#whistler #annpatchett #partofyourworld #abbyjimenez #juliawhelan #zacharywebber #thefinaltarget #noraroberts #januarylavoy #youfirst #carolinekepnes #santinofontana
There is no central theme to June’s selections unless exceptional writing and narrating counts. I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite from books that are so diverse in subject matter and the style of the author. What I will say is you are in for a treat no matter which book you choose, so why not listen to all of them? One of the books is narrated by the author and will touch your heart with its depth and substance. Two of the books have protagonists who are red-heads but the storylines couldn’t possibly be more different – one would definitely qualify as a beach read and the other could be if you don’t think a romantic suspense novel with a psychopath would spoil your vacation. The fourth book is a prequel to a series that I’ve followed for years, and it is just as much of a rollercoaster ride as the book that introduced me to You – welcome back Joe Goldberg!
By Ann Patchett
Narrated by Ann Patchett
First of all, I want to say that my past experience with authors as narrators has been relatively limited. Of the few I have encountered, I found most of them to be capable while a few should have just paid someone else to do it. Ann Patchett is not only capable, she exceeded my expectations with a performance that I would call excellent. Whistler is a deeply moving book that explores several themes  common to today’s families. What do you do if you marry, have a family and careers, but things just aren’t working? What do you do if you marry and discover your husband has always been in love with the man who is his best friend? What do you do if the past comes back like the proverbial chickens coming home to roost – except the past isn’t exactly what you thought it was? I can see the skeptics among you shaking your heads and thinking nothing good can come of any of this, but I promise you when you hear the author read the last words, you will have a sense of peace. The storyline builds on an accidental meeting between Daphne Fuller and her first stepfather Eddie Triplett. That statement probably has you rolling your eyes while you wonder what in the world the horse on the cover and the title of the book have to do with complex family dynamics. You won’t completely get it until the end, but I’m willing to bet you’ll be glad you read or listened, and you’ll be glad you met Daphne and Eddie and Whistler, and you’ll be glad Ann Patchett touched your heart with her voice and her words.
By Nora Roberts
Narrated by January LaVoy
In The Final Target, author Nora Roberts takes that age-old advice to write about what you know. Arden Bowie is a debut author who has finally achieved her goal of becoming a published author. And even more exciting … she’s having her first book signing at the small book shop where she has worked for years. Arden is unaware that what should be a banner day for her is the prelude to a nightmare. Dustin Dubecki is a spoiled rich kid who is obsessed with redheads and Arden is a redhead. He intends to enslave Arden as his wife, make her the mother of his children and they’ll live happily ever after whether Arden wants this or not. As you may have guessed, Dustin is the psycho in the storyline and by the time Arden figures it out, Dustin has assaulted her which leads to his trial and commitment to a psychiatric facility. That should be the end of the story, right? You’ve got to know Nora Roberts is going to turn this into a twisted tale that will keep you firmly attached to your ear buds until the inimitable January LaVoy speaks the last words. Ms Roberts definitely exceeded my expectations with the characters in this book. Prepare to love some of them and hate some of them … Dustin lends a whole new meaning to the word “psychopath”. The good news is there is Gideon, a swoon-worthy love interest for Arden, and three adorable dogs to make the horror more palatable for you and me.
By Abby Jimenez
Narrated by Julia Whelan and Zachary Webber
What are the odds that two of this month’s leading ladies would have red hair? And what are the odds that Abby Jimenez would bombard us with cuteness overload at the same time she’s stealing our hearts with her storyline. If you need a beach read, this book should become Part of Your World. If you need something to be annoyed about besides the chaos in our world, you need to meet our heroine Alexis Montgomery’s parents and her friends. And if you need a reason to fall in love, you need to meet Daniel Grant. So this is billed as a romantic comedy and it’s true. There’s romance (steamy!) and you will smile (a lot!) and if you don’t LOL, I’ll be amazed! I’ve always been fascinated by the role age differences play in relationships. The older man-younger woman duo is not uncommon, but what about an older woman and a younger man? Are you shocked? Is it something to be discussed sotto voce if you see them in public? Alexis is rich and successful and cursed with a family whose expectations for her have been the driving force in her life. Daniel is rich and successful as well – but his wealth and accomplishments come from a way of life that has followed his family for generations and has resulted in his having a rescue dog and a baby goat in pink pajamas and a town full of people who look to him for guidance when their tiny world begins to come apart. To temper the sweetness a bit, the author does explore the issue of abuse so be prepared for that. I think you will find her approach to the topic fresh and thought-provoking, and it won’t spoil your vacation if you choose to pack this one in your suitcase. Narrator Julia Whelan is a favorite and doesn’t disappoint, and Zachary Webber provides just the right balance for her.
By Caroline Kepnes
Narrated by Santino Fontana
The Joe Goldberg books are so not the sort of thing I normally get hooked on. I love  psychological thrillers, but these books don’t neatly fit into that category which is what makes them a strange departure for me. My introduction to Joe was in You, the first book of the series. Now we have come full circle to a prequel, You First, featuring 17-year-old Joe. From the first four books, we already know about Joe’s back story as an abused child who’s now looking for love in all the wrong places. We’re also familiar with his boss, grumpy old bookseller Mr. Mooney and the various “loves of his life”. Added to that, we have a grocery list of people who have had to be “eliminated” from Joe’s life because, shame on them, they just didn’t get our Joe. When you are listening to a book whose protagonist is a stalker and a psychotic killer who makes you want to hug him and tell him everything is going to be all right, you know you are listening to Santino Fontana as he inimitably performs the latest in Caroline Kepnes‘s saga about a lovable sicko who just wants to be loved. I think you’ll  enjoy this book because of the superb narration and the author’s storytelling ability even if you aren’t familiar with the rest of the series; however, if you have read or listened to the first four books, you will LOVE You First.
Thank You For Following Us at Literati Literature Lovers and Happy Listening in July!
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