Audible Book Review: The Werewolf's 15 Minutes by Jonathan Maberry

This is a perfect, quick, fit for October and #Fraterfest.
#FRATERFEST-2
The Werewolf's 15 Minutes
By: Jonathan Maberry
Narrated by: Ray Porter, Dina Pearlman

Series: Audible Original Stories
Length: 1 hr and 42 mins
Release date: 10-28-21
Publisher: Audible Originals
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Werewolf
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

About This Audible Original
Gary Bruce is a slacker of epic loserness. Can’t keep a job. His friends are as bad as he is. No girlfriend. No direction.
Gary Bruce is also a werewolf.
Desperate for any kind of success, Gary decides to out himself on YouTube. The moment this ordinary guy goes full-on fur, fangs, and claws, the world can’t get enough of him. He’s the biggest thing on social media, he’s on every talk show, book and movie deals fall in his lap, and for the first time in his life he gets invited to all the best parties.
But celebrity is a special kind of voracious monster. And when Gary’s star begins to lose its luster, he has to decide how far he’ll go to stay relevant in a world that discards has-beens in favor of the next big thing.
Fortunately, Gary has a plan....
The Werewolf’s 15 Minutes is a brand-new short story by New York Times best-seller and five-time Bram Stoker Award winner Jonathan Maberry, author of Bewilderness and V-Wars (Netflix).
©2021 Jonathan Maberry Productions, LLC (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC.

Review:
Gary and his friends are not particularly impressive young men. They struggle to keep a job, much less a girlfriend, or a sense of career direction. Gary has decided to take drastic steps to get attention, so he outs himself as a werewolf on YouTube. Gary gets his 15 minutes of fame but for the wrong reasons. The audience wants to know the secret to his excellent make-up. It takes another step to really be taken seriously and get an agent with all the star hype.

Of course, that only lasts for a limited time. As his star dims, Gary formulates a plan to renew the interest. But he might carry things a bit too far.

I enjoyed this quick story with an appropriately ironic twist that brings a chuckle at the end. There is a bit of lazy-side male banter that wasn’t my favorite but certainly fit the characters. I recommend this as a good, quick Halloween read.

Audio Notes: Ray Porter and Dina Pearlman share the narration on this. I like Porter’s straightforward narration with good pausing and emphasis. Dina also has fitting energy, and I enjoyed the shared segments. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of the quick story.

10/27-30/2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: A Ghostly Undertaking by Tonya Kappes

This is a light, fun cozy mystery.
#FRATERFEST-1

A Ghostly Undertaking
Author Tonya Kappes
Narrator: Tiffany Morgan

Duration: 5 h 39 min
Release date: 12-24-19
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Ghost, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Summary
A funeral, a ghost, a murder . . . It's all in a day's work for Emma Lee Raines . . .
Bopped on the head from a falling plastic Santa, local undertaker Emma Lee Raines is told she's suffering from 'funeral trauma.' It's trauma all right, because the not-so-dearly departed keep talking to her. Take Ruthie Sue Payne-innkeeper, gossip queen, and arch-nemesis of Emma Lee's granny-she's adamant that she didn't just fall down those stairs. She was pushed.
Ruthie has no idea who wanted her pushing up daisies. All she knows is that she can't cross over until the matter is laid to eternal rest. In the land of the living, Emma Lee's high-school crush, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross, isn't ready to rule out foul play. Granny Raines, the widow of Ruthie's ex-husband and co-owner of the Sleepy Hollow Inn, is the prime suspect. Now Emma Lee is stuck playing detective or risks being haunted forever.
Contains mature themes
.

Review:
Emma Lee Raines was hit on the head by a plastic Santa. When she woke up from the knock-out she thought a dead man was talking to her. The doctors, her family, and friends say she is suffering from ‘funeral trauma’ having grown up and now working in the family funeral parlor.

Emma isn’t suffering from a disease, but she is definitely struggling with keeping a quite image while the ghost of Ruthie Sue Payne, local innkeeper, is ranting about those attending her funeral. She is also carrying on about being pushed down the stairs, not accidentally falling. Ruthie was pushed from behind so she doesn’t know who her killer is, but she has some clues to share with Emma. But one of the suspects is Emma’s own Granny, the widow of Ruthie’s ex-husband and part owner of the inn.

