Pages

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Sunday Post March 15, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday March 16, 2020

Sunday Post #318 Chairs, Compliance, and Storms
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.

Heather was out all week with first one antibiotic and then a second. I am hoping she is well enough to return this week. A second staff member missed two days first to receive furniture and then to stay with a sick child. Our county schools are now closed for two weeks (they extended the spring break an additional week). I'm not sure how that will impact staff in office. We may be juggling files and computers to work from home like many other businesses.
Hubby had a bad cold last week and I ended up with a slight cold this weekend. I'll be watching my own health too. I can easily work from home if need be, other than attending court hearings. I won't be impacted by the Florida Supreme Court ruling to cancel jury trials for the rest of the month. In small claims pre-trial hearings we meet with a room full of people. There is discussion to have these mediations by video but I am not sure how they will set that up for the participants. We will see if they do that or just postpone them for the next few weeks.

These lovely daffodils are another sign that spring is coming!

We are experiencing warmer temperatures getting up in the 80s.
May everyone stay calm and healthy in these uncertain times.
I enjoyed another good week of mostly listening. I finished two audiobooks and am into three other books. I posted three reviews and my usual memes.

I visited 17 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to Rhapsody in Books Weblog. There is a current review of an interesting children's book on winning the vote for women. This is a review site with husband and wife which is unusual.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:
  • ATBR- Audible Book Review: Koban: Rise of the Kobani by Stephen W. Bennett; Genre: Aliens, Colonization, Military Space Sci-Fi; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
  • A2020- Audible Book Review: Archangel One by Evan Currie; Genre: Military Space Sci-Fi, Sci-Fi, Space Marine; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
  • ATBR- Audio Book Review: Identity Theft by Alana Terry; Genre: Christian, Romance, Suspense; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
Finished Reading:
1. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)



Rise of the Locusts: A Post-Apocalyptic Techno-Thriller (Cyber Armageddon, Book 1)
By: Mark Goodwin
Narrated by: Stacey Glemboski
Series: Cyber Armageddon, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins
This is a fast-paced post-apocalyptic story.
Source: October 2019 2 for 1 Credit Audible Sale.
Click on book title for full description.



2. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)
Light of the Last


Light of the Last
by Chuck Black
Narrated By: Katie Leigh, Michael Orenstein, Leanne Bell
Unabridged Audiobook
Duration: 12 hours 5 minutes
I really enjoyed this conclusion to a Christian story with a threat of biochemical contamination.
Source: 5/4/2019 Audiobooks.com two credits.
Summary:
To Fight What Others Can’t You Must See What Others Don’t
After an accident left him temporarily blind, Drew Carter didn’t just regain his sight. He now sees what others can’t imagine–an entire spiritual realm of mighty beings at war.
Forget the gift, Drew just wants his life back. Part of that involves Sydney Carlyle, a woman he is inexplicably drawn to. When he’s offered the chance to become a CIA agent, it seems the way to redeem his past. The only problem–his visions of the supernatural realm are increasing in frequency.
It’s up to the warrior angel Validus and his hand-picked team of heavenly agents to protect the unbelieving Drew. Validus now knows that the young man is at the epicenter of a global spiritual war, and the angels must use a millennia of battle experience keep Drew alive, for the Fallen want him dead.
Surrounded by spiritual warriors and targeted by demons, Drew’s faced with an impossible decision that will forever alter the destiny of America...and his own soul.



Currently Reading:
1. Audio/MP3 (ATBR)
41025983. sx318


Olivia Twist
by Lorie Langdon
Read by Pearl Hewitt
Young Adult • 9.5 hrs. •
I am 2/3rds in and enjoying this romance with class difficulties.
I bought the print book for Ladies Book Club. We are reading for discussion this next month.
Source: June 23 SYNC Audio 2019.
Click on book title for full description.



2. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)
50038711. sx318 sy475


Archangel Rising
(released January 14, 2020)
by Evan Currie
I am 25% in and enjoying Book 2.
Source: 2019 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.



3. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)
Nice Dragons Finish Last cover art


Nice Dragons Finish Last
Heartstrikers, Book 1
By: Rachel Aaron
Narrated by: Vikas Adam
Length: 13 hrs and 31 mins
Release date: 11-18-14
I am trying to get into this as I am unaccustomed to an underachiever protagonist.
Source: 10/30 Audible Daily Deal $4.95.
Publisher's Summary
Audie Award, Fantasy, 2016
As the smallest dragon in the Heartstriker clan, Julius survives by a simple code: keep quiet, don't cause trouble, and stay out of the way of bigger dragons. But this meek behavior doesn't fly in a family of ambitious magical predators, and his mother, Bethesda the Heartstriker, has finally reached the end of her patience. Now, sealed in human form and banished to the DFZ - a vertical metropolis built on the ruins of Old Detroit - Julius has one month to prove he can be a ruthless dragon or kiss his true shape goodbye forever. But in a city of modern mages and vengeful spirits where dragons are considered monsters to be exterminated, he's going to need some serious help to survive this test. He only hopes humans are more trustworthy than dragons....
©2014 Rachel Aaron (P)2014 Audible Inc.



4. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)
48573641. sx318


Coding Capers
by Angela Cleveland and Tamara Zentic
Illustrated by Juan Manuel Moreno
(Released 21 Nov 2019)
I like puzzles and this sounds fun.
Source: NetGalley 2019.
Join Luci and her friends as they go on an adventure to find a missing robot! In the process they learn the foundational concepts of coding, the increasing capabilities of technology, and the power of persistence.
Was it just a dream?! Luci wakes up after dreaming about robots only to learn that her teacher has a robot emergency at school! The class robot has disappeared, and the students must decipher codes to locate it, reprogram it, and return it.
We huddled together. "Hurry! Read the card!"
Go to the gym where you'll find a maze,
Up and down and then sideways,
Over and over with your group,
Not a pattern, but a ______.
This STEM-friendly tale takes children on a fun game of hide and seek that teaches coding terminology and how technology and computer science work together to create and manage so many of the things we use in our daily lives.
With a little ingenuity and a lot of perseverance, Luci and her friends follow the clues and end up with a surprise that will allow each of them to help others and inspire the next generation of leaders.



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  J  K  L  M  N  O  P 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

March 15, 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 am two weeks into the 41 day Lent study: Lent: With One Voice.


I completed two books and posted three reviews with one due to get back up to date.
My NetGalley shelf will be at 15 now, plus the four titles from 2012-13 which I still hope to read this year.
I still have one carry over author ebook, one new audio author title, and two new author ebooks. I expect to pull one of these soon.
Still many titles through InstaFreebie and many new author requests I haven't replied to.

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.
Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
No new review titles this week.

I keep my eye on Chirp titles and am still eyeing Audiobooks.com 2 for 1 deals. 
I got one daily deal and two titles for one credit at Audible sale. I also picked one of the two free Audible Originals
I picked up two $.99 Kindle titles in a theme - post-apocalyptic.
I again added 11 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
3/14/2020 Audible Daily Deal $2.95.
Forward audiobook cover artForward
Stories of Tomorrow
By: Veronica Roth, Blake Crouch, N. K. Jemisin, Amor Towles, Paul Tremblay, Andy Weir
Narrated by: Evan Rachel Wood, Rosa Salazar, Jason Isaacs, David Harbour, Steven Strait, Janina Gavankar
Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins
Release date: 10-08-19

3/14/2020 Two For One Credit Sale at Audible
Fear the Sky audiobook cover artFear the Sky
The Fear Saga, Book 1
By: Stephen Moss
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Length: 20 hrs and 17 mins
Release date: 03-03-15

Zero Hour audiobook cover artZero Hour
Expeditionary Force, Book 5
By: Craig Alanson
Narrated by: R. C. Bray
Length: 17 hrs and 20 mins
Release date: 02-06-18


Two Kindle Purchases $.99

Contamination Box Set: The Complete Post-Apocalyptic Series (Books 0-7)
T.W. Piperbrook
"The infection has begun, ravaging the American Southwest and leaving chaos in its wake. In this new world, there will be no last meal, no dying wish. The only reward left is to survive another day..."


No Sanctuary Box Set: The Complete No Sanctuary Series - Books 1-6
Mike Kraus
"No Sanctuary is a post-apocalyptic thriller/survival series that asks the "what if" question that lurks in the back of everyone's mind. What if there was another attack? What if it was larger than any other? What would you do if it came without warning?"

Free
3/15/2020 March Free Audible Original.
Tell Me Lies audiobook cover artTell Me Lies
By: J. P. Pomare
Narrated by: Aimee Horne
Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins
Release date: 03-05-20

I again added 11 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.

11 comments:

  1. I love the daffodils!

    I've never been able to listen to books. I have to visualize the stories.

    Enjoy your week.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Not an easy time for someone like you running a small business. I hope you all stay reasonably well and safe. Enjoy those books when you can.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I add way too many Kindle titles. I will never be able to read them all.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I believe they have closed some of the courts to observers here, restricting them to necessary participants only in response to the coronavirus. I’m sure that eventually lots of cases will have to be held over due to the virus which is going to play havoc with the legal system. I hope you manage to work it all out.
    Coding Capers looks great for middle graders.

    Wishing you a great reading week and good health

    ReplyDelete
  5. We have cut back the hours of our small business and are watching things closely. It's scary!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm listening to a lot of audiobooks these days since baseball has been postponed for a while. I find I'm really enjoying the listening time. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I really enjoyed Nice Dragons Finish Last, so hopefully you can get into is and enjoy it. Have a good week, stay safe!

    ReplyDelete
  8. We were ordered to shelter in place starting tonight at midnight. My weekly update

    ReplyDelete
  9. Look at the pretty flowers! It’s still winter here, but it wasn’t freezing today. I hope you have a great week!

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I just hope you and the family are safe. Keep well.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Olive Twist looks good.

    ENJOY all of your books, and stay safe and healthy.

    ReplyDelete

Your comments are always appreciated!