The Chinese Murder of Edward Watts ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours BONUS Post & Giveaway!

 

THE CHINESE MURDER

OF EDWARD WATTS

Covey Jencks Mystery, #3

By Shelton L. Williams

Publish Date: December 8th, 2020
Pages: 233 pages
Categories: Mystery / Humor

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Covey and JayJay travel to China and then return home to deal with shady characters, spies, gangsters, and other tough customers. In an exciting last act, they solve a murder most foul.

PURCHASE LINKS: 
Amazon | Audible

 

 

HALL WAYS BLOG: Audio / Print Combo Mini-Review: 

YES! Narrator Dave Clark NAILED it -- his is my favorite of the audio narrations yet. His drawl is the perfect complement to the fabulously-Texas story. 

This book focused less on the Covey/JayJay relationship and more on the mysteries. Mysteries! Plural! It starts with one, and they then multiply with rapidity like West Texas jackrabbits. 

Fabulously quirky and funny story -- and series. (My other series reviews: Covey Jencks, Covey and JayJay Get Educated.)

  

Shelton L. Williams (Shelly) is founder and president of the Osgood Center for International Studies in Washington, DC. He holds a PhD from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and he taught for nearly 40 years at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. He has served in the US Government on four occasions, and he has written books and articles on nuclear proliferation. In 2004 he began a new career of writing books on crime and society. Those books are Washed in the Blood, Summer of 66, and now the three books in the Covey Jencks series. All firmly prove that he is still a Texan at heart. 

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THREE WINNERS

First, signed copies of all three Covey books. 

Second, audio books of books 2 & 3. 

Third, Kindle copies of all three books. 

(US Only. Ends midnight, CDT, May 21, 2021.) 

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5/11/21	Audio Review	That's What She's Reading
5/11/21	BONUS Promo	LSBBT Blog
5/12/21	Review	Julia Picks 1
5/12/21	BONUS Promo	Hall Ways Blog
5/13/21	Excerpt	It's Not All Gravy
5/14/21	Audio Review	Forgotten Winds
5/15/21	Audio Clip	StoreyBook Reviews
5/16/21	Scrapbook Page	All the Ups and Downs
5/17/21	Review	Librariel Book Adventures
5/18/21	Character Interview	Missus Gonzo
5/19/21	Audio Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
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The Big Inch ~ Lone Star Book Blog Tours Audio Book Review, Audio Clip, & Giveaway!

THE BIG INCH

Misfits and Millionaires #1

by

KIMBERLY FISH
Narrated by Sydney Young

  
Genre: Historical Fiction / Romance / WWII Spies 
Publisher: Fish Tales Publishing

Date of Publication: August 1, 2018

Length: 10 hours, 22 minutes

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Fans of Pam Jenoff, Susan Elia MacNeal, and Kate Quinn will want to read the first book in a sparkling WWII historical fiction series, The Big Inch. Lane Mercer is a spy recovering from a disastrous mission in France when she’s assigned to protect the interests of the new federal project sending American oil to the Allies. Thrown into the high-stakes world of Texas oilmen, she’s inventing maneuvers on the fly to outwit would be counter-intelligence and Fascist sympathizers. Complicating her mission is a handsome con-artist who manages to be under her feet at the most inopportune times. Trapped between trusting her gut or trusting her informers, Lane has to learn to navigate a town that is laced with more intrigue than she’d ever have guessed, and she soon discovers that the life she might have to save. . .is her own.

Kimberly Fish’s well-researched writing drops readers into the colorful world of the American home front known so well to those who lived alongside the Greatest Generation. Buy The Big Inch today to begin this exciting first novel in a WWII series set in Texas.

PRAISE FOR THE BIG INCH: 

“Narrator Makes Book Exciting!” 

-- 5 Stars Review on Audible

“Kimberly Fish’s writing style snatched me out of my easy chair.” 

-- Vickie Phelps, author of Moved, Left No Address

“Kimberly Fish has a gift for combining conflict, emotion, and characterization to create a compelling story.” 

