Audible Book Review: Heartless by Mary Balogh

I zipped right through enjoying this historical romance with conflict and suspense.

Heartless
By: Mary Balogh
Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
Series: Georgian (Balogh), Book 1

Series: Georgian (Balogh), Book 1
Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 07-07-15
Language: English
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Georgian, Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0; Narration 5.0

Publisher's Summary
From New York Times best-selling legend Mary Balogh - the beloved author of Longing, Silent Melody, and Beyond the Sunrise - comes a ravishing novel of passion and duty, love, and menace....
Life has taught Lucas Kendrick, duke of Harndon, that a heart is a decided liability. Betrayed by his elder brother, rejected by his fiancée, banished by his father, and shunned by his mother, Luke fled to Paris, where he became the most sought-after bachelor in fashionable society. Ten years later fate has brought him back home to England as head of the family who rejected him. Unwilling as he is to be involved with them, he must assume responsibility for his younger siblings, the family estate he once loved - and the succession. He faces the prospect of marrying with the greatest reluctance - until he sees beguiling Lady Anna Marlowe across a ballroom one night.
Anna, far from being the bright-eyed innocent Luke takes her for, is no more a stranger to the shadows of a painful past than he is. But for her, marriage cannot so easily solve what is wrong in her life - not when a tormentor stalks her to the very doors of Bowden Abbey, where Luke and Anna must learn to trust in each other or risk any chance they may have for a happy future.
©1995 Mary Balogh (P)2015 Recorded Books.

Review:
This is engaging and charming! A little more sexual spice than I like which is surprising as this is a back title (1995 I think) set to audio.

Luke has steeled himself to block out love after losing his first love. He is a consummate dandy but all man, skilled at pistol, sword and women. He has returned from Paris to London at the request of his Uncle to take on the responsibilities of being a Duke and head of the family since his elder brother died two years before. He has been away since he was banished ten years before over a family quarrel. Although he hasn't thought about marriage, and doesn't have love to offer, he decides he should marry before going to face his country home and his widowed sister-in-law.

Lady Anna is a young woman of bright, sunny disposition which hides pain and secrets. She has not planned to marry due to the threat of a man in her not too distant past. But he has not returned from America and she decides to enjoy this taste of freedom in London.

Luke and Anna agree to marry after a three day acquaintance. They have much to learn about each other and the secrets begin to unravel on the wedding night. They both experienced betrayal in their past and current situations and have to reach beyond that if they are going to save their marriage.

I really enjoyed the tone of this story and I loved the growth and transition for these characters. There is good conflict and suspense that carries through to the end. I don't agree that Anna should have held her secrets so long but she had cause to be fearful. I really liked Emily as a character and other secondary characters added to the delightful package. I do enjoy this author highly recommend her stories to readers who love historical fiction.

Audio Notes: Rosalyn Landor is a wonderful narrator. She nails the voices and emotions and I love listening to her.

Source: 2016 Audible Sale Purchase. This is part of 2018TBR and 2018 Audio Challenge.

MBS June 2018 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2018 Reading List - JUNE

Code for the list is:
A = Audible; ABJ = Audiobook Jukebox; ABB = Audiobook Boom
e = eBook; eA = eBook from Author; eT = eBook from Tour
NG = NetGalley
P = Print; PT = Print from Tour
LBC = Ladies Book Club
TBR = From the TBR shelves prior to 2017
Favorites for June: Beneath the Skin and Columbus Day

