Audible Novella Review: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Narrated by Hugh Grant

 

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens tells the story of miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge, a wealthy partner at Scrooge & Marley. Set during the Christmas season, years after the death of Marley, Scrooge believes all the joy and gift giving of the season to be a humbug. This year, like in years past, he declines his nephew's invitation to Christmas dinner. Once he returns home for the evening, he is visited by Marley's ghost, who encourages him to change his stingy ways. Marley warns him he will be visited by three spirits. As Scrooge joins the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, he comes face to face with what he life was, is, and could be. He also learns more about his clerk Bob Cratchit and his young son, Tiny Tim. 

This seasonal historical tale has been a holiday classic for generations. The Audible version, narrated by Hugh Grant, is a superb performance of the story of the stingy Scrooge, who is transformed by three spirits who visit him. Grant captured all the characters so well. I would recommend listening to this any time of year.

• Unabridged Audiobook
• Release date: 12-21-20
• Language: English
• Publisher: Audible Studios

This was a free Audible selection. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way. 

Novella Review: The Summer Nanny by Audrey J. Cole

Bridgett's dream job becomes a nightmare when an intruder takes little Leo hostage and demands a precious family heirloom as ransom. It quickly becomes apparent, however, that the intruder isn't interested in ransom at all.

In this short Emerald City Thriller, Audrey Cole has woven a fascinating and suspense filled story that has a surprising twist. Novellas can be challenging, especially one that is only 65 pages long. Cole does a great job in creating a main character that you care about and want to see come through this harrowing experience alive.

If blood and violence isn't your thing, The Summer Nanny might not be your type of story, but it definitely gets the heart pumping as Bridgett works to outwit the intruder.

One aspect that didn't make sense in this story is the introduction of detectives Blake Stephenson and Tess Richards. Other than the fact that Bridgett's boyfriend Chris is Tess' brother, and the detectives attend the gala because they are friends with Leo's parents, they serve little purpose.

Easily read in one sitting, The Summer Nanny is fast paced and exciting from beginning to end.

Excerpt

She bent over to check the floor around the kitchen island when a loud static noise came over the baby monitor. Every muscle in her body stiffened as she stared at the small lit-up screen in her hand. Instead of seeing Leo's small sleeping form, a figure wearing a full black ski mask filled the camera's frame.

Bridgett's hands trembled as the ski-masked intruder cocked his head to the side and took slow, deliberate steps toward the camera. The camera shook and the screen went dark as the intruder pulled it from the wall. Once the camera had been readjusted, the ski-masked face filled the screen.

He held a cell phone in front of his mouth, and a computerized voice came through the monitor.

"You can stop looking for your phone. I have it."

He must’ve been using an app to disguise his voice. Bridgett held down the Talk button on her hand-held monitor. "Please—don't hurt Leo."

The masked figure turned his head toward the boy's crib. "He's fine. At least he will be if you do exactly what I say."

She blinked through her tears and pressed the Talk button again. "I'll do whatever you want. Don't hurt him—please!"

The camera moved away from the ski-masked face and panned to the side. It stopped, focusing on the large blade in the man's gloved hand.

"That is entirely up to you," the computerized voice said.

File Size: 2243 KB
Print Length: 65 pages
Publisher: Rainier Publishing (April 16, 2019)
Publication Date: April 16, 2019
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
ASIN: B07PS3TTXY

Website: https://www.audreyjcole.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AudreyJCole

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Audrey-J.-Cole/e/B071GFZMLT

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/audrey-j-cole

Audrey J. Cole will be awarding a $15 Amazon or 

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via rafflecopter during the tour.

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I received a digital copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Novella Review: Dead Man Walker by Duffy Brown

If you're a fan of Duffy Brown's Consignment Shop Mystery series, you'll definitely want to pick up an e-copy of Dead Man Walker, a digital only novella that is considered book 3.5.

Springtime has come to Savannah, bringing with it customers into Reagan Summerside's consignment shop. Maybe now she can pay off some bills and think about getting some wheels.

Mercedes is a mortician beautician and housekeeper, so dead bodies don't scare her; but she doesn't really expect to find one of her clients dead in his bathtub. Having already had some trouble with the law, this sure won't make her any more popular with the police, so she calls on lawyer Walker Boone to help her out.

But Walker has his own connection to the recently deceased, which quickly makes him the number one suspect. Now, he'll need Reagan's help to clear his name.

