Showing posts with label David W. Collins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label David W. Collins. Show all posts

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Beyond The Ice Limit … The Trial {+ Giveaways}


BEYOND THE ICE LIMIT by Preston & Child
◊ Series: Gideon Crew (Book #4)
◊ Narrator: David W. Collins
Audio CD: 9 Discs
◊ Listening Length: 10.5 hours
◊ Program Type: Audiobook
◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller
◊ Version: Unabridged
◊ Publisher: Hachette Audio
◊ Release Date: May 17, 2016
◊ Language: English
◊ ISBN-10: 1478909110
◊ ISBN-13: 978-1478909118

SYNOPSIS:


That thing is growing again. We must destroy it. The time to act is now...

With these words begins Gideon Crew's latest, most dangerous, most high-stakes assignment yet. Failure will mean nothing short of the end of humankind on earth.
Five years ago, the mysterious and inscrutable head of Effective Engineering Solutions, Eli Glinn, led a mission to recover a gigantic meteorite--the largest ever discovered--from a remote island off the coast of South America. The mission ended in disaster when their ship, the Rolvaag, foundered in a vicious storm in the Antarctic waters and broke apart, sinking-along with its unique cargo-to the ocean floor. One hundred and eight crew members perished, and Eli Glinn was left paralyzed.
But this was not all. The tragedy revealed something truly terrifying: the meteorite they tried to retrieve was not, in fact, simply a rock. Instead, it was a complex organism from the deep reaches of space.
Now, that organism has implanted itself in the sea bed two miles below the surface-and it is growing. If it is not destroyed, the planet will be doomed. There is only one hope: for Glinn and his team to annihilate it, a task which requires Gideon's expertise with nuclear weapons. But as Gideon and his colleagues soon discover, the "meteorite" has a mind of its own-and it has no intention of going quietly...


You might say this story is a bit like Alien mixed with a sinister form of The Abyss. The suspense is high, the unknown incredible, and the mission extremely dangerous.

Put these elements together and you have one unbelievable adrenaline-fueled thriller enhanced by the narration of David W. Collins. His mannerisms and cadence is spot on. He gives unique voices to each character. Collins boosts the suspense with his vocalization.

This is an enjoyable mix of science fiction and adventure with tidbits of science mingled in. It gives you pause to wonder, ‘what if.’

Through the authors’ vivid descriptions, you feel like you’re on the ocean as the characters ride the waves to race again time. The story moves at a fast pace, but holds you spellbound all the way. The suspense is high as twists and turns keep you fearing the worst.

The characters are well-developed and realistic. They are a mix that you find likable and love to hate.

BEYOND THE ICE LIMIT is a stand-alone story even though it’s a long awaited follow up to a story. New readers/listeners won’t be left in the dark as the authors’ provide enough background details to make the story flow smoothly.

This is a pulse-pounding thriller you don’t want to end. Preston and Child may have delayed 15 years in writing this sequel to THE ICE LIMIT, but it was well worth the wait.

Beyond the Ice Limit by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Gideon Crew series (Book #4), Narrated by David W. Collins, Hachette Audio, @2016, ISBN: 978-1478909118, Unabridged, 9 CDs, Run Time: 10.5 Hours (Also available in print and eBook format.)

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


THE TRIAL by James Patterson with Maxine Paetro
◊ Series: The Women’s Murder Club (Book #4)
◊ Narrator: January LaVoy
Audio CD: 3 Discs
◊ Listening Length: 2.5 hours
◊ Program Type: Audiobook Bookshots
◊ Genre: Mystery, Thriller
◊ Version: Unabridged
◊ Publisher: BookShots, Hachette Audio
◊ Release Date: July 5, 2016
◊ Language: English
◊ ISBN-10: 1478967552
◊ ISBN-13: 978-1478967552

SYNOPSIS:

"I'm not on trial. San Francisco is."

An accused murderer called Kingfisher is about to go on trial for his life. Or is he? By unleashing unexpected violence on the lawyers, jurors, and police involved in the case, he has paralyzed the city. Detective Lindsay Boxer and the Women's Murder Club are caught in the eye of the storm.
Now comes a courtroom shocker you will never see coming.


THE TRIAL is the perfect story to read/listen to if you’re short on time, but want a suspenseful tale to be entertained by.

Narrator January LaVoy does a great job bringing the characters to life. Her cadence and accents enhance the story. Her vocals are spot on as she brings the varying emotions to the surface.

The story is a good mix of police procedure, mystery and suspense. The story flows quickly and smoothly. Told in BookShots format, the story can be listened to in under three hours. The shortness of the tale doesn’t lessen its appeal.

The core cast of characters of the Women’s Murder Club series are on hand, but new readers/listeners won’t be left in the dark not knowing their history. This is a stand-alone story. The characters are likable and well-developed.

THE TRIAL will keep you on your toes until the surprise ending. It’s intense, suspenseful and entertaining.

The Trial by James Patterson with Maxine Paetro, BookShots series, Narrated by January LaVoy, BookShots/Hachette Audio, @2016, ISBN: 978-1478697552, Unabridged, 3 CDs, Run Time: 2.5 Hours (Also available in print and eBook format.)

