Such Charming Liars by Karen M. McManus

Such Charming Liars by Karen M. McManus -- 389 pages

For all of Kat’s life, it’s just been her and her mother, Jamie—except for the forty-eight hours when Jamie was married and Kat had a stepbrother, Liam. That all ended in an epic divorce, and Kat and Liam haven’t spoken since.

Now Jamie is a jewel thief trying to go straight, but she has one last job—at billionaire Ross Sutherland’s birthday party. And Kat has figured out a way to tag along. What Kat doesn’t know, though, is that there are two surprise guests at the dazzling Sutherland compound that weekend. The last two people she wants to run into. Liam and his father—a serial scammer who has his sights set on Ross Sutherland’s youngest daughter.

Kat and Liam are on a collision course to disaster, and when a Sutherland dies, they realize they might actually be in the killer’s crosshairs themselves. Somehow Kat and Liam are the new targets, and they can’t trust anyone—except each other. Or can they? Because if there’s one thing both Kat and Liam know, it’s how to lie. They learned from the best.

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck - 130 pages

The Great Depression has hit hard.  Mary Alice must move down to live with Grandma Dowdel for the year as her parents have lost their apartment.  She will have to go to the small school in that hick town.  Will she survive this year?

I really enjoyed this book on audio.  The story was interesting as were the characters.  I can definitely see why it won the Newbery Award.  I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction or humorous stories.

 

Road Trip by Gary Paulsen

 

Road Trip by Gary Paulsen -- 114 pages

Ben has just been informed he's going on a road trip with his father -- a road trip he's not sure he wants to go on.  He wants to rescue the dog there travelling to save.  But he doesn't want to spend any time with his dad.  So invites along his thuggish friend Theo.  Then they're joined by a cranky mechanic who lends them his school bus for the trip.  Next they're joined by a waitress who reads aura.  This is going to be one memorable road trip.

I listened to this on audio.  I found the story to be interesting and fun.  I loved the parts that were narrated by Ben's current pet dog Atticus.  I would definitely recommend this book (or audio).

Frog and Toad Audio Collection by Arnold Lobel

Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel - 64 pages
Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel - 64 pages
Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel - 64 pages
Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel - 64 pages

Frog and Toad are best friends who share many everyday adventures including eating too many cookies, telling ghost stories, searching for a lost button, and more.

This was one of my favorite series of picture books as a young child.  I loved these books.  I really enjoyed this audio version of the stories as narrated by the author Arnold Lobel.  I would highly recommend this beginning reader series in both the print and audio formats.

 

Narwhal and Jelly: Books 1-5 by Ben Clanton

 

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton - 64 pages
Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt by Ben Clanton - 64 pages
Peanut Butter and Jelly by Ben Clanton - 64 pages
Narwhal's Otter Friend by Ben Clanton - 64 pages
Happy Narwhalidays by Ben Clanton - 68 pages

When they first meet, Jelly thinks Narwhal isn't real and Narwhal thinks Jelly is her new imaginary friend.  Both of them discover a best friend.

Over the course of five books, Narwhal and Jelly go through the same things many best friends experience -- jealousy of new friends, finding the perfect gift for the other, and pretending to be superheroes.

I listened to this graphic novel series for children on audio.  I wasn't sure how it would translate to audio but it worked really well.  The cast did a good job of incorporating sound effects to enhance the story.  I would definitely recommend this series.

The Witches by Roald Dahl

 

The Witches by Roald Dahl - 244 pages

Grandmama has told him everything there is to know about witches.  They hide in plain sight although they must wear disguises to cover their bald heads, clawed fingers, and squared-off feet with no toes.  They are also deadly dangerous to children.  It is their sole purpose to get rid of children.

While on vacation, he accidentally runs into the witches of England having their annual meeting.  At the meeting, the Grand High Witch shares her evil plan to turn all the children of England into mice.  Will he be able to stop them?


I listened to this on audio and enjoyed the story.  Like most Roald Dahl books it doesn't have a traditional happy ending but you are satisfied with how the story ends.  I would definitely recommend the book to most children.

Emlyn's Moon by Jenny Nimmo

Emlyn's Moon by Jenny Nimmo - 152 pages
The Magician Trilogy - book 2

Nia has been warned her whole life to stay away from the chapel at the edge of town.  Yet, she is intrigued by the boy who lives there - Emlyn.  Slowly, he becomes a friend.  When he is threatened, Nia must work with Gwyn to save his life.

This is the second book in the Magician Trilogy.  I listened to it on audio.  I liked this book even better than the first book.  The characters and story were more interesting to me.  The narration was really good and the music was not as distracting as in the first book.  Although that might have been that I just got used to it.

The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo

The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo - 146 pages
The Magician Trilogy - book 1

Gwyn is given five mysterious objects for his 9th birthday with the instruction from his grandmother to give them to the wind and see if he is a magician.  So he slowly starts feeding them to the wind, discovering magic and the ability to heal his family.

I listened to this on audio.  I really enjoyed the audio version of this story.  The story is interesting.  The narration is well done.  My only issue is that occasionally during high points in the story, quiet music plays in the background.  It is very distracting.

The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts by Richard Peck

The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts by Richard Peck - 190 pages

Russell Culver was hoping when the schoolteacher died that would mean the school would close and he wouldn't have to go anymore.  However, he's horrified to discover that instead his older sister Tansy will be the new schoolteacher.

