Audible Book Report: End Time: The End Time Saga, Book 1 by Daniel Greene

This zombie story follows a handful of survivors trying to stay a step ahead of the infected.

End Time: The End Time Saga, Book 1
By: Daniel Greene
Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka

Series: The End Time Saga, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Horror, Military, Zombie
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
The protests in front of the embassy aren't what they seem....
In the dark, primal jungles of the Congo Basin, something is ravaging the local population. When protests turn violent in front of the US embassy in Kinshasa, only the foreign policy experts paid attention. Civil war erupts, and people rip each other apart in the streets of the African capital.
To avert disaster and preserve its self-image, an overwhelmed State Department dispatches a team of elite counterterrorism agents to bring their besieged people back alive. Mark Steele, a young agent within the division, and his team of gritty operatives are used to trudging through the worst society has to offer, all while operating from the shadows. But Steele's team is plunging headlong into a maelstrom of death so much worse than rebels in the streets.
A highly contagious microbe is spreading unchecked, killing everyone in its wake only to bring them back again as the ravenous undead. Only a lone CDC virologist understands the extent of the outbreak at hand. He cowers among the embassy staff praying for extraction from the hands of death, fearing his part to play in the epidemic.
Follow this harrowing tale of survival, duty, love and horror as the living dead bring the world to its knees. The first installment of an epic series, End Time starts as a slow burn that turns into a breakneck-paced struggle for survival. Greene does an excellent job of depicting individual stories within the larger scope of the global epidemic. Enter the End Time.
©2018 Daniel Greene (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Doctor Joseph was flown to the Congo as a CDC virologist to study a “Monkey” Virus. He is horrified when his tent of patients turns into a walking mass of the ‘dead’ feeding on the living. He doesn’t understand what has happened, but he knows he needs to get back to the States to warn the CDC to set up quarantines. Having reached the embassy Joseph is frightened when he sees the state of chaos.

The State Department sends out a specially trained counterterrorism team to rescue the people at the embassy, but particularly Doctor Joseph. The team led by hardcore warrior, Steele, has to struggle to get the Doctor out. Along the way they find themselves exposed to the madness in the confines of an airplane. Steele is a man who is accustomed doing what it takes to save lives, so he had a little difficulty realizing that some of the ‘people’ around him are enemies.

Things aren’t calm back in the States and the Steele’s girlfriend, Gwen, is struggling to get home safely. Along the way she picks up two other uninfected, one a protector and the other who needs a protector. She is convinced that Steele will return home to save her but can he survive to get there in time?

I figured I should include at least one Zombie story for October. This one has a good mix of action and character development. There isn’t much new about the nature of the infected, nor the nature of idiotic bureaucrats who won’t listen to informed warnings. There are a few detailed segments describing guns and military training which slow the pace a bit. The result is an entertaining story, if not a gripping one. I do have the second and third books so I will continue the story sometime.

Audio Notes: Keith Szarabajka does a nice job with the narration. He provides distinct voices and good energy. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: October 2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Lost Valley by Walt Browning

I thought this was post-apocalyptic (which it is) but it is zombie type horror and survival.
Lost Valley
By: Walt Browning
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Series: Extinction Survival, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
Release date: 04-09-19
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Military Sci Fi, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
War has a way of following some people....
John Eric Carver and Shrek are a retired Navy SEAL war dog team, now living in the mountains outside of San Diego. Both man and dog thought their life was now settled, finding peace on the 40-acre ranch they had moved to. But life, and a mutated virus, changed all that.
Now, they have to survive a worldwide pandemic. Taking refuge in a nearby Boy Scout camp, he leads a group of teens and their parents as they are forced to deal with infected creatures that are rapidly consuming the world. Will John and Shrek survive another war, or will this be the end of the line for the SEAL team?
©2019 Walt Browning (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
John Carver and his war dog Shrek have settled into a peaceful life after retiring from the Navy. He volunteers at a Boy Scout camp near his ranch. When an infection that turns people into ravenous cannibals strikes worldwide, John and Shrek are asked to help protect a group at the camp. The mutated virus is spreading quickly, and John is almost caught as he seeks to gather friends to take them to the camp.

The camp leaders are careful to inspect teens and parents as they seek refuge but they are still learning how the virus spreads… and how fast it works! A native teen from the reservation arrives on a motorbike only steps in front of an infected creature. She is able to join the camp and informs them that the infection is active in the coyotes as well as the humans. John and Shrek have been hunting a murderous coyote and now they know they will have to be even more careful.

John, another leader and a handful of teens have to make a run to a hospital to pick up medication. The risks are high but it is a necessary trip. Will they be successful to escape the infected and return to camp?

Browning is a new to me author and I found his writing direct with an easy flow. The plot and characters are well developed and the pacing worked well for a quick read. I likeed John and his dog Shrek, and also liked how the author shared a few chapters from Shrek’s view and the view of the rogue coyote. There is action as they face the infected and fight to escape from the mobs.

When I picked this out, I was looking more for a post-apocalyptic story rather than a zombie story. This would be a good story and series to read in October if, like me, you like your horror in that month. The story is entertaining, and I will likely listen to book two in October. I recommend this to fans of quick zombie-type survival tales.

Audio Notes: Bronson Pinchot is an effective narrator. He captures the voices of the characters (including the canines) and he shares appropriate emotions of fear and despair. I appreciate this was a free audio.

Source: September 2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: The Witch of Hebron: A World Made by Hand Novel, Book 2 by James Howard Kunstler

This EOTWAWKI is a bit raw but intriguing.

The Witch of Hebron: A World Made by Hand Novel, Book 2
By: James Howard Kunstler
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Series: World Made By Hand, Book 2
Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
Release date: 09-07-10
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Metaphysical Fiction, Post Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
In the sequel to his best-selling World Made by Hand, James Howard Kunstler expands on his vision of a post-oil society with a new novel about an America in which the electricity has flickered off, the Internet is a distant memory, and the government is little more than a rumor.
In the tiny hamlet of Union Grove, New York, travel is horse-drawn and farming is back at the center of life. But it’s no pastoral haven. Wars are fought over dwindling resources and illness is a constant presence. Bandits roam the countryside, preying on the weak, and a sinister cult threatens to shatter Union Grove’s fragile stability. Here is a novel that seamlessly weaves hot-button issues like the decline of oil and the perils of climate change into a compelling narrative of violence, religious hysteria, innocence lost, and love found—a cautionary tale with an optimistic heart.
Already a renowned social commentator and a best-selling novelist and nonfiction writer, Kunstler has recently attained even greater prominence in the global conversation about energy and the environment. In the last two years he has been the focus of a long profile in the New Yorker, the subject of a full-page essay in the New York Times Book Review, and his wildly popular blog and podcast have made him a sought-after speaker who gives dozens of lectures and scores of media interviews each year.
©2010 James Howard Kunstler (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
This post-apocalyptic series is not an action packed EOTWAWKI but instead is character and drama driven. This second book expands on describing the world where the survivors are living in without power and trying to relearn skills that existed before electricity, cars, tractors, medical facilities and more. There are local rivalries that are just tense, and there are bandits and killers who are frightening.

A big portion of this story is centered on Jasper, the Doctor’s 11-year-old son. When Jasper’s puppy gets killed accidentally, Jasper is desolated. He allows his anger to push him into an act of revenge, after which he runs away to find a new life elsewhere. Jasper meets a mix of people on his adventure. He offers to help nurse a man in pain and then is cheated when he asks for food. He is then forced to become an unwilling protégé of a deranged psychopath. Along the way he finds kindness from a young girl a couple of years older and finally he helps and is helped by a self-titled witch.

The witch plays an important role interacting in separate encounters with a handful of men from Union Grove. These men include Jasper’s father and the man who is seeking to confront Jasper over his act of revenge. The ‘witch’ is a curious mix of hostess, herbalist, dream hacker and female companion.

Kunstler provides some background to the fall of society and to the history of the local religious group. He writes with strong detail and presents a world of natural and complex emotions. The events occur near Halloween and there is some dark rawness in the stark evil described. This is offset by some beauty through the author’s storytelling. I am interested in listening to the next book, The Harrows of Spring.

Audio Notes: Jim Meskimen does a very good job with the narration. He shares appropriate voices and energy for the characters. He delivers with a calm undertone until he needs to portray the manic nature of a particular character. I enjoyed the audio version which added to the entertainment value for me.

Source: 12/21/2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: World Made By Hand, Book 1, by James Howard Kunstler

This is the first book in an interesting character driven dystopian series.
World Made by Hand: The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 1
By: James Howard Kunstler
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Series: World Made By Hand, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
Release date: 08-23-10
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi, Speculative Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
In The Long Emergency, celebrated social commentator James Howard Kunstler explored how the terminal decline of oil production combined with climate change had the potential to put industrial civilization out of business. In World Made by Hand, an astonishing work of speculative fiction, Kunstler brings to life what America might be, a few decades hence, after these catastrophes converge.
The electricity has flickered out. The automobile age is over. In Union Grove, a little town in upstate New York, the future is nothing like people thought it would be. Life is hard and close to the bone. Transportation is slow and dangerous, so food is grown locally at great expense of time and energy, and the outside world is largely unknown. There may be a president, and he may be in Minneapolis now, but people aren’t sure. The townspeople’s challenges play out in a dazzling, fully realized world of abandoned highways and empty houses, horses working the fields and rivers, no longer polluted, and replenished with fish.
This is the story of Robert Earle and his fellow townspeople and what happens to them one summer in a country that has changed profoundly. A powerful tale of love, loss, violence, and desperation, World Made by Hand is also lyrical and tender, a surprising story of a new America struggling to be born - a story more relevant now than ever.
©2008 James Howard Kunstler (P)2010 Blackstone Audiobooks

Review:
Robert Earle is old enough to remember life before technology started to fail and bombs eliminated live as known in the 21st century. Now there is only limited electric power, food is grown locally, transportation is mostly horse and cart or walking, and life is generally hard. Robert lost his wife and daughter to illness in a two year period. Five years later his nineteen-year-old son took off to find out what was left of the world. There are no phones or mail service to stay in touch. It is enough of a struggle to get clean water and barter for supplies without running into violence.

Robert goes on a trade run to the local ‘trading post’ (think a dump taken over by a gang). He ran into a young man, Sean, who is there with his dog. Since the guard won’t allow Sean in with the dog, Robert agrees to pick up Sean’s list. But before the transactions are complete, gun shots are heard and Robert returns to the entrance to find Sean and his dog shot to death. Although the guard claims self-defense, clearly there is a problem with the trading gang but there is no one in town to investigate, arrest or pursue the murder. There is a Chief of Police/Sheriff but he said he “wouldn’t serve if elected” and has continued to drink and live up to that promise.

A new religious group, consisting of 70 or so members led by Brother Jobe, has arrived in town. Brother Jobe is prepared to push for more control in the community. Soon, at a duly called town meeting, the existing, do-nothing mayor is fired, and Robert is elected as the new mayor. Robert’s friend, Loren, the existing Pastor, is elected to replace the Chief of Police. Robert and Loren are at least willing to take their positions seriously but before they take up their tasks, Robert is asked to join a rescue team to travel down the river to find a boat of local men who took trade goods to another city. They do manage to find the men but retrieving them ends in violence.

When the team returns with the men, there is a celebration. While most of the community attends the festival, the trader gang members travel through town apparently looting and intimidating people who remained in their homes. One of those intimidated is Sean’s widow who has moved in as Robert’s housekeeper after her house burned down.

Robert and Loren have a jailed prepared. They arrest Brother Jobe for shaving people without consent. Then they attempt to arrest the trading gang leader which ends in a violent confrontation. The town situation is changing and Robert, Loren, Brother Job and the others have to juggle to find their way in this strange new life.

This dystopian story focuses on personal and relational issues as the survivors struggle to continue life and find an acceptable level of community. I wasn’t thrilled by the female characters who are given lesser roles bordering on sex objects. The descriptions are lyrical at times and I liked the title phrase. I found the overall story interesting if not totally compelling. I do have the next three books and plan to continue to listen over the next few months.

Audio Notes: Jim Meskimen is a new-to-me narrator and I think he does a good job. His voice seems to fit Robert and he gives appropriate accent and energy to the characters. The audio enhanced my engagement in the story.

Source: Audible Plus Catalog December 2020. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: The Gun: The End Time Saga Origin Short Story by Daniel Greene

This is a quick, introduction to an EOW series.
The Gun: The End Time Saga Origin Short Story
By: Daniel Greene
Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka
Series: The End Time Saga

Length: 1 hr and 33 mins
Release date: 06-18-19
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: 90 minute Short Story, Horror, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
A new gritty origin short story in the End Time Saga universe.
A dismembered body in the park....
Grand Rapids Detective Bill DeYoung is an old-timer riding it out until retirement. A ravaged body in the park and a drunken witness are about to change his plans; so is the end of the world.
The events happen concurrently with the first novel, End Time, but it can be heard at any point in the series to get exciting additional content on the origin of a main character.
Start the award-winning series filled with duty, treachery, honor, betrayal, and grim hope today!
©2019 Daniel Greene (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Bill DeYoung is an old timer Detective with the Grand Rapids force. He has seen a lot over his years of service but the body they investigate in the park that morning is different and alarming, even to him. As he locates and begins to interview the drunken woman who was a witness, reports of similar attacks are coming in from other locations in the city, including near his precinct. Soon it becomes apparent that they are dealing with something unusual – an end of the world scenario.

This story centers on two primary characters, Detective DeYoung, a dogged pro, and the drunken witness, Tess. DeYoung’s younger, somewhat arrogant partner, Westman, is also involved. I enjoyed the brief character development and interaction. It didn’t take long to figure out the nature of the attack so then the question became who would survive and how.

I didn’t know anything about The End, the ongoing post apocalyptic series. Had I realized the true nature of the story I might have saved it to listen to as part of my Fraterfest event. I enjoyed the quick story with its ironic ending. It is enough to make me interested in the series. Lucky for me books 1 through 3 are free as part of Audible Plus! I recommend this to readers who like plague, end of the world stories.

Audio Notes: Keith Szarabajka does a good job with the narration. He provides distinct voices and seems to capture the personalities of the characters.

Source: 8/29/2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: The Final Day by William R. Forstchen

This is a solid conclusion of another post-apocalyptic series on my TBR list.

The Final Day
By: William R. Forstchen
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Series: After (Forstchen), Book 3
Length: 12 hrs and 11 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 01-03-17
Language: English
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Political Thriller, Post-Apocalyptic, Thriller, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
The highly anticipated follow-up to William R. Forstchen's New York Times best-sellers, One Second After and One Year After, The Final Day immerses listeners once more in the story of our nation's struggle to rebuild itself after an electromagnetic pulse wipes out all electricity and plunges the country into darkness, starvation, and terror.
After defeating the designs of the alleged federal government, John Matherson and his community have returned their attention to restoring the technologies and social order that existed prior to the EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse) attack. Then the government announces that it is ceding large portions of the country to China and Mexico. The Constitution is no longer in effect, and what's left of the US Army has been deployed to suppress rebellion in the remaining states.
The man sent to confront John is General Bob Scales, John's old commanding officer and closest friend from prewar days. Will General Scales follow orders, or might he be the crucial turning point in the quest for an America that is again united? As the dubious Federal government increasingly curtails liberty and trades away sovereignty, it might just get exactly what it fears: revolution.
©2017 William R. Forstchen (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
John Matherson and his community are slowly starting to make a come-back after the break down of society as a result of an EMP strike two years ago. John struggles as the leader who has had to make some really hard choices, including executing vicious members of a gang and a young man who was stealing from the community. The community has no ability to house prisoners and he felt these actions, even if difficult, set the best example. However, the actions didn’t go over well with those who claim to be the restored government, particularly after John led a successful defense against being overtaken by a government-led attack by an overbearing military leader.

