Reviews and Comments

OMG, I chose this story first to try and read not thinking that it would end up being one of those I didn't want to stop reading. How wrong I was! This was a wonderful story that made it hard to get up for work the next day.

I read the audible version of this book and with the journal style that the author Julie Gilbert wrote in the narrator Julie Hinton absolutely made this story terrific and had me hooked from the beginning. I know there were some reviews that said it was hard to read because of the journal style, but maybe try again and read the audio version.

Yes, in the beginning of each entry it tells you who it's from, but Julie Hinton makes sure you know who is who because they each have their own voice. Mrs. Hinton does has an awesome Southern voice for 12 year old Jillian Blairington and hearing the southern sayings had me laughing at times even when the moments were in tense. Julie also has the right type of tone that brings out the attitude that Danielle Matheson sometimes shares in her entries or the fear and confusion she felt. Whew, I could go on and on about the narrator, but I can't, smiles. So just one more thing. Mrs. Hinton's singing is absolutely wonderful to hear. The song comes at just the right time and takes your breath away. Another reason to say if you haven't listened to the audio version of this story, please do so!

This was definitely not your typical kidnapping story where ransom is needed and timelines are given. This was a kidnapping with a weird sense of sick purpose. The out of his mind scientist Dr. Dean Devya figured because he created Jillian/Ashlynn she was his to do what he wished. She owed him her life like the rest of the genetically altered children. In my opinion I seriously feel that if it wasn't for Jillian's mom number 2 talking Dean down at times, Jillian and Danielle would have had a rougher time than they already were having. Especially when Jillian did something that was unexpected and she couldn't explain to his satisfaction what she did. Just wow!

I can't wait until I have a free moment to get to the next book. No reading ones like this during the work week, lol. Thanks to both Julie's for having me up all night wanting to finish this story and see what happened next!

Disclaimer:
I received this book for free from the author and my review is definitely given freely.

I read the audio version of this book and it was terrific!

OMG, warning! What a story! This will make you laugh at some of the things that goes on and definitely bring tears to your eyes the next moment. Instead of hiding away and waiting for the world to get back to what use to be normal everyone that was healthy fought to survive and make a new life with what they had and could find. The creativity and hard work put into making a village above ground and below was amazing. This story made me constantly think even if just a story, if they could do it, mean survive and keep going, why can't we?

Reading this story brought back memories of going through the beginning of Covid. Brad the neighbor and holly's dad bought all the important things you could think of, batteries, water, gas, food and medical supplies for example in bulk. So much so that all Holly and her mom could do was roll their eyes thinking the men were going overboard. Then that time came when the stores couldn't keep the shelves stocked or the trucks couldn't even make it to the stores safely, the lights went out and life as you knew it was over and those preparations came in handy.

Like Holly I also wondered both in the story and in real life what was the point of the questionnaires? People had no clue what to do when some people answered yes to some of the questions. I have to agree that the the health people had to feel like they were doing something, but what that something was, no one knows. Where do you go, how do you react, what do you say to a person that answers yes?

There are several times during the story that Holly definitely shows her selfishness. She gets an dea in her head and it just has to be done no matter what, act first and thinks later. Made me want to reach through the book and shake her! lol.

This is another story narrated by Heidi Bindhammer and wow she does a great job! The emotion she puts behind each character and situation is terrific. I mentioned at the beginning that this story would make you want to cry and it's due to Heidi that those situations will become real to you.

Hope should never die!

If you'd like to see my full review please go to mayanderson.net/the-dying-butterfly-by-dl-fletcher/

Note:
I read the audible version of this story.

OMG, what an awesome murder mystery that will have you laughing one moment and shaking your head the next. I absolutely loved the characters. Even thoguh it's a small town they aren't stumbling around wondering what to do next. The chief makes sure his team keeps up their training and the dismay of the councilman who believes they shouldn't be waisting the town money in that manner.

Ha, the councilman also thinks there's some crime spree going on and isn't too pleased being interrupted when trying to tell about this spree when the murder is discovered and off the chief runs to find out what's going on.

My favorite characters in this story are Rose, one of the police officers, who is determined the husband did it and wants to strangle him or shoot him. It's a toss up on which she would prefer if the chief would let her, lol. Next is the husband who's so innocently stupid that it's funny. Like he seriously makes you think that he is the murderer with his behavior and things that he says. Of course he also makes me want to reach through the book and strangle him too. Then you have Giddy, sorry if her name isn't spelled right determined that no matter what the winter festival needs to go on, murder or not. In fact, she even tells the officers that they should look for things to go in the festival while they or wandering around the city looking for clues. Like seriously!

One of my favorite parts is how they actually caught the murderer and it is someone that you probably wouldn't look at right away.

The narrator does a great job. He really brings the characters to life. One part that I eally like that he does is during the meeting is when all the characters are talking he actualy has it so that you hear all of them. He doesn't do one voice at a time. I have never heard this in other books, usually it's multiple narrators, but this time it's just Theo.

This is suppose to be the first book in the series so I can't wait for more!