Audible Book Review: Jukebox Joyride by Jacob Stein, Jason Rabinowitz, The Pop Ups

This is a very fun travel adventure with music as a plus.
Jukebox Joyride
By: Jacob Stein, Jason Rabinowitz, The Pop Ups
Narrated by: Jason Rabinowitz, Jacob Stein, Cara Samantha, Susan Bennett, Noel MacNeal, Carly Ciarrocchi

Length: 3 hrs and 31 mins
Performance
Release date: 06-06-19
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Original
Genre: Children, Kids, Ages 8-10
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

About This Audible Original
If you could go back in time to witness any concert from all of history, what would it be? Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock? Mozart in the Salzburg court? The Beatles’ rooftop farewell?
Jukebox Joyride follows 12-year-old twins, Jules and George, on a wild adventure through time. Their Uncle Bob, a renowned ethnomusicologist (he studies music!), has discovered the secret to time travel, and is having a ball joyriding through history checking out the best concerts ever...but something’s gone wrong! A sinister force has been unleased, someone is chasing after Uncle Bob, and the fate of all music hangs in the balance!
Now, it’s up to Jules and George to find their uncle before their new rival does! It’s a musical escapade that brings the twins from the birth of jazz in New Orleans, to a performance by an 11-year-old Mozart in Vienna, all while trying to make it back to the present day to pass their history test!
Featuring original songs and historical settings, this Audible Original is sure to captivate the entire household. Jukebox Joyride is a swashbuckling adventure that will get kids excited about history and making their own music.
©2018 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC.

Review:
Jules and George are 12-year-old twins who had a close relationship with their Uncle Bob who shared his love of music with them. Uncle Bob travels to discover special music finds and one day he finds a special music box and disappears into thin air! While the twins are trying to find Uncle Bob they stumble upon the secret that sends them back in time. As they travel from one setting to another, they discover they are one step behind Uncle Bob. Fortunately, they find friends who help them by passing along messages. They follow the clues, from jazz in New Orleans to classical music with Mozart. Along the way they discover there is an enemy trying to chase down their Uncle. Can they find Bob before the enemy does?

I totally enjoyed the musical settings and songs. This is a rockin’ fun story I recommend for adults as well as children.

Audio Notes: The group of narrators, Jason Rabinowitz, Jacob Stein, Cara Samantha, Susan Bennett, Noel MacNeal, and Carly Ciarrocchi, contribute to making this a fun adventure. They share the story with appropriate voices and energy. I enjoyed the audio performance and am glad I picked this audiobook.

Source: June 2019 free Audible Original. This qualifies for 2020TBR, 2020Audiobook and 2020Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

This is an entertaining fantasy with a female protagonist.

Trail of Lightning
By: Rebecca Roanhorse
Narrated by: Tanis Parenteau

Series: The Sixth World, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 08-07-18
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy, Native American
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
The sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse have destroyed most of the planet…yet out of these waters, Dinétah, a former Navajo reservation, has been miraculously reborn. Listen along as Tanis Parenteau's impeccable narration, capturing the rhythms of Navajo speech, fully envelopes you into the Sixth World.
When Dinétah needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie - a monster hunter and supernatural killer - is its last, best hope. Trail of Lightning follows our heroine as she walks the land alongside gods, heroes of legend, and monsters alike. Reluctantly, she enlists the aid of an unconventional medicine man, and together they travel Dinétah, unraveling clues from ancient legends and trading favors with tricksters. As Maggie discovers the truth behind the killings, she will have to confront her past if she wants to survive - for what she uncovers about the monster she is sent to find is much more terrifying than anything she could imagine.
©2018 Rebecca Roanhorse (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Maggie lives in a post-apocalyptic world that is rebuilding after a massive wave wiped out much of earth. Maggie is a fringe outsider in a group known as Dinétah, a former Navajo reservation that has survived in the deserts of what used to be Southwestern US.

As a young girl, Maggie lost her grandmother to monsters. She was rescued by a man who is viewed as a supernatural, immortal monster hunter who appears with a thunderbolt. He helped Maggie to learn and develop her own supernatural clan powers as he trained her to be a monster hunter. She was enamored and believed he was her mate until one day he questions her motives and walks away. Months later Maggie continues to hope he will return.

In the meantime, Maggie takes jobs to hunt monsters and rescue people from monsters when she can. After failing to get anyone else to respond, a family calls in Maggie to rescue their daughter from an unknown monster.

Maggie discovers a monster unlike any she has seen. She seeks advice from one of her few friends in town. The grandfatherly man, Tah, encourages Maggie to accept his grandson, Kai, a training witch doctor, as a partner. Kai explains that the monster appears to be a creature created by a powerful witch doctor.

Maggie is soon visited by the trickster, Coyote, who directs Maggie to fulfill a quest for him which will deliver a tool to uncover the person who is creating the monsters. Reluctantly Maggie allows Kai to join her as they investigate the monsters. They seek out ancient legends and face danger and death before Maggie ends up lured into a deadly confrontation.

I liked the world-building which includes connections to Native American traditions and legends. Maggie is a very tough young woman, full of angst, and I did not find her to be a totally sympathetic character. I liked Kai but he is also hiding secrets. The ending of this book includes a climax that leaves a cliff hanger for the next book. The dystopian is heavier on fantasy and romantic conflict but is entertaining enough that I may look to pick up book 2 in the future.

Audio Notes: Tanis Parenteau does a very good job with the narration. I liked her natural accent and distinct voices for the characters. The audio production enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 2/2/2019 Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR, 2020Audiobook and 2020Alphabet goals.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway February 28, 2020

Happy Friday! 

I think I'll work on pulling together a new group of books this week.

TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK.

US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.

INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)

CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up too late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.

Thank you to all who entered the February 21, 2020 Pick. There was ONE automatic win this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There were no titles blocked.
CAROL L gets The Education of Mrs. Brimley.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from February 21, 2020 Pick:
LINDA gets a GC
and
FREDAMANS gets a GC.

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

I love to check out books.
Image shared by Crafty Morning Pinterest.

New Book Group #88 November 8, 2019

PAIRS:
Connie Brockway: My Pleasure and My Seduction
Stella Cameron: Body of Evidence and Fascination
Singles:
A Notorious Proposition by Adele Ashworth
My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne
A Lady Never Tells by Candace Camp
Dawn of Redemption by Starla Childs
Long, Lean and Lethal by Heather Graham
False Colours by Georgette Heyer
Chill of Fear by Kay Hooper
Treasures by Lisa Jackson (hardback)
No Limits by Alison Kent
The Education of Mrs. Brimley by Donna MacMeans
The Wedding Affair by Leigh Michaels
A Highlander's Temptation by Sue-Ellen Welfonder


New Book Group #87 August 23, 2019

SINGLES:
Captain's Paradise by Kay Hooper
Open Season by Linda Howard AUDIO CASSETTES
The Perfect Gift by Christina Skye


New Book Group #86 June 7, 2019
Another group of variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
A Place Called Freedom by Ken Follett
Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze

Show No Fear by Marliss Melton
A Question of God's Balance (Vol 1) by Joseph Thek
King by Right of Blood and Might by Anna L. Walls


New Book Group #85 March 22, 2019
A variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
Summer Skies by Judith Christenberry
Windfall (two stories) by JoAnn Ross
Daddy's Little Cowgirl (two stories) by Judith Bowen and Kimberly Raye
The Forever Year, Cold Pursuit, Lover's Lane and Temporary Sanity (Reader's Condensed)
ToxiCity by Libby Fischer Hillmann

New Book Group #84 December 15, 2018
Here are some Christmas titles to pick from.

SINGLES:
A Family for Thanksgiving
On this Holy Night
Christmas Haven
King Harold's Snow Job


New Book Group #83 November 30, 2018

(Starting bottom left and continuing up then down)
SINGLE
Seductive Secrets by Lynne Connolly
Seven Up by Janet Evanovich - Audio Cassettes
A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein Audio Cassettes
Three Reader's Digest Condensed Books - each hardback:

Cold Harbour and The Courtship of Peggy McCoy
The Things We Do for Love, Three Weeks With My Brother, The Murder Artist and Night Train to Lisbon
Follow the Stars Home, Hunting Badger, The Quiet Game and Second Wind

New Book Group #82 November 9, 2018

Stella Cameron: Key West
SINGLES:
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
Killing Time by Linda Howard
The Wedding Night by Barbara Dawson Smith

New Book Group #81 August 17, 2018

SINGLES
Best Laid Plans by Allison Brennan
Darkness Tell Us by Richard Laymon
Cooking Most Deadly by Joanne Pence


New Book Group #80 August 17, 2018

Note: The Final Judgment and
The Book of Fate are Audio Cassettes
SINGLES:
Summer’s Moon by Lacey Baker
The Final Judgment by Richard North PattersonAudio Cassettes
Firebird by Janice Graham
No Getting Over a Cowboy by Delores Fossen
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer Audio Cassettes


New Book Group #79 July 13, 2018
I found this box of books buried under some other boxes.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lenox by Maggie O’Farrell
P.S. by Helen Schulman
Her Sexiest Surprise by Dawn Atkins (personally autographed)
Dakota Child by Linda Ford
Calling the Shots by Ellen Hartman
Promises, Promises by Amber Miller
This Time for Keeps by Jenna Mills
A Daughter’s Legacy by Virginia Smith
Another Man’s Baby by Kay Stockham


New Book Group #78 April 27, 2018

SINGLES
Blackberry Bush
Breaking Point
A Tangled Affair
Too Wicked to Love
Roses are Red Audio Cassettes


New Book Group #77 February 16, 2018- All gone

New Book Group #76 November 3, 2017
13 books remain of the original 37:

I finally Have them Listed!
Boots & Booties by Kristine Rolofson
Saucer the Conquest by Stephen Coonts
The Scorpion Seducer by Bonnie Vanak
Hell On Earth by David L. Porter
White Night by Jim Butcher
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton
Crisscross by Harmon Henkin
Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey
Inhuman Condition by Clive Barker
101 Commonsense Rules for the Office by John R. Brinkerhoff


This shelf of 35 books are what is left from Groups #1 (11/27/09) through Group #75 September 29, 2017

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 14 titles.)
Rehabilitation
Secret Blessing
Named of the Dragon
Daring by Jillian Hart
Aunt Erma's Cope Book
JoAnn Ross: Confessions
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen
Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 21 titles.)
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown
(*Three more very old books from my Gothics box.)
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell
*Four books are very old; pulled from a box of gothic novels I found.
*Maggie – Her Marriage by Taylor Caldwell (1953 very old, yellowed pages, some stain damage doesn't effect reading)
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty by Vickie Kennedy
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick on November 27, 2009 and in almost NINE years I have posted 88 groups of 16 plus an additional 21 totaling 1,429 books to find new homes! (as of November 8, 2019).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,301+ books have found new homes through this feature! YAY. [A year or so ago I posted I had reached 2000 books given away. As I calculated the numbers 11/2/17 I realized that had to be an error. I realized I went from 1098 to 2001 instead of 1101. Guess I was tired; sorry for the error.] I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed. I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want!

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors, your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to faraway places runs between $7.00 and $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

Book Review: Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four by Josh Venkataraman and Barbara Venkataraman

This reveals that working for a good cause may mean persevering through a frustrating process.
Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four
by Josh Venkataraman and Barbara Venkataraman

File Size: 1221 KB
Print Length: 101 pages
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07Z5TYNT7
Genre: Civics, Non-Fiction, Social Activist Biographies
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

This book will take you through my incredible four year quest for justice for The Groveland Four and teach you how to pursue your own causes, whatever they may be. It is a primer for positive action, a journey through Florida's past as well as its future. Some of the things you will learn: everything takes more time than you think, nothing ever goes according to plan, help can come from unexpected places, time is on your side, everyone is connected to everyone else, you can reach your tipping point for success and not even realize it, your goals can change along the way, and flexibility is key. Let's get started, shall we?
***Proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to establish "The Charles Greenlee Memorial Scholarship" to benefit a child with an incarcerated parent.

Review:
The Groveland Four refers to a 1949 ‘notorious’ case of four young African-American men who were accused of raping a 17-year-old Caucasian woman in Lake County, Florida. One of the accused was shot while fleeing. Charles Greenlee was a 16-year-old who had just arrived in town seeking work. He and the others were taken into custody and beaten until two of them confessed. Evidence that supported their innocence was suppressed and they were found guilty by an all white jury. Greenlee was sentenced to life in prison and the other two were sentenced to death. Thurgood Marshall appealed the convictions which were overturned on the basis the men did not receive a fair trial. Before a new trial could take place two of the men were shot, one killed, by the county sheriff. Later investigations revealed the bigotry and lies that surrounded this travesty of justice.

Josh Venkataraman, as an energetic college student, read a story about the Groveland Four and became determined to do something about this injustice. His interest soon turned into a passionate effort to seek a pardon for these men. Josh learned that pursuing a cause takes a bit of luck getting support by the right people, sometimes hitting the right time, but most of all it takes perseverance. The book describes the long journey and shares the input of many other characters who were involved in the process including a Pulitzer prize-winning author, Greenlee’s daughter, and even two middle-grade students who started with a book report and expanded to active postcard campaigns.

