Danielle Lyndon, owner of a 200-year-old bookstore in Greenville, Alabama, has built a fortress of suspicion around her heart. A tragic fire has taken the lives of her beloved Grandmother and mother, leaving her with nothing but an ancient collection of magical books.

Facing what seems like an eternity of loneliness and abandonment, her life is inexorably altered late one night when a runaway teenage girl breaks into her store and Danielle receives a mysterious text message…from her dead mother.

The only person who can help her is Aaron Donnell, a reckless, tormented drifter with haunting silver-blue eyes who is searching for the burglar, his younger sister. Aaron somehow holds the answers to the mysterious texts, but he’s arrogant, dangerous, and is clearly no good for her. The problem is . . . . she’s falling in love with him.

Consumed with Aaron’s mysterious darkness and the prospect of locating the source of the texts, Danielle allows him to unwittingly drag her into an insane, mystical world where human trafficking is the usual, black magic reigns supreme, and inhuman power lasts forever.

Are the dark chasms of magic and eternity too wide and deep for love to cross? Is the collateral damage in their battle too high of a price to pay if it leaves someone with their soul encased in stone?

The Story
I found the blurb and story line for Soul of Stone intriguing. Soul of Stone is a quick paced, page turning read. I found myself immersed in Danielle's bookstore. Too bad it isn't real! The characters were well defined with complex backstories. That cliffhanger though...well played Traci McDonald.

I had 2 issues with this story. Set in rural Alabama the author went a bit over board with the Southern colloquialisms; especially in the first quarter of the story. It was not as prevalent in the rest of the book. Being a Southerner I can say we do not use southern jargon that frequently in our daily speech, but maybe Alabama is different. Secondly the author's over use of the like. Her descriptions and details were fantastic; however, she over used the simile.

Overall I enjoyed the story and will check out the rest of the series.

The Narrator
As I said, I am a Southerner so it is easy to spot when someone is faking or forcing an accent. I found that Amanda Stribling did a flawless job narrating this story. She really sold me on the story and I loved her accent. I hope she does the rest of the series.

​~ Lynn 

​About the Author: Traci McDonald

Traci McDonald is a blind author of clean romance novels, including Burning Bridger (Muse It Up, 2015), Killing Casanova (Crimson Romance, 2012) and the forthcoming Soul of Stone. She believes that falling in-love is the greatest risk of all, and her non-explicit romances are about hurting, healing and finding true love. Traci has been blind for 20 years. When she isn’t writing she is an editor for Ink and Quill Press and the co-host for a blogtalk radio show on The World of Ink Network. Traci is an active member of the National Federation of the Blind, on the board of her local writer’s guild, and a speaker for various writing conferences and book fairs. She is a full time wife and mother of three boys, an avid reader, and loves living in a small town on the fringes of Nevada's Mojave Desert.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook

How did you select your narrator?
The setting of this story includes a well-educated, traditional southern belle. Amanda Striplings voice was intense, articulate and had a hint of ‘southern’ without being ‘Hick’.

How closely did you work with your narrator before and during the recording process? Did you give them any pronunciation tips or special insight into the characters?
Amanda and I didn’t cross over into each other’s expertise. I write, she brings the characters alive. The only tips I gave her were to be aware of pronunciation of words, to balance her speed and accuracy and to keep the characters sounding like their age.

Do you believe certain types of writing translate better into audiobook format? 
​The sound of a human voice telling a suspenseful, action, or thriller works, for me to help feel the suspense is alive.

Our world was perfect - until we broke the law: Don't go out at night.
Utopian by day, dystopian by night; this is the world I recently discovered. I now struggle with the fact that our whole society has been based on a lie. There's only one way to change it - conquer the darkness we've all been raised to fear.
Live the lie; fight to the death; become a Handler. It's the only way.

