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Title: The Infamous Rakes

Subtitle: The Forthright Lady Gillian and The Fickle Fortune-Hunter

Author: Amanda Scott

Narrator: Lucinda Gainey

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-24-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Will two of London's most notorious rogues be outmatched in the game of love by two clever young ladies? When Lady Gillian Carnaby reads of her own betrothal to a hitherto unknown Baron Hopwood in the London Times, she is shocked to learn that the man is real. Worse, Hopwood is merely a minor title for Josiah Hawtrey, Marquess of Thorne, a man with such a scandalous reputation that London society is quite willing to believe he would become affianced to a noblewoman he has never met. To save her reputation, Gillian and the Marquess must go through the motions of a betrothal. But when Gillian sees that Thorne desires her as a woman, if not a wife, she must play a most challenging game of love with one of Londons most notorious rakes.

The Marquess of Thorne's friend, handsome Lord Edward Crawley, seeks to wed a wealthy heiress to shore up his faltering estate - and pay off his gambling debts. When Felicia Adlam realizes that her breathtakingly beautiful younger sister, Theodosia, is the seductive fortune-hunter's target, she vows to protect Theo from him, no matter what it takes. But Crawley is charmingly honest about his intentions, and undeniably appealing, so Felicia soon discovers that she risks surrendering to the accomplished rake's seductive charms herself.

Members Reviews:

Could do better

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Good story lines, but I was distracted a lot by the trans Atlantic twang of the narrator, who even had problems with how some words are pronounced in the UK. Regency Britain sounds better spoken by some one from this side of the pond.

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Title: Archangel

Author: Andrea Barrett

Narrator: Jeff Woodman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-19-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 27 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

During the summer of 1908, 12-year-old Constantine Boyd is witness to an explosion of home-spun investigation - from experiments with cave-dwelling fish without eyes to scientifically bred crops to motorized bicycles and the flight of an early aeroplane.

In 1920, a popular science writer and young widow tries, immediately after the bloodbath of the First World War, to explain the new theory of relativity to an audience (herself included) desperate to believe in an "ether of space" housing spirits of the dead.

Half a century earlier, in 1873, a famous biologist struggles to maintain his sense of the hierarchies of nature as Darwin's new theory of evolution threatens to make him ridiculous in the eyes of a precocious student.

The 20th-century realms of science and war collide in the last two stories, as developments in genetics and X-ray technology that had once held so much promise fail to protect humans - among them, a young American soldier, Constantine Boyd, sent to Archangel, Russia, in 1919 - from the failures of governments and from the brutality of war.

In these brilliant fictions rich with fact, Barrett explores the thrill and sense of loss that come with scientific progress and the personal passions and impersonal politics that shape all human knowledge.

Critic Reviews:

"[Andrea Barrett's] work stands out for its sheer intelligenceThe overall effect is quietly dazzling." (The New York Times Book Review)

Members Reviews:

Science & the human condition, beautifully written

I can't think of any author that can write about science and the people involved with science in such a compelling way as Andrea Barrett, and Archangel is a stunning example of her abilities. In this group of five interconnected stories, she writes about early aviation, Darwin's theory of evolution, Einstein's theory of relativity, genetics research, and early x-ray technology. This is historical fiction, and the scientific pioneers are either named or easily recognizable, but Barrett writes so well that these real scientists never overtake the fictional characters she has created.

The interconnectedness of the stories is truly original. The young boy, Constantine Boyd, in the first story, "The Investigators", returns as a grown man and soldier in World War I in the last story, "Archangel". In "The Investigators", Constantine comes to know a neighbor named Miss Atkins who is interested in blind cave fish. Henrietta Atkins returns as a student and teacher in "The Island" where she comes to understand Darwin's theory of evolution from The Professor (Louis Agassiz, although he is not named in the story), but her understanding is quite different from what he is trying to teach. "The Ether of Science" deals with widowed science writer Phoebe Cornelius trying to reconcile what she knows and feels with the ideas of Sir Oliver Lodge. Phoebe's son, Sam, accompanies her to a lecture given by Lodge, one where she is just baffled and confused, but Sam understands what is going on very well, and writes a paper that amazes his mother. This scene has some of the best writing I have ever read about science, humans, emotion, and the reconciliation of science and spirituality.

