Audible Review: The Remaining: Fractured by D. J. Molles

This series is harsh (violence and language) but it is gripping emotionally and philosophically as well as being great entertainment.
The Remaining: Fractured
Written by: D. J. Molles
Narrated by: Christian Rummel

Length: 19 hrs and 28 mins
Series: The Remaining, Book 4
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:08-27-13
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Sci Fi, Post Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
This is the destiny of those who stand for others. Their honor will be bought in blood and pain. The Camp Ryder Hub is broken. Lee is nowhere to be found, and his allies are scattered across the state, each of them learning that their missions will not be as easy as they thought. Inside the walls of Camp Ryder, a silent war is brewing, between those few that still support Lee's vision of rebuilding, and the majority that support Jerry's desire for isolation. But this war will not remain silent for long. And in this savage world, everyone will have to make a choice. To keep their morals. Or keep their lives.
©2013 D.J. Molles (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Half of Lee’s friends are off to the East to deal with bridges in Roanoke and the other half are off to the west to establish a ‘base’ in Eden. Lee himself has gone missing. Jerry decides this is a perfect time to make a move to take over Camp Ryder. Angie gets caught in the process and becomes an enemy and target of Jerry’s threats. He can’t remove her without angering the half of the Camp that were Bus supporters and creating questions among the others.

This is an intense installment in the series. Each of the separate groups have to face great hardship and the possibility that they will not be successful in their mission. The key characters are portrayed as they deal with the emotional depression and hopelessness of their situations as well as the moral decline they see in their circumstances and the personal moral choices they each struggle with.

It is not clear if Lee will survive the dangers he faces. LaRoche and Brother Jim continue to battle on philosophical issues that disrupt their mission which is already on a time crunch and facing attacks from The Followers. Harper’s team faces an infected attack that traumatizes certain team members. Really, all the primary characters are traumatized but some react more dramatically than others. Some are strengthened while others are shattered but many are hardened so they can press on in spite of the challenges. The situations had me gasping, wincing, inwardly saying “no, no no!” (and an occasional fist pump "yes!")  and hiding my eyes as if I could hide from the traumas.

I have found some symbolism in this series but I suspect that the symbolism may vary according to the reader. (This assumes that the author has intended symbolism beyond the considerable entertainment value of the story.) There is still much bad language and much violence. But the story transcends those negatives. I was ready to pick up the novellas and the next full installment when I competed this audio.

Audio Notes: When I finish this series I may well look for other books that Christian Rummel has narrated. He is fast becoming a favorite narrator for me. I continue to be impressed by his ability to shift seamlessly from narration to character voices. It is remarkable and I definitely recommend this in audio format.

Links to my reviews of the earlier books:
The Remaining, Book 1
The Remaining: Aftermath, Book 2
The Remainig: The Refugees, Book 3

I purchased this audio with an Audible Credit so I could continue in the series. It qualifies for my audio challenge.

Audible Review: Deadlocked: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel, Book 12 by Charlaine Harris

Sookie faces conflict with friends and mystery with family.

Deadlocked: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel, Book 12

Written by: Charlaine Harris

Narrated by: Johanna Parker

Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins

Series: Sookie Stackhouse, Book 12

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:05-01-12

Publisher: Recorded Books

Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy

My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary

It’s vampire politics as usual around the town of Bon Temps, but never before have they hit so close to Sookie’s heart….

Growing up with telepathic abilities, Sookie Stackhouse realized early on there were things she'd rather not know. And now that she's an adult, she also realizes that some things that she knows about, she'd rather not see—like Eric Northman feeding off another woman. A younger one.

There's a thing or two she'd like to say about that, but she has to keep quiet—Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), is in town. It’s the worst possible time for a human body to show up in Eric's front yard—especially the body of the woman whose blood he just drank.

Now, it's up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl's fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who's set out to make Sookie's world come crashing down.

