Sunday Post January 7, 2024/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday January 8, 2024

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 started the month medium busy. I enjoyed my Monday at home and took my time going into to the office at about 10am each day. Now I do stay usually until 6 (or later).  I do plan on trying to go in earlier this week but I'll probably still come home at 6 or later.

I'll be busy this week with some signings and one staff member out two days for personal business.

I started chair yoga and am enjoying the streching exercising.

I will continue to pray for the Advent messages all year: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

We have some warmer days Friday and Saturday but then the rain brought in the cold again. I won't complain about my 50 degree weather when those in the west and north are having snow.

I've finished two audios this week. I have one review posted this week and the other I will review this coming week.

I visited only 11 blogs last week. Shout Out this week to D'ANN MATEER. D'Ann is an author (published through Bethany House Publishers), editor, and reader. Check out her website and blog.

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

• Sunday Post December 31, 2023/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday January 1, 2024.

• MBS First Book of the Year 2024 - The Josiah Manifesto by Jonathan Cahn.

• MarthaE Cooking #3.

• First Book of the Year 2024 - Audible Book Review: The Josiah Manifesto by Jonathan Cahn.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement January 7, 2024 - Burden and Prayer.

Finished Reading:
1. Audible on Smartphone (ATBR).

The Josiah Manifesto
By: Jonathan Cahn
Narrated by: Lawrence Richardson
Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
I did enjoy this as my FIRST BOOK of 2024.
Source: 9/17/2023 August Audible Credit.
Click on link above for description and review.

2. NetGalley on Smartphone (NGA2023).

The Fish of Small Wishes
by Elana K. Arnold
Narrated by Erin Ruth Walker
Pub Date: 30 Jan 2024
This is a charming story.
Source: 12/11/2023 received at NetGalley.
 Description
Fall in love with a modern fairy tale inspired by a Jewish family memory in this magical picture book by award-winning picture book creators Elana K. Arnold and Magdalena Mora.
Once, there was a girl named Kiki, who found a fish on the asphalt.
The fish was very hot and very dry.
But when Kiki put it in the bathtub, it started swimming, and growing, and . . . speaking?
"I want to grant you a wish for saving me," it said.
A wish-granting fish!
Alas, this fish was only a fish of small wishes, and Kiki’s wish was too big.
Unless . . . there was a way for both their dreams to come true.
Follow Kiki and the wish-granting fish in this contemporary fairy-tale perfect for fans of A Big Mooncake for Little Star and Carmela Full of Wishes.

Currently Reading:
1. Audible on Smartphone (ATBR).

Armageddon
Expeditionary Force, Book 8
By: Craig Alanson
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Length: 17 hrs and 51 mins
I have a little over an hour left and have laughed out loud at times but am holding my breath near the end as a serious battle occurs.
Source: 11/16/22 October Audible Credit.
Click on link to see full description.

2. NetGalley App on Smartphone (NGA2023)

Deep Freeze
by Michael C. Grumley
Narrated by Scott Brick
Pub Date: 09 Jan 2024
Archive Date: 16 Jan 2024
I'm not too far in yet but this is intriguing.
Source: 12/11/2023 received at NetGalley.
Description
From the bestselling author of the Breakthrough series: In his next near-future thriller, Michael C. Grumley explores humanity’s thirst for immortality—at any cost...
“A fast-paced juggernaut of a story, where revelations pile upon revelations, building to a stunning conclusion that will leave readers clamoring for more.” —James Rollins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sigma Force series
The accident came quickly. With no warning. In the dead of night, a precipitous plunge into a freezing river trapped everyone inside the bus. It was then that Army veteran John Reiff’s life came to an end. Extinguished in the sudden rush of frigid water.
There was no expectation of survival. None. Let alone waking up beneath blinding hospital lights. Struggling to move, or see, or even breathe. But the doctors assure him that everything is normal. That things will improve. And yet, he has a strange feeling that there's something they're not telling him.
As Reiff's mind and body gradually recover, he becomes certain that the doctors are lying to him. One-by-one, puzzle pieces are slowly falling into place, and he soon realizes that things are not at all what they seem. Critical information is being kept from him. Secrets. Supposedly for his own good. But who is doing this? Why? And the most important question: can he keep himself alive long enough to uncover the truth?
A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Forge.

