#FraterfestRat (book 1) Audio Book Review: America Falls Episodes 1-2 by Scott Medbury

I enjoyed the beginning of this post-apocalyptic series.

America Falls Episodes 1-2
Written by Scott Medbury
Read by Adam Barr

Series: America Falls
Run Time 11h 12min
Release Date: November 28, 2020
Publisher: Scott Medbury
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher Description
No Maze. No Zombies. No games.
After a surprise biological attack, America, the most powerful nation on Earth, quickly succumbs, with over 99.5% of the adult population killed. As society unravels and a ground invasion of his country begins, loner Isaac Race must form a connection with a ragtag group of survivors and elude not only the invaders, but other dangers and chaos unleashed in Post-America.
These are the first two action packed episodes of the bestselling AMERICA FALLS, a compelling series about who we are and who we have to become in order to survive.
This audio duet includes: Hell Week and On The Run

Review:
Book 1, Hell Week, introduces the protagonist, Isaac, who isn’t even sixteen yet. He has had a rough childhood with many losses – first his parents and later a good foster father. Now all the adults around him have died from a pandemic unleashed by enemy forces. The children struggle to survive as the enemy forces invade America and round them up to use as a local slave force. Isaac has avoided capture and joined with other young people who are in hiding. One of the girls they rescue tells of a refuge she heard of to the north. Initially Isaac is put in position of the leader of his handful of friends until they meet another group with an older, more experienced leader, Sonny.

While dodging the foreign enemy, Isaac and his friends have to scavenge supplies and avoid the competing gangs who rape and kill rather than share. With some unexpected aid, Sonny’s group decides to make a daring escape to try to get to the refuge in the mountains. When friends are killed and Sonny is injured, Isaac is once again forced to lead, and he feels the responsibility of making hard decisions.

Book 1 moves right into Book 2, On the Run. Isaac and the group are running with the truck they have, but they are being chased by a gang that they angered. While trying to escape the gang, Isaac and company see an enemy outpost directly ahead. They manage to lead the gang into the hands of the enemy but now Isaac is being chased by two angry enemies, the foreigners and the gang leader. If they can get to the rumored place of refuge before being killed, will they really find help?

I like Isaac as a troubled but determined young man. He quickly discovers that he must do what has to be done to stay alive and keep his friends alive. His companions are an interesting mix, including a brainy classmate and beautiful young girl they rescued. The author provides plenty of excitement with numerous ‘last minute’ escapes. I am glad I had books one and two together and now I want to continue with book 3. This isn’t high level literature, but it has nice relationships and engaging action.

Audio Notes: Adam Barr does a good job with the narration. He provided sufficiently distinct voices and portrayed the emotional angst of the situations. I am glad I had this on audio.

Source: 2/21/21 Purchase at Chirp $1.99. This qualifies for 2021Audiobook goal and Book 1 was finished as the last book of my 2021 #FraterfestRat.

Audio Book Review: The Vampire Knitting Club by Nancy Warren

This is an engaging, fun cozy paranormal mystery.
The Vampire Knitting Club
By Nancy Warren
Narrated By: Sarah Zimmerman

Series: Vampire Knitting Club, Book 1
Duration: 6 h 7 min
Published 2019 by Tantor Audio
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Vampires, Witches
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4. 5; Narration 4. 5.

Summary:
At a crossroads between a cringe-worthy past (Todd the Toad) and an uncertain future (she's not exactly homeless, but it's close), Lucy Swift travels to Oxford to visit her grandmother. With Gran's undying love to count on and Cardinal Woolsey's, Gran's knitting shop, to keep her busy, Lucy can catch her breath and figure out what she's going to do.
Except it turns out that Gran is the undying. Or at least, the undead. But there's a death certificate. And a will, leaving the knitting shop to Lucy. And a lot of people going in and out who never use the door-including Gran, who is just as loving as ever, and prone to knitting sweaters at warp speed, late at night. What exactly is going on?
When Lucy discovers that Gran did not die peacefully in her sleep, but was murdered, she has to bring the killer to justice without tipping off the law that there's no body in the grave. Between a hot 500-year-old vampire and a dishy detective inspector, both of whom always seem to be there for her, Lucy finds her life getting more complicated than a triple cable cardigan. The only one who seems to know what's going on is her cat . . . or is it . . . her familiar?

