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: 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.

Audible Book Review: Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold

This space sci fi has battles, dangerous enemies, and a conflicted, mild, romance.

Shards of Honor
Series: Vorkosigan Saga (chronological), Book 2
By: Lois McMaster Bujold
Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
Release date: 05-01-09
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Fantasy, Military Science Fiction,
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
It was the wrong war, in the wrong place, at the wrong time, for the wrong reasons. And Captain Cordelia Naismith of the Betan Expeditionary Force would be forced into a separate peace with her enemy, Lord Vorkosigan.
Shards of Honor is the novel in which Lois McMaster Bujold introduced the science-fiction world to Barrayar and Aral Vorkosigan, Beta Colony and Cordelia Naismith. From this beginning the author has created a multigenerational saga spanning time as well as space.
Bujold is generally recognized as the current exemplar of the character-based science-fiction adventure story.
©1986 Lois McMaster Bujold (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Cordelia is the Captain of a scientific survey crew that is exploring an uninhabited planet. Cordelia and one of her men return to camp to discover it destroyed and her team gone except for one man who has been killed by a nerve disruptor.

Cordelia is next surprised to learn the attack was by a Barrayaran force that is now off chasing Cordelia’s ship in space. Then Cordelia and her Ensign are confronted by an enemy soldier. Her crewman is injured and Cordelia becomes the prisoner of Barrayaran Captain Aral Vorkosigan who has been shot and abandoned in an act of betrayal. Cordelia won’t leave her man behind so she convinces Vorkosidan to help drag him as they head off to a hidden Barrayaran base to get supplies.

This starts the beginning of an interesting, and ultimately beautiful friendship. Vorkosigan first saves Cordelia, then she saves him, and his friends, particularly a man soldier, Sargeant Bothari, will save her again. Along they way Cordelia learns dangerous secrets. Vorkosigan’s leaders are intent on attacking a nearby world, Escobar, to control the jump hole there. Cordelia must get home to warn her people and help prevent the attack on Escobar.

Cordelia is from a planet that is scientifically and technologically advanced. Barrayar is a warrior-race with an aristocratic/feudal type society. Cordelia slowly learns that there is a great deal of infighting and machination in the Barrayar leading class. Cordelia and Vorkosigan may have developed a certain respect and interest in each other but their ability to continue a relationship is greatly limited.

Cordelia eventually gets safely home only to have her superiors question her loyalties. Has her mind been altered to slip her back in her world as a double agent?

I enjoyed the characters, the danger, and the suspense. Bujold has created a complex world in the aristocratic juggling of the Barrayar society. As the title indicates, the characters struggle to find honor in their activities. Best, I was delighted by the very mild development of the romance. I thought this was book 1, but apparently it is book 2 in reading order. I am glad I have books 1 and 3 to continue this series.

Audio Notes: Grover Gardner is a wonderful narrator although I am accustomed to hearing him narrate other works (like the Andy Carpenter series). It took me a few minutes to adjust to his voice in this sci fi setting. Somehow I think Gardner’s voice matched Vorkosigan’s character.

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

Audio Book Review: Bunker (Book 3) Code of Honor by Jay J. Falconer

This series’ episode fits the bill for a quick action title.
Bunker (Book 3) Code of Honor
Written by Jay J. Falconer
Read by Gary Tiedemann

Run Time 5h 50min
Release Date: May 29, 2017
Publisher: BookBreeze.com
Genre: Action, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

A Warrior Lives for Peace. Sometimes All He Finds is War.
When the perpetrators finally reveal themselves, Jack Bunker finds himself the target of a deadly manhunt. He’s all that stands between them and complete control.
Yet mortars, artillery, and machine guns are not the only threats Bunker must face.
News of an airborne pathogen spreads panic across the countryside, leaving everyone to fend for themselves, including Bunker after he’s wounded.
Eventually the citizens of Clearwater must make an impossible decision: resist with their lives or serve on their knees.
>>> From award-winning, bestselling author, Jay J. Falconer, comes another heart-pounding, post-apocalyptic saga you won’t be able to put down. If you love high-intensity thrillers, this book was written just for you.

Review:
Jack Bunker was able to escape with Deputy Daisy from a gang of military mercenaries. But soon find themselves facing Russian enemies. Jack sends Daisy back to town to warn the mayor and others there. Then Jack finds himself running for his life after being spotted.

