Legacy of Mercy by Lynn Austin -- Audiobook Review

Legacy of Mercy
By: Lynn Austin
Narrated by: Rachel Botchan, Stina Nielsen, Suzanne Toren,Amanda Leigh Cobb, Laura Knight Keating, Andrea Gallo
Series: Waves of Mercy, Book 2
Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 10-02-18
Language: English
Publisher: Recorded Books

Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels 

I listened to this audiobook as a download from Audible.com. I have a membership. This is the sequel to Waves of Mercy by Lynn Austin. That story disappointed me with the ending, as it was basically a cliff-hanger with no resolution. So I thought I'd listen to this audiobook. At first, when I heard that it was done in first person POV (Point of View) I almost didn't listen. I do not care for first person POV. At all. Or so I thought. Because with six narrators, all excellent, and a lot of the story told almost like letters and with many flashbacks, I was able to deal with the first person POV. In fact, here's a situation in which the author likely really did need to use this method to get the story told. I really enjoyed this audiobook, which is saying a lot for someone who does not listen to first person story telling. 

This story does somewhat defy subgenres. It is a Christian historical fiction but it also has a strong Women's Fiction feel and there is definitely romance. There were some bibliotherapy elements that were strong -- with depression, suicidal ideation, serious illness, and more. Lynn Austin did a beautiful job of weaving God's mercy into the story. Since this is the Legacy of Mercy in the Waves of Mercy collection, that makes sense!

If you've read the first book in the Waves of Mercy series you do need to read this book, too. It will take care of the cliff hangers and leave you satisfied with the story. The narration, story, and characters are all first rate.

Highly recommend if you've already read the first book!

On Love's Gentle Shore - By Liz Johnson, Audiobook Review

On Love's Gentle Shore
Prince Edward Island Dreams Series, Book 3
By: Liz Johnson
Narrated by: Amy Melissa Bentley
Series: Prince Edward Island Dreams, Book 3
Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
Publisher: Tantor Audio

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5 Stars *****

Audiobook Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Somehow I had a big gap between listening to the wonderful first two books in this series and this third one which released a year ago. I highly recommend the entire series! I think I had a lot of life stuff going on and major health issues that got in the way. Then I was off to Mackinac Island for the summer and got the chance to regroup. So I've been catching up on my audiobook listens! 

The narrator, Amy Bentley, really enhances the story! I give her 5 Stars for her narration! Hit it perfectly! A narrator can help your story or spoil it and Ms. Bentley was wonderful.

I loved this story as I did the other two in this series. Liz Johnson has this great author's voice. Having met her in person and been in a collection with her (A Cup of Christmas Cheer, Guideposts Books, now out of print) I wasn't surprised I'd love her voice as she's such a sweet lady. Her characters are so relatable and down-to-earth. And I enjoyed the three very different stories. That really showed her talent in having same story world but completely different story plots. 

In the novel, Natalie has been basically pressured into returning to Prince Edward Island, by her fiancé Russell a wealthy and prominent music producer. Little did he know!!! This isn't where she wants to be. At all!  But Natalie has some healing that can come from this return. Ms. Johnson does a great job of developing the characters and especially with arcs for both the hero and Justin and Natalie's fiancé. I loved that she didn't resort to using some typical things with Russell but had a deft hand in showing us his nature.

I used an Audible.com download for my listen as I have a membership. Delightful romance! Grab all three listens!

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Publisher's Summary
Fifteen years after she left Prince Edward Island, Natalie O'Ryan had no plans to return. But when her fiancé, music producer Russell Jacobs, books their wedding in her hometown and schedules a summer at Rose's Red Door Inn, she sets out to put the finishing touches on the perfect wedding. But she can't possibly prepare for a run-in with Justin Kane - the best friend she left behind all those years ago after promising to stay.

Justin's never forgotten Natalie or the music career he always dreamed of pursuing. He'd been prepared to follow her off the island until his dad died and he was left to run the family dairy farm. He's done the best he can with the life that was thrust upon him - but with Natalie back in the picture, he begins to realize just how much joy he's been missing.

After Natalie's reception venue falls through, she must scramble to find an alternative, and the only option seems to be a barn on Justin's property. As they work together to get the dilapidated building ready for the party, Natalie and Justin discover the groundwork for forgiveness - and that there may be more than an old friendship between them.

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Giveaway: Box of Christian fiction books to one commenter.

Murder at the Flamingo by Rachel McMillan Audiobook Review

Murder at the Flamingo
by Rachel McMillan

From Thomas Nelson, audiobook narration by Kristin James

This is my first book that I've read by Canadian author, Rachel McMillan. I was drawn into the story and really enjoyed the settings and the characters. Having visiting Boston during a college exploration trip for our daughter, it was fun to go back in time to 1930s era in Boston. I did get a couple of the characters mixed up and I reached out to Rachel to help clarify for me. Obviously if I'd been reading the book rather than listening this wouldn't have been an issue.

I was delighted to read where the hero has an Anxiety Disorder. Frankly, we don't get to read many stories that feature a flawed hero like Hamish. I was looking forward to hearing how God helped Hamish overcome. Was thinking this could even be a good bibliotherapy book. See my next comments.