Emma determines she must prove her Granny’s is not the killer. She is okay with teaming up with her high-school crush, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross. But what will he think of her if he learns that she is being aided by the dead victim?

This is a cute cozy mystery, with the added fun of ghostly input and a developing romance. The story moves along well, and I liked the clues that help reduce the suspect pool. The story ends with Ruthie taking her leave and another ghost seeking Emma’s help. Yep -- I’ll look to read/listen to more in this series. I recommend this to fans of cozy mystery, especially if you enjoy ghosts in the mix.

Audio Notes: Tiffany Morgan does a nice job with the narration. Her voice is light and totally fitting to a Southern damsel – maybe not something I would want to listen to for a long haul but good for this quick cozy. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 12/12/2021 Audiobooks.com Two for One Credit. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: An Univited Ghost by E.J. Copperman

I enjoyed this as a lighter, haunted, cozy mystery.

An Uninvited Ghost
By: E.J. Copperman
Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi

Series: Haunted Guesthouse, Book 2
Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
Release date: 10-22-13
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Ghosts, Woman Sleuth
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Alison and her resident gumshoe ghost are on their next case when the deceased Scott MacFarlane floats in worried that he accidentally killed a prominent local woman. Turns out she's still alive...that is, of course, until she's murdered - in Alison's house. Now, between the demands of her guests and the arrival of a reality television crew, Alison must find the killer before she sees reality from the other side.
©2011 Jeffrey Cohen (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Alison is hosting a group of guests who signed on for a ‘unique tour’ that includes “ghost” experiences. Fortunately, Alison is able to accommodate as she works with her house ghosts, Maxi, a former owner, and Paul, a PI hired by Maxi. Other guests who arrive to camp out back are teens from a reality television show. This increases the suspect pool as well as elevating the drama around the ongoing events.

Another ghost, Scott, shows up worried he was tricked into killing a local woman. Alison checks into the situation and learns that the woman is alive. She invites her to visit the next night for a séance but then the woman is murdered at the event. Now Alison, with some help from Paul, is intent on finding the murderer before the authorities shut down her guesthouse.

There is plenty of background banter between the ghosts and Alison. I enjoyed the quirky characters and the pursuit of the mystery. I appreciate that this is an easy, and enjoyable listen. I will continue more in the series. I recommend this to fans of cozy mysteries, especially if they like ghost characters too.

Audio Notes: Amanda Ronconi continues to do a nice job with the narration. I like her clear, distinct voices, and the appropriate energy that she gives the characters. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

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

Audible Book Review: A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

This is a bit rough with language and reasoning, but it has some funny moments.
A Dirty Job
By: Christopher Moore
Narrated by: Fisher Stevens

Series: Grim Reaper, Book 1 (2 books)
Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins
Release date: 01-01-06
Publisher: HarperAudio
Genre: Occult, Satire, Supernatural
My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.5; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Charlie Asher is a pretty normal guy. A little hapless, somewhat neurotic, sort of a hypochondriac. He's what's known as a Beta Male: the kind of fellow who makes his way through life by being careful and constant, you know, the one who's always there to pick up the pieces when the girl gets dumped by the bigger/taller/stronger Alpha Male.
But Charlie's been lucky. He owns a building in the heart of San Francisco, and runs a secondhand store with the help of a couple of loyal, if marginally insane, employees. He's married to a bright and pretty woman who actually loves him for his normalcy. And she, Rachel, is about to have their first child.
Yes, Charlie's doing okay for a Beta. That is, until the day his daughter, Sophie, is born. Just as Charlie, exhausted from the birth, turns to go home, he sees a strange man in mint-green golf wear at Rachel's hospital bedside, a man who claims that no one should be able to see him. But see him Charlie does, and from here on out, things get really weird.
People start dropping dead around him, giant ravens perch on his building, and it seems that everywhere he goes, a dark presence whispers to him from under the streets. Strange names start appearing on his nightstand notepad, and before he knows it, those people end up dead, too. Yup, it seems that Charlie Asher has been recruited for a new job, an unpleasant but utterly necessary one: Death. It's a dirty job. But hey, somebody's gotta do it.
©2006 Christopher Moore (P)2006 HarperCollinsPublishers

Review:
Charlie Asher is a normal, not particularly impressive guy; a rather hapless, beta male. He was fortunate to be running his family’s business, a secondhand store with some helpful, if weird, employees. And somehow Charlie landed a lovely wife, Rachel.