Overall   5 Stars
Story  5 Stars
​Performance  5 Stars

The Story
WOW!  I don't know what I expected, but it definitely wasn't this.  Handler by Tish Thawer is a total mind F%$k!  Talk about falling down the rabbit hole, Cole's life as he knows is GONE. How can i describe it? This story is the Hunger Games, MMA, and the Matrix all rolled into one with a bizarre, unique twist.  <---- See, mind f%$k.  This is NOT your run of mill dystopian novel.  Thawer has crafted a original, thrilling tale that left this reader slack jawed and wanting more.  
​
The Narrator
John Pirhalla did a fantastic job bringing this story to life for me.  The intense fight scenes, the chill of sneaking down hallways, the loss of friends, he brought the feels to all of it.  I hope he will be on board for the rest of the series.

~Lynn 

​#1 Bestseller in Historical Fiction
Top 100 Bestselling in Paid Kindle Store
Best Cover Award Winner
Readers' Choice Award Winner

Author Tish Thawer writes paranormal romances for all ages. From her first paranormal cartoon, Isis, to the Twilight phenomenon, myth, magic, and superpowers have always held a special place in her heart.

Best known for her Witches of BlackBrook series, Tish's detailed world-building and magic-laced stories have been compared to Nora Roberts, Sam Cheever, and Charlaine Harris. 

Tish has worked as a computer consultant, photographer, and graphic designer, and has bylines as a columnist for Gliterary Girl media, RT Magazine, and Literary Lunes Magazine. She currently resides in Arizona with her husband and three wonderful children, and operates Amber Leaf Designs, an online custom swag retail store.

You can find out more about Tish and her all titles by visiting: www.TishThawer.com and subscribing to her newsletter at www.tishthawer.com/subscribe

You can also find Tish on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorTishThawer

A common FAQ: "How do you pronounce her last name?"

Answer: Think "Bower" or "Thow-er". It's Persian!

​Jen Maddox is a few days into her summer study-abroad program and has loved every moment on her cruise ship turned college campus. Everyone tells her the experience will change her life, but none of them realize just how right they really are.

One night, Jen goes out on deck and encounters five other students. She knows Charlie from one of her classes, and he’s a funny, friendly, regular guy. Picture-perfect Dani and his gorgeous wife, Mariana, live right down the hall from Jen, and she has seen TS, who’s built like a truck, around the ship, and recognizes the cute but quiet Thomas as well.

Then Jen sees something that isn’t humanly possible. Jen would have thought that it was all a dream if not for the fact that Charlie, Dani, Mariana, TS, and Thomas are making every effort to cover it up. Suddenly, the five of them are everything but normal, and Jen is determined to figure out what they’re hiding.

When she does, her life really does change. Jen expected to spend her summer studying the cultures of Latin America; she never dreamed she’d learn about a magical culture instead.
But Jen’s childhood fantasy come true is about to turn into a nightmare; there’s something on the ship. Something dangerous. Suddenly, everyone on board is threatened by a creature that Jen never even believed existed. Jen and her new friends might be the only people who can stop it!
​
Now Jen has to learn everything she can about her new world before it kills her. And her friends. And maybe everyone on the entire ship.

​

Overall - 5 STARS
Performancce - 5 STARS 
Story - 5 STARS

I first read Semester Aboard in 2014, and I fell in love with the characters. Elizabeth Kirke creates a magical, modern world that I lost myself in. Her characters are well defined and very complex.  Kirke paints a spectacular picture in each port stop.  It was so easy to lose myself within the pages.

 I’ve read Semester Aboard a few times since then and I immerse myself in it each time. Listening to Starla Huchton bring it to life for me again was well, magical.  Huchton infuses her passion and intensity into this story.  When Jen and her new friends are confronted by a creature on the boat and a fight ensues, I was right there on the ship deck with them feeling every punch, snarl, and bite. It was fantastic!
​
As debut novels go, Semester Aboard is a flawless adventure into a mysterious, magical world.  I highly recommend the series and the audiobook.

​Story 4
Performance 3
Overall 4


Author Kathryn Knight created so much more than just a ghost story in Gull Harbor. The characters all have well developed complex back stories including the ghost. The story has a great balance of heartache, romance, and paranormal. I felt connected to the characters. My only complaint is that in the end as the author was wrapping up all the loose ends it felt rushed and lacked some of the emotion that had carried on through the entire story. 

