Audiobook Review: What Happens at Christmas by Evonne Wareham

Author:  Evonne Wareham

Narrator:  David Thorpe

Title: What Happens at Christmas

Genre: Romantic Suspense, Holiday

Format: Audiobook

Pages: 255

Published: December 5th 2017

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

Best-selling author Andrew Vitruvius knows that any publicity is good publicity. His agent tells him that often, so it must be true. In the run-up to Christmas, she excels herself - talking him into the craziest scheme yet: getting himself kidnapped, live on TV.

But when the plan goes ahead and Drew is unceremoniously thrown in the back of a van before being dragged to a hut in middle of the Brecon Beacons, it all starts to feel a little bit too real.

Meanwhile, not far away, Lori France and her four-year-old niece Misty are settling in to spend the holidays away after unexpected events leave them without a place to stay. Little do they know they’re about to make a shocking discovery and experience a Christmas they’re not likely to forget …

Review:

Been eyeballing this for a while and wanted to save it for Xmas time buuuuuuut I wanted to listen to it now ;)

The story follows best-selling author Andrew Vitruvius and wannabe author Lori France. Andrew has always been told any publicity is good publicity so he decides to join her crazy scheme of him being kidnapped on live TV. But things go off-script when he is for real kidnapped and wakes up in a hut chained to a wall. Meanwhile, not too far away, Lori and her four-year-old niece are settling in to spend the holidays after unexpected events leave them without a place to stay. Thank goodness for friends. Little do they know they will uncover a chained-up celebrity and have a Christmas no one will ever forget. 

This was for sure a different take on a romance, a xmas book, and a mystery. I couldn't resist this one!

I'll admit...I struggled to get into this at first. It took me a minute to really give a hoot about Andrew. I only care about Lori and Misty. I only started caring about Andrew when he was chained up. He had some really good character development then and then I cared about him and was interested in his POV. 

This was so unrealistic to the point it was believable. Idiot for agreeing to do the kidnapping, to begin with. SMH. But he trusted his agent's opinion. 

Now...I will say I do not buy that they fell in love so quickly. They were together for what....maybe like 5 days....a solid week? Sure I get the lust and the caring about each other....but I didn't buy that they would be angsty for each other when he had to leave. Maybe looking fondly back on the time they spent and wishing they had more time...sure....but angsty longing? Mmm....they had two kisses. I just didn't buy it for them. 

I am glad that the author made them deal with their life issues and personal issues first before they could have their HEA finally. Especially for Andrew. He had a lot of things to deal with before hunting down Lori and starting a relationship. Between his traumatic past and his traumatic experience and finding the kidnapper....boy is busy. 

The narrator did well. I swear I have heard his voice before...but I went through his list of works on Audible and I didn't recognize anything. Maybe he just sounds like someone? Who knows. Butt yes - he did well. His little girl voice made me cringe, but all the other voices were good and luckily Misty isn't around for long. 

Overall, I enjoyed this. It took me a minute to really get into the story, but I enjoyed the ride. Sure...it was unrealistic in a lot of ways, but it was fun and a different take on a HR xmas tale. I'm glad I didn't wait to listen to it. I'll give this 3 stars. 

Challenge(s):
- #23 for Audiobook challenge

- #16 for Romance Bingo - Xmas setting

Book Review: Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven

Author: Grace Draven

Title: Phoenix Unbound

(Fallen Empire #1)

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 400 

Published: September 25th 2018

Where I Got It: Amazon

Summary: 

Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire's capital - her fate: to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village's tithe has been the same woman. Gilene's sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses.

But this year is different.

Azarion, the Empire's most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion, and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery. And unknown to Gilene, he also wants to reclaim the birthright of his clan.

To protect her family and village, she will risk everything to return to the Empire and burn once more.

Review:

This author really has the most beautiful covers! And her stories are always so fresh and fun. 

This one we follow Gilene and Azarion. Every year villages are required to send a young woman to the Empire's capital to be sacrificed for their Gods and for the entertainment of the masses. Gilene has been sacrificed every year for the last five years because she is a fire witch and will survive the flames. However, this year is different because Azarion, the Empire's most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her magic and is now set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape this life of slavery and to reclaim his birthright of his clan. To protect her family and village, she will go along with him and maybe they can end the Empire.

I will admit I struggled big time at the beginning. I just....just didn't care about Gilene or Azarion. Not sure why. I honestly wanted to quit and DNF this. But I have a personal rule to get to page 100 before officially tossing in the towel. 