This is a wonderfully inspiring work that shares a frustrating process. I had heard of the Groveland Four but didn’t really know the full story. The cause to seek posthumous pardon, and possible exoneration, was a worthy cause but still it struggled for support to get attention, to get through the bureaucracy of government and to succeed in the even more difficult task of getting on the agenda of the clemency board.

I liked the way the book was presented with concise sections focusing on specific stages of the process and adding the people and events that provided support and encouragement along the way. Josh shares the thoughts of the other participants during the events so the reader feels more engaged in the effort. I recommend this to readers who are interested in history and in learning about the process of promoting a specific cause.

Source: December 2019 received from the Authors. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Alphabet Author title goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: Reimagining Mr. Right by Wynter Daniels

This is a fun romance with a touch of magic.

Reimagining Mr. Right
by Wynter Daniels

File Size: 372 KB
Print Length: 234 pages
Publisher: CPC Publishing (January 7, 2020)
ASIN: B07YSQ6J3X
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Romantic Comedy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

Former ugly duckling Sydney McCoy yearns to break into television. And the hottest guy she works with—TV sports personality, Chip Haggerty—could be her ticket to the airwaves. Too bad that Chip hardly knows Sydney is alive. Worse, she has no clue how to speak Chip’s sports-oriented language.
Up-and-coming real estate agent Levi Barnett is desperate to convince the owner of a hot downtown property to sell so the company Levi works for can redevelop the site into a multi-million-dollar complex. When he literally crashes into a woman he knew in high school who could champion his cause, he’ll do anything to get Sydney’s help. All she wants from him in return is help communicating with her office crush. No problem! But when Levi starts to fall for the beautiful Sydney, he wonders if he’s making the worst mistake of his life by being her would-be Cyrano de Bergerac.

Review:
Although Sydney is now trim and attractive, she tends to see herself as the overweight nerd she was in high school. She developed an unrequited crush on the popular football player, Levi, whom she tutored. Years later Sydney is a good reporter hoping to break into television. She is set on dating a co-worker, ex-baseball star, Chip, who is a popular TV sports personality. Chip often gets Sydney to fine-tune his reports but he hasn’t noticed her as a woman. Sydney thinks she could get his attention if she could only understand all the sports lingo he constantly throws out.

Levi is now a successful real estate agent who hopes to gain a partnership with his company. He is working hard to talk two downtown property owners into selling to his company so they can redevelop the site. Meanwhile, the boss’s daughter is pursuing Levi to renew their relationship that he ended several months back.

Levi literally crashes into Sydney outside a coffee shop. She recognizes him immediately but had to remind him of who she was. He is smitten and will do anything to renew a friendship with her. He is frustrated when she only wants his help to get Chip’s interest.

With Levi’s help, Sydney manages to start dating Chip. Her dad, a sports enthusiast, is excited to meet Chip and Chip is even able to help Sydney’s ailing mother. But Sydney is conflicted as she is enjoying her time with Levi and beginning to realize that Chip might not be the prize boyfriend she wants.

Levi wants to help Sydney and Sydney wants to help Levi realize his dreams. Along the way, they get crossed messages. Will they deny their attraction to each other thinking it is best for the other?

These are fun characters with vulnerabilities and conflicts that contribute to a star-crossed romance. The story is lighthearted even as it deals with emotional baggage. There is a touch of paranormal in the midst of the story which is fun and interesting but played only a small part. I am curious if it is a larger part of some of the other books and I would be glad to read more in the series. I recommend this as a fun “rom-com”.

Source: NetGalley 2019. This qualifies for 2020TBR, 2020NetGalley and 2020Audiobook goal.

Sunday Post February 23, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday February 24, 2020

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.

The week was busy and went by quickly.
Friday night we had a good night at church for the marriage program. Hubby and I realized that we never had to seek sought marriage counseling over our 34 years. :-)

Is he adorable looking or what? Looks like a puppy but he is 9 years old.

We had ups and downs again in temperatures with a drop one day from 75 to 40.

I had another good week of reading and listening. I finished three audiobooks, and two ebooks. I posted four reviews and my usual memes.

I visited 19 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to Just Me Mrs D. Mrs D's blog is about: "Books, loom knitting and snippets of my life."
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post February 16, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday February 17, 2020.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Paradigm by Jonathan Cahn; Genre: Christian Prophesy; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 4.75.

