Audiobook Review: The Sweetest Torment by Kate L. Mary

From the author of the Amazon best-selling Broken World series, comes book three in an exciting new Zombie Apocalypse series! 

I wanted Andrew to suffer, and part of me thought watching his torment might be the sweetest victory I would ever experience. 

Stranded hours from home and empty-handed, with Kellan on the brink of death, Regan finds herself facing the most difficult challenge yet. Their enemies are still out there, lurking in the shadows and seeking revenge, and with nowhere else to turn, she must put all her faith in the hands of strangers if they have any chance of surviving. 

Traveling by land and water, and with the help of people they just met, Regan and Kellan must brave zombies, humans, and harsh conditions in the ruins of what was once the United States as they make their way back to Oklahoma. But the real challenge is yet to come. Andrew isn’t finished with them. Only this time Regan is determined to be ready for him. More importantly, she isn’t going to let him get away without paying for the things he’s done.

Amazon

My Review

I chose to listen to this book after receiving a free audio copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

I have read several post-apocalyptic books by Kate L. Mary and have enjoyed them all. Right now, I’m listening to The Oklahoma Wasteland series.

Like the first two books, there’s not much down time in The Sweetest Torment. Regan and Kellan face so much in this crazy post-apocalyptic world. Just when they thought all hope was lost, they meet the Immunes. They have grouped together to go after people like Andrew, the man who is hellbent on taking Regan to the CDC. Although they have a nice setup and become good friends, Regan and Kellan still want to return home to Oklahoma. A couple of the Immunes go back with them, but it’s not easy going. This was one of those books that I had to keep listening to even when I was supposed to be doing something else.

These characters go through so much, and I found myself crying near the end. BUT there is a lot of hope at the end which I thought was an amazing ending to the series.

I recommend The Sweetest Torment, but it would be best to read all three books in order to get the most out of it.

About the Author

Kate L. Mary is an award-winning author of Adult, New Adult, and Young Adult fiction, ranging from post-apocalyptic tales of the undead to speculative fiction and contemporary romance! The wife of a USAF pilot and mother of four, her days are spent balancing family and work while she works to create new worlds for her readers to get lost in. Check out the social media links below to find out more about her and her books, and be sure to sign up for her newsletter to stay connected!

***

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateLMaryauthor

Website: https://KateLMary.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kmary0622

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zombieauthormom/

Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/k2b5k3

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Audiobook Review: The Brightest Darkness by Kate L. Mary

From the author of the Amazon best-selling Broken World series comes book two in an exciting new zombie apocalypse series!

There was something evil living in Andrew. I’d seen it in his eyes, reflecting back at me like a spotlight. It was the brightest darkness I’d ever seen, bright enough to snuff every one of us out….

Still reeling from loss and with the harsh Oklahoma elements seemingly working against them, Kellan and Regan set out to rescue Harper from Andrew and his men. Only now they aren’t just fighting to free a teenage girl, they’re fighting to keep a promise to the man who saved them, knowing if they fail, Harper won’t be the only one at risk.

Joining forces with a new group means having help and making friends, but it also brings new conflict and the risk of losing everything they’ve worked to build over the last eight years. With zombies banging at their door and the threat of Andrew around every corner, Regan and Kellan will have to fight to keep their world secure and their secret from getting out.

Audible

My Review

I chose to listen to this book after receiving a free audio copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

I have read several post-apocalyptic books by Kate L. Mary and have enjoyed them all. As soon as I finished The Loudest Silence, the first book in The Oklahoma Wasteland series, I started the second book.

Like the first book, there’s not much down time in The Brightest Darkness. The group that Regan and Kellan are with is frequently changing in number which can be both good and bad. A lot of the people who survived are worse than the zombies, and it’s difficult to know who to trust. Regan and Kellan tend to find trouble around every corner. They are a strong couple in more ways than one, but can that save them from the constant danger?

I like the characters. They seemed a little wishy washy in the first book, but they have matured.

The ending was a cliffhanger, so I am glad that I have the next book in the series, because I am ready to listen to more. I need to find out what happens!