The narrator, Kristin James did a good job of drawing me into the story but i felt there could have been more feelings invoked from her. She fell a bit flat on the guys part. I didn't hate it, I just didn't love it. I will still check out other work from Kristin.

I spent my Spring devouring the entire Detective Kay Hunter Series written by Rachel Ampheltt and narrated by Alison Campbell.  It was fantastic!  Alison needs to narrate my life.  I love her!
​~Lynn

​Loyalty has a price.

Kay Hunter has survived a vicious attack at the hands of one of the country's most evil serial killers.

Returning to work after an enforced absence to recover, she discovers she wasn't the only victim of that investigation.

DI Devon Sharp remains suspended from duties, and the team is in turmoil.

Determined to prove herself once more and clear his name, Kay undertakes to solve a cold case that links Sharp to his accuser.

But, as she gets closer to the truth, she realises her enquiries could do more harm than good.

Torn between protecting her mentor and finding out the truth, the consequences of Kay's enquiries will reach far beyond her new role…
Buy Links
Buy on RachelAmphlett.com

​5 Performance
5 Story
5 Overall


I devoured all 5 of the Detective Kay Hunter books. The series as a hole is fantastic in both print and audio. Each book is better than the previous one and that is saying something. I want more!
Rachel Amphlett is a master at weaving an intricate, diverse, crime drama. I feel like I needed a suspect board this time around. There were twists and turns and OMG moments with every turn of the page and a shocking ending. The MC, Kay Hunter, is phenomenal. When she sinks her teeth into a case she doesn’t give an inch.

I adore Alison Campbell as the narrator. She has done a smashing job with the series. Through Ali I am connected to Kay on a more personal level. She really makes the story come alive around me. 

I highly recommend this series for any crime novel fans out there. You do need to read the all the books in the series in order for the best experience. You won’t be disappointed

Before turning to writing, Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio as a presenter and freelance producer for the BBC, and worked in publishing as a sub-editor and editorial assistant.

She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the Detective Kay Hunter series.

Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel cites her writing influences as Michael Connelly, Lee Child, and Robert Ludlum. She’s also a huge fan of Peter James, Val McDermid, Robert Crais, Stuart MacBride, and many more.

She’s a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany’s Luzifer Verlag.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads⎮Instagram

Struggling to forget a crumbling marriage, 40-year-old Anna Lucia Lottol comes to Venice to visit an old friend - but instead of finding solace, she is dragged into the police station and accused of murdering a money-laundering count with whom she had a brief affair. A US Treasury officer with brains and athleticism, Anna fights to clear her name in a seductive city full of watery illusions. As she works to pry information from a cast of recalcitrant characters sometimes denying what she sees and hears, she succeeds in unleashing a powerful foe bent on destroying her. Will she save herself and vanquish her enemies, including her darkest fears?

A captivating tapestry of murder, betrayal, and family, Venetian Blood is a story of one woman's brave quest for the truth - before it's too late.

"A riveting whodunit that makes full use of its dramatic setting." (Kirkus Reviews)

​Audiobook Review

Story:3.5
Performace: 5
Overall: 4

I gave the story 3.5 stars because I felt like the author got bogged down in the details. She described Venice, its people, and the artwork in painstaking detail. There were parts I felt that did not lend themselves to the story much UNTIL I got to around the last 10 chapters or so. All that stuff I thought was miscellaneous rambling turned out to be relevant to the story. My point here is this, don't give up on the story. It is worth it in the end. However, I do think the author could have condensed some of her descriptions down a bit.

Despite that, this was quite an intriguing tale of murder, money laundering, infidelity, and secrets galore. The residents of Venice certainly lived complicated lives. You cannot take any of the characters at face value as none are what they appear to me. Everyone was hiding behind the proverbial mask. The MC, Anna, was smart, strong and resilient. She had to be as she attempted to proof her innocence in the murder of a Count.

I was pleasantly surprised by "who done it" and how all the major players were interconnected. The author did a wonderful job of spinning a complicated and torrent web with many characters and story lines converging into one at the end. There was a surprise gem at the end as well that i cannot go into due to spoilers.

