Sunday Post April 9, 2023/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday April 10, 2023

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.

It was another busy work week. I hired a new title clerk and she is training well.
Heather was out Thursday to doctor and hospital for x-rays. She was diagnosed with pneumonia so they prescribed antibiotics and an inhaler. She'll see the ob/gyn this week for the other issues.

I received an alarming email midweek:

Your blog titled "http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/" has been removed.

The basis for removal was "Your content has violated our MALWARE policy." They had several links to go to for reference, including a "Help Forum", but two of the links (including the Help) didn't work!
It did cause me to wonder if I would expend the effort to replace the blog. Fortunately I was able to request they review the status and it was reinstated a couple of hours later.

x

My continuing prayers include prayers for more unity in all nations, a calmer social atmosphere, and for revival.
I have personal prayers for health for Heather and Hui and business decisions for my office as we begin making staff changes.

We did have some hot afternoon's last week and heavy afternoon showers - a common Florida weather event. Easter morning was cool in the low 50s. (They still had a good crowd for the beach sunrise service.) The temps this week will be a little cooler - under 80.

I finished three audios this past week and posted three reviews with my memes.

I visited only 15 blogs again last week.
Shout out this week to S.J. PAJONAS. S.J. is an author with some Sci Fi I need to check out.

Audiobooks.com is still sharing some free listens for children.

• Sunday Post April 2. 2023/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday April 3, 2023.

• ATBR: Audio Book Review: Extreme Medical Services Box Set Vol 1 - 3 by Jamie Davis; Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
  

• DNF - ATBR: Audible Book Review: Space: 1969 by Bill Oakley, Full Cast; Genre: Alternate History, Humor, Parody; My Rating: 2.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 2.0; Narration 4.0.
  

• ATBR: Audio Book Review: Moonshine & Magic by Bella Falls; Genre: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Magic; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5. 

• MBS March 2023 Reading List Wrap Up.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement April 9, 2023 - He is Risen!

Finished Reading:

1. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

Purgatory's Shore
Artillerymen, Book 1
By: Taylor Anderson
Narrated by: PJ Ochlan
Length: 22 hrs and 19 mins
Release date: 09-21-21
I'm glad I got into this.
I have book 2 already in my TBR.
Source: 2/5/22 Audible January Credit.
Click on book title for full description.

2. BookFunnel Audio Smartphone (IRead Tour Audio)

The Registration
By: Madison Lawson
Narrated by: Kathleen McInerney
Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
This has a different premise and lots of action.
Source: Author via Bookfunnel for IRead Tour.
My post will be 4/13.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Author Review (PDF)

The Rapture: 23 Biblical Answers To The Question: When Is It?
by Joshua J. Watson
I found the arguments interesting...

and partially persuasive.
Source: March 2023 Author supplied PDF.

Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:
1. Audio Smartphone (ATBR)

To Whisper Her Name
By: Tamera Alexander
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
Series: A Belle Meade Plantation Novel, Book 1
Length: 17 hrs and 8 mins
I am enjoying this lovely, character driven Civil War romance.
I inadvertently was thinking this was a "W" title but it begins with "T". Source: February 2018 Audible Sale $5.95.
Publisher's Summary
From best-selling author Tamera Alexander comes an exquisite historical novel set against the real history of Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville, Tennessee, that explores the struggles of real people of the post-war South and the journeys of a man and a woman scarred by betrayal.
Olivia Aberdeen, destitute widow of a man shot as a traitor to the South, is shunned by proper society and gratefully accepts an invitation from Elizabeth Harding, mistress of Belle Meade Plantation. Expecting to be the Hardings’ head housekeeper, Olivia is disillusioned when she learns the real reason Elizabeth’s husband, Confederate General William Giles Harding, agreed to her coming. Not finding the safe haven she expects, Olivia is caught off guard by her feelings for Ridley Adam Cooper, a man who seems anything but a Southern gentleman.
Branded a traitor by some, Ridley Cooper, a Southern son who chose to fight for the Union, is a man desperate to end the war still raging inside him. Determined to learn “the gift” that Belle Meade's head horse trainer and former slave, Bob Green, possesses, Ridley harbors secrets that threaten both their lives.
As Ridley seeks to make peace within himself for fighting against the South he loved, Olivia is determined to never be betrayed again.
…
This inspirational historical romance can be listened to as a stand-alone novel or enjoyed as the first audiobook in Tamera Alexander’s Belle Meade series.
Audiobook length: approximately 125K words. Includes discussion questions for book clubs and a note from the author.
©2012 Tamera Alexander (P)2012 Zondervan

2. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

Werewolf Cop
By: Andrew Klavan Narrated
by: Andrew Klavan
Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins
Release date: 03-24-15
It took a while to pick my next listen.
I chose this for a true "W" title and for action.
Source: 10/31/2020 Audible Two for One Credit Sale.
Publisher's Summary
Zach Adams is one of the best detectives in the country. Nicknamed Cowboy, he serves on a federal task force that has a single mission: to hunt down Dominic Abend, a European gangster.
After a brutal murder gives them a lead, Zach feels like he's finally on Abend's trail. But things get complicated and very, very weird. Zach is beginning to suspect that Abend's evil goes beyond crime - perhaps to the edge of the supernatural.
In a centuries-old forest under a full moon, a beast assaults him, cursing him forever. In the aftermath Zach is transformed into something horrible - something deadly. Now the good cop has innocent blood on his hands. He has killed - and he will kill again - in the form of a beast that can't be controlled or stopped.
©2015 Amalgamated Metaphor (P)2015 Dreamscape Media, LLC

I had a hard time picking the second book so I will wait until I get there to pick the next one.


April 9, 2023 - I am enjoying this new plan on YouVersion. I totally enjoy watching the devotion videos so I am doing another BibleProject plan: The Full Story - "From the beginning to the Amen". I have never done a Chronological reading before.
I finished 5 day study: The Grave.
This week I did an 8 day study: Following Jesus Through Death & BACK AGAIN.

I finished three audio titles and reviewed three so I remain up to date.

NETGALLEY STATUS--
I still have two audio and one newer ebook on my NetGalley shelf.
I still have the two old NetGalley ebook titles.

I have one author review in my queue that I need to start reading on my computer. (I need to look back and see which one this is.)
(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 newest to the team, Emma at Words and Peace.
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I won two ebooks last week.
I purchased three books at Chirp.
I selected my VIP free audio at audiobooks. com.
I picked five more free Audible Plus Catalog audio books. (Eight shown were from last week.)
I got one free Kindle title last week.
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

4/8/2023 I won two ebooks from author Nancy Lynn Jarvis at Bookworm.
The giveaway was for the book that was one of my MM picks:

Dearly Beloved Departed: a PIP Inc. Mystery (PIP Inc. Mysteries Book 4)
by Nancy Lynn Jarvis

Since I mentioned her experience as a realtor she generously gave me a second book:

The Widow's Walk League (Regan Mchenry Real Estate Mysteries Book 4)
by Nancy Lynn Jarvis

Purchased

4/7/2023 Chrip – three titles at $.99 each.
I have been interested in this time travel series. These are books 3, 4 and 5. I have book 1 on Kindle and may get the first two in a boxed audio set.

Crossroads in Time
Written by Sarah Woodbury
Narrated by Laurel Schroeder
Run Time 7h 56min
$9.99; $0.99

Children of Time
Written by Sarah Woodbury
Narrated by Laurel Schroeder
Run Time 8h 54min
$9.99; $0.99

Exiles in Time
Written by Sarah Woodbury
Narrated by Laurel Schroeder
Run Time 8h 36min
$9.99; $0.99

Free

4/7/2023 Audiobooks.com April VIP

Home for Christmas
Series: #1 of Swedish Seasons
Written by: Annika Devert, Jessika Devert
Narrated by: Natalie Pela
Duration 8 hours 1 minute


I added eight new Audible Plus titles last week that I didn't list.
4/1/2023 Audible Plus free titles:

A Purely Private Matter
A Rosalind Thorne Mystery
By: Darcie Wilde
Narrated by: Sarah Nichols
Series: Rosalind Thorne Mysteries, Book 2
Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
I'm glad to continue this series.

Pride, Prejudice, and Poison
A Jane Austen Society Mystery, Book 1
By: Elizabeth Blake
Narrated by: Justine Eyre
Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
This English Cozy Mystery looks like fun.

Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery Boxed Set, Books 1-3
By: Tonya Kappes
Narrated by: Johanna Parker
Length: 14 hrs and 54 mins
Since I’ve had years of enjoying RV vacations, I’m looking forward to trying this series.

Lethal in Old Lace
The Consignment Shop Mysteries, Book 5
By: Duffy Brown
Narrated by: Amy Tallmadge
Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins
- Dog on the cover. 😊

The Ruin
By: Dervla McTiernan
Narrated by: Aoife McMahon
Series: The Cormac Reilly Series, Book 1
Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
I’ve eyed this Irish suspense for a while so I’m glad to get it for free.

