The Audiobook Shelf

The Writer's Room Survival Guide
Niceole Levy, author/reader
Dreamscape Media
1417 Timberwolf Drive, Holland, Ohio, 43528 https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781666626704, $22.99, CD (8 Hours, 26 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Room-Survival-Guide-Screw/dp/1666626708

Synopsis: Writers' rooms for television shows or film projects can be a hea= ven or hell, depending on a few things. The best rooms foster inclusive and=
productive creative flow. The worst create a toxic stew of bad feelings an=
d doubt. Both kinds, and all the ones in between, require basic knowledge o=
f how the room works. These fundamentals are best learned before you go in.

What Niceole Levy provides in her complete and unabridged audio book "The W= riter's Room Survival Guide: Don't Screw Up the Lunch Order and Other Keys =
to a Happy Writers' Room" is a true insider's insightful account of how to = make it as a screenwriter working with others in close and confining quarte= rs.

Critique: Professional screenwriter Niceole Levy's ably narrated and impres= sively informative, complete and unabridged audio book edition of "The Writ= er's Room Survival Guide: Don't Screw Up the Lunch Order and Other Keys to =
a Happy Writers' Room" from Dreamscape Media must be considered essential a=
nd invaluable for anyone one aspiring to or hoping for a career of writing = scripts from television, the movies, or the stage. It should be noted that = "The Writer's Room Survival Guide" is also available in a print edition fro=
m publisher Michael Wiese Productions (9781615933464, $29.95).

Editorial Note: Niceole Levy (https://niceolelevy.com/about) completed the = NBC Writers on the Verge program in 2012 and the CBS Writer's Mentoring Pro= gram in 2011. She is also a 2-time graduate of the University of Southern C= alifornia. A devotee of television, she wrote her first solo original pilot=
, "Thin Air" during the CBS program. She was a staff writer on NBC's "Irons= ide" in 2013 and is currently working on two new pilots. In addition, Niceo=
le has completed a variety of projects, including pilots, specs, original p= lays, and original short stories.

Murder in Chianti
T. A. Williams, author
Simon Mattacks, narrator
Boldwood Books, Ltd.
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
https://www.ulverscroft.com
9781804832332, $87.95, MP3-CD (6 Hours, 45 Minutes)

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murder-in-chianti-ta-williams/1142638661

Synopsis: It's a clear case of murder being carried out in broad daylight w= hen millionaire magnate Rex Hunter is found with his head bashed in on the = eighth hole of his prestigious golf and country club in beautiful Chianti.

Hunter was rich and successful and the envy of many, so retired DCI Dan Arm= strong thinks the case will be a hole in one to solve. But as Dan and his t= rusty canine sidekick Oscar begin to dig deeper into Hunter's lifestyle, th=
ey discover a man despised by many. A renowned womaniser, ruthless boss and=
heartless family man, it seems no one is particularly sorry to see Hunter = dead. And the list of possible suspects is endless.

Despite the murderer covering their tracks, Dan is determined to catch this=
clever killer, but it seems every new lead brings another dead end. Will t= his be one case Dan and his canine companion won't solve?

Critique: Brought vividly to life with the exceptional storytelling talents=
of narrator Simon Mattacks, "Murder in Chianti", the latest 'whoodunit' my= stery by accomplished novelist T. A. Williams is a fun 'theatre of the mind=
' experience and unreservedly recommended for both personal and community l= ibrary Mystery/Suspens audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: An extended listing of books by T. A. Williams can be fo= und on a website dedicated to his work at https://www.bookseriesinorder.com= /t-a-williams

Editorial Note: Simon Mattacks (https://www.simonmattacks.com) has been doi=
ng voice over and narrator work for advertisements, cartoons, corporate vid= eos, video games, and audio books for more than 30 years.

The Trophy Wife
Valerie Keogh, author
Elliot Fitzpatrick, narrator
Boldwood Books Ltd
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
https://www.ulverscroft.com
9781804835616, $103.00, MP3-CD (10 Hours, 40 Minutes)

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-trophy-wife-valerie-keogh/1142835149

Synopsis: His prized possession or his greatest mistake? From the moment I = saw Anne, I knew she was perfect for me. Her beauty and her social connecti= ons would make my miserable life so much better. It didn't matter that I di= dn't love her. I would give her the lifestyle she craved, and she would giv=
e me the life I deserved. But soon my marriage vows were a noose around my = neck. I longed to escape my beautiful, horrible wife. And then I saw her an=
d I knew there was only one way out.

Critique: A genuine suspense thriller of a novel by the impressively talent=
ed author Valerie Keogh, "The Trophy Wife" is flawlessly narrated by the ex= ceptional storytelling talents of narrator Elliot Fitzpatrick. The result i=
s a truly memorable experience that will enthrall the listener, this comple=
te and unabridged edition from Boldwood Books is especially recommended for=
both personal and community library Mystery/Suspense audio book collection=
s.

Editorial Note #2: Valerie Keogh (https://www.boldwoodbooks.com/contributor= /valerie-keogh) lives in Wiltshire with her husband and a huge black cat, F= atty Arbuckle. She grew up reading Agatha Christie and initially wrote crim=
e novels -- she now writes psychological thrillers.

