#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Until Someone Listens by Estela Juarez

This is sad but I appreciate the determination this young woman describes in light of a frustrating failure of government officials.

Until Someone Listens
A Story About Borders, Family, and One Girl's Mission
by Estela Juarez; Lissette Norman
Narrated by Estela Juarez

Listening Length: 11 minutes
Release date: 09-13-22
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Children’s Audiobook, Immigration, Latin American, Politics
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

When Estela Juarez's mom is deported to Mexico, Estela knows she has to speak up for her family. Told in Estela's own words, Until Someone Listens is a true story about a young girl finding her voice and using it to make change.
Estela’s family lives together in a happy home full of love. Or, at least, they used to… until their home was torn apart.
My mom had to go back,
to the other side of the river,
because she wasn’t born in this country.
For years her family fought and fought for permission for her to stay in the U.S. But no one listened. When Estela was eight, her mother was deported to Mexico.
Estela knew she had to do something. So she wrote letters: to local newspapers, Congress, the President, and anyone else who could help. She wrote and wrote and wrote until, finally… someone listened.
In this heart wrenching, autobiographical story, Estela Juarez's letters take her from the local news all the way to the national stage, where she discovers the power in her words and pledges to keep using her voice until her family―and others like hers― are together again.

Review:
This is a bittersweet, sad story of separation. Eight-year-old Estela has her family torn apart when her mother is deported to Mexico as an undocumented person living in the U.S. for years. Estela’s mother came to the states illegally and later married an American serviceman. After fifteen years in America, Estela’s mother was told she had to leave.

This young lady is brave to share her feelings and struggles to get help for her family. I enjoyed the sweet, evocative prose of the work. This short book highlights the impact of deportation on families who are trying to make a good life in America.

Sadly, there is no solution forthcoming from Congress where immigration reform has been ignored or avoided (by both political parties) for years and years when some plan is desperately needed. There is little that young Estela can do but keep making her voice heard until Congress takes action. I would recommend this book for schools and families to share the struggle and talk about potential solutions.

Audio Notes: The author, Estela Juarez, narrates her own work, giving it genuine flavor. Although the reading is clear, it does not flow as smoothly as it might. Still, I am glad that I listened to her heartfelt pleas.

Source: NetGalley August 2022. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: Aesop's Fables by Aesop

Lots of wisdom in this collection!
Aesop's Fables
By: Aesop
Narrated by: Jonathan Kent

Length: 2 hrs and 22 mins
Release date: 08-23-05
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Children’s Classics, Classics, Teaching
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
By their nature, "fables" are "fabulous", larger than life, the characters often using wit and guile to save themselves from circumstances. Thus Brer Rabbit is more than a bunny in a briar patch, just as Mowgli is more than a wolf child.
Aesop, an ancient Greek poet who was sold into slavery in the early sixth century B.C, relied on animal stories to convey his key points to his masters in court. Aesop's Fables are now classic, memorable morality plays in which amusing animal characters drive home thought-provoking morals to generations of listeners and modern day readers. They illustrate what was fundamental to Greek culture yet their appeal lies in logic we still understand. Fables from different cultures frequently overlap in the lessons they teach. If we would only stop to listen, there is an important lesson for us to learn from these fables; mankind is one, not several. Public Domain (P)2005 Tantor Media, Inc.

Review:
I read Aesop’s Fables sometime in my youth. And, of course, many of the fables are so well known that we hear them now and again. I was very pleased to listen to this and hear so many bits of wisdom that I know well but also to hear many that I didn’t remember. I really appreciate the morals that are shared through animal interactions. I highly recommend that everyone listen to this or another version to remind yourself of these basic life truths.

Audio Notes: I loved the voice of Jonathan Kent reading this. He gives fitting emphasis that adds to the text. This is an older audio so it may not be as crisp as more modern audio but it is still a worthy audiobook.

Source: 1/27/18 Audible Sale for 2017 Daily Deals $.99. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: After the Ending by Lindsey Fairleigh, Lindsey Pogue

 This is a bit on the teen angsty side for me but the post-apocalyptic story had some interest as survivors developed supernatural abilities.

After The Ending
The Ending Series, #1
By: Lindsey Fairleigh, Lindsey Pogue
Narrated by: Natalie Duke

Series: The Ending Series, Book 1
Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
Release date: 04-25-14 Publisher: L2 Books
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi
My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.5; Narration 3.75.

Publisher's Summary
The best-selling first audiobook in the emotionally charged post-apocalyptic romance series, The Ending Series.
The virus spread. Billions died. The ending began. We may have survived the apocalypse, but the virus changed us.
When people started getting sick, they thought it was just the flu. My roommate, my boyfriend, my family ...they're all gone now. I got sick too. I should have died with them - with the rest of the world - but I didn't. I thought witnessing the human population almost disappear off the face of the earth was the craziest thing I'd ever experience. I was so wrong. My name is Dani O'Connor, I'm twenty-six-years-old, and I survived the ending.
The virus changed everything. The world I knew is gone, and life is backwards. We've all had to start over. I've been stripped of my home, my dreams ...all that is me. I'm someone else now-broken and changed. Other survivors' memories and emotions haunt me. They invade my mind until I can no longer separate them from my own. I won't let them consume me. I can't. My name is Zoe Cartwright, I'm twenty-six-years-old, and I survived the ending.
We've been inseparable for most of our lives, and now our friendship is all we have left. The aftermath of the virus has stranded us on opposite sides of the United States. Trusting strangers, making sacrifices, killing - we'll do anything to reach one another. Fear and pain may be unavoidable, but we're strong ...we're survivors. But to continue surviving in this unfamiliar world plagued by crazies and strange new abilities, we have to adapt. We have to evolve.
And more than anything, we have to find each other.
This audiobook contains some adult content and language.

Review:
Dani and Zoe are in their mid-twenties and best of friends separated across the country when billions die from a rapid virus. They are able to determine they are both alive because they can communicate by email. Dani’s boyfriend died and she is devastated…at least until Zoe’s older brother, Jason, arrives to rescue her.

Zoe gathers a group of friends to head west to meet up with her brother while he has a handful of young men and women traveling to a place they believe will be safe. Along the way the separate groups run into hostile forces who want to control where they can go and what they can do.

The young people who have survived seem to be obsessed with sex. I struggled along in the teen angst because at mid-point it became clear that several of the survivors were developing unique powers. Although the abilities may be helpful, they soon are considered freaks who are a threat to others.

I felt the characters were shallow and not well developed, other than being whiney and on the weak side. I wasn’t particularly engaged by the survival because it is overwhelmed by the drama. Over the breadth of the story a romance develops for both Dani and Zoe. This is portrayed nicely without being graphic and at least gave some favorable elements to the story. I’m not planning on continuing the series. This is a post-apocalyptic story that would be good for a younger audience and for readers who enjoy supernatural elements.

Audio Notes: Natalie Duke precisely captures the young whiny female voices. I don’t think she managed the male voices as well. Still, the narration made this longish book move along for me.

