Audio Review: Vincent in Wonderland.

23 Nov 2020 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Audiobooks, Dive In Review Tags: , , , , ,

Hello, I know this is a little late but honestly I forgot today was Monday. Between NaNoWriMo and lockdowns the days just kind of blend together. But it’s alright because I will only be posting once this week since Thursday is Thanksgiving here in the states. So this post is going to be another two for one.

Today I’m reviewing both books in the Worlds Next Door series by C.E. White.

Dissclaimer: C.E. White is a personal friend of mine and she offered me the opportunity to receive reviewer codes for both of these audiobooks recently. My opinions are honestly given and I wasn’t obligated to review either of these books. I fact she doesn’t even know that her books are being featured today.

About the book:

Image: Cover for Vincent in Wonderland by C.E. White.

11-year-old Vincent van Gogh discovers a curious new world through a tunnel on the moor. A mysterious white rabbit introduces Vincent to Alice, and their quest begins—defeat the dreaded Jabberwock before it consumes all of Wonderland.

A slithy tove, an ill-tempered caterpillar, and the Cheshire cat meet them along the path as their adventures take them through fields dancing with flowers, tangled forests, and looking-glass pools.

But all is not what it seems in Wonderland, and Vincent may not have— and may not want— what it takes to succeed. Destroying the Jabberwock may cost more than he’s willing to give.

My Review:

Vincent in wonderland is, as you would expect, a retelling of Alice In Wonderland. But it is also a companion tale to C.E. White’s other children’s book, The World’s Next Door. I say companion, because even though this is chronology a prequel, they can be read completely separate and in either order.

Rather than Alice the main character of this story is Vincent Van Gogh. Yes the famous painter Vincent Van Gogh went to wonderland as a boy. Alice is there too. Only like Vincent she is also a historical person. Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Carroll’s Alice.

I normally disagree with using historical people in fiction because you can Google them and it ruins the illusion. This is sufficiently fantastical enough to not be confused for fact.

But the brilliant life loving young man we meet in this story is somewhat over shadowed by the unfortunate way that Van Gogh’s real life ended. Interestingly enough the story also seems to account for that darkness and maybe explains it a little.

This is such a neat story, it plays on the wonderfully whimsical art of Van Gogh while also keeping the logic based whimsy of Carroll’s children’s book.

So many references to Alice in wonderland appear that you will want to go back and read the classic just to be sure you got them all.

David Pickering, is a wonderful narrator. He reads clearly and makes each word understandable. He also differentiates his voice between characters so that you can tell who is talking just by his voice alone. He also has an amazing british accent that is really soothing to listen to.

This would be a great story for a family reading night. Enjoyed best after a family read along of the OG Alice books for maximum reference catching.

Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Vincent-Wonderland-enemy-threatens-Worlds-ebook/dp/B07TBCCTR7

And if you are curious about her first book, The Worlds Next Door:

Image: Cover of The Worlds Next Door by C.E. White

Twelve-year-old Janie Rutland somewhat grudgingly befriends Reggie Rankin—the weird new kid at school—and finally has someone to investigate her curious sightings in the abandoned house next door. When they find there’s an impossible world in danger of total destruction, they face a choice. Do they have what it takes to save it? An eccentric fellowship gathers as they embark on a perilous quest in a race against time and their own fears. Traveling in what can only be described as a pirate hover ship, they’re threatened by monsters and storms, shipwrecks and death. Can they find the answers they need to save Sian—and maybe all worlds?

My Review:

The Worlds Next Door by C. E. White, is a great fantasy adventure that doesn’t dumb down its children protagonists. Not only are these twelve year olds smart, but so is the story. The world building is so thorough and actually fuels the plot rather than just become set dressing. The story and the Characters tackle hard philosophy questions such as free will and fate.

The Narrator was amazing Danny Montooth is one of those voice actors who can put on multiple voices and make an audiobook sound like a full cast audio drama.

Both the writing and performance combine to make this audiobook a necessary addition to your library.

Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Worlds-Next-Door-mysterious-terrifying-ebook/dp/B077TFN79Y

About the author:

Image: Author C.E. White

C.E. White is an author, artist, and entrepreneur living in the mountains of North Georgia. Her works are fueled by a lifetime love of both reading and Jesus, and she longs to inspire others with words of hope and imagination. When she’s not penning her next book, you can find her creating collage art, renovating her house, conquering mounds of paperwork, or RVing with her husband and two cats.

Find her online at: https://www.cewhitebooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cewhitebooks

Audio Review: The Realms of Elestra Prequels.

18 Nov 2020 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Audiobooks, Dive In Review Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Okay I’m back again because surly you didn’t think I would let a week go by without dropping an audiobook for you?

To make up for Monday not being about an audio book, I’m dropping two audios today.

Once again these are codes I request through Story Origins. If you would like to get into the audio or E-book reviewing game check them out here.

