Audible Book Review: Solitude by Dean M. Cole

This is a little cheesy but I enjoyed it.

Solitude
Dimension Space, Book One
By: Dean M. Cole
Narrated by: R.C. Bray, Julia Whelan

Series: Dimension Space, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins
Release date: 04-03-17
Language: English
Publisher: Blue Heron Audio
Genre: Alternative History, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

From the Bestselling Author of the Sector 64 Series!

I Am Legend meets Gravity and The Martian when Earth's last man discovers that the last woman is stranded alone aboard the International Space Station. If you like action-packed, page-turning novels, you'll love the electrifying action in this apocalyptic thriller.
Can Humanity's Last Two Unite?
Separated by the gulf of space, the last man and woman of the human race struggle against astronomical odds to survive and unite.
Army Aviator Vaughn Singleton is a highly intelligent, lazy man. After a last-ditch effort to reignite his failing military career ends horribly, Vaughn becomes the only human left on Earth.
Stranded alone on the International Space Station, Commander Angela Brown watches an odd wave of light sweep across the planet. Over the next weeks and then months, Angela struggles to contact someone on the surface, but as she fights to survive aboard a deteriorating space station, the commander glimpses the dark underpinnings of humanity's demise.
After months alone, Vaughn discovers there is another. Racing against time, he must cross a land ravaged by the consequences of humankind's sudden departure.
Can Vaughn find a path to space and back? Can Angela—the only person with clues to the mystery behind humanity's disappearance—survive until he does?

Review:
Army Aviator Vaughn Singleton may be highly intelligent, but he is a slacker, a heavy drinker and some would call him a “loser”. But his best friend, Mark, sees more in Vaughn and encourages him to work harder and do better. They are in a testing flight when a strange phenomenon makes all the people and living creatures on earth disappear. As they struggle to determine what happened Mark is killed in an accident leaving Vaughn the only living being on earth.

Commander Angela Brown has had to remain behind after sending off the last of her space station team. She thought the others were heading to safety but soon realizes that she is the sole survivor stranded in space. As she orbits earth she begins to suspect where the devastating beam originated. But she can’t do anything about it as the space station deteriorates and her supplies run out.

After two months Vaughn finally realizes that the mission director had left an urgent directive. Now he has to race against time to rescue Angela from space. He rushes along, botching several chances and resources. Fortunately, both Vaughn and Angela have the ability to cobble together “MacGyver” like fixes. Now the question is can Vaughn actually get to Angela in time to save her?

Vaughn is not a particularly likeable character which makes the story a little awkward. Angela has a few quirks too but mostly I found those cute. Vaughn’s mess ups are frustrating and cheesy while Angela’s fixes are timely and also a bit cheesy, especially with mice living in her hair! Cole rotates scenes between the characters which added to the interest. The story moved very quickly, and I enjoyed the humor, the suspense and the bumpy ride. I recommend this as entertaining sci fi.

Audio Notes: R.C. Bray and Julia Whelan do a very fine job with the narration. They capture and convey the characters and the intensity of the situations. The narration enhanced the story for me.

Source: 4/9/19 Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: So Long, Lollipops by Sarah Lyons Fleming

I enjoyed this novella telling Peter’s story after sacrifice.

So Long, Lollipops
The Free Until The End of the World Novella
By: Sarah Lyons Fleming
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
Series: Until the End of the World, Book 1.5

Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 09-12-14
Language: English
Publisher: Podium Publishing
Genre: Post Apocalyptic, Sci Fi, Zombies
My Rating: 4.0 Overall; Story 4.0 and Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
**WARNING**
This novella contains major spoilers from the novel Until The End of the World. It's suggested you read the novel before you hear So Long, Lollipops. Unless you're someone who likes to read the last page of a book first - in that case, enjoy!
Peter watched his new family drive away, certain it was the last time he'd ever see them. But sometimes plans go awry in the best way. Now, the plan is to get back to them. But sometimes plans go awry in the worst way.
Sometimes the only plan is to believe it will be all right, even when it's almost impossible to believe.
©2014 Sarah Lyons Fleming (P)2014 Podium Publishing

Review:
At the end of Book 1, Until the End of the World, Peter agreed to distract the ‘zombies’ so the rest of his friends (now ‘family’) could escape to continue their trip to a safe zone community further north. Peter knows he is giving up his life, but he isn’t going down without a fight. Then he gets rescued by a young teen. Now he faces her gun but at least he is away from the “Z” mob.

