Two Highlights for November: #SciFiMonth and #Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon

I finally saw a Sci-Fi Month 2019 post this week (thanks to vvb32 reads).
I had thought about this one but didn't really plan for it. Fortunately, I have lots of sci-fi on my TBRs so I will include some this month!






Annual Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon November 2019
I have a list of available TBRs for this event. I'll have to look through them for any sci fis if possible!


Audios:
Christmas Eve 1914 1h13m (2018)
Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings: A Chronicles of St. Mary's Short Story 1h25m (2015)
Tis the Season: Under the Christmas Tree/Midnight Confessions by Robyn Carr (2018)
eBooks:
Papa Abrams Special Christmas by Ruth Price (2014 Gift) 9
Evergreen A Christmas Tale by Richard Taylor (2012) 17pgs
The Sheriff's Mistletoe Law by Nita Wick (2012) 13
The Twelve Cats of Christmas (All the Creatures of Christmas Book 2) by Kevin Whitlark (2012) 17
Christmas Scandal...Not! by Jeanne Savery (2010) 22
A Bear of a Christmas by A.J. Cosmo 22pgs (2012) GR
A Christmas Message From The Moon by Philip Gibson (2017) 16
Thomas & the Christmas Orange by Lewis Brech (2011) 17
Santa's Christmas Eve Blues by Douglas Lindsay (2012) 26
Ruth's First Christmas Tree (Ruth Galloway Series) by Elly Griffiths (2012) 29
Romy's Garden Adventures (Christmas City) by Rob Towner (Author, Illustrator) (2012) 30
12 Days of Christmas for the Hurting by Rachel Wojnarowski (2012) 43
A Christmas Feral (Magical Cool Cats #3) by Mary Matthews (2012) 56
Christmas Runaway (Single Title Series Book 3) by Mimi Barbour (2012) 58

Sci-Fi and Christmas Mix:
Kiss of Christmas Magic 20 Paranormal Holiday Tales of Werewolves, Shifters, Vampires, Elves, Witches, Dragons, Fey, Ghosts, and More
by Eve Langlais and others.
I won't read all (1312 pages) of these but I could certainly read a couple for #Ho-Ho-Ho.

Operation Snowflake: A Tombs Novella by Robert Scott-Norton (2017) 99

 

Audio Book Review: The Journals of Octavia Hollows: Books 1-6 by Stacey Rourke

This is a very fun listen!

The Journals of Octavia Hollows: Books 1-6
by Stacey Rourke
Narrated by: Brenda Scott Wlazlo

Series: The Journals of Octavia Hollows Series, Book 1-6
Length: 14 hrs and 22 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 10-22-19
Language: English
Publisher: The Audio Flow, LLC
Genre: Cozy Mysteries, Supernatural Thriller, Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

With a touch of her hand, Octavia Hollows can restore life. Yet, she couldn’t save the man she loved from the horrific accident that stole him from her. Octavia thought she could outrun the pain, but ghosts from the past refuse to be silenced. Out of options, she chooses to retrace her wayward journey across the country in search of answers. Surrounded by baffling mysteries of the undead, what she learns about herself along the way might become her greatest weapon.
This six novella series chronicles Octavia's adventures in:
Wake the Dead
Dead Man's Hand
Caught Dead
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Dead Ringer
Dead as a Doornail
"This is Rourke at her finest: sassy and completely unapologetic. Proving again why she's a powerhouse in this industry."
-USA Today Best Selling Author Rue Volley
"This book has it all: a kickass heroine, loads of action... and a pig named Bacon."
-NYT & USA Today Best Selling Author Karen Lynch
©2019 Stacey Rourke (P)2019 The Audio Flow, LLC

Review:
Octavia is a gutsy young woman with special gifts. She is a necromancer who can restore life and she has a little bit of magic learned from her witch coven friends. Still, she never felt like she belonged or had a family anywhere.

One of her special restorations is her sidekick and constant companion, a miniature pig she named Bacon. Octavia is distressed that she wasn’t able to save her boyfriend, Elba, from a tragic accident. But someone has hidden his body so she is retracing her steps to try to find him. In each episode, Octavia faces a challenge of death and learns more about herself along the way.

