Sunday Post May 14, 2023/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday May 15, 2023

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 another good and consistent work week. I still have future decisions to make but I am not feeling stress over it.

I got to have my Florida granddaughters attend church with me before I drove them back to Panama City where we met my daughter for lunch.
Sadly my grandson works nights so he didn't make it out to lunch.

Both dogs will visit the vet in two weeks.

My continuing prayers include prayers for more unity in all nations, a calmer social atmosphere, and for revival. We are also praying for family and church.


We are having sunny days with thunderstorms. Several days, including today the day temp was over 90. This week's forecast is more rain but the temps will be just under 90.

I finished three audios this past week and posted three reviews and two memes.

I visited only 14 blogs last week. (I wasn't on the computer too long in the evenings.)
Shout out this week: RAIN CITY READS. M loves to read and has wide-ranging tastes. Stop by and take a peek at her well organized blog.

Audiobooks.com is still sharing some free listens for children.

• Sunday Post May 7, 2023/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday May 8, 2023.

• ATBR: Audio Book Review: Silver Dollar Duke by Sally Britton; Genre: Historical Romance, Religious & Inspirational, Romance, Western Romance; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

• ATBR: Audio Book Review: Snow Melts in Spring by Deborah Voghts; Genre: Christian Romance, Country Romance, Small Town Romance; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.
  

• P2023: Book Review: Get Up & Grow, 21 Habits of Successful People by Duke Matlock; Genre: Christian Growth, Christian Self Help, Non-Fiction; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement May 14, 2023 - Contentment.

Finished Reading:

1. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

Broken
By: S.J. West
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
Series: The Watcher Chronicles, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
I found this engaging and will continue the series.
Source: 9/27/2022 Audible Plus
Click on book title for full description.

2. NetGalley App Smartphone (NG2023)

Titanium Noir
by Nick Harkaway
This is a different mystery, sci fi mix, which I enjoyed.
Source 3/4/2023 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

Nine Lives: A Lily Dale Mystery
By: Wendy Corsi Staub
Narrated by: Melanie Ewbank
Series: Lily Dale Mysteries, Book 1
I enjoyed this lighter mystery set in a psychics community.
Source: May 2021 Audible Plus Catalog.
Publisher's Summary
After the death of her husband, Bella Jordan and her son need a fresh start. But on their way to stay with family in Chicago, they stop in Lily Dale, New York, and a storm forces them to spend the night.
Brimming with kooky psychics and mediums, Lily Dale is just the kind of quirky little town Bella's late husband always talked about settling down in. So when the local hotelier, Leona, passes away, Bella agrees to step in and help temporarily. The longer she and Max stay there, the more Lily Dale starts to feel like home.
But for Bella, finding a home means finding danger, too. Leona was murdered, and it's up to Bella to track down the killer before her sanctuary comes crashing down in Staub's warm and witty new series debut.
©2015 Wendi Corsi Staub (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Currently Reading:
1. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

Dare to Lead
Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.
By: Brené Brown
Narrated by: Brené Brown
Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
My son recommended this and I am find it it inspirational.
Source: May 15, 2022 Audible 2 April Credit picks.
Publisher's Summary
Number-one New York Times best seller.
Brené Brown has taught us what it means to dare greatly, rise strong, and brave the wilderness. Now, based on new research conducted with leaders, change makers, and culture shifters, she’s showing us how to put those ideas into practice so we can step up and lead.
Don’t miss the hour-long Netflix special Brené Brown: The Call to Courage!
Named one of the best books of the year by Bloomberg.
Leadership is not about titles, status, and wielding power. A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for recognizing the potential in people and ideas and has the courage to develop that potential.
When we dare to lead, we don’t pretend to have the right answers; we stay curious and ask the right questions. We don’t see power as finite and hoard it; we know that power becomes infinite when we share it with others. We don’t avoid difficult conversations and situations; we lean into vulnerability when it's necessary to do good work.
But daring leadership in a culture that’s defined by scarcity, fear, and uncertainty requires skill-building around traits that are deeply and uniquely human. The irony is that we’re choosing not to invest in developing the hearts and minds of leaders at the exact same time as we’re scrambling to figure out what we have to offer that machines and AI can’t do better and faster. What can we do better? Empathy, connection, and courage, to start.
Brené Brown has spent the past two decades studying the emotions and experiences that give meaning to our lives, and the past seven years working with transformative leaders and teams spanning the globe. She found that leaders in organizations ranging from small entrepreneurial startups and family-owned businesses to nonprofits, civic organizations, and Fortune 50 companies all ask the same question:
How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders, and how do you embed the value of courage in your culture?
In this new audiobook, Brown uses research, stories, and examples to answer these questions in the no-BS style that millions have come to expect and love. Brown writes, “One of the most important findings of my career is that daring leadership is a collection of four skill sets that are 100 percent teachable, observable, and measurable. It’s learning and unlearning that requires brave work, tough conversations, and showing up with your whole heart. Easy? No. Because choosing courage over comfort is not always our default. Worth it? Always. We want to be brave with our lives and our work. It’s why we’re here.”
Whether you’ve read Daring Greatly and Rising Strong or you’re new to Brené Brown’s work, this audiobook is for anyone who wants to step up and into brave leadership.
©2018 Brené Brown (P)2018 Random House Audio

2. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

Kindred
By: S.J. West
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
Series: The Watcher Chronicles, Book 2
Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
This continues the Watcher series and is also set to expire 5/23. I'm half way through and hoping for a little more story and a little less romance.
Source: May 2023 Audible Plus Catalog.
Publisher's Summary
In the second book of The Watcher Chronicles series, Jess finally learns where her father has been since the Tear first opened. While Mason tries to keep his distance from her, Jess continues to search for the other vessels with Chandler by her side.
This series is intended for a mature audience. Recommended for ages 17 and older due to sexual situations and adult themes.
If I were to use the movie rating system, I would rate this series an R.
©2013 S.J. West (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

I do expect to get to a third book (an audio). I'm leaning toward post-apocalyptic, maybe in a series I like.

May 14, 2023 - I am doing the daily readings of BibleProject plan: The Full Story - "From the beginning to the Amen".
I don't know whether I will do a YOU Bible App or a print book.

I finished two audio titles and a NetGalley ebook.  I still have four reviews to post this coming week.

NETGALLEY STATUS--
I still have two more audios on my NetGalley shelf.
I still have the two old NetGalley ebook titles.

I have one author review in my queue that I need to start reading on my computer. (I need to look back and see which one this is.)
(Plus a few that I received from Facebook links and 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: Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit, me, and newest to the team, Emma at Words and Peace.
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

A mailbox of freebies this week.
No review titles last week.
I have credits to use this week for Audible.
I picked six books from Audible Plus.
I got one free Kindle title last week.
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

NONE

Free

Week of May 7-May 14, 2023 Audible Plus Catalog:

Kindred
By: S.J. West
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
Series: The Watcher Chronicles, Book 2
Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
(Expires 5/23/23.)

The World Over
By: Cassiopeia Fletcher
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
Series: Stone World Saga, Book 1
Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins

No Kindness Too Soon
By: Sylvain Neuvel
Narrated by: Melanie Nicholls-King, Deepti Gupta, Neil Hellegers, Gabriel Vaughan, Kathy Searle, Imani Jade Powers, Nicolette Chin, Gopal Divan, Garrett Michael Brown
Series: Audible Original Stories
Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins

Oblivion
By: S.J. West
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
Series: The Watcher Chronicles, Book 3
Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
(Expires 5/23/23.)

Shadows of a Lost Age
Dustfall, Book 1
By: Glynn James, J. Thorn
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
Series: Dustfall, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins

The Fall
Burning Skies Series, Book 1
By: Devon C. Ford
Narrated by: Neil Hellegers
Series: Burning Skies Series, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins


ONE NEW KINDLE TITLE: May 11, 2023 Author Newsletter:

The Sparkly Bun: A children's book about confidence, self-esteem, individuality, and creativity.
by Keith Stoeckeler (Author), Lana Lee (Illustrator)



One new title added to Kindle library. 
Free titles might be found at Bookbub, Book Adrenaline, Ereader News Today, Inspired Reads, or Kindle ebooks.