#NetGalley Book Review: The Pugly Duckling by Carla Siravo

This is very cute but has a major flaw.

The Pugly Duckling
by Carla Siravo
P. Santiago (Illustrator)

Publisher : Indigo River Pub (December 8, 2020)
Paperback : 36 pages
ISBN-13 : 978-1950906802
Reading age : 5 - 6 years
Genre: Animals, Children
My Rating: 3.25 of 5.0

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.

Review:
Jean and Joe Duck really want a child. They are thrilled when they finally have an egg to care for, even if it is a "ugly-wugly". And they are thrilled too when the egg hatches and produces their own pugly child. The problems come when the adorable pug tries to pretend to the other ducks that he is one of them. They are ready to accept him if he would stop pretending to be something he is not.

The story is a bit of a twist on the classic Ugly Duckling story. It is very cute and has wonderful rhyming that kids would surely like. I think the illustrations are adorable, like the cover. The story has a good message about being yourself and allowing others to accept you for the real you.

It was hard to give this only a 3.25 rating but I didn't feel right rounding up to 4.0. I wasn't thrilled with the repeated 'ugly" descriptions for the pug as that might give children the idea it is okay to call others "ugly" instead of finding kinder word choices. But the big flaw for me was that dogs don’t come from eggs. An adult understands this but it would have to be explained to children and, for me, that lessens the effectiveness of the story and message. Dressing up in a cute duck costume and trying to fit in with the ducks can be explained. But I think each parent/teacher who might share this book would have to think how they would address the egg issue.

Source: 2020 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021NetGalley and 2021Alphabet goals.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 22, 2021

Happy Friday!  This month is flying by too fast.

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 January 15, 2021 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 January 15, 2021 Pick:
RITA gets The Abducted Heiress
AND
NATALIJA 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.}

I would love to fill this bookshelf, wouldn't you?
Image found at GoodHousekeeping.com.

New Book Groups #92 and #93 November 13, 2020.
#92 (15 books):

The Promise by TJ Bennett
A Most Unsuitable Man by Jo Beverley
Alaskan Renegade by Kate Bridges
Killing Floor by Lee Child
The Tender Stranger by Carolyn Davidson
Her Wedding Wish by Jillian Hart
Heart's Desire by Ruth Ryan Hagan
Snowflakes on the Sea by Linda Lael Miller
Murder in Plain Sight by Marta Perry
One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney
The Deputy's Duty by Terri Reed
No Ordinary Man by Suzanne Simmons
The Scot by Lyn Stone
The Abducted Heiress by Claire Thornton
Summer by the Sea by Susan Wiggs

Box #93 (14 books)

Three Complete Novels by Sandra Brown (Best Kept Secrets, Mirror Image, and Slow Heat to Heaven)
Select Editions Four Novels: Safe Harbor, The Analyst, Fallen Angel and Open Season
Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwyn Cready
There's Only Been You by Donna Marie Rogers (personally signed)
The Celtic Riddle by Lyn Hamilton
For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper
The Irish Bride by Alexa Harrington
The Best Man by Kristan Higgins
Castles in the Mist by Jose Litton
When We Met by Susan Mallery
Thief of Hearts by Teresa Medeiros
Anne of Green Gables by Montgomery
Familiar Stranger by Sharon Sala
All of Me by Lori Wilde

New Book Group #91 October 2, 2020 - Suspense themed

SINGLES: Ten books in this box:
Senseless by Mary Burton
Indefensible by Pamela Callow
Fight or Flight by Natalie J. Damschroder
Final Appeal by Joanne Fluke
The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman
The Sinister Pig by Tony Hillerman Audiobook


PICK TWO  your choice (listed below the picture) Nora Roberts:

Born in Fire Audiobook Cassettes
Montana Sky
A Little Magic (Sorry - I initially listed this as Dark Magic)
Valley of Silence
Inner Harbor and
Chesapeake Blue


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 Lady 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

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:
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

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 TEN years I have posted 91 groups of 16 books plus an additional 21 totaling 1,477 books available to find new homes! (As of November 6, 2020).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,349+ 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: Break Shot: My First 21 Years, An Audio Memoir, by James Taylor

I was surprised by this history of James Taylor's early years.
Break Shot: My First 21 Years
An Audio Memoir
By: James Taylor
Narrated by: James Taylor

Length: 1 hr and 33 mins
Release date: 01-31-20
Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Arts & Entertainment, Memoir, Music
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

