Winter's Journey

By: Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Narrated by: Kimberly Henrie

Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Was the man she loved an enigmatic hitchhiker or a murderer?

To keep the bank from repossessing her eighteen-wheeler, Baby Blue, and putting her and her daughter, Tessa, on the street, Loretta Brennan takes a dangerous job driving it into Wyoming with a winter storm approaching. All alone she worries if she can make the deadline and navigate the roads since her driving partner husband died the year before in an accident.

On her way, she feels sorry for and picks up a hitchhiker. Sam Emerson. Charismatically handsome, his moodiness hides a dark past that includes a dead girlfriend and a murder charge.

Snow, a series of trucker murders and a sinister truck begin to haunt them on their route.

She suspects Sam’s aligned with the killer even as she experiences feelings for him. Is Sam a good man down on his luck or is she falling in love with a murderer?

In the end it’ll take a heroic show of love to prove to her that he is who he claims to be.

©2011, 2016 Eternal Press (P)2014 Kathryn Meyer Griffith

No graphic sex, but foul language a plenty.

I was hoping for a new author to follow because she was a master at suspense, and didn't get into sex scenes, but she doesn't keep the language clean at all. Will keep searching for another clean author.

Very interesting read

This is a very interesting read, not at all what I expected. Loretta is a very strong woman, she is definitely a great character. I loved seeing her journey and her strength throughout the story.

Truthfully, she has several "too stupid to live" moments. It mystified me that at every opportunity to share information with the authorities she balked. If there is a series killer out there and suddenly something strange is happening at home, you better believe I would mention it to the cops. There is no such thing as coincidence!

I really liked the interactions with Sam and the progress of their relationship. The feelings come rather quickly, you can see the threads of connection and attraction developing. It is often muddled with events that make it hard to trust the feelings.

I was a touch annoyed of how every time you start to trust Sam things occur to make him suspicious again. The mixed narrative helps you know what the real deal is with him. Most of the book is from Loretta's POV, but the glimpses into Sam help to move things along. I always prefer to know what everybody is thinking and feeling.

The story feels more like a standard fiction than a romance. Not a lot of frills here, but it has a genuine atmosphere. This is the first book I have read with a lady trucker, it was a refreshing turn. I was fascinated with the whole culture of truckers. I never realized that it was such a small world on the road.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Kimberly Henrie, who has a very smooth read. She really has a great connection with the book and the characters feel real. She has a fabulous pace that makes the story move, even in the slower moments. Great texture in her voice and distinct characters. I will definitely look at more of her work!

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It is a slower read that takes it's time unraveling. I loved discovering this new world.

Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All ratings, opinions and thoughts are my own.

Winter's Journey

I enjoyed this one.Loretta takes a dangerous job to be able to keep her rig and her daughter provided for.Someone does not want her to make it.She picks up a hitchhiker who she isn't sure if she can trust or not.Kimberly Henrie narrates nicely.“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”

A Chilly Romantic Thrill Ride.

A young widow, a brooding handsome stranger (who likes cats!), big rigs, truck stops.
A race against time through snow covered, twisty mountain roads. And a serial killer.

This book has all the ingredients to make anyone's spine tingle. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. The heroine's waffling over whether or not she can trust the hitch-hiker she's picked up might be exciting to some, but I began to find it a bit repetitive.

What I did like were the main character (when she wasn't waffling), the venue, and the narrator (really spot-on with the daughter's voice, in particular).

If you like romance (and/or trucks), I'd say give this audio a try.

Wonderful read,er, listen.

I loved listening to this book!

I felt sympathy for Loretta, a single mother as well as a widow, and the position she was trapped in. I felt her nervousness as issues built around her. Ms. Griffith did a great job in portraying a very fleshed out heroine. Even the hitchhiker and minor characters were well-written. My only nitpick is the speed with which a certain relationship tried to move. I found that a bit unbelievable, but given how pleased I was with everything else, it really was a minor note. The narrator, Kimberly Henrie, did a good job with the story. Her voicing of Loretta was excellent.

Overall the pacing was nice, the characters were fantastic, the story well-written and the tension kept building.

Life on the road can be deadly

Would you listen to Winter's Journey again? Why?

I would listen again.
I enjoyed the narration. The story was very interesting.
I would like to listen a second time to see if I pick up clues I may have missed.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It is a toss up between Loretta and Sam.
They both have qualities that make them stand out.
Sam is a puzzle to be solved.
Loretta is a determined woman trying to provide for her family.
Each has history to overcome.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scenes and circumstances were well written. I could easily picture them.
The truck stops and diners, the deserted roads and falling snow.
The knife fight scene was one where I would not put the book down until I knew how it would end.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Being a longer book, I was unhappy when I had to set it aside and go back to real life.
I always wanted to know what was going to happen next.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this to both genders and ages from high school up.
To those who like crime and mystery, and even though there is romance, it is not overpowering.

Chilling Winter's Journey

Great story about a widow and single mom, Loretta, and a handsome stranger (Sam) as they try to outsmart a serial killer! It still baffles me that she’d pick up a hitchhiker, but, hey – it’s fiction.

Despite that, this was a nail biting, chilling listen. Loretta was a rounded, well-developed character who was a trucker – very different, indeed! The attraction between the H and h was almost immediate and the tension there was palpable.

The suspense kept building as truck drivers were murdered along the way, and Sam kept doing things to heighten the readers’ suspicion. Just as you started to trust him, he’d do something suspicious. Their romance builds, though, and we were drawn into the world of truckers and life on the road. Very eye-opening. I appreciated learning about this.

This was a great mix of romance and suspense that kept me guessing for a long time. I enjoyed it. The narration was also good. Great distinction with the different voices.

A 4.5/5 listen. Recommended! Good job, as usual, Ms. Griffith.

*I received a free audiobook from the author in exchange for an unbiased review.*

Nail-biting thriller!

Would you listen to Winter's Journey again? Why?

Yes! It was very enjoyable and in parts very frightening! It starts out with a simple situation, then it turns into a mystery, then builds into this terrifying thriller!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Main character, the woman driver. I guess I could relate to her because she was a woman and a normal person.

What does Kimberly Henrie bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She had a comfortable voice, if that makes sense.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes! It had an addictive quality to it.

Any additional comments?

I like that it starts fairly quiet, then builds. I think some people like thrillers to hit like a freight train from page one, and sometimes I do too, but I like the flow of this one. And the quiet moments are comfortable and enjoyable. I thought it was a great read. One of my favorites now.

Kept me guessing and I loved it!

An interesting mix of truck driving lifestyle and a serial killer mystery. This book was so suspenseful and I loved it! The story hooked me right away and never let up. I really like when a book can keep you guessing the whole time. Loretta is a strong main character, and felt very real to me. I could easily see myself in her shoes throughout the story as she tries to decide whether to trust her heart or not. The narrator was perfect for this audiobook, and helped to bring the story to life. I enjoyed this audiobook so much! I can't wait to check out more of this author's work.
I was provided this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Kept me on the edge of my seat

I really enjoyed this book. One of the things that appealed to me about this book is that it is about a female truck driver. I know a female truck driver, and I have always been so captivated by the stories that she told of the times she was on the road. This book is neat because it allows an inside look at what truck drivers go through. Not only that, but this book is filled with suspense and mystery. It kept me on the edge of me seat. Along with suspense and mystery, there is an element of romance between characters, as well as doubts in new relationships, which we can all relate to. I think this book is great for those who like suspense, and I highly recommend it.