Audible Book Review and Feature: Hounds Bite by E.J. Stevens

Fast paced action brings friends to Ivy's side!

Hound's Bite: Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective, Volume 5
Written by: E.J. Stevens
Narrated by: Melanie A. Mason , Anthony A. Bowlin

Length: 7 hrs
Series: Ivy Granger, Book 5
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:05-04-17
Publisher: Sacred Oaks Press
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Mystery, Supernatural Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
PRG Reviewer's Choice Award finalist for Best Urban Fantasy series.
Ivy Granger thought she left the worst of Mab's creations behind when she escaped Faerie. She thought wrong.
In a cruel twist of fate, Ivy has unleashed a powerful horde of Unseelie beasts upon her city, turning her homecoming into a potential slaughter of innocents. Now Ivy must gather her allies to fight a reputedly unstoppable force - The Wild Hunt.
Will the training Ivy received in her father's court be enough to save her city, or will Harborsmouth be forced to kneel before the Lord of the Hunt? She is willing to risk her own life, but some sacrifices come at a cost worse than death. When an ally is bitten by one of The Wild Hunt's hounds, Ivy must face the possibility that winning this battle may mean killing the one person she has come to love most.
Hound's Bite is the fifth full-length novel in the award-winning, best-selling Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens. The world of Ivy Granger, including the Ivy Granger Psychic Detective series and Hunters' Guild series, is filled with action, mystery, magic, dark humor, quirky characters, bloodsucking vampires, flirtatious demons, sarcastic gargoyles, sexy shifters, temperamental witches, psychotic faeries, and snarky, kick-butt heroines.
The Ivy Granger series has won numerous awards, including the BTS Red Carpet Award for Best Novel, the PRG Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Paranormal Fantasy Novel, Best Urban Fantasy Novel, and finalist for Best Urban Fantasy Series.
©2016 E.J. Stevens (P)2017 E.J. Stevens

Review:
Ivy escaped from the land of Faerie with her fiancé, Ceffyl, and a testy friend, king of the Cat Sidhe, Sir Torn. But as they return, they discover that an evil force followed them into Ivy’s home town, Harborsmouth. The Huntsman and his powerful Barguest are bringing the Wild Hunt to Ivy and her community. The Huntsman will blow his horn at sundown to loose the dark hounds on the city. Any bite from the hounds turns the victim into a new black hound.

Ivy would normally call on her witch friend, Kaye, to help prepare a defense but Kaye has gone off the deep end on a power trip and may be as dangerous as the Huntsman. Ivy has to deal with Kaye before she can gather allies to face the Wild Hunt.

I enjoyed the action and the usual characters, plus extra creatures, brought in to help in each of the crisis that Ivy faces. I was a little distracted by some repetition of Ivy sort of whining. Still, she is growing and those around her recognize her special ability to bring adversaries together to face a common foe. She’s done it before and hopes to do it again to protect the city from the Wild Hunt. She tries to protect those she loves but can she save all her friends, including Ceff when he gets caught by the hounds? There are threads from prior books, and a few surprises, that get tied in nicely here. I liked how the friends come together in this good adventure.

Audio Notes: Melanie A. Mason and Anthony A. Bowlin do a nice job with the character voices. Their back and forth combination works well to make this a fun and entertaining listen.

Reviews of earlier books:
Burning Bright: Ivy Granger Book 3
Birthright: Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective, Book 4
Shadow Sight: Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective Series, Book 1

I received this audiobook from the author as part of release tour. It qualifies for 2017 Audiobook Challenge.

