#Audiobook #Review: 2 out of 5 stars for The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden @PRHAudio

TITLE: The Bear and the Nightingale

SERIES: Winternight Trilogy, Book #1

AUTHOR: Katherine Arden 

NARRATOR: Kathleen Gati 

PUBLISHER: Random House Audio

PUBLICATION DATE: January 10, 2017

FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook

LENGTH: 11 hrs and 48 mins

GENRE: Fantasy, Historical Fiction

ISBN: 9780399567179

At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn’t mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.

After Vasilisa’s mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa’s new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.

And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa’s stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.

As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse’s most frightening tales.

MY REVIEW:

I was so excited to read this debut when it came out but, unfortunately, it was a disappointment.

Vasilisa never knew her mother. She died giving birth to her. She was raised by her nursemaid, Dunya, who told Vasilisa and her siblings about the Frost Demon who came for bad kids during the night and froze them to death. 

Vasilisa's father remarries and the wicked stepmother shuns the Russian folklore and traditions. Predictably as it often is with stepmothers, she does not like Vasilisa. Bad things start to happen in the village and then it's up to Vasilisa to save the day and make things right with the Frost Demon.

While I loved the appealing Russian setting and learning more about the Russian Frost Demon, it felt like the story took so long to go anywhere. The pace was terribly slow, and I found it very difficult to become engaged with the story. I do not plan to continue with the series.

I did enjoy the narration by Kathleen Gati, and she kept me listening. If I was reading this one as opposed to listening, I may have not finished it. Gati gave the narration an authentic feel with her Russian accent. Here is a sample of the narration:



MY RATING:

2 stars!! Meh, it was just "okay."

This book qualifies as:

#74 for my Audiobook Challenge 2018
#79 for my Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2018
#118 for my 2018 Beat the Backlist Challenge
#78 for my New Authors 2018 Reading Challenge
#80 for my 2018 Try Something New Challenge
#14 for my Read Harder Challenge 2018
#24 for my GWB Book Bingo 2018
#12A for my 2018 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge
Bonus #16A for my 2018 Literary Escapes Challenge
#5 for my 2018 Europe Reading Challenge
#118A for my Good Rule Reading Challenge
#41 for my 2018 Paranormal Reading Challenge
#19 for my 2018 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
#4 for my Chapter Break Bingo December 2018
#4 for my Bookish Bingo Winter 2018

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#Audiobook #Review: 4 out of 5 stars for Ready Player One by Ernest Cline @erniecline @PRHAudio #BookBeforeMovie #ReadIt1st

TITLE: Ready Player One

SERIES: Ready Player One, Book #1
AUTHOR: Ernest Cline 

NARRATOR: Wil Wheaton 

PUBLISHER: Random House Audio

PUBLICATION DATE: August 16, 2011

FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook

LENGTH: 15 hrs and 40 mins

GENRE: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780307913142

At once wildly original and stuffed with irresistible nostalgia, Ready Player One is a spectacularly genre-busting, ambitious, and charming debut—part quest novel, part love story, and part virtual space opera set in a universe where spell-slinging mages battle giant Japanese robots, entire planets are inspired by Blade Runner, and flying DeLoreans achieve light speed.

It’s the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.

Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets.

And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune—and remarkable power—to whoever can unlock them.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday’s riddles are based in the pop culture he loved—that of the late twentieth century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday’s icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes’s oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig.

And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle.

Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt—among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life—and love—in the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.

A world at stake.

A quest for the ultimate prize.

Are you ready?

MY REVIEW:

This book has been sitting on my TBR for a long time! I had heard lots of rave reviews, but I quite honestly wasn't sure whether reading a futuristic book set a virtual world would appeal to me. A prompt for one of my reading challenges is to read a cyberpunk book. That's a really tough genre for me. When I spotted this book on a cyberpunk list, I knew this was the time to tackle it. Plus, the movie came out this year! I'm glad that I finally got to it, and it does live up to the hype!

James Halliday, a video game/virtual reality designer, released a video at the time of his death. With no heirs of his own to inherit his massive fortune, he issues a challenge to the general public: The one that can find the Easter egg (that is cyberspeak for something that is hidden within the game's code that is not readily apparent) within his most popular game, The OASIS, will inherit not only his $240 billion in assets but also the controlling share of stock in his company. There are three different keys (copper, jade, and crystal), and each key unlocks a secret gate. Unlocking the third gate leads to the final challenge to acquire the Easter egg. 