The narrator, Gabrielle de Cuir, did a phenomenal job. Her accent and pronunciation was immaculate. She made me fall in love with Venice.Audiobook Review

~Lynn 

About the Author: Christine Evelyn Volker
Christine Evelyn Volker became intrigued by foreign cultures at an early age, which propelled her to study Spanish, German, and Italian. After securing a BA in Spanish and an MLS at University at Albany – SUNY, followed by an MBA at UC Berkeley, she was drawn to international banking and became a senior vice president at a global financial institution. Her career brought her to Italy, where she immersed herself in the language and made frequent visits to Venice. Venetian Blood marks a return to her roots in the humanities, and just won the Sarton Women’s Book Award for contemporary fiction.

She is currently at work on her second international mystery, this one set in the rainforest of Peru.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook

​About the Narrator: Gabrielle de Cuir
Gabrielle has narrated over 400 hundred titles specializing in fantasy, humor, and titles requiring extensive foreign language and accent skills. Her “velvet touch” as an actors’ director has earned her a special place in the audiobook world as the foremost choice for best-selling authors and celebrities. Short list of those directed: Anne Hathaway, Emilio Estevez, Wil Wheaton, Dr. Daniel G. Amen, Elijah Wood, Deepak Chopra, Eric Idle, Nancy Cartwright, Michael York, Ed Herrmann, and Joe Mantegna. She is the writer and director of the Award winning short film THE DELIVERY, which deals with an Alice-in-Wonderland version of audio books. She spent her childhood in Rome growing up with her wildly artistic and cinematic father, John de Cuir, four-time Academy Award winning Production Designer, an upbringing that her to be fluent in Romance languages and to have an unusual appetite for visual delights.)
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook

~~~Interview with the Author~~~

Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?
Yes. But it didn’t enter the choices that I made. If you’re a writer doing your job, you’re already making decisions based on the cadence of words, their sounds, how realistic your dialog is and how it would be spoken. All of these factors are critical for a good audiobook. After the first few drafts, I read the book out loud to hear how the words sounded and made changes if they didn’t work well together.

How did you select your narrator?
Gabrielle de Cuir auditioned, and I loved her voice – its pitch and expressiveness. She brought out the characters’ emotions while also creating interest in paragraphs of pure description. Once I heard her Italian pronunciation (I also speak it), I knew she could handle the super-challenging text I had written: lots of Italian and Spanish words, plus six types of accents in English. I checked her background. She had won awards, and was highly experienced. She didn’t have to learn the craft via my book. I used Audiobook Creation Exchange (acx). Despite the audition and the first fifteen minutes where the author listens to the narrator’s recording and provides feedback, going forward there’s a lot riding on faith. Faith that the rest of the voice actor’s work holds up to the standard of the first part. Given the linguistic and emotional complexity of my book it would have been easy for someone with less talent and experience to go astray.

How closely did you work with your narrator before and during the recording process? Did you give them any pronunciation tips or special insight into the characters?  
We worked together very smoothly. I spent a lot of time at the beginning by preparing six pages of written character descriptions, including minor ones. I boiled the key characters down, their attitudes, what made them tick, and where important, how I thought their voices could sound. This allowed her to reflect before she started, to figure out how she’d breathe life into their words. Since Gabrielle grew up in Rome, I didn’t need to give her Italian pronunciation tips. That was a huge boost. We did have a back and forth, surprisingly to me, about the first name of the main character, Anna. I didn’t have to consider this at all when writing the book. But Anna’s name would sound different when pronounced by Italians or Americans (“Ah-na” vs. “Anna.”) This could confuse listeners. Gabrielle needed to nail it down. We decided on the “Ah-na” pronunciation, no matter which character was saying it.

Were there any real life inspirations behind your writing?
