Review: Chemical Attraction

Chemical Attraction by Christina Thompson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Madeline notices things being ordered and never delivered. Upon calling other departments in her lab, she discovers they have the same issue as she does. She calls the FBI to get an investigation going. Meanwhile, strange things are occurring around the town. To keep anybody from discovering the investigation, Madeline pretends to date the FBI agent who's assigned to the task.

I enjoyed this story a lot more than I thought I would. At first, I got a completely wrong impression of it. I was completely expecting to be cringing through the entire story. I did cringe but in a good way. This book kept me on edge through the whole thing. I couldn't get enough of it. Anything I guessed was way off. It could have gone into more detail in certain places. I also wish the shock factor would have been amplified a bit. That's just my personal preference though.

There were quite a few characters in this book. Most of them were pretty witty and clever. I really adored Madeline, but there were sometimes she was a bit annoying. She's an intelligent woman who considers herself a scientist, but there are times she comes off a little inexperienced. Her partner was pretty amazing. There was a character in the book I just felt so badly for. I think his name was Simon. I'm not sure. People were cruel to him. I know that much.

This book was narrated by Gary Bennett. This is the first time I've listened to a book narrated by him. He does a pretty good job with the narration. I'd listen to other books narrated by him. I think he has the voice for crime novels and mysteries quite frankly. He may be just as successful in other genres as well.

This book was amazing. It went above and beyond my expectations of it. I started the book thinking it was going to be a cringefest of a story that will be full of predictable moments. I was completely wrong. So completely wrong. And I'm so completely thankful for that. I couldn't get enough of the story and wish it didn't have to end! I will try to read other books in the series. It was amazing.

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Review: The Woman in the Camphor Trunk

The Woman in the Camphor Trunk by Jennifer Kincheloe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Anna is no longer wealthy. Her father has disowned her and completely cut her off. She finds herself struggling to pay for things herself and eat properly. She's thankful that she's been allowed to work as a matron again despite everything coming out in the open about who she really is. Shortly after she returns, she uncovers a great murder mystery and finds herself determined to solve the case.

I really do love these stories. They are realistic to the time being spoken about. There are no liberties taken just because times are different now. I like that. If we cover up or rewrite history, we won't learn from it, but I digress. This book is very action-packed. I can't say I really enjoyed the beginning of the book. It was a bit of a sloppy start for me. The rest of the book made up for that in my opinion.

It's really rare that I absolutely love a story but completely dislike the main characters. This is one of them. I just don't understand how somebody can be so insanely stupid and yet intelligent at the same time. I think I'm being harsh. I get it. She led a sheltered life. However, she comes across as entitled and entirely selfish and spoiled. I can say that this book shows promise that she's starting to calm down a bit. That's a good sign.

Like the first book, this book was also narrated by Moira Quirk. She really did a fantastic job. I took the liberty of looking up other titles by her. She narrates for some pretty interesting titles. I will be doing what I can to obtain and listen to some more books narrated by her. She's not a favorite yet, but she has great potential. I will say that. She's lovely.

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the first book as well. I may not really care for the main characters and feel like the rest of the characters could use a bit more of a role in the books, but the books are highly enjoyable. Picture a Stephanie Plum but back in the early 1900s. Well, if Stephanie Plum wound up as a police matron instead of a bounty hunter and if she was born blue blooded.

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Review: Netherfield: Rogue Dragon: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Netherfield: Rogue Dragon: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Maria Grace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Everything is coming to a dramatic head. Elizabeth has fled Longbourn. All is well again with Pemberly. She and Darcy have sorted everything out as well. Just when it seems there couldn't be anything else that could happen, it turns out that there's a rogue dragon in Netherfield. Elizabeth and Darcy are tasked to investigate. They must do so without the assistance of Longbourn as he's forbidden them from entering his territory.

I spent a lot of time doing nothing but listening to this book. I barely even took the time to pause it so I could get up. I had a very Sheldon "I don't need sleep. I need answers." moment. I can't even begin to explain. I couldn't even begin to try to predict everything that was going to go down. I would have been wrong if I did quite frankly. It was insane in the best way possible! I want and need more!!!!