Source: April 2014 Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: A Matter of Trust by Lis Wiehl & April Henry

This is an okay crime mystery story.
A Matter of Trust
Written by Lis Wiehl & April Henry
Read by Eleni Pappageorge

Run Time 9h 6min
Release Date: September 17, 2019
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Crime Fiction, Legal Procedure, Mysteries
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher Description
When life is murder, who can you trust? One minute Mia Quinn is in her basement, chatting on the phone with a colleague at the prosecutor’s office. The next minute she hears a gunshot over the line, and Mia listens in horror as her colleague and friend Colleen bleeds to death.
Mia’s a natural for heading up the murder investigation, but these days it’s all she can do to hold her life together. As a new widow with a pile of debts, a troubled teenaged son, and a four-year-old who wakes up screaming at night, she needs more time with her family, not less-and working Colleen’s case will be especially demanding. But Colleen was her friend, and she needs to keep her job. So Mia reluctantly teams up with detective Charlie Carlson to investigate. But the deeper they dig, the more complications unfold-even the unsettling possibility that someone may be coming after her.
Lis Wiehl’s signature plot twists and relatable characters shine in this absorbing series debut … with an intriguing cameo from her best-selling Triple Threat series. ôA stunning crime series debut … Smart, suspenseful, and full of twists that only an insider like Wiehl could pull off”. (Linda Fairstein, New York Times best-selling author).

Review:
Mia Quinn is a new widow juggling life with her teenage son and her return to the workforce as a prosecutor. She wants to pursue a case against high school students who bullied another student who then committed suicide. Her superiors want her to concentrate on other cases as the bullying is an iffy case to prove.

While Mia is on the phone with her partner, Colleen, suddenly she hears a shot over the phone and Colleen stops speaking. Mia asks her teen son to hold the phone while she rushes to the scene. There she meets up with police detective, Charlie Carlson, not one of her favorite officers. Charlie often goes outside of the rule book to accomplish his goals and Mia doesn’t find that acceptable.

Mia’s boss asks her to partner with Carlson to investigate the death of her friend. Although it is rough for Mia to take on another case, she reluctantly agrees. The two begin get assistance from a tech wizard to dig deeper into connections between Colleen’s ‘execution’ and a similar case that is years old. Their poking into details seems to be paying off when Mia is stalked, and threats are received. It appears that someone close to the legal system has extra information on the case.

To complicate Mia’s life, her four-year-old daughter is having traumatic night terrors, Mia is still working on the bully case, and to top things off, she is learning unsettling facts about her deceased husband. Mia is fortunate to receive some unexpected help from her father. With all the emotional upset and work to juggle, can Mia accept Carlson’s help and uncover the murderer?

I actually wasn’t aware that prosecutors were involved in investigating a case quite this much but it makes some sense, especially if the budget is tight for investigators. I’m not a big fan of messy drama which of course filled this story. However, I did enjoy the mystery and the process that Mia and Carlson used to pursue the clues. I would recommend this to fans of crime mystery and legal procedure (with a healthy side of drama).

Audio Notes: Eleni Pappageorge does a good job with the narration. She portrays the drama without going too far overboard. The story was easy to listen to and a good way for me to ‘read’ the book.

Source: August 2020 Chirp Purchase at $3.99. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: Spellsinger Dramatized Adaption by Alan Dean Foster

This is a fun fantasy listen.
Spellsinger [Dramatized Adaptation]
By Alan Dean Foster
Narrated by: Multi

Duration: 8 hours 1 minutes
Release date: 10-30-20
Publisher: GraphicAudio
Genres: Apocalyptic & Dystopian, Immersive & Radically Different, Science Fiction & Fantasy
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Summary:
Snatched through a portal into a land of magic, a young musician must use a mysterious, multistring duar to rescue the world into which he has fallen before he can return to his own. Jonathan Thomas Meriweather is a typical college student, interested in girls, music, and an occasional taste of reefer. But when a journey through an interdimensional portal lands him in a world of talking animals and ominous sorcery, he finds he is on a very different trip indeed. Here, when he plays a strange instrument called a duar, peculiar things happen: powerful magic that may be the only way to stop a dark force that threatens his new world-and his old one. Reluctantly, he finds himself teaming up with a semi-senile turtle wizard; a thieving, backstabbing otter; and a bewildered Marxist dragon to rally an army for the war about to come. Spellsinger, the first in Alan Dean Foster's eight-book Spellsinger series, introduces a world of magic and mayhem, where animals are people and plunging ahead no matter what the consequences may be the only way to survive.

Review:
Jon is a serious college student who enjoys music, playing his own instruments, enjoying eyeing the girls, and occasionally enjoying a reefer. One evening he is pulled into an interdimensional portal to a world filled with talking animals and full of legal and illegal sorcery. Jon battles one of the first creatures he meets, an otter, and ends up being taken before a powerful wizard who is also a bit of a senile bumbler. The wizard, a turtle, had tried to call out another powerful sorcery but ended up with Jon who appears to have no sorcery skills…until he picks up a strange instrument and things happen.

Jon teams up with the turtle and the rascally otter who takes him into town to get decked out with clothes that will blend in and a weapon or two. After Jon sets off a riot in a bar, they escape to an outcasts camp. Once again, Jon stirs up trouble and now they escape again with a female warrior. They return to the wizard hoping that he has found a way to return Jon to his real world. That doesn’t exactly work.

Now the full team is traveling to seek support to fight the dark evil that the wizard knows is coming. Along the way, Jon’s singing conjures up a Marxist dragon who will help them only because Jon convinces him they are comrades.

I do enjoy a good graphic novel now and then. As the story started, I wasn’t sure but quickly I learned that this is surprisingly fun. I enjoyed the discovery of Jon’s skills, I loved the variety of characters and the support they give each other. The story does set up as a battle of good and evil with the evil insects reminding me of the Orc Army. I would be interested in listening to more and I recommend this to fans of fun fantasy.

Audio Notes: There is a large group of narrators that help to make this fun. I liked the narration but did find the background noise to be too loud and distracting sometimes.

Narrated By: Gregory Linington, Paul Reisman, Chris Genebach, Todd Scofield, David Jourdan, Rose Elizabeth Supan, Bradley Smith, Alyssa Wilmoth, Jeff Allin, Ren Kasey, Yasmin Tuazon, Andy Clemence, Scott Mccormick, Michael John Casey, Shanta Parasuraman, Ken Jackson, James Konicek, Michael Glenn, Mort Shelby, Terence Aselford, A Full Cast, Nanette Savard, Richard Rohan.

Source: 3/14/2021 Two for One Young Adult Credit Deal at Audiobooks.com. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible book Review: Commune: Book Four by Joshua Gayou

This story kept me up when I should have been sleeping.

