Broken Stories: Stories from the Broken World Series“I had a great time with this audiobook! I am a fan of Kate L. Mary's work so I was eager to give this collection of stories a try. As a reader of her work, it was nice to see a few familiar characters and other characters that have been talked about but I also think that this would be a great place to start. I found this to be a very quick and enjoyable listen.
This collection has a nice variety of stories. Some stories are longer while others are pretty quick but they all grabbed my attention and held it throughout the story. Usually, with short story collections, I have found that one or two stories will be more of a miss for me but in this collection, I found that I really enjoyed each of the stories. I liked the fact that these stories gave some insight into a few familiar characters without spoiling any of the full books in the series.
This is the first time that I have listened to Kathleen Miranti's narration and I thought that she did a great job with this collection of stories. There were a few stories that were pretty emotional and I think that she did a great job of conveying that emotion through her reading. I think that she had a very pleasant voice that was easy to listen to for hours at a time.
I would recommend this book to others. I really enjoyed getting a chance to experience a wide range of experiences these characters were facing in the zombie apocalypse.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author.”
Twisted World (Twisted World, #1)“I had a great time with this audiobook. I recently read six of the seven books in Kate L. Mary's Broken World series and really enjoyed myself. When I saw that there was another series set in the same world, I knew that I needed to read those books. Once I started listening, I couldn't stop and ended up finishing the book in just a couple of days which is pretty fast for me with a book this length. It is safe to say that I enjoyed this book.
As I mentioned, this book is set in the same world as the Broken World series. I was happily surprised to find that many of the characters that I had grown to love in the first series were back in this book, just twenty years older. I think that readers could start with this book without any issues but readers of the earlier series will have some additional background information that could be helpful.
This book is partially told from Megan's point of view. Megan is Axl and Vivian's daughter and it was really nice to get to see her all grown up and navigating the world as competently as her parents had done in the previous series. Megan's father is missing and her mother isn't dealing with things very well so it is up to Megan to keep things together. She gets a couple of jobs in order to keep the bills paid. One of her jobs is in the entertainment district where she meets a convict fighter named Donaghy. It quickly becomes evident that there is more going on than Megan originally realized. I really liked both Megan and Donaghy's characters and I thought that they made a wonderful pair.
I liked the mystery in this book. The zombies have changed and it seems that there may be a whole mystery around those changes. The CDC was the organization that saved the world from the zombies but it seems they may be involved in a whole lot more. There were a few characters that I spent a lot of time trying to work out their true identities. There was a lot of action in this story to keep things very interesting.
Heather Firth did a great job with the narration of this book. I thought that she did a fantastic job with both the female and male points of view in this story. Her reading helped to bring this story to life by adding a lot of emotion to it. Her pacing was very well done and I found her voice to be very pleasant to listen to for hours at a time.
I would recommend this book to others. I think that this is a very well done story set in an interesting world. I thought that this book had a wonderful combination of action, mystery, and great characters. I cannot wait to start reading the rest of the series.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author.”
Twisted Memories (Twisted World, #2)“I enjoyed this book in the Twisted series. This book fills in all the gaps between the Broken World series and the events in the first book in this series. This is a series that would best be read in order and I do believe that this series works best when read after the Broken World series. I have been kind of obsessed with this group of characters this year so I was delighted to have all of my questions about what their lives have been like and what really happened answered in this book.
Angus James came to Atlanta to save the world. His immunity has made him a precious commodity. Even though he came willingly and wanted to help, the CDC told his family that he had died and used him for one experiment after another. 20 years of experiments. We also get a chance to check in with Axl, Vivian, Jim, Al, Lila, Josh, and Parv. A lot has happened in 20 years and not all of it was good.
This book covers a lot of time. A lot of the story happens before the events of Twisted World and I did have a moment or two when I wondered why the author chose to wait until the second book to share this information but I don't think it would have worked well any other way. I hated hearing some of the things that happened to these characters. They have been through so much and it just seems wrong that they had to deal with the kind of evil shown in this story.
I thought that Heather Firth did a great job with the narration. This book is told from a lot of different perspectives and there a lot of characters that play important roles. I thought that she did a great job keeping all of the voices consistent and I never had any difficulty recognizing the speaker. I also think that she does a great job of adding emotion to her reading. I had no problems listening to her narration for hours at a time.
I would recommend this series to others. I feel like I have been on quite the journey with these characters and was very happy to find out what happened to them over the years even though a lot of it was heartbreaking. I look forward to reading more of Kate L. Mary's work.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author.”
The Loudest Silence – A Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Novel Oklahoma Wastelands, Book 1“This was very entertaining! I picked up this book because I was in the mood for some zombies and I had heard good things about Kate L. Mary's books. Once I started listening to this story, I didn't want to stop and ended up finishing the book in just a couple of days. I am glad that I decided to take a chance on this one because it ended up being a whole lot of fun.
This book did focus on romance a bit more than I expected. I also have to admit that I would have liked to see more zombies. These were not big issues for me and I really liked the story that the book did tell. This was one of those books that I found myself liking more and more and the story progressed and I have to admit that I was completely sold by the romance by the end of the book.
Regan and Kellan were just kids when the world fell apart. It has been nine years since they lost everyone but they have somehow made it along with a small group of people that share their shelter. They have always thought of each other as siblings. At least until recently when things started to change. Regan wants to be able to take care of herself and be a productive member of their community while Kellan wants to protect her and keep her safe.
I thought that this was a pretty exciting story. I liked the way that we learned a lot about the character through their actions and I enjoyed seeing what they were willing to fight for. There were some pretty intense situations where I worried about the welfare of the characters. I was completely invested in this story and thought that the author did a great job of creating characters that I cared about.
I enjoyed Heather Firth's narration of this book. I think that she did a really great job with all of the characters and the dialogue felt very natural. She had a very pleasant voice that was easy to listen to for hours at a time. I think that the narration increased my enjoyment of this story because she was able to add a lot of emotion to some rather important scenes. I look forward to listening to more of her work in the future.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy some romance in an apocalypse story. My audiobook copy also had a short story at the end that focused on two of the other characters from Regan and Kellan's group which I also enjoyed. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author.”
Twisted Mind (Twisted World, #1.5)“This was a great chance to see things from a completely different perspective. This is a novella-length story that really does need to be read after Twisted World since the events in this story take place at the same time. In this story, we see things from Jackson's point of view. I was pretty sure that I didn't like Jackson before I started this book but now I am absolutely certain that this is not a nice guy. It was really kind of fun to see just exactly how this guy mind really works. I had a good time with this story.
Jackson Star was born at the start of the zombie apocalypse and he is roughly the same age as Megan. Jackson's father is the man in charge of the settlement that they live in. He doesn't know what it is like to not be in power. They live in a big house while others live in shacks. Jackson, along with his father, has a plan and that plan involves Megan James.
Jackson was even worse than I thought he would be and I thought he was pretty bad. He really does have an evil mind and I was at times amazed by just how far he would be willing to go. I thought he was selfish and uncaring but learned that he actually enjoys seeing others in pain. He likes to make others suffer and he is completely unable to empathize on any level.
This story was very eye-opening. It was really interesting to see things happening that I couldn't even imagine. I liked that certain parts of this story mirrored Twisted World but though a warped lens. I thought I knew what happened but I didn't know everything. I love the fact that even though I knew a lot of the events that would happen in this story, everything still felt very fresh because the perspective was so different.
I thought that Heather Firth did a great job with this story. I like that she speaks very clearly and I think she does a great job with the character voices. I thought that she had a very pleasant voice and I had no trouble listening to this story for hours at a time.
I would recommend this series to others. I love the world that Kate L. Mary has created and the characters almost feel like family. I cannot wait to read more in this series!
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author.”
Twisted Fate (Twisted World, #3)“I thought that this was a wonderful wrap up to the series. I devoured Kate L. Mary's Broken World series earlier this year and after learning that this series featured the same group of characters, I couldn't wait to get started with it. It has been great to see these characters grow and survive and I enjoyed getting to meet new characters in this series. This book really did pull everything together very well and I had a great time with it.
This is the book where things really start to happen. Angus is alive and his friends know it. They also know how much danger Axl and Donaghy are in. At this point, not only do they want to rescue their friends and loved ones but they are also looking for some revenge. If anyone deserves revenge, I think Angus does. There are several points of view in this book and it worked well since the characters were not always together or looking at the situation in the same way.
This story was really exciting. There was plenty of action and I found myself worrying about the characters. There were quite a few surprises as well. I loved getting the chance to watch this group of characters working to make the world a better place even if it cost them. I was happy that this book left me with some hope for the future and I feel really satisfied with how things were wrapped up. My only complaint with the story would be that the last part of the book felt a little drawn out but nothing that lessened my overall enjoyment.
I thought that Heather Firth did a great job with the narration. There are quite a few characters in this series and a wide range of emotions that they experience. I thought that she did a great job of giving each character their voice and bringing them to life. The narrator reads the story at a really nice pace and I feel that her performance added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this series to others. I do feel that this is a series that is best read in order. I love the world that Kate L. Mary has created and the characters are amazing. I will definitely be reading more from this very talented author.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author.”
Dead Before Dying (A Shadow Valley Manor Novel)“I thought that this was really good. I decided to read this book on impulse. I hadn't heard of it before but I thought that it sounds like it would be worth a try. And I was right. I was pulled into the story from the very beginning and it held my interest until the very end. I am so glad that I made the decision to pick up this book.
At the start of the book, Maureen is checking herself out of the hospital and she honestly isn't in the best shape. To make matters worse, when she gets home her husband has moved someone else in and wants to end their marriage. I wondered how this middle-aged woman who was still recovering from a pretty severe injury would handle a new case but I had nothing to worry about.
Maureen works for a special department within the FBI that deals with paranormal issues. An old friend and co-worker wants her help at the retirement home he just bought so she moves in. Let's just say that Maureen doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the residents. Of course, the residents are a quirky group of individuals led by a pretty uptight manager.
The action started in this book early on and it never let go. I loved the fact that since there were paranormal elements to the story anything could happen and sometimes did. I thought that the mystery was really well done and I wasn't quite sure who was responsible for everything until it was revealed. I thought that the mystery was pretty complex and I liked the fact that everything was wrapped up nicely by the end of the book.
