March 1, 2018 - April 2, 2018
Mac from Auburn, CA
Pat from Lynbrook, NY
Francisca E B
Happy Never After by Kathy Hogan Trochek
Narrator Name: Hillary Huber
Rating the Audio Performance
Hilary Huber does a fine job of narrating the audio version. She has good pacing, clear diction, and the skill to give the many characters distinct voices, making it easy for the listener to distinguish who is speaking. I particularly love how she voices the elderly Easterbrooks, Baby and Sister. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I like this mystery series. It’s a little edgier than a traditional cozy, because Callahan is a former Atlanta police officer, but it has many of the classic elements of a cozy. I really enjoyed the premise in this installment, especially as I was a teenager in the era of the sixties girl groups.
Jill
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
Julia’s audio performance is outstanding. She engaged me from the beginning of her reading, unlike other readers of audiobooks I’ve listened to. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Wow! I loved this book. After THE NIGHTINGALE I wondered if she could have another outstanding book, and she most certainly did. This is a book that will definitely stay with you long after you have finished reading it. Could not stop listening to this book. Can be a difficult read because of Ernt Allbright, a former POW, who comes home damaged from the Vietnam war and the decisions he makes for his family. We, as a country, need to take care of our service men when dealing with the aftermath of war. Ernt loves his family to a fault and his mental health begins to deteriorate upon moving his family to Alaska. His wife and daughter have to pay the price of this.
Diane
Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain
Narrator Name: Michael Prichard
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent choice! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Wisdom and humor, very well done.
Phyllis
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Narrator Name: Robert Sean Leonard
Rating the Audio Performance
Whether it was his voice or the story, he brought a tear to my eye which hardly ever happens! He read girl's, boy's and adult voices with special attention to evoke the events in such a manner that was emotional. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Somehow I missed this special story when I was growing up and am so glad I found it. It is a powerful story of friendship, family and death. When I found out that it was based on a true story from her son made it was even more special! At 78 years old, I have just discovered this wonderful story and also A WRINKLE IN TIME, which I had missed in my childhood!
Patti
All Grown Up by Jami Attenbery
Narrator Name: Mia Barron
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent! Funny! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Designer Andrea Bern is alone and struggles and seeks finding connection with her friends and finding Mr. Right. She has no idea what it means to be an adult.
Karen
The Last Castle by Denise Kiernan
Narrator Name: Denise Kiernan
Rating the Audio Performance
I usually don't like when authors read their book but found Denise Kiernan's performance much better than expected, especially considering it is a work of nonfiction and somewhat dry material. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Book was a little long-winded but had a lot of fascinating information about the Vanderbilts and the building and history of Biltmore House.
Sherri
Rosie Dunne by Cecelia Ahern
Narrator Name: Anna Fields
Rating the Audio Performance
Anna does a good job with accents and changing voices from female to male, old to young. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A series of communiques outline for us the life of Rosie Dunne focusing on her relationship with her best friend Alex. Set in Ireland. An engaging, funny read. Helps you appreciate your life and think about your friendships.
Barbara
Political Tribes by Amy Chua
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
Perfect voice for content. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Well researched and excellent presentation format.
Katie
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
Narrator Name: Catherine Taber and Emily Rankin
Rating the Audio Performance
Fantastic audio performance. I loved the two different voices - they did a great job bringing in the time they were representing and also the southern dialect. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is an incredible, heartbreaking story. It has stayed with me after finishing it. The main characters are wonderful - strong, kind and genuine. I loved the format of switching between the two time periods. To think that this is based on a true story is heartbreaking and devastating.
Tessa B C
Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh
Narrator Name: Anna Fields
Rating the Audio Performance
Anna Fields does a fine job performing the audiobook. She has a good pace and enough skill as a voice artist to differentiate the many characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is the kind of character-driven literary fiction that I love to read and discuss with my F2F book club. Haigh focuses on the Novak family to tell the story of America in the years following World War II. It’s a microcosm of American life that encompasses many of the issues faced by the nation during the 1930s through 1970s.
Rezina
Still Me by Jojo Moyes
Narrator Name: Anna Acton
Rating the Audio Performance
Anna did very well with distinguishing different characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
It had been a while since I had read the first two books in this series but Jojo did a great job of filling in the past happenings without boring the reader. You could read this book alone and then the others without any problems.
