Friday Bargains: SYNC audiobooks

SYNC offers free YA and Classics as audiobooks. Most of the titles are available outside the US, but some are US only.  Each title is available one week only, or at least that is the impression I got from their webpage.
SYNC Titles
Summer 2013
May 30 – June 5, 2013
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks, read by Rebecca Gibel (AudioGO)
The Tempest by William Shakespeare, read by a Full Cast (AudioGO)
June 6 – June 12, 2013
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 1: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood, read by Katherine Kellgren (HarperAudio)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, read by Wanda McCaddon (Tantor Audio)
June 13 – June 19, 2013
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, read by Will Patton (Scholastic Audiobooks)
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya, read by Robert Ramirez (Recorded Books)
June 20 – June 26, 2013
Once by Morris Gleitzman, read by Morris Gleitzman (Bolinda Audio)
Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr., read by Dion Graham (christianaudio)
June 27 – July 3, 2013
Rotters by Daniel Kraus, read by Kirby Heyborne (Listening Library)
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, read by Jim Weiss (Listening Library)
July 4 – July 10, 2013
Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford, read by Nick Podehl (Brilliance Audio)
She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith, read by a Full Cast (L.A. Theatre Works)
July 11 – July 17, 2013
The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann, read by Peter Altschuler (HarperAudio)
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, read by Simon Vance (Tantor Audio)
July 18 – July 24, 2013
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers, read by Erin Moon (Recorded Books)
Hamlet by William Shakespeare, read by a Full Cast (L.A. Theatre Works)
July 25 – July 31, 2013
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen, read by Charlie McWade (Scholastic Audiobooks)
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain, read by Steve West (Blackstone Audio)
Aug 1 – Aug 7, 2013
Death Cloud by Andrew Lane, read by Dan Weyman (Macmillan Audio)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, read by Ralph Cosham (Blackstone Audio)
Aug 8 – Aug 14, 2013
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis, read by Katherine Kellgren (Brilliance Audio)
Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, read by Miriam Margolyes (Bolinda Audio)
Aug 15 – Aug 21, 2013
Sold by Patricia McCormick, read by Justine Eyre (Tantor Audio)
Let Me Stand Alone by Rachel Corrie, read by Tavia Gilbert (Blackstone Audio)

Review: Friday Dreaming by Elizabeth Bailey

The Particulars: Historical Romance, Harlequin Historical, avaible as e-book, out of print

The Source: The Bookshelf

The Grade: B-

The Blurb:

Governess Prudence Hursley expected to see little of her new employer, Mr Julius Rookham. However, she found herself continually thrown into his path, and the more she got to know him, the more she found herself wishing for the impossible!

The review:

Note: I read the print edition, titled Prudence, but since it is re-issued as Friday Dreaming, I used that title. 

This book is one of my favorite Regencies, but I hadn't re-read it for awhile, so when I found it at my mum's recently I decided to read it again.

And I am glad I did. This is a charming Regency without any dukes or earls, which was a nice change.

Most of the book took place at Rookham Hall, and it felt believable to me. I appreciated the tiny details, from the drab dress Prue wore, to the way the staff had their internal tensions.

But mostly, I enjoyed getting re-aquitanced with Prue and Joshua. Both of them were very down to earth, and happy with their lives ( mostly). I enjoyed reading about Prue's adjustment to life in the Rookham household. From how she struggled with bouts of missing her friends, to how she started to get to know the rambunctious twins.

I enjoyed Prue and Joshua's romance. It was sweet, and slow paced. What I liked was that both Prue and Joshua struggled with their growing feelings, although their reasons were different. But that made me like the book even more.

Despite all the things I liked about the book, it took awhile before it hooked me. Which might have been because I have read it before.

WWW Wednesdays May 22:

To play along, just answer the following questions…

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently reading:

Uh..Nothing. Ok, technically, I am re-reading Fatal Affair by Marie Force, but I think it will be a DNF for me. It isn't bad I just don't care about the characters.( Probably stems from the fact that  I wish she had finished the series at book 4.) 

Recently read:

Horatio Lyle by Catherine Webb. I bought this because Kari Sperring recced her Urban Fantasy novels, written as Kate Griffin.  I liked it, it wasn't perfect, but it was good.

Reading next:

Well... Rocky Mountail Rebel by Vivian Arend was released yesterday, and I am itching to buy a book. So it is high up on the list.

Review: Fated by Lauren Dane

The Particulars: Paranormal Romance, Samhain, available in print and as e-book

The Source: Allromance

The Grade: B

The Blurb:

 Could there be any worse fate than a road trip from Seattle to L.A.—with one’s mother—to attend a wedding? Why yes, when one isn’t married yet, like Megan Warden. Toss in a grandmother and a carload of already married sisters and it’s a recipe for sneaking sips of “special” coffee while someone else drives.

Shane Rosario has better things to do than attend a wedding where his father’s relatives will be at him nonstop about getting married and having children. If it weren’t for seeing his anchor bond, Layla, he’d have taken a pass on the entire weekend. It would be easy, since he’s become adept at hiding who and what he is.

