Audible Book Review: A Change of Plans: A Short Story by Dennis E. Taylor

This is a quick teaser which might make a satisfactory intro to a new series.

A Change of Plans: A Short Story
By: Dennis E. Taylor
Narrated by: Neil Hellegers

• Length: 44 mins
• Release date: 05-26-20
• Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Adventure, Colonization, Short Story, Space Opera
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Content 3.5; Narration 3.75.

Publisher's Summary
Earth is dying, and humanity is scrambling to set up colonies in other star systems. But the search process for habitable planets is not perfect, as the crew of the Ouroboros discover on arrival at their new home.
©2017 Dennis E. Taylor (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Earth citizens are vying for the few spaceships available to take them to habitable planets. While many wait in line, a group of citizens has gained the ability to help pay for and build a ship to take them as the first colonists. The captain and crew are on a schedule to drop the colonists on the chosen planet and then return to Earth to get another group of citizens. But when they arrive to the chosen planet they realize that the conditions are not as expected.

Delivering the eager colonists to the surface may result in death rather than a viable colony. The captain can’t take them back because it would put them to the end of the line for another ship. The choices aren’t good. When negotiations fail, the colonists decide to implement a change of plans.

I snagged this for a quick space listen which it is. I really enjoy this author’s Bob universe with space colonization and action laced with danger and humor. Although I liked the fitting science fiction irony in this story, it left me feeling a bit “meh”. I think it might work as an introduction to a new series but as a standalone it left me wanting more and disappointed. I can recommend this as a quick filler and diehard fans of Taylor, especially as a free book on Audible Plus.

Audio Notes: Neil Hellegers does a good job with the narration. He really managed to add life to the story even though voices were not uniquely distinct. I am glad that I listened to this short story.

Source: Audible Plus Catalog March 22, 2021. This qualifies for 2021Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: The Monster Hunter Files Anthology by Larry Correia, Jim Butcher, Faith Hunter and more

I enjoyed this collection of stories full of monsters and snark.
The Monster Hunter Files
By: Larry Correia, Jim Butcher, Faith Hunter, Jonathan Maberry and others
Narrated by: Oliver Wyman, Khristine Hvam, Bailey Carr
Series: Monster Hunter
Length: 13 hrs and 50 mins
Release date: 10-03-17
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Anthologies & Short Stories, Contemporary, Paranormal, Urban
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 5.0.

Publisher's Summary
For well over a century, Monster Hunter International has kept the world safe from supernatural threats small and large - and, in some cases, very, very large. Now, join us as MHI opens their archives for the first time. From experienced hunters on their toughest cases to total newbies' initial encounters with the supernatural, The Monster Hunter Files reveals the secret history of the world's most elite monster fighting force.
Discover what happened when Agent Franks took on the Nazis in World War II. Uncover how the Vatican's Combat Exorcists deal with Old Ones in Mexico. And find out exactly what takes place in a turf war between trailer park elves and gnomes. From the most powerful of mystical beings to MHI's humble janitor, see the world of professional monster hunting like never before.
Featuring 17 all new tales based on Larry Correia's best-selling series, from New York Times best-selling authors Jim Butcher, John Ringo, Jessica Day George, Jonathan Maberry, Faith Hunter, and many more.
Also includes stories by Larry Correia, John C. Wright, Jody Lynn Nye, Mike Kupari, and Brad R. Torgersen.
©2017 Larry Correia. All stories 2017 by Larry Correia, except "She Bitch, Killer of Kits" 2017 by Larry Correia and Faith Hunter. (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Review:
I enjoy the Monster Hunter International (MHI) characters, and this is a fun collection that focuses on side stories for several of the well-known characters. There are stories of Julie Stackleford’s childhood, her husband’s, Owen’s, current day, and Franks facing a major threat in WWII. There are also some new monsters and hunters I would like to read more about in the future.

Another fun thing about this collection is that there are so many authors who brought their talents to share in the MHI universe. I honestly can’t say that I recognized distinct author voices because they blended so well with the world of MHI.

There are 17 stories making for quick listens. My top picked stories include:
• Thistle by Larry Correia (I hope to see this character in future stories.)
• Small Problems by Jim Butcher (Even janitors can be successful hunters.)
• Sons of the Father by Quincy Allen (These sons may not have met their hunter father before his death but they sure got his skills.)
• A Knight of the Enchanted Forest by Jessica Day George (Light, fun turf war between elves and gnomes.)
• Huffman Strikes Back -by Bryan Thomas Schmidt & Julie Frost (Revenge sought against one of the top MHI hunters.)
• The Gift by Steve Diamond (A Secret Order of Vatican's Combat Exorcists

I recommend this book for MHI fans that need a hunter fix (like me). And readers who enjoy monsters and heroes would like this too.