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Title: The Creed of Violence

Author: Boston Teran

Narrator: Armando Durán

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-15-13

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Mexico, 1910. The landscape pulses with the force of the upcoming revolution, an atmosphere rich in opportunity for a criminal such as Rawbone. His fortune arrives across the haze of the Sierra Blanca in the form of a truck loaded with weapons.

But Rawbone's plan spins against him, and he soon finds himself at the Mexican-American border and in the hands of the Bureau of Investigation. He is offered a chance for immunity, but only if he agrees to proceed with his scheme to deliver the truck and its goods to the Mexican oil fields while under the command of Agent John Lourdes.

Rawbone sees no other option and agrees to the deal - but he fails to recognize the true identity of Agent Lourdes, a man from deep within his past.

Set againsta backdrop of intrigue and corruption, The Creed of Violence is a saga about the scars of abandonment, the greed of war, and America's history of foreign intervention for the sake of oil.

Members Reviews:

Hard to put down

As much as I found some of the more self-conscious word choices and obvious relevance to contemporary politics sometimes distracting, I must admit I found this book quite riveting. The characters are engaging and often surprising and--as you might expect from the title--the violence is graphic. There is an almost Tarantino-esque, cinematic quality to this novel. It's dark but definitely not without humor. I immediately started it again after I finished it which I usually only do with a good movie.

A GREAT BOOK

This is the 4th book by Boston Teran I have read. They are all different. They are all compelling and extremely well-written. I wasn't sure about "Creed of Violence" at first, but I became so enamored with the two main characters, the way they are connected and the narrative. It has strains of Sinclair Lewis and Cormac McCarthy while maintaining its own unique voice. The story and the characters resonate well after finishing it. I highly recommend it.

Excellent well written read

Well written, plausible background and characters in keeping with the demands made of them. The now typical policy of deniability by Washington is well on display.

Creed of Violence Makes Me Want to read all of Teran's earlier work!!

I bought this book because I thought the cover was very hip and I am a big fan of the era. I had no idea the book would be that good. The story is pretty well detailed in the outline on Amazon so I won't go there. I will only tell you I was absolutely drawn in, not only was it thrilling - I read the book in one night - but the details of the era blew me away. I would be reading and say " that can't be true" then I did research on the internet and - it was true. This book is a whole new take on literary/historical fiction. I give it the highest rating.

Very good western

Rawbone is an enthralling character and worth the read alone. He carries much of the story. A few things were cliche, but overall this a great novel. One of the better novels I've read over the recent years.

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Title: The False Virgin

Author: The Medieval Murderers

Narrator: Stephen Perring

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-04-13

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 17 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

AD 848. Bernwyn of Lythe spurns marriage and chooses to remain a virgin, dedicated to Christ. When she is found murdered in a chapel, butterflies found resting on her body are taken to be a sign from God. But what if Bernwyn was not all she seemed? Could her saintly deeds have been mistakenly attributed to her, and the people have set up a shrine to a false virgin?

Critic Reviews:

"With the combined imaginations of Bernard KnightSusanna Gregory, Ian Morson, and Philip Gooden, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read" (Daily Mail on The Sacred Stone)

"The various excellent crime writers each weave a clever and inventive tale around a central theme" (Good Book Guideon King Arthurs Bones)

Members Reviews:

Boring

I usually like historical thrillers which is why I bought this book, however I found this extremely boring. I persevered as long as I could but just could not get into it. I don't like to not finishing a book but I'm afraid I had to throw in the towel. Each of the stories are written by a different author and follow on from the last but didn't hold my attention. Sorry not recommended.

Excellent

Would you consider the audio edition of The False Virgin to be better than the print version?

My first Medieval Murders book , and I am hooked great short stories on a recurring theme. I have to get more.

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Title: Crossing Purgatory

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Gary Schanbacher

Narrator: William Dufris

Format: Unabridged

Length: 19 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-01-13

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In spring of 1858, Thompson Grey, a young farmer, travels to his fathers estate seeking funds to expand his holdings. Far overstaying his visit, he returns home to find that his absence has contributed to a devastating family tragedy. Haunted by remorse, Thompson abandons his farm and begins a westward exile in the attempt to outpace his grief. Unwittingly, he finds himself at journeys end in the one place where his strongest temptations are able to overtake him and once again put him to the test. Set against the backdrop of the frontier during the years just preceding the Civil War,Crossing Purgatorytells a story of unprincipled ambition, guilt, and the price one man is willing to pay for atonement.

Critic Reviews:

"This striking tale, a literary western from Schanbacher, chronicles one momentous year in the life of a plainsman on the eve of the American Civil War. [A] visceral and triumphant saga of the Old West." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

An insightful journey

I liked the way the writer made the reader feel as it they were walking alongside the main character and experiencing all the emotions. Having known the author in childhood, it made me wonder what his life experiences have been.

Well crafted historical novel details settlement patterns in the mid- to late 1800s

Very well written, good historical content. The kind of read that pulls the reader from beginning to end

Four Stars

Really enjoyed the book. Well written

Four Stars

great

Five Stars

A great novel of the pioneer days in the West.

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Title: The Morning Gift

Author: Eva Ibbotson

Narrator: Kate Lock

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-07-13

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 19 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Ruth lives in Vienna and is wildly in love with Heini Radik, a brilliant young pianist. When Hitlers forces invade, Ruths family flees to London, but she cannot get a passport.

Quin, a young professor and friend of the family, visits Ruth and offers a marriage of convenience. On their return to London, Quin begins to fall desperately in love with her. But then Heini turns up.

Members Reviews:

I can't hear this audio book. It is horrible

Would you try another book from Eva Ibbotson and/or Kate Lock?

I read all books by Eva Ibbotson, but would never ever buy another book narrated by Kate Lock

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Who want to hear someone narrate a book with a fake German accent? is this supposed to be funny?

On top, the main figure sounds like she has the IQ of a potato chip.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Morning Gift?

non. Unabridged is mandatory.

Any additional comments?

I am very sorry I will never be able to listen to this wonderful book narrated.

Okay

I didn't like the narrator. Her accents were hard to understand and some of her voices were down right irritating. I felt the end of the story was too quick trying to put all the strings together into one chapter. It really left me cold. I will never listen to this book again.

Bad narration

What disappointed you about The Morning Gift?

I would love to tell you that I loved this story as I love all Eva Ibbotson's books, but I can't. Because five minutes into the audiobook I hated the narrator. 30 minutes in and I had lost all track of what the story was about because I was so disgusted by the narration. This is not a children's book. Please do not narrate it as such. And ending every other sentence on an upswing? Is just annoying. The voices were terrible and the deal breaker for me. If Patricia Connolly did a version of this I would snatch it up is a heartbeat. As it is I'm happy I didn't pay full price because I had to delete it.

Same Storyline

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes, the characters are likable and it takes place during interesting times. It is however, the same plot as "The Secret Countess," "A Company of Swans" and "Magic Flutes." The leading man and woman are virtually interchangeable in all four books.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It's a very satisfying ending.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

While does have a pleasant voice, she sounds like she's reading a bedtime story to a child. My biggest complaint is the way she voices the Austrian characters. They sound like Ludwig Von Drake. The children's voices sounded like Ludwig Von Drake on helium. I wanted to pull out my earbuds and stomp on them. The main character, Ruth, is supposed to have gone to an English school and had a Scottish governess. She has an English accent, with a slight "Aberdonian" lilt when she is upset. The narrator gives her a thick German accent. It's very distracting. I think she could be a good narrator, if she had more direction.

This is the worst narrator I have Ever listened to

Would you try another book written by Eva Ibbotson or narrated by Kate Lock?

The narrator was so awful that I found it impossible to get beyond the first chapter, therefore I cannot comment on Eva Ibbotsons work.

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Title: The Christmas Chicken

Subtitle: A Novella

Author: Allen Appel

Narrator: Brad Wills

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-27-12

Publisher: Allen R Appel

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Victorian England. Christmas Eve. Young Jack, a blind boy of 10 years, sits alone by the hearth, making a Christmas wish: Jack would like a dog to keep him company. Suddenly Jack hears a frantic scrambling in the chimney and something plops into the room. Jack is overjoyed! Santa has brought him a dog!