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

BookShots
LIGHTNING-FAST STORIES BY JAMES PATTERSON
  • Novels you can devour in a few hours
  • Impossible to stop listening
  • All original content from James Patterson

Thanks to the gracious Mitch and the wonderful folks at Hachette, I have an audio copy of BEYOND THE ICE LIMIT by Preston and Child to giveaway and an audio copy of THE TRIAL by James Patterson with Maxine Paetro to giveaway. Both giveaways are open to residents of the U.S. only and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Monday, Aug. 8.

To enter either or both giveaways, just click on the Rafflecopter widgets below and follow the instructions. The widgets 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. One winner could win both audios.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Are you a fan of any of these writers? Do you listen to audio books? If not, now’s a great time to begin.


Saturday, September 27, 2014

The Lost Island and Harbor Island


The Lost Island coverFall may be slowly making its way into our area, but I’m thinking the tropics today as I take trips to a couple of magical islands with my reviews. While it may not be all fun and sun on the islands, there’s enough adventure to hold you captive. 

THE LOST ISLAND by Preston & Child

While listening to THE LOST ISLAND by Preston & Child I realized a bit of imagination was needed on my part to follow and believe in these characters and their actions.

With that said and done, getting lost in this story also inspired me to learn more about the classic tales they discuss, the lands they visit, and the myths of old. That in itself makes a book enjoyable to me, as it did with this one. It takes me on a journey and makes me wonder/think long after I’ve put the story away. THE LOST ISLAND is a story that inspires me to venture further on my own.

Narrator David W. Collins does an excellent job giving voices to each of the characters. His varied inflections and volume matched the tension and action of the characters. His cadence is perfect to keep listeners on the edge of their seat as the adrenaline-driven scenes and suspense unfolds. His pace enhances the story.

Master thief and brilliant scientist Gideon Crew has little to lose as he is living on borrowed time with an incurable disease. When Eli Glinn, his mysterious employer, asks him to steal a page from the priceless Book of Kells on display in New York City, Gideon has no problem accepting the challenge.

After liberating the single piece of parchment, Gideon learns there is more hidden beneath the beautiful images. Eli reveals a long forgotten treasure map dating back to the ancient Greeks. The treasure, Gideon quickly learns, isn’t gold or silver, but a discovery that could help mankind and possible save his own life in the process.

Partner with a mysterious lady named Amy, the couple set off to find the treasure. They follow a set of cryptic clues to a remote corner of the Caribbean Sea. There they encounter deadly treasurer hunters, harsh seas and unexpected dangers. Once on the island, they encounter a find that could turn the modern world upside down and cause history to be re-written. The only problem, they have to stay alive long enough to get off the island to share what they’ve discovered.

Authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child have crafted a fascinating tale of mystery and suspense fueled by ‘what if’ imagination and myths of old. They take readers/listeners on a whirlwind journey to the Caribbean and entice them to believe in possibilities mankind isn’t equipped to handle. The story deals with greed, generosity, desperation, hope, loyalty and trust.

Blended with an eye for detail and vibrant descriptions, THE LOST ISLAND is a magical, mysterious adventure you won’t be able to leave.

The Lost Island by Preston & Child, Gideon Crew Novel Book #3, Performed by David W. Collins, Hachette Audio, @2014, ISBN: 978-1619694590, Unabridged, 9 Discs, Listening Time: 11 Hours 

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

HARBOR ISLAND by Carla Neggers

Harbor Island coverCombining suspense, murder, mystery and romance with breathtaking locations, author Carla Neggers takes readers/listeners on a fascinating journey to catch a killer in HARBOR ISLAND.

Narrator Carla Mercer-Meyer does a great job bringing the various characters to life. Her various accents enhances the story. Her mannerisms and cadence matches the pace and flow of the story.

Neggers’ acclaimed Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan return in this heart-pounding adventure that takes readers/listeners from Boston to Ireland to Maine. Emma, granddaughter of world-renowned art detective Wendell Sharpe, is an FBI agent assigned to a small Boston-based FBI team. Colin is a deep-cover agent for the FBI.

Emma and her grandfather have been searching for a mysterious serial art thief for a decade. As if taunting them, each time there is a new theft the Sharpes receive a replica of the cross taken in the thief’s first heist. Emma receives a call from a woman claiming to have knowledge of the thief. When Emma arrives on a small island in Boston Harbor she finds the woman dead holding a small cross.

Colin is unhappy Emma went to meet the woman without backup. As they begin to investigate the murder, they discover there is more involved than they first believe. As the danger intensifies, relationship issues must also be examined and fortified. 

It’s hard to say a lot about this story without giving spoilers and I don’t want to dampen the twists and turns for readers/listeners. This is an enthralling journey with realistic characters that are well-developed and likable. The story, while traveling to numerous locations, still flows smoothly and at a steady pace. Neggers’ vivid descriptions and rich dialogue combines for an entertaining tale.

HARBOR ISLAND is the fourth installment in Neggers’ Sharpe and Donovan series, but can stand on its own. With this story, fans also get a bonus novella, ROCK POINT, for their reading/listening pleasure. With this latest release, Neggers has skillfully combined suspense and romance into a mesmerizing tale. 

Harbor Island by Carla Neggers, Sharpe and Donovan Novel Book #4, Performed by Carla Mercer-Meyer, Brilliance Audio, @2014, ISBN: 978-1480502611, Unabridged, 10 Discs, Listening Time: 12 Hours and 1 Minute 

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks so much for visiting today. I do so appreciate it. Hope you’re having a relaxing Saturday enjoying your favorite things. Do you have a favorite story that involves an island or two?

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