After the issuance of Halliday's challenge, a scoreboard appeared within The OASIS. At first, the public went nuts trying to crack the code. Everyone got their hands on everything they could to learn more about Halliday: the movies/books/music he liked and vintage video games that Halliday grew up with in the 80s. However, interest began to wane when years went by without any success. That all changed in 2045, five years after Halliday's death. The scoreboard was lit up with Parzival's name, indicating that he found the copper key. This renewed interest in the challenge.

Parzival, aka Wade Watts, is an 18-year-old boy living in his aunt's trailer outside of Oklahoma City. He is approached by an organization with an offer to collaborate. Wade could have access to Halliday aficionados who have studied and learned everything there is to know about the cyber-genius. However, the organization wants to take over The OASIS and start charging a fee so that they can make money off it. When Wade turns them down, they put out a hit on him. He has to stay one step ahead of them in both the real and virtual reality worlds.

I have to admit that it took me a bit to get into this one. While I grew up in the 80s and enjoyed my Atari and ColecoVision, I was never a hardcore gamer. I really enjoyed the pop culture references to the movies and music of the 80s, but I felt at first that it was hard to follow Wade's descriptions of what he was trying to accomplish in the game. Once his life was at stake and there was more action, I did get sucked in. I really loved getting to know the other characters, including Aech, Art3mis, Shoto and Diato.

By the end of the book, I was just in awe over how Cline developed the storyline and the characters. I cannot believe this is his debut! Wow, he is seriously talented and imaginative. I am excited that he is writing a sequel, and I will definitely be reading (listening) to it!

Wil Wheaton was totally THE BOMB!! Although it did take me a bit to get into this one, I do highly recommend the audiobook because it is fabulously narrated. I love the attitude that he brought to the characters. Here is a sample of the narration:

I think this is the type of book that will (hopefully) translate very well into the big screen. In my opinion, this is the type of book that is made to be a movie and my expectations are very high going in! I can't wait to see it. Here is the movie trailer:



MY RATING:

4 stars!! It was really good, and you should put it on your TBR if you like science fiction!

This book qualifies as:

#72 for my Audiobook Challenge 2018
#75 for my Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2018
#113 for my 2018 Beat the Backlist Challenge
#102 for my The Backlist Reader Challenge 2018
#73 for my New Authors 2018 Reading Challenge
#75 for my 2018 Try Something New Challenge
Advanced #7 for my 2018 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
#22 for my The GWB Book Bingo 2018
#21C for my 2018 Literary Escapes Challenge
#113A for my Good Rule Reading Challenge
#62 for my Monthly Mix-up Mania
#7 for my 2018 Dystopia Reading Challenge
#22 for my Science Fiction vs Fantasy Bingo 2018
#24 for my 2018 Book to Movie Reading Challenge

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#Audiobook #Review: 3 out of 5 stars for Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber @debbiemacomber @PRHAudio

TITLE: Alaskan Holiday

AUTHOR: Debbie Macomber 

NARRATORS: Laurel Rankin and Luke Daniels

PUBLISHER: Random House Audio

PUBLICATION DATE: October 2, 2018

FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook

LENGTH: 4 hrs and 50 mins

GENRE: Holiday, Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 9780525491712

New York Times Bestseller - "[Debbie] Macomber brings her signature charm to this appealing tale of an aspiring chef. . . . This charmer will please Macomber fans and newcomers alike."--Publishers Weekly

Debbie Macomber brings us to the Alaskan wilderness for a magical Christmas tale about finding love where it's least expected.

Before beginning her dream job as sous chef in one of Seattle's hottest new restaurants, Josie Avery takes a summer position cooking at a lakeside lodge in the remote Alaskan town of Ponder. Josie falls for the rustic charms of the local community--including Jack Corcoran, the crotchety keeper of Ponder's famed sourdough starter, and, in particular, the quiet and intense Palmer Saxon, a famed master swordsmith.

Josie and Palmer become close during the long Alaskan summer days, but Josie knows that, come fall, she'll be returning to reality and the career she's worked so hard for. Palmer, on the other hand, would like nothing better than to make Josie his wife and to keep her in Ponder. But Josie can't imagine abandoning her mother back in the Emerald City and sacrificing her career to stay in this isolated town--not even for a man she's quickly coming to love.