About the Author

Kate L. Mary is an award-winning author of Adult, New Adult, and Young Adult fiction, ranging from post-apocalyptic tales of the undead to speculative fiction and contemporary romance! The wife of a USAF pilot and mother of four, her days are spent balancing family and work while she works to create new worlds for her readers to get lost in. Check out the social media links below to find out more about her and her books, and be sure to sign up for her newsletter to stay connected!

***

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateLMaryauthor

Website: https://KateLMary.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kmary0622

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zombieauthormom/

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Audiobook Review: The Loudest Silence by Kate L. Mary

From the author of the Amazon bestselling Broken World series, comes an exciting new Zombie Apocalypse series…

When Regan was a young girl living in the small town of Altus, OK, Kellan was just her brother’s best friend. Then the virus came, turning the world’s population into zombies, and he became so much more. They were only kids, but he saved her. Watched over her. Kept her alive. And he’s been doing the same thing every day since.

After living the apocalypse for nine years, Regan thought they’d experienced every kind of loss and terror imaginable. But when a new group starts wreaking havoc in the Oklahoma wastelands where they live, Regan and Kellan are faced with a new set of horrors.

When they cross paths with a teenage girl, offering to help seems like the right thing to do. But Regan and Kellan soon discover that lending aid to the girl very well could lead to their undoing.

Audible

My Review

I chose to listen to this book after receiving a free audio copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

I have read several post-apocalyptic books by Kate L. Mary and have enjoyed them all. This is the first book in The Oklahoma Wasteland series, and I’m sure I’ll be reading them all. The book starts with the end of the world as we know it, but it quickly fast-forwards to Regan and Kellan surviving in this new world.

There’s not much down time in The Loudest Silence. Regan, Kellan, and the group they’re with have a good sanctuary but they are still dealing with constant threats. Zombies are one of the threats, but other people are more dangerous. How can they trust anyone?

The ending was a good place to stop, but I was glad that I had the next book in the series, because I was ready to listen to more!

About the Author

Kate L. Mary is an award-winning author of Adult, New Adult, and Young Adult fiction, ranging from post-apocalyptic tales of the undead to speculative fiction and contemporary romance! The wife of a USAF pilot and mother of four, her days are spent balancing family and work while she works to create new worlds for her readers to get lost in. Check out the social media links below to find out more about her and her books, and be sure to sign up for her newsletter to stay connected!

***

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateLMaryauthor

Website: https://KateLMary.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kmary0622

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zombieauthormom/

Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/k2b5k3

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kate-l-mary

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8185415.Kate_L_Mary

Audiobook Review: Eden Lost by Andrew Cunningham

Author: Andrew Cunningham
Narrator: Greg Hernandez
Length: 6 hours 31 minutes
Publisher: Andrew Cunningham⎮2021
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Series: Eden Rising, Book 2
Release date: Jan. 15, 2021

They can’t escape the evil. 

When a forest fire destroys their beloved forest sanctuary, Ben and Lila, along with their six-year-old daughter Katie, head west through the earthquake-ravaged landscape toward a rumored thriving community in Yellowstone National Park. 

But another rumor persists of a “great evil” in the Midwest – one they will have to deal with if they have any hope of making it safely to Yellowstone, a community they are not even sure really exists. 

Six years after finding their peace, Ben and Lila have to reenter the world. Has it gotten better or become far worse?

Audible

My Review

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Greg Hernandez. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

I’ve read quite a few post-apocalyptic books, and Eden Rising is was one of my favorites so I was looking forward to listening to Eden Lost. I was not disappointed.

Ben and Lila had their own little paradise in the Smokies until a forest fire destroyed it all. They decided to head to Yellowstone where they’d heard there was a settlement that sounded like something they wanted. It had privacy but people so that their daughter could meet other people, especially other children. Their journey was long and filled with danger but rewarding.

Ben and Lila were strong and well-developed characters. They were deeply in love and were able to work through the tragedies that befell them, although sometimes it took time. They would both do anything for Katie. I liked getting to know the new characters, especially Ben’s brother and his best friend.

The narrator did a good job. His tone and pace were good, and he was able to express the characters’ emotions well. I hope to listen to other books he’s narrated in the future.

Eden Lost is definitely a book worth your time if you like post-apocalyptic stories with strong characters. It stands on its own but I recommend reading Eden Rising first.

