Audiobooks narrated by Stacy Gonzalez

Xanpan: Team centric agile software development

Xanpan is… a cross between XP and Kanban… is an example of a roll-your-own method… is distilled from Allan Kelly’s own experiences running development teams and then helping multiple teams adopt Agile working methods and practices. Xanpan draws ideas from Kanban and Lean, XP and Scrum, product management and business analysis, and many other places. Allan tells the Xanpan story through a series of boards which tell the story of different teams. In between he fills in the principles, practices and thinking which together constitutes Xanpan. Allan's key points include: handling planned and unplanned work in fixed length iterations, the importance of keeping quality high with technical practices, planning beyond the iteration and why deadlines are more important than estimates. 'Allan Kelly's Xanpan is now required reading for our team' Dom Davis, Head of IT, Virgin Wines. 'A well written and insightful reference material, packs a punch throughout!!!' Sunish Chabba 'If you're doing agile, lean, Kanban, xp a mix of any or just starting read it' Kev McCabe 'This book, very concise, is a goldmine. In a very accurate way, it will guide you through the implementation of the best from Kanban and Scrum.' Umiastowski Nicolas 'This book is an important contribution to the agile literature. It tackles the challenges that most teams face, head-on, by proposing alternatives that some might consider heretical. This sort of discussion is invaluable in the face of corporate certification of activities that promote blind faith and dogma rather than observation and critical thought.' Seb Rose 'An excellent book giving real examples and experiences of the adoption of lean and Kanban models within software development teams.' Belinda Waldock 'Thoroughly enjoyed XanPan. Allan challenges unfounded assumptions and really unearths a simplicity to writing about Agile and effective ways of working.' Amazon Reviewer

Allan Kelly (Author), Stacy Gonzalez (Narrator)

Audiobook

Where I Belong

An immigrant teen fights for her family, her future, and the place she calls home. In the spring of 2018, Guatemalan American high school senior Milagros 'Millie' Vargas knows her life is about to change. She's lived in Corpus Christi, Texas, ever since her parents sought asylum there when she was a baby. Now a citizen, Millie devotes herself to school and caring for her younger siblings while her mom works as a housekeeper for the wealthy Wheeler family. With college on the horizon, Millie is torn between attending her dream school and staying close to home, where she knows she's needed. She's disturbed by what's happening to asylum-seekers at the US-Mexico border, but she doesn't see herself as an activist or a change-maker. She's just trying to take care of her own family. Then Mr. Wheeler, a US Senate candidate, mentions Millie's achievements in a campaign speech about 'deserving' immigrants. It doesn't take long for people to identify Millie's family and place them at the center of a statewide immigration debate. Faced with journalists, trolls, anonymous threats, and the Wheelers' good intentions-especially those of Mr. Wheeler's son, Charlie-Millie must confront the complexity of her past, the uncertainty of her future, and her place in the country that she believed was home.

Marcia Argueta Mickelson (Author), Stacy Gonzalez (Narrator)

Audiobook

When We Had Summer

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants meets 13 Little Blue Envelopes in this new young adult novel about a tight-knit, daring, and eclectic group of friends who dedicate every summer to completing their #SummerSistersBucketList together – that is until one of their own passes away. Best friends Carly, Daniella, Lainie, and Penny – aka the self-proclaimed #SummerSisters – have been coming to the New Jersey shore town of Ocean Park Heights ever since they could remember. And every year, the girls make a bucket list and dedicate their entire summer to completing every item on it, documenting their wacky escapades on FotoSlam for everyone to see. It's their tradition, and as long as the Summer Sisters had each other, the rocky jetty on the shore, and their bucket list, that would never change. Right? But then, tragedy strikes after Carly – the mastermind behind the bucket list– unexpectedly passes away. As the remaining Summer Sisters try to wrap their heads around their best friend's death, life seems determined to throw more curveballs at the girls, threatening to split the Summer Sisters up for good. Daniella is accepted to a prestigious music academy in New York City, Lainie finds out her family is moving to Florida and leaving Ocean Park Heights for good, and Penny struggles to find her footing as she feels ready to leave childhood behind more quickly than either of her friends. What will hold them together with Carly gone and the Summer Sisters seemingly over? Then, Daniella finds Carly's final bucket list. And just like that, the Summer Sisters are back! But of course, things don't always go as planned, and the girls try their hardest to navigate grief, loss, and coming-of-age woes while keeping the Summer Sisters – and Carly's memory – alive.