Certainly there’s my visceral love for Venice which becomes a character in the novel. I tried to bring out the city’s rich and storied past, its faded glory and its contradictions. Venice still exists, against all odds. Then there are bits of my own life hidden away in the pages. In 1992, I went to Italy for work but also to seek space from a troubled first marriage, so I fused pain with my love of Venice and the desire to create. The time period for the book is the same. Also, wildlife is a sub-theme in the book; nature and the future of the earth are important to me.

Is there a particular part of this story that you feel is more resonating in the audiobook performance than in the book format?
Definitely when there are two characters engaged in a suspenseful or moving dialog, like Anna being grilled by Detective Biondi, Anna and Pablo confiding in her about Sergio – the dead man, Anna, Margo and Agatha together later in the book when Agatha reveals shocking secrets. I’ve listened to my audiobook three times now, and its emotional punch is greater throughout. Whether it’s the fact that language is meant to be spoken, or that in our history, the spoken word came before the written one, or that many of us had the pleasure of hearing our parents tell us stories before we learned to read, or that listening is a more elemental pleasure than following dots across a page, or that hearing is something we engaged in before we were even born, or that it’s all of the above—I can’t say. But a well-narrated story is more gripping than the written one.

If this title were being made into a TV series or movie, who would you cast to play the primary roles?
This is a fun question. Anna: Rachel Weisz, Margo: Jennifer Connelly, Alessandro: Giancarlo Giannini, Detective Biondi: Daniel Craig (I think he can pronounce Italian well), Dudley: Gary Oldham, Agatha: Helen Mirren. Pablo: Javier Bardem or Edward James Olmos. I could go on, but I’ll stop there!

What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading?”
Stop being so judgmental. Each has its advantages. Certainly, it’s important for all of us to be literate, so reading is a skill we all must master. Assuming we have, then a written book or a spoken book is a choice we’re free to make. Technology made audiobooks portable, and that means people who endure commutes to work can benefit, folks who exercise can get involved in a story as they’re on the treadmill, and even dreaded housework can be made more pleasurable while listening to a book. Everybody’s short of time and may not be able to just sit and read. I fail to see a problem.

Is your favorite food, song, or city referenced in your work?
Yes. Anna manages to savor a lot of food in my mystery. We’re talking about Italy – so how could I leave food out? One of my faves is porcini mushrooms crowning warm polenta. Outstanding. I first ate it in Verona, but it makes its way onto Anna’s plate in Venice. I can’t resist getting into wine. The first time I drank fruity and sublime Amarone was at the Hotel Metropole in Venice with my husband, Stephan. Of course, I had to feature it.  
A unique and moving song I love came out around the time of the book. Eros Ramazzotti sings the story of two dolphins, Missie and Silver, almost from their point of view. They were real dolphins, kept in a small tank in England, and eventually set free. One of my characters, Angela, listens to the song; it has a special meaning for her. My favorite city, Venice, infuses the entire book, even when I don’t mention it.

What bits of advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Reach high, get uncomfortable, and repeat after me: “I am the only one who can tell my story.”

What’s next for you?
Polishing my novel, Jaguar Moon. It’s a mystery based in Peru, with a Latina journalist. She returns to Cusco to find out what happened to her parents many years ago. On assignment, her photographer goes missing. Her journey takes her through Cusco’s cobbled streets to the lushness of the rainforest. Will she be as fearless as her father in seeking the truth?

I am addicted to this series.  I cannot get enough of Detective Kay Hunter.  This series is fantastic, action packed, suspenseful, and highly addictive.   ~ Lynn 

When a road traffic accident on a dark autumn night uncovers a disturbing conspiracy, Detective Sergeant Kay Hunter’s investigation exposes a ruthless serial killer exploiting vulnerable young women.

With her enemies unmasked and her career spiralling out of control, Kay’s determination to seek vengeance for the victims brings her dangerously close to those who want to silence her.

Undeterred, she uncovers the real reason behind a plot to destroy her career and sets in motion a terrifying chain of events.

Could Kay’s need for revenge be her undoing, or will she survive to see justice served?

Hell to Pay is a gripping fast paced crime thriller, and the fourth in the Detective Kay Hunter series:

1. SCARED TO DEATH
2. WILL TO LIVE
3. ONE TO WATCH
4. HELL TO PAY 

A page-turning whodunit for fans of Peter Robinson, David Baldacci and James Patterson.