About the Author

I’m the author of novels in several genres, including, mystery, thriller, and post-apocalyptic science fiction. Under the name A.R. Cunningham, I’ve also written the Arthur MacArthur series of mysteries for children.

I was born in England, but have spent most of my life living in the U.S.—including 25 years on Cape Cod before moving to Florida. A former interpreter for the deaf and long-time independent bookseller, I’ve been a full-time freelance writer and copy editor for many years. A 4th-degree Master Black belt in Tang Soo Do, I finally retired from active training when my body said, “Enough already! Why are you doing this to yourself?” I’m married, with two grown children and two awesome grandsons. My wife and I spend as much time traveling as we can, and are especially fond of cruising the Caribbean.

​I have been gratified by the response to my books. When I published Eden Rising back in the spring of 2013, I had no idea what to expect. When I sold my first few copies, I was excited beyond belief that someone was willing to take a chance on it. Numerous books and thousands of copies later, I am still humbled by the emails I get from readers telling me that my books kept them up late into the night.

In October of 2014, Wisdom Spring made me an official Amazon Bestselling author, a thrill I never thought would happen. But it still comes down to being able to bring a few hours of escape to a reader. That’s what it’s all about for me.

I hope you will try my books. Please feel free to email me with your comments.

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About the Narrator

Author-preferred Narrator of Mysteries & Thrillers, Greg Hernandez.

Narrating audiobooks is highly gratifying.  I immerse myself into an author’s story in order to bring it to life for the listener.  I’ve enjoyed working with Andrew Cunningham for several years. His books are filled with rich characters, and the stories keep me turning the pages.

I also work as a background actor in movies and TV shows.

For more than 20 years, I worked as a radio news reporter and news writer.  I spent half of my broadcasting career at ABC News Radio in the Washington, D.C., bureau.  I covered all the federal agencies as well as Congress and the White House. I reported on a wide range of stories during my career, including financial and entertainment industry news.

For nearly 24 years, I worked as a federal government spokesman at three separate agencies—National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Mint and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

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Audiobook Review: Eden Rising by Andrew Cunningham

Two folk heroes emerge from the ashes.

The Earth died in less than a minute. Cities were reduced to rubble. Millions of people died that day.

As the explosive Eden Rising Series opens, Ben and Lila are ordinary teenagers forced to rise to extraordinary heights when faced with a world that has suddenly and inexplicably died.

Dealing with the sorrow of all they have lost, but the love they have found in each other, they set off on an odyssey that will bring them to the limits of human endurance and face to face with the frailty of their very existence.

Amazon

My Review

I chose to listen to this book after receiving a free audio copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

I’ve read quite a few post-apocalyptic books, and Eden Rising is one of my favorites. Don’t get me wrong, I like reading about zombies, but what happens in this book seems like something that could really happen. The explanation of how this apocalypse happened made sense, but it was also alarming.

Ben and Lila are strong and well-developed characters. They were so cute to begin with because Ben was trying to get the nerve to ask Lila on a date, and suddenly, they were the only ones alive as far as they knew. They quickly learned to work together and to lean on each other as they dealt with survival, and they soon found that they were deeply in love. Their love story is sweet on top of all of the death and horror that they have to face.

The narrator did a good job. His tone and pace were good, and he was able to express the characters’ emotions well.

I like the ending of Eden Rising for two reasons. First, I liked the ending. Second, and more importantly, it ended at a good point in the series without a cliffhanger. I’m getting ready to listen to the second book, Eden Lost, because I really want to know what’s ahead, but the author didn’t have to use a cliffhanger to make me want to get to the next book.

About the Author

I was born in England, but have spent most of my life living in the U.S.—including 25 years on Cape Cod before moving to Florida. A former interpreter for the deaf and long-time independent bookseller, I’ve been a full-time freelance writer and copy editor for many years. A 4th-degree Master Blackbelt in Tang Soo Do, I finally retired from active training when my body said, “Enough already! Why are you doing this to yourself?” I’m married, with two grown children and two awesome grandsons. My wife and I spend as much time traveling as we can, and are especially fond of cruising the Caribbean.