The first book:

Saved from the streets by the mysterious George Whipple, Parker and Lydia grew up in the Whipplehouse Orphanage. After being fitted with a magical monocle, Parker finds he has the ability to stop time. With his new power, he spends his days tinkering and inventing intricate doodads. Life is grand until the night Elias comes to town.

Parker’s life is turned upside down when tragedy stikes on the night of the winter solstice of his 18th year. He risks losing the one thing he loves most: Lydia. But will his newfound power be able to find her? And what about the perplexing machine in the cellar workshop?

My Review:

I feel like Timekeeper is one of those prequel novellas that really needs to be read after the main book in a series for it to matter.

The story starts off interesting with Parker and Lydia as a sort of brother sister item. They get taken in by two older men who have magic and things get more interesting, then when things are the most interesting the story just ends and we get a summary of what Parker has been doing for the last two decades. It is a let down to be sure. Not even a proper cliff hanger. I suspect that summary is probably where the actual first book takes place. I fully intend to read more of this series so it wasn’t a total disappointment just anti climatic.

Parker and Lydia are good characters. You root for them because they are orphans, you ship them because they care about each other so much. And you don’t understand the ending at all because . . . we’ll I won’t spoil it for you.

Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com

The steampunk aesthetic was light but there, with cogs and tesla coils and Victorian clothing galore.

The narrator Andrew McDermott has an incredible Irish accent that I absolutely enjoyed listening to. But since the story takes place in Missouri and not Ireland, I was also a little unsure of why literally everyone has an Irish accent.

In conclusion Timekeeper is a prequel to what I’m sure will be an amazing steampunk series. The audiobook is short and easy to follow. So check it out if you need something to get you through a long lunch hour. Or if you just can’t get enough Irish accents.

The Second book:

Ripped away from Whipplehouse and the only family she had ever known, Lydia ekes out a living in the barren wasteland of Oregon as a prisoner of a family who never loved her. When Parker finds her at the county fair, Lydia can hardly believe her luck as she agrees to travel through time with the boy she once loved. They finally settle in the mysterious land of Elestra, a world like their own with magical powers, steam-powered devices, and even dragons.

Abruptly left to her own devices on the shores of Sea City, Lydia embarks on a dangerous adventure with fast cars, accompanied by the infamous and quite exiled pirate-turned-mechanic Matthias Cross. When the tables turn and she begins to see Parker for who he really is, how can she escape the darkness buried in his heart? What will become of Lydia now that she knows there are more worlds than these?

My Review:

Lydia is an odd little prequel novella. it comes before a book titled Clock city, but after another novella titled Timekeeper.

Do read Timekeeper first. This novella explains the bizarre epilogue of Timekeeper, basically the timeline is not linear and it’s all messed up with time travel and nothing takes place when you thought it did.

Lydia is an orphan sent out west on the orphan train. Her new family treats her like a slave, so when her childhood friend shows up to whisk her away she jumps at the chance.

what follows is a montage of literary references that will make book nerds smile.

Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com

As a story this book is very disconnected, It just doesn’t stand on it’s own very well. You need to read Timekeeper first. But I also feel like I need to read Clock City first too. Interestingly enough, this book is not listed on the amazon series page for Elestra. Only Time Keeper and Clock City.

The character of Lydia is a scared girl who keeps getting shuttled from one scary situation and abusive relationship to another. As a result I feel like she never really gets a chance to grow up. She follows the trail of many classic heroines of constantly settling for the “Safe” relationship instead of the “right” relationship.

As a prequel this book certainly made me eager to read Clock City. I am curious about how this all ties together.

Once again Andrew McDermott narrates with his soothing Irish accent. he does a fair job of distinguishing one character from another, and he does a great job of reading description, making it engaging and active.

Disclaimer:

*I was given Audible codes for these books and the above reviews are my own honest evaluation of the provided audio and stories.*

About Rebekah Dodson

Rebekah Dodson is a prolific author of over 30 romantic suspense, fantasy, and science fiction novels. Her works include the series Postcards from Paris, The Curse of Lanval, Life After Us, California Express, and several stand-alone novels. She has been writing her whole life, with her first published work of historical fiction with 4H Clubs of America at the age of 12, and poetry at the age of 16 with the National Poetry Society. With an extensive academic background including education, history, psychology and English, she currently works as a college professor by day and a writer by night.

Connect with Rebekah:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/realrebekahdodson
Twitter: @AuthorRDodson (This interface is not liking twitter links, I don’t know why, So please just search for her if you are interested in giving her a follow.)
Website: www.rebekahdodson.com

Purchase links:

This time it’s cheaper to buy the audio books for $6.08, than the e-book and narration together. But if you really want to go the cheap route the e-books are only 99 cents each.

Buy Timekeeper here: https://www.amazon.com/Timekeeper-Rebekah-Dodson-audiobook/dp/B07SZ9L2R7/

Buy Lydia here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081ZH98PD?plink=jdecFSEweTaz86tH&ref=adblp13npsbx_0_0_im

Book three? Book One? I’m not sure how this prequel stuff works really. Anyway if you are interested in continuing the story you can find Clock City here: https://www.amazon.com/Clock-City-Realm-Elestra-Book-ebook/dp/B07QPRP2Z3/

It’s sadly not in audio yet.