Fate has other plans. Josie misses the last boat out of town before winter sets in, stranding her in Ponder and putting her dream job at risk. As the holidays approach, Josie and Palmer must grapple with the complications that arise when dreams confront reality, and the Christmas magic that can happen when they put their faith in love.

Debbie Macomber is at her best in this beautiful holiday story about the far journeys we travel to find a place to call home.

MY REVIEW:

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook for voluntary review consideration.

I always look forward to Macomber's Christmas stories each year. This is another sweet romance that is perfect for the season!

Josie was hired on as a chef for a very remote hunting and fishing lodge in Ponder, Alaska with a population of about 300 people. She has enjoyed her stint there, which has allowed her to experiment and create new dishes. The locals all love her, especially Palmer who felt an instant attraction to her. Palmer, a master swordsmith, and Josie have developed a sweet relationship during her stay there and his sister pushes him to tell Josie how he feels before she's gone forever. Once the season is over, Josie will return to Seattle to a job that is already waiting for her. She is looking forward to working with the chef who owns this restaurant and feels that it will be a great start to her career.

The night before Josie's departure, Palmer proposes to her and Josie doesn't know what to say. She's torn because she has feelings for Palmer but can't fathom the thought of being happy living in Ponder! She feels as though she'd be giving up her dream job for him if she stayed. When she returns to the lodge, the owners tell her to leave her bags in the lobby as the ferry will be coming very early in the morning. Josie, mind reeling from Palmer's proposal, takes something to help her sleep. She forgets to leave her bags in the lobby, and she misses the ferry! 

Palmer calls up an old friend and arranges a flight out of Ponder to Fairbanks, where Josie can get a connecting flight home. Josie's boss agrees to hold the job open for her, and she is anxious to get home. Once Josie is back in Seattle, she wonders whether she made the right decision as her "dream job" isn't all it's cracked up to be.

I enjoyed the chaste romance between Josie and Palmer. As someone rooting for the romance from the sidelines, it was frustrating to see their communication falter across the distance due to wrong signals. I liked the whole sense of community that Ponder offers, and the small town is appealing to me. I also really enjoyed the remote setting, having absolutely loved another one of Macomber's Alaskan romances, Starry Night. The people in Ponder seem to genuinely care about each other and are willing to lend a hand which was really nice to see.

I enjoyed the dual narration by Laurel Rankin and Luke Daniels, who both were a good fit to the characters. Daniels could be a little dramatic at times, particularly with his vocalization for Jack. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable listen! Here is a sample of the narration:



MY RATING:

3 stars!! It was good, and I enjoyed it! Thanks again to Random House Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook!

This book qualifies as:

#70 for my Audiobook Challenge 2018
#19 for my 2018 New Release Challenge
#5C for my 2018 Literary Escapes Challenge
#19B for my Good Rule Reading Challenge
#9 for my 2018 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge

#20 for my Literary Pickers Scavenger Hunt 2018
#9 for my Let's Read Indie 2018 Reading Challenge
Task #1 for my Goodreads An Apple a Day Fall 2018 Seasonal Scavenger Challenge
#20 for my Bookish Bingo Fall 2018

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#Audiobook #Review: 3 out of 5 stars for 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson @jordanbpeterson @PRHAudio

TITLE: 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

AUTHOR: Jordan B. Peterson and Norman Doidge (Forward)

NARRATOR: Jordan B. Peterson

PUBLISHER: Random House Audio

PUBLICATION DATE: January 23, 2018

FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook

LENGTH: 15 hrs and 40 mins

GENRE: Nonfiction, Psychology
ISBN: 9780735275850

What does everyone in the modern world need to know? Renowned psychologist Jordan B. Peterson's answer to this most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won truths of ancient tradition with the stunning revelations of cutting-edge scientific research.

Humorous, surprising, and informative, Dr. Peterson tells us why skateboarding boys and girls must be left alone, what terrible fate awaits those who criticize too easily, and why you should always pet a cat when you meet one on the street.

What does the nervous system of the lowly lobster have to tell us about standing up straight (with our shoulders back) and about success in life? Why did ancient Egyptians worship the capacity to pay careful attention as the highest of gods? What dreadful paths do people tread when they become resentful, arrogant, and vengeful? Dr. Peterson journeys broadly, discussing discipline, freedom, adventure, and responsibility, distilling the world's wisdom into 12 practical and profound rules for life. 12 Rules for Life shatters the modern commonplaces of science, faith, and human nature while transforming and ennobling the mind and spirit of its listeners.

