Awakened Within

A Vienna Rossi Paranormal Mystery (A Lost Souls, Book 1)

By: Michelle Ann Hollstein

Narrated by: Karen Bachman

Length: 5 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

In order to make the nightmare stop, Vienna Rossi realizes she must take matters into her own hands. 

She’s compelled by an unseen force to hop on a last-minute flight to track down a murderer. Awakened within her is a psychic gift she never knew she had, a handsome spirit guide who drives her nuts, and the ability to help lost souls cross over to the other side.  

Vienna and her spirit guide, Jack, team up with Vienna’s best friend, Kim, for a dangerous murder-solving, ghost-hunting adventure.

©2014 Michelle Ann Hollstein (P)2018 Michelle Ann Hollstein

Put the Bunny Back in the Box

This story is definitely geared towards younger women. I am neither so while I enjoyed the overall story, the presentation of it wasn’t for me. The immaturity of the characters made it difficult for me to like them with the exception of Vienna. She was the protagonist and seemed the most real. The characters are well developed and are more towards the airy and hoity-toity side. Their development made me dislike them more and more and I think the author nailed their dialogue and personalities perfectly. While I didn’t care for any of it, I can say the characters were done quite well and quite to my dissatisfaction. I didn’t know rice crust pizza was a thing.

The plot is fairly simple and the mystery isn’t too hard to figure out, but the ride is a fun one. Paranormal mysteries are often the same story retold, although this one is a bit different and I think as the series progresses that it will really stand out from some of the others. With this being the first in the story I realize that there is a lot to build upon and think this was a good start to something more.

Karen Bachman did a really good job voicing the characters. She did Bunny perfectly and really added to my dislike of her. She did a spot on narration for all the characters and really was able to do a voice that matched each personality. I don’t think the dialogue would have worked without her narration and hope she stays on for the series.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Great Book

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Vienna was a fun character! I loved her irritation with Jack disappearing all the time. And Goldie was a riot!

Great action book to sit down and enjoy! The narration was spot on.

I enjoyed the book

I enjoyed this book, I liked the story. My only complaint was the Narrator was very stiff almost like she was reading it to young kids. Her voice was pleasant and I had no problem with that. I just felt like she wasn’t capturing the emotions very well, and she made the stepmother, Bunny, sound like she was either drunk or a complete idiot the entire time. Aside from that I’m going to continue listening to the series and hope that it reads better in the next book.

LOVED THIS!! <3

So, I totally messed up and listened to book 2 first and book 1 like a month later. And while it wasn't to hard figure out what was going on, you def want to read these in order. It all makes so much more sense now. And I understand more about why the characters are the way they are. (Well, duhh lol). So do yourselves a favor and read them in order! They both really were fantastic books. I hope to be able to read and review book number 3 as well, if I can track it down! Oh, and the narration was also excellent! I highly recommend!!

This book was given to me at my request. I am providing a voluntary and honest review. <3

a Funny spooky tale

very well narrated and excellent read very good and funny entertaining interesting too. Thank you

So much fun!

I loved the story! it was so much fun to watch Vienna's powers awakened! the characters and writing are wonderful! I found the narration of bunny to be a bit annoying, but otherwise I enjoyed it! I definitely would recommend this book!

very entertaining

I really enjoyed it. Fresh twist on paranormal mystery with delightful characters. I look forward to Book 2 in the series.

Vienna finally received her gift

Awakened Within a fast paced paranormal mystery mixed with a flirtation. Vienna has been having a disturbing dream and wants to find out why. During her trip she meets a mysterious man and she feels like she knows him but doesn't know why. There are forced that come forth that are beyond her control to help solve this mystery of her haunting dream.
I am in true awe of this well written book and with the narrator Karen Bachman and voices. I loved the development of Vienna character she grows stronger as the books storyline plays out. I highly recommend this book if you love paranormal mysteries and adventure. I received this audio book upon my request and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

Meet Vienna and her friends

Cute story about psychics and the paranormal. Creative characters and a good story line. I enjoyed this one!

I received a free copy for my honest review

I'm HOOKED!

I already love Michelle Hollstein books so I knew up front it would be great...AND IT WAS! I enjoyed the narration very much as the voices were easy to differentiate among the characters. The story line is spooky without being horrifying...in other words..for gals like myself who's nerves can no longer handle terrifying stories..but enjoy being spooked a little..this is it! I laughed so hard at the name BUNNY...too perfect..but loved how she turned out in the end. I sure wish I had a hunky spirit guide...

Bad audio

I think I would of enjoyed this book as the narrative started off really well but there was a problem with the audio shortly after the beginning so now I shall never know
What a shame :(

Predictable and monotonous

I was very disappointed with this book and recording. The story took many hours to drag out a plot that lacked substance. The reader read as if they were expecting listeners to be lacking in the ability to listen to speech at a normal pace. By the end I felt like I was back in a Nursery class.

I would not choose another book by this author or reader.

Audio is terrible

Unfortunately I can rate the story because I could not hear it as the audable was really bad.

A Paranormal Whodunit

Title: Awakened Within
Author: Michelle Ann Hollstein
Format: Audio
Narrator: Karen Bachman
Genre: Suspense, Paranormal (Ghosts), Murder Mystery
Standalone: Yes
Part of a Series: Book 1 in A Lost Souls
POV: Vienna, Jack and Kim
Steam Level: None
4/5

Awakened Within is a murder mystery with a paranormal twist. Its a fun whodunit with twists and turns and ghosts and spirit-guides. Awakened Within is a fun start to this series. It's funny and suspenseful. Vienna isn't too thrilled about her new ability = fighting that she actually has it. And who is the handsome stranger who keeps appearing and then disappearing? Vienna's friend Kim is a good balance to Vienna's skepticism and cautiousness. Overall a fun and fast-paced mystery.

Another brilliant mystery by a brilliant author

I really enjoyed this book really love the series, quite fast paced, narration was very good and added to the story

Very good read

Loved it. Very entertaining and easy to listen story. I enjoyed the narrating by Karen Bachman.

A creepy ghost mystery

After a strange dream, Vienna is compelled to travel to Palm Springs to investigate. There she finds a mystery to solve and a lot stranger things than her dreams. Meeting the spirit guide she never knew she had, does nothing to make things any less weird.
The book was interesting but I found it very hard to have much sympathy for Vienna or Jack. Vienna is a bit too clueless and Jack gets quite irritated when Vienna doesn't automatically sense he is trying to make contact, as if it's normal to believe in paranormal goings on right away.

enjoyed storyline

really enjoyed this audio book good cozy paranormal mystery
well written by Michelle Ann Hollstein good narrater too
can't wait to listen too book 2

Nice introduction to a new series

This was a fun and quick listen. The characters were quirky and interesting. This was an enjoyable listen and the narration was good.

Awakened Within

Vienna is only partially open to what is happening to her. But she is plagued by the strange dream. I really enjoyed some of the fun characters that were brought into the story. And the back drop of the area really brought something cool to the story as well. As Vienna is fighting what she wants to believe, it causes the story to have some slow spots. I think it was necessary for the story though and believe the series is going to be a blast from here out as she is more in turn with her new life. Karen Bachman does a fantastic job on the narration and the voices.