The story reminded me very much of a clean reads novel from another author. I kept listening for the Christian fiction component, the spiritual arc. And I kept listening. It was an engaging story, the characterization was good, and I enjoyed Rachel's author voice. But I never did find the Christian fiction component or the spiritual arc. So at the end I felt rather flummoxed. This was a Thomas Nelson story and it read like a clean read story not a Christian fiction. I was disappointed. I do think the market is going in this direction and we're going to find this more often. So I'll be checking in future to make sure the time I invest time in a listen is for a CF story -- I do want that clear spiritual arc.

Here's what Rachel McMillan had to say about the Christian element. She has given me permission to quote her: "It's more thematic. It's infused in the mentions of Hunchback of Notre Dame. In the grace distributed by Nate to the North End community. In the loyalty and unconditional love of Hamish to Luca. My books don’t have overt Christian elements or frames. It is more implied in message and symbol."

Publisher's Summary
“Maybe it was time to land straight in the middle of the adventure....”

Hamish DeLuca has spent most of his life trying to hide the anxiety that appears at the most inopportune times - including during his first real court case as a new lawyer. Determined to rise above his father’s expectations, Hamish runs away to Boston where his cousin, Luca Valari, is opening a fashionable nightclub in Scollay Square. When he meets his cousin's “right hand man” Reggie, Hamish wonders if his dreams for a more normal life might be at hand.

Regina “Reggie” Van Buren, heir to a New Haven fortune, has fled fine china, small talk, and the man her parents expect her to marry. Determined to make a life as the self-sufficient city girl she’s seen in her favorite Jean Arthur and Katharine Hepburn pictures, Reggie runs away to Boston, where she finds an easy secretarial job with the suave Luca Valari. But as she and Hamish work together in Luca’s glittering world, they discover a darker side to the smashing Flamingo nightclub.

When a corpse is discovered at the Flamingo, Reggie and Hamish quickly learn there is a vast chasm between the haves and the have-nots in 1937 Boston - and that there’s an underworld that feeds on them both. As Hamish is forced to choose between his conscience and loyalty to his beloved cousin, the unlikely sleuthing duo work to expose a murder before the darkness destroys everything they’ve worked to build.

Giveaway: Box of books. Leave a comment to enter.

Jen Turano's Caught By Surprise Audiobook

Once again, author Jen Turano delivers the goods -- a wonderfully enjoyable listen! I loved Temperance's character as well as Gilbert's! Such a fun listen. Caught by Surprise on Audible.com is narrated by Lauren Ezzo who did a great job bringing the characters to life! The Audiobook is from Two Words Publishing LLC.

Caught by Surprise is available in multiple formats besides audio: paperback, ebook, and hardcover. So you can enjoy it is the manner you most prefer! Check out the links to purchase on Jen's page for this title. Bethany House is the publisher.

Here's the publisher's summary: Miss Temperance Flowerdew is on her way to work when a stranger suddenly grabs her off the street and sends her on a Chicago-bound train before she can figure out what happened.

When Mr. Gilbert Cavendish is called upon to rescue a missing woman, he follows the trail to Chicago only to discover that the woman is his good friend Temperance. Before they can discover who was behind the abduction, they’re seen alone together by a New York society matron, putting their reputations at risk.

Gilbert is willing to propose marriage–except Temperance will have none of it. She’s finally stepped out of the shadow of her relations and won’t give up her independence. But when it becomes clear the misunderstanding in Chicago has escalated into a threat on her life and followed her to New York, accepting Gilbert’s help in solving the mystery may lead to more than she ever could have dreamed.

Giveaway: I'm giving away a box of Christian fiction books this week to one of the commenters on my review posts. Leave a comment on this and my other review (this coming Thursday, of Debbie Maccomber's audiobook) to enter!

Audiobook Review - A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden

A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden, Audiobook

A Daring Venture
By: Elizabeth Camden
Narrated by: Rachel Botchan
Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
Release date: 06-05-18
Publisher: Recorded Books

Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

I purchased my copy as a download from Audible.com. 

My Ratings: Five Stars Story, Five Stars Overall *****

Narration was okay but could have been better. I gave this Three Stars. It didn't affect my enjoyment of the story so much as annoyed me. The accents were very different than in the first book in this series, which I loved.  A Dangerous Legacy was narrated by Morgan Hallett, who did a stellar job. So my caveat to the listener is to add a pair of "New Jersey over-accented filters" on your ears while you listen! 

Story and characterization was solid and very enjoyable. Elizabeth Camden is an amazing writer. This is a wonderful series set just after the turn-of-the-century. Camden portrayed biochemist Rosalind beautifully, incorporating nuances of the scientific mind. Similarly her characterization of Nick, a former plumber with a heart of gold, takes into account his blue collar roots without overdoing it. I loved, loved, loved the start of this book where Camden gives us the poignant backstory for Dr. Rosalind Werner. Definitely shed some tears there and it totally sets you up to understand her motivation.

There's a lot of tension in this story, both romantic and in the story line. Camden is a master at pacing. A master of writing. Period.

You'll find yourself looking forward to every one of your listening sessions for A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden!