John, his seven-month pregnant wife, Makala, and the community are preparing to face a tough winter. They know that they have to be careful of threats from rogue groups as well as possible threats from the government too. When John is advised that a beaten man tried to reach him with a message from his old military friend, General Bob Scales. John was on the phone with Scales who was in the Pentagon on “the Day” when the call got cut off. John is excited that Scales may be alive, and John becomes intent on getting to him to try to find out what is really going on at the “federal” government level.

John manages to get a message to Scales at the risk of important resources. Scales shows up to meet with John and bring the orders that he is supposed to bring John back to the headquarters to face charges for assassination. Instead of taking John in, Scales lets him stay but tells him to lay low so that they can pretend he is in custody.

A couple of men in the community have made a remarkable discovery in the college basement. They are on the edge of having a chance to communicate or at least listen to conversations. But there is also a leak - maybe a mole - who is feeding information to the government. That leak sets John and Makala as targets and tensions rise between John and Scales. Then Scales gets a decoded message that triggers his suspicions and anger. This sends Scales, his troops, John and his hand-picked militia off on an unexpected tactical reconnaissance that is bound to stir up trouble.

It had been several years since I read books one and two in the series (One Second After and One Year After). Book three starts about two years after "the day" and fills in the background with a good reminder of what took place to this point. I really liked the detailed picture of this small mountain community struggling with realistic problems such as limited electricity, water, and food and other day to day items like soap and clothing. John has bittersweet memories that are accompanied by clear envy of his friend’s supply of real coffee! I was puzzled that John never tried to uncover the leak, and I was curious what the title “the final day” would reveal. I did enjoy the action and the twists as John and Scales uncover secrets that change the path of the future.

This story delivers a solid post-apocalyptic/dystopian mix of survival and military intrigue. I recommend the full series to readers who enjoy this genre.

Audio Notes: Bronson Pinchot does a solid job with the narration although the quality of the audio seemed ‘old’ to me. It just didn’t sound crisp. Also, the delivery tends to be a slow drawl which is a bit disconcerting even if it does fit the weary struggles of the characters. I did get over these audio issues and still enjoyed the overall product.

Source: 9/1/18 Audible Sale $5.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR, 2020Audiobook, and 2020Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

This is an engaging horror story.

I Am Legend
By: Richard Matheson
Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 5 hrs and 20 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 12-31-06
Language: English
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Horror, Paranormal, Sci Fi, Vintage
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
In I Am Legend, a plague has decimated the world, and those unfortunate enough to survive are transformed into blood-thirsty creatures of the night. Robert Neville is the last living man on earth. Every other man, woman, and child has become a vampire, and they are all hungry for Neville's blood. By day, he is the hunter, stalking the sleeping undead through the abandoned ruins of civilization. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for the dawn. How long can one man survive in a world of vampires?
©1954, 1982 by Richard Matheson (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Review:
Robert Neville is a lone survivor of a plague that turned most survivors to a form of vampire. The authorities took his daughter to the burn pit but he protected his wife as long as he could. When the time came that she died he took her to bury her with dignity – he thought. At least he would be able to visit her grave. But when night came, she arrived at his door to visit him.

The neighbors and strangers prowl his lawn at night seeking his blood; hoping to make him one of them. He struggles with being a true, living survivor, with no one to talk to and only the taunting shouts of the dead outside his barricaded home. During the day Neville tracks the sleeping monsters to their lairs and kills them first with wooden stakes and later by other means he discovers. One night after a drunken rage he decides to study the decease to see if he can find a cure. After all he has hours and days and years…

It has been a long time since Neville has seen a person during the day or heard a voice other than the dead. He is shocked when he finds a woman wondering in a field one day. His ravings frighten her but he ends up dragging her home. Then he begins to wonder if she is another survivor like him.

The character of Neville in the book is not the one I remember from the movie. I suppose it is understandable that Neville would have bouts of craziness – being alone so long and always under night attacks. At times he is a sad character and other times pathetic. I hoped things would improve when he began reading medical journals. Some of the monologues and medical jargon got a bit tedious but it was part of the character development. I especially found the history and myth testing regarding vampires interesting.

This is a Vintage book written in 1954 and it did not have some of the more modern items I think I remember in the movie. I had forgotten enough of the movie to make this worth listening to as part of my TBR. I knew it was horror and I am thinking that the book achieves a different level of sci fi horror than the movie.

I enjoyed the ending dilemma which reveals the meaning of the title. I recommend this to horror fans, fans of a different, dark vampire (no sparkles), and fans of post-apocalyptic. I also recommend it even if you have seen the movie.

Audio Notes: Robertson Dean does an excellent job with the narration. He captures the dark tone of the story and the mania of Neville. I’m glad I listened to this rather than reading.

Source: 11/18/17 Celebrating 20 years of Listeners Membership Perk Free #audible20. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Fata Morgana by Steven R. Boyett and Ken Mitchroney

This fun, alternate history is full of WWII period, and beyond, action.

Fata Morgana

By: Steven R. Boyett, Ken Mitchroney

Narrated by: Macleod Andrews

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 06-13-17

Language: English

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Genre: Alternate History, Sci Fi, Time Travel

My Ration: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary

At the height of the air war in Europe, Captain Joe Farley and the baseball-loving, wisecracking crew of the B-17 Flying Fortress Fata Morgana are in the middle of a harrowing bombing mission over eastern Germany when everything goes sideways. The bombs are still falling and flak is still exploding all around the 20-ton bomber as it is knocked like a bathtub duck into another world.

Suddenly stranded with the final outcasts of a desolated world, Captain Farley navigates a maze of treachery and wonderand finds a love seemingly decreed by fate—as his bomber becomes a pawn in a centuries-old conflict between remnants of advanced but decaying civilizations. Caught among these bitter enemies, a vast power that has brought them here for its own purposes, and a terrifying living weapon bent on their destruction, the crew must use every bit of their formidable inventiveness and courage to survive.

Fata Morgana—the epic novel of love and duty at war across the reach of time.

©2017 Steven R. Boyett & Ken Mitchroney (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Captain Joe Farley and his WWII flight crew are relieved to get a new B17 when their first one barely limps into base. They name their new plane Fata Morgana and Joe describes a mysterious woman to be painted on the nose. They pick up a new crew member, a Native American who bailed from his plane which shockingly arrived back to base with an all dead crew.

The crew is part of a bombing mission during which the formation comes under attack by German bombers. Suddenly the Fata Morgana is pulled into a dark cloud and spit out into a desolated world. The planet appears devastated and the crew is alarmed when two opposing teams converge on them, one trying to protect them and the other attacking them. It appears the teams are from two rival colonies who are trying to get the plane for their own use. And that these people are not the worst enemy they will face.

The wisecracking crew members are stranded unless their mechanic wizard can get the plane working again. Meanwhile they are all surprised, especially Joe, when the woman of his dreams appears in front of them! She convinces them to return to her community but not everyone is as welcoming as she is. The crew makes friends but will have to survive betrayal to have a future.