• ATBR- Audio Book Review: Hometown Cowboy, Rocky Mountain Riders, Book 1 by Sara Richardson; Genre: Romance, Small Town Romance; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway February 21, 2020. Open Worldwide. Ending 2/27/2020.

• NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: The Gift of Gerbert's Feathers by Meaghann Weaver, Lori Wiener; Genre: Children, Death and Dying, Illness; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Unleashed, Andy Carpenter, Book 11, by David Rosenfelt; Genre: Legal Procedures, Mystery, Traditional Detective; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• Sharing Beyond Books #389 Comment Giveaway February 22, 2020. Open Worldwide. Ending 3/7/2020.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement February 23, 2020.

Finished Reading:

1. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Unleashed
Andy Carpenter, Book 11
By: David Rosenfelt
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins
Release date: 07-23-13
This is a fun series I like to revisit regularly. 
Source: November 2019 Audible Purchase $10.99
Review Linked above.

2. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)

Reimagining Mr. Right
by Wynter Daniels
This is a fun romance with a touch of magic.
Source: NetGalley 2019.
Click on book title for full description.

3. eBook/Kindle (AuthorTBR)

Accidental Activist: Justice for the Groveland Four
by Josh Venkataraman and Barbara Venkataraman
This reveals a frustrating process for a very worthy cause.
Source: December 2019 received from the Authors.
Click on book title for full description.

4. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Trail of Lightning
By: Rebecca Roanhorse
Narrated by: Tanis Parenteau
Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
Release date: 08-07-18
This is an entertaining fantasy with a female protagonist.
Source: 2/2/2019 Audible Daily Deal $2.95
Publisher's Summary
The sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse have destroyed most of the planet…yet out of these waters, Dinétah, a former Navajo reservation, has been miraculously reborn. Listen along as Tanis Parenteau's impeccable narration, capturing the rhythms of Navajo speech, fully envelopes you into the Sixth World.
When Dinétah needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie - a monster hunter and supernatural killer - is its last, best hope. Trail of Lightning follows our heroine as she walks the land alongside gods, heroes of legend, and monsters alike. Reluctantly, she enlists the aid of an unconventional medicine man, and together they travel Dinétah, unraveling clues from ancient legends and trading favors with tricksters. As Maggie discovers the truth behind the killings, she will have to confront her past if she wants to survive - for what she uncovers about the monster she is sent to find is much more terrifying than anything she could imagine.
©2018 Rebecca Roanhorse (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

5. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Jukebox Joyride
By: Jacob Stein, Jason Rabinowitz, The Pop Ups
Narrated by: Jason Rabinowitz, Jacob Stein, Cara Samantha, Susan Bennett, Noel MacNeal, Carly Ciarrocchi
Length: 3 hrs and 31 mins
Release date: 06-06-19
This is a very fun story with music as a plus.
Source: June 2019 free Audible Original.
About This Audible Original
If you could go back in time to witness any concert from all of history, what would it be? Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock? Mozart in the Salzburg court? The Beatles’ rooftop farewell?
Jukebox Joyride follows 12-year-old twins, Jules and George, on a wild adventure through time. Their Uncle Bob, a renowned ethnomusicologist (he studies music!), has discovered the secret to time travel, and is having a ball joyriding through history checking out the best concerts ever...but something’s gone wrong! A sinister force has been unleased, someone is chasing after Uncle Bob, and the fate of all music hangs in the balance!
Now, it’s up to Jules and George to find their uncle before their new rival does! It’s a musical escapade that brings the twins from the birth of jazz in New Orleans, to a performance by an 11-year-old Mozart in Vienna, all while trying to make it back to the present day to pass their history test!
Featuring original songs and historical settings, this Audible Original is sure to captivate the entire household. Jukebox Joyride is a swashbuckling adventure that will get kids excited about history and making their own music.
©2018 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC.