Pat
The Chilbury Ladies Choir by Jennifer Ryan
Narrator Name: Gabrielle Glaister, Laura Kirman, Imogen Wilde, Adjoa Andoh, Tom Clegg, and Mike Grady
Rating the Audio Performance
Ensemble cast of readers make the journal and letter entries so marvelous, and you can imagine what they look like so vividly! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Setting of WWII in England when everyone’s world changed and marked the characters in this wonderful story. You immediately fall in love with some and despise one in particular. It gives credence to the role of women in holding life together in remarkable times.
Gerry
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Narrator Name: Sean Crisden and Eisa Davis
Rating the Audio Performance
Wonderful narration! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I was captivated from the start by this story of a young, black married couple torn apart when the husband is falsely accused and convicted of rape. Wonderful writing and very believable characters!
Gerry
A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch
Narrator Name: James Langton
Rating the Audio Performance
Perfection! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3-1/2 stars for a light, engaging mystery story set in Victorian London. Loved the setting and the details about daily life among the different classes.
Ricki
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordon
Narrator Name: Jesse Bernstein
Rating the Audio Performance
Perfect voice for Percy Jackson. Very believable. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Good mix of magical adventure and Greek mythology. I had fun listening, and even learned a few things.
Mac
The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
Narrator Name: Marin Ireland
Rating the Audio Performance
While I enjoyed Marin Ireland's performance, it was very hard to listen to this book while commuting back and forth to work. She tended to lower her voice at the end of sentences and when something secret or portentous is happening. Several times, I had to increase the volume and rewind, which is frustrating when it happens near the end of a track. (Another pet peeve is tracks that are more than three minutes long. If you want to go back, you either have to backtrack 8 minutes, or try to figure out what you missed.) Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I loved this story of three magical siblings who, from a young age, were denied their gifts and had to learn everything the hard way.
Richard N B
Sycamore Row by John Grisham
Narrator Name: Michael Beck
Rating the Audio Performance
Michael Beck does a great job of voicing the audiobook. He has great pacing and can easily differentiate the various characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
A wealthy man commits suicide and leaves the majority of his estate to his black housekeeper. Why would he do such a thing? John Grisham can certainly write a thriller, and his courtroom scenes are entertaining, suspenseful and informative. I liked the various characters, or more accurately, I like the way Grisham writes these characters, even the smarmy attorneys hired by Seth’s children and Lettie’s ne’er-do-well husband and distant relatives.
Karen
Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker
Narrator Name: Therese Plummer and Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
The two narrators voice their characters to reflect their ages and personalities - the self-centered mother with her various moods and demands, the young daughter, Cassandra, recounting the story of their lives in a matter-of-fact way, the older daughter, Emma, whose behavior is what one would expect of an older sister. The narrator's delivery makes the book exciting and draws the listener into the story and keeps them listening. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Two teenage girls go missing one night. Seventeen-year-old Emma's car is found at the beach, but both she and her sister, Cassandra, have disappeared without a trace. Searches turn up no clue as to what happened to them. Their mother enjoys the limelight while the case is being investigated. She is astonished when the youngest daughter, Cassandra, returns after three years with a tale about the two of them being held prisoner on an isolated island where Emma had a child. Psychologist Abby Winter doesn't think the story is credible. She and her partner, Agent Leo Strauss, investigate the details more thoroughly, and the story starts to unravel.
Karen
A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena
Narrator Name: Tavia Gilbert
Rating the Audio Performance
Tavia Gilbert's delivery makes this an exciting novel to listen to. The tone of her voice reflects the the action as Tom Krupp frantically searches the house to try to discover why his wife,Karen, is missing, and his reaction when the police tell him she has had an accident. Her performance of the wife, Karen Krupp, reflects her frustration and fear at not being able to remember what happened, especially when a dead man is found near where she had the accident. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Who is the stranger in the house? Karen Krupp is a meticulous housekeeper, and when she starts to notice things out of place she is worried. One evening she receives a phone call and leaves the house in such a hurry that she leaves her purse and phone behind. She meets someone and then leaves the area so quickly she has an accident. Her injuries include a concussion that cause her to lose her memory. The police think she may have killed a man who was found near where the accident happened. When they investigate her past, they discover she isn't who she claims to be. Tom is shocked, but it turns out he is less than truthful, too. He had an affair with a neighbor, Bridgette, who is still obsessed with Tom.
