Category Everyday stuff

Apr 20 2016

AudioBook Review – Broken Skies Book 1

Getting through my Audio list, haha but it’s tough, so so many good books to choose from. And the last couple of days I’ve had the pleasure of listening to Broken Skies by Therresa Kay and narrated by Andrea Emmes. I’m a fan already of Andrea and this was a must listen to in my book because of the premise, I just adored it.

So review as follows, and I admit, this is the first one in a series I’m totally disappointed that there’s not a second narration for me to buy. boo hooo….

🙂 you can pick up the book here – http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Young-Adults/Broken-Skies-Audiobook/B00LSYXFZY

and my review is –

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“Very cool!”

There were several things I really loved about this story, and a few I wasn’t so keen on.

I did receive a code from the narrator for one of her books in return for an honest opinion, but I can’t remember if it was this one or the last one I listened to, so I’m saying this one, and either way all reviews off me are honest wether they be gifted or not.

Jaz-Jasmine was a good character for the most part, but her panic attacks and personal weakness grated on me quite a bit. I have to admit I loved the story line and most of what she’s been through, but there were moments when I really think especially towards the end of the book that she would just get a grip and start to process things and move forwards as her own person. She was almost there when she first faced her brother, but she almost insisted with real conviction that things were the same, and they really weren’t. I had hoped she really knew and understood that before that moment.

The whole Lir storyline was very interesting and well written. (I do wish that Jax was a little more grown up with it, but she’s a young, and love struck teen who knows nothing about the aliens or their love/bonding rituals, so I can kinda forgive the writer for some of these things.

For the most part this story kept me on edge and I wanted to know what happened. I can’t believe the Author hasn’t had the narrator back to do the second book, I’m just gutted, so much so I had to buy the book, and I don’t often do that. I don’t have the time to read a real book. So I do hope that the author will have this on the cards next.

The narrator brings such an abundance of life, joy, love and heartache to Jax, that you just can’t stop listening even though sometimes, or most of the time she’s a pain in the butt and really can’t see the wood for the tress, silly girl.

So yeah, I was left with a book/narrator hangover. and I’m not used to that. You both make the best combination. And I do hope you’ll work together again.

~ Dawn

 

Apr 17 2016

Time is zipping on!

 

So this last few weeks have really been a whirlwind of things. I’ve been so busy with listening to Audio for TSK, and in catching up with things for the team on scrib, I’ve barely had time to think about anything other than get up, work, sleep…

This weeks not going to get any better, we’ve a couple of people down in work and that makes for much harder for us to get in, and booked in like the usual. I love my job, but sometimes I really wish I could go part time. That is my main goal, to write like this as the day job in the end, so all the things I am striving and working so hard for are working towards that goal. For me, and for everyone on the team.

As a company we made some decisions last weekend. Which we’re putting into fruition over the next few weeks. These are good things 🙂

AudioBook for TSK’s Lethao is almost ready! squee. I’m very excited about this.

AudioBook shorts from Holly are also nearly there, with a few tweaks to our cover design, they’re now so fab it’s unreal!

http://www.thesecretking.com/membership

Our membership only section is FREE so register and get in NOW, there you’ll all have access to the Lacria dictionary and Time App, with all other goodies as we post them.

TSK’s first short – The Truth Hurts is also in there as a  free read 🙂 so get in and check it out, we’re starting our promo campaign for this in the next few days. And so far so good, response on that is amazing!

TSK’s second book is on target and set for release in Sept.

The shorts anthology also will be set for release as soon as we’ve proofed it over 🙂 Excited for this the art work by Andrew is just amazing!

Ugggh – on a personal level, I think I really just make everything so much harder for myself, and I don’t know why I do it.. haha. Started out with a sore ankle, and now I’ve a very sore leg and knee, Hubby says I should go the docs, but I never have time! so naughty…. I actually think I’m getting out my van wrong in work or something I’m doing during the day is making it bad. shrugs…

So, I’ve yet again addressed a few things, and hopefully, I can sort those out. I am running out of time for myself, and taking a day off is now going to be part of my routine. I’ve got to do it. I need some me time. And my me time, should be getting out the house to do something I enjoy…. mmm I need to think on that one a little more.

