Friday, April 30, 2021

REVIEW: Fort Dead

Fort Dead
Author: Camille Picott


Fort Dead is the 4th and final book in the Undead Ultra series. I love this series and its characters. I'm sorry to see it end. But one great thing about books -- they can always be read again! 

Kate and her rag tag family of zombie apocalypse survivors faces a new challenge in this final book. A band of evil bandits is threatening one of Kate's friends she met months before. Alvarez is at Fort Ross about 200 miles away from Kate's group. But when she hears he needs help, she knows she has to help! Can Kate and a group of her Creekside survivors make it to Fort Ross before the gang of bandits starts killing people? Sometimes surviving people are worse than the zombies!

This last book has so much action and emotional moments. Some characters survive....some do not. This was a re-read for me, but it was just as emotional for me this time as it was the first. When reading zombie stories, I always tell myself not to get attached to characters....but I always do. There are a couple scenes in this book that make me sad.....and some that make me really proud of how this group of characters pulls together to get through the worst situations. Awesome zombie series! 

I'm hoping Camille writes at least another short story....or even another book.....to revisit these characters. I'd love to know what happens to Reed. Or Bella. Ben. Kate. Carter. Jenna. Alvarez. Jessica. Heck....even Medieval John! Everybody! In the meantime, I'm moving on to enjoy Camille's other zombie series, Zommunist Invasion! 

]I listened to the audio book version of this story. Very entertaining! Great narrator who really brings the characters and action to life! 


Thursday, April 29, 2021

REVIEW: Wartime with the Cornish Girls

 Wartime With the Cornish Girls
Author: Betty Walker



1941. Many are fleeing London to escape the Blitz. Three women meet in Cornwall. Each has their own story --  a sister killed in the Blitz, one recovering from bombing injuries, another just trying to survive. They become friends, and end up working at a top secret military installation to help the war effort.

What a lovely story about friendship, bravery, and the strength of women in hard times! I loved all the main characters. They come from very different lives, but become the best of friends....in the worst of times. I liked the fact that this story wasn't just about the war and the secret installation, but also about these three women and their lives. 

Great story! This is the first book I've read by this author. She writes under two other pen names...I'm going to check out her other books (she writes thrillers, romance and YA fantasy)! I like her style! Wartime With the Cornish Girls would make an excellent movie or television series. The vibe reminded me a lot of the friendships in The Land Girls or Bomb Girls.

This is a book that definitely warrants a second read. As soon as it comes out, I'm snagging the audio book! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Avon Books. 

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

REVIEW: The Best Thing You Can Steal

 The Best Thing You Can Steal 
Author: Simon R. Green


Simon R. Green is one of my favorite authors. I have read and re-read his Nightside series and I am a big fan of his newer series of novellas, the Ishmael Jones series. When I saw he had a new series starting, it just took a quick read through the blurb to make me immediately jump on a review copy of this book! Total Nightside vibes -- and I have been missing that series so much since it concluded! 

The basics: Gideon Sable is a thief and a con man. But, he's the Good Guy. He steals only from those who truly deserve it. He has to be incredibly skilled to pull it off because the items he steals are unusual. He and his team steal items that can't be stolen. They do the impossible. 

I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for more! And I'm going to purchase the audio book to listen to this story again! There's just something about a London created from the mind of Simon R. Green....always magical, dangerous and awesome things hiding in the shadows! 

Loved it! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Severn House. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

REVIEW: The Music of Bees

 The Music of Bees
Author: Eileen Garvin


Three people struggling with inner anxiety and grief. They come together by chance at an Oregon bee farm, finding healing and friendship. 

I usually avoid this sort of emotional novel because sometimes (especially after a year of high stress with everything going on in the world) it just gets to be too much on top of real life. But, when I saw this was a debut novel set at a bee farm, I decided to give it a try. 

