Audio Book Review: Bunker (Book 1) Born to Fight by Jay J. Falconer

This is a quick post-apocalyptic listen with a hero that I like.
Bunker (Book 1) Born to Fight
Written by Jay J. Falconer
Narrated by Gary Tiedemann

Run Time 3h 46min
Release Date: March 31, 2017
Publisher: BookBreeze.com
Genre: Action, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher Description
Cyber-Attacks. EMPs. Invasion. War. When the end comes, few will have the ability to survive.
When a coordinated attack takes out the nation’s power grid, a small town finds itself at ground zero of an all-out invasion.
With limited options and no time to prepare, the citizens have no choice but to turn to a mysterious drifter, Jack Bunker, for help.
The former combat engineer has the skills to keep them alive, but he won’t be able to do it alone, not against an overwhelmingly superior force. Somehow he’ll have to find a way to transform the mild-mannered townsfolk into military-grade warriors and lead them into battle, despite his dark past that leads some to wonder whose side is he really on?
The Bunker series is a 5-part explosive, high-octane thriller. If you like pulse-pounding action, resourceful warriors, and deep political intrigue, then you’ll love this bestselling tale of true grit. It’s Rambo versus Red Dawn, only amped-up with one thrilling scene after another.

Review:
Jack Bunker is a soldier with a mysterious past. He was looking forward to ‘decompressing’ and finding a new beginning when events went haywire. Bunker was on a train traveling north when the power went out. At the same time, the cell phones and tablets of passengers went dead. Next a plane plunged from the sky. It is clear that Bunker suspects a greater problem – an EMP strike – that many others don’t recognize.

Sitting next to Bunker on the train is a young woman and her 10 year-old son. When Bunker chooses to exit the train and start walking, the woman, Stephanie, and her son, Jeffrey, are determined to go with him. Bunker doesn’t want to take any responsibility for them, but he can’t force them not to follow.

Before Bunker and his companions get to the town they set out for, they are pulled in to rescue a busload of children. Now Bunker is in town and facing a crowd with leaders who aren’t sure how to protect themselves from the disruptions that are quickly spreading.

The author has not yet revealed Bunker’s full background, so he is still a mystery, which adds interest to the story. The post-apocalyptic event has just occurred so there is still a lot to learn about what or who caused the event. I liked the action which I hope will increase in the next books. The writing could use more depth, but it has an easy flow in this series opener.

I didn’t necessarily find this ‘enthralling’, but I found it entertaining and want to continue. I was glad I could get audio books 2-5 for just under $10.00 at Chirp. I recommend this to fans of the post-apocalyptic genre.

Audio Notes: Gary Tiedemann does a fine job with the narration. The voices are distinct and the energy fit the story. I look forward to listening to more in the series.

Source: 9/5/2021 Chirp Purchase $.99. This qualifies for 2021Audiobook goal.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Best in Snow by David Rosenfelt

As usual with this series, I enjoyed the legal aspects and mystery... and dogs.

Best in Snow
(Andy Carpenter #24)
by David Rosenfelt
Narrated by Grover Gardner

Series: Andy Carpenter Series, Book 24
6 hours and 52 minutes
Release date: 10-19-21
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Animals, Holidays, Legal Procedures, Mystery
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
In this Christmas mystery, Best in Snow, lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, are on the beat after a body turns up in the snow and a journalist is nowhere to be found.
Christmas has come early to the town of Paterson, New Jersey, in the form of a snowstorm that left over two feet of snow on the ground. Lawyer Andy Carpenter likes snow - to a point - but he misses the walks he takes his dogs on every day.
When the snow starts to melt, and a body is discovered, Andy ends up in the office of the local newspaper editor. The murder victim is that of crooked businessman Thomas Lansing, who had an infamous relationship with the newspaper. Last year a young reporter published an expose, and Lansing had him fired for libel. Now, the young reporter - and prime suspect - isn’t answering his phone...and everyone is worried.
Andy agrees to take the case, though it’s not looking good this holiday season. The snow is piling up - along with the evidence - in the next Christmas mystery in this best-selling series from David Rosenfelt.
A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books
©2021 David Rosenfelt (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Review:
Wealthy and want-to-be retired lawyer, Andy Carpenter, is out walking the dogs when his main dog, Tara, sniffs out a body under the snow. It turns out to be the local mayor and the police are quick to focus on a young reporter, Bobby Nash, who had reason to have a grudge. When they find blood in Bobby’s trunk, he is arrested for the murder. One of Andy’s drinking ‘buddies’, Vince, a newspaper editor and Bobby’s former boss, coerces Andy into taking on the defense representation.

