#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Deadlands: Hunted by Skye Melki-Wegner

This reminds me of Land Before Time and I enjoyed the characters and their outcast clan.

The Deadlands: Hunted
by Skye Melki-Wegner
Narrated by: John Pirhalla

Series: The Deadlands, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
Release date: 04-04-23
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Action, Adventure, Dinosaurs, Middle Grade
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Wings of Fire meets Jurassic Park in this action-adventure middle grade debut series about five outcasts—and former enemies—who are the only hope to save their warring kingdoms from impending doom.
"My favorite middle grade book of the year.”—New York Times-bestselling author Amie Kaufman
Battle rages between the dinosaur kingdoms of Cretacea.
When the Fallen Star struck, it brought death and despair, ash and toxic rain. But some dinosaurs survived . . . and were changed. Their minds grew alert. They learned to speak. To dream. To wage war.
As the two remaining dinosaur kingdoms fight for territory, Eleri, the disgraced son of a prince, is exiled from his home for saving an enemy soldier. Banished to the merciless Deadlands, a terrifying desert full of tar pits, poisonous gas, and ruthless carnivores, he must join forces with a group of questionable allies—including the enemy soldier he saved—to avoid becoming prey.
When Eleri and his fellow exiles discover the horrific truth behind the war, the unlikely heroes must do all they can to save their kingdoms from a lurking predator. . . and a secret plot that might destroy them all.
A Macmillan Audio production from Henry Holt & Company.
©2023 Skye Melki-Wegner (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Review:
Eleri is the disgraced son of a clan prince. He is a small dinosaur who likes storytelling and isn’t interested in battle like his larger brother. Eleri and his brother were out on the edge of territory to see the large longneck dinosaurs go by. When they hide from an air predator they stumble upon three enemy scouts. When the bird dives, Eleri shouts out resulting in saving the life of one of the enemy dinosaurs. Eleri’s own brother declares his action as treason. Eleri is quickly taken before the tribunal and king and exiled to the Deadlands. It is expected that outcasts to the Deadlands will not survive long.

Eleri manages to get to an oasis but finds that enemy raptors are stock piling food. Then he stumbles upon another outcast – the young dinosaur whose life he saved. She was raised to be a warrior but failed to kill Eleri when directed to. Now she wishes she had killed him rather than getting outcast. Eleri has to convince her to work with him so they can both survive. They manage to sneak into the oasis to get food. They also learn that there is a great conspiracy setting the woodland clans against each other.

Eleri and his new companion join forces with two more dinosaurs they meet, a cheery vegetarian who loves math, and a young longneck who was banned as a prophetic dreamer. As they try to find a way to save their clans back home, a fifth dinosaur, a messenger bird, joins their outcast clan. Can they do anything to thwart the Deadland tribes, of raptors and T-Rex, and save their clans?

I liked the outcast dinosaurs with their unique quirks. They each brought a useful skill that helped them  as they worked together. It is sweet how they realize they can be their own clan. This is a nice story showing how not everyone has to be a warrior or go the way of the majority. I recommend this as an entertaining adventure for middle graders and adults who like dinosaur adventure.

Audio Notes: John Pirhalla does a lovely job with the narration. He provides very distinct voices and tones that fit the natures of each character. The narration helped me to “see” the story and enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 2023 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2023NetGalley, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Location goals.

Audible Book Review: Junkyard Pirate by Jamie McFarlene

This was fun even if you have to stretch belief.

Junkyard Pirate
By: Jamie McFarlane
Narrated by: Mikael Naramore

Series: Junkyard Pirate, Book 1 (4 books)
Length: 10 hrs
Release date: 12-31-19
Publisher: Fickle Dragon Publishing
Genre: Adventure, Alien, First Contact, Military, Pirate, Space
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Knocking at death’s door. Bargaining for a second chance. Seems like a heck of a way to find out about an alien invasion....
Vietnam vet Albert Jenkins is battling a bulging waistline and a passion for drink. So when a towering pile of scrap rocket parts falls and crushes the stubborn curmudgeon, he thinks it’s finally the end. But just as he’s about to take one final breath, a snarky alien parasite offers him a deal: His life in return for sharing his body.
With a little coaxing from his new pop-culture-loving inner resident, AJ’s broken carcass improves so much that even an old flame is impressed. But his bright outlook fizzles when he discovers he's at ground zero of a galactic conspiracy to strip Earth of precious resources humans don't even know exist.
Can the unlikely partners join forces and use AJ's rusty military skills to raise the alarm? Or, will the alien invaders put him down once and for all?
Junkyard Pirate is the first book in an imaginative space opera series. If you like grizzled soldiers, clever twists and turns, and intergalactic tactical pairings, then you’ll love Jamie McFarlane’s fast-paced alien adventure.
Buy Junkyard Pirate to boot the invaders back to where they came from today!
©2019 Fickle Dragon Publishing LLC (P)2019 Fickle Dragon Publishing LLC

Review:
Vietnam veteran, Albert, better known as AJ, is a stubborn curmudgeon in his 70s who is winding down his life with food and alcohol. He runs a junkyard and occasionally gets loads from NASA that includes some good parts. His latest purchase is a huge pile of scrap rocket parts. When his dog, Maxie, continually barks at the tower, Albert steps out and gets caught under a slide of the rocket parts. He expects that he will die under the crush and thinks he is hallucinating a tiny alien who offers to save his life if he will share his body. What does he have to lose? He gives permission before he passes out.

When he wakes up, he learns his best friend, Darnell, got him to the hospital. The doctor recognized her surgery work from the Vietnam days and is surprised that AJ isn’t paralyzed. Meanwhile he sees an 8” woman on the doctor’s shoulder and realizes he has to get out of the hospital before the doctor discovers the alien that is restoring his body. Doctor Amanda Jayne is reluctant to let AJ go and soon starts visiting him at home to follow-up trying to figure out what is going on with his body.

Beverly, the alien, explains to AJ that she and her crew were on a reconnaissance mission to gather information about an enemy alien people on Earth. The Korgul are parasitic aliens controlling millions of humans while they mine special materials unknown to the humans. Beverly and her friends need permission to take over a body but the Korgul don’t ask permission. Beverly needs AJ’s help to get to a spaceship they can use but it will make him a target for the enemy.

Sure enough, strangers soon arrive at AJ's home and he is scrambling to escape flying bullets. AJ gets the help of a few friends including a new pet, who share their bodies with Beverly’s friends. Now the handful of old military companions set off to steal the spaceship and maybe save the planet.

This is a fun story. AJ is not a classy character but very much a suggestive old man who is surprised and pleased to have his body returning to youthful vigor. I enjoyed Beverly’s character and the other friends add to the mix too. There were close calls and escapes in preposterous situations, but these allow the story to move forward. The story concludes this episode but leaves the heroes/heroines waiting for the next step in saving Earth. I recommend this to readers who would enjoy fun, sort of warped humor, and military to space adventure.

Audio Notes: Mikael Naramore does a good job of narrating the story. The voices are distinct, and the snark appropriately conveyed. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: July 2021 Audible $5.00 Sale. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, 2023Alphabet, and 2023Occupation goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Good Dog, Bad Cop by David Rosenfelt

I enjoyed this entry in the K Team series.
Good Dog, Bad Cop
By: David Rosenfelt
Narrated by: Fred Berman

The K Team #4
Length: 6 hrs and 3 mins
Release date: 03-14-23
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Animals, Private Investigators
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

For the K Team, playing "good dog," "bad cop" is all fun and games...until there's a body on the scene, in the next K Team Novel by bestselling author David Rosenfelt.
The K Team enjoys investigating cold cases for the Paterson Police Department. Corey Douglas, his K-9 partner Simon Garfunkel, Laurie Collins, and Marcus Clark even get to choose which cases they’d like to pursue. When Corey sees the latest list of possibilities, there’s no question which one to look into next.
Corey’s former mentor, Jimmy Dietrich, had his whole identity wrapped up in being a cop. When Jimmy retired three years ago, his marriage quickly deteriorated and he tried–and failed—to get back on the force. Jimmy was left to try to adjust to life as a civilian.
Not long after, two bodies were pulled from the Passaic River. A local woman, Susan Avery, and Jimmy Dietrich. With no true evidence available, the deaths went unsolved and the case declared cold. This didn’t stop the whispers: an affair gone wrong... a murder-suicide committed by Jimmy.
Corey never believed it. With this case, the K Team has the opportunity to find the real murderer, and clear Jimmy’s name. Bestselling author David Rosenfelt returns in Good Dog, Bad Cop, where there’s little to go on, but that won’t stop Paterson, New Jersey’s favorite private investigators from sniffing out the truth.

