IRead Book Tour Audio Book Review: The Registration by Madison Lawson

Please See Tour Feature HERE.

This has a different premise and lots of action.

The Registration
By: Madison Lawson
Narrated by: Kathleen McInerney

Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
Release date: 09-27-22
Publisher: CamCat Books
Genre: Dystopian, Psychological
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
You can’t outrun the Registration.
Imagine it’s legal to commit one murder in your lifetime—if you Register the victim and accomplish the kill within fourteen days. So when Lynell Mize stands in line to Register the man who abused her as a child, she’s shocked to hear a stranger Register her to be killed. Why would anyone who doesn't know her squander his one legal murder on her? Desperate to survive the next two weeks, she must find out who wants to kill her—and why.
Easier said than done, as Lynell soon discovers that multiple strangers have used their Registration on her. Along the way, she reunites with her estranged husband who is determined to dig up a past Lynell prefers to keep buried. With only days left to live, Lynell is determined to uncover the truth and survive a destiny not of her choosing. Everyone she knows could be her killer. Any day could be her last.
©2022 Madison Lawson (P)2022 CamCat Books

Review:
Lynell Mize lives in a world society where each person can Register one person to kill without facing penalty, provided the killing is completed within fourteen days. Lynell has struggled through a childhood under the constant threat of an abusive step-father. Trying to start a new page in her life, Lynell goes to Register the abuser. While standing in line, she hears someone in front of her Register her.

Lynell is stunned and realizes she must get away; even her home will not be safe. She suddenly finds her estranged husband, Daniel, insisting that she go away with him. He thinks he has whisked her away safely but they are soon accosted on the train by Zachery Price, a man who has been a best friend to Daniel since Lynell left him and also the man who Registered Lynell.

Lynell learns that more than one man has Registered her. She has something she didn’t realize was important and there is a very powerful man who wants her to be brought to him. Once in his clutches there are surprising revelations and it is nearly impossible to escape. But with the help of unexpected sources she does escape. Once again she goes on the run but they are very poorly prepared. Day to day Lynell struggles to stay out of the hands of her enemy while trying to puzzle out the code he is desperate to obtain. She also wonders whether the Registration system is really a positive thing.

The premise of the story is very interesting and I did enjoy the conflict and action. Lyndell is a young character struggling with her own self-esteem. I appreciated the growth she went through. I was frustrated however by how unprepared Lynell and her rescuers were to run and hide. At one point Lynell and Daniel lead a path to the person they want most to protect, putting many innocent lives in danger. I just shook my head at the stupidity. Fortunately, the ending made me a little happier. I recommend this story to fans of dystopian and other readers who may be interested in an action chase story with a puzzle to solve.

Audio Notes: Kathleen McInerney does a good job with the narration. She manages to convey the youth and inexperience of primary character. She also delivered distinct voices. I appreciated getting the audiobook to share during the book tour.

Source: Author via Bookfunnel for IRead Book Tours. This qualifies for my 2023Audiobook and 2023Author goals.

Audible Book Review: The Brass Queen by Elizabeth Chatsworth

I did enjoy this fun, steampunk romance.

The Brass Queen
By: Elizabeth Chatsworth
Narrated by: Michelle Babb

Length: 13 hrs and 38 mins
Release date: 12-01-21
Publisher: CamCat Publishing, LLC
Genre: Fantasy, Gaslamp, Steampunk
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
She knows a liar when she sees one. He knows a fraud when he meets one. In a steam-powered world, Miss Constance Haltwhistle is the last in a line of blue-blooded rogues. Selling firearms under her alias, the “Brass Queen”, she has kept her baronial estate’s coffers full. But when US spy J.F. Trusdale saves her from assassins, she’s pulled into a search for a scientist with an invisibility serum. As royal foes create an invisible army to start a global war, Constance and Trusdale must learn to trust each other. If they don’t, the world as they know it will disappear before their eyes.
If you like the Parasol Protectorate or Invisible Library series, you’ll love this gaslamp fantasy - a rambunctious romantic romp that will have you both laughing out loud and wishing you owned all of Miss Haltwhistle's armaments.
©2021 Elizabeth Chatsworth (P)2021 CamCat Publishing

Review:
Constance is not your usual Victorian miss, and not even a usual bluestocking. She is a young woman raised with science in her blood and genes. Her father has secretly moved into an alternate world to be with his wife who is alive there, though dead in Constance’s world. Constance has had free reign and the responsibility of maintaining her family estate, complete with fields, servants, and hidden laboratories. She has sold her steampunk inventions and firearms with the help of her mentor, another female scientist. But Constance’s Uncle is threatening to demolish the full estate if her father has not shown himself or if she fails to marry in three days.

Constance hosts a huge ball in an effort to locate a last-minute husband. Unfortunately, the ball is ruined when an airship drops a cage and kidnaps the three primary scientists using the three warrior autonomans which should have been unattainable. Constance has been rescued by a brash, but daring, American, J. F. Truesdale. Although they both are holding secrets, they will need each other to help if they want to rescue the scientists. Along the way, they uncover a plan of assassination and now have to get a warning out as well as completing their rescue mission.

The story is on the zany side but both Constance and Truesdale are lovely characters, and I was glad for the friendship that developed between them. I enjoyed the various inventions and the creativity with which the author equipped her protagonists to solve puzzles along the way. I would like to read more by Ms. Chatsworth. I recommend this to fans of steampunk and/or Victorian romance with unconventional characters.

Audio Notes: Michelle Babb does a nice job of narrating. She has her own style which fit with the mix of dry and snarky humor in this story. I appreciated receiving this title in audio to enjoy.

Source: 11/28/21 Audible Code from narrator. This qualifies for 2021Audiobook and 2021 Review goals.