1. ATBR- eBook Review: Audible Book Review: Leader of the Pack by David Rosefelt; Legal Thriller, Mystery; my rating 4.0.
2. NGTBR- #NetGalley Book Review: Queendom of the Seven Lakes (Legends of the Godskissed Continent) by A B Endacott; Fantasy, Historical, New Adult; my rating 4.25.
3. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Search by Nora Roberts; Contemporary, Romantic Suspense; my rating 4.0.
4. LBCTBR-Book Review: Stranger Things by Erin Healy; Christian Suspense, Crime; my rating 4.5.
5. A2018- Audible Book Review: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black; Bullying, Fae, Fantasy, YA; my rating 4.0.
6. ATBR- Goodreads Audible Book Review: Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force #1) by Craig Alanson; Alien, First Contact, Sci Fi, Space Marine; my rating 4.75.
7. NGTBR- #NetGalley Book Review: The Voice Inside by Brian Freeman; Crime, Psychological Thrillers; my rating 4.5.
8. ATBR- Goodreads Audible Book Review: Monster Hunter Nemesis by Larry Correia; Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci Fi; my rating 4.25.
9. ATBR- Goodreads Audible Book Review: Trackers by Nicholas Sansbury Smith; Post Apocalyptic, Suspense; my rating 4.0; Narration 3.5.
10. A2018- Goodreads Audible Book Review: A Rare Book of Cunning Device by Ben Aaronovitch; Fantasy, Shortstory, Supernatural Detective; my rating 4.0; Narration 5.0.
11. ATBR- Goodreads Audible Book Review: Beneath the Skin The Sam Hunter Case Files By Jonathan Maberry; Fantasy, Paranormal, Short story Collection; my rating 4.5 for story (language); Narration and Overall 5.0.
12. 2018Author: Goodreads Review Lance: A Spirit Unbroken by Walter Stoffel; Animal, Dog, Memoir; my rating 4.5.

Plus 17+ Children titles

I kept up with my goal to read more than 15 per month provided you count the children's titles. Although I haven't listed all of the children's titles at Goodreads, I am still 4 books ahead on my Goodreads Challenge.
Total read = 29; TBR = 9; New Authors = 9
Audio/Audible = 8 (6 TBRs)
eBook = 1 (0 TBRs)
NetGalley = 2 (2 TBRs)
Print = 1 (1 TBR)

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

I am back home in the office working again to catch up. We are looking forward to our July 4 celebration even with temps in the 90s and possible rain.

My reading was good this week. I finished three books: 2 Audibles and 1 ebook. I  posted two reviews on the blog and three at Goodreads.  I did get to all of my usual memes.

I visited only 19 blogs again last week.
Shout Out this week to A Magical World of Words. 
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post June 24, 2018/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday June 25, 2018.

• Goodreads Review A2018- Audible Book Review: A Rare Book of Cunning Device by Ben Aaronovitch; Fantasy, Shortstory, Supernatural Detective; my rating 4.0; Narration 5.0.

• #NetGalley Book Review: The Voice Inside by Brian Freeman; Crime, Psychological Thrillers; my rating 4.5.

• Goodreads Review ATBR- Audible Book Review: Beneath the Skin The Sam Hunter Case Files By Jonathan Maberry; Fantasy, Paranormal, Short story Collection; my rating 4.5 for story (language); Narration and Overall 5.0.

• Goodreads Review 2018Author: Lance: A Spirit Unbroken by Walter Stoffel; Animal, Dog, Memoir; my rating 4.5.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway June 29, 2018. Open Worldwide. Ending 6/28/2018.

• LBC-Book Review: Stranger Things by Erin Healy; Christian Suspense, Crime; my rating 4.5.

• Sharing Beyond Books #347 Comment Giveaway June 30, 2018. Open Worldwide. Ends 7/14/18.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement July 1, 2018.

Finished Reading:

1. Audible/Smartphone (TBR)

A Rare Book of Cunning Device
By: Ben Aaronovitch
Narrated by: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
Length: 29 mins
This is a fun, quick mystery.
Goodreads review linked above.
Source: 2018 Free Audible Credit Purchase.
Publisher's Summary
Exclusive to Audio! Somewhere amongst the shadowy stacks and the many basements of the British library, something is very much amiss - and we're not talking late returns here. Is it a ghost, or something much worse? PC Peter Grant really isn't looking forward to finding out....
©2017 Ben Aaronovitch (P)2017 Audible Studios

2. Audible/Smartphone (TBR)

Beneath the Skin
The Sam Hunter Case Files
By: Jonathan Maberry
Narrated by: Ray Porter
Length: 4 hrs and 55 mins
I was really drawn into these stories. 
My Goodreads review is linked above.
Source: 2018 Audible Sale Purchase from 2017 Daily Deals.
Publisher's Summary
A collection of short stories featuring Sam Hunter, from best-selling author Jonathan Maberry!
Sam Hunter is a bit of an animal. He's a former Twin Cities cop who lost his badge because of excessive force. Abusive husbands, child molesters, and other lowlifes wound up looking like they'd been mauled by a dog...or a wolf.
Now Sam's a low-rent PI in Philadelphia. He takes the kinds of cases no one wants. His clients are usually on the fringes of society. The kind who are prey for all manner of predators - human and otherwise.
When Sam takes on a client, they become part of his pack, and no one protects their own better than a werewolf. At least the kind of werewolf like Sam, who comes from a long, long line of Benandanti - also known as "the hounds of God".
Stories in this collection include "Like Part of the Family", "Toby's Closet", "Crazy Town", "We All Make Sacrifices", and "A House in Need of Children".
©2016 Jonathan Maberry (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

