Searching for...

Showing posts with label audiobook reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label audiobook reviews. Show all posts

Tuesday, 1 July 2014

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: ANNE OF AVONLEA ~ LM MONTGOMERY author ~ COLLEEN WINTON narrator 28.6.14

ANNE OF AVONLEA
ANNE OF GREEN GABLES  Series #2 
by LM Montgomery
Narrator Colleen Winton
At sixteen, Anne is grown up...almost. Her gray eyes shine like evening stars, but her red hair is still as peppery as her temper. In the years since she arrived at Green Gables as a freckle-faced orphan, she has earned the love of the people of Avonlea and a reputation for getting into scrapes. But when Anne begins her job as the new schoolteacher, the real test of her character begins. Along with teaching the three Rs, she is learning how complicated life can be when she meddles in someone else's romance, finds two new orphans at Green Gables, and wonders about the strange behaviour of the very handsome Gilbert Blythe. As Anne enters womanhood, her adventures touch the heart and the funny bone.  -goodreads
*
Series: Anne of Green Gables #2
Audiobook Edition
Author:  Lucy Montgomery
Narrator:  Colleen Winton
Published: May 30, 2013
Publisher: Post Hypnotic Press
Audio Book Length:  9 Hrs 25 Min
*
My Thoughts?

Reading this was like visiting an old friend!

The warmth and delight of discovering impetuous red-aired Anne as a child in
"Anne of Green Gables,"
{click for review}
now developed charmingly through two years of her teen life,as her adventures are enlarged to include the rural Prince Edward Island community of Avonlea...

*

" an August afternoon with blue hazes scarfing the harvest slopes, little winds whispering elfishly in the poplars and a dancing slendour of red poppies outflaming against the dark coppice of young firs in a corner of the cherry orchard was fitter for dreams than dead languages."

*

Postponing her 17th birthday from the vagaries of March in favour of a spring picnic with her friends, the walk through vales and lanes spanning bridges and brooks describes picturesque settings for their talk that soon takes a 'heavenly' turn ~
*

"Minnie May asked me the other day if we would wear our best dresses every day in heaven," laughed Diana.
"And didn't you tell her we would?" asked Anne.
"Mercy, no!  
"And didn't you tell her we would?" asked Anne. "Mercy, no!  I told her we wouldn't be thinkng of dresses at all there." "oh, I think we will ... a little," said Anne earnestly.
"There'll be plenty of time in all eternity for it without neglecting more important things.  I believe we'll all wear beautiful dresses... or I suppose
"There'll be plenty of time in all eternity for it without neglecting more important things.  I believe we'll all wear beautiful dresses... or I suppose raiment would be a more suitable way of speaking.   I shall want to wear pink for a few centuries at first... it would take me that long to get tired of it, I feel sure.   I do love pink so and I can never wear it in this world."
  *

Anne's role as local school teacher providing vivid depictions of student and parent personalities, scrapes of all kinds, and disciplinary reactions, had me rolling with laughter!  the unexpected arrival of 6 year old twins into her life when their mother dies, introduces comedic routine on a daily basis.

*
"If I'm as good as good can be all day tomorrow 
will you let me be just as bad as I like all the next day?" asked Davy.

*
Little Davy's propensity for trouble is matched only by Anne's own. Her wit and creativity in responding to their predicaments is unmatched!
Beautifully descriptive of rural life of another century Anne books offer great reading satisfaction~
especially in light of having lived in Anne's land 
of Prince Edward Island and experiencing first hand L.M. Montgomery's  accurate depictions of islanders' 'thought' regarding outsiders!

*


  Lovely opportunities for numerous mouthwatering tea and garden parties, proponents of conflicting theologies within the same households, well developed charactersand plentiful humour, kept me enjoyably occupiedto the final moment.

*

The variety of love stories included would satisfy the most romantically inclined reader amongst us!


*

"Gilbert wisely said nothing more;but in his silence he read the history of the next four years in the light of Anne's remembered blush..."


*

Tissues at hand, definitely recommended!

*
Having the opportunity to review an audiobook version published by 
Post Hypnotic Press and
narrated by Canadian, Colleen Winton,
added new enjoyment to the classic story.

