To Read, or Not To Read

Goodbye for now

2020-10-11T20:04:00.002-05:00

I started To Read, or Not To Read ten and a half years ago. I can't believe it's been that long. Little did I know what a great community I was to be a part of. That community has changed a lot over the last decade. Lately, I've found myself wondering if I'm still up to the task of blogging. As my fellow bloggers know, it's like having another full-time job.

But I think the time has come for me to put this blog on pause for a while. 2020 has been bonkers for a lot of people, including me, especially in the last two months. After a rollercoaster ride of events, we've found out that my husband has cancer. With all the doctor appointments and stress, I find it hard to concentrate on book reviews. I've evaluated my schedule, and this is one thing that I can put aside for right now to focus my attention on my family.

I've decided to keep my Instagram going, though I probably won't post every day. Please follow me at marcie_2readornot2read to see what I'm reading, cooking, or posting about the best cat alive.

Thank you all for your support over the years.

Review: Chanel's Rivera

2020-09-22T07:02:00.002-05:00

Chanel's Riviera: Glamour, Decadence, and Survival in Peace and War, 1930-1944

by Anne de Courcy

Kindle Edition, 304 pages

Published February 11th 2020 by St. Martin's Press

Narrated by: Sophie Roberts

Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins

ASIN: B07S9MJ73J

Summary

The Cote d’Azur in 1938 was a world of wealth, luxury, and extravagance, inhabited by a sparkling cast of characters including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Joseph P. Kennedy, Gloria Swanson, Colette, the Mitfords, Picasso, Cecil Beaton, and Somerset Maugham. The elite flocked to the Riviera each year to swim, gamble, and escape from the turbulence plaguing the rest of Europe. At the glittering center of it all was Coco Chanel, whose very presence at her magnificently appointed villa, La Pausa, made it the ultimate place to be. Born an orphan, her beauty and formidable intelligence allured many men, but it was her incredible talent, relentless work ethic, and exquisite taste that made her an icon.

But this wildly seductive world was poised on the edge of destruction. In a matter of months, the Nazis swooped down and the glamour of the pre-war parties and casinos gave way to the horrors of evacuation and the displacement of thousands of families during World War II. From the bitter struggle to survive emerged powerful stories of tragedy, sacrifice, and heroism.

Enriched by original research and de Courcy’s signature skill, Chanel’s Riviera brings the experiences of both rich and poor, protected and persecuted, to vivid life.

My Thoughts

Chanel's Rivera turned out to be a Did Not Finish (DNF) for me. I so wanted to like this book. The glitz and glamor of the Rivera and the world of Coco Chanel just seemed too hard to resist. This book isn't a biography of Chanel, but more so of the Rivera and its history. The author makes no bones in telling her readers this first thing. So why didn't I like it?

First, let me say, I tried listening to this book on audio as well as read the kindle edition. Neither format worked for me.. Sophie Roberts is an excellent narrator. She did a great job narrating this book. The book is well researched, but it ended up being more like a gossip column, which distracts from the purpose of this book.

The Rivera was a place of refuge for many notable people including the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, Fitzgerald, Picasso, and of course, Coco Chanel. The wealth and privilege that seemed to cocoon the Rivera during wartime was a little off-putting. Not that that's the Rivera's fault. I just wasn't all that interested in the sex lives and scandals that seemed rampant among the Rivera's population.

And maybe that was my mistake. I was looking for substance but instead found trivial facts instead, making the "glamour and decadence" of the Rivera seem disappointing. This book was an okay read for me, but not a book I would recommend. There are some interesting details, especially when it came to wartime.

I made it about 3/4 of the way through the book before I decided to put it away. I wasn't enjoying it and there's just too many books I want to read to spend time on a book that I'm not crazy about. I really wanted to like this book, but alas, I didn't.

Review: Hamnet

2020-09-15T15:43:00.001-05:00

Hamnet

by Maggie O'Farrell

July 21st 2020 by Knopf

Hardcover, 320 pages

9780525657606

Summary

England, 1580. A young Latin tutor--penniless, bullied by a violent father--falls in love with an extraordinary, eccentric young woman: a wild creature who walks her family's estate with a falcon on her shoulder and is known throughout the countryside for her unusual gifts as a healer. Agnes understands plants and potions better than she does people, but once she settles with her husband on Henley Street in Stratford she becomes a fiercely protective mother and a steadfast, centrifugal force in the life of her young husband, whose gifts as a writer are just beginning to awaken when his beloved young son succumbs to bubonic plague.

A luminous portrait of a marriage, a shattering evocation of a family ravaged by grief and loss, and a hypnotic recreation of the story that inspired one of the greatest literary masterpieces of all time, Hamnet is mesmerizing and seductive, an impossible-to-put-down novel from one of our most gifted writers.

My Thoughts

In Hamnet, Maggie O'Farrell re-imagines the short life of Hamnet Shakespeare which may or may not have influenced William Shakespeare's most famous tragedy, Hamlet. Not much is known about young Hamnet, other than the fact he was eleven years old when he died. Because there aren't many details, it may be a blessing and a curse to write such a novel.

The book begins with Hamnet and his twin sister. Judith, playing and avoiding chores. It isn't long before the audience senses something tragic is in the works. O'Farrell's writing is lyrical, instantly drawing her readers into the scene, and though I knew there were tough times ahead for the characters, I didn't wan't to put the book down.

Even though this book is called Hamnet, it's also about William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway. The author describes Anne as a bit unearthly. She gives Anne abilities that reach beyond the normal human traits that most people possess. Perhaps O'Farrell was taking a page from Hamlet in her creation on Anne: "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

I have read several books about Shakespeare, but not one dealing with the death of his son before. This book is emotional and devastating, but it's also beautifully written.The ending particularly had me choked up. O'Farrell did a marvelous job writing this historical fiction piece on not only a tough subject, but also in seeing a lesser known side of Shakespeare.

Review: The Evil Queen by Gena Showalter

2020-09-10T13:39:00.004-05:00

The Evil Queen

(The Forest of Good and Evil #1)

by Gena Showalter

Kindle Edition, 544 pages

Published June 25th 2019 by Inkyard Press

B07D8RWCN5

WELCOME TO THE FOREST OF GOOD AND EVIL.

A DREAM COME TRUE…AND A LIVING NIGHTMARE.

Far, far away, in the realm of Enchantia, creatures of legend still exist, magic is the norm and fairy tales are real. Except, fairy tales aren’t based on myths and legends of the past—they are prophecies of the future.

Raised in the mortal realm, Everly Morrow has no idea she’s a real-life fairy-tale princess—until she manifests an ability to commune with mirrors.

Look. See… What will one peek hurt?

Soon, a horrifying truth is revealed. She is fated to be Snow White’s greatest enemy, the Evil Queen.

With powers beyond her imagination or control, Everly returns to the land of her birth. There, she meets Roth Charmaine, the supposed Prince Charming. Their attraction is undeniable, but their relationship is doomed. As the prophecy unfolds, Everly faces one betrayal after another, and giving in to her dark side proves more tempting every day. Can she resist, or will she become the queen—and villain—she was born to be?

The battle between good and evil is on.

My Thoughts

Gena Showalter had a new series debut last year, and I knew nothing about it. That is, until about a few weeks ago. I've read a few of Showalter's urban fantasy books in the past that I gobbled up like warm cookies. And just like here fated couples, The Evil Queen came into my life at exactly the right time.

I was stressed, tired, and just plain worn out. I wanted a way to quiet my mind and to escape my reality for a little while. That's when I came across this book. It's the perfect mixture of urban fantasy mixed with fairy tales. Two of my favorite genres.

In the land of Enchantia fairy tales exist. Except these aren't bedtime stories, they're prophecy. Everly Morrow was raised in the mortal world. She isn't aware that magic is real. Her bedtime stories are real. And she isn't aware that she will become The Evil Queen.

When I first read the reviews to The Evil Queen, I was a little put off at first. There were several that stated the writing was very juvenile. I have to disagree. First, the book is a young adult book. So if you're looking for the hot and steamy of the Lords of the Underworld series, you may consider these a bit juvenile. However, I thought the chemistry between characters was fantastic, in spite of the lack of smooshing. Not that there isn't any per se; it's just a little tamer than her adult series.

Fairy tale retellings are one of my favorite things to read, and I really like the fact that this was told from The Evil Queen's perspective. I thought it was introspective, engaging, and just a lot of fun. I like that the characters had to figure out, not only which fairy tale they were a part of, but the roles they were to play in the prophesy. This was definitely a fresh take on the genre.