Be Our Guest Post: Tammy Lash Author

16 Nov 2020 1 Comment

by C.O. Bonham in Be our Guest Post, book tours Tags: , , , , , ,

Today I’m not featuring an audiobook. Today is a guest post from author Tammy Lash. I love having Tammy on the blog because her guests posts are always so insightful and inspirational. If you missed the first time I had Tammy on the blog you can find that here: https://cobonham.com/2017/08/07/white-wolf-and-the-ash-princess-blog-tour/

White Wolf Also got an awesome new cover, check out those gears! And the sequel is finally here too. And make sure you read all the way to the bottom for a giveaway from Tammy.

Books one and two in the White Wolf series, Now available.

The Gales of November

(Is God There? Why Can’t I Hear Him?)

One of my favorite things about living in Munising is being so close to Lake Superior. Our house is five minutes away from the “Gitchi-Gami”. The Native Americans named her this because she behaves more like a “Great Sea” than the inland lake that she is. Her mood can change from day to day, so anytime is the best time to visit her, but my favorite month to see her is in November. The winds of fall provoke her into a raging beauty. Her power is luring, and one is tempted to get close. Resist her. Her waves will knock you off your feet and her currents will force you to her depths. Sailors respect her and poets and songwriters are captivated by her. All share words of warning. Gordon Lightfoot wrote about the gales of November in his haunting song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”

Our favorite place to watch Lake Superior throw her November fit is from Miner’s Beach. The forest at our back offers a safe place to retreat from her reaching waves and the racing wind that feds her frenzy. The lake’s roars are so deafening they can be heard beyond the trees and into the parking lot.

Photo is of Lake Erie not lake Superior. Taken by me in June not November.
–Cathrine

Many times, life is as loud and violent as the gales of November. We can hear nothing but the noise of worry and trouble. When this wind direction is aimed at us, we must run to safety (Psalms 17:6) and seek shelter from the painful gusts. Our safe place can be found by spending time in His word and talking with Him. No shelter outside of Him will provide the protection we need no matter how capable we may think we are in handling bad weather (Psalms 9: 9-10). No ship, no matter how sturdy, can survive the furious waters of the Gitchi-Gami.

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid (Psalm 27:1)? A stronghold is a place of security and survival. To keep safe during life’s gales, we mustn’t stray beyond the gates even if the waters outside seem still. We must never let up on our quiet time with Him. We Christians never come to a point in our walk where we “make it.” Satan hunts in the calm waters just as he does in the violent waves.

Many verses in Psalms offer promises to us that He will be the safety we need, but what if we can’t hear Him? Feel Him? In Psalm 4:1, David’s thoughts are the same as ours in times of trouble. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness…

Above image is still lake Erie — Cathrine

Life is so much like Michigan’s moody Lake Superior. The roar from our hearts can fill our ears and drown out His voice. Fear not, dear friend. He is there. He can hear your cries against the wind. David experienced salvation from his storm and he shares it with us in Psalm 116:1-3. I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call Him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

If the winds of November are whipping at you, turn to Him even if you can’t hear Him. He is there waiting to shelter you. David felt safe when he called out to Him.

…You have given me relief when I was in distress (Psalm 4:1).

Trust that His words are true. He made the might of Lake Superior. He can calm the storm in you.

https://youtu.be/hgI8bta-7aw (Video from Soundings/June 16, 2017)

About the author:

Tammy lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula near the shores of Lake Superior with her husband and three teen/adult children. Currently, they are working together on their “new” home just outside the Hiawatha National Forest she writes about in her stories. 

Tammy enjoys hiking, kayaking, beach wandering,”hunting” for birch bark, and spotting migizis.

She is the author of White Wolf and the Ash Princess, Letters from the Dragon’s Son, and the short story Eagle Eyes from the Descendants of White Wolf series. 

Facebook- https://m.facebook.com/tammylashauthor/

Instagram- http://instagram.com/tamlash5

Blog- http://tammylash.wordpress.com

Cover of Letter From the Dragon’s Son

Letters from the Dragon’s Son Book

A father…

A son…

and the dragon they became.

One head: Malevolent, attired in barbs and spines, took pleasure in decimating the forested village.

Avery, formerly White Boar, wanders the forests seeking forgiveness from the people he sold into slavery, but is repentance payment enough? 

Righteous, with two horns on each side, tried to calm the evil one’s violent ambition.

More servant than son, Jonathan Gudwyne, had been powerless to stop his father from taking the Men of the Forest into captivity. As a man, White Wolf reverses the damage he and his father caused by returning the Natives home. Jonathan gains honor and worship, but what does he do with the remains of his past? Justice has yet to be served to the dragon. Should Jonathan be the one who administers the sentence to his wandering father? To himself? 

The two heads formed Brinsop, whose iron talons wrought chaos…. 