Jack isn’t the only one the Russians are chasing. Apparently, their real reason for being in Clearwater is to find the man who stole a deadly weapon. That man is on the run with a daughter returning to her home.

Back in town, the community is excited to welcome FEMA trucks and supplies when they roll into town. Although the ‘rescuers’ are manned by a foreign team, the mayor and citizens agree to line up for a special vaccination they are told is to protect them against radiation from the potential threat of a damaged nuclear site miles away.

Soon all injured parties are converging on the home of the local prepper, who is now dead. There is a delayed challenge between some of the primary characters before the straggling group recognize that they need to pull together if they want to protect themselves and help their community from the Russian threat and the unknown, but suspected, threat posed by the ‘FEMA’ group.

I enjoyed this quick listen. I still disapprove of some of the shallow jealousy of one character in particular, although that may have been resolved in this book. I still like how Bunker takes the blows and keeps pushing back. I will be continuing with the next two books which I already own.

Audio Notes: Once again, Gary Tiedemann does a fine job providing distinct voices and appropriate energy that fits the story. I am glad that I can listen to this series.

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

Audio Book Review: Bunker (Book 1) Born to Fight by Jay J. Falconer - 4.0.
Audio Book Review: Bunker (Book 2) Dogs of War by Jay J. Falconer - 3.75.

Audible Book Review: Zombies A Record of the Year of Infection by Don Roff

This journal style was interesting but less action than some might like.

Zombies
A Record of the Year of Infection
By: Don Roff
Narrated by: Stephen R. Thorne

Length: 1 hr and 40 mins
Publisher: AudioGO
Genre: Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Horror
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
The year is 2011, and what starts as a pervasive and inexplicable illness ends up as a zombie infestation that devastates the world's population. Taking the form of a biologist's journal found in the aftermath of the attack, this pulse-pounding, suspenseful tale of zombie apocalypse follows the narrator as he flees from city to countryside and heads north to Canada, where he hopes the undead will be slowed by the colder climate. Encountering scattered humans and scores of the infected along the way, he fills his notebook with descriptions and careful observations of zombie behavior, along with terrifying tales of survival.
This frightening contribution to the massively popular zombie resurgence will keep fans on the edge of their seats right up to the very end. ©2009 Don Roff (P)2012 AudioGO

Review:
As soon as a new illness begins to ravage the population, Dr. Robert Twombly, begins to journal the symptoms and progress of the decease. He dictates his findings noting that he and his colleagues soon realize the illness moves quickly into a zombie infestation. They lock up one doctor who is infected and Twombly (and the audio listener) can hear that co-worker banging on the door in the background.

Twombly and another healthy man plot an escape from the building when it is threatened by a mob of the undead. The doctor, and people he meets along the way, continue to hide and flee from the death behind him. Although he hears of a safe place further north, Twombly decides to locate and investigate a food facility which is believed to have started the illness.

Ultimately Twombly travels further north since reports are that the zombies can’t function in cold weather. He reaches a community that has not had any experience with the infected. Will they be safe?

Because this is presented as journal entries it lacks the intensity of live action and danger that some readers might want with their zombie story. I enjoyed the style for its uniqueness and quick presentation. It appears the print (and kindle) versions have some good drawings that enhance the journal style reading. Zombie reading fans who aren’t audio buffs might want to try the print versions.

Audio Notes: I found that the - sometimes rough - narration provided by Stephen R. Thorne fit the journal style of the story. I enjoyed the quick audio reading opportunity.

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

Audio Book Reviews: Three More Jack Reacher Novellas by Lee Child

This reminded me why I like this author and this character.

Three More Jack Reacher Novellas
Written by Lee Child
Narrated by Dick Hill

Run Time 8h 9min
Release Date: May 16, 2017
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Genre: Mystery, Short Stories, Thriller
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher Description
Lee Child once again demonstrates his mastery of the thriller genre with an unbeatable collection of three Jack Reacher novellas and six short stories, together for the first time in one pulse-pounding collection from the #1 New York Times bestselling author
Too Much Time: In this original novella featuring Jack Reacher after his time in the army, Reacher finds himself in a hollowed-out town in Maine. He witnesses a random bag-snatching but sees much more than a simple crime, in a tale that leads into Lee Child’s new Reacher novel, The Midnight Line.