Except it's actually a chicken, but don't tell Jack. He's never seen a dog or a chicken, because he's never seen anything. Jack names his pet King and over the next several days the two of them have some wonderful adventures.

This is a story to warm even the stoniest of hearts. Great for all ages, kids love it and adults find it very funny. Read it aloud to someone you love.

Members Reviews:

Dickens with Cockfighting!!! Huzzah!!!

After reading a whole heckuva lot about nuclear annihilation it was time to settle down into something a tad lighter and more festive. And I couldn't have been more delighted with my choice. "The Christmas Chicken" is a very short listen which is brilliantly and audaciously narrated by Brad Wills (who else could infuse a chicken's voice with shock or dismay?) and follows a poor family as they all come together for a single Christmas. There is poverty! There is begging! Alcoholism! Bad guys! Cockfights! A small blind boy! Street urchins with hearts of gold! It's a listening classic that left me laughing and is actually safe and enjoyable fun for the whole family. It's worth the small listening time, and it's certainly worthy of the tiny pittance o' cash you'll lay out. What a delightful, delightful surprise!

It's still not the 5-star Jacob T. Marley, but what is?

Entertaining Christmas Listen

This short audio book was a fun and entertaining Christmas listen with twists and turns. I'm a fan of chickens, so it was right up my alley. :)

I LOVED IT!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, It was a great story and Brad did a wonderful job.

What did you like best about this story?

How Jack was trying to make his family happy and the family was trying to make Jack happy!

What does Brad Wills bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

He uses such emotion in his telling of this story, it pulled me right in as if I were right there. He is the best in the business. He has each person a voice and I can keep apart who is speaking. Well done Brad!!!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to this in one setting. I put it on my iPhone and go right on doing what I need to do with the phone in my pocket.

Any additional comments?

Wonderful story and wonderful told. I loved it!

Great for kids and adults

Would you listen to The Christmas Chicken again? Why?

Yes! I think I liked it more than my son did.

What other book might you compare The Christmas Chicken to and why?

It was sort of like Dickens. But with a crazy twist.

What does Brad Wills bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

The Narrator was so Dramatic and Funny. He really brought the story to life. Even the chicken.

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Title: The Malice of Fortune

Author: Michael Ennis

Narrator: Adrian Paul, Carlotta Montanari, John Lee, Fred Sanders

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-11-12

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 2.5 of 5 out of 47 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Against a teeming canvas of Borgia politics, Niccolò Machiavelli and Leonardo da Vinci come together to unmask an enigmatic serial killer, as we learn the secret history behind one of the most controversial works in the western canon, The Prince....

When Pope Alexander dispatches a Vatican courtesan, Damiata, to the remote fortress city of Imola to learn the truth behind the murder of Juan, his most beloved illegitimate son, she cannot fail, for the scheming Borgia pope holds her own young son hostage. Once there, Damiata becomes a pawn in the political intrigues of the popes surviving son, the charismatic Duke Valentino, whose own life is threatened by the condottieri, a powerful cabal of mercenary warlords. Damiata suspects that the killer she seeks is one of the brutal condottierri, and as the murders multiply, her quest grows more urgent. She enlists the help of an obscure Florentine diplomat, Niccolò Machiavelli, and Valentinos eccentric military engineer, Leonardo da Vinci, who together must struggle to decipher the killers taunting riddles: Leonardo with his groundbreaking "science of observation" and Machiavelli with his new "science of men". Traveling across an Italy torn apart by war, they will enter a labyrinth of ancient superstition and erotic obsession to discover at its center a new face of evil - and a truth that will shake the foundations of western civilization.

Critic Reviews:

"Epic.... This is a dense narrative, permeated by the sights, sounds and smells of Renaissance Italy, and one that can stand shoulder to shoulder with Umberto Eco's Name of the Rose, with which it is sure to be compared." (Kirkus )

"Absorbing and intelligent.... Fans of superior historical mystery writers such as Steven Saylor and Laura Jo Rowland will be enthralled." (Publishers Weekly)

"With its vivid, well-defined array of characters, The Malice of Fortune captures the glorious and gritty details of Renaissance Italy in a propulsive story. Ennis has achieved a great accomplishment, historical fiction that places us right into the characters' present." (Matthew Pearl, author of The Dante Club and The Technologists)

Members Reviews:

Female narrator is impossible to listen to.

