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Title: Gilded Age

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Claire McMillan

Narrator: Hillary Huber

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-12-12

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Eleanor Hart had made a brilliant marriage in New York, but it ended in a scandalous divorce and thirty days in Sierra Tucson rehab. Now she finds that, despite feminist lip service, she will still need a husband to be socially complete. A woman's sexual reputation matters, and so does her family name. Ellie must navigate the treacherous social terrain where old money meets new: charitable benefits and tequila body shots, inherited diamonds and viper-bite lip piercings, country house weekends and sexting. She finds that her beauty is a powerful tool in this world, but it has its limitations, even liabilities. Through one misstep after another, Ellie mishandles her second act. Her options narrow, her future prospects contract, until she faces a desperate choice.With a keen eye for detail and a heart big enough to embrace those she observes, Claire McMillan has written an assured and revelatory debut novel about class, gender, and the timeless conundrum of femininity.

Critic Reviews:

"A hard-edged look at the vacuous, insipid elite of modern-day Cleveland, Ohio." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

I liked the idea of this book but House of Mirth ...

I liked the idea of this book but House of Mirth is such a powerful well written book that this came off as a writing assignment to a bright young adult. It might have worked if the author had set it in the 1950's (like Valley of the Dolls). It just didn't work for our times. Young women don't act like this today and they certainly don't want their grandparents' china. The character of Ellie was vapid and I didn't care if she died but when Lily died in House of Mirth, I cried.

Great period piece, full of character.

What a spoiled girl/ woman. Just the type you like to read about with disdain. Such a fun read!

Sadly disappointing....

I was very much looking forward to reading this novel: Edith Wharton's "House Of Mirth" reset in contemporary Clevland. What a great premise! I'm from Clevland, knew the social milieu there quite well, have love-hate feelings about the place. Alas, I was sorely disappointed. This is, I suppose, a novel of manners...but the depiction of upper end Cleveland society didn't hold my interest, and many of the secondary characters, lacking definition, ended up being just names on the page. Another major (to me) failing was that even when the author set scenes in locations I know well (Cedar-Fairmount; The Cleveland Art Museum; etc.) I found her descriptions flat. I still think she had a powerful idea, and that with a lot more work could have made something quite fine. This is a first novel and so much can be forgiven. Thus I rate it three stars; otherwise I'd have given in two. But I was bored and I believe others will be as well. Still, for all my disappointment, I wish this author luck.

Easy Reading

Set in Cleveland, Ellie is a woman who tries to change her fate but the laws of society and Ellie herself were her downfall. Gilded Age is a modernized version of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. Edith was Claire McMillan's great inspiration in writing her first published novel. Great comparisons and an enlightening storyline.

Gilded Cleveland

I too am from the area around this book, but I found the string intriguing. I enjoyed the reference to The Age of Mirth, and I found it to be an interesting "period piece".

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Title: The Chicken Hanger

Author: Ben Rehder

Narrator: Sergei Burbank

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-01-12

Publisher: Benjamin Michael Rehder

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

From Edgar Award-nominated author Ben Rehder comes The Chicken Hanger.

Ricky Delgado works as a chicken hanger at the poultry plant in Rugoso, Texas, a small border town just 30 miles south of Laredo. His quiet, illegal lifestyle is disrupted when he learns that his brother Tomás has been shot and injured shortly after crossing the border. Together, Ricky and Tomás and seek justice, or remain silent and endure the injustices common to all "wetbacks" within the states. Meanwhile, Ricky is fighting a battle within his own body, a disease he acquired in the poultry plant, unbeknownst to everyone but the crooked manager and the company's doctor.

The townspeople of Rugoso have long been used to Mexicans entering the states illegally. The street signs, billboards, and food labels are printed in both English and Spanish to accommodate more consumers. Even the judicial system has a growing number of authorities with Spanish last names, and Herschel Gandy is sick of it. A wealthy Rugoso ranch owner and self-appointed defender of the border, he has taken to firing warning shots at illegals crossing over on his ranch. But when he finds a bloodied backpack near the place he had been shooting, the repercussions of his cover-up game affect the entire town.