Andrew Cunningham is the author of eleven novels, including the award-winning Amazon bestselling thriller WISDOM SPRING; the “Lies” Mystery Series (ALL LIES, FATAL LIES, VEGAS LIES, SECRETS & LIES, and BLOOD LIES); the post-apocalyptic “Eden Rising Series” (EDEN RISING, EDEN LOST, and EDEN’S LEGACY); the Cape Cod disaster/terrorist thriller DEADLY SHORE; and the time travel novel YESTERTIME. As A.R. Cunningham, he has written a series of five humorous children’s mysteries in the “Arthur MacArthur” series for middle-readers. Formerly an interpreter for the deaf and a long-time independent bookseller, Andrew has been a full-time freelance writer and copy editor for the last 20 years. Andrew has been involved in training and teaching martial arts for many years, achieving the rank of 4th-degree Master Blackbelt in Tang Soo Do. A long-time resident of Cape Cod, he and his wife now live in Florida. He can be contacted at arcnovels@gmail.com. Please visit his website at http://www.arcnovels.com. He can also be found on Facebook (Author Andrew Cunningham).

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Book Review: Far From Safe by Kate L. Mary

Title: Far from Safe
Author: Kate L Mary
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic
Publisher: Twisted Press
Publication Date: August 7th, 2020
Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR

After traveling the country in hopes of reaching the sanctuary of home, Rowan finds herself in a world turned upside down. Her parents are gone, and she’s surrounded by people she barely knows, and the only refuge she’s ever known is anything but safe. Zombies have taken over not just her hometown, but the rest of the world as well, and now she must work with fellow survivors, Devon and Kiaya, to find a way to survive this strange new world.

Too bad the extinction of civilization hasn’t erased the complications of everyday life. Between learning to survive in a world overtaken by the dead and struggling to work through her grief over losing everything, Rowan must navigate her growing attraction for Devon, as well as deal with her suspicion that something isn’t right with some of their fellow survivors.

Just when she thinks she has a hold on the emotional rollercoaster of this new world, someone from her past makes a surprise – and unwanted – reentry into her life, bringing with them a seed of hope that threatens to once again flip everything upside down.

Book Links:

Far from Home: https://amzn.to/2PrPa64

Far from Safe: https://amzn.to/3gAD8mW

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53489142-far-from-safe

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

Rowan and the group she is with have made it to her house. With her mom a zombie and her dad most likely dead, she would give anything to stay in her house, but she knows that it not safe. They’ll stay long enough to get supplies and then they’re off. They’re just not sure where to yet.

I like most of the main characters in Far From Safe. The children and their uncle try to stay busy while the adults take care of things. Lisa is a badass, and Kiaya can hold her own. Rowan and Devon are falling in love (or lust?); I’m not sure about that relationship yet. I don’t know if I like Kiaya’s sister, Zara, or not because she is quiet and clings to Kiaya when possible. I like Buck but he could be a problem in the future. At least they all know it. The other two, I don’t like because they both give me the creeps.

When they stumble upon a group that includes Rowan’s ex, she’s not happy about it, but he truly seems like a nice guy. Maybe he’s matured since they were together? Should they trust this new group? Should they join them?

I like the author’s writing style. As with the first book, Far From Home, I read this book quickly, but it ends with a cliffhanger. A BIG cliffhanger. So, the waiting begins…

About the Author

Kate L. Mary is an award-winning author of New Adult and Young Adult fiction, ranging from Post-apocalyptic tales of the undead, to Speculative Fiction and Contemporary Romance. Her YA book, When We Were Human, was the 2015 Children’s Moonbeam Book Awards Silver Medal Winner for Young Adult Fantasy/Sci-Fi Fiction, and the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Winner for Young Adult Science Fiction, and her dystopian novel, Outliers, was a Top 10 Finalist in the 2018 Author Academy Awards for Sci-Fi/Fantasy, and the Winner in the 2018 Kindle Book Awards for Sci-Fi/Fantasy.

Author Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateLMaryauthor

Website: http://KateLMary.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kmary0622

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zombieauthormom/

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2FQl4m1

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kate-L.-Mary/e/B00K48N5EQ/

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Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-l-mary

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8185415.Kate_L_Mary

Book Review: After the Sky by Milo James Fowler

The meek have not inherited the earth.

