#NetGalley Book Review: The Edge of Memory by Maura Beth Brennan

This is an interesting profile with bit of mystery.

The Edge of Memory
by Maura Beth Brennan

File Size: 716 KB
Print Length: 230 pages
Publisher: First Edition Design Publishing (December 12, 2017)
ASIN: B0788828JG
Genre: Drama, Psychological Thriller, Suspense
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

When your childhood is cut short by murder and treachery, it's not easy to live a normal life. At the tender age of nine, Harriet witnessed her father beat her mother to death, and she holds herself partially responsible. Still haunted by half-memories, guilt, and disturbing dreams, she has constructed a solitary and joyless existence, with little room for men or romance. Facing her thirtieth birthday, she knows she must do something to change her life. Like an omen, she meets Agnes, a rich elderly widow looking for a companion at her summer home in Maine, and the two forge a business deal. Thinking this will be like a vacation and a time to plan a better future, Harriet is shocked to discover challenges and obstacles she hadn't anticipated. Agnes' nephew and sole heir resents Harriet and wants her gone. And then there's Eli, the local artisan who makes her reconsider her decision to avoid men. Can he possibly return her feelings? Soon, the nephew's schemes, along with a heartbreaking betrayal, culminate in an event that changes her life forever. Will she fail Agnes as she failed her own mother years ago? Will she lose the man she loves? Or will she find her own strength and realize happiness at last?

Review:
Harriet was only nine when her father beat her mother to death. Harriet has blocked the memories but still has always felt responsible and unworthy to be happy. As her thirtieth birthday nears, she decides that she must change her life. Fate steps in when she meets a rich elderly widow, Agnes, who hires her as a companion. Agnes asks Harriet to accompany her to her summer home in Maine. Bit by bit Agnes gets Harriet to step out of her comfort zone and begin to truly transform herself.

Harriet meets Eli, an artist in town, who takes an interest in her, but they have misunderstandings to work through. Meanwhile Agnes’ nephew and heir visits on the weekends. He is arrogant and rude. Feeling threatened by the growing friendship between Agnes and Harriet, he accuses Harriet of not taking good care of Agnes as she seems to be having stomach illness. He blames Harriet for other accidents and missing items around the house too.

Intensity increases with Agnes' life threatened and Harriet's relationship with Eli challenged. Will her newly found confidence allow her to face the dangers to life and heart? 

Although I had a lot of trouble relating to Harriet’s insecure character, the author makes a clear portrayal of a young girl who was the victim of abuse as a child and never received counseling to help resolve her feelings of shame, guilt and inferiority. I had to keep this in mind throughout the story. I thought some of the mystery was pretty obvious, but I still liked how it played out. There was one sexual scene that seemed a bit cliched. It was more detailed than I like but not totally graphic.

The writing has some light descriptive prose and is an easy read. I would recommend this to readers who like family drama, women’s growth, a little suspense and a touch of romance.

Source: NetGalley 2017. This qualified for 2018TBR, March Take Control, NetGalley and Alphabet Challenges.

Audible Book Review: Fledgling by Nicole Conway

I enjoyed this coming of age fantasy adventure with warrior dragons.
Fledgling
The Dragonrider Chronicles, Book 1
By: Nicole Conway
Narrated by: Jesse Einstein

Narrated by: Jesse Einstein
Series: Dragonrider Universe, Book 1, Dragonrider Chronicles, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 02-01-16
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Dragons, Fantasy Adventure
Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Can one boy stand between two kingdoms at war?
Jaevid Broadfeather has grown up as a wartime refugee, hiding from the world because of his mixed racial heritage. He feels his future is hopeless - until a chance encounter with a wild dragon lands him in Blybrig Academy, a place usually forbidden to anyone but the rich and royal.
But Jaevid's case is special; no dragon has voluntarily chosen a rider in decades, so the proud riders of Blybrig must begrudgingly let him join their brotherhood despite his bloodline. Lieutenant Sile Derrick, a sternly tempered man with a mysterious past, becomes his instructor and immediately takes a peculiar interest in Jaevid's future. While struggling through the rigorous physical demands of training, things begin to go awry. Jaevid witnesses the king's private guards kidnapping Sile in the dead of night. When none of the elder riders is willing to help him, Jaevid begins a dangerous adventure to save his instructor. Everything Jaevid learned at the academy will now be put to the ultimate test.
©2013 Nicole Conway (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Jaevid was raised by his mother in a war-torn ghetto as a refugee where the guards scorned the gray elves but other refugees scorned Jaevid as a half breed. He never met his human father until his mother died when he was 12. His father reluctantly allows him to sleep in the barn where he is mistreated by his hulking father, hated by his step mother and tormented by his younger half-siblings.

