Audible Book Review: Fire Touched: Mercy Thompson Series, Book 9, by Patricia Briggs

Another warm and engaging installment to this strong series. 
Fire Touched: Mercy Thompson Series, Book 9
Written by: Patricia Briggs
Narrated by: Lorelei King

Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins
Series: Mercy Thompson, Book 9
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-08-16
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy,
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Mercy Thompson has been hailed as "a heroine who continues to grow and yet always remains true to herself."* Now she's back, and she'll soon discover that when the fae stalk the human world, it's the children who suffer....
Tensions between the fae and humans are coming to a head. And when coyote shapeshifter Mercy and her Alpha werewolf mate, Adam, are called upon to stop a rampaging troll, they find themselves with something that could be used to make the fae back down and forestall out-and-out war: a human child stolen long ago by the fae.
Defying the most powerful werewolf in the country, the humans, and the fae, Mercy, Adam, and their pack choose to protect the boy no matter what the cost. But who will protect them from a boy who is fire touched?
*Library Journal
©2016 Hurog, Inc. (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Review:
Mercy, a coyote shapeshifter, and her mate, Adam, the Alpha of the Tri-Cities Werewolf pack, are called in by the local authorities to help stop a rampaging monster on one of the city’s bridges. They don’t know exactly what they are dealing with until it is described to them. Mercy’s guess that it is a troll are confirmed when they arrive on site to stop the creature who is killing humans and playing crash with the cars. Although there are three werewolves and Joel, the fire-god dog, in the battle the troll is not easy to take down.

Mercy had promised not to step into danger but has to weigh that promise against the need to save a mother and infant trapped in a car not far from the troll. Mercy takes the risk to help others and places herself in the path of the troll. Surprisingly she has a few tricks that help but she is facing death when the enraged troll is brought down by the Joel in the crazed fire-god dog form. The out of control dog is a danger, even though it is part of the pack until a child steps onto the bridge and calms the dog.

The boy, Aiden, looks like a child but in fact is hundreds of years old. He was stolen by the fae and has recently escaped with the help of two of Mercy’s fae friends. He is seeking sanctuary which Mercy grants short term in exchange for the help he has given.

Mercy wasn’t fully aware of Aiden’s fire-touched powers or the fact that other fae will attack to try to get to him. Adam and Mercy commit their pack to protect the child even as he causes havoc in their home. The pack has also been set up as the protector of the humans in 'their territory'. The Greylords of the fae are prepared to engage in full out war with the pack unless a treaty can be reached. Fortunately, not all the fae want to destroy the humans and Mercy has powerful friends willing to step up and offer help in negotiating a way out of this mess.

Once again Ms. Briggs presents the magic warmth of Mercy, with the strength of her pack and friends, in a setting that mixes love, humor, conflict and action. I like the strong pack dynamics displayed by the care and loyalty to their own and those they claim as theirs. The strong bond between Mercy and Adam is a plus and even the conflicts with Mercy's step-father added an interesting element. The story is creative and engaging and I have enjoyed the 'specialness' of the walking stick in Mercy's life. I was only sorry it ended too quickly.

Fans of the Mercy Thompson series should enjoy this installment. If you haven’t read the series yet I recommend that new readers start at the beginning to learn all of the characters and relationship developments… not to mention enjoying all of the dangerous adventures.

Audio Notes: Lorelei King is the voice of this series! She does an impressive, excellent job with the various character accents as well as delivering the tone and intensity of the actions. I always love to listen to books narrated by Lorelei.

I picked this up with a February Audible credit. It qualifies for my Audiobook Challenge and “F” in Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Book Review: The Dirt on Ninth Grave (Charley Davidson Book 9) by Darynda Jones

Another engaging installment in this fun series although the forward movement is a small step.

The Dirt on Ninth Grave (Charley Davidson Book 9)

by Darynda Jones

File Size: 1471 KB
Print Length: 337 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (January 12, 2016)
ASIN: B00V36ODVM
Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

In a small village in New York lives Jane Doe, a girl with no memory of who she is or where she came from. So when she is working at a diner and slowly begins to realize she can see dead people, she's more than a little taken aback. Stranger still are the people entering her life. They seem to know things about her. Things they hide with lies and half-truths. Soon, she senses something far darker. A force that wants to cause her harm, she is sure of it. Her saving grace comes in the form of a new friend she feels she can confide in and the fry cook, a devastatingly handsome man whose smile is breathtaking and touch is scalding. He stays close, and she almost feels safe with him around.

But no one can outrun their past, and the more lies that swirl around her-even from her new and trusted friends-the more disoriented she becomes, until she is confronted by a man who claims to have been sent to kill her. Sent by the darkest force in the universe. A force that absolutely will not stop until she is dead. Thankfully, she has a Rottweiler. But that doesn't help in her quest to find her identity and recover what she's lost. That will take all her courage and a touch of the power she feels flowing like electricity through her veins. She almost feels sorry for him. The devil in blue jeans. The disarming fry cook who lies with every breath he takes. She will get to the bottom of what he knows if it kills her. Or him. Either way.

Review:
Charley has found herself in Sleepy Hollow, New York, with no memory of who, or what, she is. She has been hired as a waitress at the local diner and is glad to have found a friend in another waitress, Cookie. Cookie is there with her new husband, Robert. There are regulars at the diner including, Garrett, Osh and the devastatingly handsome and alluring, Reyes. There are others too, including a few that Charley, aka “Janey”, recognizes as ghosts although she doesn’t want to acknowledge that she can see them.

