Hunting in Bruges (Hunter’s Guild, #1) by E.J. Stevens – Audiobook Review

Tags

5 stars, Anthony Bowling, audiobook, Belgium, Book Review, Bruges, E.J. Stevens, ghosts, Melanie A. Mason, paranormal, series, vampires, witches

About Hunting in Bruges by E.J. Stevens

The only thing worse than being a Hunter in the fae-ridden city of Harborsmouth, is hunting vamps in Bruges.

Being shipped off to Belgium sucks. The medieval city of Bruges is quaint, but the local Hunters’ Guild is understaffed, the canals are choked with dead bodies, and there’s no shortage of supernatural predators as likely suspects. On second thought, maybe Bruges isn’t so bad after all. With a desire to prove herself, protect the innocent, and advance within the ranks of the Hunters’ Guild, Jenna Lehane hits the cobbled streets of Bruges with blades at the ready. Someone, or something, is murdering tourists and dumping their bodies in the city’s scenic canals.

With the help of a mysterious stranger, Jenna begins to piece together clues that are dotted throughout the city like blood spatter. Determined to stop the killings, Jenna delves into a bloody local history that only raises more questions–but some secrets are best left buried. Jenna must put her combat training to the test as she struggles to unearth the truth about an ancient enemy. Hunting in Bruges is the first novel in the Hunters’ Guild urban fantasy series set in the award-winning world of Ivy Granger.

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Review of Hunting in Bruges

5 stars for the narration and for the story. Two narrators, Melanie A. Mason and Anthony Bowling, do a wonderful job of bringing this story to life. Having listened to more than one book from E.J. Stevens and this narration team, I am ready to listen to the next book!

But before that, I should talk about this book.  Bruges, a city I know next to nothing about, is the colorful location for this paranormal mystery.  Full of ghost, ghouls, vampires and many other supernatural creatures, there is no lack of action for our valiant Hunter and her friends.  Ivy Granger readers might recognize Jenna LeHane.  In Hunting in Bruges, Jenna is the star.

Several secondary characters add depth, humor and motivation to the story.  Jenna’s mysterious stranger (as mentioned in the book blurb) is totally charming and certainly adds a light-hearted tone to an otherwise dire situation.  The overall story has a resolution but also sets the reader up for the ongoing story of the war with the supernaturals.

Thanks to the author who gave away some audiobooks.  I was please to get this one!  My review is my honest opinion.

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Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia, narrated by Lauren Fortgang – Audiobook Review

Tags

5 stars, audiobook, Book Review, contemporary, Kate Racculia, Lauren Fortgang, mystery

About Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia

Tuesday Mooney is a loner. She keeps to herself, begrudgingly socializes, and spends much of her time watching old Twin Peaks and X-Files DVDs. But when Vincent Pryce, Boston’s most eccentric billionaire, dies—leaving behind an epic treasure hunt through the city, with clues inspired by his hero, Edgar Allan Poe—Tuesday’s adventure finally begins.

Puzzle-loving Tuesday searches for clue after clue, joined by a ragtag crew: a wisecracking friend, an adoring teen neighbor, and a handsome, cagey young heir. The hunt tests their mettle, and with other teams from around the city also vying for the promised prize—a share of Pryce’s immense wealth—they must move quickly. Pryce’s clues can’t be cracked with sharp wit alone; the searchers must summon the courage to face painful ghosts from their pasts (some more vivid than others) and discover their most guarded desires and dreams.

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Review of Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts

This is a book I could not resist.  Edgar Allan Poe has long been a favorite author of mine, so this book, with so many Poe references, called to me.  In answering the call, I was treated to an adventure through Boston neighborhoods while surrounded by several unusual characters whose stories are both fun and heartwarming.

Tuesday and friends her Dex and Dorry, as well as her new acquaintance Archie all join in the hunt for Vincent Pryce’s treasure – sometimes working together, sometimes not, but all ending up in the final leg of the treasure hunt.  Along the way, each character faces their past in order to move forward in the future.  The back flashes during the story did not always make sense, but everything comes together nicely at the end.  The loner who is a whiz at research, the gay man always searching for what he wants, the young girl who misses her mother terribly and the man born to both privilege and abuse make up the cast of characters that I sympathized with.  Each was a hero in his or her own way in this story.

Don’t let the title fool you.  This is not a ghost story.  Tuesday does talk to the ghost of her dead childhood best friend.   Or maybe she has just manifested Abby in head because she needs someone to talk to.  Tuesday and the reader believe both theories, alternatively.  The truth?  Well, you will have to figure that out yourself.

Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts is delightful!  The very quirky story of the brainy Tuesday Mooney and her eclectic group of friends takes the reader on a hunt for treasure, adventure, self-discovery, and friendship.

If you are thinking about the audiobook version, go for it.  Narrator Lauren Fortgang delivers a fine performance adding a range of emotions with a calm, pleasant voice.  Nicely done!

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The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson, Katie Schorr, Narrator – Audiobook Review

Tags

5 stars, Appalachia, audiobook, Book Review, books, historical, Katie Schorr, Kentucky, librarian, Michele Richardson, Racism

About The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

The hardscrabble folks of Troublesome Creek have to scrap for everything—everything except books, that is. Thanks to Roosevelt’s Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, Troublesome’s got its very own traveling librarian, Cussy Mary Carter.

Cussy’s not only a book woman, however, she’s also the last of her kind, her skin a shade of blue unlike most anyone else. Not everyone is keen on Cussy’s family or the Library Project, and a Blue is often blamed for any whiff of trouble. If Cussy wants to bring the joy of books to the hill folks, she’s going to have to confront prejudice as old as the Appalachias and suspicion as deep as the holler.

Inspired by the true blue-skinned people of Kentucky and the brave and dedicated Kentucky Pack Horse library service of the 1930s, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek is a story of raw courage, fierce strength, and one woman’s belief that books can carry us anywhere—even back home.

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Review of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

As a librarian, this story of the travelling librarian appealed to me even if it not typical of my usual fare.  This is such a good story and so relevant today with all the issues of racism.  While Cussy’s skin color is blue, the prejudices are the same.

The author’s research resulted in a rich tale of the blue-skinned people of Kentucky, the Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project and of the Appalachian life.  Coal miner mistreatment, very poor hill people and domestic violence are also part of the story.  Luckily along with tales of the bad behavior, there are plenty of good aspects of the book too.

I was especially charmed by the moonshiner who did not like it when his family read books instead of doing their chores.  Cussy managed to find books or magazines that would improve the families ability to hunt, fish, sew and cook.  So dad went along and eventually, encouraged his family to read.  Book Woman is a heroine!

The narrator, Katie Schorr, brought intelligence and emotion to Cussy’s voice.  There were many sad, teary moments.  But they were offset by the very good moments.  And a happy ending!

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