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Publisher's Summary
Dr. Rosalind Werner is at the forefront of a groundbreaking new water technology - if only she can get support for her work. Nicholas, Commissioner of Water for New York, is skeptical - and surprised by his reaction to Rosalind. While they fight against their own attraction, they stand on opposite sides of a battle that will impact thousands of lives.

As a biochemist in early 1900s New York, Doctor Rosalind Werner has dedicated her life to the crusade against waterborne diseases. She is at the forefront of a groundbreaking technology that will change the way water is delivered to every household in the city - but only if she can get people to believe in her work.

Newly appointed Commissioner of Water for New York, Nicholas Drake, is highly skeptical of Rosalind and her team's techniques. When a brewing court case throws him into direct confrontation with her, he is surprised by his reaction to the lovely scientist. While Rosalind and Nick wage a private war against their own attraction, they stand firmly on opposite sides of a battle that will impact far more than just their own lives.

As the controversy grows more public and inflammatory and Rosalind becomes the target of an unknown enemy, the odds stacked against these two rivals swiftly grow more insurmountable with every passing day.

~~~~~

This book is available in multiple formats. If you do a sample listen of the story on audible.com and you're not happy with the narrator, go buy an ebook or paperback copy!

Highly Recommend!!!

Question: Do you listen to more audiobooks in the summer?

In Places Hidden by Tracie Peterson, Audiobook Review

In Places Hidden (Recorded Books)
by Tracie Peterson
Narrated by Angela Lin
Golden Gate Secrets Series Book 1

Audiobook Review
by Carrie Fancett Pagels

What a great start to this new series by one of my favorite authors, Tracie Peterson! And I've listened to many of her audiobooks (she has over 100 books released!) but this is one of my favorites. The narrator did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life.

Camri is a fiesty young woman searching for her missing brother. The secrets and intrigue really move the story along. Patrick is a compassionate young man with a heart of gold. These two are from very different backgrounds but their common interest in finding her brother, Caleb, fosters a friendship.

Highly recommend In Places Hidden especially on audiobook! Set in turn-of-the-century San Francisco, you'll love the setting, especially the chocolate factory.

Read about the other two novels in Tracie's Golden Gate Secrets Series (click here.)

Publisher's summary: On her way to San Francisco to find her brother, Caleb, who went missing three months ago, Camriann Coulter meets Judith and Kenzie, who both have their own mysteries to solve in the booming West Coast city. The women decide to help each other, including rooming together and working at Kenzie’s cousin’s chocolate factory. Camri’s search for her brother, an attorney, leads her deep into the political corruption of the city–and into the acquaintance of Patrick Murdock, a handsome Irishman who was saved from a false murder charge by Caleb. Patrick challenges all of Camri’s privileged beliefs, but he knows more about what happened to her brother than anyone else. Together, they move closer to the truth behind Caleb’s disappearance. But as the stakes rise and threats loom, will Patrick be able to protect Camri from the dangers he knows lie in the hidden places of the city?

Beneath A Prairie Moon Audiobook by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Beneath a Prairie Moon by Kim Vogel Sawyer, Recorded Books, Image from Audible.com

Beneath a Prairie Moon 
by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Fantastic Story -- Compelling Listen!

Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

I downloaded my listen from Audible.com. I loved this story! It was a great story and beautiful characterization. I recently reviewed another Kim Vogel Sawyer title, so I'm on a roll! I had my first cataract surgery last week and another next week. 

You will definitely find the heroine, Abigail, very difficult to take at first. She's a handful! Opinionated, high strung, and with "rules, rules, rules" her leading guide. Whew! But she has suffered much and she has a good heart beneath all that prissiness. I love that we got a second romance in this story, with Abigail's boss.  Or is it a romance? Hmm. Seems like one. But I might have been wrong. Maybe that's a strong friendship, due to their age difference. Maybe the author is leading up to something else...

Hero Mack is wonderful. You'll love him from the start. And he'd never be satisfied by a passive sweet wife. Wait -- he is one of the only ones not wanting a mail-order bride. But this guy needs a wife. Trust me, I know the type! With all the head-butting he and Abigail do, it would be a wonder if they could overcome their differences and be friends much less sweethearts. Will Kim Vogel Sawyer work her magic on these two?

Highly Recommend! This novel is available in multiple formats. Check out CBD's options.

Publisher's summary: Abigail Brantley grew up in affluence and knows exactly how to behave in high society. But when she is cast from the social registers due to her father's illegal dealings, she finds herself forced into a role she never imagined: tutoring rough Kansas ranchers in the subjects of manners and morals so they can "marry up" with their mail-order brides. Mack Cleveland, whose father was swindled by a mail-order bride, wants no part of the scheme to bring Eastern women to Spiveyville, Kansas, and he's put off by the snooty airs and fastidious behavior of the "little city gal" in their midst. But as time goes by, his heart goes out.

Grace & the Preacher by Kim Vogel Sawyer -- Audiobook Review

Grace and the Preacher
by Kim Vogel Sawyer
(Recorded Books, 2017)

I purchased my audiobook as a download from Audible.com. This novel is also available in other formats. I'm not sure how I missed this book when it released but I know another reviewer has also posted a review this week, over a year after release. This was the perfect time for me to listen, though, and I enjoyed every bit of it!