MY REVIEW:

I was intrigued when I saw this title. I wondered what 12 rules for life that this author considered more important than anything else!

When I heard the first rule (Stand Up Straight With Your Shoulders Back), I realized that this wasn't going to be the type of book that I was hoping for. Many of Peterson's rules are just common sense. I was hoping that he would impart some brilliant wisdom, but maybe the wisdom is in his approach which is quite simple such as Rule #2 (Treat Yourself Like Someone You Are Responsible For Helping). I'm the type of person who bends over backwards for everyone else and tends to others' needs before my own, while I neglect myself. I absolutely need to be better about taking care of myself first because, if I don't, I won't be much use to anyone else, will I? I found the book a little long-winded in places, but my favourite chapters were the parenting one and the one about setting your house in order. He ties a lot of his advice to Scripture, which I liked.

I'm not normally a fan of authors narrating their own work. I think it works here because the author speaks passionately, to the point where you can hear him weeping in parts. Here is a sample of the narration:



MY RATING:

3 stars!! It was good, and I enjoyed it!

This book qualifies as:

#62 for my Audiobook Challenge 2018
#39 for my 2018 Library Love Challenge
#9 for my 12th Annual Canadian Book Challenge
#17 for my 2018 New Release Challenge
#63 for my New Authors 2018 Reading Challenge
#65 for my 2018 Try Something New Challenge
#12 for my Read Harder Challenge 2018
#10C for my 2018 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge
#1F for my Color Coded Reading Challenge
Bonus #6J for my 2018 Literary Escapes Challenge
#17B for my Good Rule Reading Challenge

#7 for my 2018 Nonfiction Reading Challenge
#6 for my Personal Growth Reading Challenge 2018
Task #23 for my Goodreads An Apple a Day Fall 2018 Seasonal Scavenger Challenge
#6 for my Chapter Break Bingo October 2018

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#Audiobook #Review: 4 out of 5 stars for Cottage by the Sea by Debbie Macomber @debbiemacomber @PRHAudio

TITLE: Cottage by the Sea

AUTHOR: Debbie Macomber

NARRATOR: Karissa Vacker

PUBLISHER: Random House Audio

PUBLICATION DATE: July 17, 2018

FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook

LENGTH: 10 hrs and 58 mins

GENRE: Contemporary Romance

ISBN: 9780525491774

A seaside town helps one young woman reclaim the light after darkness in a brand-new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

Annie Marlow has been through the worst. Rocked by tragedy, she heads to the one place that makes her happy: Oceanside in the Pacific Northwest, the destination of many family vacations when Annie was a teenager.

Once there, Annie begins to restore her broken spirit, thanks in part to the folks she meets: a local painter, Keaton, whose large frame is equal to his big heart--and who helps Annie fix up her rental cottage by the sea; Mellie, the reclusive, prickly landlord Annie is determined to befriend; and Britt, a teenager with a terrible secret. But it is Keaton to whom Annie feels most drawn. His quiet, peaceful nature offers her both comfort and reprieve from her grief, and the two begin to grow closer.

Then events threaten to undo the idyll Annie has come to enjoy. And when the opportunity of a lifetime lands in her lap, she is torn between the excitement of a new journey toward success and the safe and secure arms of the haven--and the man--she's come to call home.

In this heartwarming tale, Annie finds that the surest way to fix what is damaged within is to help others rise above their pain and find a way to heal.

MY REVIEW:

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook for voluntary review consideration.

I have read and loved a number of Macomber's Christmas books including Starry Night, Merry and Bright, Dashing Through the Snow, and Twelve Days of Christmas. I'm not normally one for reading contemporary romances, but I thought I'd give it a whirl seeing as how much I enjoy Macomber's holiday romances. She may just turn me into a romance reader!

I made the mistake of starting this audiobook while I was getting ready for work, and it is impossible to put mascara onto wet eyelashes! Oh, my heart! Macomber totally hooked me from the beginning. 

A devastating disaster affecting her family leaves Annie reeling. Seeking comfort and solace, she returns to a favourite vacation spot that her family frequented while she was growing up. Fortuitously, she is hired on at the local clinic as a Physician Assistant and is able to rent the small cottage that her family used to stay in. The familiar surroundings bring back happy memories for Annie, and she feels at peace in Oceanside. She meets a man named Keaton, who remembers Annie as a teenager but she doesn't remember him. He remembers her because she was kind to him when others would bully him for his size.