When Rachel goes into labor, Charlie’s narcotic behavior causes the nurses to run him out of the room. After Rachel delivers a precious baby girl, Charlie returns to the room to be surprised to see a stranger there. The stranger is surprised too as no one is supposed to be able to see him. The man is a deliverer of death or soul collector who claims the souls of those dying.

Charlie returns home with his daughter Sophie and struggles to get over the loss of his beloved wife. But soon he begins to see strange things, like red glowing items in his store and beyond. Next, people start to die near him. One of his employees, a goth girl fascinated by ghoulish things, takes a book sent to Charlie that tells him he is now a soul collector and what he is supposed to do. She doesn’t consider him worthy, so she wants to claim the book.

Meanwhile, Charlie continues with strange things, finding names and numbers on his bedside table, seeing giant ravens on the roof, spotting shadows on the street, and hearing challenging whispers from the street gutters. Eventually, Charlie learns what is going on and he begins to stumble through his new “job” as a deliverer of death and collector of souls. Still, powers of darkness are creepy forward and becoming more threatening.

The story goes off on a strange path with the soul collectors finally facing off against the demons which want to take over the souls of San Francisco. I am glad there was strong humor to offset some terribly strong language. There was also some clear stereotyping that could be offensive to some if they don’t appreciate the satire. I did like several of the secondary characters, including Sophie. I also liked the quotes at the beginning of the chapters. I am not sure if I will continue with the series, but I can recommend this to fans of occult who aren’t offended by the foul language.

Audio Notes: Fisher Stevens does a good job with the narration. His voice appropriately fits the crazy characters. I’m glad I had the audio.

Source: 7/18/21 Audible $5.00 sale on Sci Fi and Fantasy titles. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: Galvanism and Ghouls, Book 2 of Manners and Monsters Collection by Tilly Wallace

I like these characters and the mystery of this series.

Manners and Monsters Collection: A Regency paranormal mystery series
by Tilly Wallace
Narrated By: Marian Hussey

Duration: 23 hours 46 minutes;
book 2, Galvanism and Ghouls.
Book 2 Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
Release date: 03-03-21
Publisher: Tilly Wallace
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Gaslamp, Paranormal
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Galvanism and Ghouls
Publisher's Summary
Time reveals all secrets....
A new unnatural horror is about to rattle Hannah Miles' quiet existence, and it's not the short-tempered viscount prowling the hallways. Someone is creating a monster by stitching together pieces of different people. When a limb makes an escape attempt, Viscount Wycliff is called to investigate. All of London knows there is one mad scientist among them capable of creating such an ungodly monster...Sir Warren Miles.
Hannah's father is suspected of a most heinous crime, and she is determined to clear his name, even as Wycliff works to see the murderer hang. Buried secrets that touch all their lives will be brought to the surface. One such secret belongs to Hannah and could tear her world apart.
With Hannah and Wycliff on opposing sides, can they find the real monster, and will it be the hand that wields the scalpel or the creature hiding in the dark?
©2019 Tilly Wallace (P)2019 Tilly Wallace

Review:
Growly Viscount Wycliff is called out to investigate a “monster” terrorizing the public. He doesn’t immediately find the monster but he finds a dismembered arm and hand…that is still moving. Wycliff brings it back to the Miles’ household where Hannah and her father get to examine the specimen. Hannah realizes that the hand is sentient, and she makes a ‘pet’ out of it. Next thing, they are using the hand as a blood hound to search out the rest of its body!

As other citizens go missing and stitched up bodies are discovered, the public begins to call for the arrest of the scientist they believe capable of these atrocities – Hannah’s father, Sir Warren Miles. Wycliff has no choice but to allow the arrest of Sir Wiles. Hannah is horrified and now opposes the mysterious viscount more than ever.

