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Title: A Searing Wind

Author: W. Michael Gear, Kathleen O'Neal Gear

Narrator: Kevin Orton

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-12-12

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 39 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

New York Times best-selling authors W. Michael and Kathleen ONeal Gear present the third installment of their gripping chronicle of the earliest European settlers, as seen through the eyes of North American natives.

Here Black Shell and his wife Pearl Hand emerge from exile and rededicate their lives to stopping de Soto and his Kristiano invaders. Taking a great gamble with his own life and those of his people, Black Shell crafts an elaborate plot that will change the course of history.

Members Reviews:

A great conclusion to an interesting series

Admittedly, when I started the series I wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into. I've never read novels that weave in snippets of historical events, no less from the more undertold side of the story. W. Michael and Kathleen O'Neal Gear do a respectful job and create and entertaining and interesting story that compelled me to complete the series. I strongly recommend the series for those who have both an intellectual curiosity about Native American history and who enjoy a good entertaining story that is definitely fiction, but brings up some interesting thoughts about Desoto's losses in the US when he was so victorious in Mexico.

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Title: The Blue Asylum

Author: Kathy Hepinstall

Narrator: Kate Forbes

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-28-12

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 36 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Publishers Weekly hails best-selling author Kathy Hepinstalls Blue Asylum as a richly compelling Civil War-era tale.

After defying her husband during the war, Virginia plantation wife Iris Dunleavy is deemed insane and taken to Sanibel Asylum to receive treatments for her unruliness. There she meets another broken soul - Confederate soldier Ambrose Weller - and falls in love with him.

Critic Reviews:

An absorbing story that explores both the rewards and perils of love, pride, and sanity itself. (

Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Didn't like as well as I thought I would

I ended up not liking this book as much as I was hoping to; it was good but not great. I wanted to care more for the characters but they were a little one dimensional. The realization of what it was that sent Ambrose over the edge was the best twist in the book, and made me understand him so much better. But we really never got the entire story on Iris I always felt there was something missing, we get hints and events are alluded to but we never really get her entire story and I think had iris been more fleshed out it would have been a much better book.

I liked the premise of this book as it is post Civil War and how just because you stand up to your husband you can be sent away to an asylum, the cast of characters in the asylum were interesting but we never got to know any of them really well. The author showed how the Civil war divided peoples beliefs and how even if you were on the other side you could still understand some things about the other.

However there is something missing in this story Im not sure if it is the one-dimensional characters, the unsatisfying ending or that she didnt give us enough information about the asylum and Iris husband and the consequences of what happened at the end of the book. There is one part near the end I rewound twice thinking Id missed something there is a jump in time here that confused me. The ending was very anti-climatic and felt rushed.

Kate Forbes narrated this book or should I say read this book because thats kind of how it felt to me it was just a straight reading, every once in a while there was an accent but it wasnt every time that person spoke so there were inconsistencies in the narration.

This is a quick ok read, but really nothing that is going to stick with me for very long.

2 to 3 Stars

Loved it!

This is a beautiful story and excellently narrated. I listened for hours and hours I was so absorbed. The narrator did the different voices very well, even the men voices. She was a pleasure to listen to. The story itself was true literature. You can get a synopsis by reading the publisher's summary. I highly recommend this book. I also highly recommend "City of Women" by David R. Gillham. The stories are completely different but again, you will be reading more than just a book, you will be reading true literature. An author who knows how to put words on a page and give them such impact that you will be thinking about them long after the story is over.

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Title: More Than You Know

Author: Penny Vincenzi

Narrator: Rosalyn Landor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 23 hrs and 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-01-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 50 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

It all comes down to love or money in a harrowing custody battle over a little girl, set against the glossy backdrop of the magazine and advertising worlds in 1960s London.

A privileged girl from a privileged class, Eliza has a dazzling career in the magazine world of the 1960s. But when she falls deeply in love with Matt, an edgy working-class boy, she gives up her ritzy, fast-paced lifestyle to get married. By the end of the decade, however, their marriage has suffered a harrowing breakdown, culminating in divorce and a dramatic courtroom custody battle over their little girl. Also at risk is Eliza's gorgeous family home, a pawn in the game, which she can't bear to give up.