Commune: Book Four Commune Series, Book 4
By: Joshua Gayou
Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 22 hrs and 7 mins
Release date: 05-03-19
Publisher: Joshua Gayou, Blue Heron Audio
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
The philosopher asks: "Faced with the mutually exclusive choice between moral principle and the survival of your family, which is the correct path?"
Philosophers love to pose such questions, and in the day-to-day struggle, such thinkers rarely attain to a level of relevance rivaling that of the simple hunger pang. Their careful considerations dissipate under the leveled gun.
We do not feel their disapproving gaze when The Others draw near.
When the world sends doom, the survivors do not hesitate.
The survivors do what is necessary.
©2018 Joshua Gayou and Blue Heron Audio (P)2019 Joshua Gayou and Blue Heron Audio

Review:
Although Brian, a member of the Jackson Commune, continues his character interviews in this episode, there is much more action. The military group that visited and helped the Commune has moved on. The Commune has set aside enough reserves to survive the winter and do the spring planting. Life has settled into normal work routine as the Commune looks forward.

Beyond the state, there is a group of misfits that has grown to a large community. They are under the leadership of Clay who struggles to maintain loyalties and control as the group grows and factions form. Some of the factions are more brutal and devious than others. Ronny, Clay’s second in command, had a bad encounter with Jake’s team and knows that they have a “home base” near Jackson. He is intent on moving the group to Jackson and finally convinces Clay to move on as the food stores are becoming scarce.

The Commune occupants quickly learn that a large group has moved into Jackson. It is very unclear if the group is friendly or intend harm. Gibbs and a few other leaders go to the edge of town to meet and attempt to find out the intentions of Clay’s group. They step back in order to regroup.

Jake instructs the Commune members to begin to prepare for an attack. They do not have enough food and resources to share, and they must protect the new home they have established.

There is still a misguided member of the Commune who thinks it will be possible to negotiate a fair exchange of information and resources. He sneaks off to town starting a stream of violent events.

This particular book has a lot of brutality and, unfortunately, a lot of foul language. The language is a bit distracting to me, but I was able to push through because I like the characters and the action. I truly did stay up too late into the night listening. I recommend the series to those who like rough post-apocalyptic survival and don’t mind rough language.

Audio Notes: R.C. Bray continues to deliver wonderful narration. Bray provides clear and distinct voices. As before in this series, I was engaged and my enjoyment of the story was enhanced by the narration.

Source: 11/18/2021 Audible October Credit. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: The Road to Paradise A Vintage National Parks Novel by Karen Barnett

This is nice Christian fiction with gentle romance and just a little suspense.
The Road to Paradise
A Vintage National Parks Novel
Written by Karen Barnett
Narrated by Ann Richardson

Run Time 10h 9min
Release Date: March 4, 2019
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: Christian Romance, Christian Suspense
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher Description
It’s 1927, and the National Park Service is in its youth when Margie, an avid naturalist, lands a coveted position alongside the park rangers living and working in the unrivaled splendor of Mount Rainier’s long shadow. But Chief Ranger Ford Brayden is still haunted by his father’s death on the mountain, and the ranger takes his work managing the park and its crowd of visitors seriously. The job of watching over an idealistic senator’s daughter with few practical survival skills seems a waste of resources.
When Margie’s former fiancé sets his mind on developing the Paradise Inn and its surroundings into a tourist playground, the plans might put more than the park’s pristine beauty in danger. What will Margie and Ford sacrifice to preserve the splendor and simplicity of the wilderness they both love?

Review:
In 1927 women didn’t have open career paths. They were expected to marry well and take care of the family. Margie, a senator’s daughter, is an idealist who is an avid naturalist. She is excited to get the chance to work alongside the park rangers at Mount Rainier, not knowing that her father has paid a significant contribution to the park.

Most of the rangers are very skeptical. Chief Ranger Ford took over his father’s job managing the park when his father died in a mountain climbing accident. Ford is filled with anger and bitterness. He doesn’t expect much from Margie and is reluctant to watch over her. As he begins to train her on basic survival in the woods, he is surprised when she brings distinct botanical knowledge and a unique skill of communication to the ranger team. Their friendship slowly grows.

Margie is happy with her progress but gets alarmed when her former fiancé shows up at the lodge. He exudes privilege and is proud, vain, and overbearing. He announces that he will develop the Paradise Inn and its park trails to include a tourist lodge and elite housing. And he also doesn’t want to let Margie go and is willing to threaten her father as well as the park. Margie and Ford are horrified, and it looks like Margie may have to compromise if she wants to save the natural lands. Margie accepts a challenge that will put her life in danger. As she and Ford come to a point of recognizing their feelings, their relationship is tested by the secrets that have been kept. Can they save the park and their relationship?

This is a sweet historical romance with a touch of suspense and danger. I enjoyed the characters and really liked the setting and history of the park rangers. I recommend this to fans of historical romance with a touch of mystery.

Audio Notes: Ann Richardson does a fair job with the narration. She doesn’t quite manage the male voices but she still delivers a decent performance. I did enjoy the audio as the story moves easier for me than a print or kindle reading.

Source: 9/5/2021 Chirp $2.99. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: A Bargain for A Bride by Amelia Rose

I enjoyed this quick, sweet western romance.

A Bargain For A Bride
Written by Amelia Rose
Narrated by Charles D. Baker

Run Time 4h 10min
Release Date: June 15, 2016
Publisher: Gold Crown Publishing
Genre: Historical Romance, Western Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher Description
When Lady Moira Brennan leaves her home at Brennan Castle for the wilds of her own homestead claim in the Montana territory, she had no idea that a husband awaited her. Sold into marriage by her uncle, she arrives to find a bleak landscape of scarce farmers, all desperately trying to scratch out a living on their claims.
Pryor MacAteer came to Montana himself only three years ago, and his farm has prospered. All that he needs to make it complete is a wife and family, one whose passage he paid, and whose name is on the marriage contract.
Will Moira realize her dream of owning her own land and uncover the truth behind a marriage contract with her name on it?

Review:
Lady Moira leaves her Castle in Ireland rather than be forced to marry an elder nobleman at the direction of her uncle. Moira takes along her lady’s maid, Gretchen, to travel by boat to New York where she will pick up the paperwork for her homestead claim in the Montana territory. She has no idea how much work a homestead will take but she plans to heir local workers to help. Again, she has no idea how isolated the location is.

When Moira and Gretchen arrive in New York she manages to get the claim paperwork although the situation seems awkward. Then the women arrive in Montana to an empty train station. Finally, a man appears to pick them up and announces that Moira is to marry him. Pryor paid for a mail order bride since he has put the beginning work into his homestead, and he is ready to have a helpmate to begin a family. He is disappointed that Moira says “no” but he knows that he will have to help her if she is to survive the winter until she can return to where she came from.

Moira realizes that her uncle has somehow cheated Pryor with the false bride papers, but she isn’t going to submit to become a wife when that is why she left Ireland behind. She and Gretchen are willing to help cook and clean for shelter, and she has no intention of returning to Ireland. Moira soon realizes she is facing a daunting job to do the work necessary, including fencing, to complete the homestead claim. She had planned one use for the land, but her claimed land isn’t suitable.