Can a man change? Can a broken family be made whole again? If one head is destroyed can the other survive?

From author Tammy Lash, the anticipated sequel to White Wolf and the Ash Princess. Letters from the Dragon’s Son is here!

Letters is an emotionally driven story of love, loss, and forgiveness. Jonathan’s journey to his father is raw, heartbreaking, and honest. Avery’s transformation from dragon to father is beautiful and inspiring. Letters is the loyalty of family, of blood or friendship, and the One who ordained it all. Letters from the Dragon’s Son is a compelling read that offers hope and healing to the wounded soul. 

Amazon-

Goodreads-

Letters From the Dragon’s Son: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55836769-letters-from-the-dragon-s-son

White Wolf and the Ash Princess: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37880370-white-wolf-and-the-ash-princess

Eagle Eyes: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42436944-eagle-eyes

Giveaway

Tammy is also generously offering a Giveaway to celebrate the release of her new novel. Everything pictured below.

Giveaway LINK:

a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

If the embedded widget is not working for you please click here to go to the rafflecopter page: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a44877ea18/?

Audiobook Review: An Unexpected Adventure.

11 Nov 2020 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Audiobooks, Dive In Review Tags: , , , , ,

Today’s audiobook is one that I have reviewed on this blog before. You can read the original review here: https://cobonham.com/2018/09/19/an-unexpected-adventure-a-dive-in-review/

The Myth Coast Adventure’s series by Kandi J. Wyatt

An Unexpected Adventure is the first book in a middle grade fantasy trilogy by author, Kandi J. Wyatt, called the Myth Coast Adventures. It recently released in an audio format, and the author was kind enough to ask if I would like to review the Audiobook edition.

Before I get to my review here’s a refresher of what the book is about:

Harley will do anything to keep his new pal safe. But a hungry dragon needs to eat. And the government is hot on their tail.

Harley Maegher’s seen E.T. and knows what the government will do to mythical creatures. There’s no way he’s about to let his new-found friend fall into the hands of an NSA agent. When the dragon starts setting fires and eating livestock, the choice may be taken from him.

Steria is only interested in filling her tummy and spending time with Harley and his friends. After all, they’re the ones who woke her and called her from her egg. When the agent tries to capture her, she’s confined to the farm where she’s safe but without sufficient food. She’ll do anything to protect herself and Harley, even if it means she’ll go hungry.

An Unexpected Adventure is the fun first book in the middle grade fantasy Myth Coast Adventures trilogy. If you like clean entertainment full of adventure and mischief, then you’ll love Kandi J Wyatt’s unique trilogy.

Explore An Unexpected Adventure to embark on a family-friendly adventure today!

You can buy it from amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Adventure-Myth-Coast-Adventures-ebook/dp/B07H6RXLTS/

It’s available in Ebook, Paperback and Audio.

Image by Lilawind on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/users/lilawind-6389091/

Dive in Audio Review:

Some kids aren’t the chosen one, they don’t find lands inside wardrobes, or get called to rule kingdoms. Sometimes they just have to go to school, or get summer jobs. They must do these normal activities no matter what weird fantasy creature falls into their life.

That is the magic of An Unexpected Adventure. The boys; Harley, Will and Chase, are just regular kids. They do regular things, while also hiding a dragon from a scientist who seems determined to capture it. They could someone you know, they could even be you.

The Narrator Dave Cruse does a great job of reading this book. He uses voice differentiation. So each character sounds a little different, but it’s not too out there where the voices start to sound cartoonish. His Narration is smooth and soothing, never monotone nor does he get too loud, even when characters are yelling.

Hearing this book was an entertaining experience, even having read it before I enjoyed going back and getting to know these characters all over again.

Author Bio:

Even as a young girl, Kandi J Wyatt, had a knack for words. She loved to read them, even if it was on a shampoo bottle! By high school Kandi had learned to put words together on paper to create stories for those she loved. Nowadays, she writes for her kids, whether that’s her own five or the hundreds of students she’s been lucky to teach. When Kandi’s not spinning words to create stories, she’s using them to teach students about Spanish, life, and leadership.

Where to find her:

Website: http://kandijwyatt.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/kandijwyatt/

Google: http://plus.google.com/u/0/+KandiWyatt/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/kandijwyatt

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kandijwyatt

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13817774.Kandi_J_Wyatt

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kandi-J-Wyatt/e/B00ZTC4T10/

Audiobook Review: King’s Warrior

09 Nov 2020 3 Comments

by C.O. Bonham in Audiobooks, Be our Guest Post, book tours, Dive In Review Tags: , , , , ,

Today I bring you another audiobook in my November Audiobook reviews. Today’s post also corresponds with a blog tour for the fantasy novel, King’s Warrior by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt.

King’s Warrior is now an audio book!

An exciting adventure, now available in audio format!

Note from the author:

Enter the realm of Aom-igh, embark on an adventure with Princess Kamarie to save her kingdom. Battle dragons alongside the young squire, Oraeyn and the mysterious warrior, Brant. And experience the adventure in the way it was always meant to be experienced: out loud.