You'll Enjoy This Story!!!

FIVE STARS *****

Master novelist, Kim Vogel Sawyer, creates another beautiful story. This is a smooth story with multiple layers of storytelling and characterization. Grace has been expecting the arrival of a new preacher, who will take her uncle's place at their church. Meanwhile, Theo Garrison is facing calamity. Decisions must be made.  Difficult decisions.

You'll love Grace and Theo. There's another character in the story, Theo's cousin, who gets a really wide story arc. I'm hoping he has his own story. He's someone you'll surprise yourself in rooting for at some point.

I was going to include the Publisher's summary but I felt there were too many spoilers in there. I'd advise you do not read the summary but get this book and read it ASAP! This is really a great listen. Highly Recommend!

I'm having cataract surgery on my right eye today, May 3rd. I've still got seven Audible.com credits to use. What other audiobooks would you highly recommend to me? Thanks!

The Ringmaster's Wife by Kristy Cambron -- Audiobook Review

The Ringmaster's Wife
Thomas Nelson (June 2016)
by Kristy Cambron

Five Stars *****

Audiobook Review
By Carrie Fancett Pagels

Brings the Magic to Life!

I purchased my audiobook copy on Audible.com. I've been wanting to listen to this story for a long time! Since the release, though, in 2016 I've had a bunch of my own books under contract to write and get in on deadline, so I was really glad to finally get to this story in my queue to listen to when I finally got a chance to catch up! Whew, I just turned in my last contracted story (about to go over my editor's revisions this next week) and so I'd listened to this wonderful audiobook while cleaning around my house.

Wonderful story (a double treat as you get two stories for one -- although its a dual timeline both stories are basically historical/nostaglic era). Both storylines were wonderful. I loved hearing Kristy's version of Mable's story. I'd read about her in the past and had wondered what her life must have been like married to one of the Ringling brothers.  And Rosamund's storyline was also very engaging.

Bibliotherapy: Strong faith elements. Overcoming poverty. Overcoming parental expectations. Overcoming physical limitations. Coping with medical impairments. This was chock-a-block full of bibliotherapy aspects!

This audiobook had the triumvirate in spades, and twice -- Story, Characterization, and Voice perfect for the story.  The narrator was really good, although she mispronounced a number of words and not because they were in English or Irish voice, either. I didn't find it particularly drew me out of the story, though, because Amy Rubinate was perfect for narration of this story.

I'm about to undergo cataract surgery soon and I'll really be relying upon more audiobooks during my recovery. You can bet on the fact that I'll definitely be ordering more of Kristy Cambron's books to listen to!

GIVEAWAY: Box of books by various Christian authors.  Leave a comment for a chance to win the box of books!

A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden -- Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden, Narrated by Morgan Hallett, Audible.com

A Dangerous Legacy
by Elizabeth Camden
Narrated by Morgan Hallett
Audible.com download

Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Please note: This title is available in multiple formats.

Five Stars for Story, Narration, and Overall *****

Fantastic Listen!!! Dangerous, Indeed!

Some books are like a box full of wonderful artisan chocolates. This audible listen was like that. I savored each segment of listening that I did over the course of about two weeks. As I got to the end, though, I ended up binging a little, like you do when you know you're at the end and about to run out of those fantastic hand-made chocolates!

The narrator, Morgan Hallett, couldn't be more perfect for the voice of Lucy Drake, a telegraph operator in New York City. Lucy and her brother have been waging a legal battle with their uncle for a long time, and both are worn out from it. Sir Colin Beckwith, a Reuters News Agency, is in New York to find himself a wealthy heiress to bolster his impoverished estate in England. 

Lucy has a heart of gold and I immediately loved her. Colin has a a battered and tarnished silver heart of his own that Lucy helps polish and God pushes to heal. They are dealing with very dangerous people who will stop at nothing. At one point I was afraid to keep listening! But I kept on and was rewarded!

As usual, Elizabeth Camden's attention to research detail pulls you into the story and keeps you a century in the past. Her ability to put you in the setting is breath-taking. I was especially interested in the psychiatric asylum aspect. Having been a psychologist for twenty-five years, I was somewhat surprised by the very negative portrayal, but after all there is a reason. And it is true that many of the "treatments" used at the turn-of-the-century were little more than torture. However, a couple of the techniques discussed in the novel are still used today and aren't the horror they are portrayed as here, e.g., systematic desensitization, and the use of projective imagery to get at core issues. But these are used to pull the story forward.

Highly Recommend!!!

Once An Heiress by Renee Ryan -- Reviewed by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Blurb: Boston society darling Gigi Wentworth leaves behind everything she holds dear for the sake of love - only to learn that the man with whom she'd planned to elope is nothing but a thieving scoundrel. Abandoned in New York City and saddled with debt, Gigi must sell a prized family heirloom, but even that sacrifice isn't enough to get her home. Her determination drives her to take on work as a lady's maid, keeping her identity a secret...until she's discovered by a former friend with a hidden agenda. 

Although dealing with his own serious family issue, Christopher "Fitz" Fitzpatrick sets out to return the missing heiress to her rightful place in society. But the more he interacts with this new Gigi, the more shocked he is to find her so changed. Gone is the frivolous beauty in expensive gowns. In her place is a woman he could grow to love. When secrets are revealed, will Gigi and Fitz find the trust they need to confront the past and open their hearts?

