Audible Book Review: Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg

I liked the fairy tale nature of this story.

Followed by Frost
By: Charlie N. Holmberg
Narrated by: Angela Dawe

Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 09-22-15
Language: English
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Romance, Teen, YA
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.250; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Seventeen-year-old Smitha has the wealth, status, and beauty that make her the envy of her town - until she rejects a strange man's marriage proposal, and disastrous consequences follow. Smitha becomes cursed, and frost begins to encompass everything she touches. Banished to the hills, hunted by villagers, and chilled to the very core of her soul, she finds companionship with Death, who longs to coax her into his isolated world. But Smitha's desire for life proves stronger than despair, and a newfound purpose gives her renewed hope. Will regrets over the past and an unexpected desire for a man she cannot touch be enough to warm Smitha's heart, or will Death forever still it?
©2015 Charlie N. Holmberg (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

Review:
Young Smitha is self-absorbed, vain, proud, shrugs her chores and allows her sister to take the blame for some of her mischief. Her father has taken on a stranger to work in the family business. The dark, mysterious man is infatuated with Smitha even though she snubs him. He finally gets her alone to propose and she rejects him cruelly. Before disappearing, the angered man curses Smitha to be like her cold heart. Immediately she becomes chilled and frost spreads on everything she touches. If she stays in place the snows become relentless.

Smitha is sent away when it is feared that her remaining at home will bring death to her own family as well as the community where one young boy has already sickened and died. Smitha isn’t prepared to live in the wilds alone, but what choice does she have? Death invites her to become his companion but Smitha refuses that offer even as she struggles to stay alive.

After years wandering Smitha gets a chance to use her curse to help people. Even then, people fear her and she has to live in solitude. She begins to develop a relationship with a fierce warrior but circumstances beyond her curse will apparently keep them apart. Will there ever be a chance for Smitha to live without her curse? Will she succumb to Death’s offer so she won’t have to be alone?

Seventeen-year-old Smitha isn’t the most likeable girl. I did like her determination and strength to survive. I especially liked how her spirit and character grew. I was glad when she began to accept responsibility for her actions. Her warrior friend is a complex, attractive character and I found myself rooting for a way for them to find a way to be together.

I was impressed with the clean writing, imaginative settings for the plot and nice moral messages. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this story and I was pleased to enjoy it. I recommend it to readers (teens or older) who like fairy tale quality stories.

Audio Notes: Angela Dawe does a fine job with the narration. The reading is crisp and direct, with distinct male and female voices. I enjoyed the audio presentation.

Source: February 2017 Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2019 TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Lone Wolf, F.B.I. K-9, Book 1, by Sara Driscoll

I like search dog stories and this has good suspense with a nice side of romance.
Lone Wolf, F.B.I. K-9, Book 1
By: Sara Driscoll
Narrated by: Angela Dawe

Series: F.B.I. K-9, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 11-29-16
Language: English
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: K-9, Suspense, Terrorism Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
In the first book in a thrilling new series, FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and Hawk, her loyal search-and-rescue Labrador, must race against time as they zero in on one of the deadliest killers in the country....
Meg and Hawk are part of the FBI's elite K-9 unit. Hawk can sniff out bodies anywhere - living or dead - whether it's tracking a criminal or finding a missing person. When a bomb rips apart a government building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., it takes all of the team's extensive search-and-rescue training to locate and save the workers and visitors buried beneath the rubble.
But even as the duo are hailed as heroes, a mad bomber remains at large, striking terror across the Eastern seaboard in a ruthless pursuit of retribution. As more bombs are detonated and the body count escalates, Meg and Hawk are brought in to a task force dedicated to stopping the unseen killer. But when the attacks spiral wide and any number of locations could be the next target, it will come down to a battle of wits and survival skills between Meg, Hawk, and the bomber they're tracking to rescue a nation from the brink of chaos.
©2016 Sara Driscoll. (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Review:
Meg, a former cop, and her trained Labrador, Hawk, are part of an FBI elite K-9 search and rescue team. Meg and her sister are active in rescuing dogs and training them for service use or just to be well behaved companions. The K-9 team is called in when a bomb traps people under the damaged Department Agriculture building. There were children visiting when the bombing occurred, so the K-9 team is desperate to locate survivors. Meg and Hawk work closely with firefighter, Todd Webb, to save an injured girl.

The search work is exhausting and a reporter happens to capture an image of Meg and Hawk after she leaves the site and collapses on a bench trying to recover her equilibrium. The photo angers the bomber as it takes focus away from his actions. He emails the reporter, Clay McCord, expressing his anger and intent to continue.

Meg is suspect of Clay’s connection with the bomber and makes an effort to meet him. They are meet at a dog park and set up a tentative agreement to share information. The bombings continue with horrendous consequences. Meg, Hawk and her team continue to pursue clues while Clay shares what information he can.

The disgruntled bomber escalates his attacks and Meg’s involvement may make her a personal target. The race is on for the FBI to locate the bomber before he can complete another major attack.

There are applicable search terms highlighted at the beginning of each chapter which I found interesting. I enjoyed the skills of Hawk as a search and rescue and attack dog. There is a strong bond with Meg as Hawk’s handler and the author shares emotional background resulting from Meg’s loss of a prior dog. Meg is a good character although I was a little surprised by the depth of her own anger. I like the connections with Clay and Todd which give the chance for further development in the series.

The story is fast-paced and moves along easily. I would get more books in the series. I recommend it to readers who like mysteries and K-9 elements.

Audio Notes: Angela Dawe does a fine job with the narration. She is able to give both the femail and male characters their own voices. I settled in and enjoyed the listen.

Source: November 2018 Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2019 TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.