True to form, Penny Vincenzi introduces a devious cast of characters seemingly plucked from the pages of sixties- and seventies-era magazines, as she deftly maneuvers between the glamorous, moneyed worlds of fashion and advertising, and a heart-wrenching custody battle going on in the courtroom where the social mores of the time are on full display.

Members Reviews:

Like a box of chocolates...

If you could sum up More Than You Know in three words, what would they be?

you know you shouldn't, but ...yummy, yummy, yummy.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Vincenzi knows how to draw you in and keep you there.

Which character as performed by Rosalyn Landor was your favorite?

An important part of the structure of a work such as this is the flaws inherent in each of the characters.

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

No way can you listen to one of these sagas in one sitting. It's an experience to be savored slowly and deliberately

Any additional comments?

Anyone who is nostalgic for past times spent living in Britain is susceptible to Vincenzi addiction. Small details = vivid recollections, and past suddenly becomes present. Proust's Madeline.

wonderful

Have you listened to any of Rosalyn Landors other performances before? How does this one compare?

Great. Rosalin Landor is one of my favorite narrators.

Any additional comments?

Absolutely wonderful, riveting, and toching novel. It is a portrate of a marrige, and it rings so true. Cried several times and could not stop listening

Stay away!

This book is horrible! I have loved all the Penny Vincenzi books I have previously read. This one has made me so angry (with the author) that I can't finish it. The hero is an abusive controlling husband who professes to adore and love his wife but insists upon stripping her of everything that defines who she is. She is not allowed to work, has to ask his permission to do anything and has to sneak around him in order to meet with her friends. When she finally stands up to him to take a job working two days a week he goes out of his way to punish her for defying him. A co-worker says to her, "that husband of yours rules you with an iron rod, doesn't he? Silly bugger." Not very silly to me! He is a bully and is written as though we are supposed to like him! He hits his wife to the extent she has a swollen face and a black eye - but is the heroine's fault - or so the author would make us believe. Infuriating! It is set in the 1970s - but reads more like the 1800s. I can't finish it as it disgusts me and I won't be reading anymore of her books in the future.

Solid Penny Vincenzi

Just what you'd expect from Penny Vincenzi. Very entertaining and fast paced.

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Title: Surface with Daring

Author: Douglas Reeman

Narrator: David Rintoul

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-03-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

It takes a special sort of courage to serve in midget submarines, and Lieutenant David Seaton, commanding officer of XE16, needs no reminding of the perils involved. The little X-craft with their four-man crews have been used against heavy enemy surface units and important harbour installations. But in 1944, with the Allies poised for an invasion through France, a new and more hazardous role is given to Seaton's flotilla.

Members Reviews:

With a Name Like, Fluckey, You Better Be Good, and He WAS

I had the audiobook version and it was well done. I thought the story proceeded quite well also. There were only a few places where I apparently missed a salient detail mentioned later in the book for which I did not make the connection, but given the amount of details, this is not unexpected. This is the story of Fluckey, the skipper of the USS Barb submarine on his unprecedented 5 patrols in the Pacific. Fluckey was an atypical commander and took atypical risks and enjoyed atypically good rewards as a result. Only a crazy man would want to install rocket launchers on a submarine, right? The story is rather autobiographical and so Fluckey virtually always sounds like he is doing the right things, but verification of his war record online indicates that while he may not admit to too many faults, the accomplishments are no doubt very real and the man served with distinction as did his crew. While much of the book is presented in what should be a boring timeline fashion, the information and inflection is anything but boring, the time references just there to keep the reader in the moment and to show how time is progressing in the book. I really enjoyed this book as a story and as a historical reference. It got me interested enough to look up several related events online out of interest of better understanding the context of other concurrent events going on in the Pacific at the time. In other words, I got this book to be entertained and ended up learning quite a bit along the way and enjoyed what I was learning and was spurred on to learn more. If you like historical battle-type stories, this is a great book. If you like nuts and bolts, first person war stories, this is a great book. If you don't care about the history and just enjoy a story about an exciting adventure at sea, this is a great book. It is a story as much about Fluckey's command as it is about the Barb as the two are intertwined into making both to be the top performers of their day.

Five Stars

good buy

I have read 16 WW II naval fiction books by ...