3. Kindle (/NetGalley )App on Smartphone (NGeB2023)

The Altered Moon 2: The Tyrant of Unity
By James McGettigan, Jingjing Huntley (Photographer), Fabiana Granado, Kyle Davis, Jason Frank, Serena Lucatero, Jacqui Corn-Uys (Editor), Anthony McGettigan (Editor), Judy McGettigan (Editor)
This looked like a good Sci Fi. I am engaged but it is reading slowly compared to my audios.
Source: December 27, 2023 NetGalley.
Archive date 1/11/24 I have it downloaded so hope I will be able to continue to read it.
Evil comes in many layers…
The Planet Galiza is under siege from an alien threat that blocks out every ray of light from the sun and twinkle from the stars. Scrambling to find a means of defense against the invaders, the humans conjure a solution by manipulating the biology of an alien corpse retrieved from the Lunar Clash.
Through the utilization and advancement of quantum suits, fueled by the blood of the invaders, the humans have steadily come to match the speed and fighting tactics of their cosmic adversaries. But even after two years of war, both sides appear to be at a stalemate.
After an aerial combat that nearly almost bests him, Amat Luciph Criptous has been granted a way to regain control of his own psyche.
With the help of his cousins and sister, Lara, Amat devises a plan to offer salvation to the greater part of his kin left to rot and fend for themselves in the wasteland that is Galiza. Together, the four of them conceal Skivs and Warvs within the various underground militia bases. A luxury granted only to those tied to the militia.
When the Diramal discovers Amat has slipped from his grasp, the devious tyrant has no choice but to relay his findings to an even greater enemy set before Amat. One who would seek to use Amat as a means to grow his grand army, forcing the rival foes of the Jinn-hid and the Diramal to work together.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2023.

January 7, 2024 - I am enjoying a new Bible in a year study on the YouVersion App called The Bible Recap with Tara Leigh Cobble. (The link is to the plan online.)
I also enjoyed a four day study New Year, Same God.

I finished two books, one review is linked above and the other will be reviewed this coming week.  

NETGALLEY STATUS--
I have finished one audio; started another audio and ebook. I still have an older audio on my shelf I need to listen to.
I still have the two old NetGalley ebook titles.

Other Sources: I have a dozen or so books that I received from Facebook links and newsletter sign-ups, not specific review requests. plus many titles through InstaFreebie over the past few years.

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, and Me. Emma has retired so we are looking for another person willing to assist.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

One new review title from NetGalley.
I've listed 12 of the 35 (or more) Audible Plus titles picked up in December. 

No new Kindle titles this week.
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

1/4/2024 One new title from NetGalley:

The Wild Lavender Bookshop
by Jodi Thomas
Pub Date 23 Apr 2024 | Archive Date 07 May 2024

Won

NONE

Purchased

NONE

Free

Here are twelve of the Audible Plus titles I picked up in December.

Deathstalker
By: Simon R. Green
Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
Series: Deathstalker Series, Book 1, Deathstalker, Book 1
Length: 22 hrs and 45 mins

The Color of Law
A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America
By: Richard Rothstein
Narrated by: Adam Grupper
Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins

Dragon Heart
By: Kirill Klevanski, Valeria Kornosenko - introduction, J. Kharkova - translator, R. Mansurova - translator, E. Kornilova - translator
Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins
Series: Dragon Heart Series, Book 1: Stone Will
Length: 17 hrs and 1 min

Hunted by Shadows
By: Erin O'Kane
Narrated by: Anais Inara Chase
Series: Shadowborn, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins

Zeb Carter
By: Ty Patterson
Narrated by: Adam Verner
Series: Zeb Carter Thriller Series, Book 1
Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins

Warstrider: Warstrider, Book 1
By: Ian Douglas
Narrated by: David Drummond
Series: Warstrider, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins

Doomsday Book
By: Connie Willis
Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin
Series: Oxford Time Travel, Book 1
Length: 26 hrs and 20 mins

Forged by Desire
By: Bec McMaster
Narrated by: Alison Larkin
Series: London Steampunk, Book 4
Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins

Blue Moon Rising
By: Simon R. Green
Narrated by: John Keating
Series: Forest Kingdom, Book 1
Length: 19 hrs and 25 mins

Blood and Honor (1 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation]
By: Simon R. Green
Narrated by: full cast, Terence Aselford, David Coyne, Andy Clemence, Richard Rohan, Elizabeth Jernigan, Nanette Savard, Michael John Casey, Kate Foster, Peter Stray, Eric Messner, James Konicek
Series: Forest Kingdom, Book 2 [Dramatized Adaptation] Part 1
Length: 5 hrs

Blood and Honor (2 of 2) [Dramatized Adaptation]
By: Simon R. Green
Narrated by: full cast, Terence Aselford, David Coyne, Yasmin Tuazon, Andy Clemence, Richard Rohan, Scott McCormick, Tim Getman, Michael John Casey, James Konicek, Michael Glenn, Eric Messner
Series: Forest Kingdom, Book 2 [Dramatized Adaptation] Part 2
Length: 5 hrs and 7 mins

Down Among the Deadman [Dramatized Adaptation]
By: Simon R. Green
Narrated by: full cast, Terence Aselford, Michael Glenn, Yasmin Tuazon, Elizabeth Jernigan, Danny Gavigan, David Coyne, Andy Clemence, Joseph Thornhill, Casie Platt, Tim Getman, Mort Shelby
Series: Forest Kingdom, Book 3
Length: 5 hrs and 48 mins

More Audibles to be listed later. 

No new free titles added to Kindle library.  Free titles might be found at Bookbub, Book Adrenaline, Ereader News Today, Inspired Reads, or Kindle ebooks.