Annie quickly becomes enmeshed in Oceanside. While she went there for restoration, she has a huge impact on those around her and helps them as much as they help her. Keaton is not normally one for small talk, but he begins to open up to her. The young woman who owns her cottage never leaves the house because she is agoraphobic, but she also has a kind soul who takes in any abused or wounded animal and nurses them back to health. Annie also tries to intervene when a young girl who works at a coffee shop shows signs of being abused.

This was both a heartbreaking and a heartwarming story, and I can see why Macomber's books are such a hit. I see the goodness in her characters, and it definitely is a feel-good story. Oceanside is an idyllic setting and makes me yearn to find my own cottage at the beach! Add to that the sweet romance between two couples in the book, and this makes it a perfect summer escape. I'll definitely read more of Macomber's romances!

Karissa Vacker is a new-to-me narrator, and I found her voice just as calm and soothing as the beach itself. I thought that she was ideally suited to the characters, and she was very pleasant to listen to. Here is a sample of the narration:



MY RATING:

4 stars!! It was really good, and you should put it on your TBR if you enjoy contemporary romances.

This book qualifies as:

#44 for my Audiobook Challenge 2018

#11 for my 2018 New Release Challenge
#7C for my 2018 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge

#9B for my 2018 Literary Escapes Challenge

#11B for my Good Rule Reading Challenge
#4 for my 2018 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge
#12 for my 2018 Literary Pickers Challenge
Task #15 for my Goodreads 2018 Summer Scavenger Challenge: Music Styles
#3 for my Chapter Break August Bookish Bingo

#20 for my COYER Big Summer Birthday Bash
#13 for my Bookish Bingo Summer 2018
#1 for my Fun in the Sun Reading Challenge
#9 for my Reading Challenge Summer 2018
#5 for my Book Challenge by Erin 9.0
#13 for my High Summer Readathon July 2018

#13 for my Summer TBR Wipeout

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#Audiobook #Review: 4 out of 5 stars for Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown @janelleb @PRHAudio

TITLE: Watch Me Disappear

AUTHOR: Janelle Brown

NARRATORS: Kaleo Griffith and Tavia Gilbert
PUBLISHER: Books on Tape/Random House Audio

PUBLICATION DATE: July 11, 2017

FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook
LENGTH: 13 hrs and 15 mins

GENRE: Mystery

A beautiful Berkeley mom with a radical past vanishes while hiking, leaving her family to piece together her secrets, in this keenly observed novel for fans of Emma Straub and Maria Semple - from the best-selling author of All We Ever Wanted Was Everything.

MY REVIEW:

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook for voluntary review consideration.

This was a really good mystery that kept me guessing and fooled me once or twice!

The story is about the Flanagan family: Billie and Jonathan and their teenage daughter, Olive. The book's Prologue is told from Billie's point of view, before her death. She talks about how Olive's personality differs from her own. Where Billie is more of a risk-taker and daredevil, Olive is less adventurous and more timid.

As we move into Chapter 1, Olive talks about seeing her mother's ghost. Almost a year has passed since Billie's death, who went into the mountains on a solo hike and never came back out. One of her hiking boots was found, but her body was never recovered. She is assumed to be dead, but Olive doesn't think so. She has visions about her mother, and she feels that her mother is leading her to find her. Meanwhile, Jonathan is doing some digging of his own and he what he uncovers leads him to believe that Billie may not be dead or missing at all...but that her disappearance was intentional.

This is my first book by this author, but it won't be my last! I really enjoyed this one, and Brown unravelled the story bit by bit, from Billie's reckless past and leading up to the anniversary of her disappearance.

This book was dually narrated by Tavia Gilbert and Kaleo Griffith, and I enjoyed them both. Their pace was excellent, and they kept me engaged. Here is a sample of the narration:

MY RATING:

4 stars!! It was really good, and you should put it on your TBR list if you enjoy mysteries. Thanks again to Random House Audio for the opportunity to review this book!

