MBS December 2020 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2020 Reading List - DECEMBER

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 2020
Favorites for the month:
5 Stars = None
4.75 Stars = None
4.5 Stars =  Yang Warriors

1. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien; Genre: Children’s Folk Tales, Fairy Tale Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
2. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Jingle Bell Pop by John Seabrook; Genre: Christmas, Music, Nonfiction; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
3. ATBR- Audio Book Review: An Angel for Christmas by Heather Graham; Genre: Christmas, Mystery, Romance; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
4. NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: Survive the Fall (EMP: Return of the Wild West Book 1) by Grace Hamilton; Genre: Post Apocalyptic, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
5. NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: Yang Warriors by Kao Kalia Yang Genre: Children, Immigration, Refugee; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.
6. NG2020- #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Megge of Bury Down by Rebecca Kightlinger; Genre: Coming of Age, Historical Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
7. ebTBR- Book Review: Cold Feet: A Short Story for Christmas (Hand-Me-Downs Book 2) by Meggan Haller; Genre: Christmas, Young Adult, Short Story; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.
8. ATBR- Audio Book Review: Pupcakes: A Christmas Novel by Annie England Noblin; Genre: Animals, Women's Divorce, Romance; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 3.75.
9. ebTBR- Book Review: Thomas & the Christmas Orange: Storybook Advent Calendar Singles by Lewis Brech; Genre: Children, Christmas, Classic; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0.
10. ebTBR- Book Review: Book Review: Message in a Bauble (Big Honey Dog Mysteries #3) by H.Y. Hanna; Genre: Children, Christmas, Dogs, Mystery; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.
11. ATBR- Audible Book Review: You're Next by Gregg Hurwitz; Genre: Crime thriller, Suspense; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
12. ebTBR- Book Review: Miss Kane's Christmas by Caroline Mickelson; Genre: Christmas, Holiday Romance, Romantic Comedy; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
13. ATBR- Audio Book Review: Snowbound at Christmas by Jennifer Ryan, Maisey Yates, Lia Riley; Genre: Christmas, Holiday Romance; My Rating: 3.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.25; Narration 3.25.
14. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Solitude by Dean M. Cole; Genre: Alternative History, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.
15. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Murder on New Year's Eve (A Ridgeway Rescue Mystery Book 1) by P. Creeden; Genre: Cozy, Animal, Mystery; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 3.75.

Total read = 15; TBR = 12; New to Me Authors = 13
Audio/Audible = 9 (8 TBRs)
eBook = 4 (4 TBR)
NetGalley = 3 (0 TBR)
Review books (other than NG) = 0
Print = 0 (0 TBR)
• Series: 7
• New to me Series: 7 (2 very likely to continue)
• Continuing for me Series: 0
• Finished for me Series: 0

See MBS 2020 Reading Summary and Top Picks for Goal Completion.

Audible Book Review: Murder on New Year's Eve, A Ridgeway Rescue Mystery, Book 1, by P. Creedan

The mystery is fine but the character seems like a teen.
Murder on New Year's Eve
A Ridgeway Rescue Mystery, Book 1
By: P. Creeden
Narrated by: Shaniese Reyes

Length: 1 hr and 11 mins
Release date: 08-15-19
Publisher: Pauline Creeden
Genre: Cozy, Animal, Mystery
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 3.75.

Publisher's Summary
Ridgeway Rescue Mysteries can be enjoyed in one to two hours. Perfect for when you're waiting for an appointment or just want a fast listen. Don't miss out on this quick, clean, cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until the end!
It's New Year’s Eve, and 20-year-old Emma Wright has a date with her crush - well, not a real date, but she can dream! Colby Davidson, the K9 search and rescue deputy, is allowing her to accompany him while he’s on patrol at the Ridgeway Illumination Festival. Though they are just friends, she’s still hoping for a possible kiss at the end of the festivities.
When a stranger asks them to help take some pictures at the event, Emma and Colby are happy to oblige. But their assistance turns them into alibis for the man’s whereabouts while his girlfriend was killed. Most of the clues point to a robbery gone bad, but Emma doesn’t believe all of them point that way. Was it really a robbery, or was it murder?
©2018 Pauline Creeden (P)2019 Pauline Creeden

Review:
Emma, a twenty-something, is the daughter of the local Sheriff and has a crush on the K9 search and rescue deputy, Colby. Colby has a well-trained K9 Shepherd, Gabby, while Emma is struggling to train her new foster dog, Molly, an exuberant Saint Bernard puppy.

