Sunday Post September 27, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday September 28, 2020

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.

The commercial closing went well and then I had to start catching up with other work. I still have probates and litigation files that need work.
Our courts are allowing us to move forward on foreclosures and evictions so I have several of those to work on.

I took this picture through my passenger window as I was coming home one evening. There have been fauns out but I haven't gotten pictures of them yet.

We had more heavy rains this week. Our temperatures are varied from low 70s to mid 80s.

I enjoyed my reading and listening this week although it seemed slow. I finished only one audiobook. I am midway in my NetGalley ebook, which I am enjoying and am midway concentrating on the second audiobook. I posted three reviews and my usual memes.

Don't forget- Audible is offering free children's titles during these days at home.
Audiobooks.com is also offering free listens for children.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post September 20, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday September 21, 2020.

• A2020- Audible Book Review: Interview with the Robot by Lee Bacon; Genre: Children's Audiobooks, Science Fiction & Fantasy; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Dungeon Born by Dakota Krout; Genre: Fantasy, LitRPG, Teen & YA, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.
  

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 25, 2020. Open Worldwide. Ending 10/1/2020.

• NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: Kit and Elizabeth by Karen Tuft; Genre: Historical, Regency Romance; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement September 27, 2020.

Finished Reading:

1. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

The Tracker
Sam Callahan, Book 1
By: Chad Zunker
Narrated by: Noah Berman
Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins
This is a good suspense.
Source: 1/14/2018 Audible Daily Deal $1.95.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:
1. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

The Righteous Mind
Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
By: Jonathan Haidt
Narrated by: Jonathan Haidt
Length: 11 hrs and 1 min
Release date: 07-23-12
This requires some concentration as psychology is not a strong suit of mine. I am midway.
Source: 10/16/19 September 2019 Audible Credit.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle (NG2020)

Silent Bite: An Andy Carpenter Mystery (An Andy Carpenter Novel Book 22)
by David Rosenfelt
I am enjoying this Andy Carpenter mystery.
I have listened to so many on audio that I can hear the narrator, Grover Gardner, as I read.
Source: 8/25/2020 Received from Publisher and NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

The Gun: The End Time Saga Origin Short Story
By: Daniel Greene
Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka
Series: The End Time Saga
Length: 1 hr and 33 mins
I am slipping in a short story to help meet my count for September.
Source: 8/29/2020 Audible Plus Catalog.
Publisher's Summary
A new gritty origin short story in the End Time Saga universe.
A dismembered body in the park....
Grand Rapids Detective Bill DeYoung is an old-timer riding it out until retirement. A ravaged body in the park and a drunken witness are about to change his plans; so is the end of the world.
The events happen concurrently with the first novel, End Time, but it can be heard at any point in the series to get exciting additional content on the origin of a main character.
Start the award-winning series filled with duty, treachery, honor, betrayal, and grim hope today!
©2019 Daniel Greene (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

I'm keeping track of my Alphabet here as I finish the books. These are the letters that remain:
NETGALLEY:  H  M  U X  Y and Z
AUDIO:             X  and  Z

September 27, 2020 - I am caught up and commited again to reading first thing each morning.
I am still enjoying the devotions and readings with the One Year Bible plan through You Version App. I considered changing but this is the reading group that is closest to my husband's reading so we can sometimes discuss the same passages.
I will pick another study this week after enjoying the 3-day study: Even Now From Life.Church Worship.

I completed three books and posted three reviews which keeps me up to date.
My NetGalley shelf is still 5, one current and the four titles from 2012-13 which I still hope to read this year. Two are good for October.
I have added no new author review titles this week. I still have one carry over author ebook left. I have two audiobooks from authors. At lease one of these will be for October.
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 this week.
Someday I'll check the email requests I have been receiving. {Sigh.}
I downloaded the free book at ChristianAudio and I added another 8 Audible Plus titles.
I finally picked my September VIP at Audiobooks.com.
I am still eyeing the Audiobook Clubs which allows you to use a credit for a club grouping and you can listen to any of the books in that group for that month. I am planning to use one credit in the first day or two of October to make that buy.
No 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 had a hard time selecting my Audiobooks.com VIP choice.
I wasn't impressed by the sample on the sci-fi; there were a couple of non-fiction that interested me and a couple of romances. Then there were two thrillers. Based on listening samples it came down to a historical romance and a contemporary mystery. I chose the mystery because it is a new to me author.

Ruthless Game
by Danielle Girard

More Audible Plus Downloads!