Currently Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)

The Woman in the Veil
by Laura Joh Rowland
At 15% I am nicely engaged in this Victorian mystery.
Source: NetGalley 2019.
Award-winning author Laura Joh Rowland is back with the fourth in her critically acclaimed Victorian mysteries where the case of a mutilated "Sleeping Beauty" washes ashore in London.
London, June 1890.
Sarah Bain and her friends Lord Hugh Staunton and Mick O'Reilly are crime scene photographers for the Daily World newspaper. After solving a sensational murder, they're under pressure to deliver another big story. On a foggy summer night, they're called to the bank of the river Thames. The murder victim is an unidentified woman whose face has been slashed. But as Sarah takes photographs, she discovers that the woman is still alive.
The case of "Sleeping Beauty" becomes a public sensation, and three parties quickly come forward to identify her: a rich, sinister artist who claims she's his wife; a mother and her two daughters who co-own a nursing home and claim she's their stepdaughter/sister; and a precocious little girl who claims Sleeping Beauty is her mother. Which party is Sleeping Beauty's rightful kin? Is someone among them her would-be killer?
Then Sleeping Beauty awakens--with a severe case of amnesia. She's forgotten her name and everything else about herself. But she recognizes one of the people who've claimed her. Sarah is delighted to reunite a family and send Sleeping Beauty home--until one of the claimants is murdered. Suddenly, Sarah, her motley crew of friends, and her fiancé Detective Sergeant Barrett are on the wrong side of the law. Now they must identify the killer before they find themselves headed for the gallows.

2. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

Evil Eye
By: Madhuri Shekar
Narrated by: Nick Choksi, Harsh Nayaar, Annapurna Sriram, Bernard White, Rita Wolf
Length: 1 hr and 38 mins
Release date: 05-02-19
I am fitting one more short audio into February before I go to a long one.
Source May 2019 Free Audible Original.
About This Audible Original
Usha is convinced that the Evil Eye, a curse that brings continuous misfortune, was cast upon her daughter, Pallavi, in the womb. What else could have possibly left her driven, career-oriented daughter edging closer and closer to 30 without a prospective husband? Determined to set Pallavi on the right path, Usha arranges date after date with potential suitors—but after yet another setup fails, it seems her efforts are proving fruitless. But in an unexpected turn of events, Pallavi becomes her own matchmaker when she meets—and quickly falls for—Sandeep, a young Indian-American entrepreneur. And though she expects her mother will be elated with her finally finding a man, Pallavi is distraught and confused to find her mother growing increasingly suspicious of Sandeep’s motives…and his true identity.
Told through a series of phone calls and voicemails, this Audible Original penned by award-winning rising star playwright Madhuri Shekar transitions seamlessly from a light-hearted family dramedy to an unexpectedly supernatural thriller. With an endearing cast of well-rounded characters, sharp, natural dialogue, and a shocking edge-of-your-seat climax, Evil Eye is a can’t-miss tale about cultural miscommunications, family secrets, and the lingering echoes of trauma.
Playwright Madhuri Shekar was awarded a commission through the Audible Emerging Playwrights Fund, an initiative dedicated to developing innovative original plays driven by language and voice. As an Audible commissioned playwright, he received funding and creative support to develop Evil Eye.
Please note: This audio contains strong language, distressing situations, and descriptions of abuse and violence that some listeners may find upsetting. Discretion is advised.
©2019 AO Media (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC.

3. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

Koban: Rise of the Kobani
Koban, Volume 3
By: Stephen W. Bennett
Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
Length: 28 hrs and 14 mins
Release date: 10-12-14
This is a long story in a series I like. This should carry me into March.
Source 2019 January Audible Credit Picks.
Publisher's Summary
The Kobani use captured Krall ships to return to Human Space. They seek expert training for their genetically modified fighters, modern weapons and new medical technology. There's a possible block to this help in the form of death penalty laws of the Planetary Union, prohibiting gene modifications of humans. A holdover from the Gene War, which nearly extinguished humanity. A perilous descent through a war-torn planet's space defenses is a first step. A Krall ship and its heavily armed crew have to be destroyed on the ground, while a watching hostile Special Ops force decides if the Kobani should be trusted, or killed as Krall collaborators. Fighting their way between a rock and a hard place, they prove they are a match for the Krall. Exploration at home reveals startling alien neighbors, and a habitable world next door. A remarkable genetic discovery there will forever alter the Kobani. Winning allies, Captain Mirikami forges a bold and dangerous plan, to strike deep into the heart of Krall territory. A place the enemy is confident that puny "animals" can't reach, let alone attack. Simultaneous Kobani raids damage Krall war manufacturing, buying time for humanity. However, the Krall have a deadly ancient weapon that none expected. Retaliatory escalation of the war has been triggered, and if it doesn't go as the Krall plan, entire planets and their populations could be shattered. Read Book 1 (Koban), and Book 2 (Koban: The Mark of Koban). Book 4 (Koban: Shattered Worlds) is coming soon.
©2013 Stephen W Bennett (P)2014 Stephen W Bennett.