©2012 Charlaine Harris, Inc. (P)2012 Recorded Books, LLC

Review:
Sookie and her vampire ‘husband’, Eric, have been having trouble getting together. Sookie has been busy with her work at Merlot’s and with Dermot and Claude, her two faery relatives, who are living with her. Eric has been busy trying to get his bar back on even footing while waiting for his superior to come question the death of another vampire.

Finally Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana, arrives and Sookie has to make a command appearance. Bill and another wolf/guard at Eric’s house warn Sookie to turn around and go home. But she insists on making her appearance to Eric’s king. She isn’t happy to see the ill-behaved vampire guests but then she walks into their bedroom to find Eric feeding off another woman who is sprawled across his lap. The young, taunting woman is sent out while Sookie retreats to the bathroom to get control of her emotions. Shortly thereafter the police arrive to investigate the death of the young woman on the front lawn. It is pretty clear that someone is setting Eric up and driving a wedge between Eric and Sookie. Bill and Sookie set off to investigate.

Sookie has suspicions that Sam’s new girlfriend really doesn’t like her. But Sookie is dealing with other issues at home. Her great-great-grandfather, Neil, has suddenly returned from the mostly sealed faery land and he disappears with Claude. This leaves mild, Great-Uncle Dermot to try to manage the restless crowd of fae and elves at Hooligans bar.

Many of the dangerous elves are being drawn to Sookie and her home. It appears that she has uncovered a unique and coveted fae artifact that her grandmother had hidden in a desk that was in the attic. Sookie is kidnapped and bit by bit the clues indicate that she has an enemy closer than she thinks.

This is book 12 and although it does not have as much violence and action as some of the prior books, I found it interesting. There was mystery and conflict that kept the story moving well.
I am looking forward to reading book 13 to see how this series concludes.

Audio Notes: Johanna Parker is the voice of Sookie for me. She does a wonderful job with the accents and the story to enhance the enjoyment.

This was from my Audible TBR shelf. It counts for my Audio Challenge.

Audible Review: The Remaining: Refugees by D. J. Molles

I have become very engaged in the characters and story of this series.
The Remaining: Refugees
Written by: D. J. Molles
Narrated by: Christian Rummel

Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins
Series: The Remaining, Book 3
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:08-27-13
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Sci Fi, Post Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
He has fought the fight, and run the race. But the enemies never stop coming, and the race has no finish line. It has been three months since Captain Lee Harden found the survivors at Camp Ryder. With winter looming, Lee is on the verge of establishing Camp Ryder as a hub of safety and stability in the region. But not everyone agrees with Lee’s mission... or his methods. Growing tensions between camp leadership are coming to a head, and as Lee struggles amid the dissention and controversy, new revelations about the infected threaten to destroy everything he has worked for. The Remaining: Refugees is the third book in the best-selling The Remaining series.
©2012 D.J. Molles (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Review:
The third book in this “infected” series, finds Captain Lee Harper working with the community at Camp Ryder and bringing relief that only he can provide. Lee and several men have developed a method to trap and clear the infected in nearby cities. They established these as outposts to extend the safety boundary and scavenging efforts beyond Camp Ryder. A scraggly young man appears at the gates of the camp specifically asking for Captain Harden. Jacob is a young biogenetics scientist who was sent by the Hometown Project leader in Virginia. He brings alarming news about the Project and the hordes of infected ravishing the northern states.

Two new groups have been set up at one outpost: Professor White and a dozen or so students, and crotchety Old Man Hughes with a small group. The Hughes group is willing to serve as an outpost in exchange for being primarily left alone, away from the rifts and arguments which are escalating at Camp Ryder.

Professor White is a pacifist who initially refuses accepting guns for his people. He is not really in favor of Lee’s plans to continue the military push to find more survivors in North Carolina.  White wants to make a run for the mountains to the west after hearing Jacob’s news. Jerry doesn’t want any more refugees and he conspires with White to set up a plan to take over leadership of the Camp from Bus.

