I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
The first week of 2021 was not so pleasant for America. I pray that the rhetoric on both sides would calm and allow for dialogue and steps toward unity. Sadly, I don't see that happening anytime soon.My Christmas gift (to myself) was the repairs of these items. My wedding and engagement ring needed prongs fixed so I wouldn't lose the aquamarine again. The marcacite ring needed a new gem. Although darker than the pastel stones, the garnet was selected as it is the only one we found with the right size to fit. Plus it is my birthstone. The bracelet was made from a necklace that had broken.
Meanwhile, my first week in the office was also tense as Heather was out with a foot infection. I had to step in to cover the closings and fundings. Other staff members pitched in and we got everything done. I should have worked on legal work Saturday but I took the day off to read and do computer things. There is always next week to jump back into the files.
For those that didn't realize it, my Hubby is, and has always been, our primary cook. God brought us together because He knew I would need someone to cook for me. :-) Due to his health he doesn't cook quite as much lately and it was a treat to have more homemade breakfasts during the holidays since that is my favorite meal.
Thanks for mentioning the photo programs. I tried Pixlr this week and that was easy.
We had several cold - stay inside - days this week.
Temps this coming week are to run a little colder 31 to 61.
I visited 20 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to Bob on Books. The link goes to Bob on Books 2021 Book Challenge that is calling to me.
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:
- 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.
- ATBR- Audible Book Review: Murder on New Year's Eve, A Ridgeway Rescue Mystery, Book 1, by P. Creedan; Genre: Cozy, Animal, Mystery; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 3.75.
- Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 8, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 1/14/2021.
- Sharing Beyond Books #412 Comment Giveaway January 9, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 1/23/2021.
Coming Home for Christmas
(Haven Point #10)
by RaeAnne Thayne
This is a nice, sweet romance/second chance story.
Source: Won from Bookfan in 2019.
Click on book title for full description.
2. 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 the first book in a character driven post-apocalyptic dystopian series.
Source: Audible Plus Catalog December 2020.
Click on book title for full description.
Currently Reading:
A Stockingful of Joy
by Mary Jo Putney, Jill Barnett, Justine Dare, Susan King
I have really enjoyed the first two stories.
Now on to the next two.
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.
The Salvage Crew
by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne
Narrated by Nathan Fillion
Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
Release date: 10-27-20
I love the voice of the narrator. And I'm enjoying the story too.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Publisher's Summary
Award-winning actor Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Castle, The Rookie) brings to life a snarky artificial intelligence you won't soon forget. Don't miss his hilarious performance in a story perfectly crafted for sci-fi fans of The Martian, Red Dwarf, and We Are Legion (We Are Bob).
They thought this was just another salvage job. They thought wrong.
An AI overseer and a human crew arrive on a distant planet to salvage an ancient UN starship. The overseer is unhappy. The crew, well, they're certainly no A-team. Not even a C-team on the best of days. And worse? Urmahon Beta, the planet, is at the ass-end of nowhere. Everybody expects this to be a long, ugly, and thankless job.
Then it all goes disastrously wrong. What they thought was an uninhabited backwater turns out to be anything but empty. Megafauna roam the land, a rival crew with some terrifyingly high-powered gear haunts the dig site, and a secret that will change humanity forever is waiting in the darkness. Stuck on this unmapped, hostile planet, lacking resources, and with tech built by the cheapest bidder, the salvage crew must engineer their way to payday...and beat Urmahon Beta before it kills them all.
©2020 Yudhanjaya Wijeratne (P)2020 Podium Audio
The Pugly Duckling
by Carla Siravo
I absolutely could not resist this cover!
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Jean and Joe Duck were oh-so-surprised, When their duckling hatched, not quite the right size, With a curly-swirly tail and hairy-scary paws, And furry fat rolls and sharp beast claws. They loved their son, though he was ugly, Not quite a duckling, and a little bit pugly.
January 10, 2021 - It is interesting how familiar and how new the Word is as I begin my 6th year in a row. I am reading/listening the NLT Tyndale version of the Bible on You Version App so Hubby and I are reading the same passages each day.
I didn't start last week so this week I will start the four day study: New Year: Living With Purpose.
I completed two books and posted two reviews. I have the first book plus two new reviews for this week.
NetGalley shelf is: 15.
Three author titles in queue as I accepted a new one this week.
(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.
I received one new Audible audiobook for review.
I picked up four audio deals at Chirp.
(Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.)
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?
1/8/2020 Author Audible Code
Mirror Pond Cozy Mysteries, Book 1
By: Minnie Crockwell
Narrated by: Michelle Babb
Length: 5 hrs
Release date: 12-22-20
I found these at Chirp at prices I couldn't resist; Total: $6.86.
Legacy Rejected $.89
Written by Robin Patchen
Narrated by Becky Doughty
Legacy Restored $1.99
Written by Robin Patchen
Narrated by Becky Doughty
Christmas in Three Rivers $.99
Written by Liz Isaacson
Narrated by Becky Doughty
Dachshund Through the Snow $2.99
Written by David Rosenfelt
Narrated by Grover Gardner
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.