But both Hannah and Wycliff are hiding secrets. When the secrets are revealed, will their animosity create a complete divide, or will they learn to empathize for each other? Meanwhile, what happens to the hand and the monster?

I enjoy the mystery and the humor of these characters and their situations. I like how the author is developing the relationship between Hannah and Wycliff. I suspect I will listen to book three, Gossip and Gorgons, sooner than later. I recommend this series to fans of paranormal and historical mysteries.

Audio Notes: Marian Hussey does a wonderful job with the narration. She provided distinct voices and I get caught up in listening. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 11/1/2020 Audiobooks.com Credit Purchase. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Death Overdue: A Haunted Library Mystery by Allison Brook

This is a nice, easy listen, cozy mystery with just a hint of future romance.
Death Overdue: A Haunted Library Mystery
By: Allison Brook
Narrated by: Mia Gaskin

Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins
Release date: 10-10-17
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Cozy Mystery, Woman Sleuth
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
For fans of Miranda James and Jenn McKinlay comes an enthralling series debut featuring a librarian who solves mysteries with the help of a ghost in the stacks.
Carrie Singleton is just about done with Clover Ridge, Connecticut until she is offered a job as the head of programs and events at the spooky local library, complete with its own librarian ghost. Her first major event is a program presented by a retired homicide detective, Al Buckley, who claims he knows who murdered Laura Foster, a much-loved part-time library aide who was bludgeoned to death 15 years earlier. As he invites members of the audience to share stories about Laura, he suddenly keels over and dies.
The medical examiner reveals that poison is what did him in, and Carrie feels responsible for having gone forward with the program despite pushback from her director. Driven by guilt, Carrie is determined to discover who murdered the detective, convinced it's the same man who killed Laura all those years ago. Luckily for Carrie, she has a friendly, knowledgeable ghost by her side. But as she questions the shadows surrounding Laura's case, disturbing secrets come to light, and with each step Carrie takes, she gets closer to ending up like Al.
©2017 Allison Brook (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Librarian Carrie was ready to move out of town when she is offered the job to head the programs and events department. She is surprised to be encouraged to accept the position by the whispers of the (previously) rumored library ghost. Apparently, Carrie, and one child, are the only ones able to see and hear the ghost, Evelyn.

Carrie soon realizes she has to deal with the sabotage of a disgruntled co-librarian who wanted the job. But Carrie is ready to change her work situation, moving from ‘goth’ librarian to a conservatively dressed supervisor. She is also able to find a very attractive cottage at a ridiculously affordable price offered to her by a mysterious man who owns the property and asks her to handle his mail while he is away. Carrie is intrigued by her new landlord but also finds herself being pursued by the son of the 15-year-old murder victim.

One of the first major events is a presentation by the retired detective who has been determined to solve the murder of a beloved library aide 15 years ago. Unfortunately, before he can share his latest information, the detective collapses due to poison. Carrie is sure that the murders are related, and she is determined to investigate even though she is discouraged by the authorities.

The story isn’t particularly exciting, but it is a nice, light cozy mystery. I enjoyed the element of a ghost in the library and the fun ideas that Carrie brings to her event planning. Although the dialogue of the romance interests is a bit awkward, the touch of romance adds a bit of interest to encourage continuing with the series. Which I will do since I have the next two on audible. I think readers who like easy, cozy mysteries would find this story acceptable.

Audio Notes: Mia Gaskin’s voice seems to fit this light female character. She presents the narration in a fashion that makes it an easy listen. I am glad I was able to enjoy this free audio.

Source: 1/23/2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: One-Eyed Jax by R.A. Savatore

I enjoyed this short story with drows, dwarves, and elves facing the mystery of a 'sea monster'.

