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Sunday, April 26, 2020

Sunday Post April 26, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday April 27, 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.

Work has slowed since the shutdowns but I discussed with staff and we all agreed we are fortunate to be able to work from office. The two mothers are taking one day each week to stay home with children. We have been down one employee since mid-March. It is not likely I will hire another until the restrictions are lifted and business picks up again.

In previous Springs I remember coming out to the front yard to see a flock of robins on the lawn. We had trees then. This year it looks like we had a visit but they were angry the trees were gone. They took it out on my car. This mess was on the driver's side, top and front of the car:

Our weather was good except for a very bad storm midweek.
Our governor has opened up beaches with restrictions but court systems and many smaller businesses (hair and nail salons included) are still on shut down rules. I hope  everyone continues to stay safe in these uncertain times.
I enjoyed my week of listening and reading. Again it seems slower as it's been all this month. I finished one audiobook and one ebook. I posted two reviews and my usual memes.

I did better this week visiting 20 blog.
Shout Out this week to Sweetly B Squared. I didn't find an up to date "about page" but an older description indicates Becki is a mommy who enjoys artichokes with lots of butter, jeans that fit well, watching her children being happy "and being romantical with my dear husband".

Don't forget- Audible is offering free children's titles during these days at home.
Audiobooks.com is also offering free listens for children.

These were last week's posts:
  • NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones; Genre: Cozy Mystery, Private Investigator; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.
Finished Reading:
1. Audible/Smartphone (A2020)
Into the End audiobook cover art


Into the End
By: Bonnie R. Paulson
Narrated by: David Gilmore
Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins
Release date: 12-07-12
This is an engaging post-apocalyptic.
Source: I received four Audiobook Author Codes on 4/10/2020. Thank you, Bonnie Paulson!
Click on book title for full description.



2. eBook/Kindle (NG2020)
45046677


The New Husband
by D.J. Palmer
Releases April 14, 2020.
Creepy thriller!
Source: 2019 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.



Currently Reading:
1. Audible/Smartphone (A2020)
I Hear You audiobook cover art


I Hear You
The Surprisingly Simple Skill Behind Extraordinary Relationships
By: Michael S. Sorensen
Narrated by: Michael S. Sorensen
Length: 2 hrs and 45 mins
Release date: 08-16-17
This seems like a worthwhile skill to learn for a small price! I am enjoying the lessons.
Source: 9/16/19 Audible Daily Deal $1.95.
Publisher's Summary
What if making one tweak to your day-to-day conversations could immediately improve every relationship in your life?
In this three-hour, conversational listen, you'll discover the whats, whys, and hows of one of the most valuable (yet surprisingly little-known) communication skills - validation.
Whether you're looking to improve your relationship with your spouse, navigate difficult conversations at work, or connect on a deeper level with friends and family, this book delivers simple, practical, proven techniques for improving any relationship in your life.
Mastery of this simple skill will enable you to:
  • Calm (and sometimes even eliminate) the concerns, fears, and uncertainties of others
  • Increase feelings of love, respect, and appreciation in your romantic relationships
  • Quickly resolve, or even prevent, arguments
  • Help others become open to your point of view
  • Give advice and feedback that sticks
  • Provide support and encouragement to others, even when you don't know how to "fix" the problem
  • And much more
In short: this skill is powerful. Give the principles and practices in this book a chance and you'll be amazed at the difference they can make.
©2017 Michael S. Sorensen (P)2017 Michael S. Sorensen



2. eBook/Kindle (NG2020)
45046720


The K Team
by David Rosenfelt
I'm just getting started.
Released March 24, 2020.
Source: NetGalley 2019.
Click on book title for full description.



3. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)
52759112. sx318 sy475


Leo's Monster (Releasing May 5, 2020)
by Marcus Pfister
This looks sweet.
Source: 2019 NetGalley.
When Leo, the city mouse, visits his friend Zoe in the countryside for the first time, he meets a huge and horrible monster.
It’s gigantic, has lots of horns, an enormous tail, and when it roars, the earth shakes. At least that’s what Leo saw. Or did he? Zoe thinks his description sounds just like Berta, the sweet-tempered cow in the meadow . . .
Bestselling author Marcus Pfister skillfully weaves a hilarious story of mystery, suspense and just a hint of scariness.


I am short my book count this month. I'm not sure if I am going to pick a short audio or jump into another fav. I'll decide when I get there.

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: C  D  E  F  G  H  J  K  L  M 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  R  S  T  U  V  W X  Y  Z

April 26, 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 three-day study: The Big GiveI haven't picked my next one.