Nat and her family are hesitant to trust Peter but Nat saw how he reacted as he let “Bits” and the others drive away. After Peter suffers an accident, he has no choice but to stay with the family and help them settle into their safe house. Peter also has time to contemplate his shallow past and what it takes now to survive.

Finally Peter sets off on his trip to the safe zone. He starts in a truck, but he has a long journey even if it isn’t that many miles. There are more enemies than just Zombies along the way but he is determined to catch up with Cassie and the others.

I enjoyed this short story from Peter’s perspective. I liked the phrase and title “So Long Lollipops”. This tale had danger and some ‘end of the world’ thought processes. Now I am ready to get the next book in the series.

Audio Notes: Julia Whelan continues the good job of narration for the characters in this series. She adds comfortable pacing, even with Peter’s introspective moments. I like listening to this series.

Source: Audible Free Title 9/2014. This is part of 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook Goals.

Audible Book Review: Year One by Nora Roberts

This is engaging entertainment – post-apocalyptic world with magical gifts loosed within some survivors.
Year One
By: Nora Roberts
Narrator: Julia Whelan

Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 12-05-17
Language: English
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Fantasy, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Supernatural
Overall Rating: 4.25 of 5.0
Audio Performance: 5.0

Publisher's Summary
A stunning new novel from the number-one New York Times best-selling author - an epic of hope and horror, chaos and magic, and a journey that will unite a desperate group of people to fight the battle of their lives...
It began on New Year's Eve.
The sickness came on suddenly, and spread quickly. The fear spread even faster. Within weeks, everything people counted on began to fail them. The electrical grid sputtered; law and government collapsed - and more than half of the world's population was decimated.
Where there had been order, there was now chaos. And as the power of science and technology receded, magic rose up in its place. Some of it is good, like the witchcraft worked by Lana Bingham, practicing in the loft apartment she shares with her lover, Max. Some of it is unimaginably evil, and it can lurk anywhere, around a corner, in fetid tunnels beneath the river - or in the ones you know and love the most.
As word spreads that neither the immune nor the gifted are safe from the authorities who patrol the ravaged streets, and with nothing left to count on but each other, Lana and Max make their way out of a wrecked New York City. At the same time, other travelers are heading west too, into a new frontier. Chuck, a tech genius trying to hack his way through a world gone offline. Arlys, a journalist who has lost her audience but uses pen and paper to record the truth. Fred, her young colleague, possessed of burgeoning abilities and an optimism that seems out of place in this bleak landscape. And Rachel and Jonah, a resourceful doctor and a paramedic who fend off despair with their determination to keep a young mother and three infants in their care alive.
In a world of survivors where every stranger encountered could be either a savage or a savior, none of them knows exactly where they are heading, or why. But a purpose awaits them that will shape their lives and the lives of all those who remain.
The end has come. The beginning comes next.
©2017 Nora Roberts (P)2017 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Review:
A virus spreads even before it is recognized, and it is 90%+ lethal within days. There is little time to seek medical assistance even and the virus spreads like wild fire at the health facilities in the cities. Soon there are scattered and stunned survivors. Some find they have magical features (elves, pixies) and powers (witches and wizards). There are those who use their gits to good and those who revel in evil power. There are also the groups of ‘normals’ who survived and are often fearful of all the newly gifted after having seen the horrible, brutal acts of the evil with powers.

At first the survivors think they might get help from the government. Then the immune and the gifted realize they are likely to be hunted for study and control. Now survivors are on the run from authorities and evil, never knowing what they will face with each stranger they meet.

