Audible Book Review: The Kasari Nexus: Rho Agenda Assimilation, Book 1 by: Richard Phillips

This is full of interesting alien and human challenges. It is first in a spin off series, not the first with the characters.

The Kasari Nexus: Rho Agenda Assimilation, Book 1
by: Richard Phillips
Narrated by: Alexander Cendese

Series: Rho Agenda Assimilation, Book 1
Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Alien, First Contact, Sci Fi, Technothriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Jennifer Smythe escapes Earth's invasion by the insidious Kasari race, hijacks an alien starship, and survives the deadly passage through a wormhole. But escape is short-lived....
When Jennifer emerges on the new world of Scion, she is confronted by the same deadly enemy. Now the Kasari have sided with the planet's angel-like elite against the warrior underclass, but with the intent of ultimately ruling both. And when Jennifer is captured by the brutish Koranthians, her alien-enhanced abilities make her a crucial asset in battling the Kasari and their winged allies.
Back on a divided Earth, Jennifer's brother, Mark, and Jack "the Ripper" Gregory wage their own war against the Kasari. As the global government welcomes the extraterrestrials, Mark, Jack, and their rebel faction seek to use the powerful mind-altering skills gained from the Kasari's sworn enemies to repel the would-be conquerors. But faced with the might of Earth's ruling forces, has the cause already been lost?
©2016 Richard Phillips (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Review:
Jennifer Smythe, who is now alien enhanced, and her captain, a friend whose body has suffered through scientific treatments, are working on an alien spaceship when the captain inadvertently activates the ship and hurls them into space. The pair scramble to survive and control the ship that is apparently heading off to its home territory. Eventually they land on a planet to resupply. Initially all seems optimistic but then Jennifer is captured by enemy forces. The Koranthian warlord begins to admire his prisoner as Jennifer uses her alien-enhanced skills to survive and even give aid.

Meanwhile, back on earth, Jennifer’s brother, Mark, his wife Heather have received alien enhancements too. They are on the run with their friends Jack (“the Ripper”, his wife Janet and their gifted son. This group are being hunted by several groups seeking to stop their rebellion against the government which has chosen to welcome the alien beings, the Kasari. Can this team survive the multiple attacks from foes with all the resources of the government behind them?

Although this is the first in a series it becomes clear quickly that this continues characters from a prior series. This caused confusion as the book started off at a brisk pace without a lot of background to bring a new reader up to speed. It took me a while to begin to care about the characters but, ultimately, I liked them. There is a lot of alien tech and intrigue, as well as battle scenes that kept the book interesting. I think I would like to go back to the prior series before moving on with this one. I liked the writing and creativity and recommend the author and book with the caveat of it being a spin off.

Audio Notes: Alexander Cendese does a good job as the narrator. He provides strong voices for the characters that added to the entertainment value of the story. I am glad that I listened to this.

Source: 3/18/19 Audible purchase for $1.99 since I had the ebook. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet (Audio) goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn

I enjoyed this sweet Christmas romance.
Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy
By: Janice Lynn
Narrated by: Alexander Cendese, Rachel L. Jacobs

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins
Release date: 10-27-20
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
Genre: Christian, Christmas Romance, Holiday, Military Romance
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
When Sophie Davis sorts through a box of donated books to her church, she’s surprised to find a soldier’s journal. As the daughter of a veteran who watched her father struggle over the years, she feels a deep connection to the man who wrote the emotional entries.
Former Marine Cole Aaron battled to find peace after returning to civilian life. He’s always needed to protect others. Now, fighting fires helps him put out the demons within him. He’s embracing his life in Pine Hill, Kentucky, and strives to call a truce with his past. When Sophie shows up at the fire hall with his journal from when he first returned stateside, Cole can’t believe it was in the box he’d donated. The book is old news, and he tells her to trash it.
Sophie and Cole are drawn together as they both volunteer for their community, but it’s hard for Cole to let down his guard, and he doesn’t need anyone’s pity. After all he’s been through in the past, can he find faith in a more hopeful future...one touched by joy?
This heartwarming romance includes an original Hallmark recipe for Dilly Duchess Potatoes.
©2020 Janice Lynn and Hallmark Publishing (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Review:
Sophie Davis recognizes the struggle of a veteran with PTSD because she lived with a father who suffered. When Sophia finds and reads a soldier’s journal she feels deeply for the man. She makes the effort to return the journal to former Marine Cole Aaron who now serves her community as a firefighter. Cole doesn’t want the journal back because it his past haunts him. He also wants nothing to do with Sophie and what he perceives as her pity. Even though Cole wants to avoid Sophie, he keeps finding himself working alongside her for the Christmas toy drive and helping in other volunteer events, even participating in winter sports with Sophie.

Sophie is part owner of a Threaded Needle and she has a passion for making Quilts of Valor to award to Veterans in recognition of their service. Sophie persists on making a special patriotic quilt that she wants to wrap Cole in, even while Cole continues to push her away. But Cole can’t help but see the joy Sophie continually shares with others in all circumstances. Can Sophie’s joy bring a smile to Cole’s face and, more importantly, maybe bring peace to his troubled mind?

This is a sweet romance told from the rotating views of a bright heroine and an emotionally torn hero. The story focuses on the characters and how our self-view can be influenced by how others see us. The author uses the supporting characters to add to the fullness of the story. I like how the author shows how joy might heal a troubled soul. She apparently has other books in the same small town and I would enjoy reading/listening to others. This story reads easily, and I recommend it to readers who like heartwarming, sweet romance. I do think it would make a nice Hallmark movie.

Audio Notes: Alexander Cendese and Rachel L. Jacobs do an appropriate job narrating. I wasn’t enthralled by the audio but it did help me listen quickly. I am glad that I had the opportunity to listen to this.

Source: 2020 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2020NetGalley and 2020Audiobook goals.