Country Heaven (Country Love Series #1) by Vicki Green | Audiobook | A Book Review

I am not exactly into cowboy stories. I won this audiobook from the author's giveaway. Thank you again, Vicki Green for this audiobook prize. 

The best thing about audiobooks is that they take your reading experience to another level. Hearing how the characters sound elicits more involvement from the reader. I have come to the point where I basked in the glory of audiobooks. They are an experience book lovers should not miss. The only downside is I haven't mastered the art of bookmarking quotes and memorable conversations in audiobooks. A challenge I am willing to take in my next audiobook session.

As I have said, I am not into a lot of cowboy books. I have read some and this one is one of its kind. Aside from the fact that this came in an audiobook, which enhanced its appeal, the characters and the story is just as endearing. The two main characters are from totally different worlds. Their worlds collided when Sadie, a city girl who loves to party, was sent by her dad to Memphis' ranch as a punishment so she will change her ways. Memphis on the other hand is unsure of how this brat will fare with the hard labors of the ranch.

Memphis is a true-blooded cowboy to the heart. He grew up in the ranch which was a product of his Pa's hard work and is now passed on to him. The ranch is his life until Sadie came and turned his world upside down. If I wanted to meet a real cowboy, I wanted him to be just like Memphis. He is a textbook and perfect example of a true-blue cowboy.

Sadie and Memphis' first meeting was not ideal. They both turned each other off. It was hilarious and cute to hear this two bicker and Sadie surely tested the limits of Memphis patience and gentlemanly manner. Sadie was an irritating brat at the beginning but later realized that she had no choice but accept her situation and face it. Her transformation was a feast to behold. How she changed into someone who can do things on her own, physical labor at that, like milking cows and tending to the horses made her realize that there is a world outside of parties and drunken nights. How her relationship with Memphis changed was also very gradual and a delight to the senses. She had to understand how important the ranch is to Memphis and learn to see the beauty of the land before her to appreciate all the hard work she contributes to the whole operation.

The story isn't just about the transformation of Sadie. It's also about how people in the country help each other through bad times. This was a sweet read yet thought-provoking. It makes you understand the hardships and the toils required to keep a ranch. It's no easy feat. The story has a happy ending and the best thing was how Sadie found her niche. She found what she really wanted to do and what she was good at. So, her being exiled to the ranch was the best thing that ever happened to her. 

I give this 5/5 pairs cowboy boots. This story was very engaging and Memphis just melts my heart to puddles. I am actually looking forward to the rest of the books in the series. I am curious if I am going to totally fall into this genre or just dip into this sparingly. I have enjoyed this read.

Persephone ( Daughters of Zeus #1) by Kaitlin Bevis | Audio Book | A Book Review

I can't remember how I have gotten an audio book of Persephone by Kaitlin Bevis. Maybe I won this in a giveaway. I remember last September, there were about twenty authors who were giving away audio books daily for a few days. Anyway, thank you Kaitlin Bevis.

This is the second audio book I have on Audible and the first one I finished. I am really new to audio books and the first time I tried to listen to it was really confusing and disorienting. I was told by one of the authors, who gave me one of the the audio books, that I will eventually get used to listening to it. And I did. I find this very useful during long commutes and hours of travel. I don't like reading in a moving vehicle because I get headaches trying to follow the lines of the book, so listening to one would be really good. Also, I would like to keep my good eyesight. I don't want to have to wear eyeglasses to be able to see clearly.

At first, it felt like the author who was also the one narrating was talking very fast. About three or four chapters later, either I got used to her pace or she had slowed down. I was already enjoying myself. The voice changes for each character was what I was always waiting to hear. It was such a novelty to me. The narrator/author made sure that there was a difference in the voices when each character is speaking. I was really impressed. Book reading is truly an art in its own. Fantastic job on the reading!

The story. It's a retelling of Persephone and Hades' love story. Yes, as obvious as the title is. I have read the original myth of Persephone and I think this story is a really good spin from the first version. I really enjoyed listening to this and I can't wait for the next book. I love mythology and a sucker for re-telling. I feel fortunate to have this book though how it came into my Audible inbox is still a bit of a wonder, nevertheless I am so grateful it ended there.

I love how Hades is portrayed in here. Usually he is portrayed as the bad guy and this was such a good and welcome change. I like this version of Hades. I think this is the best version of him so far in all the re-telling I have read. I am really for Poseidon, if I were to choose from the three Olympian brothers. But this Hades is really someone you can fall in love with. I think it was really brilliant to make him into a smart and good guy in this book. I think this book might start a Hades fan club. I would gladly sign up for it. 

Persephone was also portrayed as a strong and stubborn girl. I can't help but like her and also relate to her. I think all teenagers are all headstrong and this version of Persephone just about had the enough amount of stubbornness that will endear her to everyone. She's smart and is not delusional as to the things she can or not do. I really enjoyed her character and I don't think there was ever a time or a part in the story where I thought that she should have done better. I like how she rolls. I like how she thinks and I think she was pretty mature for her age.

I was really eating up the story. Like a bird, I was picking pomegranate seeds right from the authors palm, so to speak. I was hooked from the beginning to finish. There were no parts of the story where I was lulled to sleep. I was awake the whole time though my body was telling me to go to bed since it was around 1 AM but I wanted to finish the story. And because I finished the story in five hours non-stop, Audible gave me a Mount Everest badge. It says I finish a title that is longer that 50 hours. Yey! Right, I think listening to an audio book felt longer than just reading it. But the five hours didn't feel like 50 because I was having a grand time in the underworld. It wasn't as dismal as it is famously made out to be.

I give the book 5/5 pomegranate fruits. The story is a refreshing take on Hades' character which to my opinion has never been done before or if there was one I have never heard of it. I could easily fall into the shoes of Persephone. It was I how felt the whole time listening to it. It was like I was Persephone and no longer a third party to the conversation. That was how the story sucked me in. I didn't mind anyway since I was having the time of my life. The underworld didn't seem that hideous, scary or miserable at all. I was devouring the story right to its last juice drop. I actually looked forward to reading more audio books since I really had a wonderful experience with this one. I am so looking forward to get a fill out of the second book of the Daughters of Zeus series. Whose story could it be next? I am so stoked for it.

Since this is my first time to actually spend time on an audio book, I did not know how to take note of quotable lines or passages in the story. Now, I realize there is also a bookmark feature in Audible which can play back the part you really like. I guess, I'll have to use that one on the next audio book reading.