Andrea Vernon and The Big Axe Acquisition by Alexander C. Kane Narrator: Bahni Turpin
Series: Andrea Vernon #3
Published by Audible on July 15, 2021
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Length: 9 hours and 14 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Audible
The supervillains of DESTRON have conquered the country, The Big Axe has been imprisoned, and the heroes of the Corporation for UltraHuman Protection have been reduced to hiding behind a force field surrounding New York City.
And if that's not enough, Andrea Vernon is pregnant. With a Little Axe.
But Andrea’s not one to sit on the sidelines. She has to make a plan to save the country, rescue her boyfriend, and figure out what exactly people do with babies. And a whole new slate of enemies is coming for CUP, led by the newly installed dictator of America, Dr. Robotfury, and his ingenious mecha-administrative assistant who bears a rather frightening resemblance to Andrea.
It’s a lot to wrap up before you go on maternity leave.
This is the third, and what appears to be, final book in the Andrea Vernon series. This is a series that has brought a lot of joy into my life. It is full of humor and action and a lot of wit. And if you’ve read my reviews, you know that those are the things that make me happy. Oh, and wonderful characters which this book also has.
This series is about a corporation of superheroes who are contracted to protect different locations, cities, counties, boroughs of New York, etc. This story starts at a really low point for Andrea and CUP (Corporation for Ultra-human Protection). DESTRON (a superhero corporation which is run by supervillains), has taken over the US and captured The Big Axe, Andrea’s boyfriend. Andrea is a person who isn’t good at showing her feelings or commitment. She refused to move in with The Big Axe (and he is always called The Big Axe, never anything else) or even tell him that she loved him, though she very much did. The Big Axe would jump at marriage if he didn’t know that it would make Andrea run away. But now, he’s captive and she learns she’s pregnant with his baby. So that throws a lot of feelings her way.
We also get to know a lot more about Ms O, Andrea’s boss. She’s been a great character throughout the series, but we really get a lot of insight into her character in this book. She always has the best sayings. I wish I could remember some to share her wit. It is the one thing I wish audiobooks had that ebooks do, a way to highlight lines to go back for reference.
Anyway, this story wraps up the series arc very well. I still really want more stories from these characters. I will miss Andrea, Ms O, The Big Axe, Inspector Well Actually, GLLAARREE!! (not sure if it is actually spelled this way, but it is how it sounds) and the others. I miss seeing what new superpowers Kane will create next, along with the name to go with them.
I guess I will have to see what else Alexander C Kane has to offer. I did see he has a dragon book coming out soon. And has another series called The Orlando People. Not sure if it will be as good as this, but I might have to give it a try.
Narration:
Bahni Turpin is the perfect narrator for this series. She nailed every single character with all of their quirks. She’s great with GLLAARREE!!, and the way they talk at the top of their lungs and drawn out syllables. The way she always puts the pauses when Inspector Well Actually speaks, “Well, actually, …” I love her southern accent for Ms O, she may be Korean, but she was raised in the South with the accent that goes with it. This is a series that looked interesting when I first saw it, but when I saw Bahni Turpin was the narrator, I had to pick up the series. I’m so glad I did. I just wish there was more of them.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Bahni Turpin
Bahni Turpin is a Los Angeles-based actress with many television and film credits in addition to being an award winning narrator. She is honored to have been awarded an Audie for Best Female Narrator, 2015, Audible Narrator of the Year, 2016, and American Library Association’s Voice of Choice for 2017. In 2018, Bahni won best female narration again, and was also inducted into the Audible Hall of Fame. She is a two-time Odyssey Award winner, and was also named as one of Audiophile’s Golden Voices for 2019.
Bahni Turpin is also a famous TV and film actress. She started her career in 1987 with the film called “Tiszta Amerika”.
2010 Best Voice in Fiction: PRECIOUS
The talented narrator is now a devoted listener, too, but she came to audiobooks with a bit of skepticism. Another actress referred her to Books on Tape, where she later auditioned. “It was very strange to me at the time because I didn’t listen to audiobooks then.”
In time, Books on Tape engaged her to read A PIECE OF CAKE, by Cupcake Brown, and Bahni was hooked. She had always liked reading aloud and found the assignment to be a comfortable and enjoyable gig. Of course, she’s continued. But sometimes she’s surprised at a director’s requirements. “I auditioned for a new company, and the director was so picky,” she says. “Every time you cleared your throat, you had to restart the paragraph.”
Bahni, who now loves listening to women’s stories as she tools around Los Angeles, was mesmerized by her own voicing of the character Minny in THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. “While listening, I forgot it was me I was listening to,” says Bahni, who enjoyed the book’s rich emotions and vivid characterizations of several female characters.
The experience of absorbing audiobooks can be challenging for some modern listeners, Bahni feels. The heavy reliance on television for entertainment has led some to forget how to listen without a visual component. But she doesn’t draw a line between acting and narration. Bahni reads each book before recording and makes notes about how each character should sound. “I like to give each one a characterization and really try to read the way I feel the text should be heard. I especially enjoy doing dialects.”
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I started listening to audiobooks when a new book in a series was coming out and I wanted to get a refresher, but didn’t have time to read all the books (I think it was Anita Blake). I fell in love. I stayed with strictly re-reading books that I’d already read for a long time. I eventually tried an audiobook for something that I hadn’t read first and was hooked there too. Now, I listen to audio for both re-reads and first time. I have some series that I’ve given up reading and only listen. I try to get any many books/audiobooks from the library to help save on my budget. Books on CD and the newer digital downloads from the library really allow me to listen more. I then purchase my favorites (because who can wait in line for your favorite book??) and less mainstream books from Audible or some other online retailer.
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Oh, with only three books in the series, maybe I can fit it in sometime. Thanks!
I hope you’ve had a chance to check this series out. It is a lot of fun and I think you would enjoy it.
I need to add this to my Audible wishlist so I don’t forget about it! You’ve made it sound like such a fun series from all your reviews.
I hope you’ve gotten a chance to give this series a try. It is a lot of fun
I haven’t read this series but this does sound good.
I think you would really enjoy this series.
Thank you for your lovely review, Melanie! I’m looking for more fun and light-heartedness in my listening, so I’ve made a note of this series – thank you for sharing!
This would be a great book to lift your mood. It for sure put a smile on my face on days when I’m not sure I would’ve otherwise.
I loved the author’s reason for writing the series! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
It was such a fun series.
I think that I might have the first book in this series in my account. I need to give it a try because this sounds fantastic!
I think the first book was a freebie when Audible was doing one of five free books each month. Wow that was a long time ago. I let book one sit in my library way too long.
Bahni Turpin is new to me. I am intrigued by that narration! Maybe Bahni Turpin has done some other goodies too.
I listened to her the first time in the Downside series by Stacia Kane. I’ve listened to quite a few others since then. When I see her name, I definitely see if it is a story for me.