The Evil Queen did exactly what I needed it to do. Showalter brought me out of myself and dropped me into a world that was so entertaining, I almost didn't want to leave.

*Thank you to HarperCollins for providing me a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

My cat is obsessed with #AlexanderHamilton

2020-08-03T10:58:00.000-05:00

I joined the #HamiltonTogether Read-Along at the beginning of July. I've had Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow unread on my bookshelf for far too long, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally dive into this massive biography.

I'm not sure I quite understood the task I was undertaking at the time, and I'll be completely honest with you: There were times I got woefully behind regarding the reading schedule. There were days when I didn't feel like reading. There were days I didn't have time to read. And there were days I couldn't get my book away from Fred.

This is Fred. She's owned my family for about 6 years.

For some unknown reason, Fred has taken to Alexander Hamilton unlike any other book I've ever owned. When I'm reading she has to be near.

When I lay down the book, even for a minute, she takes up her post on the pages.

In the above photo, you can see her sticking her tongue out at me. Mocking me.

And does Alexander Hamilton make a good pillow? Fred thinks it does.

I've enjoyed reading Hamilton so far, and I've learned a lot about the birth of our nation. As for Fred, she's currently taking her nap in a box, patiently waiting on me to read today's assigned pages so that she can once again be reunited with her favorite book.

Audiobook Review: His & Hers

2020-07-28T00:00:00.003-05:00

His & Hers

by Alice Feeney

Narrated by Richard Armitage and Stephanie Racine

Published July 28th 2020 by Macmillan Audio

Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins

B07RYGHRTS

Summary

There are two sides to every story: yours and mine, ours and theirs, His & Hers. Which means someone is always lying.

Anna Andrews finally has what she wants. Almost. She’s worked hard to become the main TV presenter of the BBC’s lunchtime news, putting work before friends, family, and her now ex-husband. So, when someone threatens to take her dream job away, she’ll do almost anything to keep it.

When asked to cover a murder in Blackdown—the sleepy countryside village where she grew up—Anna is reluctant to go. But when the victim turns out to be one of her childhood friends, she can’t leave. It soon becomes clear that Anna isn’t just covering the story, she’s at the heart of it.

DCI Jack Harper left London for a reason, but never thought he’d end up working in a place like Blackdown. When the body of a young woman is discovered, Jack decides not to tell anyone that he knew the victim, until he begins to realise he is a suspect in his own murder investigation.

One of them knows more than they are letting on. Someone isn’t telling the truth. Alternating between Anna's and Jack's points of view, His & Hers is a fast-paced, complex, and dark puzzle that will keep listeners guessing until the very end.

My Thoughts

His & Hers by Alice Feeney is a wonderfully dark tale that will keep you up past your bedtime to unravel the complicated tapestry of this page-turning thriller. I told myself I would stop at the end of the chapter, but I didn't. I stayed up late, and then woke up early just so I could listen to more of the story. Sleep deprivation was worth it.

Anna Andrews is a reporter who recently lost her dream job as a lunchtime anchor. She's asked to cover a story of a murder in her hometown of Blockdown, and she reluctantly goes back. Her ex-husband is DCI Jack Harper, the lead investigator of the murder. Both Anna and Jack know the victim. Both are suspects. But who is telling the truth?

I don't want to give too much away with the plot, because half the fun is trying to figure out who's lying and who's telling the truth. And honestly, I had no idea until it was revealed at the end of the book. I thought I had it all figured out. I thought I might be the next Marple. But I was fooled, and that's what made this book such a fantastic read/audiobook.

The novel is told from two points of view: His, narrated by Richard Armitage, and Hers, narrated by Stephanie Racine. Also there's a creepy third narration by the murderer. It will give you chills! I like that the audiobook used duel narrators to represent the main characters. Each narrator brought their own style to the characters, but they also worked well together, each keeping the pace moving swiftly.

While I think this book is outstanding, I believe it was the narration that put it over the top for me. I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience with this author. This is the perfect book to wile away those hazy, lazy days of summer.

Relive History with Week 13 of Sync's Summer of Audiobooks

2020-07-23T07:11:00.001-05:00

Be sure to sign up at audiobooksync.com to download this week's titles. You'll also need to download the Sora app on your phone or tablet. Follow the instructions. It's super easy. It took me less than 5 minutes to do it. If you've already downloaded the app, then the titles should be available in the app. And for my international friends, ALL SYNC titles are available worldwide. And remember, you only have one week to download the titles, after that you'll have to purchase them.

How do I set up Sora?

Download Sora from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store .

Open Sora and tap I have a setup code (at the bottom of the screen).

Enter this setup code: audiobooksync .

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Tap Explore (at the bottom of the screen) to see the week’s featured titles.

I already use Sora for school. How do I add SYNC titles?

If you already use Sora, you’ll need to add the SYNC program’s library. Here are the steps:

In Sora, open the menu (in the top-right corner).

Select Add a public library .

Search for audiobooksync and select the library from the results.

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Available: 07/23 - 07/29

by Meg Medina | Read by Marisol Ramirez

Published by Candlewick on Brilliance Audio

AudioFile Magazine · BURN BABY BURN by Meg Medina

While violence runs rampant throughout New York, a teenage girl faces danger within her own home in Meg Medina's riveting coming-of-age novel.

Nora Lopez is seventeen during the infamous New York summer of 1977, when the city is besieged by arson, a massive blackout, and a serial killer named Son of Sam who shoots young women on the streets. Nora’s family life isn’t going so well either: her bullying brother, Hector, is growing more threatening by the day, her mother is helpless and falling behind on the rent, and her father calls only on holidays. All Nora wants is to turn eighteen and be on her own. And while there is a cute new guy who started working with her at the deli, is dating even worth the risk when the killer likes picking off couples who stay out too late? Award-winning author Meg Medina transports us to a time when New York seemed balanced on a knife-edge, with tempers and temperatures running high, to share the story of a young woman who discovers that the greatest dangers are often closer than we like to admit—and the hardest to accept.

by Octavia E. Butler | Read by Kim Staunton

Published by Recorded Books

AudioFile Magazine · KINDRED by Octavia E. Butler

The first science fiction written by a Black woman, Kindred has become a cornerstone of Black American literature. This combination of slave memoir, fantasy, and historical fiction is a novel of rich literary complexity. Having just celebrated her 26th birthday in 1976 California, Dana, an African-American woman, is suddenly and inexplicably wrenched through time into antebellum Maryland. After saving a drowning white boy there, she finds herself staring into the barrel of a shotgun and is transported back to the present just in time to save her life. During numerous such time-defying episodes with the same young man, she realizes the challenge she's been given: to protect this young slaveholder until he can father her own great-grandmother. Author Octavia E. Butler skillfully juxtaposes the serious issues of slavery, human rights, and racial prejudice with an exciting science fiction, romance, and historical adventure. Kim Staunton's narrative talent magically transforms the listener's earphones into an audio time machine.

Who's the Authority? Find out in week 13 of Sync's Summer of Audiobooks

2020-07-16T07:59:00.002-05:00

How do I set up Sora?

Download Sora from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store .

Open Sora and tap I have a setup code (at the bottom of the screen).

Enter this setup code: audiobooksync .

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Tap Explore (at the bottom of the screen) to see the week’s featured titles.

I already use Sora for school. How do I add SYNC titles?

If you already use Sora, you’ll need to add the SYNC program’s library. Here are the steps:

In Sora, open the menu (in the top-right corner).

Select Add a public library .

Search for audiobooksync and select the library from the results.

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Available: 07/16 - 07/22

AudioFile Magazine · FAKE by by Eric Simonson | Read by Kate Arrington, Coburn Goss, Francis Guinan, Alan Wilder, Larry Yando

By Eric Simonson

Read by Kate Arrington, Coburn Goss, Francis Guinan, Alan Wilder, Larry Yando

Published by L.A. Theatre Works

Oscar-winning and Tony-nominated writer and director Eric Simonson explores the most famous archeological hoax in history. Alternating between 1914 and 1953, journalists and scientists set out to uncover who planted the Piltdown Man skull. Everyone's a suspect, including legendary Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Originally produced at Steppenwolf Theatre 2009 with Martha Lavey as Artistic Director.