Audio Notes: Oliver Wyman, Bailey Carr, Khristine Hvam did a great job sharing the fun. Wyman is the usual narrator for the MHI series and I love returning to his voice for so many of the characters. The other narrators added to vary the tone and provide more female voices which enhanced my listening engagement.

Source: Audible Daily Deal 4/24/2018 $4.95. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

Sunday Post July 18, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday July 19, 2021

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? now at The Book Date (at Wordpress)

What Are You Reading? is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Last week was a little more tense with the moisture in the office which made me leave early on Monday so our wonderful cleaning lady could remove a ceiling tile in my office that was dripping black onto my carpet. We had it tested Thursday. Although we don't have the test results back the inspector indicated he doesn't think it is mold (good news) but it is run off water coming through a roof leak, not the AC unit. We'll know more when we get the report and can take suitable action.

This week we celebrated (my baby girl) Heather's 34th Birthday.
The girls in office love to decorate for each other! They did use 34 candles for her cake!

Heather is the blonde. I got to enjoy cake but then had to leave for a conference three hours away so I missed the full staff picture.

We didn't get all the storms we expected last week but it was hot. This week's forecast is storms everyday.

Again I had good listening even though my reading is still slow. (I am reading the ebook on the computer because I couldn't get it transferred to the Kindle or phone.) I finished two audio books. I posted three reviews and my usual memes.

I visited 18 blogs again last week.
Shout Out this week to DRAGONS and WHIMSEY. This is Hannah's “geeky hobby blog” where she talks "about books, video games, tabletop games, music, maybe mental health and life, whatever tickles my fancy."

Audible offerings for free children's titles ended June 30.
Audiobooks.com is still sharing some free listens for children.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post July 11, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday July 12, 2021.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop; Genre: Alternate History, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 5.0.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Baron Steele by Rhett C. Bruno, Jaime Castle; Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction & Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.0; Narration 4.5.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway July 16, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 7/22/2021.

• ATBR- Audio Book Review: The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch; Genre: Alternate History, Police Procedure, Post-Apocalyptic, Time Travel; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement July 18, 2021.

Finished Reading:

1. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

The Monster Hunter Files
By: Larry Correia, Jim Butcher, Faith Hunter, Jonathan Maberry
Narrated by: Oliver Wyman, Khristine Hvam, Bailey Carr
Length: 13 hrs and 50 mins
I enjoyed this group of stories full of monsters and snark.
Source: Audible Daily Deal 4/24/2018 $4.95.

2. Audible/Smartphone (A2021)

A Change of Plans: A Short Story
By: Dennis E. Taylor
Narrated by: Neil Hellegers
I snagged this for a quick space listen.
Source: Audible Plus Catalog March 22, 2021.
Publisher's Summary
Earth is dying, and humanity is scrambling to set up colonies in other star systems. But the search process for habitable planets is not perfect, as the crew of the Ouroboros discover on arrival at their new home.
©2017 Dennis E. Taylor (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

Currently Reading:

1. ebook/Kindle App on Computer (Author2021)

The Alchemy Thief
by R.A. Denny
Small progress this week due to working at night.
I hope to get it finished this week.
Source: Author review request.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/Smartphone (A2021)

A Long Time Until Now
By: Michael Z. Williamson
Narrated by: Dennis Holland
Length: 22 hrs and 10 mins
Release date: 06-02-15
I see dinosaurs and men and I want to read about it! This has been a little slow as it is setting up but I anticipate there will be more action soon.
Source: 1/31/21 Audible 2 for 1 credit sale.
Publisher's Summary
Book one in a new series from the creator of the best-selling Freehold Universe series.
A military unit is thrust back into Paleolithic times with only their guns and portable hardware. Ten soldiers on convoy in Afghanistan suddenly find themselves lost in time. Somehow they arrived in Earth's Paleolithic Asia. With no idea how they arrived or how to get back, the shock of the event is severe. They discover groups of the similarly displaced: imperial Romans, Neolithic Europeans, and a small cadre of East Indian peasants.
Despite their technological advantage, the soldiers only have 10 people and know no way home. Then two more time travelers arrive from a future far beyond the present. These time travelers may have the means to get back, but they aren't giving it up. In fact they may have a treacherous agenda of their own, one that may very well lead to the death of the displaced in a harsh and dangerous era.
©2015 Michael Z. Williamson (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

3. Print (2021)

The Iron Triangle: Inside the Liberal Democrat Plan to Use Race to Divide Christians and America in their Quest for Power and How We Can Defeat Them
by Vince Everett Ellison
I made good progress in this and will complete it this week.
I am making slow progress.
Source: Purchased in March 2021.
Click on book title for full description.

