First In Series

Review: Asher Black by Parker S. Huntington

17 November 2017 / Reviews / , , , , , , / 1 Comment

My ReviewsA good start to a promising series!

Asher Black is #01 of 05 in The Five Syndicates Series
 (get it, 5) by Parker S. Huntington. The first 2 are published but only #1 is on Audible. The full series list can be found in the book itself or on the author’s page here.

Lacy Laurel narrates this title.

HEA with no cliffhanger!

This series is connected by characters, the school, and the mob, as far as I can tell. This is the first in the series and only one in audio. My philosophy is ALWAYS to read a series in order! :-).

Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins

Warning: SEX!
Yes, both in thoughts and actions, but very little. If you do not like sex, then you should avoid.

Trigger Warnings
Lucy has unplesant memories of potenial child abuse.

♥

Ebook Sample from Kindle 

♥ Story ♥

Lucy ❤ Asher

Asher Black is a mafia/new adult romance (my classification, not official). This is the first in The Five Syndicates Series series. 5 are planned.

♥

It’s like a modern day Cinderella story, only I lost a burner phone not a glass slipper .

Lucy

Lucy, almost everything about my name is fake, is a former foster kid that likes to run away from her problems. She is on scholarship at an Ivy league school where she instantly bonds with her roommate Aimee. Lucy is dragged to a hot club which sets into motion life altering events.

Lucy has a lot of baggage and can give you whiplash with her back and foth emotions. Her courage intrigues Asher, and thus goes our adventure.

♥

Audio Sample from Audible

Asher

Asher Black is the true hero in this story, in my opinion! He is known as a mafia fixer, but if you ask him about it, he would say otherwise. Asher is not a man to be crossed, but not everyone is smart enough to listen. He goes out of his way for Lucy and is fairly honest with her, despite her not doing the same. He needs a fake fiance to keep from being voted out of his company. Guess who that is?

I feel like I can’t really comment on too much more without spoiling something, so please see the completed Read Along With Me for this title. Read Along With Me: Asher Black

♥


There is not any info given for the other 4 books in this series except for #2 which has been published. Book #02, Niccolaio Andretti, features the mean girl schoolmate Minka and Niccolaio, who Asher called ‘One of His’. Book #03, Bastiano Romano, is about Asher’s ‘brother’, Bastian. Book #04, Marco Camerino, is possibly about Asher’s friend Mark, but not for sure. Book #05, Rafaello Rossi, is not a name I came across, even in part. I’m hoping for it to be the secret name of Xavier. :-).

This was a good start to a promising series. I look forward to listening to more in the future.

♥♥

I owe a favor to a mobster .
How the Hell did that happen?

♥ Author ♥

This is my 1st read/listen by Parker S. Huntington, and she has me hooked! The world setup is believable and there are definitely some characters I want more of.

Parker has 01 Audible Titles, this was her first!

♥

♥ Narrator(s) ♥

Lacy Laurel gave yet another solid performance. The main characters were spot on!. The characters got a bit muddied when there were several in the same scene, but overall not too noticeable.

Lacy has 61 Audible Titles

♥

Asher Black

The Five Syndicates Series

Written by Parker S. Huntington

Read by Lacy Laurel

Ebook obtained through Kindle Unlimited

Audiobook obtained for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review

Audiobookworm Blog Tour Spotlight: Asher Black by Parker S. Huntington

14 May 2018 / Audiobook Blog Tours / , , , , ,

Author: Parker S. Huntington

Narrators: Lacy Laurel

Length: 8 hours and 32 minutes

Publisher: PSH Publishing House

Released: Oct. 31, 2017

Genre: Romance

He was supposed to kill me. I had done the unthinkable. I called the cops on him, on his family, but he let me live. We became friends, and then… we fell in love.

Lucy Ives is a foster kid, running from her turbulent past. On her first night in New York City, she accidentally calls the cops on the mafia. When their fixer comes to kill her, he spares her life in exchange for a favor–be his fake fiance or die.

 

 

Parker S. Huntington is from Orange County, California, USA. She has a B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of California, Riverside and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Liberal Arts in Literature and Creative Writing from Harvard University. She has two puppies, Bauer and Chloe, and lives with her boyfriend of four years–a real life alpha male, book-boyfriend-worthy hunk of a man. She is currently working on Book 3 of the Five Syndicates Series.

