Showing posts with label #AudioExcerpt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #AudioExcerpt. Show all posts

Saturday, April 21, 2018

AUDIO BOOK REVIEW: Hell to Pay by Rachel Amplett


HELL TO PAY
Author: Rachel Amplett
Narrator: Alison Campbell
Length: 7 hours 14 minutes
Series: Detective Kay Hunter, Book 4
Publisher: Saxon Publishing
Genre: Mystery, Police Procedural


When a road traffic accident on a dark autumn night uncovers a disturbing conspiracy, Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter's investigation exposes a ruthless serial killer exploiting vulnerable young women.

 With her enemies unmasked and her career spiraling out of control, Kay's determination to seek vengeance for the victims brings her dangerously close to those who want to silence her.

 Undeterred, she uncovers the real reason behind a plot to destroy her career and sets in motion a terrifying chain of events.
RachelAmphlett.com


Before turning to writing, Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio as a presenter and freelance producer for the BBC, and worked in publishing as a sub-editor and editorial assistant.

She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the Detective Kay Hunter series.

Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel cites her writing influences as Michael Connelly, Lee Child, and Robert Ludlum. She’s also a huge fan of Peter James, Val McDermid, Robert Crais, Stuart MacBride, and many more.

She’s a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany’s Luzifer Verlag.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads⎮Instagram

Hell to Pay was my favorite book of the series! Everything comes together. Secrets get exposed. Ugh... I don’t even know how to write this review without spoilers. So much comes to light.

The narration by Alison Campbell was fantastic. She pulled off the feelings and the emotions so flawlessly. Kay Hunter is a strong female character and I think Campbell pulls it off. I really was impressed and could feel the tension not sure if it was the book or narrator but they certainly complimented each other. Perfect balance.

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



Guest Post
Rachel Amphlett's Narrator Selection Process
I wanted to reach more audiobook listeners with the Detective Kay Hunter series as more and more opportunities are becoming available to authors to do so, and so I opted to pay outright for the audiobooks to be produced so I could then distribute them through an aggregator that offered a worldwide reach.

Of course, the hardest part was finding a narrator who could convey the resilience of my lead protagonist, Kay Hunter as well as the supporting cast of characters who fill the stories.

I chose to work with a production company in the UK as my series is based there. Audio Factory have an established reputation having worked with the likes of the BBC and a number of publishers, and what I really liked about their website was that they have samples from each of their narrators so you can have a listen and narrow down who is the best fit for your story.

What was very important to me was to work with a narrator for this whole series, not just one book so I approached that listening phase with my ears open for a narrator that didn’t just suit the first book, Scared to Death, but who I felt would carry the range of emotions and scenes through all the books in the series.

There were three books out by the time I was doing this – Scared to Death, Will to Live, and One to Watch, and I was busy writing Hell to Pay, so I had a pretty good idea of Kay’s voice in my head and what I was listening for.

One thing became clear to me straight away – the narrators I was listening to were reading from literary transcripts, not crime fiction for the samples, and I needed to know if those voices would carry the Kay Hunter series.

I emailed Audio Factory and explained my predicament, telling them about my plans for the series, and asked if they could help.

In a day or so, I heard back and not only were Audio Factory able to suggest some narrators who had slipped my attention, they also provided links to SoundCloud with more comprehensive samples – perfect!

Within a couple more days, I’d listened to all the samples several times but kept coming back to one narrator who sounded like the best match.

And that is how I came to be working with Alison Campbell.

Alison’s the consummate professional: from performing in theatre, film, web series and corporate role-play, she's also an integral member of the award-winning Natural Theatre Company and works with a number of publishers across a wide range of genres.

I love how she’s taken the character of Detective Kay Hunter and made it her own, and now I can’t imagine anyone else playing the role!

You can read more about the audiobook production process on my blog here (https://www.rachelamphlett.com/behind-the-scenes/how-do-i-make-an-audiobook/) where I interview Alison and Arran from Audio Factory and take you through the whole process in more depth – it really is an eye (ear?) opening read!

