REVIEW Kim Cresswell DEADLY SHADOW

Author: Kim Cresswell

Narrator: Robin Siegerman

Length: 6 hours and 17 minutes

Series: The Assassin Chronicles, Book 1

Publisher: Kim Cresswell

Released: Aug. 7, 2018

Genre: Thriller; Paranormal

The Assassin Chronicles TV series is in development with Council Tree Productions. Two recent murders. Two serial killers. A conspiracy that reaches beyond the physical world. Consumed with grief over the tragic death of her husband, FBI agent Victory McClane is obsessed with finding Ohio’s serial killer, “The Wrapper”. When another young woman turns up dead and the victim is linked to Derrick Lynn, son of the Secretary of Defense, Victory finds Derrick has all the right answers and is a little too helpful. Derrick has a secret: He’s a government assassin who uses his unusual paranormal skills to eliminate targets. Determined to keep his own secrets buried, he offers to help find The Wrapper. But can Victory trust him? As the body count rises, Victory must cross a dangerous line—into a world of government cover-ups, murder, and betrayal—a decision that will test her limits. And everything she believes in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBvRCNQMNAw&t=90s

Kim Cresswell resides in Ontario, Canada and is the bestselling and award-winning author of the action-packed WHITNEY STEEL series. Kim recently signed a 3-book German translation deal with LUZIFER Verlag for the first three books in the series: Reflection, Retribution and Resurrect. The popular series will be published in German beginning in 2018/2019. Her romantic thriller, Reflection (A Whitney Steel Novel - Book One), has won numerous awards: RomCon®'s 2014 Readers' Crown Finalist (Romantic Suspense), InD'tale Magazine 2014 Rone Award Finalist (Suspense/Thriller), UP Authors Fiction Challenge Winner (2013), Silicon Valley's Romance Writers of America (RWA) "Gotcha!" Romantic Suspense Winner (2004), Honourable Mention in Calgary's (RWA) The Writer's Voice Contest (2006). Lethal Jouney won RomCon®'s 2014 Readers' Crown (Thriller) and was a finalist in From the Heart Romance Writers (FTHRW) Golden Gate Contest. The Assassin Chronicles TV series is in development with Council Tree Productions, a feature film and TV production company located in Los Angeles, California. The TV series: THE ASSASSIN CHRONICLES is based on Kim's upcoming 4-book paranormal/supernatural suspense thriller series: Deadly Shadow (published May 2018), Invisible Truth, Assassin's Prophecy, and Vision of Fire.

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Robin Siegerman was trained as an actor by the acclaimed William Esper in New York, vocally trained by Albert Hague, a Tony award-winning, Broadway composer, and trained in speech and dialects by dialect coach to the stars, Timothy Monich. Robin has a wide range of voices, accents, dialects and characters to give voice work color. Noteably, in the spring of 2018, she was nominated for the narration of the WWII documentary Harry's Story in the Best International Performance category at the One Voice Awards in England. Robin also has extensive on-camera experience as a spokes-person for a series of corporate training videos; a decor expert on various TV and radio broadcasts; a frequently requested keynote speaker at home and consumer trade shows, libraries and private industry events; has hosted her own internet radio show; wrote and voiced a daily home renovation information series for radio; and wrote and voiced a regular feature on green living radio. Currently Robin writes & produce promo videos with VO for small to medium size businesses, along with narrating audiobooks from her broadcast-quality home studio.

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  I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Kim Cresswell. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

By Author Kim Cresswell

• FBI Agent Victory McClane played by Mireille Enos
• Government Assassin Derrick Lynn played by Gino Anthony Pesi
• President Burke played by Ray Liotta
• Ryan Slater (Victory’s partner) played by - Chad Michael Murray
• Jeremy Elder played by Jason Ritter

