#thelionsden #katherinestjohn #christinelakin #thelastdetective #robertcrais #jamesdaniels #oneperfectsummer #brendanovak #erinbennett #youhadmeathola #alexisdaria #seraphinevalentine
The Best of April is quite a diverse assortment of listens. I would be hard pressed to find any common thread which is not necessarily a bad thing. We have what sounds like a dream vacation that turns deadly. We have three sisters whose only link is DNA, but whose DNA is it? We have my latest series addiction. And we have a delightful romantic comedy that makes me once more wish I’d taken Spanish instead of French in high school and college. Although none of the books strictly meet the criteria for my favorite psychological thrillers, there is a sprinkling of psychotic characters just so you don’t get too complacent.
The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John
Narrated by Christine Lakin
I have rarely changed my mind so many times about a book. What promised to be a fascinating storyline started off as a disappointment filled with shallow characters I couldn’t relate to at all. But . . . just as I was about to write The Lion’s Den off, I began to realize that the reason the characters sound shallow is because they are shallow people, and narrator Christine Lakin plays these Valley Girls and vapid social climbers to perfection. The conclusion isn’t a total surprise, but it is a reminder that even the most shallow characters can turn deadly! Promoted as a beach read, this one falls short due to a certain element of creepiness that I wouldn’t want to bring to my vacation.
One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak
Narrated by Erin Bennett
One Perfect Summer may sound like a beach read due to the title, but it is anything but. I was drawn to the story by the fact that three sisters find each other due to the ubiquitous DNA tests that are so popular these days. We’ve had some family drama related to those things, so I was fascinated to hear where the author would take Lorelei, Reagan, and Serenity as they try to unravel the mystery of their births. Erin Bennett turns in a stellar performance as she gives each character a unique voice. Each one falls in or out of love and sometimes both, but more important, they fall in love with each other. They find the answers they’re looking for and trust me — you will not figure this one out until all is revealed.
The Last Detective by Robert Crais
Narrated by James Daniels
Robert Crais and his characters Elvis Cole and Joe Pike are my newest guilty secret. As if I need any more characters to fuel my series addiction, Elvis Cole and Joe Pike have done exactly that. Just be prepared for them to keep popping up as I listen my way through books I think you will find compelling with two of the most intriguing protagonists I’ve run into. Elvis and Joe have lots of baggage between the two of them, but that doesn’t keep them from running a successful detective agency . . . in fact, their baggage makes them better at what they do. The Last Detective is Book #9 in a series of 18 so far, but the author includes enough of the back story in each book so you don’t need to read or listen in order. This is my first experience with narrator James Daniels and he turns in a skillful performance.
You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
Narrated by Seraphine Valentine
If you are curious about the world of people who earn their living by acting, You Had Me at Hola will give you an insider view of a couple of endearing characters who are trying to make their way in an uncertain career world with its attendant drama and upheaval. It’s not all glamour and red carpet events but actually involves a lot of hard work, and some of it sounds pretty tedious as our stars work to get everything just right. Before you begin thinking the book is going to be technical and boring, I will say there is a lot of chemistry between our stars and there are a lot of moments that will make you smile. Seraphine Valentine is an excellent narrator and handles all the Spanish dialogue perfectly. For those who are fluent in Spanish, there will be no problem and if you have a background in another Romance language, you should be able to follow well enough. This is a delightful romantic comedy that will lift your spirits!
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