The story starts a little slowly as the authors introduce and develop the crewmembers. There is fun banter and baseball camaraderie shared even during the stresses of war. The battle scenes are well written with action and tension. Once the plane crashes in the other world there are totally different tensions and conflicts the crew must face. I liked the well-developed characters, the action, the romance and the plot twists. The romance grows slowly and warmly to mature to a point of heartbreak. There is a strange scene involving limited characters around the center of the time whirlwind. This gives some of the surprising background of the world. I anticipated the betrayal but didn’t see all of the twists which made it interesting.

This isn’t as good as my favorite alternate history/universe series, The Destroyermen series, but it was a fun, fill-in listen. I recommend this to readers/listeners who enjoy World War II era and/or the alternate history genre.

Audio Notes: Macleod Andrews does a wonderful job with the narration. He captures the variety of character accents and energies. His narration helped to bring the story alive. The narration enhanced the story for me and I would be glad to listen to more by this narrator.

Source: 12/2/2017 Audible Daily Deal $3.95. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: The Anatomy of Peace by The Arbinger Institute

This is a wonderful resource and I recommend it to everyone!
The Anatomy of Peace, Expanded Second Edition
Resolving the Heart of Conflict
By: The Arbinger Institute
Narrated by: Oliver Wyman

Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 11-13-15
Language: English
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Relationship, Self Development
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.

Publisher's Summary
What if conflicts at home, conflicts at work, and conflicts in the world stem from the same root cause? What if we systematically misunderstand that cause? And what if, as a result, we systematically perpetuate the very problems we think we are trying to solve?
From the authors of Leadership and Self-Deception comes an international best seller that instills hope and inspires reconciliation. Through a moving story of parents who are struggling with their own children and with problems that have come to consume their lives, we learn from once-bitter enemies the way to transform personal, professional, and global conflicts, even when war is upon us.
Download the accompanying reference guide.
©2006, 2008, 2015 Arbinger Properties, LLC (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
When I picked this audiobook (originally and last week for reading), I wasn’t sure if I would like it or have to push through it. I was wonderfully surprised when I recognized the narrator’s voice (from fiction series Monster Hunter International) and was pulled right in. Although this is nonfiction to the extent it is a self-development work, it is told in an engaging story through the eyes of parents who are struggling with out of control teens. The primary character is also suffering from implosion at his company so the lessons in the workshop hit home doubly for him.

The parents meet in a two-day session to support their children who are entering an intervention camp program. The parents have reason to be secretive, wary and judgmental until the leaders share a story of political/cultural enemies who found their lives transformed by changing their views. The leaders are two unlikely companions: Yusuf al-Falah, a Palestinian Arab and Avi Rozen, an Israeli Jew.

The premise of the presentation is that people live with either a heart at peace or a heart at war. Too often it is the heart of war as we set expectations for others that we don’t necessarily require of ourselves. Since a ‘heart at war needs enemies’, we lift ourselves up at the expense of others and find (untruthful) ways to justify our own behaviors – most often by transferring the blame to others. It often involves self-betrayal (our desires supersede honor) which fuels the anger and unhappiness within us. We must determine to see the worthiness of others so that we can provide ourselves with a heart at peace.

This reminded me very much of the transactional analysis program I took in my 20’s. The bottom line I was reminded of is: we cannot change the behavior or actions of others but we can accept responsibility for and change our own actions (and reactions).

The audio book came with a download resource of the graphs and worksheets that provide direction to identify strengths and weaknesses and help focus on getting out of wrong thinking ‘boxes’. I see so many people, family and strangers, who I think could benefit from reading this book.

Audio notes: I recognized the voice of Oliver Wyman immediately and it made my heart happy. This is very different from the Monster Hunter series he narrates but he does a great job with this too. His voice and character voices pulled me in right away and helped me feel as part of the workshop with the characters. The story and narration are a great fit.

Source: Audible Daily Deal 2016, $2.95. This qualifies for 2019TBR, 2019Audiobook and nonfiction goals.

Audible Book Review: God of War by J. M. Barlog and Cory Barlog

Being familiar with the game would probably make this a more enjoyable reading/listen.

God of War

By: J. M. Barlog, Cory Barlog

Narrated by: Alastair Duncan

Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 08-28-18

Language: English

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Genre: Fantasy, Greek & Roman Myth, Norse & Viking Myth

Rating: My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary

The official novelization of the brand new game

His vengeance against the gods of Olympus years behind him, Kratos now lives as a man in the realm of Norse gods and monsters. It is in this harsh, unforgiving world that he must fight to survive...and teach his son to do the same.

This startling reimagining of God of War deconstructs the core elements that defined the series - satisfying combat, breathtaking scale, and a powerful narrative - and fuses them anew.

©2018 J. M. Barlog (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Kratos was a God of War but he left the world of the Gods so he could live as a 'mortal' man with his wife and son, Atreus. Kratos and Atreus are mourning the death of his wife, the boy’s mother. Now Kratos is preparing his son to take a trip to deliver his mother’s ashes in accordance with her last wishes. Kratos doesn’t want his son to know of his own bloody history and struggles with balancing his power with his wish to protect his son.

Atreus has received patient training from his mother and gruff direction and correction from his father. He wants to prove to his father that he can protect himself and won’t be a burden on the journey.

Neither father nor son realize the dangers they will face and all of the creatures and puzzles they have to conquer to get to the location where they will deliver the ashes. In addition, there are enemies seeking to kill Kratos. The battles and last minute escapes are many. Along the way they get help from an exiled witch and a ‘brother’, Mirmir, who plays a strange (heady) role in the journey and in narrating the story.

There is plenty of action in this novelization and I really enjoyed the deep, old Norse sounding accents. There is fairly common emotional difficulty in the father and son relationship, which is exacerbated by the father’s refusal to disclose his past. Sadly, I did not connect to the characters and was looking for something more from the plodding journey. Perhaps I just didn't remember the Greek, Roman and Norse Gods well enough. I didn’t understand the background of the characters for most of the book and I struggled getting to the end. This leads me to think that the story is best read/listened to by those who are familiar with the game.

Audio Notes: Alastair Duncan does a really good job with the character voices. I can’t say that I liked the pacing and energy as I just never warmed up to it. This is the first time I sped up the listening speed as I usually want to enjoy the listening experience. This one I just wanted to get through.

Source: February 2019 Audible Daily Deal $3.95. This qualifies for 2019Audiobook goal.

Audio Book Review: Apex by Mercedes Lackey

This is an engaging sci fi/fantasy series.

Apex
Written By: Mercedes Lackey
Narrated By: Amy Landon

The Hunter Series, Book 2
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks
Date: September 2017
Duration: 8 hours 49 minutes
Genre: Fantasy, Magic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Narration

Summary:
Being a member of the Elite Hunter Command imperils Joy in more ways than one. In their latest clash with Othersiders, the army of monsters nearly wiped them out. Apex City is safe for now. But within the city barriers, Joy must wage a different kind of war.The corrupt and powerful PsiCorps is determined to usurp the Hunters as chief defenders of Apex City, and Joy is now squarely in their crosshairs. Unused to playing political games, she has very few people she can truly trust-not even Josh, her first friend in Apex City, who broke up with her when it became too dangerous for a Psimon to be dating a Hunter.
Then Josh comes to Joy for help. He fears that Abigail Drift, the head of PsiCorps, will soon use him in her twisted experiments designed to empower PsiCorps and render Hunters superfluous-a scheme that's already killed off dozens of Psimons. Joy manages to smuggle Josh to safety, but he cannot evade Drift forever As Joy faces ever more powerful Othersiders, she is helped by the most surprising ally imaginable-the same Folk Mage she once met in battle on the train to Apex City. But can Joy trust the most cunning and treacherous of all Othersiders?In the thrilling finale to Mercedes Lackey's New York Times bestselling trilogy, Joy must risk everything to end a brutal war before she loses all she's ever loved....