Review:
The K Team has been hired by the Paterson, New Jersey, police department to work on cold cases. The team consists of former police detective Corey, his K-9 partner Simon, former officer Laurie, and the ‘hulk’ bodyguard, Marcus. They get to call in the help of computer hack wizard, Sam, and of course they get a little legal input and financial support from Laurie’s husband, Andy Carpenter.

The team has picked up a suspected murder-suicide case where the victims were found dead and adrift from a boat outing. The case involved Corey’s police mentor and a local woman who was the wife of  another police officer murdered earlier than this pair. Because the cases may be tied together, the team will look at all three.

Very quickly the team is able to pull records from a local restaurant that begins to give leads the detectives never followed. One lead moves to another and it isn’t long before Corey finds himself being attacked. Fortunately, he has Simon, and Marcus, as backup. Clearly the team is rocking the boat, and someone wants to stop them from digging deeper. This just gives them more incentive to push along the investigation even as it takes them to other states.

The story is told from the view and voice of Corey so it has the police/investigator perspective. I always enjoy these characters with their humorous banter and interaction. Then there are the plots that start locally but soon spread out to more nefarious conspiracies. This one twists and turns to a terrorist threat that drags in Homeland Security. I will continue to read, and enjoy, the novels by David Rosenfelt. I recommend this book and the series to fans of K-9 characters and private investigator mysteries.

Audio Notes: Fred Berman does a good job with the narration. The character voices are clear and distinct. Berman also is able to deliver the narration with the underlying dry wit of the author’s work. The enjoyed the audio version and appreciate the opportunity to listen to this story.

Source: 2023 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2023NetGalley, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Occupation goals.

Audible Book Reviews: Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

This is a wonderful fantasy. I have to get book two.

Six Crimson Cranes
Six Crimson Cranes, Book 1
By: Elizabeth Lim
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins
Release date: 07-06-21
Publisher: Listening Library
Genre: Fairy Tale & Folklore Adaptations, Teen & Young Adult
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
A princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted cranes, and an unspeakable curse....
Drawing from fairy tales and East Asian folklore, this original fantasy from the author of Spin the Dawn is perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone.
"A dazzling fairytale full of breathtaking storytelling." (Stephanie Garber, New York Times best-selling author of Caraval)
Shiori'anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted. But it also catches the attention of, Raikama her stepmother.
A sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes. She warns Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.
Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she's been taught all her life to forswear - no matter what the cost.
Weaving together elements of The Wild Swans, Cinderella, the legend of Chang E, and the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Elizabeth Lim has crafted a fantasy like no other, and one that will stay with listeners long after they've turned listened to the last minute.
"A stunning remake of a fairytale. Six Crimson Cranes is the perfect blend of whimsy and ferociousness, with twists and turns that will tug at your heartstrings." (Chloe Gong, New York Times best-selling author of These Violent Delights)
"Fast-paced excitement is balanced with a satisfyingly intricate plot that weaves in elements from Western fairy tales and East Asian folklore." (SLJ, starred review)
"A richly imagined landscape...vibrant, fast-paced." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)
©2021 Elizabeth Lim (P)2021 Listening Library

Review:
Princess Shiori hides that she has magic skills in a country where magic is forbidden. She loves her brothers, but they do not know her secret. Her only real friend is Kiki, a paper bird she has brought to life. On the morning scheduled for her to meet her betrothed, she jumps into the lake. As she is drowning, she is alarmed to fall into the hands of a dragon. She awakens to learn she was saved by the dragon. She develops a secret friendship with Seryu who offers to train her to use her magic.

Shiori suspects her stepmother, Raikama, is keeping a secret too. When Shiori discovers that Raikama is a powerful sorceress, Shiori runs to her brothers to seek their help to tell their father. Before they can get to their father, their stepmother turns the six brothers into swans. She then curses Shiori so that she will not be recognized as a princess and if she speaks, her brothers will die.

Shiori finds herself alone, miles away from home, with a bowl on her head to cover her eyes, her magic blocked, and unable to speak. She struggles to find a job, first to eat and then to escape to find her brothers. She learns of a conspiracy but cannot speak about it. After an attack, she is rescued by a young man who takes her to the kingdom of her betrothed, Takkan. She is shocked to learn the true identity of this young man.

Shiori cannot tell others the dangers that surround them. She has to rely on the help of Kiki, her dragon friend, Seryu, who has reason to be upset with her, and her betrothed who is under attack through betrayal.

Shiori isn’t particularly likeable at the beginning of the story but she begins to grow in character when she is cursed. I liked the dragon Seryu and how he interacted with her. As the story progressed, I enjoyed the sweet, protective character of Takkan and how the romance developed. There are common enemies and twists to be discovered in who is friend and who is foe.

I was pleasantly surprised by this YA story. There were myths woven into the story which added to the interest. The ending didn’t quite go where I hoped, but ended at a point that requires more danger and adventure for Shiori. Now I need to get book 2. I recommend this to fans of fairy tale adaptations.

Audio Notes: Emily Woo Zeller is a skilled narrator. The voices are distinct, and Zeller delivers a strong performance with these characters. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 6/17/2022 May Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, a2023Number, and 2023Color goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Murder at an Irish Castle (Irish Castle Mystery #1) by Ellie Brannigan

I really enjoyed this light mystery and hope to continue in the series.

Murder at an Irish Castle (Irish Castle Mystery #1)
by Ellie Brannigan
Narrated by: Traci Odom

Series: Irish Castle Mystery, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins
Release date: 02-07-23
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Irish, Thriller & Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Fans of Hannah Dennison and Carlene O’Connor’s mysteries are in for a treat with Ellie Brannigan’s captivating debut cozy mystery, complete with a sharp and endearing protagonist.
Rodeo Drive bridalwear designer Rayne McGrath expected her thirtieth birthday to start with a power lunch and end with champagne, lobster, and a diamond engagement ring from her fiancé. Instead, flat-broke and busted, she’s on a plane to Ireland where she discovers that she’s inherited a run-down family castle. Uncle Nevin’s will contains a few caveats—for example, if Rayne doesn’t turn McGrath Castle around within a year, the entire village will be financially destroyed.
With the fate of the town in her hands, and rumors that Rayne’s uncle’s death wasn’t actually an accident, she can’t possibly go back to her old life in L.A. As the devastating truth about her uncle dawns on Rayne, it’s not just her reputation that’s on the line, it’s her life.
Featuring a sharp and endearing protagonist, a colorful and quirky locale, and replete with twists and turns befitting an old Irish village, the first in Brannigan’s mystery series transports us to a milieu as romantic as it is deadly.

Review:
Rayne is a Rodeo Drive bridalwear designer and business owner. She is eager to celebrate her 30th birthday with her partner, along with a possible loan for business growth, and maybe even an engagement ring. Instead, she ends up without a fiancé and without inventory. Flat broke she is off to Ireland (tickets paid by her mother) to respond to a lawyer's call that her uncle has died, and she is to appear for the reading of the Will. Rayne is surprised to learn that she has inherited the declining family castle, with its handful of employees and surrounding village to care for. More alarmingly, she has to stay for a year and turn the castle into a profitable endeavor. And this has to be done with her newly met and very bitter and antagonistic cousin, Ciara, as manager.

As though Rayne doesn’t have enough to digest and deal with, Ciara, an illegitimate daughter, is convinced that her father was murdered rather than dying in a tractor accident. Rayne begins to juggle the issues of a deteriorating castle and needs to locate her Uncle’s bookkeeping records to find out the true state of affairs. It isn’t pretty. But it also leads to s mysterious list that makes her agree with Ciara that her Uncle was murdered. Now the at-odds cousins need to work together to figure out who had motive and opportunity. Lucky for Rayne, her Uncle’s young, untrained dog has some clues to share.

I enjoyed the mix of distinct characters, and the quiet persistence Rayne employs to face the problems before her. The local detective seems to be one step behind but Rayne uncovers the clues bit by bit. I picked this story for the dog on the cover, the castle and Irish setting. I was totally satisfied by the mystery with its twists and turns. I do hope there will be more in the series. I recommend this to fans of easy mystery.

Audio Notes: Traci Odom does a fine job with the narration. I liked her voices for the different characters and she carried the tone and energy of the book. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: NetGalley 2023. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, 2023NetGalley, 2023Alphabet, and 2023Location goals.

