#FraterfestRat Audible Book Review: Black Virus by Bobby Adair

It is a quick listen with young protagonists in a messed-up, infected world.
Black Virus: Black Rust, Book 1
By: Bobby Adair
Narrated by: Tristan Morris

Series: Black Rust, Book 1
Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Horror, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Virus. Chaos. Survival. Alienated in a world where he doesn't fit in, Christian Black survives because he's different. Then the virus came, and made the world turn different, too. Now people are dying by the million. Food supplies are short. Riots are blazing through the streets, and Christian's only goal is to keep his family alive. But safety lies far from the city, and just getting out will be tougher than anyone knows.
©2016 Bobby L. Adair (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Christian Black has been dubbed “different” by his parents, teachers, counselors, and doctors. He is always pushing the edge of acceptable behavior and has little emotional response to punishment. Yet, he is deeply loyal to his family, his ill parents and his older brother. They have already lost his younger twin brothers, his father is almost in a vegetative state, and his mother is becoming more confused every day. The virus that has struck the community kills some outright, but leaves others in various stages of ‘degeneration’, slowly losing cognitive and physical abilities. Alone the infected degenerates may be docile, but together they become loud and violent with social controls abandoned.

Rations have diminished and Christian sets out to the city to get supplies that are needed for his family. He stumbles upon a group of attackers and steps in to help save some apparent survivors. When the dust settles, Christian has to struggle to escape with a father and his teen daughter, Abby. Things aren’t good when they get back to Christian’s home. How are they to move forward in this wicked, sick world?

In this short story, the author provides reasonably developed characters and a twist on a virus that doesn’t quite result in zombies. I liked Christian even though he is presented as a dark youth. There is violence and suspense as the young protagonists try to move away from the danger and move forward. It is sufficiently entertaining if not gripping. It may be a while before I use a credit on book 2. I recommend this to fans of the zombie or virus post-apocalyptic genres.

Audio Notes: Tristan Morris does a good job with distinct voices for both the male and female characters. I am glad I had this as a free audiobook.

Source: August 2020 free Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook goal. This was my first listen for #FraterfestRat.

Audible Book Report: End Time: The End Time Saga, Book 1 by Daniel Greene

This zombie story follows a handful of survivors trying to stay a step ahead of the infected.

End Time: The End Time Saga, Book 1
By: Daniel Greene
Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka

Series: The End Time Saga, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Horror, Military, Zombie
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
The protests in front of the embassy aren't what they seem....
In the dark, primal jungles of the Congo Basin, something is ravaging the local population. When protests turn violent in front of the US embassy in Kinshasa, only the foreign policy experts paid attention. Civil war erupts, and people rip each other apart in the streets of the African capital.
To avert disaster and preserve its self-image, an overwhelmed State Department dispatches a team of elite counterterrorism agents to bring their besieged people back alive. Mark Steele, a young agent within the division, and his team of gritty operatives are used to trudging through the worst society has to offer, all while operating from the shadows. But Steele's team is plunging headlong into a maelstrom of death so much worse than rebels in the streets.
A highly contagious microbe is spreading unchecked, killing everyone in its wake only to bring them back again as the ravenous undead. Only a lone CDC virologist understands the extent of the outbreak at hand. He cowers among the embassy staff praying for extraction from the hands of death, fearing his part to play in the epidemic.
Follow this harrowing tale of survival, duty, love and horror as the living dead bring the world to its knees. The first installment of an epic series, End Time starts as a slow burn that turns into a breakneck-paced struggle for survival. Greene does an excellent job of depicting individual stories within the larger scope of the global epidemic. Enter the End Time.
©2018 Daniel Greene (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Doctor Joseph was flown to the Congo as a CDC virologist to study a “Monkey” Virus. He is horrified when his tent of patients turns into a walking mass of the ‘dead’ feeding on the living. He doesn’t understand what has happened, but he knows he needs to get back to the States to warn the CDC to set up quarantines. Having reached the embassy Joseph is frightened when he sees the state of chaos.

The State Department sends out a specially trained counterterrorism team to rescue the people at the embassy, but particularly Doctor Joseph. The team led by hardcore warrior, Steele, has to struggle to get the Doctor out. Along the way they find themselves exposed to the madness in the confines of an airplane. Steele is a man who is accustomed doing what it takes to save lives, so he had a little difficulty realizing that some of the ‘people’ around him are enemies.

Things aren’t calm back in the States and the Steele’s girlfriend, Gwen, is struggling to get home safely. Along the way she picks up two other uninfected, one a protector and the other who needs a protector. She is convinced that Steele will return home to save her but can he survive to get there in time?

I figured I should include at least one Zombie story for October. This one has a good mix of action and character development. There isn’t much new about the nature of the infected, nor the nature of idiotic bureaucrats who won’t listen to informed warnings. There are a few detailed segments describing guns and military training which slow the pace a bit. The result is an entertaining story, if not a gripping one. I do have the second and third books so I will continue the story sometime.