Editorial Note #2: Elliot Fitzpatrick (https://tantor.com/narrator/elliot-f= itzpatrick.html) studied acting at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire befor=
e going on to appear in theater in London's West End, at Shakespeare's Glob=
e, and with the Rose Theatre Kingston, as well as in international tours ac= ross Asia. As an audiobook narrator he has read over fifty titles, includin=
g books by Bear Grylls and mountain-climber Nims Purja, and in 2021 was nom= inated for an Audie for his work on the mystery thriller The Midnight Man b=
y Caroline Mitchell.

The Marriage Season
Jane Dunn
Boldwood Books Ltd
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
https://www.ulverscroft.com
9781804835296, $108.95, MP3-CD (9 Hours, 40 Minutes)

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-marriage-season-jane-dunn/1142938048

Synopsis: In Regency England, marriage is everything. For young widow Sybel=
la Lovatt, the time has come to find a suitable husband for her sister and = ward Lucie. Male suitors are scarce near their Wiltshire estate, so the sis= ters resolve to head to London in time for the Season to begin.

Once ensconced at the Mayfair home of Lady Godley, Lucie's godmother, the w= hirl of balls, parties and promenades can begin. But the job of finding a h= usband is fraught with rules and tradition. Jostling for attention are the = two lords - the charming and irresistible Freddie Lynwood and the preternat= urally handsome Valentine Ravenell, their enigmatic neighbour from Shotten = Hall, Mr Brabazon, and the dangerous libertine Lord Rockliffe, with whom th=
e brooding Brabazon is locked in deadly rivalry.

Against the backdrop of glamorous Regency England, Sybella must settle Luci= e's future, protect her own reputation, and resist the disreputable rakes d= etermined to seduce the beautiful widow. As the Season ends, will the siste=
rs have found the rarest of things -- a suitable marriage with a love story=
to match?

Critique: As a author, Jane Dunn is a true master of the Regency Romance ge= nre as documented by her novel "The Marriage Season". Now from Boldwood Boo=
ks this outstanding example of Regency Romance is now available as a comple=
te and unabridged audio book edition deftly narrated by the vocal storytell= ing talents of Ruth Redman. A fun 'theatre of the mind' experience from sta=
rt to finish, "The Marriage Season" is a welcome and recommended addition t=
o personal lists and community library Romance audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: Jane Dunn *https://www.boldwoodbooks.com/contributor/jan= e-dunn) is an historian and biographer and the author of seven acclaimed bi= ographies, including Daphne du Maurier and her Sisters and the Sunday Times=
and NYT bestseller, Elizabeth & Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens. She came to=
Boldwood Books with her first fiction outing with a trilogy of novels set =
in the Regency period, the first of which is "The Marriage Season",

Editorial Note #2: Ruth Redman (https://erggo.us/en/account/you/RuthRedman)=
has voice a that is light and warm with a sympathetic tone that is both ap= proachable and calm. She conveys authority and quiet confidence and has an = excellent ear for accents. She is also a qualified and experienced actress = who works in VoiceOver, Theatre, Film and Television. She even has her own = Home studio.

A Brush with Murder
Bailee Abbott, author
Jennifer Jill Araya, narrator
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781666520453, $59.95, CD (9 Hours, 45 Minutes)

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-brush-with-murder-bailee-abbott/11398506= 71?

Synopsis: For Chloe Abbington, the transition from fine-art painter in New = York City to painting-event business owner in charming Whisper Cove is more=
than a little jarring. But when poison-pen journalist Fiona Gimble writes =
a viciously negative review of the newly opened Paint with a View, Chloe le= arns that critics are the same everywhere. And when she finds Fiona's body = behind her shop with a painting knife in her neck, Chloe realizes that this=
picture-perfect town offers anything but peace and quiet.

Suddenly, bustling Artisan Alley is a crime scene, and Chloe is the prime s= uspect. Her sister and business partner, Izzie, isn't much help -- she's bu=
sy running the shop, and besides, she has secrets of her own. As shrewd Det= ective Barrett tries to paint her into a corner, Chloe soon finds that Fion=
a had plenty of enemies.

The Whisper Cove Gazette columnist wielded her pen like a sword, slicing an=
d dicing just about every shop owner in the lakeside town. Chloe sets out t=
o prove that she's been framed for Fiona's murder. But she'd better learn t=
he fine art of detection quickly, before the real killer paints the town re=
d again. Otherwise, she may end up trading in her paint smock for an orange=
jumpsuit... or a green burial plot!

Critique: As a novelist, author Bailee Abbott is a master of the Cozy Myste=
ry genre. As a narrator, Jennifer Jill Araya is an impressively talented st= oryteller. Together they bring this complete and unabridged audio book edit= ion of "A Brush With Murder" to life in a true 'theatre of the mind' experi= ence. This complete and unabridged "A Brush With Murder" from Dreamscape Me= dia is an unreservedly recommended addition to personal listing lists and c= ommunity library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: Bailee Abbott (https://crookedlanebooks.com/bailee-abbot=
t) is a retired teacher who now spends her days plotting murder and writing=
mysteries. She's a member of Sisters in Crime as well as of International = Thriller Writers. Bailee lives with her husband and furry friend Max in the=
quiet suburbs of Green, Ohio. Bailee also writes the Sierra Pines B&B myst= ery series under the name Kathryn Long.