Giveaway



Book 1

Mar. 29th:



Mar. 30th:




Mar. 31st:




Apr. 1st:



Apr. 2nd:




Apr. 3rd:


Apr. 4th:

Book 2

Apr. 5th:



Apr. 6th:



Apr. 7th:



Apr. 8th:



Apr. 9th:




Apr. 10th:



Apr. 11th:


Book 3

Apr. 12th:



Apr. 13th:



Apr. 14th:




Apr. 15th:


Apr. 16th:



Apr. 17th:




Apr. 18th:


Book 4

Apr. 19th:



Apr. 20th:



Apr. 21st:



Apr. 22nd:


Apr. 23rd:



Apr. 24th:




Apr. 25th:




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Thursday, April 19, 2018

AUDIO BOOK REVIEW: Taken By Love by Melissa Foster

 

Author: Melissa Foster

Narrator: B.J. Harrison

Length: 8 hours 28 minutes

Series: The Bradens at Trusty, Book 1

Publisher: Melissa Foster

Released: Dec. 01, 2015

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 


Daisy Honey fled Trusty, Colorado, after years of battling rumors sparked by her gorgeous looks and lust-inducing name. Now a physician on the brink of a promising career, she reluctantly returns home when her father is injured in a farming accident. Daisy expects the small-town girls who hurt her in the past to take cheap shots again - but she's completely unprepared for a run-in with tall, dark, and wickedly sexy Luke Braden, the only man who has ever stood up for her - and the man she's never forgotten.

 Luke Braden is handsome, wealthy, and the best damn gypsy horse breeder in the Midwest. After a restless youth, he's finally ready to settle down - only connecting with women is nothing like connecting with horses, and he's never met a woman worth the energy. After an arrest in a neighboring town, Luke's past comes back to haunt him, and he realizes that his inability to find love runs deeper than he ever imagined.

 A chance encounter sweeps Luke and Daisy into a world of passion. For the first time ever, Luke feels a connection, but Daisy's life in Trusty is anything but permanent, and Luke can't manage a future until he puts his past to rest.

 Taken by Love is part of the Love in Bloom series. While it can be heard as a stand-alone novel, for even more enjoyment, you may want to listen to the entire Love in Bloom series in order. Characters from each sub-series appear in future books.






Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance and new adult romance lovers who enjoy reading about loyal, wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines with complex relatable issues.

Melissa also writes sweet romance under the pen name, Addison Cole.

Melissa enjoys chatting with readers and book clubs. Send her an email invitation to your next event!

"You can always rely on Melissa Foster to deliver a story that's fresh, emotional and entertaining. Make sure you have all night, because once you start you won't want to stop reading. Every book's a winner!" New York Times Bestselling Author Brenda Novak

"With her wonderful characters and resonating emotions, Melissa Foster is a must-read author!" New York Times Bestseller Julie Kenner

"Melissa Foster is synonymous with sexy, swoony, heartfelt romance!" New York Times Bestseller Lauren Blakely

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads⎮Instagram

Narrator Bio

Cultivated. Quirky. Captivating. Considerate. Nuanced. 7 years, 700 five-star ratings/reviews. My audiobook podcast, The Classic Tales Podcast, now in its seventh year, has had over 10 million downloads and is still consistently among the top 10 literature podcasts at the iTunes Music Store. My reading of Poe's The Tell-tale Heart was the #3 bestselling audiobook in 2008 at the iTunes Music Store. Currently, my recording of The P.G. Wodehouse Collection is the top-selling Wodehouse title at Audible. It contains dozens of British accent variations. I'm an American.

