Showing results by narrator "Karen Gundersen" in All Categories

Award-winning Great Plains writer Marilyn Coffey recounts her family’s intricate dance with the Teamsters, beginning with her dad’s tiny trucking company spawned on a front porch in 1929, in a David-and-Goliath encounter that spanned decades. In 1956, Tom Coffey knuckled under Jimmy Hoffa’s six-month-long Teamsters strike. He sold his 27-year-old truckline, Coffey’s Transfer Company, rather than sign Hoffa’s contract.

The auction of Shady Pines, a creepy, reportedly haunted old motel on the outskirts of town, causes an influx of real estate investors from near and far — some nice, some nasty, and all with plans for the property. As the tempers begin to flare, Lilly and her good friend, Bree Milford who owns the local B&B, visit Shady Pines to check out the potential new competition. But instead of answers, they discover the lifeless body of one of the most vocal (and irritating) investors.

A famous chef makes an unexpected visit to the tavern with an offer that threatens all of Lilly's future plans, her boyfriend starts to complicate their relationship, and - just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse - a friend’s husband is found dead under suspicious circumstances. The police are pointing their fingers directly at Lilly's friend, so the bartender once again finds herself at the center of a murder investigation.

Lilly Waters is loving life as the new assistant manager at the Smugglers’ Tavern in the small town of Danger Cove. So the last thing she wants or expects is an impromptu family reunion with the wannabe-rock star dad and his number-one-fan (her mother) who were noticeably absent from her childhood. Not only does Lilly have her hands full dealing with her mom and dad who act more like teenagers than parents, but she also finds herself in hot water when the son of a Chicago mob boss is murdered on tavern property.

I got tired. Tired of all the fluffy, just-guessing books about what people regret, want, and will do at the end of their life. I'm a hospice nurse and I want to show the world how love can be messy, not-pretty, complicated, funny, fun and heart-breakingly beautiful. I want the world to know that caring for someone who's dying is challenging and this is where you discover your true self.

Murder wasn't exactly legal in any of the regions, and I was the best murderer in the cluster. Once upon a time, I had dreams, desires, but they vanished in a puff of asteroid dust when Binja Tur got his hands on me. Now, I kill for pay, mindlessly snuffing out the lives of people I have never met. If given the opportunity, I would escape all this bloodshed, and rekindle my lost hopes, but you don't plan for the impossible. Then, she came into my life, and I had to make a choice - remain a slave to Tur, or risk it all and run. My name is Laoise Rek, and this is just the beginning.

Blending biographical fiction with the introspective intimacy of a modern woman’s diary, this novel delves into themes of growth, resilience, and the search for meaning in a life lived across generations. It’s a deeply personal exploration of self-discovery and reflection, perfect for listeners drawn to heartfelt stories of personal growth and the beauty of life's unfolding journey.