Audio Notes: Keith Szarabajka does a nice job with the narration. He provides distinct voices and good energy. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: October 2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

Sunday Post October 17, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday October 18, 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.

I finished one litigation file and have another set for final hearing in early November. I had a court hearing this week which will move another case forward... one way or another. We'll know when the Judge rules.
This coming week will be interesting as my assistant is out for the week to take her mother to surgery in Gainesville.

I noticed that the grapefruit trees were looking pretty full.
It looks like we will have plenty of grapefruit when they are fully ripe.

We finally got a cool evening last night - into the 50s!

I am happy to report that my contractor on the damaged building and the insurance company are finally coming closer on figures. Another check is on the way that may allow us to get the roof repair finalized -- after 3 years!

I enjoyed my listening this week, finishing three audiobooks. I posted two reviews and my usual memes.

I visited 18 blogs again last week.
Shout Out this week to FLORA'S MUSINGS. Flora has a cute, nicely organized blog and favors  Paranormal genres.

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 October 10, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday October 11, 2021.

• AA2020- Audio Book Review: Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War by P.W. Singer, August Cole; Genre: Military, Political Fiction, Technothrillers; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway October 15, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 10/21/2021.

• A2020- Night of the Living Deed by E.J. Copperman; Genre: Cozy, Ghost, Supernatural, Woman Sleuth; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

• Sharing Beyond Books #432 Comment Giveaway October 16, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 10/30/2021.
  

• Sunday Words of Encouragement October 17, 2021.

Finished Reading:

1. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

End Time: The End Time Saga, Book 1
By: Daniel Greene
Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka
Series: The End Time Saga, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
This zombie story follows a handful of survivors trying to stay a step ahead of the infected.
Source: October 2020 Audible Plus Catalog.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Black Virus: Black Rust, Book 1
By: Bobby Adair
Narrated by: Tristan Morris
Series: Black Rust, Book 1
Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins
This was my first listen for #FraterfestRat. It is a quick listen with young protagonists in a messed up world.
Source: August 2020 free Audible Plus Catalog.
Publisher's Summary
Virus. Chaos. Survival. Alienated in a world where he doesn't fit in, Christian Black survives because he's different. Then the virus came, and made the world turn different, too. Now people are dying by the million. Food supplies are short. Riots are blazing through the streets, and Christian's only goal is to keep his family alive. But safety lies far from the city, and just getting out will be tougher than anyone knows.
©2016 Bobby L. Adair (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

3. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Dead Acre
By: Rhett C. Bruno, Jaime Castle
Narrated by: Roger Clark
Series: Black Badge Series, Book 0.5
Length: 3 hrs and 24 mins
Audio Listen #2 for #FraterfestRat.
Another quick listen with a unique "hand of God" character. He hunts down demonic monsters.
Source: December 2020 free Audible Plus Catalog.
About This Audible Original
The Witcher meets the The Dresden Files in this Weird Western tale by the Audible number-one bestselling duo, performed by Roger Clark (Red Dead Redemption 2’s Arthur Morgan).
James Crowley met his mortal end in a hail of gunfire. Now, he finds himself in purgatory, serving the White Throne to avoid falling to hell. Not quite undead, though not alive either, the best he can hope for is to work off his servitude and fade away.
His not-so-sacred duty as a Hand of God? Use his new abilities to hunt down demonic beings that have infiltrated the mortal realm.
This time, the White Throne has sent him to the middle of nowhere: a western town called Dead Acre with a saloon, a moldy church, and little else worth talking about. There isn’t even a sheriff. But the local cobbler has gone missing at the same time as a number of graves were desecrated.
Crowley must follow the clues, all while dealing with a cutthroat gang which treats Dead Acre like they own it, an extraordinary woman who makes it hard to focus, and locals not keen on strangers.
Life isn’t simple for a Hand of God.
©2020 Aethon Books (P)2020 Audible Originals LLC

Currently Reading:
1. ebook/NetGalley App (NG2021)

The Secret Halloween Costume
by Sophie Vaillancourt
I am looking forward to this cute book for the light side of #FraterfestRat!
Source: NetGalley 2021.
A Halloween story for little ones!
Charlotte is a young witch. For Halloween, her family insists she must wear her darkest clothes and scariest makeup. After all, a witch must be spooky! But Charlotte doesn't want to follow tradition - she wants to wear something that reflects who she is. She asks her grandmother to sew her a secret costume... But what will it be?
An adorable Halloween story about an enthusiastic little witch who follows her heart and inspires others to do the same!

There will be other Audio books from my 2021 #FraterfestRat list. I am picking out the next as I go along.

2(+). ebook/Kindle App on Phone (ebTBR)

The Duke and the Spoiled Wallflower
by Tessa Brookman
I read some more in this and am committed to finish... I've decided I like the primary characters. 

Now this is on old for the week while I read for #FraterfestRat.
Source: Received from author team for review.
Click on book title for full description.

October 17, 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.
No new study yet.