The Dog That Talked to God
By: Jim Kraus
Narrated by: Donna Postel

Chance of a Ghost
By: E.J. Copperman
Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi
Series: Haunted Guesthouse, Book 4

Ender's Game Alive: The Full Cast Audioplay
By: Orson Scott Card
Narrated by: Full Cast Recording
Series: Ender's Game, Book 1, The Enderverse, Book 5

Hell Divers III: Deliverance: The Hell Divers series, Book 3
By: Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Series: The Hell Divers Series, Book 3

Survivor Skills: The Project Gliese 581g Series, Book 3
By: S.E. Smith
Narrated by: David Brenin
Series: Project Gliese 581g, Book 3

Dreadnought
By: April Daniels
Narrated by: Natasha Soudek
Series: Nemesis (Da8iels), Book 1

The Dragon and the George
By: Gordon R. Dickson
Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
Series: Dragon Knight, Book 1

Dust: Before and After: The Dust Series, Book 1
By: S.E. Smith
Narrated by: Paul Heitsch
Series: The Dust Series, Book 1

This is the September download at ChristianAudio.com

The Rewired Brain
Author Dr. Ski Chilton with Dr. Margaret Rukstalis & A.J. Gregory
Narrator P.J. Ochlan
Runtime 8.73 Hrs. - Unabridged


No free Kindle titles this week. Free titles often found at Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement September 27, 2020

Hubby and I prepared for worship this morning by starting with worship at one online service and continuing a half hour later with our home church worship. Our senior pastor was still out sick this morning so our new youth pastor gave the message. He continued with God’s Promises series speaking on “God’s Promise of Wisdom”.

Some people say that wisdom is the same as intelligence but this isn’t true. Intelligence is defined as “the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills”.
Wisdom is defined as “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise”.

Even Jesus had to grow in wisdom as indicated by Luke 2:52.

We can learn from elders or ignore their advice and learn through failure.
Solomon, who was given the gift of wisdom by God, speaks of wisdom throughout the Proverbs. He reminds his sons that the Lord gives wisdom, not to forsake his teachings, and they should seek and treasure wisdom which is more precious than silver or gold. Proverbs all of Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. He instructs them to get wisdom and get insight. Proverbs 4:5-9.

James 1:5 says that if anyone lacks wisdom they should ask God who will give generously.

The Point: God is ready to give us wisdom. Be ready to receive and apply it!

It is okay to seek wisdom from others, but you must make sure your source is well grounded in scripture and then pray and make sure you listen to God for his direction.

Continue to grow in wisdom by reading the Bible, being in prayer, and listening to God.
Don't rely on your own intelligence but rely on God's wisdom every step.

I chose this song video for today:

Verses for Today:
Proverbs 2:1-6 (NIV)
Moral Benefits of Wisdom
1 My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.


Lord, I pray that You will provide me wisdom for all times and aspects of my life.

 

#NetGalley Book Review: Kit and Elizabeth by Karen Tuft

I totally enjoyed this delightful, easy Regency romance.
Kit and Elizabeth
by Karen Tuft

Print Length : 296 pages
File Size : 1438 KB
Publisher : Covenant Communications (December 1, 2019)
ASIN : B07YF4PBBW
Genre: Historical, Regency Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

Lady Elizabeth Spaulding’s world has fallen apart. Despite living her entire life to please her demanding parents, the Duke and Duchess of Marwood, she has little to show for it. After Elizabeth’s second failed betrothal, her father’s debts and appalling acts of retaliation force him to flee the country, consigning Elizabeth and her bitter mother to a life of poverty and exile. But Elizabeth’s fortunes change one day when an elderly acquaintance makes her an offer she can’t refuse.
Lady Walmsley, widowed and childless, is in need of a lady’s companion—and who better than the lovely Lady Elizabeth? Determined to rescue Elizabeth from her dreary life in the country, Lady Walmsley secures the help of Kit, the dashing Earl of Cantwell, in her quest. But the young woman they find is a ghost of the charming girl they once knew. Taken in by Lady Walmsley, and with Kit’s enthusiastic encouragement, Elizabeth finds herself pushed further and further from her empty solitude as she discovers the joy of truly living. Now, for the first time in her life, she must decide for herself who she is and if she deserves to be loved.

Review:
Elizabeth is deeply aware that she was a disappointment for not being born a male and heir for her father. She has spent her life trying to be a properly behaved Duke’s daughter in hopes of gaining the affection of her parents. She was aware as a teen that marriage arrangements had been made for her with Alex. Although Elizabeth was infatuated with the handsome Earl, it became clear after a season or two that he was avoiding the marriage. Then he died unexpectedly leaving Elizabeth and her family in an awkward circumstance.

