MBS - My 2017 HoHoHo Readathon Goals

Hello Reading Friends! It's time to share fun with holiday and winter-themed books.
For the next eight days, (1) I plan to read at least six holiday or winter-themed books;
most of my books are sci fi genre to keep with SciFi Month too!
(2) I hope to participate in at least four of the other five challenges.
(3) I plan to attend the Twitter Party.
(4) I plan to meet new friends who love reading as much as I do!
Please visit my HoHoHo Readathon Challenge Post 
where you will find the other Five Challenges listed too! 

The Participant Giveaway is available at Caffeinated Reader, our lovely host blog!

Use hashtag #HoHoHoRAT on your Tweets, Instagram, and Social media shares so we can all share the fun together!

See official rules for sign up. It’s not too late! (closes November 10th) at HoHoHoRAT

I am hoping to read these titles during 2017 HoHoHo Readathon:
1. The Snow Owl by Jon Hartling
2. Hey, Santa: SciFi Alien Holiday Romance (An Alien for the Holidays) by Jessica E. Subject
3. Chasing Christmas Past: An Airship Racing Chronicles Short Story Prequel (The Airship Racing Chronicles) by Melanie Karsak
4. A Ninja Dinosaur Christmas!!!: Super Awesome Edition by Sonya Saturday
5. Christmas, Corpses, and Clockwork Kittens by L. A. Nisula
6. Always Gray In Winter by Mark J. Engels

I started with the longest, Always Gray in Winter, as it is also a NetGalley review title and I need to get my NetGalley titles in.

Twitter Party!

Twitter Party! Wednesday, November 15, at 8:30 pm (EST) #HoHoHoRAT
Come chat for an hour. Make new friends and win some eBooks. Follow @kimbacaffeinate

HoHoHo Readathon Mini Challenge Giveaway: Holiday Sentence

(Click on button image to see Official sign up post)

Make a Holiday Sentence from Titles Mini Challenge

Mission: During the HOHOHO Readathon, pick six titles you have read in 2017 or are reading and make a holiday or winter themed sentence from them. The sentence can be a real sentiment or rather crazy (like mine). Use at least one book you are reading during the Readathon among the titles. If you take a picture or image with your six books and email it to me I will make up a collage for others to enjoy the fun.

Rules: Only HoHoHo Readathon participants are eligible to enter.
Use at least one book title that you are reading during the Readathon among the titles.

For example: I am hoping to read these titles during HoHoHo Readathon:
1. The Snow Owl by Jon Hartling
2. Hey, Santa: SciFi Alien Holiday Romance (An Alien for the Holidays) by Jessica E. Subject
3. Chasing Christmas Past: An Airship Racing Chronicles Short Story Prequel (The Airship Racing Chronicles) by Melanie Karsak
4. A Ninja Dinosaur Christmas!!!: Super Awesome Edition by Sonya Saturday
5. Christmas, Corpses, and Clockwork Kittens by L. A. Nisula
6. Always Gray In Winter by Mark J. Engels

Here is my sentence:

Alien Ninja Kittens Chasing a Snow Owl in Winter and Racing Christmas Santa.

GIVEAWAY:

$20.00 Amazon Gift Card

or PayPal

OPEN Worldwide.

Ends November 15, 2017 at 11:59 pm (EST)

Enter by posting a comment with your titles and sentence. And email images to me at mesreads@gmail.com

Here are the other Challenges to enjoy too - they look like fun to me!

• The Book Nympho, “HoHoHoRat Instagram Challenge“
• Addicted to Happily Ever After, “HoHoHoRat Word Scramble Challenge“
• I Heart Romance & YA, “HoHoHoRAT Winter Bingo Challenge“
• Maureen’s Book Blog, “HoHoHo Readathon 2017 Jigsaw Challenge“
• Lampshade Reader, “Holiday Story Prompt Challenge“

Book Review and Tour Giveaway: King Harald's Snow Job by Richard Audry

This is a fun, easy mystery read.
King Harald's Snow Job 
(King Harald Mysteries Book 3)
by Richard Audry

Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Conger Road Press (August 1, 2017)
Paperback: 302 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0985019686
E-Book ASIN: B0747QWYLZ

