An interesting plot and story!

This was a first for me where audio books are concerned. I'm funny in that I hate stories being read to me. The thing about reading novels is that in my head they paint a picture. Now this has got me singing Valerie by Amy Winehouse! Anyway, I love the pictures in my head, I like how my mind describes characters to me, and I like the way these characters' voices sound in this complex head of mine. Our minds/brains are quite amazing this way. So, it was with some trepidation that I agreed to (read) listen to this audio book. I also have to mention that I was freaking out in regards to how the narrator would portray the story. With these niggly things plaguing me, I sat down and hit play.

To be honest, at first it was weird... like really weird. I couldn't settle down. It felt like something was wrong. I was just sitting there, feeling totally lost. And please don't think it was the narrator as surprisingly enough, I thought she did an awesome job as a whole, but especially with baby Natasha's voice - it was creepy, as it should be. So, props to professional voice artist, Karin Allers, for the narration. There was however something lacking as I listened throughout the story and after much thought - and lots of back and forth - I finally clicked what it was. I'll mention this at the end of my review.

This is a horror story, and when I closed my eyes, most especially from chapter 14 onwards, there were lots of things that gave me chills. As you've gathered from the blurb, baby Natasha is five months old. Her father, Neal Becker, thinks she's out to get him. He also periodically thinks he might be going nuts, but darn if he doesn't hear her speaking. No five month old baby speaks let alone pronounce words perfectly - not like she does. Neal thinks he knows why this is happening, and it's all because he never wanted Annie to have her. He had wanted Annie to abort and on thinking back to when they were doing the deed, he chastises himself for not pulling out just one measly second earlier. He'd had no choice but to abandon his medical studies and marry Annie. Never a good thing as they're both resentful. That much is evident. Neal now delivers flowers - it's a job - and he has a family to support. Baby Talk opens with how book two pretty much ends, but with the added court case.

The first time Natasha spoke, Neal just about had a heart attack. When he tells Annie she spoke, Annie obviously thinks (as we would) that the baby gurgled or made an innocuous sound, as babies do, but when Neal tells her she spoke actual words, Annie is disbelieving. Horrible things happen throughout the story with Neal injuring his foot on a trophy, for which he blames Natasha for having placed there, to Annie having an accident and all sorts of other gory things. Neal's job is on the line as his boss is quite strange and suspicious (as are all the family - it's a family run business) all the time, to things Neal ends up doing to baby Natasha out of desperation and because he's going crazy. I can't go into too much detail as I'd then just give everything away for those who'd like to read Baby Talk. I will say that Neal is right and the baby is evil, but the baby had a plan all along. The ending was as I suspected - some will say predictable - but this was its intention.

To sum up my thoughts on this book, I enjoyed this story. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be, and I wouldn't call it a horror per say; not as an audio book. These types of stories, I think, again this is a personal choice, should be read not heard. I believe that because it was an audio book, it took a lot of the angst and horror factor away from me. As I mentioned when I started this review, I love hearing the voices my mind creates within my head, because you all know that when we read, every character's voice is different and a male voice is a male voice - it's deep and when needed, forceful. This is what I found lacking. A female voice can emulate lots of things from babies to old ladies, young girls et cetera, but it can't always emulate a man's or hit on the exact tone. It comes close, though, yet it's not the same thing. Maybe this is something authors should ponder over when thinking about turning their stories into audio books. Whether a book is narrated by a male or female, always have one or the other to narrate particular tones and characters. This would make a huge difference. It would without a doubt make the listener that much more intrigued, and the characters themselves that much more believable. There are quite a few male characters in this book, and a male voice would have been appreciated when needed. At the end, the author himself thanks readers. Mike Wells (if he doesn't mind me saying) has a good, deep and pleasant voice. Yes, that's a hint. Something to think about. With all of this said, I will admit that in certain circumstances it was quite amazing how much I managed to get done while listening to Baby Talk at the same time. Multi-tasking made easy, although I found myself sitting on more than one occasion when it got tense. I can see now why quite a few bloggers have taken to audio books. They get through them that much quicker as they are able to do other things without sitting down to physically read.

In the end, I still liked the story and the concept. I hadn't read/heard anything remotely close - plot wise - to a baby doing what Natasha is capable of.

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Baby Talk: Books 1 & 2

What did you love best about Baby Talk?

I loved the story from the first time I read it. It's beautifully eerie and suspenseful, exactly what I look for in a good horror story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Baby Talk?

In the audiobook, it would be the first time Natasha spoke, because it was just so creepy.

Which character – as performed by Karin Allers – was your favorite?

Absolutely Baby Natasha.

If you could rename Baby Talk, what would you call it?

Gosh, I probably wouldn't rename it. Baby Talk is what the author intended it to be, I think it would be best left that way.

Any additional comments?

Great story, Karin did a fantastic job narrating it, I would love to hear more from both Mike and Karen.

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Creepy, Frightening & Hysterical (not funny)

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend it to friends who like creepy horror-based psychological thrillers. It's very well done, even though it's not a genre that usually attracts me. Mike Wells is a fantastic author. I think he's the next Stephen King after reading this.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Baby Talk?

It was one thrill ride after another, so difficult to pick one out. It's a gradual descent into madness.

What about Karin Allers’s performance did you like?

She was awesome. Her reading style and different voices made the story even creepier and more chilling. I love audio books, and I hardly want to read anymore.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Baby Did It, or Did She?!

Any additional comments?

I think this must be what women who have severe post-partum depression experience when they think their babies are evil. To see a man experience that was a very interesting flip-flop.

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won't look at a baby the same way again!