Ivy Granger Series - Audible Page
Ivy Granger Series - Amazon Page

Hound's Bite Chapter 1 on SoundCloud
Hound's Bite Retail Sample on SoundCloud
Behind the Scenes with Narrator Anthony Bowling

Don't Miss the Happy Audiobook Month Giveaway Celebrating with E.J. Stevens
Open US/CA/UK. Ending 6/31/2017

MBS 2017 Audiobook Challenge Semi-annual Update and Check-in

2017 Audiobook Challenge

 

HOSTS: Hot Listens and Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Audiobook Challenge Levels:

Newbie (I’ll give it a try) 1-5
Weekend Warrior (I’m getting the hang of this) 5-10
Stenographer (can listen while multi-tasking) 10-15
Socially Awkward (Don’t talk to me) 15-20
Binge Listener (Why read when someone can do it for you) 20-30
My Precious (I had my earbuds surgically implanted) 30-50
Marathoner (Look Ma no hands) 50+

I listened to 70 Audiblooks in 2016. I chose the Marathoner Level again for 2017 and hope to get to at least 70 if not more!
I have reached My Precious level  at 30 audios in five months and two weeks so I am moving along pretty well.

(January -5-)
1. ABBTBR- Audio Book Review: Two by Vonnegut: The Big Trip Up Yonder and 2BR02B by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.; Vintage Sci Fi; my rating 4.0.
2. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Patriots of Treason by David Thomas Roberts; Political Thriller; my rating 4.25.
3. ATBR- Audible Book Review: We by Yevgeny Zamyatin; Vintage Sci Fi; my rating 4.0.
4. ATBR- Audible Review: X Minus One: Old Time Radio, Sci-Fi Series; Vintage Sci Fi; my rating 4.25.
5. ABJ- Audio Book Review: Goliath by Steve Alten; Military Thriller; my rating 4.25.
(February -5-)
6. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Linesman by S. K. Dunstall; Sci Fi, Space Military; my rating 5.0.
7. AV- Audio Book Review: The Soldier's Secret by Heather Osborne; Historical Romance, Civil War; my rating 4.25.
8. AeStories- Audio Review: The Detainee by Peter Liney ; Sci Fi, Dystopian; my rating 4.25.
9. ABJ- Audio Book Review: Alliance by S. K. Dunstall; Sci Fi, Space Military; my rating 4.5.
10. ATour- Audio Book Review and Tour #Giveaway: Kill and Run: A Thorny Rose Mystery, Book 1, by Lauren Carr ; Mystery, Police Procedure; my rating 4.5.
(March -5-)
11. ATour- Audio Book Review and Tour #Giveaway: Kill and Run: A Thorny Rose Mystery, Book 1, by Lauren Carr ; Mystery, Police Procedure; my rating 4.5.
12. ATour- Audio Book Review and Tour Giveaway: A Fine Year by for Murder: A Thorny Rose Mystery, Book 2 by Lauren Carr; Cozy Mystery; my rating 4.25.
13. ABJ- Audio Book Review: The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk; Sci Fi, Dystopian, Environmentalism; my rating 4.5.
14. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Excerpts from The Encyclopaedia Britannica; Fiction; my rating 4.5.
15. ATBR- Audible Book Review: We Like You so Much and Want to Know You Better by Dave Eggers; Sci Fi, Dystopian, Preview; my rating 4.0.
(April -7-)
16. ABJ- Audio Book Review: The Hollow Hills by Mary Stewart; Fantasy, Classic Fiction; my rating 5.0.
17. A- Audible Book Review: Confluence by S. K. Dunstall; Military Sci Fi; my rating: 4.75.
18. A-ABB- Audio Book Review: Streets of Payne by Jeff Brackett; Cyperpunk, Sci Fi; my rating 4.5.
19. A-TBR- Audible Book Review: The Monster Calls by Patrick Ness; Teen, Fantasy, Family; my rating: 4.5.
20. ABJ- Audio Book Review: Keystone by Dannika Dark; Paranormal, Urban Fantasy; my rating: 4.25.
21. A- Audible Review: Silence Fallen: A Mercy Thompson Novel, Book 10 by Patricia Briggs; Urban Fantasy, Romance; my rating: 5.0.
22. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Quilt by Gary Paulsen; Family, Children; my rating 5.0.
MAY (-5-)
23. ABJ- Audio Book Review: The Case of the Counterfeit Criminals: Wollstonecraft Detective Agency, Book 3, by Jordan Stratford; Children, Mystery; my rating: 4.0.
24. ATour- Audio Book Review, Feature and Tour Giveaway: Old Loves Die Hard by Lauren Carr; Cozy Mystery; my rating 4.0. Open Worldwide. Ending 7/22/2017.
25. ATour- Audio Book Review and Tour Giveaway: Dead on Ice by Lauren Carr; Cozy Mystery; my rating 4.25. Open Worldwide. Ending 7/22/2017.
26. ATBR- http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2017/05/audible-book-review-one-dog-night-by.html One Dog Night by David Rosenfelt, Narrated by: Grover Gardner; Mystery, Legal Procedure; my rating 4.5.
27. AAuthorTour- Audible Book Review: Shadow Sight: Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective Series; Urban Fantasy; my rating: 4.25.
JUNE (TBD)
28. ABB- Audio Book Review: Quest of the Dreamwalker: The Corthan Legacy, Book 1 by Stacy Bennett; Epic Fantasy; my rating 5.0.
29. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Finding Dory by Disney Press; Children; my rating 4.25.
30. AAuthor Tour- Audible Book Review and Feature: Hounds Bite by E.J. Stevens; Urban Fantasy, Paranormal; my rating 4.25.