Review:
Joy and the other Elite Hunters are busy defending Apex City from increased attacks by the Othersiders. Many of the engagements are skirmishes but they are repeated and extending to the outer edges of the community including some areas which no longer have fortifications.

The last major attack (in Book Two, Elite) was won thanks to the help of the Psimons. But dozens of Psimons have shown up dead or missing. Joy’s former boyfriend, Psimon Josh fears that the head of PsiCorps is involved in the deaths and is planning to use the PsiCorps to take over the city government from Joy’s Uncle. Joy and her immediate team help to smuggle Josh out of the city but can they keep him safe?

It becomes clear that another major attack is being planned. Joy has unexpectedly made contact with one of the Folk Mages who are believed to be directing the Othersiders. He is offering to be an ally, but can he be trusted?

Should Joy have called on her home hunters for help? Or told Apex officials about the hunters from home? Would she be putting more people at risk? Has her presence caused the escalation of enemy attacks since there are Folk Mage who are clearly focusing on removing her? So many questions and emotional issues to cope with along with daily, exhausting battles. It’s a lot for a young woman to handle.

Although there was some personal angst in all the questioning, I still enjoyed the story and the interaction of the characters. There is good character building as well as plenty of action. I especially enjoyed the intrigue and mystery surrounding the Folk Mages. I am not sure if this series is closing at a trilogy or if there will be more. This book does have a closing but I see room for more and would be interesting in listening to more. I recommend this to readers who enjoy fantasy monster hunter genres.

Audio Notes: As in the first two books of the series, Amy Landon continues her strong narration. She appropriately presents Joy’s youth, angst and confusion. I like the listening experience for the series.

Source: 2019 Credit Purchase Audiobooks.com. This qualifies for 2019Audiobook Goal.

Audible Book Review: Gracie’s Touch by S.E. Smith

This is spicy sexually but a very warm romance in a space sci fi.

Gracie’s Touch
By: S.E. Smith
Narrated by: David Brenin

Series: Zion Warriors, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 01-03-17
Language: English
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Romance, Sci Fi, Space Military
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of science fiction and paranormal romance brings another action, adventure, and suspense-filled story to transport listeners out of this world. Gracie Jones was little more than a child when Earth was invaded by an alien species. Escaping into the subway tunnels of New York City, she hid in fear of being captured. Discovered by four men who became her protectors, she fought alongside them, and they became known as the Freedom Five. At 17, she made a decision that turned the tide in the war between Earth and the Alluthans, but in exchange, she gave up all that she knew. Kordon Jefe is a Zion Warrior and the commanding officer in charge of the Confederation of Planets' military. When an unknown species begins attacking some of their outer settlements, he is assigned to discover who they are and stop them - at any cost. Gracie finds herself stranded millions of light years and hundreds of years in the future in a distant galaxy on an undeveloped moon. When an old enemy threatens once more, she does not hesitate to use her knowledge to try to stop them once again. Only this time, it is not just Earth she will be saving, but the Confederation itself. When their two worlds are thrown together, Kordon is unsure what to do with the strange, delicate creature who fights and behaves unlike anyone he has ever encountered before. One thing he does know - he plans to keep her.
©2016 S.E. Smith (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Gracie was just a child when she survived the invasion of a brutal alien attack that decimated humanity on earth. Gracie hid in the subway tunnels until she was brought under the protection of a group of young men. The five rebels became known as The Freedom Five who led a revolution against the aliens. The only way to defeat the enemy was for Gracie to risk infiltrating the enemy mothership. She succeeded but instead of returning to earth the stolen ship she was on was hurtled deep in space to an “unknown” planet. Gracie survives on the planet and after three years despairs of ever hearing another voice. To her surprise her radio outreach attracts a lead military ship of the Confederation of Planets'.

Gracie’s gentle voice pulls in captain Kordon Jefe, a strong, usually unexcitable, Zion Warrior. Kordon becomes obsessed with finding the woman behind the voice even as his team warn him that it might be a trap as the ship is similar to a recent mysterious enemy who has been attacking isolated mining worlds.

Gracie has linguist and technical knowledge that can help the Confederation. The time travel changes the situation for Gracie. Her joy at being rescued soon turns to devastation. How can Kordon and his crew convince Gracie to fight the common enemy? And how can Kordon convince Gracie to forget her first love and take a chance on a current love? He’ll figure a way to woo her since he isn’t going to give her up.

I enjoyed the space sci fi elements, the danger and the action. In addition to the threat of the Alluthan enemy, there is an enemy closer to home who poses a threat particularly to Gracie. Not all of the plot threads are realistic so some of that has to be overlooked to enjoy the rest of the story.

All of this is a setting for a strong romance between an emotionally hurt human and a normally unemotional warrior. Kordon wants to be this big, protective mate, but of course, there is no real way to control an independent human female! Part of the fun of the story is watching (listening to) the couple grow in their relationship. (There is a secondary romance between other crew members too.) The sex elements are a little to heavy for me – Audible labeled “hot d..n”.

The world building and writing is clean and strong. The action story is still engaging but the romance takes over the story. I recommend this to sci fi readers who like heavy romance… or even more to heavy romance readers who like sci fi elements.

Audio Notes: David Brenin does a very good job with the narration. He provides believable female voices as well as strong male voice. He carries the story plot lien with appropriate pacing and energy.

Source: August 2017 Audible sale $4.95. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook Goals.

Audio Book Review: Elite by Mercedes Lackey

I am still enjoying this fantasy series and will get book three soon to complete the adventure.

Elite
Written By: Mercedes Lackey
Narrated By: Amy Landon

Series: Hunter, Book 2
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks
Date: September 2016
Duration: 10 hours 12 minutes
Genre: Fantasy, Monsters
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Narration.

Summary:
Hunting monsters was supposed to be the hard part. When Joy came to Apex City, all she cared about was protecting the Cits from the dangers lurking outside protective barriers. She understood the need for the secrecy surrounding her Hunts-no need to cause a panic by announcing just how real of a threat the Othersiders pose.
But as she quickly discovered, the conspiracies of the city run much deeper. And a dangerous new covert mission leaves Joy with a target on her back once more. Under the orders of her uncle, the city's prefect, Joy begins patrolling the abandoned tunnels and storm sewers under Apex Center. With her large pack of magical hounds, she can fight the monsters breaking through the barriers with the strength of three hunters.
Then she starts finding bodies. Psimons are turning up dead in the bowels of the city with no apparent injury. Reporting the incidents makes Joy the uncomfortable object of PsiCorps' scrutiny, and the organization appears more interested in keeping her quiet than investigating. Joy's situation grows more precarious, and her relationship with her Psimon boyfriend, Josh, begins to fray. Long-held tensions between PsiCorps and the Hunters seem to be reaching a breaking point.
While infighting threatens the stability of Apex City, Othersider forces are gaining strength and momentum outside the borders. Joy desperately seeks answers to figure out who her real enemies are before she and everyone she cares about are locked into an all-out war. "Avoiding second-volume sag with plenty of charisma, this outing proves to be a satisfying read that takes the baton neatly from the first and leaves readers ready for more."-Kirkus Reviews...

