#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Mickey7 by Edward Ashton

Entertaining but not gripping.

Mickey7
by Edward Ashton
John Pirhalla (Narrator)
Katharine Chin (Narrator)

Listening Length: 9 hours and 16 minutes
Audible.com Release Date: February 15, 2022
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Adventure, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Space
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Mickey7, an "expendable," refuses to let his replacement clone Mickey8 take his place.
Dying isn’t any fun…but at least it’s a living.
Mickey7 is an Expendable: a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there’s a mission that’s too dangerous—even suicidal—the crew turns to Mickey. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. After six deaths, Mickey7 understands the terms of his deal…and why it was the only colonial position unfilled when he took it.
On a fairly routine scouting mission, Mickey7 goes missing and is presumed dead. By the time he returns to the colony base, surprisingly helped back by native life, Mickey7’s fate has been sealed. There’s a new clone, Mickey8, reporting for Expendable duties. The idea of duplicate Expendables is universally loathed, and if caught, they will likely be thrown into the recycler for protein.
Mickey7 must keep his double a secret from the rest of the colony. Meanwhile, life on Niflheim is getting worse. The atmosphere is unsuitable for humans, food is in short supply, and terraforming is going poorly. The native species are growing curious about their new neighbors, and that curiosity has Commander Marshall very afraid. Ultimately, the survival of both lifeforms will come down to Mickey7.
That is, if he can just keep from dying for good.

Review:
Mickey7 is an “Expendable”. After bad gambling put him into debt to a loan shark, Mickey wanted to get off planet quickly. His friend Berto is going on a colonization expedition and Mickey, having no special skills to offer a space mission, volunteers to take the only open spot– the job of an “Expendable”. That means he gets all the dangerous jobs that are likely to get him killed. The twist is that his memory is “backed-up” and he is brought back as a clone. Mickey figures he can “live with” this arrangement.

When Mickey meets the commander on the mission he learns that not everyone agrees with cloning, and the captain is a strong opponent. Other members of the expedition don’t like the idea much either, especially if they think the Expendable is likely to duck hard work if he can.

The expedition is exploring an ice world, Niflheim, where they have discovered large, vicious snow ‘worms’ they name Creepers. The ship already suffered damage on the journey and Mickey is now Mickey7. On a fairly routine scouting mission, Mickey7 falls through a deep ice crevice. He calls for his friend to rescue him, but Berto says it is too dangerous and he can just come back as Mickey8. Mickey7’s girlfriend is prepared to come get him, but Mickey7 doesn’t want to put her at risk. Expecting to die, Mickey7 is surprised when he gets help getting back to base. Mickey7 slips into his room only to find Mickey8 in his, now their, small bed.

If it is discovered that there are two clones out at one time, the captain will surely kill them both. The pair must juggle their existence, sharing half-rations, rotating jobs, room time, and trying to avoid contact that would reveal their deception. Of course, it isn’t long before the juggling causes trouble. But there is more than just that. It appears that Mickey7’s exposure on the way back to base has had some strange effect on his neuron system. This causes problems at first but soon turns into a saving grace for Mickey7.

I found the story idea intriguing and wanted to really like it. Unfortunately, I didn’t find Mickey to be a very likeable character. Even though he volunteered to die for the expedition, he isn’t a self-sacrificing person. No, he is much more self-centered and his relationships seem shallow to me. I did like the twists near the end but I found the ending to be weak and unsatisfactory. The story has some entertainment value but didn’t pull me in. Others may find it more enjoyable.

Audio Notes: John Pirhalla and Katharine Chin share the narration performance and I liked their voices. Pithalla seemed to capture the weak nature of Mickey’s character while Chin conveyed the quirky natures of the female characters. The audio performance enhanced the story for me.

Source: 2022 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook and 2022Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Report: Just Before Sunrise by Carla Neggers

This is a quick, easy-listening, mystery, romantic suspense.
Just Before Sunrise
By: Carla Neggers
Narrated by: Cassandra Livingston

Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
Release date: 05-01-15
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Carla Neggers' sizzling novels are loved for their deliciously funny dialogue, electrifying suspense, and heart-stopping romance. Here, the New York Times bestselling author presents a fast-paced, scintillating tale of love, art, and danger....
Annie Payne realizes her dream when she moves to San Francisco and opens an art gallery. But when she accepts a secret commission to bid for a painting going on the auction block, she finds herself thrown into a haunting swirl of events linked to a five-year-old unsolved murder. Who is this secret client?
Marina owner Garvin MacCrae was determined to have the portrait of his late wife, and knows of only one person who would want it enough to outbid him. Could the intriguing art dealer who represented the auction winner hold the key to the mystery of his wife's death? Working together to untangle a murderer's clues, Garvin and Annie strike so many sparks off each other that they could start another San Francisco fire - a four-alarmer fueled by an explosive mix of suspicion, attraction, and love.
©1997 Carla Neggers (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Review:
I saw that the handful of Neggers' titles I picked up in 2021 on Audible Plus were going to be unavailable after 2/18 so I decided to listen to at least one. I enjoyed this and it reminded me of the author's style of romantic suspense. I hadn't read this author for years and was glad to be drawn right into listening to the story.

Annie, with her unruly rottweiler, Otto, has moved across the states from Maine to San Francisco where she is pursing her dream to have her own art gallery. An eccentric woman who visits Annie’s newly opened gallery turns out to be an undiscovered painter named Sarah. Sarah

engages Annie to bid for a particular painting at a local art auction. Annie is surprised when she gets into a bidding war with a handsome man in the rear of the room. She also experiences a negative response from the other participants and learns after winning the bid that the woman in the painting was the wife of the man who was bidding against her. That is only the tip of the story and Annie soon finds herself embroiled in a family scandal involving a five-year-old, unsolved double murder.

Gavin wanted the portrait of his late wife and suspects there is only one other person who would press the bidding. Has the artist herself, who disappeared after the murders of her father and niece, returned to town? And if so, why now? But Gavin isn’t the only person trying to get to Sarah through Annie. Another, more sinister man is pressuring Annie with intimidation. At least Otto is near by to intimidate back.

Attraction is drawing Annie and Gavin together, but Annie finds herself trying to juggle the emotional traumas of the family members while protecting her new friend, Sarah, and protecting her own heart from a man whose motives are in question. Intrigue surrounds them with the knowledge that a killer is still on the loose and he may have unfinished business.

The suspense in this plot leans more heavily on mystery than physical threats although those do build late in the story. The whole story was lighter, rather than intense. The characters are well developed, and the romance moves quickly which (based on my recollection) is predictable in Negger’s writing style in the 1990s. The art element is not my forte, but I found it interesting. I appreciated that the romance has some umph without being sleazy or unnecessarily graphic. I recommend this to readers who enjoy what I identify as an older style of romantic suspense.

Audio Notes: Cassandra Livingston does a fine job with the narration. I liked her clear, distinct voices and the emotions she provided the characters. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 6/10/2021 Free from Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, 2022Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: Defiant, Lee Hardin, Book 4 by D. J. Molles

I enjoyed this episode in the series, even as I felt the loses.

Defiant
Lee Harden, Book 4
By: D. J. Molles
Narrated by: Christian Rummel

Length: 12 hrs and 45 mins
Release date: 06-23-20
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Action & Adventure, Military Sci Fi, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Don't ever let it break you.
The United Eastern States is crumbling. The fragile house of cards that Lee Harden and Angela Houston have built has begun to fall. Lee is up against a ticking clock, as he is recalled from Texas and given the last thing in the world that he wants: a promotion.
Forced into a command role, Major Harden is thrust into a sharp learning curve that goes against every instinct he's developed over years of fighting. As Lee races to find his footing in a mire of shifting loyalties and opposing goals, Safe Zones are being overrun by massive hordes of primals exhibiting strange behaviors and uncanny levels of intelligence, and Greeley is moving toward an invasion of the UES. The envoys from Canada and the United Kingdom know it - but they're refusing to take sides and give Lee the intelligence he desperately needs.
As the tides of war reach the doors of the UES, horrific secrets are revealed that will change the future of their fight for survival. Friends become enemies, and enemies become allies. But no matter what happens, no matter what - or who - he loses, Lee can't let it break him. He must remain defiant to the last.
©2020 D.J. Molles (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