An L.A. Theatre Works full cast performance featuring:

Kate Arrington as Rebecca/Katarina

Coburn Goss as de Chardin/Doug Arnt

Frank Guinan as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle/Jonathan Cole

Alan Wilder as Arthur Woodward/Paul Moody

Larry Yando as Charles Dawson/Henry Billings

Includes an interview with Russell H. Tuttle, a Professor of Anthropology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Chicago.

Directed by Eric Simonson. Recorded before a live audience at WBEZ Studios, Chicago in November of 2009.

Fake is part of L.A. Theatre Works’ Relativity Series featuring science-themed plays. Major funding for the Relativity Series is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, bridging science and the arts in the modern world.

AudioFile Magazine · NEW YORK 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson

by Kim Stanley Robinson | Read by Suzanne Toren, Robin Miles, Peter Ganim, Jay Snyder, Caitlin Kelly, Michael Crouch, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Christopher Ryan Grant, Robert Blumenfeld

Published by Hachette Audio

A new vision of the future of New York City in the 22nd century, a flooded, but vibrant metropolis, from Kim Stanley Robinson, the New York Times bestselling author of science fiction masterworks such as the Mars trilogy, 2312, and Aurora.

As the sea levels rose, every street became a canal. Every skyscraper an island. For the residents of one apartment building in Madison Square, however, New York in the year 2140 is far from a drowned city.

There is the market trader, who finds opportunities where others find trouble. There is the detective, whose work will never disappear -- along with the lawyers, of course.

There is the internet star, beloved by millions for her airship adventures, and the building's manager, quietly respected for his attention to detail. Then there are two boys who don't live there, but have no other home -- and who are more important to its future than anyone might imagine.

Lastly there are the coders, temporary residents on the roof, whose disappearance triggers a sequence of events that threatens the existence of all -- and even the long-hidden foundations on which the city rests.

New York 2140 is an extraordinary and unforgettable novel, from a writer uniquely qualified to tell the story of its future."

Genderbend a Winter Holiday in Week 11 of Sync's Summer of Audiobooks

2020-07-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

How do I set up Sora?

Download Sora from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store .

Open Sora and tap I have a setup code (at the bottom of the screen).

Enter this setup code: audiobooksync .

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Tap Explore (at the bottom of the screen) to see the week’s featured titles.

I already use Sora for school. How do I add SYNC titles?

If you already use Sora, you’ll need to add the SYNC program’s library. Here are the steps:

In Sora, open the menu (in the top-right corner).

Select Add a public library .

Search for audiobooksync and select the library from the results.

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC

Available: 07/09 - 07/15

by Charles Dickens, Alison Larkin | Read by Alison Larkin

Published by Alison Larkin Presents

AudioFile Magazine · A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens, Alison Larkin [Adapt.]

Following her recent adaptation of Dickens’ Great Expectations, bestselling novelist and award-winning audiobook narrator Alison Larkin changes the gender of Scrooge in this exciting new recording of A Christmas Carol.

Everything else, though, is pure Dickens. So the characters around Scrooge behave as if it were quite normal for a woman to learn to read and write, fall in love with and reject a woman, and have the kind of career only men could dream of in 1843.

It's an irresistible question. If gender had been simply irrelevant in the 19th century, where would we all be now?

by William Shakespeare |

Read by Stella Gonet, Gerard Murphy, Jonathan Keeble, Daniel Philpott, Nick Fletcher, Peter Yapp, Jane Whittenshaw, Malcolm Sinclair, David Timson, Lucy Whybrow, Christopher Godwin, Brian Parr, Adam Kotz, Benjamin Soames

Published by Naxos AudioBooks

AudioFile Magazine · TWELFTH NIGHT by William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, first performed around 1600, probably at the court of Queen Elizabeth I, is the tale of separated brother and sister twins – Sebastian and Viola – and their love entanglements. The play is considered one of Shakespeare’s best-loved and most-admired comedies: Modern audiences, critics and directors are attuned to its delicate counterpointing of romance and realism, to its ambivalent ending and to the poetic suggestiveness of Feste’s songs. Twelfth Night is festive in spirit, and thus suits its title’s suggestion of the celebrations marking the last night of the Christmas season. The alternative title – ‘What You Will’ – also implies a mood of careless mischief, even misrule.

A Hamilton Read-Along

2020-07-05T04:20:00.001-05:00

"What better way to celebrate the premiere of Hamilton on Disney+ than to read the book that started it all: Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow.

On Tuesday, July 7th, Penguin Press will launch #HamiltonTogether: a two-month long read along of the book with daily discussions happening right on the Penguin Press Twitter. You can follow along every day or jump in whenever you want. See the reading calendar below."

July reading calendar:

July 7 – Pages 1-13

July 8 – Pages 14-28

July 9 – Pages 29-40

July 10 – Pages 41-55

July 11 – Pages 56-69

July 12 – Pages 70-82

July 13 – Pages 83-97

July 14 – Pages 98-111

July 15 – Pages 112-125

July 16 – Pages 126-139

July 17 – Pages 140-153

July 18 – Pages 154-166

July 19 – Pages 167-181

July 20 – Pages 182-195

July 21 – Pages 196-209

July 22 – Pages 210-223

July 23 – Pages 224-237

July 24 – Pages 238-251

July 25 – Pages 252-265

July 26 – Pages 266-279

July 27 – Pages 280-293

July 28 – Pages 294-307

July 29 – Pages 308-321

July 30 – Pages 322-335

July 31 – Pages 336-349

August reading calendar coming soon

ABOUT ALEXANDER HAMILTON

The #1 New York Times bestseller, and the inspiration for the hit Broadway musical Hamilton!

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow presents a landmark biography of Alexander Hamilton, the Founding Father who galvanized, inspired, scandalized, and shaped the newborn nation.

“Grand-scale biography at its best—thorough, insightful, consistently fair, and superbly written…A genuinely great book.” —David McCullough

“A robust full-length portrait, in my view the best ever written, of the most brilliant, charismatic and dangerous founder of them all.” – Joseph Ellis

Few figures in American history have been more hotly debated or more grossly misunderstood than Alexander Hamilton. Chernow’s biography gives Hamilton his due and sets the record straight, deftly illustrating that the political and economic greatness of today’s America is the result of Hamilton’s countless sacrifices to champion ideas that were often wildly disputed during his time. “To repudiate his legacy,” Chernow writes, “is, in many ways, to repudiate the modern world.” Chernow here recounts Hamilton’s turbulent life: an illegitimate, largely self-taught orphan from the Caribbean, he came out of nowhere to take America by storm, rising to become George Washington’s aide-de-camp in the Continental Army, coauthoring The Federalist Papers, founding the Bank of New York, leading the Federalist Party, and becoming the first Treasury Secretary of the United States.Historians have long told the story of America’s birth as the triumph of Jefferson’s democratic ideals over the aristocratic intentions of Hamilton. Chernow presents an entirely different man, whose legendary ambitions were motivated not merely by self-interest but by passionate patriotism and a stubborn will to build the foundations of American prosperity and power. His is a Hamilton far more human than we’ve encountered before—from his shame about his birth to his fiery aspirations, from his intimate relationships with childhood friends to his titanic feuds with Jefferson, Madison, Adams, Monroe, and Burr, and from his highly public affair with Maria Reynolds to his loving marriage to his loyal wife Eliza. And never before has there been a more vivid account of Hamilton’s famous and mysterious death in a duel with Aaron Burr in July of 1804.

Chernow’s biography is not just a portrait of Hamilton, but the story of America’s birth seen through its most central figure. At a critical time to look back to our roots, Alexander Hamilton will remind readers of the purpose of our institutions and our heritage as Americans.

Writers Speak to Teen Readers in Week 10 of Sync's Summer of Audiobooks for Teens

2020-07-02T08:59:00.000-05:00

How do I set up Sora?

Download Sora from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store .

Open Sora and tap I have a setup code (at the bottom of the screen).

Enter this setup code: audiobooksync .

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Tap Explore (at the bottom of the screen) to see the week’s featured titles.

I already use Sora for school. How do I add SYNC titles?

If you already use Sora, you’ll need to add the SYNC program’s library. Here are the steps:

In Sora, open the menu (in the top-right corner).

Select Add a public library .

Search for audiobooksync and select the library from the results.

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Available: 07/02 - 07/08

by Lamar Giles [Ed.] | Read by Guy Lockard, Kim Mai Guest, Bahni Turpin

Published by Listening Library

AudioFile Magazine · FRESH INK by Lamar Giles [Ed.]