As you can tell from recent reviews, I'm a fan of Brown's Consignment Shop Mystery series. What the author did with this short addition is keep it fresh while still giving the reader all of what she loves about these books. Though the previous three books are told from Reagan's point of view, this one is from Boone's. Not only is the reader treated to seeing things through his eyes, they learn a bit more about the mysterious gang member turned lawyer. For me, this was a mixed bag. Part of Boone's appeal is his secretive nature and the unknown parts of his past he hasn't shared with Reagan. Though there is still a ton to learn, part of that has been lost and he's not quite so mysterious anymore.

One of the best parts of Dead Man Walker is seeing Boone interact more with people from his former life, like Big Joey.

The cliffhanger ending on this one is superb and the reader gets a short excerpt from the next book in the series, Demise in Denim--which will be waiting for me when I get back home. While I'm not usually a fan of the cliffhanger ending in a series, here it works well because Boone's story naturally flows into Reagan working to clear his name in the next book. I can't wait to get started on it!

File Size: 1036 KB
Print Length: 71 pages
Publisher: Berkley (February 3, 2015)
Publication Date: February 3, 2015
Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B00KGH5GVA

I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Novella Review: Elf Trouble by Sherry James

The Studs 4 Hire series returns in the seasonal novella, Elf Trouble by Sherry James.

Gil Boyd wants nothing to do with the hyper-commercialized version of Christmas that abounds these days. When his bosses at Studs 4 Hire volunteer his services to a local animal shelter for their annual Santa Paws fundraiser, he silences his inner Grinch and hopes to get the job done quickly.

What he doesn't count on is quirky shelter volunteer, Holly Everwood, whose filled to the brim with Christmas spirit. Along with her band of cantankerous mutts, Holly will tempt Gil's resolve to stay unattached this holiday season.

I've missed the Studs 4 Hire series, so I was thrilled to learn of this new release. Though past Studs 4 Hire novels have focused more on the female owners of the company that hires out fabulous looking handymen, this novella finds one of the "studs" as the main character.

Having grown up under less than ideal circumstances, Gil Boyd despises Christmas. When his bosses ask him to build a Santa house for an animal shelter's annual fundraiser, he tries just about everything he can think of to weasel out of the job. But they think he will be perfect for it, so eventually Gil agrees.

When a crisis strikes at the animal shelter, volunteer Holly Everwood suddenly finds herself in charge of making sure their Santa Paws fundraiser is a huge success, including working with Gil to design and build the Santa house.

Sparks quickly fly between the two, but both have reasons not to get involved. As they find it harder and harder to keep things professional between them, the days to the Santa Paws fundraiser are quickly approaching and it seems impossible that the project will be completed on time.

This is a quick, funny, and sexy read. James knows her genre and puts together a fabulous story that will get your blood pumping and tickle your funny bone. The dogs add a neat element to this romantic seasonal tale. You'll definitely want to see how Gil and Holly get to their happily ever after.


Print Length: 159 pages
Publisher: Dusty Trail Publishing; 1 edition (December 19, 2013)
ISBN #: 9780991281053
ASIN: B00HGWSZUM
BN ID: 2940148918691

I purchased a digital copy of this book for my Kindle. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

This is the 15th book I've read for the following challenge:

Novella Review: Her Handyman by Morgan Mandel

If you enjoy romantic comedies, Her Handyman by Morgan Mandel should be on your electronic device.

This novella length romance finds Jake responding to the penthouse of a rich, quirky artist. A "jack of all trades" handyman who has a penchant for helping people with their problems, he's enjoying his life and looking forward to his marriage to the beautiful Angelina. So why is he so taken with Zoe, an oddball artist who lives like a hermit with her ugly little dog, FuFu?

Her Handyman is a sweet, funny romance. Mandel has a knack for creating characters whose lives you dive right into. Jake and Zoe are perfect examples. Jake is this really great guy who has a lot going for him: a good job, a lovely fiancée, and the admiration of many. People truly appreciate all Jake does for them. Zoe, on the other hand, is this kooky artist-type who changes costume to get into character to paint, doesn't clean her penthouse because she's too caught up in her work, and has this secret fear that all men are bad. While I couldn't relate much to either of them, it still worked because the author created them to be people I wanted to care about; people I wanted to see together.

