Audiobook Review: Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger
Pen Pal
Author: J.T. Geissinger
Narrators:
Tara Langella
Troy Duran
Published: August 16, 2022
Audiobook: 8 hours 12 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: July 18-22, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 4.5 stars
Audiobook Description:
The first letter arrived the day my husband was buried. It was postmarked from the state penitentiary, and contained a single sentence:
I’ll wait forever if I have to.
It was signed by Dante, a man I didn’t know.
Out of simple curiosity, I wrote back to ask him what exactly he was waiting for. His reply?
You.
I told the mystery man he had the wrong girl. He said he didn’t. I said we’d never met, but he said I was wrong.
We went back and forth, exchanging letters every week that grew increasingly more intimate. Then one day, the letters stopped. When I found out why, it was already too late: Dante was at my doorstep.
And nothing on earth could have prepared me for what happened next.
Jessica’s Review:
I have to say that going in that this book is way outside of my genre of choice and I knew that going in. I have two friends who have read it and loved it (That’s you Suleika and April!) and I knew there is a huge twist that I was curious about. There are trigger warnings that a reader should to be prepared for with this book which are on the author’s website, and I will share here:
Explicit language
Graphic sex/Power Play dynamics
Detailed descriptions of death and grief
Miscarriage
Domestic Violence
Mental Illness
Another thing I want to share is that the book is extremely different from the provided book description. The letter writing is a tiny portion of the book, there is a love story that is the main focus.
As I have said in the past, I like ‘sweet romances’ and Pen Pal is extremely far from that. There is definitely graphic sex and power play dynamics here! Honestly, it became too much for me and I found myself skipping through the sex scenes. I really wanted to know what this ‘huge twist’ was. Was the read worth it in the end for me? YES! OMG, that twist! And then the Epilogue! If the sex hadn’t been that intense and the books description more on track to what the novel actually is, then this would have been a 5-star read for me! This is saying a lot from a non-smut reader!
Both narrators did a great job with their portrayals.
I would have never picked this one up on my own but it was free on my Audible, so I grabbed it. Will I read anymore books by Geissinger? No, as she is outside of my genre. If you are a smart reader and take head with the trigger warnings and are prepared for a different book than the impression of what the book descriptions says, you might just enjoy this one!
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
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