Jennifer Castle (Author), Stacy Gonzalez (Narrator)

Audiobook

What White Parents Should Know about Transracial Adoption: An Adoptee's Perspective on Its History,

The White Fragility for transracial adoption--practical tools for nurturing identity, unlearning white saviorism, and fixing the mistakes you don't even know you're making. If you're the white parent of a transracially or internationally adopted child, you may have been told that if you try your best and work your hardest, good intentions and a whole lot of love will be enough to give your child the security, attachment, and nurturing family life they need to thrive. The only problem? It's not true. What White Parents Need to Know About Transracial Adoption breaks down the dynamics that frequently fly under the radar of the whitewashed, happily-ever-after adoption stories we hear so often. Written by Melissa Guida-Richards--a transracial, transnational, and late-discovery adoptee--this book unpacks the mistakes you don't even know you're making and gives you the real-life tools to be the best parent you can be, to the child you love more than anything. From original research, personal stories, and interviews with parents and adoptees, you'll learn: • What parents wish they'd known before they adopted--and what kids wish their adoptive parents had done differently • What white privilege, white saviorism, and toxic positivity are...and how they show up, even when you don't mean it • How your child might feel and experience the world differently than you • All about microaggressions, labeling, and implicit bias • How to help your child connect with their cultural heritage through language, food, music, and clothing • The 5 stages of grief for adoptive parents • How to start tough conversations, work with defensiveness, and process guilt

Melissa Guida-Richards (Author), Stacy Gonzalez (Narrator)

Audiobook

We Were Mothers: A Novel

A brilliant, twisty novel about a missing woman, an unfaithful husband, and the dark secrets that will destroy two perfect families. A scandalous revelation is about to devastate a picturesque town where the houses are immaculate and the neighborhoods are tightly knit. Devoted mother Cora O’Connell has found the journal of her friend Laurel’s daughter—a beautiful college student who lives next door—revealing an illicit encounter. Hours later, Laurel makes a shattering discovery of her own: her daughter has vanished without a trace. Over the course of one weekend, the crises of two close families are about to trigger a chain reaction that will expose a far more disturbing web of secrets. Now everything is at stake as they’re forced to confront the lies they have told in order to survive.

Katie Sise (Author), Stacy Gonzalez (Narrator)

Audiobook

Untold Mayhem: An Assortment of Violence

Twenty-four tales of madmen, monsters, and misery. A tantalizing blend of horror, suspense, and crime stories; each unique but all dark, disturbing, and violent. In the audiobook lurk: - A tarot card reader who makes house calls. - A disabled man in a miserable marriage who is regaining the use of his arms. - An ex-con who can’t resist carrying out one last home invasion. - Bickering business partners that resort to unconventional mediation to solve their problems. - An alcoholic pedophile forced to spend time in the desert. - A troubled university student who goes on a bloody rampage. - An alert detective who makes an unorthodox decision when he finds himself in the middle of an armed robbery. Buy your copy today!

Mark Tullius (Author), Amadeo Fusca, Angelo Di Loreto, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Jay Ben Markson, Jennifer O'Donnell, Landon Woodson, Michael David Axtell, Stacy Gonzalez, Vivienne Leheny (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Unicorns Who Saved Christmas

In this delightful and hilarious holiday picture book, can a troop of unicorns really save Christmas? It's Christmas Eve, and Santa's reindeer are sick with the chicken pox. They can't pull his sleigh, so Santa needs some serious help. Will the unicorns save Christmas despite coming down with a case of hiccups? Or will Christmas have to be canceled?

Mary Winn Heider (Author), Stacy Gonzalez (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Seventh Sun

Thrust into leadership upon the death of his emperor father, young Prince Ahkin feels completely unready for his new position. Though his royal blood controls the power of the sun, he’s now responsible for the lives of all the Chicome people. And despite all Ahkin’s efforts, the sun is fading—and the end of the world may be at hand. For Mayana, the only daughter of the Chicome family whose blood controls the power of water, the old emperor’s death may mean that she is next. Prince Ahkin must be married before he can ascend the throne, and Mayana is one of six noble daughters presented to him as a possible wife. Those who are not chosen will be sacrificed to the gods. Only one girl can become Ahkin’s bride. Mayana and Ahkin feel an immediate connection, but the gods themselves may be against them. Both recognize that the ancient rites of blood that keep the gods appeased may be harming the Chicome more than they help. As a bloodred comet and the fading sun bring a growing sense of dread, only two young people may hope to change their world. Rich in imagination and romance, and based on the legends and history of the Aztec and Maya people, The Seventh Sun brings to vivid life a world on the edge of apocalyptic disaster.

