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Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Audible Book Review: The Pit Stop: This Stop Could Be Life or Death by Carmen DeSousa

This is a quick, engaging mystery with a ghostly touch.
The Pit Stop: This Stop Could Be Life or Death
Written by: Carmen DeSousa
Narrated by: Michelle Babb
Length: 1 hr and 21 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:02-12-16
Publisher: Carmen DeSousa
Genre: Mystery, Paranormal
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0


Publisher's Summary
When what seems like a normal pit stop turns into more than just gas and food, a lost traveler finds himself searching for the truth of a 20-year-old mystery.
Detective Gino Canale doesn't believe in a hereafter, let alone ghosts looking for closure. But when his reoccurring dream implies that his grandparents' deaths might actually have been homicides, not to mention that he's hearing bells that don't exist and smelling a pipe when no one is smoking, he realizes he's either connecting to the other side - or going crazy.
And he's not sure which thought scares him more.
©2012, 2016 Carmen DeSousa (P)2016 Carmen DeSousa


Review:
Detective Gino Canale is a determined homicide detective. He has long suspected that his grandparents’ deaths were not natural. He has reoccurring dreams that point to murder and now he is smelling a pipe and hearing bells that should only be vague recollections of his memories of his grandparents and the diner known as The Pit Stop.

There is another death in a nearby jurisdiction that has similar pattern to the death of his grandparents. The local file on the twenty-year old investigation has gone missing. Gino dives in to help the neighboring homicide detective dig up clues to solve the current case and the cold case.

Gino is a natural and likeable character. The writing moves along well and I enjoyed the mystery and paranormal elements. This was a short sample but I would be interested in reading more by this author. I recommend this to mystery buffs who would like a quick read or listen.

Audio Notes: Michelle Babb does a good job with the narration, providing distinct voices and accents for the characters. The narration made this an extra enjoyable, quick listen.

I received this from the narrator for an honest review. This adds to my Audio Challenge.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Audible Book Review: Beware the Little White Rabbit Anthology

This is a wonderfully creative and entertaining anthology of “Alice” and the White Rabbit spin-off tales.
Beware the Little White Rabbit
Written by: Shannon Delany, Judith Graves
Narrated by: Rhiannon Angell

Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:08-26-15
Publisher: Leap Books
Genre: Sci Fi, Fantasy, Steampunk
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0


Publisher's Summary
Curiosity often leads to trouble....
Thirteen powerful voices in young adult fiction invite you to journey into startling new wonderlands in this nod to the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll's timeless character, Alice.
Mystery. Madness. Mayhem...
Each story in this collection will intrigue, bewitch, and enchant. Through rich historicals, castles and keeps, wild wormholes, secret workshops, deadly plagues, and gritty urban explorations, we present new tales of Alice and her white rabbit.
Whether an intrepid reporter, a would-be car thief, or the last human in a world ruled by machines, at the heart of each story Alice is a girl discovering who she really is in worlds that never fail to surprise.
What wonders await, oh curious listener? Leap down the rabbit hole and discover the truth....
Contributing authors: Charlotte Bennardo, C. Lee McKenzie, David Turnbull, Christine Norris, Jacqueline Horsfall, Medeia Sharif, Laura Lascarso, Tom Luke, Jessica Bayliss, Crystal Schubert, Holly Odell, Jennifer Moore, and Liam Hogan
©2015 Leap Books (P)2015 Leap Books


Review:
This is a really fun collection of thirteen stories which spring from Alice in Wonderland and the white rabbit. At least one Amazon review gives a summary of each title so I am not going to do so beyond the brief descriptions here. I cannot name one favorite as I enjoyed so many but my favorites included: Alice through the Wormhole (Alice chasing a rabbit in space); They Call Me Alice (an adopted Chinese girl trying to fit in America); Alice, Last of the Beating Hearts (human Alice in a world of tech); Rabbit Fever (Alice in plague infested time); The Aviary (another Alice in a time of plague with a different problem); Broken Tethers (Alice meets men from various eras after chasing after the rabbit, of course); Undercover Alice (a teen Alice goes undercover for a school newspaper, helping the white rabbit); and Follow the Steam Rabbit (a bright young Alice learns from her Uncle about the dangers of creations). The others are good too and include sweet and creepy elements. Many of the stories have steampunk features.

I found each story unique and creative, making an entertaining package. The genre is linked with "teen" but don't let that deter you. Anyone who has a soft spot for Alice in Wonderland should enjoy this imaginative collection.

Audio Notes: Rhiannon Angell does a remarkable job of narrating this collection. She skillfully
changes voices and tones to fit the different stories and characters. Initially I thought there was more than one narrator. I plan to look for other books narrated by Ms. Angell.

I received this audio through Audiobook Jukebox for an honest review. This qualifies for my Audiobook Challenge.



Monday, July 4, 2016

Happy Fourth of July, 2016


I did not find the video our Sunday School teacher shared but I found this one to share.
Happy Fourth of July!


(And Happy Birthday to my Firecracker hubby!)

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Sunday Post July 3, 2016/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday July 4, 2016



I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date.
Thank you to Sheila for the years that she handled this meme.
Thank you to Kathryn for taking up the baton.
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 work week was severely cramped due to my husband's surgery. He had a double by-pass and mitral valve replacement on Monday. The prep and surgery took all day and I spent eleven hours in the waiting room before they allowed me to see him for five minutes before I went home. Tuesday I drove the hour trip (two hours back and forth) twice to visit him while he continued in Critical Care. Wednesday they advised me that I should plan to stay with him when they moved him to a separate room so someone would be with him during the night. That took another two trips as I had to return home to get items for overnight. I have continued to spend most of the rest of the week with him and will return on Sunday afternoon for Sunday and Monday. We hope he may be discharged to a rehab facility in our town on Tuesday. He won't be home but he will be a lot closer.
Our dogs have been missing him (and me too although I have come home at least once a day to feed them and play with them a little. They may have to go to our daughter's house for the early weeks of recovery as DH won't be able to pick up more than five pounds (they are each about twelve) and I know they will want to climb on him and sleep with us which isn't allowed with his incisions.
I thanks everyone for prayers, well wishes and support!

My reading was good due to driving and hospital time when I couldn't use the computer. I finished four books, three ebooks and one audio. Sadly I didn't get any reviews posted though I have a couple half written so I will try to pre-schedule for this week. The hospital internet cut out twice and I am trying to set up a new tablet (to replace the stolen ones) so I don't have to lug my laptop each day.
Sadly I did not get to visit last week but I will try to visit some on my new tablet this week.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

Finished Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle (NG)


Laos File (The Shake Davis Series)
by Dale Dye
This was well written and a suspenseful story dealing with Vietnam soldiers MIA. I am glad I requested it through NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.



2. Audible/MP3 (ABB)


The Christmas Kitten: A Polly Parrett Pet-Sitter Cozy Murder Mystery, Book 2
Written by: Liz Dodwell
Narrated by: Jennifer Fournier
This is a delightful, cozy mystery.
I received this audio title from the author through AudioBook Boom.
Click on book title for full description.



3. eBook/Kindle (NG)


A Better World (The Brilliance Trilogy Book 2)
by Marcus Sakey
This is a very engaging trilogy I received through NetGalley. I am glad I have the third book, Written in Fire, to read too.
Click on book title for full description.



4. ebook/Kindle


Ultimate Courage (True Heroes)
by Piper J. Drake
This is wonderful romantic (military) suspense with guard dog.
I am participating in the Release Blitz with review to post July 26.
LOVE IS AN ACT OF BRAVERY
Retired Navy SEAL Alex Rojas is putting his life back together, one piece at a time. Being a single dad to his young daughter and working at Hope's Crossing Kennels to help rehab a former guard dog, he struggles every day to control his PTSD. But when Elisa Hall shows up, on the run and way too cautious, she unleashes his every protective instinct.
Elisa's past never stays in her rearview mirror for long, and she refuses to put anyone else in danger. But with Alex guarding her so fiercely yet looking at her so tenderly, she's never felt safer . . . or more terrified that the secrets she keeps could put countless people in grave peril. The only way for both to fully escape their demons will take the ultimate act of courage: letting go and learning to trust each other.




Currently reading:
1. eBook/Kindle (iRead Book Tours)


Regina Shen: Defiance
by Lance Erlick
This continues to be an engaging YA, female society dystopian series.
I received this through iReads Book Tours.

Review and tour giveaway to post on July 7th.
Outcast Regina Shen is determined to stop the Federation’s relentless attacks on her family and friends, but the stakes are much higher now.
Perfect for fans of the Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner series, Regina Shen: Defiance is the third book in an action-packed, science fiction thriller with an ordinary yet strong and gutsy heroine who faces down adversity in a futuristic world filled with challenges. With the young protagonist having to grow up fast, it appeals to both young adult and adult audiences.
Abrupt climate change has melted ice caps, flooded coasts, and turned continents into deserts. The World Federation condemned Regina and her family to live on the seaward side of barrier walls built to hold back rising seas caused by abrupt climate change. Raised on swampy islands and salvage from sunken cities, including illegal print books from before the Federation, Regina defies the Federation by consuming banned books. Then she jumps the barrier into the Federation to free her sister.
The Federation’s notorious Department of Antiquities, under the command of Chief Inspector Joanne Demarco, polices barrier walls, destroys knowledge from the past to suppress dissent, and believes Regina’s DNA can stop human extinction. Now Demarco faces several ruthless rivals willing to do anything to control Regina in a worldwide power play to determine who will become the new World Premier.
Regina is determined to deny the Federation while helping friends. She has to flee from Virginia through desert and wilderness to Alaska to hunt a treasure big enough to barter for freedom for her and her sister. In the cat-and-mouse game, can she find allies and ways to escape the Federation dragnet long enough to discover something to trade?