One-Eyed Jax: A Forgotten Realms Adventure
(Legend of Drizzt Series)
by R.A. Salvatore
Narrated by: Victor Bevine

Series: Legend of Drizzt
Length: 1 hr and 56 mins
Original Recording Audiobook
Release date: 06-03-21
Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Conflicts will be decided with fisticuffs, card games will be played for the highest of stakes, and swords will be flashed in this rollicking Dungeons & Dragons adventure from New York Times best-selling author R. A. Salvatore.
Maintaining stability in a city full of pirates is a delicate balancing act, particularly when one is motivated by making sure the common folk are taken care of instead of simple personal greed. Jarlaxle and his band of rogues known as Bregan D'aerthe are doing their best, stabilizing the city after warding off a terrible attack by demonic and gnoll forces.
But now three merchant ships have been destroyed and sent to the ocean floor - obliterated in such a quick and brutal manner that it makes little sense it’s pirates seeking plunder. Something is out there on or under the cold dark waters of the Sword Coast, and it threatens the trade Jarlaxle will need to bring prosperity to Luskan.
Fortunately, Jarlaxle has powerful and clever allies he can call upon to help him solve the riddle. But will they do it in time? And even if it's solved, can the perpetrator be defeated?

Review:
Jarlzxle is a drow mercenary leading a band of rogues. When three merchant ships are destroyed and disappear in the ocean there is concern regarding more than pirates. And the only witness had described a creature that no one believes exist.

Jarlaxle, or One-Eyed Jax, pulls together a group of warriors to take on the pirates … or dragon as the case may be. They each have interesting talents and usually need the right incentive, bribe or threat, to join the team. I really love the creativity of this author.

This is a short listen that includes characters from the other works of Salvatore. I have only read one or two others, but this was still a masterful short story that didn’t require knowing all the characters. Readers who like stories of drows, dwarfs and elves should enjoy this story.

Audio Notes: Victor Bevine does a fine job with the narration. He gives the characters distinct voices and brogues that add to the entertainment value of the story.

Source: 6/10/2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: The Science of Sci-Fi by Erin Macdonald

I found this interesting even if I didn't grasp all the true science.
The Science of Sci-Fi
From Warp Speed to Interstellar Travel
By: Erin Macdonald, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Erin Macdonald

Length: 3 hrs and 59 mins
Release date: 11-19-19
Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Nonfiction, Science & Engineering, Science
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25

About This Audible Original
Science fiction allows listeners to go places they can only dream of seeing—other worlds, distant stars, entirely different galaxies. While not every story is concerned with the hard science behind space travel and other futuristic ventures, fiction can give listeners an amazing insight into what people could be capable of and what people dream of doing.
In the 10 lectures of The Science of Sci-Fi: From Warp Speed to Interstellar Travel, Professor Erin Macdonald interweaves real science and the achievements of the imagination to reveal the truth that underlies favorite stories and sheds light on what the future may hold. From faster-than-light travel to journeys through time itself, science fiction makes humanity seem limitless. So, what scientific boundaries are people pushing against while seeking to fly among the stars?
Beginning with an overview of the physics of time and space, Professor Macdonald shows how stories extrapolate current knowledge to create visions of the future and how likely—or unlikely—these fictional journeys could be. What would happen if a spaceship flew into a wormhole, as it does in the film Galaxy Quest? Or, what would happen if someone fired a rocket launcher on the Moon like the soldiers of Mass Effect? Could someone ever break the bounds of light speed as they do in Star Wars and move across the universe without spending decades trying to make it to a distant exoplanet? Is the transporter technology of Star Trek really possible?
As listeners look closely at artificial gravity, inertial dampeners, tachyons, red matter, time dilation, and other sci-fi mainstays through the theories of some of science’s greatest thinkers, they will find that their favorite science fiction stories become even more astonishing.
©2019 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC

Review:
It is clear the author not only understands the science, but she enjoys the interplay between real science and science fiction. She explains how some television shows and movies have used realistic and possible technology and sometimes use elements that aren’t so likely in real science. At least not that we know of.

Erin Macdonald delivers this course in 10 lectures/chapters that make it a bit easier to digest. She includes some history of science and great scientists, like Newton, Galileo, Einstein, Tesla and more. I clearly did not grasp all the scientific theory, especially the physics, yet she made it engaging by the examples and uses she shared. I really enjoyed the references to well-known and lesser-known fictional stories. This brought it to a level that the lay person, and sci fi fan, could relate to.

I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy this as much as I did. I recommend this to any reader who is interested in what is real and what could be in the technology of fictional sci fi.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the author’s narration. Her energy and love of the subject enhanced my enjoyment of the work.