This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I have no idea. I could not get past the narration after the first hour, so I can't really comment on the story. If I could have left the Story and Overall categories unstarred, I would have.

What was most disappointing about Michael Enniss story?

Not able to comment.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of the narrators?

I would have cast someone whose accent was less intrusive and who did not speak in a monotone.

You didnt love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Honestly, I couldn't tell.

Any additional comments?

I hate to be such a cranky pants, but it's very frustrating to have to miss an entire book because one of the narrators is so grating.

The Narration Lost Me

I really like the premise of the story and so wanted to listen to this book. However, I quit after five chapters. Carlotta Montanari's Italian accent was so distracting that I simply could not follow the book. Accent's are great for character dialogue, but not narration. Why the Publisher/Ennis chose this method of narration is beyond me.

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Title: The Pirates!: In an Adventure with the Romantics

Subtitle: The Pirates!, Book 5

Author: Gideon Defoe

Narrator: John Lee

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-21-12

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Shelley's fiancée, Mary Godwin....

While visiting the shores of Lake Geneva to restore their spirits and their finances, the Pirate Captain and his crew encounter some surprising fellow adventurers, literary giants of their age: the swaggering Lord Byron, the oddly shifty Percy Shelley, and his smart, quite attractive fiancée, Mary. Together the poets and pirates embark upon a journey that leads from the curiously adventureless Switzerland into the darkest bowels of Oxford, and finally to the forbidding heart of eastern Europe.

Amidst haunted castles and early feminism, the Pirate Captain will confront some important questions, namely: What is the secret behind his mysterious belly tattoo? Is "Zombuloid, the corpse-beast" a better name for a monster than "Gorgo: Half-man, half-seaweed"? And, most importantly, what happens when a pirate finally falls in love?

Critic Reviews:

"[Defoe] can make even pirates seem as cuddly as a teddy bear.... Wacky and funny and downright easy-to-love." (Sacramento Book Review)

"A treasure chest of lighthearted laughs." (Knoxville News-Sentinel)

Members Reviews:

THE PIRATES!!!

These books are such a spectacular romp through history and its' notable members. Love the incredible talent that is, Gideon Defoe!

Zany madcap pirate adventures

The Pirates! series is a silly lighthearted set of books and this one continued the tale of the Pirate Captain and crew. The series is fun and fast/easy to read, and this one was no exception. Thanks.

Five Stars

Great book to simply enjoy without thinking too much while enjoyingâ the Pirates' adventures.

Five Stars

best evarr!

If you read only one book this year

If you read only one book this year, you really should go to your local library more often.

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Title: The Black Isle

Author: Sandi Tan

Narrator: Sarah Zimmerman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 21 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-07-12

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

There are ghosts on the Black Isle.

Ghosts that no one can see.

No one... except Cassandra.

Uprooted from Shanghai with her father and twin brother, young Cassandra finds the Black Isle's bustling, immigrant-filled seaport, swampy jungle, and grand rubber plantations a sharp contrast to the city of her childhood. And she soon makes another discovery: the Black Isle is swarming with ghosts.

Haunted and lonely, Cassandra at first tries to ignore her ability to see the restless apparitions that drift down the street and crouch in cold corners at school. Yet despite her struggles with these spirits, Cassandra comes to love her troubled new home. And soon, she attracts the notice of a dangerously charismatic man.

Even as she becomes a fearless young woman, the Isle's dark forces won't let her go. War is looming, and Cassandra wonders if her unique gift might be her beloved island's only chance for salvation....

Taking listeners from the 1920s through the Japanese occupation during World War II, to the Isle's radical transformation into a gleaming cosmopolitan city, The Black Isle is a sweeping epic - a deeply imagined, fiercely original tale from a vibrant new voice in fiction.

Members Reviews:

needs a warning

What disappointed you about The Black Isle?

took a while to get into it until it got to the insest part....then i just switched off. dont know if they are brother and sister in the end as i dont want to read anymore of this!