Lee and his team are ambushed while trying to access another bunker. It seems that someone is specifically targeting him.

Lee sends out two paramilitary groups with distinct missions. Harper is to lead a group to set up a new outpost further to the west. The other convoy will head east to blow up bridges across the Roanoke River. This team may have to face a group of fanatics known as The Followers who have been rumored as attacking refugee settlements. Lee assigns LaRouche to lead this group after Lee is surprised by an old comrade and determines that he has to resolve issues before he goes out again.

Once again there is a lot of action and danger throughout the different segments of the survivors. Mr. Molles continues to develop the characters and their relationships as they deal with their new world, its distressing problems and the humanitarian and power conflicts. There is still a lot of violence and bad language but I am totally engaged. I purchased the next book so I can keep following the survivor struggles.

Audio Notes: I am still enjoying the narration by Christian Rummel. His character voices and intensity for the action adds to the entertainment quality of the series.

Links to my other reviews in the Series:
The Remaining, Book 1
The Remaining: Aftermath, Book 2

I had this in my Audible Library from 2014. I consider it part of my Audio Challenge and a TBR read.

Sunday Post September 20, 2015/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday September 21, 2015

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's Monday! at Book Journey is active again too.

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.

I traveled to Orlando on Thursday for conference. My daughter and other assistant came too and they walked me all over Downtown Disney on Saturday. I did walk Monday and Tuesday and our room was at the far end of the hotel from the conference events so I got some walking in there too. 
I didn't get much computer time during the week as I was busy at work preparing to be out three days as I was out to court all day  on Wednesday.  

I enjoyed my reading and listening although it seemed to move slowly.  I finished three books: one ebook and two audios. I only posted two reviews but I did get the usual memes posted.

Sadly I didn't get to visit much last week.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post September 13, 2015/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday September 14, 2015.

• Audible Review: The Remaining: Aftermath by D. J. Molles; Sci Fi, Post Apocalyptic; my rating 4.25.

• Friday Pick Giveaway September 18, 2015. Open Worldwide. Ends 9/24/2015.

• Book Review: Death of the Blue Flower by Roxann Hill; Mystery, Crime Thriller; my rating 4.5. 

• Sharing Beyond Books #220 Comment Giveaway for September 19, 2015. Open Worldwide. Ends 9/26/2015.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement September 20, 2015.

Finished Reading:

1. eBook/Kindle

The Last Christmas Ball
by Mary Jo Putney, Jo Beverley, Joanna Bourne, Patricia Rice, and Cara Elliott
This is a delightful collection!
I will post a review this week.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/MP3

The Remaining: Fractured
Written by: D. J. Molles
Narrated by: Christian Rummel
This series is harsh (violence and language) but it is gripping and I will be following it through to the conclusion.
Publisher's Summary
This is the destiny of those who stand for others. Their honor will be bought in blood and pain. The Camp Ryder Hub is broken. Lee is nowhere to be found, and his allies are scattered across the state, each of them learning that their missions will not be as easy as they thought. Inside the walls of Camp Ryder, a silent war is brewing, between those few that still support Lee's vision of rebuilding, and the majority that support Jerry's desire for isolation. But this war will not remain silent for long. And in this savage world, everyone will have to make a choice. To keep their morals. Or keep their lives.
©2013 D.J. Molles (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

3. Audio/On Computer

The Sniper and the Wolf: A Sniper Elite Novel
Written by: Scott McEwen, Thomas Koloniar
Narrated by: Brian Hutchison
This is action packed with political machinations.
I plan to post a review this week.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently reading:
1. Kindle

Harriet Wolf's Seventh Book of Wonders: A Novel
by Julianna Baggott
20% in. This has started out strangely -- drama and good writing. I am interested to see where it goes.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/ MP3

The Remaining: Allegiance
Written by: D. J. Molles
Narrated by: Christian Rummel
I will be picking this up this week
with September Audible Credit.
Publisher's Summary
This is the fifth novel in the action-packed series following Special Forces Captain Lee Harden and a group of survivors struggling to make their way in a ruined world. After a bacterium has turned 90 percent of the population into a ravenous horde, Lee must complete his mission: SURVIVE, RESCUE, REBUILD.
©2015 D.J. Molles (P)2014 Audible Inc.