I completed three books to be reviewed this week.
My NetGalley shelf now has 3 old ebooks titles, one of which I still 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 requested/received no new review titles this week.
I selected my two Audible credits for September.
I picked up one Audible Plus books.
I again resisted purchasing audios this week.
I picked up nine 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

September Audible Credits - I am starting to consider series that I need to pick up the next book in before 2022:

Heaven's River
Bobiverse, Book 4
By: Dennis E. Taylor
Narrated by: Ray Porter
Length: 16 hrs and 57 mins

Unbowed
Lee Harden, Book 5
By: D. J. Molles
Narrated by: Christian Rummel
Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Free

One Audible Plus Catalog titles:

Nancy Drew Girl Detective: Framed
By: Carolyn Keene
Narrated by: Rebecca Rogers
Series: Nancy Drew: Girl Detective, Book 15
Length: 3 hrs and 5 mins

-
Nine Kindle Titles - from Facebook links.
A Grave Misunderstanding: A Simon Grave Mystery
Len Boswell

Journal of a Deadman: Volume 1 (Journal of a Dead Man)
Alexander Collas, Kira Stone

A Match Made for Thanksgiving (Holidays with the Wongs Book 1)
Jackie Lau
Thanks to Book Connection where I saw this.

Ghost Mortem: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery Romance (Ghost Detective Book 1)
Jane Hinchey

A Forbidden Fondness of The Heart: A Historical Regency Romance Book
Elaine Shields
  -
The Reluctant Coroner (Fenway Stevenson Mysteries Book 1)
Paul Austin Ardoin

Burned (Shenandoah Shadows Book 1)
Melissa F. Miller

Deadly Evidence (Jessie Black Legal Thrillers Book 3)
Larry A. Winters

Omega Trap: A Spy Thriller (Layne Parrish Book 3)
Jim Heskett

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

Sunday Words of Encouragement October 17, 2021

We shared in praise and worship and then Pastor shared announcements. I mistakenly thought last week was the final to the series, but this week was Pastor’s conclusion to: Walking With Jesus.
He reminded us of the foundational verse that directs the believer to be rooted in Christ. Colossians 2:6-7.

Are we mature enough to say yes or no in the circumstances? Are we close enough to be Surrendered to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to live in us and guide us?

Pastor described a time in his young pastoring days when he was working with the Royal Rangers (Assemblies version of Boy Scouts). They were teaching the young men how to properly use a compass. You don’t keep your eyes on the compass, moving a few feet at a time. You look at the compass to get the right direction set the course. Then you look out at the distance for your target point. Just as we shouldn’t continuously look at the compass, we shouldn’t be continually looking at the current moment.

The believer should be looking at the bigger picture, a target in the future. We should focus on the promise of heaven.

We live in a corrupted world and the environment works against us with earthquakes, volcanoes, fires, hurricanes, floods and more. We face these on earth but we are promised the splendor of heaven.

We live with a great expectation – our inheritance in heaven. There is wonderful joy ahead even though we go though testing. Our faith leads to the salvation of our souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9.

Heaven is home. It has been prepared for us. We look forward to the splendor and to the absence of sin, pain, sorrow, and doubt. We will be living in the presence of God without our fleshly distractions.
Set your eyes on heaven. Heaven is our target. God's word is our compass. We have an expectation of a heavenly body. “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” 2 Corinthians 5: 1-5.

The Point: Heaven is the final promise for all who are saved and walk with Jesus.

Hell was created for the fallen (cast out) angels. It was not initially created for men. God wants man to live in His presence for eternity! There we can have a perfect connection with God. Man will live in eternity in the presence of God or with the absence of his presence. People have a choice: heaven or hell; life or death.

Heaven is made for you.
Pray for the lost.

I knew I wanted this song, From Heaven's Point of View, even though I couldn’t find one with lyrics. (Click on the link and they are available beneath the video.)

Verses for Today:
1 Peter 1:3-9 NIV
Praise to God for a Living Hope
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Lord, help remind me to keep my eyes on the promise of Heaven!

Sharing Beyond Books #432 Comment Giveaway October 16, 2021

Hello again, Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books.
Hello October - I'm enjoying some darker reading/listening this month. How about you?

Thanks to everyone who commented on the last question.
Last post SBB#431 Fredamans asked: What is one book that has impacted you since the moment you closed it?
Four commenters didn't have any book that impacted them particularly. Seven of us named different books - check them out. I know my choices and To Kill a Mockingbird (Fredamans impact book) but I plan to check out the other five.

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#431 comments is #1 MARJORIE 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 #432

(One Question.)

Nikki asks: Is there a book-to-movie (or tv series) adaptation that you wish was never adapted? Please share the movie and why.

Years back I tried to watch the True Blood series on HBO which was an adaptation of the Sookie Stackhouse series (aka the Southern Vampire Mysteries) by Charlaine Harris. I totally enjoyed the books but the show was, in my opinion, AWFUL (too much bad language, scantily clad characters and too much sexual content).

Image found at Google search shows Amazon but the link doesn't provide this image.

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. Nikki asks: Is there a book-to-movie (or tv series) adaptation that you wish was never adapted? Please share the movie and why.

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 30, 2021, at 5 PM central.