I'm glad I did! I enjoyed this story. There were portions that bogged me down a bit (the back stories of the three main characters aren't easy to read -- very heavy and emotional stuff -- and their journey is not easy)...but overall, this was a heartwarming story of getting past the past and moving forward, finding friendships, and looking forward to a second chance at life. 

Lovely story -- and amazing debut novel! I can't wait to see what Eileen Garvin writes next!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Penguin Group Dutton. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

Monday, April 26, 2021

REVIEW: The Next Everest

 The Next Everest
Author: Jim Davidson


In 2015, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Nepal. It destroyed villages, killing nearly 9000 people. And it trapped climbers on Mount Everest. The author of this book, Jim Davidson, was on the mountain that day. He spent two days trapped at nearly 20,000 feet not knowing if he and his fellow climbers would live or die. In the end, he and his climbing team were rescued. After the ordeal, he wasn't sure if he could ever return to the mountain. But in 2017 he did....and summitted. 

I'm obsessed with Mount Everest. I have to admit it...and the fact that I'm not exactly sure why. I will never climb it...and aspire to one day at least get to see it....but that might not ever happen. There's just something spectacularly beautiful about the mountain. Nature at its most beautifully brutal. The highest point on earth....a point where just taking a step and breathing is all a human being can physically do. Climbers pay a lot of money to travel to the mountain and attempt to summit. I don't care for the tourism side of things. They leave so much waste on the mountain and disrespect a place that for the Sherpa people is a sacred mountain. And too many of the wealthy climbers also disrespect the Sherpa that work so hard to make the mountain accessible. For me, the draw is the mountain itself. I can understand why it is a holy place for the Sherpa. The power and beauty of nature itself rising up to more than 29,000 feet. It just amazes me. 

I watch every documentary I find on Mount Everest....and read every book I come across. I was familiar with the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath. I've watched multiple documentaries about the avalanche on Mount Everest that day and the destruction of villages in the region. When I saw this book by Jim Davidson was coming out, I had to read it. And I'm glad I did! Davidson's story of danger, survival and perseverance is mesmerizing! 

This book was a total binge read for me. I couldn't put it down. When the book came out, I immediately bought the audio book. This isn't just a story about a disaster in Nepal, but a story about a man's survival and subsequent fight to succeed at a life goal -- summiting the highest peak in the world. 

Awesome book! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**



Sunday, April 25, 2021

REVIEW: Lost Coast

 Undead Ultra - Lost Coast
Author: Camille Picott


Kate, an ultrarunner, is holed up in a former college dorm with a rag tag bunch of former students and soldiers. They are getting in good physical condition, learning to gather supplies, and honing their zombie-killing skills. Things are finally looking up for the group of survivors. But, then they start to notice a change in the zombies. The zoms are forming organized packs headed by alpha zombies. When a huge horde descends on the town, the group struggles to survive. Zombies are bad enough....but huge hordes of zombies led by intelligent alphas? That's bad.....really, really bad.

Lost Coast is the 3rd book in the Undead Ultra series. In this newest story, the survivors face new challenges and some tough choices have to be made. Alpha zombies force them to up their game in order to survive. Not only that, but a long time friend of the group needs their help. When the whole world has disintegrated into constant fear and the constant possibility of death, friendships mean so much more. They have to find a way to help Alvarez.

Another great story in this series! I enjoyed the action, interesting developments for established characters, and some new characters joining the group. Can't wait for the next book!

- This review was first written in 2019 when I read this book for the first time. Now I'm revisiting this series in audio format! Updating this review! 

4/26/2021 - I love Undead Ultra -- it's my favorite zombie series!

I'm re-visiting Undead Ultra in audio format. I previously read the ebooks. The audio for Lost Coast is a bit over 14 hours long. Gwendolyn Druyor narrates. Druyor does a wonderful job of voice acting! Her performance brings Picott's characters to life!

This is my favorite book in the series. Lots of action and character development. Even though I knew what was going to happen, the audio book still kept me on the edge of my seat. It quickly became a binge listen over a weekend.