Wake the Dead
Octavia starts off in Seattle. She is surprised to be contacted by a couple desperate to hire her to help their baby son. Although waking the dead is frowned upon, Octavia uses the resources she has available and that means waking the nurse who was present in the hospital room when things went wrong for the family. Can Octavia banish the creature that has taken control of the children?

This story introduces the reader to Octavia, Bacon some of Octavia’s history and her friendship and strained relationship with her coven mentor, Dina. The snarky fun is obvious from the opening pages.

Dead Man's Hand
Moving on to Las Vegas Octavia visits her old boss to make inquires. They open a tool cabinet to discover a charred body and a huge stack of cash. Octavia thinks she can help by waking the man to ask him what happened. Soon she is dodging the law and hiding from the mob while she tries to figure out the mystery. This time she faces a monster who is willing to grant her deepest wish. Can she resist?

Caught Dead
Next Octavia stops in Galveston, Texas. By this time she knows that someone is shadowing her as he drops a burner cellphone in her lap and she learns a man has been asking about her.

While she tries to figure out who would stalk her, Octavia is witness to the arrest of a woman accused of murdering her husband. Octavia slips out in the dark to hunt for clues and is confronted by a strange creature from Davy Jones Locker. The creature is threatened when others start rushing to the area to investigate strange noises. Octavia manages to whisk “Squidface” away to hide him in her motel room. This becomes a sweet character but faces danger when Octavia confronts a Siren who is causing murders along the beach.

Drop Dead Gorgeous
From the blurb for book 4:

“Campsite; Middle of nowhere
Abducted by a pod of sirens claiming to hold secrets to her past, Octavia is forced into the hell that is the sequin and taffeta lifestyle of a traveling pageant circuit. But this tour is leaving a trail of deception in its wake. Stumbling onto a double homicide, Octavia must choose a side in a decades old rivalry.
Will she use her gifts to unveil the killer, if it means sacrificing her chance at freedom?”

This situation reveals alarming facts about Octavia’s birth parents. Octavia has to find a way out of her predicament before Squidface, Bacon, and Octavia herself lose their freedom, if not their lives.

Dead Ringer
Octavia returns to another former employer in Belle Chasse, Louisiana. Octavia is worried about the members of her coven who have gone missing. She fears they have been lured out by her stalker and she is close on his heels. But before she can find the stalker, Octavia meets a handsome boxer, Reid, who has a unique ability – he can’t die. As usual, Octavia steps into the ring (literally this time) to lend a helping hand, punch or kick.

There is fun chemistry and banter between Octavia and Reid to the point that she has to remind herself that she is still hunting the body of her “ex” boyfriend, Elba. Will Octavia allow Reid to tag along when she follows the next clues to find Elba and the stalker?

Dead as a Doornail
Octavia finally returns to Tallahassee, Florida where the love of her (Elba) life died. Time has come to face the stalking menace who is out for revenge. He is vicious and holds the tricks: he has the body of Elba and has kidnapped her coven members. Elba is materializing as a ghost trying to help protect Octavia from the stalker and maybe from Reid as the two “men” face-off.

Octavia will need all the help she can gather to fight this threat from her past. Octavia is willing to offer an apology and forgiveness as she continues to mature her emotions and confidence, standing firm to face the enemy.

Boxed Set:
The whole package is a great ride of snarky fun with lots of action and unusual paranormal characters. There is some language and a small bit of crudity that was unnecessary for me. But as stated in the Tour Blitz, if “you like urban fantasy and snarky heroines…. you'll want to meet necromancer Octavia Hollows and her sidekick Bacon.” Do you like urban fantasy and snarky heroines?

Audio Notes: Brenda Scott Wlazlo does a wonderful job delivery the energy and fun of these stories. I am thankful to have received the audio to enjoy the listening fun!

If you haven’t checked out THE GIVEAWAY yet, you still have today, November 6, 2019.

Source: Audio provided for Tour Blitz on 10/31/19 hosted by Caffeinated PR. This qualifies for 2019Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: October Mourning: a Song for Matthew Shepard, by Lesléa Newman

This is a beautiful and evocative work.
OCTOBER MOURNING:
A SONG FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD
by Lesléa Newman, Narrated by Emily Beresford, Luke Daniels, Tom Parks, Nick Podehl, Kate Rudd, Christina Traister (Brilliance Audio)

• 1.25 hrs. • Unabridged • © 2012
Genre: LGBT issues, Poetry; Teen & YA
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

On October 6, 1998, Matthew Shepard, a gay 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming, was viciously beaten, tied to a fence, and left to die. Author Newman’s intimate reaction to this tragedy, a heartrending collection of 68 poems, is narrated by an outstanding cast. The narrators expertly carry the weight of the poems, excelling on verses that combine more than one voice. The poems present unique perspectives, including those of the fence, the moon, the road, even Matthew’s cat. Beautifully articulated, the quiet spaces in each poem add to the emotion, evoking a vast starry sky of memory and loss not soon to be forgotten. Intense, moving, and haunting—a must-listen for ages 14+. E.A.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2013 Audies Finalist, SYNC 2014 © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2012]

Review:
I am sorry I had not listened to this sooner. The author, Lesléa Newman, is a feminist and activist for gay rights. She was in Wyoming to speak on campus the night that Matthew Shepard was brutally beaten and left to die. Although she was a stranger to the campus and to Shepard, her compassionate heart shared the trauma and loss that impacted the community. After reflection, she voiced her feelings in this collection of poems. The poems range in perspectives from the victim to the assailants, the fence, the rope, the moon, and the sky. The poems evoke sorrow, anger, and disbelief. The works are beautiful and evocative, and I was greatly impressed, especially when you add the narration.

Audio Notes: These six narrators, Emily Beresford, Luke Daniels, Tom Parks, Nick Podehl, Kate Rudd, Christina Traister, did an awesome job with the poems. They read the poems separately and occasionally jointly or in sequence. The presentation adds to the haunting and sometimes breathtaking prose. I highly recommend this audio work.

Source: 2014 SYNC Free Audio. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.

MBS October 2019 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2019 Reading List - OCTOBER

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 2019
Favorite for October: no 5.0 or 4.75 ratings but I had 8 books rating 4.5.
FAVs of those: The End of America, Ghost Talkers and The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice.

1. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Death in the English Countryside by Sara Rosett; Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Cozy Mystery; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.
2. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Ruins of Gorlan, Ranger's Apprentice, Book 1 by John Flanagan; Genre: Action & Adventure, Children, Ages 11-13, Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.
3. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Fledgling by Molly Harper; Genre: Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Teen & YA; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.
4. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Patti Smith at the Minetta Lane by Patti Smith; Genre: Live Events, Storytellers; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
5. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal; Genre: Ghosts, Military Fantasy; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.25.
6. eBTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Zombie Betrayal by Robert DeCoteau; Genre: Ghost, Horror; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
7. eBTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Dark Reality: A Horror Tale by Billie Sue Mosiman; Genre: Horror, Suspense; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
8. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Yours Truly, Thomas by Rachel Fordham; Genre: Christian, Historical Romance; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.
9. eBTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Turned at Dark (Shadow Falls, #0.5) by C.C. Hunter; Genre: Horror, Teen & YA, Vampire; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.
10. eBTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Jupiter’s Revenge: An Amber Cook Sequel (The Horror Diaries Vol.18) by Heather Beck; Genre: Horror, YA; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
11. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Monster Men by Edgar Rice Burroughs; Genre: Classic Literature, Horror, Sci Fi Classic; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
12. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Lullaby by Jonathan Maberry; Genre: Fiction, Horror, Short Story; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 5.0.
13. eBTBR- Book Review: eBook Review: Investing Isobella by Jason Werbeloff; Genre: Cyberpunk, Horror, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.
14. eBTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Awaken: A Vampire Horror Story by Zach Bohannon; Genre: Horror, Mystery, Vampire; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
15. eBTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Fated Hearts by Patricia Mason (; Genre: Fantasy Romance, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
16. ATBR- Audible Book Review: FREE: Crackanory Too Cracked for TV; Genre: British, Entertainment, Humor; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
17. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Alien: Out of the Shadows by Tim Libbon; Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Dramatizations; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.25.
18. A2019-LBC- Audio Book Review: The End of America?: Bible Prophecy and a Country in Crisis by Jeff Kinley; Genre: Christian Prophecies, Inspirational, NonFiction; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
19. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux; Genre: Horror, Mystery, Vampire; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
20. NG29019- #NetGalley Book Review: The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice by Donna Kauffman; Kate Angell; Allyson Charles; Genre: Anthology, Romance, Small Town; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.
21. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: May it Be So by Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson; Genre: Christian, Devotional, Inspiration, Spiritual Meditations; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
22. ATBR- October Mourning: A Song For Matthew Shepard by Lesléa Newman; Genre: LGBT issues, Poetry; Teen & YA; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Total read = 22; TBR = 17; New Authors = 19
Audio/Audible = 11 (10 TBRs)
eBook = 7 (7 TBRs)
NetGalley = 4 (0 TBRs)
Print = 0
Review books (other than NG)= 0

