Audible Book Review: Black Ops, Expeditionary Force, Book 4, by Craig Alanson

I enjoyed this episode in this fav series.
Black Ops Expeditionary Force, Book 4
By: Craig Alanson
Narrated by: R. C. Bray

Series: Expeditionary Force, Book 4
Length: 16 hrs and 44 mins
Release date: 09-26-17
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Military Science Fiction, Space Opera
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 5.0.

Publisher's Summary
The elite crew of the pirate ship UNS Flying Dutchman had a simple mission: determining whether the Thuranin are sending another starship to Earth. Along the way, they became sidetracked by securing a future for the UNEF troops on the planet Paradise. When asked whether Earth was now safe, their ancient alien AI responded "Not so much"...now they have to deal with the consequences.
©2017 Craig Alanson (P)2017 Podium Publishing.

Review:
Colonel Joe Bishop and the crew of the stolen, therefore pirate, ship UNS Flying Dutchman are hiding out in space, where the human species is supposed to have no presence unless under the control of one of the alien species. The Dutchman has been tasked to spy out whether there are any imminent threats to their home planet, Earth. Skippy, the alien AI shaped like a beer can who was rescued by Joe, has intercepted messages indicating that one of the alien enemy forces is negotiating to send another alien force to Earth. Now the less technically minded humans (‘monkeys’ as Skippy calls them) have to find a way to prevent the negotiations from going any further.

This mission, like all of their missions, needs some improbable but remarkably doable human planning, a bit of luck, and – mostly – the awesomeness of Skippy the alien AI. Things get dicey when Skippy investigates a dead Elder cylinder like his own and goes silent. The humans don’t have the knowledge to even maintain the ship they are on, much less use the worm holes properly to navigate stealthily in space. Skippy ‘created’ another AI to help monitor events, but he failed to program Nagatha (named for Agatha Christi and a particularly annoying trait of the new AI) on maintaining the ship so her help is limited.

As with the previous books, a big part of the fun of this series is the sarcastic banter between Skippy and Joe. The new character of Nagatha adds another element of amusement. This episode develops a few crew members more deeply while also continuing with several previously highlighted characters.

I totally love the action and the fun dialog. There is always suspense with each mission and I enjoy the creative and sometimes rather zany solutions that the lowly humans come up with to complete each step of the mission. There are expected and sad losses but the tension really increases when Skippy isn’t available to work his awesome ‘magic’. I am glad I have the book 5 in my library so I can pull it forward in a month or so to continue the adventures.

There is a strong friendship, love/hate relationship between Joe and Skippy. Any reader who is offended by belittling banter may not enjoy their barbs. However, there is a particularly moving sequence where Skippy acknowledges the creative illogic of the human species. I recommend this fun series to fans of military space opera (sans any romance).

Audio Notes: This series as narrated by R. C. Bray is a delight to listen to. He conveys the snarky Skippy personality, complete with arrogance, eye rolls, and head slaps. He provides a fun female voice for Nagatha, and delivers the human and alien characters with distinct voices. I plan to continue to listen for the best enjoyment of this series.

Source: 3/8/2020 Two For One Credit Sale at Audible. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet goals.

Prior book reviews:
Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force, #1) by Craig Alanson
Audible Book Review: Spec Ops, Expeditionary Force, Book 2 by Craig Alanson
Audible Book Review: Paradise, Expeditionary Force, Book 3 by Craig Alanson

#NetGalley Book Review: Time of the Rose by Bonita Clifton

This is a traditional (originally written in 1994) romance with suspense and time travel complications.

Time of the Rose
by Bonita Clifton

ASIN : B08MBFY4GV
Publication date : December 12, 2020
File size : 2711 KB
Print length : 401 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy, Time Travel
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

This is the 2nd Edition of the compelling and beloved classic Time of the Rose, award-winning Holt Medallion finalist (Virginia RWA), dusted off, reimagined, with new material and *Bonus Epilogue, guaranteed to leave your head spinning! Prepare to feel good, laugh and fall in love...
A notorious gunslinger with a vendetta and an attitude. A divorced travel agent determined to heal. An extraordinary rose. 1878 and present-day are about to collide…
Colton Chase searches for the monster that murdered his parents. It’s been ten years and every day that passes only fuels his grit. When he plucks a single rare rose, a wicked thunderstorm catches him in its wrath, and after the clouds clear, his entire world has changed. Madison Calloway is on a business trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, when she quite literally stumbles into the biggest horse she’s ever seen. The rugged old man leading the animal looks like he stepped out of a historical Wild West catalog. Her love of antiques is piqued, and she strikes up a conversation.
He claims he’s from 1878 and she feels bad for him; clearly, he suffers from dementia. But there’s an uneasy undertone—everything from his clothes to his strange turns of phrase back up his story. So when another storm brews and he tells her he’s going back, she follows. The two find themselves in 1878 and the old man is gone—in his place a strapping young man, handsome, fascinating, and irresistible.
Can Madison adjust to life more than a century in the past, leaving behind the world she knows? Or will she return home and forever lose the man she’s falling for? Her biggest fears are realized when she’s abducted by Colt’s fierce enemy, and if she survives, this event may well send her running home for good.