I have read 16 WW II naval fiction books by this author, but this book did not fall into the trap of same old circumstances but with different characters. It was thoroughly enjoyable.

Four Stars

I like all D. Reeman novels.

Five Stars

Great

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Title: The Copper Sign

Author: Katia Fox

Narrator: Justine Eyre

Format: Unabridged

Length: 19 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-06-11

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 66 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

England, 1161: Ellen, a blacksmiths daughter, wants to become a swordsmith, but for a girl, this male profession is unimaginable. Forced to run away from home, she disguises herself as a boy and has the opportunity to accompany a famous swordsmith to Normandy, where the sons of the greatest barons are trained to be knights. Under the assumed identity of Alan, she learns the trade and becomes familiar with court life. When she falls in love with Guillaume, a young noble man, she cant divulge her secret for fear it will endanger her dream of fame and recognition.

Across countries and time, Ellen struggles to achieve her dream and find her place, always in fear that Thibault, an evil knight who tracks her every move, waits around the corner. Full of tension, intrigue, and treachery, The Copper Sign is a passionate tour de force that will leave you breathlessly awaiting book two.

Members Reviews:

Glad I stuck with it!

What does Justine Eyre bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

good Norman French accent! I also like the way she expressed her passions and emotions, although perhaps it was a little overdone at times.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

it would depend if they overdo the sexual content. If they emphasize what the story emphasizes, yes

Any additional comments?

3.5 stars. Some inappropriate content--but this is not a trashy novel! I'm glad I stuck with it. Our heroine goes through many great struggles and some of them really are accurate portrayals of some of the things in the 11th century life. Some are not.But I learned a lot about the making of swords, scabbard's, hilts, etc. and this book certainly brings you in touch with struggles that a woman would go through and has lots of diabolical intrigue. It was refreshing, though, that the book was not overly dark but had places of good friendship and contentment.Our heroine is not an island unto herself but is someone who draws people of integrity together. and I really like the way she learns what kind of man she wants to be with. There is forgiveness and redemption for many characters. There are also some fairly good action sequences.I listened to the book with someone that could do a fairly good Norman accent which helped.

Lady Gray

Great story and delivery. Very long book but it held my attention. I hated to put it down.

Good Medieval tale.

Interesting, though far fetched, story of a female smithy in medieval England & France. Main character is quite strong in many ways yet weak in the main theme with her protagonist. I thought the tale could have been sharper if shortened. Generally the middle of the story lagged and then the ending seemed abbreviated.

I love females with swords

The plot of a female sword maker is unique. A nice long epic of a life of Eleanor, sword smith. I took a chance with this author who is unknown to me, and consider other titles.

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Title: The Pursuit

Subtitle: The English Garden Series, Book 4

Author: Lori Wick

Narrator: Virginia Leishman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-31-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 64 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

With more than four million books in print, Lori Wick is one of the best-selling inspirational authors in the world. The Pursuit is the richly satisfying final chapter of her beloved English Garden series. Edward Steele is returning to England from Africa when he meets a man named Denley. When Denley becomes ill, Edward agrees to stay with him. But God works in mysterious ways, and befriending Denley places Edward in the path of a woman who changes his life.

Members Reviews:

Great Series!!

I really enjoyed each book in this series and especially enjoyed the references to Scripture.

Narration

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The naration for this series is horrible.

What didnt you like about Virginia Leishmans performance?

She sounds like she has something in her mouth. It is difficult to get past it.

a lovely wrap up

I'm very sad to see these characters go. I've grown to love all of them. I wish to have seen them all the way through to the end but alas it is a book

I enjoyed the book, but detested the performance

Would you try another book from Lori Wick and/or Virginia Leishman?

I love this series! I love Lori Wick! I have never read a book of hers that I haven't liked. However, the performance by Virginia Leishman left a lot to be desired. Now don't get me wrong, her style of reading was good for the most part, and the various voices that she used for the different characters was also good, it was the noises that she kept making with her mouth while she was reading that drove me insane. Every time she made one of those noise I wanted to cringe. At one point during this book, it got so bad that I almost gave up on the entire series when I realized she read all the books. The noises that she made almost sounded like chewing or like she was swishing the spit in her mouth around. It was just gross and I believe I will stick to reading these on Kindle from now on.

How could the performance have been better?

If you could get Virginia Leishman to not make all those disgusting noises with her mouth. The performance would've been at least four stars.

Do you think The Pursuit needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I honestly would have enjoyed to read books on some of the other members of the families now that the kids are all grown up and getting married, however, Lori Wick ended this series in such a way that you aren't pining for more from this series.

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Title: In Memory of Junior

Author: Clyde Edgerton

Narrator: Norman Dietz

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-19-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In Summerlin, North Carolina, it is - quite literally - a race to the finish. Glenn and Laura Bales lie dying in the same house, and although Laura is more interested in her Whitmans Sampler chocolates, and Glenn in whatever happened to his first wife, Evelyn, their children have their eyes unswervingly fixed on the inheritance. Who will get the money, and what it will mean for this unusual little Southern community is a richly comic novel about endings.

Members Reviews:

In Memory

I have read all of Clyde Edgertons books. He is whimsicaly sad in the story "In Memory of Junior" He allows his characters the ability to pass off their emotions and deal with them at the same time, a unique talent in writing and human character well portrayed. While reading the story you can feel yourself give that half smug grin, because you become the characters and can't help yourself! The characters are all crazy in a very sane way.

and good descriptions, of events

I bought this book to help complete my Clyde Edgerton collection. It has laughs, and good descriptions, of events. It is.very hard to put down. Clyde Edgerton is a very good writer and always includes funny scenes.

In Memory of Junior

I was so amused when I read Across Egypt years ago that when I had a chance to buy other dvds of Edgerton I bought several that I just couldn't appreciate.

Not my style

The writing style is not to my liking. I find it difficult to make the disjointed phrases and antedotes cohesive, become connected to the characters and still realize a enjoyment of the overall storyline. Having been raised in the south during the 50's and 60's, I recognize some of the characters and situations. Yet overall, I was left wanting.

Many may find a greater connection. But, it fails me.

disappointed.

Expecting the same humor as Walking Across Egypt....disappointed.

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Title: For My Country's Freedom

Author: Alexander Kent

Narrator: Michael Jayston

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-07-11

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 49 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

It is 1811, and in this, the 22nd Richard Bolitho novel, Alexander Kent's sensitive and compassionate hero is recalled to duty after only two and a half months' peace in Cornwall with his beloved Catherine.

Members Reviews:

Entertaining storytelling

Enjoyable as the rest of the series. From Hornblower to Lewrie and Kydd, this was an easy step. The stories have been Leaning a bit too much toward romance but I keep buying and listening...

a seaman's author.

I have read every book that Kent/Reeman have written. I love this audible version and look forward to listening to many more. 5 stars all round.

good story

a great story and I am really pleased that I can download the latest books

Good book, 'bang' on action a bit to much slush

Bolitho does it again, the 007 of the nineteenth century. History in fiction, can't beat it. You won't be disappointed.

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Title: Sixteen Brides

Author: Stephanie Grace Whitson

Narrator: Ruth Ann Phimister

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-17-10

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 119 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In Sixteen Brides by Christy Award finalist Stephanie Grace Whitson, Civil War widows living in St. Louis are lured west by promises of prime homesteads in a booming community. When the unsuspecting women arrive at Plum Grove, Nebraska, sparks fly as they meet bachelors convinced theyve come to marry them. The widows will need all the courage and faith they can muster to survive these unwanted circumstancesespecially since appearances are so deceiving.

Members Reviews:

Very Entertaining

I really enjoyed this one. If you enjoy Cathy Marie Hake stories, you will really enjoy "Sixteen Brides." Ms. Whitson's and Ms. Hake's writing styles are very similar. A little fun, a little suspense, and a warm ending.

This is my first novel by this author. I found it by looking for books narrated by Ruth Ann Phimister because I like her reading style.

Good Listen

Narrator was excellent. Story line good, however predictable in places. Glad I found this author. I'm enjoying her books.

Totally loved this book

What did you love best about Sixteen Brides?

Sixteen Brides was not just a romance. As a matter of fact, it was less romance and more historical chick lit. The story is about sixteen women who head west, and how several of them banded together to succeed in being independent pioneers. There are some GREAT main characters, and there are great supporting characters. The heroes are varied and interesting but seem like guys you might meet....if you lived a hundred plus years ago. I really looked forward to listening to the book, and since I usually listen while working in the kitchen, my kitchen never looked so good.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked everything about the story: the characters, the plot, the emphasis on relationships of all kinds, the sub plots, the realness. It was just an all around excellent book.

