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Title: Strike Force Alpha

Author: Mack Maloney

Narrator: Charles Lawrence

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-04-15

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 37 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

From the best-selling author of the Wingman series comes the first book in an action-packed series featuring the Superhawks, an ultra-secret team of patriotic US military specialists who declare war against every terrorist connected to the attacks of 9/11.

Their mission was to kill bin Laden. They wound up saving the world. Assembled by mysterious superspy Bobby Murphy, trained by the best and ignoring the generals and the politicians, the Superhawks become America's ruthless answer to the post-9/11 reality. Hidden aboard the Ocean Voyager, a floating airbase disguised as a rusty containership, this ultra-elite unit of assault troops carries out brazen, daring raids all over the Persian Gulf as it seeks its number-one target: al-Qaeda's master mission planner. When chatter comes in about the next big thing, it's up to the Superhawks to strike out with all their fury to stop the deadliest terrorists in history from taking out the free world.

Members Reviews:

sacrifices of our service members

I loved this book..not only tells of black ops..but the tremendous sacrifices our military makes to keep our country safe for those of us back home so we can live in a free country..am so grateful to these wonderfully brave folks and their families for their service, commitment and honor..may God bless them for their sacrifices...I come from such a family of whom I am so very proud..Huge a lover of Vince Flynn books. for all who appreciate our military!!!

poorly researched, juvenile presentation

What disappointed you about Strike Force Alpha?

Poorly researched, weapons and tactics kind of hokey. Story not quite believable. I'm not PC but in the description of the level of "blackness" of the covert team being "if any darker they would be picking cotton". With today's highly technical Special forces writers it doesn't measure up.

What could Mack Maloney have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

more research, better story line.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He didn't really, the story detracted from his ability

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

By the level of today's writers, disapointment

Any additional comments?

I won't read anything by this author again.

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Title: Eight Hundred Grapes

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Laura Dave

Narrator: Joy Osmanski

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-02-15

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 427 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

What if your beloved fiancé, he of the crinkly smile and the irresistible British accent, had kept a life-changing secret from you? And what if, just a week before your dream wedding, you discovered it?

When these questions become realities for bride-to-be Georgia Ford, she does the only thing that seems to make sense. She runs. She hops in her car and drives through the night, from Los Angeles to Sonoma, to her safe haven, to her messy and loving family and their acclaimed family winery. Georgia craves the company of those who know her best and whom she truly knows. And on the eve of the harvest, Georgia knows she'll find solace - and distraction - in familiar rituals. But when Georgia arrives home, nothing is at all familiar. Her parents, her brothers, the family business are all unrecognizable. It seems her fiancé isn't the only one who's been keeping secrets. And, much to Georgia's dismay, it seems likely that this harvest may be the family's last.

Best-selling author Laura Dave has been dubbed "a wry observer of modern love" (USA Today), a "decadent storyteller" (Marie Claire), and "compulsively readable" (Woman's Day). Set in the lush backdrop of Sonoma's wine country, Eight Hundred Grapes is a heartbreaking, funny, and deeply evocative novel about love, marriage, family, wine, and the treacherous terrain in which they all intersect.

Critic Reviews:

"Narrator Joy Osmanski's feisty delivery is just right for Georgia, the 30-year-old lawyer who discovers that her too-good-to-be-true fiancé is too good to be true.... Whether recounting flashbacks or dealing with present-day crises, Osmanski's performance is winning." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Mindless Summer Entertainment with a Fatal Flaw

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It doesn't take long after the initial setup to realize how this book is going to end. Still, the setting (a vineyard) and a variety of subplots keep it interesting. Unfortunately, the main subplot--the main character's fiancé has a secret; she must figure out whether to forgive him and go on with their wedding--is inherently flawed. Why? The guy is totally unlikeable. It's hard to be invested in the main character's final decision because the reader honestly does not care what happens to this guy. Instead of being an intriguing "what will she choose?" the reader just becomes annoyed at her inability to do so--making the "big reveal" at the end far more of a whimper than a bang.

How could the performance have been better?

I have never heard such a poor British accent in my life. Did the narrator not read the book beforehand? There is also an atrocious Southern belle in here whose voice was remarkably grating. Maybe I would have gotten a better feel for the fiancé had he not been voiced so poorly.

