Audiobook Review: The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Long Game
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Narrator: Cassandra Morris
Series: The Fixer (Book 2)
Publication: Audible Studios (August 2, 2016)
Length: 10 hours and 10 minutes

Description: For Tess Kendrick, a junior at the elite Hardwicke School in Washington, DC, fixing runs in the family. But Tess has another legacy, too, one that involves power and the making of political dynasties.

When Tess is asked to run a classmate's campaign for student council, she agrees. But when the candidates are children of politicians, even a high school election can involve life-shattering secrets. Meanwhile, Tess' guardian has also taken on an impossible case, as a terrorist attack calls into doubt who can - and cannot - be trusted on Capitol Hill.

Tess knows better than most that power is currency in Washington, but she's about to discover firsthand that power always comes with a price.

Perfect for fans of Harlan Coben and Ally Carter, the second audiobook in this thrilling series will leave listeners breathless.

My Thoughts: I loved this book. It is a fast-paced thriller with murder, intrigue, and betrayal primarily set in an exclusive private school in Washington DC. Tess Kendrick is a fixer like her mother. She has a talent for solving problems and her school provides her with lots of opportunities. Drafted into the campaign for student council president that one of her friends is mounting, Tess has to deal with the behavior of another of the candidates who thinks it is okay to post compromising pictures of her candidate to social media. Things get more complicated when the rival candidate is murdered and one of Tess's friends is the prime suspect. 

Meanwhile, her mother Ivy is dealing with a terrorist who happens to be the lover of one of the president's sons and an assassination attempt on the president. Strangely enough, the two cases are both parts of a bigger conspiracy.

I like Tess who is bright and loyal. I can see her working on her relationship with her mother who had left her with her grandparents to be raised while she pursued her dangerous career in Washington DC. Tess grew up believing that her mother was her older sister. She is having trouble getting over the lies and the abandonment. She is also forging a relationship with her grandfather who is a Washington kingmaker and her mother's rival. 

The writing was compelling and the story was filled with tension.

I bought this one July 13. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: Make It Out Alive by Allison Brennan

Make It Out Alive
Author: Allison Brennan
Narrator: Suzanne T. Forlin
Series: Quinn & Costa Thrillers (Book 7)
Publication: Hanover Square Press & Harlequin Audio (January 27, 2026)
Length: 11 hours and 57 minutes

Description: Allison Brennan returns to her bestselling series with an edge-of-your-seat thriller that thrusts Quinn and Costa into the crosshairs of a sadistic serial killer.

Three newlywed couples have disappeared from an exclusive resort in Florida, only to turn up dead soon after. With the location and the similarities between the female victims as their only leads, it’s up to the FBI Mobile Response Team to catch a serial killer before anyone else ends up dead. And they have the perfect bait—Detective Kara Quinn, who bears an uncanny resemblance to the targeted women.

Undercover as newlyweds pretending to enjoy their honeymoon, Kara and FBI Agent Matt Costa set a flawless trap. When their plan works and they arrest the predator, Matt sends the rest of the team home so he and Kara can have the weekend for some much-needed R&R. But on Monday morning, the couple doesn’t show up to work, and the MRT learns they never checked out of their hotel.

As their team tries to find them, Matt and Kara learn the truth—the killer wasn’t acting alone. He had a partner who succeeded where he failed. Kidnapped and forced into a twisted escape room, they need to find a way out, because if they don’t escape, they’ll die.

My Thoughts: Quinn and Costa have been posing as newlyweds in order to catch the killer who has kidnapped and murdered three previous couples at the same resort. Their ploy works and they capture Garrett Reid when he attempts to drug and kidnap them. 

Having a suspect under arrest, Matt sends the rest of the team home so that he and Kara can have a nice, quiet weekend at the resort. But when they don't show up for meeting on Monday, it soon becomes apparent that Reid was working with a partner, a partner who has now kidnapped Matt and Kara.

As the team works to uncover what happened to them, Kara and Matt find themselves in an abandoned and boobytrapped factory in Georgia needing to find a way to make it out alive. Meanwhile, Catherine is trying to figure out why her profile was so far off and how the team can find the partner and Matt and Kara.

This was an exciting episode in the series. It was packed with tension and vividly described scenes when our heroes were in danger. I liked the way Matt and Kara's relationship is growing. I also liked the way the team all works together to unravel the clues to save Matt and Kara. I did wonder though why Catherine, the profiler, became the team leader after Matt's disappearance rather than Michael who had the law enforcement background.

