G. House Sr.

Pink’s central premise is that most people sell in one way or another and that many of our conceptions about selling are not true or only barely so. For example, extroverts do not make the best sales people – ambiverts do. If you want to know what an ambivert is, you’ll have to listen to the book yourself. I have read dozens of business books and most of them can be condensed down to two or three central ideas and the rest of the work is really window dressing. Pink’s book is not packed with antidotal evidence and arcnae stories supporting his points; rather he attempts to support his opinions with research and a smattering of statistics or at least hinting that statistical evidence exists.

I purchased a hardcopy so I could make notes in the margin. On balance, I think this and Drive, his previous book, are pretty good and worth the listen. I thought Drive was better but To Sell is Human has a number of good tips that if practiced may increase your sales effectiveness.

In book one we leave Aspen and Sebastian tighter but Jaden and Pris still friends but in a very awkward state. This book starts with Jaden's life unraveling and in very believable ways. Nyrea Dawn does an excellent job connecting you to what a verbal abusivive household is and the value of support by your friends.

Jaden struggles with self-image issues. His struggles remind us that verbal abuse cuts deeper and heals slower than physical abuse. Although I am not a fan of the narration, the story solid. I give this a thumbs up, give it a read.

I had reasonable hopes for this teen novel where two best friends try to make their relationship into more. Unfortunately, it just doesn't make the grade. The story is thin with predictable twists and shallow conflicts. The narration doesn't work. This is the first book in the series. I bought both books, so I'll read book two just to see how it turns out.

You get to know Max, short from Mackenzie , and Cade pretty quick in this story line. The story line has been done before both in Hollywood and in print. One thing that makes this fresh is that alternating chapters are done from Max’s and the Cade’s perspective. This gives your essentially two main characters instead of one. Emma Galvin does a great job at the narration. If you are looking for a light, romantic novel, give this one a go – no surprises here.

What does an exploding cantaloupe and a simile equating perfect hash browns to driving speed have to do with the new Odd Thomas installment? You’ll have to listen to find out. The plot is laid quickly, Odd finds himself going head-to-head with a maniacal trucker who tries to kill him not ten minutes in and the vision of what he is bound to do is grizzly. Even though the mission is somber, like all adventures, Odd is full of metaphors and witticisms as usual. Odd keeps collecting folks and Edie will charm your shocks off.

The great thing about the Odd Thomas stories is how deeply sincere and amusing the character is. I love how self-effacing and humble he is; and, with each story we learn more and more about him and his journey. You would think that this would get old given we’ve been we Odd through heartbreak and triumph and pretty much think we know him. But Koontz continues to unravel us a little more each time as he writes another one of these stories. He not a FBI agent of a Forensic Scientist from a Lincoln Child or Patricia Cornwell – he is simple Fry Cook, a very, very interesting Fry Cook.

This is book seven for David Aaron Baker who is now the voice off Odd Thomas. His narration fits the quirky nature of Odd Thomas and very much like his easy going narration.

I love these series! My heart still aches for him and Stormy Llewellyn way back from book one. Koontz has managed to tap into a vein with the Odd Thomas stories that keep you reading and wanting more. Perhaps it is the simplicity that surrounds the deeply complex Odd Thomas as his enigmatic cast. I highly recommend this installment of Deeply Odd – please give it a listen.

Has it been almost four years since the last Dan Brown novel? Yes it has! In his latest work, Inferno, Brown pulls out the unflappable symbologist Dr. Robert Langdon of Di Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. Brown uses the same formula for his new novel, Inferno, substituting the Bible for Dante. It works. The problem with all Langdon novels is that they happen over such a short timeframe, you don’t get a chance for much character development and very little backstory.

Langdon awakes in a hospital with a head injury, in Italy and without a clue to how he got there; then the game is on. This time-lock story formula and lack of character depth places him at a significant disadvantage that he more than makes up for with interesting facts, plausible fibs and fast paced action. The novel is narrated by Paul Michael who did a good job but a touch monochromatic for my taste.

In my conversations with other readers, over the years regarding Browns’ work, I think either you love him or you don’t love him so much – no middle ground. He is a very polarizing writer because of his formula and style. For me, I just like to sit back and enjoy the ride. He isn’t the most eloquent of authors but I do like the ways he puts together all of the research and the brisk pace he moves you through conflicts.

