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Thursday, September 6, 2018

AUDIOBOOK TOUR: Gone to Ground by Rachel Amphlett

Author: Rachel Amphlett

Narrator: Alison Campbell

Series: Detective Kay Hunter, Book 6

Publisher: Saxon Publishing

Genre: Mystery, Police Procedural

Released: July 4, 2018

While attending a crime scene on the outskirts of Maidstone, DI Kay Hunter makes a shocking discovery.

The victim has been brutally cut to pieces, his identity unknown.

When more body parts start turning up in the Kentish countryside, Kay realises the disturbing truth – a serial killer is at large and must be stopped at all costs.

With no motive for the murders and a killer who has gone undetected until now, Kay and her team of detectives must work fast to calm a terrified local population and a scornful media.

When a third victim is found, her investigation grows even more complicated.

As she begins to expose a dark underbelly to the county town, Kay and her team are pulled into a web of jealousy and intrigue that, if left unchecked, will soon claim another life.

Buy on 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.

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For some reason there was a really long pause between chapters. I think I checked every single time that it had paused or to see if there was a problem with the audio. There never was, obviously, but the pause was a bit too long for my liking. It had me questioning my sanity over and over again! Otherwise, I love this narrator. Alison Campbell has a fantastic accent, to this American anyway. I have a thing for British narrators.

As for the story itself, it’s just what I’ve come to expect from Rachel Amphlett. I enjoyed seeing everyone starting a new kind of normal. It’s hard to adapt to changes and they seem to be doing it well. Kay Hunter is a solid cop so I was surprised that she’s doing perfectly well in her new position of Detective Inspector. Gone to the Ground isn’t as packed with action and thrilling suspense as a few of the previous books have been. However, this is a step-by-step puzzle and I was fascinated watching them put it all together.

I really think the only thing I can complain about is I do love the side stories with her partner, Adam, and the amusing animals he brings home to heal. Can’t you just imagine him as a boy? All the pets his parents had to turn away! I would love to see them finally get that family they so badly wanted. We didn’t hear any of that talk at all this book. Granted, this is definitely a book that is focused on the crime procedural story than that of their private lives. I just like the entertaining that I get from them. Either way, this is a fabulous series and I can’t wait to see where DI Kay Hunter leads us next!

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.

Sep. 4th:

Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews

Hall Ways Blog

The Book Junkie Reads . . .

In Pattis Imagination

Sep. 5th:

Sep. 6th:

Sep. 7th:

What Is That Book About

Sep. 8th:

Sep. 9th:

Sep. 10th:

The Book Addict's Reviews

The Bookworm Lodge

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Friday, August 17, 2018

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Where There's Smoke by Kathy Coopmans

Author: Kathy Coopmans

Narrators: Lacy Laurel & Lorenzo Matthews

Length: 8 hours and 1 minutes

Publisher: Kathy Coopmans

Series: Sweet Sin, Book 2

Released: May 22, 2018

Genre: Romance

From a USA Today best-selling author comes a standalone in the Sweet Sin series.

The lives of Dean Wagner and Tatum Fields have been ruled by the hand of fate.

The past six years of my life have been consumed by guilt. Since we lost Landon to a fire, I’ve done everything in my power to protect my daughter, Leila, from finding out the truth about how her twin brother died. Nothing in my life means more to me than her.

Not my band, not my reputation. Nothing.

Until I see Tatum, the woman I saved on the beach the same night she dealt with a loss of her own.

The daily routine I’ve settled into is what keeps me going. Work at my chocolate shop, pay the bills, repeat. I don’t date. I don’t trust. And I have never forgotten the man who walked away from saving my life without allowing me to thank him.

I know how to reach him, but I avoid him at all costs.

Until fate decides to make another appearance.

This is a story of how destiny ends up bringing these two souls back together, and how fate, the word very little people believe in is really their friend, after all.

USA Today Best Selling Author Kathy Coopmans is a Michigan native where she lives with her husband, Tony. They have two son's Aaron and Shane.
She is a sports nut. Her favorite sports include NASCAR, Baseball, and Football.
She has recently retired from her day job to become a full-time writer.
She has always been an avid reader and at the young age of 50 decided she wanted to write. She claims she can do several things at once and still stay on task. Her favorite quote is "I got this."

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Lacy lives the life of a full time wife, mother and household manager. Needing a temporary escape from time to time Lacy returned back to her first love - reading! After devouring everything she could get her hands on she thought, -what if she could mix her love of performance and literature in a professional capacity? Once getting involved in the world of book narration she quickly became hooked and when not with her family you can find her in her studio working hard to grow in her own storytelling abilities.