I'm going to be very generic about my assessment of the characters. It's for a good reason. I want anybody who reads the books after reading my review to go into it unbiased. It's amazing how some very loveable characters from the original novel weren't so loveable in this one and the not so loveable ones were at least tolerable. I am not saying everybody was different. Just a select few. My mind was blown at the transformations between the original character and this version. That's all I am willing to say.

I get to gush about Benjamin Fife in another review. I can't get over the amazing talent he has. That and the fact that he's so dedicated to the projects he works on. It's obvious he goes above and beyond what's required of him. It's a very positive thing to me. I'd give him way more than five stars if I could. As it were, he has definitely been added to my auto-buy list. If I see any audiobook narrated by him when I have money, it will be in my library! No questions asked!

This has been a very fun series for me to read. I've really loved the retelling from one of my favorite classics of all time. I said in a previous review that Jane Austen herself would love this retelling. I wasn't just saying that. I actually mean it. If I didn't know better, I'd say that it's possible that the author is a reincarnation of Jane Austen! I can't wait to read the rest of the series. I will also be adding this author to my automatic read list!

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Review: Longbourn: Dragon Entail: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Longbourn: Dragon Entail: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Maria Grace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Longbourn has decided that Elizabeth will marry Collins. To ensure this happens, he sends Pemberly and Darcy away. He feels that her attachment to them will prevent her from doing what he wishes. If that isn't enough, her father completely insists that she honor the marriage as well. Elizabeth is feeling completely overwhelmed and she's starting to become afraid of Longbourn.

I was trying to figure out how the author was going to go with this series. I loved Pride and Prejudice. I was very impressed with the retelling of this. I loved how creative the author was. I loved that she put exact word for word scenes from the original. It was impressive. I think even Jane Austen herself would have been impressed. I loved the first book and I loved the second as well!

I kind of wanted to smack Elizabeth in this one. She was being a little stubborn. I get it though. Nobody bothered to tell her that Darcy and Pemberly were banished. Poor Pemberly! I just couldn't handle how much pain that poor baby was in! I am also very impressed with how Darcy is portrayed in this. He's just so dreamy!

This book was narrated by Benjamin Fife. This is only the second book I've listened to by him, but I'm totally hooked. He's got amazing talent! If I had a lot of money, I would go and buy every single book he's narrated. I will plan to buy them when I can. Narrators are great. They are. The ones that go the extra mile for our entertainment are AMAZING. He's one of those. He has quickly been added to my favorites list. Hands down.

I really can't' wait to see where the rest of this series goes. It's such a creative take on a classic that we all love. Like I said before, I believe that Jane Austen herself would even love it. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. I'm just so in love with it! I fully recommend this unique retelling!

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Review: The Delving

The Delving by Aaron Bunce
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thoben finds himself constantly struggling. He is a branded man and unable to find work as often as he needs to provide for his family. The taxes have been going up every year after winter. Thoben finds that if he doesn't do something soon, his family won't even have enough to eat. Out of the blue, a proposition is given to him. One that he finds hard to resist. He is very much against doing what is asked of him, but he finds that he could really use the money more than worrying about the risk involved.

I really did enjoy the story quite a bit. I wouldn't say that it was one of my favorites. I do believe that I will probably go back and reread the book just to make sure that I didn't miss anything. I may continue with the series as well, but it won't be for a while if I do. I do very much love the idea behind the story. It was very creative and unique. I love unique!

Thoben is the type of person that the reader can easily get behind. He does the right thing. He cares about his family. He would give someone the shirt off his back if they feel like they needed it. His family is beautiful as well. It's a family that I'm sure a lot of people who are from broken families just adore so much. Of course, I feel like I feel that families like that are just fairy tale families, but I digress. It was beautiful.

This book was narrated by Matthew E Berry. It's the first one I heard narrated by him, but I can promise that it won't be my last. It looks like he has a pretty decent library going for him. All of the titles look pretty amazing. I also have to say that he gave this book a lot of understanding for me. I feel like if I just flat out read it, I'd of had to reread many passages to fully understand it. I didn't have to do that thanks to him. I'm not saying this book is bad. It's just new to me.