Small Wars: Lee Child goes back to 1989, when Jack Reacher is an MP assigned to solve the cold-blooded murder of a young officer.
The telex is brief and to the point: One active-duty personnel found shot to death ten miles north of Fort Smith. Circumstances unknown. The victim was shot twice in the chest and once in the head. A professional hit. The crime scene suggests an ambush. Military police officer Jack Reacher is given the case. He calls his older brother, Colonel Joe Reacher, at the Pentagon for intel and taps Sergeant Frances Neagley to help him answer the big question: Who would kill a brilliant officer on the fast-track to greatness?

Not a Drill: Jack Reacher is on the road, hitching a ride with some young Canadians who are planning a hike through the dense forests of Maine. They part ways after sharing a hot meal, and Reacher checks out a quiet town surrounded by countryside serene enough to cool even his raging wanderlust. But not for long. First the trail is suddenly closed. Then the military police show up in force. Maybe it’s a drill. Or maybe it’s trouble-the kind of trouble that always finds Reacher, no matter how far he travels off the beaten path.

And for the first time on audio, additional stories featuring Jack Reacher, including: James Penney’s New Identity, Everyone Talks, Maybe They Have a Tradition, Guy Walks into a Bar, No Room at the Motel, and The Picture of the Lonely Diner

Review:
Jack Reacher was once a military enforcement officer. He lives on the road because that is the way he likes it. He has excellent observation skills and is always watching his situation. He doesn’t always toe the line himself as he has his own sense of real justice. One might think that trouble follows him but, really, he tends to step into trouble. After all, when he sees trouble, i.e. crime, he almost always takes action to handle it, even though he may not be invited. This collection of stories finds Jack doing his normal – stepping into trouble and finding ways, legal or on the edge, to solve it.

In Too Much Time, Jack steps in to stop a bag snatcher. When the police turn on him and declare him to be a conspirator in the crime, he rethinks his observations and knows the crime wasn’t what he saw. He finds soon realizes that someone is anxious to take his view point out of the picture. Jack will have to convince another officer to look more closely at the circumstances if he wants to survive.

Small Wars takes place in 1989 when Jack is still an MP and called on to solve a murder of a rather brash young officer. Once again, Jack can see beyond the obvious at the crime site to unwind the events that resulted in the murder.

The third featured story, Not a Drill, finds Jack hitching a ride to the northern most point of our interstate highways. Jack doesn’t expect to see the three young people again but … things happen. The next day the forest trail is roped off and soon unexpected authorities are turning people away. Once again, Jack has stumbled upon trouble and he feels the need to help his young friends find their way out.

I totally enjoyed Jack’s acute observations and solutions in these stories. As a bonus there are six more short stories. There was only one that I didn’t really find delightful – from a procedural point of view. The package makes me want to go back to the beginning of the series and start listening again. I will have to pick up some more audios in the series.

Audio Notes: Dick Hill is a classic narrator. I hadn’t listened to his narration recently, but I was quick to recognize his distinctive voice. His tone fits Reacher’s character with dry and deliberate presentation. The narration enhanced the story pleasure for me.

Source: 8/14/2021 Chirp Under $2.00. This qualifies for 2022TBr, 2022Audiobook and 2022Alphabet goals.

Audio Book Review: Redemption Bay by RaeAnne Thayne

This is an easy contemporary romance.

Redemption Bay
By RaeAnne Thayne
Narrated By: Celeste Ciulla

Series: Haven Point, Book 2
Duration: 10 h 16 min
Release date: 06-30-15
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 3.75.

Summary:
New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne brings you back to Haven Point-a place made for second chances. McKenzie Shaw would do anything for her hometown of Haven Point. It may be small, but it's never let her down.unlike gorgeous, infuriating Ben Kilpatrick. He was her childhood hero until he closed his family's factory, leaving the town's economy in shambles. Now his tech firm is considering opening a local facility. For Haven Point's sake, McKenzie has to grit her teeth and play nice. What could a town filled with painful memories ever offer Ben? Yet seeing the town through the eyes of McKenzie-its fiery young mayor-he suddenly has his answer. If only he can resolve the animosity crackling between them, Ben may have found the place where he can build ties and find healing.a place where love arrives when it's least expected.

Review:
McKenzie Shaw owns a flower and gift shop and is the 30(ish) year old Mayor of her beloved hometown Haven Point. Even though she had a childhood crush on handsome Ben Kilpatrick, she has no soft feelings for him since he closed his family’s factory five years ago. The closure took away many jobs and caused the town decline that they are still trying to find a way to revive.