Onwards and upwards everyone, never give up on your dreams, with determination anything is possible.

hugs,

Dawn

 

 

Apr 9 2016

AudioBook Review – The Atomic Sea, pt 3 and 4

So great to be back with these characters. 🙂 I’m glad I’ve got two to listen to on the trot though, just never enough in them!

Written by Jack Conner and narrated by Ray Greenley –

The book can be found on Amazon along with the rest of the series and on Audible .com and .co.uk 🙂

http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/The-Atomic-Sea-Part-Three-Audiobook/B01547ND1G

Review is as follows. –

“Great to be back…”

So today and tomorrow, I’m back with Avery and the crew in the fight against the Octung!

It was great to be with them again. I can’t help but totally get involved in the world here, Avery as a character had come on in leaps and bounds. I must admit, I was a little shocked that he and Layanna get together. But, the more their relationship grew through this part of the story I can see why. Avery is a vastly different character than when he started this. He’s stronger and more resilient than anyone I’ve met, but he’s still vastly flawed in some of his decisions and I guess that is what still makes him human.

Janx and Hilde are such fun characters, Janx will pretty much do anything for the cause now, and Hilde’s constant ‘this will never work’ but ‘oh well, lets go’ is funny.

The explanations in here of the Collosom and then the Overloards and gods is really good, it’s great to start to put together the whole world that is inside Jack’s head. Sad to see MurBlog back though on the other side 😦 that’s really bad for their friends.

There weren’t any really moving moments in here, in regards to story. Perhaps because of the grisly nature of the sacrifices, and the overlords. It’s horrific to think that these people are so brain washed that they’d go in their willingly. Was also quite shocked that Avery poisoned himself so that he could go in the inner temple. Uggh, glad at least that his mutations weren’t so bad he was totally deformed.

Sheridon and Annie turning up was quite a surprise, and this is where Avery makes the biggest mistake and takes her back to the Black Sect. Which is their downfall, you know it’s coming because of it. I have to admit, I didn’t like that Janx, Hilde and Layanna didn’t inform Avery that the weapon they’ve been building to stop the war needs extra dimensional fuel to work, this is a big wrench when Avery’s at the end of his tether.

In regards to narration, excellent job from Ray, there’s some moments in here that I would not be happy reading aloud haha, because they’re just cringe worthy, he does a fab job of sticking to character, and totally is entertaining with his different voices.

I am looking forward to what happens next, will they catch Sheridon and make it to the Atomic Sea…. but I’ll have to wait till I’m in work again haha. I am defo an audio book covert.

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Kanundra 09/04/2016

“This is too exciting now!”

This series gets better, and better with every part. I’m totally invested in these character now. The good and the bad…. don’t think I ever like a bad guy before. 🙂

As always spoilers follow…

Okay so this has to have been one of the most emotional and hard parts for me to listen to and I shall tell you why.

Three major dynamics are at play here for me, and they’re emotionally very strong, which is what the writer’s been building for. And he’s done a great job.

Avery and his daughter… Such deep seeded background and emotion for us to follow here. Every situation is marred by these characters pasts, if only they could move past some of what happend to them and look to a better future. This book shows how tough a decision that is actually to do in real life. It’s a constant battle for Avery to think of the bigger picture and not just his daughter, who he would die for.

Sheridon and Avery – I have to say here. I do not hate Sheridon AT all. Her goals aren’t that far stretched for me to actually believe now that she is trying to fight for a better world but in her own way, within her own closed in life. She’s emotionally scared just as Avery is, and she’s actually finally shown some real emotion here, which took some horrendous amount of courage for her. I’m admit I was almost on the verge of tears for her because Avery does the ‘right’ thing in his world and takes back the device.

Avery and Layanna – Again another huge dynamic here, that really tugs at the heart strings. They’ve almost broken up because Layanna accepted sacrifices to finish the device (the device to save the world) and Avery can’t get over that horrid thought that she ate some innocent lives. There is such a bigger picture issue here for everyone that it’s hard to grasp everything in your own head untill you actually sit and think about it. So much action, travel and so many decisions to be made.