Don't waste a credit

I enjoy light, fluffy romances, and this looked to be an interesting one. However, from the first chapter I could tell that, unless the main character had a major change in attitude, I wasn't going to like her. Unfortunately, she never changed, and I hated her through the whole book.

Worse is the absolutely predictable plot. I was hoping that maybe, just maybe, the writer wouldn't take the obvious route, but she did. In fact, she really went out of her way to make it happen.

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Title: Port Starbird

Subtitle: Storm Ketchum Adventures, Book 1

Author: Garrett Dennis

Narrator: DJ Holte

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-18-15

Publisher: TBD Press

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 19 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In this quirky low-key murder mystery, Storm Ketchum, a damaged emigre to the coastal town of Avon on North Carolina's Outer Banks, likes to mind his own business and isn't any kind of detective - until he's forced to become one by extraordinary circumstances.

On the verge of losing his modest waterfront home to an unscrupulous developer, Ketch stumbles onto the scene of a crime that might expose the perpetrator of an unsolved murder and enable him to save not only his own home, but also the similarly threatened bohemian boatyard community he's inexorably drawn into. And in case Plan A fails, he's hard at work on a Plan B that's both laudable and pitiable - if he can't stop them from seizing his property and ruining what's left of his historic town, he's hell-bent on turning the event into a political statement.

Together with his loyal dog, a salty charter boat captain, the sketchy denizens of the boatyard, and an alluring scuba diving instructor who may or may not have a hidden agenda, Ketch struggles to make sense of his new reality, while trying to save some of the things that really matter along the way.

Critic Reviews:

"When a wealthy developer suspected of murder comes offering money for the land, Ketch is the last to hold out. Ketch's knowledge of the island is professorial, something that will appeal to readers who adore a strong sense of place. The accented dialogue creates the right southern atmosphere... A good effort." (

Publishers Weekly)

"Garrett Dennis' Port Starbird has everything that a fun, summer weather novel should have - adventure, romance, beautiful beaches, guitar playing, underwater excursions, and, of course, murder mystery intrigue!" (Red City Review)

Members Reviews:

Really enjoyable mystery with great scenery

If you could sum up Port Starbird in three words, what would they be?

Port Starbird is a fun mystery adventure story of Storm Ketchum, a jack of all trades who resides in Wilminton, NC a beautiful small coastal town. The story nicely winds together 3 subplots involving shady characters, a home in peril, and a romance. Three words to describe Port Starbird are: splendific, hapless romance, and noble.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Port Starbird?

I loved the suspense of the deep sea dive and the suspicious characters. I also enjoyed the mystery around the girlfriend--was she involved in the crime?

Which character as performed by DJ Holte was your favorite?

I most loved the Captain

Who was the most memorable character of Port Starbird and why?

I most enjoyed the main character of Storm. He was well developed and a fun character to get to know.

Totally Enjoyable

Where does Port Starbird rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

I have done many audiobooks. The reading was a 9-out-of-10 in my experience. Good understanding of the material, good characterization of the characters, on top of a pleasant, interesting, non-sensationalized story made this book a pleasure.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Port Starbird?

I thought the singing of one of the songs in the book was a pleasant surprise. I don't think I've run into such a thing previously in an audiobook. Very pleasant, very unexpected, very good fit into the storyline, the way it was done.

What about DJ Holtes performance did you like?

Mr.

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Title: Runaway

Author: Peter May

Narrator: Peter Forbes

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-18-14

Publisher: Quercus

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 42 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In 1965, five teenage friends fled Glasgow for London to pursue their dream of musical stardom. Yet before year's end three returned, and returned damaged. In 2015, a brutal murder forces those three men, now in their sixties, to journey back to London and finally confront the dark truth they have run from for five decades.

Runaway is a crime novel covering fifty years of friendships solidified and severed, dreams shared and shattered and passions lit and extinguished; set against the backdrop of two unique and contrasting cities at two unique and contrasting periods of recent history.

Members Reviews:

Different, familiar and enjoyable.

Intriguing and spellbinding after slowly setting its hooks into you.

We have enjoyed the Enzo books, the Lewis books, Entry Island, Coffin Road and still found a new dimension to explore, even as we felt very comfortable in Peter's techniques.

Highly recommended.

Another Peter May Classic

What made the experience of listening to Runaway the most enjoyable?

Peter Forbes is a most engaging narrator and listening to him detail the characters I was totally sucked in.

What did you like best about this story?