Warren Coleman, the best border patrol agent in Rugoso, has been struggling with his conscience since allowing a trio of illegal aliens to cross one morning. One was obviously injured. After stopping a van smuggling drugs over the border, Warren shoots and kills the driver in his partner's defense. He is immediately thrown into national spotlight for his heroism, or brutality, depending on the source. While visiting his partner in the hospital, Warren again runs into the illegal with the injured hand. Fearing the consequences of his decisions, Warren must decide between leaving Rugoso for a new start, or pursuing his growing suspicion that there is more to discover about the Mexican's injury.

The Chicken Hanger confronts the present-day controversy of politics and prejudice along the U.S.-Mexico border. Rehder weaves between multiple perspectives and opinions of those protecting America and those hoping to become Americans, and asks whether a man's worth is measured by his citizenship, or by the life he leads. Long-standing arguments about border control in the South and the motives of opposing sides create a suspenseful tale of one illegal immigrant's fight for justice in the land of the free.

Members Reviews:

A Story for Our Times. . . Realistic

First -- the story: It is a good one, realistic in events and character. Very worth your while even though the characters and locale(s) seemed less well developed than they could have/should have been.

Second -- the narration: Generally well done, although there are segments that were clearly "redone" or inserted as the full taping was edited. I found the introduction of each new chapter to be oddly done, however. One word. Succinct. Spanish. Then English.

Third -- the story structure: It tried to flow seamless from scene to scene and time frame to time frame -- sometimes leaving me in the lurch. From evil rancher to sage advisor to suspicious physician assistant to crooked plant manager to border patrol agents to immigrants and around and around back and forth again. Although it worked (after a while,) in the early chapters, it was confusing and disconcerting.

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Title: Hell's Belles

Author: Paul Magrs

Narrator: Joanna Tope

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-13-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Discover the secret world of Whitby: mystery, mayhem and delicious black comedy. Brenda never meant to tell anyone the truth. She s got used to keeping secrets over the years. But in Whitby, people have a habit of working it out. Especially best friends like Effie, who sniff out the unusual, and expect the unexpected. And Brenda needs friends. She can't keep us safe all by herself. Not any more...

Members Reviews:

Good, but not great..........

The story was ok, but the portrayal of Frank was awful, the voice was irritating and the constant third person references were tedious. Didn't enjoy this one as much as the others, think there are too many characters and parallel stories going on. Joanna Tope is usually good at these, but several voices in this were just full on ham and eventually distractingly annoying. Overall disappointed.

Irritating OTT accents

I so wanted to like this but ended up having to force myself to complete this audiobook.

It's set in Whitby, I'm from the north and was pleased to get northern based tale.

The problem for me was the exaggerated accents, laborious and often excruciating. I love our northern accents but this was painful. When the narrator wasn't doing an attempt at the accent it was fine.

It distracted from the story which wasn't actually bad.

The book was a disappointment. I won't be reading any others in the series.

oh dear!!

Not my cup of tea at all but felt I had to endure until the end. Wish I hadn't. The story and the voices.........aaargh.......frightful!

A Marvellous book!

Again, I have spent lovely hours getting embroiled in this book. So unusual a concept and yet it's perfectly believable after a while. Some comments have mentioned how they felt the voices were 'over the top' but I thought they were perfect. To me, the narrator was so good, it felt as if I was listening to a full cast production! Besides how else are Frankenstein, two elderly protectors, Dracula and various other crazy characters going to sound? just superb!

Wonderful Romp

I loved this story. The characters became familiar friends as the outrageous, funny and at times endearing story unfolded. Beautifully written.

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Title: A Rural Affair

Author: Catherine Alliott

Narrator: Alison Reid

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-09-12

Publisher: W. F. Howes Ltd

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Newly widowed Poppy Shilling should be feeling distraught at the death of her husband, Phil. But, instead, she cant help feeling relieved. No longer will she have to endure Phils iron fist ruling over her and their two young children, or his unfortunate penchant for Lycra cycling wear.

And when a secret is revealed after his death, Poppys memories of their life together are turned upside down. Freed from her loveless marriage, Poppy is determined not to make the same mistakes again.

As she embraces village life to the full, will Poppy have the courage to follow her heart? Its time for a new beginning, and a chance to discover what real love feels like.