Not by Sight
By: Kate Breslin
Narrated by: Justine Eyre
Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
Historical Mystery Romance sounds good to me.

Duke of Knight
Gentlemen of Knights Series, Book 1
By: Elizabeth Johns
Narrated by: Alex Wyndham
Length: 6 hrs and 4 mins
A Regency / Victorian with a Duke and a feisty governess.

A Cowboy for Keeps
Colorado Cowboys, Book 1
By: Jody Hedlund
Narrated by: Susan Hanfield
Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins
I like historical, western romance.

4/3-4/8/23 Five more Audible Plus titles this week:

I.C.O.N.
Wardens of Issalia, Book 0
By: Jeffrey L. Kohanek
Narrated by: Tim Campbell
Length: 1 hr and 8 mins
A sci fi mini story.

Shackled
An Aldoran Chronicles Prequel
By: Michael Wisehart
Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
Series: The Aldoran Chronicles, Book 0.5
Length: 2 hrs and 29 mins
“Dragons and Mythical Creatures” pulls me in.

The Extinction New Zealand Series Box Set:
The Rule of Three, The Fourth Phase, The Five Pillars
The Extinction New Zealand Series, Books 1-3
By: Adrian J. Smith
Narrated by: Raphael Corkhill
Length: 23 hrs and 6 mins
Adding to my Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic TBR pile.

The World Over
By: Cassiopeia Fletcher
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
Series: Stone World Saga, Book 1
Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
Another addition to my Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic TBR pile.

Galaxy on Fire: Publisher's Pack
By: Craig Robertson
Narrated by: Scott Aiello
Series: Galaxy on Fire, Book 1-2
Length: 13 hrs and 17 mins
And a Space Opera.


One Kindle title:

(Thanks to seeing another book by this author at Book Reviews by Linda Moore, I found this title for free.)
The Making of a Matchmaker: A Prequel (The Mystery Matchmaker of Ella Pointe Book 1)
by Tess Thompson


One new title added to Kindle library.
Free titles might be found at Bookbub, Book Adrenaline, Ereader News Today, Inspired Reads, or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement April 9, 2023 - He Is Risen!

I drove to Panama City Beach to go to church with my daughter and granddaughters. I was very glad they wanted to go to church. The church was different for me and had worship music that sounded like country music. But they also sang a couple of well-known Easter hymns.
The Pastor delivered two sections with the same message.

The summarized sermon was the message of sin and salvation. Man is at odds with God. But before tine began, God had a plan to reconcile sinners back to Him - the work of Christ. Jesus died as a substitute for sinners.

Humans have the responsibility to repent and believe that Jesus is the son of God, He died for our sins and rose from the dead. We have to accept Jesus as our Lord. Jesus will return as King of kings, Lord of lords. Once you accept Christ as Lord, the Holy Spirit lives in you and you will live in eternity.

Then the Pastor read the Easter story from Scripture where God tells the story: John 19:1- 20:18, 30-31.
For the son has come to seek and save the lost. Luke 19:10.

The Christian can have abundant life in God's Kingdom, current and future. John 10:10. Abundant is a life of value. We miss out because we lose focus on God’s Word. Abundant life cannot be manufactured. It comes only from God.

Jesus is alive, calling your name. He is The Risen King.

I found this song today which is perfect for Resurrection Day! Thank You Jesus for the Blood.

Verse for Today:
Matthew 28:5-7 NIV
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”


Praise God for the Gift of salvation through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ!!

MBS March 2023 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2023 Reading List - MARCH

Code for the list is:
A = Audible; ABB = Audiobook Boom
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 2023

Favorites for the month:
5 Stars =
4.75 Stars =
4.5 Stars =  Terminus Lee Harden, Book 6

1. NG2022: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: The Last Saxon King by Andrew Varga; Genre: Adventure, Teen and YA, Time Travel; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
   
2. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Kingdoms of Sorrow, Catalyst, Book 2 by JK Franks; Genre: Adventure, Genetic Engineering, Post-Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
   
3. NG2022: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Murder at an Irish Castle (Irish Castle Mystery #1) by Ellie Brannigan; Genre: Cozy Mystery, Irish, Thriller & Suspense; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
   
4. ATBR: Audible Book Reviews: Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim; Genre: Fairy Tale & Folklore Adaptations, Teen & Young Adult; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
   
5. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Terminus, Lee Harden, Book 6 by D.J. Molles; Genre: Military, Post-Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
   
6. NG2023: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Good Dog, Bad Cop by David Rosenfelt; Genre: Animals, Private Investigators; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
   
7. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Junkyard Pirate by Jamie McFarlene; Genre: Adventure, Alien, First Contact, Military, Pirate, Space; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
   
8. ATBR: Audible Book Review: One Heart to Win by Johanna Lindsey; Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Western; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
   
9. NG2023: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Deadlands: Hunted by Skye Melki-Wegner; Genre: Action, Adventure, Dinosaurs, Middle Grade; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.
   
