Sunday Post November 1, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday November 2, 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.

One staff member was out to visit family this week. The rest of us had to settle in to keep up the work. Already we are making plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays as we have to juggle five schedules.

I got a new manicure for November on Friday.
Soft orange with glitter and a leaf design.

Our Florida weather remained in low 80s most of last week but the nights dropped to high 50s. This week we are supposed to get those cooler days in the 70s.

My reading week was good. I finished two audiobooks and one ebook (finally). I posted four reviews and my usual memes.
I visited 16 blogs again last week.
Shout Out this week to The Balanced Bibliophile. Sarah describes herself as "Wife, Mother, Bookworm, Book Blogger, Bookstagrammer." I like the picture on her contact page.

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 October 25, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday October 26, 2020.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Carniepunk: The Demon Barker of Wheat Street by Kevin Hearne; Genre: Short Story, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 3.75. #Fraterfest.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu; Genre: Classic, Gothic, Horror, Vampire; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25 Narration 4.25. #Fraterfest.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway October 30, 2020. Open Worldwide. Ending 11/5/2020.

• ATBR- Audio Book Review: Manners and Monsters by Tilly Wallace; Genre: Gaslamp Fantasy, Paranormal, Regency; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5. #Fraterfest.

• A2020- Audible Book Review: Zombie Fallout: Zero by Mark Tufo; Genre: Dark Fiction, Horror, Psychological, Teen and Young Adult; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0. #Fraterfest.

• Sharing Beyond Books #407 Comment Giveaway October 31, 2020. Open Worldwide. Ending 11/14/2020.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement November 1, 2020.

Finished Reading:

1. Audio/Smartphone (A2020)

Murder's a Witch
Written By: Danielle Garrett
Narrated By: Amanda Ronconi
Duration: 6 hours 49 minutes
This is a fun, easy mystery with paranormal characters.
Source: 10/2020 Audiobooks.com Mystery Audiobook Club.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle (NGTBR)

The Uninvited: Book 8 in Krewe of Hunters series
by Heather Graham
I enjoyed the ghostly elements in this romantic suspense. Source: 2012 Netgalley.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audible/Smartphone (A2020)

Primal
Lee Harden, Book 3
By: D. J. Molles
Narrated by: Christian Rummel
Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
I like this series and this was a quick listen.
Source: September 2020 Credit purchase.
Publisher's Summary
Lee Harden is out for blood. After a month, the cartel is looking over their shoulders and jumping at shadows, worried about the madmen in their backyard, who seem obsessed with little else but killing cartel members. Lee continues to claw his way towards revenge, searching for a target to strike at, or a person to destroy, that will force his enemies to reveal themselves. And nothing is going to stop him. Not even Abe.
In the United Eastern States, things are crumbling around Angela. Safe zones are dropping out of communication, and no one seems to have any faith in her since the fall of Fort Bragg. Carl Gilliard's methods of purging the dissenters grow harsher and harsher, and Angela is forced to run interference for him, denying allegations of misconduct. She needs to get them back to Fort Bragg to show that they aren't losing this war. But she's not sure they can get there before everything falls apart.
Working fast - and sometimes unsafely - to secure the route back to Fort Bragg, Sam Ryder and his squad make a grim discovery that might be the start of an evolutionary jump for the primals - and a threat to the survival of the human race.
In this thrilling and gritty third installment to the Lee Harden series, the only thing you can be certain of is that things are about to change. ©2019 D. J. Molles (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Currently Reading:
1. Print (Author2020)

The Prepared Investor: How to Prevent the Next Crisis from Affecting Your Financial Independence
by Christopher Manske
I am moving slowly but finding this interesting.
Source: I was pleased when the author offered this for my review.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle (NG2020)