Aimee
The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
Narrator Name: Christine Lakin
Rating the Audio Performance
Nice ability to change voices, depending on the character. I felt emotion was nicely used, and not too dramatic. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This was a fun book and storyline to listen to, in light of the upcoming royal wedding this summer.
Sherrie
Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Narrator Name: Marin Ireland
Rating the Audio Performance
Wonderful job! Changed characters easily and effectively. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Very good book! A bit darker than his other books, but lots of subject matter to consider. Would be a great book club book. Enjoyed it very much.
Lana
Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger
Narrator Name: Brian Kilmeade
Rating the Audio Performance
I felt like I was in high school at a state speech and drama contest. I felt the reading was rushed, inflection was poor, and overall performance just average. Some authors do well reading their own books, but not in this case. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The book seemed elementary and Jackson was one-dimensional. One did not see the controversial side of him; his negatives were glossed over. An average basic book for someone new to Andrew Jackson.
Rebecca
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Narrator Name: Alma Cuervo, Julia Whelan and Robin Miles
Rating the Audio Performance
I very much enjoyed the narrators! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Hollywood actress, Evelyn, recounts her life story to biographer Monique. I very much enjoyed this story about Evelyn Hugo, a Hollywood actress in the 1950s-1980s. The story alternated between Evelyn, as she recounted tales and secrets from her glamorous life to Monique Grant, her biographer of choice, and Monique herself as she grapples with whether or not to divorce her husband, David. Why did Evelyn have so many husbands, and was the fame and fortune worth all of the heartbreak? Who was the one true love of Evelyn's life? Find out in this riveting story!
Tessa B C
The Potted Gardener by M. C. Beaton
Narrator Name: Penelope Keith
Rating the Audio Performance
Penelope Keith does a great job performing the audiobook. I really like how she brings Agatha, James and the other residents of Carsley to life. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This series is growing on me, as I get to know Agatha better. She’s a smart woman in business (apparently), but she is woefully bad at relationships. It takes a long time to get to the murder with all the relationship drama, but once Agatha discovers the body, her curiosity keeps her nosing about. All in all a satisfying cozy mystery.
Patricia
The Chilbury Ladies Choir by Jennifer Ryan
Narrator Name: Gabrielle Glaister, Laura Kirman, Imogen Wilde, Adjoa Andoh, Tom Clegg, and Mike Grady
Rating the Audio Performance
Incredible ensemble cast makes you feel as if you are in Kent ready to sing in the choir! The narrators perfectly capture the essence of each character. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Setting is WWII in Chilbury, England when the women continue their village choir when the men go off to war. It is told in letters and journal entries and you can just picture these British ladies in their sweater sets and sensible heels. The women become a vital part of their village when the war heats up and bombs start falling.
sandy
The Lady by His Side by Stephanie Laurens
Narrator Name: Matthew Brenher
Rating the Audio Performance
Fantastic! Mr. Brenher is able to perfectly convey the haughtiness of the main male characters, a duke and a marquess, and he does a marvelous job reading the love scenes. Ms. Laurens may be a bit wordy, but hearing the scenes read out loud makes them more real and makes you realize that all those words are necessary. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Sebastian Cynster needs to find a wife quickly, before his female relatives drive him crazy. He accepts an invitation to a house party as a surrogate for his friend, the Duke of Wolverston, who is investigating rumors of a plot against the English government by Irish radicals. Sebastian arranges to escort an old female friend to the party. Antonia Rawlings plans to use the house party to figure out what to do next with her life. She decides that they should partner up. Add in a few deaths, missing barrels of gunpowder, and a killer continuing to stalk the halls, side by side, Sebastian and Antonia search for answers, and the childhood connection that has always existed between them strengthens and blossoms into much more.
Francisa E B
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Narrator Name: Sunil Malhotra and Cassandra Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
The audiobook is narrated primarily by Sunil Malhotra (for the forward and the memoir written by Kalanithi himself), and Cassandra Campbell (reading Lily’s afterward). Very well-done audio. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This memoir was written when Paul Kalanithi was in his mid-thirties, about to finish his training as a neurosurgeon, and had been diagnosed with an aggressive lung cancer. I was interested and moved by his story.
Syntha
A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan
Narrator Name: Kate Reading
Rating the Audio Performance
This is my second book narrated by Reading, and I find myself liking her more and more each time I get in the car. She does a great job making the main character's voice clear. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Where have these been all my life? A female scientist dragon-studying naturalist from Victorian England breaking stereotypes right and left as she goes on safari - it's wonderful.
Audrey
Infernal by F. Paul Wilson
Narrator Name: Christopher Price
Rating the Audio Performance
This performer narrates the story like an actor and is able to use different voices. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Repairman Jack is attempting to build a relationship with his brother. Against his better judgement he accompanies his brother on an adventure where they bring home an object. The object turns out to be deadly.
Audrey
A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen
Narrator Name: Graeme Malcolm
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent. Easy to understand and discriminate between characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is a terrific series. The characters are quite wonderful with flaws and endearing qualities. Dept. Q is headed by Detective Morck. It's forgotten unsolved crimes that Dept. Carl Morck finds annoying and endearing. He's lazy and stuffy and talented and lucky. Part of his luck is the Muslim assistant he's been assigned who has the enthusiasm Carl lacks. Enter another assistant - female, who is unique to say the least. The three of them bumble and stumble along solving unsolved crimes. In this story they apprehend a fiendish man who kidnaps kids, two at a time. It all starts with a message in a bottle that is found.
Lana
Death in St. Petersburg by Tasha Alexander
Narrator Name: Bianca Amato
Rating the Audio Performance
Excellent performance. Good inflection and it was easy to tell characters apart. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I was disappointed in the ending. The solving of this murder mystery didn't seem to fit the flow of the story.
Tessa B C
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J Ryan Stradal
Narrator Name: Amy Ryan and Michael Stuhlbarg
Rating the Audio Performance
The audiobook was capably performed by Amy Ryan (voicing the female narrators’ chapters) and Michael Stuhlbarg (voicing the male characters’ chapters). This certainly helped this listener feel a little less disoriented with the shifting perspectives. However, while I’d rate their performance on audio at 4 stars, I think this style of storytelling is best enjoyed in a text format. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
3.5 stars. A debut novel that shows the writer’s promise. The story is told in roughly chronological order, but each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character. Through them, the reader gets to know Eva, “the mysterious chef behind the most sought-after dinner reservation in the country.”
Kimiko
The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly
Narrator Name: Peter Giles
Rating the Audio Performance
I thought he did a beautiful job reading the various characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
It was great to read a book from Mickey Haller's (Bosch's half-brother) point of view on a case that was strictly Mickey's...although I didn't 100% like the ending.
Lori
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Narrator Name: Bahni Turpin
Rating the Audio Performance
This was a good book to listen to, although it prolonged the agony when hearing about some of the many disturbing events in the book. It was easy to tell one character from another, and the accents seemed authentic and made the book more atmospheric. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
As with other books about slavery, the subject matter was difficult. Unlike other books, this one showed what life was like for escaped slaves and how it varied from state to state. Although I learned some new things, the premise of the real Underground Railroad seemed ridiculous to me and detracted from the book. Although I appreciated the book, I was surprised that it won the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award.
Susie
Refugee by Alan Gratz
Narrator Name: Michael Goldstrom, Kyla Garcia and Assaf Cohen
Rating the Audio Performance
The three narrators truly brought the emotions of this book to life. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This book is a must-read for anyone wondering what it is like to be a refugee. This shows Jewish refugees leaving Germany before the war, Cuban refugees fleeing Castro and Syrian refugees fleeing the war there, all in different time periods running from different kinds of oppression and death, but yet their stories are very similar. I think not just children should read this book. I know a lot of adults who should read this as well.
Susan
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
I read the book first and was nervous listening to it because I did not expect it to be as good as it was when I read it. It was just as good. Definitely a fantastic job. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Haven’t had a book make me cry like this in many years; this one did the job. Very, very well done.
Lory
Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane
Narrator Name: Julia Whelan
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator had an understandable voice that offered intonations that went right along with the action/scenes. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This story was intriguing and exciting. Although I remained weary of Rachel's sudden ability to snap out of her extreme anxiety and agoraphobia to be one, tough bitch, I'm also aware that certain, unexplained circumstances are able to jolt us into action and to overcome our fears. One of the questions we are forced to consider is, "Was lying Brian good for her or wasn't he?" (He sure fooled me too, btw). The reader is left with their heart racing and aspects to ponder, especially with the stark, abrupt ending of this book. Would definitely recommend SINCE WE FELL as a good, entertaining, and somewhat warped, read.
ANN
Master of Ceremonies by Joel Grey
Narrator Name: Joel Grey
Rating the Audio Performance
I liked it! I'd watched many videos which included his voice, so, for me, hearing his own narration enhanced the authenticity of the memoir. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, as did many of my friends who had grown up in Chicago and Detroit, and had attended performances by Joel Grey's father.
Jenelle
The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian
Narrator Name: Cassandra Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
Very good. Inflection and change in voice allowed for easy transition between characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I have read or listened to most of his books. Very enjoyable, poignant story.
Emily
The Lost History of Stars by Dave Boling
Narrator Name: Gemma Dawson
Rating the Audio Performance
I enjoyed the performance. It was easy to distinguish between characters. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Interesting. It introduced me to a historical event that I was unfamiliar with.
Rebecca
The Restaurant Critic's Wife by Elizabeth LaBan
Narrator Name: Angela Dawe
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator seemed effective at capturing the arrogance and petulance of the antagonist and the frustration of the protagonist. Despite her efforts, I still found the major characters self-absorbed and annoying. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I am fed up with these characters and imagine their children will have real issues.
Susan
The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens
Narrator Name: Zach Villa
Rating the Audio Performance
Could NOT have used a better voice than this. It was phenomenal. Very, very well done. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Enjoyed it completely.
Eve
The Ambassador's Wife by Jennifer Steil
Narrator Name: Orlah Cassidy and Euan Morton
Rating the Audio Performance
Loved the story and especially the narration - good narration can truly bring a story to a new level. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This is a 2015 book that was recommended on audio but I think reading would be enjoyable. A very contemporary and realistic story about the middle east, war and kidnapping.
Patty
Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
Narrator Name: Ezra Knight, Kate Forbes, Joseph Collins, Tom Stechschulte, Peter Jay Fernandez, Brenda Pressley
Rating the Audio Performance
I thought it was good. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Life in the south after WWII and the differences between black and white.
Aimee
Suspicion by Joseph Finder
Narrator Name: Steven Kearney
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator was able to clearly define each character's voice through tone, inflection and accent. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Compelling story, and I didn't want to stop listening, especially towards the end of the book.
Richard N B
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
Narrator Name: Jeannette Walls
Rating the Audio Performance
Walls narrated the audiobook herself, and she does a marvelous job. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
In what she calls a “true life novel”, Walls turns her attention to her maternal grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. Walls is a wonderful storyteller; she really brings Lily and all the other characters to life. And what a life! The author also does a fine job of putting the reader into this time and place. I could practically smell the horses and feel the dust on my skin.
Ellen
Neverhome by Laird Hunt
Narrator Name: Mary Stuart Masterson
Rating the Audio Performance
Mary Stuart Masterson's reading was as vivid as any film or stage performance. We were taken to the battlefields and camps of the Civil War. Her voicing of Ash/Constance, the protagonist and narrator, was spot-on. It was easy to differentiate other characters as they appeared. There was a natural inflection to the antiquated phrasings and idioms that really brought the story to life. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Hunt's novel is about a woman from Indiana who dresses as a man to fight in the Civil War, leaving her husband on their farm. Constance/Ash is iron-strong. Hunt has filled her story with incredible word pictures, clearly developed after much research. This is a beautiful story about a very harsh life.
Cathey
Hamilton by Ron Chernow
Narrator Name: Grover Gardner
Rating the Audio Performance
I have listened to Grover Gardner many times and especially in historical works, his delivery is superb. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Wonderfully done and, I'm sure, very well researched. I inadvertently listened to the abridged version, but I would not have known that, just listening. A very interesting person in the early history of America and his dedication to American democracy should be a lesson to all government officials, both elected and appointed. He had faults, but I found I couldn't dislike him for them. I will be finding the UN-abridged version and listening to that sometime soon.