Editorial Note #2: Jennifer Jill Araya (http://www.jenniferjillaraya.com) i=
s an Audie Award Winner, an Earphones Award Recipient, an American Library = Association YALSA Amazing Audiobooks Award Winner, a SOVAS Award Finalist, = and a three-time Independent Audiobook Award Finalist, Jennifer has narrate=
d nearly 300 audiobooks for a variety of publishers and producers, includin=
g Penguin Random House Audio, Simon & Schuster Audio, HarperAudio, Blacksto=
ne Publishing, and Audible Studios. Jennifer also narrates Romance and Erot= ica titles under the name Isabelle Ruther.

50% Off Murder
Josie Belle, author
Angie Hickman, narrator
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781690590859, $19.99, CD (7 Hours, 29 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/50-Off-Murder-Good-Girls/dp/1690590858

Synopsis: Maggie Gerber (who is one of the founding members of the Good Buy=
Girls) loves her quiet life in St. Stanley, Virginia. But all that changes=
when Sam Collins, her old flame, moves back to town as the new sheriff.

On top of that, Claire Freemont, a librarian and the newest member of the G= ood Buy Girls, starts acting utterly strange. When Maggie goes to visit her=
the next day at the library, she finds the body of a very dead man. Turns = out the man is someone from Claire's past.

As the handsome new sheriff zeroes in on Claire, it's up to Maggie and the = rest of the Good Buy Girls to use their bargain-hunting skills to hunt a ki= ller -- all while making sure they don't pay too much in the process!

Critique: Debuting a new Cozy Mystery audio book series 'by author Josie Be= lle, "50% Off Murder" is deftly narrated by the outstanding vocal performan=
ce of Angie Hickman. This complete and unabridged CD edition from Dreamscap=
e Media will have a special appeal to fans of 'whodunnit' mysteries featuri=
ng women amateur sleuths and is particularly and especially recommended for=
both personal reading lists and community library Mystery/Suspense audio b= ook collections.

Editorial Note #1: Josie Belle (https://cozy-mystery.com/Josie-Belle.html) =
is a pseudonym for Jenn McKinlay, the author of the Library Lover's mysteri=
es and the Cupcake Bakery mysteries.

Editorial Note #2: Angie Hickman (https://tantor.com/narrator/angie-hickman= ..html) earned her bachelor's degree in secondary English education, and the=
n expanded her passion for words through her work in libraries and bookstor=
es -- going on to bring stories to life through audiobook narration.

A Bias for Murder
Sally Goldenbaum, author
Stephanie Dillard, narrator
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781662065439, $19.99, CD (6 Hours, 32 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Bias-Murder-Queen-Bees-Quilt/dp/1662065434

Synopsis: Oliver Harrington II was one of the most beloved members of Crest= wood's community. Despite being the picture of health at age 52, he died fr=
om a sudden heart attack, leaving behind the family mansion on a sprawling = piece of property.

His twin sister, Adele, returned to the town she despises to claim her brot= her's home, intent on turning it into a B&B. And she's hired Po Paltrow and=
the Crestwood Quilters to craft quilts for the guest rooms.

But Adele is not the only one interested in the future of the Harrington es= tate. A developer wants to put multiple houses on the land. The townsfolk j= ust want their neighborhood to retain its small-town charm and not become a=
tourist trap. But when an autopsy reveals that Oliver was actually poisone=
d, suspicion falls on his sister. Po doesn't believe Adele is guilty, leavi=
ng her determined to discover who else harbored deadly designs on the Harri= ngton home...

Critique: Another fun and absorbing Cozy Mystery from the pen of Sally Gold= enbaum and brought to life with the gifted narrative skills of Stephanie Di= llard, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of "A Bias for Murde=
r" will especially delight listeners who are devoted fans of 'whodunnit' my= steries with more plot twists and turns than a Disneyland roller-coaster. "=
A Bias for Murder" will prove an immediate and enduringly popular addition =
to community library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections and is a 'must=
' for the legions of Sally Goldenbaum fans!

Editorial Note #1: Sally Goldenbaum (http://www.sallygoldenbaum.com) was bo=
rn on the shores of Lake Michigan in Manitowoc, Wisconsin to a homemaker mo= ther and a ship-building father. Although she now lives in landlocked Prair=
ie Village, Kansas, her longing for lakes and the sea is satisfied in part =
by writing the USA Today bestselling Seaside Knitters Mystery series, which=
is set in Cape Ann, Massachusetts. Her fans can follow her on Facebook at = www.sallygoldenbaum.com

Editorial Note #2: Stephanie Dillard (https://www.stephaniedillard.com) stu= died theater and music at the University of Houston and has a master's degr=
ee in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College. While she remains a= ctive in the world of theater and opera, she now brings her musical talents=
behind the mic to give a wide range of vocal colors, clean diction, and em= otional nuance to her characters.