Thirteen of the most accomplished YA authors deliver a label-defying anthology that includes ten short stories, a graphic novel, and a one-act play about topics like gentrification, acceptance, untimely death, coming out, and poverty and ranging in genre from contemporary realistic fiction to adventure and romance. This collection will inspire you to break conventions, bend the rules, and color outside the lines.

by Rose Brock [Ed.] | Read by a Full Cast

Published by Listening Library

AudioFile Magazine · HOPE NATION by Rose Brock [Ed.]

We all experience moments when we struggle to understand the state of the world, when we feel powerless and--in some cases--even hopeless. Some of today's most influential young adult authors come together in this highly personal collection of essays and original stories that offer moments of light in the darkness, and show that hope is a decision we all can make.

Lead With Your Strengths in Week 9 of Sync's Summer of Audiobooks

2020-06-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

How do I set up Sora?

Download Sora from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store .

Open Sora and tap I have a setup code (at the bottom of the screen).

Enter this setup code: audiobooksync .

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Tap Explore (at the bottom of the screen) to see the week’s featured titles.

I already use Sora for school. How do I add SYNC titles?

If you already use Sora, you’ll need to add the SYNC program’s library. Here are the steps:

In Sora, open the menu (in the top-right corner).

Select Add a public library .

Search for audiobooksync and select the library from the results.

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Available: 06/25 - 07/01

by Matt de la Peña | Read by Henry Leyva

Published by Brilliance Audio

“[A] first-rate exploration of self-identity.” —School Library Journal

Danny’s tall and skinny. Even though he’s not built, his arms are long enough to give his pitch a power so fierce any college scout would sign him on the spot. Ninety-five-mile-an-hour fastball, but the boy’s not even on a team. Every time he gets up on the mound, he loses it. Ball ends up so far out of the strike zone it’s laughable.

But at his private school, they don’t expect much else from him. Danny’s brown. Half-Mexican brown. And growing up in San Diego, that close to the border, means everyone knows exactly who he is before he even opens his mouth. Before they find out he can’t speak Spanish, and before they realize his mom has blond hair and blue eyes, they’ve got him pegged. But it works the other way too. And Danny’s convinced it’s his whiteness that sent his father back to Mexico.

That’s why he’s spending the summer with his dad’s family. Only, to find himself, he may just have to face the demons he refuses to see—the demons that are right in front of his face. And open up to a friendship he never saw coming.

Set in the alleys and on the ball fields of San Diego County, Mexican WhiteBoy is a story of friendship, acceptance, and the struggle to find your identity in a world of definitions.

by Alison Gervais | Read by Chloe Dolandis

Published by Blink

#OwnVoices YA novel features Deaf / Hard of Hearing Community

“It’s time we see more Deaf characters in books. It’s time we see more books celebrating sign language and Deaf culture,” said author Alison Gervais.

Deaf teen Maya moves across the country and must attend a hearing school for the first time. As if that wasn’t hard enough, she also has to adjust to the hearing culture, which she finds frustrating—and also surprising when some classmates, including Beau Watson, take time to learn ASL. As Maya looks past graduation and focuses on her future dreams, nothing, not even an unexpected romance, will not derail her pursuits. But when people in her life—Deaf and hearing alike—ask her to question parts of her Deaf identity, Maya stands proudly, never giving in to the idea that her Deafness is a disadvantage.

The Silence Between Us:

Features a Deaf protagonist and an #OwnVoices perspective on Deaf and Hard of Hearing culture

Is a clean YA romance by Wattpad sensation Alison Gervais

Is perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and CeCe Bell

Can Falling In Love Ever Feel Safe? Find out in week 8 of Sync's Summer of Audiobooks

2020-06-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

How do I set up Sora?

Download Sora from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store .

Open Sora and tap I have a setup code (at the bottom of the screen).

Enter this setup code: audiobooksync .

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Tap Explore (at the bottom of the screen) to see the week’s featured titles.

I already use Sora for school. How do I add SYNC titles?

If you already use Sora, you’ll need to add the SYNC program’s library. Here are the steps:

In Sora, open the menu (in the top-right corner).

Select Add a public library .

Search for audiobooksync and select the library from the results.

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Available: 06/18 - 06/24

by Katherine Reay | Read by Laura Kirman

Published by Thomas Nelson

AudioFile Magazine · THE BRONTE PLOT by Katherine Reay

When Lucy’s secret is unearthed, her world begins to crumble. But it may be the best thing that has ever happened to her.

Lucy Alling makes a living selling rare books, often taking suspicious liberties to reach her goals. When her unorthodox methods are discovered, Lucy’s secret ruins her relationship with her boss and her boyfriend, James—leaving Lucy in a heap of hurt and trouble. Something has to change; she has to change.

In a sudden turn of events, James’s wealthy grandmother, Helen, hires Lucy as a consultant for a London literary and antiques excursion. Lucy reluctantly agrees and soon discovers Helen holds secrets of her own. In fact, Helen understands Lucy’s predicament better than anyone else.

As the two travel across England, Lucy benefits from Helen’s wisdom as Helen confronts ghosts from her own past. Everything comes to a head at Haworth, home of the Brontë sisters, where Lucy is reminded of the sisters’ beloved heroines who, with tenacity and resolution, endured—even in the midst of impossible circumstances.

Now Lucy must face her past in order to move forward. And while it may hold mistakes and regrets, she will prevail—if only she can step into the life that’s been waiting for her all along.

by Bill Konigsberg | Read by Joel Froomkin, Anthony Rey Perez

Published by Scholastic Audio

AudioFile Magazine · THE MUSIC OF WHAT HAPPENS by Bill Konigsberg

From the award-winning author of Openly Straight, a story about two teens falling in love over a summer that throws everything possible to keep them apart.

Max: Chill. Sports. Video games. Gay and not a big deal, not to him, not to his mom, not to his buddies. And a secret: An encounter with an older kid that makes it hard to breathe, one that he doesn't want to think about, ever.

Jordan: The opposite of chill. Poetry. His ""wives"" and the Chandler Mall. Never been kissed and searching for Mr. Right, who probably won't like him anyway. And a secret: A spiraling out of control mother, and the knowledge that he's the only one who can keep the family from falling apart.

Throw in a rickety, 1980s-era food truck called Coq Au Vinny. Add in prickly pears, cloud eggs, and a murky idea of what's considered locally sourced and organic. Place it all in Mesa, Arizona, in June, where the temp regularly hits 114. And top it off with a touch of undeniable chemistry between utter opposites.

Over the course of one summer, two boys will have to face their biggest fears and decide what they're willing to risk - to get the thing they want the most.

Who Determines Who Sees You in Week 6 of Sync's Summer of Audiobooks

2020-06-04T07:04:00.001-05:00

Be sure to sign up at audiobooksync.com to download this week's titles. You'll also need to download the Sora app on your phone or tablet. Follow the instructions. It's super easy. It took me less than 5 minutes to do it. If you've already downloaded the app, then the titles should be available in the app. And for my international friends, ALL SYNC titles are available worldwide. And remember, you only have one week to download the titles, after that you'll have to purchase them.

How do I set up Sora?

Download Sora from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store .

Open Sora and tap I have a setup code (at the bottom of the screen).

Enter this setup code: audiobooksync .

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Tap Explore (at the bottom of the screen) to see the week’s featured titles.

I already use Sora for school. How do I add SYNC titles?

If you already use Sora, you’ll need to add the SYNC program’s library. Here are the steps:

In Sora, open the menu (in the top-right corner).

Select Add a public library .

Search for audiobooksync and select the library from the results.

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Available: 06/04 - 06/10

by Randi Pink | Read by Adenrele Ojo

Published by Listening Library

LaToya Williams lives in Montgomery, Alabama, and attends a mostly white high school. Toya doesn’t know where she fits in, but after a run-in with another student, she wonders if life would be different if she were . . . different. And then a higher power answers her prayer: to be “anything but black.” Toya is suddenly white, blond, and popular. Now what?

by Una LaMarche | Read by Phoebe Strole, Leslie Odom, Jr.

Published by Listening Library

When a hurricane strikes the Northeast, Hasidic good girl Devorah and Jaxon, a fun-loving nerd from a West Indian family, become stranded in an elevator together where fate leaves them no choice but to make an otherwise risky connection. Though their relationship is strictly forbidden, Devorah and Jaxon risk everything to be together.

Audiobook Review: The Other Bennet Sister

2020-06-02T06:56:00.002-05:00

The Other Bennet Sister

by Janice Hadlow

Narrated by: Carla Mendonça

Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins

Release date: 03-31-20

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

9781250129413

Summary

Mary, the bookish ugly duckling of Pride and Prejudice’s five Bennet sisters, emerges from the shadows and transforms into a desired woman with choices of her own.

What if Mary Bennet’s life took a different path from that laid out for her in Pride and Prejudice? What if the frustrated intellectual of the Bennet family, the marginalized middle daughter, the plain girl who takes refuge in her books, eventually found the fulfillment enjoyed by her prettier, more confident sisters? This is the plot of The Other Bennet Sister, a debut novel with exactly the affection and authority to satisfy Austen fans.

Ultimately, Mary’s journey is like that taken by every Austen heroine. She learns that she can only expect joy when she has accepted who she really is. She must throw off the false expectations and wrong ideas that have combined to obscure her true nature and prevented her from what makes her happy. Only when she undergoes this evolution does she have a chance at finding fulfillment; only then does she have the clarity to recognize her partner when he presents himself—and only at that moment is she genuinely worthy of love.

Mary’s destiny diverges from that of her sisters. It does not involve broad acres or landed gentry. But it does include a man; and, as in all Austen novels, Mary must decide whether he is the truly the one for her. In The Other Bennet Sister, Mary is a fully rounded character—complex, conflicted, and often uncertain; but also vulnerable, supremely sympathetic, and ultimately the protagonist of an uncommonly satisfying debut novel.

My Thoughts

Poor, poor Mary Bennet. She is a true middle child. Mrs. Bennet has no use for her, and she can't seem to bond with Mr. Bennet. And all Mary wants is to be loved and accepted by her family. Janice Hadlow explores the character created by Jane Austen and gives Mary Bennet a voice and her own happy ending in The Other Bennet Sister.

Hadlow begins the story before Pride and Prejudice to give readers a bit of origin story, as to find why Mary is the way she is. She truly is different from her four sisters. She's neither outrageously silly or a raving beauty. She just sorta is. She's more like Charlotte Lucas than any other character. Perhaps Mrs. Bennet had an affair? But I digress.

I listened to this book as an audiobook, which I LOVED. It's narrated by Carla Mendonça, and she does a wonderful job with this cast of characters, especially Mrs. Bennet. Mendonca made this book come to life with her excellent narration skills. I give five stars just for the narration alone.

This book is rather lengthy, but Mary had to go on quite a journey to get to her happy place. She finds a friend in Ms. Hill and her aunt Gardner. And truth be told, we all need Aunt Gardner in our lives. She could almost be called Mary Bennet's fairy godmother. Also, Caroline Bingley makes an appearance and seems to be the perfect nemesis to the Bennet girls.

It was good to visit the Bennets again for Mary's story. She deserved one. The story was engaging and entertaining. I did think it was a tad too long, but I have zero regrets with the time I spent with this book.

When lives intersect, discoveries follow in Week 5 of Sync's Summer of Audiobooks

2020-05-28T09:13:00.000-05:00

Be sure to sign up at audiobooksync.com to download this week's titles. You'll also need to download the Sora app on your phone or tablet. Follow the instructions. It's super easy. It took me less than 5 minutes to do it. If you've already downloaded the app, then the titles should be available in the app. And for my international friends, ALL SYNC titles are available worldwide. And remember, you only have one week to download the titles, after that you'll have to purchase them.

How do I set up Sora?

Download Sora from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store .

Open Sora and tap I have a setup code (at the bottom of the screen).

Enter this setup code: audiobooksync .

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Tap Explore (at the bottom of the screen) to see the week’s featured titles.

I already use Sora for school. How do I add SYNC titles?

If you already use Sora, you’ll need to add the SYNC program’s library. Here are the steps:

In Sora, open the menu (in the top-right corner).

Select Add a public library .

Search for audiobooksync and select the library from the results.

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Available: 05/28 - 06/03

by Ava Dellaira | Read by Adenrele Ojo

Published by Brilliance Audio

AudioFile Magazine · IN SEARCH OF US by Ava Dellaira

This sweeping multi-generational love story introduces readers to mother-and-daughter pair Marilyn and Angie. To seventeen-year-old Angie, who is mixed-race, Marilyn is her hardworking, devoted white single mother. But Marilyn was once young, too.

When Marilyn was seventeen, she fell in love with Angie's father, James, who was African-American. But Angie's never met him, and Marilyn has always told her he died before she was born. When Angie discovers evidence of an uncle she's never met she starts to wonder:

What if her dad is still alive, too? So she sets off on a journey to find him, hitching a ride to LA from her home in New Mexico with her ex-boyfriend, Sam. Along the way, she uncovers some hard truths about herself, her mother, and what truly happened to her father.

"A rare and special book. Part mother-daughter love story, part road trip journey, part compelling mystery, and one hundred percent beautiful, spellbinding tearjerker. I’m in love with every page." ―Jennifer Niven, New York Times-bestselling author of All the Bright Places and Holding Up the Universe

"A masterful work of fiction. Exploring race and mother and daughter relationships, this novel is also one of the most tender and authentic takes on first love that I have ever read." ―Jennifer Mathieu, author of Moxie

by Shelby Mahurin | Read by Holter Graham, Saskia Maarleveld

Published by HarperAudio

An Amazon Best Book of 2019 * New York Times Bestseller * B&N's YA Book Club Pick * Indiebound Bestseller * #6 on the 2019 Kids’ Indie Next List

AudioFile Magazine · SERPENT & DOVE by Shelby Mahurin

"A brilliant debut, full of everything I love: a sparkling and fully realized heroine, an intricate and deadly system of magic, and a searing romance that kept me reading long into the night. Serpent & Dove is an absolute gem of a book." —Sarah J. Maas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Court of Thorns and Roses series

Bound as one, to love, honor, or burn. Book one of a stunning fantasy duology, this tale of witchcraft and forbidden love is perfect for fans of Kendare Blake and Sara Holland.

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

As a huntsman of the Church, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. But when Lou pulls a wicked stunt, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage.

Lou, unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, must make a choice. And love makes fools of us all.

Set in a world of powerful women, dark magic, and off-the-charts romance, book one of this stunning fantasy duology will leave readers burning for more.

Audiobook Review: Open Book

2020-05-26T10:02:00.000-05:00

Open Book

by Jessica Simpson

Narrated by: Jessica Simpson

Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins

Published February 4th 2020 by Harper Collins B and Blackstone Publishing

ISBN13: 9780062905000

Summary

Jessica reveals for the first time her inner monologue and most intimate struggles. Guided by the journals she's kept since age fifteen, and brimming with her unique humor and down-to-earth humanity, Open Book is as inspiring as it is entertaining.

This was supposed to be a very different book. Five years ago, Jessica Simpson was approached to write a motivational guide to living your best life. She walked away from the offer, and nobody understood why. The truth is that she didn’t want to lie.

Jessica couldn’t be authentic with her readers if she wasn’t fully honest with herself first.

Now, America’s Sweetheart, preacher’s daughter, pop phenomenon, reality TV pioneer, and the billion-dollar fashion mogul invites readers on a remarkable journey, examining a life that blessed her with the compassion to help others but also burdened her with an almost crippling need to please. Open Book is Jessica Simpson using her voice, heart, soul, and humor to share things she’s never shared before.

First celebrated for her voice, she became one of the most talked-about women in the world, whether for music and fashion, her relationship struggles, or as a walking blonde joke. But now, instead of being talked about, Jessica is doing the talking. Her book shares the wisdom and inspirations she’s learned and shows the real woman behind all the pop-culture clichés — “chicken or fish,” “Daisy Duke,” "football jinx," “mom jeans,” “sexual napalm…” and more. Open Book is an opportunity to laugh and cry with a close friend, one that will inspire you to live your best, most authentic life, now that she is finally living hers.

My Thoughts

I think most people know who Jessica Simpson is. She skyrocketed to fame when I was in my teens and seems to be a favorite among tabloids. From singer to actress to entrepreneur, she could hardly be the dumb blond that is associated with her image. In Open Book, Simpson tells her story and doesn't skimp on the details.

I listened to Open Book as an audiobook, and I recommend this format to anybody interested in this book. It's narrated by Jessica, and it gives this book a more personal, intimate feeling. As I listened to her voice recall painful events in her life, I could hear the timbre change, as if she were restraining her emotions.

