Why I Now Love Audiobooks and Can't Live Without Them

I haven't done much in the world of opinion posts the last two years. I think I focused more on challenges and reviews. I went back recently and re-read some of my opinion posts though and decided to write a new one about audiobooks. In 2022 I wrote one on Why I Dislike Audiobooks. Boy has life changed! Now I absolutely LOVE them! I still stand by my belief that reading is a harder skill than listening but have really changed my tune about audiobooks being worth my time. So here is my follow up opinion post listing five reasons I have grown to love them.

1. Time Savers- Life can get pretty crazy. I am a stickler for cleaning my house often and I'd love to be able to do that and also sit down and read every day. But there just isn't enough time to always do that. I have found audiobooks let me do both and that makes me happy. I get so much accomplished while listening to a great story. I absolutely love podcasts but sometimes I want to get into a book too.

2. Easier to find- I have found many audiobooks that I can't get in written form. Sometimes this is especially true with books from the UK. On Libby and Hoopla it seems like I find more audiobooks (Agatha Christie is one author) and so I go with them because I just don't want to wait or pay for the actual Kindle book. I end up enjoying it either way!

3. Interesting narration- I used to feel completely the opposite for this one. I have come to tolerate and now even enjoy the narration in audiobooks. It took awhile to get there as I found it kind of cheesy in the beginning. But now I appreciate the inflection in the narrator's voice and changes in the pacing. It makes the story fun if you just go with it.

4. Car Rides-  I never considered how much time I'd spend in the car as my teens became little mini adults with their crazy schedules of activities. Thank goodness  both of my boys drive as of this year but these last two years got me into audiobooks because I was in the car driving more than ever before. 

5. Escapism- This sounds worse than I mean it but.....sometimes it's nice to just put in my Air Pods and be left alone to immerse myself in a good story. My husband and boys are great readers...they just don't read. Ugh, drives me crazy! But they often don't appreciate how I can be reading and into a story and don't want to be interrupted. You know how this is fellow book lovers.

People think because you aren't talking you aren't doing anything. When I'm listening to a book they are more likely to leave me in peace. 

So that is why I've changed my mind about audiobooks. I can admit when I'm wrong and grow....lol.....do you love audiobooks? Or do you prefer to read only? 

Can't Wait Wednesday: A Midwinter Murder by Verity Bright (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 20)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, A Midwinter Murder, by Verity Bright. I am so behind in this series. I love it and this is already book 20. I want to continue reading them in order so even though I'd love to dive into this one now for the season, I'll wait. But I'm happy to promote it. Happy Reading this week. I hope you've found something you can't wait for!

Historical Cozy Mysteries

December 4, 2024

Description courtesy of GoodReads:

Winter 1924. When Lady Eleanor Swift unexpectedly finds herself a guest of the reclusive Duke of Auldwyke, she’s determined to enjoy Christmas with all the trimmings at his sprawling manor house. And that includes kisses under the mistletoe and cozying up by the fire with her fiancé, dashing detective Hugh Seldon.

Instead, the season of goodwill turns frosty as she finds the Duke’s studious secretary, Mr Porritt, dead in the storeroom. Clasped in his chilly hand is a golden pendant in the shape of a rose. The Duke denies ever having seen the necklace before. But Eleanor can see the lies in his eyes… Did it belong to his mysteriously absent wife?

Hugh and Eleanor must ditch relaxing with hot cocoa in favour of interviewing the Duke’s holiday guests. Every suspect has a secret they’d kill to keep: the socialite with the false name, the Sir with a questionable inheritance and the husband hiding a crack in his marriage.

As the blizzard outside rages, Auldwyke Hall becomes cut off. Trapped by the snow, Eleanor and Hugh must skate around the increasingly secretive Duke to unwrap the identity of the killer. But does the answer to the secretary’s murder lie with a ghost of Christmas past? And when an attempt is made on the Duke’s life too, they realise the killer is closer than they think…

Top Ten Tuesday: December Freebie- Books I Didn't Get To This Year (but wished I had)

 

This week's Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl is a December freebie topic. I decided to list books I wished I'd read but hadn't gotten to this year. It is possible I will get to some of them before January 1st but not likely. December is crazy when you are a teacher and a mother and I already have several books ahead of these now that I want to finish.  I think this is why I love blogging and reading others' blogs. We all have enormous piles of books we can't possibly finish. And that makes me feel semi-normal, lol. Happy Reading everyone...here's to new goals for 2025.

 

(No links....no time! But at least you can compare :) Let me know if you think one is worth adding to my current December 2024 list.         

1. The Seeker by S. G. MacLean

2. What Angels Fear by C. S. Harris

3. Death Down the Aisle (Lady Eleanor Swift Mysteries) by Verity Bright

4. The Hundred Years War by Hourly History Authors

5. Philippa of Hainault by Kathryn Warner

6. The Last Camel Died at Noon by Elizabeth Peters

7. A Murder is Announced by Agatha Chrisite

8. The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie

9. This Side of Murder by Anna Lee Huber

10. Christmas in Nuala (Inspector de Silva Mysteries) by Harriet Steel 

Stacking the Shelves #42

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Enjoy your reading this week!

