One September day in 1914, a young J.R.R. Tolkien, in his final undergraduate year at Oxford, came across an Old English advent poem called “Christ A.” Part of it reads, “Éalá Éarendel engla beorhtast/ofer middangeard monnum sended,” which he later rendered: “Hail Éarendel, brightest of angels/above the middle-earth sent unto men!” Safe in his aunt’s […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/01/24/the-lore-of-the-rings/
Ghost of a Chance, the third novel in the Many Travails of John Smith by Chris Tullbane, delivered another snarky, suspenseful tale in this urban fantasy series narrated by Joel Richards. John Smith searches for missing ghosts and gets in trouble with the vampire queen.
Ghost of a Chance
by Chris Tullbane
Series: The Many Travails of John Smith #3
Narrator: Joel Richards
Length: 13 hours 40 minutes
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.5x
“Broken-Neck spat forth a stream of Spanish which no doubt contained disparaging comments about my intelligence. Or my appearance. Or my fashion sense. The only Spanish words I knew were the expletives my friend Mike had taught me. Even so, I recognized insults when I heard them.”
The White Ladies of San Diego are one of the city’s supernatural powers, organized and led by Graciela. But now their leader is missing, and the Ladies have hired John Smith, supernatural mediator and sometimes-private-investigator, to find her. Which raises some questions: How do you track down a ghost? What if she doesn’t want to be found? And if foul play was involved in her disappearance like the Ladies believe, how exactly? It’s not like ghosts can be kidnapped… right?
John doesn’t have any answers. As usual. He also doesn’t have much time. The White Ladies aren’t known for their patience, and if Graciela can’t be found soon, he might just find himself permanently retired.
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I am having a blast with this series and am excited to see the next audio in the series releasing with Tantor Audio. John is still living in his parents’ basement and finds he has competition in the mediator business. He has a fresh case involving missing ghosts and is ankle deep in trouble with the vampire queen.
Twists, romance, powers and a fantastic mystery kept me listening. We get snark, as this motley crew gathers around John to give aid. John is building ties in the supernatural world, including an unexpected protector.
The world building is stellar, and each audiobook has been more impressive than its predecessor. Fans of urban fantasy, paranormal tales and private investigators will want to grab the series. As with most UF, it is best to listen in order of release.
The tale can get dark and gritty. John is tortured and what happens with the vampire queen is twisted. John hasn’t quite mastered the art of diplomacy, or maybe he likes to call out bullshit. Either way, it gets him in trouble. He did a splendid job with the werewolves, though.
For me, this was the best in the series. The tone is different, darker and suspenseful, while still having wonderful humor, awkward moments and even some swoons. We saw character growth from John and it ended in such a way that I am excited to listen to more.
Joel Richards gives voice to these characters and captures their personalities, as well as the overall tone of the story. The story/series lends itself perfectly to audio.
Amazon* | Audible
*Kindle Unlimited
Chris Tullbane began as a gleam in someone’s eye, but birth and childhood were quick to follow. He’s been fortunate enough to live in Spain, Germany, and all over the United States of America, and is busy planning a tour of the distilleries of Scotland. He currently lives in Nevada with his angelic wife and ever-expanding whisky collection and occasionally ventures outside to peer upwards, mutter to himself about ‘day stars’, and then scurry back into the house. Chris is the author of two series; The Murder of Crows and The Many Travails of John Smith, as well as a collection of novelettes and stand-alone novels, Stories from a Post-Break World, which are set in the world of The Murder of Crows.
Joel Richards was the kid who did crazy things just to have a good story to tell afterward. On deciding to make his affection his profession, he received a BFA in acting and a BA in English from the University of Utah, and later an MA in oral storytelling from East Tennessee State University. He has narrated over 150 audiobooks (fiction and nonfiction) and continues to tell his original stories to live audiences.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/01/ghost-of-a-chance-by-chris-tullbane.html
Warriors of Hallan by Evi Photopoulos follows a group of people who want to change their lives for the better in the 1600s. We have Roby Jones, the London street urchin who sets out on the seas hoping to make a better life; there’s his friend Nora Red, a prostitute who wants to get out of the slums, and Imamu from the African island of Mozambique, who is constantly trying to stay ahead of soldiers wanting to make him a slave. Finally, there’s Craig Norton from a wealthy business family who would love nothing more than to run away to the sea. Their stories intertwined as happenstance and piracy bring them together. Will they find the happiness they seek, or will their less-than-reputable activities get them killed? Equally as important, who are the shady figures who seem to be trying to fulfill a darker purpose?
I have to say off the bat, this was a beautifully written book. Photopoulos captures the hunger and grime of London’s poorer sections in this time period. She also does justice to the hardships of a life at sea and the terror and loss in trying to evade being enslaved. Each character was introduced and woven perfectly into this tapestry, each adding a fresh element to the tale. I love how a hero who was already towing the edge of good and bad fully tips to the dark side, and you go from rooting for him to loathing him. It’s an exciting turnaround.
One issue I had with the book is the author’s frequent foreshadowing right before said event takes away the surprise elements of the story. I felt like I kept getting spoiled for a plot twist. I also felt that dates were awkwardly inserted into the paragraph when they could have just labeled it at the head of the section.
Warriors of Hallan by Evi Photopoulos is a riveting high-seas adventure with a little hint of fantastical; I highly recommend this book. There’s triumph, pain, loss, and even a little romance to whet your literary appetite.
Pages: 309 | ASIN : B0BLL3FTJ3
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/24/warriors-of-hallan/
“You live, and you learn” is an idiom we have all heard often, and those lessons can come at a disproportionately high cost when it comes to relationships. Learning to navigate the roads of life and love can be difficult, but author Melissa Owens has resolved to keep moving up despite past mistakes. A heartbreak, however painful, can always be an opportunity to discover a new truth, whether it be about yourself or the world around you, and it should never be viewed as the end of the world regardless of its hurt.