The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas
Jodi Thomas, Sharla Lovelace, Scarlett Dunn
I always enjoy Jodi Thomas and I look forward to meeting two new authors too.
Source: Received from NetGalley.
In these Texas-set stories of romance and adventure, the Civil War is over, Christmas is coming—and it’s time for three rugged fighters to become lovers . .
FATHER GOOSE
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jodi Thomas
Dispirited by war, when Trapper Hawkins accepts a job hauling five little rich girls to Dallas, all he cares about is the money. He doesn’t expect they’ll awaken his spirit—or that their intriguing nursemaid, Emery Adams, will awaken his heart. And when danger strikes as Christmas Eve nears, he definitely doesn’t expect Emery and the girls to risk their lives—for him . . .
THE MISTLETOE PROMISE * Sharla Lovelace
A catastrophic storm, an ailing herd, and a failing cattle ranch have left Texas rancher Josie Bancroft in danger of losing everything her father worked for. Still, she’d rather die than merge with her neighbor rancher Benjamin Mason, the man who broke her heart years ago, on Christmas Eve. As old sparks fly and secrets are revealed, however, Ben is determined to help Josie—and prove that this time around can be different. That the misunderstandings of Christmas past need not define their future . . .
CHRISTMAS ROAD * Scarlett Dunn
Yellow Fever has hit Clint Mitchum’s Texas hometown and taken his father and siblings, leaving Clint ever more cynical. Racing homeward to be by his mother’s side, Clint finds only a note from her, asking that he help her caregiver, a young woman named Amelia. Assuming his mother has passed, in his grief Clint ventures out to search for Amelia—and finds the best of gifts—just in time for Christmas . . .

3. Audible/Smartphone (A2020)

Actualized
The Configured Trilogy, Book 3
By: Jenetta Penner
Narrated by: Brittany Goodwin
Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
Release date: 12-17-19

I enjoyed book 1 and am returning to complete this trilogy.

Source: 2/13/2020 Author Code for Review title.
Publisher's Summary
It comes down to one choice: save the world or save the ones you love.
Listen to the exciting and emotional conclusion to The Configured Trilogy.
©2018 Jenetta Penner (P)2019 Jenetta Penner

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

November 1, 2020 - I continue enjoying reading first thing each morning, even this week while away.
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 didn't do an extra study again last week but I plan to do Thanksgiving plans in November. My first one is: 7 Days of Thanksgiving.

I completed three books, posted four reviews and I am up to date.
My NetGalley shelf is now at 3, which are the three remaining titles from 2012-13 which I still hope to read this year.
I have added no new author review titles this week. I still have one carry over author ebook left in my queue. (Plus a few that I received from newsletter sign-ups, not specific review requests.)
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 received this week.
Someday I'll check the email requests I have been receiving. {Sigh.}
I selected two for one Credit at Audible Thriller sale and bought one Daily Deal.
I used one credit purchase at Audiobooks.com while I wait to see their BOGO choices this month.
Two 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

Audible Two for One Credit Sale:

Departure
By: A.G. Riddle
Narrated by: Nicola Barber, Scott Aiello
Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
Release date: 02-17-15

Werewolf Cop
By: Andrew Klavan Narrated
by: Andrew Klavan
Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins
Release date: 03-24-15


11/1/2020 Audible Daily Deal $3.95.

The Lasaran
Aldebarian Alliance, Book 1
By: Dianne Duvall
Narrated by: Kirsten Potter
Length: 11 hrs and 23 mins
Release date: 04-21-20

11/1/2020 Audiobooks.com Credit Purchase:

Manners and Monsters Collection: A Regency paranormal mystery series
by Tilly Wallace
Narrated By: Marian Hussey
Duration: 23 hours 46 minutes
I had to use a credit before 11/3 and was glad to pick up all three books in this series after enjoying Manners and Monsters.

Free

Two free kindles this week, which I saw through MM at An Imperfect Christian Mom.

Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done Charlie Gilkey

Danger in Monrovia
(FREE MIDDLE GRADE MYSTERY ADVENTURE ACTION BOOK FOR KIDS AGES 7-15 CHILDREN) (Choose Your Own Way 1) Paul Moxham

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 November 1, 2020

We got online again this morning to enjoy our church service. Pastor continued his series on Before and After. He asks “What will the church look like after the election, after the dangers of Covid19 have passed?”
Last week Pastor outlined five steps of each believer’s purpose:
1. Worship
2. Belonging – bringing others along, making disciples
3. Spiritual Growth
4. Serving - using our gifts
5. Mission – your part in the Kingdom

This week’s message started with the word “Overlooked”. Everyone has overlooked a deadline or a person or a need. How do we incorporate people into the church?
If we overlook fellowship then we aren’t pulling others into the church body with us. Pastor encouraged us to read all five chapters of 1 John. He shared many verses but didn’t want to read all of it to us.

Pot luck is only a prelude to fellowship. We need to truly love and care for one another.
There are three Levels of fellowship:
1. Family of God – when you are saved you become part of this family.
2. Body of Christ – the local church body. Doors and arms need to be open.
3. Individual relationship – personal with Christ and personal with others.