Hearing the characters come to life in conversation and description is a pleasure.
I was part of the story as Anne leads us on her 
merry adventures.
 Each character is individually personalized by
tone, inflection and expression of Ms Winton's narration.

*
I appreciate the quality of Post Hypnotic Press audio 
of Anne's escapades and new directions.  
Whilst Ms Winton's straightforward portrayals of 
Rachel Lynde and Marilla Cuthbert are filled with character respective for their ages,
my choice for a series focused on Anne
would have tended to a more age accurate narrator's voice. 
Anne's lilting vivacity hasn't been captured, for my ear.
*
 
I've included the sampler, kindly provided by the publisher, for your convenience in having a listen.
We all hear 
and relate individually to narrators of our personal story favourites,
so I'll leave the response open to you.
*
A seamless recording of uninterrupted listening entertainment,
I thank Post Hypnotic Press for the pleasurable opportunity of hearing and reviewing their audio of Anne of Avonlea .
*
*
Author Bio:
Lucy Maud Montgomery OBE (November 30, 1874 – April 24, 1942), called "Maud" by family and friends and publicly known as L. M. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a series of novels beginning with Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908. Anne of Green Gables was an immediate success. The central character, Anne, an orphaned girl, made Montgomery famous in her lifetime and gave her an international following. The first novel was followed by a series of sequels with Anne as the central character. Montgomery went on to publish 20 novels as well as 500 short stories and poems. Many of the novels were set on Prince Edward Island, Canada and places in the Canadian province became literary landmarks. She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1935.
LM Montgomery, was born at Clifton, Prince Edward Island, Nov. 30, 1874. She came to live at Leaskdale, north of Uxbridge Ontario, in 1911 after her wedding with Rev. Ewen Macdonald on July 11, 1911 in Prince Edward Island. Her three children were born at Leaskdale, and she wrote close to a dozen books while she was living in the Leaskdale Manse before the Macdonald family moved to Norval, Ontario in 1926. 


"Some people go through life trying to find out what the world holds for them only to find out too late that it's what they bring to the world that really counts."
~ Lucy Maud Montgomery
 


Maud died in Toronto April 24, 1942
and was buried at Cavendish, Prince Edward Island.

For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia...more

*
Narrator:
Colleen is a Vancouver actor, singer, dancer, director and choreographer...and now a narrator. Her career has taken her all over the country and  includes the Stratford, Shaw and Charlottetown Festivals, the original Canadian companies of CATS and Show Boat, extensive film/TV credits, and numerous directing/choreographing credits. Her stage work has been honoured with numerous nominations and a Jessie and Ovation award and she received a cultural award given by her local Chamber of Commerce. She recently played Marilla Cuthbert in a production of the musical Anne of Green Gables at Theatre Calgary (Spring 2013).
*
Post Hypnotic Press audio of the Anne series is available 
for your listening enjoyment online HERE. 
*
* Appreciation to Post Hypnotic Press and Audiojukebox for providing an mp3 for listening and reviewing without cost or compensation.

*
FIND MORE FHC on PINTEREST, TWITTER, GOOGLE+, GOODREADS, FACEBOOK, NETWORKED BLOGS
*
*



SHARED WITH ~

*Inspire Me Monday*

Friday, 27 June 2014

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: ANNE OF GREEN GABLES - LM Montgomery author ~ Colleen Winton narrator

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES
by Lucy Maude Montgomery
Narrated by Colleen Winton
Anne, a young orphan from the fictional community of Bolingbroke, Nova Scotia (based upon the real community of New London), is sent to Prince Edward Island after a childhood spent in strangers' homes and orphanages. Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, siblings in their fifties and sixties, had decided to adopt a boy from the orphanage to help Matthew run their farm. They live at Green Gables, their Avonlea farmhouse on Prince Edward Island. Through a misunderstanding, the orphanage sends Anne Shirley.
Anne is described as bright and quick, eager to please, talkative, and extremely imaginative. She has a pale face with freckles and usually braids her red hair. When asked her name, Anne tells Marilla to call her Cordelia, which Marilla refuses; Anne then insists that if she is to be called Anne, it must be spelled with an e, as that spelling is "so much more distinguished." Marilla at first says the girl must return to the orphanage, but after a few days she decides to let her stay. Marilla feels that she could be a good influence on the girl and had also overheard that another disagreeable woman in town might take Anne in instead.-publisher
Series: Anne of Green Gables #1
Audiobook Edition
Published: May 30.13
Publisher: Post Hypnotic Press
Length: Unabridged 10 hrs 6 min


My Thoughts?