Evidence builds against Bobby as his car and phone are placed at the scene and the mayor’s wife advises the police that Bobby made threatening phone calls a few days before the murder. Unfortunately, Bobby isn’t able to help much with the facts as he was in a car accident shortly after the murder and has no memory of the events. When a potential witness is killed, it seems to turn the search away from Bobby who was in the hospital. Until it is determined that the source of the second murder could have been set up before Bobby was arrested.

Still, Andy sees lots of holes in the evidence. He just needs more facts to lead the jury to a different conclusion – to reasonable doubt. Andy gathers his quirky crew of investigators, and they get busy searching out alternate suspects. Attempts to eliminate Bobby and Andy make it clear that there are other suspects to be found.

As usual in this fun series, the Carpenter Team is able to dig out good facts pointing to bad actors further afield. The necessary details don’t get to Andy until the eleventh hour and he and his client have to wait out the jury verdict.

I enjoy this series for its unique characters. Andy has a snarky personality but his crew dish right back at him. I also enjoy the legal proceedings, in preparation and presentation. The writing is concise and moves along at a good pace. I recommend this story to fans of legal procedure mysteries. Each book is a new murder or criminal event so they can be read as standalones. However, I do recommend reading the first several to get to know the characters… and that may lead to reading more in the series.

Audio Notes: Grover Gardner is the voice of Andy Carpenter and pulls me right into the story. I have read one or two of the books on Kindle and I still can hear Gardner’s voice. I have to smile as soon as I start listening. I love listening to this series.

Source: 9/9/2021 from NetGalley. This qualifies for 2021NetGalley and 2021Audiobook goals.

Sunday Post October 3, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday October 4, 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 full of appointments and day to day work.  

Here is a picture with one of the local fawns who still has her spots (to the left of the shed). This group of six (one behind the shed and another further to the right) were under our bedroom window in the back yard.

Our Temps hit in the 90s last week but this coming week the temps are supposed t range 63 to 85.

I enjoyed reading and audio this week, finishing one poetry and two audiobooks.  I posted two reviews and my usual memes.

I visited only 16 blogs again last week.
Shout Out this week to THE READING BUD. Heena, aka Crazy Cat Writer, the founder and admin of The Reading Bud, is an author and editor who spends her free time “reading tons and tons of books and reviewing them!”

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 September 26, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday September 27, 2021.

• A2021- Audible Book Review: Penny Preston and the King’s Blade, Misaligned Book III, by Armen Pogharian; Genre: Fantasy, Teen and YA, Time Travel; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway October 1, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 10/7/2021.

• Author2021- Poetry Book Review: Palm Lines by Jonathan Koven; Genre: Emotion, Nature, Poetry; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

• Sharing Beyond Books #431 Comment Giveaway October 2, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 10/16/2021.
  

• Sunday Words of Encouragement October 3, 2021.

Finished Reading:
1. PDF/Compter (Author2021)

Palm Lines
by Jonathan Koven
This has beautiful imagery.
Source: 7/14/2021 I accepted an Author request to read and review.
My review is linked above.