His father makes fine saddles for the dragon riders. A few years after living with his father, he is taken along to work with him as he goes to the Blybrig Academy to deliver the load of saddles to the dragon riders there.

Jaevid is a brave young man especially considering he is often bullied for being small and thin. He is fascinated by the dragons and sneaks in to see them. He encounters a wild dragon and is able to convince the dragon that they need each other. His being chosen by the dragon gets him accepted into the academy although the rich students don’t think he belongs and are ready to pummel him. He is lucky to make a friend in a mentoring knight, Lieutenant Sile Derrick, and another young student. Sile works the two boys hard in training suspecting that there is something special about Jaevid.

As Jaevid’s training continues it becomes apparent that someone is plotting against Sile. Jaevid and his dragon, Mavrik, are able to step up to save Sile from sabatoge. Months later Jaevid sees Sile kidnapped. Jaevid is unable to convince the other instructors to help so he sets out, with only his dragon, his young friend and a young girl, to attempt a rescue against the king’s guards.

Through the dangerous adventure Jaevid and Mavrik build a stronger bond and more secret talents are revealed. I really enjoyed the development of the friendships for Jaevid who had always been alone. I also liked the fast paced action and intrigue. There are clearly political upheavals surrounding the dragon rider knights though the details are not fully revealed in this first book of the series. I enjoyed this and will want to continue the series at some point. I recommend this to middle graders and adults who enjoy dragon adventures.

Audio Notes: Jesse Einstein does a really fine job with the narration. He portrays Jaevid at the right age and temperament and is able to give the other characters their unique voices too. The audio made the story more engaging for me.

Source: Audible 2017 Kid's Sale. Qualifies for TBR, March Take Control, Audo and Alphabet Challenges.

MBS 2018 Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge Wrap-Up

Caffeinated Reviewer is hosting the Sixth annual Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge!

The rules are simple: for the entire month of March, you focus on reading/listening to books in your TBR pile released before March 1, 2018. They can be eBooks, physical books or audiobooks.

I have already been trying to focus on TBRs.
I hope to read at least 12 books in March. Since I know I have at least 3 titles that will release in March, my goal will be to read 8 TBRs in March. 

I am very happy that I doubled my goal with 16! Three have not yet been reviewed so I didn't get to include them in the rafflecopter but I think they still count for me. I read one other that qualified as a TBR since I had it from 2017 but it didn't qualify for Take Control as it released in March.

1. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Golden Son, Red Rising Trilogy, Book II, by Pierce Brown; Dystopian, Fantasy, Sci Fi; my rating 5.0.
2. NGTBR-#NetGalley Review: The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip; Fantasy, Magical, Romance; my rating 4.75.
3. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Dead Ever After, A Sookie Stackhouse Novel, Book 13, by Charlaine Harris; Fantasy, Paranormal; my rating 4.0.
4. ATBR- Audio Book Review: If I Run by Terri Blackstock; Christian, Mystery, Suspense; my rating 4.25.
5. PLBCTBR- Book Review and Giveaway: When the Morning Comes by Cindy Woodsmall; Amish, Romance; my rating 4.5.
6. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Hell Divers, The Hell DIvers Series, Book 1, by Nicholas Sansbury Smith; Dark Fantasy Sci Fi, Technothriller; my rating 4.0.
7. NGTBR- #NetGalley Book Review: Consent of the Governed by Bernard LoPinto; Dystopian, Political; my rating 4.0.
8. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Quarter Share by Nathan Lowell; Mercantile, Sci Fi, Space Opera; my rating 4.5.
9. NGTBR- #NetGalley Book Review: In Wolves' Clothing by Greg Levin; Crime Fiction, Thriller; my rating 4.5.
10. NGTBR- Audible Book Review: Lords of Space by Michael Wallace; Action, Sci Fi, Space Marine; my rating 4.0.
11. ATBR- Audible Review: Xenos: Warhammer 40,000, Eisenhorn by Dan Abnett; Fantasy, Sci Fi; my rating 4.25.
12. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Warship by Joshua Dalzelle; Sci Fi, Space Opera; my rating 5.0.
13. Fledgling, The Dragonrider Chronicles, Book 1, by Nicole Conway
14. The Edge of Memory by Maura Beth Brennan
15. Across the Nightingale Floor, Tales of the Otori, Book One, by Lian Hearn
16. ATBR- Goodreads Audio Book Review: She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith; Classic, Poetry & Drama; my rating 5.0.

Sunday Post April 1, 2018/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday April 2, 2018

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date.

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.

We had another staff member out sick this week. :-( I hope we will all stay healthy for a while now. I juggled title work and legal work but I still have plenty of legal work to catch up on.
Our weather is warmer; still some rain. That is better than others for sure.