Definitely enjoying re-visiting this series. It's just as good the second (or third+ time!) as it was the first.


REVIEW: Blood and Treasure

 Blood and Treasure: Daniel Boone and the Fight for America's First Frontier
Author: Bob Drury & Tom Clavin


I have read several of Tom Clavin's books and have enjoyed them all! I always learn something new about America's early history. One thing I appreciate about his books is that he keeps the story interesting. It isn't just dry historical nonfiction....he keeps it interesting and entertaining. These books don't read like a textbook, but rather an unfolding of history by someone who obviously loves it. 

Drury and Clavin build a history of the early push beyond the Appalachian mountains using obviously in-depth research and contemporary sources including diaries, newspaper articles and firsthand stories. That makes this book about the real Daniel Boone and not a re-telling of the myth behind the man. This book is about the man....not the larger than life hero from old fiction novels and television shows. And it doesn't pull punches. The foray into the unsettled west was bloody, violent and grim at times. Native American tribes were brutalized, and attacked those venturing into their lands to save their way of life. Men, women and children died. Many, many of them. 

Loved this book! As usual I'm going to buy a hardback copy for my husband and the audio book for myself. For me these books always warrant a revisit. And my husband loves history as much as I do. 

I'm definitely eagerly awaiting the next book from both of these authors! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martins Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**


Saturday, April 24, 2021

REVIEW: A Talent to Deceive

 A Talent to Deceive
Author: William Norris


Charles Lindbergh was world famous. Larger than life. He was idolized and one of the first men to be made a household name by media coverage. When his 20-month old son was kidnapped and later found dead in 1932, it was a huge crime. Bruno Richard Hauptmann, a German immigrant, was arrested and executed for the crime. Author William Norris contends that Hauptmann was wrongly convicted. 

This book is so interesting. Norris presents evidence of shoddy police work, misleading evidence and a cover-up. And then he formulates his own theory on who may have actually been guilty. I've heard similar theories before. While I find it intriguing, there really is no way to prove or disprove the validity of Norris' ideas. It does make for interesting listening, however!

The audio book is just short of 12 hours long. Tom Beyer does a great job of narrating. He reads at a steady pace and has a pleasant, easy to understand, voice. 

Enjoyable listen. It is obvious that Norris did a lot of in-depth research into the Lindbergh kidnapping and the court case against Hauptmann. I will definitely be reading more of Norris' books!

*I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this audio book from CamCat Perspectives. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.*

Monday, April 19, 2021

REVIEW - Undead Ultra: Dorm Life

 Undead Ultra: Dorm Life
Author: Camille Picott


I first read this book two years ago...and I've been hooked on this series ever since! I decided to re-visit the series from the beginning by listening to the audio books. Loving it! 

The basics: After running more than 200 miles to find her son at his college during the zombie apocalypse, ultrarunner Kate finds herself holed up in a college dorm with her son and other surviving students. Kate is determined to keep the kids alive. They have to learn to survive in a world that has gone to shit. No more days wasted playing xbox. No more living like a couch potato. No more counting on fast food or the cafeteria for meals. Physical training. Survival skills. Kate is ready to teach these kids how to survive. But....it turns out the zombies aren't the only danger out there. Other survivors can be even more deadly than the undead. 

Dorm Life is the second book in the Undead Ultra series. I'm always game for a great zombie story...and I love how creative this series is. I have read zombie stories involving college students before...and just about every other scenario. But this is the first time I have read a series about ultrarunners surviving the apocalypse! There's a lot more than blisters, refueling and muscle fatigue when the undead are out to kill you! 

I listened to the audio book version of this story. The narrator, Gwendolyn Druyor, is wonderful! She brings the characters and action to life! Very entertaining listening experience! 

Full stars from me! I love this series! 