I bought this one June 14. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: You Can Tell Me by Melinda Leigh

You Can Tell Me
Author: Melinda Leigh

Narrator: Mandy Figueroa
Series: Olivia Cruz (Book 1)
Publication: Brilliance Audio (May 12, 2026)
Length: 10 hours and 52 minutes

Description: Crime writer Olivia Cruz is drawn into the dark secrets of a missing friend in a terrifying novel of suspense by #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh.

On the three-year anniversary of true crime writer Olivia Cruz’s horrific kidnapping, she’s scheduled to walk her podcaster friend Zoe March through the crime scene, but Zoe fails to show. Olivia knows Zoe would never stand her up—not today.

Zoe’s husband, who claims she never came home the night before, has reported her missing. But marital conflicts make the police suspect she has left him. Olivia thinks otherwise. The police aren’t looking for Zoe, so Olivia begins her own investigation. Retracing her friend’s last steps, she finds Zoe’s phone and a text with one chilling word: Run.

It soon becomes apparent that Zoe has been keeping secrets, and with her true crime podcast, there’s no telling what she has unearthed. To find her, Olivia must dig into her friend’s past. Did Zoe vanish to escape a killer, and is Olivia walking into a deadly trap?

My Thoughts: Olivia Cruz is finally ready to talk about the horrific kidnapping that changed her life three years earlier. She is scheduled to meet with her friend and podcaster Zoe to walk her through what happened. However, when she arrives at the site, Zoe is not there. 

Olivia meets with Zoe's husband who is very concerned and she meets with Zoe's podcast producer who is not. With the police not considering Zoe missing since a woman has a right to leave her husband and life, Olivia with her boyfriend Lincoln Sharpe and her niece Nikki begin their own investigation. 

It soon becomes apparent to Olivia that she really doesn't know very much about her friend's past or her secrets. Her husband Dylan Sanders is also keeping secrets including that his marriage with Zoe is having major problems. 

Each secret they uncover puts them all in more danger in this exciting thriller. I really enjoyed the tension in this one. I liked learning more about characters who have appeared as side characters in earlier books by the author. Knowing about those characters isn't necessary. The book stands alone perfectly well. 

I bought this one May 20. You can buy your copy here.

Audiobook Review: The Ruling Class by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Ruling Class
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Narrator: Ina-Marie Smith
Series: The Fixer (Book 1)
Publication: Bloomsbury YA (September 2, 2025)
Length: 10 hours and 5 minutes

Description: This mystery thriller by the bestselling author of The Inheritance Games is a gripping story of high stakes, betrayal, and unpredictable twists.

Any problem can be fixed for a price . . .

When Tess Kendrick is  isent to stay with her older sister in Washington D.C., she has no idea that Ivy is the capitol’s go-to “fixer,” a person who can make powerful people’s scandals disappear with a snap of her fingers. Tess never thought she and Ivy had much in common, but when she enrolls at the exclusive Hardwicke School, she soon finds herself thrust into the role of high school fixer, solving problems for the children of the D.C. elite.

But secrets pile up as each sister lives a double life, and their worlds come crashing together when a scandal from the halls of Hardwicke reaches Capitol Hill. As the stakes turn deadly, Tess must uncover who’s behind the power play before she becomes a target herself.

My Thoughts: Seventeen-year-old Tess Kendrick lives in Montana on her grandfather's ranch. She has been taking care of him while he is developing Alzheimer's, but the school alerts her older sister Ivy Kendrick when Tess's behaviors change. 

Ivy sweeps Tess away to Washington, D.C., where she works and transfers her grandfather to a facility in Boston for possible treatment. Tess resents being swept away by the older sister she thinks abandoned her years earlier. She doesn't even know what Ivy does.

Tess is enrolled in the Hardwicke school where she meets the children of Washington's movers and shakers. Many of them know more about Ivy than Tess does. She learns that Ivy is a fixer who manages to take care of a multitude of problems in Washington.

Many of her classmates look at Tess as their own fixer which isn't far from the truth. When she comes upon a freshman crying in the bathroom, she's the one who confronts the older boys who have taken pictures of her and confiscates the phone. She later learns that the girl is the Vice President's daughter and the picture taking slime is the son of the Whip. 

When she arrives, things are already in turmoil. Her fellow student Henry's grandfather is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He dies under what the grandson believes are suspicious circumstances and her new friend Vivvy's father is the man who operated on him. Vivvy overhears enough to believe that he killed him. 

Tess and her new friends are busy investigating. So is Ivy but their investigations, while on parallel tracks, are secret from each other. 

This was an engaging and suspenseful thriller filled with secrets. I loved getting to know Tess and empathized with both the disruption in her life and the uncertainty in it. Tess has lots of problems to solve not least of which is the relationship with her sister. Luckily, she has the brains and ability to do so. 