Review:
Lucy Swift is a young woman about to make a life change. She lost her job and left her cheating boyfriend to return home to visit with her loving, supportive grandmother. Lucy figures that some ‘down-time’ helping out in Gran’s knitting shop, the Cardinal Woolsey, will give her a chance to regroup. Lucy arrives to find the shop locked and neighbors tell her that her grandmother is dead. Lucy is surprised when she inherits the shop, even though she is all thumbs when it comes to knitting.

As Lucy starts to clean up the shop, she finds Gran’s glasses on the floor with what looks like blood on them. Then a strange, enticing man appears in the shop claiming to be looking for his friend, Lucy’s Gran. As Lucy tries to find out more about her grandmother’s death, she discovers that her Gran is dead, but not gone as she is now part of the undead. Also, Gran’s death wasn’t accidental, but Lucy can’t give those details to the handsome detective inspector who has come to her aid.

Lucy learns that someone wants to buy her shop, even with the help of threats. Although the idea of selling is initially tempting, Lucy realizes that might not be a good idea once she knows that a clan of vampires, including her grandmother, live below the shop. To complicate matters further, Lucy suddenly finds her fingers giving off sparks, while the cat that has adopted her seems to be getting in the way at inappropriate, or maybe appropriate, times.

This is a fun story with very likeable characters. Lucy is a sweet, caring woman who isn’t sure what she wants to do with her life. She now finds herself with a business to run and two handsome men hovering around her. The story moves at a good pace, with the mystery leading to more murders before the villain is caught. This is the first in a series and I am interested in reading/listening to more in the series. I recommend this to fans of cozy mystery with the added twist of vampires and witches.

Audio Notes: Sarah Zimmerman does a fine job with the narration. She provides distinct voices, fitting energy and carries the lighter tone of the story that deals with murder and vampires. I will look forward to listening more in the series.

Source: November 2020 VIP pick from Audiobooks.com. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Alphabet, and 2021Audiobook goals.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 5, 2021

Happy Friday! Happy November!
TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK.

I started to pull a new book box together and will try to get the pic and list up on Saturday 11/6/21.
This week I start the 12th anniversary month of Friday Pick so starting with this week's entries, I will pick four winners instead of two provided there are at least 10 entries. (People must have been very busy this past week as comments are low from Sunday and the Friday Pick.)

US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.

INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)

CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up too late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.

Thank you to all who entered the October 29, 2021 Pick. There was no automatic win last week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There was no title blocked.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from October 29, 2021 Pick:
NATALIJA gets a GC

AND
MARYP gets a GC.

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

I will always give thanks for Books!
Image found at Penguin Random House Library Marketing.

New Book Box #95 November 7, 2021

I'll add the titles through the week.




New Book Box #94 May 28, 2021 (10 books)

Three Audio CD Books:
Web of Evil by J.A. Jance
One Good Deed by David Baldacci
Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts
SINGLE TITLES
Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale
The Hidden Heart by Laura Kinsale
A Summer of Firsts by Susan Wiggs and Sarah Morgan
Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane
Christmas on 4th Street: An Anthology by Susan Mallery
The Stranger by Harlan Coben
Vortex by Robert Charles Wilson


New Book Groups #92 and #93 November 13, 2020.
#92 (15 books):

A Most Unsuitable Man by Jo Beverley
The Tender Stranger by Carolyn Davidson
Her Wedding Wish by Jillian Hart
Heart's Desire by Ruth Ryan Hagan
The Deputy's Duty by Terri Reed
Summer by the Sea by Susan Wiggs

Box #93 (14 books)

Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwyn Cready
There's Only Been You by Donna Marie Rogers (personally signed)
For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper
The Irish Bride by Alexa Harrington
When We Met by Susan Mallery
Anne of Green Gables by Montgomery
All of Me by Lori Wilde

New Book Group #91 October 2, 2020 - Suspense themed

SINGLES: Ten books in this box:
Fight or Flight by Natalie J. Damschroder
The Sinister Pig by Tony Hillerman Audiobook

PICK TWO  your choice (listed below the picture) Nora Roberts:

Born in Fire Audiobook Cassettes
Montana Sky
Valley of Silence
Inner Harbor and
Chesapeake Blue


New Book Group #90 June 19, 2020
Quite a few mysteries in this box.