Goal Progress:
Met Goodreads Goal of 150; plus 7
Total Read to Date: 157 of 150
TBR to Date: 89 of 100 total (getting there)
TBR ebooks: 19 of 24
Audio to Date: 91 of 75
NetGalley to Date: 47 of 40
Author Reviews: 5 of 12
Nonfiction: 12 of 12

• ebTBRs: 1 +2 +2 +2 +1 +0 +1 +2 +1 +7
• Author titles: 1 +0 +3 +0 +1 +0 +0 +0 +0
• New to me Series: 5 +5 +8 +10 +8 +9 +9 +7 +8
• Continuing for me Series: 3 +1 +2 +2 +2 +1 +2 +2 +1 +2
• Title with Month in it: 1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +0 +0 +0 +0 +1
• Seasonal title: Winter 1; Spring 2; Summer (on hold);
• Alphabet letters covered: 12 Jan + 3 Feb + 5 March + 2 April + 0 May + 1 June + 1 July + 1 August + 0 September + 0 October
(One letter left: X)

Sunday Post November 3, 2019/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday November 4, 2019

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date (at Wordpress)?

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 a good week. Some new suits filed and some catch up work.

I had forgotten I had this picture of our oldest granddaughter from the cruise 'play area'. She helped me get my steps in as we spent a couple of hours roaming the decks and checking things out.

The cold swooped in on Friday. We were cold even though it was only 40 degrees. Temperatures are supposed to warm up to the mid 70s this week.

I enjoyed another good week of reading/listening. I finished five books: three audios and two ebooks. I posted four reviews on the blog, one at Goodreads, and a Blitz with Giveaway. Plus I posted my usual memes.

I visited 20 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to Jackie's Bookbytes. "Jackie's Bookbytes is about blogging and writing reviews in connection with the books I read." I really enjoy her blog theme and colors.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post October 27, 2019/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday October 28, 2019.

• eBTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Fated Hearts by Patricia Mason (; Genre: Fantasy Romance, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

• A2019- Audio Book Review: The End of America?: Bible Prophecy and a Country in Crisis by Jeff Kinley; Genre: Christian Prophecies, Inspirational, NonFiction; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

• NG29019- #NetGalley Book Review: The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice by Donna Kauffman; Kate Angell; Allyson Charles; Genre: Anthology, Romance, Small Town; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

• Audio Blitz with Giveaway: Journals of Octavia Hollows. US Rafflecopter ends 11/5/19.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 1, 2019. Open Worldwide. Ending 11/7/2019.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux; Genre: Horror, Mystery, Vampire; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

• NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: May it Be So by Justin McRoberts and Scott Erickson; Genre: Christian, Devotional, Inspiration, Spiritual Meditations; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

• Sharing Beyond Books #381 Comment Giveaway November 2, 2019. Open Worldwide. Ending 11/16/2019.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement October 27, 2019.

