Review – Fighting Silence by Aly Martinez

 

Sound is an abstract concept for most people. We spend our lives blocking out the static in order to focus on what we believe is important. But what if, when the clarity fades into silence, it’s the obscure background noise that you would give anything to hold on to?
I’ve always been a fighter. With parents who barely managed to stay out of jail and two little brothers who narrowly avoided foster care, I became skilled at dodging the punches life threw at me. Growing up, I didn’t have anything I could call my own, but from the moment I met Eliza Reynolds, she was always mine. I became utterly addicted to her and the escape from reality we provided each other. Throughout the years, she had boyfriends and I had girlfriends, but there wasn’t a single night that I didn’t hear her voice.You see, meeting the love of my life at age thirteen was never part of my plan. However, neither was gradually going deaf at the age of twenty-one.They both happened anyway.

Now, I’m on the ropes during the toughest battles of my life.
Fighting for my career.
Fighting the impending silence.
Fighting for her.

Every night, just before falling asleep, she sighs as a final conscious breath leaves her.

I think that’s the sound I’ll miss the most.

Each book in this series can be read as a standalone.

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BFF K’s Review of Fighting Silence – Audiobook

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Till Page has to fight for absolutely everything in his life. He’s a born fighter but an equally born protector and a tremendously hard worker. I can’t remember the last time I genuinely liked a hero so much and wanted so badly for him to succeed!

Eliza Reynolds is Till’s best friend. But, she’s so much more. She’s the tether that keeps him grounded, the sail that keeps him moving forward and the reason he works and dreams for so much more. Eliza is clever, mature, focused and determined. She’s steadfast in her commitment to Till and their future together.

My heart broke for the upbringings that Till (and his brothers) and Eliza had to endure. There’s also the issue of Till’s impending hearing loss. But, I loved the way they triumphed over their circumstances, using the skills and resources available to create a better life. Fighting Silence is powerful, suspenseful, hopeful and romantic.

In the audiobook, all of this is brought to life by two fantastic narrators: Laura Jennings and Carson Beck. The pacing and phrasing of both is excellent. The audiobook is easy to slip into and incredibly engaging. If you’re a fan of audiobooks, I highly recommend Fighting Silence. I’m hoping to finish the rest of this series on audio this year. I’m looking forward to more of the On The Ropes Series, the characters, the exciting storylines and the exceptional delivery!

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This audiobook was given at no cost by the narrator via Audiobook Boom. Receipt of this copy did not impact the content or independence of this review.

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About the Author

 

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her four young children.

Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and baked feta. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.

She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.

 

 

 

 

Audiobook Review – Jed Had to Die by Tara Sivec

 

The happiest day of Payton Lambert’s life was the day she graduated high school and watched Bald Knob, Kentucky, get smaller and smaller in her rearview mirror. She wanted more for her life than a tiny town where everyone knows your business and you can’t find a decent cup of coffee for at least 40 miles. Twelve years later an unexpected phone call in the middle of the night has her packing up her life in Chicago and racing back home to the one person she ever regretted leaving behind.

Upon her return she sees that Leo Hudson, the scrawny boy who had followed Payton around like a puppy and could recite cow insemination facts in his sleep, is long gone. Leo is still hot on her heels, but now he’s wearing a sheriff badge and dead set on solving a murder that may or may not involve Payton, along with half the town. In a town where the biggest crime happened the day someone kicked a few of his cows, people are pointing fingers, rumors are spreading like wildfire, and Payton swears she’s only making out with the sweet-talking, studly sheriff to distract him from the secrets she’s keeping.

When you’ve been tased, peed on by a yippy dog named Bo Jangles, and can’t stop picturing what Sheriff Hudson looks like naked, it will be a tough job making everyone agree that Jed had to die.

 

Audible        Amazon Kindle        Amazon Paperback

 

BFF K’s Review of Jed Had To Die

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I LOVE Jed Had to Die so much! It is clever, unique, sarcastic and LOL-funny! And I don’t use LOL as a throw-away-term, this book honestly had me laughing so long and so loud that I would have to stop and rewind the audio!