McKenzie has to bite her tongue when Ben shows up in town to assess it as a branch location for the successful company he works for, Caide Tech. Haven Point is a beautiful setting, and the company owner now leaves just outside town. But the next community down the road appears to be a better fit with houses and infrastructure already in place.

Ben is renting the tourist cottage next to McKenzie’s property. McKenzie’s standard poodle, Rika, has made fast friends with Hondo, the German Shepard Ben is ‘sitting’. Between the proximity and dogs, McKenzie and Ben find themselves pushed together.

Both McKenzie and Ben had painful childhood memories and relationships in Haven Point. McKenzie needs to stuff her enmity in order to show Ben how friendly and worthwhile her community. Ben, who seems to have shut himself off, has to try to see beyond the pains from his childhood in this town.

I enjoyed the development of both characters as they learned more about each other and overcame inaccurate assumptions. The story isn’t particularly eventful, but it does show the danger of miscommunication in relationships and struggles in small town life. Ms. Thayne is a reliable author for nice, easy read romance. I can recommend this series to romance readers who enjoy clean, contemporary romance.

Audio Notes: Celeste Ciulla delivers a nice narration which is more a read than an enactment. Her narration matched the easy tone of the story. I am glad I had an audio version.

Source: 8/31/18 Audiobooks.com 2 for 1 credit deal. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022phabet goals.

Audio Book Review: A Ripple In Time by Victor Zugg

This is a fair time travel adventure.

A Ripple in Time
A Historical Novel of Survival
Written by Victor Zugg
Narrated by Sean William Doyle

Run Time 7h 26min
Release Date: December 10, 2019
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Historical Fantasy, Time Travel
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher Description
A struggle for survival in a time long past.
It started as a routine Miami to Charlotte flight for the passengers, crew, and Federal Air Marshal Stephen Mason. But a freak storm over the Atlantic propels the airliner unexplainably back in time to the early 18th century. They find themselves on the sparsely populated coast of the Carolina Colony. Charles Town is the only English settlement of any size in the area. It’s an inhospitable place of vast plantations, slavery, hostile natives, tall ships, and marauding pirates.
Finding a way back, if that’s even feasible, is the least of their worries. These unintended time travelers quickly find themselves ill-equipped for hardships and dangers not faced for centuries. Perils loom at every turn in this world of loss, anguish, filth, and sweat.
Foreigners in their own land, can they survive and adapt? Is it even possible for these modern transplants to carve an existence from this foul and odorous place in time?
Stephen Mason will find a way or die trying.

Review:
Federal Air Marshal Stephen Mason is accustomed to flying “incognito”. He is called in last minute to cover a routine flight from Miami to Charlotte. The first hour of the flight is fine but then there are dark clouds and a strange storm flash. The plane has lost navigational tools and, more disturbing, the crew cannot locate any familiar airfields, or cities, on the ground. The pilot attempts to land in the water somewhere off the coast of Carolina.

As survivors of the crash gather, Mason, a former Delta Force warrior, begins to access the skills and attitudes of those around him. Some are cooperative and helping, while others are looking out for only their own interests. One young woman is a history student who adds a wealth of information to their situation. When native Indians appear to the survivors Mason is pretty sure that somehow they have landed in the past. No one really wants to believe that they won’t be rescued soon or find a modern city within a short distance. Clearly, they are in trouble, not only with natural survival, but facing possible hostile natives, and likely being branded as witches if they travel into the primitive town.

The story seems simplistic at times but rather suspenseful at others. The characters are not well developed and even Mason doesn’t seem to be a clear leader. Still, I liked the historical details (or conjectures) and I enjoyed following the successes and failures of the struggles of this small band of survivors. There is a light romance which is a little stilted. The author delivers a twist toward the end that at least gives this a hopeful ending.

I read this as a stand-alone but now see this is the first of a trilogy. I’m not sure I am invested enough with the characters to read more. We’ll see. (A boxed set on audio became available January 2022.) I do think fans of time travel and Colonial American history might want to try this.

Audio Notes: I am glad I had this in audio as it is an easy, quick way for me to listen. I wasn’t overly impressed with the narration by Sean William Doyle. When I relisten to the sample, I still find his voice and portrayals to be flat. It didn’t particularly hurt the reading but didn’t enhance it either.