This book qualifies as:

#5 for my 2018 Audiobook Challenge
#3 for my 2018 Blogger Shame Challenge
#7 for my Beat the Backlist 2018 Challenge
#4 for my New Authors 2018 Reading Challenge
#4 for my 2018 Try Something New Challenge
#8 for my 2018 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
#3 for my For Reading Addicts Challenge
#7 for my 2018 Full House Reading Challenge
Task #13 for my 2018 Reading Challenge (Linz the Bookworm)
#4 for my 2018 Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge
#7A for my Good Rule Reading Challenge
#3 for my 2018 Platypire Diversity Challenge
#3 for my Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge
#6 for my COYER Winter Switch
Task #6 for my Goodreads Winter Scavenger Challenge: Northern Lights
#1 for my Chapter Break February Bookish Bingo 2018

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#Audiobook #Review: 4 out of 5 stars for Blood Fury by J.R. Ward @JRWard1 @PRHAudio

TITLE: Blood Fury

SERIES: Black Dagger Legacy, Book #3
AUTHOR: J.R. Ward

NARRATOR: Jim Frangione
PUBLISHER: Random House Audio

PUBLICATION DATE: January 9, 2018

FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook
LENGTH: 13 hrs and 9 mins

GENRE: Romance/Paranormal Romance

In this sexy paranormal romance novel set in the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, number-one New York Times best-selling author J. R. Ward tells the story of two couples - both fighting to find love in the midst of the war with the Lessening Society.

A vampire aristocrat, Peyton is well aware of his duty to his bloodline: mate with an appropriate female of his class and carry on his family's traditions. And he thought he'd found his perfect match - until she fell in love with someone else. Yet when his split-second decision in a battle with the enemy endangers the life of another trainee, Peyton has to face the idea that his future, and his heart, actually lie with another.

Novo, as a female in the Black Dagger Brotherhood's training program, feels like she has to prove herself to everybody - and she has no interest in being distracted by falling in love. But when Peyton proves to be so much more than a rich playboy, she is forced to confront the tragedy that has broken her soul and closed her off from love.

As the two grapple with Novo's past and Peyton's present, another couple must contend with an erotic connection that is unparalleled - and potentially scandalous. Saxton, who has had his heart broken, discovers in himself a deep-seated attraction to Ruhn, a new member of the household. But will the other male explore the connection? Or will he close his mind and his heart to what could be true love...and cost Saxton everything?

MY REVIEW:

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook for voluntary review consideration.

This was another very enjoyable installment in the Black Dagger Legacy series!

Novo is a kick-ass female, and I've so been looking forward to reading her story! My heart broke after learning about her past, and I'd love to give her sister a piece of my mind! Thankfully, Peyton already did that. I wasn't sure about Novo's pairing with Peyton, but I've warmed to the idea now after learning more about him as well. At the outset, he is still pining over Paradise but he can't deny his attraction to Novo. 

I have been very intrigued with Ruhn, and I like him with Saxton. Minnie is just an absolute doll, and I just loved her reaction to learning about Ruhn's and Saxton's relationship. She is a total gem, and I hope we'll see more of Minnie and her granddaughter in this series.

Memorable quote:

Jim Frangione is always a delight to listen to. He is one of my favourite narrators, and I will also buy the audio versus the printed books of this series just because I love his narration! Here is a sample of the narration:

MY RATING:

4 stars!! It was really good, and you should put it on your TBR list if you enjoy paranormal romances.

This book qualifies as:

#3 for my 2018 Audiobook Challenge
#1 for my 2018 New Release Challenge
#2A for my 2018 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge
#5 for my 2018 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
#5 for my Blydyn Square Books 2018 Reading Challenge
#4 for my 2018 Badass Books Reading Challenge
#5 for my Full House Reading Challenge 2018
#5 for my GWB Book Bingo 2018
Task #7 for my 2018 Reading Challenge (Linz the Bookworm)
#2 for my 2018 Literary Escapes Challenge
#B1 for my Good Rule Reading Challenge
#2 for my 2018 Platypire Diversity Challenge
#2 for my What An Animal Reading Challenge 2018
#1 for my 2018 Romance Roundabout Challenge
#1 for my Literary Pickers Challenge
#2 for my 2018 Paranormal Reading Challenge
#2 for my Science Fiction Vs Fantasy Bingo 2018
#2 for my The 2018 Swords & Stars Reading Challenge
#13 for my Bookish Bingo Winter 2017-18
#4 for my COYER Winter Switch
Task #14 for my Goodreads Winter Scavenger Challenge: Northern Lights
#5 for my Chapter Break Bingo January 2018

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