Website⎮Facebook⎮Twitter⎮Goodreads⎮Instagram
Narrator Bio

Lacy lives the life of a full time wife, mother and household manager. Needing a temporary escape from time to time Lacy returned back to her first love – reading! After devouring everything she could get her hands on she thought, -what if she could mix her love of performance and literature in a professional capacity? Once getting involved in the world of book narration she quickly became hooked and when not with her family you can find her in her studio working hard to grow in her own storytelling abilities.

Website⎮Facebook⎮Twitter

My Review can be found here.

Read Along With Me: Asher Black

Q&A with Narrator Lacy Laurel
  • When did you know you wanted to be an audiobook narrator?
    • I was listening to more and more audiobooks and I just kept getting the urge to do it.
  • How did you wind up narrating audiobooks? Was it always your goal or was it something you stumbled into by chance?
    • I just researched until I found ACX, and on their website it talked about what you needed, how to do it and I just went for it.
  • Did you find it difficult to “break into” audiobook narration? What skill/tool helped you the most when getting started?
    • No, it was not difficult to break in but to stay in is a totally different story.
  • A lot of narrators seem to have a background in theatre. Is that something you think is essential to a successful narration career?
    • I don’t know if it’s essential, I have a very limited background from when I was in school. I love theater. However now I do find training very important. Getting an instructor for the type of narration you want to perform, attend seminars and classes in both performance and audio technology – you should really know how to use the equipment you are utilizing and some ‘employers’ will only accept your work if you are using certain technology.
  • What type of training have you undergone?
    • I am seeing a coach for non-fiction (Sean Pratt-@SPPresents) and another for fiction (Andi Arndt – @andi_arndt). Between the two a variety of topics in narration and the business of narration are covered. I see improvement every time I have a session, which is really encouraging, I am lucky that although I may not have years of professional acting or collegiate acting training I am able to utilize my coaches to help me improve and to learn more about what it is that I do.
  • How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for narrating?
    • For me it is a combination of things. Because of the performance aspect, if I am not feeing it, I try not to push through. I will walk away and do some of the many other things I am responsible for in real life. My hours are really flexible because I work out of a home studio, so sometimes it is just as simple as hanging out with the family. Other times, I find that listening to others narrate in the genre’s I work in really helps. Especially when they are good they will motivate me to want to get back in the booth.
  • Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
    • Yes I am constantly listening! I love audiobooks! For me, I find myself listening while I am doing housework or playing the driver to the kids.
  • What are your favorite and least favorite parts of narrating an audiobook?
    • My favorite is recording, getting to immerse myself into another world. I also love the read through of the book; it really gets me excited and helps me to plan out where I am going to go. I guess editing is my least favorite part, but only in comparison to the other parts, I love to do it, just not as much as performing or reading.
  • What about this title compelled you to audition as narrator?
    • It is exactly the story I would read as a consumer, and if it has my attention in that way then I want to audition because I know I will have fun with it while recording.
  • How closely do you prefer to work with authors?
    • I love having input from the authors, although every relationship is not the same. I do prefer it when even if they are not the ones who hire me, they have made the decision to have me be the voice of their book.
  • What’s next for you?
    • Project wise I am getting ready to dive into Stepping Stone, book 2 of The Stone Series, Filthy Cam Girl by JB Duvane, Same Page by G.L. Tomas and Blame It On the Pain by Ashley Jade

 

Nov. 12th:

The Audiobookworm

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What Is That Book About

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Jazzy Book Reviews

Lilly’s Book World

Nov. 14th:

Up ‘Til Dawn Book Blog

Desert Rose Reviews

Highway-Y.A.

Nov. 15th:

Love Read Listen

London’s Scribbles

Nov. 16th:

Between the Coverz

Audiobook Romance

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The Book Junkie Reads . . .

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The Book Addict’s Reviews

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Review: What Lies Beneath (Enigma #1) by Ditter Kellen

14 October 2017 / Reviews / , , , , , ,

My ReviewsExciting adventures from below!

What Lies Beneath is #01 of 09 in the Enigma Series by Ditter Kellen. All 9 are currently published with 05 of them being in audio. The author plans for the other 4 to be in audio by the end of the year. She also plans many more after #09 at this time. Which excites me to no end!
Every fan never wants their series to end!