Borrowed from Libby (there is a wait though!)

This story takes place during the time of Queen Esther. I have not read anything by this author but it was on sale this week and looked interesting. I don't read a lot of Christian fiction but Queen Esther has always fascinated me and this author seems to have several good biblical historical fiction books that are best sellers. This story revolves around two fictional characters in Queen Esther's court who are swept up in the politics of the time concerning the Jewish people. 

Bought on Kindle for $2.50 with my credits

I like this author because she writes historical fiction about Scotland and people I generally know very little about. I wish I had time to get through every book I'm interested in because I forget about her books sometimes and need to get back to them! This is the first in her series about William the Bold. He was a Scottish nobleman and soldier during the 13th century in the service of Sir John Stewart. I am always wanting to know more about the Scots and the French because they factor so much into English history. Her books are a great place to go for the lesser known Scots. 

Free with Kindle Unlimited Subscription

The latest in Benedict Brown's Lord Edgington Investigates cozy mystery series. It is a stand alone in that I can read it for Christmas but not be subject to spoilers for the previous books I haven't read. I like that. All his Christmas books follow this pattern. I am currently reading the first book in the series and don't want to know anything to give away the mysteries. So far I am enjoying this series a lot with its unique main characters and settings. 

Third Girl by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot Book 35) Read Christie Selection November 2024

 

Publication Date:

November 1966

Length:

256 pages

Book Description:

(goodreads)

Three young women share a London flat. The first is a coolly efficient secretary. The second is an artist. The third interrupts Hercule Poirot’s breakfast confessing that she is a murderer—and then promptly disappears. Slowly, Poirot learns of the rumors surrounding the mysterious third girl, her family, and her disappearance. Yet hard evidence is needed before the great detective can pronounce her guilty, innocent, or insane.

My Thoughts:

This was one of my favorite of the Hercule Poirot books so far. I liked that he was involved from the beginning (just like in the show) and remained a main character throughout. Normally he comes in during the second part after the crime is established. I also loved the mystery behind Norma and her "friends." There was a creepy vibe from the start that made it suspenseful. 

Norma was abandoned by her father when she was young and has idealized him. This makes her desperate to hang onto the image she has created in her mind. She is a fragile personality and Christie has a lot of analyzing of her mind and motives for things she does related to her childhood. I think this was common for this era of the 1960's when psychology was really getting its start in the mainstream and acceptability. This seems to be a running theme throughout a lot of her later books especially. I like this and think it is interesting how she weaves it throughout a lot of her character's thoughts. 

I also enjoyed the little rabbit trails she led me on with regards to the secondary  characters and their appearing to be sinister. Not wanting to give away any spoilers, it is clear the reader is supposed to suspect many who turn out not to be the antagonist. I say this because it is hard to review a book when you are not sure when starting out to read it whether or not an actual crime has been committed. So suffice it to say you will spend most of the book unsure what exactly has occurred because Norma is not sure either. 

When Poirot begins his investigation, he is intrigued by her inability to remember what she thinks she did and a bit protective of Norma in that he isn't so sure her thoughts match up with her actions. As he starts to delve into her past I liked the way he gives her a chance and wants to genuinely help her. He seems a little more human to me in this book and not quite as stuffy and full of himself. A refreshing change from his personality sometimes. 

Norma has a love interest, David, who may or may not be using her and because of her vulnerable nature it is easy to suspect him of ulterior motives. When Norma is nearly hit by a speeding vehicle and then disappears things turn in his direction as well. Norma's roommates (the first and second girls) are not much help either. 

This wasn't as much a typical book for Christie the way it unfolded but I really enjoyed it. It definitely kept me guessing.....both as to whether something bad had happened, why, and how. 

,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving 2024

Just taking a moment to say Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans. We have so much to be grateful for this year. It's my first major holiday without my sweet Father who lost his battle with a brain tumor this June. It will be hard for my family but we have so much to celebrate. He wouldn't want us to be down. 

I hope all my fellow readers and bloggers have a wonderful day. Looking forward to 2025, reading everyone's content and getting new ideas. You are all my inspiration and even if I don't always comment I visit all my favorite blogs each week. What a wonderful hobby this has become that I can't live without. So thankful for this book blogging community :) 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Emerald Threads by Lynn Morrison, Anne Radcliffe (Book Four of The Crown Jewels Regency Mysteries)

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm featuring The Emerald Threads by Lynn Morrison and Anne Radcliffe. This author (Morrison) has been working hard on her books and getting them promoted and has a fun Faceboook group I joined awhile back. This is her fourth book in this series and I've read some of her other series, Dora and Rex.  

It sounds a bit like a Jane Austen meets a mystery type of book It has a gorgeous cover and looks like a fun cozy mystery! Happy reading this week everyone!