Review:
This is book 4 in the series and picks up from the prior book. Lee Hardin is in Texas but gets the call from United Eastern States President, Angela Houston, to return to the home base to take military command. The UES has already been forced out of the Fort Bragg that Lee and Angela helped build when the infected Primals overran the base with the unwitting help of the Lincolnist rebels. Angela is coping with internal threats in the form of the continuing hidden rebels, unrest due to overcrowding and boredom. The external threats are increasing in the form of threats from President Brigg’s forces seeking to squelch the UES as well as the infected Primals who seem to be getting more organized. Several more of the Safe Zones in the Southeast have fallen and been demolished as the Primals kidnap the women and wipe out the surviving human communities. Envoys from Canada and the United Kingdom are monitoring President Briggs in Colorado and Angela in the UES. They are trying to determine if it is safer to lend their support to the rational but weakened forces and civilians in the UES or President Briggs, a clearly power hungry leader, who has stronger and better prepared military forces but has lost control of the necessary fuel sources.

When arriving to the new base of operations, Lee immediately sees areas of loyalty concerns, but he would rather continue to be fighting in the field than being the Major in charge in the tactical operations center (TOC). He struggles trying to find the right place and right approach to help Angela and the people. Unfortunately, while he is stumbling, the advance forces of President Briggs’ army are moving into the UES territory.

The local scavenging and hunter forces are able to uncover more information about the Primal activity. They also are pulled into a dangerous rescue attempt to save some of the kidnapped women. The information comes to Lee at the last minute as he is busy planning to defend the home base against expected exterior attack and suddenly facing unexpected attacks too.

My heart felt the continual attacks, deaths, and betrayals in this book. I enjoyed the action and Lee’s external and mental internal struggles. There is more bad language than I like to deal with but I can get past it. I am looking forward to picking up the next book in the series. I recommend this to fans of post-apocalyptic military stories that include more advanced zombie elements.

Audio Notes: Christian Rummel has been the voice for this series and he continues to enhance my enjoyment in the books.

Source: 6/18/2021 Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Here are links to the earlier books in the Lee Hardin series:
Harden, Lee Harden, Book 1 by D.J. Molles 4.5
Southlands, Lee Harden, Book 2 by D.J. Molles 4.75
Primal, Lee Harden, Book 3 by D. J. Molles 4.5

Links to my reviews of the earlier books before this series:
The Remaining, Book 1  4.25
The Remaining: Aftermath, Book 2  4.5
The Remaining: The Refugees, Book 3  4.25
The Remaining: The Fractured, Book 4  4.5
The Remaining: Trust: a Novella  4.0
The Remaining: Faith: a Novella  4.0
The Remaining: Allegiance, Book 5 4.25
The Remaining: Extinction, Book 6 4.5

eBook Book Review: Bad Wolf (Bad Wolf Chronicles Book 1) by Tim McGregor

A gripping mix of Cop and Wolf.
Bad Wolf (Bad Wolf Chronicles Book 1)
by Tim McGregor

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004YR8F2A
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 29, 2011 File size ‏ : ‎ 657 KB
Print length ‏ : ‎ 267 pages
Genre: Crime Thriller, Paranormal, Werewolf
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Detective Lara Mendes’s hard work pays off when she finally gets to join the homicide detail. There’s only one catch; she has to partner up with a cop no one wants to work with.
John Gallagher is a veteran homicide detective who wants nothing more than to work alone. When the Lieutenant partners him with Lara Mendes, his first reaction is to ditch her but a call comes in about a body on the river bank and the rotation says they’re up.
What they find are human remains, mutilated and partially devoured. Their investigation reveals a killer stalking the city with a pack of vicious, feral dogs.
And the suspect believes he is a werewolf.
But this is Portland, where crazy bastards outnumber normal ones ten to one. Except there’s another catch. The crazy werewolf guy? He isn’t crazy...

