 24-30, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars

Audiobook Description:

From international bestselling authors James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth, comes You Better Watch Out, a suspenseful, serial killer thriller that leaves you wondering, is Christmas really the best time of the year?

Forty-eight hours until Christmas, Jessica Kane wakes up with blurred vision, ears ringing, and in excruciating pain. A gash in her head and blood running down her face, the last thing she remembers is going for a run and something or someone hitting her in the head.

It doesn’t take her long to realize she is trapped in an unknown, deserted town with five other strangers who share similar stories of being attacked and stranded there. Unsure why and how they got there, she knows one thing for certain, she has to find a way out.

That becomes nearly impossible when someone is meticulously orchestrating their deaths, one by one, and the only thing Jessica can do is watch the life leave their eyes.

The fenced-in town is the killer’s very own playground and there’s nowhere left to hide… she better watch out because she could be next.

Jessica’s Review:

I LOVED this book!  It takes place at Christmas time, so I guess it will be considered a Christmas horror story (kind of like how Die Hard is considered to some a Christmas movie: And IT IS as I watch it every year! My ex-husband introduced me to Die Hard, but I will keep the tradition of watching it on Christmas Eve/ Christmas as it has become MY yearly enjoyable tradition!)

Out will not be for everyone: It is very gory and as the book continues the deaths one up each other by becoming more intense, gruesome, and dare I say…inventive?

We first meet Eddie who I considered the main character despite the book description seemingly focusing on Jessica as the main character. We have several strangers who all wake up after being drugged, kidnapped and in the middle of nowhere. This is a shorter novel that is very fast paced from the beginning. It’s a race for survival if anyone is going to make it. And you really don’t know if any of our characters will make it to the end. We have what I thought was a great twist and I am asking the authors: Can we PLEASE have a second book?!?!?! 

The narrator is Barrie Kreinik who was perfect! Her narration really helped to bring this disturbing story to life for me!

If you want a different kind of Christmas novel, (which would also be perfect to read now at Halloween!) that’s not all cheery “Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas!” Just remember it’s on the gruesome side, so be ready.

MANY THANK YOUs to the publisher Macmillian Audio for granting me an advanced listening copy. As you can tell, I LOVED it! 

Pre-Order Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

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Audiobook Review: Four Years Trapped in My Mind Palace by Johan Twiss

Four Years Trapped in My Mind Palace
Author: Johan Twiss

Narrator: Johan Twiss
Published: December 8, 2016
Audiobook: 7 hours 29 minutes

Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: September 17-23, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars

Audiobook Description:

I was paralyzed—trapped in my own mind. The friendship of a crazy old man was my way out.

Fourteen-year-old Aaron Greenburg is trapped in a vegetative state. He’s awake and aware of everything around him, but the doctors don’t realize it. After being placed in a care facility, he receives a new roommate–Solomon, an old eccentric jazz musician with dementia. When Aaron talks in his mind to stay sane, Solomon hears his thoughts and replies. But no one believes that Aaron and Solomon can converse, except for Solomon’s teenage granddaughter, Sarah.

When Solomon relives the past during his dementia episodes, Aaron joins him in those moments in time to experience 1920s New York City, getting into a scuffle with the mob in a Chicago nightclub, fighting in World War II, and much more as the two develop an unlikely and unique friendship.

Four Years in My Mind Palace is a humorous and heartwarming coming-of-age story, entwined with an end-of-age story, that will capture your imagination and renew your faith in the power of friendship.

Jessica’s Review:

My friend Beccie has been on me for YEARS to read this book. For Christmas in 2020 (yes, I am very embarrassed about this now!) she even bought me a signed edition by the author.  I promised I had intended to read it before now because I did buy a kindle copy years ago. Twiss now has a new edition of Four Years with a gorgeous cover, so I finally decided to read it.  Let’s just say that 2024 has not been my year to read books, so I am thankful that audiobooks exist and I used an Audible credit for this one: I can say that I have all the formats of this book covered!    

THIS BOOK: It gives you all the feelings! I was pulled in from the very beginning and just fell in love with Aaron and Solomon.  This book is magical realism with a bit of historical fiction added.  It would be appropriate for middle grade readers and up. Everyone will find something to love with this book. I loved everything about it.  We even get some history mixed in with Solomon’s life. This reader learned some things.

Twiss also narrated the audiobook. He really brought both Aaron and Solomon to life. This is a book that deserves so much more attention than it has gotten, and with a gorgeous new cover, I hope it does! This is a book that will touch you and you will look back at it fondly.

Twiss also talks about the research he did with the historical aspects of the novel.

I have a kindle version of his novella 30 Red Dresses that I hope to read sooner rather than later now! If you haven’t read Twiss yet, do pick it up and read it now versus waiting as long as I did.  My excuse is this: There are too many excellent books and never enough time!)

Here are pictures of my signed copy courtesy of Beccie:

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

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