The cliffhanger ending is sending me running to The Long Game which continues the story. 

I bought this audiobook May 11. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: The Bravest Hour by Anna Lee Huber

The Bravest Hour
Author: Anna Lee Huber
Series: Verity Kent (Book 9)
Publication: Kensington (August 25, 2026)

Description: British Intelligence Agent Verity Kent managed to survive four years of The Great War, slipping in and out of German-occupied Belgium and northeastern France, dodging serious consequences or capture. But as she faces her most dangerous—and devastating—challenge yet, her luck may have run out. Hopefully, her resilience has not . . .

November 1920. Dublin, Ireland. Verity’s efforts to foil a contemptible plot by the traitorous Lord Ardmore and save countless lives—as well as the British government’s reputation—has exposed her to detrimental scrutiny, bringing her contact with the Irish rebels to light. Crushingly, she finds herself incarcerated in Dublin Castle, the “Dread Bastille,” where she must withstand interrogation from her own countrymen.

Despite her circumstances, Verity knows better than to talk—though decrying Ardmore to his face would be more than satisfying. For once again he has escaped culpability, scapegoating his associates. Her only hope is intervention from her shadowy superior. And yet, when rescue finally comes, Verity finds herself changed by what she has endured, perhaps for the worst.

Still, there’s no time for respite or healing. Ardmore’s latest nefarious objectives go beyond mere treason. Allegiances are shifting as the war between the Irish Republican

But just when victory seems assured, one shocking and vicious turn of events changes everything. Now Verity must decide where her loyalty lies. And it may not be on the same side as the man she’s loved to the grave and back.

My Thoughts: This is the third book in the Dublin story arc and begins with Verity arrested by the British who think she is working with the rebels. While she is being questioned and tortured, Sidney is pulling every string he can to get her released. Since Verity doesn't trust any of the British government in Ireland, she is determined not to tell them anything. And then there is the Official Secrets Act she signed while she was an intelligence agent during World War 1.

Sidney does manage to get Verity out of the clutches of those in Dublin Castle, but concessions have been made. She and Sidney need to help them find Michael Collins who is leading the Irish revolt against the British government, and they can't leave Dublin until they do. 

Meanwhile, their enemy Lord Ardmore is still hatching his nefarious plots and generally causing discord in Ireland. Sidney and Verity are determined to find the evidence to bring him to justice. The more Sidney and Verity get involved with finding proof of Ardmore's treason and the more they become invested in the Irish cause, Verity especially wonders if her loyalty to Britain has been misplaced. She suffers a real crisis on conscience in this story. 

I enjoyed the historical detail about events in Dublin during 1920. It was packed with intriguing detail and included of a cast of actual historical figures along with other characters to suit the needs of the story. 

I thought this one brought the three-book arc to a satisfying conclusion and left Verity and Sidney is a good place. Fans of the series will breathe a sigh of relief at the end. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (August 17, 2026)

 It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

This was a nice quiet week highlighted by a trip to the dentist for the first of two appointments to replace a crown. It went okay, but a trip to the dentist will never make my list of favorite things. 

The weather was nice with highs in the upper 70s for most of the week. We could use some rain but didn't get any. It is currently 69, windy, and cloudy. 

I had a nice reading week. I did have one review book that didn't really grab me. It is unusual for me to take four days to read a 300-page book, but I kept putting it down to listen to an audiobook or four. I did finish it and ultimately found it satisfying. 

This was a big week for adding books to my stack. Besides getting Audible copies of two books on TBR mountain, I also added three Kindle copies for books I already have in print but want to reread and I added one book from Prime Reading and its accompanying audiobook. I'm doing pretty well on reading what I buy. I only have 14 books purchased in 2026 that I haven't read yet and most are already on my reading calendar.

Then there were the six new review copies I added to my stack.

My review stack took a jump from 40 books to 44 with the new additions. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending how you look at it, I will be reading mostly review books for the next couple of weeks. I'm leaning toward fortunately since most of them are books in series and by authors I have already read and enjoyed. 

Since I have finished all of the audiobooks on my September calendar, I'll likely be rereading audiobooks for the next couple of weeks. The first audiobook on my October calendar is one where I might choose to read my Kindle copy instead. Or I might choose to read along with my Kindle copy as I listen.

 
Read Last Week

• Salvage Right by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Audiobook reread) -- A Liaden Universe story. 
• The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves (Kindle & Audiobook, Mine since August 3) -- Third in the Matthew Venn mystery series. My review will be posted on September 15.
• A Labyrinth of Honeybees by Heather Fawcett (Kindle & Audiobook, Free with Prime) -- a short fantasy story. 

• Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts (Kindle & Audiobook, Mine since June 26) -- Romance with ghosts. Great story. My review will be posted on September 17.
• Shadows in Death by Nora Roberts (Audiobook Reread) -- 51st in the In Death series
• Dirty Thirty by Janet Evanovich (Kindle & Audiobook, Mine since August 11) -- 30th in the Stephanie Plum humorous mystery series. My review will be posted on September 16.

• A Deadly Entanglement by Cathy Pegau (Review, September 15) -- Second Harriman and Mancini historical mystery. My review will be posted on September 9.
• I Am the Monster Under the Bed by Emily Zinnikas (Review, September 15) -- Contemporary horror story. My review will be posted on September 10.
• Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett (Kindle & Audiobook, Mine since August 13) -- Romantacy set in Montreal. My review will be posted on September 17.

Currently

• Murder on the Sacred River by Tasha Alexander (Review, September 22)
• Faithless in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook reread)

Next Week

• Turning Darkness into Light by Marie Brennan (Kindle, Mine since May 16)
• The Pumpkin Vice Cafe by Ellie Alexander (Review, September 29)
• The Dying Light by Ann Cleeves (Review, September 29)

• Cursed City by Kate Golden (Review, September 29)
• The Velvet Knife by Maureen Johnson (Review, September 29)
• Murder on Threadneedle Street by Andrea Penrose (Review, September 29)

Reviews Posted

• Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz (Audiobook)
• Crash & Burn by Lisa Gardner (Audiobook)
• Murder on Charity Lane by Jo Nichols (Review Copy)

• Night Candy by Max Tomlinson (Audiobook)
• For Services Rendered by Will Thomas (Review Copy)
• Going Rogue by Janet Evanovich (Kindle, Mine)

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Review:

• The Vanished Sister by Sherry Thomas (Review, September 29)
• The Christmas Competition by Zoe Allison (Review, October 20)
• The Trial of Magdelena Overmorrow by Caitriona Moran (Review, November 3)

• A Murder Most Irregular by Vicki Delany (Review, January 5)
• A Rogue's Guide to Winning a Wife by Meredith E. Phillips (Review, February 2)
• Peril in the Night by Katharine Schellman (Review, March 23)

Bought:

• Dirty Thirty by Janet Evanovich (Audiobook, Audible Credit)
• Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett (Audiobook, Audible Credit)

• Slightly Shady by Amanda Quick (Kindle, $1.99)
• Don't Look Back by Amanda Quick (Kindle, $6.99)
• Late for the Wedding by Amanda Quick (Kindle, $6.99)

• The Half-Hearted Queen by Charlie N. Holmberg (Kindle, Prime Reading)
• The Half-Hearted Queen by Charlie N. Holmberg (Audiobook, $3.99)

What was your week like?

Audiobook Review: Night Candy by Max Tomlinson

Night Candy
Author: Max Tomlinson

Narrator: Terry Dien
Series: Colleen Hayes (Book 5)
Publication: Oceanview Publishing (July 25, 2023)

Length: 10 hours and 47 minutes

Description: 1970s San Francisco: the sights, the sounds, the serial killers

As the '70s draw to a close in San Francisco, things do not bode well for the city—or for ex-con PI Colleen Hayes, whose daughter Pam, in a tragic turn of events, has lost her baby. Pam leaves San Francisco, and Colleen, who moved there to reunite with her, starts to wonder what she's doing in the Bay Area.

Meanwhile, a serial killer given the name "Night Candy" is targeting sex workers, both male and female. The situation doesn't improve when Colleen's friend and ally—SFPD Inspector Owens—is arrested for the murder of his ex-wife, who was found burned in a fire the same night the pair had tried to rekindle their love. Could Owens have really done what they say? Even Colleen has her doubts.

But there are people depending on her: Owens, who needs help finding his ex-wife's real killer, and a trio of sex workers Colleen keeps her eye on—especially with Night Candy on the loose. Then, one of the three girls is next to disappear. If anything is to test Colleen's resolve, December 1979 seems to be it.

My Thoughts: When Colleen's police officer friend Inspector Owens is accused of murdering his ex-wife and the man in charge of the investigation is Owen's mortal enemy, she finds herself very involved in proving that her friend is not guilty of murder. Meanwhile, Colleen is worried about some working girls because the serial killer known as Night Candy is still targeting sex workers. 

Colleen is also still grieving the loss of a potential grandchild and the disappearance again of her daughter Pamela. She has to finally reconcile herself to the fact that she and her daughter will not develop the close relationship she wants. 

The story was filled with period details for 1979 including the fashions and songs on the radio. I enjoyed this engaging story which is filled with twists, turns, and plots. 

I bought this one April 27. You can buy your copy here.