Not in This Small Town

By: Andrea Smith

Narrated by: David Black, Amanda Stribling

Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

They say evil can take many forms...I learned that first hand at the age of 17. My mother's third husband was the preacher - a man of the cloth who had a secret agenda within our small Southern community.

My name is Sunny Gardner. And, Layton, Alabama is my home, or least it had been until the preacher came into our lives. A minister who preached the Word, but lived a lie. But, the folks in this town had closed their eyes and ears to the truth once they fell under the preacher's spell. As it turned out, I'm the one they believed was evil. I'm the one who was shamed into leaving town.

This is my story. A story of struggle and triumph and, ultimately, a story of how I saved myself and my community from the devil himself.

©2016 Andrea Smith (P)2023 Andrea Smith

The Sun Shall Shine Again

It is riveting, stomach-churning, and a bit unexpected. Please be aware that this one is occasionally a tough listen due to the subject matter. If you have triggers, do take heed.

This book did go in a direction that I initially didn't anticipate. After that prologue, I was expecting one thing, but I'm glad that wasn't where the book went.

Avery Dawson is a wolf in sheep's clothing, but this wolf is about to become prey. The way everything comes to a head is inspirational. It is only the tip of what is deserved.

On a personal note, I take issue with Donna, and her choosing her husband over her child when faced with a tough situation. She obviously struggles with the phrase "blood is thicker than water" and what it truly means. The fact that Sunny had someone in her corner regardless of what was spewed was heartwarming. 🤗

I do love that her mom did give her a happy name. I won't give away details but it is one of the best things Donna may have ever done. ♥️ 🌞

I received an author's copy of the audio book. The narrators are both new to me. Amanda Stribling and David Black did a good job with the various characters.

One last thing: there are detailed adult situations but I wouldn't categorize them as steamy given the context.

Story: 4.5 stars
Narration: 4 stars
Listening Speed: 1.5x

PS: I love this cover!

Holy Scandal

So much to say about this…but too hard to go into it without spoilers. This is a story about a southern preacher from a small town with a scandalous secret. The whole town loves him, so who would ever tell on him and who would ever believe him? I’ve lived in a small, southern, religious town and can completely understand how the town can fall prey to the Baptist charm. I was totally on the edge of my seat the whole time wondering how all this was going to play out. The warped mind of someone with a little power who, I believe, thought he was doing the right thing was fascinating to see play out.

Very well written and the narration is superb!

WOW! This is a ripped from the headlines story that has a southern flair! I loved it! The story just appalls me and also makes me see how these sexual predators prey but on the other hand it is a needed story to bring these situations to the light. I loved it because the author took the time and patience to write something that is or could be real and from the good and bad POV. She captured the predator, the victims, the denials, the shame and embarrassment of each of these characters perfectly! I believed each one of them and felt their emotions. Then she snuck in a twisty twist-twist(which I loved and was surprised at).

Overall this might not be a popular story but it is necessary as it helps open eyes and minds. I did listen to this gem on audio. Amanda Stribling and David Black are the narrators. They are both excellent in here! There are multiple characters of various ages and they are all spoken brilliantly! They “leveled up” this already wonderfully enlightening story.

intense,

The one person that should be trusted is the one that is the most dangerous. Avery Dawson, the self proclaimed preacher, has a very hands on approach to marriage counseling.
Everyone puts their trust in the preacher, but he is a sexual predator. Sunny's mother puts her husband first and doesn't believe the atrocities going on behind closed doors.
This story is set in a small town in Alabama .It is intense, with graphic sex scenes. Great story and character development.
Amanda Stribling and David Black narration captures the intensity, anguish, and despair of the characters. I was gifted this audio and offered my honest review.

Thought Provoking & Twisted! Great Story & Listen🎧

Wow, just wow, this book blew me away, the story drew me in like a moth to a flame, grabbing my attention and captivating it straight to the end. This is an original, well written and well-told story, a story that will get you thinking and wondering not only to figure out the mysterious element of the story but how could someone be the way they are. Some may be sensitive to parts of this story and it may take them out of their comfort zone and question how could something like this happen and how could it have gone so far. Secrets, lies and deceit and a person who is evil and narcissist, one who people look up to and is in a position of power or control and knows how to control. Sure this is fiction, or is it really? Sunny Gardener is trying to enjoy her teenage years with her friends, but it is difficult when her stepfather is a preacher in the local church and has her mother in his grips who does everything he says to do. It looks like they have a happy marriage but not everything is what it appears, but since she is like his puppet, she only sees what she wants to see. Sunny knows better and with her bestie, they look into what the preacher is really up to. She is also wondering what happened with her father, who, years ago, disappeared from her life without a word. There is never a dull moment in this book, the story is cleverly plotted with plenty of drama, angst, mystery, twists and turns, psychological thrill & suspense. It is a wild ride, I was losing my faith in people and my heart went out to Sunny who was wise beyond her years but the Sun shone in the end. Andrea Smith, thank you for this mysterious and thought-provoking story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 And for the amazing narration, Andrea Smith could not have chosen a better cast to bring her story and characters to life. Amanda Stribling and David Black are superbly talented narrators and versatile voice artists. They had a complete understanding of the characters they portrayed, giving each a voice that suited their character’s persona to a tee, sounding believable in every role they played and just as I pictured the character to sound. Amanda Stribling took Sunny’s role, ran with it and made it her own, capturing every side of her personality, as well as her convictions and vulnerabilities. David Black nailed it as Avery, grasping his alpha tendencies and narcissistic conceitedness with perfection. Both were great at performing the roles of the secondary characters as well. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and projected them into their performance and had you feeling every single one. These entertaining storytellers are a pleasure to listen to and their narration enhances this great story to another level. Thank you for another exceptional listen.