Q&A with Narrator Robin Siegman

• How did you wind up narrating audiobooks? Was it always your goal or was it something you stumbled into by chance?
  • I’ve been performing for most of my life and trained as an actor in NYC. Life took me in many different directions, but I ended up in voice acting a few years ago when I was asked to perform in a radio documentary and play a well-known and beloved children’s book character on a national radio broadcast. Then I was hooked on voice acting! I moved into audio books because it is the ideal medium for an actor: I can do it from home in my broadcast-quality recording studio and I get to play all the parts!
• A lot of narrators seem to have a background in theatre. Is that something you think is essential to a successful narration career?
  • I don’t think one has to have a specific theatre background, but an audiobook narrator must have had acting training. Really, it should be called an audiobook performer. Because that’s what happens when we narrate. We are telling the story, but we are acting out all the parts, and even the narrator is a character, so all the acting principles of preparing and analyzing a script, preparing characters, story arc, emotional build and peak apply.
• What type of training have you undergone?
  • I was so lucky to study acting with William Esper in NYC. Some of his notable alumni are Amy Shumer, Kathy Bates, Mary Steenburgen, Jeff Goldblum, John Malkovich and others. I studied voice with Albert Hague, a Tony award-winning Broadway composer (who also wrote the music for the Classic animated film The Grinch Who Stole Christmas), and speech with Timothy Monich, who is the go-to dialect coach of Hollywood Stars.
• Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
  • I LOVE listening to audiobooks! Not only do I love it as a pass time, but it is essential for every narrator to listen to them on a regular basis. It’s important to hear what some of the best narrators in the business are doing and listen and learn from their techniques. I do quite a bit of driving, so I love to listen while I drive or do other chores that are time consuming, like gardening.
• What are your favorite and least favorite parts of narrating an audiobook?
  • My favorite part is the actual narration. But there are a lot of other responsibilities a narrator has that a listener doesn’t usually know about: proofing the recording, editing and correcting mistakes, and mastering, which is the technical process to make the sound consistent and free of extraneous noises. All of that is very painstaking and not as much fun for me as narrating. One finished hour of recording can take up to 8-10 hours to produce. It’s not as easy as I hope we make it sound!
• Is there a particular genre you feel unsuited for? Have you ever declined a project because you didn’t think you were right for it?
  • I have turned down a memoir and there are very few of them that I would consider. The ease with which anyone can self-publish a book means that sometimes, those that write their own memoirs, really are not that compelling to me, so I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. I have to love the story to narrate it effectively.
• What about this title compelled you to audition as narrator?
  • The story of Deadly Shadow sounded exciting and urgent, and it is! Both of those qualities in a book make it stimulating for me to narrate. And at the end of the day, I want to be proud of the book I am associated with.
• How closely do you prefer to work with authors?
  • I view the relationship between author and narrator as a collaboration. The author writes the story and I, as the narrator interprets that story and brings another dimension and richness to the story and characters with my voice and emotions. Sometimes in a book there are people’s names, place names or historical/geographical references that I’m not familiar with, so I have to do some research before I start narrating. In some cases, I can’t find what I’m looking for, so I have to send a list to the author to get their help. Also, I find it helpful if the author lets me know if there is something specific they have in mind for the interpretation of a character, so I can weave that in to the performance. I want to fulfill their vision and intent, but ultimately, I bring my own artistic vision to complete the circle.
• How does audiobook narration differ from other types of voiceover work you've done?
  • Audiobook narration is far more physically demanding than most other types of voiceover work because you sit alone in a recording booth, which is a very confined space, and read out loud for many hours every single day. It’s hard on the vocal chords and on the body, because although I’m sitting (some narrators stand, which would be very tiring), I have to be physically expressive to convey the emotions of the character, without making any sound whatsoever other than speaking, so the movements have to be extremely controlled. A narrator becomes hyper aware of their own stomach grumbles, mouth noise, clothing noise and chair shuffles or squeaks, which must not intrude into the recording. It’s very tiring.
• Do you read reviews for your audiobooks?
  • Yes I do. Fortunately, I haven’t had many negative reviews, but they can be very instructive, if they are constructive and not destructive. A listener who is just mean, doesn’t help me at all, and of course it’s hurtful. I think a lot of people who leave a negative review never realize there is a real person with feelings on the other side of the screen. I’d like to think that if they were telling me what they thought to my face, they would be honest, but diplomatic. We seem to have lost the art of diplomacy in typing. And of course it’s wonderful to know when a listener has really enjoyed the story and the narration. It helps me with future books to know what connects with listeners and what doesn’t.

Prize: The Whitney Steel Trilogy On Audiobook

Deadly Shadow Giveaway: The Whitney Steel Trilogy Audiobooks Nov. 13th: Dab of Darkness Book Reviews The Book Junkie Reads . . . Nov. 14th: In Patti's Imagination Nov. 15th: Lilly's Book World Nov. 16th: Guilty Indulgence Bookclub Nov. 17th: Book Addict T's Stuff Nov. 18th: Jazzy Book Reviews Nov. 19th: Lomeraniel The Book Addict's Reviews

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REVIEW K.M. Riley FEVER RISING

Author: K.M. Riley

Narrator: Audra Cook

Length: 6 hours and 5 minutes

Publisher: Trifecta Publishing House

Released: Sep. 14, 2018

Genre: Science Fiction; Dystopian

“I don't save, I kill. I don't build, I break. I don't run, I chase. And I won't rest until a new society is built on the System's ashes.” (Cassidy Havok) Kaden Valens' world is kill or be killed. Such is the life of a Challenger, the property of a Citizen. Fight or die. When Kaden is ordered to face his sole family member, his sister, Nix, he chooses a different battle - one against the Federacy that owns him. Rebel Cassidy Havok is the Federacy's worst nightmare. Her only goal is to bring down the government, doing whatever it takes to eradicate the slave-based society. When Kaden defies the Federacy publicly, she hopes to make an ally out of him, turning the tide in the resistance's favor. Cassidy helps Kaden escape the clutches of the Citizenry, and they flee to the Wilds, the world outside the Federacy's reach. There they plan for the fight of a lifetime. Can they take on a nation, or is their cause a lost one?