Open Book covers just about all the major events in Jessica's life. I have to admit there were some shocking details, as well as a cautionary tale of why women should stay away from John Mayer. Jessica Simpson doesn't hold back in this book, showing the world who she really is.

As a bonus, there are several songs at the end of the book that are worth listening to. This is by far one of the best celebrity memoirs that I've read. It's entertaining, inspiring, and eye-opening.

My First DNF Book of 2020: The Bridge to Belle Island

2020-05-22T00:30:00.000-05:00

The Bridge to Belle Island

by Julie Klassen

Narrated by: James Langton

Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins

Kindle Edition, 397 pages

Published December 3rd 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

B07PZYTSC8

Summary

After a humiliating mistake, lawyer Benjamin Booker resolves to never again trust a beautiful woman. When an old friend is killed, the senior partner isn't satisfied with Bow Street's efforts and asks Benjamin to investigate. Eager to leave London for a while, Benjamin agrees. Evidence takes him to a remote island on the Thames, a world unto itself, shrouded in mist and mystery. Soon he finds himself falling for the main suspect--a woman who claims not to have left the island in ten years. But should he trust her?

On Belle Island, Isabelle feels safe and leads a productive life, but fear keeps her trapped there. When Mr. Booker arrives with news of her trustee's murder in London, Isabelle is stunned. She has not left the island, yet she has a recurring dream about the man's death. Or is it a memory? She had been furious with him, but she never intended . . . this.

When a second person dies and evidence shockingly points to her, Isabelle doesn't know who to trust: the attractive lawyer or the admirer and friends who assemble on the island, each with grudges against the victim. Can she even trust her own mind? While they search for the truth, secrets come to light and danger comes calling.

My Thoughts

Well it was bound to happen. The Bridge to Belle Island by Julie Klassen is my first "did not finish" of 2020, and I have to admit, I didn't see it coming. I have read many of Klassen's books, and I found them delightful. Needless to say, I thought Belle Island would be another enjoyable read. However, I tried and failed to like this book. I had a hard time connecting with the story and the characters.

I began this book by listening to the audiobook narrated by James Langton. He has a pleasant voice, but it felt like his voice was wrong for Klassen's book. I had listened for about two hours before I came to this conclusion. So I decided to read the book instead on Kindle, yet I still couldn't get interested in the book. So maybe it wasn't the narrator after all.

Not finishing a book is a huge letdown for me, especially when it's an author I enjoyed reading in the past. Oh well, there's always next time.

*I received a copy of the audiobook from Recorded Books for review purposes only. I purchased the Kindle copy myself.

Discover what happens when outside forces interrupt your life in Week 4 of Sync's Summer of Audiobooks

2020-05-21T09:35:00.000-05:00

Be sure to sign up at audiosync.com to download this week's titles. You'll also need to download the Sora app on your phone or tablet. Follow the instructions. It's super easy. It took me less than 5 minutes to do it. If you've already downloaded the app, then the titles should be available in the app. And for my international friends, ALL SYNC titles are available worldwide. And remember, you only have one week to download the titles, after that you'll have to purchase them.

How do I set up Sora?

Download Sora from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store .

Open Sora and tap I have a setup code (at the bottom of the screen).

Enter this setup code: audiobooksync .

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Tap Explore (at the bottom of the screen) to see the week’s featured titles.

I already use Sora for school. How do I add SYNC titles?

If you already use Sora, you’ll need to add the SYNC program’s library. Here are the steps:

In Sora, open the menu (in the top-right corner).

Select Add a public library .

Search for audiobooksync and select the library from the results.

Enter the email address you used to register for SYNC.

Available: 05/21 - 05/27

by Philip Kan Gotanda | Read by Keiko Agena, June Angela, Ron Bottitta, Kurt Kanazawa, Suzy Nakamura, Greg Watanabe, Ryun Yu

Published by L.A. Theatre Works

AudioFile Magazine · SISTERS MATSUMOTO by Philip Kan Gotanda

Stockton, California 1945. Three Japanese-American sisters return to their farm after years in an internment camp, but the once prosperous family finds it’s not easy to pick up the pieces of their former lives. As the details of their deceased father’s final arrangements emerge, the sisters must work together to keep their dreams alive.

Includes a post-play discussion with actor George Takei, playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, and director Tim Dang.

Recorded before a live audience at the UCLA James Bridges Theater in November 2018.

This recording is sponsored in part by the California Civil Liberties Program from the California State Library.

Directed by Tim Dang

Producing Director Susan Albert Loewenberg

Keiko Agena as Rose

June Angela as Grace

Ron Bottitta as Mr. Hersham

Kurt Kanazawa as Henry

Suzy Nakamura as Chiz

Greg Watanabe as Bola

Ryun Yu as Hideo

Associate Artistic Director, Anna Lyse Erikson. Recording Engineer, Sound Designer and Mixer, Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood. Senior Radio Producer, Ronn Lipkin. Foley Artist, Jeff Gardner. Production Manager, Nikki Hyde. Editor, Mitchell Lindskoog.

by Francisco X. Stork | Read by Roxana Ortega, Christian Barillas

Published by Scholastic Audio

AudioFile Magazine · DISAPPEARED by Francisco X. Stork

You've never listened to a Francisco X. Stork novel like this before! A missing girl, a determined reporter, and a young man on the brink combine for a powerful story of choices, suspense, and survival.

Four months ago...

Sara Zapata's best friend disappeared, kidnapped by the web of criminals who terrorize Juarez.

Four hours ago...

Sara received a death threat - and, with it, a clue to the place where her friend is locked away.

Four weeks ago...

Emiliano Zapata fell in love with Perla Rubi, who will never be his so long as he's poor.

Four minutes ago...

Emiliano got the chance to make more money than he ever dreamed - just by joining the web.

In the next four days, Sara and Emiliano will each face impossible choices, between life and justice, friends and family, truth and love. But when the web closes in on Sara, only one path remains for the siblings: the way across the desert to the United States.

Make New Partnerships with Great Care with Week 3 of Sync's Summer of Audiobooks

2020-05-17T15:37:00.002-05:00

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe | Read by Samuel West, Toby Jones, Anna Maxwell Martin, Stephen Critchlow, Derek Jacobi, Daniel Mair

Published by Naxos AudioBooks

Faust is one of the pillars of Western literature. This classic drama presents the story of the scholar Faust, tempted into a contract with the Devil in return for a life of sensuality and power. Enjoyment rules until Faust’s emotions are stirred by a meeting with Gretchen, and the tragic outcome brings Part 1 to an end. Part 2, written much later in Goethe’s life, places his eponymous hero in a variety of unexpected circumstances, causing him to reflect on humanity and its attitudes to life and death.

by Kerri Maniscalco | Read by Nicola Barber
Published by Hachette Audio

An instant #1 New York Times Bestseller in its very first week! Presented by James Patterson's children's imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion...

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

The story's shocking twists and turns will make this #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

The Baroness of New York by Anya Silverthorne Guest Post and Giveaway @AnyaSilverthorn @hfvbt

2020-05-14T00:30:00.000-05:00

The Baroness of New York by Anya Silverthorne

Publication Date: May 1, 2020

Platen Press

Genre: Historical Romance/Victorian

Baroness Adele von Mueller learns the sweetest love is forbidden....

Baroness Adele von Mueller

It's 1903 and free-spirited 18-year-old Baroness Adele von Mueller has just arrived to live with her spinster aunt in New York City. After a previous impropriety tarnishes her reputation with the German nobility, her father sends her overseas to give her one last chance to marry into money and save the family's name. Instead, Adele finds herself falling for charming and wickedly handsome Nick Mason, the foreman of a paper factory, who is as gorgeous as he is poor. As family secrets are revealed, Adele learns there's much more riding on her marrying wealthy than just keeping the family's name...

Nick Mason

Nick Mason has a habit of falling in love with every girl he sees. An orphan, former newspaper seller and now a foreman at a paper mill, he's nursing a bruised heart after being dumped by a laundry girl. But when he meets Baroness Adele disguised on a night out as a maid in her family's house, he knows right away there's something different about her. Once she reveals her true identity, he's even more intrigued. Nick has fallen for white women before, but never one so wealthy, and never one he knew he couldn't live without. With most people firmly against their love, he must visit her in secrecy to make their romance blossom.

Nick and Adele must stand up to a society and a family that won't accept their love for what it is: true and enduring. Can they withstand the storm, or will they be forced apart by a deck that's stacked against them in this steamy Victorian romance?