Friday, April 16, 2021

REVIEW: Undead Utra

 Undead Ultra
Author: Camille Picott


Ok, just to get this out of the way -- I love, love, love, love, love, love this series. Did I say that I love this series? I'm a big fan of zombie tales, and this one is different, creative and fun to read! Or listen to, in this case....

I read this first book in the series a couple years ago....so it was time to start over at the beginning and re-read this series! This time...I listened to the audio book. I have grown to love audio books especially for horror or monster tales....there's just something more suspenseful about having it read out loud to me. And this book was no exception -- loved this in audio format! I relived the memorable moments of this first book all over again, and the harsh moments hit harder in audio. Loved it!

The basics: Kate is an ultra runner. That means her runs are longer than marathon length (26.2 miles), and sometimes up to 100 miles. Her long time family friend, Frederico is too. They've been through a lot together...and are destined to go through a lot more. While on a run together through the country side, northern California turns into a wild, dangerous place. A virus starts turning people into crazed zombies. Roads are impassible, not only because of zombies...but also crazy, bad people. Frederico's daughter lives miles away....and Kate's son is 200+ miles away at college. How do ultrarunners save their kids during the zombie apocalypse?? They come running.....literally. 

The audio book version of this story is just short of 12 hours long and is narrated by Gwendolyn Druyor. Druyor does an awesome job of voice acting!! She reads at a nice, steady pace and voices the characters perfectly. Great listening experience!

You don't have to be a running enthusiast to enjoy this series......just a zombie apocalypse fan. 


Tuesday, April 6, 2021

REVIEW: Future Apocalypse - Beginnings

 Future Apocalypse: Beginnings
Author: Barbara J. Gilbert


I often have a difficult time reviewing indy published books. I am a huge advocate for indy authors. I want every single one to be highly successful and widely read. So, I have a harder time being completely objective in my reviews. In the end, I take a deep breath and do my best. I praise the positives that I see in each indy work first, while still truthfully pointing out problems in a constructive manner. 

First, the positives --  this is an interesting take on the idea of time travel. I love stories that make me think about the ethics and possibilities of such technology.  Is it even possible...and if so, how? And, if we could -- should we? What are the ramifications of travelling outside our own time? The concept alone sends me into sci-fi nerd ecstasies. 

I like the characters. Paulette Brown is a highly intelligent woman, driven to develop a device that can travel both forward and backward in time. She funds her dream project with an R&D idea to invent bionic replacement limbs for amputees. Paulette is a strong main character who  makes the best of her situation. Her friend Greg is a bit whiney, but fits the best friend/maybe-more sidekick role pretty well. 

The story, once it hits its stride, is interesting. I definitely wanted to know what was going to happen next! The plot moved along relatively quickly, with things picking up once Paulette travelled in time.

There are some issues with this book, however. 

I listened to the audio book version of this story. The audio is just a bit short of 5.5 hours long. Very easy listening length. But, the narration is problematic. The audio quality is poor -- lots of echo. The narration itself is amateur (badly voiced characters, mispronounced words, and odd inflection). But, I did notice that the narrator changes for books 2 and 3 in this series, so it seems this problem has already been addressed. 

Overall, I enjoyed this story. I wanted to know what happened to Paulette. But, this first story has some major writing issues. A professional editor could have helped, in my opinion. There are some plot continuity errors and long scenes or descriptions that are not relevant to the plot or characterization. Conversation is poorly written, coming off at stilted, unnatural or even juvenile at times. Details are over explained that could be simply implied. 

The science is problematic.  A genius with two years of college and no medical knowledge could not develop a working, fully-integrated bionic limb with a skeleton crew. It would take a medical team headed by neurosurgeons and other experts decades of testing on animals before a test limb would ever be attached to a human being. The military would never appropriate R&D funds to a project with no research history, record of testing or a prototype of some sort. Pulling a proposal out of the blue sky does not net hundreds of thousands of dollars in R&D funds. And there is no explanation of how Paulette's time machine design works. That part is pretty much glossed over with jumps in story time, and suddenly she is testing a working pod. 