For Layanna seeing her husband and son after all these years is awful. They hate her, but don’t, and that’s difficult for her. But the one thing it does do is bring Avery and Layanna back together, phew. I don’t want them to suffer any longer…

Janx and Hildra, well they’re still such fun and wonderful characters on their own, Janx with his stories, and Hildra with her swagger, and need for hildebrand. you can’t help but love them all. I do hope this journey isn’t going to be any harder on these four.

Overall. This is a series that has your head in the clouds one minute with it’s wonderful descriptive sea creatures from another dimension, then back down in hell as we realise they’re more horrid in nature than beautiful. Such terrible sickening things they do to people. ugggh the writer really makes you want to vomit sometimes. Yet, I have to say its as fascinating as it is horrid.

Ray’s performance in this part I totally believe is the best I’ve heard from him so far. The book itself has so many emotional scenes, that his effort in delivery of them is 100% so thick with feeling that you can’t help but be right there with the characters in their world. Feel the devastation they’re going through and then sometimes (very rare) the joy at that emotion.

This is a long series, and my only wish was there were some better breaks in-between the books. But, I guess because it’s so long there kinda isn’t many good places to stop…

Looking forward to the next in the series… come on guys!

Apr 1 2016

AudioBook Review – Only For Him

I had the experience of Chic Lit this week… You might think WTH because I am totally not a romance or a chic lit kinda girl, but hey this was an experiment to see what duel narrators sounded like together.

What a ride… that’s pretty much all I can say. Yeah, maybe I’m a big softy at heart for the high-school romance and full on life battle story.

–  You can find the First Audio Book here – http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Fiction/Only-for-Him-Audiobook/B0149GD9MG along with my review.

“Enjoyed it a lot, but….”

I’m leaving the biggest part of my review for the fourth in the series.

YOU have to listen to ALL of the series!!! I can’t say that loud enough. Wonderful Roller coaster of emotions, laughter, joy, pain, almost had me in tears.

But, I say the above because I wasn’t going to listen to the rest of the series, just because of the ending in the first part. I have to be honest. It was in your face, scream at the writer. For all the right and all the wrong reasons. I could have quite easily gone away and said ummp okay… and it’s the only reason I marked it down because it did feel awful. Maybe that was the writers intention, to leave us with no hope, but it wasn’t what I expected.

The thing was I hadn’t even known it was a series, I’d bought this in the interest of taking a listen to duel narrators to see what they were like. And although the story is good. Guy and girl get together etc, with wonderful narration from both XE and Jeffrey, the attention to detail and wonderful expressions the ending was a bit of a let down… If a friend hadn’t pointed it out that it was a series, and I should give the rest a chance, I wouldn’t have carried on. I am so glad that I did. Thank you. Well worth listening to and the second in the series made a good come back, winning me over. So yeah, you got off on that one… but only just….

Think I’m gonna be saying, S Shoot S for a while though it has to be my fav laugh out loud moment, and XE brings such life to it, sad or happy. Great stuff.

If you read this review and are unsure, don’t be. One of the best books you’ll listen to.

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But there are 4 parts to this story and if you want to get the full benefit, you have to listen to them all 🙂

So go on. Do it, I know you want to…

Full review on all four parts to the series is –

http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Fiction/Only-Forever-Audiobook/B0149M8J6G

Of course, when they finally post it haha I’m getting used to how Audible allow their reviews up. (took two weeks to get some approved) hopefully not that long on this one.

 

Mar 25 2016

CampNano!

So yeah. That says everything. April is looking good and I’m excited as usual. I have one story I haven’t finished from last year which is still begging to be continued. I am heavy in beta edits still from TSK’s book 2, which I’ve 7 chapters to get through this weekend. I’ve been out this morning with mum got some bits to keep me going and now I gotta knuckle down and get on with it. 🙂

Anyone else doing it? want to join in my small writing group on facebook… It’s a small group of last years camp participants a few nano friends and will have some from this year 🙂 but we’re from all over the world, all ages and genres, some huge talent…

https://www.facebook.com/groups/549921195147203/

If you do let me know, the more the merrier to get April well off to a good start. We’re in plotting and planning stages still but the more the merrier.

EXCITED!!!!!!