Ms. Roberts reveals the changing community and carries the story forward through three primary character groups. Lana and Max are white (good) witches who escape from New York and begin to gather strays who see Max as a reluctant but strong leader and Lana as his equally strong, compassionate helpmate. Arlys, a news journalist, continues to report on observations of life changing around her, and finally reveals the initially suppressed threats of government action. She escapes the city with a co-employee who is a cheerful pixie. They meet up with Chuck, who is a computer tech genius hacking into the internet and communication systems while staying under the radar of others online. Rachel is a dedicated doctor trying to work through the heartbreak of death in the hospital, while Jonah, a compassionate paramedic is tempted to escape the death which he unwillingly foresees. These two team together to save the life of a mother who gives birth to twins and agrees to mother an orphaned infant. All three groups must move away from the cities of chaos and journey through the pockets of danger to seek an unknown safe place.

This is a different take on a post-apocalyptic crisis. Clearly Nora Roberts is a talented, skilled author. This genre is different from her main writings of romance and mysteries although some of her romances have included magical elements and the In Death series (penned as J.D. Robb) includes futuristic elements. I enjoyed the entertainment value of this story. The characters are engaging if not necessarily remarkable. Other than the magical gifts they are relatable beings. I like how the conflict, struggle and emotional trauma have scenes of joy sprinkled in the terror of the changing and disintegrating society. There are twists that kept things interesting and set up an underlying thread to be explored in subsequent books.

Although I won’t laud this as “the best post-apocalyptic” story I have read, I did find it thoroughly engaging and entertaining. I am invested enough with the characters to want to read/listen when book two is released.

Audio Notes: Julia Whelan does a beautiful job with the narration. Not only does she give each character a fitting accent and their intended personality but her overall narration flows seamlessly. I definitely appreciated the skillful narration that enhanced this story for me.

This seemed a good Audible choice to start a new year since "it began on New Year's Eve." I purchased this on 1/1/2018 so it qualifies for a 2018 entry in my Audible Challenge and Alphabet Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Until the End of the World by Sarah Lyons Fleming

Strong character connections help make this an entertaining zombie tale.
Until the End of the World
Written by: Sarah Lyons Fleming
Narrated by: Julia Whelan

Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins
Series: Until the End of the World, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:01-24-14
Publisher: Podium Publishing
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi, Zombie
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Cassie Forrest isn't surprised to learn that the day she’s decided to get her life together is also the day the world ends. After all, she’s been on a self-imposed losing streak since her survivalist parents died: she’s stopped painting, broken off her engagement to Adrian and dated a real jerk. Rectifying her mistakes has to wait, however, because Cassie and her friends have just enough time to escape Brooklyn for her parents’ cabin before Bornavirus LX turns them into zombies, too. This is difficult enough, but Cassie’s tag along ex-boyfriend and her friend’s bratty sister have a knack for making everything, even the apocalypse, more unpleasant. When the two attract a threat as deadly as the undead to their safe haven, Cassie’s forced to see how far she’ll go to protect those she loves. And it’s a lot farther than she’d anticipated. This, coupled with Adrian’s distant voice on Safe Zone Radio and, of course, the living dead, threaten to put Cassie right back into the funk she just dragged herself out of. Survival’s great and all, especially when you have leather armor, good friends and home-brewed beer, but there’s something Cassie must do besides survive: tell Adrian she still loves him. And to do that, Cassie has to find faith that she’s stronger than she thinks, she’s still a crack shot and true love never dies.
2014 Voice Arts Award Winner
2015 Audie Finalist - Solo Narration, Female
©2013 Saray Lyons Fleming (P)2014 Podium Publishing

Review:
Cassie insolated herself after the sudden, accidental deaths of her parents, including pushing away her fiancé, Adrian. Her parents were survivalists and got along great with Adrian who was set to open a farm focused on experimental growing techniques. Two years after shutting down, and with the strong, continued encouragement of her best friends, Penny and Nelly, Cassie has finally decided to ditch the new, but wrong for her, boyfriend, and get her live back on track. Unfortunately, there is an obstacle to her plan… a virus is spreading in the cities that turns the infected into aggressors who then become the violent undead.