The world isn’t how they left it. When the bunker airlocks release them after twenty years in hibernation, the survivors find a silent, barren world outside. But they are not alone. There is a presence here, alive in the dust—spirits of the earth, benevolent and malicious as they interact with the human remnant.

Milton is haunted by a violent past he’s unable to escape, despite the superhuman speed the spirits give him.

Not interested in bearing the next generation, Daiyna is determined to destroy the flesh-eating mutants lurking in the dark, pierced by her night-vision.

Luther is a man of conviction who believes the Creator has offered humankind a second chance, yet he’s uncertain they deserve it—and he’s perplexed by the talons that flex out of his fingers.

Willard is a brilliant engineer-turned-soldier who refuses to leave his bunker, afraid of becoming infected and willing to destroy any obstacle in his way.

As their lives collide, the mysteries of this strange new world start unraveling, culminating in the ultimate life-or-death decision one survivor will make for them all.

My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

After the Sky is about various characters 20 years after an apocalyptic event. They were chosen to stay in different bunkers for their skills that would be needed after the All Clear. Well, skills or procreation. It’s told from the view of some of those characters which made it helpful knowing what they were thinking.

It begins with Milton who is the only person left in his bunker. He is sure others survived, so he starts walking, and he is eventually saved by Daiyna. They’re the two most important people in the story, but there are many more.

I liked most of the characters. The only one I really disliked, besides the zombies, was Willard. Although he’s in power, he is a weak coward. Seeing things from his POV was interesting but didn’t make me like him any more.

There are a couple of twists that make After the Sky unique, and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next.

About the Author

Milo James Fowler is a teacher by day and a speculative fictioneer by night. When he’s not grading papers, he’s imagining what life might be like in a dozen alternate realities. So far, his fiction has appeared in more than 150 publications, including AE SciFiBeneath Ceaseless SkiesCosmosDaily Science FictionNature, and Shimmer.

Book Review: Far From Home by Kate L. Mary

As the only child in an upper-middle class family, Rowan has had it easy. Doted on by a mother who never wanted anything but a child to love, she’s never wanted for anything. Kiaya’s life, however, has been anything but easy. Parents who didn’t want her, followed by being torn away from her only sibling by the foster care system, she knows what it means to have to work hard for the things she wants.

When a deadly virus sweeps the country, Rowan and Kiaya are away at college and far from everything they love. Desperate to make it home, they team up, but as the world around them dies, an unexpected detour leaves them stranded in Vega, Texas where they stumble upon a shocking discovery. The virus isn’t just killing people. It’s changing them.

When former cop, Devon, sweeps in to save the day, it looks like their luck has shifted. With hundreds of miles left to cross and the dead taking over, the trio is determined to do whatever it takes to get home. Traveling historic Route 66, Rowan, Kiaya, and Devon fight for survival as they struggle to come to terms with their changing world.

Written in the tradition of the Amazon bestselling Broken World series, Far From Home follows a group of survivors through a zombie infested country as they search for safety, all the while growing and changing with the world around them.


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My Review

I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

This is the first book I’ve read by Kate L. Mary but it won’t be the last. I’m not sure what fascinates me about post apocalyptic worlds, with or without zombies, but I think it has to do with the survivors. Not the violence or gore.

I like the characters in Far From Home. I was especially impressed by Rowan. She knows she’s had it easy all her life and that she always has gotten what she wanted. Instead of feeling entitled when everything starts to change, she takes action. She is a little immature at times, but she’s only 20 years old.

After Rowan and Kiaya leave for Ohio from school in Arizona, one thing after another keeps them from their destination. From seeing almost everyone around them die to them turning into zombies, they have to figure out how to get home with no gas stations open and not knowing who to trust.

There is no down time in this book and it is full of suspense both from the zombies and other people. I can’t wait to find out what they’re group is going to do from here.