I strongly recommend that you read his stand-alone works Digital Fortress and Deception Point which are excellent. They do not use the same formula as the Langdon novels. In some ways, they are much stronger works than the Langdon novels. As long as he doesn’t bring out this formula every year, I will remain a fan – this is a definite listen.

The is the first of a series. I made the mistake of reading the second one first (The Hit). I liked it a great deal. The second book has a number of references to book one. When I finished book two, I researched and found “The Innocent.” In this novel, we are introduced to Will Robie, Juile and Nikki Vance. Robie is a contract killer for the CIA, Vance a FBI special agent and Julie a 14 year-old tough girl. So the deal is, people get shot, Julie’s parents are killed as part of a plot for who knows what reason and then the hunt for the truth begins.

McLarity and Cassidy do a good job narrating this book – they also do the second as well. Baldacci add charters depth layer by layer. There are a few technical facts in the book that defy physics, such as bullets do not gain momentum after they are shot as he suggests; but I can’t fault Baldacci or his editors for not getting a passing grade in physics.

The story appeals to those who like thrillers with a little tech and government thrown in for seasoning. There are many unconnected bits throughout the story and Baldacci manages to connect most of them. It not just about the mystery, it is about how the characters grow and how they adapt that makes this listen interesting. You’ll get hooked quickly. I give the “The Innocent” and the next in the Robie series “The Hit” a big thumbs up.

The story opens with a flash forward by twenty days. It leaves you wondering, “what the …” Then one sister doesn’t get the ring the other is in the middle of a divorce. Kinsella uses each sister to get a perspective on the other’s life. It is really two stories for the price of one wrapped together thoughtfully. This approach gets you hooked quickly and you immediately start to speculate how is it all going to work out. One sister is more believable than the other, so you have suspend a little judgment – but you will like both characters.

The novel has three narrators and all with British accents. They do a good job but the narration does not make add anything to the novel – they are just readers – a bit impassive.

If you like this book, you might like “Wife By Wednesday” by ByBee this is another one of those romantic leaning novels with fun stitched in which I liked a bit more. If you are a hopeless romantic, then I’d give this a read – it worth it.

You don’t often get to listen to a teen coming of age novel that has tech in it. I was curious about this title so I listened to it on a lark. I have to admit it was very good, I like the way Sise puts the story together. She did a good job connecting you to the characters and each of the characters have decent depth. Another good story device is making you wait to pick up the backstory of the characters as the story progresses. Delisle narrates the story briskly and her voice is easy to listen to. This is a definite listen, a little sugar sweet, but thumbs up nonetheless.

The Hit, the new novel by David Baldacci takes no time to start the killing. The book opens with a double cross killing in the first five minutes of listening and then a second hit in the next five. Baldacci quickly establishes the street creds for the Will Robie (the pursuer) and Jessica Real (the pursuee). Both are hit men except that Real, the only female hit man has gone off the reservation -- or so with are led to believe.

And so, the chase starts, Robie chasing Real, and many twists and turns catch you by surprise in this novel. It is a good listen and it is classic Baldacci. If you liked his last novel (released only a month ago), and I did, you’ll find this one equally interesting. In this novel it more about suspense and intrigue than the love angle of the last.

I find Baldacci to be somewhat a touch too commercial, but I do like his story lines. He plays with emotions and suspense and does a good job with character development. The narration is performed by Ron McLarity and Orlagh Cassidy – I thought the narration was a touch too dramatic and could have been dialed back just a touch – but it was just okay.

This book will appeal to those who like thrillers with a government backdrop. If you looking for a big love story in this one, you won’t get it. It is definitely worth the time time -- give it a listen.

When we finished unraveling (book 1), the world was left a mess – actually destroyed, Janelle Taylor lost her father, her best friend and the boy she loved (Ben Michaels). The ending was less a cliff hanger than a major downer. The only thing to hope for is somehow Ben Michaels will keep his word and come back for her. This is the setting for the opening of Unbreakable: Unraveling, Book 2.

People are going missing, more being abducted, and assistant junior FBI assistance Jannell is feeling the heat to find out why. The story builds fast. Her style of short punchy chapters is back (which I like) and so is the countdown clock (which I don’t). You’ll have to read for yourself what it all means this time – again. But I think you will be pleased with the story. Katie Schorr narrates this teen novel. She did a great job in book one and she doesn’t miss a beat in book two.

This teen novel will appeal to everyone and it’s appropriate for the young teen as well. There are no grizzly accounts but enough suspense for everyone. I highly recommend the 11 hours of listening; it goes real fast.