Alison Reid reads this hilarious, heartwarming novel from bestselling author Catherine Alliott.

Members Reviews:

Lovely story

What did you love best about A Rural Affair?

the narrator was awesome and the story was a nice light chic lit, easy to listen too

Would you recommend A Rural Affair to your friends? Why or why not?

yes I would recommend it to others who enjoy an easy listening story

a rural affair

this was one of the best books I have purchased for a long time. it is begging to be made into a film, made me laugh out loud.

A Rural Affair

A good fun book to listen to that flows along easily. Good story. One to go for if you want something easy and gentle.

Light read with some funny parts

What did you like most about A Rural Affair?

It was a lovely story about a girl I could identify with. Everything she does goes wrong but she comes right in the end. With some funny moments along the way.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Poppy and her father

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The hunt and the ball

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

It made me laugh

Any additional comments?

A nice holiday read with a few funny moments especially when her husbands dies

Predictable, cliched, and inconsistent

This book didn't seem to know what it was about. It jumped from one set of ideals to another in an unrealistic way. Moreover, the love interest, and the development of that relationship, was ludicrous. I guess it was okay as an 'easy listen', but if you are going for this genre (I do not condemn chick-lit, only bad writing!) check out Jojo Moyes or Graeme Simsion for a bit more substance and/or humour!

Despite not being thrilled with the content, I thought the narration was fine :)

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Title: The Christmas Angel

Author: Marcia Willett

Narrator: Phyllida Nash

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-10-11

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

As Christmas approaches, everything seems to be falling into place for Dossie. Her son Clem and his adorable five-year-old son Jakey have moved to Cornwall to be closer to her. She runs her own successful catering business. All she needs now is for the run of bad luck in her romantic life to end. Forming a slightly unconventional family setup with Dossie are the jovial nuns of the local convent and the wonderfully eccentric Janna. With humour, kindness and a deep need of somewhere to belong, they form a tight bond. But will this close-knit unit who so depend on each other still be together next Christmas?

Members Reviews:

A gentle tale evoking images of Cornwall

Despite the start being a little confusing I really warmed to this book. The story is entertaining and kept my interest throughout.

Gentle story, beautifully read

I really enjoyed this story - my first book from this author.

Good pace, well read - great accents - lovely structure.

An ideal read for the Christmas period :)

Catching, a lovely little story, quite delightfull

I'm so glad Audible had this as a advent offer. I'd never have happened upon it otherwise. The story builds up wonderfull and loveble characters that gradually evolve through a year of changes. I found myself interested and warmed by their journey and when the story ended I wanted more. The narration is mild and unobtrusive, clearly conveying the characters through subtle changes in tone and accents. A well worth read and especially apt for the season.

Middle class Christmas?

A warm tale about life in rural Cornwall. I persevered with this book expecting a Christmas miracle. Unfortunately it never really happened. I felt that there should have been some sort of crescendo, I even listened to the last couple of chapters again thinking that I must have missed something. In all, if you you're not looking for anything too exciting, it's an excellent choice! It is well read and for the 'price' I really cannot complain.

If your a fan of Marcia Willet, you'll love this.

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

As I have not read it in print I really shouldn't comment. I enjoyed the narrated version very much.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The small grandchild was quite endearing in this.

What about Phyllida Nashs performance did you like?

I like Phyllida's renditions, they seem down to earth and no unnecessary nonsense. The story is important, so a good narrator should blend with it.

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Title: The JustUs Girls

Author: Evelyn "Slim" Lambright

Narrator: Lizan Mitchell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-28-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

During the 1960s, as four kids become best friends in Philly, they form the Justus Girls, a precision drill team. Peaches, Sally Mae, Jan, and Roach vow to be close forever, but as the years pass, they drift apart. Now Peaches has been murdered, and the three remaining Justus Girls are determined to find out who killed her. Slim Lamberts gritty yet warmhearted first novel has received rave reviews from critics and fans.

Members Reviews:

True friends are definitely for ever!

This was truly a heartwarming and suspenseful novel from the debut novelist Slim Lambright. It was written with memorable characters, real life experiences and detailed descriptions of the Philadelphia area.

