MBS 2023 Fraterfest Readathon - #2023FraterfestRAT

 This is being hosted again by Caffeinated Reviewer.

The rules are fairly easy:
Between Midnight October 12th and ending at 11:59 pm October 16th; read or listen to thrillers, mysteries, paranormal, horror, supernatural, witchy, ghostly or serial killer novels and novellas.

This time frame seems shorter than previous years. I estimate I might get in 15 hours listening time and a little bit of ebook time.

8 books (5TBR and 3 current) completed for FRATERFEST 2018
10 TBR titles for FRATERFEST 2019
6 books (2TBR and 4 current) for FRATERFEST 2020
10 books (7TBR and 3 current year) for FRATERFEST 2021
7 books (6TBR and 1 current year) for FRATERFEST 2022

I am going to try to stick to TBR books except for one of the NetGalley titles. I am going to try to stick to TBR books except for one of the NetGalley titles.
I've listed some books I can choose from. Those highlighted are favored.

eBooks:

The Messiest Monster on Mill Street by Sarah Sparks (NG2023)
Ghosts of Chernobyl (Tales from the Spirit World Book 3) 17pgs 5/2011
The Tutor: A Ghost Story 27p 2/2019
The Experience Machine 39pgs 10/2019
The Bell by Steve Lockley 87pgs
Behold the Child by Harry Shannon 88
Freddy’s House 92pgs 10/2013
Come to the Cemetery 105pgs 1/2017
Caged View 108pgs 5/2012
Sixtus--A Suspense Thriller 108pgs 6/2012
Outage (Boxed Set) book 1 154pg 2/2016

Audios:

The Horror of the Heights by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 0h 44m (ATBR ABC)
Deep Dark Joe Ledger Book 1.3 by John Maberry 50m (ATBR)
Material Witness Joe Ledger Book 1.2 by John Maberry 1h 16m (ATBR)
The Roommate The Cormac Reilly Series, Book 0.7 by Dervla McTiernan 2h 23m (ATBR)
Second Skin, Audible Original Novella by Christian White 2h 28m (ATBR)
An Open Spook, A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery Book 4.5 by E.J. Copperman 2h 32m (A2023)
Carnival Row: Tangle in the Dark By: Stephanie K. Smith 3h 8m (ATBR)
Eli Carter and the Ghost Hackers Books 1-3 Series Boxed Set by Angela Pepper Book 2 (ATBR Chirp)
Limbus Inc., Three Guys walk Into A Bar by Jonathan Maberry 3h 20m (ATBR ABC)
The Original by Brandon Sanderson 3h 30m (ATBR ABC)
The Snow, #1 of Whiteout by Flint Maxwell 4h 13m (ATBR ABC)
The Cuckoo's Cry An Audible Original Novella 4h 43m (ATBR)
A Death at Eastwick by L.C. Warman 5h 4m (ATBR Chirp)
Last Ones Left Alive A Novel by Sarah Davis-Goff 5h 34m (ATBR Chirp)
Cut 1/2986, Book 1 by Annelie Wendeberg 6h 4m (ATBR Chirp)
The Ghost Hunter Next Door Beechwood Harbor Ghost Mysteries, Book 1 by Danielle Garrett 6h 22m (ATBR)
The Darkwater Bride: An Audible Original Drama by Marty Ross 6h 45m (ATBR)
Trick or Treat Murder #3 of Lucy Stone by Leslie Meier 7h 17m (ATBR ABC)

CODE: ATBR - Audible TBR

             ABC - Audiobooks.com
             Chirp - audio on Chirp
Strike through xxx - I read them between 10/11 to 10/16

MBS 2023 Reading GOALS

MBS (Martha's Bookshelf) 2023 Reading GOALS

I expect to only sign up for one actual goal (Goodreads) and one actual challenge (Audiobook). The rest are just my own set goals again These help me focus on selection of titles from my huge TBR shelves. 

GOODREADS Goal: 125 again
I exceeded this goal the last two years but I know I have some longer audios I plan to listen to this year.

TBR Goal: 90 again All media: Audio, ebook or print.
I am keeping this the same.

AUDIOBOOK Goal: 100 again
I will join the 2023 Audiobook Challenge, hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That's What I am Talking About, with the highest level again - The 100 Club (Audiobook Addict) 100+.

NETGALLEY Goal: 10 again
Since I can do audio on NetGalley so this should be doable with a few children’s titles too. I currently have five (plus two older)on my shelf.

AUTHOR Reviews Goal: ? I'd like to do at least 4, one per quarter.
If I can get to some then I will be glad to do so.

NONFICTION Goal: 10
I reduced this from 12. I like including this to get in nonfiction. Most likely the books will be TBR audiobooks.

EBOOKS or PRINT Goal: 8
This is reduced from 12. I am struggling with ebooks and print. I only got to 10 in 2022 because four were children's books.

SEASONS Goal: 4
I will do this again for Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn (maybe Fall).

SERIES Goal: 75
I have done over 90 the last two years so this should be easily doable.