Can Moira survive and get her land ready or will she have to return to Ireland? What can Pryor do to convince Moira to stay and accept his help?

I enjoyed these characters and their different but strong foundations of faith. There was interesting detail about the homestead claims and the struggles that the homesteaders had to face. Many did not get to keep the land because they could not fulfill the requirements. The plot has some twists and the romance is sweet. I recommend this to readers who enjoy historical, western romance.

Audio Notes: Charles D. Baker does a very nice job with the narration. He provides clear voices and fitting emotions for each of the characters. I am glad I had this on audio to listen to.

Source: 11/22/2020 Chirp purchase for $.99. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: The Accidental Alchemist by Gigi Pandian

I like friendly gargoyles and enjoyed this paranormal.

The Accidental Alchemist
By: Gigi Pandian
Narrated by: Julia Motyka

Series: Accidental Alchemist Mysteries, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
Release date: 01-08-15
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Fantasy, Paranormal
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
From USA Today best-selling author Gigi Pandian comes a modern tale of ancient intrigue.
Unpacking her belongings in her new hometown of Portland, Oregon, herbalist and reformed alchemist Zoe Faust can't help but notice she's picked up a stowaway. Dorian Robert-Houdin is a living, breathing three-and-half-foot gargoyle - not to mention a master of French cuisine - and he needs Zoe's expertise to decipher a centuries-old text. Zoe, who's trying to put her old life behind her, isn't so sure she wants to reopen her alchemical past... until the dead man on her porch leaves her no choice.
Includes recipes!
Download the accompanying reference guide.
©2015 Gigi Pandian (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Review:
Zoe is an herbalist and a 'former' alchemist. While unpacking from her move to a deteriorating house in Portland, she is surprised to discover a box with a gargoyle statute. She is more surprised when she realizes the gargoyle is breathing and not a statute at all. Dorian explains that he was brought to life by an alchemist, and he needs an alchemist to help him read a centuries-old text and find a cure for his declining life. Although Zoe is a Vegan, Dorian is hungry and a master of French cuisine. He is willing to cook while she helps him with the deciphering.

Unfortunately, a local teen took a dare to inspect the “haunted house” and he saw Dorian moving and speaking. The local police officer, Detective Liu, is soon called in by the teen’s friends to ‘rescue’ him. Zoe and Dorian try to stress upon Brixton that he cannot tell anyone what he has seen. But of course, a 14-year-old just can’t resist telling his friends and then trying to get pictures to convince them.

Things get more involved when the contractor that Zoe hired is found dead on her doorsteps the next morning. Zoe puts herself in the line of suspects when she promptly tells Detective Liu that the man was poisoned. Zoe explains to Liu that her sense of smell is enhanced due to her plant alchemy and herbal skills but the authorities are skeptical.

I really enjoyed the characters of Zoe, Dorian and even the mysterious Detective Liu. Brixton, on the other hand, was annoying most of the book. The descriptions and prose are nicely done. I found the elements of plant alchemy very interesting. The murder plot is well laid out with a few red herrings. Foodies will enjoy the cooking descriptions. I will get more in the series and I recommend this to fans of cozy mystery and supernatural.

Audio Notes: Julia Motyka does a very nice job with the narration. I felt she captured the emotions and tones of the characters. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: February 2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: Elemental Thief by Rachel Morgan

I enjoyed the magic element but didn’t find this fantasy compelling me to the next book.
Elemental Thief
Written by Rachel Morgan
Narrated by Arielle Delisle

Series: Ridley Kayne Chronicles, Book 1
Run Time: 7hrs 46
Release date: 02-05-19
Publisher: Rachel Morgan
Genre: Fantasy, Magic, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher Description
She’s a thief with forbidden magic. He’s the guy she just stole from. Now they’ll have to work together.
In a city where magic is outlawed, teenage thief Ridley uses her special powers to steal from the rich and give to those in need—until the night someone follows her home after a heist and ends up murdered outside her apartment. When her best friend is accused of the crime, Ridley is determined to prove his innocence.
But things get messy when the artifact Ridley stole turns out to contain secrets that could endanger many lives. Forced to team up with wealthy Archer—the guy she stole from—Ridley must hunt down the artifact before it winds up in deadly hands.
Which means following a trail into the hidden parts of the city …
… and hopefully not winding up dead.

Review:
Ridley knows that it is dangerous to use her magic skills, but she justifies it by ‘doing good’ – stealing from the rich to help the poor. Her latest assignment has her taking a particular statute from a rich family that she happens to know. She thinks she has completed her heist undetected but then she realizes someone is following her. She does some twists and turns to get home to her father and their antique shop. From her window she spots her pursuer in the alley but then witnesses his murder.

Initially, Archer, the rich young man she stole from, is accused and Ridley knows that he will wiggle out of the charges. She is surprised when Archer coerces her to help prove his innocence. They are both after the rich mayor’s son who is apparently willing to use magic for personal gain.

Ridley and Archer have an interesting childhood connection and they are both hiding secrets. I enjoyed how their relationship changed as they worked against each other and finally together. I also enjoyed their journey through a hidden community where Ridley had to use her unique magic skills.

There are interesting twists, good action, and pacing but the book does end with a cliffhanger and lots of unresolved issues. As I note these things I liked, I can’t pinpoint why the completion left me with an “okay” feeling rather than a “must read on” inclination. Ridley is a little immature in her behaviors which makes the character less engaging and Archer’s “Trust me, but I can’t tell you why” got to be a tiring refrain. These, plus the disappointment at the end may have caused my reaction. I still would recommend this to readers who enjoy paranormal fantasies, and I would recommend the Complete collection with all three books.

Audio Notes: Arielle Delisle provides a fitting narration. Her voice sounds like a young, emotionally struggling heroine. The male voices aren’t strong, but they are sufficiently distinct.

Source: 10/10/19 Chirp $.99 purchase. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: The Accidental Guardian by Mary Connealy

This is a lovely historical romance.
The Accidental Guardian
Written by Mary Connealy
Narrated by Morgan Hallett

Run time: 8 hours and 17 minutes
Release Date: April 3, 2018
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Christian, Historical, Romance, Western
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher Description
Trace Riley has been self-appointed guardian of the trail ever since his own wagon was attacked. When he finds the ruins of a wagon train, he offers shelter to survivor Deborah Harkness and the children she saved. Trace and Deborah grow close working to bring justice to the trail, but what will happen when the attackers return to silence the only witness?
When Trace Riley finds the smoldering ruins of a small wagon train, he recognizes the hand behind the attack as the same group who left him as sole survivor years ago. Living off the wilderness since then, he’d finally carved out a home and started a herd—while serving as a self-appointed guardian of the trail, driving off dangerous men. He’d hoped those days were over, but the latest attack shows he was wrong.
Deborah Harkness saved her younger sister and two toddlers during the attack and now finds herself at the mercy of her rescuer. Trace offers the only shelter for miles around and agrees to take them in until she can safely continue. His simple bachelor existence never anticipated kids and women in the picture, and their arrival is unsettling—yet enticing. Working to survive the winter and finally bring justice to the trail, Trace and Deborah find themselves drawn together—yet every day approaches the moment she’ll leave forever.

Review:
Deborah did all the work for her father on a community newspaper while he took all the credit. After her parents deaths, Deb is determined to set out on her own without being under the thumb of a man. Deb and her sister are helping a family take two toddlers west. The four are off in the bushes when the wagon train is attacked. The outlaws left behind arrows to look like an Indian attack, but no one knows that Deborah saw the men and can identify at least one by face and another by voice.

Trace survived as a young teen when his father was murdered during a wagon train attack. Since then, he has become a ghostly, self-appointed guardian of the trail, with his horse Black and his dog Wolf, trying to protect travelers from attacks. He comes across a recent attack that appears to be by the same men who killed his father years before. This triggers his urge to seek revenge by pursuing the men. That plan is delayed as he rescues the two young women and the toddlers and takes them to his cabin which is the only local shelter. Trace has rarely been around women. He and his ranch hands learn they like having the girls clean and cook for them, but Trace is still setting out to hunt down the killers.

Deborah plans to continue traveling west when the winter is over but in the meantime, she insists on going to town with Trace so she can report the truth of the attack and help identify the outlaws. Trace and Deborah don’t realize that their discussion of the outlaws is overheard by one of the men. Now they are targets.

Can Trace control his urge for vengeance and still keep the girls and children safe? Will Deb being able to change her mind about sharing life with a man?

I totally enjoyed this story. It isn’t perfect as it has some contrived situations. Still, I liked the distinct characters, the setting, the gentle faith, and the sweet romance. I like this author and need to read/listen to her stories more often. I recommend this to fans of sweet historical romance.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the narration by Morgan Hallett. Although she doesn’t really do great male voices, I was able to tell who was talking and I could tell when she was reading an internal thought. I would be fine listening to more in the series narrated by Ms. Hallett.

Source: 5/3/2020 Chirp $4.99. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: The Breaking by Daniel Greene

This is a brutal zombie story.

The Breaking: The End Time Saga, Book 2
By: Daniel Greene
Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka

Series: The End Time Saga, Book 2
Length: 12 hrs and 55 mins
Release date: 07-24-18
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
 Genre: Horror, Military, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.25

Publisher's Summary
The hunt is on to find Patient Zero...
Both the East and the West Coasts of the United States have collapsed, and the US military is in full retreat. All their attempts to stem the tide of the dead have failed.
Former counter-terrorism agent Mark Steele and his fellow survivors have been bushwhacked in the West Virginia hills. The fringe West Virginians are teaching him a valuable lesson in the new rules of the apocalypse. The mountain folk are as resilient as they are ruthless, and Steele must find a way out to save his people.
In a desperate gamble to stop the virus, retired Air Force Colonel Michael Kinnick has been entrusted with finding Dr. Joseph Jackowski, who's gone missing in West Virginia. Kinnick's depleted unit of Special Forces soldiers have reached the breaking point as the dead assault them at every step.
Outside of Pittsburgh, Dr. Joseph Jackowski's quest to find Patient Zero has stalled. Unwillingly conscripted into the National Guard, he has been enlisted into Colonel Jackson's rapidly depleting force. As the military quarantine disintegrates around Pittsburgh, death marches closer, and time is running out.
Steele is forced to go further than he ever imagined in order to save his loved ones, but when he is done, will anyone still recognize him? Will he recognize them? And will he recognize himself?
In this thrilling sequel to End Time, Daniel Greene continues his fast-paced and gripping apocalyptic saga. The Breaking transports us to a near future composed of death, honor, destruction, and hope as the United States falls and lives crumble before a devastating zombie virus.
©2018 Daniel Greene (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Mark Steele seems to be a “man of steel” but he takes a brutal beating when he and his small band of survivors, including his love, Gwen, are attacked by a violent group of hillbilly-country bullys (think Deliverance). Steele is left for dead while the survivors in his team are taken captive to be used for vile forms of entertainment.

Dr. Joseph Jackowski escaped the attack that took down Steele. He can’t spend time thinking about those he left behind because he is intent on finding Patient Zero. Joseph is glad to get to a military facility in Pittsburgh thinking they will help him on his quest. Instead, he finds himself in the clutches of a tyrant who insists that he put his skills to use to help the injured on his base.

Once Steele gets aid, he has to face the evil enemy on one side and the undead on the other. Can Steele save his friends without becoming like the brutes that tortured them? Meanwhile can Joseph find Patient Zero and what will happen if he does?

Although I like the action in this story, this one felt a little too long as it kept delivering blow after blow. I have the next book in the series, but I don’t plan to listen very soon. Fans of evil filled zombie action might like the series.

Audio Notes: Keith Szarabajka does a good job with the narrations. I enjoyed his voice characterizations and the energy he brings to the story. I am glad I listened to this.

Source: October 2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Nomad, The Nomad Triology 1, by Matthew Mather

This apocalyptic, action story has interesting climate science elements.

Nomad
The Nomad Trilogy 1
By: Matthew Mather
Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka

Series: The Nomad Series, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins
Release date: 11-04-15
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Action, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Something big is coming...big enough to destroy the entire solar system...and it's heading straight for Earth. That's what Dr. Ben Rollins, head of Harvard's exoplanet research team, is told by NASA after being dragged out of bed in the middle of the night. His first instinct is to call his daughter and wife, who are vacationing in Italy: Something is coming, he tells them, a hundred times the mass of our sun. We can't see it, we don't know what it is, but it's there. They're calling it Nomad, and it's coming fast. In just a few months, the Earth may be destroyed.
The world erupts into chaos as the end approaches - and Ben discovers that his wife and daughter are trapped in Italy. The key to humanity's survival may rest in the final answers he pieces together in the midst of his frantic scramble to find his family before Nomad swallows the planet.
©2015 Matthew Mather (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
As a young scientist, Dr. Ben Rollins provided research predicting a collision in space. That research paper was declined for publication many years ago. Now Earth is facing a catastrophic solar event which is being hidden from the public even as it will soon be in position to be seen by amateurs. Nomad, as the event is called, doesn’t have to collide with Earth to cause a terrible impact. Instead, it has enough draw to pull planets out of orbit. There will be cataclysmic global warming, volcanic activity, tsunamis, and more extreme conditions that will remove society infrastructure as well as causing immediate deaths.

Ben is picked up by government/scientific authorities. He apparently has the only records that would help pinpoint the origin and trajectory of Nomad. He tries to have his family, ex-wife, Celeste, and daughter, Jessica, fly to meet him but they get trapped in Italy when the climate reactions begin.