As many of my dear readers already know, when I wrote King’s Warrior, it was intended as a story that my dad could read out loud to my siblings each night. I always dreamed of getting it turned into an audio book, and now I am pleased to announce that this dream has come true.

Many readers have told me that they feel this is a story that “reads aloud” well. And that is no surprise to me, since I wrote it expressly for that purpose. So I am excited for the opportunity for more people to get the chance to have this story read out loud to them by a master at his craft, Benjamin Fife. It was a true pleasure to work with someone who was even more excited about this project than I was (if that were possible!) Not only that, but Benjamin truly “gets” the heart of this story, and he does ALL the voices.

-Jenelle Leanne Schmidt

About the story

The hope of their world rests on the steel at his side….

Threat of invasion looms. Oraeyn dreams of glory on the battlefield. Instead, he must engage in a battle of wills with a headstrong princess while ushering her to safety (and boredom) in a small village. But they must put aside their differences to save their homeland and complete the second part of their mission: seek out the legendary King’s Warrior to persuade him to take up arms once more. 

When their journey leads them to the lost realm of the dragons they get more adventure than either of them bargained for!

Sound like something you might enjoy? Listen to a sample:

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Kings-Warrior-Minstrels-Song-Book/dp/B08KTYTZ25/

Audible:
https://www.audible.com/pd/Kings-Warrior-Audiobook/B08KTYGNYR

My Dive in Review:


*Review of Audiobook Edition*

King’s Warrior begins as most fantasies do, with a threat and a quest. The dark country is going to invade and only one man can stop it. Sounds familiar right.

Well it’s not, because for every hackneyed trope, Schmidt adds a twist. The ending is not what you expect and everyone ends up where they are needed most. Wait a minute, ending up where you are needed most is a hackneyed fantasy trope. I guess not all tropes can be subverted.

I really enjoyed the group dynamic of their questing party, the girl who would be a knight, the boy would would not be king, the innocent child who is more then he knows, the man who has lost everything, and the enchantress who is supremely unhelpful.

The character work in this novel is where is shines the most. Not just the characters as individuals but how they interact with one another and how they work together.

You have noticed that this is a five book series and are worried about getting into anything too big. I want to assure you that the ending of this book is complete, no cliff hangers or set ups. continuing on with the series is entirely optional and up to you. But I for one will.

This audiobook is narrated by Benjamin Fife. He always does a fantastic job with voice work. But did you know he can sing? This is the first time I’ve heard him sing and he did a great job on that too.

*I was given an code to redeem for a review copy of this book, All opinions are my own and are provided honestly.*

About the Narrator:

Benjamin Fife has always had a passion for learning. With a mind that remembers all sorts of numbers and useless trivia, he regularly wins local radio shows and enjoys confusing people with sci-fi quotes. Fife grew up in Southeast Idaho. He attended college at Idaho State University, where he met his future wife in their music theory class. They have been married nearly 20 years and now have six children and a whole menagerie of animals.

When his oldest daughter was three or four years old they started reading aloud from novels every night at bedtime, and have continued the tradition ever since. The family loves exploring various worlds and topics through Fife’s wonderful reading skills, which get better every year. They all have his Christmas Carol voices memorized (and the older kids are known to quote along with portions), since he has read it to them every December. 

Benny enjoys all kinds of sci-fi and fantasy – both books and shows, is an extreme eclectic music lover, and prefers his chocolate to be of the 90% cocoa variety. Above all, he loves to be with his family. He loves recording audio books, and is delighted to tell people, “I’ve finally found what I want to be when I grow up!”

WEBSITE

LISTEN TO A SAMPLE OF KING’S WARRIOR

About the Author

Jenelle first fell in love with stories through her father’s voice reading books aloud each night. A relentless opener-of-doors in hopes of someday finding a passage to Narnia, it was only natural that she soon began making up fantastical realms of her own. Jenelle currently resides in the wintry tundra of Wisconsin —which she maintains is almost as good as Narnia — with her knight-in-shining armor and their four hobbits. When she is not writing, she homeschools said hobbits and helps them along on their daily adventures… which she says makes her a wizard.

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Drop back in mid week, Wednesday or Thursday. when I’ll have another audio review up for you.

Audio Review: The Chronicles of the Macca

04 Nov 2020 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Audiobooks, Dive In Review Tags: , , , , , ,

I know this isn’t on a Monday, but I’ve posted on odd days before, and I was preoccupied. No, not with the election. I’ve been doing NaNoWriMo, that’s National Novel Writing Month for the un initiated. So for I’ve been hitting my goals so I feel good about winning this year. But then being unemployed helps a lot with finding the time.

Anyway since I’ve been sacrificing my reading time to increase my writing time, I’ve tried to up my audiobook time. So this month expect all audiobook reviews as I try to juggle being both a reviewer and a writer.