About the Author

Kate L. Mary is an award-winning author of Adult, New Adult, and Young Adult fiction, ranging from Post-apocalyptic tales of the undead to Speculative Fiction and Contemporary Romance! Her YA book, When We Were Human, was a 2015 Children’s Moonbeam Book Awards Silver Medal winner for Young Adult Fantasy/Sci-Fi Fiction, and a 2016 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal winner for Young Adult Science Fiction. Her book Outliers was a Top 10 Finalist in the 2018 Author Academy Awards for Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fiction, a Finalist in the 2018 Wishing Shelf Book Awards, First Place Winner in the 2018 Kindle Book Awards for Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fiction, Cover Finalist in the 2019 RONE Awards from InD’tale Magazine, and a Nominee in the 2020 TopShelf Book Awards. Tribe of Daughters was an Honorable Mention in the 2018 SPR Book Awards, a 2019 Readers’ Favorite Bronze Medal winner for Science Fiction and a Semi-finalist in the 2019 Kindle Book Awards for Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fiction.

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Audiobook Review & Giveaway: Watcher by AJ Eversley

 

Author: AJ Eversley

Narrators: Chelsea Stephens, Steve Campbell

Length: 8 hours and 13 minutes

Series: The Watcher Series, Book 1

Publisher: Author AJ Eversley

Released: Oct. 6, 2018

Genre: Science Fiction; Young Adult

 

 

“I knew I was not alone. They would never leave until every last one of us was gone.”

Sawyer Russo has sworn to protect humanity, and as a Watcher she’s done just that. But the Bots and Carbons that took her city are evolving, and they start picking the Watchers off one by one. One last rescue mission will change everything. When someone betrays them, the line between friend and foe is no longer easily drawn.

Sawyer made a vow, and she will fulfill it, even if it means ending the person who deceived them, no matter who it might be.

It all comes down to one choice…

Who can she save?

And who does she have to let go?

 

 

AJ Eversley is the author of the WATCHER series. A true north Canadian girl, AJ currently lives in Central Alberta with her husband and dog. When she’s not writing, she can be found binge watching Harry Potter, quoting various movies in every day conversation, and eating copious amounts of candy.

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Narrator Bio

Chelsea Stephens has a long time love and appreciation for the performing arts, with experience in on-stage acting, singing and voice over. Her love for reading books and the pursuit of the story led her to narration. She enjoys unfolding characters and bringing listeners into new worlds. Chelsea is an experienced voice actor with a talent for mystery, fantasy and YA novels. She’s a mom to a gaggle of young ones living in the Midwest with her lumbersexual husband.
*One and the same as Avery Reid.

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Narrator Bio

My first priority as a voice-over artist is to convey your thoughts and ideas in an entertaining and insightful manner; not distracting from your message, but enhancing your words. It is my personal goal to help your audience engage with the text in an immersive and memorable way.

As a techie with a passion for performance and a love of the written word, the voice-over industry called to me. I am now fortunate enough to be living my dream of audiobook narration from my home studio, in Calgary, AB, Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by AJ Eversley. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

I read Watcher last year and it was a book I could have read again so when I had the chance to listen to the audiobook, I was thrilled. 

It’s after World War III and Sawyer is a Watcher, one of a team that watches for and kills Bots and Carbons in the devastated city of Cytos. Bots used to serve people but suddenly turned on them. Carbons are more like humans than robots and are more difficult to kill than Bots. The Watchers also try to rescue people who are stranded in other parts of the city.

The Watchers live in a self-sufficient bunker with hundreds of other people. Sawyer has lost her parents and learned that it’s best to not get too close to others so that she won’t be hurt. That’s easier said than done. When they found her, Kyle took her under his wing and trained her to be a Watcher so he’s like a big brother to her. Then they rescue some people and one of them, Kenzie, takes her breath away. She tries to deny the attraction between them but will she be able to hold out?

When things suddenly start to fall apart, Sawyer finds out that everyone has secrets and she knows that she’s going to have to rethink who she trusts or if she should ever trust anyone.

I like AJ Eversley’s writing style and her characters are complex and well developed. The narrators did a great job with timing, inflection, and character voices. I especially like that there was one narrator for Sawyer’s chapters and one for Kenzie’s chapters.

Watcher is full of action, heartbreak, loss, twists, and betrayal. If you like The Hunger Games or The Divergent series you’ll like The Watcher series.

 

 

 

 

 

GiveawayGiveaway: Signed Paperbacks of the Watcher Trilogy

Watcher Giveaway: Signed Paperbacks of the Watcher Trilogy

 

 

Nov. 19th:

Dab of Darkness Book Reviews

Jazzy Book Reviews

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Buried Under Books

The Book Junkie Reads . . .