Review:
Colton Chase is a gunslinger on a ten year vendetta to find and kill the man who murdered his parents. Recent cattle rustling brings Colton home to the family ranch that is being managed by his angry, dilatory, younger brother. Colton needs some down time to regroup. He rides to a favorite spot where he picks an unusual rose. He is caught in a wild storm and when he and his horse ride out of the mist, he discovers a new town that he didn’t know existed… because it didn’t in his time.

Madison is a twenty first century career woman who has invested her energy in her travel agency since her divorce from her cheating husband. She and her staff are visiting Jackson Hole, Wyoming for business. She is startled when she steps in front of a large horse and looks up into the eyes of an elderly cowboy who appears to be straight out of the historical west. The two are drawn to each other and Colton convinces Madison to spend a day out with him. She begins to see a young, rugged handsome cowboy rather than an elderly character. Colton is confused by his circumstances, but Madison fears he is suffering from dementia since he claims to be from 1878.

Colton is set on returning to his time and never expected Madison to accidentally follow him. Once she is there, Colton is ready to claim her as his wife. Madison isn’t so quick to commit to a backward time and she is still reluctant to let a man have any control in her life. Colton agrees to help Madison return to her time but first he has to follow a hot clue for his vengeance. Madison fears for his safety but in trying to help she gets captured. Can Colton save her and if he does will she agree to stay or still want to return to her own time, leaving him behind?

The time travel romance hit all the right genre buttons: Historical Fiction, Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy. It is a romance with nice historical detail, a believable time travel trigger and well developed characters. I call this a ‘traditional’ romance as it contains some of the cliché’ description of the sexual encounters that I associate with romance from the 1990s. It was awkward to me, but it was still a nice story and easy read. I recommend this to fans of time travel romance who wouldn’t mind the older language and sexual descriptions.

Source: NetGalley 2020. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021NetGalley and 2021Alphabet goals.

MBS February 2021 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2021 Reading List - FEBRUARY

Code for the list is:
A = Audible or Audio
e = eBook; eA = eBook from Author; eT = eBook from Tour
NG = NetGalley
P = Print; PT = Print from Tour
LBC = Ladies Book Club
TBR = From the TBR shelves prior to 2020
Favorites for the month:

5 Stars = none
4.75 Stars = Smoke Bitten and Murder of Crows
4.5 Stars = You're Going to Mars, From Here to Equality, Noah - Another Storm, Dorothy: A Madcap Romance

1. eBTBR- Book Review: X-O Manowar, Volume 1: By The Sword by Robert Venditti; Genre: Comic, Graphic Novel, Sci Fi, Superhero; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
2. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Unprepared, The Scourge, Book 1 by Tom Abrahams; Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
3. ATBR- Audible Book Review: You're Going to Mars by Rob Dircks; Genre: Adventure, Humor, Sci Fi, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
4. NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: Evolving Elizah: Initiatum by C. J. Hall; Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
5. ATBR- Audible Book Review: From Here to Equality, Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century, by William A. Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mulle; Genre: Economic Theory, Nonfiction, African American Demographic Studies; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.
6. PTBR- Book Review: Noah - Another Storm is Coming by E.G. White; Genre: Christian, Inspirational; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.
7. Author2021- Book Review: 200 by Jennifer Brody; Genre: Dystopian Graphic Novels, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
8. ATBR- Audio Book Review: Night Stalker by Shirlee McCoy; Genre: Christian, Mystery, Romantic Suspense; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.0; Narration 4.25.
9. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Smoke Bitten: A Mercy Thompson Novel, Book 12, by Patricia Briggs; Genre: Action, Adventure, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 5.0.
10. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Call to Arms, Black Fleet Trilogy, Book 2, by Joshua Dalzelle; Genre: Military Sci Fi, Sci Fi, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.5.
11. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Dorothy: A Madcap Regency Romance by Anya Wylde; Genre: Comedy, Regency Romance; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
12. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Murder of Crows: A Novel of the Others, Book 2, by Anne Bishop; Genre: Contemporary Fantasy, Paranormal Fantasy, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 5.0.
13. NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: Time of the Rose by Bonita Clifton; Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy, Time Travel; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