Francisca E B
Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox
Narrator Name: Michael J. Fox
Rating the Audio Performance
Fox narrates the audio version of the book himself, which really gives the listener a feeling of hearing his story person-to-person. However, the audio is an abridged version of the book. I had the text available and read it as well as listening to portions of the audio. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Michael J. Fox was barely thirty years old when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. This is his memoir in which he explains how and why “I consider myself a lucky man.” He is honest and forthright in describing his childhood, early career, missteps, alcohol abuse, successes, and failures. I was interested and engaged in his story. Not your typical celebrity memoir.
Mary
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
Narrator Name: Josephine Bailey and Simon Prebble
Rating the Audio Performance
The two performers do an excellent job of tag-teaming the narration. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The story is an eerie and chilling tale full interesting twists that will keep you wanting to know more.
Rebecca
The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman
Narrator Name: Emily Rankin
Rating the Audio Performance
The narrator was fantastic! Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Textbook illustrator/single mom (Lilian) moves on after the sudden death of her husband (Dan).
Widowed three years earlier and recovering from a mental breakdown, Lilian struggles to deal with her grief while also raising her two daughters, Annabelle and Claire. Luckily, her single sister, Rachel, is the best ever and often steps in to help. While taking a gardening class for work, Lilian is inspired to view life allegorically as a garden and finds a new beginning for herself and her girls. This was a fun, light, and humorous look at grief and being a single mother.
Jay
There Is No Good Card for This: What To Say and Do When Life Is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People You Love by Kelsey Crowe, PhD and Emily McDowell
Narrator Name: Xe Sands
Rating the Audio Performance
A wonderful, calm voice. Xe Sands' narration feels like she is interested in the content. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
It seems like there's been a recent increase in bad news among friends, co-workers and family. I wanted a book that discussed how to best be supportive of people, especially in what I say. Overall, this was just what I was looking for. Not too deep, but deep enough. Just the right amount of the authors' personalities comes through to keep this interesting and human.
Nancy
Origin by Dan Brown
Narrator Name: Paul Michael
Rating the Audio Performance
Paul Michael's performance reading ORIGIN was mostly what I'm listening for...clear diction, expressive pitch and rhythm of speaking, and a pleasant speaking voice. I will watch for his audiobook narrations again. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
This story line kept me engaged through to the end, as I wanted to know what discovery Edmond Kirsch had made. Knowing very little about Spain and the settings of this book, I was also glad to learn more about that area of the world.
Betsy
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FB by David Grann
Narrator Name: Will Patton, Ann Marie Lee and Danny Campbell
Rating the Audio Performance
The book is in three parts, or chronicles, and the narrators each had a part, which kept things moving along. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
The book is hugely informative about a time and events in US history that are little known. It makes one want to explore further --- both the stories of what happened to Native Americans in the US over time, and the development of the FBI that we know these days.
Gina
Falling Together by Marisa de los Santos
Narrator Name: Julie Gibson
Rating the Audio Performance
It reads sooooo slowly and makes women sound air-headed rather than thoughtful. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
Although I have loved this author's other books, this one was just too slow and too wordy for me. I may have liked it better if I could have skimmed over the superfluous descriptions.
Beverlee
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
Narrator Name: Saskia Maarleveld
Rating the Audio Performance
I loved the voice of the narrator and her passion for the book, but I didn't always get a clear distinction between the two narrators. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I loved learning about this piece of WWI that I had never been exposed to. It was fascinating and riveting, and truly kept me engaged for each and every chapter.
Tessa B C
Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica
Narrator Name: Kate Rudd and Kirby Heyborne
Rating the Audio Performance
Kate Rudd does a fine job performing the audio. She’s a talented voice artist, and it’s too bad she didn’t have better material to work with. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
2.5 stars. Quinn is a bad roommate, but when Esther goes missing, she’s concerned and determined to find the truth. Meanwhile, Alex is besotted with the strange woman, Pearl, who frequents the diner where he works. The plot is convoluted and complicated, yet somehow lacks suspense. I was not impressed.
Marlene
The Pearl Sister by Lucinda Riley
Narrator Name: Stephanie Racine and Rehanna MacDonald
Rating the Audio Performance
The characters' accents were spot on. Rating the Book's Content/Storyline
I did not want the book to end. It held my interest with anticipation for each coming chapter in the lives of CeCe and Kitty. 