The Betrayed
Jeff Wheeler, author
Kate Rudd, narrator
Brilliance Audio
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781799790242, $19.99, MP3-CD (9 Hours, 22 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Betrayed-Dawning-Muirwood-3/dp/179979024X

Synopsis: Bound by more than the search for a fantastical stolen tome, Eile=
an and Hoel plummet through the mirror gate into Leoneyis -- a world on the=
brink of disaster as its sovereign's reign begins to unravel. Enemies conv= erge to destroy King Andrew, who has become headstrong and paranoid. His in= fluence is undermined, and his kingdom is vulnerable. That's what happens w= hen a king is betrayed by a queen.

The Queen of Brythonica is not just the rival of an anxious king. She's in = possession of the ancient tome that Eilean and Hoel seek, which could help = her achieve immortality. She knows Eilean is coming for her, and she is eve=
ry bit the match for the young wretched. After all, they learned under the = same master.

Eilean's first mission: save King Andrew's court lest it disappear under th=
e floods of the Deep Fathoms. Her second: retrieve what is rightfully hers = from the clutches of the Queen of Brythonica. To do so means confronting th=
e queen in a duel of wits and magic.

The fate of Leoneyis is left to Eilean. She must save one world to secure t=
he future for which she is destined in her own!

Critique: Narrator Kate Rudd's impressive storytelling skills bring Jeff Wh= eeler's "The Betrayed" to life in a true 'theatre of the mind' experience f=
or the listener. An epic fantasy with more plot twists and turns than a Dis= ney World roller-coaster, this complete and unabridged audio book from Bril= liance Audio will prove a welcome and appreciatively enjoyed addition to pe= rsonal reading lists and community library Fantasy Fiction audio book colle= ctions.

Editorial Note #1: Jeff Wheeler (www.jeff-wheeler.com) is the author of the=
First Argentines series (Knight's Ransom, Warrior's Ransom, Lady's Ransom,=
and Fate's Ransom); the Grave Kingdom series; the Harbinger and Kingfounta=
in series; the Legends and Covenant of Muirwood trilogies; the Whispers fro=
m Mirrowen trilogy; the Dawning of Muirwood trilogy; and the Landmoor novel=
s. Jeff is a husband, father of five, and devout member of his church. He l= ives in the Rocky Mountains.

Editorial Note: Kate Rudd (https://www.kateruddreads.com) is the winner of = 2013 Audie and Odyssey Awards for narration of John Green's The Fault in Ou=
r Stars and has been narrating audiobooks for nearly a decade. A ten time A= udiofile Magazine Earphones Award recipient, Kate's performances have garne= red inclusion in Audiofile's Best Audiobooks of the Year 2012/2017/2018 and=
Best Voices of the Year 2012. She has narrated more than 450 titles across=
a variety of genres and can be followed on Twitter @katerudd

Symphony for a Deadly Throne
E. J. Mellow, author
Madeline Lake & Tony Roberts, narrators
Brilliance Audio
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781713658832, $19.99, MP3-CD (14 Hours, 2 Minues)

https://www.amazon.com/Symphony-Deadly-Throne-Mousai-3/dp/1713658836

Synopsis: Within the world of Aadilor sits the hidden Thief Kingdom, a land=
overflowing with magic and mayhem. There the Mousai, a trio of deadly sorc= eresses, serve the reclusive Thief King, delivering punishment and pleasure=
to the masses.

Arabessa Bassette is the leader of the Mousai, conducting their powerful gi= fts with unyielding precision. But behind her mask of control burns a desir=
e to forge her own path -- along with a tumultuous relationship with Zimri = D'Enieu, her father's right hand and the man who's held her heart since the=
y were children. When an unexpected invitation to vie for the Thief King's = throne pulls her into a deadly competition, Arabessa's composure cracks as = she finds herself with an impossible choice -- give up her greatest love or=
her greatest ambition.

But sacrifices loom large in the Thief Kingdom, for the quest for power alw= ays comes at a price. With her and Zimri's future hanging in the balance, A= rabessa must decide if she's willing to pay it.

Welcome to the world of Aadilor, where love is found between cracks and the=
most mesmerizing symphonies carry lethal notes. Dare to play?

Critique: An epic conclusion to author E. J. Millow's fantasy trilogy, 'The=
Mousai', the story telling narration talents of Madeline Lake Tony Roberts=
to provide the listener with a truly memorable 'threatre of the mind' expe= rience. Complete and unabridged, this Brilliance Audio production is extrao= rdinary and unreservedly recommended for both personal lists and community = library Epic Fantasy audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: E. J. Mellow (http://www.ejmellow.com/about) is an autho=
r specializing in magical mayhem. Her work has appeared on best-of lists su=
ch as Buzzfeed and Gizmodo and has reached number one on Amazon's charts, a=
s well as received medals from eLit Book Awards and Next Generation Indie B= ook Awards. Readers have said her "lyrical, vibrant, and imaginative" writi=
ng sweeps them into "stunning worlds." She is also the cofounder of She Is = Booked, a literary-themed fundraising organization that supports women's ch= arities.

Quick Silver
Dean Koontz, author
Todd Haberkorn, narrator
Brilliance Audio
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781713626176, $29.99, MP3-CD (10 Hours, 8 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Quicksilver-Dean-Koontz/dp/1713626179

Synopsis: Quinn Quicksilver was born a mystery -- abandoned at three days o=
ld on a desert highway in Arizona. Raised in an orphanage, never knowing hi=
s parents, Quinn had a happy if unexceptional life. Until the day of "stran=
ge magnetism." It compelled him to drive out to the middle of nowhere. It h= elped him find a coin worth a lot of money. And it practically saved his li=
fe when two government agents showed up in the diner in pursuit of him. Now=
Quinn is on the run from those agents and who knows what else, fleeing for=
his life.