3. eBook/Kindle (Author)

Lance: A Spirit Unbroken
by Walter Stoffel
This was a sad and beautiful memoir of a mistreated dog.
My Goodreads review is linked above.
Source: Author Review offer.
Click on book title for full description.

These are some of the books I read to my grandchildren last week.

Currently Reading:
1. Print (LBCTBR)

The Letters (The Inn at Eagle Hill Book #1): A Novel
by Suzanne Woods Fisher
I haven't quite finished but am enjoying this!
Source: 2013 print copy;  2016 Kindle. This is for Ladies Book Club discussion July 14.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/Smartphone (TBR)

Discount Armageddon
InCryptid, Book 1
By: Seanan McGuire
Narrated by: Emily Bauer
Series: InCryptid, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins
I thought I might like this "monster-hunter" fantasy.
Source: 2016 Audible Credit Purchase after I saw this at Book Haven.
Publisher's Summary
Ghoulies. Ghosties. Long-legged beasties. Things that go bump in the night....
The Price family has spent generations studying the monsters of the world, working to protect them from humanity - and humanity from them. Enter Verity Price. Despite being trained from birth as a cryptozoologist, she'd rather dance a tango than tangle with a demon, and is spending a year in Manhattan while she pursues her career in professional ballroom dance. Sounds pretty simple, right? It would be, if it weren't for the talking mice, the telepathic mathematicians, the asbestos supermodels, and the trained monster-hunter sent by the Price family's old enemies, the Covenant of St. George.
When a Price girl meets a Covenant boy, high stakes, high heels, and a lot of collateral damage are almost guaranteed. To complicate matters further, local cryptids are disappearing, strange lizard-men are appearing in the sewers, and someone's spreading rumors about a dragon sleeping underneath the city....
©2012 Seanan McGuire (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

3. eBook/Kindle (2017 NetGalley)

The After War: (Book One of The After War Series)
by Brandon Zenner
I really liked how this post apocalyptic has started. 
Source: 2017 NetGalley.
Two years have passed since humankind faced extinction: Two cousins are leaving the protection of their underground bunker for the first time, after a cataclysmic war and unrelenting disease ravaged the earth. On the other side of North America, a young survivalist is leaving the seclusion of his cabin deep in the woods, traveling with his aging canine companion, Winston. For individual reasons, these men are traveling east, where the fragmented lives of a small number of survivors will soon be decided by the choices of a corrupt few. Although they are not yet aware, the strength that resides inside them will soon be tested, and destiny will call for their fates to be forever intertwined. "A fierce post-apocalyptic story of war and loss, of nature's vengeance, of survival in the face of overwhelming odds." - Manhattan Book Reviews

4. Audible/Smartphone (TBR)

Heartless
By: Mary Balogh
Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
Series: Georgian (Balogh), Book 1
Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins
I started this on my MP3 to listen while doing chores. I am so engaged I switched to the smartphone and am more than half way through!
Source: 2016 Audible Sale Purchase.
Publisher's Summary
From New York Times best-selling legend Mary Balogh - the beloved author of Longing, Silent Melody, and Beyond the Sunrise - comes a ravishing novel of passion and duty, love, and menace....
Life has taught Lucas Kendrick, duke of Harndon, that a heart is a decided liability. Betrayed by his elder brother, rejected by his fiancée, banished by his father, and shunned by his mother, Luke fled to Paris, where he became the most sought-after bachelor in fashionable society. Ten years later fate has brought him back home to England as head of the family who rejected him. Unwilling as he is to be involved with them, he must assume responsibility for his younger siblings, the family estate he once loved - and the succession. He faces the prospect of marrying with the greatest reluctance - until he sees beguiling Lady Anna Marlowe across a ballroom one night.
Anna, far from being the bright-eyed innocent Luke takes her for, is no more a stranger to the shadows of a painful past than he is. But for her, marriage cannot so easily solve what is wrong in her life - not when a tormentor stalks her to the very doors of Bowden Abbey, where Luke and Anna must learn to trust in each other or risk any chance they may have for a happy future.
©1995 Mary Balogh (P)2015 Recorded Books.