SINGLES:
Alias by Smy J. Fetzer
Hot Sex by Janet Evanovich (Audio cassettes)

New Book Group #89 March 6, 2020

Singles:
My Surrender by Connie Brockway
How to Tame a Modern Rogue by Diana Holoquist
Phoenix by A.J. Scudiere

New Book Group #88 November 8, 2019

Singles:
A Lady Never Tells by Candace Camp
Dawn of Redemption by Starla Childs

New Book Group #87 August 23, 2019

SINGLES:
Captain's Paradise by Kay Hooper
Open Season by Linda Howard AUDIO CASSETTES

New Book Group #86 June 7, 2019
Another group of variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
Show No Fear by Marliss Melton
A Question of God's Balance (Vol 1) by Joseph Thek
King by Right of Blood and Might by Anna L. Walls

New Book Group #85 March 22, 2019
A variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
Summer Skies by Judith Christenberry
Windfall (two stories) by JoAnn Ross
Daddy's Little Cowgirl (two stories) by Judith Bowen and Kimberly Raye
The Forever Year, Cold Pursuit, Lover's Lane and Temporary Sanity (Reader's Condensed)
ToxiCity by Libby Fischer Hillmann

New Book Group #84 December 15, 2018
Here are some Christmas titles to pick from.

SINGLES:
A Family for Thanksgiving
On this Holy Night
Christmas Haven
King Harold's Snow Job

New Book Group #83 November 30, 2018

(Starting bottom left and continuing up then down)
SINGLE
Seductive Secrets by Lynne Connolly
Seven Up by Janet Evanovich - Audio Cassettes
A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein Audio Cassettes
Three Reader's Digest Condensed Books - each hardback:

Cold Harbour and The Courtship of Peggy McCoy
The Things We Do for Love, Three Weeks With My Brother, The Murder Artist and Night Train to Lisbon
Follow the Stars Home, Hunting Badger, The Quiet Game and Second Wind

New Book Group #82 November 9, 2018

SINGLES:
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
Killing Time by Linda Howard
The Wedding Night by Barbara Dawson Smith

New Book Group #81 August 17, 2018

SINGLES
Best Laid Plans by Allison Brennan
Darkness Tell Us by Richard Laymon
Cooking Most Deadly by Joanne Pence

New Book Group #80 August 17, 2018

Note: The Final Judgment and
The Book of Fate are Audio Cassettes
SINGLES:
Summer’s Moon by Lacey Baker
The Final Judgment by Richard North PattersonAudio Cassettes
Firebird by Janice Graham
No Getting Over a Cowboy by Delores Fossen
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer Audio Cassettes

New Book Group #79 July 13, 2018
I found this box of books buried under some other boxes.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lenox by Maggie O’Farrell
P.S. by Helen Schulman
Her Sexiest Surprise by Dawn Atkins (personally autographed)
Dakota Child by Linda Ford
Calling the Shots by Ellen Hartman
Promises, Promises by Amber Miller
This Time for Keeps by Jenna Mills
A Daughter’s Legacy by Virginia Smith
Another Man’s Baby by Kay Stockham

New Book Group #78 April 27, 2018

SINGLES
Blackberry Bush
Breaking Point
A Tangled Affair
Too Wicked to Love
Roses are Red Audio Cassettes

New Book Group #77 February 16, 2018- 

All gone

New Book Group #76 November 3, 2017
13 books remain of the original 37:

I finally Have them Listed!
Boots & Booties by Kristine Rolofson
Saucer the Conquest by Stephen Coonts
The Scorpion Seducer by Bonnie Vanak
Hell On Earth by David L. Porter
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton
Crisscross by Harmon Henkin
Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey
Inhuman Condition by Clive Barker
101 Commonsense Rules for the Office by John R. Brinkerhoff

This shelf of 35 books are what is left from Groups #1 (11/27/09) through Group #75 September 29, 2017