During a shoot-out at a forlorn dude ranch, he finally meets his destined c= ompanions: Bridget Rainking, a beauty as gifted in foresight as she is with=
firearms, and her grandpa Sparky, a romance novelist with an unusual past.=
Bridget knows what it's like to be Quinn. She's hunted, too. The only way =
to stay alive is to keep moving.

Barreling through the Sonoran Desert, the formidable trio is impelled by th=
at same inexplicable magnetism toward the inevitable. With every deeply dis= turbing mile, something sinister is in the rearview -- an enemy that is mor=
e than a match for Quinn. Even as he discovers within himself resources tha=
t are every bit as scary.

Critique: As an author, Dean Koontz is one of the very best when it comes t=
o a riveting novel of mystery, suspense, and action. Now with his mystery t= hriller "Quick Silver" available as a complete and unabridged audio book na= rrated by impressive storytelling skills of Todd Haberkorn, will be treasur=
ed by the legions of Dean Koontz fans and an enduringly popular addition to=
personal and community library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections.

Editorial Note: Dean Koontz (www.deankoontz.com) was only a senior in colle=
ge when he won an Atlantic Monthly fiction competition. He has never stoppe=
d writing since. Koontz is the author of seventy-nine New York Times bestse= llers, fourteen of which rose to #1, including One Door Away from Heaven, F= rom the Corner of His Eye, Midnight, Cold Fire, The Bad Place, Hideaway, Dr= agon Tears, Intensity, Sole Survivor, The Husband, Odd Hours, Relentless, W= hat the Night Knows, and 77 Shadow Street.

Editorial Note #2: Todd Haberkorn (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_Haber= korn) is a talented American voice actor and director, who has dubbed in an= ime, films, and video games.

The Chemistry of Love
Sariah Wilson, author
Em Eldridge, narrator
Brilliance Audio
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781978694392, $19.99, MP3-CD (12 Hours, 4 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Love-Sariah-Wilson/dp/1978694393

Synopsis: How can Anna Ellis, a geeky, brilliant, and hopelessly smitten co= smetic chemist possibly win over Craig Kimball, the man of her dreams -- wh=
o also happens to be her boss? The answer is Craig's empathetic (and handso= me) CEO half brother, Marco. The makeup mogul knows Craig for the ridiculou= sly competitive rival he is. Whatever Marco has, Craig wants. That can be A= nna, if she's game to play.

All Anna and Marco have to do is pretend they're falling in love and let th=
e rumors begin. If the experiment in attraction works, a jealous Craig will=
swoop in and give Anna her happily ever after -- if it weren't for one hit=
ch in the plan. There's more to Marco than meets the eye. With every fake d= ate, Anna's feelings are starting to become dizzyingly real.

Blame it on chemistry. It's unpredictable, exciting, and occasionally combu= stible. If Anna and Marco are really falling in love, who are they to argue=
with science?

Critique: With a very special appeal to fans of clean, wholesome, contempor= ary romantic comedy, "The Chemistry of Love" by Sariah Wilson is brilliantl=
y narrated by the vocal storytelling skills of Em Eldridge. The result is c= omplete and unabridged audio book experience and a highly recommended addit= ion to community library Romance Fiction audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: Sariah Wilson (www.sariahwilson.com) is the author of Th=
e Paid Bridesmaid, The Seat Filler, Roommaid, Just a Boyfriend, the Royals =
of Monterra series, and the #Lovestruck novels.

Editorial Note #2: Em Eldridge (http://www.emeldridgevo.com) is an experien= ced voice over actor and audio book narrator who has done commercials, anim= ation, and audio books.

Meru
S. B. Divya, author
Deepa Samuel, narrator
Brilliance Audio
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781799799078, $19.99, MP3-CD (11 Hours, 43 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Meru-S-B-Divya/dp/1799799077

Synopsis: For five centuries, human life has been restricted to Earth, whil=
e post-human descendants called alloys freely explore the galaxy. But when = the Earthlike planet of Meru is discovered, two unlikely companions venture=
forth to test the habitability of this unoccupied new world and the future=
of human-alloy relations.

For Jayanthi, the adopted human child of alloy parents, it's an opportunity=
to rectify the ancient reputation of her species as avaricious and destruc= tive, and to give humanity a new place in the universe. For Vaha, Jayanthi'=
s alloy pilot, it's a daunting yet irresistible adventure to find success a=
s an individual.

As the journey challenges their resolve in unexpected ways, the two form a = bond that only deepens with their time alone on Meru. But how can Jayanthi = succeed at freeing humanity from its past when she and Vaha have been set u=
p to fail?

Against all odds, hope is human, too!