Lani Forbes (Author), Stacy Gonzalez (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Request for Lambency

Final requests before death have turned into a commercial - and threatening - frenzy. What if you got to take one thing with you when you died - and corporations and governments all wanted in on what you request? Moments that were once considered private and sacred are intruded upon like paparazzi on celebrities. When teenage Powa uploads on social media a partial video of her best friend's final request and the strange things that followed, she has no idea what she has triggered. Almost overnight, new businesses and services are created to capture this significant moment after death. Religions all over the world are forced to grapple with what this might mean - that their god is allowing one object to be taken into the afterlife? Social media erupts with new apps to track request videos as the global public becomes addicted to them. Meanwhile, Powa is trying to avoid the people who insist on seeing the rest of that video. What is she hiding? She leaves summer school to escape pursuers from an aggressive corporation. To make matters worse, a government agency assigned to authenticate all request videos is demanding to view the entire thing. Unable to determine friend from foe, she confides in a classmate. That leads to a journey to San Diego's Comic-Con with him and his unusual friends. Along the way, they learn of the cruel measures companies are willing to take to get their devices be the objects of 'the requests.' They soon discover that finding a solution is going to be more difficult than anticipated. Only one corporation seems to be the exception to this rule of greed and insanity. They believe the final piece to the puzzle lies with Powa, though she is convinced other celestial forces are at play. Enhanced with music and sound effects, the first episode of this YA sci-fi opens up a world of questions and motives - which side will you be on - and what happens when we get to have what we never thought possible? You can't take it with you - or can you?

Ileso Dmc (Author), Stacy Gonzalez (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Obsidian Butterfly

The Seventh Sun faces destruction as Mayana and Ahkin race to save their world in the finale to this “compulsively readable” series (Rachel A. Marks, author of Fire and Bone). To the Chicome people, an eclipse is a time of terror. When darkness falls, the barrier separating the heavens and the earth becomes unstable. Then come the ravening Tzitzimime—the star demons who thirst for human blood. Mayana and Ahkin know the full extent of the coming danger, but they must gather support or the Chicome Empire is doomed. As the eclipse nears, many maneuver for power in this deadly game of worlds ending. Metzi, Ahkin’s treacherous sister, has seized control of the empire with the aid of the malevolent goddess known as the Obsidian Butterfly. But Metzi has no idea what the goddess has in store … Yemania and Ochix face the wrath of both their peoples. Their forbidden liaison may draw ancient enemies together … or rip the young lovers apart forever. And the princesses who battled fiercely for Ahkin’s heart in The Seventh Sun meet again—but this time, they must join forces in order to survive. As for Ahkin and Mayana, the entire empire seems to want to keep them apart. Can their love endure the end of the world?

Lani Forbes (Author), Stacy Gonzalez (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Murderer's Maid: A Lizzie Borden Novel

A True Crime Thriller “Fascinating, mesmerizing, and so darkly atmospheric that you keep looking over your shoulder as you read.” ―Diana Gabaldon, internationally-bestselling author of the Outlander series Winner of Two Historical Fiction Awards in 2018 (IPPY Gold Medal Award and National Indie Excellence Award) #1 Bestseller in Historical Ireland In this historical murder thriller, author Erika Mailman (also winner of the 2007 Bram Stoker Award for her novel The Witch’s Trinity) brings the true story of the brutal murder of Lizzie Borden’s father and stepmother into new focus by adding a riveting contemporary narrative. With historical detail and taut, modern storytelling, Erika Mailman writes a captivating novel about identity, choices, freedom, and murder. She offers readers a fresh perspective on the notorious 19th century crime and explores the trials of immigrants seeking a better life while facing down fear and oppression, today and throughout history. Intelligent and detailed, The Murderer’s Maid is a gripping read from beginning to bloody conclusion. The Murderer’s Maid interweaves the stories of two women, the 19th century servant of infamous Lizzie Borden and the other a 21st century modern-day barista fleeing from an attempt on her life. Irish maid Bridget Sullivan, trapped by servitude and afraid for her own safety, finds herself an unwilling witness to the tensions in the volatile Borden household. In 2016, Brooke, the illegitimate daughter of an immigrant maid, is unknowingly connected to the legendary 19th century crime. Brooke struggles to conceal her identity and stay a jump ahead of the men who want to kill her. If you have read and enjoyed Lizzie Borden books such as The Life and Trial of Lizzie Borden, A Private Disgrace, The History and Haunting of Lizzie Borden, Parallel Lives, The Secrets of Lizzie Borden, or The Fall River Tragedy; you will love Erika Mailman’s award winning true crime thriller The Murderer's Maid.

Erika Mailman (Author), Stacy Gonzalez (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Life and Deaths of Frankie D.

Could a hundred-year-old circus side show be the key to Frankie's mysterious past? Seventeen-year-old Frankie doesn't trust easily. Not others and not even herself. Found in an alley when she was a child, she has no memory of who she is or why she was left there. Recurring dreams about a hundred-year-old carnival side show, a performer known as Alligator Girl, and a man named Monsieur Duval have an eerie familiarity to them. Frankie gets drawn deeper into Alligator Girl's world and the secrets that keep the performers bound together. But a startling encounter with Monsieur Duval when she’s awake makes Frankie wonder what’s real and what’s in her head. As Frankie's and Alligator Girl's stories unfold, Frankie's life takes a sharp turn. Are the dreams her way of working through her trauma or is there a more sinister plan at work? And if there is, does she have the strength to fight it?

Colleen Nelson (Author), Stacy Gonzalez (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks Narrated by Stacy Gonzalez