Source: March 2021 Chirp Purchase $2.99. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

I did enjoy these creative stories of the mythological gods.
Norse Mythology
By: Neil Gaiman
Narrated by: Neil Gaiman

Length: 6 hrs and 29 mins
Release date: 02-07-17
Publisher: HarperAudio
Genre: Classic, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Mythology
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Introducing an instant classic - master storyteller Neil Gaiman presents a dazzling version of the great Norse myths.
Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction. Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales. In Norse Mythology, Gaiman fashions primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds; delves into the exploits of the deities, dwarves, and giants; and culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and the rebirth of a new time and people. Gaiman stays true to the myths while vividly reincarnating Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin's son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki, the son of a giant, a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator. From Gaiman's deft and witty prose emerge the gods with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and to duping others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe pungent life again.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook. Download the accompanying reference guide.
©2017 Neil Gaiman (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Review:
Gaiman introduces this collection with a disclosure of his passionate love of Norse gods. He then delivers a wonderfully creative and engaging collection of short stories. The stories are individual pieces interwoven due to the relationships between the gods and their children. I winced at some of the antics (remember Loki is a terrible trickster) and laughed at other situations.

The audio comes with a pdf file that identifies the underlying source of the myth or folk tale. It also includes a 9 page glossary of names, titles, and places. All of this is very interesting and entertaining. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy myths and folktales.

Audio Notes: Not all authors make good narrators but Neil Gaiman is one who can pull it off. He provides distinct voices for his characters and gives appropriate emotions to the stories. I am very glad that I had this on audio.

Source: 2/11/2019 Audible Daily Deal $3.95. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, 2022Alphabet goals.

Audio Book Review: Quest of Heroes by Morgan Rice

I enjoyed this coming of age with magic story.

Quest of Heroes, A & Slave, Warrior, Queen Bundle
By Morgan Rice
Narrated By: Wayne Farrell

Duration: 16 hours 28 minutes
Publisher: Findaway Voices
Genre: Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, Teen & Young Adult
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

In the #1 Bestseller A QUEST OF HEROES, Thorgrin, a special 14- year old boy, the least loved of his father, learns he has powers he does not understand. An outsider, he must fight for acceptance as he strives to become a warrior, to join the King’s Legion, and as he falls in love with the king’s 16- year old daughter. Most of all, he must learn who he really is, and why his destiny is so important.

Review:
Thorgrin is frustrated when his father refuses to let him go with his elder brothers to have a chance at being picked to be trained as a warrior in the King’s Legion. He goes forward anyway and is mocked as too young and too small. When he runs to the forest in anger he comes upon a strange man in a clearing. Thorgrin is shocked to find himself face to face with the King’s own Mage advisor. And the man brings to Thorgrin’s attention that he has special powers that he needs to learn to use.

Thorgrin kills a wild beast in a remarkable way with his newly emerging skills. Bolstered by this success, Thorgrin makes his way to the King’s city to force his way into the Legion. He faces opposition but manages to convince a handful of influential warriors to take him on. Thorgrin finds favor with the King and several of the royal children, including the Princess. But the King has enemies, even in his own household and not everyone likes Thorgrin and his interference. Thorgrin tries to warn the King of an assassination attempt but the warning goes awry.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I am not always into coming-of-age stories, but I totally enjoyed this one with its touch of magic Thorgrin is brave and means well even in his foolish impulsivity and naivety which made me roll my eyes. The theme of farmer boy making it good in the King’s forces isn’t new but it has a certain charm in this book. Further, although the characters are not greatly developed, there is a good mix of good guys and grades of bad to evil guys. I enjoyed the action and the bits of humor. This ends with a cliff hanger so part of me wants to get the next book to see what happens next. No big rush on this. Readers who enjoy magic and don’t stress on writing form may well enjoy this story.

Audio Notes: Wayne Farrell does a fair job for the work. He actually helps to deliver Thorgin’s youthful emotions. I am glad that I got to listen to this on audio.