These are rookie writer mistakes that could have been corrected with the help of a professional editor. The quality of this book could be greatly improved with professional editing and some rewrites. 

So, I like the basic concept and characters...that kept me listening to this audio book even when rough edges in the writing and poor narration pulled me out of the story. I like the concept enough to try book 2 in this trilogy, Journey to the City of Technology. 

**I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this audio book, provided by the author. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Saturday, April 3, 2021

REVIEW: Ever Winter

 Ever Winter
Author: Peter Hackshaw


The Earth is covered in a thick blanket of ice. The modern world ended nearly 100 years ago. Some humans manage to stay alive in the constant cold. The world is a brutal place. The killing cold. The killing wildlife. The murderous survivors. Henry and his family manage to survive, scavenging what they can to keep living. Then they find a dead man in the snow....and things change for them forever. 

This is a brutal, but totally mesmerizing post-apocalyptic tale of revenge. Hackshaw pulls no punches. This is not a story for the squeamish. From cannibalism to animal attacks, this story is gritty and gory at times, but realistic. Modern sensibilities don't fit a planet that has been encased in ice for 100 years. The humans who are left survive the only way they can....as do the polar bears and other animals that have managed to live through the permanent hard freeze of the planet. 

I found this book hard to listen to a few times....graphic scenes. But, I kept going because I wanted to know the whole story! Glad I did....on the whole, the story is quite good! 

I listened to the audio book version of this story. I'm finding I enjoy suspense/thriller type stories much better in audio. Narrated by Dan Stevens, the audio is just under 10 hours long. Stevens is a superb narrator. He brought the characters and the story to life! 

Very enjoyable listen! 

**I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this audio book from Podium Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Friday, April 2, 2021

REVIEW: Checking out Crime

 Checking Out Crime
Author: Laurie Cass


I have loved this series since book one! Checking Out Crime is the 9th book in the Bookmobile Cat cozy series. This time around Librarian Minnie Hamilton, and her kitty sidekick Eddie, witness the aftermath of what appears to be a hit-and-run. A bicyclist is dead, and Minnie is on the case to find the killer. Turns out, things are much more complicated than a cyclist ran down with a car....and the killer isn't going to stop at just one dead body!   

I love the characters in this series, especially Eddie. :) The plots are always entertaining, and I enjoy how the characters develop more in each book. The mystery in this newest book is engaging....plenty of sleuthing, the murder happens early getting the investigation rolling from the start, and just enough small town intrigue rounds out the story. 

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit with Minne and Eddie! Can't wait for the next book in this series!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Thursday, April 1, 2021

REVIEW: The Last Seance

 The Last Séance
Author: Agatha Christie


A medium who is retiring decides do do one last séance with disastrous results. This story was first published in Ghost Stories Magazine in 1924 under the title The Woman Who Stole a Ghost. It also appeared in The Sovereign Magazine in 1927 as The Stolen Ghost. After appearing in Hound of Death story collection (UK) in 1933, it was later included in Double Sin and Other Stories in the US (1961). It was adapted by BBC Radio4 in 2010 (full cast, modernized).

Agatha Christie has been my favorite author since I read my first Hercule Poirot novel when I was 9 years old. But, I never read any of her short stories before now. I'm so glad I decided to read everything Christie wrote! These early short stories are light, but I'm loving the differences between these stories and Christie's novels or murder mystery short stories. Several of these stories, including this one, are supernatrural in nature and just completely entertaining! Spiritualism, mediums, table rapping and the like  were a big thing in the 1920s when these tales were written. I love the fact that Christie cashed in on the fads of the time!

I listened to an audio version of this story read by Christopher Lee (Double Sin and Other Stories, Harper Audio). Lee reads the story perfectly -- his voice just caters to the supernatural/creepy sort of tale. 

Loved this story! On to the next!