-- Louis Gouge, author of Love Inspired Historical Four Star Ranch series

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◆ Amazon ◆ Audible ◆

HALL WAYS REVIEW: Audio book review. 4.5 Stars. I rarely re-read books. True, it’s mostly a matter of time constraints and finding the time to read a book even once, but it’s also a matter of been there, done that. No matter how much I enjoy a story, I mostly don’t feel the need to re-visit it. Plus, there’s always a stack of new temptations waiting for me in my ever-toppling to-be-read pile. But then, The Big Inch was released as an audio book.  Since I’d reviewed the print format of The Big Inch (a fan-girling, gushing, rave review) for Lone Star Book Blog Tours, I wasn’t scheduled as a reviewer for the audio book tour.  But I couldn’t resist, bought myself an audio book copy anyhow, and listened to it the next day…straight through.  The Big Inch is a wonderful exception to my unwritten rule, and since on my second reading of the book I read with my ears, it was like a whole new story. As if immersing myself in Kimberly Fish’s world isn’t treat enough, listeners are also treated to the professional narrating debut performed by Sydney Young. 

“In her world, when trust was broken, it was final.”

When I first read The Big Inch (did I mention fan-girling and gushing?), one of the things that I loved was how author Kimberly Fish could say so much by dropping seemingly innocuous one-liners, but which careful readers would notice were loaded with information. Narrator Sydney Young picks-up on these subtleties -- and all the nuances of words spoken -- and expresses them to perfection.

“Living with her memories was no pardon at all.”

Young gets nuance and subtlety: in her delivery of the wide cast of characters, she not only gives each character a unique voice, but through her diction, varied pacing, and inflection, she projects extra layers to the characters’ personalities. The difference between Young’s delivery of main character Lane Mercer’s internal monologue versus her voice in dialogue is the perfect example. Listeners hear the contrast and see that despite Lane’s introspective, observant, and troubled mind, she has a perkier façade for the outside world.

“Though she’d never stepped on a grenade in France,

she didn’t trust Texas.”

One of the lovely aspects of Sydney Young’s narration is the authenticity of her southern accent. Certain words (soil and oil, to name two) are thoroughly Texan, others reveal just a trace of the accent, while others have a regional flair to them -- exactly right for the mixture of people from around the state who were coming to Longview during the war.

Technically speaking, the quality of the recording of The Big Inch is excellent. There are just a few glitches with uneven sound and one scene that seems spliced, but it’s thoroughly professional and what I would expect in an audio recording.  I found listening at regular speed just a little too lazy for my enjoyment, so as is the norm for me with audio books, I increased speed to 1.25x.  Sometimes, this was a little too fast (especially with Emily Tesco’s lines), but it was especially better for listening to Theo’s Boston accent.  The faster speed resolved some minor issues with too-long pauses and words with peculiar emphasis placed upon them. However, as Lane gets more emotional towards the end of the story, the faster delivery makes her sound panicked, when in reading the text, Lane seems to keep her cool.  Overall, the faster speed is a more natural pace for impatient me, but it isn’t the perfect answer.

As I do with the print version of The Big Inch, (refer to fan-girling, gushing, rave review), I highly recommend the audio book version, too. Kimberly Fish and Sydney Young make a terrific team, and I thank them for taking me to a different world for a day.  I sincerely hope that there are plans for them to reunite and bring Harmon General, book two in the Misfits and Millionaires series, to brilliant audio life.   You’ve got your first sale right here.

I bought this audio book on my own, without any strings attached. Thank you to Lone Star Book Blog Tours for giving me a bonus spot on the tour where I can voice my honest opinion – the only kind I give. 