Audible Book Review: Kingdoms of Sorrow, Catalyst, Book 2 by JK Franks

This was an engaging continuation of the survival problems in post-apocalyptic America.
Kingdoms of Sorrow
Catalyst, Book 2
By: JK Franks
Narrated by: Steven Varnum

Series: Catalyst, Book 2
Length: 15 hrs and 15 mins
Release date: 07-18-17
Publisher: J K Franks
Genre: Adventure, Genetic Engineering, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
The fight for survival continues in book 2 of the Catalyst series.
A murderous army, an unspeakable plague and an approaching hurricane. One man will risk it all to save his community. Cities, nations, and governments lie in ruins and billions have perished. In the wake of a global apocalypse, survival has become a way of life in a world that seems intent on wiping them all out.
Among the survivors are Scott Montgomery and his friends on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. They have struggled to hang on better than most. But growing threats - both man-made and natural - leave their chances on a razor's edge. Now with the help of uncertain alliances they must face a new danger none of them saw coming. This group, "The Messengers", are like a biblical plague, destroying everything - and everyone - in their path.
Time is short for the survivors and another grim new discovery means the Messengers may not be the only thing they should fear.
Don’t miss out on the second installment of the best-selling Catalyst series.
©2017 J K Franks (P)2017 J K Franks

Review:
This book picks up from book 1, Catalyst Downward Cycle. The story primarily follows three groups in the survival struggles. It has been five months or so since the solar flare took out the electrical grid and left Americans trying to survive pre-industrial conditions and marauding bands of criminals. Scott and Todd are in Harris Springs, Mississippi, on the Gulf of Mexico on the cruise ship that has been turned into a refuge home for 200 or so people seeking to rebuild community.

Jack, aka Preacher, is a former convict who is out on a working boat with four other men. Their job has been to forage supplies and trade with smaller farms or communities along the water ways. Things had been going well until they have to face pirate raids. Then they learn about the butchery by a large, supposedly religious group known as the Messengers. This cultish group is sweeping across the south giving people the choice to join and serve or die.

Skybox 5 is a new character. He is a special forces paramilitary operative in a very secretive group called the P-Guard. Before the electric went out, he and his team were on mission in Pakistan. They were tasked with retrieving an crucial scientist/virologist who was working in a remote university lab. Before they could get to the target, something went wrong and a deadly virus was released. Although there were efforts to contain the virus, the efforts failed miserably. Skybox is the only man who comes out alive as he is apparently immune. Now he is directed to get to the coast so he can be taken to scientists in America who can test his blood for a vaccine. Skybox ends up at a secret location that happens to include a personal friend of Scott's niece. Scott is recruited by an opposing military group to try to retrieve Skybox.

I like these characters and the mostly realistic struggles and battles. There is good character development and better action. The cult group is scary and adds additional tension and suspense. I will be looking to get the third book in the series and a side story too. Reading book 1 may not be necessary, but I think it provides better background to the characters and events. I recommend this to readers who enjoy post-apocalyptic survival stories.

Audio Notes: Steven Varnum does a good job with the narration. He delivers good character voices and I thought his energy input was better on this book than the first. I am glad to listen to this on audio.

Source: 3-3-2022 Audible Sale Purchase $3.74. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: Introducing Agatha Raisin: The Quiche of Death and The Vicious Vet By: M. C. Beaton

These amateur mystery stories were fun. (It is also an “I” title and has an Occupation in the title.)
Introducing Agatha Raisin: The Quiche of Death and The Vicious Vet
By: M. C. Beaton
Narrated by: Penelope Keith, Diana Bishop

Series: Agatha Raisin Mysteries, Book 1-2
Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
Release date: 08-25-16
Language: English
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Amateur Detective, Cozy Mystery, Women Sleuth
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death
Putting all her eggs in one basket, Agatha Raisin gives up her successful PR firm, sells her London flat, and samples a taste of early retirement in the quiet village of Carsely. Bored, lonely, and used to getting her way, she enters a local baking contest. Despite the fact that Agatha has never baked a thing in her life, she is sure the pie she has secretly bought from an upper-crust London quicherie will make her the toast of the town. But her recipe for social advancement sours when the judge not only snubs her entry―but falls over dead!
Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet
Agatha Raisin hasn't quite adjusted to the slow pace of village life, or to the failure of her overtures to her handsome neighbor, James Lacey. Since the new vet in town is young and good looking, Agatha's perfectly healthy tabby endures a nasty physical exam in the name of romance. Unfortunately, his sacrifice is all for naught when the vet is soon found dead. The police call the death a freak accident, but Agatha convinces James that playing amateur detective might be fun. Unfortunately, just as curiosity killed the cat, Agatha's inept snooping is soon a motivation for murder.
©2016 M. C. Beaton (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death
Agatha Raisin sold her successful PR firm to fulfill a dream of retirement in the quiet English village, Carsely. She quickly learns that she is an outsider who doesn’t quite fit in. Agatha has made one friend with the local preacher’s wife who convinces her to join the ladies’ service group which meets to enjoy friendship and plan ways to raise money for good causes. In an effort to gain attention and approval, Agatha enters the club’s baking contest, where she tries to pass off a specialty quiche out of London as homemade. Her fraud may have gone unnoticed except that the clearly biased judge turns up dead the next morning after eating her left over quiche.

Agatha becomes friends with the young detective, Bill Wong, as he investigates the murder. Agatha is quick to suggest suspects, but she is also quick to run off to interview them herself. Wong tells her to stay away from the investigation but Agatha just can’t help herself. Of course, she keeps pushing until she places herself in the presence of the murderer.

Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet
Agatha is continuing to adjust to her life in a new, quieter community. Many of the ladies in town are interested in Agatha’s new next door neighbor, an attractive, single man, James. Agatha figures she has the advantage being next door but her interest turns into obsessive pursuit that send James hiding.

When a young good looking vet arrives in town, Agatha, and other ladies, turn their eyes to him. Agatha takes her new tabby cat for a visit only to find the vet rather rough on pet. But he does ask her out, giving her a boost of confidence. When the vet turns up dead, Agatha doesn’t think it was an accident. She soon sets off on her amateur sleuthing again, drawing James into the interviews and unauthorized investigations.

Agatha has a good eye for detail that helps her unravel clues. As in any good cozy, this gets her into trouble. I mostly enjoyed Agatha as a bright, business minded character. I say mostly because her chasing after the men in the second book became annoying to me. I like her friendship with Detective Bill Wong and her slowly growing friendship with others in the community. The mysteries are nicely plotted and made it fun to figure out the villains. I look forward to reading more in the series and I recommend this to fans of amateur, cozy mysteries.

Audio Notes: The stories were read by two different narrators, Penelope Keith and Diana Bishop. They both presented the stories with wonderful British flare and I really didn’t note the difference. I think they captured the main character well and I enjoyed both narrations. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of the stories.

Source: 7/19/2021 I picked these from the Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, 2023Alphabet, and Occupation goals.

Audible Book Review: Galactic Forge by Alex Guerra

This is an entertaining sci fi with action and a 'kidnapped' human caught up with an AI entity.

Galactic Forge
Galactic Forge Series, Book 1
By: Alex Guerra
Narrated by: Paul Heitsch

Series: Galactic Forge Series, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
Release date: 02-19-19
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: First Contact, Military, Space Opera
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Former Marine Arthur Holland’s destiny begins when an aircraft crashes on his property in the mountains of Colorado. He moves to investigate and to help any survivors, but the closer he gets the less control he has of his movements.
An unknown force urges him to open the door of the mysterious craft, discovering the secret that lies within: a dead, alien pilot and a peculiar, otherworldly crystal. If that wasn’t enough, the crystal feels like it is alive. That’s when he hears a single word inside his mind: run.
An enemy vessel approaches overhead in pursuit of the downed ship, leaving Arthur little time to make his escape.
Guided by this strange voice, Art is propelled through a hidden portal, arriving somewhere unknown. On the other side of the galaxy, without a means of returning home, he has no choice but to move forward and help the crystal accomplish its mission: upgrade the ancient derelict ship, recruit new allies, and help the Galactic Conglomerate fight the Vael Empire.
It may be destiny that’s called him, but it’s the choices he makes that will forge his future.
©2018 Alex Guerra (P)2019 Podium Publishing

Review:
Arthur Holland is a former Marine running a car repair shop in Colorado. A strange aircraft crashes on his property and he is pulled to the crash to investigate. The closer he gets, the stronger the pull until he can’t control his own actions. He finds a dead alien pilot and takes a crystal from his hand. Next thing Arthur knows he is hearing a voice in his head telling him to “run!” The voice guides Arthur to a cave and a hidden portal that transports him to a strange, unknown place.

Arthur is in a closed room when he wakes up to learn he is in a spaceship on the other side of the galaxy. The crystal is an AI (Art names her Dotty) that begins to integrate with Art. She explains that she needs his help to find core drives for her ship so she will have power to continue. And, by the way, she doesn’t have the power to get him back home.

Art doesn’t have any choice but to go along with Dotty. As she hunts for power drives, they come across a young elfin looking woman who is under attack. Art rescues Seya and they proceed to a planet to allow her to reconnect with the Galactic forces. Soon Art finds himself in the middle of an intergalactic war between the Galactic allies and the Vael Empire. Art keeps getting hopeful that power cores will allow him to go home but then some other action is required. Step by step Art becomes a warrior and a hero, resulting in his new friends declaring that this is his destiny.

There were some unexplained matters that distracted me…particularly what happened to the enemy that chased the original spaceship to Colorado? Will that make earth a target for the Vael? And Art’s whining to get home is a little annoying. Other than that, I enjoyed the easy writing and the different character personalities. I liked the friendships that are developing for Art. I am engaged with the team matesand want to follow their next adventures as they face the enemy. I recommend this to fans of military space opera with a hero character.

Audio Notes: Paul Heitsch’s voice fits the story and the main character. I enjoyed the audio version of the story.

Source: February 2021 Audible Plus. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Alphabet goals.

Audio Book Review: Blind Search by Paula Munier

I enjoy the dog characters in this mystery series.
Blind Search
Written by Paula Munier
Narrated by Kathleen McInerney

Run Time 12h 10min
Release Date: November 5, 2019
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genres: Crime Fiction & Mysteries, Mysteries & Thrillers, Police Procedurals
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.0

Publisher Description
Former Army MP Mercy Carr and her retired bomb-sniffing dog Elvis are back in Blind Search, the sequel to the critically acclaimed A Borrowing of Bones. It’s October, hunting season in the Green Mountains—and the Vermont wilderness has never been more beautiful or more dangerous. Especially for nine-year-old Henry, who’s lost in the woods. Again. Only this time he sees something terrible. When a young woman is found shot through the heart with a fatal arrow, Mercy thinks that something is murder. But Henry, a math genius whose autism often silences him when he should speak up most, is not talking. Now there’s a murderer hiding among the hunters in the forest—and Mercy and Elvis must team up with their crime-solving friends, game warden Troy Warner and search-and-rescue dog Susie Bear, to find the killer—before the killer finds Henry. When an early season blizzard hits the mountains, cutting them off from the rest of the world, the race is on to solve the crime, apprehend the murderer, and keep the boy safe until the snowplows get through.Inspired by the true search-and-rescue case of an autistic boy who got lost in the Vermont wilderness, Paula Munier’s mystery is a compelling roller coaster ride through the worst of winter—and human nature.

Review:
Mercy and her bomb-sniffing Malinois, Elvis, are still enjoying the Vermont mountains while continuing to train and rehab through their PTSD. This time they are called upon to find a nine-year-old boy who wanders into the woods. Game Warden Troy and his search-and-rescue Newfoundland, Susie Bear, join in the search. Susie Bear is trained for ‘blind search’ which means searching by smell in the air rather than foot tracks. When the dogs find Henry, he is huddled under a table and clearly frightened. Henry is clearly a child with autism who doesn’t speak normally but he does latch onto the dogs. He wanders in the woods where his memory helps so he isn’t lost, although the adults think he is.

While Henry was out in the woods, a woman who was to join a hunting party at the nearby ski lodge, is found with an arrow in her heart. The hunting group has gathered to discuss the redevelopment of the lodge and not everyone agrees on the resort goals. The shot that killed the woman might have been a hunting accident, but that is unlikely. Because of Henry’s reaction, and willingness to stay with the dogs, Mercy and Elvis are hired to protect the boy.

Mercy and Troy don’t exactly trust the local homicide detective to solve the murder and, of course, they are told to stay clear. Mercy is only a civilian and has no authority to pursue the mystery, but that won’t stop her especially after she has an SUV trying to force her off the mountain roads. Meanwhile, Troy and Susie Bear are busy tracking some poachers who may also be drug or arm dealers and could be suspects. While the mystery pushes to a conclusion, Mercy and Troy’s relationship runs into a major obstacle.

I enjoyed the dogs and Henry as additional characters. I was a bit frustrated that Henry’s autism was never identified as such during the book. Henry’s father seemed clueless and Mercy seemed to handle the boy better than the doctor. The condition was quite clear, and I don’t understand why it was never named in the story.

I enjoyed the developing relationship between Mercy and Troy in the first book, Borrowing of Bones. I did think that Mercy may have overreacted a bit at the situation with Troy at the conclusion of this book. I will be interested to see how the author handles that in the next books. The story has short comings (Mercy’s investigation interference and Elvis’s disobedience), and a few repetitive phrases, but I enjoyed the overall story and recommend it to fans of K-9 dogs. I suggest starting with book one to get to know the characters and their backgrounds.

Audio notes: I found the narration by Kathleen McInerney to be comfortable. The voice distinctions could be better but they work sufficiently. The narration is clear and easy to follow. I am glad I had the story on audio.

Source: March 2021 Chirp purchase $3.99. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Alphabet goals.

Audio Book Review: To the Far Blue Mountains by Louis L'amour

This story is full of swashbuckling sea battles and Indian filled land battles.

To the Far Blue Mountains
Written By Louis L'amour
Narrated By: John Curless

Duration: 9 hours 19 minutes
Release date: 12-19-05
Publisher: Random House Audio
Genre: Adventure, Colonial Fiction, Historical Fiction
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Summary
In To the Far Blue Mountains, Louis L’Amour weaves the unforgettable tale of a man who, after returning to his homeland, discovers that finding his way back to America may be impossible.
Barnabas Sackett was leaving England to make his fortune in the New World. But as he settled his affairs, he learned that a royal warrant had been sworn out against him and that men were searching for him in every port. At issue were some rare gold coins Sackett had sold to finance his first trip to the Americas—coins believed to be part of a great treasure lost by King John years before.
Believing that Sackett possesses the rest of the treasure, Queen Bess will stop at nothing to find him. If he’s caught, not only will his dream of a life in America be lost, but he will be brutally tortured and put to death on the gallows.

Review:
Baranabas Sackett is wrapping up his business as he prepares to leave England to make his way in the New World, America. Unfortunately, he learns that he is being pursued under a royal warrant that claims he has found and possesses a royal treasure. Now Barnabas must go on the run instead of directly leaving with his intended on her father’s ship. His pursuers may well capture the ship he was intended to take so they aren’t safe either.

Barnabas will find allies and betrayers as he flees as a royal fugitive. Even if he is able to get to Raleigh and Jamestown on the American coast, Barnabas expects to remain a target for his pursuers. Also, he has past enemies, hostile and friendly native Indians to deal with in the New World. He faces swashbuckling battles on land and sea to save himself, the woman he loves, and the men who choose to go with him. All along, the goal is to reach those ‘far blue mountains’ beyond the east coast.

I had thought more of this story would be on land, but a good bit of it is sea travel and battles. The last portion of the book moved quickly through the life of Barnabas and his family. Since there are more books in the series featuring the Sackett sons, I don’t think its much of a spoiler to note that the family grows in the wilderness.

L’Amour was a skilled writer making the historical settings, clothing, and activities come alive for the reader/listener. Barnabas was well developed as the central character of the first (Sackett's Land) and second books. The rest of the family is introduced with some distinct character traits but all carrying their father’s strength and tenacity. I do plan to read more in the series. I recommend this to readers who enjoy historical adventure full of primitive action fitting the period.

Audio Notes: John Curless does a wonderful job with the British accents and the other voices. He also delivers strong energy. His narration enhances the listening experience.

Source: 9/17/2022 One Credit at Audiobooks.com. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, 2023Location, and 2023Color goals.

Audio Book Review: The Darkest Winter, Savage North Chronicles, Book 1, by Lindsey Pogue

I liked the supernatural element that added to this post-apocalyptic survival story.

The Darkest Winter
A Post-Apocalyptic Adventure
Savage North Chronicles
Written by Lindsey Pogue
Narrated by Sarah Ruth Thomas & Luis Bermudez

Run Time 15h
Release Date: October 8, 2020
Publisher: Lindsey Pogue
Genre: Paranormal, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher Description
The Virus spread. Billions died. The Ending began.
A group of orphaned misfits.
The wildlands of the last frontier.
Superhuman abilities, harrowing adventures, and heartbreaking secrets.
Elle - Haunting shadows are nothing new to Elle St. James, she’s been running from them all her life. But since the outbreak spread from the lower forty-eight, new monsters lurk in the darkness. After Elle wakes from the fever, capable of horrific deeds, she fears she’s one of them. When she stumbles upon four orphans, Elle’s forced to discover what happens when her greatest fear becomes her darkest secret and her only hope of surviving.
Jackson - After the world goes mad and takes his family with it, Jackson Mitchell tosses aside his badge and decides a bottle of bourbon and the depths of despair are preferable to any semblance of living. All of that changes, however, when a group of young survivors are in dire need of his help and Jackson sacrifices his blissful oblivion in order to keep them safe. As they trek further away from the collapsing cities, Jackson must rely on his knowledge of the backcountry and the traditions of his people, or succumb to the dangers of the Alaskan wilderness.
Brought together under the worst possible circumstances, Elle and Jackson must face the inexplicable realities of the new world. Their past lives are over, and the arctic isn’t all that’s savage anymore.

Review:
A virus has killed Billions. But some survived. Of those who survived the fevers, some are realizing they have unusual, super human abilities. Elle is one of these. She set off to find her sister but instead she stumbles upon four orphans struggling to survive the trauma of losing everyone around them. Elle feels compelled to be the adult who must step up to help them. But she needs to protect them from her own secret.

Jackson has lost his wife and unborn child not to the virus but to a crazed intruder. His initial reaction is to drown his sorrows in a bourbon bottle. He finds his friend and begins to come back to life. He is intent on meeting his friend at a designated point, but along the way he finds Elle and her young charges. Reluctantly he realizes he must help them if they are to survive. He agrees to escort them, at least part of the way, sharing his survival knowledge with them.

Elle and Jackson had no intent to seek a relationship but it is hard to avoid when they find themselves thrown together trying to protect a small group of survivors. Elle learns that others have new abilities and that she may have to rely on her own ‘powers’ to fight back. How will her charges and Jackson react when they see her powers in use?

I liked the different personalities of the main and minor characters. They also get aid from a family in the wilderness that lives totally off the grid that gives a new perspective to the dangers of society. I felt there were areas of unrealism in the travels but it was overall a good story. I recommend this to fans of post-apocalyptic who would also like the paranormal elements.

Audio Notes: This is a story where dual narration worked well. Sarah Ruth Thomas & Luis Bermudez did a good job with the female and male voices. They both delivered distinct character voices and appropriate emotional energy. I enjoyed the audio entertainment.

Source: April 18, 2021 purchased at Chirp for $3.99. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Season goals.

Audible Book Review: The Last Tribe by Brad Manuel

I liked this post-apocalyptic which is full of characters and survival rather than guns and gore.

The Last Tribe
By: Brad Manuel
Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 22 hrs and 42 mins
Release date: 06-14-16
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Imagine being alone in the world, one of only a handful to survive a global pandemic. Not only do you struggle to find food, water, and shelter but you also deal with the sadness and losing everyone you know and everything you have.
Fourteen-year-old Greg Dixon is living that nightmare. Attending boarding school outside of Boston, he is separated from his family when a pandemic strikes. His classmates and teachers are dead, rotting in a dormitory-turned-morgue steps from his room. The nights are getting colder, and his food has run out. The last message from his father is to get away from the city and to meet at his grandparents' town in remote New Hampshire. Knowing the impending New England winter could be the final nail in his coffin, Greg packs what little food he can find and sets off on his 100-mile walk north with the unwavering belief that his family is alive and will join him.
As the fast-moving and deadly disease strips away family and friends, Greg's father, John, is trapped in South Carolina. Roadblocks, a panic-stricken population, and winter make it impossible for him to get to his son. John and his three brothers appear to be immune, but they are scattered across a locked-down United States, forced to wait for the end of humanity before travelling to the mountains of New Hampshire.
Spring arrives, and the Dixons make their way north to find young Greg. They meet others along the way, slowly forming the last tribe of humanity from the few people still alive in the Northeast.
©2015 Brad Manuel (P)2016 Podium Publishing.

Review:
A fast-moving global pandemic has eliminated most of the people within two months. There is no clear reason why certain people survive and others do not. Surprisingly in this world, four Dixon brothers seem to be immune. Even more surprising, one of their wives survived too. The four brothers are spread across the Eastern United States from South Carolina to Ohio. John, Todd, Paul, and Hank agree to meet in the spring at their childhood home in Hanover, New Hampshire.

John is in Charleston, with two of his sons who survived. His fourteen-year-old son, Greg, is away at boarding school in Massachusetts. In their last phone call John told Greg to get to Hanover to wait for the rest of the Dixon men. After all of the others at his school appear to be dead, Greg sets out alone on his journey north. Along the way he is stunned to stumble upon another living person. Thirteen-year-old Rebecca is a young genius who is determined to survive.

Paul and Hank live in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, respectively. They react differently when their wives and children die leaving them alone. They have to decide how to travel north and whether they should travel before winter.

Todd lives in Raleigh and is relived that his wife, Emily, and two young sons, have survived. Emily is determined to continue to educate their boys even as they travel to meet the rest of the family. They have a surprising visit to the Governor’s house before they proceed on their journey, adding some interesting companions along the way.

John and his sons have the furthest distance to travel. Young adult, Matt is prepared to help his father as soon as they can get control of young Craig who is suffering grief and anxious to get to Greg. When they get Craig focused on fishing, he can add his skills to their survival.

A handful of other survivors are discovered along the various journeys. There is a fine dilemma between finding others to rebuild society and finding others who are safe to trust. This is a totally character driven post apocalyptic story. Rebecca, the child genius, and extreme organizer, is a fascinating character. The other characters are well developed I was engaged by the character interactions which kept the story interesting. Although there is no heavy action, I enjoyed all of the survival observations and techniques.  I recommend this to post-apocalyptic survival fans who would enjoy character strengths as a change of pace.

Audio Notes: Scott Brick is a talented narrator. He delivers clear voices and appropriate emotion. I enjoyed the audio entertainment.

Source: 05/17/2020 Audible Credit pick. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Alphabet goal.

Audible Book Review: Forging Zero: The Legend of ZERO by Sara King

This is a good space sci fi.
Forging Zero: The Legend of ZERO
By: Sara King
Narrated by: Liam Owen

Series: Legend of ZERO, Book 1
Length: 21 hours and 54 minutes
Published: December 17, 2013 by Sara King
Genre: First Contact, Science Fiction, Space Exploration
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

The Legend of Zero begins the epic journey of 14-year-old Joe Dobbs in a post-apocalyptic universe following a massive alien invasion of Earth. The oldest of the children drafted from humanity's devastated planet, Joe is impressed into service by the alien Congressional Ground Force - and becomes the unwitting centerpiece in a millennia-long alien struggle for independence.
Once his training begins, one of the elusive and prophetic Trith appears to give Joe a spine-chilling prophecy that the universe has been anticipating for millions of years: Joe will be the one to finally shatter the vast alien government known as Congress. And the Trith cannot lie. But first Joe has to make it through bootcamp.

Review:
Joe Dobbs accidentally got impressed into service by aliens who take children to train as expendable military forces. Joe is 14 which is above the age they take but he got pulled into the ship after he attacked the aliens. Bootcamp is hard. The alien troop leaders are pretty harsh and most of them would be glad to kill Joe in training. But one supervisor has received a prophesy that makes him think that Joe is part of the future to destroy the Congress government. This creates a quandary because he isn’t sure if he wants to allow Joe to fulfill the prophesy or just kill him now.

As the oldest of the captured children, Joe tends to take care of the younger kids. His small team of kids begins to look up to him and trust him to lead them safely. But at some point they are going to find out that he has kept his prophesy a secret and some may see that as a betrayal.

I did have a little confusion early in the story trying to figure out which of the aliens were good and which bad. I enjoyed the relationships that developed between the children. The level of growth in Joe’s personality, and reluctant determination to shield his team, was intriguing. Initially this seems like a good story for young people, but then it adds suffering, sexual content, and graphic violence that might not be comfortable for all readers. I became invested in the characters and was sad when they became disillusioned and separated.

The author tells the story from Joe’s view and the reader, like Joe, is unaware of a lot of the political intrigues that are going on. The last quarter of the book rushes forward in time, skipping a lot of the time during which Joe’s character and position change. This was a bit awkward and disappointing. The end leaves the door open for more adventures but I am sorry that the books are not available in audio format. It is less likely that I will continue with the series in digital. I recommend this to fans of first contact and space exploration stories.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the narration by Liam Owen. The voice and energy fit the characters for the most part – I’m not so sure there was strong distinction among the alien characters. I am very glad I had this on audio and wish the next in the series was available in audio format.

Source: 11/28/2016 Audible Sale. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, 2023Alphabet, and 2023Numbers goals.

Audible Book Review: Navigating the Stars by Maria V. Snyder

I loved other series by this author. This is a well written start to another series.

Navigating the Stars
Sentinels of the Galaxy, Book 1
By: Maria V. Snyder
Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
Release date: 01-17-19
Publisher: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Adventure, Science Fiction, Space Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
“The answer is no, Lyra”, my mother utters her favorite - I swear - phrase.
No means I have to travel with them to another planet - again.
No means leaving all my friends 50 years in the past. Thanks, Einstein.
Seventeen-year-old Lyra Daniels can’t truly blame Einstein or her parents for their impending move across the Milky Way Galaxy. It’s all due to the invention of the Q-net, which made traveling the vast distances in space possible - with one big caveat: the time dilation. But that never stopped Lyra's ancestors from exploring the Milky Way, searching for resources and exoplanets to colonize. What they didn’t expect to find is life-sized terracotta warriors buried on 21 different exoplanets...Make that 22.
As the Galaxy’s leading experts on the warriors, Lyra's parents are thrilled by the new discovery, sending them - and her - 50 years into the future. Her social life in ruins, she fills her lonely days by illegally worming into the Q-net. The only person close to her age is the annoyingly irresistible security officer who threatens to throw her into the brig.
After the planet they just left goes silent - meaning no communications from them at all - security has bigger problems to deal with than Lyra, especially when vital data files go missing. But that's just the beginning, because they’re not as alone as they thought on their new planet...and suddenly time isn't the only thing working against them.
©2018 Maria V. Snyder (P)2019 Maria V. Snyder

Review:
Lyra’s parents are excited when exploration on a distant planet uncovers the 22nd set of buried, life-sized terracotta warriors. This is their specialty, and they are eager to go and excavate the treasure in person. But seventeen-year-old Lyra doesn’t want to go on a voyage to a far off planet, because she will be leaving her friends behind. Due to time travel, she would remain a teenager while all her friends would age. But, of course, Lyra, doesn’t get to choose.

On the spaceship Lyra continues her schooling in an awkward situation where the only other youth her age is a sullen young man, Niall, who turns out to be the son of the ship chief security officer. Naill, born and raised on the ship, has no desire to make friends with a passenger. And as a junior security officer, he isn’t even willing to look the other way when he realizes that Lyra is hacking the Q-net, the governmental computer system. Hacking the system will normally earn time in the brig… but soon the security officers realize Lyra has a special skill ‘worming’ the system. When the planet they came from goes silent and data files related to the excavation team go missing the authorities fear threats from space pirates. they determine they need to train and fine tune Lyra’s skills to help protect the exploration.

In addition to trying to uncover the attacks on the Q-Net files, the crew will soon face space pirates. Lyra develops a relationship with the Captain and the Security team, including a growing friendship with Naill. Then someone sets their sights on Lyra when they recognize her special skills.

I loved the Study and Storm Series by Ms. Snyder and I am sorry I waited this long to get into this series. Snyder delivers likeable characters and a plot full of suspense and emotional situations. I’m not always drawn to stories of teens who tend to be a bit self-absorbed, but I was pulled into the story and it read very quickly as I pushed to find out what would happen. I will be continuing with the other books in the series. I recommend this to fans of well written science fiction suspense.

Audio Notes: Gabra Zackman does an excellent job with the narration. She conveys most of the characters with spot on emotions and personality. The voices are strong and distinct and the narration increased my enjoyment of the entertainment.

Source: 1/15/2020 December Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams

I had seen mixed reviews but I enjoyed this easy listen mystery.
The Secret, Book & Scone Society
By: Ellery Adams
Narrated by: Cris Dukehart

Series: The Secret, Book & Scone Society, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins
Release date: 11-03-17
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
Genre: Amateur Sleuths, Cozy Mystery, Woman Sleuth
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Miracle Springs is a place of healing. Strangers flock there hoping that the natural hot springs, five-star cuisine, and renowned spa can cure their ills. And, if none of that works, they often find their way to Miracle Books, where, over a fresh-baked scone from the Gingerbread House bakery, they exchange their stories with owner Nora Pennington in return for a carefully chosen book. That's Nora's special talent: prescribing the perfect novel to ease a person's deepest pain and lighten their heaviest burden.
But when a visiting businessman reaches out to Nora for guidance, he's found dead on the train tracks before he can keep their appointment. Determined to uncover the truth behind the businessman's demise, Nora forms the Secret, Book, and Scone Society, and, as the society works to untangle the web of corruption surrounding the murder, they also discover their own courage, purpose, and a sisterhood that will carry them through every challenge.
©2017 Ellery Adams (P)2017 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Review:
Nora Pennington is the owner of Miracle Books in Miracle Springs, a town known for resting and healing. The bookstore is in the old train station and her tiny home is a former caboose. Nora has a special talent for getting patrons to share their stories while she picks just the right books for their situation. She has become known as a local “bibliotherapist”. She isn’t trained in psychology, but she is well trained in observation and empathy, especially after experiencing a traumatic event in her own past that left her emotionally and physically scarred. Although she welcomes sharing stories in exchange for book ‘therapy’, Nora tends to remain on her own with books as her best friends.

Nora has just met a visiting businessman and is anticipating his visit to the bookshop. Instead, the man is found dead, having been pushed onto the train tracks. At first Nora is afraid the police department will treat the incident as a suicide. Then she is concerned when they arrest a local woman.

Nora soon gathers several other local shop owners or employees into a group they name ‘Secret, Book and Scone Society’. Hester runs a bakery across the street and makes "comfort scones," that fit the customers. Estella is a trashy hair stylist, with a blatant tendency to flirt. June works at the hot springs hotel where tourists are attracted. These women are initially a loose group willing to help investigate and solve the murder. Along the way they agree to share their own secrets and solidify their friendship.

The women get some help from other locals. One is a nice paramedic who, to her surprise, seems to be interested in Nora. Another it a town deputy who is involved in the case but is willing to listen to the conjectures of Hester and the other ladies. Finally, there is a bartender who expresses great affection for Estella.

I enjoyed the characters and their unique ‘abilities’ which might be a bit magical, or just insightful and led by experience. The mystery winds around with greed and corruption and one of the evil does stands out pretty quickly, while another appears in a twist. I enjoyed the mystery and plan to read more in the series. I recommend this to fans of cozy mysteries and small town settings.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the narration by Cris Dukehart. The voices are sufficiently clear and distinct for each character. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 5/6/18 Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Crisis Shot: The Line of Duty, Book 1 by Janice Cantore

I enjoyed this Christian police procedure thriller and will want to get more in the series.
Crisis Shot: The Line of Duty, Book 1
By: Janice Cantore
Narrated by: Alice Anne English

Series: The Line of Duty, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins
Release date: 09-05-17
Publisher: Two Words Publishing, LLC
Genre: Clean & Wholesome, Police Procedural, Thriller & Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Tess O'Rourke dreams of becoming the first female chief of police in Long Beach, California. As commander of the East Division, she is well on her way...until the night she responds to an officer-needs-assistance call and fatally shoots an unarmed teenager. Despite being cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury, Tess is so hounded by the public that she takes a job in Oregon to escape the bad press.
Winning over the residents of Rogue's Hollow might be more difficult than adjusting to her new role as police chief in the small backwater town - especially when her closest friend, the pastor's wife, goes missing and the woman's cousin is found shot. Tess finds an ally in sheriff's deputy Steve Logan, but as they track down Rogue's Hollow's first murderer, she worries that she's breaking one of her rules and getting too close to him.
©2017 Janice Cantore (P)2017 Two Words Publishing LLC

Review:
Tess O’Rourke became a police officer like her father. She was working hard to become the first female chief of police in Long Beach, California. One night she responds to the call of another officer and finds four teens beating the officer with a baseball bat. Three of the boys flee but one stays and ignores her demands to step away. When he reaches for the fallen officer’s gun, Tess fatally shoots him. A local radio journalist starts a campaign against her, ruining her local career even though she is ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing.