Jessica and Celeste were touring a castle (“castello”) in Chantilly, Italy. Jessica is an expert extreme climber in spite of having a prosthetic leg. She captures the eye of the owner of the castle which provides her a place to seek refuge after getting mugged in Rome.

The pacing was good and I enjoyed the action moving the story along. The scientific descriptions of the events and consequences made this interesting. On the other hand, I wasn’t particularly drawn to the characters with their poor decisions. It is an interesting post-apocalyptic and I expect I may pick up more in the series sometime in the future.

Audio Notes: Keith Szarabajka did a good job with the various voices, including acceptable accents (a least to my untrained ear). I am glad that I had this title to listen to.

Source: June 2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: Tattered Loyalties by Carrie Ann Ryan

I enjoyed the shifter story but the romance is a bit spicier than I like.
Tattered Loyalties
Written by Carrie Ann Ryan
Narrated by Gregory Salinas

Series: Redwood Pack, Book 9, Talon Pack, Book 1
Run Time 7h 13min
Release Date: March 4, 2015
Publisher: Carrie Ann Ryan
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Shifter, Wolves
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher Description
When the great war between the Redwoods and the Centrals occurred three decades ago, the Talon Pack risked their lives for the side of good. After tragedy struck, Gideon Brentwood became the Alpha of the Talons. But the Pack’s stability is threatened, and he’s forced to take a mate—only the one fate puts in his path is the woman he shouldn’t want.
Though the daughter of the Redwood Pack’s Beta, Brie Jamenson has known peace for most of her life. When she finds the man who could be her mate, she’s shocked to discover Gideon is the Alpha wolf of the Talon Pack. As a submissive, her strength lies in her heart, not her claws. But if her new Pack disagrees or disapproves, the consequences could be fatal.
As the worlds Brie and Gideon have always known begin to shift, they must face their challenges together in order to help their Pack and seal their bond. But when the Pack is threatened from the inside, Gideon doesn’t know who he can trust and Brie’s life could be forfeit in the crossfire. It will take the strength of an Alpha and the courage of his mate to realize where true loyalties lie.

Review:
Brie, daughter of the Redwood Beta, is a submissive wolf who has a special ability to give comfort and care to her packmates, whether in trauma or conflict. Brie saw Gideon when she was just a teen and suspected that he was her wolf mate. But she didn’t feel worthy or strong enough to become the mate of such a strong wolf who is now the Alpha of the Talon pack.

Gideon is struggling with tensions in his pack and some disgruntled members. When he meets Brie in a negotiation meeting, he is stunned to discover she is his fated mate. Although not everyone in his pack likes the idea, Gideon chooses to mate with Brie and secure a favorable relationship between their packs. In addition to disapproving members, Gideon doesn’t realize that he is about to face an enemy from the past waiting for a chance to take over the pack through brutality, threats, and tyranny.

I enjoyed the plot of the wolf threat and I liked Brie and Gideon as characters learning to be a couple. I found the sex a little too heavy for my tastes but otherwise I liked the story. I would recommend this to shifter fans who enjoy sexier romance.

Audio Notes: Gregory Salinas does a nice job with the narration. He provided distinct voices and appropriate emotions. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: January 2021 Chirp Purchase $0.99. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: After It Happened Books 5 and 6 by Devon C. Ford

This is a good Post-Apocalyptic with struggles, defeats, and finally victories.
After It Happened
Publisher's Pack 3
By: Devon C. Ford
Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
Release date: 01-10-18
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
This publisher's pack contains Sanctuary (book 5) and Rebellion (book 6) of the After It Happened series.
Set in the UK in the immediate aftermath of a mysterious illness that swept the country and left millions dead, the series follows the trials facing a reluctant hero, Dan, and the group he forms around him. They must battle the elements, find sufficient supplies and equipment to survive, and protect themselves against the most destructive force on the planet: other people.
Sanctuary, book 5: Scattered, the group must come to terms with their new reality. They face more danger than they can deal with. They have no idea if they can win the race against time before one of them becomes critical. Meanwhile, back at home, a plan is hatched to overthrow a tyrannical rule.
Rebellion, book 6: Steve, now recovered from his horrific injuries, forms a plan to restore the balance of power in their camp, but his opposition is also playing a dangerous game. Meanwhile, Sanctuary reveals its secrets to Dan and the others, and they find safety and comfort behind the high walls. But safety is an illusion, and there are forces converging on them with a malevolence that they have not battled before.
©2017 Devon C. Ford (P)2018 Podium Publishing

Review:
These two books continue to tell the stories of several groups of survivors. Dan and his group are traveling through Europe to get to Africa where Emma believes she can find a cure to help Melissa (Dan’s woman) safely deliver their baby. They face killing marauders, lose supplies and become separated along the way. Having heard a radio message, they seek a fortified town called Sanctuary. When some of the survivors reach Sanctuary they need to prepare the town for the evil that may follow them.

Meanwhile, the original home base has been taken over by a fascist military leader who controls his troops by fear. Steve and the remaining members of the group have been captured and the others are conscripted into various jobs while Steve recovers with a doctor who agrees secretly to help lead a rebellion coup.

There are four young people who escaped from the troops who head out to find Dan. At least one of them, Chris is angry and blames Dan for leaving the home base insufficiently protected. This group is captured by the vicious marauders who almost captured Dan. Two of them are horribly torture before they break free.

I found these books to be very realistic which includes danger, oppression, torture and other traumatic events. There was a point where I wanted to have a better result for the good guys, but I had to continue in hopes of victories. There is some swearing and, of course, brutality. I recommend this series to true fans of post-apocalyptic adventure.

Audio Notes: I always enjoy the narration of R.C. Bray. He conveys distinct voices and energy that fits the scenes of the story. His narration enhanced my enjoyment of this story.

Source: June 2021 Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Forget Nothing by Jason Anspach and Michelle C. Meyers

I liked this quick listen which was full of action.

Forget Nothing
By: Jason Anspach, Michelle C. Meyers
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Series: Galaxy's Edge Series, Book 0.6
Length: 4 hrs and 46 mins
Release date: 06-04-20
Publisher: Audible Originals
Genres: Action, Fantasy, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

About This Audible Original
She Chose the Hardest Way
The daughter of a Legion war hero, fighting was in Andien Broxin's blood. But the battles Republic marines face on strange and alien worlds are a far cry from the vaunted, brutal, no-holds-barred conflicts fought at the edge of the galaxy by the elite legionnaires.
Until a devastating war erupts right in the Republic’s stellar backyard.
Newly stationed on a mid-core planet being harassed by terrorist revolutionaries, Andien and her fellow "hullbusters" find themselves right in the middle of a desperate fight for survival. All their training, standards, discipline—all the hard paths—have led to this. If she and her fellow marines are to come out of this alive, Andien will have to find out who she truly is...and what she can become.
Best-selling military science fiction author Jason Anspach and USMC/US Army veteran Michelle C. Meyers explore the rigors of combat, survival, and the human will in this edge-of-your-seat account set in the Galaxy’s Edge universe.
©2020 Galaxy's Edge, LLC (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.