❤ Yay! ❤
Happy dance

Johnny Mack narrates the series, to include all future editions.

HEA with no cliffhanger!

These are connected by characters so I recommend reading the books in order. It is more enjoyable that way, but could be taken as standalones if you absolutely insist. There would be spoilers for the earlier ones if you start in the middle.

Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins

Warning: SEX!
Yes! Both in thoughts and actions, so those opposed should avoid.

Trigger Warnings
None that I see.
Please let me know it you think there should be.


♥ Story ♥

 

Bracadyte Prince, Hauke ❤ Doctor Abbigail Sutherland

“Enigma,” he finished for her.

 

Abbie

Doctor Abbigail Sutherland knows her dad is up to something and follows him to work to find that the answer is more than she could of imaged. A human-like specimen is in the lab, waiting to be retrieved by the military. Abbie feels drawn to this creature but cannot fathom why. He seems familiar for some reason.

Enigma

Hauke

Hauke is a type of alien merman, for lack of a better word. The last thing he remembers is searching for his sister and brothers in arms after an explosion. He wakes in the lab to the sounds of Abbie’s voice and mentally links with her and shares the memories of their past encounter. After an infusion of human blood, Hauke is miraculously back from the dead just in time for all hell to break loose.

 

He backed her toward the unmade bed situated against the side wall. “I need to love you now, sweet Abbie. All of you.”
— Hauke

The pair turn to Abbie’s uncle for protection. Uncle Tony is an ex-CIA operative who is a ghost. Seriously, he basically never existed due to his past government relations. With Tony’s help, they manage to get Hauke home under the sea. Take note of Uncle Tony, because you will see him again!

“Te amo’?” she questioned through their link.
“It means I love you.”

Of course it’s not going to be that easy!

There is a lot of action to be had, as well as more characters to meet and fall in love with. The overall story Arc of the Bracadytes and the infection will continue throughout the whole series.

Ditter Kellen weaves mythology into a uniquely beautiful story that is the world of the Bracadytes. The characters are fictional but will illicit real emotions. You will want to rise up on their behalf to protect them from the human ignorance that threatens their well-being.

“You have a strange vocabulary, my mate. I am not certain why they would give me a rat’s ass”
— Hauke

The Enigma series has quickly become one of my favorites! I can’t wait to listen to the next as I devour this series like candy. I want to know how every character’s story plays out!

I can’t really comment more without spoiling something. And trust me, there are things I want to say about some of the people I want to stab in the face, lol, but I will have to make this series a part of the Read Along With Me titles, so look for it over there hopefully soon.

“Do not feel bad for me, my mate. I cannot change what I am, and I sense the love you hold for me inside your heart. Know that I possess feelings for you that you could never comprehend.”
— Hauke

♥ Author ♥

 

This is my second read/listen by Ditter Kellen, and I can’t get enough! Her writing is imaginative and unique! The covers are HOT!

Ditter has 07 Audible Titles

♥ Narrator(s) ♥

 

This is my fourth listen by Johnny Mack, and I’m still loving it! His performance of both male and female character works. If I had to nit pick, the only thing I could say is sometimes the transitioning between narration and Hauke’s voice is not always smooth, which is not that big of a deal, being that it is a transition of Hauke’s thoughts/POV to Hauke speaking, so its all still Hauke. 🙂

Johnny has 25 Audible Titles

What Lies Beneath

Enigma Series

Written by Ditter Kellen

Read by Johnny Mack

Ebook obtained through Kindle Unlimited.

Audiobook obtained for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review

Review: Jade’s Fantasy (Kidnap Fantasies, #1) By Jan Springer

30 September 2017 / Reviews / , , ,

My ReviewsSexy Fantasies For Hire!

This is the first entry in the Kidnap Fantasies Series.
There are currently 3 books in the series, with 2 being in audio.

Consent was given for all of the fantasies, so don’t fret! Kidnap Fantasies is actually the name of a private company that arranges many different types of fantasies for its high end customers.

No matter what your perceived thoughts might be, this is actually a hot and steamy series with characters you can’t get enough of.