Review:
Detective Lara Mendes has been working hard to be assigned to the homicide detail. When one of the current detectives is injured, Lara is glad to move onto the team even if she is paired with a difficult partner, John Gallagher. Their first call together takes them to a mutilated and partially devoured body. They soon learn that the killer was accompanied by a pack of feral dogs.

They manage to track the suspect to his home where they confiscate a group of journals. John says they are illegible, but Lara digs in to read the journals. What she learns is that the suspect believes he is a werewolf. Lara, and especially John, think this is all in the guy’s head, until Lara gets trapped with the beast and is bitten.

This book kept my interest. I liked the police procedure aspect and it's mix with werewolf legend. There is danger, action, horror, and sorrow. It is not for the squeamish as the story is gritty and gory in parts.

This is a scary, not cuddly, werewolf, although the author does a good job creating some sympathy through the creature’s history and emotional turmoil. This book has a conclusion but continues with a new wolf. I wouldn’t mind reading the sequels although it probably won’t happen soon. I recommend this to readers who would like the mix of police procedure and wolf savagery.

Source: Kindle Free May 12, 2012. This qualifies for 2022TBR, ebook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: Eight Winter Nights by Liz Maverick

I enjoyed this quick, sweet romance.

Eight Winter Nights
By: Liz Maverick
Narrated by: Eva Kaminsky , Jason Clarke

Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins
Original Recording Audiobook
Release date: 11-24-20 Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Contemporary, Romance
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

About This Audible Original
Cozy up with this warm, festive rom com novella about being true to your heart, the friendships that define us, and the irresistible pull of holiday magic.
Last year, Rachel Bacharach met the man of her dreams at a Hanukkah party—and then her outgoing best friend Tamara swooped in and "called" Oz Caplan for herself. It’s a typical outcome for the dependable, bookish Rachel, who is never able to extinguish the spark she immediately felt for Oz. But being secretly in love with her best friend’s boyfriend all year hasn’t been easy.
As this year’s party approaches, Oz and Tamara break up. It’s a worst-case scenario when Oz asks Rachel to help him write Tamara love letters to win her back in time for their Hanukkah anniversary. Rachel’s been writing love letters to Oz in her journals for a year; she knows all the words he would need. But will Rachel be able to hide her true feelings from Oz any longer? And might this year’s party finally be Rachel’s chance to trust her heart and put everything on the line for love?
©2020 Liz Maverick (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.

Review:
Smart and attractive Rachel has always deferred to her stunning and vivacious best friend, Tamara. One year at the traditional Hanukkah party Rachel met Oz. There was immediate zing between them for a handful of minutes until Tamara appeared. Rachel stepped aside and Oz became Tamara’s new squeeze.

Rachel has continued her secret crush for a year and is shocked when Oz and Tamara break up. Tamara goes on a planned holiday vacation alone while directing Rachel to take care of Oz who is in a leg cast. Granted, Oz and Rachel are close friends too, but the request and situation are awkward. It gets worse when Oz declares that he wants to win Rachel back and he needs Rachel’s romantic assistance to accomplish the task. Can Rachel help Oz without revealing her true feelings while also staying loyal to Tamara who might want to get back with Oz?

This is a (mostly) cute, quick listen story. I say mostly because I did have trouble with Tamara’s self-centered character. But I liked the warm relationship between Rachel and Oz and how Rachel handled the dilemma. Her family (full of stereotypes) and friends are good additions. The story was well developed for a short read. It would be a great holiday read but I enjoyed it even though a month or so late. I recommend this to fans of light romance, especially good for the holiday season.

Audio Notes: Eva Kaminsky and Jason Clarke do a nice job with the alternate voices. They give fitting life to the characters and make this an easy listen. I appreciate having this as a free, plus audio.

Source: 2020 Audible Plus. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Up To No Gouda by Linda Reilly

This is a nice cozy mystery with yummy cheeses!
Up to No Gouda
by Linda Reilly
Narrated by Mia Gaskin

Length: 8 hours and 29 minutes
Release date: January 25, 2022
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Cozy Mysteries, Women Sleuth
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

The first in a delicious new culinary cozy series featuring a grilled cheese eatery owner who must solve murders in her small town before she is put under lock and brie.
Back in Balsam Dell to heal after the death of her husband, Carly Hale is finally pursuing her lifelong dream—opening Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery. After only five months, business is booming as Vermont vacationers and townspeople alike flock to lunch on her Party Havartis and other grilled cheese concoctions. All but Lyle Bagley, Carly's one-time high school boyfriend and now town bully who just bought the building that houses her eatery and wants Carly out. After a muenster of a fight, Carly's forced to put her nose to the rind and find a solution to keep her business afloat.
That is...until Lyle is discovered dead behind the dumpster of Carly's shop, and one of her employees becomes the prime suspect. In order to save her eatery and prove her friend's innocence, Carly must sleuth out the killer before she's the one who gets grilled.
With a delightful cast of characters, an inventive amateur sleuth, and a whole host of cheesy hijinks, Up to No Gouda is the perfect cozy murder mystery to melt into.

Review:
Carly Hale lost her husband to a tragic accident. She returned to her family hometown to open Carly’s Grilled Cheese Eatery where she serves popular, creative, and delicious sandwiches. Business is going well, and things are looking good until Lyle Bagley, her high school boyfriend, becomes her landlord and gives her notice to vacate so he can renovate to put in a shop for his new fiancé. Suzanne, one of Carly’s employees, threatens harm to Lyle as he leaves the shop. A day or so later Lyle is found dead in the back parking lot of the eatery.

When Suzanne looks like the primary suspect, Carly is determined to find the killer and prove her employee/friend innocent. While questioning potential suspects Carly stirs up threats. Can she figure out who is the real danger before they get to her?

First, I love grilled cheese so this title and cover quickly caught my eye. It is an easy listen oozing with some pretty cheesy puns (couldn’t resist) which made it fun for me. There is a good group of supporting characters, including a musically talented soup chef, and a possible future romantic interest. There is a stray pup too that Carly dubs “Havarti”. I liked the twist that reveals the true villain although there were a few hints. I definitely recommend this to fans of cozy mystery… and to cheese lovers too! I hope to read more in the series.

Audio Notes: Mia Gaskin does a grand job with the narration. The presentation had energy and distinct voices. It moved along very nicely. I am not sure if I have had the occasion to listen to Ms. Gaskin before but I would be glad to listen to other works she narrates.

Source: 2022 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2022NetGalley, 2022Audiobook and 2022Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Audiobook Review: Fall of the Core by Ryk Brown

This is an interesting story with intrigue until the end.

Fall of the Core
by Ryk Brown
Narrated by Jeffrey Kafer

Length: 15 hours and 21 minutes
Release Date: January 25, 2022
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Adventure, Artificial Intelligence, Science Fiction, Space
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

A freelance reporter struggling to get into the "big time"....
A rookie officer starting her career in public safety....
A cargo ship captain trying to outlive a terminal illness that has no cure....
A bounty hunter returning a long-hunted fugitive to Earth....
A terrible plague that threatens to destroy the human race....
The 25th century is not starting off very well.

Review:
The four main characters are facing a bio and digital virus that has them on different paths to the same destiny. The reporter wants to question the connection between the viruses over the objections of her production manager. Because she is willing to push a little, a mysterious entity contacts her and pushes her further through intimidation that includes putting an interview guest to death in her presence.

The rookie officer is lucky to get a smart, experienced, and mentoring partner. He helps her manage the day-to-day issues as matters intensify during the early days of fear and social chaos. After being suspended due to possible exposure to the virus, she is shocked to have her great (great?) grandfather show up at her door to give her an alternate future.

The space cargo ship captain has been extending his life by living in space while hoping that a cure for his terminal illness will be discovered. When faced with the potential death of most humans on Earth, and who knows where else, the captain determines to meet his (great?) grandson and offer him the chance to live off-world. He is surprised to meet his great (great?) granddaughter instead but still wants her to join him.

A very tough, bounty hunter has a prisoner on the cargo ship. She plans to deliver him to authorities on Earth and receive her bounty. Unfortunately, by the time the ship is approaching Earth, the bio and digital virus is close to eliminating the authority chain and penal facilities.

These four come together late in the story, joining resources with a gang boss to make a last-ditch effort to save the human race. Ironically, they may have to rely on the character who started the virus.

This is my first book by this author, so I had no conflicting series or expectations to overcome as some reviews seem to mention. There is some environmental ‘preaching’ and debate regarding the possible dangers of AI sentience. I didn’t let any of that bother my enjoying the story. The story is set in the 25th century where all things are (mostly) peaceful on Earth and there are many inhabited planets and space colonies.

I found it interesting following the different threads until they met. I appreciated that the intrigue continued until the end which had a bit of a last-chapter twist. I would be interested to know what happens to the survivors and how the other planets fared. I recommend this to fans of AI issues and space sci fi.

Audio Notes: I have enjoyed the narration of Jeffrey Kafer on other books, and he delivered well on this story too. He provides distinct voices and energy so that there was no confusion in the characters. I actually selected the audiobook because of Kafer and I am glad that I had the opportunity to listen to this.

Source: 2022 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2022NetGalley, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: The Black Wolves of Boston, Book 1, by Wen Spencer

I totally loved the friendships developed in this story.
The Black Wolves of Boston
By: Wen Spencer
Narrated by: Ian Alan Carlsen, Corey Gagne, J. Paul Guimont, Jennywren Walker

Series: The Black Wolves of Boston, Book 1
Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
Release date: 02-21-17
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Vampire, Werewolves
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.

Publisher's Summary
From the Romantic Times Sapphire award-winning author of the internationally best-selling Elfhome series.
Rebuild a life, save a city
Silas Decker had his world destroyed when he was attacked by vampires outside of New Amsterdam. He has rebuilt his life a dozen times in the last 300 years - each time less and less successfully. Now he lives alone, buried under a hoarding habit, struggling to find some reason to wake up with the setting of the sun.
Eloise is a Virtue, pledged to hunting evil. What she doesn't know is how to live alone in a city full of strangers who know nothing about monsters.
Seth is the 16-year old Prince of Boston, ward of the Wolf King. Now he is left in a city that desperately needs his protection with enemies gathering all around.
Joshua believes he is a normal, college-bound high school senior. His life is shattered when he wakes up in a field, covered with blood, and the prom committee scattered in pieces about him like broken dolls.
These four must now come together to unravel a plot by Wickers, witches who gain power from human sacrifices and have the power to turn any human into their puppet. Four people who lost everything struggle to save Boston by saving each other.
©2017 Wen Spencer (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Joshua senses his dreams of college are disappearing as he ran away from home after being bitten by a werewolf. He knows that his new strength is posing a danger to his family and neighbors, so he has followed whispered advice to ‘go to Boston’s Prince’. He finds himself alone, homeless, and hungry running into trees as he chases rabbits in the woods of Boston at night. He soon realizes he isn’t alone when a young man challenges his bizarre behavior. Joshua doesn’t recognize his new friend, Silas Decker, as a vampire until Joshua joins him to help Elise, a Grigori Virtue (a magical religious guardian/assassin) fight off a huntsman and hounds. This all takes place in the first chapter and the book takes off from there.

Decker and Elise decide they need to protect this new wolf who has no idea what is going on. Decker’s home is a tightly held secret, so Joshua goes home with him where he discovers his new friend is a serious hoarder who has given up interest in life. As Joshua plans to clear out the trash and newspapers, Decker finds that he is thrilled with the adorable new werewolf pup.

Meanwhile, the Prince of Boston, 16-year-old Seth, has just arrived in New York looking for the rest of the wolf clan. The wolves have not been in Boston for years due to dangers of magical breaches allowing other monsters into the area. Seth has a sad childhood full of loss and responsibility. He is torn in his duties to protect his clan and to take care of a newly formed wolf.

This story does have a somewhat convoluted history of the wolves and the Grigor joining as allies against enemy witches or Wickers who created stick and vine constructs using human hearts and parts. The history of the conflict unfolds between the action-packed scenes where the protagonists are fighting for their lives. The story is told from the different viewpoints of Joshua, Decker, Elise, and Seth. The author uses this style to keep interest and move the story along at a good pace. There is humor and warmth as the friendships among the characters develop. All four of the protagonists have a reason to be seeking the comfort of family, even if it is one made of friends.

I stumbled on this book in an Audible sale, and I am so glad I chose it. It fulfilled my expectation as a good fantasy with a vampire, wolves, and magical hunter working together. My only disappointment is that there aren’t more books in the series. I will be hunting for other works by Ms. Spencer. I highly recommend this story to fans of urban fantasy with characters you care for.

Audio Notes: The work is performed by multiple talented narrators: Ian Alan Carlsen, Corey Gagne, J. Paul Guimont, Jennywren Walker. They shared the characters with empathy and humor. I totally enjoyed the audio and will look for other works performed by these narrators.

Source: July 2021 Audible Sale for $6.00. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Audio Book Review: Bunker (Book 2) Dogs of War by Jay J. Falconer

This Post-Apocalyptic/dystopian moves the story along.

Bunker (Book 2) Dogs of War
Written by Jay J. Falconer
Read by Gary Tiedemann

Run Time 4h 40min
Release Date: April 6, 2017
Publisher: BookBreeze.com
Genre: Action, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Thriller
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Those Who Resist, Triumph. Those Who Kneel, Serve.
When a covert communication is intercepted, Jack Bunker and the town leaders of Clearwater swing into action to uncover the secret behind its deadly intent.
However, before their defenses can be fortified and the threat neutralized, a ruthless faction gains a foothold, turning to kidnapping and torture for control.
As the body count rises, Bunker is forced to summon a part of himself he loathes in order to save everyone he cares about.
But rescuing his friends won’t be easy, not when the insurgents focus their attention on him and his mysterious past.

Review:
This second book picks up where book 1 ended. The town council agrees to have Bunker help prepare them for the difficulties they will face from their own community with the tech and electric systems down. But they soon learn of an outside threat. They will need more help and more resources.

Bunker is asked to join Deputy Daisy to travel to the farm of the local ‘prepper’ to try to obtain supplies. Bunker’s friend (from book 1), Stephanie, quickly moves into jealousy mode, having had a bad history with Daisy. Another town leader takes Stephanie and her son Tommy off to his home to help cool her temper.

Stephanie’s group runs into trouble as they approach home while across town, Bunker and Daisy run into trouble as they try to find the old man in his home. The story jumps into action that keeps the reader engaged. The story stretches realism a bit and ends with the next scene yet to come.

My headline summary says that this moves the story along. The bottom of the publisher info does indicate that this is “Audiobook 2 in the Mission Critical Series. A 5-part completed serial.” The reader needs to recognize that these are just short chapters of a full story. I am glad that I was able to get the other ‘chapters’ on sale. The best way to buy this series would be in a boxed set. I will continue to listen to the next books when in the mood for an action post-apocalyptic story.

Audio Notes: I can repeat my assessment of the narrator from my review of book 1. Gary Tiedemann does a fine job providing distinct voices and appropriate energy. I will continue to listen to more in the series.

Source: 10/2/2021 Chirp Purchase $1.99. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: The Chase by Candice Fox

This is a solid crime thriller.

The Chase
by Candice Fox
Narrator: David de Vries, Lisa Negron

12 hours and 38 minutes
Audible.com Release Date March 08, 2022
Publisher Macmillan Audio
Genre: Crime Thriller, Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

The Chase is a modern The Fugitive with characters only number-one New York Times and Globe and Mail best-selling author Candice Fox can write.
“Are you listening, Warden?”
“What do you want?”
“I want you to let them out.”
“Which inmates are we talking about?”
“All of them.”
When 650 of the world’s most violent human beings pour out of the Pronghorn Correctional Facility into the Nevada Desert, the biggest manhunt in US history begins.
For John Kradle, this is his chance to prove his innocence, 26 years after the murder of his wife and child. He just needs to stay one step ahead of the law enforcement officers he knows will be chasing down the escapees.
Death Row Supervisor turned fugitive-hunter Celine Osbourne is single-minded in her mission to catch Kradle. She has very personal reasons for hating him - and she knows exactly where he’s heading....
A Macmillan Audio production from Forge Books

Review:
A threat to civilians has the warden of the Pronghorn Correctional Facility facing a terrible decision. Before she can take action, the facility staff move on their own to open up the cell blocks and release every prisoner into the Nevada Desert.

John Kradle, released from death row, sees this as his last chance to prove that he did not murder his wife and child 26 years ago. He has had plenty of time to plan what he would do if he had the chance to escape. He sets out in a different direction from most of the prisoners. Unfortunately, another brutish prisoner decides to tag along with John, nearly killing him before the man realizes that he needs John’s plan for a chance to escape recapture.

Celine Osbourne is a Death Row Supervisor who prides herself on knowing the crimes and natures of her row of inmates. She has developed a hate-on-hate relationship with many of them over the years. Her past personal trauma has caused her to have truly negative attitude towards Kradle. Celine joins the fiercely determined US Marshall, Trinity, in the chase for the worst of the criminals. Trinity is focused on those she believes could have planned the breakout – most likely the terrorists or the mass murderers. But Celine is focused on getting Kradle and she is sure she knows where he is heading.

Celine finds herself teaming up with a former inmate, Keeps, who was released the day of the breakout. Keeps has the ability to think like a criminal and provide a distinct perspective that helps track the inmates that Trinity and Celine are focusing on. He acknowledges his skills come from his past as a conman, but Celine thinks perhaps she can trust him.

I found the primary characters interesting and was intrigued by the different thought processes that come from the law officer versus the criminal mind perspectives. There is action and violence that is ugly but to be expected from violent prisoners. I did like the several twists that make the story move along well. The story set out with action and continued through to the end. I would like to read more by this author, and I recommend this to those who like a good crime thriller.

Audio Notes: David de Vries and Lisa Negron do a good job narrating the male and female voices. They provide fitting accents and inflection for the several characters. I really enjoyed the audio performance.

Source: Received 11/17/2021 Audiobook through NetGalley. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022NetGalley, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Audio Book Review: Artificial Condition by Martha Wells

I was a little disappointed by this second book.
Artificial Condition
By Martha Wells
Narrated By: Kevin R. Free

Duration: 3 h 21 min
Release date: 05-08-18
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genres: Science Fiction & Fantasy
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Summary:
The follow-up to the hugely popular science fiction action-adventure All Systems Red Artificial Condition continues The Murderbot Diaries, a science fiction series that tackles questions of the ethics of sentient robotics. It appeals to fans of Westworld, Ex Machina, Ann Leckie's Imperial Raadch series, or Iain M. Banks' Culture novels. The main character is a deadly security droid that has bucked its restrictive programming and is balanced between contemplative self-discovery and an idle instinct to kill all humans. 'As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure.' It has a dark past-one in which a number of humans were killed. A past that caused it to christen itself 'Murderbot.' But it has only vague memories of the massacre that spawned that title, and it wants to know more. Teaming up with a Research Transport vessel named ART (you don't want to know what the 'A' stands for), Murderbot heads to the mining facility where it went rogue. What it discovers will forever change the way it thinks.

Review:
‘Murderbot’ is an AI droid who has overcome his controlling programming and is suspected of being a raging murderer. Now a rogue droid, Murderbot sets out on his own to research his past. He has to negotiate security systems to move through the communities that would take him back under control. He manages to get on a droid only transport with the expectation he can travel under the radar and with no interference. However, the command of the Research Transport vessel, dubbed ART, does interfere and, for good or not, ART encourages Murderbot to pursue his memories. And ART steps in to help several times.

I did like the fact that Murderbot was able to investigate what really happened. I also enjoyed the aid he reluctantly received from ART. I liked the quirkiness of both characters. This episode was reasonably entertaining and moved along well. However, I didn’t find it particularly enthralling. The story does indicate a conspiracy that might result in danger in the future, although that isn’t clear. I would not pay full price for these small episodes but would pick up more in the series if I can get them on sale.

Audio Notes: Kevin R. Free does a good job with the narration. He actually conveys the mostly unexcited nature of the AI characters. I am glad I was able to get the audio through a deal.

Source: 8/28/2021 Two for One Credit at Audiobooks.com. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.