Review:
Andien grew up under a marine father who was an elite member of the Legion. Andien may have to push herself harder, but she can shoot better than most men and she can take most of them on for one-on-one combat. Always remembering her father's words: "Forget nothing", she has been advanced in rank on her own merit.

Andien and her troop are serving on a foreign planet where they are assigned to protect the locals and colonists from hostiles in the wild. Unfortunately, it that turns out the worst hostiles are a gathering of revolutionary, terrorist colonists. Her crew has to team up with the Legionnaires assigned to the planet. The Legion men have all the tech and enhancements but this group, not like others, is appreciative of Andien’s efforts.

When negotiations for Republic marines ends up agreeing to allow women to join the Legion, Andien’s name is submitted as a candidate. She is encouraged by others, but she has to decide if she is willing to work extra hard to go in the first class.

I did enjoy all of the action, strategy and tactics in this book. I like Andien and the supporting characters. Although it is set in a series, it is set in a different time and place and does not continue the characters from the other books. I enjoy this author and have more to listen to in the series. I recommend this shorter story to fans of space and high tech military action.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the narration by Khristine Hvam. She provided distinct voices and good energy. I am glad I had this in audio.

Source: 6/20/2020 a free Audible title. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Christmas Every Day by Beth Moran

I enjoyed this sweet, light romance.
Christmas Every Day
By: Beth Moran
Narrated by: Helen Keeley

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins
Release date: 09-17-19
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romantic Comedy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
When Jenny inherits her estranged grandmother’s cottage in Sherwood Forest, she has nothing to lose - no money, no job, no friends, no family to speak of, and zero self-respect. Things can only get better....
Her grumpy but decidedly handsome new neighbour, Mack, has a habit of bestowing unsolicited good deeds on her. And when Jenny is welcomed into a rather unusual book club, life seems to finally be getting more interesting.
Instead of reading, the members pledge to complete individual challenges before Christmas: from finding new love and learning to bake to completing a daredevil bucket list. Jenny can’t resist joining in, and soon a year of friendship and laughter, tears and regrets unfolds in the most unexpected ways.
Warm, wise, funny and utterly uplifting. What one thing would you change in your life before Christmas comes around?
©2019 Beth Moran (P)2019 Boldwood Books Ltd

Review:
Jenny has suffered a major blow to her heart in an embarrassing reveal when her secret beau proposes publicly to her sister. Her mother tells her of her grandmother’s cottage in Sherwood Forest. Jenny sets off with the goal of starting a new life where she depends on no one but herself. She just had no idea that the cottage had been abandoned since her grandmother’s death and is in deplorable condition. But first she has to get into the dwelling. A gruff, handsome man, her neighbor, Mack, challenges her before offering help once he knows who she is and sees she is basically stranded. Jenny wants no help and is annoyed, but reluctantly grateful for her reclusive neighbor’s good deeds behind her back.

Jenny is determined. She finds a part time job at a local diner – no pay but food. Then she gets another job as a ‘nanny’ to five children who have driven away former nannies. For the first time in her life, Jenny is making friends and learning how to live on her own. She joins a local book group that fights over books to read. They decide to challenge themselves to a project to complete before Christmas.

Meanwhile, a local realtor is pressuring Jenny to sell the dilapidated cottage, and someone is trying to scare her away. First it is just a chase through the woods but then things escalate. Mack keeps trying to help Jenny in small ways. Mack has even agreed to be her escort to attend her sister’s wedding to her former boss. Jenny might be tempted to lean on their friendship until she learns that Mack is married and will be bringing his spouse back to the forest soon.

Things get jumbled with lack of forthright communication that leads to hidden and mistaken identities. Jenny struggles with her self-image and self-worth, not realizing her own strengths. I liked the numerous characters who come along to encourage Jenny. The repartee is quick and sweet, and Christmas gets to play a part in Jenny’s new life. I appreciated the growth as friends and minimal sexual content. I would like to read/listen to more by this author and I recommend this to fans of romantic comedy.

Audio Notes: Helen Keeley does a fine job with the narration and the British accent was fun. There are numerous characters and, for the most part, she was able to provide distinct voices. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: October 2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: The Plus One Pact by Portia MacIntosh

This is a sweet story with conflict from miscommunications.

The Plus One Pact
By: Portia MacIntosh
Narrated by: Karen Cass

Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
Release date: 05-21-20
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romantic Comedy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
What if your plus one could be the one?
Cara has officially run out of men. Her most recent dates have gone from bad to worse, and when her dating app informs her there is no one left in her area to choose from, she is at a dead end.
But with a summer of events ahead of her, she needs to find a solution, fast; someone to keep her company at the never-ending weddings, family gatherings and gender-reveal parties that she can’t face going to alone. So when she meets handsome, confident, Millsy on a night out, she may be in luck. They could not be more different in personality, but he, too, has a summer of events ahead and is desperate to get his family off his back about finding a ‘nice girl’. What if they made a pact to help each other out and be a plus one for the summer? Just as friends of course?
A brand-new romantic comedy from best seller Portia MacIntosh, perfect for fans of Zara Stoneley, Sophie Ranald and Mhairi McFarlane.
©2020 Portia MacIntosh (P)2020 Boldwood Books

Review:
Cara is getting low on the available men on her dating app. After she escapes from a ‘babysitting” date, Cara is at the bar waiting to meet the latest man…who doesn’t show up. Instead, a handsome man steps over to offer to sit with her so she doesn’t have to continue to sit alone. Although a little wary, Cara and Millsy seem to be immediately comfortable with each other. She has given up on men and Millsy is reportedly a ‘player’ who is willing to just be there as a friend for Cara.

Millsy takes Cara out for a makeover and slowly her confidence begins to grow. They agree to be each other’s ‘plus one’ for the summer events especially his best (girl) friend’s wedding and her cousin’s wedding where she refused to be a bridesmaid in a dress that they wouldn’t allow her to alter to fit and where her former boyfriend is expected as a special guest.

Their friendship is moving along really well and Millsy even provides a spare room to live in when Cara’s replacement apartment falls through. Then they get to the awkward moments, without an agreed plan, of “how did you meet?”, “how long have you been dating?”. There are more concerns when meeting each other’s family and Cara is pursued by Millsy nemesis, his handsome brother.

This is a fun romantic comedy. There is easy camaraderie and fun, light conflict. Although there is a bit of sexual references on the side, there is no actual engagement until late in the story. I appreciated the style and lightness of the story. I recommend this to fans of light romantic comedy.

Audio Notes: Karen Cass does a good job with the narration. I am she manages different voices to distinguish the characters, most of which are British. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 2/19/2022 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: Man of War by T. J. London

This is strong, engaging historical fiction.
Man of War
The Rebels and Redcoats Saga Prequel
By: T.J. London
Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton, Kathryn Vinclaire, Patrick Zeller, John Hartley, Tara Langella, Jason Clarke, Dryw McArthur, Marnye Young, James Cheatham

Length: 22 hrs and 52 mins
Release date: 07-05-22
Publisher: T.J. London
Genre: Action and Adventure, Historical Fiction
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.