This historical interracial romance/Victorian romance novel marks Anya Silverthorne's debut.

Available on Amazon

On Writing Adele

Writing The Baroness of New York has certainly been a whirlwind. While the book itself only took a few months to write, the entire thing has been part of me for years and years.

The story itself started a very long time ago, perhaps in 2001 or 2002 as a silly little fanfiction of a film I had become obsessed with. Because of that, it is hard to answer the question of why New York or what this time period, because they were already, in essence, ready-made for me.

Adele, however, is a completely new character that was made up completely. I am not sure where the genesis of her character even came from: I have really no experience or claim to anything about her life. But as time went on, I came to really love this little character I had created.

At the heart of the story, Adele represents so many things about the time period, and I think that’s my favorite thing about her. She showcases that you can be wealthy and have everything, but still be constrained by your circumstances.

But my favorite part of Adele is her rebellious streak. Although it’s a trope in romance, it works so well for her character and in the time of rapid social change in which it is set. She’s not content to sit and look pretty for the men of her family, and she’s not blind to the fact that the world is completely unjust.

She could be a boring character resigned to her fate, but the fact that she even opened up her heart to Nick shows what an incredible character she is, not to toot my own horn of course. But because she’s always clammored for attention from her father, it’s often backfired. And while there are consequences to her behavior, they’ve also led her on these crazy adventures and opened her up to meeting people like Nick.

Nick is a bit less developed in that sense because he’s part of the world of the film the book’s fanfic was based on. He was a ready-built character, in that there were some things about him that were already established. However, Nick’s character building will be much more pronounced as the series moves on, and I’m really excited to introduce my readers to that.

Together, they have a really interesting dynamic, and one that’s definitely before their time. I’m really pleased with how people have taken the story thus far, and where I’m going with it.

I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts as they read the story and it progresses.

About the Author

Anya Silverthorne makes her debut with The Baroness of New York. She enjoys writing fiction about the late Victorian and early Edwardian era. In "real life," she is a historian of a completely different time period.

Follow her on social media to stay connected, and up-to-date with new releases, giveaways, and more.

Instagram: @anyasilverthorne
Twitter: @anyasilverthorn
Facebook: @anyasilverthorne

Want news delivered straight to your inbox? Join her mailing list.

Blog Tour Schedule

Friday, May 1

Review at Passages to the Past

Sunday, May 3

Review at Carole Rae's Random Ramblings

Monday, May 4

Review at A Chick Who Reads

Tuesday, May 5

Review at Bitch Bookshelf

Excerpt at I'm All About Books

Wednesday, May 6

Excerpt at What Is That Book About

Thursday, May 7

Review at Mommy In Color

Friday, May 8

Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Sunday, May 10

Guest Post at A Darn Good Read

Monday, May 11

Review at YA, It's Lit

Tuesday, May 12

Excerpt at Donna's Book Blog

Wednesday, May 13

Review at Books and Zebras

Thursday, May 14

Guest Post at To Read, Or Not to Read

Friday, May 15

Feature at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Monday, May 18

Interview at Passages to the Past

Thursday, May 21

Review at Books in their Natural Habitat

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a paperback copy of The Baroness of New York! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on May 21st. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

Discover Hidden Stories in Week 2 of Sync's Summer of #Audiobooks

2020-05-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

by Paul B. Janeczko | Read by Ron Butler

Published by Brilliance Audio

AudioFile Magazine · SECRET SOLDIERS by Paul B. Janeczko

What do set design, sound effects, and showmanship have to do with winning World War II? Meet the Ghost Army that played a surprising role in helping to deceive — and defeat — the Nazis.

In his third book about deception during war, Paul B. Janeczko focuses his lens on World War II and the operations carried out by the Twenty-Third Headquarters Special Troops, aka the Ghost Army. This remarkable unit included actors, camouflage experts, sound engineers, painters, and set designers who used their skills to secretly and systematically replace fighting units — fooling the Nazi army into believing what their eyes and ears told them, even though the sights and sounds of tanks and war machines and troops were entirely fabricated. Follow the Twenty-Third into Europe as they play a dangerous game of enticing the German army into making battlefield mistakes by using sonic deceptions, inflatable tanks, pyrotechnics, and camouflage in more than twenty operations. From the Normandy invasion to the crossing of the Rhine River, the men of the Ghost Army — several of whom went on to become famous artists and designers after the war — played an improbable role in the Allied victory.

by Kelly Loy Gilbert | Read by James Chen

Published by Dreamscape

AudioFile Magazine · PICTURE US IN THE LIGHT by Kelly Loy Gilbert

When Danny discovers a taped-up box in his father's closet filled with old letters and a file on a powerful Silicon Valley family, he realizes there's much more to his family's past than he ever imagined.

Danny has been an artist for as long as he can remember, and it seems his path is set, with a scholarship to RISD and his family's blessing to pursue the career he's always dreamed of. Still, contemplating a future without his best friend, Harry Wong, by his side makes Danny feel a panic he can barely put into words. Harry and Danny's lives are deeply intertwined, and as they approach the one-year anniversary of a tragedy that shook their friend group to its core, Danny can't stop asking himself if Harry is truly in love with his girlfriend, Regina Chan.

When Danny digs deeper into his parents' past, he uncovers a secret that disturbs the foundations of his family history, and the carefully constructed façade his parents have maintained begins to crumble. With everything he loves in danger of being stripped away, he must face the ghosts of the past in order to build a future that belongs to him.

The Abolitionist's Daughter by Diane C. McPhail Excerpt and Giveaway

2020-05-01T00:30:00.000-05:00

The Abolitionist's Daughter by Diane C. McPhail

Publication Date: April 30, 2019

A John Scognamiglio Book/Kensington

Genre: Historical Fiction

In her sweeping debut, Diane C. McPhail offers a powerful, profoundly emotional novel that explores a little-known aspect of Civil War history—Southern Abolitionists—and the timeless struggle to do right even amidst bitter conflict.

On a Mississippi morning in 1859, Emily Matthews begs her father to save a slave, Nathan, about to be auctioned away from his family. Judge Matthews is an abolitionist who runs an illegal school for his slaves, hoping to eventually set them free. One, a woman named Ginny, has become Emily’s companion and often her conscience—and understands all too well the hazards an educated slave must face. Yet even Ginny could not predict the tangled, tragic string of events set in motion as Nathan’s family arrives at the Matthews farm.

A young doctor, Charles Slate, tends to injured Nathan and begins to court Emily, finally persuading her to become his wife. But their union is disrupted by a fatal clash and a lie that will tear two families apart. As Civil War erupts, Emily, Ginny, and Emily’s stoic mother-in-law, Adeline, each face devastating losses. Emily—sheltered all her life—is especially unprepared for the hardships to come. Struggling to survive in this raw, shifting new world, Emily will discover untapped inner strength, an unlikely love, and the courage to confront deep, painful truths.

In the tradition of Cold Mountain, The Abolitionist’s Daughter eschews stereotypes of the Civil War South, instead weaving an intricate and unforgettable story of survival, loyalty, hope, and redemption.

Excerpt

Emily studied Ginny’s back for a moment. "Ginny," she said, "there is something I keep wondering about and maybe now is the time to ask. You studied with me, with my tutor. You spent most of your life in this house. Why do you not speak correctly?"

Ginny took several swipes at a high shelf before answering. She lowered the duster and turned. "Yes, Miss Emily, I have studied and I have learned almost everything that you have, though I began somewhat later than you did. Was that correct enough?" She turned and pushed the duster into the back of a shelf.

"Yes, of course, Ginny. I know you can speak as well as I do, and yet you persist in speaking the slave-dialect."

"And do you know what speaking as well as I know how to, as well as you do, speaking better than lots of white folks around here, would make me? An ‘uppity nigger’, that’s what. Do you know what happens to ‘uppity niggers’ around here, especially women? Rape? Lashings? Things you couldn’t protect me from in spite of owning me."

"I’m sorry, Ginny. I didn’t mean—" Emily stumbled on her words. "What I mean is your education makes you special. You shouldn’t waste it."