Today’s audio review is a twin pack as they are the first two books in a series. I specifically requested these audiobooks from a reviewer service called Story Origins because I’ve always loved the weird western genre. It’s where you take a traditional western but then throw in: aliens, time travel, centaurs or whatever you want. It makes the old west so much more interesting.

I’ll summarize the books in my reviews for the sake of brevity.

Let’s dive in:

Earthbound follows the adventures of a young man who is stranded on Earth. He tries his best to blend in and integrate into the culture of the American west. If they think he’s a bit strange, well he does have an Irish accent.

Zeb as he’s called, is an interesting character, but he isn’t the only one. The story also follows frontier wife Anna and her children after a native American raid separates them.

Over all the story was interesting, but I found the sci-fi elements to be over shadowed by the Western story and characters. It’s a hard genre to peg as Western readers may enjoy it more than sci-fi lovers.

The narrator, Benjamin Fife, was good. He kept the pace going and read long sections with no dialogue engagingly. But Dialogue is where this man shines. Especially with accents. And this story gave him plenty of accents to play with. Irish, German, Spanish, and even some southern gentleman.

On content: there is a good bit of violence, surprisingly little cursing, but I do need to mention the the sexual content.

Like most Westerns there is mention of sex and brothels but this is still pretty clean. It comes no where near being erotic, and the most description we get is from a married couple on their wedding night, which is still pretty tame.

Gather the Children, like the first book in this series, (Earthbound) is a science fiction western about the MacDonald family. Almost all of which are some form of Alien hybrid.

This is such an odd series. There are very small references to anything sci-f. For the most part it’s just a western. The story follows the various family and friends of the main character Mac, as they live life. They get married and conduct business, worship and fight for their lives in the unforgiving and lawless Texas frontier.

This is a very character based story and I loved getting to know all the characters as they struggled to build lives for themselves.

I hate that I feel like I need to give a content warning since this is not erotica, but the author is not shy about the facts of life. It may not be descriptive but it was enough to make me feel uncomfortable. Also there is language.

This is the third book in a row I’ve heard that was narrated by Benjamin Fife. Man this guy is prolific. As always he does a great job reading and this story gives him plenty of opportunities to play with accents which he is incredibly good at.

* I received audible codes to review both of these books. My reviews are my honest opinion of the provided material and are given willingly.*

Purchase book one here: https://www.amazon.com/Earthbound-Science-Fiction-West-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00THSCXOC

And book two here: https://www.amazon.com/Gather-Children-Chronicles-Maca-Book-ebook/dp/B015IZZ5T2

Right now the ebooks are $2.99 and you can add audio for $7.49.

About the author:
Mari Collier was born on a farm in Iowa. Since then she’s lived in Arizona, Northwest Washington (on the banks of a river), and moved to Southern California after retiring from Nintendo of America. She is the curator for the Accessions Committee at the local Historical Society and writes two columns for the Old Schoolhouse Museum. She also volunteers as a docent at the Old Schoolhouse Museum.

Come back on Monday for another audiobook review.

Interested in Story Origins? Check it out here: https://storyoriginapp.com/

Do you enjoy audio books?

How about science fiction westerns?

Let me know.

The Alchemyst’s Mirror: Tea shop sip and review

26 Oct 2020 1 Comment

by C.O. Bonham in book tours, Dive In Review Tags: , , , ,

The Alchemyst’s Mirror blog tour.

Today I don’t just have a review for you, I have a recipe. So go steep a cuppa tea and come back for a tasty book review and a must read recipe.

Wait, no, reverse that.

Okay good.

About the book:

Petra and Maisie Everturn just want to run their family’s tea shop, but when their explorer brother Jiordan goes missing while looking for an alchemycal artifact, none of them are safe.

The sisters must enlist the help of another explorer in order to find Jiordan or the artifact—before the mysterious alchemyst society finds them first.

However, when one of the sisters stumbles into the clutches of the most dangerous alchemyst in the city, the race to unravel the clues becomes desperate. And when they discover the truth about the artifact, their quest to infiltrate the alchemyst’s secret society becomes a matter of life and death.

Preorder the book here: https://amzn.to/2YdQRJj

Available in both ebook and hardback.

The release date is tomorrow!

About the author:

Liz Delton writes and lives in New England, with her husband and son. She studied Theater Management at the University of the Arts in Philly, always having enjoyed the backstage life of storytelling.

She reads and writes fantasy, especially the kind with alternate worlds. Liz is the author of the dystopian Arcera Trilogy, and the fantasy Realm of Camellia series, and the new steampunk novel, The Alchemyst’s Mirror. World-building is her favorite part of writing, and she is always dreaming up new fantastic places.

She loves drinking tea and traveling. When she’s not writing you can find her hands full with one of her many craft projects.

Visit her website at lizdelton.com

AUTHOR LINKS

Website: www.LizDelton.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizdelton
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizdelton
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizdeltonwrites/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Liz-Delton/e/B00RHANRH4

Strawberry chocolate scone and cup of tea. Photo provided by Liz Delton.