2. Audible/Smartphone (A2021)

Best in Snow
(Andy Carpenter #24)
by David Rosenfelt
Narrated by Grover Gardner
6 hours and 52 minutes
As usual with this series, I enjoyed the legal aspects and mystery... and dogs.
Source: 9/9/2021 from NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audio/Smartphone (A2021)

Bunker (Book 1)
Written by Jay J. Falconer
Narrated by Gary Tiedemann
Run Time 3h 46min
I have had this series in my Wish List and decided to try the first book before buying a bundle.
I like the hero and I like the beginning with the suspected EMP strike. (I purchased more in the series.)
Source: 9/5/2021 Chirp Purchase $.99.
Publisher Description
Cyber-Attacks. EMPs. Invasion. War. When the end comes, few will have the ability to survive.
When a coordinated attack takes out the nation’s power grid, a small town finds itself at ground zero of an all-out invasion.
With limited options and no time to prepare, the citizens have no choice but to turn to a mysterious drifter, Jack Bunker, for help.
The former combat engineer has the skills to keep them alive, but he won’t be able to do it alone, not against an overwhelmingly superior force. Somehow he’ll have to find a way to transform the mild-mannered townsfolk into military-grade warriors and lead them into battle, despite his dark past that leads some to wonder whose side is he really on?
The Bunker series is a 5-part explosive, high-octane thriller. If you like pulse-pounding action, resourceful warriors, and deep political intrigue, then you’ll love this bestselling tale of true grit. It’s Rambo versus Red Dawn, only amped-up with one thrilling scene after another.

Currently Reading:

1. ebook/Kindle App on Phone (ebTBR)

The Duke and the Spoiled Wallflower
by Tessa Brookman
I am 25% in and interested to see how it proceeds.
Source: Received from author team for review.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War
Written By: P.W. Singer, August Cole
Narrated By: Rich Orlow
Duration: 14 hours 28 minutes
It's October so I am beginning "ghost" stories and mysteries. :-)
This one is actually suspense -- and scary as I am three hours in.
Source: 1/24/2020 January Audiobooks.com Free VIP selection.
Summary:
The year is 2026. China has taken over as the world's largest economy, while the United States, mired in an oil shortage, struggles to adjust to its diminished role. Then, a surprise attack throws the U.S. into a chaos unseen since Pearl Harbor. As the enemy takes control, the survival of the nation will depend upon the most unlikely forces: the Navy's antiquated Ghost Fleet and a cadre of homegrown terrorists. Ghost Fleet is unique in that every piece of technology featured in the novel already exists or is in the works. Peter W. Singer is Senior Fellow and Director of the 21st Century Defense Initiative at the Brookings Institution and a consultant for the US Department of Defense and FBI. August Cole is a journalist and writer specializing in national security issues and is an Adjunct Fellow at the American Security Project.

October 3, 2021 - I am 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 five day study: The Great Surrender.

I completed three books and have two still to review this week.
My NetGalley shelf remains at 1 new children's title and 3 old ebooks titles, one of which I plan to read this month. 
I have two author titles remaining in queue. I'm still working on reading these.
(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.

I received no new review title this week.
I picked up five titles at Chirp.
I resisted other audios this week.
Seven free Kindle titles.
(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

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

10/2/2021 Chirp Purchase Five books $11.95.
- I picked up books 2 through 5 of The Bunker series:

Bunker (Book 2) Dogs of War
Written by Jay J. Falconer
Read by Gary Tiedemann
Run Time 4h 40min
$1.99

Bunker (Book 3) Code of Honor
Written by Jay J. Falconer
Read by Gary Tiedemann
Run Time 5h 50min
$1.99

Bunker (Book 4) Lock and Load
Written by Jay J. Falconer
Read by Gary Tiedemann
Run Time 6h 45min
$2.99

Bunker (Book 5) Zero Hour
Written by Jay J. Falconer
Read by Gary Tiedemann
Run Time 6h 22min
$2.99

The Zodiac Boxed Set Books 1-3
Written by Paul Sating
Read by Paul Sating
Run Time 21h 37min
$1.99

Free

Seven Free Kindle Titles Found through Facebook:
The Brave Heart (Listen to Your Heart Book 1)
by Margaret Lake

Once Upon a Townsbridge Story: The Townsbridge Prequel
(The Townsbridges)
by Sophie Barnes

Beyond McCarron's Corner: Sassy's Story
(McCarron’s Corner Book 1)
by Sharon K. Middleton