July 18, 2021 - I remain on track. I love seeing new things each time I read the Bible. I am glad to still be current with morning reading. I am reading/listening to the NLT Tyndale version of the Bible on You Version App so Hubby and I are reading the same passages each day.
I finished the seven day study: God Hears us Pray and a three day study: Choosing Each Day: God Or Self?

I completed three books to review this week.
I forgot I added one last week so NetGalley shelf is at five - 3 old and two new.
Now five author titles are in queue. I'll be working on these next soon.
(Plus a few that I received from facebook links and newsletter sign-ups, not specific review requests.)
Still many titles through InstaFreebie and many new author requests I haven't replied to.

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit, me and new to the team, Velvet at vvb32reads. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
BIG 'mailbox' for me this week!
I accepted a poetry collection from the author (with the warning I might not get to it for a month or so).
I selected my second June Audible credit AND bought oodles of audiobooks (4 from Chirp and 9 at Audible).
One free Kindle titles this week.
(Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.)
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I accepted an Author request to read and review:
Debut Poetry Collection

Palm Lines
by Jonathan Koven

Won

NONE

Purchased

I had a bit of a shopping spree this week on Audio titles.
First: 7/17/2021 four audiobooks at Chrip for total $9.96

Fevre Dream
Written by George R. R. Martin
Narrated by Ron Donachie
Run Time 13h 35min
$25.00  $3.99 (Fantasy)

Cut
Written by Annelie Wendeberg
Narrated by Emma Galvin
Run Time 6h 4min
$16.95  $2.99 (Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian)

Fatal Intent
Written by Tammy Euliano
Narrated by Kathleen Godwin
Run Time 8h 50min
$10.50   $0.99 (Mystery/Thriller)

Moon Marked Trilogy
Written by Aimee Easterling
Narrated by Piper Goodeve
Run Time 17h 1min
$19.99   $1.99 (Fantasy - I listened to and liked book 1)

7/18/2021 Then I found that Audible was having a $5.00 sale on Sci Fi and Fantasy titles.
I had to spend time going through the offerings – adding way too many to my Wish List – then weeding out those that I might buy later with credits or could get through Kindle Unlimited. Whew, it’s hard to resist and stay in (some kind of ) budget! Final total $46.00 for 10 books.
10 NEW to me Authors and Series:
Audible Second June Credit Pick
(I’ve been eyeing this series for a while.)
The Blade Itself
By: Joe Abercrombie
Narrated by: Steven Pacey
Series: The First Law Trilogy (Abercrombie), Book 1 (3 books)
$Credit Regular Price: $25.08

(Two Military Sci Fi titles.)

Junkyard Pirate
By: Jamie McFarlane
Narrated by: Mikael Naramore
Series: Junkyard Pirate, Book 1 (4 books)
Length: 10 hrs
$5.00 Regular Price: $19.95

Man of War
By: M. R. Forbes
Narrated by: Jeff Hays
Series: Rebellion, Book 1 (3 books)
Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
$5.00  Regular Price: $29.99

(I enjoy the LitRPG genre now and then.)
Barrow King: An Epic LitRPG/GameLit Adventure
By: C.M. Carney
Narrated by: Armen Taylor
Series: The Realms Series, Book 1 (8 books)
Length: 13 hrs and 30 mins
$5.00  Regular Price: $24.95

(This “horror” looks/sounds like fun and a good book for my October reading of ghostly things.)

A Dirty Job
By: Christopher Moore
Narrated by: Fisher Stevens
Series: Grim Reaper, Book 1 (2 books)
Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins
$5.00  Regular Price: $30.79

(The next three are Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian choices. )
End of Summer
By: S.M. Anderson
Narrated by: Jay Snyder
Series: Seasons of Man, Book 1 (2 books)
Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
$5.00  Regular Price: $34.99

What's Left of My World
By: C.A. Rudolph
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
Series: What's Left of My World, Book 1 (7 books)
Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
$5.00  Regular Price: $24.95

EMP: Equipping Modern Patriots
By: Jonathan Hollerman
Narrated by: Kent Clark
Series: EMP: Equipping Modern Patriots, Book 1 (4 books)
Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
$5.00  Regular Price: $23.08

This two Fantasies are Singles (so far)
(Fantasy Romance)
The Emperor's Arrow
By: Lauren D. M. Smith
Narrated by: Felicity Munroe
Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
$5.00  Regular Price: $28.51