Amazing!

OMG— what a wonderful story! So many twists and turns with such emotions! It goes to prove that we do have wolves in sheep clothing.
Amanda and David were fabulous narrators! I could feel all the pain and love in the characters. Don’t miss this one!

Thought Provoking & Twisted! Great Story & Listen🎧

Wow, just wow, this book blew me away, the story drew me in like a moth to a flame, grabbing my attention and captivating it straight to the end. This is an original, well written and well-told story, a story that will get you thinking and wondering not only to figure out the mysterious element of the story but how could someone be the way they are. Some may be sensitive to parts of this story and it may take them out of their comfort zone and question how could something like this happen and how could it have gone so far. Secrets, lies and deceit and a person who is evil and narcissist, one who people look up to and is in a position of power or control and knows how to control. Sure this is fiction, or is it really? Sunny Gardener is trying to enjoy her teenage years with her friends, but it is difficult when her stepfather is a preacher in the local church and has her mother in his grips who does everything he says to do. It looks like they have a happy marriage but not everything is what it appears, but since she is like his puppet, she only sees what she wants to see. Sunny knows better and with her bestie, they look into what the preacher is really up to. She is also wondering what happened with her father, who, years ago, disappeared from her life without a word. There is never a dull moment in this book, the story is cleverly plotted with plenty of drama, angst, mystery, twists and turns, psychological thrill & suspense. It is a wild ride, I was losing my faith in people and my heart went out to Sunny who was wise beyond her years but the Sun shone in the end. Andrea Smith, thank you for this mysterious and thought-provoking story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 And for the amazing narration, Andrea Smith could not have chosen a better cast to bring her story and characters to life. Amanda Stribling and David Black are superbly talented narrators and versatile voice artists. They had a complete understanding of the characters they portrayed, giving each a voice that suited their character’s persona to a tee, sounding believable in every role they played and just as I pictured the character to sound. Amanda Stribling took Sunny’s role, ran with it and made it her own, capturing every side of her personality, as well as her convictions and vulnerabilities. David Black nailed it as Avery, grasping his alpha tendencies and narcissistic conceitedness with perfection. Both were great at performing the roles of the secondary characters as well. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and projected them into their performance and had you feeling every single one. These entertaining storytellers are a pleasure to listen to and their narration enhances this great story to another level. Thank you for another exceptional listen.

Preacher

Brilliant dual narration of Amanda Stribling and David Black

A story full of twists and turns, secrets and lies. Avery Dawson is the town minister and a sexual predator. All believe him to be trustworthy Sunny Gardner is his step daughter who is hell bent on bringing him to justice. Amazing story , your heart will be in beating fast and you will find you shouting out. Brilliant.

Forbidden and dark! Loved it!

I love going into a book cold. I love Andrea Smith and will enjoy any book she writes. This one is taboo, and dark, exciting and cringe worthy. It holds all the different feelings, and it's impossible to put it down. Sunny lives with her mother and stepfather. The preacher in town, he is a man to look up to. But at home it's nothing like his congregation. Sunny can't understand why her mother has fallen for the man. There is something just not right. With her best friend, they begin to delve into the workings of the man that seems to have all the women fawning around him and what they find is life changing. But he's not the only man Sunny is interested in. She is working on finding her father to get some answers about her mom and their lives. Secrets and lies all intertwined in this action filled, forbidden story. It's captivating and will make you think. Loved it.

Amanda Stribling and David Black narrate in duet with a variety of characters, but their main characters are phenomenal. Stribling plays Sunny perfectly. Inquisitive, disgusted, distraught, happy, she pulls out all the stops and creates a fantastic personality. Black has that hint of strictness and evil in his tone as Avery, making him seem like a very devout and realistic. These two made the listen amazing.

Holy Moly!!!

Wow! This story definitely packs a punch. Touching on a touchy subject - sexual predators within the church. A man who is supposed to be trustworthy is the exact opposite, preying on vulnerable couples in the name of God. The funny thing is - he truly believes he’s doing God’s work. Sunny Gardner is the unlikely young lady who is hell bent on bringing him to justice. Oh, and she’s also his step daughter (not that they have a relationship, they dislike each other immensely). A story full of twists and turns, secrets and lies. Some I saw coming, some came straight out of left field. Great characters. I absolutely adored Sunny, she was so strong and such a straight shooter. She had so many heartaches in her life, let down by those who she should be able to rely on, yet she persevered, not letting anything get in her way. The story is told in multiple POVs, the audio version, narrated by David Black and Amanda Stribling is testament to their fantastic Southern drawls, they express all the emotions perfectly.