ALPHABET CHALLENGE #1: My first choice is AUDIO SERIES which I so enjoy! Most will be TBR before 2023 as I have bought several and held them for 2023 listening. Part of my fun decisions will be choosing between a series I am familiar with or those I want to start!

NO ALPHABET CHALLENGE #2: I may do a second set but I am not setting it as a goal. Although the Alphabet helps me pick from my overflowing shelves, I am going to keep my options open for more free flow this year so I won't worry about a second set.

YouVersion Bible App Goal: Bible through the year and 5 additional plans. (I reduced plans from 10 to 5 to meet what I did in 2022.)

Three New Goals this year:

LOCATIONS Goal: 8
This is for settings in the titles like Mountain, River, Woods, Sky, Inn, Ranch, Bay, Ruins, Villa, City, Lighthouse, etc. I may have a liberal interpretation but I think this will be a fun way to pick books.

NUMBERS Goal: 12
I am not insisting these be in order like One to Twelve although I will do some in that group. But I will be picking titles with numbers in them as another way to pick books.

GROUPS OF  FIVES: Five categories with five titles for each:
Five Places (Covered by Locations) Five Numbers (Covered by Numbers)
Five Times of Day: i.e., Dawn, Sunrise, Morning, Noon, Twilight, Sunset, Evening, Night, Midnight
Five Occupations: i.e., Cowboy, Rancher, Cook, Detective, Witch, Sorceress, Soldier
Five Colors: I'm pretty sure I can find at least five. :-)

First Book of the Year 2023: The Return of the Gods by Jonathan Cahn

I enjoy participating in the event hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

I have participated in First Book (links to my posts) since 2014 with these books:
2014: The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn (audio and print)
2015: Shopping for Time: How to Do It All and NOT Be Overwhelmed by Carolyn Mahaney (ebook)
2016: X Minus One 3 short story Vintage Sci Fi (audio)
2017: All In: You Are One Decision Away From a Totally Different Life by Mark Batterson (print)
2018: What If God Wrote Your To-Do List?: 52 Ways to Make the Most of Every Day by Jay Payleitner (ebook)
2019: The Prayer of Jesus by Kevin Jackson (ebook)
2020: The Possibility of America How the Gospel Can Mend Our God-Blessed,God-Forsaken Land by David Dark (ebook)
2021: The Harbinger II The Return by Jonathan Cahn (audio and print)
2022: The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel (audio)

This is an author I am always glad to return to for a First Book choice!

The Return of the Gods
By: Jonathan Cahn
Narrated by: Lawrence Richardson
Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
Source: 12/3122 Audible Credit.
Publisher's Summary
In The Return of the Gods, Cahn takes the listener on a journey from an ancient parable, the ancient inscriptions in Sumer, Assyria, and Babylonia that become the puzzle pieces behind what is taking place in our world to this day, specifically in America.
The mystery involves the gods. Who are they? What are they? And is it possible that these beings, whose origins are from ancient times, are the unseen catalysts of modern culture?
Is it possible that these gods lie behind the most pivotal events, forces, and movements taking place in our nation and around the world at this very moment? Are the gods at this very moment transforming our culture, our children, our lives, and America itself?
Could this mystery have even determined the exact days on which Supreme Court decisions had to be handed down?
What is the Dark Trinity?
Is it possible that what we in the modern world take as nothing more than ancient mythology could actually possess a reality beyond our fathoming?
Who is the Possessor? The Enchanter? The Destroyer? And the Sorceress?
Could a sign that has appeared all over America and the world be linked to the gods of Mesopotamia? And if so, what does it actually mean?
Could the gods have returned to New York City and an ancient mythology played out on the streets in real time?
Is it possible that the gods lie behind everything from what appears on our computer monitors, our televisions and movie screens; to the lessons given in our classrooms; to the breakdown of the family; to wokism; to the occult; to our addictions; to the Supreme Court; to cancel culture; to children's cartoons; to every force and factor that has transformed the parameters of gender; to that which appears in our stores, on our T-shirts, and on our coffee mugs—to that which is, at this very moment, transforming America and much of the world? Is it possible that behind all these things are ancient mysteries that go back to the Middle East and ancient Mesopotamia? This and so much more, most of which we can't even reveal in this description, will be uncovered.
Is it possible that the gods are even affecting your life right now? How can you recognize it? And what can you do about it?
The Return of the Gods is not only one of the most explosive books you'll ever listen to but also one of the most profound. It will reveal the most stunning secrets and truths behind what is happening before your eyes in America and the nations. You will see things, even in your world, in a whole new light. With such chapters as “The House of Spirits,” “The Avatar,” “The Masters,” “The Deep Magic,” and “The Day of the Goddess,” The Return of the Gods will take listeners on a fascinating, unforgettable, and mind-blowing journey that will leave them stunned and with the ability to see the world as they never have before.
Be prepared to be blown away as you open up Jonathan Cahn's most explosive book ever, The Return of the Gods!
©2022 Jonathan Cahn (P)2022 Frontline

I had to manage an awkward selfie since this was a last minute choice and I didn't have someone to take a picture.