I listened to this on audio.  I really liked the book.  The only complaint I had is that I wish it would have continued the story through the entire school year rather than ending in the winter.  I wanted the story to continue.

A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck

A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck - 176 pages

It's 1958 and there is a new family living next door to Mrs. Dowdel . . . a family that desperately needs her help whether they know it or not.  There's 12 year old Bob who is shy and being picked on by bullies.  There's 14 year old Phyllis who is obsessed with Elvis Presley.  There's 6 year old Ruth Ann who is looking for a larger than life role model.  And there are their parents, a young minister and his wife, who are adjusting to small town life.  As they go through the fall season from the start of school to Christmas, they'll realize just how special Mrs. Dowdel is and all the gifts she's given them.

This is a companion novel to Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Yonder.  I really enjoyed listening to these books on audio.  The narration is wonderful.  The stories are fun, lively, and interesting.  I would highly recommend these to anyone looking for a fun read or listen.

Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz

Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz - 495 pages

When Madeline was young she had a best friend -- a secret sister, Daphne.  Then a tragedy separated them.  Now, nearly 20 years later, they reconnect as the past comes back to haunt them.  Madeline and Daphne, along with security analysts Jack and Abe, work together to put the past where it belongs -- in the past.

I really enjoyed this audio book.  The narration, including Texas accents, was fun and drew you into the story.  I would definitely recommend this book.

Promise Not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz

Promise Not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz - 325 pages

Gallery owner Virginia Troy has spent years trying to put the nightmare of her cult childhood in the past.  But not it is coming back to haunt her and fellow childhood cult member Cabot Sutter.  A former cult member was murdered.  Sow it looks like someone is searching for the money that went missing when the cult imploded and they think Virginia is the key to finding that money.

This is the sequel to When All the Girls Have Gone.  I listened to this on audio and enjoyed it.  The story was interesting and the narrator did a good job of telling the story.

The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare

The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare & Wesley Chu - 350 pages

The story of Magnus Bane and Alex Lightwood's vacation to Europe.  Unfortunately, it is interrupted by an evil demonic cult bent on revenge against Magnus.

I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed it.  Only one issue was one of production values -- sometimes the narrator's voice got so soft that you couldn't hear.

The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts

The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts - 324 pages
The Inn Boonsboro Trilogy #3

Hope loves her new job as the innkeeper for Inn Boonsboro.  She loves being in the same town as her best friends.  The one cloud is Ryder.  They just strike each other the wrong way . . . until they don't.  Now they're navigating a relationship when neither one of them really wants one.

This is the final book in The Inn Boonsboro trilogy by Nora Roberts.  I enjoyed listening to this story on audio.  A definite must read for Nora Roberts fans.

The Next Always by Nora Roberts

The Next Always by Nora Roberts - 489 pages
The Inn Boonsboro Trilogy #1

Beckett Montgomery has had a crush on Claire Bennett since high school.  He missed his chance before as she married her high school sweetheart and moved away.  Now she's back, widowed with three young sons.  He's fought these feelings for several years when the ghost in the inn they are rehabbing steps in and gets them together.

This is the first book in the Inn Boonsboro trilogy.  I actually listened to the second book before this by accident.  I am enjoying this series and have just started on book three.

Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts by Roald Dahl

Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts by Roald Dahl - 81 pages

I listened to the audio version of these two books.  They are fairy tales retold in rhyme.  Each fairy tale has been rewritten to focus on a new character or to point out how awful the actions of the various characters are.  I enjoyed this audio and would recommend it for most kids.

My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories edited by Stephanie Perkins

My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories edited by Stephanie Perkins - 321 pages

This is a compilation of twelve short Christmas stories.  I listened to this on audio to get into the holiday mood.  I definitely enjoyed some of the stories more than others.  I really liked "The Lady and the Fox" by Kelly Link, "Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus" by Myra McEntire, "Star of Bethlehem" by Ally Carter, and "The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor.  The only story I really didn't like was "Angels in the Snow" by Matt de la Pena and I think that had more to do with the narrator than the story.  I would definitely recommend this to someone wanting Christmas stories.

Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb

Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb - 385 pages

Eve Dallas is up against two sociopaths who are targeting family men into becoming suicide bombers to protect their families.  What makes it even more hideous is that the culprits are doing it to make a profit.  Will she catch them before they strike again?

I listened to this on audio.  It was a great addition to the series.  It balanced the main mystery story with the subplot about Oscars really well.  I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.

The Mr. Men Collection by Roger Hargreaves

The Mr. Men Collection by Roger Hargreaves - 320 pages
The Little Miss Collection by Roger Hargreaves - 320 pages

Thes audio collections each contain 10 of the Mr. Men and the Little Miss picture books.  I remember this books fondly from when I was a kid so I was excited to listen to the audio collections.  I'm amazed that I actually still remember some of the stories after all this time.  I found them fun to listen to.  They were also wonderfully narrated by Jim Dale. 

Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts

Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts - 472 pages

Rowan Tripp and Gulliver Curry are smoke jumpers dealing with murder, arson, and sabotage.

I listened to the audio version of this book.  I enjoyed it.  The romance and mystery aspects were well integrated into the story.  The characters were also intriguing and fun to "read".