The main characters Peaches, Sally Mae, Jan, and Roach are true friends that help each other through some very tough times. But isn't that what friends are truly for in your life. I was so touched by this book that after I finished reading it, I immediately contacted my two childhood friends to make sure that we meet within the next month to laugh, chat and rebond. Moreover, to remind each other that we are still their for one another, no matter what the circumstances might be in each of our lives.

Ms. Lambright, you are a great storyteller and I hope you are working on your next book because I am looking forward to reading it.

A Great Novel

Lambright mixes the right amount of suspense, drama, and detail into this novel to make The Justus Girls a page-turner and easy read. Her storytelling ability is great--drawing us into their world, providing us insight into each of the four main character's background and watching them grow into adulthood.

The story opens with the murder of one of the JG's, a childhood drill team that blossomed four friends, who reunite and rekindle their friendship as they vow to find the killer of their dear friend. The book takes them on a journey of self discovery and growth and their experiences strengthen the bonds of friendship discovered early in childhood.

This is a well written novel with many interesting, colorful characters, and sub-plots. It moves and reads well. I'm looking forward to Ms. Lambright's next body of work.

Lambright did an excellent job capturing the fictional life of a young black ...

Appropriate for young readers. A few twists and surprises with delightful characters make this an enjoyable read. Ms. Lambright did an excellent job capturing the fictional life of a young black girl facing many obstacles in life and showed how valuable lasting friendships can turn out to be.

Ms. Lambright, you have a new fan ...

There's nothing else I can say about the book that haven't been said already. If this book is an indication of future works by this author, then she has just made a fan for life!! As one who is sick and tired of the "girlfriend" books where everyone lives the perfect life or where life ends up happily ever after, this book is refreshing. These are real characters, with real issues - situations that we all can relate to. This author has the knack of placing you right there with the characters, living their lives with them. Welcome to the writing world, Ms. Lambright. I hope you decide to stay around for a long time .....

Four Stars

GIFT

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Title: A Dangerous Woman

Author: Mary McGarry Morris

Narrator: Ruth Ann Phimister

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-28-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Martha Horgan is unpredictable, obsessive, and different. Townspeople pity the strange young woman, but they are also frightened by her. Ruth Ann Phimisters narration gives full voice to Marthas collision course through life. A Dangerous Woman was made into a major motion picture and chosen as one of the best books of the year by the editors of ALA Library Journal and Time magazine.

Members Reviews:

Thought provoking

Such an interesting portrayal of society. Mirrors animal life in terms of the cruelty to the weak and helpless. Ironic that such a good and innocent person could become 'a dangerous woman'. A great insight into mans inhumanity to man - and especially of how male dominance can evoke really bad stuff

Nothing for the heart

I kept waiting for something positive or redeeming to happen to someone. This book was down, down, down. That may be good literature, but I don't want to read it.

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Titre: La femme au miroir

Auteur: Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt

Narrateur: Marianne Epin, Nathalie Hugo, Cachou Kirsch, Valérie Lemaître

Format: Unabridged

Durée: 12 hrs and 47 mins

Langue: Français

Date de publication: 11-10-11

Éditeur: Audiolib

Evaluation: 4 sur 5 sur 5 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Résumé de l'éditeur:

Anne vit à Bruges au temps de la Renaissance, Hanna dans la Vienne impériale de Sigmund Freud, Anny à Hollywood de nos jours. Toutes trois se sentent différentes de leurs contemporaines ; refusant le rôle que leur imposent les hommes, elles cherchent à se rendre maîtresses de leur destin.

Trois époques. Trois femmes : et si c'était la même ?

C'est à une véritable performance que se livrent Marianne Epin, Nathalie Hugo et Cachou Kirsch en incarnant avec une remarquable crédibilité des héroïnes séparées par le temps mais unies par une intime connivence.

L'auteur

Diplômé de l'École normale supérieure d'Ulm et agrégé de philosophie en 1983, ce passionné de musique et de littérature, auteur de pièces de théâtre adaptées à l'étranger, écrit des romans depuis 1997. Éternel aventurier des domaines littéraires, maintes fois récompensé,

est un personnage incontournable du paysage culturel français.