About This Audible Original
"I’m James Taylor and I’m a professional autobiographer," says the celebrated folk singer at the start of this tender audio memoir. Through decades of music by one of the best-selling musicians of all time, who created classics like "Fire and Rain" and "Carolina in My Mind," James Taylor has doled out his history in the poetry of his work. Taylor says his early life is, "the source of many of my songs," and Break Shot is a tour of his first 21 years in rich, new detail. Praised by Forbes magazine as going "beyond the spoken word," Break Shot combines storytelling, music and performance to create a one-of-a-kind listening experience. Longtime fans will savor a crop of musical gems, including an unreleased recording of the beloved hymn "Jerusalem," selections from his newest release American Standard, as well as new original scoring by Taylor specially recorded for Break Shot and more from the Grammy Award-winning artist.
Recorded in his home studio, TheBarn in western Massachusetts, Taylor tells the deeply personal story of his youth, which is entwined with the story of his family. What started as an idyllic tight unit soon became a family sent to different emotional corners—like a break shot in the game of pool, he says, when you slam the cue ball into the fifteen other balls and they all go flying off. By the time Taylor released his breakout second album in 1970, Sweet Baby James, he had seen the disintegration of his parents’ marriage and his family crumble in the aftermath. He had committed himself twice to a psychiatric hospital, battled depression, a heroin addiction, suffered a relapse, and traveled far away from the wood smoke and moonshine of the North Carolina landscapes in which he came of age. Despite it all, he was also on the cusp of superstardom and on his way to bringing light and joy to millions. He was 21.
Journey with James Taylor to a time before he became a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and both the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Arts—and a beloved voice to millions.
© 2019 James Taylor (P) 2020 AO Media LLC

Review:
James Taylor, born in 1948, is a renowned musician/songwriter who is only a few years older than me. I enjoy many of his songs when I was young, and still do today. I was totally surprised that this prolific songwriter suffered mental illness during his teen years. I enjoyed that he shared his family struggles openly and frankly. He acknowledged that he got involved with drugs early on and had to seek help more than once… all before the age of 21. Taylor thanked several friends and musicians who helped him begin his career, including a visit with the Beetles. He also explained how personal events and relationships contributed to the songs he was writing. It was interesting that Taylor reveals the humanity and fragility that provided inspiration for his music.

I agree that Fire and Rain is a ‘classic’ and I was pleased when the song was shared at the end of the book. This is a quick listen, narrated by the author which provided more authenticity. I did enjoy what was shared but I would have liked more lyrics in the piece. There were several sections of music without lyrics which were nice but not as meaningful for me. I recommend this to those of the era and to those who enjoy learning about the background of an American songwriter.

Source: 2/10/2020 Extra Free Audible Original. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook, and 2021Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: The Salvage Crew by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne

This went to an unusual, interesting conclusion.

The Salvage Crew
by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne
Narrated by Nathan Fillion

Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
Release date: 10-27-20
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Humorous Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

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

Review:
The AI Overseer began work with PCS, Planetary Crusade Services, as a human, becoming a super-soldier and then ultimately agreeing to become a ‘digitized’ human… or an AI. Now “OC” (as dubbed by the crew), has been promoted as an AI Overseer who is to lead a mission to salvage an ancient UN starship on a distant planet. The AI was promised an “A” team crew but ended up with three humans who seem to be barely capable.

Simon, the geologist, turns out to be good with weapons, although a bit gun happy. Anna is apparently Fake Anna and maybe an Army doctor. Milo is the inventor who is supposed to be able to shoot - but it turns out - not so much.

The shuttle from the ship misses the landing pad and ends up 50 miles away from the first salvage site. The crew begins to set up their base, but the work is soon interrupted by the discovery of a Megabeast who feeds on multilegged ‘dogs’. These creatures are only part of the problem the crew has to face as they are soon confronted by a crazy, dark, decaying metal humanoid.

The salvage assignment stretches out as the crew runs into one problem after another and even the ship has gone missing. Soon it is just a struggle for survival.

The story is told primarily by the snarky AI, a technique which I enjoy, especially with this fun character. There is plenty of action and, surprisingly, a bit of poetry as AI tends to make up verse and occasionally quote classics such as “Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death, Rode the six hundred”. The ending takes an unexpected twist which changes the nature of the story … but that can be fun in the ironic nature of sci fi. There is a good mix of suspense and humor which makes this an engaging story. I recommend this to sci fi fans who enjoy humor and an unexpected ending.

Audio Notes: I admit that I snagged this because of the narrator, Nathan Fillion, (Firefly, Castle, The Rookie). I think he captured the snarky character of the AI and delivered the other characters well too. I did have a few short times when the voice was almost too soft and I had to go back to relisten. Other than that, I totally enjoyed the audio experience and feel it enhanced the story for me.

Source: 2020 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021NetGalley, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet goals.

Sunday Post January 17, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday January 18, 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.

Things are still tense in my beloved country.  The censorship of conservative accounts and conservative platforms (Parler plus more) and calls to silence opposing voices is appalling and alarming to me as a lawyer, former journalist student and citizen.

Heather was back in office but our newest employee was out three days. We keep plugging away, but now we have another holiday this week.

I almost forgot to mention that Hubby and I got our first vaccinations on Wednesday. Our little community did a great job funneling multiple lines of cars through a large parking lot to six inoculation stations. Everyone remained in a field parking lot for at least 15 minutes afterwards for monitoring. Hubby had to stay 30 minutes because he is on blood thinners. People started lining up at 5:30 for the opening at 9am. I went over at 1pm and it took just an hour. Hubby went at 1:30 and his line was even faster. At 2pm they put out an open call for additional people not over 65 as they still had vaccines left. Hubby had a sore arm the next day but I had no reaction at all.