Ginny pulled the duster through her other hand and shook her head. "No, Miss Emily, I ain’t special. I tell you who special. Them black folk breaking they backs out there in the sun trying to make a life for themselves out of leftovers, they the folk who special." Ginny straightened to her full height and laid the duster beside the closed book. "Education does not make a person special," she said, her face clear and open. "Courage and fortitude and perseverance, self-denial and any number of other admirable qualities, like Jane Eyre, like your Papa going up against slavery—those things make a person special. And as to dialect, I don’t know what that is. I do know this. What I am speaking so correctly now is ‘white’ dialect. It sets me apart from my own and I choose not to be set apart. What we speak is a language, black language, slave language, one forged out of the most impossible conditions: seized from all parts of Africa, speaking hundreds of different languages, unable to understand even one another, chained up by slavers speaking multiple other languages. And out of that, Miss Emily, these tortured people made a way to communicate with one another and with their enslavers. That is history you have not studied in your books. And those are my people whose language I will not dishonor by failing to speak it. You asked me plain out, Miss Emily, and I answer you plain And I ain’t saying nothing about that subject again."

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

Praise for The Abolitionist's Daughter

"Diane McPhail excavates a nearly forgotten corner of American history and brings it to full, beating life. This is a fascinating and heartfelt look at the kinds of stories that don't always make it into the history books." -Louis Bayard, author of Courting Mr. Lincoln

"A contender, a deeply felt, thoroughly researched story . . . as good as it deserves to be." -Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author

"Complex, vivid, and emotionally engaging. This is a story of harsh realities written with a tenderness that shines through and honors the account of one woman's struggle to overcome her society's rules and her circumstances in the face of inconceivable devastation. I couldn't put it down." -Carol E. Anderson, author of You Can't Buy Love Like That

"What an impressive book this is! Diane McPhail works a spell on the reader, transporting us to Mississippi in the 19th century, introducing us to a family torn apart by the time and place in which they live. She tells a dark tale, yet it's laced with lyricism and compassion. This is a powerful, imaginative, captivating book-I'd say, even urgent, considering the time we find ourselves in now." -Judy Goldman, author of Together

"A tender, sparkling debut that bears gentle witness to the abominations of slavery and oppression while heralding the grace, power and necessity of righting wrongs and choosing love. McPhail is full of talent and heart." -Ethel Rohan, author of The Weight of Him"

About the Author

Diane C. McPhail is an artist, writer, and minister. In addition to holding an M.F.A., an M.A., and D.Min., she has studied at the University of Iowa distance learning and the Yale Writers’ Workshop, among others. Diane is a member of North Carolina Writers' Network and the Historical Novel Society. She lives in Highlands, North Carolina, with her husband, and her dog, Pepper.

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Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, April 27

Review at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, April 28

Review at Books and Backroads

Feature at I'm All About Books

Wednesday, April 29

Review at Books and Zebras

Thursday, April 30

Feature at Just One More Chapter

Friday, May 1

Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Excerpt at To Read, or Not to Read

Monday, May 4

Review at Brightside Books

Tuesday, May 5

Feature at What Is That Book About

Wednesday, May 6

Review at Robin Loves Reading

Thursday, May 7

Interview at Passages to the Past

Friday, May 8

Feature at View from the Birdhouse

Monday, May 11

Review at 100 Pages a Day

Wednesday, May 13

Feature at Words and Peace

Thursday, May 14

Review at Tales from the Book Dragon

Saturday, May 16

Review at Reading is My Remedy

Monday, May 18

Review at History + Fiction + Adirondack Spirit

Friday, May 22

Review at A Darn Good Read

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a copy of The Abolitionist's Daughter! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on May 22nd. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

Week 1 Sync 2020: Check You Assumptions with Monday's Not Coming and The 57 Bus

2020-04-30T00:30:00.000-05:00

Be sure to sign up at audiosync.com to download this week's titles. You'll also need to download the Sora app on your phone or tablet. Follow the instructions. It's super easy. It took me less than 5 minutes to do it. And for my international friends, ALL SYNC titles are available worldwide. And remember, you only have one week to download the titles, after that you'll have to purchase them.

Available April 30-May 6

Monday's Not Coming

by Tiffany D. Jackson | Read by Imani Parks

Published by HarperAudio

AudioFile Magazine · MONDAY'S NOT COMING by Tiffany D. Jackson

From the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly, Tiffany D. Jackson, comes a gripping new novel perfect for fans of E. Lockhart and Gillian Flynn about the mystery of one teenage girl’s disappearance and the traumatic effects of the truth.

Monday Charles is missing, and only Claudia seems to notice. Claudia and Monday have always been inseparable—more sisters than friends. So when Monday doesn’t turn up for the first day of school, Claudia’s worried.

When she doesn’t show for the second day, or second week, Claudia knows that something is wrong. Monday wouldn’t just leave her to endure tests and bullies alone. Not after last year’s rumors and not with her grades on the line. Now Claudia needs her best—and only—friend more than ever. But Monday’s mother refuses to give Claudia a straight answer, and Monday’s sister April is even less help.

As Claudia digs deeper into her friend’s disappearance, she discovers that no one seems to remember the last time they saw Monday. How can a teenage girl just vanish without anyone noticing that she’s gone?"

The 57 Bus

by Dashka Slater | Read by Robin Miles

Published by Recorded Books

This riveting nonfiction book for teens about race, class, gender, crime, and punishment tells the true story of an agender teen who was set on fire by another teen while riding a bus in Oakland, California. One teenager in a skirt. One teenager with a lighter. One moment that changes both of their lives forever. If it weren't for the 57 bus, Sasha and Richard never would have met. Both were high school students from Oakland, California, one of the most diverse cities in the country, but they inhabited different worlds. Sasha, a white teen, lived in the middle-class foothills and attended a small private school. Richard, a black teen, lived in the crime-plagued flatlands and attended a large public one. Each day, their paths overlapped for a mere eight minutes. But one afternoon on the bus ride home from school, a single reckless act left Sasha severely burned, and Richard charged with two hate crimes and facing life imprisonment. The case garnered international attention, thrusting both teenagers into the spotlight.

Audiobook Review: Do the Work

2020-04-29T05:32:00.000-05:00

Do the Work: The Official Unrepentant, Ass-Kicking, No-Kidding, Change-Your-Life Sidekick to Unfu*k Yourself

by Gary John Bishop

Narrated by: Gary John Bishop

Series: Unfu*k Yourself

Length: 2 hrs and 12 mins

Release date: 10-22-19

by HarperCollins

9781094079035

Summary

Based on the life-changing lessons from the New York Times bestseller that has sold more than a million copies, a practical, hands-on guide that helps you do the work you need to change your life. In Unfu*k Yourself, Gary John Bishop inspired people to put his words into action to help them transform their fu*king lives. While millions of fans have read and embraced the messages in the book, Bishop knows it can be hard to actually take the next step and do the necessary work. Written in his no nonsense, tough-love voice, Do the Work is the kick in the ass you need to get moving and create the life you want. By drilling down into the three categories of self, people, and purpose, he helps us identify and remedy the primary problems and challenges that frustrate and often cripple us.

Filled with new material, Do the Work expands the lessons in Unfu*k Yourself, giving us the tools to identify, explore, and understand our specific issues and root them out. As Bishop make clear, "this is a personal workshop for your brain, a legit resource where you can work your life out, what matters to you, whats going to make the biggest difference and empower you to act in ways that make some palpable change to the direction your life is currently taking."

My Thoughts

I have not read the first book in this series: Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life. The message that Gary John Bishop delivers has resonated with millions of people. He helps people identify the problems that keep people from achieving their goals. And he does it in such a no-nonsense, in-your-face, blatantly honest way.

Do the Work: The Official Unrepentant, Ass-Kicking, No-Kidding, Change-Your-Life Sidekick to Unfu*k Yourself is the companion workbook to Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life. In this workbook, Bishop strives to help his readers to take the next step by helping to identify and understand some of the issues that block your personal progress by breaking it down into three categories: Self, People, and Purpose.

Are you living your best life? Do you want to change the direction your life is taking? Are you being honest with yourself? Are you really, though? Sometimes we need a kick in the ass to get ourselves going. And Bishop does just that. I listened to this book on audio, and I really enjoyed it. I think having Bishop's voice in my ear is a real motivator. This book only took a little over two hours from start to finish, but it's also the kind of book that you want to listen to again and again. Especially when those destructive behaviors start to creep back in.

There are so many things we can't control in this life. However, we can control ourselves, our actions, and how we deal with problems. But sometimes we get in our own way of success. Are you ready to do the work? Are you ready to stop making excuses? Then it's time to listen to Do the Work: The Official Unrepentant, Ass-Kicking, No-Kidding.