#NetGalley Book Review: Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn

I enjoyed this sweet Christmas romance.
Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy
By: Janice Lynn
Narrated by: Alexander Cendese, Rachel L. Jacobs

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins
Release date: 10-27-20
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
Genre: Christian, Christmas Romance, Holiday, Military Romance
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
When Sophie Davis sorts through a box of donated books to her church, she’s surprised to find a soldier’s journal. As the daughter of a veteran who watched her father struggle over the years, she feels a deep connection to the man who wrote the emotional entries.
Former Marine Cole Aaron battled to find peace after returning to civilian life. He’s always needed to protect others. Now, fighting fires helps him put out the demons within him. He’s embracing his life in Pine Hill, Kentucky, and strives to call a truce with his past. When Sophie shows up at the fire hall with his journal from when he first returned stateside, Cole can’t believe it was in the box he’d donated. The book is old news, and he tells her to trash it.
Sophie and Cole are drawn together as they both volunteer for their community, but it’s hard for Cole to let down his guard, and he doesn’t need anyone’s pity. After all he’s been through in the past, can he find faith in a more hopeful future...one touched by joy?
This heartwarming romance includes an original Hallmark recipe for Dilly Duchess Potatoes.
©2020 Janice Lynn and Hallmark Publishing (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Review:
Sophie Davis recognizes the struggle of a veteran with PTSD because she lived with a father who suffered. When Sophia finds and reads a soldier’s journal she feels deeply for the man. She makes the effort to return the journal to former Marine Cole Aaron who now serves her community as a firefighter. Cole doesn’t want the journal back because it his past haunts him. He also wants nothing to do with Sophie and what he perceives as her pity. Even though Cole wants to avoid Sophie, he keeps finding himself working alongside her for the Christmas toy drive and helping in other volunteer events, even participating in winter sports with Sophie.

Sophie is part owner of a Threaded Needle and she has a passion for making Quilts of Valor to award to Veterans in recognition of their service. Sophie persists on making a special patriotic quilt that she wants to wrap Cole in, even while Cole continues to push her away. But Cole can’t help but see the joy Sophie continually shares with others in all circumstances. Can Sophie’s joy bring a smile to Cole’s face and, more importantly, maybe bring peace to his troubled mind?

This is a sweet romance told from the rotating views of a bright heroine and an emotionally torn hero. The story focuses on the characters and how our self-view can be influenced by how others see us. The author uses the supporting characters to add to the fullness of the story. I like how the author shows how joy might heal a troubled soul. She apparently has other books in the same small town and I would enjoy reading/listening to others. This story reads easily, and I recommend it to readers who like heartwarming, sweet romance. I do think it would make a nice Hallmark movie.

Audio Notes: Alexander Cendese and Rachel L. Jacobs do an appropriate job narrating. I wasn’t enthralled by the audio but it did help me listen quickly. I am glad that I had the opportunity to listen to this.

Source: 2020 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2020NetGalley and 2020Audiobook goals.

Sunday Post November 15, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday November 16, 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.

We will be training a new, basic clerical staff member this week. Plus I'll be training one of my staff on bookkeeping entry for extra hours. Plus I will continue to work on litigation and probate files.
My family had a nice zoom meeting today since we haven't gathered for reunion in several years.

We should have a good crop of lemons coming.
The tree to the left is the grapefruit but the lemon look almost as big!

 Temps this week in my area of Florida are projected to range from 78 high to 40 low.

I had to push a bit to finish a second book again but I am moving on others as well. I finished one audiobook and one ebook. I posted two reviews and my usual memes.

I visited 16 blogs again last week.
Shout Out this week to Elza Reads. Elza is s little white kitten whose Mommy is a teacher/librarian in South Africa. They share “all types of meows and purrs of the bookish kind.”

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 November 8, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday November 9, 2020.

• MBS October 2020 Reading List Wrap Up.

• Thank You Veterans!