Genre: Cozy Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

It’s early December and Andy Skyberg is itching to blow town for a weekend of holiday cheer with old friends—including a date with an attractive divorcée who thinks he's hot.
But first, Aunt Bev needs a teensy bit of help. She’s managing the Girls’ Weekend Out event at the Beaver Tail Resort and could use some extra muscle. Andy figures he can spare a few hours before hitting the road.
Mother Nature, though, has other plans. A giant blizzard makes an unexpected turn. Andy and his pooch King Harald find themselves snowbound—in a hotel full of hard-partying women, stranded travelers, a hockey team, a man-eating novelist, a belligerent blogger, and one violent, devious jewel thief.
Before you know it, man and mutt are up to their noses in another case. It’s a winter wonderland of fast-paced fun and merry madness, as the sleuthing duo dig out from King Harald’s Snow Job.

Review:
King Harald is a big, ginger mutt. Sorry I am not quite sure what type of dog, but he is very sweet and fun. He really cares for his master, Andy, but isn’t beyond slipping away on occasion. Andy is a 40-year-old artist and temporary mayor of his small town. He is divorced and looking to spend the weekend with his guy friends and then a dinner and concert date with a nice woman who is also divorced.

Andy’s Aunt Bev calls him in to help her at an event she is overseeing at a nearby resort. Harald is uncomfortable leaving home but can’t communicate his reluctance to Andy. Andy is willing to pitch in to help not realizing that they will get snowed in and have to deal with a jewel theft.

There is plenty of animosity towards the theft victim, a popular author, as she is not a very sympathetic character. Andy adds several suspects to his list, but he seems to be barking up the wrong tree. Harald doesn’t exactly do any great sleuthing -- except to track down another dog when directed to -- but he manages to get involved in the heist by accident.

I liked the many different suspects who had been treated poorly by the author as she pushed herself to fame. I expected more sleuthing by Harald but still enjoyed his parts in the story. It sounded like he might have been more involved in the first two books. As a third in the series, this book still read fine as a standalone.

This is light, fun and clean; easy reading that I found very enjoyable. The story is told in third person mostly from Andy’s viewpoint but sometimes from Harald’s which is fun. They have a nice, affectionate relationship. I appreciated that Andy is a gentleman who cares about the ladies beyond just male interest. This is a very nice light cozy mystery that would be good to curl up with on a cold, snowy day.

I received this book from the author for review through Great Escape Tours.

About The Author –

 

Richard Audry is the pen name of D. R. Martin. In addition to his career as a journalist and copywriter, D. R. has written a dozen books, both fiction and non-fiction. His current projects include a fantasy adventure trilogy, a canine cozy mystery series, and historical mysteries set at the turn of the last century.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/richardaudryauthor/

Webpage – http://drmartinbooks.com/

TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 1 - Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – COZY WEDNESDAY
November 2 - Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 3 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW
November 4 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST
November 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
November 6 – Back Porchervations - REVIEW
November 6 – Queen of All She Reads - SPOTLIGHT
November 6 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT
November 7 – Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf – REVIEW
November 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
November 8 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW
November 8 – Laura's Interests – SPOTLIGHT
November 9 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW
November 10 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
November 11 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews - REVIEW, INTERVIEW
November 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST

TOUR GIVEAWAY

Ends 11/12/2017

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday Post November 5, 2017/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday November 6, 2017.

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.

I had a good closing Monday and enjoyed the listening while driving. Of course then I had a busy office week. The office set a new high for files opened in October and we have started off with a kick in November too. This swill keep us juggling.
We hosted a Mexicali meal for the men and wives from Band of Brothers. It was a good time of fellowship -- and too much food.

My reading/listening time was good. I finished five books: four audios and one print/ebook. I posted three reviews on the blog and two at Goodreads; plus I posted my usual memes.

I only visited 26 blogs early in the week as, once again, I didn't get to go back.
Shout out this week is to Books and Readers who shares common blogging issues like the linked post on ratings.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post October 29, 2017/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday October 30, 2017.

• MBS October 2017 Reading List Wrap Up.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Purity in Death: In Death, Book 15 by J.D. Robb; Female Detective, Mystery, Police Procedures; my rating 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 3, 2017. Open Worldwide. Ending 11/9/2017.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Of Treasons Born by J. L. Doty; Sci Fi, Space Military; my rating 4.5.

