Sunday Post December 13, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday December 14, 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.

I had two large commercial closings this week.  One was as planned and the other changed in nature in two days. It took a day to get the package changed and out and all worked out well.
My left eye did calm down but I think I am losing clarity in my eye.  My last visit two months ago the eye doctor did tell me that I was starting to get a cataract. He suggests that when it is time I should have laser surgery so I have that to look forward to. It will be very strange since I have been nearsighted all my life - I don't see the big E on the chart (actually, I only see a blurry white rectangle for the chart) without lenses. I can read and do close up needle work with the lenses off. That won't be available if I have my eyes 'fixed'.

The deer ate all the leaves off the satsuma (branches on the right) and knocked off the one fruit which hubby ate. The deer also got a lot of the leaves from the lemon towards the left.
Hubby needs to spray the area with deer repellent.

Our temps ranged from high 20s to mid 70s. We had a couple of foggy and rainy days and had to check each morning to dress accordingly.
This week the range shouldn't be as wide with lower highs and higher lows.

I enjoyed my reading and listening this week. I had variety with one audio, one ebook and one childrens' book. I posted five reviews and my usual memes. 
Countdown to finish challenges:
TBR -need to finish 5 and 3 are lined up this week. I am on track.
I'll have to see if I can find a title with "X" so I can finish the alphabet.
NetGalley - Completed!

I visited 15 blogs again last week.
Shout Out this week to THE BOOK DISCIPLE. Samantha has a nice looking blog, "genetic" love of reading and says "I have enjoyed discovering indie authors as well as the more ‘main streamed’ authors."

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:

• Sunday Post December 6, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday December 7, 2020.

• NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: Calvin the Christmas Tree by Stephen G. Bowling; Genre: Children, Christmas; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Little Donkey by Jodi Taylor Genre: Humorous Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• MBS November 2020 Reading List Wrap Up.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien; Genre: Children’s Folk Tales, Fairy Tale Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway December 11, 2020. Open Worldwide. Ending 12/17/2020.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Jingle Bell Pop by John Seabrook; Genre: Christmas, Music, Nonfiction; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

• ATBR- Audio Book Review: An Angel for Christmas by Heather Graham; Genre: Christmas, Mystery, Romance; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• Sharing Beyond Books #410 Comment Giveaway December 12, 2020. Open Worldwide. Ending 12/26/2020.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement December 13, 2020.

Finished Reading:
1. NetGalley App on Phone (NG2020)

Survive the Fall (EMP: Return of the Wild West Book 1)
by Grace Hamilton
This is a family focused post-apocalyptic story.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

2. NetGalley App on Phone (NG2020)

Yang Warriors
by Kao Kalia Yang
Oh boy - this is touching.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

3. NetGalley App on Phone (NG2020)

Megge of Bury Down
The Bury Down Chronicles, Book One
by Rebecca Kightlinger
Narrated by Jan Cramer
Megge is a complex character in this engaging story of good witches in the middle ages.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:

1. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

Pupcakes: A Christmas Novel
Written By: Annie England Noblin
Narrated By: Amy McFadden
Duration: 9 hours 59 minutes
I like the premise of this story.
Source: November 2019 Sale at Audiobooks.com $3.99.
Summary:
Sit! Stay! Speak! author Annie England Noblin’s novel takes one woman starting over, adds an aging pug named Teddy Roosevelt, and proves the power of a well-baked dog treat.
All she wants is a settled-down life.
What she gets is a dog—and a whole new normal . . .
There he stood in the doorway: overweight, depressed and nearly homeless—a pug named Teddy Roosevelt. Teddy was Brydie Benson’s latest problem, arriving on top of her messy divorce and sudden move. Brydie needed a place to start over, so this rent-free home seemed a great idea. She just never counted on Teddy, or his owner, the Germantown Retirement Village’s toughest customer, Pauline Neumann.
And because rent-free doesn’t mean bills-free, Brydie gets a night-shift job at a big-box grocery. Whoever guessed there were so many people who wanted baked goods after midnight?
Then, she gets an idea—why not combine her baking skills with her new-found dog knowledge? And so her store Pupcakes is born. Along with a new start comes a possible new love, in the form of Nathan Reid, a local doctor with a sassy Irish Wolfhound named Sasha. And as fall turns to winter, and then to Christmas, Brydie begins to realize that life is a little bit like learning a new recipe for puff pastry—it takes a few tries to get it just right!...

