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That's What I'm Talking About

I generally review romance, paranormal and urban fantasy. I tend to pick review books that I want to read, so generally my reviews will be positive. I always give my honest opinion: good, bad, and indifferent. 

 

Note: on my blog I use a letter grading system. I've listed the ratings below. For sites with stars, I have listed the equivalent rating. If I didn't finish the book, I will not rate it with stars.

 

A+  Personal Favorite (5 stars)
A    Loved It (4.5 or 5 stars)
A-   Enjoyed A Lot (4 or 4.5 stars)
B+  Liked It A Lot (4 stars)
B    Liked It -- Recommend (4 stars)
B-   Liked It -- But I had a few small issues (3 or 3.5 stars)
C+  Liked It -- But I had issues (3 or 3.5 stars)
C    Finished It -- Liked some, didn't like some (3 stars)
C-   Finished It -- Liked a little, didn't like a lot (2 or 2.5 stars)
D    Not A Big Fan (2 stars)
E    Don’t Waste Your Time (1 star)
----
TW: Reading this book was like watching a Train Wreck
DNF: Did Not Finish

 

updated July 9, 2015

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Operation: Endgame (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Book 6) (English Edition)
Philippa Ballantine, Jeanne H. Ballantine, William Morris
Just You and Me (A Contemporary Romance Collection)
Fiona Miers, Caitlyn Lynch, Liz Durano, Deelylah Mullin, Cate Farren, Jacquie Biggar, Vicki Batman, Kate Richards, Brenna Zinn, Dalton Diaz, Tierney O'Malley, Desiree Holt, Nicole Morgan, Ashlyn Chase
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Favorite books

Audiobook Review: The Mark of the Tala by Jeffe Kennedy

6:43 am 11 April 2015
The Mark of the Tala: The Twelve Kingdoms, Book 1 - Jeffe Kennedy, Cris Dukehart
Andi never felt like she fit in. She is not as beautiful and kind as her younger sister Amelia, nor as cunning and intelligent as her older sister and heir to the throne, Ursula. She takes refuge in riding her horse far and wide to escape the stares at court and hide from the pity she sees in their eyes. Then everything changes the day she meets a dark stranger in a far away meadow. With one kiss Rayfe unravels Andi's life, exposing all that she holds kind and true to be a lie. 
 
Right from the beginning, The Mark of the Tala grabbed my attention and I found myself fully entangled in its unique mythology and fascinating tale. I loved that the story was shared solely from the point of view of Andromeda, aka Andi, the middle daughter of High King Uorsin. Through her eyes, heart, and mind, we are witness to her transformation from the least favored daughter to a mighty woman. At first I was curious to find out more about her, and then I was on edge as her destiny unfolded.
 
As her promised betrothed, Rayfe is a terrifying enigma to Andi. She is both scared of yet drawn to his darkness. I adore how Rayfe and Andi grow and change both individually and as a pair. While his motives are selfish, he too learns to love. The pair have great chemistry, and I felt their relationship developed at a fitting pace. The mystery of the Tala people is fascinating and exciting. 
 
Generally, the narration by Cris Dukehart is well-suited to the feel of the story. She keeps a prim and proper edge to both the dialogue and narration, which is appropriate considering the period and setting of the tale. I preferred her female voices, especially those of Andi and her sisters, but I found her performance of Rayfe and his advisor a bit off. However, in time I grew used to Rayfe’s voice and eventually even liked it.
 
Overall, The Mark of the Tala is a wonderful fantasy romance. Ms. Kennedy has created an interesting mythology in a wonderful world. I enjoyed Andi's progression from invisible and ignored middle daughter to confident and in control woman. Although the book is its own story, there is much left to tell, and there are some major issues that need to be resolved. I was completely wrapped up in Andi's journey, and as she came to love Rayfe, so did I. I look forward to reading the continuing tales of the Twelve Kingdoms.
 
Story: A-  Enjoyed A Lot
Narration: B, Liked It

 

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