Critique: A 'must' for dedicated science fiction fans, "Meru" by S. B. Divy=
a and brought to life by the impressive narrative talents of Deepa Samuel i=
s an extraordinary 'theatre of the mind' experience from beginning to end. = This complete and unabridged edition from Brilliance Audio will prove to be=
an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal and community lib= rary Science Fiction audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: S. B. Divya (www.sbdivya.com) is a Hugo- and Nebula-nomi= nated author whose work includes Machinehood, Runtime, and the short-story = collection Contingency Plans for the Apocalypse and Other Possible Situatio= ns. Her stories have been published in various magazines, such as Analog an=
d Uncanny; on Tor.com; and in several anthologies, including Seasons Betwee=
n Us and Rebuilding Tomorrow. She holds degrees in computational neuroscien=
ce and signal processing, and she worked for twenty years as an electrical = engineer before becoming an author.

Editorial Note #2: A listing of narrator Deepa Samuel's audio book producti= ons can be found at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18671635.Deepa_Sa= muel

Seven Mercies
Laura Lam & Elizabeth May, authors
Christina Traister, narrator
Brilliance Audio
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781799758990, $29.99, MP3-CD (16 Hours, 23 Minutes)

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seven-mercies-laura-lam/1139309037?ean=3D9= 781799758990

Synopsis: After an ambush leaves the Novantae resistance in tatters, the su= rvivors scatter across the galaxy. Wanted by two great empires, the bounty =
on any rebel's head is enough to make a captor filthy rich. And the seven d= evils? Biggest score of them all. To avoid attacks, the crew of Zelus scave= nge for supplies on long-abandoned Tholosian outposts.

Not long after the remnants of the rebellion settle briefly on Fortuna, Ari= adne gets a message with unimaginable consequences: the Oracle has gone rog= ue. In a planned coup against the Empire's new ruler, the AI has developed =
a way of mass programming citizens into mindless drones. The Oracle's deman=
d is simple: the AI wants One's daughter back at any cost.

Time for an Impossible to Infiltrate mission: high chance of death, low cha= nce of success. The devils will have to use their unique skills, no matter = the sacrifice, and pair up with old enemies. Their plan? Get to the heart o=
f the Empire. Destroy the Oracle. Burn it all to the ground.

Critique: "Seven Mercies" is the second title in a feminist space opera duo= logy by co-authors Laura Lam & Elizabeth May" and follows the team of seven=
rebels who will free the galaxy from the ruthless Tholosian Empire -- or d=
ie trying. Brought to life in a true 'theatre of the mind' experience by th=
e articulate storytelling skills of narrator Christina Traister, this compl= ete and unabridged audio book edition from Brilliance Audio is especially r= ecommended to the attention of dedicated science fiction fans, and will pro=
ve to be an enduringly appreciated addition to community library Science Fi= ction audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: Laura Lam (https://lrlam.co.uk) is the author of feminis=
t space opera Seven Devils (co-written with Elizabeth May), BBC Radio 2 Boo=
k Club section False Hearts, the companion novel Shattered Minds, and the a= ward-winning Micah Grey series. Her short fiction and essays have appeared =
in anthologies such as Nasty Women, Solaris Rising 3, Cranky Ladies of Hist= ory, Scotland in Space, and more.

Editorial Note #2: Elizabeth May (https://elizabethmaywrites.com) is the au= thor of the YA fantasy trilogy The Falconer and short fiction published in = the anthology Toil & Trouble. She was born and raised in California before = moving to Scotland, where she earned her PhD at the University of St Andrew=
s.

Editorial Note #3: Christina Traister (http://www.christinatraister.com) is=
a freelance audiobook narrator, having recorded well over two hundred titl=
es for such companies as Brilliance Audio (Amazon), Common Mode (Harlequin = Audio and Harper Collins), Tantor Media, Lyric Audiobooks, John Marshall Me= dia (Harper Collins ), Podium Publishing (Audible), Macmillan Publishers (A= udible), BeeAudio, Ltd (Harper Collins), Dreamscape Media (HarperCollins), = and Talking Book (Coffee House Press).

Not at Eight, Darling
Sherryl Woods, author
Sara Sheckells, narrator
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781666523447, $TBA, MP3-CD, (292 Minutes)

https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com/catalog/audiobooks/detail/?%22not-at-e= ight,-darling%22/sherryl-woods+/&id=3D000 12353

Synopsis: TV producer Barrie MacDonald has worked for years to get her sitc=
om on the air. So when network executive Michael Compton tries to reschedul=
e her show, she isn't quick to let him have his way -- no matter how charmi=
ng or handsome the man might be. Though it's clear that he's interested in = her, the spunky producer knows better than to mix their personal and profes= sional lives together. But as Barrie sees similarities between her real-lif=
e problems and the romance of her on-screen heroine, she begins to rethink = her decision to brush Michael aside. Life with Michael could get complicate=
d. But maybe life without him would be far less exciting!

Critique: An original and fun romance novel by author Sherryl Woods, "Not a=
t Eight, Darling" is now available in a complete and unabridged audio book = edition thanks to the simply outstanding narrative talents of Sara Sheckell=
s. "Not at Eight, Darling" is a delightful and recommended addition to the = personal lists of dedicated romance fans, and will prove to be an enduringl=
y popular contribution to community library Contemporary Romance audio book=
collections.

Editorial Note #1: Sherryl Woods (https://sherrylwoods.com) is the author o=
f nearly 150 books. Two of her series have been developed for TV. Chesapeak=
e Shores airs on Hallmark Channel and Sweet Magnolias on Netflix.