Worth the Wait!

By Carrie Fancett Pagels

Once An Heiress (Brilliance Audio)

by Renee Ryan

Narrated by Karen Peakes

I was anxiously awaiting the release of this audible.com download, book 3 in the Gilded Promises series. I knew Gigi Wentworth would have a fascinating story to tell, and she does! This is a Prodigal Daughter story. Good spiritual arcs for both hero and heroine. Both needed to change in order for God to give them a chance to possibly make a new start. 

Make sure you read the first two books in this series before listening to book three in the series. They are all solid listens. I'll confess the first was my fave, but all are wonderful listens. I hadn't listened to any of Renee's books before and she's an impressive author--has it all with voice, characterization, and story. 

If you liked my novel, My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude's Mooring, you will likely enjoy this series which is also set at the turn of the century.

Giveaway: This week, I'm giving away a box of books. Comment on this post for an extra entry. Comment on my Sunday post on "Just" for a second entry! 

Audiobook Review of Ruth Logan Herne's Welcome to Wishing Bridge

Audiobook Review
by Carrie Fancett Pagels

5 Stars *****

Welcome to Wishing Bridge (Brilliance Audio)
Ruth Logan Herne

I'm glad I "won" a Goodreads giveaway of this novel -- even though I never did get notified nor did I get a copy! Because what I did instead was snagged a cheap audiobook version of this absolutely lovely Christmas novel, the first in a new series by Ruth Logan Herne. Ruth was an Overcoming With God blog Angel Award Recipient last year! She has a big heart and an even bigger talent. She's a dedicated professional author, working diligently. She's up early in the morning (Ruthy logs into the 1k1Hr group on Facebook around 5ish most mornings -- when the rest of us are usually sleeping!). But back to this story.

If you're looking for a feel-good story with great narration, lovable characters, and some interesting plot twists and mystery, this is the audiobook for you! Its such a great listen that I plowed through it in about two days! That's unusual for me.

Kelsey is an almost-30 teacher with a master's degree but unable to find permanent work and has set off on a heartbreaking journey at Christmastime. Having lived for two years in Western New York, not far from fictional Wishing Bridge, I have also been caught in a Lake Erie white out. So Ruth's descriptions of driving conditions totally brought back memories! I'm afraid to say much else about this story for fear of spoilers! There's a blurb online you can read but I'd just suggest -- go BUY this story and listen!

Welcome to Wishing Bridge is available in multiple formats.

Christmas at Carnton by Tamera Alexander -- Audiobook Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Blurb: Captain Jake Winston is a Confederate sharpshooter who suffers a head injury that may cause blindness. While he waits for his diagnosis, and still has his sight, he sketches and journals events of the war. As he heals, Jake receives orders to help with the local Women’s Relief Society Christmas auction. A society which supports Confederate and Federal soldiers, makes a difference in soldiers lives. Aletta Prescott is a widow with a six-year-old son and a child on the way. She applies for a job at the auction, only to find the position is no longer available. She meets Jake and as she gets to know him she must try to let go of the fear begins to grow inside her.

Christmas at Carnton by Tamera Alexander --
Audiobook Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

A Southern Christmas Tale by a Master Storyteller

My Review
I listened to Christmas at Carnton as an Audible.com download via my membership. As usual, master storyteller, Tamera Alexander delivers a powerful read (listen) in her newest release, the first book in a series set at Carnton Plantation in Tennessee. I thought Aletta's name was Arletta, as I was listening. I've not heard the name Aletta but had heard Arletta before. Regardless, Aletta is a very sympathetic heroine. As indicated in the blurb, Jake is an injured sharp shooter. I confess that gave me great pause. I felt that was a risky thing for Tamera to have a hero doing, especially a Confederate. Having been raised in the North, this gave me great pause. I don't know if I'd have continued listening had it not been Tamera Alexander who had written the story. I really had to deliberately force myself to overlook this Confederate sharpshooter soldier's misbegotten loyalties to keep listening. He's a lovely hero. If only he'd been a Union soldier! My father was a sharpshooter in WWII and I know that that means, but it isn't something I have tried to dwell on. So I think this story also stirred up in me some conflicted thoughts of my nerdy dad having been a sharpshooter. And the Southern ladies raising money for "The Cause" -- I confess I cringed. When I discovered a Confederate ancestor a few years back in my genealogy I had a meltdown. My husband's reaction was -- "You're family was from the South, what did you expect?" Since as far as I knew they were all in Kentucky at that time I wasn't sure what I'd find. And there was another George Washington Danner I'd found from Kentucky who'd been a Union deserter (apparently not my ancestor by the same name who was enlisted in Staunton, Virginia.) Sorry, but I digress.

Tamera Alexander's story is a truly Southern tale and and a reflection of history. I learned something I'd never heard before -- that many slave-owners had sent their slaves deeper into the South. What a tragedy. I've seen pictures of post-Civil War freed slaves gathering at various places trying to find as many of their kin as they could. Very sad. And imagine being freed in Mississippi and having loved ones back in Tennessee to find. How did they make those journeys? So I found myself having a number of tangential thoughts while listening to this story.

