#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Holy Chow (Andy Carpenter #25) by David Rosenfelt

This is another good mystery in the Andy Carpenter legal antics, and raises questions of possible enemy infiltration.

Holy Chow, (Andy Carpenter #25)
by David Rosenfelt
Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
Release date: 07-05-22
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Animal, Cozy, Legal, Mystery
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

I am enjoying this episode in the legal efforts of Andy Carpenter.
In Holy Chow, the next mystery from bestselling author David Rosenfelt, the beloved characters—both human and canine—of this fan favorite series are back on the case with the author’s trademark wit and humor.
Retired lawyer Andy Carpenter’s calling has always been running the Tara Foundation. The dog rescue organization places hundreds of dogs in new homes every year. It’s added up to so many dogs and new owners that Andy can’t even do the math. But there’s one dog—and one owner—Andy will always remember.
About a year ago, Rachel Morehouse came to the foundation looking for a companion. In her sixties and recently widowed, Rachel wanted a senior dog that also needed someone. Andy took a liking to her, Rachel took a liking to Lion, an older Chow Chow, and the rest is history.
That is, until Rachel calls Andy begging for a favor: If Rachel dies, will Andy take care of Lion if her stepson cannot? Andy agrees, no questions asked, and promptly forgets about it... until he receives a call from Rachel’s estate to attend her will reading. Which is where he meets Rachel’s stepson, Tony, who is promptly arrested for his stepmother’s murder. And he wants Andy to prove his innocence.
Andy has continued to learn more about the woman he so greatly admired and the businesses she ran, and holy chow, was this woman impressive. The person who killed her deserves to be held accountable, and if Tony is to be believed, they’re still out there. And that possibility is too much for Andy to remain on the sidelines.

Review:
Andy is a wealthy criminal lawyer who would rather enjoy his dog rescue foundation, the Tara Foundation, than practice law. Still, he always gets pulled into a case – or there wouldn’t be a story. In this episode, Rachel Morehouse, who adopted an older Chow Chow named Lion, calls Andy to ask if he would take care of Lion if her stepson won’t, if she dies. A few days later Andy gets a call to attend the reading of Rachel’s Will. When Rachel’s stepson, Tony, is arrested for her murder, he asks Andy to take his case.

Andy reluctantly takes the case and pulls together his investigative team: wife and investigator Laurie, retired cop and investigator Corey with K9, Simon, bodyguard Marcus, finance/ computer wizard Sam, and co-counsel Eddie. The crew is ready to find theories to overcome the circumstantial evidence that points to Tony as the murderer.

As Andy and the team push for clues, some of the witnesses begin to die. Then someone comes after Andy hoping to stop him. Of course, that won’t work with Marcus around, and Andy gets to show his talents in trial once again. He begins to present a story of foreign infiltration that could be scary.

I enjoy the trail of clues as well as the procedures in court in this series…all wrapped in with Andy’s sardonic snark. I enjoy each episode and recommend that mystery fans start at the beginning.

Audio Notes: I always appreciate Grover Gardner as the narrator for this series. He captures the voices of the different characters. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

Source: June 2022 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2022NetGalley and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Into the Wild Warriors, Book 1 by Erin Hunter

>This is interesting but not for children, IMHO.

Into the Wild
Warriors, Book 1
By: Erin Hunter
Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews

Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
Release date: 10-10-17
Publisher: HarperAudio
Genres: Action and Adventure, Animal, Cats, Fantasy
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary

Epic adventures. Fierce warrior cats. A thrilling fantasy world. It all begins here.
Listen to the book that began a phenomenon - and join the legion of fans who have made Erin Hunter's Warriors series a number-one national best seller.
For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by their ancestors. But the warrior code has been threatened, and the ThunderClan cats are in grave danger. The sinister ShadowClan grows stronger every day. Noble warriors are dying - and some deaths are more mysterious than others.
In the midst of this turmoil appears an ordinary housecat named Rusty...who may turn out to be the bravest warrior of them all.
©2003 Working Partners Limited (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Review:
Rusty, an ordinary house cat runs off to join the wild cat clans. He stumbles into the ThunderClan where he is renamed ‘Firepaw’. He is given the chance to train and prove he can be loyal to the clan rather than returning to being a ‘kitty pet’.

Firepaw goes through a time of growth as he tries to overcome skepticism and bullying from other cats. He helps an injured cat from another clan which brings ridicule and suspicions. He also follows his leader on a special journey where he realizes that he has special strengths that can be used to help his clan.

I did like Firepaw who is a smart, brave, kind, and, yes, loyal, cat. I also like the top leader of the ThunderClan (Blue Star), and a few of the other fair leaders. Unfortunately, there are wicked, mean, conniving, spoiled, and sullen characters too. The problem I had is that I felt this was much too pugnacious and brutal to be a good story for children. If you check reviews, many readers liked the story more than I did so read the sample or take a listen and see what you think.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the narration by MacLeod Andrews. He brought the characters alive with clear, unique voices. He also delivered the story with the appropriate energy and emotions. The audio helped me finish the book.

