Tarnished and Torn

By: Juliet Blackwell

Narrated by: Xe Sands

Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

When Lily arrives at an antique jewelry fair, her bargain sensors go off left and right - but she also picks up a faint vibration of magic. Could the hard-bargaining merchant Griselda be a fellow practitioner? It certainly seems that way when a sudden fire sends panic through the crowd, and Lily discovers Griselda murdered in a way that nods to an old-fashioned witch hunt. A crime that hits close to home turns into an unwelcome flash from the past when the police bring in their lead suspect - Lily's estranged father. Though he may not deserve her help, Lily is determined to clear her father's name and solve a murder that's anything but crystal clear.

©2013 Julie Goodson-Lawes (P)2013 Tantor

Always entertained!

Where does Tarnished and Torn rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I love the narrators voice and i've loved every book so far in this series. I'm always entertained and delighted with the little magical surprises.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lily, cause she is wonderful!

What does Xe Sands bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Her voices are great! she is good at changing them all up but i'm mostly love the warmth in her voice.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

So entertaining, it's magic.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Excellent read

I found it hard to stop listening to this book. I love all of Juliet Blackwell's books and Xe Sands is the perfect person to narrate. She has this smooth sex appeal that flows evenly wether she's speaking a male or female voice.From beginning to end this book kept me interested and emotionally engaged. I love the characters and I would love for Lilly and Sailor to finally hook up, Lilly needs a steady partner in crime.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Really enjoyed this book!

I have read books one through four and have really enjoyed this series. I have one book to go and hope there will be more books in this series.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

entertaining

Would you consider the audio edition of Tarnished and Torn to be better than the print version?

For me yes as my eyesight is not very good. And hearing it is very refreshing.

What other book might you compare Tarnished and Torn to and why?

Some of Victoria lauries books, they are entertaining but not too scary and they are wonderful to hear anytime of the year.

What about Xe Sands’s performance did you like?

Yes, loved her accent

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not really I enjoyed the entire audible experience

Any additional comments?

I have read some of her books, but I really enjoy listening to them. And I look forward to the next one.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Outstanding!

Lily Ivory is a witch and owner of a vintage store called Aunt Cora’s Closet. In her time in San Francisco she’s gotten into plenty of trouble. However trouble is heading her way like never before. This time in the form of her father and what could likely be a fire demon!! It all starts innocently enough when she goes to a fair and meets a German lady selling antique jewellery. She’s interested in what she has to offer and suspects that she might also be a witch. Her suspicions are confirmed when the lady turns up dead, pressed between wood with cinder blocks on top. The “pressing” is a old form of torture against witches, which Lily has only heard of. Due to the nature of her death, Detective Carlos calls on Lily to help out and this starts one adventure that Lily nor her friends will forget in a hurry.

I fell in love with this series when I first read Secondhand Spirits. I love Lily as she not just tries to solve mysteries, but also learns what it is like to live in San Francisco and have friends nearby. She was shunned from her own mother and her hometown for being a witch. However her life in San Francisco is pretty great… well except for the murders and the fact that her one-time lover, Sailor, has disappeared.

What I love the most about Tarnished and Torn and this series as a whole, is it is never dull and boring. There is always a lot happening but Juliet Blackwell doesn’t leave readers lost and unable to connect the dots. It is more than just a cozy mystery, with the paranormal elements and more-than-meets-the-eye characters. In Tarnished and Torn we finally meet Lily’s father, who abandoned her as a baby. We discover more about their relationship (or lack there of) and perhaps more about how Aidan feels about Lily. Fans of this series will definitely enjoy some of the sub-plots that have continued on from the previous books.

For me, Xe Sands is the voice of this series. Her portrayal of the characters is beyond amazing. I particularly love the depth she gives to Lily’s familiar, Oscar. Oscar is part gargoyle, part goblin and appears a pot-bellied pig. His suggestion on how to solve the case was to hire Miss Marple, and is aghast to find out that she doesn’t exist and is made up! This scene alone had my laughing until I cried!! After having experienced the previous books as audiobooks I know I will definitely be continuing on with the series in audiobook format only. I wouldn’t hesitate recommend this series to mystery fans and also paranormal fans. It’s not one to be missed!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

excellent and entertaining!

enthralling plot development with rapid pace excitement. Good character development! loved all the characters. Oscar the pig/gobgoyal was a hoot.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Loved It

Would you consider the audio edition of Tarnished and Torn to be better than the print version?

Have not read any of these, always the audio edition. Love the audible books.

If you’ve listened to books by Juliet Blackwell before, how does this one compare?

She is awesome. the characters always sound the same from book to book.

Which scene was your favorite?

Everyone one with Oscar and/or Sailor. Enjoyed this book very much.

Any additional comments?

Such fun books to listen to.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Without a doubt....

Any additional comments?

Great series, fun listen, and without a doubt, Xe Sands has the greatest voice for this author. Her inflections and different character voices put you directly in the story. She is the best!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

5th Wonderful Book in Series does NOT Disappoint

If you could sum up Tarnished and Torn in three words, what would they be?

I love every one of the books in this series.

This was the first of the Witchcraft Mysteries that I listed to as an audio book.
While it sounded much different than I had been hearing it in my head, I loved being able to listen to the word pictures being presented.

Each story in this series gives us not only enjoyment but also teaches us without being preachy or dull. I am fascinated by the detail Juliet Blackwell includes in her novels.

Lily Ivory runs a vintage clothing store, and also offers accessories to complete the vintage look and feel for her customers. She searches high and low to get the best deals and best merchandise to offer her customers, who become dear friends.
Part of lily's magical powers are to feel the energies of past owners in clothing. In this novel, jewelry takes the spotlight role.
We also learn more about the mysterious Aiden, the most powerful male witch in the Bay area. As such, he has his share of enemies.
And we have a rare closer look at Lily's father.

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

This is a page turner and keeps the reader involved and wondering until the very end.

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

She has a wonderful, versatile voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wished I could have listened all the way through at one time.
I know I will listen to and enjoy it again.

Any additional comments?

All books in this series by Juliet Blackwell are an automatic MUST BUY.
I love her Haunted Home Renovation series too, and have enjoyed other books she has written.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Another great tale!

If you could sum up Tarnished and Torn in three words, what would they be?

It is so much fun to continue wth a new and interesting mystery with Lily Ivory and the same friends that I have met throughout the first four books of this series. Having the same narrator with each has really lended continuity to the series. I hate that this is the last book, but I see that the author has the 6th installment coming out this summer. Can't wait! This nrrator has done a great job and is probably the best I have listened to. I am glad to see that she also narrates Juliet Blackwell's Haunted Home Rennovation Series which I am off to read (listen to, lol) next.

What other book might you compare Tarnished and Torn to and why?

Royal Spyness Series is similar to Juliet Blackwell's Witchcraft series in that it is a light tale of a mystery with a wonderful narrator, Katherine Kellgren is probably tied for first place in my mind with Xe Sands. She really brings the characters alive with different nuances in her voice and it is fun to meet up with the same characters and narrator as the series continues.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful