REVIEW - Somewhere Beyond The Sea (audiobook)

Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean Chronicles #2) by TJ Klune (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

First, this book is a sequel to The House in the Cerulean Sea, which I absolutely adored. Please read the first book and then this book or you will be lost. 

I listened to both books on audiobooks which were narrated by the incredible Daniel Henning. The combination of a beautiful story with impressive narration was perfection.  

TJ Klune stated a while ago that a sequel wasn't happening, but SURPRISE! I was so excited to revisit these fantastic characters and storyline. Here is to hoping that there will be a third book, pretty please!  

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

TJ writes beautifully with description and thoughtfulness. Also, TJ writes each character with care and love. I definitely think that the writing is spectacular!

Narration: 5.0 stars

Daniel Henning is a phenomenal narrator. Daniel brings each character to life - it is like listening to a "book movie"!! 

Character Arc: 5.0 stars

The audiobook starts with a flashback that explains a lot and then jumps forward to where the first book left off. 

Each established character from the first book has even more nuances and quirks developed. Also, the new characters are fully fleshed out and explained.  

I love that these characters are weird, wild, and unique!! Perfection!

Memorable:  5.0 stars

The biggest takeaway for me is "hate is loud".

We have all learned this from this recent election. But this beautiful book was like a soothing salve on my heart, mind, and soul. 

Love, chosen family, and friendship win over hate and power-grabbing in this novel. From this novel to our country, this is my hope. 

Entertaining:   5.0 stars

The magical children in this book are hysterical and funny! Also, it is all kinds of humor which I thoroughly enjoyed. 

I must confess that I stayed up late listening to this book! Also fell asleep listening to it which is a sign of good writing and narration. 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Gorgeous.      

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Good.  

HIGHLY recommend

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean Chronicles #2) by TJ Klune

Macmillan Audio

15 hours, 48 minutes

Release date of 9/21/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

TJ Klune

My Goodreads review

Macmillan Audio

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next audiobook is...

 Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune (audiobook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - An American Story (audiobook)

 An American Story by Wilmer Valderrama (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

This memoir was not what I expected at all. Most memoirs include the good, bad, and the ugly. Unfortunately, it is only the good, good, and the good. Wilmer doesn't discuss the rape convictions of Danny Masterson or the sexual assault allegations against Michael Weatherly. Additionally, he claims to not do drugs with all of his partying, I find this hard to believe. Finally, there is no discussion of the underage or much younger women that he dated including his fiancee. It just doesn't appear to be an introspective and honest memoir. 

Additionally, this memoir is a fake greeting card about how much Wilmer loves the USA. It is piled on a little too much. 

Finally, no ghostwriter is listed, but I find it hard that Wilmer was so thoughtful and deep at thirteen and for most of his life. It felt so disingenuous.

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars

Writing: 3.5 stars

Wilmer's ghostwriter writes really well. Unfortunately, the parts written by Wilmer were not as well written. It was easy to discern the parts written by each. 

Narration: 4.0 stars

As a professional actor, Wilmer does a good job. But at times, the language of the book seemed to trip him up and should have been rerecorded. 

Character Arc: 3.5 stars

The audiobook is told in no semblance of order. It jumps back and forth in time as it tries to be in chronological order. 

Memorable:  3.5 stars

His life was difficult once his parents left Miami, Florida (where Wilmer was born) to return to Venezuela and then again when they came back to Los Angeles. Wilmer's stories of leaving Miami for Venezuela and ultimately to Los Angeles as an immigrant family were the best part of the memoir. 

Once Wilmer makes it in Hollywood, I don't believe the perfect remembrances of his life. Life is not all hearts, flowers, and unicorns while paying for every check! 

Entertaining:   3.5 stars

At times, Wilmer would tell a nice family story, but most of the memories weren't amazingly entertaining to me. 

Book cover: 4.0 stars

Good picture.      

Book title: 3.0 stars 

Good.  

RECOMMEND

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

An American Story by Wilmer Valderrama

Harper Select

8 hours, 0 minutes

Release date of 9/17/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Wilmer Valderrama

My Goodreads review

Harper Select

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next read is...

 The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany L. Warren (ebook)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - The Answer Is No (ebook)

The Answer Is No by Fredrik Backman (ebook)

OVERVIEW

This is a short story by Fredrik Backman, an author I had never read before. Unfortunately, this short story and his writing are not my thing. 

I do appreciate these free short stories by Amazon First Reads as I am exposed to new authors!  

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars

Writing: 3.0 stars

This short story has a few humorous moments in it. But the writing was very "tongue in cheek" and didn't work for me. 

Character development: 3.0 stars

The main character, Lucas, is a loner who tries to avoid all contact with other people. He stays in his apartment and orders takeout for all of his needs.

The secondary characters are the "Purple Dress" woman and the "Green Shirt" woman (we never learn their names). 

The tertiary character is the "three-headed" apartment board which is only referred to as "Head 1", "Head 2", and "Head 3" AKA "Linda". 