Source: 3/28/2020 Free Audible Original. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Ruins of the Galaxy by J.N. Chaney and Christopher Hopper

This is entertaining, fast-paced military sci fi.
Ruins of the Galaxy
Ruins of the Galaxy, Book 1
By: J.N. Chaney, Christopher Hopper
Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins
Release date: 04-28-20
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Adventure, Military, Space Opera
4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
The mission is simple. Escort an emissary to an intergalactic peace summit. Try not to get in the way.
Lt. Magnus and his 79th Recon Team have certainly handled worse, after all.
But when an explosion rocks the tower and sends everyone into a panic, Magnus and his asset find themselves cut off from the rest of the team.
Worse still, a dying alien chieftain gives them a priceless drive of intel, marking them for death.
The mission has officially changed.
With enemies on all sides, Magnus must do everything in his power to protect the emissary and escape the tower. There is no backup. There is no chance for failure.
The fate of the entire galaxy now lies in the hands of a Republic Marine and a diplomat.
All they have to do is survive.
Experience the beginning of this sprawling galactic tale in this first entry to the Ruins of the Galaxy series. If you’re a fan of Star Wars, Galaxy’s Edge, or Battlestar Galactica, you'll love this military sci-fi epic.
Includes bonus Ruins of the Galaxy stories "The Night of Fire" and "Demons at War".
©2019 J.N. Chaney and Christopher Hopper (P)2020 Podium Publishing

Review:
Lt. Magnus, an enhanced Marine, and his specialized team are on a light mission to escort an emissary to an intergalactic peace summit trying to connect with a canine like race, the Jujari. This should be straightforward and quiet, but the meeting chamber is wrecked with explosions. The Emissary, Awen, receives a capsule from the dying Jujari leader while he whispers to her to keep it secret and trust no one. Magnus and Awen barely escape the chamber and Awen has to use mind ‘magic’ to survive the planetary forces that are looking for foreign threats. They find a shady character who agrees to get them off planet and becomes an odd ally.

Awen is a beautiful humanoid from an order of a reclusive monastery-like group known as the Luma. They are a race known for peace and diplomacy as well as training their minds to reach to a different plane. When Awen returns to her home people, she has concerns for her failure in the mission. She is greeted warmly and kindly by her mentor. However, when she appears before the master, she is disturbed by his not too subtle efforts to break into her mind and force her to open the capsule. Again, Awen barely escapes.

Awen is on the run from several forces who want the secrets of the capsule which she discovers leads to an ancient world with unknow technological advances. Magnus shows up again as she is threatened and with their joint skills, they evade their pursuers. Only then they learn that someone has accessed the dangerous technology.

I will say that this story had a lot in common with Galaxy’s Edge. Even so, I liked the two main characters, as well as their allies. I was entertained by the plot and enjoyed the fast-paced action. I would read more in the series and I recommend this to fans of military sci fi.

Audio Notes: R.C. Bray is a wonderful narrator, and my experience is that his performance always enhances the work. This is no excepton. I am glad I had the audio version.

Source: 12/27/2020 Audible Two for One Credit Sale. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Voyage of the Defiance: Breaking Free, Book 1, by S.E. Smith

This teen coming of age story ended up more entertaining than I initially expected.
Voyage of the Defiance: Breaking Free, Book 1
By: S. E. Smith
Narrated by: Suzanne Elise Freeman

Series: Breaking Free, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins
Release date: 12-15-15
Publisher: S.E. Smith
Genre: Action and Adventure, Family, Teen and Young Adult
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
From S. E. Smith, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, comes this emotionally charged coming-of-age story filled with action, adventure, and suspense for listeners of all ages.
An act of defiance will either kill her or change her life forever.
Sixteen-year-old Makayla Summerlin enjoyed one thing in her crazy, messed-up existence: hanging with her friends at school. But her life is uprooted when she suddenly finds herself forced to live with a grandfather she barely remembers. One act of defiance will change her life forever. Having trouble adjusting to her new home, she sets sail in her grandfather's old sailboat. On a journey that will challenge everything she has ever believed about herself, Makayla must overcome her fears if she, and a surprising stowaway, are to survive.
©2015 S. E. Smith (P)2015 S. E. Smith

Review:
Sixteen-year-old Makayla has had to deal with a mother who would rather escape with drugs and a new boyfriend. Makayla finds refuge with a handful of friends at school. But she doesn’t want to tell even them how difficult her home life is. When her mother is in an accident, Makayla is forced to go live with her grandfather.

Her grandfather explains that her mother is in rehab, but Makayla isn’t happy and continues to try to get home to her mother. Grandfather begins to show Makayla how to care for an handle his sailboat, the Defiance. Makayla tries to resist falling for a young man who helps her grandfather, but, in spite of her efforts, her heart becomes engaged. Then she learns that the boy is leaving for college and that he will return with the snobby girl who has become Makayla’s nemesis at her new school.

Makayla decides to run. She loads food and supplies on the boat and heads out to sail home, from one side of Florida to the other. Makayla finds a surprise stoyaway on the boat and then has to face nature, as well as herself, as they struggle to get home safely.

This is definitely a story for teens and young adults. Although her parental situation was sad, I had some difficulty accepting Makayla’s attitude and poor choices. However, as the story progressed and she receives help from an unexpected friend, I enjoyed the friendship and developments of the story. The story does a good job addressing bullying and racial issues.

The survival story was a bit far-fetched but it worked for the fiction. I also liked the Florida settings and the boating details. (I grew up in Florida with close connection to power boats and occasional forays on sailboats.) I recommend this to teens and young adults, and also to fans of family issues and boats.

Audio Notes: Suzanne Elise Freeman does a fine job with the narration. Her tone is clear and smooth and portrays the emotions appropriately. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

Source: 7/19/2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet (“V”) goal.

Audible Book Review: Fear the Sky by Stephen Moss

This is a well written, engaging, first contact sci fi filled with alien technology and spies.
Fear the Sky
The Fear Saga, Book 1
By: Stephen Moss
Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 20 hrs and 17 mins
Release date: 03-03-15
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Fantasy, Hard Science Fiction, Military
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
"Real science in Science Fiction. This is a must read for fans of SF." >(John S. Gertsch, Amazon Reviewer)
Perfect for fans of Peter F. Hamilton, Iain M. Banks, and Orson Scott Card, Fear the Sky is a hard-hitting sci-fi thriller that will have you looking at the stars in a different way.
In eleven years' time, a million members of an alien race will arrive at Earth. Years before they enter orbit, their approach will be announced by the flare of a thousand flames in the sky, their ships' huge engines burning hard to slow them from the vast speeds needed to cross interstellar space. These foreboding lights will shine in our night sky like new stars, getting ever brighter until they outshine even the sun, casting ominous shadows and banishing the night until they suddenly blink out. Their technology is vastly superior to ours, and they know they cannot possibly lose the coming conflict. But they, like us, have found no answer to the destructive force of the atom, and they have no intention of facing the onslaught of our primitive nuclear arsenal or the devastation it would wreak on the planet they crave. So they have flung out an advance party in front of them, hidden within one of the countless asteroids randomly roaming the void. They do not want us, they want our planet. Their Agents are arriving.
©2014 Stephen Moss (P)2015 Podium Publishing.

Review:
Neal Danielson is a civilian scientist who is monitoring space data. He identifies an object of question a distance away and requests military clearance for additional data. Although a handful of military leaders questions the data and conclusions, they initially set the report to the side. When eight meteor “rocks” spread out and fall to earth, Neal thinks this is more ominous than anyone will admit. Neal and a new friend scientist friend, Dr. Laurie West, step outside of authority to try to retrieve one of the objects. Laurie is on the investigating ship offshore while Neal waits in the hotel with the boat captain’s girlfriend, Dr. Madeline Cavanaugh.

Neal and Madeline are excited when they get an encrypted message that the scientist suspensions are correct. But then they listen as voices are cut off when the boat is vaporized. Neal and Madeline could report this to the Government authorities, but they realize they would be but into seclusion and no one would be able to share information with the public. Instead, they agree to go into hiding. This decision is affirmed when they get a secret note and then a visit from one of the eight aliens who have landed to infiltrate military levels before the invasion of their forces. Agent John Hunt does not agree with his alien leader’s decision to invade and take over Earth. He is only one against seven others, but he will do what he can to try to help the humans protect themselves.

The secret team is in a race against time to develop a vaccine to fight the biological weapon that the aliens plan to use. They have to risk pulling a General into their team to begin to develop a military weapon to target the alien satellites.

The aliens are each progressing in their assigned task. One agent, Lana, would just as soon begin to destroy the humans. She wants the aliens to target Neal and Madeline but is unable to prove they have knowledge of the alien presence. What will happen when the aliens realize they have been betrayed and have to move up their hostile attack? Do the humans stand a chance against the superior technology?

This is a story of alien technology and spies. I was fully engaged and enjoyed the ultimate team of scientists, doctors, military leaders, committed military officers, and aliens with superhuman abilities. I enjoyed the way the story developed and moved about different characters to keep the reader aware of what is going on. I expect that I will continue the series. I recommend this to readers who enjoy first alien contact and spy stories.

Audio Notes: R.C. Bray is a wonderful narrator who delivers strong voices and fitting energy for the characters. His narration always enhances my enjoyment of the work.

Source: 3/14/2020 Two For One Credit Sale at Audible. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

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.

Audible Book Review: Marked in Flesh, The Others, Book 4 by Anne Bishop

This is another engaging story in this good series.
Marked in Flesh
A Novel of the Others, Book 4
By: Anne Bishop
Narrated by: Alexandra Harris

Length: 15 hrs and 21 mins
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Genre: Alternate History, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Fourth in the "flawless" (The Reading Café) New York Times best-selling series from the author of Vision in Silver.
For centuries, the Others and humans have lived side by side in uneasy peace. But when humankind oversteps its bounds, the Others will have to decide how much humanity they're willing to tolerate - both within themselves and within their community....
Since the Others allied themselves with the cassandra sangue, the fragile yet powerful human blood prophets who were being exploited by their own kind, the delicate dynamic between humans and Others changed. Some, like Simon Wolfgard, wolf shifter and leader of the Lakeside Courtyard, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn see the new closer companionship as beneficial - both personally and practically.
But not everyone is convinced. A group of radical humans is seeking to usurp land through a series of violent attacks on the Others. What they don't realize is that there are older and more dangerous forces than shifters and vampires protecting the land that belongs to the Others - and those forces are willing to do whatever is necessary to protect what is theirs....
©2016 Anne Bishop (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Review:
Meg Corbyn is a cassandra sangue, a young woman who was trained to cut herself to bring forth prophesies. She managed to escape her handlers and stumbled into the Lakeside Courtyard. She was given shelter and a job by the community leader, Simon Wolfgard, a wolf shifter. The local shifters and elementals (the Others), like Meg and her ‘human’ presence has brought a favorable situation for other humans in the town.

There has been a power-hungry group of humans who want the land and control that have been kept from them by the Others. They have stirred up public sentiment dividing the humans between those who will live peacefully with the Others and those who want to boycott and harm the Others. The radical, hateful humans conspire to attack the Others not realizing the hidden forces that will be impacted and angered. The elementals and hidden forces have to decide ‘how much humanity they are willing to tolerate’. This has several meanings but the most dangerous will be the response triggered when the humans poison the sharks in the ocean and slaughter a pack of wolf shifters as a show of force.

Running in the background of the conflict between the humans and Others, Meg and other cassandra sangue are looking for a way to produce their prophesies without cutting themselves. Sometimes the prophesies are unclear and can be misinterpreted. The young women are finding ways to communicate with each other, as one is drawing images. Meg, with local human friends, realizes that she (as the recognized pathfinder) may be able to develop cards, similar to a tarot deck, for use by herself and others. This developing modification is needed to protect the young women and I like how it is changing through the books.

I enjoy the positive relationship between the Others and the humans in Lakeside Courtyard and the handful of other communities that are cooperative. The racism and hate of the radical group is horrendous. The story has good suspense that kept me interested and engaged. I highly recommend this book in the series. I do recommend reading the series in order to get a clear picture of the nature of the Others, elementals, and the variety of humans.

Audio Notes: Alexandra Harris continues to do a wonderful job on the narration. The voices and characters are clear and distinct. She conveys the emotions of the characters. The audio experience adds to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 8/14/2021 July Audible Credit. 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.