• A2020- Audible Book Review: Actualized, The Configured, Book 3 by Jenetta Penner; Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi, Teen and Young Adult; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.5; Narration 4.0.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 13, 2020. Open Worldwide. Ending 11/19/2020.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Heavens May Fall by Allen Eskens; Genre: Legal Thriller, Mystery, Police Procedure; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• Sharing Beyond Books #408 Comment Giveaway November 14, 2020. Open Worldwide. Ending 11/28/2020.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement November 15, 2020.

Finished Reading:
1. Audio/Smartphone (A2020)

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy
By: Janice Lynn, Hallmark Publishing
Narrated by: Alexander Cendese, Rachel L. Jacobs Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins
Release date: 10-27-20
I enjoyed this sweet Christmas romance.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Publisher's Summary
When Sophie Davis sorts through a box of donated books to her church, she’s surprised to find a soldier’s journal. As the daughter of a veteran who watched her father struggle over the years, she feels a deep connection to the man who wrote the emotional entries.
Former Marine Cole Aaron battled to find peace after returning to civilian life. He’s always needed to protect others. Now, fighting fires helps him put out the demons within him. He’s embracing his life in Pine Hill, Kentucky, and strives to call a truce with his past. When Sophie shows up at the fire hall with his journal from when he first returned stateside, Cole can’t believe it was in the box he’d donated. The book is old news, and he tells her to trash it.
Sophie and Cole are drawn together as they both volunteer for their community, but it’s hard for Cole to let down his guard, and he doesn’t need anyone’s pity. After all he’s been through in the past, can he find faith in a more hopeful future...one touched by joy?
This heartwarming romance includes an original Hallmark recipe for Dilly Duchess Potatoes.
©2020 Janice Lynn and Hallmark Publishing (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC

2. eBook/Kindle (NG2020)

The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas
Jodi Thomas, Sharla Lovelace, Scarlett Dunn
I particularly liked two of this trio of historical, western Christmas tales.
Source: Received from NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:
1. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Wool
Silo, #1; Wool, #1-5
By: Hugh Howey
Narrated by: Amanda Sayle
Series: The Silo Saga, Book 1
Length: 17 hrs and 43 mins
I am enjoying the creative storytelling in this sci fi. (For #SciFi Month.)
Source: 2017 Audible Daily Deal $3.95.

2. Audio/Smartphone (A2020)

Cover Your Tracks
By: Daco Auffenorde
Narrated by: Allyson Ryan
Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins
This looks like an interesting suspense.
(I saw this at Book Reviews by Linda Moore.)
Source: Received from NetGalley.
Publisher's Summary
Margo Fletcher, eight months pregnant, is traveling by train from Chicago to Spokane, her childhood home. While passing through an isolated portion of the Rockies in blizzard conditions, the train unexpectedly brakes. Up ahead, deadly snow from a massive avalanche plummets down the mountain. Despite the conductor’s order for the passengers to stay seated, former Army Ranger Nick Eliot insists that survival depends on moving to the back of the train. Only Margo believes him. They take refuge in the last train car, which Nick heroically uncouples in time to avoid the avalanche. The rest of the train is hurled down the mountainside and is soon lost forever in a blanket of snow. Margo and Nick, the sole survivors, are stranded in the snowstorm without food, water, or heat. Rescuers might not arrive for days.
When the weather turns violent again, the pair must flee the shelter of the passenger car and run for their lives into the wilderness. They must fend off the deadly cold as well as predatory wild animals foraging for food. Eventually, Nick leads Margo to shelter in a watchtower atop a mountain. There, we learn that both Margo and Nick have secrets that have brought them together and that threaten to destroy them. ©2020 Daco Auffenorde (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC

3. Print (Author2020)

The Prepared Investor: How to Prevent the Next Crisis from Affecting Your Financial Independence
by Christopher Manske
This will take a bit longer so it will run as my third "current reading" for several weeks. 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.

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 15, 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 completed my second Thanksgiving plan in November: five day plan: Double Blessing.
This week I will be doing a seven day plan: The Blessing Devotional Plan by Kari Jobe.