Review:
At the end of book 1 Joy tested for the Elite group of Hunters hoping it would put her away from some of the rating attentions and jealousies. Still, even as an Elite, while Joy continues to target monsters to keep the Cits in Apex safe, someone is targeting her. Her Uncle assigns her to a special mission during which she and her wonderful pack of hounds start finding dead bodies. The bodies are apparently Psimon and there is no apparent cause of death. When Joy reports the deaths, she is hushed up by the PsiCorps. The secrecy puts strain on her relationship with Josh, her Psimon boyfriend and trusted assistant to her Uncle.

The internal stresses among the power groups are causing problems for Joy’s Uncle and the safety of the city. Storms bring in more monsters to the city and the Hunters need to call on the PsiCorps for back up in the battles, but the PsiCorps seem to be slow in responding. Fortunately, other members in the Elite who have become friends of Joy have learned to work together and are pretty creative in their battle strategies.

I continued to enjoy the series. There are old friendships and new ones developed in this book and old enemies appear too. It isn’t always clear who Joy can trust which adds to the suspense. The growing hound pack is a nice element in the story. Some of the issues, especially with Mark and his fiancé are a little petty but Jess finally finds a place for herself so she doesn’t have to sit back and be jealous of Joy. Lackey has developed Joy as a character with humility and wisdom, but she still exhibits teenage foibles at times. This keeps her real.

There is good action and battle scenes that balance the slower, character developing scenes. It is a good balance with pacing that moves the story forward. I will be getting book three in the near future to complete the trilogy. I recommend this to readers who enjoy fantasy/monster hunter stories – even if there are teens.

Audio Notes: Amy Landon continues to do a good job with the narration. I think she added a little more emotion this volume and she stays true to Hunter Joy’s voice. I enjoyed the listening experience.

Source: Audiobook.com Credit Purchase November 2018. Qualifies for Audiobook Challenge.

Review of Book 1: Hunter.

Audible Book Review: 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life by Cami Gilbert

This is very well done and inspiring. It was a nice listen for Thanksgiving week!
29 Gifts
How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life
By: Cami Walker
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 11-20-09
Language: English
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Inspirational, Memoir, Multiple Sclerosis
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
At age 35, Cami Walker was burdened by a battle with multiple sclerosis, a chronic neurological condition that made it difficult for her to walk, work, or enjoy her life. Seeking a remedy for her depression after being hospitalized, she received an uncommon prescription from an African medicine woman: give to others for 29 days.
29 Gifts is the insightful story of the author's life change as she embraces and reflects on the naturally reciprocal process of giving and receiving. Many of Walker's gifts were simple - a phone call, spare change, a Kleenex. Yet the acts were transformative. By day 29, not only had Walker's health and happiness improved, but she had created a worldwide giving movement.
The book also includes personal essays from others whose lives changed for the better by giving, plus pages for the reader to record their own journey. More than a memoir, 29 Gifts offers inspiring lessons on how a simple daily practice of altruism can dramatically alter your outlook on the world.
©2009 Brightside Communications, Inc. (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
This memoir/inspirational work started out rather difficult to read (listen to). Cami, the author, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and at age 35 she was struggling with fatigue, weakness, consistent pain and severe depression. This impacted her life as well as tired out her caregivers, her husband and mother.

Cami met with an African healing woman for massage and mental therapy. This friend (she was more than a healer) shared the unique prescription of spending 29 days in a row giving gifts to others. Cami’s friend explained that the gifts did not have to be big or expensive but did have to be given with meaning and intent. The purpose was to focus on giving but it had a surprising effect on opening Cami to receiving gifts too. Cami was so impressed with the changes in her life that she established a blog to share the story and prescription with others.

Cami does a good job sharing her 29 Gift experience with honesty and charm. The change in her attitude was a relief and pleasure to listen to. I can appreciate the difficulties for the caregivers as I experienced some of the meanspirited elements when my husband was on medication recovering from his heart valve operation. (You would think the patient would show more sorrow for bad behaviors and gratitude for the care, but they don't seem to recognize that.) The end of this audio includes short descriptions from others who shared on the blog/webpage. Since I am a strong Christ follower, I wasn't totally comfortable with some the occult 'dabblings' the author shares.

I like to think I have a pretty giving nature to begin with. I am not sure I will do the 29 day exercise, but this has made me more mindful to give unexpected gifts to friends and strangers. I love the idea of unexpected kindnesses! I would certainly recommend this to anyone who is suffering with stress and depression as I do think it would help turn the focus to more positive ground.

Audio Notes: Tavia Gilbert did a fine job with the narration. She captured the distress in the beginning and the relief as the journey progressed. I didn't realize that I had just listened to a fiction title by Tavia (Zoe's Tale) until I started to include my audio notes here. The works are totally different but she did well on both of them. I am glad that I picked this up at a bargain price and I enjoyed the listen.

Source: June 2017 Audible Daily Deal $1.95. This qualifies for 2018TBR and Audiobook Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Hunter by Mercedes Lackey

I enjoyed this fantasy enough to quickly pick up book two.

Hunter
By: Mercedes Lackey
Narrated by: Amy Landon

Series: Hunter, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 09-01-15
Language: English
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Narration.

Publisher's Summary
They came after the Diseray. Some were terrors ripped from our collective imaginations, remnants of every mythology across the world. And some were like nothing anyone had ever dreamed up, even in their worst nightmares.
Monsters.
Long ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were ripped open, and it's taken centuries to bring back civilization in the wake. Now, the luckiest Cits live in enclosed communities, behind walls that keep them safe from the hideous monsters fighting to break through. Others are not so lucky.
To Joyeaux Charmand, who has been a Hunter in her tight-knit mountain community since she was a child, every Cit without magic deserves her protection from dangerous Othersiders. Then she is called to Apex City, where the best Hunters are kept to protect the most important people.
Joy soon realizes that the city's powerful leaders care more about luring Cits into a false sense of security than protecting them. More and more monsters are getting through the barriers, and the close calls are becoming too frequent to ignore. Yet the Cits have no sense of how much danger they're in - to them, Joy and her corps of fellow Hunters are just action stars they watch on TV.
When an act of sabotage against Joy takes an unbearable toll, Joy uncovers a terrifying conspiracy. There is something much worse than the usual monsters infiltrating Apex. And it may be too late to stop them.
©2015 Mercedes Lackey (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Joy is a sixteen-year-old living in a world where a thin barrier separates the monsters of the Otherworld from civilization. Many people, Cits, live in sheltered communities. Joy was raised in a distant mountain village and trained by very wise elders, the Masters of the Monastery. In the primary city of Apex, Hunters are not trained so young and their training is limited to ‘academy’ training. Joy has had years of real-life experience before she is sent to join the Hunters. She has to hide that background but it helps her on her train journey which is supposed to be protected.

Joy happens to be the niece of a leader in Apex. There are those who think she is being favored and won’t make it in the Hunters. Before Joy even arrives at Apex she faces danger and she and her Otherworldly hounds help save the train, troops and occupants aboard. She has no idea that her survival instincts and skills have now put her in the camera rankings for Hunters. Some of the other Hunters feel threatened and are inclined to make life difficult for Joy and any who befriend her. While Joy is discovering that more monsters are sneaking into the city, she also learns that there is danger within as she becomes a target.

The story is told from first person perspective through Joy’s character. She is well skilled but humble and willing to learn and willing to share her knowledge. She is not interested in the TV popularity rankings but is truly concerned about protecting her fellow hunters and the unsuspecting Cits. The friends she makes are well developed characters too and add to the action and adventure. And the hounds are a special, engaging element.

This is more than just a coming of age, country girl comes to the city, story. Although the writing isn't brilliant, I found the story entertaining. I am engaged in the story and look forward to book two. I recommend this to fantasy lovers of all ages.

Audio Notes: Amy Landon does a good job with the narration. She captures the youthful nature of Joy’s character. Although she could have added a bit more emotion, I became used to her style. I was engaged and kept listening when I could get time.