10. ATBR: Audible Book Review: A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde; Genre: Historical Mystery, Woman Sleuth; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.0.
    
11. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Along Came Holly by Codi Hall; Genre: Romance, Contemporary; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
    
12. ATBR: Audio Book Review: Extreme Medical Services Box Set Vol 1 - 3 by Jamie Davis; Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
    
13. DNF - ATBR: Audible Book Review: Space: 1969 by Bill Oakley, Full Cast; Genre: Alternate History, Humor, Parody; My Rating: 2.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 2.0; Narration 4.0.
    
14. ATBR: Audio Book Review: Moonshine & Magic by Bella Falls; Genre: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Magic; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

This Month Total read = 14
TBR = 11
New Authors = 9
Audio/Audible = 14 (11 TBRs)
NetGalley = 4 (4 audio) (1 TBRs)
Author Review books (other than NG) = 0
Nonfiction = 0
eBook = 0 (0 TBR)
Print = 0 (0 TBR)
DNF - 1

Goal Progress (to Date meaning through the end of the given month)
Goodreads Goal Read to Date: 32 of 125
TBR to Date: 29 of 90 total
Audio to Date: 32 of 100
NetGalley to Date: 6 of 10
Author Reviews: 0 of 12
Nonfiction: 2 of 10
TBR ebooks or Print: 0 of 8
New Authors to date: 17

• Series: 25 of 75 (8 continuing, 17 new)
• New to me Series: 17 (8 Yes to continue; 6 likely to continue, 3 maybe, 0 unlikely)
• Finished for me Series: 2 (maybe? Not sure if the Bobiverse is done)

Special Goals
• Seasonal title: 1 of 4: Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn
• Alphabet letters covered: (20 of 26) -- 9 January (A, C, D, F, H, L, P, R, S); 6 February (B, E, G, I, T, Y); 5 March (K, M, J, O, U)
Locations: 6 of 8
      River, Mountains, Kingdoms, Castle, Junkyard, Deadlands,
Numbers: 4 of 12
      Forging Zero, Cat o’ Nine Tales, Six Crimson Cranes, One Heart to Win

Groups of Five: (Places and Numbers above)
Times of Day: 1 of 5
      Moonshine
Occupations: 6 of 5
      Warrior, Cowboy, Vet, King, Cop, Pirate
Colors: 2 of 5
      The Far Blue Mountains, Six Crimson Cranes,

Audio Book Review: Moonshine & Magic by Bella Falls

This was a fun, easy listen which I really enjoyed.
Moonshine & Magic
Written By: Bella Falls
Narrated By: Johanna Parker

Duration: 7 h 59 min
Release date: 07-18-18
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal, Magic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Summary
Magic and mystery are only part of the Southern Charms of Honeysuckle Hollow . . .
Charli Goodwin doesn't expect her homecoming to go without a hitch-after all, she skipped town, leaving her fiance and family without a clue as to where she was going or why. Now that she's ready to return home, she plans to lay low and sip some of her Nana's sweet tea while the town gossips come out to play.
Unfortunately, on her first night back, Charli discovers the body of her crazy great-uncle, and suddenly finds herself at the center of a mystery that threatens the very foundations of Honeysuckle Hollow and the safety of every paranormal citizen in it-starting with Charli herself.
With the clock ticking, will Charli's special magical talents be enough to save not only the town but also her own life?

Review:
Charli Goodwin is returning home on her father’s rebuilt motorcycle until the engine dies as she hits the wards of her magical community, Honeysuckle Hollow. Charli expects some second glances, if not hostility, after having left without explanation a year or so before. She didn’t exactly plan it, but she is just in time for the community’s annual celebrations. After getting help from a gnome and ‘fairy godmother’, the first person Charli runs into is her quirky great-uncle. Uncle Tipper is rather paranoid, but he holds Charli as one of his favorite people.