Colby has agreed to have Emma accompany him on the New Year’s Eve patrol at the Ridgeway Illumination Festival and she is hoping for a kiss. As the lighting event proceeds the lights will spell out Happy New Year. A stranger steps up and asks that Colby and Emma take his picture with the lights. Before the last lights are lit, Emma’s father arrives to question the man about the death of his girlfriend. As alibi witnesses, Emma and Colby join the Sheriff and the suspect as the crime scene is investigated. Initially the clues indicate a robbery gone bad but Emma spots details that challenge that theory.

I did enjoy the mystery even though I struggled with Emma’s character. She is sweet and very observant, but her crush is expressed much more like a teen than a twenty-year-old. The story writing also seemed a juvenile style. Still, this is an easy, quick listen with a fun mystery to enjoy especially on New Year’s Eve.

Audio Notes: Shaniese Reyes is a new narrator for me. Her young voice certainly fit the story which she delivers more as a read rather than giving unique voices to the characters. This contributed to the ‘young’ sound of the book.

Source: Sale at Audible November 2019 $5.99. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Solitude by Dean M. Cole

This is a little cheesy but I enjoyed it.

Solitude
Dimension Space, Book One
By: Dean M. Cole
Narrated by: R.C. Bray, Julia Whelan

Series: Dimension Space, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins
Release date: 04-03-17
Language: English
Publisher: Blue Heron Audio
Genre: Alternative History, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

From the Bestselling Author of the Sector 64 Series!

I Am Legend meets Gravity and The Martian when Earth's last man discovers that the last woman is stranded alone aboard the International Space Station. If you like action-packed, page-turning novels, you'll love the electrifying action in this apocalyptic thriller.
Can Humanity's Last Two Unite?
Separated by the gulf of space, the last man and woman of the human race struggle against astronomical odds to survive and unite.
Army Aviator Vaughn Singleton is a highly intelligent, lazy man. After a last-ditch effort to reignite his failing military career ends horribly, Vaughn becomes the only human left on Earth.
Stranded alone on the International Space Station, Commander Angela Brown watches an odd wave of light sweep across the planet. Over the next weeks and then months, Angela struggles to contact someone on the surface, but as she fights to survive aboard a deteriorating space station, the commander glimpses the dark underpinnings of humanity's demise.
After months alone, Vaughn discovers there is another. Racing against time, he must cross a land ravaged by the consequences of humankind's sudden departure.
Can Vaughn find a path to space and back? Can Angela—the only person with clues to the mystery behind humanity's disappearance—survive until he does?

Review:
Army Aviator Vaughn Singleton may be highly intelligent, but he is a slacker, a heavy drinker and some would call him a “loser”. But his best friend, Mark, sees more in Vaughn and encourages him to work harder and do better. They are in a testing flight when a strange phenomenon makes all the people and living creatures on earth disappear. As they struggle to determine what happened Mark is killed in an accident leaving Vaughn the only living being on earth.

Commander Angela Brown has had to remain behind after sending off the last of her space station team. She thought the others were heading to safety but soon realizes that she is the sole survivor stranded in space. As she orbits earth she begins to suspect where the devastating beam originated. But she can’t do anything about it as the space station deteriorates and her supplies run out.

After two months Vaughn finally realizes that the mission director had left an urgent directive. Now he has to race against time to rescue Angela from space. He rushes along, botching several chances and resources. Fortunately, both Vaughn and Angela have the ability to cobble together “MacGyver” like fixes. Now the question is can Vaughn actually get to Angela in time to save her?

Vaughn is not a particularly likeable character which makes the story a little awkward. Angela has a few quirks too but mostly I found those cute. Vaughn’s mess ups are frustrating and cheesy while Angela’s fixes are timely and also a bit cheesy, especially with mice living in her hair! Cole rotates scenes between the characters which added to the interest. The story moved very quickly, and I enjoyed the humor, the suspense and the bumpy ride. I recommend this as entertaining sci fi.

Audio Notes: R.C. Bray and Julia Whelan do a very fine job with the narration. They capture and convey the characters and the intensity of the situations. The narration enhanced the story for me.

Source: 4/9/19 Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Sunday Post January 3, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday January 4, 2021

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 last week of 2020 was a little bumpy in the office with Heather on vacation, one staff member out for tooth surgery and another out a day and a half for unexpected issues. It got quite by Wednesday and we wrapped the year with two closings on Thursday morning.
I feel like I would like another day home but I;ll be heading back in on Monday morning.

Hubby made me nice meals for the days off including ham, omelet, strawberry & blueberry pancakes (on the griddle), ham and eggs breakfast and ham and bean soup.

I guess I have to find a way to make a montage. This was a practice at Smilebox.
Does anyone have a program they like for photos? The ones I used to use are no longer available.