 

K.M. Riley is not only a lover of stories, but she's a game designer, artist, and fan of all things imaginative. If she's not writing, she's daydreaming or doodling about more worlds and characters that will make great tales. With a background in Creative Writing, she's always busy creating new adventures, or taking part in them.

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  I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by K.M. Riley. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

Q&A with Author K.M. Riley

• Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?
  • To be honest, no. When I’m writing a book I focus on the story itself, having fun with what I’m envisioning. Characters are my favorite part to shape. Can they compel a reader to the world, the plot, to keep reading at all?

• How did you select your narrator?
  • I had the auditioning narrators read one of the most compelling scenes from the book. To me, if they could capture that moment, that intensity between the characters, they could nail the rest of the narration.

• 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?
  • For the most part, I trusted my narrator to run with the story after a brief breakdown of pronunciation and descriptions. What mattered most to me was her portrayal of the characters. I wanted them to not only sound different, but they needed to feel as impassioned as the words they’re speaking aloud to the listener.

• How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for writing?
  • Burnout is common everywhere. I work in video games, so I recognize when to stop and take a break. It’s the same with writing. Sometimes I’ll read a new series, draw a character I’m thinking of, or play excessive amounts of D&D. I let my imagination stay alive until get inspired again, keeping that enthusiasm alive in other forms.

• Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
  • Of course I’m a listener, that’s the best part about my commute. Audiobooks make it easy to do other things while listening to a story. Exercising, long drives, you name it. Whenever I can’t hold a book in my hands but crave a tale, that’s what they are there for.

• What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
  • Nonsense. Some avid “readers” have actual impairments. Audiobooks are a fantastic way to help those with disabilities, sharing a story regardless of obstacles. For those without impairments, it’s just another way to cram more books in. Either way, getting through a book is an achievement to be praised, not condemned based on method.

• In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of writing a stand-alone novel vs. writing a series?
  • Having done both, there’s something freeing about a stand-alone. For me, I had a single vision in mind, and all I wanted was to get that across, but not drag it out per se. Having a series means considering aspects beyond your first hook, a story that needs unfolding over more hurdles, thicker plots or complex character development. There’s no right or wrong, good or bad, it’s just a matter of what the author wants to write.

• Have any of your characters ever appeared in your dreams?
  • All the time. They reenact scenes with more complexity than I could have remembered to write down when I woke up. Sometimes, and without giving too much away, some of the characters have made it a point to romance since there was only alluding in the book.

• What’s next for you?
  • Currently, I’m working on a narrative project at Hangar 13 that I’m incredibly excited about. Unfortunately, I can’t talk about it. Hopefully one day it’s something I can share. That said, I’m not done writing books; the next one is just beginning to take root in my imagination.

Author K.M. Riley's Dream Cast for Fever Rising

• Cassidy Havok - Chloe Bennet
• Kaden Valens - Chris Evans
• Nixandra Valens - Daisy Ridley
• Hunter Cath - Javier Bardem
• Liam Mercer - Tahj Mowry
• Sly Simmonds - Jeff Bridges

Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card

Fever Rising Giveaway: $50 Amazon Gift Card Nov. 13th: Dab of Darkness Book Reviews The Book Junkie Reads . . . Nov. 14th: In Patti's Imagination Nov. 15th: Lilly's Book World Nov. 16th: Guilty Indulgence Bookclub Nov. 17th: Book Addict T's Stuff Nov. 18th: Jazzy Book Reviews Nov. 19th: Lomeraniel The Book Addict's Reviews

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REVIEW Julie Berry WISHES AND WELLINGTONS

Author: Julie Berry

Narrators: Jayne Entwistle

Length: 9 hours 29 minutes

Publisher: Audible Studios

Released: Sep. 25, 2018

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

From award-winning author Julie Berry comes a brand new middle-grade fantasy adventure full of humor and heart, exclusively from Audible. Maeve Merritt chafes at the rigid rules at her London boarding school for “Upright Young Ladies.” When punishment forces her to sort through the trash, she finds a sardine tin that houses a foul-tempered djinni with no intention of submitting to a schoolgirl as his master. Soon an orphan boy from the charitable home next door, a mysterious tall man in ginger whiskers, a disgruntled school worker, and a take-no-prisoners business tycoon are in hot pursuit of Maeve and her magical discovery. It’ll take all of her quick thinking and sass to set matters right. Maeve Merritt is one feisty heroine you won’t soon forget. Julie Berry lives near Los Angeles with her family. The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place is an Odyssey Honor Audiobook, and The Passion of Dolssais a Printz Honor Title.