Source: I've had this on Kindle since 2003 (it's still free). I picked up the audio at May 2020 Audiobooks.com bundle for $.99. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: Unbowed, Lee Hardin, Book 5 by D. J. Molles

I did enjoy this Post-Apocalyptic adventure and am ready for the series' final book.
Unbowed
Lee Harden, Book 5
By: D. J. Molles
Narrated by: Christian Rummel

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins
Release date: 02-09-21
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
The United Eastern States has fallen. Lee Harden and a band of survivors have escaped President Briggs' invasion force. Their only options are to attack Briggs while his forces are delayed on the East Coast...or admit that they've been beaten and go into hiding. For Lee Harden, the decision seems obvious. But as disparate forces, factions, and loyalties begin to converge under the pressure cooker of all-out civil war, Lee is forced to confront not only insurmountable odds, but also the darkest parts of himself that he has left buried in the years since this all began.
©2020 D.J. Molles (P)2021 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Major Lee Harden is battered and feels like half a man. But he is not bowed as he pushes on leading a rag tag group of United Eastern States (UES) survivors to take the battle to self-proclaimed President Briggs in Greeley, Colorado. Along the way, Lee and his friend and co-leader/warrior Abe, are trying to convince the surviving communities to join them in the battle. Initially they are successful in gathering supplies and civilian ‘soldiers’. That is until the forces returning from the East Coast who are following behind Harden brutally deal with the communities as a clear threat to those who might support the UES efforts. This puts the UES attack on a fine line.

Meanwhile, Sam Ryder, has infiltrated Greeley at the direction of Harden. He and his small group are a key element to provide inside intel and ultimately sabotage from the inside of the enemy compound. Although they find some allies resisting Briggs within the camp, Sam and his new friends are forced into hiding. Sam and his team members are under such pressure that Sam wonders if he can fulfill the mission he promised to do. Can Sam push to remain unbowed like his hero, Lee?

As the remnants of the UES forces descend on Greeley it is clear their attack has minimal likelihood of success. Especially as they become caught between the Camp in front of them and the forces behind them. Suddenly there is aid from an unsuspected source.

And don’t forget that somewhere behind all of these humans are the Primals who are developing more cunning … and more hunger.

All of this leads up to the final confrontation in Book 6, Terminus. Some readers felt this book was mostly a filler, but I liked the continued build up to the battle which is sure to be explosive. Not all of this is happy since both Lee and Sam struggle with depression under pressure. There is also unrelenting brutality against innocent civilians who are already struggling to survive. This actually hurts a reasonable soul. I appreciate the continued character development and the action and movement forward. I am looking forward to the next (final ☹) book.

Audio Notes: Christian Rummel continues to add to my enjoyment of this series. He provides clear, distinct voices that even portray the tiredness and emotional stress of the characters.

Source: 10/17/2021 September 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
Defiant, Lee Hardin, Book 4 by D. J. Molles

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

Audible Book Review: The Harrows of Spring: The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 4 by James Howard Kunstler

I finished this interesting series for my "Spring" title.

The Harrows of Spring: The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 4
By: James Howard Kunstler
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Series: World Made By Hand, Book 4
Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
Release date: 07-05-16
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Dystopian, Metaphysical Fiction, Post Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
"From the renowned social critic, energy expert, and bestselling author James Howard Kunstler, The Harrows of Spring concludes the quartet of his extraordinary World Made by Hand novels, set in an American future of economic and political collapse, where electricity, automobiles, and the familiar social structures of the "old times" are a misty memory.
In the little upstate New York town of Union Grove, springtime is a most difficult season, known as "the six weeks want," when fresh food is scarce and winter stores have dwindled. Young Daniel Earle returns from his haunting travels around what is left of the United States intent on resurrecting the town newspaper. He is also recruited by the town trustees to help revive the Hudson River trade route shut down peevishly by the local grandee, planter Stephen Bullock. Meanwhile, a menacing gang of Social Justice Warriors styling themselves as agents of the Berkshire People's Republic appear one evening to camp on the outskirts of town. Their leaders are the imposing Amazonian beauty Flame Aurora Greengrass and the charismatic grifter Sylvester "Buddy" Goodfriend, progressive to a fault in their politics and intent on extracting whatever tribute they can from people of Union Grove.
Romance, politics, bunko, violence, and family tragedy swirl through the thrilling finale to Kunstler's bestselling series. The Harrows of Spring is a powerful, heart-wrenching, and satisfying conclusion to this poignant history of the future."
©2016 James Howard Kunstler (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Life continues to move forward for the community of Union Grove. Personal issues involving lack of vaccines and medical facilities in this society which has been set back to days of horse and buggy. There are moments of absolute tragedy that bring unique responses from the family members involved.

The local land baron, Stephen Bullock, has decided to go isolationist and stop delivering trade goods to the town. Brother Jobe convinces town members to gather funds needed to send a group of men to buy a boat for the town in order to transfer needed supplies. Daniel Earle, who has returned to town as a wanted man in the south, is starting a newspaper in town. He needs supplies for the business and is recruited to travel with the team to get a boat. It is a dangerous mission but must be done.