​Detective Kay Hunter has been investigating Jozeph Demiri for 2 years. It has been the underlying story line in the previous 3 books in the series. In this installment it comes to a head. There is also a connection to 2 of the characters from Book 1. (No spoilers here but a definite AHA moment.)

The Detective Kay Hunter series as a whole has been simply fantastic. Hell to Pay was no exception. I find that each installment is more gripping, darker, and seedier than the previous one. Jozeph Demiri just may be the most despicable bag guy yet. 

The reader also gets a lot of loose ends tied up in Hell to Pay. We finally find out who attacked Gavin and who has been altering files in the database. In the author's usual style the book ends with a jaw dropping moment that left me me clamoring for the next book. 

I love the MC, Kay. She is strong, independent, and smart. This series is smartly written and quiet the page turner. Rachel Amphlett has created a magnificent cast that is brought to life by the amazingly talented narrator, Alison Campbell. Campbell does a great job conveying the emotions and thrills involved in narrating a crime thriller. This is one series I will want to experience again.

​About the Author: Rachel Amphlett

​Before turning to writing, Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio as a presenter and freelance producer for the BBC, and worked in publishing as a sub-editor and editorial assistant.

She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction and spy novels, including the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the Detective Kay Hunter series.

Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel cites her writing influences as Michael Connelly, Lee Child, and Robert Ludlum. She’s also a huge fan of Peter James, Val McDermid, Robert Crais, Stuart MacBride, and many more.

She’s a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold sold to Fanucci Editore's TIMECrime imprint, and the first four books in the Dan Taylor espionage series contracted to Germany’s Luzifer Verlag.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads⎮Instagram

This has been such a great series!  Be sure to check it out! ~ Lynn 

Author: N.E. Conneely
Narrators: Jeff Hays, Soundbooth Theater
Length: 7  hours 25 minutes
Publisher: N.E. Conneely⎮2018
Genre: Paranormal, Supernatural
Series: A Witch's Path, Book 4
Release date: Jan. 16, 2018

Michelle has been figuring out what her life is like now that the demon has been killed, and Sylvia and Varro are dead. Even the clans of witches trying to attract her to their way of life have backed off and given her a chance to grieve. Her relationship with Elron is stronger than ever, but there are things left unsaid.

On the way to her parents' wedding, the delicate calm she’d been living in is broken. Witches are out for her blood, her family is caught in the crossfire, and friendships are threatened. Work doesn’t let up either, and she partners up with Elron to deal with magic gone wild. Michelle finds that her problems are larger than one clan of witches, and is forced to choose between the people she holds dear and the way of life she loves.

This is the fourth book in a series, following A Witch's Trial. It is a standalone novel, however, your experience will be greatly enhanced if you've heard the previous books.
Buy Links
Buy on Audible

5/5
​I have to say this installment is my favorite. First off, can poor Michelle just have a moment to breath and enjoy her new relationship with Elron? The answer is NO! A Witch's Concern is non stop action from page one. The drama. The Grandmother. The kidnapping. OH MY! I LOVED IT. The author has created quite a fun and intriguing series. 

There were two narrators; Jeff Hays and Laurie Catherine Winkel. Both did a phenomenal job bringing the story to life. The danger. The destruction. The violence. It all sprang from my speakers. I didn't want to get out the car, lol.

About the Author: N.E. Conneely
N.E. Conneely lives in northern Georgia with her dog and a mountain of books. They sweat through the summer and freeze through the winter, and life as they know it comes to an end when so much as a single snowflake falls out of the sky. For fun, N.E. plays with her dog, reads, knits, crochets, paints, and does tie-dyeing and origami. She makes a great pizza and is currently negotiating with her husband about raising sea monkeys and growing a vegetable garden.
Facebook⎮Twitter⎮Goodreads

​About the Narrator: Jeff Hays
Jeff Hays has made a name for himself in the audio book world by creating immersive experiences out of his productions. His versatility and authenticity in voicing characters, expressive low-impact narration, and dedication to offering the highest quality audio possible has earned him a loyal following of listeners. Having been fascinated with sound since he can remember, Jeff takes his background of composing and producing music, and his continual consumption of the avalanche of fictional media we all experience in these modern times, and uses it to inform his style of story telling in the audiobook realm.