The first two days of 2021 have been wet and there will be rain again later in the week.
Temps this coming week are to run 35 to 65. Good sweater and jacket weather for us. 

Again -WISHING YOU A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR as we move forward!!

I finished three audiobooks last week. (I only have one hour left on my First Book 2021 so I am counting that as done as I will listen to it tonight.)  I have three books in progress, which went on hold for First Book 2021. I posted four reviews, my usual memes and First Book.
I am setting up my new goals - total on Goodreads challenge to be 124.

I visited 18 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to Sunny Buzzy Books. Nicci describes herself as "Wife, mum, cat lady, and unrepentant ebook hoarder. Project Manager by day and blogger by night!"

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 December 27, 2020/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday December 28, 2020.

• ebTBR- Book Review: Book Review: Message in a Bauble (Big Honey Dog Mysteries #3) by H.Y. Hanna; Genre: Children, Christmas, Dogs, Mystery; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: You're Next by Gregg Hurwitz; Genre: Crime thriller, Suspense; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• First Book of the year 2021 - The Harbinger II: The Return by Jonathan Cahn.

• ebTBR- Book Review: Miss Kane's Christmas by Caroline Mickelson; Genre: Christmas, Holiday Romance, Romantic Comedy; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 1, 2021- Posted Janaury 2, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 1/7/2021.

• ATBR- Audio Book Review: Snowbound at Christmas by Jennifer Ryan, Maisey Yates, Lia Riley; Genre: Christmas, Holiday Romance; My Rating: 3.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.25; Narration 3.25.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement January 3, 2021.

Finished Reading:
1. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Solitude
Dimension Space, Book One
By: Dean M. Cole
Narrated by: R.C. Bray, Julia Whelan
Series: Dimension Space, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins

This is a little cheesy but I enjoyed it.
Source: 4/9/19 Audible Daily Deal $2.95.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Murder on New Year's Eve
A Ridgeway Rescue Mystery, Book 1
By: P. Creeden
Narrated by: Shaniese Reyes
Length: 1 hr and 11 mins
Release date: 08-15-19
The mystery is fine but the character seems like a teen.
Source: Sale at Audible November 2019 $5.99.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)
First Book 2021!

The Harbinger II
The Return
By: Jonathan Cahn
Narrated by: Lawrence Richardson
Series: The Harbinger, Book 2
Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins 

This zipped by and is fascinating!
Source: Audible August 2020 credit and print purchase.
Publisher's Summary
Are the unprecedented crises of our times the signs and warnings of coming judgment? Does an ancient mystery hold the secret to the events of our times and the future of America and the world? Is this mystery even behind the shakings that have now overtaken the world and America? How much time do we have left?
In 2012, Jonathan Cahn caused a worldwide sensation with the release of his first book, and massive best seller, The Harbinger. It was hailed as "stunning", "prophetic", "mind-blowing", and "astonishing". Cahn followed it with best seller after best seller, but he has always held off on writing a sequel. But now, for the first time, Cahn opens up what could not be unlocked before - the mysteries that couldn’t be revealed until the present time, the manifestations that have taken place since The Harbinger came out and up to the present hour, and the mysteries of what is yet to come.
Ever since The Harbinger was released, people have been asking:
Is an ancient mystery determining America’s future?
Have the harbingers of judgment continued to manifest on American soil?
Is America closer now than ever before to judgment, and what lies ahead for America and the world?
©2020 Jonathan Cahn (P)2020 Charisma House

Currently Reading:

1. Paperback/TBR

Coming Home for Christmas
(Haven Point #10)
by RaeAnne Thayne
I am two thirds in this sweet romance/second chance story.
Source: Won from Bookfan in 2019.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Paperback/TBR

A Stockingful of Joy
by Mary Jo Putney, Jill Barnett, Justine Dare, Susan King
I loved the first story by Susan King. I look forward to reading more after finishing First Book.
Source: My own print TBR stack and author collected books (Putney and Barnett).
Now readers can enjoy the magical spirit of Christmas with this romantic quartet of stories filled with all the hope and joy of the holiday season.

3. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

World Made by Hand: The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 1
By: James Howard Kunstler
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen
This is a post-apocalyptic dystopian series.
Source: Audible Plus Catalog December 2020.
Publisher's Summary
In The Long Emergency, celebrated social commentator James Howard Kunstler explored how the terminal decline of oil production combined with climate change had the potential to put industrial civilization out of business. In World Made by Hand, an astonishing work of speculative fiction, Kunstler brings to life what America might be, a few decades hence, after these catastrophes converge.
The electricity has flickered out. The automobile age is over. In Union Grove, a little town in upstate New York, the future is nothing like people thought it would be. Life is hard and close to the bone. Transportation is slow and dangerous, so food is grown locally at great expense of time and energy, and the outside world is largely unknown. There may be a president, and he may be in Minneapolis now, but people aren’t sure. The townspeople’s challenges play out in a dazzling, fully realized world of abandoned highways and empty houses, horses working the fields and rivers, no longer polluted, and replenished with fish.
This is the story of Robert Earle and his fellow townspeople and what happens to them one summer in a country that has changed profoundly. A powerful tale of love, loss, violence, and desperation, World Made by Hand is also lyrical and tender, a surprising story of a new America struggling to be born - a story more relevant now than ever.
©2008 James Howard Kunstler (P)2010 Blackstone Audiobooks

January 3, 2021 - I have started the Bible again through You Version App and I was happy to found the NLT Tyndale version so Hubby and I will be reading the same.
I am starting a four day study: New Year: Living With Purpose.

I completed four books, posted four reviews and I continue to be up to date.
NetGalley shelf total is 17.  
Two author titles in 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.

I got two more audios through Audible two for one credit sale and I bought one Chirp title. 

I also got one free audio at Christianaudio.com 

I listed four books in a series I failed to include last week.
One free Kindle title 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

12/31/2020 Chirp $3.99

Mysterious Abduction
Written by Rita Herron
Narrated by Steve Campbell



12/31/2020 Audible Two for One Credit Sale

Battleground
Unification Wars Trilogy, Book 1
By: Joshua Dalzelle
Narrated by: Mark Boyett
Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
Release date: 04-14-20

Unprepared
The Scourge, Book 1
By: Tom Abrahams
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
Release date: 04-26-20

Free

12/31/2020 Free download at Christianaudio.com.

Christmas Playlist

I forgot to post these from two weeks ago.
12/21/2020 Audible Plus Catalog - a post apocalyptic series.

World Made by Hand: The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 1
By: James Howard Kunstler
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

The Witch of Hebron: A World Made by Hand Novel, Book 2
By: James Howard Kunstler
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

A History of the Future: A World Made by Hand Novel, Book 3
By: James Howard Kunstler
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

The Harrows of Spring: The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 4
By: James Howard Kunstler
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen



12/29/2020 Free at Kindle

Left To Die (An Adele Sharp Mystery—Book One)
by Blake Pierce
(seen at Book Reviews by Linda Moore)


One free Kindle title 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 January 3, 2021

We attended service online again this morning Pastor encouraged us to find ways to praise God and bring glory to Christ even through the struggles of 2020. He asked “Can we find a thing in 2020 where God touched our lives?”

He titled today’s message: “Moving On from 2020”. The pandemic is already following us into 2021 but we want to move on. What are we moving on to?

When we face a storm, we seek shelter. Often, we find God right there, just waiting for us to reach for Him.

The scripture for today’s message is the familiar message of Noah found in Genesis chapters 7 and 8.

Noah and his family were trying to stay safe – by obeying God. Genesis 7:5. They suffered the ridicule of neighbors and then they had to suffer through 40 days and nights of storming rains and 150 days of flooding. When the waters receded, they found themselves stuck in one place. They didn’t know how plants would return, how food would come, when they would get back to land. They may have been sitting on the boat saying: “This is unprecedented, it has never happened before.”

But ‘God remembered Noah’. Genesis 8:1. (Which may sound strange since there were 57 square miles of land on the earth… and one boat.) But the important thing to realize is that God didn’t forget Noah and He hasn’t forgotten you. He is working for you wherever you are. Finally, God said to come out of the ark. Genesis 8:16.

Noah’s first act was to worship God. What else? He brought a sacrifice. Genesis 8:20. The sacrifice wasn’t out of abundance but out of scarcity.

What will we do, change, sacrifice, or give as you move on to what’s next?
Is our first act after 2020 to worship? Does our expectation or acknowledgment of death change us? Has it changed how we live and changed our approach to others? Are we rushing to tell others? Make the change tangible, real, and recognizable.

What Are We Moving On To?
Will it be different?
Will it be more effective for Christ?

We shared in Communion, remembering Jesus and His sacrifice.

I found this song to fit today’s message:

Verses for Today:
Genesis 7:5, 7:24, 8:1 (NIV)
7:5 And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.
7:24 The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.
8:1 But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.

I am conscience that I want to personally focus on sharing God's love...and praying that others will see the need for God's righteousness and grace.

My verses for the New Year - two favorites:
Micah 6:8 and 2 Chronicles 7:14