Sunday, February 19, 2023

Monday, February 13, 2023

Polly's List by Kim Janine Ligon

 


About the Book: CJ Reynolds couldn’t wait to escape his hometown. He’s loving his bachelor life as a software developer in California. So much so that he hasn’t been back in years to see the grandmother who raised him. Single mother, Mikal Benson, believes her small town is the perfect place to raise her son. After Mikal finds her neighbor, Polly Rogers, sprawled on the floor in a pool of blood, barely clinging to life, she calls Polly’s grandson—CJ Reynolds—and insists he must come home. Now. Emotions erupt between CJ and Mikal—setting off a perfect storm of love and reconciliation when, from her coma, Polly whispers three words that change everything. Did she fall or was she pushed?

          CJ, Mikal, and her little boy form an unlikely team, coming together to discover the truth as danger engulfs them and love transforms them into a family.

 Our Review: Rarely do we find a debut mystery so perfectly constructed. Author Kim Janine Ligon has mastered the art of putting the seeds on page one, then compounding the suspense with each scene. Adding to all this are the spot-on descriptions of a small town and the ‘denizens’ inhabiting it. It’s like going home again—and smiling at the memories. The characters are varied and well drawn. Looking forward to the next in this cozy mystery series. Congratulations!

 On a scale of 1-5, Polly’s List merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews


Thursday, February 09, 2023

The Firstborn Son by Kaia Misk

 


Mafia marriage—may the best wiseguy win

 About the Book: Becoming a ruthless mob boss like his father is the last thing Frankie Renzi wants, but when Sofia Ciambetti’s father is gunned down, Frankie must become the very thing he loathes to protect the woman he loves. Sofia was devoted to Frankie, until he stood her up and she questioned his fidelity. Now that she’s alone and an heiress, mafia suitors slither around her. Marriage to him might be her only hope.

 Our Review: this high-intensity love story, fueled by non-stop action and generational feuds, will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Anyone familiar with the close-knit neighborhoods of cities will relate to the way this debut author has crafted the setting and action. Characters, both lead and supporting, jump off the page. Dialogue is spot on for its realism. We’re looking forward to the next Renzi Affair.

 Based on a scale of 1-5, The Firstborn Son merits a 7.

 Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews


Wednesday, February 08, 2023

New romance and fiction from The Wild Rose Press

 

Click on covers for more information and to purchase
 
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Monday, February 06, 2023

An Interview with Alan Manson

Welcome audio book narrator, Alan Manson


 Tell us about yourself. Where are you from?       

I was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, but moved to the US about 7 years ago after marrying an amazing American woman. We just celebrated our 10th anniversary . When I was young, I was super shy. It took a long time to get over that. I am definitely a late bloomer, but as they say, better late than never 😊

 

How long have you been an audiobook narration?

I have been narrating audio books for about 2 years, so still a relative newbie. Trial of a Warrior, by Mary Morgan, was actually my first audiobook narration, and the first audiobook that I ever auditioned for.

 

How did you get into audiobook narration?

When I first moved to the US, people kept telling me how much they loved my voice, so eventually I decided to try my luck at voiceover. I started doing some research and soon found that I knew nothing about the industry, and that there was a lot to learn. But I persevered, took some lessons, and started trying out with auditions. I had heard about audible and found out how to audition for them. That is when I auditioned for my first audiobook by Mary Morgan, and she gave me the chance to record it.

 

Where do you record?

I have a home recording studio, setup in my spare bedroom. I recorded my first book in a homemade booth, basically a frame made from PVC pipe and covered in heavy packing blankets. I now have a proper booth, a Studiobricks One Plus VO Edition, which is great.

 

Other than your great voice, is there anything special you need to narrate an audio book?

The most important thing in any recording is the space you are in. It needs to be as soundproof as possible; you do not want any external sounds getting onto your recording. But it also needs to be treated, so there are no reflections, as these can cause echo’s, which you do not want. Once you get the space figured out, you really don’t need to spend that much on equipment. Obviously, you will need a microphone and a computer to record and edit on, but that is it.

 

How do you prepare for recording? Do you read a book in its entirety before recording?

I prepare by reading the book front to back , making a note of all the characters, and any information about them. Male, female, accent, attitude, that kind of thing, so that I can develop the character voices. I make a copy of the manuscript and mark it up with all the info that I find.

 

Do you ever come across unfamiliar words? How do you handle that?

Yes, there can be some quite difficult words to pronounce. If I do find one, I first try googling it to see if I can find the pronunciation. If that fails, I check with the author. Usually they will make a quick recording of the word and send it to me.

 

What is the funniest error you've made while recording? Did you keep it as an outtake?

Sometimes I just can’t get my words out when I read, it is not so much funny as it is a little frustrating, trying to read the same line over and over. I have been known to shout at myself, and scream. I don’t tend to keep those as outtakes though 😊

 

How long are your recording sessions?

I try to keep each session no more than 2 hours as your voice can get tired. Then I will edit what I have done, and if time allows, record some more.

 

Do you listen to audiobooks?

Yes, I listen to audiobooks almost every day while driving to my work.

 

How do you feel about your own voice in recordings?

Personally, I have no idea why people like my voice, I just irritates me, LOL

 

What was something you found unique in recording Mary's book?

Well, it was the first time that I had read a romantic novel, so that is unique for me. I found Mary’s writing captivating; I could not stop reading it. I even needed some tissues occasionally for my crying. Not easy to record a book, with tears rolling down your face I found.

 

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I got started in audiobook narration and voiceover in general rather late in life. I still work full time as a Software Engineer, so I am busy doing that and voiceover. If there is one piece of advice that I could give, is that it is never too late to start something new, and every day you don’t learn something is a wasted day. Work hard, don’t give up!

Thank you for joining us.

Discover Alan on Audible



Friday, February 03, 2023

The Lady of the Mirrored Lake

 


About the Book: Accompanied by two knights, both wrongly accused of treason, Issylte, a healer who possesses magic of the forests, flees Avalon. The trio travels to Bretagne, where Issylte heals a critically injured wolf and obtains fiercely loyal, shapeshifting allies. While in Brocéliande, Issylte discovers a passion with Tristan which transcends all bounds. When she becomes the Lady of the Mirrored Lake, sworn to defend the sacred waters of the Goddess Dana, Issylte must undertake a perilous quest to discover what priceless object lies hidden in its murky depths. As a nascent evil emerges, the two lovers face a diabolical trio which threatens their lives, their love, and their kingdoms.

Our Review: An epic story populated by elves and dwarfs; knights, both black and white; Priestesses of the Tribe of the Goddess Dana, is a study of the author’s devotion to history as well as her talent and imagination. The writing is fluid and descriptive, the settings lush and colorful, the characters varied and interesting. Kudos to author Jennifer Ivy Walker for her strength and perseverance.

On a scale of 1-5, The Lady of the Mirrored Lake merits a 4.5.

Kat Henry Doran, Wild Women Reviews