There's nothing like Anne to inspire laughter and Lucy M Montgomery for atmospheric descriptions of beauty!

Elderly unmarried siblings, Matthew, and sister, Marilla, have sent word to a neighbouring villager, Mrs Spencer, to bring them a boy to help as a farmhand when she visits a Nova Scotia orphanage in the spring. The message gets twisted enroute, delivering them the unexpected 11 year old Anne! 

The joys and tribulations of Anne's addition to their tranquil Prince Edward Island lives are delicious to experience. A girl of dreams and dialogue beyond her years, unlimited ideas and imagination to share with anyone lacking, Anne is quickly endeared to the reader by Lucy Maud's characterizations and descriptions. 

“Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” 

The humour of Anne's escapades is effectively and dramatically juxtaposed against the societal expectations of the Victorian era and island culture. 

“It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly
that you will.”
 

It’s easy to immerse oneself into the life of Anne as we cheer her on in pursuit of kindred spirits!  


“Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. 
It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.” 

An especially satisfying read expressing much appreciation of beauty, a turn of the century girl's journey from childhood to young womanhood, and a realistic cast of characters populating this introductory story of Anne...

This time round I've had the pleasure of Anne on audio via the Post Hypnotic Press audiobook presentation. Narrated by Colleen Winton, the characters of the story were differentiated and personalized with varying voice expression, inflections and range of tone. Ms WInton captured their personalities well. My personal preference would have been the choice of a younger voice to represent Anne, especially as the main character of the story, an essential consideration. Ms Winton was capable and steady in her narration.

Post Hypnotic's recording was clear and uninterrupted by background interference. Dubbing or retakes were seamless, allowing for a pleasurable listening experience. 

A lovely way to enjoy our beloved Anne of Green Gables.



*

Author Bio:

Lucy Maud Montgomery OBE (November 30, 1874 – April 24, 1942), called "Maud" by family and friends and publicly known as L. M. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a series of novels beginning with Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908. Anne of Green Gables was an immediate success. The central character, Anne, an orphaned girl, made Montgomery famous in her lifetime and gave her an international following. The first novel was followed by a series of sequels with Anne as the central character. Montgomery went on to publish 20 novels as well as 500 short stories and poems. Many of the novels were set on Prince Edward Island, Canada and places in the Canadian province became literary landmarks. She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1935.
LM Montgomery, was born at Clifton, Prince Edward Island, Nov. 30, 1874. She came to live at Leaskdale, north of Uxbridge Ontario, in 1911 after her wedding with Rev. Ewen Macdonald on July 11, 1911 in Prince Edward Island. Her three children were born at Leaskdale, and she wrote close to a dozen books while she was living in the Leaskdale Manse before the Macdonald family moved to Norval, Ontario in 1926. 

Maud died in Toronto April 24, 1942 and was buried at Cavendish, Prince Edward Island.


For more information, please see 
http://en.wikipedia...more
*

Narrator:

Colleen is a Vancouver actor, singer, dancer, director and choreographer...and now a narrator. Her career has taken her all over the country and  includes the Stratford, Shaw and Charlottetown Festivals, the original Canadian companies of CATS and Show Boat, extensive film/TV credits, and numerous directing/choreographing credits. Her stage work has been honoured with numerous nominations and a Jessie and Ovation award and she received a cultural award given by her local Chamber of Commerce. She recently played Marilla Cuthbert in a production of the musical Anne of Green Gables at Theatre Calgary (Spring 2013).
*
Post Hypnotic Press audio of the Anne series is available 
for your listening enjoyment online HERE
*
* Appreciation to Post Hypnotic Press and Audiojukebox for providing an mp3 for listening and reviewing without cost or compensation.
*
*


*


FIND MORE FHC on PINTEREST, TWITTER, GOOGLE+, GOODREADS, FACEBOOK, NETWORKED BLOGS

Monday, 5 May 2014

REVIEW: BORN OF PERSUASION by Jessica Dotta and Amanda McKnight Narrator

BORN OF PERSUASION

by Jessica Dotta
read by Amanda McKnight

She never imagined securing her future
would require delving into the past.

