Short as Any Dream

An Avery Nolan Adventure, Volume 2

By: M. L. Hamilton

Narrated by: Kelley Hazen

Avery moved to Lake Tahoe for the quiet. She didn’t get that. What she found made her question everything she knew about the world. Basil, her aging golden retriever, has aged in reverse. Her new neighbors make flowers grow in winter. And her student, pale-eyed Bay, can freeze a bully’s heart in his chest. Then there’s Duncan. After Duncan is captured in the Greensward, Avery thinks her biggest challenge is to rescue him, until ICE Agent Graham Braddock shows up at her door, claiming Duncan Sommerfeld is an illegal alien. Oh, if he only knew. Even so, she has to keep her promise to Bay - the promise that she would bring his father home to both of them, but how the heck did you accomplish the impossible?

©2014 ML Hamilton (P)2018 ML Hamilton

Everywhere she turns, there's trouble awaiting...

The second book in the Avery Nolan Adventure series is definitely more action-packed than the first one. And more emotional...

Duncan has been captured and Avery has no idea how to find him. Even worse, an ICE agent appears on her doorstep asking difficult questions about Duncan and soon starts stalking her, certain she knows where Duncan is. But that's only the beginning - every chapter brings new trouble for Avery, Bay and the Aunts, and the emotional strain reaches its peak in a heart-breaking scene near the end of the book.

The pace of the story is much faster than in book one. The background situation having already been set, Ms Hamilton can focus solely on the events and character development. ICE Agent Graham Braddock is an intriguing addition to the set of characters, his unnerving and ominous presence being a constant threat to Avery's peace of mind. Her mother, although appearing only for a brief moment, leaves a strong impression on the reader/listener, and Avery herself gets more complex, sometimes behaving erratically and sometimes acting in cold blood under pressure... And the ending leaves us in an emotional turmoil, both terrified and hopeful of what may happen in book three.

The narration by Ms Hazen is perfect, with the right pace of reading, very good voicing of characters and no overacting whatsoever.
I can't wait to listen to part three:)

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

An Awesome Listen

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the narrator and found it enjoyable and intriguing, but way to short. This is the second book in the series. Avery comes to the conclusion, be careful what you wish for. Her life has totally changed, but not for the better. One by one her new family is stolen away from her. I was so caught up in the story that I was shocked when it ended. Between the story and the narration this series is extremely entertaining.

FABULOUS

Avery Nolan is a fantastic hero. I love her and her relationships with her students. I love how scared she can feel and yet how brave she is when the time comes. This is a great second book and I can't wait for the next. This series feels like a TV show - episode to episode - you really look forward to the next week's installment. The romance is really touching. The kids are hilarious and so are the aunts. The mystery of Avery's mother's past is really heartfelt. POSSIBLE SPOILER: And I love the fantasy of the other place. This is also a really really funny series. Summer listening, you bet!

Great Read

Short as any Dream (Avery Nolan #2) by M.L. Hamilton was a great read. Avery thought that things would be much better in Tahoe. She didn't expect to gain and lose Duncan in that time. This was a great read that followed Avery trying to find Duncan.

the adventure continues

Book Two DOES NOT disappoint. The great mysterious quest that started int he first book continues on with new revelations and obstacles. Also a ton of humor. I look forward to Avery gaining more self-confidence. This series reminds me of the way Stephen King released The Green Mile in a series of very short, regularly-released paperbacks like the old serials. I'm hoping Book Three comes out as quickly as Book Two. I'm ready to listen to more.