♥ Story ♥
As mentioned above, Kidnap Fantasies Inc., is essentially an escort service in pretty packaging. They provide brochures of their services to which one can peruse and choose their desired fantasy. The client then fills out a questionnaire with all the preferred details of their sexy adventure. From there, the company takes over and before you know it, your deepest sexy desires are being fulfilled.

Our Heroine, Jade Hart, finds the concept intriguing but not something she is brave enough to indulge in. She used to be a professional downhill skier, but a tragic accident ended that career and left her with scars she thinks no man could love. This is, of course, made worse by Jade’s horrid ex-fiance, Beau. This doesn’t stop her from filling out the questionnaire however, including some questionable vegetable options.

Jade’s sneaky, yet well-meaning sisters, steal the questionnaire and turn it in for her. They hope to make her Christmas a very lusty one she will never forget. So when Jade finds herself adrift at sea on her yacht with sexy handyman Caydon Minnelli, she somehow seems to forget that the things happening were from the questions she answered.

There are more secrets and twists that makes this one fun read in the most smutty of ways! I am left with a burning desire to know who the mystery owners are. Alas, I will have to wait for the big reveal in future installments. Its nothing that effects this story directly, just more my ingrained curiosity.

♥

It’s sexy, humorous, and endearing all in one, what more can you ask for! 🙂

♥ Author ♥
This is my first read/listen by Jan Springer and definitely plan to read more. The stories are hot and there is lots of sex, which is awesome alone, but she manages to infuse even a short story with likable characters that makes the overall experience even better.
She has 9 titles to her name listed on Audible.

♥ Narrator(s) ♥
Teri Clark Linden has narrated other titles I have listened to, as she has a very large catalog, but seeing how this is my first review for her performance, I will treat it as such and rate this as my first. 🙂

Teri’s titles range across the board from teens to erotica so there is something for everyone in her catalog. I find her voice quite pleasant and her handling of both male and female voices is excellent. You can hear the character’s pain as well as their joy in her performance.
She has a large catalog of 134 titles to her name listed on Audible.
My Audible Wishlist just got much bigger!

Jade’s Fantasy

Written by Jan Springer

Read by Teri Clark Linden

Ebook obtained through the Kindle Store.

Audiobook obtained for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review

Review: Wanderers: Ragnarök (Wanderers #1) by Richard A Bamberg

19 September 2017 / Reviews / , , , , ,

My ReviewsI want a manticore-possessed Harley!

This is the first book in the Wanderers Series. This is a continuing story line and characters, so even though it is not a cliffhanger at the end, there is also no HEA either.

♥ Story ♥
This story’s mythology is based around Norse traditions of the deities claiming fallen warriors as their champions. Most people are only familiar with the Valkyries, but just like the Greeks there were many deities to pray to that all came with their own entourages.

That’s where Rafe finds himself, as the minion of the Fate Verðandi. Who I have to say is pretty bad leading her Wanderers. Rafe has gone over 5 years without any contact or messages from her. As a Wanderer, he is to keep the status quo of good and evil by destroying demons that are causing havoc and disturbing this balance.

Rafe has been alone since his mentor was killed so is not in tune with the danger that is coming his way. Someone is trying to set in to motion the events that will lead to Ragnarök. For those that are not aware of what that is, it is the Norse equivalent of the end of days. It’s the final battle for the right to rule the world.

Needless to say, this is a bad thing. In trying to stop the first step in the end of the world Rafe has his trusted familiar Beast, that is a manticore who most often is in the form of a Harley, which makes for some humorous scenes. He has to team up with some overly horny witches, seriously they will not leave the dude alone, to try and prevent the first essentially “seal” from being broken.

The mythology is solid, and there is a lot of action, but I feel like this title suffers from first-book-itus. Too much info dumped over too long of a time, pulled the story down with it. It’s still a good start to a series and I’m looking forward to the next one.

♥ Author ♥
This is my first read/listen by Richard A Bamberg and I think it’s a great start. Very creative world building. I’m very curious to see what book 2 brings.

♥ Narrator(s) ♥
Johnny Mack is great as always. I have listened to him in other books and he just has that perfect amount of gruff to his voice that can be both charming and sultry in the same book.

Wanderers: Ragnarök

Written by Richard A Bamberg

Read by Johnny Mack

Ebook obtained through Kindle Unlimited.

Audiobook obtained for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review