Classic Peter May, I have all his books and listening to them causes me to take the dog on the longer walk and I drive the long road home. This story had me laughing out loud standing on a train platform, it also had me welling up in places.

A simple everyday story that can be related to by most, beautifully written. A masterpiece as we have come to expect from Peter. The narrator Peter Forbes brings all to life with the warmth of a bed time story.

Superb literature that I highly recommend.

Have you listened to any of Peter Forbess other performances? How does this one compare?

I have listened to all Peters audio books. This ranks very highly.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Glesga boys on tour

Any additional comments?

Keep them coming Peter, thank you.

A great listen!

I have listened to most of Peter May's books but this is by far the best. The plot, the characters and the narrator make for a great listen.

Fantastic

I've read a lot of Peter May novels & this was as expected fantastic highly recommend it.

Can't wait for the next one.

powerfully nostalgic if you are of a certain age!

This is a wonderful book about a group of friends looking back at their youth. Peter May used this device in Entry Island but this is a better written book. This is a srory of adventure and loss, of lost time and paths not raken, of promises kept and secrets revealed.The narration and characterisation of the protagonists is absolutely brilliant. first time I have been tempted to start from the beginning straight away.

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Title: The Informant

Author: Susan Wilkins

Narrator: Lucy Price-Lewis

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-20-14

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

As a drug-fuelled teenage tearaway, Kaz Phelps took the rap for her little brother, Joey, over a bungled armed robbery, and went to jail. Six years later she's released on licence. Clean and sober and driven by a secret passion for her lawyer, Helen Kaz wants to escape the violence and abuse of her Essex gangster family.

Joey is a charming, calculating and cold psychopath. He worships the ground his sister walks on and he's desperate to get her back in the family firm. But all Kaz wants is a fresh start and to put the past behind her. When Joey murders an undercover cop, DS Nicci Armstrong is determined to put him behind bars. What she doesn't realise is that their efforts are being sabotaged by one of their own.

The final test for Kaz comes when her cousin, Sean, gets out of jail. A vicious, old-school thug, he wants to put the girl back in her place. But can Kaz face him down and get her life back?

Members Reviews:

An outstanding book.

What did you like most about The Informant?

I loved the fact that the story was full of action and suspense the whole way threw, it was also fast paced and really exciting.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Informant?

Kaz finally getting away from her family and trying to start again.

What about Lucy Price-Lewiss performance did you like?

I loved the way she brought the story to life, she was amazing at all the characters and really read the book with a lot of feeling.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Don't let yourself be ruined.

Any additional comments?

Fantastic book and I can't wait for the rest of the series. This is another author to add to my favourites list.

Really enjoyed it.....

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

Not having read any previous Susan Wilkins, I found this 'audio' book fab....If you enjoy Martina Cole or Mandasue Heller I think you will really enjoy this....

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Informant?

I really just generally enjoyed the story and the way it was read.....

Which character as performed by Lucy Price-Lewis was your favourite?

Well, I thought the 'reader' was great, but I think my fav/the most important character, Kaz is brilliant.....

Any additional comments?

As I have said, Martina Cole, Mandasue Heller and Roberta Kray fans will love this. A strong but not perfect female character who has family issues and has done some 'time' I would say it's really pretty good!

Predictably but still enjoyable

I thought the narrator sounded "too posh" for the characters, however the storyline was enough.

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Title: The Seven Sisters

Subtitle: The Seven Sisters, Book 1

Author: Lucinda Riley

Narrator: Emily Lucienne

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-13-14

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 597 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Maia D'Apliése and her five sisters were all adopted as babies. When their father dies each of them are given a clue to their true heritage - a clue which takes Maia across the world

Rio de Janeiro, 1927, Izabela Bonifacio convinces her father to allow her to accompany him to Europe. There, in the heady, vibrant cafés of Montparnasse, she meets ambitious young sculptor Laurent Brouilly, and knows at once that her life will never be the same again

Critic Reviews:

Praise for the author:

"What an absolutely fantastic storyteller - I was immediately immersed in the story, and absolutely compelled" (Katherine Webb)

Members Reviews:

Simply charming and exciting

Would you listen to The Seven Sisters again? Why?

