Sunday Post August 20, 2023/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday August 21, 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.

My evening fever continued all week hitting a spike of 102.2 on Wednesday night. I was supposed to go to a convention on Thursday but canceled those plans and got in to my doctor. They ordered a prescription for tick bite and topical ointment. I spent the last four days dozing and reading. Lesson learned: don't ignore an infected bite.

Here are some photos from Great Wolf Lodge. I am still waiting for my son to share his photos as they had more of the water park.

Each evening they have a craft for kids in the lobby in front of this hearth.
I was lucky to get a shot almost clear of people.

My youngest granddaughter was brave enough to meet the squirrel.
We all got the wolf ears and some of us (including my son) wore them around a bit.

My continuing prayers include prayers for more unity in all nations, a calmer social atmosphere, and for revival. We are also continuing prays for family and church.
Prayers this week for the families with loses in Maui.

At least I've been indoors this week. The highs were 96 feeling over 103. My downstairs temp hoovered in the 83 to 85 range which didn't encourage any heavy work anyway. But I spent a good part of the last four days sleeping upstairs.  
This coming week we are to have two days up to 103 with continued heat warnings.

I finished three audios and posted three reviews and my memes.

I visited 14 blogs last week.
Shout out this week to SNAPDRAGON ALCOVE. Snapdragon declares "I am a reviewer of books, movies, graphic novels, manga, and anime. Gardener by day. Writer by night."

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

• Sunday Post August 13, 2023/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday August 14, 2023.

• ATBR: Audible Book Review: A Springtime to Remember by Lucy Coleman; Genre: Family Life, Romance, Women’s Fiction; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

• ATBR: Audible Book Review: The Summer House by James Patterson, Brendan DuBois; Genre: Crime Thriller, Military, Police Procedural, Suspense; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 5.0.

• ATBR: Audible Book Review: Black Sheep by Rachel Aukes; Genre: First Contact, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement August 20, 2023 - Growing Up!

Finished Reading:

1. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

The Ranch (A Legacy of Violence)
The Legacy Series, Book 2
By: Sean Liscom
Narrated by: Christopher Lane
Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins
This had lots of action in a continuing series.
Source: 3/3/22 Audible Sale $3.74.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

Eden's Gate: The Reborn
A LitRPG Adventure, Book 1
By: Edward Brody
Narrated by: Pavi Proczko
Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
I picked this for the LitRPG factor. It was engaging distraction while I was dozing on and off.
Source: 3/31/19 High Five Audible Sale title - $5.00.
Publisher's summary
When Gunnar Long is transported into the first fully-immersive virtual MMORPG, he finds himself in a new world filled with magic, mystery, and adventure.
No more 9-to-5 job. No more studio apartment. No more reality TV.
Finally, he's in a place where he can call home, a place with people he can call friends.
But as more people want to trade their real world lives to get inside Eden's Gate, the government of the outside world wants the "game" shut down at all costs.
Gunnar must learn to survive, grow in power, and find a way to send a message back to his old home.
"We're fine. We're alive. Eden's Gate is real."
Eden's Gate is a LitRPG adventure.
©2017 Edward Brody (P)2017 Edward Brody

3. Audible Smartphone (A2023)

The Lost Library
By Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass
Narrators: Christopher Gebauer, Jennifer Blom, and Rob Dircks
Length: 4hr 15min
  This is a charming middle grade fantasy, light mystery.
Pub Date: 29 Aug 2023
Archive Date: 05 Sep 2023.
Source: 6/29/2023 NetGalley.
When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.
Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. The two boys start asking questions whose answers will transform not only their own futures, but the town itself.
Told in turn by a ghost librarian named Al, an aging (but beautiful) cat named Mortimer, and Evan himself, The Lost Library is a timeless story from award-winning authors Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. It’s about owning your truth, choosing the life you want, and the power of a good book (and, of course, the librarian who gave it to you).

Currently Reading:
1. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

The Secret of Pembrooke Park
Author Julie Klassen
Narrator: Elizabeth Jasicki
Duration: 18 h 6 min
I am ten hours in and want to know the secrets although I do think it didn't need 18 hours.
Source: 5/27/2022 Audiobooks.com May VIP selection. (Also at Audible Plus Catalog in February 2023.)
Publisher's summary
Abigail Foster fears she will end up a spinster, especially as she has little dowry to improve her charms and the one man she thought might marry her - a longtime friend - has fallen for her younger, prettier sister. When financial problems force her family to sell their London home, a strange solicitor arrives with an astounding offer: the use of a distant manor house abandoned for 18 years. The Fosters journey to imposing Pembrooke Park and are startled to find it entombed as it was abruptly left: tea cups encrusted with dry tea, moth-eaten clothes in wardrobes, a doll's house left mid-play... The handsome local curate welcomes them, but though he and his family seem to know something about the manor's past, the only information they offer Abigail is a warning: Beware trespassers who may be drawn by rumors that Pembrooke contains a secret room filled with treasure. Hoping to improve her family's financial situation, Abigail surreptitiously searches for the hidden room, but the arrival of anonymous letters addressed to her, with clues about the room and the past, bring discoveries even more startling. As secrets come to light, will Abigail find the treasure and love she seeks.... or very real danger?
©2014 Julie Klassen (P)2014 Recorded Books

2. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

Robinson Crusoe 2244
By: E. J. Robinson
Narrated by: Malk Williams
Length: 8 hrs and 1 min
This is a post apocalyptic with a number title (my number challenge).
Source: 7/17/2022 I got a $7.00 credit so this book from my wish list ended up costing $.49 since I already had the Kindle copy.
Publisher's summary
Two centuries after mankind drove itself to the brink of extinction, a new civilization rises from the ashes of what was once Great Britain. But when deadly strife breaks out among their ranks, the teenage son of one prominent family finds himself fleeing in the dead of night, only to wind up shipwrecked on the forbidden continent of America. Armed with only his wit and the most unexpected of allies, the teenager struggles to survive in a wasteland filled with unspeakable horrors. In the end, he must uncover the one secret that can either save his own people, or spell doom for mankind forever.
©2014 Erik Robinson (P)2015 Erik Robinson

3. Kindle App on Smartphone (A2023)

The Marksman
By Robin G. Mercier, Danny Kravitz, Chris Charles
I am reading this on the phone app and hope it won't take too long.
Source: August 2023 Received two ebooks from Alyssia Gonzalez at Publicist, Level 4 Press
Jim Hanson, an ex-Marine sniper, was getting by in life as a rancher on the Arizona-Mexico border until his wife’s recent battle with cancer wiped him out financially and hollowed him out emotionally. Then he encounters a young Mexican boy, Miguel, and his mother as they are fleeing from a vicious drug cartel. Jim calls the Border Patrol but is soon confronted by cartel soldiers who demand he turn over the mother and son. Jim refuses and is drawn into a shootout, narrowly escaping with Miguel and his mother, who has been fatally shot. She begs Jim to take her son to the safety of his relatives in Chicago just before dying.
Now being pursued by the cartel’s relentless lead assassin, as well as Border Patrol Agents intent on sending Miguel back to Mexico (which is certain death), Jim finds himself as the boy’s protector in a desperate race from Arizona to Chicago. Jim and Miguel fight for their lives during this deadly road trip, becoming the most unlikely pair of fugitives and helping each other heal from deep loss along the way.

August 20, 2023 - I am doing the daily readings of BibleProject plan: The Full Story - "From the beginning to the Amen". Reading this week went from Nehemiah to the wonderful story of Esther -- "for such a time as this" yet never the name of God mentioned!

I finished three audio titles and posted three reviews so I remain up to date.

NETGALLEY STATUS--
I have an older audio on my shelf as two of the books I thought I had downloaded while I was on vacation apparently didn't download and the time expired.
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.

I received two review titles a week ago I forgot to list.
I selected my July 2 Credits at Audible this week and picked up a Daily Deal.
I got two free Kindle titles through author emails.
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

August 2023 Received two ebooks from Alyssia Gonzalez at Publicist, Level 4 Press. I warned her it may take longer for me to read ebooks.

Con Crazy
by Addison J. Chapple, Danny Kravitz, Eliza Marsh
This is an international crimme novel about an expert in European art and antiquities that is based on true events.

The Marksman
By Robin G. Mercier, Danny Kravitz, Chris Charles
This is a crime thriller that pulls on your heart strings.
See more information under Currently Reading.

Won

NONE

Purchased

8/17/2023 Two July Audible Credits - I chose two from new to me authors.

The Watchman
By: Arthur Bradley
Narrated by: Greg Tremblay
Length: 7 hrs and 37 mins

Earth Force Boxset: The Complete Series (Books 1-3)
By: Shemer Kuznits
Narrated by: Jeff Hays
Length: 45 hrs and 21 mins

8/20/2023 Audible Daily Deal $2.99.

Midsummer Mysteries
Tales from the Queen of Mystery
By: Agatha Christie
Narrated by: Hugh Fraser, David Suchet, Joan Hickson
Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins

Free

Two kindle books from author newsletters/links.

Recipe for Mr Right: Hilarious and heartfelt. The perfect romance! (Recipes for Love)
By Anni Rose

Shadow Soul a gripping Welsh crime mystery full of twists (DI Tudor Manx Crime Thrillers Book 3)
By Dylan H. Jones


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