• A- Audible Book Review: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate; Animals, Children; my rating 4.5.

• ATBR- Goodreads/Audible Book Review: To Die For by Alice Clark-Platts; Mystery, Drama; my rating 4.0.

• A- Goodreads/Audible Book Review: The Undead: Deleted Scene by R.R. Haywood; Sci Fi, Zombies; my rating 3.75.

• Sharing Beyond Books #327 Comment Giveaway November 4, 2017. Open Worldwide. Ending 11/11/2017.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement November 5, 2017.

Finished Reading:

Apocalypse: The Days of Elijah, Book 1
By: Mark Goodwin
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
Series: The Days of Elijah, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins
I read an earlier book by this author and wanted to try this series.
It is very engaging and I will want to continue.
Publisher's Summary
After a massive wave of disappearances, 26-year-old CIA analyst Everett Carroll finally believes what he's been told about the biblical prophecy of the rapture. But will he be able to survive the gauntlet of destruction known as the Great Tribulation? Seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials of God's wrath are about to be poured out upon the earth, and woe to the inhabitants thereof! Global currencies have collapsed, famine and plague have claimed the lives of millions, and the world has crumbled into chaos. The only reason Everett and his girlfriend, Courtney, have survived the mayhem is because they were warned by John Jones, Everett's recently deceased boss, that all of these tragedies would occur. And what's more, through his inside knowledge at the agency, mixed with his interpretation of prophecy, Jones predicted that a world leader would ride in on a white horse to fix the ills of the planet. But who is this leader and what is his motivation for mandating the new identification implant and the global cashless currency?
Everett is surprised when he finds out that Elijah, the Messianic Jewish hermit who lives on the mountain above their retreat, did not disappear along with the rest of the Christians. When he tells Everett of a special mission that God has given him, the old prophet gives Everett more questions than answers.
This is the highly-anticipated follow-up series to the best-selling trilogy, The Days of Noah, which chronicles the economic, moral, and social collapse of the United States.
As with all books by Mark Goodwin, this book contains no profanity and no embarrassing sex scenes. However, if you're offended by conservative principles and references to scripture, this book might not be for you.
©2016 Goodwin America Corp. (P)2017 Goodwin America Corp.

2. Print/eBook (Great Escape Tour)

King Harald's Snow Job 
(King Harald Mysteries Book 3)
by Richard Audry
This is a fun, easy mystery read.
My review through Great Escape Tours 
will post November 7.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audible/MP3 (TBR)

To Die For
By: Alice Clark-Platts
Narrated by: Rachel Bavidge
Length: 1 hr and 9 mins
I picked a couple of short audios to read before November 1 start to SciFi Month.
This could have been out of recent news. My review at Goodreads is linked above.
Publisher's Summary
Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of To Die For by Alice Clark-Platts, read by Rachel Bavidge.
In an empty car park, Ryan James sits in his car contemplating death. He has set up a hose pipe that is pouring carbon monoxide into the car, and his deciding whether or not to close the last window and end it all. Finally, he gets a text and decides to end his life.
Detective Martin is called to the scene the next day. At first she is convinced it is a simple suicide but as she looks deeper into the boy's life and his relationships she begins to wonder if someone else was involved.
Also available in the DI Erica Martin series in audio: Bitter Fruits and The Taken.
©2016 Alice Clark-Platts (P)2016 Penguin AudioBooks

4. Audible/MP3

FREE: The Undead
Deleted Scene
By: R R Haywood
Narrated by: Dan Morgan
Series: The Undead
Length: 1 hr and 3 mins
This was rather rough but I liked the characters. 
I posted my review at Goodreads - linked above.
Click on book title for full description.

Starting November 1 I am reading and listening to Sci Fi stories for #RRSciFiMonth.

November 2017 - Sci Fi Month

5. Audible/MP3 (Narrator)

Fight like a Man: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller
The SHTF Series, Book 1
By: L. L. Akers
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins
I received this from the narrator 
and chose it for my first listen for #RRSciFiMonth.
I enjoyed the characters and the premise.
Publisher's Summary
As a prepper, Grayson Rowan was prepared for almost anything.
...anything other than being totally alone when the sh*t hits the fan.
While he sat back and watched the United States rattle swords with Korea, play chicken with Russia, and strong-arm China, he felt sure if the lights went out that he and his family would be ready and safe - whether it was due to a natural disaster or a man-made event. They had everything they needed at their homestead.
What he wasn't prepared for was his family not being home if it ever happened.
Olivia Rowan is with her sisters, Gabby and Emma, on a girls-only trip to Myrtle Beach. When chaos erupts and there's no gas, their journey home is a nightmare, filled with predators and danger - and apparently, Olivia hadn't learned a thing her husband tried to teach her.
When your neighbors run out of water and turn on each other, what will you do?
Jake, a country boy mechanic, never believed in TEOTWAWKI, but he'd heard his brother-in-law preach about it many times. He knew what to do, but he didn't prepare. He lazily left it all up to Grayson - he was the prepper after all. When catastrophe strikes, will he continue to keep his head stuck in the sand while his clueless neighbors destroy each other, and his wife is stuck out on the road, or will he stand up and fight like a man?
And if you're alone? Bug in or bug out?
Graysie Rowan, a freshman at university, just wants to go home. When no word comes from the government, and the state capital is overrun with looters, chaos, and mayhem, the college administration puts the students on lockdown. But her dad, Grayson, had prepared her for this. Now, if she can only remember what it was he said to do....
If they want to survive this post-apocalyptic event, they'll all have to learn to fight like a man.
©2017 Lisa L. Akers (P)2017 Lisa L. Akers

Currently Reading:

1. eBook/Kindle (Author)

The Letterbox
by Layton Green
I am 25% in on this engaging story with ghostly elements.
I received this from the author.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/MP3

Virus: Earth's Last Battle
By: Ray Jay Perreault
Narrator: George Napier
Duration: 9 hrs and 10 mins
I received this audio from the author. 
About 30% in I am finding this interesting.
Publisher's Summary
This is the second book in the Virus series, which parallels the SIMPOC series.
A suspicious virus has killed 99.99997 percent of the people. A ruthless warlord who moved into the White House attacked the government at Camp David. The president moved the remaining government to an aircraft carrier in the Atlantic and left a military unit to deal with the warlord.
The decimated US Navy is still functional. They must defend themselves from the remnants of militaries with a grudge against the US that use the opportunity to get revenge.
Joan Herl and her remaining space station Oasis crew returned to Earth, and a computer playing by different rules attacked them. Their only ally was the first thinking computer SIMPOC and his surrogate Alpha. Dr. Julius, who was one of the moon colony crew members, steals the research for thinking computers, and with his expertise he creates another computer that rivals SIMPOC and who starts making its own plans.
Eventually, they all find out why the virus started and who is responsible.
©2015 Raymond J Perrealt (P)2017 Raymond J Perreault

3. Print for LBC

Patched Together: A Story of My Story
By: Brennan Manning
I am half way in this inspiring little book.
I picked this up on sale earlier this year for Ladies Book Club.
We will discuss it 11/11.
Product Description
For everybody who's stumbled, fallen, or turned away from God, here's a touching story of grace and forgiveness. Follow Willie Juan as he moves from orphaned boy to prodigal adult to ragamuffin friend of Abba---and experience the joy of our heavenly Father's unconditional love. A moving parable by a master storyteller! Foreword by Amy Grant. 144 pages, hardcover from Cook.

HoHoHo Readathon STARTs NOVEMBER 8, 2017

I will be hosting one of the #hohohorat Mini Challenges so I hope you will join the fun!


4. eBook/Kindle (NG)

Always Gray In Winter
by Mark J. Engels
This is on my NetGalley shelf and I pulled it in for #hohohorat while trying to keep with #RRSciFiMonth too.
A distant daughter. A peculiar device. A family lineage full of secrets. When werecat Pawlina Katczynski finally resurfaces, her location previously unknown to anyone close to her, the reunion is short of welcomed. Instead, she finds herself thrust tooth and nail—tooth and claw—into a feud between opposing werecat clans as her family and their enemies reignite a battle that has raged for years. Always Gray in Winter invites the reader to join the feud and see if blood is truly thicker than water...

I hope to get in a few other short stories during HoHoHo Readathon

November 5, 2017 - I am back up to date in the One Year Bible reading. I have been reading along with my husband and others from our church. I hope to take more time this year, staying on the day and listening to the companion commentary online.

I completed five books and posted five reviews. That keeps me up to date.
I need to link the last week of reviews to Goodreads, Amazon and Audible.
My NetGalley shelf is now at 12. I added a new author title in my queue so I have two commited and many through InstaFreebie.

We're working on two fiction books soon to add to eTreasure's NetGalley page.
This charming Historical Romance (Western) is now available at NG and will be available soon on Kindle.
Tender Hearts
by Noelle Jane Myers

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 (yours truly).
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
I received one ebook last week from the author (through Goodreads) that I forgot to list and I didn't list my LBC book I handed out last month.
I selected three Audible daily deals; picked up one title on October Credit and one at sale price as I own the kindle version.
I also purchased one $.99 Kindle anthology.
As usual, I picked up more free kindle titles as usual. (Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.)

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I received this title from the Author:

Kristian's War (The Searcher Series Book 1)
by Peter Wisan
"Everything leads to one final fight, where Kristian must defeat the demons of his past or die."
This Christian Sci Fi will fit in with Sci Fi Month.

I have this title for Ladies Book Club:

Patched Together: A Story of My Story
By: Brennan Manning
See full description for this under Current Reading.

Won

NONE

Purchased

I picked up Three Audible Daily Deals :
10/30 DD $4.95
Nice Dragons Finish Last
Heartstrikers, Book 1
By: Rachel Aaron
Narrated by: Vikas Adam
Length: 13 hrs and 31 mins
Release date: 11-18-14

11/01/17 DD $3.95

Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques
By: The Great Courses
Narrated by: Professor James Hynes
Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
Release date: 11-14-14

11/4/17 DD $2.95
The Land: Founding: A LitRPG Saga
Chaos Seeds, Book 1
By: Aleron Kong
Narrated by: Nick Podehl
Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins
Release date: 04-27-17

I selected this title with an October Credit;
it was recommended by one of the men from Band of Brothers:

A.D. 30: A Novel

Written by: Ted Dekker

Narrated by: Ellen Archer

Series: A.D., Book 1

Length: 12 hrs and 47 mins

Release date: 10-28-14

I purchased this for $1.95:
Last Stand: The Complete Box Set
Written by: William Weber
Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell
Series: Last Stand (Weber), Book 1-4
Length: 24 hrs and 49 mins
Release date: 09-20-17

I couldn't resist this Christmas Anthology for $.99:
Unforgettable Christmas - Gifts of Love (The Unforgettables Book 3)
Mimi Barbour, Donna Fasano, Mona Risk, Patrice Wilton, Nikki Lynn Barrett, Dani Haviland, Traci Hall, Susan Jean Ricci, Leanne Banks

Free

Here are some of the Free Kindle titles I picked up. (All of these may still be free):
 
Wind Chime Cafe (A Wind Chime Novel Book 1)
by Sophie Mos 

For The Beautiful People
by Hannah Godard

Butterfly Islands (Chronicles of the Twenty-One Butterflies Book 1)
by Chris Seabranch

Santa's Secret (Christmas Wishes Book 1)
by Serenity Woods

I spy, I Saw Her Die (BOOK ONE): a gripping, page-turning cyber crime murder mystery conspiracy thriller.
by IAN C.P. IRVINE

Broken Skies
by Theresa Kay

and a few more:
Just For This Moment: A Small Town Southern Romance (Wishful Romance Book 4) by Kait Nolan
A Trace of Murder (A Keri Locke Mystery--Book #2) by Blake Pierce
Claiming Colton (Wishing Well, Texas Book 5) by Melanie Shawn
Men Of Honor Series Box Set: Men Of Honor Series by K.C. Lynn
Little Girl Lost: A Riveting Kidnapping Mystery- Book 0 by Alexandria Clarke
Somewhere Still by Denitta Ward

I added 51 free Kindle titles to my library this week. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.