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I did not go in prepared for this book. I needed more of a warning for this book. I feel like I walked in on a life altering moment that crushed my heart. This was the beginning of Dean’s heartbreak. I’m not going into what happened… it isn’t fair to ruin any of this book for any other reader. Ugh, Kathy Coopmans broke ME a bit with this story. This brings one of my biggest fears right out in front and shoves it in my face. I felt physical pain in my heart for Dean. So walk into this book knowing it’s going to hurt! There’s just no other way around this. You’ll cry, if you don’t I’ll be totally impressed.

This might be the story of a drummer of a super band but he’s barely living. Tatum owns a chocolate shop. Her life has also been a bit rough. I loved Tatum. This is a story of survivors, of overcoming things in life that shouldn’t happen… at all! This book is just FULL of the feels, it’s so raw and exposes everything. I feel like Where There’s Smoke takes an upclose and personal look at family, at love, at heartbreak and heartache, at friendship, and even hate. You have broken people; you’re going to get real feelings.

Goodness gracious! These narrators were so perfect! As always Lacy Laurel’s voice is like smooth silk that just glides over your body. She was perfection for Tatum. You could feel that woman that has been a bit broken and hurt… is oozes out of her voice, her tone! Lorenzo Matthews was the BEST Dean! Dean was a strong man and you could feel that with Mr. Matthews voice. But he was more than that and Matthews still put that through. I loved how you could feel the difference when he spoke with his daughter and when he spoke with Tatum. You could hear the delight and just charm with his daughter. Then there’s the heat and lust, quickly turning to love. They were great!

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

Aug. 16th:

Lynn's Romance Enthusiasm

The Book Junkie Reads . . .

Aug. 17th:

Aug. 18th:

Aug. 19th:

Aug. 20th:

Aug. 21st:

Stacking My Book Shelves

Aug. 22nd:

The Book Addict's Reviews

Avephoenix Naughty Readings

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Tuesday, May 29, 2018

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Call to Arms by Rachel Amphlett

Author: Rachel Amphlett

Narrator: Alison Campbell

Series: Detective Kay Hunter, Book 5

Publisher: Saxon Publishing

Genre: Mystery, Police Procedural

Released: March 5, 2018

Loyalty has a price.

Kay Hunter has survived a vicious attack at the hands of one of the country's most evil serial killers.

Returning to work after an enforced absence to recover, she discovers she wasn't the only victim of that investigation.

DI Devon Sharp remains suspended from duties, and the team is in turmoil.

Determined to prove herself once more and clear his name, Kay undertakes to solve a cold case that links Sharp to his accuser.

But, as she gets closer to the truth, she realises her enquiries could do more harm than good.

Torn between protecting her mentor and finding out the truth, the consequences of Kay's enquiries will reach far beyond her new role…

Buy on RachelAmphlett.com

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

Reasons why I chose my narrator

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!

This might have been my favorite Kay Hunter book yet! I loved how Detective Hunter and her department. They all work so well together and as a group they compliment and flow so well. I really enjoyed that we got to have a case with Detective Hunter fully exonerated, unfortunately, all was not well since Detective Inspector Sharp was suspended.

I found the look through the cold case file completely fascinating. This was a much shorter book than the other or it at least felt that way since I was finished within a day. I was tickled to see the relationship between Detective Hunter and DCI Larch change and evolve in this book.Larch certainly seems like a real person in this book. It was a nice change of pace for him! DCI Harrison, man, he was a great character to loathe!

I was so thrilled with this ending! It did make me wonder, is this the end of the Detective Kay Hunter series? Everything seems to have settle into a pleasing ending, for myself anyway. I’d love to hear more about Det. Hunter. She’s a great character that’s easy to like, and one to root for!

Alison Campbell continues to be Detective Kay Hunter for me! There isn’t another narrator that would fit her books now in my opinion. She has just the right amount of feeling. Her voice sounds like what I’d expect from a woman Detective, strong, yet still feminine. The inflection and tone is just right! I’ve enjoyed every single Detective Kay Hunter book the Ms. Campbell has narrated! I’d love for more but only time will tell.

May 27th:

Jorie Loves A Story

Dab of Darkness Audiobook Reviews

May 28th:

May 29th:

May 30th:

Mystery Thriller Week

May 31st:

Jun. 1st:

Jun. 2nd:

The Book Addict's Reviews

Bookworms Corner Blog Spot

Turning Another Page

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Sunday, April 29, 2018

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Man's Ruin by Nicola R. White

Author: Nicola R. White

Narrator: Carol Ayon

Length: 7 hours 25 minutes

Series: Original Sin, Book 1

Publisher: Strange Roads Press

Released: Oct. 31, 2017

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Magdalene is a mob-connected madam. Tommy Flynn is the hitman who loves her. And when they're framed for the murder of a rival crime boss's favorite son, Magdalene fears the sins of her past have come back to haunt her.

After spending half a lifetime in a seamy underworld where love is for sale and men worship at the altar of sex and greed, claiming sanctuary in a cathedral is the last thing she wants to do - and the only chance she has to find out who set her up. With all clues pointing to Magdalene's ex-lover, a working girl called Lola, the legendary madam is reluctant to trust Tommy, a smooth-talking hired gun, and risk being burned again.

But as time grows short and secrets are revealed, Magdalene will have to look into the dark places inside herself if she is to catch a killer and survive with body and soul intact. In the corrupt city of Crawley, Massachusetts, passion, crime, and religion collide in this steamy, neo-noir romantic thriller.

Nicola R. White comes from a small city on the east coast of Canada where ghost stories and superstitions abound. Although she is a lawyer by profession, her passion is reading and writing fiction. In 2016, Nicola's debut novel, Fury's Kiss, won the $10,000 Kobo Emerging Writer Prize in Romance. She is currently producing her first graphic novel.

Nicola is a member of Romance Writers of America and Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada. She is a frequent guest and speaker at literary events such as Word on the Street and Hal-Con, the largest sci fi/fantasy convention east of Montreal.

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I may not be your typical audiobook narrator, but then again maybe I am. I have a passion for acting and received my undergraduate degree in Theatre Arts. I went on to pursue a graduate degree in Elementary Education and found that my favorite part of the day was during Read Aloud time. It was during that time that I could bring stories to life for my students and help them get caught up in a story. I loved to hear them say, "Keep going!" when it was time to stop. I continue to act in local stage productions but hope to begin a long career in audio book narration.

Q&A with Author Nicola R. White

Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?
- Definitely! When I write, I try to keep in mind how the story would work in audio or adapted for film or television. Since I write plot-driven stories (as opposed to character-driven), that approach helps me keep the action moving. If a scene would be boring when read or acted out by a narrator or actor, it’s probably boring to read, too!
Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
- I love listening to audiobooks while I drive, whether I’m going a short distance or on a road trip. Listening to a good book helps pass the time and actually makes me look forward to getting in the car, even though I usually hate commuting or driving long distances. If the book has really drawn me in, sometimes I’m sorry when I reach my destination!
Is there a particular part of this story that you feel is more resonating in the audiobook performance than in the book format?
- Carol’s (the narrator) performance is spot-on, especially the way she voices the heroine, Magdalene. I was amazed when I heard how closely her version of the character matched the vision I had when I was writing Man’s Ruin.
If this title were being made into a TV series or movie, who would you cast to play the primary roles?
- When I’m writing a book, I actually choose actors to play the characters and refer to photos for reference and inspiration. For Magdalene, I would cast Charisma Carpenter (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel). For Tommy, I would cast a young Val Kilmer (assuming time travel is an option).

What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
- I can’t believe people still feel this way. Audiobooks have been around forever! Firstly, I would remind people that not everyone has the ability to “read” in the same way. Secondly, I would ask them if watching a movie adaptation or reading an ebook is also cheating.
In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of writing a stand-alone novel vs. writing a series?
- I prefer writing series because I always want to know what happens next. I don’t tend to be a heavy plotter, so writing the books is the only way I’ll find out! As a reader, I also prefer series because when I find something I like, I can’t get enough of it. As a writer, the downside of writing a series (for me, at least) is that I work on so many different projects at any given time, my release schedule isn’t as consistent as I’d like it to be. I sometimes feel guilty for writing a couple series at once when I know fans are waiting for the next book in one series or another. That being said, I am committed to finishing any series I start, so readers don’t have to worry that they won’t get to find out how it ends.
What bits of advice would you give to aspiring authors?
- Never give up.
- Consider self-publishing.
- If you do self-publish, hire a good editor and cover designer.
- Learn about the business side of being an author. I’ve seen too many authors and artists sign awful contracts.
What’s next for you?
- Right now, I’m working on the sequel to Man’s Ruin as well as the next book in my paranormal romance series, the New England Furies. I am also currently producing a comic book based on the Irish folktale of Eliza Day and I am writing my first game for Choice of Games, a company that produces text-based, multiple-choice games.

I love mafia stories… the danger and added suspense that it adds to a book just always pulls me in and captivates me. It’s was incredibly past-paced and a bit dark. I really liked madam of a brothel and a hitman hitting it off! They are set up and are now on the run together and are trying to find out who set them up. I loved the mystery and suspense in this book as they explore seedy areas and go on some serious adventures with tons of action, prostitution, crimes, power and politics. I mean, this book was a fast, flurry of activity!

Carol Ayon was a new narrator for me. I enjoyed most of the characters she portrayed. My problem was with her Spanish accent/voice. It just didn’t ring true and bugged me a bit in some areas. Thankfully the other areas were fine even the other accents. She pulled of the Boston accent just fine. I get that she tried to cover the ranges of ethnicity of the characters but she should avoid the Spanish accents in the future unless she gets some coaching or something. It takes away a bit.

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