Sweet Nightmares

By: Zizi Cole

Narrated by: Courtney Parker

Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's Summary

Nightmares aren't always figments of our imagination. Alexandrea Cooper moves back to her hometown, Ravensville, after a 10 year absence. She starts adjusting to life back home again, when her parents are brutally murdered. There are no suspects and Alexandrea tries to cope with the grief of what has happened, when suddenly her sleep becomes plagued with nightmares of her parent's killer. She quickly realizes that there's more to her world than she originally believed. She's reunited with her high school sweetheart Jake, and the nightmares intensify. Attempts on Alexandrea's life twist her life as she knows it. In a race against time, can they stop the killer before it's too late?

©2017 Zizi Cole (P)2017 Zombie Cupcake Press

Sweet Nightmares

This audiobook is a mixture of bit mystery, a bit thriller, and a bit romance. Alexandrea has a very warm and supportive group of people around her to help her through this difficult time. It is exciting to see her discover things about her heritage throughout the book. There is a lot of suspense and I kept me interested listening to the audiobook

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

A Suspense Story Filled with Love

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.
This is a story that combines very different genres but does so masterfully. In a perfect communion of paranormal, thriller and love stories, the characters have to deal with unsuspected threats both mortal and supernatural. The psychological torment brought out by unnecessary guilt, brings the protagonist Lex to the brink of desperation until friendship, love, and professional investigation skills, can finally lift that tormenting burden from her shoulders. The characters are all very well developed and likable. The guessing game continues to the end and will not disappoint. The ending of the book assumes a continuation and I for one cannot wait to read it.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Excellent Listen

Oh man, this was a really good thriller! Opening with a nightmare of Alexandrea murdering her own parents, this tale only builds in suspense from there. When her parents actually are brutally murdered, it turns her life upside down and sends her into a spiral of murder, confusion and insanity. With her best friend/cousin and her childhood sweetheart at her side, Alexandrea will face a killer that wants her dead. Zizi Cole and Courtney Parker are an absolute dream team on this one! This book would be enjoyed by anyone who likes the mystery/thriller genre!

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

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

great paranormal book

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

This book starts off with some intensity, so that was a nice change from the normal slow burn. The premise of nightmares impacting reality was a cool addition. I liked that the romance aspect was a small part of the book and not the main focus. The story had some nice twists and the narrator kept everything moving forward at a nice pace. All in all, worth a credit.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Super fun! Impossible to put down!

I loved this story, it catches you from the beginning and keeps your interest to the end! Full of mystery and magic, but in a fun non-cheesy way! The characters are smart and engaging and expertly narrated. The narrators voice is pleasant and there is something vulnerable about it that really helps you understand the character. As always I plowed through it in a couple days! My only complaint is the next in the series isn't on audible yet!!! I want more! I received a free copy of this book at my request in exchange for a honest review. Thank you!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Grabbed my attention from the start!

Would you listen to Sweet Nightmares again? Why?

Sweet Nightmares grabbed my attention from the start. The horror elements in this book were tightly twined with suspense and a little romance too. I was immediately horrified by the story unfolding as well as chilled to the bone trying to figure out why it had happened. I immediately had a sense of foreboding that had me immediately engaged with this story.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Alexandrea Cooper’s family was brutally murdered and somehow Alexandrea, aka Lexi, was intimately aware of how the murders took place even though she was asleep at the time. Unable to deal with what Lexi thought to be the truth had her shutting down and shutting out everyone who wanted to help. It was bad enough that she was carrying around guilt but Lexi was also being plagued by nightmares so horrific it made me a bit squeamish to listen to.

At the end of her rope, Lexi finally confides in her cousin Mia about what has been happening and what Lexi believes to be true. Thank God Mia has an idea of what has been occurring and she helped Lexi to see the truth of the matter. The truth though did not set Lexi free as she was still plagued by the nightmares but in reality, they were not actually nightmares. Lexi was experiencing dream jumping, Freddy Kruger style, by a twisted and sick psycho who wanted Lexi all for himself. This stalker entered Lexi’s dreams and manipulated them using the blackest of magic.

As the nightmares intensified, Lexi was guided by a paranormal spirit to help her learn more about her mother’s past and her heritage in order to combat the evil that had entered her life. With the help of her cousin and her high school sweetheart, Lexi was able to put the pieces together and figure out what she needed to do to end this living nightmare. Lexi was plunged into a race against the clock that pushed her to the ends of her limits and beyond.

Have you listened to any of Courtney Parker’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

All I can say about this story was wow! I listened to the audio version of Sweet Nightmares and the narrator, Courtney Parker, was amazing! I felt that the characters, voices, and inflections with which she spoke were very realistic and I was so drawn into the story that I became unaware that it was being narrated. It felt as if I was listening to actual people discussing the story. The combination of the storyline and the Narrator made this an amazing experience for me.

Any additional comments?

The only thing that did not work for me in this story was that I felt that the story was happening to young adults not adults closer to their thirties. The mannerisms, how the characters reacted and handled situations, were closer to what I would expect from much younger adults. Overall, Sweet Nightmares was a nightmarish tale that definitely had my creep factor on high! I highly recommend this story to readers who were fans of Nightmare on Elm Street, this story will resonate with you!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

scary disturbed nightmares!

This book starts off with a bang. starts right off with a very disturbing dream of killing her parents. how does a book keep up the pace after that? Well somehow Zizi Cole does it.
This a great mix of paranormal and mystery all tied together. It will not leave you disappointed. great work ZIZI! I look forward to hearing more from you.

Mss Parker did a find job performing in this book! She bought great life into the voices! and I would listen to a book she reads again. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great Book!

This was a really good book! It held my attention all the way through and I honestly didn’t know who the “bad” guy was until the end. One thing I really liked about it was the lack of side drama. There wasn’t major drama between Jake and Alexis that didn’t have to do with the story but there also wasn’t major drama between them at all. Sometimes too much drama takes away from the actual story. The story does involve super natural powers, magic, and demon hunters. I wasn’t expecting that because there’s really nothing that points to it in the description. Sometimes I tend to stay away from super natural books because it just isn’t my thing but this book was really good. The story kept moving along and everything brought up in the book pertained to the current storyline. I will defiantly be listening to the other volumes as they are released. Another good thing is that the book didn’t end with a cliffhanger but it did end with foreshadowing so you know they’re probably be more books that will continue to carry the story on.

"I was given this audiobook free at my request for my honest and unbiased review."

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Very enjoyable

Almost forgot about this in my "to read" list.
Glad I found it!
The narration was spot on and made a smooth flowing story even smoother.
I was given a copy of this story at my request in exchange for an honest review.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Wowzas!! So good!!

Woah, Zizi Cole opens this book off quite the start! We go right into a very disturbing dream where Alexandrea murders her parents. Then after moving back home… her parents really do get murdered! It’s a terrifying build up of suspension… you can feel the build up and it sucks you in. Everything is turned upside down and inside out… and it’s an insane confusing ride! Hold one and enjoy this listen! Courtney Parker is fantastic! Zizi Cole and Parker work so well together. The story consumes you!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful