Forbidden Sister by V.C. Andrews

The following review I wrote was published in the July 5th Express Reviews of the Library Journal. 

Andrews, V.C. Forbidden Sister. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 9½ hrs. Dreamscape Audio. 2013. ISBN 9781624064890. $59.99; Playaway digital; digital download. F
All Emmie Wilcox has ever wanted was to know her older sister, Roxy, but it is hard to get to know someone who was been thrown out of the house by their parents years ago, especially when the mere mention of Roxy’s name is considered worse than swearing. So Emmie decides to find her sister and learn whatever it is her parents refuse to tell her. When Emmie finally finds what she is seeking, her world is turned upside down. This is your typical Andrews (Flowers in the Attic) novel: the focus is on a young girl, with lots of tragedy. Narrator Amy Rubinate does an excellent job voicing Emmie’s insecure, breathy whispers, her mother’s French accent, and Roxy’s confident tones.
Verdict Listeners who enjoy family drama, transparent plots, and teenage angst will enjoy this book. [The Pocket: S. & S. pb was a New York Times best seller.—Ed.]—

Private London

 The following review I wrote was published in the April 26th Express Reviews of the Library Journal.

Patterson, James & Mark Pearson. Private London. 6 CDs. retail ed. unabridged. 6½ hrs. Hachette Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781611130232. $24.98; Playaway digital; digital download.

Here Patterson and Pearson (Private Games) follow the story of Dan Carter, head of renowned investigation firm Private London, and Hannah Shapiro, a student with a horrific past. The police and Private are investigating a case that involves kidnappings, murder, and mutilation. Can it be Hannah’s past coming back to get her? Rupert Degas does a spot-on job voicing English, American, and Scottish characters.
Verdict It goes without saying that Patterson fans will enjoy this book, but readers who enjoy thrillers with a twist will want to give it a try as well. [The Grand Central hc was a New York Times best seller.—Ed.]

Call the Midwife

The following review I wrote was published in the April 2013 issue of Library Journal.

Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times

This memoir, the inspiration for BBC's popular series of the same name, chronicles Worth's experiences as a midwife in London during the 1950s. The story, enhanced by amazingly vivid imagery, brings to life the horror of the living conditions in the slums of the London's Docklands, the sadness of mothers who have lost their babies, and the joy of first- or 24th-time mothers as they meet their children. Narrator Nicola Barber, winner of two Earphone Awards, does an excellent job of portraying both seasoned and inexperienced midwives as well as the wide variety of British accents. VERDICT Fans of the BBC series will enjoy this audiobook, as will anyone interested in the history of midwifery. [The Penguin hc was a New York Times best seller.—Ed.]—

Heaven's War by David Goyer and Michael Cassutt

The following review I wrote was published in the December 2012 issue of Library Journal. 

Goyer, David S. & Cassutt, Michael. Heaven’s War. 12 CDS. Unabridged. 14 ½ hours. Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 9780307934482. $50.00

Goyer and Casseutt’s book Heaven’s War is the second book in the Heaven Shadow series.  Starting where the last book left off, two groups of scientists on opposite sides of the world are abducted and transported to Keanu. They must figure out how to survive on this alien habitat, discover why they were brought there, and why friends who were dead on Earth are suddenly on Keanu alive. Set in the not too distant future, this story has all the elements of a hard science fiction story. Narrator Joe J. Thomas does a wonderful job portraying a variety of characters from gravely voiced Harley Drake to smooth talker Dale Scott to Russian linguist Valya Makarova and many more. Recommended for fans of space science fiction.

The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham

The following review that I wrote was published in the June 2012 edition of Library Journal.....

Wyndham, John. The Kraken Wakes. 7 CDS. Unabridged. 9 Hours. CSA World. 2010. ISBN: 9781906147754. $29.95.

In Wyndham’s The Kraken Wakes (Previously published under the title Out of the Deeps), English journalist for the EBC--- not the BBC, Mike Watson writes an account of events that he and his wife Phyllis witnessed. Starting on their honeymoon with what was described as fireballs falling from the sky and leading to the attacks of “sea tanks” and the unusually fast melting of icebergs. Not your typical science fiction story, the aliens are no longer confined to taking over from Outer Space. The story was cut up in three phases which moved the plot along wonderfully, however there was not much character development. British narrator Alex Jennings shows animation playing multiple people very well including men, women, English, Russian, and French characters. Fans of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds will enjoy this story.