So you got that cup of tea with you? Good have a sip while I tell you why you will really want to read this book. Then I’ll share the recipe for the delicious scone pictured above.

Dive in Review: The Alchemysts Mirror.

The Alchemyst’s Mirror, by Liz Delton, is an exciting, non-stop action, page turner.

Two sisters, Petra and Maisie run their parents tea shop in the industrialized city of Harrowdell. Their brother, an explorer, is missing, presumed dead, and all they want is to find out what happened to him. Their search leads them to the dark underworld of secret societies and unethical alchemysts. It’s a well paced thrill ride, never knowing what will happen or who they can trust.

I really love the steampunk aesthetic, the world building felt well thought out with plenty of room to expand in future books. The main characters were everything you want in a female lead; strong, independent, resourceful, intelligent and above all feminine.

But the best part was really just the story. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, it took a turn on me. The outcome was impossible to predict. But at the same time it didn’t feel cobbled together either.

I feel like this is mostly a standalone book. While there is plenty of potential for a sequel, I wasn’t left with any burning questions or any cliffhangers.

*I was given an ARC of this novel with no obligations attached. My review is provided honestly and willingly.*

Image: a cute recipe card you can print and keep. The Text of the card is shared below for easy reading by screen readers.

Maisie’s Strawberry Chocolate Scones

Flour – 2 1/2 cups Sugar – 4 tbsp

Baking Powder – 1 tbsp

Butter (Cold!) – 1/2 cup

Strawberries (cut into pieces) – 1 CUp

Chocolate Pieces – 3/4 cup

Buttermilk -2/3 cup”

Egg – 1

Vanilla – 1 tsp

Mix flour, sugar, and baking powder. Work in the butter with a pastry cutter or fork. Add in the strawberries and chocolate. In a separate bowl, mix the buttermilk with the egg and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry. Stir until just combined. Scrape the mix onto a floured surface and knead/shape into a disc. Cut into 8 wedges. Place 2 inches apart on a baking sheet. Chill for 20 minutes. Brush the tops of the scones with leftover buttermilk before baking at 400F for 20 minutes,

*If no buttermilk on hand, make some by adding 1 tbsp white vinegar to 1 cup milk.

Book launch party on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/362617744857118/

If you’ve made it this far, then congratulations You’re invited to a launch party! Join author Liz Delton on Facebook November 10th at 8pm, for Steampunk fun and giveaways. https://www.facebook.com/events/362617744857118/

Halloween 2020 Anthology

21 Oct 2020 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Uncategorized Tags: , , ,

I got published again. This time it’s in the Halloween 2020 short story anthology. It’s like the 2019 Halloween Anthology I was in last year, but you know, for this year.

There is no doubt that Halloween 2020 is going to go down as one of the strangest holidays ever. With lockdowns, social distancing, masks, politics, lies, violence and hate dominating every news report–every thought at times, celebrating takes on a different aspect this year.
Some people are determined to act as if everything’s normal while others are devastated that they can’t have their annual Halloween gala. Trick or treating has either been cancelled or there are so many rules in place to protect everyone from Covid-19 that it barely resembles its previous incarnations.
For the 2020 Halloween Short Story Challenge, I tasked the authors to look at Halloweens past, present and future. I suggested they view the holiday through the out-of-focus lens of 2020, but they didn’t have to. I challenged them to search outside the box, inside the box and all around the box, until they found something that resonated within them.
For many, this year has been one of loss, fear, uncertainty and apathy. It’s been hard to get out of bed let alone be creative. That’s why this was an especially difficult, yet important, Challenge.
The authors in this anthology accepted that challenge and they’ve written an incredible, eclectic assortment of Halloween stories and poems. They’ll terrify you. They’ll delight you. They’ll make you laugh. And hopefully, for at least as long as it takes you to read them, you’ll be distracted from the real-life horrors of 2020. Enjoy!

Buy it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3o1DuqM

Not every story in this anthology takes place in 2020 though, some stories are more like memories, others are just fun Halloween centric stories.

My story is a very 2020 centric story. In a world where trick or treat has been cancelled, Halloween becomes, “The Night of the Masked Children.”

So if you’re looking for seasonal read go ahead and pick up Halloween 2020 today. You might just decide to keep some candy on hand after all.

Available in eBook, paperback, and Kindle unlimited: https://cobonham.com/2019/10/24/halloween-short-story-challenge-2019-anthology/

Dive in Review: All Made of Hinges

17 Oct 2020 2 Comments

by C.O. Bonham in Dive In Review Tags: , , , , ,

I know this is an off day for me to be posting on but I needed to let you know about a fun anthology that I just finished listening to on audible.

Cheerful in the face of dark opposition. Innovative to improve a backward world. Industrial as a cure for oppressive conditions. Unyielding beneath all who seek to bind and control them. Faithful until they conquer the fear of death and rise to great acts of heroism and service. Mormons and steampunks are two faces of the same coin.