My listening was especially good again this week. I finished 2 ebooks and 3 Audio titles. I posted four reviews on the blog and two at Goodreads. I also posted my usual memes.

I visited 27 blogs again during the week.
Shout Out this week for Tales of a Book Addict, a book blog that also shares a recipe index.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post March 25, 2018/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday March 26, 2018.

• NGTBR- #NetGalley Book Review: In Wolves' Clothing by Greg Levin; Crime Fiction, Thriller; my rating 4.5.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Lords of Space by Michael Wallace; Action, Sci Fi, Space Marine; my rating 4.0.

• ATBR- Audible Review: Xenos: Warhammer 40,000, Eisenhorn by Dan Abnett; Fantasy, Sci Fi; my rating 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway March 30, 2018. Open Worldwide. Ending 4/5/2018.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Warship by Joshua Dalzelle; Sci Fi, Space Opera; my rating 5.0.

• ATBR- Goodreads Audio Book Review: She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith; Classic, Poetry & Drama; my rating 5.0.

• ATBR- Goodreads Audio Book Review: Dagon by H.P. Lovecraft, Booktrack Edition; Horror, Short Story; my rating 4.0.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement April 1, 2018.

Finished Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle (NG 2017)

The Edge of Memory
by Maura Beth Brennan
This is an interesting profile with bit of mystery.
Source: NetGalley 2017.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle (Publisher 2018)

Blackstone
by Richard Falkirk
I liked this historical mystery.
Source: Thistle Publishing, 2018.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audible/Smartphone (TBR)

Across the Nightingale Floor
Tales of the Otori, Book One
By: Lian Hearn
Narrated by: Kevin Gray, Aiko Nakasone
Series: Tales of the Otori, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins
This is engaging Asian fantasy - action, love, evil and magic. 
Source: Audible 2012 credit purchase.
Click on book title for full description.

4. Audible/MP3 (TBR)

She Stoops to Conquer
by Oliver Goldsmith
Read by Rosalind Ayres, Adam Godley, Julian Holloway, James Marsters, Christopher Neame, Paula Jane Newman, Ian Ogilvy, Moira Quirk, Darren Richardson, Joanne Whalley, Matthew Wolf
Poetry & Drama • 2 hrs. • Unabridged • © 2010
I fit in - and enjoyed - one final audio for TBR/Take Control Challenges.
Goodreads review is linked above.
Source: SYNC 2013 Download.
L.A. Theatre Works' dramatization of this late-eighteenth-century play remains strikingly relevant today with its satirical digs at sexism, class consciousness, and upper-crust wealth. James Marsters and Joanne Whalley lead the cast in an uproarious comedy of manners that is reminiscent of Shakespearean follies of mistaken identity, all the while championing womanly guile and intelligence. The energetic performers retain a peak level of hilarity throughout, with clear emphasis and enunciation. Divergent personas, played by a single character, can be easily identified, while comical asides to the audience are apparent by their ironic and lightly modulated delivery. Strange doings in an English country mansion are instigated by the arrival of misguided suitors whose passions are laced with bawdy schemes, deflated pretensions, and nonstop mischief. A.W.
© AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2012]

5. Audible/Smartphone (TBR)

Dagon
By H.P. Lovecraft
Booktrack Edition
PUBLISHED: 29-05-2017; GENRE: Horror, Science Fiction, Short Story
Goodreads review is linked above. I liked this cover.
Source: Booktrack Soundtracks for books Download.
One of H. P. Lovecraft’s earliest works, published in 1917, as we get a picture of his later science fiction. Dagon the fish God inspires the creature that drives the protagonist to madness.

Currently Reading:

1. Audio/MP3 (TBR)

The Mysterious Howling, Book 1
The Incorrigible Children Of Ashton Place
by Maryrose Wood
Read by Katherine Kellgren
Children Ages 8+ • 5.5 hrs. • Unabridged • © 2010
This has started out fun.
Source: SYNC 2013 Download.
Newly graduated from England's Swanbourne Academy for Poor Bright Females, prim and very proper Miss Penelope Lumley is hired as a governess for three children living at Ashton Place. The 15-year-old Penny takes it in stride when she discovers the children were raised by wolves and communicate only in barks and growls. Katherine Kellgren's outstanding interpretation sets just the right tone in this clever and amusing tale. Her ability to speak effortlessly with varying British accents—from aristocratic to Cockney—allows listeners to become completely absorbed. Kellgren's reserved Miss Lumley rises to the challenge when the snobbish Lady Ashton insists she must civilize the three orphans before her holiday ball. Kellgren's charming narration will leave listeners howling for the next installment. L.A.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2010]

2. eBook/Kindle (Publisher 2018)