Editorial Note #2: Sara Sheckells (https://sarasounds.com) has told stories=
as a radio host, a costumed tour guide, and now as an audiobook narrator. =
A former educator, her specialized knowledge of college life, adolescence, = and career development informs her narration in multiple genres including l= iterary fiction, memoirs, thrillers, self-development, and women's fiction.

Murder Out Of Character
Olivia Matthews, author
Janna Edwards, narrator
Hallmark Publishing
c/o Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781666610123, $TBA, MP3-CD, (453 Minutes)

https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com/catalog/audiobooks/detail/?murder-out-= of-character/olivia-matthews+/&id=3D000133 98

Synopsis: Marvey, still adjusting to life in Peach Coast, Georgia, is at a = library fundraising event when she comes across a list of four names. One i=
s the name of someone who recently died -- and who may have been murdered. = Another is Spencer Holt, the handsome newspaper owner who's become one of M= arvey's best friends. The four people appear to have nothing in common othe=
r than living in Peach Coast. Spencer dismisses the list at first, but befo=
re long, he has to admit he may be in danger. As Marvey prepares for a visi=
t from her parents, can she, Spencer, and their intrepid librarian friends = stop a killer bent on long overdue revenge?

Critique: An expertly crafted cozy mystery by novelist Olivia Matthews, thi=
s complete and unabridged audio book edition is skillfully narrated by Jann=
a Edwards. The result is a flawlessly produced listening experience that wi=
ll have a very special appeal to anyone with an interest in the adventures =
of a woman sleuth dealing with a mystery that has more plot twists and turn=
s than a Disneyland roller-coaster. "Murder Out Of Character" is very highl=
y recommended for both personal reading lists and community library Mystery= /Suspense audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: Olivia Matthews is the cozy mystery pseudonym for nation=
al best-selling and award-winning author Patricia Sargeant (www.PatriciaSar= geant.com). Patricia's work has been featured in national publications such=
as Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Kirkus Reviews, Suspense Magazine, Myster=
y Scene Magazine, Library Journal and RT Book Reviews. She's also been inte= rviewed on podcasts including Destination Mystery with Laura Brennan, Conve= rsations LIVE! with Cyrus Webb, Read You Later with Lasheera Lee and Katara=
's Cafe with Katara Johnson.

Editorial Note #2: Janina Edwards (https://www.janinaspeaksvolumes.com) has=
recorded more than 400 titles through traditional audiobook publishers inc= luding Blackstone, Simon & Schuster, Dreamscape, Tantor, and Audible, as we=
ll independent production platforms, such as ACX and Findaway. She has been=
featured in the New York Times, Audiofile and ACX (Audible's Audiobook Cre= ation Exchange). Janina excels at portraying compelling believable characte=
rs and voices of African Americans, and other people of the English-speakin=
g African diaspora (the West Indies, West and South Africa).

State of the Union
Marie Force, author
Eva Kaminsky, narrator
HTJB, Inc.
c/o Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781666609943, $34.99, MP3-CD (560 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/State-Union-Marie-Force/dp/1666609943

Synopsis: President Cappuano has been working for months on his first State=
of the Union address, his highest profile moment yet as the country's new = president. He's dealing with a wide array of complex issues and is counting=
down to the televised speech before a joint session of Congress. While he = tries to strike the right tone to assure the American people that their new=
president is hard at work on their behalf, his wife, Metro Police Lt. Sam = Holland is faced with one of the most confounding cases of her career and j= uggling some complex issues at home with the couple's children. Add to that=
some vexing security concerns, and the first couple are on edge as they wo= nder whether they'll pass this first big test for the fledgling Cappuano ad= ministration. As always, when things get too hot to handle in the rest of t= heir lives, Sam and Nick turn to each other for solace as their bond grows = deeper by the day

Critique: The latest installment in the First Family Series by novelist Mar=
ie Force, and now available as a complete and unabridged audio book, "State=
of the Union" is brilliantly narrated by the impressive vocal acting talen=
ts of Eva Kaminsky who does full justice to the narrative driven writing st= yle of the author. The result is an especially and unreservedly recommended=
addition to personal and community library Contemporary Romance/Suspense a= udio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: Marie Force (https://marieforce.com/ is an author of con= temporary romance, romantic suspense, and erotic romance. Her series includ=
es Gansett Island, Fatal, Treading Water, Butler Vermont, Quantum, and Miam=
i Nights. Her books have sold more than ten million copies worldwide, have = been translated into more than a dozen languages, and have appeared on the = New York Times bestseller list more than thirty times.

Editorial Note #2: Eva Kaminsky (https://www.evakaminsky.com) is an actress=
, director, and audiobook narrator. An Audie nominee and two-time winner of=
the Earphones Award, she has recorded over 150 audiobooks in genres rangin=
g from romance to young adult.

The Great Man Theory
Teddy Wayne, author
Adam Barr, narrator
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781666609431, $22.99, MP3-CD (10 Hours, 25 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Man-Theory-Teddy-Wayne/dp/1666609439

Synopsis: Paul is a recently demoted adjunct instructor of freshman comp, a=
divorced but doting Brooklyn father, and a self-described "curmudgeonly cr= ank" cataloging his resentment of the priorities of modern life in a book c= alled The Luddite Manifesto.