Twelve authors spin tales of true believers facing impossible odds, risking this life in the hope of gaining something better after. Mormon Battalion soldiers fight an airship, a bounty hunter crosses Porter Rockwell, cultists attempt to reanimate Brigham Young, and missionaries run into Cthulhu. These are just a few of the amazing tales by award winning, bestselling, and premier authors – D. J. Butler, John M. Olsen, Steven L. Peck, Elizabeth Mueller, Scott E. Tarbet, Jay Barnson, Joe Monson, Amanda Hamblin, Christopher McAfee, Jace Killan, John D. Payne, and Lee Allred.

All Made of Hinges is the first installment in the incredible four-part Mormon steampunk series by Immortal Works Press. If you love these stories, look for more in Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel and Press Forward, Saints.

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/All-Made-of-Hinges-audiobook/dp/B07R92TBMC

Embeded preview of ebook edition of All Made of Hinges.

If you want a deal, get the ebook edition, and add on the audio for only $7.49. Much cheaper than spending $17 on audiobook alone.

Now I guess this is where I tell you what I thought of it.

Dive in Review: All Made of Hinges.

Steampunk what now?

If you are like me, then you are still hung up on the sub title. A steampunk Mormon anthology? What on Earth is a steampunk Mormon?

Well it turns out that answering that question is easier than expected. These are steampunk stories where at least one character is a Mormon.

And like all anthologies, it’s a sampler of different styles, tones, voices and plots. Most are light hearted with a humorous tone, but one or two are a little intense. The real surprise were the ones that were philosophical without talking about religion at all. Not what I expected from a Mormon anthology.

These stories are all alternative history, so expect historical persons to make cameos and for some historical events to not have happened the way you thought. Some stories are just westerns with airships and others are Clockwork dystopias with zombie hoards.

The steampunk elements were all really well done, and in most stories the Mormon element was barely noticeable. So I wouldn’t let that hold you back from trying this anthology out. In fact if you’re still holding back because of religion, don’t. The characters that have the most faith are machines. And the only story that has angels is theologically incorrect. (If you ever meet two angels that contradict each other, one of them is not an angel. That is just a fact.)

Narrator Benjamin Fife, is one that I’ve heard a lot from. He always brings a unique voice to every book he reads. Nowhere is that more evident than in this anthology, where you can hear his reading style change for each story. Fife is also really good at accents, and these stories give him a wide range of accents to play with. His French and Japanese accents are new ones I got to hear.

If you like steampunk everything then this anthology is sure to delight. Just don’t go in expecting a deeper understanding of what it means to be Mormon. This is not a religious book.

*I was given a code for a review copy of this audio book. The above review is my own honest opinion and is provided willingly.*

SVR 3: Reborn cover reveal and SALE!

10 Oct 2020 Leave a comment

by C.O. Bonham in Cover Reveal Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

So you may have seen me post on here a few times about The amazing H.L. Burke and her character driven Feels inducing superhero series, The Supervillain Rehabilitation Project.

I you have not yet started these books, then I have good news for you. Burke is running a sale until the 12th of October.

Free Prequel novella: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088LTTTP6/

Book One = Free: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085X8N8FL

Book two = 99 cents: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BCFQ12F/

Book three = 99 cents preorder: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KP28CND/

You still have a few days left to take advantage of H.L. Burke’s SVR sale and get started on on this amazing series.

So much super hero goodness for less than two bucks!

Well, slightly over two bucks after tax, but still a really good deal.

Now I know I’ve already spoiled the cover by showing the sales graphics above, but just to make it official and all here’s a big version followed by the blurb. Though if you are like me and have already read the first two books in the series, you saw 99 cent preorder and have already “one clicked” to reserve your copy.

Supervillain Rehabilitation Project 3: Reborn

The worst blows come from those closest to your heart.

Idealistic superhero, Prism, has taken the Supervillain Rehabilitation Project to new heights. With her team thriving, her marriage to former supervillain, Fade, blissful, and her first child on the way, the life of her dreams is within reach … but supervillains never rest.

When a mysterious gang of criminals targets superhero facilities, Prism’s team springs into action. However, these villains have a nasty surprise in store for Prism: all its members are already dead … and one of them is a ghost from Prism’s past. One she can’t bring herself to take down.

Faced with an enemy who always strikes for the heart, Prism has impossible decisions to make. Choices that could cost her the things—and people—she cares for the most.

H.L. Burke

Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and was always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic. Her obsessions include dragons and tales about inner beauty and character overcoming extreme circumstances. Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.  

Media Links:

Website: https://www.hlburkeauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hlburkewriter 
Email Newsletter: https://app.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/f6o2i8  
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/hlburkewriter/ 
Instagram: @burkesdragons

And if you love Steampunk, Magic and Faerie adventures, then you need to checkout the Spellsmith and carver series also by H.L. Burke. It has snarky magicians instead of snarky superheroes. Conveniently also on sale for a few days. Get them for 99 cents each. https://amzn.to/36GapuK

https://amzn.to/36GapuK

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