Sunday Post June 11, 2017/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday June 12, 2017

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date.
Thank you to Sheila for the years that she handled this meme.
Thank you to Kathryn for taking up the baton.

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 had a busy week of catch up at the office and at home. I was a little surprised when I was preparing the post today to realize I didn't pick up any review titles this week.

I enjoyed my reading this week. I finished one ebook, one audio book and one print. I posted three reviews on the blog, and one at Goodreads, along with all of my usual memes.

I visited about 28 blogs last week.
Shout out this week is to Geybie's Book Blog - if you check her Monthly Recap and scroll down you will find some lovely discussion posts.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post June 4, 2017/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday June 5, 2017.

• eNGTBRR- Book Review: The Invisible City (The Stolen Future Trilogy Book 1) by Brian K. Lowe; Science Fiction, Time Travel; my rating 4.5.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway June 9, 2017. Open Worldwide. Ending 6/15/2017.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Finding Dory by Disney Press; Children; my rating 4.25.

• NG- Goodreads Book Review: We're Going to the Beach (Let's Go Picture Books) by Nancy Streza, Adam Pryce (Illustrator); Children; my rating 4.5.

• eNGTBR- Book Review: Hunt the Dawn by Abbie Roads; Suspense, Supernatural; my rating: 4.75.

• Sharing Beyond Books #306 Comment Giveaway June 10, 2017. Open Worldwide, Ending 6/17/2017.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement June 11, 2017.

Finished Reading:

1. eBook/Kindle (NG)

The Sleepwalker: A Novel
by Chris Bohjalian
This is an interesting supsense drama.
I received this from the Publisher through NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/mp3 (Author tour)

Hound's Bite: Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective, Volume 5
Written by: E.J. Stevens
Narrated by: Melanie A. Mason , Anthony A. Bowlin
This is the latest adventure with Ivy and friends. I received this audiobook from the author as part of release tour.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Print (Ladies Book Club)

As One Devil to Another: A Fiendish Correspondence in the Tradition of C. S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters
by Richard Platt (Author), Walter Hooper (Preface)
We discussed this 6/10/17 and most agreed that it offered an interesting perspective on the devil's manipulations. I'll post a review and giveaway this week.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle (NG Tour)

Infinity (Horizon)
by Tabitha Lord
I am enjoying the second book in this series.
I received this through NetGalley for tour review through iRead Book Tours. Review to post 6/20.
In the second installment of the award-winning Horizon series, Dr. Caeli Crys returns to her war-torn world to fight for those she left behind.
Almagest, Caeli’s home, stands on the brink of revolution. Long hidden from the rest of the galaxy, the once-peaceful planet suffers under a regime that grows more violent and oppressive by the day. Marcus, Almagest’s dictator, is building an arsenal of alien weaponry by selling empathic children into slavery. A resistance has risen, but they are outmanned, outgunned, and in hiding.
Joined by Commander Derek Markham and his elite squadron of operatives, Caeli embarks on a dangerous mission to find the Resistance, rescue her captive people, and save her civilization from destruction.