Source: Audible Daily Deal July 2017. This qualifies for 2018TBR and Audiobook Challenge

Audible Book Review: The Extinction Cycle Boxed Set, Books 1 - 3, by Nicolas Sansbury Smith

This is a solid zombie action sci fi with characters I liked.
The Extinction Cycle Boxed Set
Extinction Horizon, Extinction Edge, and Extinction Age (The Extinction Cycle, Books 1 - 3)
By: Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Series: The Extinction Cycle, Book 1-3
Length: 25 hrs and 31 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 04-26-16
Language: English
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic, Sci Fi, Zombies
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Audio.

Publisher's Summary
Here are the first three books of the best-selling, award-winning, and top-rated Extinction Cycle series.
Extinction Horizon
The worst of nature and the worst of science will bring the human race to the brink of extinction.
Master Sergeant Reed Beckham has led his Delta Force team, code named Ghost, through every kind of hell imaginable and never lost a man. When a top secret medical corps research facility goes dark, Team Ghost is called in to face their deadliest enemy yet - a variant strain of Ebola that turns men into monsters.
After barely escaping with his life, Beckham returns to Fort Bragg in the midst of a new type of war. The virus is already spreading. As cities fall, Team Ghost is ordered to keep CDC virologist Dr. Kate Lovato alive long enough to find a cure. What she uncovers will change everything.
Total extinction is just on the horizon, but will the cure be worse than the virus?

Extinction Edge
A new threat that will bring humanity to the edge of extinction.
The dust from Dr. Kate Lovato's bioweapon has settled. Projections put death counts in the billions. Her weapon was supposed to be the endgame, but it turned a small percentage of those infected with the hemorrhage virus into something even worse.
Survivors call them Variants. Irreversible epigenetic changes have transformed them into predators unlike any the human race has ever seen. And they are evolving.
With the doomsday clock ticking, the fractured military plans Operation Liberty - a desperate mission designed to take back the cities and destroy the Variant threat. Master Sergeant Reed Beckham agrees to lead a strike team into New York City, but first he must return to Fort Bragg to search for the only family he has left.
At Plum Island, Kate discovers Central Command may have considerably underestimated the Variant population in New York. As Operation Liberty draws closer, Kate warns Beckham that Team Ghost won't just face their deadliest adversary yet, they may be heading into a trap.

Extinction Age
On the eve of extinction, all seems to be lost, but there is still one final hope.
Operation Liberty has failed. Humans are losing the war. With no other option, General Kennor decides to pull back the troops and give science a second chance.
Trapped in the extensive sewer system beneath New York, Master Sergeant Reed Beckham and the survivors of 1st Platoon must battle through the tunnels - where they make a grisly discovery in their attempt to escape.
At Plum Island, Dr. Kate Lovato is working on a new bioweapon to destroy the Variants. But when a derelict Navy destroyer crashes into the Connecticut shoreline, she is forced to deal with a nightmare she thought had ended.
As the doomsday clock ticks down and military bases fall across the country, the human race enters the age of extinction.
©2016 Nicholas Sansbury Smith (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Book 1, Extinction Horizon: A Delta Force team known as Ghost and lead by Master Sergeant Reed Beckham, is called in on a very secret mission. They are flying into a secret medical facility with a CDC doctor in order to determine the status of the scientists in the facility and, more importantly, to return with a sample of the virus. Reed prides himself on bringing his men home but this time that might be impossible when they discover that the virus is a variant strain of Ebola that turns men into monsters. Reed and some of his team escape and return to learn that the virus has already leaked and is spreading rapidly.

They are next deployed to secure the safe rescue of the doctors and researchers at CDC in Atlanta. Team Ghost is ordered to keep CDC virologist Dr. Kate Lovato alive long enough to find a cure. They are directed to take refuge on a secluded island base that has been built to protect certain powers in the event of this type of outbreak. As Kate and her team race to dissect the virus and find a cure, they discover more secrets about the origin of the virus that might make humans extinct. Although Kate is able to find a partial cure, it has unexpected side effects that place survivors in even more danger of extinction.

Book 2, Extinction Edge: Kate’s bio-weapon has killed many with the virus but has turned a percentage into super monsters who are even harder to kill. Although the percentage should be small, they have the potential to wipe out any ‘normal’ humans. The monsters are called Variants as they exhibit traits of natural predators – wild cats, bears, snakes and more. And they are evolving brain strategies that leave even Team Ghost frightened of the odds of survival.

Team Ghost travels from the dead streets of Fort Bragg to the sewers of New York hoping to rescue survivors. They are in a race against time to get out safely as the military leaders plan to annihilate the cities if they can’t be saved.

Book 3, Extinction Age: Kate is working on another weapon to kill the Variants, but the base is under attack and under pressure. Team Ghost tries to recover supplies from a derelict Navy destroyer that has crashed ashore but what appears to be an abandoned vessel may be another deadly trap. The number of normal humans are dwindling as the Variants are expanding their territories in terrifying ways.

There is plenty of battle action in this series even if the battles against ‘zombies’ get to be a bit repetitive. At least the evolving nature of the monsters keeps things intense. There are good character scenes that balance well with the action. I did like the mystery elements and the tensions regarding the secrets about who was involved in creating the problem. Then there are those superior officers who just won’t listen and contribute to the problems.

I liked how the team members are developed so that I became invested in caring about Reed, Kate and others of the team. Some injured Vets, and even an adopted dog, are pulled into the team and become important players adding to the engagement level. The author does a good job of pulling at emotions as team members face danger and death. It is very likely I will pick up the next three books, also available in a boxed set, to continue the entertainment. I recommend this to fans of zombie and action genres.

Audio Notes: Bronson Pinchot is a reliable narrator. He sets out voices distinguishing the characters and his steady reading carries the story with good energy. I am glad I listened to this good bargain as a boxed set.

Source: Audible February, 2017 credit selection. This qualifies for 2018 TBR and Audiobook Challenge.

Audiobook Review: The Quest for Cosmic Justice by Thomas Sowell

I found this to be a well laid out, thought provoking treatise.
The Quest for Cosmic Justice
Written By: Thomas Sowell
Narrated By: Robertson Dean

Date: September 2017
Duration: 5 hours 52 minutes
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks
Genre: Jurisprudence, Non-Fiction, Social Studies
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Summary:
This book is about the great moral issues underlying many of the headline-making political controversies of our times. It is not a comforting book but a book about disturbing and dangerous trends.
The Quest for Cosmic Justice shows how confused conceptions of justice end up promoting injustice, how confused conceptions of equality end up promoting inequality, and how the tyranny of social visions prevents many people from confronting the actual consequences of their own beliefs and policies. Those consequences include the steady and dangerous erosion of fundamental principles of freedom-amounting to a quiet repeal of the American revolution.
The Quest for Cosmic Justice is the summation of a lifetime of study and thought about where we as a society are headed-and why we need to change course before we do irretrievable damage.

Review:
I really enjoyed listening to this treatise but found it hard to review. I took two and a half pages of notes while listening! My first review draft was 910 words and this is still long. This work was copywritten in 1999 but its discussion is timely in today’s distraught and divisive political atmosphere.

Some of the well stated points include: Social justice is not the same as true justice. Justice at all costs is not justice; it always costs someone.

Sowell discusses Traditional Justice v Cosmic Justice. Cosmic Justice often approaches issues with a theoretical stereotype rather than addressing flesh and blood reality. The cosmic arguments focus on emotion rather than objective, factual circumstances. Sowell shares many examples supporting his premise that the Cosmic Justice vision is self-serving as it is unwilling to look at the evidence of application. Cosmic Justice favors the abstract which is at odds with practicality in the everyday.

