High Heat and Fat Fridays {+ Giveaway}

Boy, do I have two different types of audiobooks to tell you about today. So, here goes. Be sure to check the end of the post for an awesome giveaway.

◊ HIGH HEAT by Richard Castle

◊ Series: A Nikki Heat Novel, Book #8

◊ Narrator: Robert Petkoff

◊ Audio CD

◊ Listening Length: 10 hours and 15 minutes

◊ Program Type: Audiobook

◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller

◊ Version: Unabridged

◊ Publisher: Hachette Original Audio

◊ Release Date: October 25, 2016

◊ Language: English

◊ ASIN: BO1LYSD79X

◊ ISBN-10: 1478971509

◊ ISBN-13: 978-1478971504

SYNOPSIS:

An ISIS-style beheading of a journalist, carried out by a New York City group pledging fealty to that rogue state, becomes more than just another case for NYPD Captain Nikki Heat when the killers announce their next target: her husband, magazine writer Jameson Rook.

Meanwhile, Heat is haunted by a fleeting glimpse of someone she swears is her mother... a woman who has been dead for nearly twenty years.

Castle may have ended on TV but the adventures of Nikki Heat continues.

Narrator Robert Petkoff does a great job of bringing the various characters to life. His tone and tempo enhance the suspense of the story. He delivers the lines with emotion and flare.

The story moves at a good pace. There are a few twists along the way as the story unfolds. While you may guess the identity of the villain, it’s an interesting journey to find out for sure.

The setting will hold your attention, as will the headlining plot. The story doesn’t seem to have the same pop previous installments have, but it’s will an intriguing story.

While the appearance of Nikki’s dead other is a unique twist, mystery readers/listeners understand in a mystery dead is never really dead. If you’re a fan of Castle, you’ll want to be sure to add HIGH HEAT to your library collection.

High Heat by Richard Castle, Nikki Heat series (Book #8), Narrated by Robert Petkoff, Hachette Original Audio, @2016, ISBN: 978-1478971504, Unabridged, 8 CDs, Run Time: 10 Hours and 15 Minutes

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this audio book was sent to me by the publisher. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

◊ FAT FRIDAYS by Judith Keim

◊ Series: Fat Fridays Group, Book #1

◊ Narrator: Joyce Bean

◊ MP3 CD

◊ Listening Length: 10 hours and 3 minutes

◊ Program Type: Audiobook

◊ Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction

◊ Version: Unabridged

◊ Publisher: Brilliance Audio

◊ Release Date: November 8, 2016

◊ Language: English

◊ ASIN: BO1M27BTM5

◊ ISBN-10: 1531864090

◊ ISBN-13: 978-1531864095

SYNOPSIS:

When Sukie’s husband shacks up with her Pilates instructor, her domestic drama becomes the talk of her small Georgia town. Friends from her married life prove fickle, and Sukie hides at home, terrified of encountering the town gossips at the grocery store. Betsy, Sukie’s neighbor, invites her to join “Fat Fridays,” a weekly gathering at a local café where the women order whatever they crave―no calories counted. Over sausage pizza and sage advice, Sukie gets a grip on her new life and learns to love her freedom.

Judith Keim’s warm, funny novel offers moving glimpses into each of the five women’s very different lives. As they struggle to deal with cruel exes, frustrating families, and forbidden love, the women offer one another the kind of friendship that is as rich and nurturing as their Friday feasts

This is a story of friendship, hope, and new beginnings.

Narrator Joyce Bean does an excellent job giving each character their own unique sound. Her accents and cadence are spot on. She holds your attention from beginning to end with her clarity and energetic voicings. She handles the varying emotions with great ease.

Author Judith Keim has crafted wholesome characters readers/listeners can relate to. The characters are well-developed, realistic, and easy to like. The bond of friendship that grows between the group of unlikely women speaks volumes for how individuals sometimes come together when you least expect it.

The small-town setting enhances the story giving it a friendly feel. The story moves quickly changing to different members of the group with each chapter in a smooth continuous flow.

The story speaks to the heart of how everyone has problems and how friendships help us weather those troubles. With a mix of humor, romance, a touch of mystery, and loads of loyalty, this is a great start to a fun new series.

FAT FRIDAYS is a nurturing look at how a group of friends care about each other and face the world head on.

Fat Fridays by Judith Keim, Fat Fridays Group series (Book #1), Narrated by Joyce Bean, Brilliance Audio, @2016, ISBN: 978-1531864095, Unabridged, MP3 CD, Run Time: 10 Hours and 4 Minutes

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this audio book was sent to me by the publisher. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks to Mitch and the wonderful folks at Hachette Audio, I have three (3) audio copies of HIGH HEAT to giveaway. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Thursday, Dec. 8.

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. A winner will be selected by the Rafflecopter widget and I’ll send an email with the subject line “Thoughts in Progress Giveaway.” The winner will have 72 hours to reply to the email or another winner will be selected. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder from time to time after the giveaway ends to make sure the notification email doesn’t end up there. If you win and you’ve already won the book somewhere else or you just decided for whatever reason you don’t want to win (which is fine), once again PLEASE let me know.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Are you a fan of Castle? Do you miss the show? Have you ever been or are you a member of a group like Fat Fridays? If you’ve not tried audiobooks before, now’s a great time to start. Just enter the giveaway.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway