BACK TO CHRISTMAS!! by Dennis Canfield

A Christmas Listen or Read you Don't want to miss!

OMG I loved it! Is what I sent the author halfway thru the book that is barely 3 hrs long. That is how enchanted I was by this cute Christmas story. I have to admit I am a sucker for a good Christmas story! and as with all Christmas stories yes it does have a happy ending! It was the journey getting to the end from the beginning that was so much fun! Dennis Canfield well thought out storyline and I did laugh out loud a few times. Found myself smiling knowing some of the young kids I would say 5+ would get the most out of this story and sit and listen to the whole thing. I could see this being made into a cartoon or movie for Christmas following that Hallmark christmas theme.

Oh the story you say. Well the Krumwerth family is finding themselves on the naughty list for the third time. Is there hope for them? Well one elf in charge of the nice and naughty list kind of letting them slip by on the nice list. NO NO NO! He is caught and is assigned to the Krumwerth family and picks their daughter Amanda to get them back on the nice list or they will be on the permanent naughty list FOREVER! They have less than 2 days to do this and Amanda(the daughter) thought for sure this will be easy. Not as easy as she thought.

So Marmel the elf does not think she could do it in 2 days. So when she completes the first 2 task he was surprised in one day. Now the 3rd and final task could she do it? Time to bring out the Reverse Santa to help. Can he? who is he? Amanda's tech savvy family is so into their toys and gadgets that everything starts breaking and stopping. At least that is what they think. And thru all this and other problems that arise Amanda's suggestions get them to where they need to be. 

The narrator Ralph Lister oh did he bring the characters to life. I have said time to time how narrators can change up their voice somewhat so you know the difference of the characters. But he gives each character a downright personality! I have already suggested this audio to many of my friends with kids. I feel with his narration I could see kids sitting at the kitchen table or laying on the floor coloring and crafting their Christmas decorations and gifts while listening to this book! May sound hookie but, I don't care but, I LOVED IT!

Note: This review was posted to Goodreads, Amazon and Audible. The Audio book was provided for review by the author Dennis Canfield. All views are strictly mine and not in anyway influenced by others. Thank you for your time reading this and comments are always welcome on the other sites I have listed above!

NEW!!! Audiobook Reviews! My first review "Botanicaust: Botanicaust, Book 1"

"Botanicaust: Botanicaust, Book 1"
by Tam Linsey

I always start my reviews by reviewing the narrator. Since they are the voice that makes or breaks a performance of the book! Will it want to make you want to go back and read the book! Meghan Kelly as in other books I have listen to her narrate excels in a flawless transition from one character to the next. Maintaining that difference or mood of the character as they journey thru this book by Tam Linsey. I do hope that she is brought back for any future sequels. There is nothing more disappointing when authors use another voice in a series. She really brings to life and moods of my favorite character Dr Tula Macoby. 

So let me continue with the characters without giving many spoilers! Dr. Tula Macoby coming from a society called the Haldanians, that believes can help selected others from the bio-engineered weeds that wiped out plant life 400 years earlier making all plants poison. Tula, a counselor assigned to those that are converted with photosynthetics to adjust to their new lifestyle. A society/scientist that believes they are the saviors of sorts in converting the cannibals that also roam the Earth. They also decide who lives or dies if their capturers do not fit the profile of converting to a plant society.  Believing that her way of life will save them. That is until she meets Levi Kraybill whom she believes in the beginning is part of a captured cannibal family. Only to find out he is from another society called the The Old Order. Feeling that her people may not have all the answers. With him as the story unfolds throughout she learns the truth behind her own past! Trying to understand why her feelings are so passionate for someone of a different culture and to wrong yet feels so right at the same time. 

Tam Linsey takes and draws you into the passion! Into the uncertainty! Into the truth that maybe bought her and Levi together are not ready to face about each other!

Levi Kraybill is from a society that believes what Tula's kind are doing is an abomination. They are a peaceful farming community. Believing that God has sent them down the rules to believes are they the only way of life! 

After Tula assist Levi to escape and now making them both outlaws on the run from the Haldandians! Tula learns from him the survival tactics as they travel back to his society without being captured by the cannibals or killed by the Burners. Learning along the way that Levi was on the search for a cure for his son.  Only to be saved/captured by what they thought is a fourth society, Fossilites. Which they did not know existed. Only to find out that all those Tula thought were killed are actually used for experiments of a different kind for the search for immortality.  Will Tula make the decision to stay with them if they are willing to give Levi the cure they said they had for his son? Will his clan let him back? Since leaving against the Old Orders rules shunned Levi!

They do escape and head for Levi's clan with 2 of the ones Tula thought were killed by her people. When they get back to Levi's home. Are they all left to come within the Old Order's protective field? What does Tula learn about herself? Will they accept her and the other 2 Haldadians? What becomes of Levi's son?

Leaving some of these unanswered will peak a curiosity that you will not be sorry to learn as the book whines down. There is not a real cliffhanger leaving this book up in the air till part 2. It can stand as a stand alone read/listen to. Made me wish that I could move to the next book now! I really was pleasantly surprised with this story after listening to and reading other post apocalypse novels. This is certainly a well thought out plot. Totally different! The story can definitely take itself in any direction for future parts. I would like to see the following part have that back story of how the weeds took over the other plants. Seeing it build around Levi and/or Tula family ancestors. This 10 hr plus listen really felt so much longer. Ready for a detail yet full story made me want to sit and listen right thru in a day or 2. 

Note: This review was posted to Goodreads, Amazon and Audible. The Book was provided for review by the narrator Meghan Kelly. All views are strictly mine and not in anyway influenced by others. Thank you for your time reading this and comments are always welcome on the other sites I have listed above!