Julie Berry is the author of the 2017 Printz Honor and Los Angeles Times Book Prize shortlisted novel The Passion of Dolssa, the Carnegie and Edgar shortlisted All the Truth That’s in Me (2013, Viking), the Odyssey Honor title The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place (2014, Roaring Brook), and six others. Her latest novel, The Emperor’s Ostrich, released June 13, 2017 from Roaring Brook. Her forthcoming novel, Lovely War, will release from Viking Children’s Books in Spring 2019. She holds a BS from Rensselaer in communication and an MFA from Vermont College. She lives in Southern California with her family.

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Jayne was born in the North of England and lived in a myriad of places (Vancouver, San Francisco, Tucson, Sequim, Seattle) before landing in Los Angeles. She is an avid improviser who hitched her space-work wagon to Patrick Bristow’s company, Improvatorium, where she studied, taught, directed and performed improv. She is an award-winning audiobook narrator best known for her narration of the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley. She also received the 2015 Odyssey Honour Award for The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry and the 2016 Odyssey Award for, The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. When not inhaling books for work or pleasure, Jayne works in film, television and commercials. The biggest star she has ever worked with is Shaquille O’Neal. He is quite literally THE biggest star she has ever worked with. Ever. He’s really big!

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  I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Julie Berry. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

[Flora]

Not only is this story award winning it is great for the long car rides with the kids.  The story is full of lovable characters and a theme of good versus evil and friends need to stick together.  The main character, Maeve, finds herself in trouble, yet again, and the headmistress punishment is to sort the trash.  This is a teachable moment on how the people of post world world 1 and during world war 2 were asked to recycle all metal for the war effort.  In the most unlikely of places while wearing Wellington boots, Meave starts on a wonderful adventure.  The story also involves the boy next door to the school at the orphanage.  The girls in the school Maeve attends are asked to make scarves for the boys as a charitable act (yet another teachable moment).  The story is so easy to listen to and will have you laughing and routing for Maeve and the others.  The mark of a great story is that it can be read on many levels, like this terrific tale.  The  narrator did a great job of reading the story.  I enjoyed that the narrator had a British accent which was very clear and easy to understand and added to this story which is set in England.  I would recommend this story to everyone who needs a lift.  
Amazon/GoodReads Rating: 5/5
In Patti's Imagination Rating: 10/10

Author Julie Berry Interviews Protagonist Maeve Merritt

 

1. So, Miss Maeve Merritt, why did your parents send you to Miss Salamanca’s School for Upright Young Ladies, instead of educating you at home?

  Mother said she can’t bear the nightmare of hiring and training another governess for me, nor persuading her to stay after I’d snuck out to play cricket with the village boys once too many times. She thinks my name is on a governess’s blacklist somewhere. Miss Salamanca’s reputation for taming unmanageable girls was music to Mother’s ears.

2. And what exactly were you doing at Miss Salamanca’s School when you found your wish-granting djinni?

If you must know, I’d been sentenced to garbage duty for two days. I was sorting through the dustbins, separating tin from rubbish.

3. I see … is this normal behavior for students at Miss Salamanca’s School?

No.

4. Were you under some sort of punishment?

Only because I’d socked nasty Theresa Treazleton in the eye. And only because she deserved it, and worse. Really, I went easy on her.

5. I suppose, if garbage duty led you to an all-powerful djinni, you made out handsomely in this transaction.

Then you don’t know much at all. A djinni’s proven harder to keep track of than a rabid mongoose.

6. Why would anyone want to keep track of a rabid mongoose?

Wouldn’t you rather know where it is than wonder where it’s hiding?

7. I suppose so. Are you sorry you found the djinni, then?

Who, Mermeros? No, I’m glad I found him. It’s been an education. More than I’d ever have gotten at school. I just wish I’d been able to keep him better hidden from so many rascals and villains. Beating them off at every turn was the hard part. The wishes themselves were pretty spectacular.

8. Did you get your wishes granted, then?

That’s cheating. You’ll have to listen to my story to find out. Nov. 4th: Lilly's Book World The Book Junkie Reads . . . Nov. 5th: Turning Another Page Nov. 6th: T's Stuff Nov. 7th: Declarations of a Fangirl Nov. 8th: Jazzy Book Reviews Nov. 9th: The Book Addict's Reviews Nov. 10th: Sefina Hawke's Books In Pattis Imagination

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