Charli arrives at the evening festivities to witness the engagement of her former fiancé to a not so pleasant cousin. As Charli backs away to go home to Nana, Uncle Tipper’s crow, Biddy, directs Charli off the path to find Uncle Tipper dead. Now Charli, believed to be the last to speak with Tipper, is caught up trying to solve the mystery of his death and trying to find a cure for the curse that she stumbled into. There are many questions. Who will benefit by Tipper’s death since it will open a seat on the town governing board which is filled by someone from each founding family? Where is Uncle Tipper’s Last Will? Who was he cavorting with before his death? Charli has special skills that can help with some of the questions if she can survive the curse long enough to save the town from a group seeking development and finding the cure to save her own life.

While dealing with these issues, Charli finds herself getting attention from the current investigation Warden (detective), her Nana’s were shifter handyman, and even her former fiancé. The confusion of her emotions only adds to the strain of the curse that is sucking her magical energy.

I loved the quirky characters, including some villainous relatives. The story is an easy listen with some good twists. This is my second book by Bella Falls and I do like her different characters and light mystery plotlines. I recommend this to fans of magical, cozy mystery.

Audio Notes: I quite like Johanna Parker as a narrator. I have missed her voice since finishing the Sookie Stackhouse series so I am always glad to find books she has narrated. Her voice fits this type of fantasy and charm. The narration increased my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 7/29/2021 Audiobooks.com 2 for 1 Credit Deal. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and I am counting it toward a 2023Time of Day (or night) goal.

Audio Book Review: Extreme Medical Services Box Set Vol 1 - 3 by Jamie Davis

I enjoyed book 1 although it isn't exactly gripping.
Extreme Medical Services Box Set Vol 1 - 3
Written by Jamie Davis
Narrated by Roberto Scarlato

Run time: 20 hours and 16 minutes
Release Date: August 15, 2018
Publisher: MedicCast Productions
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural, Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher Description
Monsters, Paramedics, and Street Medicine.
New paramedic Dean Flynn is fresh out of the academy. When he gets assigned to the unknown backwater ambulance Station U, he wonders what he did wrong. Then Dean learns that his patients aren’t your normal 911 callers.
Dean and his partner Brynne Garvey serve the creatures of myth and legend living alongside their normal human neighbors in Elk City. With patients that are vampires, werewolves, fairies and more, will Dean survive his first days on the new job? Will his patients?
Not all is well on the streets of Elk City either, and some humans are striking out at their mythical neighbors. Dean soon finds himself in the middle of a series of attacks on his patients, attacks that implicate a former member of Station U.
Come along on this ride with “Extreme Medical Services” - part one of the series by the same name, a paranormal medical thrill-ride with the paramedics of Elk City. Described by one fan as “like Grimm, but

with paramedics” this book is brought to you by best-selling author and real-life paramedic Jamie Davis. He crafts a book called an accurate, interesting, & fabulous page-turner.
Jump on the ambulance with Dean, Brynne and the rest of the team.

Review:
Dean Flynn is excited to be a new paramedic as he graduates from the academy. He knows he is a top student and expects the pick of assignments. He is therefore surprised when he is assigned to Station U, an unknown backwater ambulance station. It only takes a day to learn that Station U has “Unusual” 911 callers living in Elk City. They are creatures of myth and legend including a werewolf (struggling to maintain human form), a water fairy, a vampire (who reacts badly to sunscreen and glitter and has a jealous girlfriend), a siren (with a mesmerizing voice), and a deteriorating zombie.

Dean is trying to cope with all the newness he is experiencing and then he and his partner learn that someone is targeting the Unusual patients. The likely attacker clearly has information about the paranormal community which implies it may be a former employee.

The creatures are ‘fun’ and Dean’s reactions interesting. The mysterious attacker doesn’t stay hidden too long… at least from Dean. But there may be a larger group behind the attacks who will endanger Dean and his Station U teammates. These features provide engagement. There are flaws that detract a bit including too much telling and repetition of mundane actions. There is also a lot of diagnosis and treatment detail which is realistic and perhaps engaging, but a bit much for those of us who are mostly ignorant in the medical field. I think the telling instead of showing and repeated details made this a bit flat for me.

I am glad to have the boxed set, but I am not rushing back to continue the series as I like to vary my reading. I would recommend this to fans of paranormal stories and especially if the reader likes the medical input.

Audio Notes: Roberto Scarlato did a good job with the narration. He provides entertaining voices and does the best to give more life to the flat dialog and reading portions. I am glad I have the stories in audio format so the narration can add to the reading.

Source: 4/23/2020 Chirp $2.99. This qualifies for 2023TBR and 2023Audiobook goals.