When Alex’s brother, Anthony, who was believed to be dead, returns home, Elizabeth’s father makes it clear that the marriage contract is shifted to him. But Elizabeth knows that Anthony’s interest is engaged elsewhere. Elizabeth releases him from the commitment raising the extreme anger and disgust of her father. Her father creates a scandal and then abandons Elizabeth and her mother with destroyed finances.

Elizabeth has spent the last year in seclusion with her angry mother at the family country manor. An elderly friend, Lady Walmsley, coerces Kit, an Earl and friend of Alex, to help retrieve Elizabeth to become her companion. They arrive just in time as news arrives that the Duke has died and the new Duke and Duchess are ready to move into the family home. Lady Walmsley and Kit are dismayed to find a dispirited young woman instead of the charming and assured young woman of the year before.

Kit sets out to push Elizabeth out of her complacent self-deprivation and to realize that she is more than the disappointment her parents belittled. Slowly Elizabeth begins to break out of her shell and a surprising event makes Elizabeth even more aware of the lack of approval in her childhood. 

 I enjoyed this historical romance that was focused on the characters. Elizabeth is emotionally injured but she is kind and determined. Kit is a lovely light-hearted hero, seeking to help Lizzie find a place of joy. There is tension in the light and growing attraction all supplemented by family drama. I often like a little mystery in my romance but this book shows that the right author can deliver an engaging romance even without mystery. I will look forward to reading more by this author. I recommend this to readers who enjoy clean, Regency romance.

Source: NetGalley (2019 request received 2020). This qualifies for my 2020NetGalley goal.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 25, 2020

Happy Friday! It's strange to think this is the last Friday in September!

I will be looking to gather another box of books. It didn't happen this past week but maybe this coming week I can get it done. :-)

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 September 18, 2020 Pick. There were no automatic wins this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There was no title blocked.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from September 18, 2020 Pick:
NATALIJA gets a GC
and
MARJORIE 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.}

Are you reading a banned book this week?
Image found at American Booksellers Association.

New Book Group #90 June 19, 2020
Quite a few mysteries in this box. 

SINGLES:
Siren's Song by Trish Albright (personally autographed)
Alias by Smy J. Fetzer
Angel Face by Suzanne Forster
Stalking the Puzzle Landy by Parnell Hall
Hot Sex by Janet Evanovich (Audio cassettes)
The Warrior by Frances Richey (poetry - hardcover)


New Book Group #89 March 6, 2020

Singles:
My Surrender by Connie Brockway
How to Tame a Modern Rogue by Diana Holoquist
Phoenix by A.J. Scudiere
New Book Group #88 November 8, 2019

PAIRS:
Stella Cameron: Body of Evidence and Fascination
Singles:
A Lady Never Tells by Candace Camp
Dawn of Redemption by Starla Childs


New Book Group #87 August 23, 2019

SINGLES:
Captain's Paradise by Kay Hooper
Open Season by Linda Howard AUDIO CASSETTES


New Book Group #86 June 7, 2019
Another group of variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze
Show No Fear by Marliss Melton
A Question of God's Balance (Vol 1) by Joseph Thek
King by Right of Blood and Might by Anna L. Walls


New Book Group #85 March 22, 2019
A variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
Summer Skies by Judith Christenberry
Windfall (two stories) by JoAnn Ross
Daddy's Little Cowgirl (two stories) by Judith Bowen and Kimberly Raye
The Forever Year, Cold Pursuit, Lover's Lane and Temporary Sanity (Reader's Condensed)
ToxiCity by Libby Fischer Hillmann

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

SINGLES:
A Family for Thanksgiving
On this Holy Night
Christmas Haven
King Harold's Snow Job


New Book Group #83 November 30, 2018

(Starting bottom left and continuing up then down)
SINGLE
Seductive Secrets by Lynne Connolly
Seven Up by Janet Evanovich - Audio Cassettes
A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein Audio Cassettes
Three 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

Stella Cameron: Key West
SINGLES:
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
Killing Time by Linda Howard
The Wedding Night by Barbara Dawson Smith

New Book Group #81 August 17, 2018

SINGLES
Best Laid Plans by Allison Brennan
Darkness Tell Us by Richard Laymon
Cooking Most Deadly by Joanne Pence


