Sunday Post March 29, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday March 30, 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.

We continue with to work. One staff member gave notice before the distancing started. She was supposed to work until the end of the month but choose not to return. Apparently our services are allowed as "essential". We have had fewer contracts so we are glad to close when we can. I am getting to work on my legal files. It has been strange to drive out in the morning and find Hwy 90 with little traffic. We only have a handful of cars in the usually busy parking lot.

We are still harvesting lemons while we enjoy the wonderful smell of all the new bloosoms.

We had pretty nice weather all week.
May everyone continue to stay calm and healthy in these uncertain times.

I had another good week of listening and reading. I finished three audiobooks and one MG ebook. I posted three reviews and my usual memes.

I visited only 16 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to Whiskey With My Book. Riley states: "I like a variety of genres. All of them are fiction, but that is the only thing they have in common. On any given day, I’ll have my nose into SciFi, Historical, Fantasy, Steampunk, Paranormal or Mystery. Most often, they also have an element of romance, but not always."

BTW- Audible is offering free children's titles during these days at home.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post March 22, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday March 23, 2020.

• ATBR- #Audio Book Review: Olivia Twist by Lorie Langdon; Genre: Clean & Wholesome, Romance, Teen & Young Adult; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron; Genre: Cyberpunk, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway March 13, 2020. Open Worldwide. Ending 4/2/2020.

• NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Archangel Rising by Evan Currie; Genre: Sci-Fi, Space Marine Sci-Fi; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement March 29, 2020.

Finished Reading:

1. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

The Queen and the Cure
The Bird and the Sword Chronicles Series, Book 2: Booktrack Edition
By: Amy Harmon
Narrated by: Steve West
Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins
Release date: 06-12-18
This author and narrator make for stellar entertainment!
Source: Purchased at Kindle for $.99, then Audible at $7.99.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

David Ignatow: Five Poems
By: David Ignatow
Narrated by: David Ignatow
Length: 2 minutes
This presents five short poems sharing Ignatow's observations on impending death. They share a solemn poignancy.
This was one of the oldest audios in my library.
Source: 2001? Free Audible.

3. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

Pile of Bones - FREE
By: Michael J. Sullivan
Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
Length: 1 hr and 45 mins
Release date: 01-07-20
I was eying book one so I listened to this fun fantasy prequel. (Then I picked up book one, Age of Myth, shown in Monday Mailbox below).
Source: 1/21/2020 Free at Audible.
Publisher's Summary
When a storm reveals a mysterious cave behind a waterfall, the young mystic’s apprentice and her wolf investigate. Inside, she discovers a secret place containing a pile of human bones and the young girl makes what could be a fatal mistake.
In this Legends of the First Empire prequel, we witness the events that helped shape the woman who would one day become Suri the Mystic, the first Rhune Artist, and a hero to a generation.
©2020 Michael J. Sullivan (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

4. eBook/Kindle (NG2020)

Coding Capers
by Angela Cleveland and Tamara Zentic
Illustrated by Juan Manuel Moreno
(Released 21 Nov 2019)
The publisher was nice to provide me a pdf copy while I waited for the print copy I ordered. This is a fun, informative book.
Source: NetGalley 2019.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:

1. eBook/Kindle (NG2020)

Who Rescued Who
by Victoria Schade
(Releasing 24 Mar 2020)
I am 67% in and maybe the protagonist is starting to mature into someone I can appreciate. Source: NetGalley Requested 2019 but Received 2020.
Where can you turn when the world turns against you? When Elizabeth Barnes’ life fell apart she never imagined that she’d be rescued by a new friend on four paws.
The plan was simple: Elizabeth would ignore the fact that she was unjustly fired from her dream job, fly across the pond to settle an unexpected inheritance in her father’s home country and quickly return to reclaim her position among the Silicon Valley elite.
But when Elizabeth stumbles upon an abandoned puppy, she’s shocked to realize that her brief trip to England might turn into an extended stay. Her strict itinerary is upended completely by the pup’s dogged devotion, and soon the loveable puppy helps her to connect with a tight-knit community of new friends on two legs and four, from the aunt and uncle she didn't know existed, to a grumpy coffee shop owner to two very opinionated sheep. Along the way Elizabeth is confronted by long-kept family secrets, hard truths about her former life and a new romance that might lead her to question everything she knows about love. Because sometimes rescue magic happens on both ends of the leash.

2. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Differently Morphous
By: Yahtzee Croshaw
Narrated by: Yahtzee Croshaw
Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins
Release date: 03-06-18
This seems very fun.
Source: May 2018 Audible Credit.
Publisher's Summary
A magical serial killer is on the loose, and gelatinous, otherworldly creatures are infesting the English countryside. Which is making life for the Ministry of Occultism difficult, because magic is supposed to be their best kept secret.
After centuries in the shadows, the Ministry is forced to unmask, exposing the country's magical history - and magical citizens - to a brave new world of social media, government scrutiny, and public relations.
On the trail of the killer are the Ministry's top agents: a junior operative with a photographic memory (and not much else), a couple of overgrown schoolboys with godlike powers, and a demonstrably insane magician.
But as they struggle for results, their superiors at HQ must face the greatest threat the Ministry has ever known: the forces of political correctness....
Differently Morphous is the latest and greatest tale to emerge from the mind of writer (and narrator) Yahtzee Croshaw.
©2018 Yahtzee Croshaw (P)2018 Audible Originals, LLC.

3. eBook/Kindle (Author2020)

Hood: an Outlaws novella
by M.C. Frank
I like fairy tale retellings and asked to review this when I saw it. I agreed to do the read and review within two weeks and them maybe get another book in the series.
Source: Author pdf March 2020.
Meet Robin Hood's band of outlaws. Their story starts with Christmas, a lost love, a hungry town and a robbery.
In this Outlaws novella, Robin Loxley is a tortured young man mourning the loss of his title, his lands and his first love. Tonight, with the help of his close friends, he will get a new name that will live in history, a cat that could care less that Robin happens to be the most brilliant archer in medieval England, and a chance to prove himself by rescuing a lady from a fire.
But this is no ordinary lady...
And that is no ordinary fire...
HOOD is a prequel novella to the beloved bestselling Outlaws series by M.C. Frank.

4. Audible/Smartphone (A2020)

Configured
The Configured Trilogy, Book 1
By: Jenetta L. Penner
Narrated by: Lillie Ricciardi
Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
Release date: 11-03-17
I have the third book from the author so I thought I should start with book one.
3/28/2020 Audible One March Credit.
Publisher's Summary
There will come a day when love will mark you as a traitor. In a society where emotions are nothing and function is everything, Avlyn Lark is just trying to blend in. She's lucky to be alive, unlike her twin brother Ben who died when they were four. And she's lucky to have been taken from her biological parents and assigned to a Level Two family. But mastering her emotions? That's a problem, especially when a rebel bomb blows up a building right in front of her. Then on Configuration Day, Avlyn's official transition to adulthood, she starts seeing strange visions. And instead of being placed with a low-level tech company where she could hide away, she's hired by Genesis Technologies, the government firm that monitors every citizen. Now, instead of blending in, Avlyn fears she'll be exposed for what she really is. If Gen Tech finds out how deeply she feels, it will ruin her life. And if they find out about her secret meetings with a mysterious but handsome member of the rebel forces, her life will be more than ruined. It will be over.
©2016. 2017 Jenetta Penner (P)2017 Jenetta Penner

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

March 29, 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 day 32 of the 41 day Lent study: Lent: With One Voice.

I completed four books and posted three reviews which keeps me up to date.
My NetGalley shelf remains at 14, 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.
I received one review title this week.
I picked up six audiobooks. One prequel, one Audible credit, two for one Audiobooks.com deal and two free books.

I added 6 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

Received from Author M.C. Frank:

Hood: an Outlaws novella
by M.C. Frank
See more under Current Reading.

Won

NONE

Purchased

3/28/2020 Audible Purchase $1.99.
Tin Man: A Galaxy's Edge Prequel
By: Jason Anspach, Nick Cole
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Length: 52 mins
Release date: 01-28-20
I picked this up to start the series as I have the first full book.

3/28/2020 Audible One March Credit
Configured
The Configured Trilogy, Book 1
By: Jenetta L. Penner
Narrated by: Lillie Ricciardi
Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
Release date: 11-03-17
I have the third book from the author so I thought I should start with book one.

3/28/2020 Audiobooks.com Two For One Credit
Infinity Blade: Awakening
By Brandon Sanderson
Narrated By: Samuel Roukin
Publisher: Recorded Books
Duration: 4 h 41 min
This is an author my son really likes too.

The Atrocity Archives
By Charles Stross
Narrated By: Gideon Emery
Publisher: Recorded Books
Duration: 11 h 1 min
I almost missed this but this sounds fun.

Free

3/28/2020 2nd Free Audible Original
The Science of Sci-Fi
From Warp Speed to Interstellar Travel
By: Erin Macdonald, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Erin Macdonald
Length: 3 hrs and 59 mins
Release date: 11-19-19

3/28/2020 Audiobooks.com VIP I had a hard time picking from the selection. I finally chose this book which has been on my wishlist.
Age of Myth
By Michael J. Sullivan
Narrated By: Tim Gerard Reynolds
Publisher: Recorded Books
Duration: 16 h 57 min


I added 6 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.