Relationship is important, as is commitment to fellowship. You may be the person intended to touch the stranger who comes in one morning or to invite the next person.

The Point: Every believer in the church must commit to constantly building fellowship.

We must commit to fellowship and not overlook it. Fellowship is fuel for the rocket ship.
Detractors:

Self Sufficiency.
Low view of your value in the body.
Noncommittal.
Selfish motives for coming to church.
Self-protective.
Disinterest.
Allowing overgeneralized views or feelings to create insurmountable differences. (Like politics right now.)

Pastor encourages us to:
1. Be passionate about Jesus. Recognize what He has done in your life, what has He saved you from?
2. Deal with the enemy to fellowship in you.
3. Obey God’s commands. Do what God tells you to do. Be open and sensitive to His directive.
4. Love everyone in the family of God. Do not overlook anyone in the family again.
5. Let’s do it together.

What are you committing to?

I was led to this song. Love Moved First.
As God gives us grace are we passing that along to those who need a helping hand?

Verses for Today:
1 John 1:3-7 NIV
3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Lord, please help me to better about committing to fellowship with others.

Sharing Beyond Books #407 Comment Giveaway October 31, 2020

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB.
Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

Q#406: Did your area have a stay-at-home order? Or are you considered an essential worker???
There were two commenters out of the US and one in the USA who did not have stay at home orders. Even there, two said that wearing masks were required and the other has had curfews.
The rest have had various degrees of stay at home requirements. Fredamans is a cashier and I agree with her that the customers should be wearing masks.
Sadly we are seeing an increase in cases with the relaxing of SAH restrictions.
It appears that many countries did flatten the curve so that the hospitals have not been overwhelmed and the percentages of deaths is not increasing. Still, each death is cause for sorrow and prayer.

The Winner from SBB #406 comments is #12 ASHFA 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. -- [11/16/19 I plan to add some review books this week and maybe some new Christmas and Love titles as soon as I locate the box I put them in. 10/3/20 I have set aside some books for SBB and will take a picture and add them to the list in the next week or so.

**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 #407

(One Question.)

Alina asks: Do you think your reading tastes have changed in the last 5 years or are you still reading the same genres/sub-genres??

A similar question was asked in 2015 so it has been five years and we can look back to answer. (I'll put the older link in the answers next week.)
I think I started to shift to more sci fi (dystopia, post-apocalyptic, space military) a bit more than five years ago and that trend has continued. I do not read as much romance as I used to.  However, I have added more nonfiction as I am reading one nonfiction a month.

Image found at Pinterest

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 1/2 book choice or $2.50 towards 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 them.
October questions were shared by Becky, Elizabeth and Alina. Becky and Elizabeth have each earned a book pick and Alina gets $2.50 credit.

Your turn to share. Alina asks: Do you think your reading tastes have changed in the last 5 years or are you still reading the same genres/sub-genres??

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, November 14, 2020, at 5 PM central.

Audible Book Review: Zombie Fallout: Zero by Mark Tufo

I liked this military based addition explaining the beginning of the Zombie Fallout. Zombie Fallout: Zero
By: Mark Tufo
Narrated by: Sean Runnette

Series: Zombie Fallout, Book 0.5
Length 2h 44m
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Dystopian Sci Fi, Horror, Zombie
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
#Fraterfest

Publisher's Summary
In this audio-exclusive prequel - a must-hear for die-hard Zombie Fallout fans and newcomers alike - listeners are brought back to the days before outbreak; to the origins of a virus capable of raising the dead, its patient zero, and the events that set in motion the destruction of the human race.
Those who would seek a new world order have unleashed the most devastating virus onto mankind, and even they do not know the secrets hidden in their weapon. Follow along as Harry, a CDC scientist, races to figure out what exactly the virus is and how to stop it. It will be up to him and a group of marines led by Major Sanders to stop the zombie fallout before it ravages an unsuspecting world.
©2016 Mark Tufo (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Review:
A strange mob has overrun the police in New York. As Harry, a CDC scientist, studies the films he notes alarming behavior because the mob appear not to die even when shot or disembodied. Harry digs deep into the scientific genome of the virus that has turned these humans into beasts. He reports to his co-worker that the virus has been modified to allow a quick and harmful infection. They don’t realize how serious the infection is until they watch a test subject, Patient Zero, who is believed to be dead. The man comes alive, with inhuman strength and hunger, to attack the guards in his holding cell. The CDC scientists try to warn the government but soon learn that their warnings are being thwarted by nefarious forces who have actually planned the spread of the evil virus.