Knowing that Jake was engaged at the beginning of this, I wondered how Mandel would pull off his doubting his relationship with Angelina. Could the author get Jake and Zoe together and still keep Jake likable to the reader? She did that, and more. By the time this novella is over, you understand Jake's actions and are glad he did what he did. The secondary story of Zoe's relationship with her father Carmen was a nice touch. It helped to round out her character.

What I thought was smart considering the length of this story is that the majority of the novella was focused on the two main characters. There were secondary characters around, but not a lot of time was spent with them, so the reader comes away feeling like she followed these two people on a wonderful journey to discovering each other.

Another A+ for Morgan Mandel. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.



File Size: 282 KB
Print Length: 121 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Choice One Publishing Co. (September 6, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B0097EVXBK
SRP: Only 99 cents at Amazon

I downloaded a paid copy of this book to my Kindle. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

This is the 61st book I've read for the following challenge:

It is the 37th book I've read for the following challenge:

Book Review: The Apocalypse of Hagren Roose by J. W. Nicklaus

In this powerful, eloquently written novella, small-town big shot Hagren Roose takes a journey through the choices he's made and hopefully may have a chance to atone for.

The Apocalypse of Hagren Roose is a thought-provoking literary work. Hagren has distanced himself from his family by his actions. He hasn't spoken to his daughter Alina in four years. He has no idea what his wife needs. And now it's time for him to think about what's truly important to him.

There are so many interesting aspects to this book. The tense relationship between Hagren and his family. The unexplained rivalry between Alina's father and her girlfriend, Catherine. The mysterious nurses seen by Apollo Clayton, the nighttime janitor. Catherine's love of crossword puzzles. Nicklaus blended all of these to create a fascinating story that will leave a lasting impression. In some ways, I felt like I was traveling through Christmases past with Scrooge and his ghost, hoping for a transformation to arise.

I look forward to reading more by this author.

• File Size: 359 KB
• Print Length: 105 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008NWXQXK
• SRP: $2.99 

I received a free e-copy of this book from the author through Pump Up Your Book. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

This is the 58th book I've read for the following challenge:

It is the 35th book I've read for the following challenge:

Novella Review: A Whisper in Space by David C. Drizzit

While space stories aren't my usual fare, the book blurb for this one interested me and I thought it would be nice to read something different. Since it was available as a free Kindle download at the time, I also felt I didn't have much to lose.


This is a novella, which the author states is a primer intended to introduce the characters. The author also released a full-length novel featuring these characters last month. It appears by the novel's title, Big Damn Love Story, that romance will be more prominent in the novel than it is in the A Whisper in Space novella.


Many reviewers of A Whisper in Space by David C. Drizzit mention a resemblance to Firefly. The author also states in his note that this Josh Whedon's series, and the movie, Serenity inspired his work. Reviewers felt if you enjoyed Firefly, A Whisper in Space would be a good match. Perhaps it is because this novella is based upon a TV series that I found it lacking. They are different mediums and need to be crafted as such.

The novella opens with a Introduction told in first person by Captain Miles Knighton, a bounty hunter who is searching for a goon named Santagello. Along with Miles, the Spitfire crew includes Sutherlan, who has flown with him for almost 20 years, and Taro, a good for nothing mechanic who can't seem to fix anything. Retaining a navigator is a real issue for Miles, and he's hoping to find a good one soon, along with a doctor.

Because of the first person narrative, I assumed the entire novella would be presented this way. Instead, it is a mish-mash of first person and third person omniscient that sometimes confuses the reader. Typographical and grammar errors plague this five chapter novella; and while there is a good amount of action, there isn't a great deal of character development. Some characters, like Ah Lam, are quickly able to dissect the meaning of secret conversations and uncover deceits. While there are hints she has some secrets, she just appears too good to be true and always at the right place at the right time. There is humorous banter between Miles and Sutherlan, but much of the dialogue doesn't flow naturally, and situations this reader felt would be more developed, wither and die off. Resolutions come too quickly and easily.

A Whisper in Space has promise as an action-packed space adventure with a hint of romance. In the hands of a good editor, the weaker areas of the story could be worked out. The plot is great. It makes me think of Star Wars. I would consider more works by this author in the future.

File Size: 272 KB

Print Length: 87 pages

Publisher: Forward HR LLC (August 21, 2011)

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Language: English

ASIN: B005IGUN9Y

SRP: $.99 for Kindle

I downloaded a free copy of this book to my Kindle Fire. The author did not request a review of this book. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I received no monetary compensation of any kind.