Les narratrices

Formée au Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique dans la classe d'Antoine Vitez,

a joué à la Comédie Française et avec les plus grands metteurs en scène et alterné théâtre, cinéma et télévision. Elle joue aux côtés de Fellag dans

.

Comédienne bruxelloise et sociologue de formation,

joue depuis 2003, sur les planches comme sur pellicule. Elle est également chargée de production du Festival Esperanzah!, ainsi que musicienne. En 2007, elle a été nominée en tant qu'Espoir féminin aux Prix du Théâtre belge.

, comédienne de théâtre au riche parcours exerce également ses talents dans des comédies musicales, le doublage de films de cinéma ou de télévision et celui de dessins animés.

Formée au conservatoire d'art dramatique de Bruxelles,

mène une carrière exigeante au cinéma et au théâtre. Elle écrit et met en scène pour le théâtre et la télévision.

© Antigone, 2011

© et (p) Audiolib 2011

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Title: The Visible World

Author: Mark Slouka

Narrator: Glen McCready

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-03-11

Publisher: Naxos Audiobooks

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Mark Sloukas novel begins with the child of Czech immigrants to the US, now living in New York, who has been brought up on the folklore of his parents homeland. As an adult he becomes aware that he has no knowledge of his parents during the Nazi occupation of Prague. He makes a journey back to Czechoslovakia and it is only then that he discovers their part in the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, the notorious butcher of Prague and begins to understand his mother Ivanas unhappiness.

Intertwined with this gripping history is a passionate love story, the tragic consequences of which transcend both years and continents.

Editorial Reviews:

In his evocative narration, Glen McCready accomplishes the narrative equivalent of a sepia-toned photograph. At once he conveys a sense that we are in a time and place soaked in sorrows - first, Czechoslovakia during the war, then, New York in the decade or two afterwards. But he also captures an immediacy that renders the conflicting emotions of love astonishingly vivid and present. Slouka's tricky novel begins with a young narrator, the son of Czech émigrés, recalling the suicide of his mother. This mystery eventually leads him to Prague and his attempt to unearth the wartime events that would doom his mother to her self-destruction. With a hushed, ever-restrained narration, McCready delivers a shattering listening experience.

Members Reviews:

Fear in Prague

Glen McCready was an ideal narrator for this factually based story of heroes and others in Czechoslovakia in World War II. The novel presents a young man, trying to understand his parents' relationship and their possible support for the Resistance in World War II. There is an ominous, almost menacing tone to McCready's narration, as the young man gets closer to his parents' history. Among the livelier scenes were those from the protagonist's boyhood in the US, surrounded by emigres from the postwar Czech world, so many trying to understand what had happened to their lost world. But there is a heaviness, too, as the book confronts the horrors of the war and the suffering of these sometimes sentimental emigres. Very well written and read.

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Title: The Winters in Bloom

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Lisa Tucker

Narrator: Joyce Bean

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-13-11

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Kyra and David Winter are happier than they ever expected to be. They have a comfortable home, stable careers, and a young son, Michael, whom they adore. Though everyone who knows the Winters considers them extremely overprotective parents, both Kyra and David believe they have good reasons for fearing that something will happen to their little boy. And then, on a perfectly average summer day, it does, when Michael disappears from his own backyard. The only question is whose past has finally caught up with them: David feels sure that Michael was taken by his troubled ex-wife, while Kyra believes the kidnapper must be someone from her estranged family, someone she betrayed years ago.

As the Winters embark on a journey of time and memory to find Michael, they will be forced to admit these suspicions, revealing secrets about themselves theyve always kept hidden. But they will also have a chance to discover that its not too late to have the family theyve dreamed of; that even if the world is full of risks, as long as they have hope, the future can bloom.

Lyrical, wise, and witty, The Winters in Bloom is an enchanting, life-affirming story that will surprise readers and leave them full of wonder at the stubborn strength of the human heart.

Members Reviews:

fantastic and a great mystery

I "read" this book for book club. I listened to it while everyone else actually read it turning pages. There were parts that they said was hard to tell who was talking and they did a lot of rereading. With great narration I didn't have problems following this book as long as I paid attention. Excellent audio!