3. eBook Kindle

Kiss of Midnight: A Midnight Breed Novel (The Midnight BreedSeries Book 1)
by Lara Adrian
I figured I'd better get reading on my TBR Challenge list.
This is from my free Kindle Library as a free book downloaded in 2009.
He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell's deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night--or this man--is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed--a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.
Lucan Thorne despises the violence carried out by his lawless brethren. A vampire himself, Lucan is a Breed warrior, sworn to protect his kind--and the unwitting humans existing alongside them--from the mounting threat of the Rogues. Lucan cannot risk binding himself to a mortal woman, but when Gabrielle is targeted by his enemies, he has no choice but to bring her into the dark underworld he commands.
Here, in the arms of the Breed's formidable leader, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction, and the darkest pleasures of all. . . .

4. eBook Kindle

On the Run (The Elijah Project)

by Bill Myers (Author), James Riordan (Contributor)

This is another TBR title in my

free Kindle library since 2010.

In book one, On the Run, Elijah’s supernatural gifts have drawn the attention of dark forces. Separated from their parents, Zach and Piper (with a lot of help from heaven) must protect their little brother.

June 1, 2015- I am still up to date on Bible reading and greatly enjoying the readings-- It seems my eyes are open to more details and meaning. I am reading The One Year Bible again along with my husband and others from our church. I am also listening to the companion commentary online.

I posted only two reviews last week which left one plus three new for this week so I hope to get four posted.
I finished one and am reading one book from NetGalley. I didn't add any new books so my waiting NetGalley shelf is still seven.
I am finally pulling in more books off my Kindle shelves for my TBR Challenge. 

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: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. 

I didn't receive any review books but I picked up two Audible books with credits.
I purchased one Kindle title to continue the Remaining Series.
I added many free kindle titles to my library too.

(I still have many author requests, old and new ones, to consider and reply to.)

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

I purchased two Audible titles with my August Credits:

The Remaining: Fractured
Written by: D. J. Molles
Narrated by: Christian Rummel
This is book 4 in the series.
See full information under Finished Reading above.

A Curious Beginning

By Deanna Raybourn

Narrated By Angele Masters

London, 1887.
This was getting good comments at other blogs so I decided to get it.

I purchased at Kindle:

The Remaining: Trust: A Novella
by D.J. Molles

Free

Over the past week I added just 45 free Kindle titles to my library. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement September 20, 2015

I mentioned last Sunday that our Sunday School teacher talked about the signs of the end times, but more particularly, what is our response to them? He noted that the signs are primarily for believers because the world doesn’t recognize them or will scoff at them. Signs, as we know, are for direction, warning, or information and instruction.

There is a purpose. Although there are men of God trying to figure out the secrets of God, we must be careful because Satan can use this to distract believers. We must not lose focus of our purpose. The Christian Mission is not to predict the date of Christ’s return, but to take God’s message of salvation to the world, starting with our own range of influence.

There will be signs that can be recognized as beginning of birth pains (Matthew 24:4-8, Luke 21:9) which will increase as the day approaches. It is not so important to know what day that is but it is important to “keep watch” and “be ready”. Matthew 24:42-44; Matthew 25:13. We are encouraged to be faithful servants and do the work that has been assigned to us. Matthew 24:45-51 continuing in Matthew 25.

I went on a worship trail of great praise songs and found this one for today. 

Be Lifted Higher

Verses for Today:
Luke 21:25-28
"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

Lord, help to remain on course with your purpose: to share the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. Help me to love others as You have loved.