The story carries on at a brisk pace with well-developed characters and a plot line with plenty of layers. Even despite my reservations, I found myself rooting for Aletta and Jake who are a great heroine/hero combo. Aletta has such a difficult situation but carries herself as a lady. And caring for a son while pregnant and a widow, that makes her very sympathetic. Jake, too, is a very likable sympathetic character struggling with his own losses.

The novel is available in multiple formats including ebook, audiobook, paperback, and hardcover large print, which makes this lovely story accessible to many people. Looking for a little different kind of Christmas story this year -- check out this new audiobook! You can't go wrong with Tamera Alexander!

To the Farthest Shores by Elizabeth Camden -- Audiobook Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

To the Farthest Shores by Elizabeth Camden
Narrator Angela Brazil

A Pearl of a Story!

Audiobook Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

It broke Jenny Bennett's heart when Ryan suddenly left her six years ago with no explanation. Now he abruptly reappears at the Presidio Army base without explanation. Lt. Ryan Gallagher had accepted a highly classified overseas assignment at great personal cost. Bound by honor, he must never reveal where he was during those years. Will she forgive him when he can't be honest with her?

I listened to this book as a download from Audible.com. As with other stories by Elizabeth Camden this novel offers a complex intellectual plot full of historical information. With a backdrop of the early development of the cultured pearl industry and of the presence of US spies needed in Japan.

Jenny is a bitter young woman who takes a very long time to soften up in the story. She's a little hard to listen to sometimes and the narrator doesn't help her out too much. And Ryan doesn't realize love takes sacrifice and one's significant other must have priority. Will either of these two overcome their own backgrounds and foibles to be able to have a happily ever after together or not?

This is a long slow listen heavy with information. The narrator, Angela Brazil, plays the downtrodden Jenny a bit too heavy. I think she could have lightened up more. But the story was worth the listen. The novel is available in multiple formats, which is always nice. 

Audiobook Review of "The Writing Desk" by Rachel Hauck

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Dress comes a new captivating novel of secrets, romance, and two women bound together across time by a shared dream.

Tenley Roth’s first book was a runaway bestseller. Now that her second book is due, she’s locked in fear. Can she repeat her earlier success or is she a fraud who has run out of inspiration?

With pressure mounting from her publisher, Tenley is weighted with writer’s block. But when her estranged mother calls asking Tenley to help her through chemotherapy, she packs up for Florida where she meets handsome furniture designer Jonas Sullivan and discovers the story her heart’s been missing.

A century earlier, another woman wrote at the same desk with hopes and fears of her own. Born during the Gilded Age, Birdie Shehorn is the daughter of the old money Knickerbockers. Under the strict control of her mother, her every move is decided ahead of time, even whom she’ll marry. But Birdie has dreams she doesn’t know how to realize. She wants to tell stories, write novels, make an impact on the world. When she discovers her mother has taken extreme measures to manipulate her future, she must choose between submission and security or forging a brand new way all on her own.

Tenley and Birdie are from two very different worlds, but fate has bound them together in a way time cannot erase.

Will Be on OWG's Best of 2017

I listened to this audiobook as a download from Audible.com.

The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck will be on my 2018 Best of the Year list! Rachel's new novel and my own were on the Romantic Times Book Reviews Top Picks for July 2017  -- what an honor for me, and now that I've read her book I'm pretty blown away that My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island: Maude's Mooring had that opportunity. Rachel's talent shines in every bit of this novel.  I loved it!

Be prepared for Tenley Roth's spiritual arc to be a little different. Tenley isn't a believer. Jonas is a devout young man and talented craftsman. Their sparks are wonderful.  And Birdie (whom I thought was Bertie because of the narrator's pronunciation) is darling. I was rooting for both her and Tenley all along.

There are wonderful twists and turns in this story. You'll be holding your breath in parts and sighing in relief in others!

The narrator made occasional errors in pronunciation. She also used a Southern accent for this New Yorker heroine but if you can overlook that, you're golden.

What a wonderful listen! There are two time slip stories -- a golden age and a contemporary, both connected by a writing desk. At first I wondered if I could listen to the story because of the author aspect of the story, I was worried I'd feel like author intrusion but I was able to get past that because there was so much more story involved that pulled me in.

I like the look of this writing desk at the left! If you could pick a writing desk, what would yours look like?  Mine is a glass and aluminum picnic table with outdoor chair and that works fine for me!

Audiobook Review of A Name Unknown by Roseanna M. White

Blurb: 
Edwardian romance and history gains a twist of suspense. 
Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they concentrate on stealing high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. But when Rosemary must determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany, she is in for the challenge of a lifetime. How does one steal a family's history, their very name? 
Peter Holstein, given his family's German blood, writes his popular series of adventure novels under a pen name. With European politics boiling and his own neighbors suspicious of him, Peter debates whether it might be best to change his name for good. When Rosemary shows up at his door pretending to be a historian and offering to help him trace his family history, his question might be answered. 
But as the two work together and Rosemary sees his gracious reaction to his neighbors' scornful attacks, she wonders if her assignment is going down the wrong path. Is it too late to help him prove that he's more than his name?

