Force Recon –
James V. Smith Jr.
Reviewed by Alex Rosado
Company driver
Heartland Express
Listening Time: 3 hours
Publisher: Defiance Audio
Retail: $9.95
Genre: Adventure
Plot: Captain Jake Swayne and his elite force (a big Indian sergeant named Nightrunner, stealthy and big Potts and a reformed street thug from Boston named Freel) return from a mission in Cuba to tackle a rescue mission of utmost importance – rescuing the kidnapped commandant of the Marine Corps before a rogue group of Canadian separatists can plunge Canada and the United States into a seemingly destined war.
What was your favorite moment/scene in the book? When in Montana and in pursuit of the terrorists, Captain Swayne and his men adapt in the blizzard and overcome amazing odds to defeat the “Montana Militia” and avoid extermination from the terrorists.
Which character was your favorite? Why? Nightrunner, because he showed the quality and toughness of a true Marine, being able to move on his feet as well as be innovative in hostile arenas.
Did the book have a message or a theme that stood out to you? Men together can accomplish missions. To me it showed the true nature of a genuine leader – Swayne. Despite fighting the inner demons of failure, he proved to himself he had the capabilities of being the leader of one of the best elite forces.
What did you like about the book? Dislike? I liked the characters and their involvement in the story without wasting a lot of time on one certain figure. Just enough to make the story interesting and compelling the listener to check out more of the series.
Would you recommend? Yes. It had a good plot that avoided being too political, yet brought to light some real aspects of being true soldiers.
Narrator’s style: The narrator Thomas Penny’s voice is clear and aptly matched with this story. Not too crisp, yet he seemed to be into the characters well enough to bring out each personality well.
How would you grade the book? A
Jolie Blon’s Bounce –
James Lee Burke
Reviewed by Beth Featherly
Company Driver
Schneider National
Listening Time: 15 hours
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Retail: $45
Genre: Detective/crime
Plot: Louisiana detective Dave Robicheaux has two murders to solve. Robicheaux gets hooked on drugs and has to kick the habit. His old friend Clete Purcel returns, and some insight on Clete’s personal life is revealed. People’s pasts come back to haunt Robicheaux and the solving of the murders. The main suspect in one murder doesn’t fit with the profile of the killer. A real struggle between good and evil is in this book.
What was your favorite moment/scene in the book? When Robicheaux finally solves the murder of the teenage girl.
Which character was your favorite? Why? Robicheaux’s friend Clete. He’s just cool, the way he handles things and how he gets out of trouble.
What did you like about the book? Dislike? I like the character Robicheaux and the way he solves the cases.
Would you recommend?: Yes. It keeps your attention throughout with action and romance combined.
Narrator’s style: The narrator, Mark Hammer, is a good reader. He has the Cajun accent down good.
How would you grade the book? A+
Notables
Drivers, here is your chance to review the latest audiobooks. Tell our readers what you like or dislike about the plot and characters, and why you would recommend it to other drivers. Below is one of the audiobooks available in the Truckers News audiobook library. Contact Kristin Walters at (800) 633-5953, ext. 1204, or via e-mail at [email protected] to reserve an audiobook. It will be sent to you free of charge for your review. Audiobooks are available on a first-call, first-served basis.
Hawke –
Ted Bell
Lord Alexander Hawke is a direct descendant of the legendary English pirate Blackhawke and highly skilled in the cutthroat’s deadly ways himself. While still a boy, on a voyage to the Caribbean Alex Hawke witnesses an act of unspeakable horror. Hidden in a secret compartment on his father’s yacht, Alex sees his parents brutally murdered by three modern-day pirates.
Now, fully grown and one of England’s most decorated naval heroes, Hawke is back in the same Caribbean waters on a secret mission for the American government. A highly experimental stealth submarine, built by the Soviets just before the end of the Cold War, is missing. She carries 40 nuclear warheads and is believed to be in the hands of a very unstable government just 90 miles from the American mainland. Hawke is in a race against time. His mission: find the deadly sub before a preemptive strike can be launched against the United States, and confront the murderous men behind the personal nightmare that haunts
him before they can destroy him.
6 hours
Retail: $26
Simon & Schuster Audio
Audiobook Sources
Audiobooks may be purchased or rented from the following sources:
AUDIO ADVENTURES, (800) 551-6692, for 14-day rental of most major titles.
BOOKS NOW, (800) 266-5766, for purchase.
Simon & Schuster Audio, (800) 323-7445, for purchase.
