Audible Book Review: Storm Glass (Harbinger Book 1) by Jeff Wheeler

This has strong world building and engaging characters.
Storm Glass
(Harbinger, Book 1)
By: Jeff Wheeler
Narrated by: Kate Rudd

Series: The Harbinger Series, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 06-19-18
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Epic, Fantasy, Historical
My Rating: 4.25 0f 5.0

Publisher's Summary
From the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Kingfountain Series comes the first novel in a bold and richly imagined world.
Theirs is a world of opposites. The privileged live in sky manors held aloft by a secretive magic known only as the Mysteries. Below, the earthbound poor are forced into factory work to maintain the engine of commerce. Only the wealthy can afford to learn the Mysteries, and they use their knowledge to further lock their hold on society.
Cettie Pratt is a waif doomed to the world below, until an admiral attempts to adopt her. But in her new home in the clouds, not everyone treats her as one of the family.
Sera Fitzempress is a princess born into power. She yearns to meet the orphan girl she has heard so much about, but her father deems the girl unworthy of his daughter’s curiosity.
Neither girl feels that she belongs. Each seeks to break free of imposed rules. Now, as Cettie dreams of living above and as Sera is drawn to the world below, they will follow the paths of their own choosing.
But both girls will be needed for the coming storm that threatens to overturn both their worlds.
©2018 Jeff Wheeler (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Review:
Cettie is one of the abandoned orphans in the below, earthbound world. This is the world forced to struggle and slave to help maintain a world where only the wealthy are allowed to learn the Mysteries of the world in the clouds. Cettie is plagued by nightmare dreams of an evil ghost whom she keeps at bay only by surrounding herself with the other orphaned children. One night Fitzroy, an admiral from the upper world, finds Cettie and the starving children. Fitzroy banishes the ghost and Cettie finds the courage to beg him to help her. He takes her to his home in the clouds while he takes steps to adopt her.

Sera is an only child born to a wealthy and powerful family. Her parents are more concerned with their power then embracing their child. And to protect her they have sheltered her and kept her away from children her own age. She is distracted during lessons, always dreaming of the world beyond her sight. Her father is frustrated by her lack of diligence and isolates her even more. Sara has heard rumors of the orphaned girl from the world below and envies her experiences in the world. She longs to meet Cettie but her father prohibits any contact.

Although Cettie suffers from those in the household with prejudiced views, she never gives up. Cettie helps Fitzroy make an extremely important scientific discovery. As this book draws to a close it is clear that this discovery is going to change things significantly for Cettie. Somehow Sera will be involved with the change as things progress in book two.

The world building is not so unusual in its extreme class systems, but it is extremely well developed with a great steampunk feel. The steampunk elements include airborne ships and experiments with elements from Fitzroy’s mines. The Mysteries are not fully disclosed but are hinted at as part of the history and power structure of the society. There is good action, tension, mystery and suspense. The characters are well developed and share common traits of curiosity about their world although they come from opposite perspectives. I loved Cettie’s courage and caring for others. I even have some sympathy for Sera too.

I read The Banished of Muirwood, book 1 in the Covenant of Muirwood, by Wheeler which also had good world building but seemed like I had missed elements from a prior series. Storm Glass seems to start a new world and it was easy to become engaged in the plotline. I am looking forward to listening to book 2, Mirror Gate, soon. I recommend this to those who enjoy rich fantasy with supernatural and magical mysteries.

Audio Notes: Kate Rudd is an excellent narrator. She gives the characters their appropriate voices and got me immersed in the world. I fully enjoyed the audio and will listen to the next book in the series.

Source: Audible title December 2018. This is part of my 2018 Audiobook Challenge.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 11, 2019

Happy Friday! Whew- I need a weekend.

Sorry for the delay today. I hope everyone is settling into 2019.

TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK

US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.

INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)

CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up too late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.

Thank you to all who entered the January 4, 2019 Pick. There were THREE automatic wins this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. No title was blocked.
CAROL L gets Highland Guardian
RUBYNREBA gets The Blue & Grey
and BECKY gets 'Tween the Devil and His Hard Place

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from January 4, 2019 Pick:
LINDA gets a GC
and
NIKKI gets a GC

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

Another great author quote to share for January 2019.
Image Found at Hello Literacy.

New Book Group #84 December 15, 2018
Here are some Christmas titles to pick from.

One PAIR:
Susan Wiggs: Snowfall and Fireside
SINGLES:
A Family for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich
On this Holy Night
A Rancher for Christmas
Christmas Haven
Christmas Brides Anthology
Holiday in Death
Christmas Homecoming
Together by Christmas Anthology
The Christmas Date
The Christmas Promise (hardback)
A Blue and Grey Christmas (hardback)
The Snow Angel (CD Audiobook)
King Harold's Snow Job


New Book Group #83 November 30, 2018

(Starting bottom left and continuing up then down)
PAIRS:
Kat Martin: Bold Angel and Devil's Prize
Elizabeth Lowell: Death Is Forever and Running Scared
SINGLE
It Takes a Hero by Elizabeth Boyle
Two Alone by Sandra Brown
'Tween a Devil and his hard Place by Sam Cheever
Seductive Secrets by Lynne Connolly
Seven Up by Janet Evanovich - Audio Cassettes
A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein Audio Cassettes
Highland Guardian by Melissa Mayhue
Hot Pursuit by Christinea Skye
Sisters & Secrets Anthology
Reader's Digest Condensed Books - each hardback
Cold Harbour and The Courtship of Peggy McCoy
The Things We Do for Love, Three Weeks With My Brother, The Murder Artist and Night Train to Lisbon
Follow the Stars Home, Hunting Badger, The Quiet Game and Second Wind

New Book Group #82 November 9, 2018

Pairs:
Stella Cameron: French Quarter and Key West
Jude Deveraux: Mulberry Tree and Wild Orchids
SINGLES:
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
Unmasked Anthology - Jennifer Blake, Janet Dailey and Elizabeth Gage
Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich
Killing Time by Linda Howard
The Finer Things by Brenda Joyce
Wicked Promise by Kat Martin
Countess of Scandal by Laurel McKee
The Leopard's Woman by Linda Lael Miller and White Wolf by Lindsay McKenna
Eagle and the Dove by Victoria Morrow
To Love Again by Bertrice Small
The Wedding Night by Barbara Dawson Smith
Primal Obsession by Susan Vaughn

New Book Group #81 August 17, 2018

There are three audios at the top:

No One Left to Tell is MP3
Kisscut is Cassettes
Dark Summer is CDs
Pairs:
Kay Hooper and
Carla Neggers Red Clover Inn
SINGLES
Cold Pursuit by Carla Neggers
Best Laid Plans
Bound For Murder
Asking for Murder
Pretty Poison
Darkness Tell Us
Last Writes (A Jaine Austen Mystery Series Book 2) by Laura Levine
Don’t Tell a Soul by S. K. McClafferty - MSE has on Kindle 2013
Zombies of the Gene Pool
Cooking More Deadly


New Book Group #80 August 17, 2018

Note: The Final Judgment and
The Book of Fate are Audio Cassettes
PAIRS
Fern Michaels and James Patterson
SINGLES:
Summer’s Moon
The Green Trap
End Game
Night School
The Red Tent
The Final Judgment Audio Cassettes
Secrets of Paris
Linda Goodnight
Irish Charmers, the Mighty Quinns
Firebird
No Getting Over a Cowboy
The Book of Fate Audio Cassettes


New Book Group #79 July 13, 2018
I found this box of books buried under some other boxes.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lenox by Maggie O’Farrell
P.S. by Helen Schulman
Her Sexiest Surprise by Dawn Atkins (personally autographed)
The Maverick Preacher by Victoria Bylin (personally autographed)
The Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver
The Doctor’s Forever Family by Marie Ferrarella
Dakota Child by Linda Ford
Branded by the Sheriff by Delores Fossen
The Italian’s Inexperienced Mistress
Calling the Shots by Ellen Hartman
Promises, Promises by Amber Miller
This Time for Keeps by Jenna Mills
Rhapsody in Time by Judith O’Brien
A Daughter’s Legacy by Virginia Smith
Another Man’s Baby by Kay Stockham
The Cowboy’s Christmas Miracle by RaeAnne Thayne


New Book Group #78 April 27, 2018

PAIRS
Johanna Lindsey Pair
Judith Krentz Pair
SINGLES
Midnight Rainbow
Blackberry Bush
Breaking Point
A Tangled Affair
To Wicked to Love
Betrayed
My Dark Prince
Roses are Red Audio Cassettes
Brothers of Gwynedd
Fatal Defect
Bones of the Sea and Other Stories
By a Spider's Thread



New Book Group #77 February 16, 2018- All gone

New Book Group #76 November 3, 2017
13 books remain of the original 37:

I finally Have them Listed!
Boots & Booties by Kristine Rolofson
Saucer the Conquest by Stephen Coonts
Echo Burning by Lee Child
The Scorpion Seducer by Bonnie Vanak
Hell On Earth by David L. Porter
Tempted All Night by Liz Carlyle
Day of the Dead by J.A. Jance
White Night by Jim Butcher
Five Gold Rings Anthology Constance O’Banyon and three others
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton
Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell
Crisscross by Harmon Henkin
Wizard’s Daughter by Catherine Coulter
Pearl Beyond Price by Claire Delacroix
Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey
The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks
The Wicked Wyckerly by Patricia Rice
Inhuman Condition by Clive Barker
Night Whispers by Judith McNaught
101 Commonsense Rules for the Office by John R. Brinkerhoff

This shelf of 35 books are what is left from Groups #1 (11/27/09) through Group #75 September 29, 2017

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 14 titles.)
Rehabilitation
Secret Blessing
Named of the Dragon
Daring
Aunt Erma's Cope Book
JoAnn Ross: Confessions
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
The New Birth Order Book by Dr. Kevin Leman
A Kiss Before Dawn by Kimberly Logan
The Fireman’s Fair by Josephine Humphreys (Hardcover)
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen
Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven
There Was A Little Girl by Ed McBain (Audio Cassettes)
Love's Brazen Fire by Betina Krahn 

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 21 titles.)
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown
(*Three more very old books from my Gothics box.)
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell
*Four books are very old; pulled from a box of gothic novels I found.
*Maggie – Her Marriage by Taylor Caldwell (1953 very old, yellowed pages, some stain damage doesn't effect reading)
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty by Vickie Kennedy
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick on November 27, 2009 and in almost EIGHT years I have posted 82 groups of 16 plus an additional 21 totaling 1,333 books to find new homes! (as of November 9, 2018).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,214+ books have found new homes through this feature! YAY. [A year or so ago I posted I had reached 2000 books given away. As I calculated the numbers 11/2/17 I realized that had to be an error. I realized I went from 1098 to 2001 instead of 1101. Guess I was tired; sorry for the error.] I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed. I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want!

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $7.00 and $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

Delay in Friday Pick 1/11/19

Friday Pick will be delayed today.
I spent four hours yesterday afternoon clearing books, boxes and furniture at my office so they can tear out carpet as they begin working on repairs.
I did over 10,000 steps - which is more than double my usual. I headed home and forgot to got by my temporary office to pick up my computer. The home computer isn't working so I borrowed hubby's to post this.
I will put the post up later Friday. Meanwhile, have a good day; stay warm and safe through the storms.

#NetGalley Book Review: Owl Love You by Matthew Heroux, Wednesday Kirwan Illustrations

This is terribly sweet.

Owl Love You
by Matthew Heroux, Wednesday Kirwan (Illustrations)

Age Range: 4 - 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Cameron (October 9, 2018)
ASIN: 1944903356
Genre: Birds, Children, Family
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

The sun is setting, time to rise! At dusk, when an owl’s day is just beginning, a baby owl asks questions and a mama owl offers comforting answers in this gentle, reverse bedtime book, featuring lulling, lyrical text and luminous illustrations of the nighttime world.

Review:
Baby owl’s day starts at sun set while human children are going to bed. Mama owl takes baby out to show him the nighttime forest full of other creatures. Baby owl asks natural questions to which mama owl provides loving answers. The story is written in light, gentle rhyming which is pleasant to read. The illustrations are skilled and charming. This would make a lovely book to read to children as a bed time story or anytime during the day.

Quote:

"Hoo'll catch me when I flutter and fall?"
"Owl catch you, my dear, tail feathers and all."

Source: 2018 NetGalley. This qualified for 2018 NetGalley Challenge.

#NetGalley Book Review: The Cat in the Christmas Tree: A Magical Tail by Peter Scottsdale

This is a sweet “tail” with a message on behavior.
The Cat in the Christmas Tree: A Magical Tail
by Peter Scottsdale

File Size: 2211 KB
Print Length: 26 pages
Publisher: Coffey Publishing (November 2, 2018)
ASIN: B07J34XPNT
Genre: Cats, Children
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

From Bestselling Author Peter Scottsdale Comes His First Children's Chapter Book For Ages 8 and Up
It’s Christmas Eve and Nathan’s cat is wrecking the holidays by destroying the Christmas tree. Fed up with Shadow’s antics, Dad wants the kitty out of the house – for good! So Nathan pleads for help in hope the magic of the holidays will allow him to keep his cat. In this enchanting tale (or should it be “tail?”), does Shadow change his misbehaving ways or will he ruin Christmas? Find out!

Review:
Shadow is a young cat who needs to some training. He is tempted to play with the Christmas decorations. Of course Christmas trees with hanging ornaments and hanging tinsel are a major attraction. Shadow has had several mischievous encounters knocking the tree and breaking ornaments. Young Nathan loves his kitty but Dad is ready to remove the cat because of its bad behaviors. Nathan makes a request for magical holiday help to save his cat. What can an enchanted tree do to teach Shadow better behaviors?

This is just a sweet little story where Mr. Scottsdale uses this very short story to share a message to youngsters about how their negative, sometimes just mischievous, actions impact others. The story shows that there are choices that can be made to not hurt others or the belongings of others.
I recommend this story as a nice Christmas (or anytime of year) story that can help teach caring manners to children.

Source: 2018 NetGalley. This qualified for 2018 NetGalley Challenge.