#bloodmoon #sandrabrown #kyfbrewer #theswimmer #lorethannewhite #rebabuhr #theguests #margothunt #amymcfadden  #sarahnaughton #michaelcrouch #soneelanankani #ajbeckles #withoutatrace #daniellesteel #nickmills
I realize this isn’t November, the “thankfulness” month, but I have many things to be thankful for so we’ll just have an additional month of thankfulness this year. I’m thankful the weather has finally enabled me to remember I’m living in Florida. I’m thankful for authors who consistently write books that are worth the time to read or hear. I’m thankful for narrators who don’t just read to me but actually bring the book’s characters to life. For the month of March, we have a book that will fascinate all of us who put stock in the effects of the moon on human and animal behavior. We also have a storyline that probably took place during a full moon although the author doesn’t mention it. The third book would have been more appropriate for November and Hurricane Season, and because there are so many psychos in the first three books, the fourth book is the requisite palate cleanser.
By Sandra Brown
Narrated by Kyf Brewer
There is definitely something ironic about the fact that narrator Kyf Brewer spoke the last lines of Blood Moon into my ears on Thursday March 13, 2025. What is the significance of that, you are wondering? A total lunar eclipse – also known as a Blood Moon – occurred overnight on Thursday-Friday, March 13-14, 2025. I did not plan to finish listening to Blood Moon on the actual eve of the lunar eclipse, and I have no idea whether the author intentionally published this book with the hope that her readers and listeners would connect the dates; nevertheless, even though this coincidence won’t matter down the road, Sandra Brown has added an extra layer of creepiness to her storyline for those of us who chose this book right out of the gate because of the title. Serial killers are a particularly intriguing group of crazies who sometimes run amok through the pages of psychological thrillers. But what if the serial killer is not a single unhinged individual but a bizarre cult of Blood Moon aficionados who plan their heinous crimes to coincide with this rare celestial event. If that doesn’t pique your interest enough, I’ll just add that there are other psychos in addition to the serial killers, there is a steamy romance, and there is an adorable dog. Kyf Brewer is not the narrator I would have chosen for this book. The setting is Louisiana, and the male protagonist owns a fishing cabin in a bayou which has been in his family for years. The fact that he did not have the delightful Cajun accent appropriate to that part of the country was a disappointment as well as confirmation for my theory about the role of the narrator in audiobooks.
By Loreth Anne White
Narrated by Reba Buhr
The storyline of The Swimmer lends new meaning to the word “convoluted.” As a lover of mysteries and psychological thrillers, I’m intimately acquainted with plot twists and “gotcha” moments from authors. I’ve experienced endings that I didn’t see coming as well as a few that I didn’t believe even after I heard them. I’ve even had to resort to reading other bloggers reviews to help me sort out conclusions that just didn’t make sense. I’m grateful that author Loreth Anne White didn’t leave me in a state of confusion. No spoilers, but for those of you who are beginning to worry, there is a clear conclusion. I don’t mind sharing that I totally changed my mind about what I thought the outcome would be more times than I can count. Instead of questioning “whodunnit”, I questioned “what happened?” There is murder, there is mayhem, there is greed, there is deception, and, ultimately, there is justice. It’s just going to take you a while to figure out who deserves justice and what kind it will be. This was my first experience with narrator Reba Buhr and she is the perfect voice for these characters. Oh, and did I mention there are dogs? When you read or listen to psychological thrillers, sometimes an adorable dog is the only likable character, and sometimes the presence of dogs is the only thing that adds a figment of sanity to a chilling storyline.
By Margot Hunt
Narrated by Amy McFadden, Sarah Naughton, Michael Crouch, Soneela Nankani, & A.J. Beckles
When I chose to listen to The Guests by Margot Hunt I regretted not choosing it sooner because it would have been perfect for the month of November and would have made the perfect ending to a horrendous hurricane season. I am thankful our family emerged unscathed from the storms that have ravaged Florida as well as other states which don’t normally fear hurricanes, and I am thankful I chose to listen to a book that is well-written, expertly performed, and populated by my favorite types of characters! The Davies family is trapped in their home with a Cat 5 hurricane approaching. Having waited too late to evacuate, they find themselves hosting uninvited guests that also failed to evacuate. Sounds like an unfortunate twist of fate, right? As Margot Hunt’s storyline evolves, we learn that the phrase “no such thing as coincidences” is not only true, but it’s also deadly. We also learn that even the weather can be a tool for a clever psycho. And finally we learn that HEAs don’t have to be perfect to be happy. I will share that as I listened to the hair-raising performance by the narrators, it brought back lots of childhood memories of riding out storms, fleeing from storms, and rebuilding after storms which is why I’m always so happy when the season is over.
By Danielle Steel
Narrated by Nick Mills
If you are in need of an absorbing story with superior narration, Without a Trace will satisfy that need. Danielle Steel has delivered as she usually does, and Nick Mills went above and beyond with his authentic pronunciation of the many French words and names. Thanks to my high school French teacher, I’m familiar with the correct pronunciation of the French language, so it’s jangling when a narrator has not made the effort to be accurate. Our protagonist Charles Vincent has done something that many people would probably like to do … he has disappeared into a new life. Although he didn’t deliberately fake his death, his family believes him to be dead and has moved on. Charles has found a new life and a new love, but his inherent goodness makes it impossible for him to continue the charade, especially when his presence endangers the woman he has fallen in love with. Without a Trace is pure escapism and a definite palate cleanser as are most of this author’s books. If you are tired of the book drama that is a side-effect of life with psychos, this one will take you away.
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