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 14 titles.)
Rehabilitation
Secret Blessing
Named of the Dragon
Aunt Erma's Cope Book
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 21 titles.)
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown
(*Three One more very old books from my Gothics box.)
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell
*Four One books are very old; pulled from a box of gothic novels I found.
*Maggie – Her Marriage by Taylor Caldwell (1953 very old, yellowed pages, some stain damage doesn't effect reading)
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty by Vickie Kennedy
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick on November 27, 2009 and in almost ELEVEN years I have posted 91 groups of 16 books plus an additional 21 totaling 1,477 books available to find new homes! (As of November 6, 2020).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,376 books have found new homes through this feature! YAY. [A year or so ago I posted I had reached 2000 books given away. As I calculated the numbers 11/2/17 I realized that had to be an error. I realized I went from 1098 to 2001 instead of 1101. Guess I was tired; sorry for the error.] I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed. I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want!

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, TWRP, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors, your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to faraway places runs between $7.00 and $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

#FraterfestRat Audible Book Review: Countdown: A Prequel Story to Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry

I liked this Prequel and the Joe Ledger character.

Countdown: A Prequel Story to Patient Zero
By: Jonathan Maberry
Narrated by: Ray Porter

Series: Joe Ledger, Book 0.5
Length 19m
Release date: 07-14-11
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Horror, Suspense, Zombie
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
“I didn’t plan to kill anyone. I wasn’t totally against the idea, either. Sometimes things just fall that way, and either you roll with it or it rolls over you. Letting the bad guys win isn’t how I roll.”
Meet Joe Ledger, Baltimore PD, attached to a Homeland task force … who’s about to get a serious promotion.
©2008 Jonathan Maberry (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Joe Ledger is a hardcore Baltimore detective who has a reputation for taking bad guys down with his steely nerves and skilled shooting. His is pulled into a task force that steps into a situation to shut down a terrorist operation and stop the release of a unknown deadly bioweapon. While Joe and a close friend on the team are dodging bullets, Joe notices a locked box which turns out to have a man in it. During the melee the man gets loose and stumbles out. The drugged looking man isn’t armed so initially Joe ignores him. But after bouncing off a kick, the man lunges at one of Joe’s teammates like a snarling dog. When the biting man gets in the way of eliminating shooters, Joe takes him out of the way.

Joe’s actions, taking out a multitude of hostiles, catches the attention of Mr. Church, the commander of a black-ops organization, the Department of Military Sciences (DMS). Will Joe be recruited by the DMS?

I have been eyeing this zombie series for a while even though (or maybe because) the first book, Patient Zero, has a rather gruesome-looking cover. I like the ‘super-hero’ nature of Joe’s character, including what appears to be a snarky attitude. I am glad to have had the opportunity to listen to this quick book and will likely try the series. There is limited zombie action in this short audio, but I do recommend this introduction to fans of the zombie genre.

Audio Notes: Ray Porter is a wonderful narrator, and his performance enhances the story for me. He portrays the hardcore nature of the prime character and also delivers the fast paced action. I always enjoy listening to Porter’s deliverance.

Source: September 2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook, and #FraterfestRat goals.

#FraterfestRat eBook Review: Witches and Poppets: Steampunk Vasilisa the Fair by Melanie Karsak

This is a quick, charming story.
Witches and Poppets: Steampunk Vasilisa the Fair:
A Steampunk Fairy Tale Short Story
by Melanie Karsak

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08L3XLZYW
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clockpunk Press (October 11, 2020)
File size ‏ : ‎ 1812 KB
Genre: Fairy Tale, Retelling, Steampunk, Witch
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

Just in time for Halloween! From New York Times bestselling author Melanie Karsak comes a spooky retelling of the fairy tale Vasilia the Fair.
Vasilisa's father is dying. When her stepmother sends her to a witch for a cure, Vasilisa knows she must be brave. Rumors abound that the witch eats children, but Vasilisa would do anything to save the father she loves. Even if it means risking her own life.
From the fairy tale world of Melanie Karsak comes a new short story to delight the senses this spooky season.

Review:
This is definitely a perfect fit for October. I am not familiar with the fairy tale of Vasilia the Fair. This reminded me of Cinderella with a wise witch rather than a fairy godmother. It is nicely written and would work well for young people and adults. At 12 pages it read very quickly, and it made me smile. I recommend this to readers who enjoy fairy tale retellings.

Source: Source: October 2021 Author notice of free Kindle day. This qualifies for #FraterfestRat.