Yes. I find there will probably be more clues to pick up as the story will obviously progress. I can't wait for the sequels. Surely there are more to come. The story ended with a clue to the beginning of the next saga. There is still so much to see were the author is going with this. 5 more sisters, Pa-salts past and connection with the girls, SPOILER ALERT- 7th sister.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I don't think I had a favorite, they were all intriguing in their own way.

What about Emily Luciennes performance did you like?

Very well done. Love the way she is able to speak in the accents and languages that make the stories come alive.

If you could take any character from The Seven Sisters out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Pa-salt. What was he up to?

Any additional comments?

Please don't disappoint. Must know when the sequels can be expected. More, more, more.

Who Are You?

It had a slow start, but once it got going, I couldn't put it down. I'm hoping to find the stories about the remainder of the sisters, as this book only delved into the complete story of the eldest. Though fictional, it makes you question who you are and who do you want to be.

The seven sisters

This is wonderful a great book. I love Lucinda Riley books so I'm buying another one right away. Great read.

Wonderful story.

The first book in the series was fascinating. It was hard to put it down every night. I can't wait for the second book to be released.

Great story!

If you could sum up The Seven Sisters in three words, what would they be?

Couldn't put down

What did you like best about this story?

The writers brought the characters to Life.

Which scene was your favorite?

Grandmother speaking to Maya.

If you could take any character from The Seven Sisters out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Isabella. Her story was faded after her husband discovered the truth.

Any additional comments?

I am now a fan of Lucinda Riley and can't wait to read the next book in this series. In the meantime I will be listening to another on of Lucinda's books.

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Title: Cry Father

Author: Benjamin Whitmer

Narrator: T. Ryder Smith

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-19-14

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In the tradition of Cormac McCarthy and Larry Brown comes a haunting story about men, their fathers, their sons, and the legacy of violence. For Patterson Wells, disaster is the norm. Working alongside dangerous, desperate, itinerant men as a tree clearer in disaster zones, hes still dealing with the loss of his young son. Writing letters to the boy offers some solace. The bottle gives more. Upon a return trip to Colorado, Patterson stops to go fishing with an old acquaintance, only to find him in a meth-induced delirium and keeping a woman tied up in the bathtub. In the ensuing chain of events, which will test not only his future but his past, Patterson tries to do the right thing. Still, in the lives of those he knows, violence and justice have made of each other strange, intoxicating bedfellows.

Members Reviews:

Pretentious and dull

A few good turns of phrase can't really rescue this turgid, overwrought morass.

Five Stars

This is a great story of you're into southern noir. Really shows the complexities of the characters.

Book with a universal appeal

Excellent read for anyone who wants to know where they came from. Whether you're a father or not, you'll identify with some portion of this novel. Violent, sexy, enlightening, insightful, and plain sad all at once. I kept hearing that this was one of the best works to come out this year. I wasn't disappointed in the least.

Awesome

Great book about losses we have in life and the consequences those losses bring. Some of those consequences aren't our own fault but many of them are..

love, regret

A book of loss, love, regret. Real human emotions spiced up with drugs and a whole lot of violence. It even brought a tear at the end. Nice work, Mr. Whitmer.

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Title: Below Zero

Author: C. J. Box

Narrator: David Chandler

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-01-14

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

'Tell Sherry April called.' That simple phone message shakes Joe Picketts oldest daughter Sheridan and the rest of the family to the core. To Joe, it doesnt seem even remotely possible that April could have survived the massacre six years before. He was there, and he was unable to save her. But Sheridan starts to believe theres a chance that April is still alive, and her suspicions are confirmed when the person sending texts to her cell phone is able to recall family incidents only April could know.

Meanwhile, a dying Chicago mobster named Stenko and a much younger girl cross the country. Hes on a mission to reconcile with his extreme environmentalist son before he goes. His son is less interested in reconciliation than in getting his father to repent for the environmental crimes hes committed during his lifetime. He wants his father to become not just carbon neutral, but to reduce his carbon footprint to below zero - as if hed never even existed. Joe, however, remains wary of the messages, even though their references to things only April could know are convincing. But when the texts start to refer to "bad things", and when Marybeth discovers they come from locations throughout the West where vicious murders have taken place, alarm bells go off.

Desperate to discover if April is still alive and to save her from possible danger, Joe, Sheridan, and Nate Romanowski take to the road to connect the texts with the crimes. As the path of Stenko and his companions starts to cross with Joe, Sheridan, and Nate, the question is raised: is this young girl April or is the Pickett family the victim of the cruelest of hoaxes?

