Love and Lust: Audiobook of 'Honey House' by Laura Harner
Reviewing an audiobook means considering a book in two ways. First is an opinion of the book itself, but secondly I look at the narration of the book as if it were a radio play performed by (usually) one person. The actor or actress who reads the book can make or break the enjoyment of the story by his or her performance. The voice, accent, or timber of the narrator is as important in an audiobook as the character development, storyline, language, or any other aspect of a book, perhaps even more so in an erotic romance. Is the book simply read aloud or is the reader treated to a performance? The audiobook I am reviewing today is a melding of an excellent book with a delightful narration.
Honey House (KC Carmichael Book 1) by Laura Harner
What it's about (courtesy Hot Corner Press):
Former con artist Katherine "KC" Carmichael inherits the Honey House, a Bed and Breakfast located in the tiny town of Juniper Springs, Ariz., a hot bed of the paranormal tourism industry. It doesn't take her long to discover that both the town and the House are keeping secrets.
Although the town entices thrill-seekers with special photo-safaris to take advantage of the rumors of werewolves, KC realizes something doesn't add up when the local sheriff throws her in jail for breaking the town's full moon curfew. She soon discovers werewolves and witches are real, and she wonders what other fairy tales might be waiting to come to life.
With multiple murders and men to distract her, KC needs to discover her own hidden magick in order to survive.
Why you should listen to the audiobook: I've had Honey House on my TBR (To Be Read) pile for a while and was delighted when the audiobook became available. I love audiobooks. I listen while walking the dog, riding in the car, waiting for an appointment, or even while I'm working in my garden. It's a way to not only pass the time but be thoroughly entertained. Honey House is particularly enjoyable in audiobook format.
The story itself is a rocking good fantasy romance about a young woman who finds herself the unexpected owner of a bed and breakfast that has a mind and will of its own. KC was raised by foster parents who were unconventional at best and taught her the art of the con. The house she inherits from someone she barely knows is actually a character in the story, dictating who can enter the house and making the rules of the house. When an investigative journalist is murdered, we start being introduced to other paranormal characters. People are not who they seem to be and it's great fun to find out who, or what, they really are. Nevertheless, there is love and sex and a romping good time in bed for KC, but with whom? You'll have to listen (or read) the story to find out.
I loved this story but especially the narration by Sonja Field. Ms. Field's reading of each character in his or her own voice is charming and fitting to the characters. My favorite was actually a secondary character, Mrs. Kinsington. When you listen to the story I would love to know which is your favorite.
If you are a fan of audiobooks, I know you will love Honey House. If you've never listened to an audiobook, this is a great story to start with because it is so well read and the characters stand out as individuals. Highly recommended as a book and as an audiobook.
INTERVIEW WITH LAURA HARNER
I not only had the privilege of talking to Laura Harner, I got to go on a research expedition with her in Louisiana to look for locations for some of her other characters and stories. Just watching her interpret buildings, villages, and road signs as they might fit in a paranormal story was absolutely fascinating. Here are her answers to my questions after I listened to Honey House.
Becky: You've had several careers. Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Laura: I would say I've had an interest in writing since I was a young girl reading my first Nancy Drew mysteries, but it wasn't specific. It was mostly of the daydream variety, like many people have: I'd love to write a book someday. I did a lot of technical and academic writing in my various jobs, but no fiction.
Boxing Day 2009 I woke up with a character named Elena MacFarland whispering the idea for a four-book Highland series. I sat down, ignored everyone in the house and started writing. I haven't stopped since.
Becky: Honey House is not a typical paranormal story, if there is such a thing. How do you go about the process of world-building when you are writing a book?
Laura: For Honey House, my inspiration really came from the city of Sedona and the surrounding region. It's a very spiritual place for many, and thousands of people every year are drawn to the power they sense there.
There are several vortexes of subtle energy located in the Sedona area. (In Sedona, the energy centers are referred to as vortexes rather than vortices.) People believe the energy from these vortexes saturates the whole area in and around Sedona — which is near where my mythical town of Juniper Springs is located. If you actually go to one of the vortex sites, which is where the energy is strongest, people report the energy stays with you for days afterwards.
Now, it could be all these people are just crackpots … but what if there really is some truth behind these vortexes of power? Haven't you ever gone someplace and been moved by some indefinable energy or emotion? Imagine what powers might be behind these vortexes and what if someone built on top on an energy vortex?
Whether it's for one of my paranormals or a ranch full of gay cowboys in northern Arizona, the world-building always starts with the "what if" question.
Becky: Honey House is your first audiobook. Tell us how that came about and will any of your other books also be available as audiobooks?
Laura: I am a huge fan of audiobooks. I lived in Grand Canyon National Park for several years, and it's a 90-minute drive from there to Flagstaff, the closest city with major services, so I've listened to thousands of hours of books. It's been a dream of mine to have my books on audio — and thanks to ACX, a division of Amazon — it's been made very easy. I just accepted the final proof of Forbidden Love, a romantic suspense set in southern Louisiana. It's narrated by the very talented Saskia Maarleveld — who has done books for some of the best in the business. Forbidden Love will be available next week.
I've also contracted my Highland Destiny series with Noah Michael Levine, another fantastic narrator. We go into production later this summer.
Becky: What are some of the things you do while writing that others might find unusual?
Laura: Hmm…I do a lot of standing and pacing. I use a freestanding kitchen cabinet unit from Ikea as my desk. I love the counter high surface to work on, because I can stand while I type. My main desk is in the family room — but there's a matching unit in the breakfast nook, about 15 feet away. I often keep a computer going on each one — so I have my writing open in one spot and research or the chat with my writing group open in the other. Sometimes a scene gets me wound up and I have to move while it settles into place, so I can walk across the room and do something else for a couple of minutes until I'm ready to finish the scene.
Becky: Do you have a website where readers can find out more about you and your books?
Laura: I love to hear from readers and they can find me at lauraharner.com.
Becky Condit is a widow, mother of three and grandmother of 10 who reads all kinds of books, but her go-to comfort books are erotic romances. A romance novel coupled with just-out-of-the-oven chocolate-chip cookies and a glass of cold milk is her idea of heaven. She reads and reviews more than 250 books a year, so you won't often find her without her Kindle in hand, but when you do, she'll probably be gardening, doing needle crafts, working in her upholstery workshop and spending time with her family.