A Name Unknown
(Shadows over England, # 1)
Audiobook Review
Recorded Books 2017
By Roseanna M. White
Narrated By Liz Pierce


Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Book One in a New British Series!

This novel was a Romantic Times Book Reviews Top Pick in July, 2017. I listened to a download of the book on Audible.com. The suspenseful romance and mystery is available in multiple formats at Barnes and Noble,  Amazon, Christian Book Distributors, at your local Christian book store (BTW, Lifeway will price match and they also can get you a book that they don't have in the store), and at other online and brick-and-mortar bookstores.

First of all, this is a very unusual Christian fiction story in that the heroine is an anti-hero. Roseanna will be speaking in Maryland, on September 9th, at the Write To Inspire Workshop in Frederick, on "When to Break the Rules" in writing, so I'm assuming that's what she's trying to do for this novel. When I had the opportunity to have dinner with Roseanna and her family in Williamsburg, Virginia, recently, she also talked a little about this idea. Realize, however, it takes a really talented author to do this.  With 200+ reviews on Amazon with a 4.7 average, readers agree that she's done so.

Be prepared for a long listen. This book is over 400 pages long which translates into many hours of audible listen. If you don't have to do the read by audio, you might want to stick with the paperback, ebook, or hardcover edition. Listening to the narrator stutter (yes, the hero is a stutterer, but if you're reading it with your eyes you don't actually hear it) is painful at times. It does hammer through the reality of the characters situation, though. The narrator is good, with a lovely British accent, but she doesn't quite nail the male character's voices like some other narrators can do. 

Because I'm also an author, the concept of this book (the hero is a secret novelist) caused "author intrusion" for me throughout much of the listen. I don't think this would be a problem for the vast majority of listeners, and indeed by the ratings it obviously didn't. And knowing Roseanna made that intrusion even worse. Big sigh. One of those times I wish I was still a reader only, as this is a nice long lovely listen to savor.

Bibiliotherapy aspects are ripe and rich and make this audiobook a top candidate for my Bibliotherapy Book of the Year. With the first hero with a marked speech impairment and a heroine who is not only an orphan but a thief who has grown up with a family of criminals, albeit her loved ones with reasons why they've turned to this life.

Questions: How often do you listen to a new release on audio? What's your favorite way to read and why?

Giveaway: To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander -- Audiobook Review

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

To Wager Her Heart (Zondervan, August 2017)
by Tamera Alexander

Audiobook Review
by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Worth the Wait!

Another fantastic novel from Tamera Alexander! I've read all of her books and have never been disappointed. Like most of her other stories, we have a well-fleshed out heroine with a strong backbone but flexibility, too. Alexandra Donelson has to make some big choices when her father tries to force her into an unwanted marriage. She's overcome trauma and loss but isn't about to be married to a man over twice her age and her father's crony. But her father has a secret. Not saying what.

Readers will gain insight into the struggles that African-American students faced, as the author takes us to the struggling Tufts University in Nashville. Not only to we feel their difficulties but also the challenges of those who would instruct the freedmen students.

Entwined in this novel is a beautiful romance between a very unlikely couple. Alexandra has been brought up the privileged daughter of one of Nashville's oldest families, her father an attorney. Silas Rutledge, on the other hand, was first raised by his widowed mother before she remarried -- a man who would be come Sy's psychological father and a role model for him. Sy's railed engineer stepfather, however, has died in a controversial manner. Tamera Alexander includes many great tidbits about railroads and the men who built them as well as the very real dangers faced in railroad travel after the Civil War.

Bibliotherapy Elements: PTSD, loss of a loved one, clearing a loved one's name, trust.

I hope to re-listen to this audiobook again within the year, something I don't often do. This book will definitely be on my Best of 2017 and is a contender in the Bibliotherapy Best category, too.

Blurb: Can a railroad man and a Southern Belle turned teacher find a way to work together to achieve their dreams in the new reality of the post-Civil War South?

Sylas Rutledge, former gambler and new owner of the East Line Railway, invests everything he has into this venture, partly to see if he can do it--but mostly to avenge his father. One man holds the key to the railway's success--General William Giles Harding of Nashville's Belle Meade Plantation. But Harding is champagne and thoroughbreds, and Sylas Rutledge is beer and bullocks. Sy needs someone to help him maneuver in high society, and when he meets Alexandra Donelson, he quickly decides he's found his tutor.

Spurning her family's wishes that she marry, Alexandra Donelson is pursuing her passion for teaching at Fisk University, the first freedmen's university in the United States. But her family does not approve, and ultimately, her father expels her from the family home and cuts her off completely.

Through her friendship with Mary Harding, Alexandra is thrown together with both General Harding and Sylas Rutledge. And she soon finds herself falling in love with a man whose roguish qualities and adventuresome spirit smack more of recklessness than responsibility.

Sylas Rutledge will risk everything to win the hand of the woman he loves. What he doesn't count on is having to wager her heart to do it.

Set at Nashville's historic Belle Meade Plantation, To Wager Her Heart is a sweeping Southern love story about a nation mending after war, the struggle to move a country forward, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves for who they truly are--and can be--with each other.

