Short Story Sunday: Audiobook Review: The Heart of a Mother by Julie Clark
The Heart of a Mother
Series: Obsession Collection #4
Author: Julie Clark
Narrator: Susan Dalian
Published: July 25, 2023
Audiobook: 1 hour 16 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Listened To: April 27, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Short Story Description:
A fateful decision from the past haunts a wealthy Californian. Desperate to make things right, she risks everything in this tense short story from New York Times bestselling author Julie Clark. Hillary Jean leads an enviable life. She has a loving husband, a beautiful home, caring friends, and meaningful work planning fundraisers. Yet she’s always felt incomplete. After a DNA website emails her a match, Hillary sets out to find the daughter she gave up twenty-five years ago. But her hunger to reconnect threatens to destroy the very thing she hopes to gain.
The Heart of a Mother is part of Obsession , a collection of compulsively readable short stories about people pushed to their extremes. So addictive you won’t be able to put them down—read or listen to each story in a single sitting.
Jessica’s Review:
Whoa! I’m not a mother but this short story gives you an idea of what a mother goes through when she puts a baby up for adoption. And how much it can affect her many years later.
You definitely experience a mother’s turmoil where she questions herself on what she should do. It shows a mother’s love above all else.
I knew the direction the story was going, but that did not stop me from ‘enjoying’ it. I would be interested in seeing what else Julie Clark writes. The narrator Susan Dalian did a great job with her portrayal. And do listen or read this in one sitting, I did!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Audiobook Short Story Review: The Gift by Freida McFadden
The Gift
Author: Freida McFadden
Narrator: Alyson Krawchuk
Published: December 4, 2022
Audiobook: 1 hour 4 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Listened To: December 20, 2023
Jessica’s Rating: 3 stars
Short Story Description:
It’s Christmas Eve and Stella Hansen is broke.
She is so broke that despite working two jobs, she can’t even afford a present for her husband on their first Christmas as man and wife. But then a mysterious storekeeper at a pawn shop offers Stella an intriguing trade.
Stella wants more than anything to buy her husband the Christmas gift of his dreams. But will it come at a terrible price?
The Gift is a gripping Christmas-themed thriller inspired by the classic O. Henry tale, The Gift of the Magi.
Jessica’s Review:
I wanted to share my review for this one before we got too far away from Christmas, so I am sharing it now!
Please note that this is not a full-length novel, but a short story. The book is about 50 pages and the audiobook (which I listened to) is just over an hour. I knew this going in as it says right there on Amazon the pages/ how long this story is. It is not the author’s fault if the reader does not notice that, and yes, I knew going in that it was short. I was ready for that as my commute is right at an hour and I knew I could get completely listened to then carry on for my work day!
The reader should also be aware that is inspired by that classic that we have all read in school: The Gift of the Magi, so we know the general direction this short story will go. But in McFadden fashion she has her own twist to it!
For me this short story was just average. The buildup was good, but the big twists didn’t shock me as I was hoping they would. It was more of a ‘what goes around comes around’ in a way certain characters did not see coming.
The narrator was Alyson Krawchuk and I have listened to her before. Her narration was good, especially with the old lady portrayal!
I’d love to see McFadden try her hand at more short stories, but with the ‘negative reviews’ as to the length of it (which again is mentioned if readers would actually… read ‘about the book’) I don’t think she will write more short stories.
If you enjoy McFadden books give it a try, but please realize that this is a short story!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
An Audible Original: 33 Unplayed Voicemails by Melissa de la Cruz
33 Unplayed Voicemails
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Narrator: Full cast narration
Published: August 18, 2022
Audiobook: 2 hours 28 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: June 5, 2023
Jessica’s Rating: 3 stars
Audiobook Description:
Straitlaced Evelyn and reformed bad boy Marco might make an unlikely pair, but the two lovebirds couldn’t be more head over heels for each other. Sure, they’ve had some missed calls along the way, but all that’s in the past. They’ve got their sights set on forever, and the next stop is a walk down the aisle in front of their friends and family. It’s the big day, and everyone’s gathered to watch Marco and Evelyn say “I do”. Everyone except Evelyn that is. Is the bride running late or running? With happily ever after on the line, the surprising answer might just be in their voicemails—too bad they never listen to them.
Jessica’s Review:
This one is strictly available as an audiobook and this short story is just 2.5 hours long, and frustrating the whole time! All I have to say is this: People, listen to your voicemails! You mean to tell me that over the course of their relationship that neither Evelyn or Marco realized this!?!?! It will just get worse not better if they don’t realize this. If so, then just answer your phone! And these two just don’t really seem to know much about each other and decide to get married. The whole thing spells disaster!
The saving grace for this short story was the audio format that it is in. This is the perfect story for audio since it is all about voicemails. We do also get other conversations, but the whole point of this story is the missed messages. I added one star for the format, otherwise this one would have been a 2 star listen. I hate to say it for any book, but this is one to avoid!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK