MBS AUDIO 2022 Reading List Mid-Year 2022 Audiobook Challenge

MBS AUDIO 2022 Reading List – Mid Year

This event is hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About.

Code for the list is:
A = Audible
NG = NetGalley
TBR = From the TBR shelves prior to 2022

Audio Challenge Goal Level: The 100 Club (Audiobook Addict) 100+
My Goal: 100; Read to Date: 57 (53 reviews linked below).

Favorites for the year so far:
5 Stars =  The Black Wolves of Boston
4.75 Stars =  You Have the Right to Remain Innocent; Aeon Rising; Murder by Magic
4.5 Stars =  Up to No Gouda; The Nothing Girl; The Smear; Three More Jack Reacher; See You Someday Soon; Shards of Honor; Holy Chow

MBS AUDIO 2022 Reading List - JANUARY

1. A2021- First Book 2022 Audible Book Review: The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel; Genre: Apologetics, Spiritual Growth; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.
2. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Andrea Vernon and the Corporation for UltraHuman Protection by Alexander C. Kane; Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.
3. ATBR: Audio Book Review: Artificial Condition by Martha Wells; Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.
4. NG2021- #NetGalley Audio Book Review: The Chase by Candice Fox; Genre: Crime Thriller, Suspense; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
5. ATBR: Audio Book Review: Bunker (Book 2) Dogs of War by Jay J. Falconer; Genre: Action, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Thriller; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.
6. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Black Wolves of Boston, Book 1, by Wen Spencer Genre: Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Vampire, Werewolves; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.
7. NG2022- #NetGalley Audiobook Review: Fall of the Core by Ryk Brown Genre: Adventure, Artificial Intelligence, Science Fiction, Space; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

MBS AUDIO 2022 Reading List - FEBRUARY

1. NG2022: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Up To No Gouda by Linda Reilly; Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Cozy Mysteries, Women Sleuth; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
2. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Eight Winter Nights by Liz Maverick; Genre: A Contemporary, Romance; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
3. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Defiant, Lee Hardin, Book 4 by D. J. Molles; Genre: Action & Adventure, Military Sci Fi, Post-Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.
4. ATBR: Audible Book Report: Just Before Sunrise by Carla Neggers; Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.
5. NG2022: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Mickey7 by Edward Ashton; Genre: AAdventure, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Space; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.
6. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Dismantling America by Thomas Sowell; Genre: Conservatism and Liberalism, Political Commentary, Social Studies; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
7. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Eternal Frontier by Anthony J. Melchiorri; Genre: Adventure, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.25.

MBS AUDIO 2022 Reading List - MARCH

1. NG2022: #NetGalley Audiobook Review: Citizen K-9: A K Team Novel by David Rosenfelt; Genre: K-9, Mystery, Private Investigator; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
2. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Junkyard Bargain by Faith Hunter; Genre: Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
3. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Chaos Rising, Edge of Collapse, Book 0.5, by Kyla Stone; Genre: Adventure, Post-Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.25.
4. ATBR: Audio Book Review: Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman; Genre: Detective Stories, Mystery, Private Investigator; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25..
5. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Home Coming, The Survivalist Series, Book 10 by A. American; Genre: Action & Adventure, Dystopian Fiction, Survival; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.
6. ATBR: Audible Book Review: The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill; Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Middle Grade; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.
7. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Zero Tolerance by Jonathan Maberry; Genre: Horror, Suspense, Zombie; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.5
8. ATBR: Audible Book Review: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson; Genre: Adventure, Children, Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
9. ATBR: Audible Book Review:  On the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau; Genre: History, Nonfiction, United States; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 3.75
10. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Crucible: A Max Ahlgren Story by Ryan W. Aslesen; Genre: Military, Thriller; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
11. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Invasion: Alien Invasion, Book 1, by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant; Genre: First Contact, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.25.
12. A2022: Audible Book Review: Messenger, America Falls, Book 0.5, by Adam Barr; Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

MBS AUDIO 2022 Reading List - APRIL

1. ATBR: Audio Book Review: Hide and Seek by Mary Burton; Genre: Mystery, Police Procedural, Romantic Suspense; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
2. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Kitty Takes a Holiday by Carrie Vaughn; Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Werewolf; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.
3. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Mavericks Expeditionary Force, Book 6, by Craig Alanson; Genre: Adventure, Military, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.
4. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Let Her Be by Lisa Unger; Genre: Domestic Thriller, Psychological, Suspense; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.
5. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Inside Jobs, Tales from a Time of Quarantine by Ben H. Winters; Categories: Literature & Fiction, Anthologies & Short Stories; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
6. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Polar Vortex by Matthew Mather; Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Suspense; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0, Narration 4.25.
7. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Legend: Four Horsemen Tales, Book 1 by Christopher Woods; First Contact, Military, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.
8. ATBR: Audible Book Review: The Nothing Girl by Jodi Taylor; Genre: Coming of Age, Fantasy; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
9. ATBR: Audible Book Review: The Smear, How Shady Political Operatives and Fake News Control What You See, What You Think, and How You Vote, by Sharyl Attkisson; Genre: Politics, Writing; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
10. ATBR: Audible Book Review: The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher; Amish, Contemporary, Romance; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
11. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Wild Swan: A Story of Florence Nightingale by Patti Callahan; Categories: Literature & Fiction, Historical Fiction; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

MBS AUDIO 2022 Reading List - MAY

1. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Into the Wild Warriors, Book 1 by Erin Hunter; Genres: Action and Adventure, Animal, Cats, Fantasy; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.25.
2. ATBR: Audible Book Review: The Harrows of Spring: The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 4, by James Howard Kunstler; Genre: Dystopian, Metaphysical Fiction, Post Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
3. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Prador Moon: A Novel of the Polity, Book 1 by Neal Asher; Genre: Alien, Military, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
4. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Unbowed, Lee Hardin, Book 5 by D. J. Molles; Genre: Action & Adventure, Military Sci Fi, Post-Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.
5. ATBR: Audio Book Review: Quest of Heroes by Morgan Rice; Genre: Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, Teen & Young Adult; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
6. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman; Genre: Classic, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Mythology; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
7. ATBR: Audio Book Review: A Ripple In Time by Victor Zugg; Genre: Historical Fantasy, Time Travel; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.
8. ATBR: Audible by Book Review: You Have the Right to Remain Innocent by James Duane; Genre: Civil Rights & Liberties, Constitution, Legal System; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.
9. ATBR: Audio Book Review: Redemption Bay by RaeAnne Thayne; Genre: Contemporary, Romance; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 3.75.

MBS 2022 Reading List - JUNE

1. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Swing Shift by William D. Arand; Genre: Crime Thriller, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
2. NG2022: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Aeon Rising: The Apocalypse Begins by Matthew Mather; Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Techno-thriller; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.
3. ATBR: Audio Book Reviews: Three More Jack Reacher Novellas by Lee Child; Genre: Mystery, Short Stories, Thriller; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
4. NG2022: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: See You Someday Soon by Pat Zietlow Miller; Genre: Children, Family; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
5. NG2022: Audible Book Review: Zombies A Record of the Year of Infection by Don Roff; Genre: Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Horror; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
6. ATBR: Audio Book Review: Bunker (Book 3) Code of Honor by Jay J. Falconer; Genre: Action, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Thriller; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
7. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold; Genre: Fantasy, Military Science Fiction; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
   
   The next will get linked to reviews as posted.
   
8. A2022: Audible Book Review: Quake!: Disaster in San Francisco, 1906 by Gail Langer Karwoski; Genre: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
9. NG2022: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Holy Chow (Andy Carpenter #25) by David Rosenfelt; Genre: Animal, Cozy, Legal, Mystery; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
10. NG2022: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Leila, The Perfect Witch by Flavia Z. Drago; Genre: Children, Siblings, Witches; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
11. A2022: Audible Book Review: Murder by Magic by Glynn Stewart; Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal, Urban; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.

An Interview of a Reviewer

Have you ever wondered how a reviewer decides which books get the coveted "5" rating and others receive a "3"? Recently, I was interviewed by author Carol J. North. She asked me that question and others.

Why do you write reviews?
I was keeping a list of books I read with comments on my computer. A year or so ago I started to put short summaries up at the Word of Mouth Contest at Bookreporter.com. Last year as I began to visit more sites and win more books I decided that I would like to “give back” a little by reviewing some of the books I won. I liked doing that and encouraging authors that way. I got my Kindle2 in March. A month or so later I decided I wanted to see if I could find a site I could review with. I found You Gotta Read Reviews and have been very encouraged by the great team there! I also began doing reviews at Between the Lines at Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction (WRDF) and have reviewed some wonderful books there. Last month I joined the team at CataNetwork Reviewers because I liked their site and it looked like there would be some different book offerings at that site. I started the blog in July to have a place to post the reviews I do for authors or myself and to share in the book blogging community.

My primary goal in reviewing and bloggin (besides reading good books!) is to encourage authors in their efforts and hopefully help draw readers to good books!

What genre books do you read?
I love to rotate my reading: I read Historical Romance, Suspense or Mystery, Western, Paranormal, Christian or Love Inspired or Sweet, Fantasy and even some Sci-Fi. I occasionally read nonfiction and erotic romance. I do not read erotica or nontraditional romances.

Do you read more than one book at a time?
As reflected in my “What are You Reading” Monday posts, I read print books, eBooks on Kindle2, Audibles on a Creative Zen MP3 and Audio CDs - usually in the car. So I am usually reading three to five books at a time. I try to avoid having two suspense or two historicals at a time as I have found that to be confusing.

Do you use any particular criteria or grading scale?
No I don’t use any type of checklist. But I do try to note aspects of the setting, plot, characters, voice and overall feel of the book. For more in depth detail of my rating process, you can check out this article: My Thoughts on Ratings.

Do errors in the books affect your reviews? Or do you bite your tongue?
I used to get really annoyed by obvious errors. In fact a couple of years ago I read a contemporary story by a very popular author and it had terrible errors. There was a whole page that had wrong character names! And the heroine didn’t have a cell phone which appeared like a blatant error to me. It took me over two years to try another book by that author!

While reviewing I do note errors, particularly on the Kindle2. When reviewing for the sites I do not necessarily note the errors but when reviewing for an author I do make note of errors so I can offer an errata list most of the time if the author wants it. If there are oodles of typos in a book I would probably mention that in my review. But the errors do not affect my rating unless they are totally negligent like the changed character names incident!


What is the number one thing you look for in a book?
Entertainment! I read for pleasure and relaxation. Now its okay if I get tense by a good suspense… that may not be relaxation but it is entertainment!


Do you look for emotional response when you review a book?
I’m not sure I am always looking for one but I like it when a scene twists at my gut or my heart! When I experience the joy or pain of a character then I think the author has done a good job pulling me into the book!


What do you do for fun?
Go on cruises or vacation so I can read more books!

A Big THANK YOU to Carol J. North for interviewing me!

A PS Addendum!
I was preparing to post the contest to several sites I visit when I realized I had forgotten to mention some items in the interview. There are some additional groups that were helpful to me becoming a reviewer and I wanted to thank them too!! I have enjoyed being a member of Romance Junkie Readers Group. During the early months of this year a group of us there were reading "new to me" authors together. We would agree upon a genre and then during the week read a book in that genre by an author we hadn't read before. We would post reviews and discuss them. This was great fun and helped me to start honing my review writing skills. And we got to know new authors which is a great thing! I guess life got busy for all of us and we dropped the weekly sharing. I miss sharing those discussion with you "guys"! So I owe a thanks to my "new to me author" clan over at RJR who helped push my progress into reviewing!

I also owe a thanks to Sweet and Sensual Romances Yahoo Groups. They let me post a review each Tuesday and we have a drawing for review and recipe comments for that event each week. Thanks my good friends!

Finally - I forgot to mention that I have been honored to be included as a contributing reviewer for The Sweetest Romance Authors Blog. If you want sweet romance this is a great place to look!