Slow Burn (Lost Kings MC® #1): A Motorcycle Club President Romance
by Autumn Jones Lake

Under Color of Law (Trevor Finnegan Book 1)
by Aaron Philip Clark

Immortal Killers (Nathan K Book 1)
by Stuart Jaffe

Courted by a Cowboy: Small Town Contemporary Romance
(Texas Sweethearts Book 1)
by Mindy Neff

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

Sunday Words of Encouragement October 3, 2021

After 18 months Hubby returned to in person Sunday School and Church today! Pastor welcomed us back, particularly Hubby, who was humbled when people clapped. He is a big teaser and people missed his humor.

We shared in worship and then Pastor continued his sermon series on Walking With Jesus. Jesus should be the pilot, and not the copilot. He is always there; He doesn't walk away. We are always in His presence. Pastor reminded us of the foundational verses. ‘… walk with Christ, established in faith…’ Colossians 2:6-7.

When we are young, we learn to help neighbors by the example set by our fathers and mothers.
Children pick up family values and habits. When we walk with parents or others who serve, we learn to serve. The Disciples were being prepared to serve. They were sent out to serve. Matthew 10:5-20.
Jesus prepared and commanded His disciples to serve. They walked with Him, and they learned how to serve.

The Point: When we walk with Jesus, we grow to become like Jesus.

They learned compassion watching Jesus. He stopped and touched people. He said, “Let the children come to me...” He would see the people not normally seen -- even the demon possessed and the dead. Jesus told His disciples to serve others: to feed the people gathered and then to collect the reminder.

Jesus didn't favor anyone above another. Everyone had the same position. Mark 10: 35-45.

Serving others should become a part of who we are. There is no position where we are only served.
Serving others is the life of the Christ follower.

Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, showing them how important it is to be a servant to others. Then he directed them to love one another. John 13:34-35. Loving one another will prove we love Jesus.
When we serve like Jesus, people see Jesus in us.

Serving others has to be who we are, not what we do or who we were over the past years.
We should be serving inside the church and outside the church.

I found this video which is a bit beyond my usual tune but I like it.

Verses for today:
Mark 10:42-45 NIV
42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Lord, Help me be a servant that shows your love to others.

Sharing Beyond Books #431 Comment Giveaway October 2, 2021

Hello again, Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books.
Hello October - the dark, spooky month.

Thanks to everyone who commented on the last question.
Last post SBB#430 Marjorie asked: What is your favourite place to visit on vacations?? (Expanded by my answer to include: a) If anyone changed their answer from 2013 or b) if vacations have been different due to Covid19 restrictions or c) anyone has a Dream Vacay they'd like to share. )
2 commenters haven't traveled due to Covid lockdowns; 2 have no favorite vacation place, one of whom hasn't vacationed in 12 years. One doesn't vacation but visits family. Another 3 named specific locations while one said crusing, one said any beach and another said any mountain with waterfall and woods.

For US participants: I need to update and refill the books available to US winners. I have used "Love" and "Christmas" titles as well as ARC titles. Since the supply is lower, I have author collections I could choose from, mostly romance - historical, suspense and some contemporary. What genres/books/authors would you like me to include?

The Winner from SBB#430 comments is #8 NATALIJA who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated (**Finally!) ARC/Review titles or (recently updated) Love and Christmas titles - all linked near the end of the post. -- [9-18-2021 I have added a new box and crossed off books no longer available through August 2021.]

Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #431

(One Question.)

Fredamans asks: What is one book that has impacted you since the moment you closed it?

I have to say the Bible -- but I don't keep it closed.
This year I find myself thinking about The Iron Triangle. I have shared it several times with others reading in the same vein.
The images below show how one book can have an impact on its surroundings. :-)

Image found at Think Marketing Magazine.

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month, I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a 1/2 book choice or $2.50 towards GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify them. .

Your turn to share. Fredamans asks: What is one book that has impacted you since the moment you closed it?

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles all in one post.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday, October 16, 2021, at 5 PM central.