2. Audible/MP3 (TBR)


Daemon
Written by: Daniel Suarez
Narrated by: Jeff Gurner
I am enjoying this AI suspense/mystery 
from my own Audible shelf.
Publisher's Summary
Technology controls almost everything in our modern-day world, from remote entry on our cars to access to our homes, from the flight controls of our airplanes to the movements of the entire world economy. Thousands of autonomous computer programs, or daemons, make our networked world possible, running constantly in the background of our lives, trafficking e-mail, transferring money, and monitoring power grids. For the most part, daemons are benign, but the same can't always be said for the people who design them.
Matthew Sobol was a legendary computer game designer - the architect behind half-a-dozen popular online games. His premature death depressed both gamers and his company's stock price. But Sobol's fans aren't the only ones to note his passing. When his obituary is posted online, a previously dormant daemon activates, initiating a chain of events intended to unravel the fabric of our hyper-efficient, interconnected world. With Sobol's secrets buried along with him, and as new layers of his daemon are unleashed at every turn, it's up to an unlikely alliance to decipher his intricate plans and wrest the world from the grasp of a nameless, faceless enemy - or learn to live in a society in which we are no longer in control. . . .
Computer technology expert Daniel Suarez blends haunting high-tech realism with gripping suspense in an authentic, complex thriller in the tradition of Michael Crichton, Neal Stephenson, and William Gibson.
©2009 Daniel Suarez; (P)2009 Penguin Audio



3. eBook/Kindle (NG)


A License to Wed: Rebellious Brides
by Diana Quincy
This sounds fun. Release date 7/5/16.
I received this title from the publisher through NetGalley.
Perfect for readers of Madeline Hunter, Lisa Kleypas, and Sabrina Jeffries, the Rebellious Brides series continues with a sizzling tale of forbidden love between a socialite and a scholar—who might just be an infamous spy.
Lady Elinor Dunsmore made the mistake of falling for her older brother’s best friend, who vanished after a night of unbridled passion. Six years and a lifetime later, their eyes meet across a Paris salon. Her friends and family believe she’s dead, but Elle is very much alive. She’s now associated with a ruthless general, who wants her to seduce the man who broke her heart in order to learn his deepest secrets. Is Will a mild-mannered scholar—or the notorious agent they call The Razor?
The bastard son of an earl and an actress, Will Naismith always knew he was an unsuitable match for Elle Dunsmore, no matter how powerfully he ached for her. And yet he almost allowed his desires to spoil her glittering future. After the agony caused by Elle’s supposed death, Will has devoted himself to the Crown, but his entire life has been leading up to this unexpected reunion. As much as he still wants her, though, he must not succumb to lust once again. For his mission is delicate—and Elle is delectably dangerous.
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.


July 3, 2016 - I was caught up through June 30th but now have to catch up to date in July with Reading The One Year Bible again along with my husband and others from our church. I will also be listening (sometimes) to the companion commentary online.

I posted no reviews this past week so I now have seven pending reviews so I need to start catching up.

I am finally getting to the five nine, now seven nine (again) back to four five author ebook reviews committed with no specific dates.
My NetGalley shelves are at six with another one of those pulled to read this week.


I hope to get a couple of backlist titles up at eTreasure's NetGalley page in the near future.


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: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

This week I requested a couple of new NetGalley titles but I have not received them yet.
I purchased one Kindle title and picked up more free kindle titles.

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles
NONE


Won
NONE

Purchased
I purchased this title at Kindle/Amazon for $4.99:

Wool Omnibus Edition (Wool 1 - 5) (Silo series)
By Hugh Howey
This is an author and post apocalyptic series I have been eying for a while.

Free

Over the past week I added 48 free Kindle titles to my library. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement July 3, 2016

I enjoyed Sunday School and church services this morning. My new tablet wasn’t set up yet to take notes so I had to use old fashion paper and pencil again. Our SS teacher shared various quotes on freedom as well as a short video which I hope to share tomorrow for Independence day.

Our Pastor’s message was titled “Living in Freedom; Which Way Will You Live?” The message showed how, throughout the old and new testaments, God used ordinary people who were willing to be used and who were obedient (even when reluctant like Jonah and Moses). We are sheep in God’s pasture (Psalm 100:3). What do sheep do besides eating and sleeping? They make and raise more sheep. We should do likewise. As we walk in liberty, we should be leading other sheep. There are three ingredients to help with this: 1) we should be excited about the Lord and His daily hand in our lives; 2) we should be available; and 3) we should be prepared and willing to do as God directs. We should always be prayed up, read up (in the scriptures) and ready to allow God to equip us for the purposes He has planned. This is the best way to live in freedom.

I was very sad to hear the negative responses to the actions of Tim Tebow who prayed for a wife whose husband had a heart attack during a plane journey recently. The lashback is a sad statement of the state of the minds and hearts of many in America. I am pleased he took a stand and has the freedom to do so.

I chose this song to go along with a message of Freedom.
“I Am Free (to Dance)”.
A Verse for Today:
Galatians 5:13 (NIV)
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

I give thanks today that God has brought my husband safely through heart surgery. I am thankful for caring nursing staff, many of whom have affirmed our assurances in God’s grace and healing powers.

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