Sowell projects that there is a quiet repeal of the American Revolution which was based upon ideas of landmark freedom and a democratic society. The three branches of government were intended to balance each other. Now, as the legislative branch fails to agree and take action, they leave the door open to executive orders and legislation made through Supreme Court decisions. American freedoms were set forth with a stated Rule of Law that was tempered with controls and exemptions. The issues of Cosmic Justice versus Traditional Justice are a seesawing balance of public rights versus private rights. Traditional Justice permits individual rights while Cosmic Justice dictates through controlling requirements. Cosmic Justice is irreconcilable with personal freedom which is based on the Rule of Law.

Cosmic Justice seeks to further government powers while Traditional Justice seeks to maintain individual rights. Expansion of Federal powers erode individual freedoms. Sowell notes that state rights have continually been eroded in 20th century, not by legislation, but by judges. Traditional Justice applies laws. Cosmic Justice allows judges to input their view of right and wrong (the Rule of Men) rather than enforcing the Rule of Law. Burdens of proof on plaintiffs are now shifting to defendants encouraging a prima facie case without support. (This was in evidence in the recent hearings to approve Justice Kavanaugh and is also an underlying basis in the division of those seeking liberal justices rather than conservative justices.)

Impartiality of law is being disregarded in the face of Cosmic Justice which results in a political non sequetor, to wit: ‘Things are not right and government should make them right’. Increasing government control (especially Federal) is in conflict with freedoms and rights of the common man who wants to live peaceably in their (hopefully compatible) local communities. Cosmic Justice is pursuing Globalism instead of American rights.

As I listened to this it gave me better insight on the current extreme divide in our social and political views. I do widh that people would agree to civilly disagree. I pray Americans could recognize the privilege we have to live under such a unique system of government and I hope we don’t lose it. I recommend this to anyone interested in the topic. Although I enjoyed the audio, I think a print copy would work for a better resource.

Audio Notes: The narration by Robertson Dean was very well handled. The tone is direct and respectful. He managed to keep my interest in what could be at times a difficult work to follow and digest. I am glad I had the audio although, as noted above, a print copy would be worthwhile too.

Source: Audiobooks July 2018 credit purchase. This qualifies for Audiobook and Alphabet Challenges.

Audible Book Review: Killing Trail by Margaret Mizushima

This is good, solid mystery with likeable characters.
Killing Trail
A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery, Book 1
By: Margaret Mizushima
Narrated by: Nancy Wu

Series: A Timber Creek K-9 Mystery, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 05-19-16
Language: English
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: K-9 Dogs, Mystery
My Rating: Story 4.25 of 5.0; Narrator 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
When a young girl is found dead in the mountains outside Timber Creek, lifelong resident Officer Mattie Cobb and her partner, K-9 police dog Robo, are assigned to the case that has rocked the small Colorado town.
With the help of Cole Walker, a local veterinarian and single father, Mattie and Robo must track down the truth before it claims another victim. But the more Mattie investigates, the more she realizes how many secrets her town holds. And the key may be Cole's daughter, who knows more than she's saying. The murder was just the beginning, and if Mattie isn't careful, she and Robo could be next.
Suspenseful and smart, Killing Trail is an explosive debut that will have listeners clamoring for more Mattie and Robo for years to come.
©2015 Margaret Mizushima (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Mattie is a young officer who has worked hard to be accepted in her hometown force. She tested out above her co-officers in order to participate in the K-9 program, getting to have a K-9 dog, Robo, as a partner and training with the dog. Mattie and Robo are assigned to a work a case when a local high school girl is found dead (by Robo) in a shallow grave in the woods near Timber Creek. It appears that dogs being trained by a local man may be involved in the mysterious death.

Mattie and Robo work with local veterinarian, Cole Walker, who initially is called upon to take care of the victim’s sick dog. Cole is struggling with the news that his wife has finalized divorce proceedings after walking away from the family several months before. His ex-wife wouldn’t even visit with their daughters over the summer when they were nearby. Cole has to find a solution for a housekeeper to stay with his girls while he is at the office/lab so much.

Cole knew the dead girl who was a good friend of his elder daughter, Angela. Angela doesn’t believe that her friend could have been involved with drugs, but she does know some facts that help move the investigation along.

Mattie begins to build a growing list of suspects who may be involved, but sometimes her own experiences cause her to make conclusions that may not be accurate. When one of the main ‘persons of interest’ is found dead the race to uncover the details becomes more urgent. Can she and Robo find the truth before someone else, maybe one or both ends up dead?

I enjoyed Mattie’s strong, smart, but not perfect, character. She shows insecurity and expresses concerns over her decisions which is a little annoying although not unrealistic. I liked how the author shared good details of the abilities of the trained police dog while also showing critical learning issues needed to allow the officer and dog to work together successfully. Cole is a possible romantic interest for future stories but clearly was not in a position to develop a relationship so soon after his divorce. The mystery moves along well making this a solid beginning to a K-9 series which I recommend to those who like the combination of women police and K-9.

Audio Notes: The narration by Nancy Wu is more of a reading than a performance. She does a few voices but mostly just reads. It is an adequate presentation but not special. Still, I liked having this in audio which gives me a chance to ‘read’ (listen) faster.

Source: 2/25/18 Audible Purchase $4.95. This qualifies for Audiobook Challenge and a 2018 title for my Alphabet Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Geekerella by Ashley Poston

This is a fun listen – a nice mix of fairy tale and YA.

Geekerella
By: Ashley Poston
Narrated by: Eileen Stevens, Tristan Morris

Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 04-04-17
Language: English
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Adaptation, Fairy Tale, Romance
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic science-fiction series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck and her dad's old costume, Elle's determined to win - unless her stepsisters get there first.
Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons - before he was famous. Now they're nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he has ever wanted, but Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake - until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise. But when she disappears at midnight, will he ever be able to find her again?
Part-romance, part-love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom.
©2017 Ashley Poston (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Elle’s father was a founder of ExcelsiCon when Cons were fairly new. Elle shared her father’s love of the sci fi program Starfield and enjoyed the excitement of the sci fi conference until her father’s death. Now Elle lives with her stepmother and two step-sisters, one of whom is particularly mean. Her stepmother hasn’t lost her resentment for Elle’s close relationship with her father and she doesn’t give Ellie any slack at home.

Across the states, teen actor, Darien Freeman, has just been announced as the new face of Starfield’s main character, Carmindor. Coming in from a beach show, many Starfield fans, with Ellie at the lead, consider him a weak player who won’t be able to live up to the job. Darien is scheduled to attend the Sci Fi Con for pormotion. He used to love the Con until he was betrayed and exposed by his best friend. As Darien tries to manage a way out of attending the Con he accidentally connects with Ellie. They begin a texting exchange not knowing the true identity of each other.

I really enjoyed this modern-day Cinderella story. I like the primary characters and some of the secondary characters play good supporting roles. As in most Cinderella stories, I was rooting for the geek and the star to find a way to meet and develop a true relationship. I was also hoping for the downfall of the unloving stepmother and bratty, bullying step-sister.

The story is told from alternating first person views by Ellie and Darian. The romance is appropriately sweet for a younger audience. The fandom is a great element to draw cosplayers and sci fi fans. The story is fun and I recommend it to readers who enjoy cosplayers, Cons and fairytale romance.

Audio Notes: Eileen Stevens and Tristan Morris do a great job on the shared narration. The capture the youth and self-deprecating attitude of the primary characters. They also do a fine job with the other characters. The full package is very entertaining.

Source: 2017 Audible Daily Deal Purchase. This qualifies for 2018TBR, Audio Book and Alphabet Challenges.