Teri Clark Linden did a great job with the narration of this story. I thought that the really did a great job with the various character voices and was able to add a lot of life to the story. She has a very pleasant voice which is easy to listen to for hours at a time. Her reading only added to my enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal mysteries. I thought that this was a very well done story filled with fantastic characters and some interesting paranormal elements. I wouldn't hesitate to read more of this fun series!
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author/narrator and have voluntarily left this review.”
Cunning Devil“Every once in a while I am lucky enough to stumble upon a book that really impresses me. This was one of those books. I decided to give this book a try simply because it sounded like it had some promise and I am always on the lookout for new urban fantasy series to try. Once I started listening, I quickly realized that this was going to be a book that I wouldn't want to put down. I really enjoyed every moment that I spent with this book.
I loved this story's setup. Ozzy is a cunning man who is also very resourceful. He tries to help others when he can. He decided to help a man find a family heirloom even though the job isn't going to pay well. And that's when things really start to go wrong. Ozzy will risk losing everything to get to the bottom of this case before long.
I loved the characters in this book. I found myself liking Ozzy right from the start. I loved getting a chance to see what he thought and see how his mind works. Besides Ozzy, there were plenty of other great characters. Ozzy's mentor, Early, kept me guessing and the Dealer was intriguing yet creepy. I loved the variety of beings that show up in this book include hags, goblins, hobgoblins, and changelings just to start.
The story had plenty of action and moved at a pretty fast pace. I was completely drawn into the mystery and couldn't wait to see how things would work out. The book took a lot of turns that I didn't expect and I loved the fact that it kept me guessing.
Gary Bennett did a fabulous job with the narration. I really felt like he brought this story to life. He used a variety of voices for all of the different characters and made everything sound very natural. He had a very pleasant voice that I found easy to listen to for hours at a time. I think that his performance added to my enjoyment of the story.
I would highly recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a great start to a very promising series. The characters, the mystery, and the world-building were all very well done. I cannot wait to read more of this series!
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author and have voluntarily left this review.”
Making You Mine“This really was the perfect book to pick up during a rather stressful week. I found this to be a really enjoyable and uncomplicated romance. I have read a few titles published under Melissa Foster's pen name that she uses for her sweeter titles, Addison Cole, but this is the first I have read with Melissa Foster listed as the author. This book is part of a series but I read it as a stand-alone and thought it worked perfectly fine on its own. I definitely had a good time with this delightful romance.
Knox and Aubrey aren't strangers to each other. They have been hooking up with each other after different events for quite a while. They both want to keep it no-strings-attached until Knox decides that he wants more. I loved watching Knox convince Aubrey to give him a chance. They really make a fantastic couple and had a lot of wonderful chemistry. There weren't a lot of obstacles to their relationship and I thought it was fun to watch them fall for each other.
Andi Arndt and Jason Clarke both did a fantastic job with the narration. I thought that they both handled all of the character voices very well and brought a lot of emotion to the story. Andi Arndt has been a favorite narrator of mine for a long time and I could see myself adding Jason Clarke's name to that list. They both read at a very nice pace and I feel like their performance added to my enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very enjoyable romance filled with wonderful characters. I wouldn't hesitate to read more of Melissa Foster's work in the future.
I received a copy of this audiobook from the author/publicist.”
The Brightest Darkness (Oklahoma Wastelands, #2)“I had a great time listening to this audiobook. I listened to the first book in this series shortly after its release last year and enjoyed it so that I went on to read many of more of the author's works during the past year. It goes without saying that I was excited to start listening to this book and it did not disappoint. This is the second book in the Oklahoma Wastelands series, which is a series that should be read in order if at all possible. I really enjoyed slipping back into this world for a bit to check in on Regan and Kellan.
Please note there may be spoilers in this review for the first book in the series.
This book picks up shortly after the events of the first book. Regan and Kellan are determined to rescue Harper from Andrew. In a world filled with zombies and humans out to take advantage of others, things are never easy. Regan, Kellan, and their group are all really good people and are determined to protect everyone in their group. There were a lot of really exciting scenes in this book and quite a few twists that kept me guessing throughout the story.
I really like Regan and Kellan. They make a great pair and just seem to fit each other perfectly. They both feel some responsibility to others in their group and are willing to put themselves in danger to protect others. They are both very supportive of each other and Kellan doesn't hold Regan back even though he might want to at times. It was great to see their relationship grow over the course of this story. I think that they have wonderful chemistry with each other and their history together makes everything even more believable. It was really easy to cheer them on.
Heather Firth did a fantastic job with the narration of this book. I liked all of the character voices that she used and I thought that all of the dialogue in this story felt very natural. I think that she was able to add a lot of excitement and emotion into the story. She read the story with a very pleasant voice and I had no problems listening for hours at a time.
I would recommend this series to others. I really liked the fact that this story was exciting from beginning to end. I cared about the characters and wanted to see everything work out for them. I can't wait to read more of this exciting series and more of Kate L. Mary's work!
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author.”