I completed two books and posted two reviews so I continue on track.
My NetGalley shelf is now 11, plus the four titles from 2012-13 which I still hope to read this year.
I still have one carry over author ebook and two new author ebooks. I expect to pull one of these soon. I have one audiobook from an author and now I have 4 new audiobooks too (one up this week).
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 review titles again this week. I still have emails to check out and will try to get to them this week.

I picked up two Chrip titles.  The low prices are just so tempting!
I selected my free April VIP at Audiobooks.com and two free Audible Originals.
I only added nine 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
4/22/2020 Chirp $.99
Manners and MonstersManners and Monsters
Written by Tilly Wallace
Narrated by Marian Hussey
Run time: 7 hours and 31 minutes


4/23/2020 Chirp $2.99
Extreme Medical Services Box Set Vol 1 - 3Extreme Medical Services Box Set Vol 1 - 3
Written by Jamie Davis
Narrated by Roberto Scarlato
Run time: 20 hours and 16 minutes



Free
4/26/2020 Audiobooks.com April VIP
Bioshock: Rapture, John ShirleyBioshock: Rapture
By John Shirley
Narrated By: Jeffrey Kafer
Duration: 12 h 24 min



4/26/2020 Two Free April Audible Originals
Second Skin audiobook cover artSecond Skin
Audible Original Novella
By: Christian White
Narrated by: Ellen Archer
Length: 4 hrs and 28 mins
Release date: 04-02-20


The Golden Orchard audiobook cover artThe Golden Orchard
By: Flora Ahn
Narrated by: Kathleen Choe
Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins
Release date: 01-23-20


I was pleased to pick up two free Murderbot books by Martha Wells from Tor.com this week. Unfortunately, I missed book 2.
Rogue Protocol: The Murderbot Diaries
Exit Strategy: The Murderbot Diaries


One of my free Kindle titles that looks interesting for a very quick read:
Human Tender: A Covid-19 Future
Jason Werbeloff

I only added nine free Kindle titles to my Kindle library. Free titles often found at Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

13 comments:

  1. The K Team looks good. How is the Chirp App? Does it have speed control and a sleep timer? I've been curious.
    Man, those birds took out your car. Had a seagull get me right on the chest once. Everyone said it was good luck...i however was not feeling lucky!

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  2. Oh dear, those birds really weren’t happy!

    Wishing you a great reading week, be well x

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  3. I've seen The New Husband on a few blogs, hope you find it a good thriller. Oh boy the birds sure did a number on the car!

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  4. I am starting to read The New Husband today. I hope to fully immerse myself in it.

    Enjoy your week, and stay safe. Here are my WEEKLY UPDATES

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  5. Wow! Those are some angry birds.

    I Hear You, Leo's Monster, and Human Tender all look good. Hope you enjoy your books.

    http://imperfectchristianmom.blogspot.com/2020/04/mailbox-monday-apr-27.html

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  6. Stay safe over there. I can hardly believe I've been working from home over a month now myself.
    Wow the birds got your car good, but it s is good luck they say.
    Enjoy your books this week, The New Husband looks like a good one. I need to get a few NetGalley books read and reviewed as well.

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  7. Birds! What a mess they can make. At one time we had doves nesting on our old porch. Took a bit to clean up after they all left. Great set of books. Have an enjoyable week of reading.

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  8. Oh my, you'd have to laugh at the mess on your car to keep from crying. We're fighting birds that want to nest on our front porch. We don't mind them nesting in our trees but they make a huge mess when they nest on the porch. Have a great week!

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  9. I've added more books than usual to TBR mountain the last couple of weeks. I have taken to deleting the posts about free ebooks unread to try to control the number of books I get. I have thousands of unread Kindle books. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  10. Yuck. Sorry about your car. That’s gross. I hope you have a great week!

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  11. Hi Martha,

    Don't you just love it when you realise that you car has been specially selected for redecoration, it has happened to me several times, but not quite that spectacularly!! The trouble is, if you don't clean it off almost immediately, it also sticks like the proverbial s*** and is almost impossible to remove :)

    Life here isn't going to be back to anything like 'normal' any time soon by the sounds of things. 7 weeks in and no restrictions lifted yet! I am definitely beginning to go stir crazy, however the government are still worried about a second spike happening, so better to be safe than sorry!

    Take things easy as you begin to open up again and stay safe :)

    You have a couple of books on your list this week that I am curious about and adding to my list - 'The New Husband' and 'Second Skin', both of which are written by new to me authors, so thanks for sharing.

    Have a good rest of the week and Take Care :)

    Yvonne
    xx

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  12. Thanks for the shoutout! :) Made my day! Looking at your car, I hope those birds are okay - looks like they visited you after a late night of drinking and tacos! Hahaha... The cover of Leo's monster looks adorable. Enjoy your week and stay safe!

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Your comments are always appreciated!