I completed two books, posted two reviews and I am up to date.
Since I listened/am listening to the two audios I picked up at NetGalley this week, my NetGalley shelf is now at four with 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.
I got three NetGalley review titles this week - all audios.
Someday I'll check the email requests I have been receiving. {Sigh.}
I picked up my second October Audible credit plus one daily deal.
I also purchased four audios at Chirp.
Sixteen 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

Three Audiobooks received from NetGalley (two reflected above as finished or currently reading):

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy
By: Janice Lynn, Hallmark Publishing
Narrated by: Alexander Cendese, Rachel L. Jacobs
Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins
(I saw this at Bookfan.)

Cover Your Tracks
By: Daco Auffenorde
Narrated by: Allyson Ryan
Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins
Release date: 10-20-20
(I saw this at Book Reviews by Linda Moore)

A Long Road on a Short Day
by Gary D. Schmidt, Elizabeth Stickney, Eugene Yelchin (Illustrator)

Won

NONE

Purchased

November 13, 2020 Audible Credit (October)

Shattered Worlds
Koban, Volume 4
By: Stephen W Bennett
Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
Length: 31 hrs and 26 mins
Release date: 04-16-15

(This is to continue the series.)

November 9, 2020 Audible Daily Deal for $3.95:

Star Runner
By: B. V. Larson
Narrated by: Mark Boyett
(A genre and author I like.)

November 8th, 2020 Chirp Purchases:

The Dauntless
Written by Alex Kings
Narrated by Mark Boyett
$1.99

Atticus
Written by Sawyer Bennett & S. Bennett
Narrated by Bahni Turpin
$0.99
(I saw this one at Caffeinated Book Review.)

Gustav Gloom and the People Taker
Written by Adam-Troy Castro
Narrated by Jesse Vilinsky
$0.99

Free

Sixteen 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 November 15, 2020

We shared church again online. Although we were sorry we couldn’t share physically in the celebration of communion, we remembered His sacrifice through prayer.

Pastor’s message was titled “Shattered”. He noted that God’s beautiful creation was shattered by sin. This is more than simple damage.

When there are cracks or chips you might be able to repair or work with the minor damage. But when something is shattered – you can’t fix it. God had to provide a way to fix our shattered lives, our separation from Him.

We get calls that make us feel vulnerable – from the doctor or the school, work, a spouse or a friend. Where do we find our strength and comfort?

Romans 5 tell us that justification brings comfort.
V1 Peace with God is more than toleration.
V2 Undeserved privilege: Grace.
V3-4 Endurance (theme repeated in James and Peter) with help of Holy Spirit V5.
V6 When we are lost and powerless, God steps in and offers us salvation/reconciliation.
V9-11 We are reconciled and can be called a friend of God.

THE POINT: YOU CAN LIVE IN PEACE WITH GOD, IN HIS GRACE AND BE CALLED FRIEND, BUT YOU MUST RESPOND AND RECEIVE HIS INVITATION.

Hebrews 23 – required a blood sacrifice; blood = a violent horrific death. The Bible uses the term “Kattalage” which means a reconciliation or exchange. Christ gave His life so we could be reconciled to God; so, our shattered lives could be restored.

This is a song we sang this morning, and it is so fitting!
Overwhelming Neverending Reckless Love of God

Verses for Today:
Romans 5:1-6 (NIV)
Peace and Hope
5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

Lord – I give thanks that you choose me and provided a way of reconciliation.

 

Sharing Beyond Books #408 Comment Giveaway November 14, 2020

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

Q#407: Do you think your reading tastes have changed in the last 5 years or are you still reading the same genres/sub-genres??
Six commenters say their reading hasn't change and seven of us had maybe some shift.
The last time this question was asked was SBB#198 on 4/11/2015 if you want to check answers then.

The Winner from SBB #407 comments is #10 ALINA 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 do have some books set aside to add to ARC list but I forgot to take a picture. I hope to get it up for next week.

Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #408

(One Question.)

BN100 asks: What word/phrase do you hate hearing??