Finished Reading:
1. Audio/MP3 (ATBR)

OCTOBER MOURNING: A SONG FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD
by Lesléa Newman
Narrated by Emily Beresford, Luke Daniels, Tom Parks, Nick Podehl, Kate Rudd, Christina Traister (Brilliance Audio)
This is a beautiful work.
Source: July 2914 SYNC Audio.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)

May It Be So Forty Days with the Lord's Prayer
by Justin McRoberts; Scott Erickson
There are some wonderful quotes in this.
Source: 2019 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audio/MP3 (2019Tour)

The Journals of Octavia Hollows: Books 1-6
by Stacey Rourke
Narrated by: Brenda Scott Wlazlo
This is a very fun listen!
Source: Audio provided for Tour Blitz on 10/31/19 hosted by Caffeinated PR.
(Blitz with giveaway linked above.)

Click on book title for full description.

4. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

Sackett's Land
The Sacketts, Book 1
By: Louis L'Amour
Narrated by: John Curless
Series: The Sacketts, Book 1
Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins
I pulled in a book to listen to in the car. 
My first choice wasn't downloaded properly so I got this.
I loved the adventure!
Source: 2003 Audible title.
Publisher's Summary
After discovering six gold Roman coins buried in the mud of the Devil's Dyke, Barnabas Sackett enthusiastically invests in goods that he will offer for trade in America. But Sackett has a powerful enemy: Rupert Genester, nephew of an earl, wants him dead. A battlefield promise made to Sackett’s father threatens Genester’s inheritance. So on the eve of his departure for America, Sackett is attacked and thrown into the hold of a pirate ship. Genester's orders are for him to disappear into the waters of the Atlantic. But after managing to escape, Sackett makes his way to the Carolina coast. He sees in the raw, abundant land the promise of a bright future. But before that dream can be realized, he must first return to England and discover the secret of his father's legacy.
Don't miss other titles in The Sacketts series.
©1974 Louis L'Amour (P)2010 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio

5. eBook/Kindle (Author2019)

Reasons to Kill God
by I.V. Olokita
This is a dark story but speaks of compassion too.
Source: Author Review Request.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:

1. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

The Last Wish
By: Andrzej Sapkowski
Narrated by: Peter Kenny
Series: The Witcher Saga
Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
I think I am ready for a fantasy.
Source: June 2018 Audible Sale.
Publisher's Summary
Geralt of Rivia is a witcher. A cunning sorcerer. A merciless assassin.
And a cold-blooded killer.
His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world.
But not everything monstrous-looking is evil, and not everything fair is good...and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.
The international hit that inspired the video game The Witcher.
©2008 Andrzej Sapkowski (P)2015 Hachette Audio

2. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)

Bark of Night
by David Rosenfelt
I enjoy this series and although this is jumping ahead of some I haven't read, I think it will be okay.
Source: 2019 NetGalley.
“Bark of Night is a treat, especially for those who love thrillers and dogs.”
The next novel in David Rosenfelt’s witty, heartfelt mystery series featuring lawyer Andy Carpenter and his faithful golden retriever, Tara.
When defense lawyer Andy Carpenter’s veterinarian asks to speak to him privately at the checkup of his golden retriever, Tara, the last thing Andy expects is Truman. Tiny, healthy, French bulldog Truman was dropped off days ago with instructions to be euthanized by a man everyone thought was his owner. But now the owner is nowhere to be found.
Andy is furious. Who would want to euthanize a perfectly healthy dog with no explanation? He is willing to whisk Truman away to the Tara Foundation, the dog-rescue organization which is Andy’s true passion. They will find a home for Truman. But that’s not all the vet tells Andy. Thanks to Truman’s chip, it’s discovered that the man wasn’t Truman’s owner at all . . . Truman's real owner has been murdered.
It’s now up to Andy – with help from his loyal sidekick Tara, Truman and the rest of the gang – to solve this case. In the latest in the popular Andy Carpenter mystery series, David Rosenfelt’s charmingly clever wit and love of dogs are back and better than ever.