I'm keeping track of my Alphabet here as I finish the books. The cross-outs aren't easy to see, so I made the completed letters blue.
NETGALLEY: A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W X  Y  Z
AUDIO:            A  B  C  D  E  F G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W X  Y  Z

February 23, 2020 - I am again enjoying the devotions and readings with the One Year Bible plan through You Version App. I considered changing but this is the reading group that is closest to my husband's reading so we can sometimes discuss the same passages.
I finished the very good 21-day plan: Rooted. Now I am doing a short 3-day plan titled Choose How to Live.

I completed five books and posted four reviews which keeps me up to date.
My NetGalley shelf is at 16, plus the four titles from 2012-13 which I still hope to read this year.
I have one author title left from 2019. And one new audio.
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.
I didn't pick up any new review titles.
I picked out my free Audiobooks.com VIP selection for February.
I also picked up three Chirp titles at $.99 each. 
Then, after resisting daily deals all week, I finally picked one today. 
I purchased one Kindle at $.99.
I added 13 free kindle titles 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 picked up several Chirp deals at $.99 each:
2/17/2020
Rise of the Dragons (Kings and Sorcerers–Book 1)
Written by Morgan Rice
Narrated by Wayne Farrell
Release Date: March 25, 2015
Publisher: Lukeman Literary Management
Run time: 8 hours and 20 minutes

Philosophical Thoughts
by C. S. Lewis
Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
Release Date: November 15, 2013
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Run time: 2 hours and 49 minutes

2/22/2020
Bones in the Begonias
Written by Dale Mayer
Narrated by Vanessa Moyen
Release Date: May 23, 2019
Publisher: Valley Publishing Ltd.
Run time: 6 hours and 52 minutes

2/19/2020 Kindle Purchase for $.99.
The Resistance (The Uncloaked Trilogy--An American Dystopia Book 1)
by J. Rodes
This is a dystopian I have been eyeing on Audible. I thought I'd try book 1 for $.99.




2/23/2020 Audible Daily Deal $4.95
Earthcore
By: Scott Sigler
Narrated by: Ray Porter
Length: 20 hrs and 16 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 05-30-17

Free

2/22/2020 VIP Free pick at Audiobooks.com
7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
Written By: Stuart Turton
Narrated By: James Cameron Stewart
Publisher: Tantor Media
Date: September 2018
Duration: 17 hours 6 minutes
This mystery with time loop sounds interesting to me.

I added 13 free Kindle titles to my Kindle library. 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 February 23, 2020

Our Sunday School teacher reported that our ministry friends in Haiti are still under attack and endangered by kidnappings. One of the youth members was kidnapped and although the other youth raised the ransom, he was still murdered. Please pray for safety as Haiti continues with widespread lawlessness.

The class lesson this morning continued in his series Genesis to Revelation. This week’s lesson did focus on “What in the world is going on in Heaven?”

We are living in what is often called “the church age’, “age of the Gentiles”, or “age of grace”. Jesus directed his followers on their commission to go into all the world to make disciples of all nations. Matthew 28:16-20. We are living in a time set aside to win the lost; to change the people; to save mankind while God continues to be patient. 2 Peter 3:9.

Satan tried to get God's kingdom (throne) in heaven but was thrown out. Satan gained authority (the throne) on Earth through deception. Adam lost not only the position of authority but also the position of righteousness. Man’s Righteousness is restored by Christ's sacrifice. Kingdom authority is to be restored later, at the time Christ returns to Earth.

The book of Revelation is Christ revealing things to come. In Matthew 24:3 the disciples ask Jesus when he will return. Jesus tells them of signs but says that no one knows the date or the hour but the father. Matthew 24:36. It will be a time of wickedness (lawlessness) (v12), but the
good news will be preached throughout the world and then the end will come (v14).

God planned kingdom restoration. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 tells us that sinners will not enter the kingdom, but only those who are sanctified through their faith in Christ. Why does the Bible tell us about future events?

Jesus came to restore man to God. Like the destruction of the flood, the Earth must be cleansed of evil. There must be restoration but this time the saved (sanctified) men will have a new body without the old sin nature.

We live in a time for repentance; a time for men to have a change of hearts. There is only a very small percentage of Messianic Jews, God’s chosen nation, so the task of spreading His word is now in hands of the gentiles, the Christ-followers.