Which character as performed by Ruth Ann Phimister was your favorite?

For once, I did not have a favorite character. Ruth Ann Phimister did an excellent job with her narration. The author did an excellent job with ALL of her characters. Talk about a marriage made in heaven!! Phimister has a wonderful, understated but very pleasant voice. She nailed all of the characters and did not over dramatize the work. I am going to look for more by her.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My extreme reaction to the book was one of pure pleasure. It was so nice to feel the anticipation of getting lost in a good book.

Any additional comments?

If you enjoy HISTORICAL novels with strong characters and mild romance, then this is an enjoyable read. It is a Christian novel, which is actually not totally unexpected for the times, but I did not find that it went over the top. The characters struggled with many challenges, and spiritual ones were just part of the equation.

Love this author

Would you consider the audio edition of Sixteen Brides to be better than the print version?

yes

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ruth...she was so real.

What does Ruth Ann Phimister bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

She is so good at bringing out the characters and making it feel so real.

If you could rename Sixteen Brides, what would you call it?

I love the title, was more in depth than I thought and that was a nice surprize. Great story.

Any additional comments?

Don't want it to end. Felt like I was there.

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Title: Rival to the Queen

Author: Carolly Erickson

Narrator: Susan Lyons

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-28-10

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 71 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

From the New York Times best-selling author of The Last Wife of Henry VIII comes a novel about the bitter rivalry between Queen Elizabeth I and her fascinating cousin, Lettice Knollys, for the love of one extraordinary man.

Powerful, dramatic, and full of the rich history that has made Carolly Ericksons novels perennial best sellers, this is the story of the only woman to ever stand up to the Virgin Queen: her own cousin, Lettie Knollys. Far more attractive than the queen, Lettie soon won the attention of the handsome and ambitious Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, a man so enamored of the queen and determined to share her throne that it was rumored he had murdered his own wife in order to become her royal consort. The enigmatic Elizabeth allowed Dudley into her heart, and relied on his devoted service, but shied away from the personal and political risks of marriage.

When Elizabeth discovered that he had married her cousin Lettie in secret, Lettie would pay a terrible price, fighting to keep her husbands love and ultimately losing her beloved son, the Earl of Essex, to the queens headsman. This is the unforgettable story of two women related by blood, yet destined to clash over one of Tudor Englands most charismatic men.

Members Reviews:

Much better than expected.

You never know with audiobooks! Sometimes an author can be one of your absolute favorites (and Erickson is one of mine) but poor narration or a slow plot can make listening to a book sheer torture. Thankfully this audiobook was a really pleasant listening experience. Susan Lyons did a very good job and the book held my attention from beginning to end. This book is a little gritty at parts, just a warning to those faint of heart. I'm not squeamish, but in the beginning there were a few parts that described the torture and killing of protestants that I kind of fast forwarded through! Overall an interesting and insightful book. I liked it.

Quite a letdown

I'm a fan of historical fiction; I appreciate that the genre isn't all about sticking to the facts; it's never intended to be a history lesson. I can appreciate a story in which the characters are portrayed far differently than common understanding dictates; this story does that, with it's fairly negative portrayal of Queen Elizabeth. I'm fine with that.

That said, this book just hit all the wrong notes with me. It's not the author's version of history that I disagree with - it's her writing style. The protagonist, Lettie Knollys, is grating and annoying; she prattles on endlessly about how stunningly beautiful she is, and how all the other females in the book (including the queen) treat her badly because they're jealous of her.

Because of the way the book moves through time in huge batches, you never get a sense of anything else about Lettie, except that she is, by her own account, really lovely. There isn't much dialogue, and what dialogue there is comes across as overly dramatic.

If you're a fan of Philippa Gregory, you'll probably be very disappointed with this book. I actually bought it because the narrator, Susan Lyons, did the narration for "The Other Boleyn Girl", which is also a first-person story about Mary Boleyn, who is Lettie's grandmother. I thought it would be cool and interesting to follow the fictionalized version of the family, as it were. Terrible mistake.