I really did enjoy this book very much. I'm going to let my feelings on the book digest a bit before I decide on reading it again or continuing on with the series. I really loved the idea behind the story. It was a very refreshing page. It wasn't predictable at all. That's a very impressive feat. I do fully recommend the book.

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Review: Hellbent

Hellbent by Gregg Hurwitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Evan finds everything changed. He's on the run for his life. He's a loose end that the government can't afford to stay alive. If that isn't enough, somebody he thought was dead randomly shows up and rocks his world even further. Just when his enemies think that they are gaining the upper hand, he does something that surprises everybody. He will stop it at nothing to get the payback he deserves. Revenge will be his.

This series has been beyond amazing. I'm so in love with it. There's a twist at every turn. I stated in the first two books that this book reminds me of the movie Hitman and the Dean Koonz Jane Hawk series. I am very infatuated with both of those as well. I am beyond impressed with it. I have to admit, I came into this series completely blind. I did that on purpose. I'm so glad I did. I'd of judged it completely wrong otherwise.

Evan seems to be growing into his own person. He seems to be connecting to his feelings more. He doesn't want anybody to go through the things he grew up with. He thinks that everybody deserves a chance at an actual life rather than being controlled by others to do whatever they desire. His handler was pretty honorable too. I totally understand where his decisions came from. It had to have been very hard for him. The bad guys in here were ones you could love to hate. The kind that I love!

I listened to this book in audiobook as well as the first two. I most likely will not listen to the last two in audiobook. I haven't decided yet. I do plan to own them in audiobook and go back and listen to them when I can. The narrator just made the story so much more intense than it already was. His name is Scott Brick. He narrated the first two books as well. I was very impressed with the performance.

This was a very intense book that had I had my way I'd of finished all in one sitting. I'd of read this entire series back to back if I could. The sacrifice of sleep would have been more than worth it. As it were, I have other things to do that would prevent me from doing this. I can't wait to dig into the next two books. It's an intense and fun journey that I find I just can't get enough of!

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Review: Making You Mine

Making You Mine by Melissa Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Knox and Aubrey have been hooking up for a few years. They met at an event and the connection they felt was strong. Knox is getting tired of just constantly hooking up with Aubrey. He's ready to make their relationship official. He finds that Aubrey is very reluctant and unwilling to move to the next step. Not wanting to let that discourage him, he makes it a point to do everything in his power to win her over.

When I first started reading this, I was like oh here we go. Let's see how fast we can predict this. Should we expect to see this on Hallmark? I found myself being pleasantly surprised. It wasn't a cheesy story at all. It was very well written and wholesome. It's the kind of book that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. It gives you hope on things that seem impossible. I think this is the fifth book in a series. I haven't read the first four books, but if they are just as adorable as this book, I fully plan to.

I know that Aubrey should be this unlikeable person. She refuses to be in a relationship because she's afraid that it will distract her from her business. It's easy to understand her point of view. She has so many successful people in her family. Even though her family is proud of her as she is, she still feels this sense of pressure. It's completely understandable. Knox is just so sweet. He's not perfect by any means, but he's amazing and is completely perfect for Aubrey. I loved both of their families and the people they work with. I wish I could have gotten to know them a bit more.

This book was narrated by Andi Arndt and Jason Clarke. They did a pretty amazing job. I am trying to remember if I have listened to anything else they have done. It's hard to keep track. I do find that I listen to many audiobooks. It seems to increase as time goes on. I can say I'm so impressed with their performance that I'm willing to listen to others that they perform. I would listen to both solo and duo performances from them.

I misjudged this book very horrible. It makes me feel bad. I stuck with it anyways. I'm glad I did. It was a very amazingly short and sweet book. It's wholesome and hilarious. It's hard not to read the book and root for Knox and empathize with Aubrey. I could see this being a very adorable mini-series or movie in the future. I think I should go back and read the first four books.

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