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

Saturday, November 05, 2016

Audiobook Tour: Heartborn Review + Excerpt

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HeartbornTitle: Heartborn
Author: Terry Maggert
Release Date: September 1, 2016
Source: Audiobook from TheAudioBookworm
Synopsis: 
Her guardian angel was pushed.
Keiron was never meant to be anything other than a hero. Born high above in a place of war and deception, he is Heartborn, a being of purity and goodness in a place where violence and deceit are just around every corner.
His disappearance will spark a war he cannot see, for Keiron has pierced the light of days to save a girl he has never met, for reasons he cannot understand. Livvy Foster is seventeen, brave, and broken. With half a heart, she bears the scars of a lifetime of pain and little hope of survival.
Until Keiron arrives.
In the middle of a brewing war and Livvy’s failing heart, Keiron will risk everything for Livvy, because a Heartborn’s life can only end in one way: Sacrifice.
Fall with Livvy and Keiron as they seek the truth about her heart, and his power, and what it means to love someone who will give their very life to save you.

My Review:
Audio Portion:
The narrator for Heartborn was fantastic. She had a crisp, clear voice that I could perfectly understand even with the speed turned up. She also made the story sound really good. I was more keen on listening to her voice throughout the story because it was so soothing. x
This audiobook was not long; clocking in at 6 hours and 20 minutes. Throughout those six and a half hours (less because I had it on 1.5x speed) I did not lose focus. I even sat down with almost 4 hours left just to finish it because I was so interested.
My one complaint about the narration was that she made all the men sound the same. I could not tell the difference between the male characters as I could the females. It made listening difficult, especially when there was more than one man in the scene.
Story Portion:
I left confused. I really enjoyed the story that was told, don’t get me wrong, but I have questions.
heartborn-graphic-1Such as:
·       Why is Keiron so well adjusted to the human world?
·       What the hell is a Heartborn?
·       How does a 17-year-old have a full time job?
·       Why isn’t Livvy in school?
·       Where does Keiron live in the human world?
I need those to be answered so I can actually understand what the heck is going on in this dang story!
Besides all my questions, I did like the story. Like I said above, I sat down just to listen to the story so I could know what happened! Besides the vagueness, the story was very well written and entertaining.
I absolutely loved Livvy. She is one tough cookie that has not let having half a heart get her down. Even though she can’t fully live life, that doesn’t stop her. She isn’t sad and moping about her situation, instead she does what she can and doesn’t let herself let a moment go by that she isn’t savoring life.
I wish I had more from Keiron’s perspective. He was a very vague character that suddenly appears in Livvy’s life for a few day’s and suddenly she is dating him. Like what? It took me over a year of getting to know my boyfriend before we started dating. That doesn’t just happen! You can’t go around kissing people in a library, that’s not how it works. Though, it might. This was a YA Fantasy novel. Anything can happen in them.

All in all, I loved Heartborn. I need my questions answered and I hope that there is a sequel so I can continue on with the story and also have these pesky questions answered! I do wish I had the book in my hand to follow along with, maybe I would’ve found the answers to some of those questions. Plus, there was some really good quotes that I wished I could’ve highlighted! I would recommend reading or listening to this book if you are into angels and strong female characters. Oh, and one hell of a plot twist.  

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Buy on Audible⎮Amazon⎮iTunes


author-bio
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  Born in 1968, I discovered fishing shortly after walking, a boon, considering I lived in South Florida. After a brief move to Kentucky, my family trekked back to the Sunshine State. I had the good fortune to attend high school in idyllic upstate New York, where I learned about a mythical substance known as “Seasons”. After two or three failed attempts at college, I bought a bar. That was fun because I love beer, but, then, I eventually met someone smarter than me (a common event), and, in this case, she married me and convinced me to go back to school–which I did, with enthusiasm. I earned a Master’s Degree in History and rediscovered my love for writing. My novels explore dark fantasy, immortality, and the nature of love as we know it. I live near Nashville, Tennessee, with the aforementioned wife, son, and herd, and, when I’m not writing, I teach history, grow wildly enthusiastic tomato plants, and restore my 1967 Mustang.  
Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads
narrator-bio
pastedimage  Julia Whelan has appeared in many films and television series, most notably ABC’s Once And Again. After receiving a degree in English and Creative Writing at Middlebury College and Oxford University, Julia began narrating audiobooks. She’s recorded hundreds of novels across all genres and has received multiple Earphones and Audie Awards. She is repeatedly named one of Audiofile Magazine’s Best Voices and was Audible’s Narrator of the Year.  
IMDB⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads



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giveaway

 
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tour-schedule
Nov. 1: ShannonBookishLife (Review) 
Nov. 2: Buried Under Books (Spotlight & Giveaway)
Nov. 3: Dab of Darkness (Review, Interview & Giveaway)
Nov. 4: Maureen’s Book Blog (Review & Audio Excerpt)
Nov. 5: Paper Cuts (Review, Audio Excerpt & Giveaway) 
Nov. 6: Never 2 Many 2 Read (Review & Giveaway) 
Nov. 7: LilyBloom Books (Review, Audio Excerpt & Giveaway) 
Nov. 8: Mama Reads Blog (Review & Spotlight) 
Nov. 9: Foxes and Fairy Tales (Review)
Nov. 10: Desert Bibliophile (Review, Audio Excerpt, Spotlight & Giveaway) 
Nov. 11: Such A Novel Idea (Review, Audio Excerpt & Giveaway) Where Books Lead Us (Review)
Nov. 12: Where Books Lead Us (Audio Excerpt & Spotlight)
Nov. 13: A Book with Bea (Audio Excerpt & Spotlight)
Nov. 14: Highway YA (Review)
ABW Promos3

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Audiobook Spotlight: Don't You Trust Me

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Synopsis:
A teenage girl switches identities with a stranger and pulls off a long-term scam in this smart, sarcastic thriller perfect for fans of Ally Carter.


Don't you trust me? I mean, look at me. Blond, blue eyed, the very image of innocence. Pretty enough, if you care about that kind of thing. I don't. But would a normal person switch identities with some wet mess of a girl at the airport just to get her to stop bawling about being separated from her loser boyfriend and sent to live with some distant relatives? Nope, she wouldn't. Yet I did. I'm not as normal as you think. And you'll just have to trust me.


©2016 Patrice Kindl (P)2016 Recorded Books


Author’s website (Patrice Kindl)

Narrator Bio for Audio  & Narrator Spotlights

Bailey Carr is an audiobook narrator for multiple New York Times Bestselling authors including Morgan Matson, Heather Graham, Ann Aguirre, Samantha Towle, and Laurie Halse Anderson. She has narrated over 50 audiobooks for audio publishers including Audible Studios, Recorded Books, and Tantor Audio. Bailey graduated with a BFA in Acting from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She lives and records in Brooklyn, NY.

Q&A for Narrator Spotlights

- How did you get started in audiobooks?
I grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee and moved to New York for college in 2006. I graduated from the NYU Tisch Acting program in 2010 and was cast for my first book for Audible Studios in 2011. I've always loved reading, and I feel so grateful to get to bring stories to life in audio.


-What are some of your favorite books that you've narrated?
So hard to choose! Some of my favorite audiobooks recorded to-date include THE UNEXPECTED EVERYTHING by Morgan Matson, SEVEN WAYS WE LIE by Riley Redgate, INCEPTION by Bianca Scardoni, and ART & SOUL by Brittainy C. Cherry. I have a youthful voice, so I mostly narrate Young Adult and New Adult material. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to narrate the incredibly interesting and special memoir of hummingbird rehabber Terry Masear, FASTEST THINGS ON WINGS. I learned so much about hummingbirds! I also recently narrated some Non-Fic on the Myers-Briggs Personality Types. (ENFP over here!) I can't say too much about upcoming books due to publisher restrictions, but I CAN say I'm very excited about a nine-book YA series on the horizon, and also a book I’ll be co-narrating with a Disney TV star that I totally had a poster of in my locker in school! Stay tuned…!

-What is your preparation process like?
I mark up my scripts like crazy - I’ve created my own notation language (a shorthand IPA, for you VO people) so I can mark pronunciations, underline operative words, and take note of direction the author has subtly gifted me in the words they’ve chosen. Staying true to the text is very important to me, so I rely on the author’s clues to inform my delivery and direct my performance (such as “Not if I get there first!” she gritted through her teeth.) Script preparation helps me be relaxed and present in the booth. Audiobook narration is a marathon and requires stamina, so it’s important to take lots of breaks to remain engaged and connected to the material. As for while I’m in the booth, I’ve learned a lot of tricks of the trade. Hydration is so important. I drink a ton of water! And tea. I probably have at least three different liquids on hand at all times. I also brush my teeth right before every recording session. (Is that weird?)


-Any interesting stories from the booth?
In Morgan Matson’s THE UNEXPECTED EVERYTHING, four best friends have a group text thread. No spoilers, but one of the characters gets challenged to an emoji-only summer, where she’s only allowed to use emojis to communicate via text. It’s pretty hilarious! I worked closely with Morgan, the author, and it was a super fun challenge to translate the emojis to spoken word for the audiobook, especially for an emoji-lover like myself πŸ’•πŸ“šπŸΆπŸ•πŸ©πŸ¦πŸ’‘.


-Fun facts about Bailey?
My recording booth is purple! (My favorite color.) I play the guitar & the saxophone. I have a pet blue crayfish named Dr. Claw. Out of the booth, I volunteer at educational non-profit, FarmingNYC. I’m also a New York Times published photographer.


- Social:
I absolutely love connecting with listeners on social. Recording alone in a booth many hours every day can be isolating, and I put my whole heart into each character and book I narrate, so it’s very meaningful to me to hear back when listeners enjoy a story.

Bailey’s Social Media Links

Twitter : @BaileyCarrVOICE
Instagram : @BaileyCarrVOICE


Soundcloud : Here is 30 min from THE UNEXPECTED EVERYTHING by Morgan Matson.

Buy Links


The audiobook is for sale on Recorded Books as a digital download (& on disc)!  It is also currently avail for Pre-Order on Audible.



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