"In the world of audiobooks, BJ Harrison is one of the best... if not the best." Joe Renzetti - Academy-Award-winning Film Composer
"BJ Harrison is a master at his craft, with smooth narration skills that reflect every nuance of emotion and bring stories to life with every breath. He's professional, efficient, and I highly recommend his services." New York Times Bestselling author Melissa Foster
Just finished listening to "She". In a word.... "Stunning". I am encouraging friends, colleagues, strangers to listen to your readings. Excellent work. Daj Oberg, Classic Tales Listener

Website⎮Facebook


I haven’t read and/or listened to the other books in this series. However, that didn’t affect my feelings on this book. I have read a few other books my Melissa Foster and something you can always expect from Mrs. Foster is a sweet book that’s full of family and passion. I love seeing all the love in these families. Luke was just plain southern boy perfection. You lookin for a cowboy? Melissa Foster gives us the most swoon-worthy male that I’ve read in a while… I just love a good southern’ boy though. 

I really liked Daisy. Really though, how much more southern can you get than a Daisy Honey? I mean, that in itself made me giggle profusely! So Ms. Honey had a rough go of in school. Kids are mean, girls are meaner. She’s been struggling to rid herself of this loose reputation for years. 

BJ Harrison was amazing! His sweet southern drawl pulled me right me and kept me captivated! He has this amazingly soothing voice that just makes your heart either speed right up or slow right down. It makes you want to grab a beer and sit on the porch while Mr. Harrison reads me a soft and sweet story. We get to see some of the other families, I’m sure they were in the other books. I liked them, they were fun to hear about and I’m sure if I had heard/read the book I would have loved catching up with them!

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





Giveaway





Apr. 15th:



Apr. 16th:



Apr. 17th:


Apr. 18th:




Apr. 19th:



Apr. 20th:



Apr. 21st:



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Sunday, April 15, 2018

AUDIO BOOK REVIEW: One to Watch by Rachel Amphlett


ONE TO WATCH
Author: Rachel Amphlett
Narrator: Alison Campbell
Length: 7 hours 27 minutes
Series: Detective Kay Hunter, Book 3
Publisher: Saxon Publishing
Genre: Mystery, Police Procedural


Sophie Whittaker shared a terrifying secret. Hours later, she was dead.

 Detective Kay Hunter and her colleagues are shocked by the vicious murder of a teenage girl at a private party in the Kentish countryside.

 A tangled web of dark secrets is exposed as twisted motives point to a history of greed and corruption within the tight-knit community.

 Confronted by a growing number of suspects and her own enemies who are waging a vendetta against her, Kay makes a shocking discovery that will make her question her trust in everyone she knows.

 One to Watch is a gripping murder mystery thriller, and the third in the Detective Kay Hunter series. A whodunit for fans of Jeffery Deaver, Peter James, David Baldacci, and James Patterson.
RachelAmphlett.com


Before turning to writing, Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio as a presenter and freelance producer for the BBC, and worked in publishing as a sub-editor and editorial assistant.

She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the Detective Kay Hunter series.

Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel cites her writing influences as Michael Connelly, Lee Child, and Robert Ludlum. She’s also a huge fan of Peter James, Val McDermid, Robert Crais, Stuart MacBride, and many more.

She’s a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany’s Luzifer Verlag.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads⎮Instagram


While all of Rachel Amphlett’s books can be read or listened to on their own, I highly recommend that you read them in order. You get to know the characters and the situations… it all builds on each other. I love the way Amphlett writes her short, rapid chapters and how much it adds to the fast pacing of the book. One to Watch starts off strong and never lets up, there are no moments of boredom and the pace never lags, right on through to the end where the twists and turns just keep coming, it’s fantastic.

I found One to Watch very intriguing! It really focused on the death of Sophie Whittaker, 16, during a party celebrating her ‘purity pledge’ and her engagement to Josh. For those unfamiliar with the ‘purity pledge’, it is a pledge that young girls only… you know, us women need to be ok with our men not being pure. Typical! Usually taken between the ages of 12 and 16, it is a part of a Christian movement. What I really liked was that this book isn’t a highly religious book; it was more of a backdrop to a murder investigation. Anyway, Kay is still working her side case. It gets deeper and deeper!

I really enjoy Allison Campbell’s narration. She is Kay Hunter to me. Campbell speaks so clearly and concisely. It’s so easy to understand her. Plus the tone of her voice is soothing and I just like listening to her.