And...here we are. I finished this bad boy. Not sure what happened...suddenly I could not put this down. I had to finish it. I can't pinpoint what changed. Randomly I liked our hero and heroine. I liked Azarion's clan. Not sure when or how or why, but I became invested and I had to finish this. I stayed up WAY too late reading this just to be done because it got really good, really fast. 

The Empire needs to burn. They are monsters. 

Gilene's village needs to burn too. Screw them. 

I loved Azarion's family and clan (grrr not that cousin though). I would want to be there. I loved how they worship the fire witches and that fire goddess. 

I want more in this world for sure. Book 2 has been sitting on my shelf for a while but I wanted to wait until I got to book 1. So glad this worked out in the end.

Honestly, I want more world-building and I would love to see more of Gilene's powers. 

Overall, something did not click for me in the beginning, but around page 90ish I was hooked. I had to read it as quickly as possible. The world is so interesting. I love our characters. This was everything you would want in a fantasy story. I'll stamp this with 3 stars. 

Challenge(s):

- #15 for Romance Bingo - Witch/Wizard

Best of April 2021

Happy May everyone!!!! 

Here are our best of last month!

Best Book of the Month:

Blodeuedd - "I have a hard time choosing a best of book again, every book I have read seems to have been just as good as the previous one. So I will not choose one."

Carole - Paris in Ruins by M.K. Tod

"Had some good contenders this month! It was hard to pick, but I decided on this one. It had me on the edge of my seat!"

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole - Thunder Force (2021)

"Didn't watch too many movies this month but I did really like this one. It was funny!"

Blodeuedd - Thunder Force (2021)

"All love to best movie Thunder Force!"

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Shadow and Bone, The Irregulars, & The Way of the Househusband

"Omg, I really fell for Shadow and Bone! Will I read the books? Gods no, I already dnfed one of them. But the tv show worked cos it took out most of those cringe things, also it had Ben Barnes *dreamy eyes*

I also want to mention The Irregulars, not as bingedrooly as the previous series, but I highly enjoyed it

I also have to mention this one, throughout it all I was wtf how is this animated?! It looks bad, but at the same time it was so weird and funny and I could not stop watching."

Carole - Mom

"Been watching this nonstop! I've seen some episodes here and there but never the older ones so I've been binge-watching this like crazy. SO funny. SO heart-warming. SO good."

Best Cover of the Month:

Carole - "So simple, but beautiful and speaks volumes."

Blodeuedd - "Much more stunning in RL!"

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: A Cowboy Kind of Love by Donna Grant

Narrated by: Rebecca Estrella

Series: Heart of Texas Series, Book 6

Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins

Release date: 04-27-21

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Romantic suspense

To review

I do like my cowboy romances, and I do like Donna Grant's romantic suspense ones. The last one was intense and brutal, this one was pretty brutal too, but luckily that was most in the past.

Jace is on the road on becoming an alcoholic. He drinks too much, he misses the girlfriend who suddenly disappeared years ago, and his past in the military is always there to haunt him. What I loved about him is that the minute she does show up he is not bitter and argues for days. He just wants her back again.

Taryn has been gone for years, the reason why is dark. And she is desperate to get out. I admired her spirit and her will to just go on and on. Even if it is a dangerous and lonely road.

Then they meet again, and it is like those years apart never happened. Yes it was fast, but this was a second chance. They never wanted to part in the first place, of course it happens fast.

And then there is the danger following her, luckily Jace has a bunch of awesome friends who all are highly trained and willing to help.

I enjoyed it, it felt really light and I listened to it fast. 

Estrella is always good, her voice makes the pages just fly by, and she has great voices for everyone

Jace Wilder has been rebuilding his life since the love of his life, Taryn, up and left town unexpectedly. But when she mysteriously returns, Jace’s dependable world comes crashing down. Taryn is hiding a dangerous secret, and no matter how hard he tries, Jace can’t stay away―especially when Taryn is at risk. And especially when the attraction he thought he’d buried long ago is back and hotter than ever. Will he be able to trust Taryn again?

Taryn Hillman’s world fell apart one horrifying night, and it’s never been the same since. When she sees a small chance at untangling herself, she takes it, though it means returning to Clearview – and seeing Jace again. But when he vows to protect her, will Taryn take a chance, and this time, never let him go?