Belle Meade (image from Flickr)

Disclaimer: I listened to this book on a (paid by me, via membership) download from Audible.com (click here for the audiobook download of To Wager Her Heart). Additionally, I received a NetGalley copy, which I didn't read, but I'm grateful that it was available. The publisher sent me a paperback copy of this fantastic novel, which I'm giving away to one of our readers. I am under no compunction to offer a positive review. I've loved all of Tamera's books and have read every one!


Purchase at Barnes & Noble
At Christian Book Distributors
At Amazon
At Your local Christian Bookstore such as Lifeway (call ahead -- if they don't have it, they'll often get it for you!)

Giveaway: A paperback copy to one of our commenters. 

Karen Witemeyer's "Heart on the Line" Audiobook

Karen Witemeyer's "Heart on the Line" Audiobook (Recorded Books, June 2017)
Ladies of Harper Station Series
Narrated by Stephanie Cozart


Review by Carrie Fancett Pagels

Purchased through audible.com. I have a monthly membership.

So Much to Love!

4 1/2 Stars
I took off 1/2 star because of the violence.

Spoiler alert: there is torture of the heroine in the story and although edgier readers might not mind this really bothered me.

This was a fantastic story save for the torture. I don't think it was necessary to the story. Also, someone was killed in the story who would then never have a chance at redemption. In CBA market, I've been advised that killing off a "bad guy" when it means they are going to hell (yes it is just a character but if you are in story world then that person seems real) and then there is no chance of salvation.  Granted, in real life, some people consistently refuse God even when they are given one last chance. But I've heard so many stories of last moment conversions that I always hope someone will repent.

The plucky heroine and her sweet beau, both telegraph operators were really fun. I enjoyed this listen a lot. There is so much to recommend this well-written story!

If you're like me and don't want torture and a lot of violence in your stories, get the paperback or ebook version and skip over the bad parts. It is hard to find a good Christian audiobook of historical romance so don't pass this one by if that is what you need for your reading enjoyment -- just set the speed on 3X and have it rush through some portions!

There is a way for me to share this title with a reader IF you haven't received a free audiobook through Audible.com before. Please indicate if you have or have not tried this service!

Audiobook Review Renee Ryan's A Touch of Scarlet

Renee Ryan's A Touch of Scarlet, Gilded Promise's Book Two
(Brilliance Audio, January 2017)


Lovely Gilded Age story set in New York City.
Four Stars ****
Four Stars **** for Narration

Blurb:
Never was there a more charmed debutante than the impeccable Elizabeth St. James. Her sterling reputation makes her a favored guest in the most exclusive homes in New York City. But behind the gilded curtain of turn-of-the-century society, Elizabeth despises being her mother's perfect "specimen" and refuses to forgive the woman for her treacherous family betrayal. Now, with only two months before Elizabeth sets sail for London to marry a British lord, she resolves to live a lifetime of adventure - including kissing a man under the moon and stars. And Elizabeth has the perfect candidate in mind: Luke.

Lucian Griffin, the brother of Elizabeth's dearest friend, intends to protect Elizabeth from letting her adventures forever sully her reputation. He knows too well the regrets that come from taking unnecessary risks. Soon his earnest fondness for the sweet debutante gives way to deep affection. But if either is to have a chance at true love and happiness, they must have the courage to let go of the past - and the grace to embrace forgiveness.

Carrie's review:
This is my second book of Renee Ryan's and A Touch of Scarlet won't be the last. I'm hoping to listen to the third book in this series Once An Heiress which releases in September. I'm really looking forward to Gigi's story because she is acting as a maid in the first two book and my heroine, Maude Welling, in My Heart Belongs on Mackinac Island acts as a maid at the Grand Hotel. 

But back to this audiobook. Although the narrator, for this novel, Karen Peakes, was fantastic for the first novel in this series. In the second one, her over-the-top emotionally charged narration distracted me. It was weird because I loved the first audiobook. It was like I never got an emotional break from the romantic tension.  Some of that was how the story was written, though. This is a highly romantic story with less of the beautiful scenes and Gilded Age decor, etc., and more focused on the love story.

The story: 
In contrast to book one, where we have a super-sympathetic Caroline St. James, and English woman coming to seek justice from her grandfather, in this book we have a young woman who had grown up in a  wealthy family and has had many privileges. She simply isn't as sympathetic a character as Caroline was. I think if this wasn't the second story and I'd just listened to the other first I'd have found her even more likable than I did. 

I missed the historic details that were sprinkled throughout the first story. But I think the author was trying to stay true to this heroine's story -- which was, like I mentioned, a super-charged romance. The writing is good, this was a good listen and I do recommend it particularly for those who enjoy a soaked-in-romance story throughout. I like more history in my historical romances and I get complaints that my own writing isn't as filled with romance as some readers would like.  

This entire series is likely to be a stunner when it wraps up and I am looking forward to Gigi's story in September. It will be available on audiobook for sure, as indicated on Amazon.

Note:

I listened to this as an Audible.com download. If you'd like to listen to this audiobook and haven't received any free downloads from Audible in the past there's a way for me to ask them to send a copy of this audible download to one person.  Leave a comment if you'd like to try that and I'll draw one of our guests for that!