Tess sends out many resumes but only gets one likely interview. She is hired as the new Chief of Police in a small Oregon community with mixed reactions by the hiring team and the residents. When her new friend in town, the pastor’s wife, goes missing, and the woman’s cousin is found shot, Tess finds herself under great scrutiny as she conducts her investigation. She is glad to have an ally and friend in sheriff’s deputy Steve Logan, even as she tries to resist their growing attraction.

There were several good twists in this story, and it moved along quickly. There is a good bit of Christian faith sharing which might not suit all readers, but I found uplifting. I plan to seek more titles in this series. I recommend it to readers who would enjoy a Christian Police Procedural thriller.

Audio Notes: Alice Anne English does a good job with the narration. She provides distinct voices and accents for the female and male characters. She also presents the story with fitting emotion. I enjoyed the audio experience.

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

Audible Book Review: Welcome to Hell: The Tasmanian Special Forces Group, Book 1 by C. R. Daems

I enjoyed the strength, physical and mental, of this female protagonist in the vein of GI Jane.

Welcome to Hell: The Tasmanian Special Forces Group, Book 1
By: C. R. Daems
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

Series: Tasmanian SFG Series, Book 1
Release date: 03-03-20
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Military, Space Opera
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Jolie was 3 when she found she was ugly and deformed.
She was 5 when she found she was a subhuman and an outcast. She was 7 when five boys and two girls dragged her out of the orphanage and beat her unconscious, leaving her lying bleeding and broken in the street.
She was content to lie there and die, tired of being hated and abused. But a frail old man with wispy white hair and a long beard wasn't content to let her die. He not only saved her, but he adopted her and passed on his unique martial art to her.
She was 20 when she headed to Delphi, the center of the United Systems of Perileos (USP) and the planet of her birth father, to find her place in his society.
Based on her unique upbringing, she decides to join the USP military, requesting to be assigned to the Tasmanians SFG, an elite all-male unit. The military brass is reluctant to deny her request and admit their enlistment contract permits bait-and-switch assignments. Instead, they agree to let her enter the school, thinking she couldn't possibly succeed - a Chihuahua competing against Rottweilers — and plan to make an example of her when she fails.
Although Jolie is small, she is not what she appears. But can her adopted father's art enable her to survive the treachery of the military brass, the grueling of the school, the prejudices of the instructors, and the testosterone of an all-male class.
And if she succeeds, can she thrive in the high-octane and all male environment of the Tasmanians?
©2019 C. R. Daems (P)2020 Podium Publishing.

Review:
Jolie was a child on a foreign planet who was considered ugly and deformed due to her human heritage. She was beat up and dragged out of the orphanage at the age of 7. Instead of dying on the streets, she was adopted by a frail old man who spent years teaching her special martial arts. At age 20 Jolie sets out to find her place on her birth father’s planet, United Systems of Perileos (USP). She appears at a recruiter station and, after reviewing the brochures, asks to be assigned to an elite all-male unit, the Tasmanians SFG. If they refuse her request, then their brochures are full of bait and switch lies. The military leaders reluctantly admit her figuring that the rigorous training, if not the peer pressure, will force her out of the program quickly. The leaders are wrong.

Jolie doesn’t have the size, strength, or bulk of her larger male classmates. But she does have great physical training and distinct, strategical thinking and planning skills. When the training officer notes that there are no separate facilities for females and she might face sexual pressure she reminds him, and the men around them, that the third way a candidate could leave the program is “dead by misadventure”. Her own ability to take down the men dissuades the unwanted advances the first night in the dorm.

Very quickly Jolie uses her smarts and skills to show that she can keep up with and beat many of the men. She prevails by successfully preparing before taking action. Of course, that results in enemies among the men as well as military leaders who aren’t beyond sabotage to get her out of the program.

When you note that this is the intro, book 1 of a series, you realize that Jolie makes it through the program to graduation. Jolie’s perseverance gains respect and friends, but how will the leaders and men treat her when she has to go into action in the field?

I really like Jolie’s intelligence, strength of character, and ability to plan her actions. I also liked the action in the story. The story does have a resemblance to GI Jane with some brutality but less sexual harassment. The cons on this is that it is set in a futuristic space world and there is a notable lack of cool technology and a strange level of sexual discrimination/limitation. None the less, I enjoyed the action and the comraderies that is developed. I have purchased book 2 to continue with the series. I recommend this to fans of female military protagonists.

Audio Notes: Emily Woo Zeller does a good job with the narration. The voices are appropriately distinct, and the narration conveys the emotional and action levels of the story. I am glad that I listened to this Audible Plus story.

Source: 12/14/22 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: This Fallen World by Christopher Woods

I liked the action in these stories.

This Fallen World
By: Christopher Woods
Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Series: The Fallen World, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
Release date: 04-23-19
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Adventure, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
The world has Fallen, but life goes on....
Matthew Kade was a corporate assassin - one of the best agents Obsidian Corporation had. But then the bombs began falling, and the old world ended. Now he must navigate the new world he finds himself in, a world where the strongest survive, and the weaker do their bidding...or die.
Kade was always one of the strongest, though, so when a rich man’s daughter goes missing, he turns to Kade to find her and bring her back. But she has already been gone three days, and in the Fallen World, that is an eternity in which any number of things could have happened to her.
Can Kade - a man with a price on his head - pick up the trail of the young woman and navigate the streets of the city to find her, or will the city’s denizens be the end of him? It will take all of Kade’s abilities to find her and save her life...if he doesn’t lose his first.
This Fallen World includes three novellas in an exciting new universe by best-selling author Christopher Woods. You’ll want to get it - right now!
©2018 Blood Moon Press (P)2019 Podium Publishing.

Review:
This book consists of three short stories. The first was This Fallen World. The second is Broken City and the third is Seeds. The Fallen World is the bigger story.

A nuclear holocaust between warring corporations has resulted in decimating the United States. Few cities and countryside communities have survived. Slowly the survivors have established very rough societies who have a hierarchy with trading for life needs such as water, food (the Farmers), protection (the Society of the Sword), and even electric power (the Dynamo). The society groups are broken into blocks known as Zones some led by good, fair leaders, and others by vicious Warlords. Travel between Zones can be tricky.

In the Old World, Matthew Kade was a corporate assassin for one of the high corporations, the Obsidian Corporation. Now he serves as a tracker, retriever – a warrior of quiet renown. Kade has made enemies and has a price on his head due to prior events. But he also has made friends among prior clients, being trustworthy, and by being kind to people on the street. These friends can help him survive in the streets and as he passes from Zone to Zone.

A wealthy man hires Kade to find and return his daughter who was on a Caravan through Zones but has been missing for three days. Kade has a connection to Teresa, a leader of the Society of the Sword, which is a group set on removing the worst of the bad guys. Teresa has sent a tank of a man, William Poe, to watch Kade’s back. Kade and Poe will face random gangs as well as Zone armies to accomplish his mission. Kade is quick to say "Expect the worst and you won't be disappointed."

Broken City finds Kade called in to solve a mystery of murders taking place among the Mardins. This is a society group who live under the city in the maintenance tunnels, where they provide water and sewer systems to the groups above in exchange for being left alone. When someone violates the agreement by entering their tunnels and killing members, the Society of the Swords in called upon and Kade is assigned to solve the problem. Again, he has assistance, and they face mutant killers. There is also a furtherance of the relationship between Kade and Teresa.

Finally, in Seeds, we learn about Zebadiah Pratt and struggles of the Farmers as they begin to form shortly after ‘the fall’. Pratt was in the military in the Old World and came home alive but damaged. This story fills in some of the history of how the world became ‘this fallen world’. There were interesting additions in this story, including a fat, lazy pony. Also, this one gets a bit more brutal than the first two stories.

I enjoyed the character development and the full-on action in these stories. There was a bit of repetition especially for the phrase of “in this Fallen World.” Initially it is clever, cute, but it gets to be overdone. I am glad to have received this through Audible Plus and I have another book in this series which I look forward to reading (listening) to. I recommend this to fans of dystopian, post-apocalyptic novels that are filled with fighting action.

Audio Notes: Mark Boyett is a skilled narrator, delivering distinct voices and apt energy to the stories. I am drawn in by his narration and I really was pleased to get to listen to this story.