Total read = 13 (+1 DNF)
TBR = 11
New Authors = 9
Audio/Audible = 8 (7 TBRs)
NetGalley = 2 (2 TBRs)
Author Review books (other than NG) = 2
Nonfiction = 2
eBook = 2 (1 TBRs)
Print = 1 (1 TBR)

Goal Progress (to Date meaning through the end of the given month):
Goodreads Goal Read to Date: 26 of 124
TBR to Date: 23 of 90 total
Audio to Date: 16 of 64
NetGalley to Date: 6 of 24
Author Reviews: 3 of 12
Nonfiction: 3 of 12
TBR ebooks or Print: 5 of 24

• Seasonal title: 1 of 4: Winter
• Color in title: 1 of 8: Red
• Alphabet letters covered: 26 Mixed media:10 Jan + 6 Feb +
• Alphabet letters covered: 26 Audio only (not the same):1 Jan + 4 Feb +
• Series: 16 (6 continuing, 10 new) • New to me Series: 10 (3 Yes to continue; 4 likely to continue, 3 maybe)

Sunday Post March 7, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday March 8, 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 had a productive week but still have plenty to do.
Another down market week so I shifted some of my investments.

I brought dinner home several nights last week, but Hubby fed me nicely on Saturday:
bacon and eggs for breakfast and pork and sauerkraut for dinner!

We had more rain this past week and one day went from nice in the morning to cold and wet when it was time to leave the office. No rain expected this week

I had two 'longer' books this week and slipped in a short one. I finished one audiobook and one NetGalley children's book;  posted two reviews and my usual memes.

I visited 17 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to MY HEAD IS FULL OF BOOKS. Anne shares reviews, a bit of life and a bit of social comment.

Don't forget- Audible is offering free children's titles during these days at home.
Audiobooks.com is also offering free listens for children.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post February 28, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday March 1, 2021.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Dorothy: A Madcap Regency Romance by Anya Wylde; Genre: Comedy, Regency Romance; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway March 5, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 3/11/2021.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Murder of Crows: A Novel of the Others, Book 2, by Anne Bishop; Genre: Contemporary Fantasy, Paranormal Fantasy, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 5.0.

• Sharing Beyond Books #416 Comment Giveaway March 6, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 3/20/2021.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement March 7, 2021.

Finished Reading:

1. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Black Ops Expeditionary Force, Book 4
By: Craig Alanson
Narrated by: R. C. Bray
Length: 16 hrs and 44 mins
I enjoyed another episode in this fav series.
Source: 3/8/2020 Two For One Credit Sale at Audible.

2. ADE App on Computer (NG2020)

Chicken Talk Around the World
by Carole Lexa Schaefer
This is a lovely little book.
Source: NetGalley 2020.
Explore world languages and different cultures as we see--and hear--grandmothers' chickens in the United States, Mexico, Kenya, Japan, India, and France, in this delightful book that introduces children to cultural diversity.
Kid-friendly text full of onomatopoeia and simple international vocabulary makes Chicken Talk Around the World a great read-aloud. Bright, charming illustrations show multigenerational families and chickens in different environments, celebrating cultural diversity; as well as universal elements, such as the special relationships grandmothers have with their grandchildren no matter where they live in the world.

Currently Reading:

1. pdf/Computer (Author 2021)

Frosted (Regency Retold #2)
by M.C. Frank
I am reading this as pdf on my computer so it takes a bit longer. It is a very rich romance.
Source: Received from author. Release date is February 20, 2021. My review will post before March 12.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Kindle App on/Smartphone (NG2020)

Forever Phoebe
by Chalon Linton
30% in and I am enjoying this sweet romance!
Source: NetGalley 2020.
At the dignified age of eighteen, Phoebe Jamison knows she should behave in a manner befitting her station, as her three loving elder brothers often tease. Unfortunately, the lively young woman has a personality every bit as fiery as her red hair, a fact brought to her attention in the criticism from the gentleman she has long pined for. But not every man is of the opinion that a woman should be decorous above all else. The newest resident of Somerset, Mr. Franklin Everly, is considered a most eligible bachelor, and he is immediately drawn to Phoebe’s spirited nature as he becomes acquainted with the delightful Jamison siblings of Primly Park. Franklin embarks on a friendship with Phoebe that quickly deepens into a warm and thrilling connection. But even as he fights for Phoebe’s attentions, a very real danger is revealed: girls in neighboring villages have gone missing, and the kidnapper is moving ever closer to Primly Park. Despite the guard of her fiercely protective brothers and Franklin, Phoebe must rely on her own strength when she finds herself in the sights of the Bride Snatcher.

3. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

Wolf's Bane
Written by Aimee Easterling
Narrated by Piper Goodeve
Release Date: July 2, 2019
Run time: 5 hours and 43 minutes
I chose a shifter and, hopefully, action story from my TBR shelves.
Source: 4/01/2020 Chirp for $.99.
Publisher Description
Secrets are my specialty.
I’m Mai Fairchild — fox shifter, sister’s keeper, and bane of the local werewolf pack. In a world where different is dangerous, my sister and I must pretend to be human at all costs. Too bad I just lost the job that lets me live under the radar while putting food on my sister’s plate.
Enter an enticing werewolf who offers enough cash to upgrade our diets from ramen noodles to salami if I join him on a magical hunt. But can I afford to accept the opportunity when the risk of working closely with every fox shifter’s sworn enemy is so great?
This first book in USA Today bestselling author Aimee Easterling’s newest series dives into a world of magic, danger, and romance.

March 7, 2021 - 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 the NLT Tyndale version of the Bible on You Version App so Hubby and I are reading the same passages each day.
I will pick out a new short study this evening.

I completed two books but have three reviews to post plus one committed so it should be four this week. 
NetGalley shelf is at 9. (I might allow myself to look again this week. :-))
Two author titles remaining in queue.
(Plus a few that I received from 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: 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.
No new review books this week.
I picked out my two February Audible credits (for Hubby this time) plus one additional novella.

I also found three audio books at Chirp.
And I found a title from Audible plus.

I actually purchased two print books this yet.
I only added one free Kindle title this week.
(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 used my two February Audible Credits for my Hubby, who rarely reads, as he has been re-reading to catch up in the Pendergast series.
I had wanted to read with him but once he got started he went through at least seven of the prior books!

Extraction
By: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
Narrated by: Rene Auberjonois
Length: 1 hr and 7 mins
Release date: 10-16-12

Blue Labyrinth
By: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
Narrated by: Rene Auberjonois
Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins
Release date: 11-11-14

Crimson Shore
By: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
Narrated by: Rene Auberjonois
Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
Release date: 11-10-15


I also had Hubby buy the 2020 book, Crooked River, while it was on sale at Chirp for $4.99.

I was ordering some other items and decided to add these two print books.

The Know Your Bill of Rights Book: Don't Lose Your Constitutional Rights--Learn Them!
Patrick, Sean

The Iron Triangle: Inside the Liberal Democrat Plan to Use Race to Divide Christians and America in their Quest for Power and How We Can Defeat Them
Vince Everett Ellison



While I was visiting at Chirp, I found three titles I chose not to resist:

Her Cowboy Deputy
Written by Lacy Williams
Narrated by Lara Asmundson
Run Time 6h 27min
I like the look of this historical romance for $0.99

A Ripple in Time
Written by Victor Zugg
Narrated by Sean William Doyle
Run Time 7h 26min
I do like time travel/alternate reality stories. $2.99

Blind Search
Written by Paula Munier
Narrated by Kathleen McInerney
Run Time 12h 10min
I kept coming back to this cover and finally decided to try the series. $3.99

Free

Audible Plus Catalogue.

Man Riding West
By: Jon Tuska, Louis L'Amour
Narrated by: Mark Bramhall, Tom Weiner
Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins


Free titles often found at Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement March 7, 2021

Our congregation celebrated communion this morning. We can share at home although it isn't quite the same.

Members from the Teen Challenge Center in Pensacola came to share with us this morning. Teen challenge was started in 1958 by Reverend David Wilkerson. The program leader advised that addiction kills 7 people per minute or 3,679 million per year. That is more than population that live in the state of Mississippi. The program started out for teens, but now is open to adults. Addiction impacts not just the individual, but their family and the community. God can turn the situation around for adults and adolescents.

The participants gave testimonials and shared a moving skit. I am always blessed by the ministry of Teen Challenge.

I thought this song fit for those who need a chain breaker and waymaker.

Verses for Today:
Romans 13:12
The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Lord, Thank you for being a God who sees the pain of people and is there to help when they call on You. Show me how I can help in Your work.