Dog Training the American Male
by Steve Alten
This sounded like a fun romantic comedy.
Source: Ralina Shaw PR.
Meet Dr. Nancy Beach, a relationship counselor who hosts a local radio show called Love's a Beach. One problem: The relationship guru cant seem to make her own relationships work, sending her credibility and ratings into the toilet. Meet Jacob Cope, a walking thesaurus of phobias -- a Lehman Brothers casualty who's lost his job and swagger and now yearns to be a ventriloquist. When Nancy and Jacob are set up on a blind date and hit it off, their siblings, desperate to be rid of them, encourage the young couple to move in together. When the honeymoon stage abruptly ends, Jacob attempts to mend the fence by adopting a dog; a big dog and Nancy flips out . . . until she realizes the dog trainer's techniques can be used to housebreak Jacob and save her radio career.

3. Audible/Smartphone (TBR)

Portrait in Death
In Death, book 16
By: J. D. Robb
I enjoy this series and it is "P" for my Alphabet Challenge.
Source: Audible 2016 sale purchase.
Publisher's Summary
After a tip from a reporter, Eve Dallas finds the body of a young woman in a Delancey Street dumpster. Just hours before, the news station had mysteriously received a portfolio of professional portraits of the woman. The photos seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary for any pretty young woman starting a modeling career. Except that she wasn't a model. And that these photos were taken after she had been murdered. Now Dallas is on the trail of a killer who's a perfectionist and an artist. He carefully observes and records his victim's every move. And he has a mission: to own every beautiful young woman's innocence, to capture her youth and vitality - in one fateful shot....
©2003 Nora Roberts (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

I wasn't able to get the OverDrive titles onto my smartphone but I got them onto my MP3 so I am listening on that. Now I just need to track down some of the older files I put on back up drives.

April 1, 2018 - I continue on track with my morning reading the One Year Bible plan on my new smartphone. It is a great way to start my day. You can check out the audio on the companion commentary online.

I completed 5 books and posted 4 reviews on the blog and 2 at Goodreads. That moves me to 4 current reviews.
I linked some titles during the week at Goodreads, Amazon and Audible.
My NetGalley shelf is still at 15 and I still have one committed author title in queue and many through InstaFreebie. I have more new author requests but haven't replied yet.

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 review titles.
I picked up two Audible daily deal titles and one Kindle deals this week.
However, as usual, I picked up lots 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 from Ralina Shaw PR.

Dog Training the American Male
by Steve Alten
(See full description above under Current Reading.)

Won

NONE

Purchased

I picked up two Audible Deals this week:
3/28 DD $2.95
Treasure Island
An Audible Original Drama
By: Robert Louis Stevenson, Marty Ross - adaptation
Narrated by: Philip Glenister, Daniel Mays, Catherine Tate, Owen Teale
Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins
Release date: 08-17-17

3/27 DD $2.95
The Barefoot Investor
The Only Money Guide You'll Ever Need
By: Scott Pape
Narrated by: Scott Pape
Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
Release date: 06-06-17

I picked up this Kindle deal for $.99
Everything In Its Time (Time After Time Series Book 1)
Dee Davis
This is one of my favorite authors.

Free

I added 103 free titles to my Kindle 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.

Sunday Words of Encouragement April 1, 2018 Happy Resurrection!

Happy Resurrection!
We had a lovely service this morning to share in the celebration of our Lord’s resurrection.
Pastor concluded his sermon series, The Timeline.

The series covers the events of a one-week time period – the last week of Jesus’ life. It started with the triumphant entry, then the last supper, Peter's denial, the arrest and trial, then the crucifixion death.

God's grace saves us.Jesus death brought clarity to the cross. Salvation is only found at the Cross of Jesus.

Jesus' body was wrapped in cloth and put in the tomb without preparation as their was no time; and the rock was rolled to seal the tomb. Sunday morning the ladies ran to the tomb to take care of the body. Matthew 28:1-10. Do we run to Him as the women did?

Jesus and his apostles had just celebrated the Passover lamb. Jesus became the new final lamb.
This event changes everything because he beat death.

The Point: God loves you so much, He gave up everything to save you.

If He was not raised, then your faith is futile…1 Corinthians 15:17-22.
Everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
He defeated death. “Where, oh Death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55.
There was no sin in Him so he did not die for his own sins but for ours. Now if Christ lives in you then you too will be raised to eternal life. Romans 8:10-11.

What would happen if you were to accept your heavenly Father's invitation to save you?
Life, freedom, hope, peace. It'll change everything.

There is a celebration in heaven for each life saved!

This song is a good fit for celebrating this wonderful day.

Verses for Today:
1 Corinthians 15:17-22 (NIV)
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Thank you Lord for the Hope of Eternal Life!