And now, having produced more than 80 audio books and perfecting his craft, using the namesake of his live streaming narration show, the Soundbooth Theater shingle has been hung. Soundbooth Theater is dedicated to applying Jeff's production methods to new audio books with other budding narrator talent, and expanding his scope from audio books, to voicing and producing animation.
Website⎮Facebook⎮Twitter⎮Youtube

About the Narrator: Laurie Catherine Winkel
​Laurie got into voiceover by studying with the legendary dialect expert Paul Meier and hosting the teen program for a nonprofit for the blind, Kansas Audio Reader. She speaks French fluently and, before diving into audiobooks, lived and performed for some time in France. She's racking up some bizarre credits, playing a range of characters onscreen from Disney princesses to horror scream queens, and proving her audio versatility by narrating everything from cowboy romances to action-packed GameLit fantasy trolls. You can also catch her in a few VR video games. Her favorite is playing confident, power-hungry, whip-smart anti-heroines.

Like Jeff Hays, she hails from the Kansas City area but currently lives in Atlanta.
Website⎮Facebook⎮Instagram⎮Audible

Briana turned her back on her magical heritage to chase her dream career, but now a spell cast with her grandmother's dying breath has unleashed her dormant Oracle powers, drawing her into a world of dangerous power and cryptic prophecy.

Thanks to her family's tragic history, Bri is a pariah in her hometown, and the only other witches she can turn to are her childhood best friend, Astrid, and Kean--her first love. They are convinced it's destiny that has reunited them and determined to help break the curse on Bri's bloodline.

But the longer she stays, the more people die.

Tortured by chaotic visions of fire and blood, Bri must harness her magic and navigate the dangerous waters of her past--and past life--to unmask the evil hunting in her shadow before it kills the only loved ones she has left.

Because she has a secret of her own. One she already died to protect. And as memories of her ancient rival become clear, so does her grim future...unless she can change it.
Buy Links  Buy on iTunes⎮Audible

I like where the author is going with this story. She definitely laid the groundwork for future books. Book 1 was fast paced and kept my interest. The MC, Bri, cannot catch a break. Heartbreak and death seem to follow her. As the reader you cannot help but connect to her and feel her pain.

I enjoyed the story being brought to life by narrator, Daniela Acitelli, but she made Bri come off as weak and whiny. I didn't take from the story that the MC was weak and whiny but the narrator made her sound that way. Aside from that issue I thought the narrator did a good job with the other characters.

​~Lynn 

 Tell us about the process of turning your book into an audiobook.  Do you believe certain types of writing translate better into audiobook format? Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?
I began writing this book in 2007-2008, so it was the farthest thing from my mind at the time; ebooks were just becoming a thing, and audiobooks were still on CD and very expensive.  When I finally published it in 2015, I knew I would eventually look into audio, but if it weren’t for ACX, it would have been several more years.

How did you select your narrator?
It was really Kismet! Daniela was one of the first few narrators to respond to my posting on ACX, and I immediately fell in love with the richness of her voice.  We chatted a bit, had plenty in common, and she was very enthusiastic about the story, which is an author’s dream. I went with my gut and cut the audition process short because it just felt like the right fit.

How closely did you work with your narrator before and during the recording process? Did you give them any pronunciation tips or special insight into the characters?
The tricky part of writing fantasy is that you have a lot of made-up words, so we did go back and forth quite a bit about pronunciation, even had a few mishaps (my fault) where she had to go back and re-record several instances of names, etc.  I provided Daniela with character bios, story spoilers, and links to my Spotify playlists and Pinterest boards for inspiration, then I let her work her magic. We both have a healthy respect for the individual creative process, so it worked out well.

Were there any real life inspirations behind your writing?