New Book Group #80 August 17, 2018

Note: The Final Judgment and
The Book of Fate are Audio Cassettes
SINGLES:
Summer’s Moon by Lacey Baker
The Final Judgment by Richard North PattersonAudio Cassettes
Firebird by Janice Graham
No Getting Over a Cowboy by Delores Fossen
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer 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)
Dakota Child by Linda Ford
Calling the Shots by Ellen Hartman
Promises, Promises by Amber Miller
This Time for Keeps by Jenna Mills
A Daughter’s Legacy by Virginia Smith
Another Man’s Baby by Kay Stockham


New Book Group #78 April 27, 2018

SINGLES
Blackberry Bush
Breaking Point
A Tangled Affair
Too Wicked to Love
Roses are Red Audio Cassettes


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
The Scorpion Seducer by Bonnie Vanak
Hell On Earth by David L. Porter
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton
Crisscross by Harmon Henkin
Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey
Inhuman Condition by Clive Barker
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
Aunt Erma's Cope Book
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 21 titles.)
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown
(*Three One more very old books from my Gothics box.)
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell
*Four One 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 NINE years I have posted 88 groups of 16 plus an additional 21 totaling 1,429 books to find new homes! (as of November 8, 2019).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,328+ 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 faraway 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!

Audible Book Review: Dungeon Born by Dakota Krout

This is an interesting view of LitRPG as it is from the view of the dungeon!

Dungeon Born
By: Dakota Krout
Narrator: Vikas Adam

Series: Divine Dungeon Series, Book 1
Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins
Release date: 03-28-17
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Fantasy, LitRPG, Teen & YA, Sci Fi 

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
A powerful dungeon. A sheep-herder turned Noble. Their path to ascendance through cultivation.
Conquering dungeons and using them to grow has long been the most efficient way to become a powerful adventurer. The only thing keeping the process from being easy is the Beasts that inhabit these places. Questions plague those entering this particular place of power: Where do the "rewards" of weapons, armor, and heavy gold coins come from? Why is a fluffy bunny charging at me? For abyss-sake, why are there so many monsters?
Cal has all of the answers to these age-old questions for a very simple reason. He is a Dungeon Core, a soul forced against his will into a magical stone. With the help of an energetic friend, Cal grows a dungeon around himself to bring in new sources of power.
When a threat he doesn't fully comprehend bares its many teeth, Cal is determined to survive the attempt on his life. Unfortunately for adventurers, the only way for him to achieve his goal is to eat anyone that enters his depths. ©2016 Dakota Krout (P)2017 Tantor

Review:
“Cal” was human before his soul was forced into a magical stone by a necromancer. When Cal wakes up, he doesn’t remember his former life except to know that he hates necromancers. Cal begins to stretch with his magic when he is able to ‘eat’ surrounding stones and moss, but he has no idea of the extent of his abilities. A senior magical source assigns a Wisp to help the young dungeon grow and level up. Wisp Dani names Cal for the calcium that surrounds his pretty gem.

Dani then begins to instruct Cal on how to eat and share the essence of his surroundings and how to build and expand the dungeon. Dani also helps Cal develop monsters, even if the first set are created from fluffy bunnies. The dungeon monsters are modified to have skills and even poisons to fight intruders. Cal learns how to pattern items of the intruders to create ‘loot’ of trinkets, coins or weapons to reward those who survive their visit in the dungeon. Occasionally Cal makes mistakes threatening his own existence, including earthquakes and uncontrolled monsters.

Dale is the sole survivor of the first treasure hunters to investigate the dungeon. Realizing the importance of this find, Dale manages to purchase the surrounding lands. Thus, begins Dale’s journey of growth towards a dungeon warrior and mage who will face Cal several times.

In LitRPGs you usually become, or follow, a hunter into the dungeon to face monsters, seek rewards and progress in levels. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that this was a story describing how the dungeon was developed. Cal grows in ability and in strategic planning to entice hunters with enough adventure and loot to keep them coming back. I found this clever and fun. Most of the story is told of Cal and his sidekick, Dani, but bits also follow Dale and his growth. I appreciated that the battles are active but not overly graphic. The tone is light and contributes to making this entertaining. I may not rush to get the next book right now, but I have it saved to my wish list as a future choice. I do recommend this to fans of LitRPGs and Dungeon fantasy.

Audio Notes: Vikas Adam does a fine job with the narration. He is able to express the naïve wonder and eagerness of Cal and the playfulness of Dani. Adam also captures the various human characters. I enjoyed the audio and will look forward to listening to more in the series.

Source: 1/27/18 Sale for 2017 Audible Daily Deals $3.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.