Cassie and her friends first gather at her apartment where she has some supplies, thanks to her parents insisting on being prepared. The group includes Penny and her younger, sister, Ana, Nelly, James, a computer geek co-worker, and just declared ex-boyfriend, Peter. A hostile Peter and crush bitten, bratty Ana, are sure that the virus is under control and will pass quickly. The others insist that things will get worse before they get better. When they hear that the city might be closed off, they decide to head out to Cassie’s family place in the hills of Pennsylvania.

The teens face ‘zombie’ attacks before they can get out of the city and reach Cassie’s home-place. Once they reach the hometown they must pass through a blockade to get to the secluded cabin. They are helped by an older neighbor who continues to work with them. Although they hoped the town and cabin would be safe, they soon discover that not only are there undead to kill but there are evil men taking advantage of the lawlessness. James manages to get a radio going and they can hear the reports of distant safe communities, including one in Vermont that is run by Adrian.

I really enjoyed the warm friendships and natural personalities of the characters. Cassie is much stronger than she realizes and her strong friends have to keep reminding her of this. Nelly is a college friend of both Adrian and Cassie and he is a wonderfully strong character adding to the story. Although this has clear YA elements, like the spoiled brat, jealousies and immaturity, it also has a strong enough storyline and character growth to make it good entertainment. There are losses and some of the ending is predictable but there are some surprises too. I recommend this to readers who like YA stories and like zombie danger and action.

Audio Notes: Julia Whelan delivers a strong performance with the narration. She helps the character personalities to come alive, adding to the entertainment value of the story.

I picked this from my Audible TBR shelves. It qualifies for Audio Challenge, Mount TBR and "U" in Alphabet Challenge.

Audible Book Review: The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen

This is an interesting classic (the inspiration for Frozen) although I did not find it gripping. 

The Snow Queen
Written by: Hans Christian Andersen
Narrated by: Julia Whelan

Length: 1 hr and 14 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:12-12-14
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Fairy Tale Classic
My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Audible's 2014 Narrator of the Year Julia Whelan performs one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved fairy tales, The Snow Queen. This classic tale is a fantastical fable of two dear friends - one of whom goes astray and is literally lost to the north woods, while the other undertakes an epic journey to rescue him. This charming, strange, and wonderful story is a timeless allegory about growing up and the challenges of staying true to one's self, and it served as the wintry inspiration for the blockbuster hit Frozen.
Public Domain (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Review:
This tale is told in seven short stories, or chapters. It begins with two lovely young friends, Gerda and Kai, enjoying roses and snowflakes at the feet of sweet grandmother. A wicked gremlin takes an evil mirror that shatters into a million tiny pieces. Anyone who looks through this mirror sees good as ugly and ugly as good. A tiny piece, no bigger than sand, falls into the eye of Kai and a piece settles into his heart, changing him. He runs off and becomes enthralled and ensnared by the Snow Queen. Gerda sets off to find her friend and faces magical creatures, dangers and adventure along the way.

This story is a classic fairy tale with dark overtones and good winning over evil in the end. I don’t really recall this one from my childhood. It is a sweet story with some dangers posed - one child falls to the dangers while the other struggles through to ultimately rescue her friend.

Having watched Frozen, I can see the basis that led to that tale. The original story has a stronger religious message than the modern take-off, but this production left me with no real excitement. Although I enjoyed this, oddly it didn’t stick with me. I actually had to go back to listen to the last chapter in order to recall the details.
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I recommend it because it is an easy way to read (listen to) a classic and it is timely to anyone who might watch Frozen with their children/grandchildren.

Audio Notes: Julia Whelan did a good job with the narrating and voices. I think she captured both the sweetness and the dark elements. Unfortunately there was nothing really enthusiastic or gripping in the tale or reading. I don’t know if reading this would have been more enjoyable - I might have had the same reaction. I liked that it is a quick listen of a classic.

This was a free Christmas gift to Audible subscribers in 2014. It adds to my Audio challenge.