2. Audible/mp3 (TBR)

The Ghost Brigades
Written by: John Scalzi
Narrated by: William Dufris
Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins
I was ready for one of the series I like;
from my TBR shelf.
The Ghost Brigades are the Special Forces of the Colonial Defense Forces, elite troops created from the DNA of the dead and turned into the perfect soldiers for the CDF's toughest operations. They're young, they're fast and strong, and they're totally without normal human qualms.
For the universe is a dangerous place for humanity - and it's about to become far more dangerous. Three races that humans have clashed with before have allied to halt our expansion into space. Their linchpin: the turncoat military scientist Charles Boutin, who knows the CDF's biggest military secrets. To prevail, the CDF most find out why Boutin did what he did.
Jared Dirac is the only human who can provide answers - a superhuman hybrid, created from Boutin's DNA, whose brain is uniquely able to access Boutin's electronic memories. But when the memory transplant appears to fail, Jared is given over to the Ghost Brigades.
Jared begins as one of these perfect soldiers, but as memories begin to surface, he begins to intuit the reason's for Boutin's betrayal.
As Jared desperately hunts for his "father", he must also come to grips with his own choices. Time is running out: the alliance is preparing its offensive, and some of them plan worse things than humanity's mere military defeat.
©2006 John Scalzi; (P)2008 Macmillan Audio

3. eBook/Kindle (eNG)

Dear Heart: The Courting Letters
by Judith Pinkerton Josephson (Author), Kirsten Josephson (Illustrator)
I am looking forward to this; received through NetGalley.
In 2010 teacher Lisa Anderson has almost given up on love after a failed, longtime relationship and Internet dating disasters. In a cluttered attic, she discovers an antique writing box labeled “Courting Letters.” Untying the beribboned packets inside, she finds tattered envelopes, their contents penned more than a century before. As Lisa begins to read, she learns that in 1907 in Ipswich, England, the authors, Gertie and Fred, meet. Just as their friendship deepens into something more, Fred and his family emigrate to America in search of a better life. Hopes for the budding relationship fade. Long months pass. Then a letter from Fred to Gertie arrives. The two begin a dance of written words, but the romance is fraught with obstacles, not the least of which is the Atlantic Ocean. Separation and distance also conspire against Lisa when her intriguing new beau must return to his native Spain. Dear Heart: The Courting Letters weaves a tapestry from two intersecting love stories. Will the threads hold or pull apart?

June 4, 2017 - I am up to today in the One Year Bible; reading along with my husband and others from our church. I hope to take more time this year, staying on the day and listening to the companion commentary online.

Some of my reading time is going to a Wednesday night study we are doing called Freedom Course.

I completed three books and posted four reviews (one at Goodreads); this means I have four reviews current and one for later release. I've been adding my reviews but still need to add the children's books at Goodreads.
I am back to 11 NetGalley Titles and still at 10 author titles in my queue.

I hope to upload the children's story this week at eTreasure's NetGalley page.

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 (yours truly).  
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
I did not pick up any review titles this week.
I resisted all the Audible Daily Deals but picked up two titles with my May credits.
No purchased ebooks but I picked up more free kindle titles as usual. (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

I selected these two Audible titles for my May Credits:
Because of Miss Bridgerton
By: Julia Quinn
Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
Duration: 9 hrs and 25 mins
I really like this author.
"Sometimes you find love in the most unexpected of places....
This is not one of those times."


One Man's Opus
By: Boyd Craven III
Narrator: Kevin Pierce
Duration: 6 hrs and 14 mins
"One dog, who's been the savior, protector, and companion...Opus. The owner of two humans that mostly understand him. Mostly."
A pre-apocalyptic tale with a tail dog. And a good author/narrator mix..