I will be participating in Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon 2019 which starts 11/8. I expect this to help get closer to meeting my TBR goal for the year.
These are some of the books I will choose from:

Audios:
Christmas Eve 1914 1h13m (2018)
Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings: A Chronicles of St. Mary's Short Story 1h25m (2015)
Tis the Season: Under the Christmas Tree/Midnight Confessions by Robyn Carr (2018)
eBooks:
Papa Abrams Special Christmas by Ruth Price (2014 Gift) 9
Evergreen A Christmas Tale by Richard Taylor (2012) 17pgs
The Sheriff's Mistletoe Law by Nita Wick (2012) 13
The Twelve Cats of Christmas (All the Creatures of Christmas Book 2) by Kevin Whitlark (2012) 17
Christmas Scandal...Not! by Jeanne Savery (2010) 22
A Bear of a Christmas by A.J. Cosmo 22pgs (2012) GR
A Christmas Message From The Moon by Philip Gibson (2017) 16
Thomas & the Christmas Orange by Lewis Brech (2011) 17
Santa's Christmas Eve Blues by Douglas Lindsay (2012) 26
Ruth's First Christmas Tree (Ruth Galloway Series) by Elly Griffiths (2012) 29
Romy's Garden Adventures (Christmas City) by Rob Towner (Author, Illustrator) (2012) 30
12 Days of Christmas for the Hurting by Rachel Wojnarowski (2012) 43
A Christmas Feral (Magical Cool Cats #3) by Mary Matthews (2012) 56
Christmas Runaway (Single Title Series Book 3) by Mimi Barbour (2012) 58

(Longer books are likely to read after the readathon.)

November 3, 2019 - I am still enjoying the devotions and readings with the One Year Bible plan through You Version App. I plan to start some shorter studies again this week. [You can check out audio of the One Year Bible Plan on the companion commentary online.]

I completed five books and five reviews. I have four to review from last week.
My NetGalley shelf just is at 11. I am still working on NG titles I received in July. [Plus I have 4 old titles (2012-13.)]
I still have three author titles as I forgot one added earlier this month. I'll finish them all this year.
Still many titles through InstaFreebie and many new author requests 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.
No new review titles.
I picked up a total of EIGHT audio titles this week - using all available credits.
11 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

Okay - Audible had a two for one credit sale so I ended up using my two October credits. I have to wait until 11/19 for my next credits.
10/29/19 Audible Sale 2 for 1 Credit:
Son of the Black Sword: Saga of the Forgotten Warrior, Book 1
By: Larry Correia
Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds
Series: Saga of the Forgotten Warrior, Book 1
Length: 16 hrs and 21 mins


Rise of the Locusts: A Post-Apocalyptic Techno-Thriller (Cyber Armageddon, Book 1)
By: Mark Goodwin
Narrated by: Stacey Glemboski
Series: Cyber Armageddon, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins


10/31/2019 Audible Sale 2 for 1
Sherlock Holmes
By: Arthur Conan Doyle, Stephen Fry - introductions
Narrated by: Stephen Fry
Length: 62 hrs and 52 mins
Release date: 02-27-17
62 hours is a real whopper but they break it into several downloads. My son talked me into this one.

The Oxford Tearoom Mysteries Box Set Collection I
Prequel + Books 1 & 2
By: H.Y. Hanna
Narrated by: Pearl Hewitt
Length: 17 hrs and 35 mins
Release date: 02-21-18


Audiobooks.com also had 2 for 1 Deal which I usually take advantage of each month. I have to wait until 11/5 for my next credit there.
10/29/2019 Audiobooks.com 2 for 1 Deal

A Fatal Obsession
Written By: Faith Martin
Narrated By: Stephanie Racine
Duration: 8 h 57 min
This sounds good.



Woof
Written By: Spencer Quinn
Narrated By: James Frangione
Duration: 7 h 5 min
I have been looking at this series for a while.


I also picked up two Daily Deals:
10/29/2019 Audible Daily Deal $3.95.
A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World
A Novel
By: C. A. Fletcher
Narrated by: C. A. Fletcher
Length: 10 hrs and 49 mins
Release date: 04-23-19

11/2/2019 Audible Daile Deal $2.95
Orion Colony
An Intergalactic Space Opera Adventure
By: J.N. Chaney, Jonathan Yanez
Narrated by: Ray Porter
Series: Orion Colony, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 2 mins
Release date: 06-04-19

Free

I added 11 free Kindle titles to my Kindle library. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.