Storyline:  3.0 stars

Lucas has a problem whenever he answers the door as he has to interact with other people. The story starts with a frying pan left on the sidewalk. 

The main location is possibly Stockholm, Sweden.    

Memorable/Informative:  3.0 stars

Apartment boards are a pain in whatever city or country you reside in.  

Book cover: 3.0 stars

Okay.

Book title: 3.0 stars 

Appropriate.  

LUKEWARM recommend

BOOK INFORMATION

Amazon First Reads Kindle short-story ebook

The Answer Is No by Fredrik Backman

68 pages 

Amazon Original Stories

Release date of 12/01/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Fredrik Backman

My Goodreads review

Amazon Original Stories

Amazon First Reads - November 2024

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is...

 The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman (ebook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - City of Time and Magic (ebook)

 City of Time and Magic (Found Things #4) by Paul Brackston (ebook)

OVERVIEW

This is the 4th book in this series (I hope the author writes #5) with cross-over characters from The Witches Daughter series. It combines both sets of characters seamlessly, but now The Witches Daughter series is a must-read for me!

For this novel, about a Time Spinner with psychometry, a writing desk is used as the "found thing". The storyline combines Time Spinners, Time Steppers, and Witches primarily in 1887 London and briefly in current times. 

Again, please note that I am being vague with many details about this book so as not to spoil the twists in this lovely book. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars

Writing: 4.5 stars

As always, the author wrote another lovely book. The descriptive language, dress, and customs are so well-researched and fascinating. 

Character development: 4.5 stars

The main characters are Xanthe (a time traveler), Liam (Xanthe's friend), and Lydia (another time traveler). 

The secondary characters are Harley (the local pub owner), Elizabeth (a witch), and Erasmus (a time stepper).

The tertiary characters are the assorted supporting characters in both times.   

Storyline:  4.5 stars

The storyline is about Xanthe traveling back in time to rescue Liam, who was kidnapped by Lydia. Since the period is unknown and possibly violent, Xanthe travels with Harley for support as she discovers what Lydia wants. Along the way, Xanthe makes friends with Elizabeth and Erasmus who help her locate Liam and learn about other evil happening.  

The main location was primarily London, England.    

Memorable/Informative:  4.5 stars

I loved learning about London in the late 1800s. It was a time of a minority of "haves" and a vast majority of "have-nots" lived in the huge industrial and port city of London. Interestingly familiar again?

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Perfect!!

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Excellent!  

STRONG recommend

BOOK INFORMATION

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (ebook)

The Garden of Promises and Lies (Found Things #3) by Paula Brackson

320 pages 

St. Martin's Press

Release date of 11/23/2021

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Paula Brackston

My Goodreads review

St. Martin's Press

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next audiobook is...

 An American Story by Wilmer Valderrama (audiobook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Wishful Drinking (audiobook)

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

This memoir was not what I expected at all. The story of her life itself is sad and complicated. Her parents were Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher who divorced due to his affair with Elizabeth Taylor. Both parents married and divorced spouses who had multiple divorces, spouses, and children. 

Carrie's memoir is a lot of fluff with a tell-all aspect about her parents. Some of the information shared was shocking and inappropriate to me. 

NOTE: Trigger warnings for mental illness and drug and alcohol abuse.

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars

Writing: 4.0 stars

Carrie writes well which would be expected by someone who already wrote four novels. 

Narration: 3.5 stars

As a professional actor, Carrie does a good job. But it was very overwhelming to listen to at times. 

Character Arc: 3.5 stars

The audiobook is told in no semblance of order. It is all over the place and very superficial. 

Memorable:  3.5 stars

Yes, Carrie's life was a mess starting with being born to two famous parents. Unfortunately, she also had bipolar disease and drug/alcohol disease which adversely affected her life. 

Entertaining:   3.5 stars

For most of the memoir, Carrie was over the top. At one point, Carrie said that she had too much personality for one person and not enough for two. She was too much personality for me. 

Book cover: 3.0 stars

Appropriate.      

Book title: 3.0 stars 

Sad, but true. 

RECOMMEND

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher

Simon and Schuster Audio

3 hours, 6 minutes

Release date of 12/11/2008

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Carrie Fisher

My Goodreads review

Simon and Schuster Audio

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next audiobook is...

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher (audiobook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

Amazon First Reads - November 2024

 

Hi, everyone!!

Did you know as part of your Amazon Prime Membership you receive a FREE monthly Kindle book available?? It is called Amazon First Reads!! You can find out more about it here: Amazon First Reads.

The Amazon First Reads email went out today! There is a free Kindle book and a free Kindle short story for November 2024. I am really enjoying the additional short story along with the free ebook!

My TWO choices for November 2024 are:

The Answer Is No by Fredrick Backman (short story)

White Mulberry by Rosa Kwon Easton (ebook)

So what Kindle book are you SELECTING?!? 

Also, as a reminder, remember to "buy" AND download the FREE books from Amazon! You can't read a book or a short story that hasn't been downloaded! Ask me how I know?!?

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