Publisher's Summary
The man who wants everything gets nothing….
July 1755
War is brewing between England and France. Impressed into the Royal Navy, Lieutenant Merrick, against all odds, advanced through the ranks to become an officer—but he is not a gentleman. A man with a tainted past from a traitorous family, cast down by King George—a stain no man can remove. Merrick’s thrust into the role of captain, when the HMS Boudica is attacked by pirates off the coast of Nova Scotia. On a captured enemy vessel, he discovers a king’s ransom in treasure and a woman chained in the hold from passenger ship that mysteriously disappeared at sea.
Beautiful, defiant, and hell-bent on revenge, India makes a deal with Merrick to uncover the pirates’ scheme, promising him everything he desires: fortune, glory, and the chance to bring honor back to the McKesson name. Now, they race against time to uncover a plot that links those in the highest ranks of the British aristocracy, to a failed rebellion that is once again trying to topple the monarchy and place an old pretender on the throne. But all that glitters is not gold as passions stir and an impossible love blooms, threatening to undermine all Merrick and India have done to protect their King and a country on the brink of war.
This book contains violence and graphic depictions of war.
Trigger Warning: sexual assault, violence
©2020 Tracey Lasak-Myall (P)2020 Tracey Lasak-Myall

Review:
Dane Merrick McKesson is the youngest of three brothers who was emotionally and sometimes physically abused by his eldest brother, James. When their father died, James threw 14-year-old Dane off the family property. The whole family was disgraced when Merrick revealed to the English that his eldest brother, James, was plotting with the Scots to overthrow King George.

Dane, the young teen, was conscripted into the Royal Navy and managed to work his way up through the ranks to become a Lieutenant. When the ship, the HMS Boudica, is attacked by a pirate ship, Merrick becomes the new captain. He manages to repel the attack and salvages the stores and survivors from the capsizing pirate ship. One of the last second survivors is a fiery, red-haired young woman who was clearly abused and shackled in the hold. 

Although the young woman is relieved to be alive, she wants no man to touch her and isn’t ready to thank Merrick or his men. It is clear she is a woman of the aristocracy, but she refuses to reveal her identity. Merrick names her “India” and she convinces him that she can reward him if he helps her uncover and get revenge on her torturer. India struggles to overcome her self-doubt as she was once under the thumb of her mother who promised her as a bride to a supposedly wealthy older nobleman living in New York. That resulted in her traveling with a rich dowry and being brutally abused by the French pirate.

Merrick loves his ‘queen’, the HMS Boudica, and is intent on becoming her permanent captain. But he slowly begins to love the fierce India, not knowing how far out of his reach she really is. Will they be able to help each other or find insurmountable obstacles?

I mistakenly thought this was an American Revolution story but it is actually set right before war broke out between England and France in 1756. I am thankful I got the chance to listen and share my thoughts. 

I enjoyed the richly described historical setting and the battles on the high seas. I was totally drawn in by the two primary characters. They are both strong, hard-headed, and determined. The plot is fueled with political conspiracy and intense intrigue. I recommend this to those who love swashbuckling action and historical fiction.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the multiple voices and sound enhancement of this audio production. It is well done and contributed to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: June 2022 audio received from the Author for Caffeinated PR Tour Blitz and Review. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook and 2022Author goals.

Audible Book Review: End of Summer by S.M. Anderson

This is a satisfactory, pandemic Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian (and my "Summer" title).

End of Summer
By: S.M. Anderson
Narrated by: Jay Snyder

Series: Seasons of Man, Book 1 (2 books)
Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
Release date: 06-16-20
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Adventure, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
When a viral apocalypse kills 97 percent of the people on the planet, the survivors' humanity is hanging by a thread. Amid the leftovers of civilization, ex-Army Ranger Jason Larsen is reminded of the meaning of hope, family, and loyalty by a dog and a young boy who are as alone as he is. The survivors he seems to collect become family, and that is very bad news for those who think they run the apocalypse. ©2019 S.M. Anderson (P)2020 Podium Publishing

Review:
A new virologist is flippant about the sanitation rules in the lab. He bends the rules one too many times and ends up taking sickness to the world.

Ex-Army Ranger Jason Larsen is more prepared physically than most for an apocalypse. Initially he just wants to die and be with his pregnant wife. But before her death by the virus, she made him promise to stay alive and help “the children”. Jason reluctantly steps out to the street and hears nearby gunshot. He goes through the back ways and discovers a woman shot in the back of a truck. He learns there are a group of thugs, ‘Tyson’s gang’, working out of the FEMA base under the direction of a twisted Sheriff. They are gathering kids to scavenge and adults with useful skills. If someone doesn’t have a good skill, they are left behind with a bullet.

Jason happens to know that one of his wealthy neighbors was a serious prepper. He carefully approaches the house and finds the neighbor’s black lab, Loki. Fortunately, the dead occupant has provided info to access the stored supplies.

Meanwhile, Pro is a fourteen-year-old from across town. He knows his father isn’t coming home and after several days he has to leave his dead family behind. He finds a house with good supplies where he sets up camp and begins to scavenge the neighborhood. Soon the Tyson gang realizes that someone e is cleaning out houses before they get there. Jason happens to stumble on Pro while he is tracking Tyson’s gang. Jason tries to direct Pro to safety, but Pro is suspicious of everyone. After Pro gets caught, Jason has to figure out if he can rescue the boy. Slowly Jason wages war on the scavenge crews, taking out the anonymous enemy one by one.

Jason has added to his small group a frightened, but fierce young women Rachel, who is protecting a young girl, Elsa. Rachel has no reason to trust any man and is only happy that Jason has given her a gun and trained her to shoot. She is set on revenge.

Pro manages to escape the compound by himself but now Jason has to grab him to save him from getting caught again. Pro insists there are others in the FEMA compound who aren’t brutal killers and he wants Jason to help free the good people. Can Jason control Rachel and Pro as he prepares an assault on the FEMA compound?

Jason is a quiet, strong, and likeable protagonist. He doesn’t want to be a hero, but he is prompted by the promise to his wife to try to save others. Pro is a smart teen who has to grow up too fast. Rachel is a young woman who is trying to recover from the trauma of sexual abuse by seeking revenge on bad men. These three create an interesting core who struggle to survive and help others.

I liked all of the action as well as the development of the characters. I am glad I have the second book to listen to. I recommend this to fans of the genres, post-apocalyptic, and dystopian. (Warning: there is violence, reference to rape, and some rough language.)

Audio Notes: Jay Snyder does a good job with the narration. He provides distinct voices for the characters and gives appropriate energy to the story. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 7/18/2021 Audible $5.00 sale. (Regular Price: $34.99.) This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Season goal.