Debbie Kilduff

Well developed characters

Reviewed: 09-09-24

I liked that the story was presented by a different perspective. The story drew from current conditions in the world of women’s gymnastics and provided a positive move to change.

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Well told story of 60's college life

Reviewed: 09-29-20

In the late 60’s, a young political science professor takes a job at a conservative women’s college in the south and sparks begin to fly. This is the premise of this well written story. David Pritchard is hired by President Barton to teach political science at Traymore College. In the midst of Viet Nam protests and women’s rights demonstrations, Traymore is decidedly behind the times. Professor Pritchard is a sympathetic ear to the more liberal thinking young women and faculty at the college and is soon involved with the politics of the time. Under his advice, several lawsuits are filed against the college and President Barton. This makes for a lot of drama between the liberal students and faculty and the conservative administration. I think the author captured the emotion and dynamics of the youth in the late 60’s. I enjoyed this audio book very much and the narrator’s voice suited the story well.

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Intriguing story

Reviewed: 05-07-20

This audio book was engaging from the very beginning. A child growing up with an abusive father, Mark was a loner with few friends but big dreams. He worked hard to become a doctor, then meets another young doctor while a resident in a large hospital. Hank is a successful anesthesiologist who has made a name for his self and is also successful in making some good investments. Hank takes Mark under his wing and they become close friends. As time passes, Mark realizes Hank is always trying to show his expertise in every area he chooses to pursue. Mark still enjoys his friendship, but realizes Hank is a show-off, not always the upstanding Mormon Church member he appears to be. I was surprised at some of the foul language and immature conversations that seemed to bog down the story and nearly stopped listening, but it was worth slogging through it.
There is much to like about this book. The intrigue and plot twists surprised me and kept me guessing. There are questions about Hank’s sanity and trustworthiness and whether a bond made when they were young can endure.

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Handy guide to avoid mistakes

Reviewed: 11-05-19

I am a retired teacher and was not certain I would get much out of this audio book. I was wrong. I have been on many committees during my career and continue to serve on the boards of several community organizations. I found much to be learned in this worthwhile book. The author presents the information in an easy, conversational matter that keeps what could be a dry subject interesting. With anecdotes and examples, he proves his point. Learning from your mistakes and teaching from those mistakes is a tried and true method for being successful. This book was easy to listen to, well organized, and most informative

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A True Romance

Reviewed: 05-21-19

I found this story enchanting. The “improbable pairing” of an American graduate student and an older aristocrat is the center of this story. Scott Stoddard meets an older woman, Countess de Rovere, on a ship heading to Europe. He is to attend graduate school in Geneva and she is a wealthy member of high society. They find themselves attracted to each other and soon begin a love affair. At first you wait for Scott to become tired of the affair or the Countess to give up her relationship under pressure from her friends and her over protective mother, but love seems to win both of them.
The author wrote about the social life of the wealthy in the 1960’s of France and Switzerland. The descriptions of the balls, the fashion, the fancy cars, and the glamorous homes were very vivid. I felt like I had been transported.
Although they are planning to marry, Scott and Desiree have trouble with Desiree’s ex-husband, a powerful man, who mistreated her. The story ends with a question about what will happen next. Another book perhaps?

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Great mystery with twists and turns

Reviewed: 07-09-18

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audio book. The author was very knowledgeable about art restoration particularly pre-Renaissance works. There are flashbacks to the artists who created the early masterpieces, which creates an interesting point of view. The story starts with Mckenzie Ferrara, a recent art school graduate who is anxious to start her job with one of the most respected art houses in the country. She will be working with Anthony Bataglia, a brilliant art restorer from Italy. Mackenzie learns a lot from Bataglia, but some things don’t seem to add up. She begins to suspect that Bataglia is not all he seems. She enlists the help of her father, A retired NYPD detective, to investigate some of the strange happenings. There are lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.

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Great political story

Reviewed: 05-22-16

I found this to be an intriguing story of the political machine that elects our officials and the back room deals that are inevitable. Any parallels that reader draws between fiction and the rise to power of our sitting president seem to be intentional. The setting and time frame is definitely intended to make the reader draw that conclusion. It reads as a historically accurate account leading to President Obama’s election. There is even a mention of “birth certificate” issues. Because of that, it made me a bit uncomfortable, but I’m sure that is one of the author’s goals. I did enjoy the story and found it very engaging. I didn’t want to stop listening. It did get a bit confusing at times as characters were introduced so it might have been an easier read than an audio.

I received an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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A real swashbuckler!

Reviewed: 10-12-15

Blackheart’s Legacy: Book 1 was a real swashbuckling adventure story. I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Jon and his Grammy who have traveled back in time to the Caribbean and the time of pirates. The characters they encounter along the way were interesting and easily imagined. The narration by Paul Woodson definitely added to the drama of the story. Though this is a story aimed for young adult readers, I found that it kept my attention. I can’t wait for my grandsons to be old enough to read/listen to tales of Jon Sinclair. I am looking forward to reading book 2 of this series.

I received a copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

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1 person found this helpful

Standard "chick-lit"

Reviewed: 06-15-15

Any additional comments?

The Publicist is a typical “chick-lit” book, but seems to be better written than many. The story itself is a standard tale of Kate, the plucky heroine versus the greedy business world. Thrown into the mix is Mac, the handsome co-worker who happens to be married. Part of the time is spent with the “will they won’t they game.” Kate fights the attraction, but predictably falls for Mac. I found most of their interactions rather boring. There is another character introduced to confuse Kate and to create a jump off point for the sequel.
The business part of the story is much more interesting, filled with interesting characters and twists and turns. There are attempts at sabotage within Kate’s agency and authors who are not who they appear to be. All in all, I enjoyed the book and may be tempted to listen to the second book in the series.
I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

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2 people found this helpful