Meanwhile a crowd of what appear to be simple, ‘hippy’ type people have been discovered on the outskirts of town. They identify themselves as agents of the Berkshire People’s Republic. It is soon realized that they are actually socialist /social justice warriors in town to exploit people to sell their resources for worthless paper money or be brutally attacked if unwilling to share voluntarily. Can the leaders of Union Grove deal with the threat before infiltrators and imposters cause irreparable damage?

I was pleased to finish this interesting series for my "Spring" title. I enjoyed the character developments and idiosyncrasies as well as the plot themes. This last story still had some strangeness (the metaphysical aspect) and had distinct brutal elements. I am glad that I was able to enjoy this down to earth post-apocalyptic series through Audible’s plus catalog. I recommend the series to fans of the genre.

Audio Notes: Once again, the narration by Jim Meskimen added to the story for me. He provides distinct, fitting and unusual voices. He also conveys the underlying personalities of the characters. I appreciated this series in audio.

Source: 12/21/2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Season goals.

World Made by Hand: The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 1
The Witch of Hebron: A World Made by Hand Novel, Book 2
A History of the Future: A World Made by Hand Novel, Book 3

Audible Book Review: Prador Moon: A Novel of the Polity, Book 1 By: Neal Asher

This is creative military space opera.
Prador Moon: A Novel of the Polity, Book 1
By: Neal Asher
Narrated by: David Marantz

Series: Polity, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
Release date: 10-22-13
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Alien, Military, Space Opera
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Neal Asher takes on first contact, Polity style. This original novel recounts the first contact between the aggressive Prador aliens, and the Polity Collective as it is forced to retool its society to a war footing. The overwhelming brute force of the Prador dreadnaughts causes several worlds and space stations to be overrun.
Prador Moon follows the initial Polity defeats, to the first draws, and culminates in what might be the first Polity victory, told from the point of view of two unlikely heroes.
©2006 Neal Asher (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Review:
The Polity is the Earths’s societal government entity that is led by AI with humans often integrated. Polity has been in space but over many years only found one other intelligent species. Now they have met another – the Prador.

The Prador are a species comfortable on land and in the sea. They resemble standing shrimp with a hard carapace and crab claws. They have technologically advance ships that appear to be undefinable as they proceed to annihilate worlds. The creatures themselves are led by Captains who breed children who are the soldiers. Only the best of the young live to become Seconds or Firsts and the Captain will kill and sometimes devour those who don’t make the grade.

Vortex is a First Child of Captain Immanence. When he leads a party of Prador to a meeting with the Polity he has no intent of friendship. Instead, he and his smaller soldiers attack the human and partially human hosts leaving a bloody room.

Jebel is a Polity, enhanced-human soldier who has been fixed with AI technology and parts. He suffers under the initial attack of Vortex, but lives to face the enemy again.

Moria is a brilliant scientist, technician, who has been promoted to a level beyond her capability to understand the gate technology she is tasked to study. The only way to manage is to accept augmentation in the form of AI nano tech inserted to connect with her own brain synapses. After surviving the aug installation, Moria begins to advance in her understanding to a point where she is able to comprehend the gate technology that will allow new leaps in space travel. Can she use her new knowledge to help stop the Prador?

Captain John Varence remembers vaguely when he was once only human, now he is mostly AI on (or part of) the ship Occam Razor. They have been in stasis for years but now awaken to the call of danger. They are ready to fight the Prador and make the first successful blow against the impenetrable Prador ships. But they can’t fight the enemy alone.

These three characters and their comrades must find a way to work together if they want to keep the Prador from taking out another Polity world.

This book jumps quickly into an alien bloody attack. There is plenty of action that moves the story along. The Polity characters are interesting although shallowly developed. On the other hand, Asher gives more depth to the Prador species. The world building is creative. There is some political commentary twisted into the story but that can be overlooked if the reader chooses.

The story is entertaining but did not pull me into committing to the Polity world of space sci fi. I will probably get another Asher title at some point, but I am not rushing. Space Opera fans should check out other reviews and consider reading/listening to this title.

Audio Notes: The narration by David Marantz is mixed. At times I thought Marantz was doing a good job delivering the energy with the underlying excitement and humor of the text. Other times I cringed at the mispronunciation of terms. Still, I am glad I had the chance to listen to this audio from the Plus Catalog.

Source: July 2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.