A Black Woman’s Journey: Memoirs Of Love, Pain Loss, Comfort, and Forgiveness is Melissa’s personal travels through relationships as she tries her best to become more than her childhood and inopportune beginnings. She begins by acknowledging the societal influences that lead women of color toward a life of unfilled and unrequited love, then immediately jumps into her own story with no hesitation.
Pulling no punches, Owens unflinchingly talks about her teen pregnancy, her first genuinely satisfying sexual experience. In these situations, she’d thought she’d found “the one” and every bit of good, bad, and ugly in between. It’s a fast-paced memoir that shows the power of perseverance and learning to recognize your own needs. Owens never shies away from her own flaws, fleshing them out as naturally and objectively as if she were talking about anyone else. This story could easily be received as a cautionary tale, but at its heart, it is more optimistic than that, telling others to live a life without regrets. Owens detailed an immense amount of pain and heartbreak, all at a relatively young age, but her message is always to focus on yourself and move on. Personal accountability plays heavily into her story to a refreshing degree.
I enjoyed A Black Woman’s Journey as it was a quick read and didn’t get into much depth with any of the encounters. However, it was an interesting insight into the resilience that is necessary for survival sometimes, whether it’s within the world of dating or just life in general. In addition, Owens writes with a candor that makes it seem as if she were beside you, simply having a conversation, which makes it a much more personal read.
Pages: 72 | ASIN : B0BD5F8L6D
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/24/a-black-womans-journey/
Jonty’s parents are going away on a trip without him, so he gets to spend the summer with his Grandma Gladys. He is unsure about spending the summer with his grandma and is worried about missing his parents. So his parents drop him off with his suitcase of clothes and a bag of electronic toys for entertainment. Grandma Gladys promptly puts the electronics away in the closet, saying he won’t need them for the stay, but Jonty is not so sure. What ends up happening is a magical summer vacation full of new and old experiences and making memories that he will never forget.
The Best Summer Guest by Tuula Pere and illustrated by Milena Radeva is a beautifully written and simple story that left me with a feeling of nostalgia and reminiscing about my summer vacations with my grandparents. In an age where children are constantly looking for the next new shiny thing or the latest video craze, Tuula Pere’s story about simple pleasures like tossing pine cones, learning to tie knots, and baking treats will show children there is still magic and wonder in the world. The fun of swimming in a lake and fishing, or enjoying the morning air as you wake up and start the day, is portrayed with wonder and a beauty that is forgotten today.
Beyond the pleasures of enjoying the simplicity in life is the message of family. Spending time and appreciating relatives while they are with you is essential. Jonty goes from being unsure of spending time with his Grandmother to realizing how valuable this time is and how much he loves this chance to be with her at the lake cottage.
The Best Summer Guest is a heartwarming children’s book about family, simple pleasures in life, and appreciating the things we have. The whimsical drawing adds to the warm feelings the message of the book imparts. This is a beautiful book for families to have and pass through the generations, a reminder to cherish our times together.
Pages: 22 | ASIN : B07HYCYSS3
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/24/the-best-summer-guest/
Winter is not just cold air and getting dark earlier. Winter is a time of wonder and exploration. A snow-covered forest is perfect for going out and hunting animal tracks and learning about nature. Winter in the Forest: A Seasons in the Forest Book, written and illustrated by Christine Copeland, is a wonderfully put-together field guild-style book for children three to eight years old. From bunnies, birds, deer, coyotes, and even bears, children will see how some animals are active all winter, some thrive in the dark, and others prefer to be dormant and rest the cold weather away.
Children and adults will enjoy reading this picture book with a lyrical narrative and awe-inspiring illustrations. The artwork looks like an oil painting, and the scenes come to life, drawing readers to the beauty of this winter world. Included are detailed drawings of different animal tracks that children can use to identify tracks they find in the wilderness. Everything is presented in a factual but age-appropriate manner so that even preschool-age children can understand and grasp the concepts that are shared.
Winter in the Forest: A Seasons in the Forest Book is a fascinating and educational children’s book that teaches about how some of the forest animals spend the winter season. Teachers will love having this to talk to students about changing seasons and introduce science concepts to young learners. From interesting facts to beautiful artwork, Christine Copeland has created a book that will be cherished for years to come and a welcome addition to any school or home library.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0BPN4QQRC
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/24/winter-in-the-forest/
Bill is an energetic character with a strong will and some cool rhymes. This lively children’s book follows Bill throughout his day as he tells readers how important it is to have a strong will, follow your heart, and never quit. This comes through with a host of other life lessons and great advice that Bill conveys through simple rhymes that children will enjoy singing.
This is an inspirational book with motivational messages and fantastic advice on nearly every page. Bill exudes cool. Readers will be able to relate to Bill in many ways. I was surprised by how much the author was able to fit into such a short book. Most children’s books focus on one ore two messages, but there is a lot of different things kids can learn from Bill in this book. There is even a ‘Reflection Time’ section at the end with questions that will inspire conversation between adults and children.
The vibrant graphic artwork will certainly capture readers attention, especially young children as their parent reads this story to them. I felt like this book should come with its own music so that it could be played while kids and parents sing the rhymes with Bill because they are lyrical and flow well. I enjoyed the diverse cast of characters in the book, which promotes diversity and inclusion, and I was very happy to see Bill helping his friends in the story as well. Which is yet another important lesson Bill teaches readers.
Bill with a Will is a fantastically educational rhyming book that will inspire and motivate young kids.
Pages: 25 | ASIN: B0BRNXJB1J
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/24/bill-with-a-will/