(Fantasy – vampire, wolf and hunter working together)
The Black Wolves of Boston
By: Wen Spencer
Narrated by: Ian Alan Carlsen, Corey Gagne, J. Paul Guimont, Jennywren Walker
Series: The Black Wolves of Boston, Book 1
Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
$6.00  Regular Price: $29.95

Free

One free Kindle titles this week:

Christmas at Hideaway Lake (A Hideaway Lake Novel Book 3)
Terri Lorah

Free titles often found at Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement July 18, 2021

Our church video didn’t show on Facebook this morning, so I am sharing a message on Sovereignty and Choice by Steve Cioccolanti:

He explains there is a perfect will of God and a permissive will. Pastor Steve distinguishes an individual’s level of consecration and dedication as limiting God’s perfect plan. Are we willing and obedient? Isaiah 1:19.

I have chosen this video to share, God Who Listens:

Verses for Today:
Psalm 78:40-43 NIV
40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness
and grieved him in the wasteland!
41 Again and again they put God to the test;
they vexed the Holy One of Israel.
42 They did not remember his power—
the day he redeemed them from the oppressor,
43 the day he displayed his signs in Egypt,
his wonders in the region of Zoan.


Prayer: Lord, I pray that you press on me to seek and respond to nothing less than Your perfect will.

Audio Book Review: The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch

This is a twisted time travel mystery thriller.

The Gone World
by Tom Sweterlitsch
Read by Brittany Pressley

Run Time 13h 38min
Release Date: February 6, 2018
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Genre: Alternate History, Police Procedure, Post-Apocalyptic, Time Travel
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Inception meets True Detective in this science fiction thriller of spellbinding tension and staggering scope that follows a special agent into a savage murder case with grave implications for the fate of mankind…
Shannon Moss is part of a clandestine division within the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. In Western Pennsylvania, 1997, she is assigned to solve the murder of a Navy SEAL’s family—and to locate his teenage daughter, who has disappeared. Though she can’t share the information with conventional law enforcement, Moss discovers that the missing SEAL was an astronaut aboard the spaceship U.S.S. Libra—a ship assumed lost to the darkest currents of Deep Time. Moss knows first-hand the mental trauma of time-travel and believes the SEAL’s experience with the future has triggered this violence.
Determined to find the missing girl and driven by a troubling connection from her own past, Moss travels ahead in time to explore possible versions of the future, seeking evidence or insight that will crack the present-day case. To her horror, the future reveals that it’s not only the fate of a family that hinges on her work, for what she witnesses rising over time’s horizon and hurtling toward the present is the Terminus: the terrifying and cataclysmic end of humanity itself.
Luminous and unsettling, The Gone World bristles with world-shattering ideas yet remains at its heart an intensely human story.

Review:
The government has secrets normal citizens don’t know. Sharon is part of a secret criminal unit that has the ability to travel to the future as part of its investigative process. It’s easier to capture a killer, and sometimes prevent a crime, if you already know where to look by seeing the future facts.

While investigating a particularly brutal murder involving a Navy SEAL and his family, Sharon learns the SEAL was an astronaut aboard a spaceship U.S.S. Libra which had traveled to Deep Time and was lost. Her further encounters lead to other members of the Libra crew, and she recognizes some of the mental trauma of time-travel that she has experienced first-hand.

Although Sharon is focused on solving the initial crime, and some other related crimes that occur along the way, she soon becomes aware from each trip in time that the Libra has started a chain reaction that will ultimately bring a horrific doom to society. Sharon’s investigations result in bringing that fate closer as what begins as a threat thousands of years in the future, moves forward to hundreds of years, then decades and then within two years. Unless Sharon can change the triggering events, the future of the world as she knows it will not exist.

Sharon can’t share the details of her special techniques and information with her civilian cohorts and this makes for interesting interactions in the current time and in future encounters. I admit the story is twisted which is fitting for time travel. The author does a good job of dealing with time travel issues of lapsed time and aging. The horrors of the Libra are a bit more contrived and stretch beyond the realms of realism. Although the epilogue is a bit lame, I give the author kudos for creating such an involved, twisted trail of events and bringing the journey back to the surprising start. I enjoyed the mix of time travel, sci fi and mystery. I recommend this to readers who like time travel and mystery, especially if they are prepared for a touch of horror.

Audio Notes: Brittany Pressley provides an excellent performance on the narration. I quickly was caught into Sharon’s life and world with the aid of the narration. Pressley delivers the characters with distinct voices and expression. The narration enhanced the story for me.

Source: 8/30/2020 Chirp Purchase for $4.99. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.