This took over a year to finish listening to it as a backup when books (other than Audible) weren't connecting in my car.

Source: 12/8/2019 Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Murder on New Year's Eve, A Ridgeway Rescue Mystery, Book 1, by P. Creedan

The mystery is fine but the character seems like a teen.
Murder on New Year's Eve
A Ridgeway Rescue Mystery, Book 1
By: P. Creeden
Narrated by: Shaniese Reyes

Length: 1 hr and 11 mins
Release date: 08-15-19
Publisher: Pauline Creeden
Genre: Cozy, Animal, Mystery
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 3.75.

Publisher's Summary
Ridgeway Rescue Mysteries can be enjoyed in one to two hours. Perfect for when you're waiting for an appointment or just want a fast listen. Don't miss out on this quick, clean, cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until the end!
It's New Year’s Eve, and 20-year-old Emma Wright has a date with her crush - well, not a real date, but she can dream! Colby Davidson, the K9 search and rescue deputy, is allowing her to accompany him while he’s on patrol at the Ridgeway Illumination Festival. Though they are just friends, she’s still hoping for a possible kiss at the end of the festivities.
When a stranger asks them to help take some pictures at the event, Emma and Colby are happy to oblige. But their assistance turns them into alibis for the man’s whereabouts while his girlfriend was killed. Most of the clues point to a robbery gone bad, but Emma doesn’t believe all of them point that way. Was it really a robbery, or was it murder?
©2018 Pauline Creeden (P)2019 Pauline Creeden

Review:
Emma, a twenty-something, is the daughter of the local Sheriff and has a crush on the K9 search and rescue deputy, Colby. Colby has a well-trained K9 Shepherd, Gabby, while Emma is struggling to train her new foster dog, Molly, an exuberant Saint Bernard puppy.

Colby has agreed to have Emma accompany him on the New Year’s Eve patrol at the Ridgeway Illumination Festival and she is hoping for a kiss. As the lighting event proceeds the lights will spell out Happy New Year. A stranger steps up and asks that Colby and Emma take his picture with the lights. Before the last lights are lit, Emma’s father arrives to question the man about the death of his girlfriend. As alibi witnesses, Emma and Colby join the Sheriff and the suspect as the crime scene is investigated. Initially the clues indicate a robbery gone bad but Emma spots details that challenge that theory.

I did enjoy the mystery even though I struggled with Emma’s character. She is sweet and very observant, but her crush is expressed much more like a teen than a twenty-year-old. The story writing also seemed a juvenile style. Still, this is an easy, quick listen with a fun mystery to enjoy especially on New Year’s Eve.

Audio Notes: Shaniese Reyes is a new narrator for me. Her young voice certainly fit the story which she delivers more as a read rather than giving unique voices to the characters. This contributed to the ‘young’ sound of the book.

Source: Sale at Audible November 2019 $5.99. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: Who Rescued Who by Victoria Schade

The cover is adorable and the story gets there eventually.

Who Rescued Who
by Victoria Schade

File Size: 2526 KB
Print Length: 351 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0593098838
Publisher: Berkley (March 24, 2020)
ASIN: B07TSWP85J
Genre: Animal, Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Where can you turn when the world turns against you? When Elizabeth Barnes’ life fell apart she never imagined that she’d be rescued by a new friend on four paws.
The plan was simple: Elizabeth would ignore the fact that she was unjustly fired from her dream job, fly across the pond to settle an unexpected inheritance in her father’s home country and quickly return to reclaim her position among the Silicon Valley elite.
But when Elizabeth stumbles upon an abandoned puppy, she’s shocked to realize that her brief trip to England might turn into an extended stay. Her strict itinerary is upended completely by the pup’s dogged devotion, and soon the loveable puppy helps her to connect with a tight-knit community of new friends on two legs and four, from the aunt and uncle she didn't know existed, to a grumpy coffee shop owner to two very opinionated sheep. Along the way Elizabeth is confronted by long-kept family secrets, hard truths about her former life and a new romance that might lead her to question everything she knows about love. Because sometimes rescue magic happens on both ends of the leash.

Review:
Elizabeth Barnes is a workaholic who has no life beyond her job and her obsessive social media focus. She is experiencing a bit of shellshock and a lot of anger after being unfairly fired from her dream Silicon Valley job. While trying to figure out how to get her feet – and life—back on track, she gets a surprising email from a man claiming to be her uncle. The problem is she never knew she had an uncle in England.

Elizabeth finally decides to take a quick trip to England to settle the unexpected inheritance which will provide a financial cushion while she is trying to get back into the work market. Elizabeth is surprised to find a warm welcome and soon growing friendships in the small backwater village of Fargrove. Elizabeth discovers a man she is interested in and stumbles upon an abandoned puppy who adopts her. Everyone tells her that she is responsible for the puppy since she found her.

