Category: Audiobooks

Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi Read Along

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“When men oppress their fellow-men, the oppressor ever finds, in the character of the oppressed, a full justification for his oppression.” Douglass, amazingly, summed up the history of racist ideas in a single sentence.” ― Ibram X. Kendi, Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America

Published: March 10th 2017 by Novel Audio
Length: 19 hours and 8 minutes, narrated by Christopher Dontrell Piper
Category: Nonfiction, History, Race, African American History
National Book Award for Nonfiction (2016), National Book Critics Circle Award Nominee for General Nonfiction (2016), Hurston/Wright Legacy Award Nominee for Nonfiction (2017)

I want to live in a world where no man’s life is valued more or less than another’s. And it saddens and enrages me to say that I don’t believe the world is so; this HAS to change. Black Lives Matter.

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artwork by Evelina Barz, click on image to be directed to source

I am joining @melanatedreader‘s Juneteenth buddy read for Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America to listen, to learn, unpack my privilege, to hold myself accountable in supporting change.
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Audiobook Review: The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel

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“I’m no expert, but I remember reading somewhere, every time you retrieve a memory, that act of retrieval, it corrupts the memory a little bit. Maybe changes it a little.” – The Glass Hotel, Emily St. John Mandel

4_DiscoBalls

4 disco balls

Published: March 24, 2020 by Knopf
Category: Literary Fiction

It was low-key haunting: there is a slow eeriness to it. The writing is simply beautiful.Read More »

Book Review: The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez

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Book Birthday

5_DiscoBalls

5 disco balls

Publish date: April 14, 2020 by Forever
Category: Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction, Chick lit


<— This is how I feel about this book. I have been holding this review in, waiting for pub day and I am EXPLODING with excitement that its finally out in the world!

5 STAR HERO:
It was the perfect rom-com that snapped me out of my reading rut. I DNF’d the 3 books I picked up before this…my rut was on a serious downward spiral, but I digress. I read it in ONE DAY by alternating between audio and book; both of which I loved.

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Audiobook Review: The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

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“I think we allow ourselves to hurt the people we love the most because we know they won’t abandon us.” – The Most Fun We Ever Had

5_DiscoBalls

5 disco balls

Published: June 25, 2019 by Doubleday
Length: 20 hours and 33 minutes, narrated by Emily Rankin
Category: Contemporary Fiction, Family Saga
Women’s Prize for Fiction Nominee for Longlist (2020), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fiction and for Debut Novel (2019)

At 20+ hours this audiobook was at times killing me: as in I wanted to know what the heck was going to happen and when I’d look at how much time I had left it never seemed to end! I called my friend who read it and demanded spoilers, because I couldn’t take it anymore to which she lovingly declined. Thank goodness 😉

on a side note: while cooped up at home these next few weeks why not try an audiobook?! They certainly make doing chores more interesting.

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Audiobooks for the Win!

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When I can’t focus and my reading mojo is suffering: I give audiobooks a whirl! I will admit I never gave audiobooks a second thought until last year, and now have no idea why.

Audiobooks have been great for road trips, while running errands, and they have been my savior when I am forced to do laundry (I hate this chore with a passion). SNR Jr. and I have daily early morning audiobook sessions; her first morning bottle we cuddle in our rocking chair and listen to a chapter of whatever I am listening to at the moment.

If you’ve read my reviews before you will know how I feel about narrators: they can make or break a book! And, if you are needing some recommendations check out my Libro.fm Top Picks Playlist. Happy Listening! XO

Some of the books featured:Read More »

Blog Tour: Mine to Five by Tara September

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Author: Tara September
Narrator: Verla Bond
Length: 4 hours and 15 minutes
Publisher: Plus it Up
Released: Dec. 11, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance

2018 Contemporary Romance Writers’ Stiletto Finalist
2018 Tampa Area Romance Writers’ TARA Finalist
2018 Maine Romance Writers’ Strut Your Stuff Finalist – Second Place Contemporary Winner
2017 Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest – Second Place Winner

’Tis the season for an office romance!

Working beyond nine to five and barely getting by, Melanie Thomas is eager to celebrate the impending holiday season and to toast the start of her dream marketing job over drinks with her boyfriend. Unfortunately, he has different plans – like seeing other women.

Indulging in a pity party with tequila, Melanie confides in a sexy stranger at the bar. It’s almost Christmas. One night of letting go won’t hurt anything, right? Turns out, it just might, when the stranger is her new boss. Determined to succeed at her job, Melanie won’t be scared away. This is her chance, even if her hot boss has her feeling all merry and bright and wishing for a less-than-professional relationship.

Matthew Ryans is burned out and on thin ice at the company he helped build, unless he gets his head back in the game. Yet, his head, both upper and lower, are quickly becoming obsessed with his new assistant. Still, he can’t seem to fully begrudge Melanie’s distracting presence and the Christmas joy she brings with it. Especially considering that her enthusiasm has him re-energized.

For once, he is longing for Mondays, but with his heart and job on the line, he can’t risk blurring the lines no matter how strong the lure of holiday mistletoe is.

Will their holiday passion be able to fuel mutual career success, or will it only get in their way in the New Year?

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Book Reviews: Unpopular Opinions

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There is no one book for everyone, and that is okay. 

If there is a lot of hype around a book it can go either way: it can exceed the already high expectations you have set for it, or it can disappoint you. Not sure if it would have disappointed you if it wasn’t hyped up – or maybe it would have – but either way, how you respond and feel during and after reading a book is your own.

Below are three books that didn’t give me the 5 star feels it gave other readers; that is not to say they weren’t good, I just had a different reaction to either a small plot point or the whole book. If you read them, I hope you loved them, and if you decide to read them, I hope you love them! Read More »

Audiobook Review: The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

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5_DiscoBalls

5 disco balls

Published: November 5, 2019 by Berkley
Length: 9 hours and 9 minutes, narrated by Andrew Eiden & Maxwell Caulfield
Category: Contemporary Romance


Recognize this man?

It’s Empire Records own Rex Manning; IRL he’s Maxwell Caulfield…one of the narrators of this audiobook!

The Bromance Book Club deserves all the fun, laugh out loud stars. A unique take on romance; where a group of men formed a book club and read romance to learn a thing or two about their women. It’s genius!Read More »

Book Review: Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

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“You don’t always have to be okay.”
“I know. But I am okay, with you.”

5_DiscoBalls

5 disco balls

Published: November 5, 2019 by Avon
Length: 10 hours and 17 minutes narrated by Adjoa Andoh
Category: Contemporary Romance

A delicious story that I devoured in just a few sittings.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown is full of spunky personality: witty sarcastic banter freely flowing.

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Chloe and Red. Did I say LOVE?! 😉

Author Talia Hibbert is a brilliant writer; her characters were relatable and adoringly lovable. She tackled sensitive issues with finesse and I learned so much through both Chloe and Red.Read More »