Janey is hounded a bit by Ian, the local cop who first found her. Ian seems the hardest one to convince that they are no more than friends. Janey is determined to pay her own way until she can recall who she is. Others have offered help and she will borrow the car from her elderly neighbor because she can do errands for her and bring her groceries. But she won’t take actual gifts, even from Reyes as he shows sincere concern for her and they grow closer.

As usual form, Janey/Charley has a few mysteries to solve, including an evil spirit that is killing children of another co-worker and a neighbor businessman whose family has been taken hostage as a crew of Russians digs under his building to another neighboring building. Janey doesn’t want to expose the family to danger so she tells “Bobert” (Cookie’s hubby, Robert) in hopes he can find an unobtrusive way to help. Janey may be able to solve the local problems but she doesn’t recognize the larger danger stalking her.

I really enjoyed having all the usual characters surrounding Charley even though they wouldn’t let her know her background. They are supposedly keeping an eye on her with team tag surveillance but somehow she slips through the cracks. It was a surprise, and emotional moment, how she finally regains her memory.

I think this one could have used a little more backstory earlier to refresh my memory from book eight, but the gap was filled in later so all was fine. The book is full of the usual Charley snarkiness, complete with coffee addiction, T-shirt and internet quotes, and, of course, lust for Reyes.There is even a headless horseman. For the most part I enjoyed the action, the upheaval of emotion, danger and the underlying sense of love even during the balancing of good versus evil.There is still mystery and danger to be unraveled in future books.

What I didn’t enjoy was the totally unnecessary use of the “F” word. Really? What does that add that the author and editors feel it has to be included? Yuck. I keep hoping it will stop but I guess not. I either live with it and keep reading or say “that’s enough” and find some other series to read/listen to. I am glad I received this from Net Galley for review so I wasn’t paying for that language.

This is the first time I have read a Charely Davidson novel instead of listening. Although I missed Lorelei King’s wonderful narration, I was able to hear a lot of it in my mind so I’m not sorry I snagged this for review while I could. I do recommend the book and series as good entertainment, just with the caution that it does contain language that is offensive to some of us.

I received this through NetGalley. Title Release date 1/12/16. This is part of my NetGalley Challenge and TBR Triple Dare.

Audible Review: Deadly Shores: Destroyermen, Book 9 by Taylor Anderson

I give top credits for hours of entertainment in the latest installment to this great series.
Deadly Shores: Destroyermen, Book 9
Written by: Taylor Anderson
Narrated by: William Dufris

• Length: 16 hrs and 52 mins 
• • Series: Destroyermen, Book 9
• Format: Unabridged


Release Date:05-06-14
Publisher: Tantor Audio

Genre: Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The long-planned raid on the heart of the Grik Empire has grown more ambitious - and dangerously ill-defined. Only Matthew Reddy, commander of the old destroyer USS Walker, seems focused on its original intent.
Many Lemurians see an opportunity to reconquer their sacred homeland, which was stolen long ago, and have no intention of simply striking a blow and then pulling back. Others, Lemurian and human, have their own agendas - which may not be in the best interests of the Alliance. Complicating matters further is Reddy's suspicion that his task force is being stalked by an unknown power bent on aiding the Grik for reasons of its own.
As the raid begins and chaos reigns, Reddy has no choice but to go all in, risking everything in a desperate act that results in a sprawling, nightmarish battle on the beaches of "Grik City", on the very decks of Walker, and in the labyrinthine passageways of the Celestial Palace itself.
The final cost could be more than Matt Reddy - or the Alliance - can bear.
©2013 Taylor Anderson (P)2014 Tantor

Review:
The first portion of this book gives history and character re-cap to familiarize those who don’t know the series or to refresh others. There are personal snippets to bring some of the major characters to the forefront. Then the battle action begins in force, even as some of the strategy gets lost to zealous, mixed motives.

The battles of Captain Reddy and the Grand Alliance continue on three fields in thes latest installment of this wonderful alternate world series. General Pete Alden faces off with the Grik General Halick, in India. The two military leaders are beginning to respect each other as they realize they can continue to fight to decimate each others’ armies or they can step apart and regroup for another day.

British High Admiral Jenks is leading the Imperial troops, with Orrin Reddy’s “Nancys” airteam, in the eastern front battle against the Dominion. Although they are positioning themselves well in Guayak, New Granada Province, they have no real idea of the Dominion forces that are grouping in the Atlantic.

Meanwhile Captain Reddy, his naval forces and many of the Lemurian leaders and troops begin their raid against the Grik on their own home front in Madagascar. Unfortunately, not all the leaders had the same acknowledged goals and the raid turns into a full on assault. The indomitable Dennis Silva takes a small band to sneak into the Grik fortress to capture the Celestial Mother. Several characters who have become endeared are killed or injured in this reckless and costly mission.

I totally enjoyed the plot lines, the imagination and progress of the story. The Doms are still a massive threat and The Japanese enemy, Captain Hisashi Kurokawa, is rebuilding after his defeat at the battle at Madras (Storm Surge). Allies are shifting as Kurokawa is set to betray the Grik allies he made when first he came to this world. As this book closes a new enemy emerges in the form of Italian fascists. I look forward to learning what new adventures and dangers the characters will face in the next book.

Audio Notes: I truly enjoy the narration by William Dufris. He brings the characters alive and helps me get emerged into the world of the Destroyermen. I am glad I have been enjoying this series in audio and I highly recommend it.

I bought this with my Audible subscription so I could continue the adventures.