I know I don't like foul, dirty words, or explicit and base sexual descriptions. I also don't care for immature, selfish characters.
It took me a few minutes to think of phrases I don't like such as: ending a sentence with a preposition, ie. where's she at? and improper use of "I seen". And I'm not too thrilled with the phrase "the new normal". The word "hate" is one I don't use so maybe I don't like hearing that either.

Image found at DA's Ephemera and Etceteras

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.

Your turn to share. BN100 asks: What word/phrase do you hate hearing??

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 28, 2020, at 5 PM central.

Audible Book Review: The Heavens May Fall by Allen Eskens

I really like the legal procedural parts of this criminal mystery.

The Heavens May Fall
Written by: Allen Eskens
Narrated by: R. C. Bray , David Colacci , Amy McFadden

Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
Release date 10-04-2016
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Legal Thriller, Mystery, Police Procedure
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Detective Max Rupert's and attorney Boady Sanden's friendship is being pushed to the breaking point. Max is convinced that Jennavieve Pruitt was killed by her husband, Ben. Boady is equally convinced that Ben, his client, is innocent. As the case unfolds, the two are forced to confront their own personal demons.
Max is still struggling with the death of his wife four years earlier, and the Pruitt case stirs up old memories. Boady hasn't taken on a defense case since the death of an innocent client, a man Boady believes he could have saved but didn't. Now he is back in court, with student Lila Nash at his side, and he's determined to redeem himself for having failed in the past.
Vividly told from two opposing perspectives, the truth about the stunning death of Jennavieve Pruitt remains a mystery until the very end.
©2016 Allen Eskens (P)2016 Tantor

Review:
Detective Max Rupert lost his wife, Jenni, to a hit and run car accident four years ago. He has struggled with the fact that they never found the culprit, the case took no priority for the department and was set aside with other “cold” cases. Others in his life, including retired attorney Boady Sanden, have helped pull Max from his annual drunken visits to his wife’s grave.

This year, on the anniversary date, Max is called out to investigate the death of a woman abandoned naked in a parking lot. The woman is Jennavieve Pruitt the wife of prominent attorney criminal defense attorney Ben Pruitt. As details unravel, Max becomes convinced that the husband is guilty even though the evidence is circumstantial. His gathering of facts may be slightly muddled by reason of getting an anonymous note that his wife’s death was not an accident. Did he become too distracted and obsessed by pursuing the new leads on his wife’s case to properly evaluate all the details of the Pruitt death?

Meanwhile, Max’s friend, Boady, agrees to take on the defense of Pruitt who is the attorney who took over Boady’s law practice when he retired due to stress. Boady doesn’t want to see another innocent man go to prison and he doesn’t think Pruitt could have killed his wife. There may have been motive, but others had just as much motive. And Pruitt’s alibi is weak but not unproven. All Boady has to do is establish “reasonable doubt”. The problem is, part of winning the case for Pruitt means shredding Max’s testimony during the trial. But Boady is a believer of the old Latin legal axiom: “Fiat justitia ruat cælum”, meaning "Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”

A surprise during trial testimony makes it clear that the case is more complicated than either side realized. Will the final result be truth or twisted justice?

The story is told from the two perspectives: Max as the police investigator and Boady as the defense lawyer. The reader/listener gets to follow the side-tracking thoughts for each character as they contribute to the current factual situation. I am a civil attorney who does not practice criminal law, nor handle jury trials (only civil bench trials). Still, I find the factual presentation and legal tactical skills fascinating. I did not realize that The Life We Bury was a related, earlier book which I am glad I also have on audio. I recommend The Heavens May Fall to readers who enjoy a solid criminal mystery with legal procedure.

Audio Notes: I have to admit that hearing R. C. Bray’s voice begin the story pulled me right in. David Colacci and Amy McFadden also added to the production making it an easy, quick listen. I will be glad to listen to more from these narrators.

Source: April 2017 Audible Daily Deal $3.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR, 2020Audiobook and 2020 Fall Season goals.