Historical Mysteries

December 1, 2024

Description courtesy of GoodReads:

Northumberland, 1813: Lord Roland and Lady Grace arrive in Northumberland expecting to celebrate the Christmas season. Instead, they are drawn into a frantic search for a group of local children who have disappeared overnight.
Roland’s grandfather urges them to leave the matter to the townspeople, but when they learn this is just the latest in a string of so-called runaways, they suspect something far more sinister is afoot.  With determination and compassion, Roland and Grace work to weave together the fragile threads of trust between them and the community. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they uncover a disturbing pattern that hints at a web of deception.
Just when they believe they are close to unmasking the culprit, someone they hold dear is taken in the dead of night.

Stacking the Shelves #41

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Enjoy your reading this week!

On sale this week for Kindle: $1.99 (I spent zero with my digital points)

I have three books now by this author. The are hard to get for a good price in the States so when they go on sale I buy them. Apparently I need to get started reading them! This book is set in 1485 just as Richard III takes the throne. It follows the story of Grace Plantagenet, illegitimate daughter of Edward IV and therefore a half sister of the Princes in the Tower. She is caught up in the sordid events of the time along with the Perkin Warbeck scandal, the boy claiming to be one of her half brothers. It looks interesting and these covers are beautiful!

Borrowed from Libby: Free (with membership each year of $50)

I had no idea this author had written mysteries, much less a Christmas one. It looks like a crime fiction, Agatha Christie type story and I know Heyer is a wonderful writer so it should be good. I'm hoping to read it before Christmas but my TBR pile is enormous right now. If you've read it let me know if you liked it!

Amazon Kindle Purchase:  (Free with digital points)

I have several books by this author and this is book one in his Marius Quinn mystery series. There are so many cozy mysteries set during the 1920's with female leads and these books have a male one. So I want to read them for a change. He has at least two sets of series that I know of and it's just unusual for a male author with a male lead for these types of books. Getting book one on sale is always a plus too. 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Death Takes the Lead by Rosemary Simpson (Gilded Age Mystery Book 9)

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, I'm  featuring Death Takes the Lead by Rosemary Simpson. I love mysteries set in the Gilded Age and this author is very popular. I haven't read any of her books yet but would like to. I am happy to promote her new book! Happy reading ya'll :) 

November 26, 2024

Historical Mysteries

Description courtesy of GoodReads:

APRIL 1891: Prudence MacKenzie is delighted to attend a riveting rehearsal of Waif of the Highlands with her dear friend, Lydia Truitt, whose cousin, Septimus Ward, stars in the play. But the drama continues after the curtain falls, as the women overhear a ferocious argument between Septimus and the play’s famous playwright-director, Barrett Hughes.

When confronted about the dispute, Septimus reveals that he actually wrote the script, but allowed Hughes to claim authorship in return for casting Septimus’s paramour, Flora Campbell, in the lead. Septimus has come to regret the agreement and vows to reclaim authorship, even if it means the play never opens. But, days later, Prudence and Geoffrey are urgently summoned to Septimus’s boarding house, where the thespian lays dying in Lydia’s arms.

Lydia believes her cousin’s death is no accident and wants Hunter and MacKenzie Investigative Law to look into the matter, going so far as to help Prudence and Flora secure employment undercover in the play’s wardrobe department. At first, Hughes’s determination to keep the production running seems admirable, but his motives are soon called into question as Prudence hears whispers backstage about his notorious predatory behavior with young women. And when another body turns up at the theatre, it’s clear that someone is targeting the play and its company—but why?

Prudence and Geoffrey must improvise as they tread into an unfamiliar world where deceit is cultivated for entertainment and deception is celebrated as talent, to expose a darkness lurking behind the glittering stage lights. . .

Top Ten Tuesday: Oldest Published Books on my To Be Read List (By Year)

 

This week's Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl is books on your to be read pile that have the oldest publication dates. What a unique topic! I had fun going into my Kindle and looking on my bookshelf to see what I had. It was not what I'd expected and I'm finding I don't have as much interest in all of them as I did when they were purchased. 

My TBR pile is enormous at this point. I know I'm not alone.  Asking for ten TBR books is impossible with a true book lover as we have a million to sift through. Here is my list as close as I could get (no links or covers due to limited time, just the list for now). I am excited to read other bloggers' lists to compare and see what new titles look interesting!

1. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen 1818

2. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 1844

3. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell 1854

4. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 1873

5. The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart- 1908

6. The Cannon in Residence by Victor Whitechurch 1911

7. The Witness for the Defense by A.E.W. Mason 1914

8. Midwinter Murders by Agatha Christie 1920

9. The Spiral Staircase by Ethel Lina White 1933

10. The Sancturary Sparrow by Ellis Peters 1983

I am sure there are a few more classics and classic mysteries that fell into the list and I missed them but I tried! Happy Reading ya'll :)