Audible Book Review: Penny Preston and the Silver Scepter by Armen Pogharian

This is an entertaining series – good for children and adults.
Penny Preston and the Silver Scepter
Misaligned, Book II
By: Armen Pogharian
Narrated by: Michelle Babb

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
Release date: 06-02-21
Publisher: CamCat Publishing, LLC
Genre: Fantasy, Teens
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
When Penny solves the riddle of an unbreakable knot in time, she unwittingly releases two time travelers from the distant past into Piper Falls. The town is plagued by a series of baffling events related to the appearance of a strange elf-like creature. Penny's science teacher and mentor, Mr. Myrdin, recognizes him as the Coch Coblyn, an evil spirit from Celtic myth with a penchant for igniting city-destroying fires.
Compounding the mystery is the discovery of a prehistoric scepter, made of impossibly pure silver that's intertwined with Seneca creation myth and Master Poe's past. The silver scepter draws the sole survivor from the ancient civilization that created it to Piper Falls. After traveling forward thousands of years in time, he plans to take the scepter back to his own time and save his people from the cataclysm that destroyed them.
Stumped by the escalating pranks of the Coch Coblyn, the Deputy Sheriff contacts his good friend, Darin Kolchak, a paranormal investigator. Kolchak answers the call by bringing the latest in ghost-hunting technology to town in his refurbished U-Haul. Kolchak's methods may not be conventional, but they lead him dangerously close to the truth. Penny and her friends race to unravel the secrets of the artifact, dodge detection, and prevent either of the new arrivals from using it to return to power.
©2021 Armen Pogharian (P)2021 CamCat Publishing

Review:
Penny is continuing her efforts to keep time travelers from her local community. The banishing of the misaligned time lines is reasonably straight forward until she runs into a group that includes twisted, knotted lines that she has difficulty unraveling. She inadvertently releases two time travelers. Suddenly the town is hit by a series of mischievous pranks by an elf-like creature. But this is the biggest threat.

While trying to puzzle out the pranks and danger, Penny, Mr. Myrdin, and Master Poe learn that a powerful antique artifact, a silver scepter, has been fund nearby. This is a puzzle on its own as it doesn’t fit the era where it has been uncovered by the archaeologist. The second traveler is from an ancient civilization and seeks to control the scepter in order to change the past. Can Penny and her friends stop the two travelers from reeking time havoc?

Armen Pogharian has created a fascinating ancient history which is shared through the lives of survivors from a devastating natural disaster. The author shares in intermittent chapters the events that follow certain survivors. The lives of past and present characters are tied together as the book nears the end.

I find this series creative and entertaining. I enjoyed the dual time line as the historical characters added to the story. This is an easy listen and I like that this series is totally appropriate for children and adults. I recommend it as a good family read/listen for fans of mystery, time travel and a touch of magic.

Audio Notes: Michelle Babb does a very nice performance for the audio. She manages to portray the different time characters with distinct and fitting voices. She handles the children’s voices as well as the prankster elf and evil ancient. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

Source: Audible Code from the Narrator. This qualifies for 2021Audiobook and review goals.

Audible Book Review: Penny Preston and the Raven's Talisman by Armen Pogharian. 4.0.

Audible Book Review: Penny Preston and the Raven's Talisman by Armen Pogharian

This is a fun story good for MG and adults who enjoy a lighter, magical adventure.
Penny Preston and the Raven's Talisman
Misaligned, Book I
By: Armen Pogharian
Narrated by: Michelle Babb

Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
Release date: 04-21-21
Publisher: CamCat Publishing, LLC
Genre: Fantasy, Teen and YA
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
When shadow-monsters attack in the cafeteria, eighth grader Penny Preston panics, starts a food fight, and unknowingly creates a trans-dimensional rift. Summoned to the counselor’s office, she expects suspension, but instead discovers that she is misaligned and exists in more than three dimensions. Unless she immediately begins training to learn to handle her powerful abilities, she risks losing her sanity.
She agrees to secretly train with her counselor and his friend Master Poe, an exile from the seventh dimension trapped in a raven’s body, to keep her hometown, Piper Falls, safe from higher-dimensional beings seeking to gain god-like powers in our dimension.
Together with Simon, her telepathic multidimensional cat, Penny struggles to save her relationship with her best friend, protect her universe, and uncover her connection to Arthurian myth.
©2020 Armen Pogharian (P)2021 CamCat Publishing.

Review:
Penny is an eighth grader who suddenly discovers that she has paranormal skills. Inadvertently she creates chaos and a trans-dimensional rift during lunch and expects to receive school discipline. Instead, science teacher, Mr. Myrdin with his companion raven, Master Poe, informs her that she is a ‘misaligned’ girl with the ability to move in different dimensions. Myrdin explains that there is someone threatening to bring evil power into the community and Penny needs to train to fight the magical enemy.

Penny gets additional support from her best friend, Duncan, and her new guardian, Simon. Simon is a telepathic, multidimensional cat who continually proclaims himself to be “Kite Seith”. A magical amulet is provided to Duncan which allows him to see some of what Penny is dealing with. And now they all share the adventure and danger from strange creatures seeping into the earthly dimension!

This story is easy listening fun. There is action, science and magic interwoven with Arthurian lore, Hobbit references and scenes that brought Harry Potter to mind. There are the stirrings of a different relationship for Penny and Duncan which is awkward and sweet. I would share this with my middle grade grandchildren and might continue the series adventures myself.

Audio Notes: Michelle Babb does a good job with the narration. Although Babb provides clear and distinct voices, I thought the narration was more reading than dramatic presentation. I enjoyed the emotional input and I am glad I was able to listen to the audio version.

Source: 4/22/2021 Narrator Audible Code. This qualifies for 2021Audiobook and 2021Review goals.