In this book I definitely wove a lot of my personal history into the world; family names, locations, small details, and some of the characters are inspired by people I’ve known.  The locale of Evergreen Cove is greatly modeled after San Juan Island, Washington, where I spent many summers growing up (it’s also where Practical Magic was filmed).

How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for writing?  Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
Until recently, I had only ever listened to one audiobook! When Order of the Pheonix first released, I was a goon and didn’t pre-order, so the only thing I could get was the $60 CD set.  I didn’t want to wait, so I sprang for it (and loved it!) but they still weren’t very economical so I never went back for more. My favorite thing about audiobooks is that I can be up moving around while listening; exercising, doing chores. I know longer have to make the choice between reading or getting things done.

Is there a particular part of this story that you feel is more resonating in the audiobook performance than in the book format?
I love the way Daniela handled the romance in the audio version. She captured the mood perfectly. While it’s a good portion of the story, when reading the book it feels more secondary, less important, but by breathing life into the characters, Daniela made me reconnect with the heartbreak that Bri and Kean both feel.
​

BRIANA:  
Physical Description: Tall, dancer’s build, green eyes, wild auburn curls (that she usually keeps tamed/straight) and freckles.
Profession: Concert Pianist
Zyne Rank: 13th Degree Oracle
Magical Gift: Death Omens
Sign: Gemini
MBTI Type: ESTJ
Likes: classical music, art & culture, museums, spas, organizing/planning
Dislikes: cooking, roughing it, dangerous/thrill-seeking activities
Favorite movie: Casablanca
Favorite food: Astrid’s clam chowder
Sits down at a bar and orders: Iced Tea with Lemon

KEAN:
Physical Description: Tall, ruggedly built, shaggy sandy brown hair, hazel eyes, boyishly handsome.
Profession: Firefighter
Zyne Rank: 9th Degree Ward
Magical Gift: Fading (at great distances and blind)
Sign: Taurus
MBTI Type: ISFJ
Likes: outdoor activities (rock climbing, kayaking), crime thrillers, playing with his dogs, big family dinners
Dislikes: paperwork, tattletales, and anyone who dates his sister (or Astrid)
Favorite movie: Gladiator
Favorite food: Grilled steak
Sits down at a bar and orders: Local Microbrew

ASTRID:
Physical Description: Petite, deep blue eyes, platinum blonde hair dyed several colors, piercings and tattoos to harden her eternally youthful looks.
Profession: Chef / Pub Owner
Zyne Rank: 10th Degree Summoner
Magical Gift: Weather Control
Sign: Scorpio
MBTI Type: ESTP
Likes: all animals, cooking, running, any and all community gatherings, festivals, and parties
Dislikes: being alone, sports bars, hot/dry climates
Favorite movie: Pulp Fiction
Favorite food: anything you can wrap in a pie crust
Sits down at a bar and orders: asks the bartender to make their signature cocktail

About the Author: Gwen Mitchell
Gwen is living her happily ever after in Seattle. She's a nature lover, science geek, and spiritual explorer, with a nose for well-aged tequila and a pin-up fashion obsession. When not chasing butterflies to hidden waterfalls or cavorting through the Emerald City, she can be found in a cozy chair reading, or brewing up tales of magic, adventure, and romance.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads⎮Instagram

​About the Narrator: Daniela Acitelli
Daniela Acitelli is a professional Audiobook Narrator / Voice Over Artist with a Theatre, Film, Cabaret and Circus background. You can find her on Audible, Itunes and Amazon. She also narrates for the RNIB, SpokenRealms, Deyan and Whitehouse publishing.

Daniela is an actress with a stage background trained in the Meisner technique and Lee Strasberg's “Method” acting. She has a background in and a great love of Cabaret and Vaudeville including the old time concert saloon, minstrelsy, circus acts, dime museums, and literary American burlesque shows.
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Before the audiobook, I read 13 Ways to Midnight and fell in love with the story. Hearing narrator, Sarah Puckett, bring the story to new life was remarkable. Sarah nailed the snark of Echo, the perkiness of Maddie, and the wit of Aunt Luna. I fell in love with the character all over again.

What other book might you compare 13 Ways to Midnight to and why?
While there is a bit of a Twilight vibe to this story, it certain does not rip off the Twilight storyline.

Which scene was your favorite?
My favorite scene is Aunt Luna and Echo battling the "Pet Cemetery" version of Mr. Jenny. Luna definitely became one of my favorite characters after that!

Any additional comments?
I loved this audiobook. Sarah Puckett brought 13 Ways to Midnight to life for me again. I cannot wait to read and listen to the next book.