January

The Year of Discovery, Book 1

By: M. L. Hamilton

Narrated by: Kelley Hazen

Length: 3 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

Twelve women connected by the death of another, realizing what they most want from life and reaching for it - this is the year of discovery, the year of new beginnings.

Madelyn Yates dreamed of opening her own bed-and-breakfast, but as the middle daughter, she found herself trying to hold everything together for her family, until her sister dies. Meredith’s death throws everyone in the family into turmoil, but as always, Madelyn ignores her own needs to care for them.

A gift from beyond the grave changes that, and Madelyn finds herself thinking she just might heed her dying sister’s wish to “live the dream”.

©2018 M.L. Hamilton (P)2019 M.L. Hamilton

pretty good

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

This was a decent listen, but I'm finding it difficult to articulate my thoughts into a coherent review. The MC is strong, it is kind of a find yourself story, personal growth, sort of story. It's uplifting, intelligent, and pretty good. My difficulty is more around my inability to tell what sort of story this is supposed to be. I guess I just need to move on to the next story and find out.

Great Read

January was a great read by M.L. Hamilton. This is the first book in The Year of Discovery Series. Madelyn always dreamed about owning a bed and breakfast. Now she finds herself caring for her family after her sister's death. She finds her sister encouraging her to live her life from beyond the grave. I loved reading this book and can't wait to read more.

The Key to Possibilities!

I so loved what the Key represented in this book with so many adventures, and where to go and explore. January by M.L. Hamilton is both heart-wrenching and healing. Going on after losing a loved one is so difficult, yet the gift Maddie's sister left her was incredible. I loved how Meredith wanted her to follow her dreams, and to live. Kelley Hazen performed this book brilliantly. She was so realistic in her emotions, and had wonderful distinguishable voices for the various characters. I loved the message of shooting for your dreams. I requested this review copy audiobook and have voluntarily written this review. I will definitely listen to more books by the author and narrator. I cannot wait for the next book in this series. This is a standalone listen and brings out many emotions from tears to laughs and everything in-between.

It's a good start for the series...

Well, to clarify things first, it's more like 3.5 stars for the story as it's somewhere between just pretty good and great.

It's a difficult book to categorize; it's not a cozy mystery, it's not a romance, it's not a fantasy, it's not a social drama... it's not a lot of things but it definitely is a book about rediscovering yourself. Madelyn, the main character, is a young woman who has taken on herself a huge resposibility of keeping her family together after her father's death. She set aside her own dreams to do so to the extent of forgetting that she has a right to live her own life, too.

And that's the problem I have with her character. On the one hand, I admire her, as she is the strong one, the pillar of her family, the one everyone knows they can turn to because she'll always be there for them. On the other hand, that makes her a kind of person I'd like to slap on the head - she tends to sound a bit preachy and overbearing, like she's the only one who knows what is right and what is not for everyone around her... She doesn't let go even when others tell her. live your own life and let us live ours... And then suddenly she changes almost overnight, after one conversation with her mother, which is a bit unbelievable, I think.

Other than that, it's a very good introduction to the series, as the story itself is interesting and touches on some important family issues. It's also quite short, so you can finish it in one sitting (which I personally like a lot).

Narration by Ms Hazen is very good, as usual. She's really good at voicing individual characters, and the pace of her reading is just about right.

DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

January

A fantastic beginning to a new series.

Following the death of her sister, Maddie tries to hold everyone and everything together. When she receives a gift that her sister left for her, Maddie re-evaluates her life.

I thoroughly enjoy M.L. Hamilton’s stories especially when Kelley Hazen narrates. They make a great team!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

Family Life

I’m assuming this will be a 12 short book series as 1st book January is sad where 12 women are dealing with a death of a loved one. Maddie’s sister (Meredith) passes away from CA and leaves her a box and letter telling her to seek for her dream. All off the characters are likable and real, Mika is the troubled sensitive child. Narration was great only complaint was too short but looking forward to next one. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. THANK YOU

An Awesome Listen

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the narrator and found it uplifting. Death of a sibling is always difficult. Madelyn is the rock of her family, her sister's last wish is for her to soar and look after herself for a change. Listening to Madelyn's tale is uplifting as she strives for her dreams even if she needs some prodding along the way. The characters are unique and very real feeling. The story just flowed along and then it was done. As always the author and narrator make an awesome team. I'm looking forward to February.

Loved it

Great little 4hr book. Characters were like able, story line and narration were great. Love anything by ML Hamilton or narrated by Kelly Hazen.

Amazing

This is an amazing audio book. The storyline is really dramatic and heart rending with an awesome ending.
I highly recommend this audio book. And Kelly really is an excellent narrator. I can not get enough of ml. Hamilton’s books.
Awesome.

To play in the snow.

After the death of her father, Maddy had stopped being the outward looking imaginative adventurer who would open up exciting worlds for herself and her big siste, Meredith. Instead, her whole focus turned to protecting her remaining family. Unlike both of her sisters she stayed home instead of going to college and worked as a waitress in a bar. Now her older sister is dead, too, leaving two little children and husband, Henry. Maddy hadn't been able to protect her from cancer.
Then a letter from Meredith turns Maddy's life up-side-down.Sent

Well written,, with emotional impact, if rather too fairytale overall, the emptiness of bereavement is well captured together with the feelings of failure that can follow.. Narration by Kelley Haden was excellent, her reading mirroring the sentiments of the text and her voicing of all of the protagonists appropriate and well performed very much enhancing the story experience.

The story is short but a lot of emotion is packed into this book. Perhaps not overly realistic but this does offer hope of new life for those left behind by a loved one. Good for younger readers.