2. Kindle App on Phone (ebTBR)

Cold Feet: A Short Story for Christmas (Hand-Me-Downs Book 2)
by Meggan Haller
This looks sweet and will help towards finishing my TBR goal.
Source: December 2016 Free Kindle download.
"He saw the distinct shape of a hand carefully placing one more stocking alongside the others. Though Jakob was sure he saw it, at first he didn’t believe it was real. It took him a long time to figure out there was no Santa, and short of a miracle, he wouldn’t be quick to change his mind."
Another Christmas and nothing had changed for 5-year-old Jakob. Papa still had no job, the family still had no money, and Jakob still had the same pair of old, threadbare socks only now with holes in them. This was the Great Depression, a time of hardship for many families, the Strumpfs included.
Year after year, Santa brought nothing for the Strumpfs but a hand-written promise that next Christmas would be better. Jakob’s older brothers and sisters believed Santa would keep his promise and bring them a gift this year—even Mama and Papa believed—but Jakob doubted. When a sensitive boy loses heart, his family must help him find it.
These days, Christmas may be a season of abundance, but this solemn tale introduces young readers to an era of struggle. A generation after Bern learned to believe in Santa in Light in the Snow, Jakob carries on the Strumpf tradition of turning hardships into happiness. With contemplative and compassionate prose, this remarkable story reminds us that where there is love, hope can flourish despite poverty.

3. Kindle App on Phone (ebTBR)

Thomas & the Christmas Orange: Storybook Advent Calendar Singles
by Lewis Brech
This is another TBR I have been meaning to read for years.
Source: August 2011 Free Kindle download.
From Storybook Advent Calendar
A charming story about giving and the simple things in life was inspired by a folktale about that orange that seems to appear in Christmas stockings each year. Thomas and his parents leave England in 1824. Tragedy strikes and despair and destitution follow, but warmth and love are returned from a simple orange. This is an instant classic and beloved by all who read it!

I'm keeping track of my Alphabet here as I finish the books. These are the letters that remain:
NETGALLEY:  H  M  U  X  Y and Z
AUDIO:             X 

December 13, 2020 - I continue enjoying reading first thing each morning, even this week while away.
I am still 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 in the middle of a ten day Advent study: 10 Days of Christmas Truths to Live All Year.

I completed three books, posted five reviews and I continue to be up to date.
I added one NetGalley title and still have the three remaining titles from 2012-13.
I have two author titles in queue which will carry over to 2021. (Plus a few that I received from newsletter sign-ups, not specific review requests.)
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 picked up one new NetGalley title this week but plan on more in the next few weeks.

I bought three titles at Chirp.
I am lining up my two Audible picks to get this week.
No 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

I picked up one Audio NetGalley title (and have several on request and several READ I plan to add before year end).

The Salvage Crew
by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne
Narrated by Nathan Fillion
Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins

Won

NONE

Purchased

I used one Audiobooks.com credit for these two titles:

Mistletoe Miracles
Written By: Jodi Thomas
Narrated By: Julia Gibson
Duration: 9 hours 52 minutes

The Christmas Heirloom: Four Holiday Novellas of Love Through the Generations
Written By: Kristi Ann Hunter, Sarah Loudin Thomas, Becky Wade, Karen Witemeyer
Narrated By: Pilar Witherspoon, Liz Pearce, Stephanie Cozart, Emily Pike Stewart
Duration: 12 hours 53 minutes

And I bought three titles at Chrip for under $10.00.

What If It's True?
by Charles Martin
Narrated by Charles Martin
Run Time 9h 55min
$4.99

Armor
by John Steakley
Narrated by Tom Weiner
Run Time 13h 39min
$3.99

By Sea & Sky
by Antoine Bandele
Narrated by John Rogers
Run Time 9h 57min
$0.99

Free

No free Kindle title this week. Free titles often found at Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.