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

Guest Post
Rachel Amphlett's Favourite First-In-Series Crime Fiction
We’re getting ready to move house in the new year, which means at some point I’m going to have to box up all eight bookshelves of crime and thriller books that are currently lining the walls of one of the rooms downstairs.

After sorting out which books would have to go to the charity shop - unless scientists work out a way to clone me in the next fifty years, there’s a very good chance I’ll never get to these a second time around - I was left with some of the crime series that have stayed with me for years, and that I’ll be hanging onto for a long time yet.

This got me thinking: what is it about these first in series novels that still capture my imagination after all this time? And what is it about these books that influence my own writing?

Michael Connelly - The Black Echo (Harry Bosch #1)

Connelly captures so much about his famous detective Harry Bosch in this first novel in the series, but does so without making you feel bombarded by information.

Once a “tunnel rat” in the Vietnam jungle, and now a police detective with the LAPD, Harry Bosch isn’t what I’d call a dynamic character, but he is compelling. It’s his careful consideration of each case that crosses his desk, and the way in which he cares about every single victim no matter their background.

Equally as compelling as Harry Bosch is Connelly’s descriptions of the cityscape within which the stories are based; each location is described in such a way that, for example, by the time you read about Harry heading home of an evening in the latest book in the series, you almost know which CD track he’s going to put on to listen to.

What have I learned from reading the Harry Bosch books? Setting is as important as character.

Peter James – Dead Simple (Roy Grace #1)

Maybe not a book to give to your fiancée before his stag night…

The first chapter of this book has to be one of the most memorable introductions to a detective series I’ve ever come across, and I won’t spoil it here by telling if you if you haven’t yet read it.

At the end of the first chapter, you’re left in total shock and dying to know what happens next. Told from several points of view, the whole story is turned on its head about two-thirds of the way through and then it’s a fast-paced page-turning read to the end.

What have I learned from reading the Roy Grace books? The books may be named after Roy Grace, but there’s a great ensemble cast, and this is something that felt natural to me as I wrote the first in the Kay Hunter series. I wanted those co-stars to be considered just as important as Kay. After all, no police detective works alone, and there are myriad experts on hand to help solve the case.

Angela Marsons – Silent Scream (Kim Stone #1)

Angela’s Kim Stone books are modern twisty thrillers that bring the genre bang up to date into the twenty-first century and I’ve no doubt this series will endure for a long time yet.

I remember when the first in the series, Silent Scream, was published – everyone was utterly blown away by the story and I recall seeing the book cover everywhere online. In Silent Scream we meet Kim Stone for the first time and quickly realise that if she is to stop a sadistic killer, she’s going to have to confront some very dark memories of her own. Kim Stone is ruthless in her quest for justice for the victims in these novels, and her investigations lead her into dangerous physical and emotional places.

What have I learned from reading the Kim Stone series? The modern detective story has evolved for the twenty-first century, and so have female protagonists.

Lee Child - Killing Floor (Jack Reacher #1)

I remember picking up a second hand copy of Kililng Floor about three years after it was first published, and it really was the first time I’d ever heard of this strange lone wolf character by the name of Jack Reacher.

What have I learned from reading the Jack Reacher books? Use short sentences to keep the action moving along. You don’t often see long sweeping sentences in Lee Child’s novels - they’re punchy, to the point, and don’t waste time.

A bit like Jack Reacher, you might say…

Giveaway



Book 1

Mar. 29th:



Mar. 30th:




Mar. 31st:




Apr. 1st:



Apr. 2nd:




Apr. 3rd:


Apr. 4th:

Book 2

Apr. 5th:



Apr. 6th:



Apr. 7th:



Apr. 8th:



Apr. 9th:




Apr. 10th:



Apr. 11th:


Book 3

Apr. 12th:



Apr. 13th:



Apr. 14th:




Apr. 15th:


Apr. 16th:



Apr. 17th:




Apr. 18th:


Book 4

Apr. 19th:



Apr. 20th:



Apr. 21st:



Apr. 22nd:


Apr. 23rd:



Apr. 24th:




Apr. 25th:




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