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Turning Another Page

T’s Stuff

Nov. 22nd:

Lilly’s Book World

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Notes from ‘Round the Bend

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The Book Addict’s Reviews

Smada’s Book Smack

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Bound 4 Escape

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Book Review: Daimones by Massimo Marino

15811231Title: Daimones (Daimones trilogy #1)

Author: Massimo Marino

Genre: Science Fiction, Post-apocalyptic

Publication Date: September 2012

About the Book (from Goodreads):

 Dan Amenta woke up one morning to discover the world had changed…the Apocalypse had arrived.

Death, destruction, and disaster were wreaking havoc across the globe. Yet Dan and his family remained untouched and he sensed some sort of supernatural power had left them the only three people alive on Earth. They were not.

The efforts to survive and find others brought Dan to discover the disturbing truth about the human extermination. He met Laura, who brought revelations about the catastrophe, and her presence – a young, sexy, disruptive girl – raised questions about what was moral and ethical in the new reality. Other survivors reported what they had seen, forcing Dan to seek explanations from his own past.

Ancient hallucinations strike Dan with the force of a sledgehammer and bring him face-to-face with his new role in a scenario with roots millions-of-years old. Planet Earth was now in the hands of an older power but not the one Dan had ever envisioned.

Review:

I received a free audiobook for an honest review.

Diamones starts out slowly and at first I wondered how I was going to be able to listen to it without my mind wandering. It did get interesting pretty quickly, though, when they woke up to a changed world, and it kept my attention throughout,.

The way that Massimo Marino described what Dan, Mary, and their daughter were going through made me feel like I was there. I could feel their frustration when they couldn’t find another living person and their joy when they did find someone. I did think that there was a little too much detail at times. For example, I didn’t care to hear a list of all of the items in their neighbor’s desk drawer.

I didn’t like the way Daimones ended but I am pretty sure (I hope) that was intentional by the author. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I definitely recommend Daimones for all readers especially if you like post-apocalyptic stories without zombies (yay).

 

About the Author (from his website):

MM-thumbI wrote fantastic stories and science fiction since I was a kid, short stories and novellas, but never had anyone read them. It was a personal thing: My father and my older brother received “Astounding Stories” and other Sci-Fi ‘zines, but I was too little to be allowed to read them, so I looked at the covers…and imagined things for myself. Then, work and life took their toll and I stopped writing those tales.

Slightly over two years ago, in 2011, for various reasons, I started again with some burning inside that needed to come out. On the first weekend I got over 15000 words, then subscribed to critters.org for peer review, lurked a year keeping on writing and getting feedback, and last September my debut novel, “Daimones“, saw the light. It received the 2012 PRG Reviewer’s Choice Award in Science Fiction. A debut novel among so many established authors in the competition.

In September 2013, “Daimones” won the 2013 Hall of Fame – Best Science Fiction from Quality Reads UK Book Club in collaboration with OrangeBerry Book Tours, shortlisted among thousands of other great candidates. I’m writing now Vol.3 of the Daimones Trilogy,  published the Vol.2 “Once Humans (Daimones Trilogy)“, a small collection of short horrid stories, “Stranded Love, and Vol.3 The Rise of the Phoenix (Daimones Trilogy).

So, what about me now… I’m Italian, and because even in Italy that means everything and nothing at all, I should say, I am Sicilian. I was born in Palermo, and as it happened with countless Sicilians, I left it, back in 1986. I lived more years abroad than in my home country, and I have changed in many and different ways than my old friends there. It is always a pleasure to go back, but it is now 6 long years since my last visit. Saudade? Maybe, a little. I lived in Switzerland, France, and the United States.

I am a scientist as a background, and have spent over 17 years in fundamental research. Most of my writing are then academic stuff, and I always wonder at how much Google is able to find about everyone. I am sure one has to Google oneself so not to forget too much…I worked for many years at CERN—an international lab for particle physics research near Geneva, Switzerland—then in the US at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Fantastic moments and memories from those years. In 2005 I moved to the private sector, worked with Apple Inc., and then for the World Economic Forum. I’m glad for your visit today, explore the various areas with book reviews and authors interviews, the blog, and my writing, too, if there’s time.  I hope we can become friends over the lines…