London 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston’s position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland.


With two months to devise a better plan, Julia’s first choice to marry her childhood sweetheart is denied. But when a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, a realm of possibilities opens. However, treachery and deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum, and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her mother’s mysterious past. Before she knows what’s happening, Julia finds herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country’s most powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets on her own. But sometimes
truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly. . .

*

Audiobook: BORN OF PERSUASION Unabridged 13.25 hrs
Series: Price of Privilege Trilogy #1
Genre: Historical, Fiction 

Author: Jessica Dotta
Narrator: Amanda McKnight
Published: September 2013
Publisher: Oasis Audio 

*

My Thoughts?
""Well, haven't you anything to say?" he finally demanded.
When had it ever mattered what I said?
My words were as empty as air.
No one consulted me about concealing mama's suicide, addressed the cost of the funeral, or even bothered to tell me,
that should my parents die, 
I'd have a guardian.  No.  I would not speak.
I learned early that women did not escape their bonds..."
*
"I knew better than most how to maintain a frost around my heart."
*
Julia Elliston, daughter of famous athiest and published writer,
is shunned by society because of him and his memory, even when
her mother dies.  She removes herself from their home
to Am Meer, the country home of a lifetime family friend.
Julia intends to formalize her youthful betrothal to the neighbouring family's son, Edward Auburn, to avoid further interference from her unknown guardian.  
But when Edward arrives to pay the family a call 
- as a vicar -  
 all Julia's hopes are dashed.
*
Julia's efforts to prevent servitude in Scotland
take serious turns for the worst and wilder consequences
than those she'd tried to prevent!
*
Un.be.lievably intense!
I was constantly setting it down to give my emotions a break
[blood pressure too!]
High suspense, imaginative, captivating intrigue ...
Excellent characterization with unexpected twists that send your head for a spin. Settings are descriptive, story unusual and innovative, I am all anticipation for more of Julia Elliston's adventures! 
*
Taking the opportunity to review the audiobook of 
Born of Persuasion proved its suitability for recording.
'Listening' added an entirely new dimension to the story.
Having already loved reading the story,
I was unprepared for the additional pleasure of hearing it read.
The chosen reader is above and beyond any I've previously
experienced in my reviewing.
Amanda McKnight adds more to the story than just the
opportunity to hear it on audio.
*
Her accent is perfection.  Personalizations of characters,
dialogue, and descriptions, all come to life at Amanda's reading.
What I particularly value is the depth of interest her reading brings.
To hear the story in the language and accents of the day;
Amanda's varying accents admirably differentiated the various
characters and genders - different stations of life -
and their colloquialisms.
[Her characterization of Julia's maid alone is worth hearing!]  
All engage the listener at a deeper level than reading allows.
*
Ms McKnight's talents definitely increased the book's story value.
Text and narrator seamlessly complement each other.
Her voice age is perfect for the book's characters and content.
Listening to this audiobook proved a valuable
and much appreciated investment of time.
*
Oasis Audio's production is excellent.
No background interference to narration.
Clarity of sound and even tone for optimum listening pleasure.
Reading pace is easy to follow.
Production skill allows the plot to flow without interruption
and blatant edits.  
Steady volume without fluctuations kept me listening
{rather than needing to adjust sound.}
Attention to technical detail enhanced the enjoyment of
Born of Persuasion.
Obviously this novel is ideally suited to an audio version
and I certainly appreciate the opportunity to have enjoyed the experience.
*

Author Bio:

Jessica Dotta has always been fascinated by the intricacies of
society that existed in England from the Regency through the Edwardian era. She writes in a manner that blends past and modern fiction techniques. She lives in the Nashville area and works as a free lance media consultant and publicist. Her first novel Born of Persuasion released September of 2013.

Find Jessica online
and on twitter - Jessica Dotta
facebook - Jessica Dotta

*
Reader Bio:
Amanda McKnight - have not been able to find online links other than 2 additional titles, both by Oasis Audio - The Irish Healer and book 2 of Jessica Dotta's Price of Privilege series,
Mark of Distinction.
*Listening links provided for you to enjoy a sample of
Amanda's narration!