Outraged by the authoritarian creeps ruining the country, Paul is determine=
d to better the future for his young daughter, one aggrieved lecture at a t= ime. Shockingly, others aren't very receptive to his scoldings. His child g= rows distant, preferring superficial entertainment to her father's terrariu=
m and anti-technological tutelage. His careerist students are less interest=
ed than ever in what he has to say, and his last remaining friends appear r= eady to ditch him.

To make up for lost income, he moonlights as a ride-share driver and moves =
in with his elderly mother, whose third-act changes confound and upset him.=
As one indignity follows the next, and Paul's disaffection with his circum= stances and society mounts, he concocts a dramatic plan to right the world'=
s wrongs and gives himself a more significant place in it.

Critique: As a novelist, author Teddy Wayne has a genuine flair for satire = and finely honed characters. As entertaining as it is thought-provoking, th=
is complete and unabridged audio book edition (so deftly narrated by the st= orytelling talents of narrator Adam Barr) of "The Great Man Theory" will pr= ove a welcome addition to both personal and community library Contemporary = Fiction audio book collections.

Editorial Note #1: Teddy Wayne (https://teddywayne.com) is the author of th=
e novels "Loner" (Simon & Schuster), "The Love Song of Jonny Valentine" (Si= mon & Schuster), and "Kapitoil" (Harper Perennial). A columnist for the New=
York Times and McSweeney's and a regular contributor to The New Yorker, he=
is also the recipient of a Whiting Writers' Award and an NEA Creative Writ= ing Fellowship. He has taught at Columbia University, Washington University=
in St. Louis, and the Yale Writers' Conference.

Editorial Note #2: Adam Barr (https://www.adambarrnarration.com) is a recov= ering lawyer; a 25-year veteran of the golf industry (primarily as a print = and TV journalist); an actor and singer with a lively, wide-ranging bariton=
e voice -- and a lifelong lover of books and reading. His studies with prom= inent audiobook veterans Johnny Heller and Shannon Parks have helped him fo= cus on well-crafted characters rather than just bare words on the page.

Kill Them with Canvas
Bailee Abbot, author
Jennifer Jill Araya, narrator
Dreamscape Media
https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com
9781666616651, $22.99, CD (9 Hours, 14 Minutes)

https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Them-Canvas-Bailee-Abbott/dp/1666616656

Synopsis: Chloe Abbington and her sister, Izzie, are enjoying huge success = running Paint with a View, their paint party business in the tranquil weste=
rn New York lakeside town of Whisper Cove. Now, their aunt Constance (presi= dent of the local chapter of the Chautauqua Sisterhood) has hooked them up = with a gig hosting a Halloween painting party. The guests will be painting =
a local ghost legend, the Lady of Chautauqua Lake, who died a hundred years=
earlier and rises from the lake every October to haunt anyone who dares ve= nture out on All Hallows' Eve.

The event seems to be going off without a hitch, until Chloe overhears an a= rgument between Constance and Viola Finnwinkle, the Sisterhood director, ab= out the fate of the local chapter. Both women leave and the sisters finish = their painting. But the next morning, Viola's body is discovered floating f= ace down near the town ferryboat dock, her long red hair spread around her.=
Eerily, the image is an exact replica of a painting Chloe and Izzie had di= scovered at the event the night before.

What's more, the police find Constance's purple knit hat lying on the groun=
d near the crime scene. Constance pleads innocence, saying the hat mysterio= usly went missing during the event. Frantic that she might be charged with = murder, she begs Chloe and Izzie to help her. The sisters believe their aun=
t is innocent, but if so, who's the real killer -- and when will the next v= ictim turn up?

Critique: "Kill Them With Canvas" is the second novel in author Bailee Abbo= tt's cozy mystery series 'A Paint By Murder Mystery'. A beautifully constru= cted and original 'whodunnit' that is especially and unreservedly recommend=
ed for community library Mystery/Suspense audio book collections, "Kill The=
m With Canvas" is brought brilliantly to life in a true 'theatre of the min=
d' experience by the narrative storytelling skills of Jennifer Jill Araya.

Editorial Note #1: Bailee Abbott is a member of Sisters in Crime as well as=
of International Thriller Writers. She also writes the Sierra Pines B&B my= stery series under the name Kathryn Long and has an online Author's Page at=
https://crookedlanebooks.com/bailee-abbott

Editorial Note #2: Jennifer Jill Araya (http://www.jenniferjillaraya.com) i=
s an Audie-Award winning narrator who's training as an opera singer and orc= hestral cellist lend a musicality and depth of understanding to her narrati=
on that help bring an author's story to life. An Audie Award Winner, Earpho= nes Award Recipient, American Library Association YALSA Amazing Audiobooks = Award Winner, SOVAS Award Finalist, and three-time Independent Audiobook Aw= ard Finalist, Jennifer has narrated nearly 300 audiobooks for a variety of = publishers and producers, including Penguin Random House Audio, Simon & Sch= uster Audio, HarperAudio, Blackstone Publishing, and Audible Studios. Jenni= fer also narrates Romance and Erotica titles under the name Isabelle Ruther=
..

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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