When Payton Lambert comes to the aid of her childhood BFF Emma Jo, that means stepping back into the town she’s been avoiding for YEARS. It seems Emma Jo has been in a horrible marriage. Payton had no idea, but will now do everything in her power to make sure that it is over. The two have a heart-warming friendship. Then there’s super-sweet and swoony Leo….he’s charming and delightful. Bald Knob is full of quirky and kooky characters. They can judge their own folks, but you’d better not! They are a devoted bunch who come together to stand by one another.

I have long loved the Dixie Chicks song, Earl Had to Die. Imagine the premise behind that song (below in case you can’t remember) expanded to include full characters, backstory, a new romance and a little mystery. You’ll be humming this chorus for days, but soon find that “Jed” replaces “Earl”!

I think everyone needs bits of this story in their own lives: a friendship like Payton and Emma Jo, a love like Leo, a town like Bald Knob and a little Liquid Crack! If you want a story that is absolutely hilarious, engaging and delightful, Jed Had to Die is PERFECTION!

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This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost. Receipt of this copy did not impact the content or independence of this review.

 

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Earl Had to Die by the Dixie Chicks

(In case, like me, you’ve forgotten how truly awesome this is!)

About the Author

Tara Sivec is a USA Today best-selling author, wife, mother, chauffeur, maid, short-order cook, baby-sitter, and sarcasm expert. She lives in Ohio with her husband and two children and looks forward to the day when all three of them become adults and move out.

After working in the brokerage business for fourteen years, Tara decided to pick up a pen and write instead of shoving it in her eye out of boredom. She writes in a wide range of genres including Romantic Comedy, Romantic Comedy/Mystery, Romantic Suspense, New Adult Drama, Contemporary Romance and Psychological Thriller. Her novel Seduction and Snacks won first place in the Indie Romance Convention Reader’s Choice Awards 2013 for Best Indie First Book and she was voted Best Indie Author in the Indie Romance Convention Reader’s Choice Awards 2014.

In her spare time, Tara loves to dream about all of the baking she’ll do and naps she’ll take when she ever gets spare time.

 

Review – An Unforgivable Love Story by B.L. Berry

Love is patient.
Love is kind.
Love is UNFORGIVABLE.

She wanted to forget her past.
He wanted to change the course of his future.
She was everything he never knew he needed.
He became her unexpected.
Everything was perfect.
Until …

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(Free on Kindle Unlimited when this post was published Aug 2016)

BFF K’s Review of An Unforgivable Love Story

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I had the opportunity to meet BL Berry at the Scripted Social Book Signing this year in Des Moines, IA. She was so sweet and wonderful, I was looking forward to reading one of her books. When the opportunity to review this Audiobook came along, I jumped at the chance without knowing anything about the story. Was I in for a WILD ride?!?!

I’ve been thinking about this book for 2 days trying to decide what I think about it! I’ve concluded that this was a really good book with some VERY unexpected twists. There’s not much that I can say without giving away MAJOR plot points. But, know that this book has a seriously significant mind-f#$% and an unexpected villain (or two.) The fact that I’ve been thinking this book just shows that it’s got some staying power!

I enjoyed the audio, especially the last 40%. I’ll admit, in the beginning, I was annoyed with the narrator. The first character sounded a little breathy and the inflection bothered me a bit. I couldn’t understand the reasoning behind the characterization. But, one of the twists proved why this was necessary. While I still didn’t love the vocal choice, I understood it. And, the story is strong enough to pull the listener through a rough audio issue or two.

If you’re looking for a book that will knock you to your knees and make you feel love and hate and hate and hope (and maybe a little more hate) An Unforgivable Love Story is a great choice! Cheers to B.L. Berry for a really surprising and enjoyable story!

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This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.

Amazon Kindle Preview

 

 

About the Author

BL Berry grew up telling lies. Eventually, those lies turned into elaborate stories and when she grew older she started writing them down. When she’s not hiding behind her computer writing, you can find her spending time with her family or catching up on her favorite TV shows. Rumor has it she’ll sleep when she’s dead.

Residing outside of Kansas City, she lives with her husband, two children and black pug. Each day her family thanks the makers of e-Readers, because without which they would be living amongst stacks and stacks of romance novels. Conversely, each day B.L. Berry thanks the makers of e-Readers for hiding her book-hoarding tendencies.

BL Berry loves to hear from her readers — you can connect with her at blberrywrites@gmail.com, or on Facebook, Twitter @blberrywrites and Instagram @blberrywrites.

To learn more, visit www.authorblberry.com