🎧Have You Heard?🎧Audiobooks For Your Listening Pleasure🎧The Best of March🎧

#thewomen #kristinhannah #juliawhelan #thetrap #catherineryanhoward #johnkeating #alanakerrcollins #justthenicestcouple #marykubica #brittanypressley #garytiedemann #theproposal #adrianalocke #johnlane #averycaris 

The month of March is known for many things: the beginning of Daylight Savings Time, St. Patrick’s Day, a full moon known as the Worm Moon, “in like a lion, out like a lamb” weather, and the celebration of Easter which sometimes likes to share the love with April. So, out of all these events, you would think I could find something more notable to remark on than the fact that the titles of three of this month’s listens begin with the word “The.” It is an interesting phenomenon that is unlikely to occur again. Despite that similarity in titles, this month’s books have very little in common, and, despite the fact that there is no shortage of psychos in the world, most of the characters in March’s books are just ordinary people caught up in that most mysterious of storylines – life. Because there is an overabundance of drama and heartbreak in this selection of books, I’ve closed with a palette cleanser that will likely leave you smiling.

The Women

By Kristin Hannah

Narrated by Julia Whelan

In her latest novel The Women, author Kristin Hannah broke my heart. With her ending, she healed it. For any of my followers, I don’t think this book will be as meaningful to you if you aren’t a child of the ‘60s. If you didn’t listen to our music, or hear the nightly news reports which included the death count in the Vietnam war, or watch as a generation went off to fight a war that wasn’t ours in a country many had never heard of, or witness the disrespect shown to those who fought, it won’t be quite the same as it is for us. Frankie McGraff is an army nurse who spends her tour of duty in Vietnam caring for the wounded and dying only to come home to a country that tells her no women served in Vietnam. The Women is a stark reminder of cartoonist Walt Kelly’s line “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Frankie McGraff’s story is a painful reminder of our tendency to forget our veterans, especially in an unpopular war. Betrayed not only by her country, but by the two men she loved, Frankie suffers the fate of many of our Vietnam veterans who lost their friends and their idealism and they’re not sure why. Julia Whelan is the perfect narrator to voice Kristin Hannah’s moving story about my generation’s war story. Never forget it. Never repeat it.

The Trap

By Catherine Ryan Howard

Narrated by John Keating and Alana Kerr Collins

Convoluted is the word that immediately comes to mind as I begin to share my thoughts about The Trap. In her author’s note at the end of the book, Catherine Ryan Howard lets her readers and listeners know that her storyline is based on a series of unsolved crimes. Anytime there is an unsolved crime, we must conclude many possible solutions were considered to no avail. In a novel, when a solution is pursued and then abandoned, there is usually a plot twist and the more the twists, the more convoluted it becomes. Several women are missing. Are they alive or dead? And are they all really missing? Do any of them just not want to be found? Now that I’ve piqued your interest, I’m going to say I can’t imagine reading this book rather than listening to the excellent narration by John Keating as our psycho and Alana Kerr Collins presenting the investigators’ and victims’ POV. Both set just the right tone to keep you guessing and, trust me, you will still be guessing when the last words are spoken. This world is not exactly a tidy package and neither is our author’s conclusion.

Just the Nicest Couple

By Mary Kubica

Narrated by Brittany Pressley and Gary Tiedemann

Mary Kubica is known for stories that keep you guessing, and Just the Nicest Couple is no exception. Since I have an inherent distrust of people who are too cute and perky, I thought I had this one nailed, but “looks are deceiving” fits every character in this book. Miss Cute and Perky has a secret; Dr. Brain Surgeon has a secret; and Mr. Sweet and Supportive Hubby has a secret. Because these three have secrets, each of the characters in this book inadvertently becomes caught up in a secret. The author’s conclusion descends with a whirlwind of tornado-like activity that changes any ideas you may have formed about the outcome, so don’t let the words “I’ll bet it’s…” leave your lips. A man is dead. One character thinks she’s the killer and another character is the real killer. As the reader or listener, you will suspect each of the characters at some point! You’ll regret if you don’t set aside time when you get close to the end of the book to let this drama play out until narrators Brittany Pressley and Gary Tiedemann speak the final words of their excellent performance. No spoilers, but you won’t really know everything about how this one turns out until the last few minutes of the recording!!!

The Proposal

By Adriana Locke

Narrated by John Lane and Avery Caris

For those of you who regularly read my posts, this is a warning that you can not laugh, or even smirk (a word which is used extensively in this book) when I tell you what enticed me to listen to The Proposal. I do enjoy romance novels occasionally – especially as palette cleansers after one too many psychos – but I’m more into romantic mysteries or adventures than steam. This book has got lots of steam, so those of you who look for that in your romances won’t be disappointed. The book description intrigued me because I could imagine how a storyline where a couple of friends get drunk and get married would be humorous, but here’s where you must promise not to laugh. I read some of the reviews and when I read one that said the male narrator’s voice was a “panty-dropper”, I couldn’t resist finding out what that was like! So here’s my final verdict: I did enjoy Adriana Locke’s storyline. There was sweetness and humor and lots of steam. Both Avery Caris as Blakely and John Lane as Renn give excellent performances, but even though Mr. Lane does have a very sexy voice, I’m still wearing panties!

Thank You For Following Us at Literati Literature Lovers and Happy Listening in April!