*

I'm anticipating reviews for these upcoming and will be posting
to whet your own listening appetite!

*Thanks to Oasis Audio for a copy to listen and review without cost or compensation.

*



*
Find and follow FHC online:
 
@_eHope Goodreads - Facebook - Pinterest
*




*

*

Linked with ~

*Friendship Friday*

Wednesday, 19 March 2014

REVIEW: LOVE'S REFUGE [audiobook] by Sandra Leesmith

Skye Larsen loves her peaceful life on Leeza Island in Puget Sound – the tranquility, the friendly neighbors, and especially the safety from big-city dangers. So when cruel pranks start to escalate and changes threaten to overtake the island, Skye is determined to fight for her haven. The presence of a handsome vacationer and the unexpected feelings he awakens can’t distract her from her goal.

Danny Fraser doesn’t realize how desperately he needs a rest until he meets Skye. By allowing him to glimpse her simple way of life, she helps him reorient his priorities – and steals his heart in the process. But his work and home in Seattle keep Skye at bay. 


An isolated island girl with painful memories. A dedicated city boy with a wild past. 

What will it cost for them both to find a refuge from their storms?                                      

*

Kindle Edition: 321 pages Published: November 9th 2013
PB Edition: 300 pages
Published: December 10th 2013
Audible Audio Edition: 9 hrs 10 min Unabridged
Narrator: Rachel Fulginiti
Published:  January 20th 2014
Publisher: Amber Press

*


My Thoughts?
A unique story on many levels.
Island life, reclusive living, living without conveniences, all intriguing approaches
to life in our contemporary society of full on convenience.
Leesmith gives us a taste of a different world.  
Add living with loss in the aftermath of violence and you have the full picture
of our main character's reasons for choosing this unconventional life.

A fascinating tale of two worlds colliding with the arrival of an outsider
come to take a rest at the insistence of his employer
at the same time a development company sets its sights on the value of this pristine
environment.
Add the suspense of intrusive actions by parties unknown and you have more than a few mysteries to solve.
This was my favourite part of the story as it challenged me.  I appreciated the romantic
relational development between our main characters that didn't overpower the story
neither  push the boundaries of appropriate physical attraction.
Yet whilst enjoying the story I never did develop enough of a personal connection with Skye.
She remained aloof to me as did the romance between her and Danny.  Skye's sister was
annoying and I never did reconcile her spiritual talk with her reality as a person.
The airstrip manager and his wife were the most authentic characters,
exhibiting 
care and concern in both speech and action.
Definitely good variety in characterization that will meet different readers and
listeners at different levels of involvement.

Leesmith builds tension with the concluding scene of each chapter,
keeping attention and increasing curiosity of the listener.

The narrator, Rachel Fulginiti, has a unique voice and I'm not sure if she was chosen specifically for a west coast personalization of characters or other story based reason.  
The narration was steady and well paced.
Personalization of characters was achieved by emphasis on words, tone, and tempo.
The difficulty for me in listening to this narrator was the perceived age difference
with the more youthful main characters.  In my opinion, Fulginiti, though professionally
adept, would have been better suited for older characters than  the cast of Love's Refuge.
The story itself would  have benefited from a lighter voice more appropriate for 
listener age and novel content.
Production was clear providing technically uninterrupted listening without flaws
keeping listener interest in Love's Refuge .

*
*
Author Bio: Retired from teaching, Sandra Leesmith is pursuing a career in writing.  Sandra began writing in the eighties and was multi-published in category romance, contemporary fiction, and teenage self-help books.  She adores a good romantic tale and strives to tell them as well.  During the hot summers, she and her husband travel throughout the United States in their motorhome. Her favorite travel experiences are to see and enjoy God's beautiful creation. She loves the national parks and monuments where nature is preserved for all to see and enjoy.


Find Sandra online at Sandra Leesmith and on twitter @SLeesmithAuthor 





*

*Appreciation to Amber Press for an audiobook copy to review
without obligation or compensation.
*
Find and follow FHC online:
 
@_eHope Goodreads - Facebook - Pinterest

*

Related Posts with Thumbnails