Elizabeth is surprised to learn her uncle is a well-known artist. She hadn’t planned to remain in Fargrove but finds herself staying to help nurse her aunt after a fall, help her uncle categorize his many unrevealed paintings, train a new puppy, and nurture a possible romance. Meanwhile, she continues to fret that she has limited cell phone service and she fusses over her minimized social responses.

In spite of a rocky start, Elizabeth is soon wrapped into the community with everyone hoping she will settle on the land she has inherited and strengthen her developing relationship with James. When Elizabeth is offered a job to get back in the scene of Silicon Valley, will she walk away from her uncle and aunt, her puppy Georgina, her new friends, and James?

I was drawn to the adorable puppy cover. Unfortunately for over 50% of the book, I had a hard time coping with Elizabeth’s very self-centered and self-absorbed attitude. She was given wonderful opportunities but was too focused on her Silicon Valley elitism to really see what was in front of her. Her romance interest tried to resist getting involved, but once he did, instead of pushing Elizabeth to talk about the future they ignored the topic or he sulked. I found it hard to understand why no one really pushed Elizabeth to consider her choices.

I really enjoyed the art aspects of this story and the wonderful natural setting with dogs and sheep included. Jame's beer business added interest too. Although I am glad I finished, I had to struggle to get to the end because of the primary character. Apparently many other reviewers did not have this problem so if you can handle a character who needs a swift boot a good talking to, you would likely enjoy this book.

Source: NetGalley Requested 2019 but Received 2020. This qualifies for 2020NetGalley and 2020Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: Enforcing the Paw by Diane Kelly

This is a nice canine cozy mystery.

Enforcing the Paw
by Diane Kelly

File Size: 1444 KB
Print Length: 368 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1250094860
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (June 27, 2017)
ASIN: B01N6DJ914
Genre: Animal, Cozy Mystery, Police Procedures
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

When a case of he-said/she-said turns criminal, it’s up to Megan Luz and her devoted K-9 to dig for the truth. . .
A TAIL OF TWO LOVERS
When relationships go south, some people just can’t—or won’t—let go. When Fort Worth Police Officer Megan Luz and her pawed partner Brigit investigate a series of stalking incidents involving a couple who recently broke up, their detective powers are put to the test. Is this a case of a controlling creep who refuses to accept rejection—or one about a woman scorned whose fury has been unleashed?
WHO END UP IN THE DOGHOUSE. . .
As hostilities escalate between the former lovers, the situation goes from romantically dysfunctional to downright dangerous. He insists his former flame has become a crazy ex-girlfriend intent on vengeance. She alleges that he is a master of manipulation and lays blame entirely at his feet. Who’s the culprit and who’s the victim? Can Megan and Brigit sniff out the truth. . .before somebody ends up dead?
Enforcing the Paw is part of Diane Kelly's fun and smart Paw Enforcement series.

Review:
Megan Luz is a Fort Worth Police Officer who works with her canine partner, Brigit, a hundred-pound shepherd. Megan and Brigit have been through some dangerous and traumatic events. As Megan begins an evening shift she is called to respond to a call of a brick through a window. She meets Adriana who claims that her ex-boyfriend is harassing her. She made a previous complaint to another officer which was mostly ignored. Megan has Brigit follow the trail to determine that the perpetrator was in the corner of the garden. There the trail ends.

Megan takes the account seriously and heads off to interview the accused ex-boyfriend, Ryan. He has a similar brick on his doorstep and sneakers with dirt and tomato that match Adriana’s garden. Ryan is surprised the brick is gone and claims Adriana had the shoes and must have returned them trying to frame him.

As incidents of mischief continue back and forth, Megan is unable to determine which of the parties is lying. She consults her detective mentor in the station, and he agrees that her handling is good and she has to continue to search out the truth in the 'he said/she said' seesaw.

Meanwhile, Meghan has a second investigation going on as she tries to capture a purple lollipop thief. Meghan and Brigit trace the man dressed in surgical scrubs to the hospital where he disappears inside the emergency room. It might seem like a minor crime but Meghan is determined to catch the culprit.

I liked Meghan’s warm, open personality. Her romance with handsome, firefighter, Seth, is warming up and she is trying to deal with her hesitancy. I also enjoyed Brigit, the canine partner, and the interspersed chapters from Brigit’s viewpoint. The crimes being addressed are realistic with a touch of danger and, in the case of the thief, a touch humorous. The writing is clear, clean and makes an easy, quick read.

I have been eyeing this series because I like canine partners. This is an easy cozy mystery that I recommend to fans of these elements.

Source: NetGalley 2019. This qualifies for 2020TBR, TBRNetGalley and 2020 Alphabet goals.