Free

I picked up Week Seven SYNC Audio titles:
If I Run by Terri Blackstock Read by Nan Gurley Published by Zondervan
By Elizabeth Fama Read by Julia Whelan Published by Elizabeth Fama

Here are five of my Free Kindle Picks: (Sharp Shooter and Insidious may still be free)


The Gypsy Pearl: Full Trilogy
by Lia London

Sharp Shooter (Tara Sharp Book 1)

by Marianne Delacourt

Insidious: An Urban Fantasy Romance (The Marked Mage Chronicles, Book 1)
by Victoria Evers

The Priority Unit (Maine Justice Book 1)

by Susan Page Davis

Spirelli Paranormal Investigations: Episodes 1-3
by Kate Baray




I added 45 free Kindle titles to my library this week. 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 June 11, 2017

Our Sunday School teacher was out so our substitute shared a video with Jonathan Cahn which was awesome. My hubby and I plan to find the full video to watch together.

Our Pastor is continuing his sermon series from the book of James. This section is titled Dependent. He noted that God does not seek our independence but instead seeks our dependence on Him. [My interjection here: I sometimes think this is a difficult concept for Americans as we are generally known as a nation of limitless opportunities where we are raised being told we can accomplish anything we work hard enough for. This tends to foster an atmosphere of independence and “do it myself” response even from children. God doesn’t want us to “do it myself”; He wants us to seek His guidance and follow His lead.]

Pastor used examples such as tug of war and Red Rover to point out the problems of a divided nature that is pulling in different directions. As humans we are always balancing opposite goals: responsibility on one side (what we should do) versus fun on the other (what we want to do). Spending v saving; eating a rich meal v working out during lunch. Living our old life after we have accepted the new life found as a Christ follower. James points out that we can't have it both ways. James 4:1-4 James says in verse 4: “Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?”

Today we have many different levels of friends, including friends on facebook who we don’t really know and have never talked to one on one or done things with. Historically, a friend during the times of James would mean someone you would spend time with and do things with. However, whether then or now, do we ever find ourselves being two- faced by saying or acting one way with friends and then another when we come before God or talk with fellow believers? This is wrong. God is jealous of our attitudes, times and every aspect of our lives. He takes our standing with Him more seriously than we do.

James 4:7-10 tells us what to do to change our attitudes from worldliness to Godliness. ‘Humble yourself; resist the devil; come close to God…

God has come all the way from Heaven to earth for us. He is here – waiting for us to turn and take one step to Him. We must first repent of our worldly ways and allow God to lift us up as His child. We must put on the full armor of a believer. Ephesians 6:10-18.

The Point: The next move toward a fully committed relationship with God is yours.

We need to recognize that we can only get satisfaction from God, not from the world. God wants to be close to us. We can only run the good race if we focus on Him and not on the world.

I started with a different song in mind but came to this one, which I think fits.

A Verse for Today:
James 4:8
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Lord, Help me commit each morning to walk with Your guidance and not in my own strength nor in the ways of the world.

 

Sharing Beyond Books #306 Comment Giveaway June 10, 2017

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!


Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Nine of us would choose our Husband or partner to be stranded with. (Glad I wasn't the only one.) Five commenters chose different adventurers, including Bear Grylis and Robinson Crusoe. MaryP chose her sister and Carol hoped someone with skills would come along because she couldn't pick just one of her seven children.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #305 comments is: #9 Elizabeth 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.

**NOTE: I did post an Updated ARC and Other books for Giveaways. I have to go back and list the titles -- someday.
Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #306

(One Question.)

bn100 asks: What Summer movie are you looking forward to watching??

I honestly have not paid much attention to new movie releases. We usually wait till they are available on TV, Amazon or Plex - like Beauty and the Beast which is available soon.
I searched for summer movies and found 19 titles. I know members of my family will want to see Cars 3 and Despicable Me 3. But the two that caught my eye are War for the Planet of the Apes and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets which is based on a legendary French comic.
On another search I found Megan Leavey which looks good.

Image found at A Guide to the Epic Scifi Movie Valerian...

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 book choice or 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.

Your turn to share. bn100 asks: What Summer movie are you looking forward to watching??

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 June 17, 2017 at 5 PM central.