  

Kimberly Fish has been a professional writer in marketing and media for almost 30 years. In the course of research for the Longview Chamber of Commerce 100-year compilation, she stumbled across a 1940s federal works project that was too good, too war-winning, not to be retold to modern audience. In 2017, she released The Big Inch, her first WWII spy thriller detailing the crazy, big pipeline project that fueled the Allies to a win in Europe. The Big Inch has also been released as an audio download on Audible. That eye-opening novel was so consumed by readers, she quickly followed it with a second WWII spy thriller set in Longview, Harmon General. Both of these novels will be helpful to her work with the City of Longview’s 150^th birthday celebrations which begin in January of 2020. Comfort Plans, a contemporary novel also set in Texas, continues her love of history by weaving old letters into the renovation of an iconic Hill Country farmhouse. 
Kimberly enjoys speaking on the value of weaving history and nostalgia into our plans as we grow our communities for the future. 

 ║ Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║ Instagram║ Goodreads ║
║ Pinterest ║ Amazon Author Page ║  

Sydney Young is a lawyer, award-winning writer and audio book narrator from the Lone Star State. Her next theatrical project will be directing “SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE,” for the Paris Community Theatre stage (Feb. 2019), while her novel “I AM HOUSTON,” is being submitted for publication by the Loiacono Literary Agency. Sydney has long been a reading advocate, including with her readings to an adopted second grade class each year. She loved voicing THE BIG INCH for all of its authentic Texas voices and true characters, all while she learned the history of the East Texas oil effort for World War II.  Visit Sydney’s website for more information on her writings, theatre, and audio books.

║ Website ║ Facebook ║ Instagram ║ Twitter ║

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ONE WINNER! 
Choice of Audio or Signed Print Copy of The Big Inch 
+ $25 Amazon Gift Card + a WWII Themed Surprise Gift!
NOVEMBER 5-12, 2018

(U.S. Only)

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VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

11/5/18	Joint Guest Post	Nerd Narration
11/6/18	Audio Book Review	Chapter Break Book Blog
11/7/18	Audio Book Review	Tangled in Text
11/8/18	Narrator Interview	StoreyBook Reviews
11/9/18	Audio Book Review	The Book Review
11/10/18	Audio Book Review	The Page Unbound
11/11/18	Guest Post	Momma on the Rocks
11/12/18	Audio Book Review	Kelly Well Read
11/12/18	Audio Book Review	Forgotten Winds
11/13/18	BONUS Audio Book Review	Hall Ways Blog

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Journey on a Runaway Train: The Boxcar Children Great Adventure, Book 1

Garretson, D. and Lee, JM, authors (2017); Warner, GC, creator. Journey on a Runaway Train: The Boxcar Children Great Adventure, Book One. Oasis Audio.

Children's / Audio Book / Adventure

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BLURB: Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny didn’t think the old trunk in their house held anything interesting. But an unusual statue they find inside leads them to the Reddimus Society, a secret guild dedicated to returning lost treasures to where they belong.

Now the Aldens must help their new friends by traveling across the country with the statue and six mysterious boxes! Can the Boxcar Children keep these seven treasures out of the wrong hands? 

✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱

HALL WAYS AUDIO BOOK REVIEW: I have a confession: I never read any of the original Boxcar Children series books. And I don't think any of my children did either, and I'm not sure why. This year marks 75 years they've been around, so I thought I'd check them out via the new Great Adventure series. Journey on a Runaway Train is the first of 5 titles coming out in 2017. 

The story is modernized with the four kids having/using their cell phones and computers, but some of it didn't quite click (for example, when they needed a phone number, they tried to find a phone book to use. A real phone book.) I loved that when the internet failed to produce any good information for the kids' research, they turned to the local library to dig deeper.  For parents who want their children to not only be reading but to learn a few new things, this is a great book and it may encourage kids to want to find out more. 

As far as the audio goes, the narrator, Aimee Lilly, did an admirable job of voicing all of the different characters (there are a bunch) and using different accents and pitches. Unfortunately, little Benny's voice affected me like nails on a chalkboard -- and readers hear Benny speaking more than any other character.  There is a sprinkling of sound effects that add to the atmosphere, and though I feel they are unnecessary, I imagine kids will enjoy them. 