Major Sanders is in the field for the last two days of training of his new marines when his superior orders him to return to base so that the base can meet vaccination levels. Sanders ignores the order and is then called back by an even higher superior the next morning. Sanders and his new recruits return to learn that they are facing a new enemy.

I listened to book 1 which tells the story of a Michael Talbot and his family fighting in their gated community. It was okay but didn’t pull me into the series. I did like this novella that explains how the virus started and who was Patient Zero. I particularly enjoyed the military involvement fighting the early waves of infected. If the rest of the series included Harry and Sanders I would be more interested in listening. I recommend this to fans of the zombie genre.

Audio Notes: Sean Runnette is the narrator for this series and he does a good job. He portrays the characters with distinct voices and captures their personalities. I am glad I had this as a plus catalog free story to listen too as part of my 2020 October #Fraterfest.

Source: 2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook. Alphabet and #Fraterfest goals.

Audio Book Review: Manners and Monsters by Tilly Wallace

I love this cover and totally enjoyed the story!

Manners and Monsters
A Regency paranormal mystery
Written by Tilly Wallace
Narrated by Marian Hussey

Run time: 7 hours and 31 minutes
Release Date: June 7, 2019
Publisher: Ribbonwood Press
Genre: Gaslamp Fantasy, Paranormal, Regency
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5. #Fraterfest

Guys and ghouls, gather round for this grisly romp… (that’s a thing, right?) After a gruesome crime ruins her friend’s engagement party, Lady Hannah must use her knowledge of the occult to help boorish viscount Wycliff find the murderer — that is, if the two don’t kill each other first. Great for fans of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!
Publisher Description
A lady never reveals the true extent of her decay…
Hannah Miles lives a quiet existence, helping her parents conduct research into a most terrible affliction - until a gruesome murder during her best friend’s engagement party pulls her from the shadows. With her specialist’s knowledge and demure disposition, Hannah is requested to aid the investigation.
Except Hannah discovers her role is to apologise in the wake of the rude and disgraced man tasked with finding the murderer. The obnoxious Viscount Wycliff thinks to employ Hannah purely as a front to satisfy Whitehall, but she’ll have none of that.
The two must work together to find the murderer before the season is ruined. But the viscount is about to meet his greatest challenge, and it’s not a member of the ton with a hankering for brains.

Review:
Lady Hannah’s father is a famous physician, and her mother is a once famous mage. Hannah isn’t a normal society lady as she spends her time helping her father in autopsies and research and observing her ‘undead’ mother wield her magical skills, which Hannah did not inherit. Hannah’s mother and about 300 other women in London died but became reanimated after being poisoned by a powder used as a bio-weapon during war with France. The infected women, and a handful of men, are in various stages of decay and Hannah’s father is desperately trying to find a cure, particularly for his beloved wife. All of the infected continue their suspended lives without a heartbeat and with a rather repulsive food requirement.

Hannah has a few friends left in society and is intent on being there to support her friend’s engagement party. Unfortunately, the event is marred by the discovery of a dead footman who appears to have been killed by one of the infected. Viscount Wycliff, a dark, moody and secretive man who is mostly shunned by society, steps forward to investigate the death. Apparently Wycliff is working with the government as an investigator of paranormal beings in London.

Because Wycliff is unable to use proper manners around the infected Ladies of the ton, he is directed to engage the assistance of Lady Hannah to help with all the interviews. Although they are reluctant to work together, they are both intent on finding the murderer and learning more about the problems of the infected. As similar deaths of lower level servants continue, Hannah and Wycliff perceive a pattern and narrow the field of suspects. Soon they are racing together to uncover the killer and save other innocents from a gruesome death.

I really liked Hannah’s character right away and even liked the mysterious, dark Wycliff. The plot is intriguing and there is a touch of humor underlying the macabre situation the author has created. I enjoyed the mystery as well as the subtle growth of attraction, though not yet friendship, between the heroine and hero. I will definitely be continuing this series.

Audio Notes: Marian Hussey does a grand job with the narration. She provides differing voices and spot on energy. I am not sure that I have heard her narration before, but I will be glad to listen to more stories she narrates. The narration added to my enjoyment of this book.

Source: 4/22/2020 Chirp purchase $.99. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook and #Fraterfest goals.