Where one goes - B.N. Toler

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What happens when the very thing ruining your life ends up saving it? I was never one to believe in spirits—until six years ago, when a bone-chilling accident changed my life…forever. My name is Charlotte, but most people call me Char…and I have a special gift. 

I talk to the dead. 

This was beautifully written and a wonderful listen. I got this book as part of Audible's romance package, there are some really good gems hidden in those stacks. It is narrated by Cris Dukehart and Corey M. Snow and the pair make for a wonderful experience.

I chose this book solely for its cover and was a little surprised when the book turned out to be about a girl who could speak to the dead, at first I did want to stop it, but the story just pulled me in and I was so glad I decided to continue. 

“Would you dance with me tonight if you could?”

His brows rise, surprised by my question. Standing, he looks down at me, his expression serious. “Every fucking song.”

Charlotte was a well written lovable character, and the struggles she faces became so real to me that I felt her despair, the pressure of having to save George but in doing so, she needs to let go of Ike. 

The book did get me choked up a couple of times, really a very touching story. 

Mansfield Park - Jane Austen

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Adopted into the household of her uncle, Sir Thomas Bertram, Fanny Price grows up a meek outsider among her cousins in the unaccustomed elegance of Mansfield Park. Soon after Sir Thomas absents himself on estate business in Antigua (the family's investment in slavery and sugar is considered in the Introduction in a new, post-colonial light), Mary Crawford and her brother Henry arrive at Mansfield, bringing with them London glamour, and the seductive taste for flirtation and theatre that precipitates a crisis.

As with all Austen books, you will probably find it hard to not compare it to Pride and Prejudice, this was a let down for me as I was expecting so much. It was a struggle to connect with the characters, and this only happened when I was about halfway through the book. Unlike Pride and Prejudice, the love interest felt forced to me. 

While most of the characters only pursue wealth and status, up to a point where it was quite comical, Fanny Price was a breath of fresh air, she was a little indifferent regarding this, and this actually captured the difference between her and the other characters. 

There were parts where it did drag a little, but it could have been that my heart was just not into the book at the time. I will, of course, re-visit this book in years to come and who knows, by that time it will ring a different tune to me. 

The Wall of Winnipeg and me - Mariana Zapata

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There is nothing in the world that will make up for a slow simmering romance book, something that will take you on a ride along a coastal road, making you crave more and satisfying everything you didn't know you needed at that moment. 

While on holiday in July, I felt the need for some soppy love stories, stories where I wouldn't need to think, this was exactly what the doctor ordered. 

Vanessa Mazur knows she's doing the right thing. She shouldn't feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them includes washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.

But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she's beyond shocked.

For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn't find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He's asking for the unthinkable.

What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?

Even though this is classed as a slow burn romance, I flew through it, the story was fast-paced. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Callie Dalton and she was the perfect choice for it. I always appreciate when narrators don't give silly voices to the opposite sex narrations. 

"Home is where you are. I would go anywhere for you if you wanted me there"

84, Charing Cross Road – Helene Hanff

♥♥♥♥ Those who know me well, know that I love letters, and was introduced to the magic that is books published telling stories through letters.  This charming classic love story, first published in 1970, brings together twenty years of correspondence between Helene Hanff, at the time, a freelance writer living in New York City, and a used-book dealer in London at 84, Charing Cross Road. Through the years, though never meeting and separated both geographically and culturally, they share a winsome, sentimental friendship based on their common love for books. Their relationship, captured so acutely in these letters, is one that has touched the hearts of thousands of readers around the world This does not disappoint, you get to know the people through their correspondence with each other. It started off as a woman, Helene Hanff, buying books from a bookshop in London, gradually you get to know all the people who work in the shop and she tells more about her life as a writer in New York. This is a great compilation of letters and I’m glad I also got the audiobook. That was narrated by Juliet Stevenson and John Nettles. The two narrators brought a different dimension to these letters, they blew life back into them

Suddenly Royal - Nichole Chase

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This book is definitely for people who loved the Princess Diaries, but of course with the little twist of being for grownups – YES that’s right, get ready for some steamy scenes.

Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation to the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

The writing is beautiful and draws you in from the opening sentence. The characters also had a way of crawling into my heart and making me want to get to know them better. It made me laugh and cry and that to me is the signs of a good book. Can’t wait to get my hands on the next in the series.  

It was a very enjoyable read/listen, I had the audiobook that I got on Audible and when I couldn’t listen I read the ebook. The narrator did different voices and accents for the characters that added to the experience.

Sticky Fingers - J.T. Lawrence (AUDIOBOOK)

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When Janita announced that she was releasing an audiobook of this one, I knew I had to get a copy. Luckilly I had some credits saved on Audible and could get it as soon as it was released. 

The Bianca Flanders is an asset to this book, I enjoyed her voice and it definitely brought out the best in each of the stories. 

I already reviewed the book, it can be found here

The book contains the following stories with a short review of each:

Escape follows as suicidal baby, the determination was palpable, and the ending, what a twist.

She did it, a battered woman is found in a pool of her dead husband’s blood, with a detective that didn’t quite trust his gut feeling.

Bridge Gate a series of letters between a young girl and her estranged father. I love these kinds of stories that is written in the form of letters. This one is one that I would love a full novel.

The Itch an itch that just won’t go away, such an intense story that drew me in.

The unsuspecting gold digger a woman finds herself engaged to an extremely wealthy man, this one knocked me out of the park, another one I wouldn’t mind reading more, and that end, what a shock!

Something Borrowed The broken hearted bride. This story had me grabbing tissues.

Pigeon Pair Pigeon’s so many pigeon’s, such a cute start and then the end, damn pigeons.

Grey Magic if you would like a story about a modern witch, and you like this short story, there is a full novel now available, with a second one on its way.

The Little Pink Book A midwife with a twist, couldn’t help but picture Call the Midwife in my head, but the end was definitely not what I expected. This one will stay with me for a while.

Travelling slacks a holiday review gone bad, giggle inducing. Such a wonderful story, in the form of reviews on a website.

Sticky Fingers A kleptomaniac telling her story, how she got started, you will laugh, gasp, and shake your head in disbelieve.

Off the Hinge Such a sad story and definitely a great way to end this wonderful collection.