 Journey on a Runaway Train has secrets, mysteries, and plenty of adventure that will keep elementary school aged listeners/readers engaged -- and sufficient loose ends to get them to come back for the next installment, The Clue in the Papyrus Scroll, now out.  Thank you to Oasis Audio for being at the Texas Library Association annual conference and for giving me an audio book copy with no strings attached. 

CLICK FOR MORE ABOUT THE BOXCAR CHILDREN

GREAT ADVENTURE SERIES

ABOUT GERTRUDE CHANDLER WARNER: Gertrude Chandler Warner died in 1979 at the age of 89 after a full life as a teacher, author, and volunteer for the American Red Cross and other charitable organizations. After her death, Albert Whitman & Company continued to receive mail from children across the country asking for more adventures about Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny Alden. In 1991, Albert Whitman added to THE BOXCAR CHILDREN MYSTERIES so that today's children can enjoy many more adventures about this independent and caring group of children. The Boxcar Children now has more than 150 titles.

Symphony for the City of the Dead

Anderson, M.T. (2015). Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad. Brilliance Audio.

Young Adult and older / Audio Book / Non-Fiction

I give this audio book 5 of 5 stars
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Blurb (SYNC): In September of 1941, Adolf Hitler’s Wehrmacht surrounded Leningrad in what was to become one of the longest and most destructive sieges in Western history—two and a half years of bombardment and starvation. More than a million citizens perished. Survivors recall corpses littering the frozen streets, the relatives of the dead having neither the means nor the strength to bury them. Desperate citizens burned books, furniture, and floorboards to keep warm; they ate family pets and—eventually—even one another to stay alive.

Trapped between the Nazi invading force and the Soviet government itself was composer Dmitri Shostakovich, who would write a symphony that roused, rallied, eulogized, and commemorated his fellow citizens—the Leningrad Symphony. This testament of courage was copied onto microfilm, driven across the Middle East, and flown over the deserts of North Africa to be performed in the United States—where it played a surprising role in strengthening the Grand Alliance against the Axis powers.

This is the true story of a city under siege: the triumph of bravery and defiance in the face of terrifying odds. It is also a look at the power—and layered meaning—of music in beleaguered lives. Symphony for the City of the Dead is a masterwork thrillingly told and impeccably researched by National Book Award–winning author M. T. Anderson.

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HALL WAYS REVIEW: This was yet another audio book that I went into without knowing a thing about it -- I hadn't even read the full title, so I didn't know it was non-fiction or about Shostakovich. In hindsight, I think this was a good thing because I might not have listened to it because the subject matter wasn't one that would grab my interest.  Too many books, too little time, you know.

I am so glad I listened to this book. Not only did I learn more about composer Dmitri Shostakovich, I got a serious schooling in world history and particularly, the madness of Joseph Stalin, and the suffering, slaughter, and perseverance of the Russian people. The narration (by author M.T. Anderson) was outstanding, and a perk of reading with my ears was getting to listen to snippets of various pieces by Shostakovich placed in context of when and why they were composed.

What I found fascinating is how the Russian government, over Shostakovich's whole lifetime, used Shostakovich and his music for intentional purposes. He was first raised up to inspire and improve morale, but when he got too popular, he was then berated and put in his place to show that the government was all powerful.  Then he was protected because his music was excellent propaganda, which showed the outside world that Russia was cultured and refined (and kept hidden the atrocities happening there).

Though the hook was to find out about Shostakovich's 7th Symphony (referenced in the title) and its secret message, what comes through is that regarding music, what message is transmitted via the music is completely dependent upon the circumstances of the listener at that time. Where some hear a victory march, others hear a death march; the bells of hope may also be ringing doom.

Thank you to SYNC summer audiobook program for providing this free download with absolutely no strings attached. Listening and reviewing were entirely my own decision -- and it was a good one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: M. T. Anderson is the author of Feed, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, as well as The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation Volume I: The Pox Party, winner of the National Book Award and a New York Times bestseller, and its sequel, The Kingdom on the Waves, which was also a New York Times bestseller. Both volumes were also named Michael L. Printz Honor Books. M. T. Anderson lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.