I walked by my daughter's baby doll & almost had a heart attack when it said "mama". That's how creepy this book is! It's been awhile since a book gave me the "heebie jeebies" but baby talk is truly one of those books that keeps you up at night.

MINOR spoiler...................
Neal finds himself in an unhappy marriage, in a minimum wage delivery job (dropped out of college before becoming a chemist then medical school because a one night stand ended in a pregnancy) and a very young father to Natasha. Natasha is he and Annie's 5 month old daughter. All is not what it appears when he thinks he hears Natasha, in an evil voice, talking to him. Think Chucky but instead of a doll its a baby. TOTALLY creepy. If your Aunt Mary has a room full of lifelike dolls that you have to help her change a light bulb in .....do NOT read this book lol.

The author did a good job with the story & with the characters. All were multi dimensional and not boring. In a story like this it is easy to just pile catastrophe and bad luck so high on the character that the reader becomes smothered as well and frankly loses interest. There's just enough to make it interesting without bogging down the story and making us think "there is just no way someone has THAT much bad luck. There are hints as to who or what baby Natasha is but I would love to see another book with another unsuspecting family and a tad more back story

I loved it and will definitely keep my eyes out for more from this author. Spend the credit you won't be disappointed!

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Refreshing Horror Story!

This is the story of a young couple and their 5-month-old daughter, Natasha, whose sweet little face doesn't give away what she has inside.

This is the first horror story I got the chance to stumble across and finish, and I only did because it hooked me from the beginning and I felt it was a great, "unputdownable" story.

Neil and Annie got married very soon, since Neil was around 20 and Annie 19. Neil wanted her to make an abortion, but she refused to do so, and the only choice left was marriage. An unwanted one, as well as the baby, for Neil, that is. Strange things have happened in this home, and the father started blaming everything bad that happened on sweet little Natasha. I was so captured that I wanted to know whether Neil was crazy, Annie was paranoid or if the baby was really evil, which you only get to find out at the very end of the story.

As a horror story, it is also funny and intriguing. Even if you are not big on horror like me, you will enjoy this one very much. I highly recommend it.

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Baby Talk 1 & 2

Any additional comments?

I really thought I would like this book more than I did.The premise,a baby filled with evil,sounds scarey but I did more laughing than shivering.A father who tried to get the mom to abort the baby, believes the evil baby is talking to him and causing havoc.He has a hard time accepting the facts all the way to the rnd of the book.The narrations,done by Karin Allers,was a bit over the top to me.Natasha sounded like a funhouse clown,more annoying than creepy.I suppose reading the paper edition would have been a different experience.
"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast or MalarHouse dot com"

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nightmare baby

Who was your favorite character and why?

Baby Natasha , the smartest evilist baby out there and for some strange reason you end up liking her

Which character – as performed by Karin Allers – was your favorite?

as above

Any additional comments?

3½ stars . Do not mistake this as a cute baby story , It is NOT !!!
This audiobook version contains both book 1 & 2
Although I would not actually define it as a horror story , it certainly is creepy,
you are compelled right from the start to listen /read on , and are in it's grips for an enjoyable 6½ hours.
This is very different to any other horror type story but also comical in parts ('m not completelty sure whether thats intentional or not.)
You are made to feel Neals frustration, as no one believes him and how he just gets in deeper and deeper.
well narrated by Karin Allers.
I recieved this audiook free in return for an unbiased and honest review via AudiobookBlast

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Baby Talk

Any additional comments?

This was a very suspenseful read. All the characters were well developed....as good as "Rosemary's Baby" I actually started to feel sorry for that creep of a father, Neal. There were some very neat twists that Mike Wells wrote into the book.

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Belongs on a site for Twilight Zone

What did you like best about Baby Talk? What did you like least?

A father who had to marry and didn't want his child thinks that the child, Baby Natasha knows that and she hates him for it. Starting to talk when she was five months old, Baby Natasha has supernatural abilities. Her father sees her eyes go black and expects to see a tail when she crawls across the floor.
The conclusion will stick in the listener's memory. This is a story that paranormal fans and science fiction fans should enjoy.

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Think Omen crossed with The Shining…..

Any additional comments?

Think Omen crossed with The Shining…..
Author Mike Wells bring us this interesting mix of baby horror in his book Baby Talk.
The book starts out with a horrific event of a man attempting to jump off a roof with a baby. A split second before going over, he tosses the baby at a nearby cop screaming about the baby being a demon. After the scene, the story then jumps back in time to tell us about what lead to the man to the roof. We soon find out that the man is indeed the baby’s father, Neil. Neil is a bit of an ass but whom could blame him. He was a star athlete in school and headed towards his degree in chemistry until he gets his one night stand knocked up. Neil was raised right and wants to do the right thing, so he marries the girl. Unfortunately in doing so, his own father decided to stop paying for his schooling and now Neil finds himself the sole bread winner to his young wife and child. He’s also having a hard time making ends meet. The only job he can find is that of a flower delivery driver for an unscrupulous couple. If all this wasn’t enough, there’s something very odd about his child. His wife, barely an adult, doesn’t see it but when his 5 month old daughter starts talking to him, enough is enough! Poor Neil tries to talk to his wife about it but she thinks he’s crazy, he himself thinks the same. Slowly but surely events unfold to drive Neil even more insane but is he really? Could his child be the source of it? Is she a demon in disguise or is Neil truly around the bend??
The author provided me with the audio version in exchange for my review, so I’ll focus on the audio edition. The actor, Karin Allers, whom does the narration does a great job of separating out the characters voices from the narration and does a totally creepy job of creating baby Natasha’s voice as well. The story itself flows nicely and she adds nicely to the authors’ story. For fans of the horror genre, I think you’ll enjoy this creepy little baby’s story.

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