July1, 2018 - I am still enjoying the prayer app which gives me five prayer groups each morning! I continue on track with my morning reading the One Year Bible plan on my smartphone. You can check out audio of the One Year Bible Plan on the companion commentary online.

I completed 3 books and completed 5 reviews. This gets me to just 1 review due. 
I need to find time to add more reviews to Goodreads, Amazon and Audible.
My NetGalley shelf is at 11; I still have one more author title in queue. Still many through InstaFreebie and many new author requests but I haven't replied to.

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 didn't pick up any new review books this week although I am eyeing several.
I did get the SYNC Audios this week.
I resisted all the Audible daily deal titles and kindle bargain deals.

I did pick up some free kindle titles this week. (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

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

NONE

Free

I have not yet downloaded week 10 SYNC audio titles:

Macbeth by William Shakespeare Read by Josh Cooke, JD Cullum, Dan Donohue, Jeannie Elias, Chuma Gault, James Marsters, Jon Matthews, Alan Shearman, André Sogliuzzo, Kate Steele, Kristoffer Tabori, Joanne Whalley
The Curse of Crow Hollow by Billy Coffey Read by Gabe Wicks

I added 36 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 July 1, 2018

We went to Panama City Beach this morning to join our daughter’s family for church. The 9:40 service is a contemporary service designed for the young people. The music was good, if loud.

The minister leader shared a sermon titled The Goodness of God. He noted that even from his days in seminary he learned that all people have different understandings about God. Some perceive God’s aloofness, majesty and anger. Human, distorted views create a problem in understandings by the world, church and among Christians.

God's acts do not sustain us.
God's ways do sustain us.
God revealed his Goodness to Moses with compassion. Exodus 33:19.
At the heart of God's goodness is generosity.
God gives us life, hope, and joy in His word. True happiness comes from peace.

When you pray, how do you see God? With his arms crossed?
Goodness is not what God possesses. It is who He is. God is not good to you because you are good, but because He is good.
Sometimes God’s goodness is shown by his discipline of us. “Do not despise the Lord’s discipline.” Proverbs 3:11-12.

There are benefits in recognizing God’s goodness. God is our sun and shield; an unlimited source and unlimited protection. Psalm 84:11.

How does God reveal His goodness to us?
He loves us. Psalm 145:9.
He delivers us from trouble. Psalm 107.
In lostness and loneliness. In bondage. In foolishness. In natural occurrences.

What is our proper response? Our response is thanks.
God’s plan for man was always redemption; from the very beginning. In perfect time He sent His son. God's goodness is revealed through his son; through the death and resurrection. Romans 5:6-8.

We sang this song in worship this morning and I think it works with the message.

Verses for Today:
Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Lord - I praise you and give you thanks continually for being so Good and loving to me, even when I don't deserve it. Help me to thank you each morning for the good You will do for me each day!

Sharing Beyond Books #347 Comment Giveaway June 30, 2018

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

I am back home playing catch up at work again. :-)

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Most of us, 13, have never put ourselves on a book buying ban. Mystica has successfully not purchased a book for four years! CarolL has done a 5 month ban mostly because her bookshelves were already full. Several people have a budget they have to maintain while several others will never ban their one true indulgence!

The Winner from SBB #346 comments is: #6 Linda who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated (**Finally!) ARC/Review titles or (recently updated) Love and Christmas titles - all linked near the end of the post.

**NOTE: I did post an Updated ARC and Other books for Giveaways. I have to go back and list the titles -- someday.
Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #347

(One Question.)

MaryP asks: If you could choose to be reincarnated as an animal, what would you like to be and why??

This was hard to decide. Cat? Dog? Horse? I chose bird (if I can count that as an animal) as I think I would like to soar in the sky. So make that a majestic eagle. If bird doesn't count then a well loved horse so I could run fast on the ground and have human friends.

Image found at Quiz Break.

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify.
Miki, Natalija and MaryP shared the questions for June and each gets $2.50 credit.

Your turn to share. MaryP asks: If you could choose to be reincarnated as an animal, what would you like to be and why??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles all in one post.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday July 14, 2018 at 5 PM central.