Revelation 1 brings the revealed message and bestows a blessing on the reader and the listener. Revelation 1:3. The greeting identifies the messenger (v4-5) and then delivers a message to the seven churches. The messenger identifies Himself as the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end. At Revelation 2:26-29 He states:

26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—

This affirms that His message and His plan for a righteous kingdom has never changed from Genesis, creation to Revelation, restoration.

I think this song video fits this message! Hallelujah!

Verses for Today:
Revelation 1:1-8 (NIV)
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Lord, I give thanks for your love that remains steadfast from creation to the restoration of Your Kingdom!

 



 

Sharing Beyond Books #389 Comment Giveaway February 22, 2020

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB.
Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

We ended up with two votes each for Gone With the Wind and Sound of Music as favorite Classics. Other choices, beyond my pick of Wizard of Oz, include: The Godfather, Lord of the Rings,
It's a Wonderful Life, The Last Unicorn, Doris Day and Rock Hudson movies (I like Glass Bottom Boat), Father Goose and You've Got Mail.

The Winner from SBB #388 comments is #10 ASHFA 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. -- [11/16/19 I plan to add some review books this week and maybe some new Christmas and Love titles as soon as I locate the box I put them in.  10/5/19 I have pulled some new books and will be adding them to the list in the next week or so.

**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 #389

(One Question.)

Bookworm asks: What is your favorite time period or setting to read about??

I still like historical romances - Regency and Western. And I love space military settings. But another favorite is post-apocalyptic -- is that more a genre than a time period or setting?

Image found at Drawception.

 
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 1/2 book choice or $2.50 towards 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
The Questions used for February were provided by Nikki and Bookworm who each get $2.50 credit.

Your turn to share. Bookworm asks: What is your favorite time period or setting to read about??

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, March 7, 2020, at 5 PM central.

Audible Book Review: Unleashed, Andy Carpenter, Book 11, by David Rosenfelt

This is a fun series I like to revisit regularly.
Unleashed
Andy Carpenter, Book 11
By: David Rosenfelt
Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 6 hrs and 47 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 07-23-13
Language: English
Publisher: Listen & Live Audio, Inc.
Genre: Legal Procedures, Mystery, Traditional Detective
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Audie Award Winner, Mystery, 2014
Andy Carpenter's accountant, Sam Willis, receives a surprise call from Barry Price, a friend he hasn't spoken to in years. Barry needs Sam's financial acumen and Andy's legal expertise. But when Sam almost runs over an injured dog on the way to Barry's house, he can't drive off without waiting for help. By then, Barry's taken off on a private airplane headed to who-knows-where. Soon after they learn that Barry's plane has crashed, and they come to the terrifying realization that Sam was also supposed to have been killed on that plane. Barry was in far more serious trouble than either of them knew, and for Sam and Andy, the trouble is only beginning.
©2013 Tara Productions, Inc. (P)2013 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Review:
Andy continues in his usual lackadaisical lifestyle. He is wealthy enough that he doesn’t need to work … which is just fine with him. His wizard accounting friend, Sam, contacts Andy to ask his help for another friend, Barry. Sam is on his way to meet with Barry but gets delayed when he hits a dog. Sam stops to care for the injured animal which turns out to be fortunate as Barry’s private airplane, where Sam was to join him, crashes.

Sam, who has adopted the injured golden retriever, presses Andy to represent Barry’s wife when she gets accused of murder. Andy reluctantly agrees to the case because it means his love, Laurie, a former cop, will stay in town to help with the investigation. The team gathers: Laurie, Sam and his geriatric group of computer hackers, Hike, a cynical attorney who works with Andy, and Marcus, Andy’s massive bodyguard. The investigation sends Andy and Marcus to Maine for the first lead. They have a short meeting with their contact but before the next morning, the man and his friends are found dead. The team soon realize that Barry was involved in something more serious than some accounting problems. Soon the trouble comes hunting for Sam and Andy as they have to dodge bullets and then Barry’s wife fingers Sam for the murder.

There is a certain formula to the Andy Carpenter mysteries. Dogs play a part and before the mystery is solved, Andy and Laurie call in the FBI through their friend Cindy. I still enjoy the journey with the convoluted plots and the snarky characters. Each story can be read alone but I do think they are more fun if you read the early ones to learn the personalities of the characters.

Audio Notes: Grover Gardner does his usual solid delivery for this series. He delivers the snark with a dry sense of humor that adds to the story for me. I totally enjoy listening to this series.

Source: November 2019 Audible Purchase $10.99. This qualifies for 2020TBR, 2020Audiobook and 2020Alphabet goals.