When the two weren’t even looking, Fate steps in and before they know it, their bond is sealed. Bonded pair, married in the eyes of their people. Two people tied together in every way. Trouble is, Shane’s not sure he wants all that comes with Megan. And Megan’s certain she’s not willing to live outside her pack, pretending to be human.

The distance between them is more than geographical. It’s a widening gulf rapidly filling with resentment…an emotional divide only acceptance could bridge. Can Shane can accept himself to cross it? Only if they let love take control.

Warning: The usual players – hot sexing, pushy Warden males and the women who keep them in line, some EMO (read: grab your hankies) and bad words.

The Review:

I read an excerpt from this one a couple of months ago, and was hooked. Unfortunately, I was also broke so it got wishlisted. Until now. Let me tell you, it was well worth the wait.

I loved the banter between Megan and her family. They might get exasperated at each other occasionally, but it was clear that they loved each other. They were comfortable with the fact that they were werewolves. Which is a contrast to Shane who is used to hiding who he is, living among humans. It was touching to see Shane struggle with who he was, and it made sense that he clung to his old life since that was all he knew.

The attraction between Megan and Shane sparked from the moment they met. Their romance was a whirlwind, but I liked that their path to a HEA wasn't smooth. The issues they had to work through felt very human, and believable. It was interesting to see how the Anchor bond worked, and how it also affected the relationship between Megan and Layla.

It was interesting to get a glimpse of how living outside the pack affected a werewolf. It felt as if it was possible in theory, but I loved how Ms Dane showed why it had made Shane a mess.

That said, I felt that it went too fast between the first mating bliss, to the start of their issues. The issues made sense, but I wished the book had been a bit longer and Megan's growing frustration had been shown instead of told.

Review: Tempted by Virginia Henley

The Particulars: Historical Romance, Dell, available as e-book but out of prin

The Source: The bookshelf

The Grade: B

The Blurb:

 All men lusted for the firebrand they called Flaming Tina, famed for the molten fire in her hair--and for the hot temper running fierce through the noble Scots blood of Lady Valentina Kennedy. Forced into marriage with the fearsome warrior of an enemy clan, Tina vowed to use her wild beauty to gain mastery over Lord Ramsey Douglas.

The Review:

Dear Author's blogpost about Non regency romance reminded me about this book. I bought it 15 years ago, and I fell in love with Ram and Tina. It has been a while ago since I read it, so I decided to re-read it. And I am glad I did.

The Scotland setting felt very believable. I liked how it affected the story in so many ways, from the political tension between Scotland and England, to the cattle raids, to the way the men spoke to each other and to women. ( Yes, I cringed a couple of times, but at the same time it fit the story.)

I loved Tina and Ram. Tina was sassy, but she also had a sense of loyality. She might flirt, and tease, but she wouldn't go any longer. Ram... was alpha male to the finger tips. He was crude, occassionally, hot tempered, jealous. But he is also loyal, and care about the ones he loves. And, he doesn't hesitate to apologise if he hurts Tina's feelings.

The plot was well written. I must say that I really liked how the political shifts and the romance was balanced in the book. There were time for both, without any part of it overshadowing the other.

I liked how their path to a HEA wasn't easy. They both had hot tempers, and were proud. But I loved following them as they worked towards falling in love. And they faced a lot of obstacles, but in the end that made their HEA more satisfying.

But no matter how much I liked the book, it is 20 years old. And that, I am sad to say, shows. The biggest thing is that there is much more telling than in more recent historical novels. Which made me wish for more dept in some scenes. since the romance felt shallow at times. But it is still a great novel, and I think I'll go and read more of Virginia Henley's novels. ( Sadly, they wont be in Swedish, since this line was cancelled 14 years ago.)

WWW Wednesday May 15th

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions… • What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently reading:
Murder in the Marais by Cara Black
So far it is intresting, and I can see why her novel have gotten rave reviews.  


Recently read:
The Unexpected bride by Elizabeth Rolls
I really like Elizabeth Rolls novels. The plots might not always be that exciting, but to me her novels show the power of well written characters. 

Reading next:
Hopefully Throne of Oak by Dana Marie Bell. I requested the arc today, and I am waiting for an response. Probably wont get one in a week or so.  Meanwhile, I am reading from the TBR pile.

Anthology of Awesomeness: Marked

Look what Lauren Dane just posted! I knew something was up from the hints they dropped on twitter. Squee! The only drawback is the release date: Feb 2014.
The blurb:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lauren Dane takes you into a brand new world in ALL THAT REMAINS. Summer Killian falls fast and hard when Charlie arrives in Paradise Village. But the heat turns all the way up when she learns Charlie is also with Hatch – the man she loved three years before. While she’s not sure she’s cut out for a triad, neither man is going to give her up.

Take a ROCKY RIDE with New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Vivian Arend as she leads you back to the Six Pack Ranch. Anna Coleman might be the law around Rocky Mountain House, but bad boy Mitch Thompson knows that under the stiff RCMP uniform is a woman with a passion for speed and pleasure that matches his own, and he’s not giving up until she’s his.

Kit Rocha returns to Sector Four in BEYOND TEMPTATION. A promise to a dying friend backfires when Noah Madsen finds that the girl he was supposed to rescue is all grown up–and wearing O’Kane ink. He wants to protect her from the secrets of their past, but she wants him. And an O’Kane woman always gets what she wants.