Source: 11/5 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: Icequake by Crawford Kilian

This is a story of survival against blizzards and the treacherous conditions of ice flow.
Icequake
By: Crawford Kilian
Narrated by: Tim Campbell
Series: Icequake, Book 1

Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
Release date: 10-30-18
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Climate, Environment, Techno thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
A group of 27 scientists and explorers are stranded in Antarctica.
Residing in a station known as Shackleton, they are studying the seismic activity of the region. An eruption of the nearby volcano, Mount Erebus, soon sends quakes throughout the continent with devastating results.
All radio communication has been disabled by the breakdown of the magnetic field. Evacuation is unlikely. No one knows whether they survived the icequake, and their station is now moving two kilometres north each day with the strong aftershocks. They are on their own, with limited food and resources.
Do they stay put and risk being caught in the next series of icequakes and avalanches? Or do they pack up and trek over dangerous territories to the neighbouring station?
Icequake is a gripping prophetic sci-fi disaster novel, full of excitement and danger in every chapter.
©2017 Crawford Kilian (P)2018 Podium Publishing

Review:
A group of scientists are preparing to leave Antarctica when they are stranded first by a bad storm and then by a major land – or ice – shift. One of the scientists had predicted a very dangerous icequake. He is gratified to be right although he is not thrilled with the timing. The main group is at the Shackleton station but there is another community even closer to the nearby volcano, Mount Erebus. All communication is down and it is too dangerous to travel as the ice continues to move. Fortunately, there is a plane that allows some reconnaissance, but there isn’t enough fuel to travel to the mainland.

The interaction among the men and women is part of the drama in the story. Most of the danger is outside, from the elements, but there are some men who are struggling to remain civil. And romance has a different level when there are scientists who care more about their studies than their partners.

Of course, the scientists suspect that the mainland is suffering too from the rising level of waters, loss of crops and other difficulties. But the scientists won’t know the full extent unless they can get back to the mainland.

I saw this was only available free through 12/20/2022 so I chose to read it sooner rather than later. I found it interesting if not overly exciting. The scientific elements surrounding an icequake and its impact are interesting and are shared well through the story rather than preaching. I recommend this to readers who would find the climate issues interesting with the drama of survival against the elements.

Audio Notes: Tim Campbell does a great job with the narration. He provides distinct voices for the variety of characters. The energy and pacing is good considering the survival plods at times. The narration enhanced the story for me.

Source: 11/5/22 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: The Cowboys of Copper Mountain: A Christmas Collection by Katherine Garbera, Jane Porter, Melissa McClone

I liked all of these stories.
The Cowboys of Copper Mountain: A Christmas Collection
By: Katherine Garbera, Jane Porter, Melissa McClone
Narrated by: Loretta Rawlins

Series: Copper Mountain Christmas, Book 1-2
Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
Release date: 03-24-15
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Anthology, Christmas, Contemporary, Holidays, Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Three novellas and an unforgettable short story, now available together in one festive package!
"A Cowboy for Christmas" by Katherine Garbera. Annie Prudhomme never expected to be back in Marietta, Montana, and her family is fond of reminding her that she left them and the town behind in search of better things. A humiliating divorce that cost her everything she'd gained has driven her back home, and her family isn't about to welcome her back into the fold. She's in town to rebuild the old home that she inherited and to move on once again.
"Christmas at Copper Mountain" by Jane Porter. Since the loss of her family in a plane crash, Harley Diekerhoff has led a quiet life and keeps to herself. Taking the temporary job at the Copper Mountain Ranch as widower Brock Sheenan's housekeeper seems perfect for her. But her calm cocoon is invaded with the arrival of Brock's preteen twins, Mack and Molly, who've never experienced a proper Christmas, and before she knows it Harley's determined to make their holiday perfect.
"Home for Christmas" by Melissa McClone. Ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Rachel Murphy loves the scent of gingerbread baking almost as much as she enjoys creating custom edible houses at Christmastime. But she needs a bigger kitchen if she wants to make the most of her impromptu holiday business. Enter Nate Vaughn, handsome venture capitalist turned Montana dude ranch owner - and her brother's boss.
"Mistletoe Magic" by Melissa McClone. Spending a quiet Christmas housesitting and reading novels about hot cowboys sounds perfect to Caitlin. Until a stray kitten brings her face to face with Noah, her crush from college. Watching the handsome vet in action melts Caitlin's heart and brings back long-forgotten emotion. She would be safer back at the house, lost in the pages of a book. But a toe-curling mistletoe kiss tempts her to stay. Maybe she won't be spending this Christmas...alone.
©2013 Home For Christmas 2013 Melissa McClone. Christmas at Copper Mountain 2013 Jane Porter. (P)2015 Audible Inc.

Review:
These four sweet romances are tied together by the location. I enjoyed that some of the characters were mentioned in the different stories. The writing styles have some differences, but all are easy reading/listening. There is a little bit of sexual content but nothing over the top in my opinion. I plan to read more in the series. I recommend this to fans of second chance and injured party romances.

"A Cowboy for Christmas" by Katherine Garbera.
18-year-old Annie got out of Montana and married a man who set her up in the wealthy style she wanted. But fifteen years later he was arrested as a con man and everything they owned was taken. She has returned to Montana to rebuild the family home that she bought from her sister after their father’s death. The sisters aren’t talking since Annie seemed to have abandoned the family when she left. But now she is back hoping that, somehow, she can rebuild the house and her life.

Carson, a rancher, one of five brothers, is a widower with a young son, Evan. Years ago, Carson had a relationship with Annie, before she kept her promise to get away from Montana. He doesn’t know what brought her back and resulted in her working as a waitress at a favorite eatery. But he doesn’t need to be drawn in by a woman who doesn’t want to stay in Montana.

Neither of these characters are really looking for romance. It appears they may have a second chance at love, with the approval of a sweet son and a town that hopes they both find happiness.

I enjoyed these characters, and the writing was fine. I liked the description and plot even though there was a little repetition in the conflict issues. 4.5.

"Christmas at Copper Mountain" by Jane Porter.
Harley lost her husband and three children to a tragic plane crash. She is still trying to recover her footing several years later. Rather than face Christmas with her family, she chose to take a temporary housekeeper position with Montana rancher, widower, Brock Sheenan. She understands that he is hard working and pretty reclusive, which suits her fine. The ranch crew are happy with her cooking and care.

She is settling into the routine of cooking for Brock and his crew, when Brock chooses to go out late one stormy night to find lost cattle. Concerned Harley is concerned and then shocked when a knock at the door reveals two young children who have returned early and unexpectedly from boarding school.

Harley didn’t bargain for children and wants to get away, as soon as she can get a replacement. Brock is annoyed and disgusted thinking she doesn’t like kids, especially when she seems set on telling him he isn’t listening to his kids and isn’t allowing them to be kids and enjoy the holiday.

The lack of communication between these characters is frustrating. I was glad they finally saw the potential of a future together. 4.0.

"Home for Christmas" by Melissa McClone.
Rachel has agreed to visit her brother who is a foreman on a ranch in Montana at a time when she needs to escape having her dreams pulled out from under her by a supposed business partner. She is thrilled to discover the ranch house has a state of the art kitchen and jumps right in making her delicious ginger bread and unique ginger bread building designs.

Ranch owner Nate is surprised to find yummy treats in his kitchen and then he meets the beautiful woman creating these masterpieces. He immediately orders one of his own ranch. Then he sets out to work his entrepreneurial skills by directing Rachel on how to promote her business, including encouraging her to open a local shop.

Based on her recent experience, Rachel is quick to distrust Nate’s intentions. Can she overcome her distrust to accept help from Nate? Can Nate get out of business mode long enough to share his personal feelings with Rachel?

As much as I liked these characters too, it was another instance of lack of clear communication combined with unreasonable distrust. I wasn’t pleased with Rachel’s lack of self confidence and her swing to the total distrust realm. I was glad for their final HEA. 4.25.

"Mistletoe Magic" by Melissa McClone.
Caitlin is home in Marietta house sitting and reading books. She expects a very quiet Christmas. She discovers an abandoned, half frozen kitten in the snow. When she takes the kitten to the vet for attention she is shocked to discover her college crush, Noah, is the vet.

Noah remembers Caitlin from college but he could never find her after he walked away to concentrate on his school work to become a veterinarian. He doesn’t want to let her slip away again. This is another sweet, second chance romance that is an easy listen. 4.25.

Audio Notes: Loretta Rawlins does a lovely job with the narration. She provides distinct voices and personality traits. I am very glad to have the opportunity to listen to this collection.

Source: 11/7/22 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook goal.