Critic Reviews:

"Pickett: one of the most appealing men in popular fiction, a laid-back, good-natured guy until he's riled, and then ..." (Chicago Tribune)

"This relentlessly paced powder keg of a thriller could be Boxs best to date." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

a beautiful courageous thriller

Another brilliant Joe Pickett insight. Full of twists, courage, emotionally charged storyline.

an epilogue would have been a great insight to the reunion.

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Title: Memories of Midnight

Author: Sidney Sheldon

Narrator: Jenny Agutter

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-30-14

Publisher: Phoenix Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The ultimate game of love, lust and death continues, where the survivors from The Other Side of Midnight meet to play one last time....

Shadowed by tragedy and burdened by amnesia, a beautiful woman desperately tries to return to reality. She is Catherine Douglas, destined to once again challenge the cruel, charismatic power of Constantin Demiris, the Greek shipping tycoon who murdered Catherine's husband. Now, in the glittering capitals and carefree playgrounds of post-war Europe, Demiris sets his deadly sights on Catherine - and the single, treacherous secret whose shattering truth is known to her alone.

Members Reviews:

Neat little escapist short

If you could sum up Memories of Midnight in three words, what would they be?

Exciting, interesting, easy

What was one of the most memorable moments of Memories of Midnight?

The twist in the tale.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Life in the fast lane

Any additional comments?

This is typical Sidney Sheldon. Escapist fiction, an easy listen during an afternoon in the garden. Enjoyed it.

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Title: Just Good Friends

Subtitle: Escape to New Zealand, Book 2

Author: Rosalind James

Narrator: Claire Bocking

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-17-14

Publisher: Rosalind Iiams

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 481 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Some bets were made to be lost.

Kate Lamonica isn't Koti James' type. Too small. Too dark. And heaps too much work. So it's an easy bet that he can be her friend for six weeks without making a move on her, no matter what his mates would have said.

Kate can't believe she's made the bet at all. New Zealand had seemed like the perfect escape from the stalker who'd threatened first her peace of mind and then her life. She certainly doesn't need any more trouble. Why on earth has she agreed to spend time with a Maori rugby player who's far too handsome and charming for his own good - and knows it?

But there's more than one game Koti's good at playing....

Note: This romance, like New Zealand, contains a bit of steam. If that isn't your cuppa, you may want to visit another country...er, audiobook.

Members Reviews:

ANOTHER FANTASTIC KIWI / RUGBY LOVE STORY

Second in the "Escape to New Zealand" series, learn more about rugby and the Maori culture while you take a virtual tour of parts of New Zealand! I feel like I've nearly really had a vacation after reading/listening to one of these books. With a great romance story added in, to boot!! Seriously ... hubby and I have started a "New Zealand Vacation Fund" and I can hardly wait to go.

Kate Lamonica has BIG trouble when a boyfriend becomes a stalker. Trying to kill her type of stalker. So she leaves the USA for New Zealand and her friend that lives there, hoping to hide from said-stalker. Enter rugby player Koti James. Kate is definitely NOT impressed with gorgeous ladies' man Koti, and the feeling is mutual. Or is it? It all turns into a bet that Koti can't have a girl FRIEND and keep it platonic. Well, let's just say that it wouldn't be much of a romance if someone didn't lose that bet. :) There are some great, nicely written love scenes --- and they do get a tiny bit of kink on, so do be warned. (I did not find it offensive FYI).

I love the new-to-audiobooks actress Claire Bocking. She does a mean Kiwi accent (male and female) and adds a lot to her reading of a great romance story.

Highly recommended and worth a credit!

Sweet as . . .

What did you like about this audiobook?

I liked how Claire Bocking gave each of the characters their own voice. She didn't just read a script, she made them come alive. I loved hearing the Maori words spoken (and the one song was so lovely). The New Zealand accent was wonderful, emotions came through loud and clear.

How has the book increased your interest in the subject matter?

Definitely! I didn't know anything about New Zealand, the Maori, or rugby before I started reading the books in the Escape to New Zealand series, and I am hooked. I've even watched an All Blacks Haka on YouTube. So cool!

Does the author present information in a way that is interesting and insightful, and if so, how does he achieve this?

I think rather than presenting information, Ms. James weaves it into the story and dialogue and characters so skillfully that it simply flows right through the book, and makes you want to learn more.