My Christmas cacti are a couple weeks behind. The big pot apparently has two different plants - one with white blooms and the other with pink. The little pot has pink buds.

We continue to have cold days and rainy ones several times a week. Looks like we get some warm up this week - 33 to 68. 

I enjoyed the four books I finished last week: two audios, one print and one child ebook. I posted three reviews and my usual memes.

I visited 18 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to Just Reading Jess. Jess is an engineer by day and, (like me), "always reading in my free time."

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 January 10, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday January 11, 2021.

• ATBR- Audible Review First Book 2021: The Harbinger II, The Return by Jonathan Cahn; Genre: Christian Prophesy, Inspirational; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.

• Print- Book Review: Coming Home for Christmas by RaeAnne Thayne; Genre: Christmas, Romance, Small Town My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 15, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 1/21/2021.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: World Made By Hand, Book 1, by James Howard Kunstler; Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi, Speculative Fiction; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement January 17, 2021.

Finished Reading:

1. Audio/Smartphone (NG2020)

The Salvage Crew
by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne
Narrated by Nathan Fillion
Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
Release date: 10-27-20
This went to an unusual conclusion - interesting.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Break Shot: My First 21 Years
An Audio Memoir
By: James Taylor
Narrated by: James Taylor
Length: 1 hr and 33 mins
Release date: 01-31-20
I was surprised by this history of James Taylor's early years.
Source: 2/10/2020 Extra Free Audible Original.
About This Audible Original
"I’m James Taylor and I’m a professional autobiographer," says the celebrated folk singer at the start of this tender audio memoir. Through decades of music by one of the best-selling musicians of all time, who created classics like "Fire and Rain" and "Carolina in My Mind," James Taylor has doled out his history in the poetry of his work. Taylor says his early life is, "the source of many of my songs," and Break Shot is a tour of his first 21 years in rich, new detail. Praised by Forbes magazine as going "beyond the spoken word," Break Shot combines storytelling, music and performance to create a one-of-a-kind listening experience. Longtime fans will savor a crop of musical gems, including an unreleased recording of the beloved hymn "Jerusalem," selections from his newest release American Standard, as well as new original scoring by Taylor specially recorded for Break Shot and more from the Grammy Award-winning artist.
Recorded in his home studio, TheBarn in western Massachusetts, Taylor tells the deeply personal story of his youth, which is entwined with the story of his family. What started as an idyllic tight unit soon became a family sent to different emotional corners—like a break shot in the game of pool, he says, when you slam the cue ball into the fifteen other balls and they all go flying off. By the time Taylor released his breakout second album in 1970, Sweet Baby James, he had seen the disintegration of his parents’ marriage and his family crumble in the aftermath. He had committed himself twice to a psychiatric hospital, battled depression, a heroin addiction, suffered a relapse, and traveled far away from the wood smoke and moonshine of the North Carolina landscapes in which he came of age. Despite it all, he was also on the cusp of superstardom and on his way to bringing light and joy to millions. He was 21.
Journey with James Taylor to a time before he became a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and both the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Arts—and a beloved voice to millions.
© 2019 James Taylor (P) 2020 AO Media LLC

3. eBook/Computer (NG2020)

The Pugly Duckling
by Carla Siravo
This is very cute but has a major flaw.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

4. Paperback/TBR

A Stockingful of Joy
by Mary Jo Putney, Jill Barnett, Justine Dare, Susan King
This reminds me why I like historical romance. I really enjoyed all four stories.
Source: My own print TBR stack and author collected books (Putney and Barnett).
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:

1. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Galaxy's Edge
By: Jason Anspach, Nick Cole
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Length: 17 hrs and 22 mins
Release date: 02-20-18
I sometimes wonder why I enjoy sci fi military... but I do. I finished the first story and now on to the second.
Source: 3/8/2020 Two For One Credit Sale at Audible.
Publisher's Summary
Galaxy's Edge contains Legionnaire through to the end of Galactic Outlaws.
On the edge of the galaxy, a diplomatic mission to an alien planet takes a turn when the Legionnaires, an elite special fighting force, find themselves ambushed and stranded behind enemy lines. They struggle to survive under siege, waiting on a rescue that might never come.
In the seedy starport of Ackabar, a young girl searches the crime-ridden gutters to avenge her father's murder; not far away, a double-dealing legionniare-turned-smuggler hunts an epic payday; and somewhere along the outer galaxy, a mysterious bounty hunter lies in wait.
Galaxy's Edge combines sleek starfighters, exotic aliens, loyal bots, blasters, scoundrels, heroes, and powerful enemies in a thrilling adventure that will take you back to that magic place from a long time ago.
©2017 Nick Cole; 2018 Podium Publishing; 2017 Jason Anspach (P)2018 Podium Publishing.

2. eBook/Computer (NG2020)

Came A Horseman, A Hard Ride In A Fierce World
by Paul McHugh
The protagonist in this Dystopian is combative and that got the story off a little rough for me. I'm interested to see where it goes.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Ten years after Earth's electronics were fried by an immense solar flare, most human technology has turned useless and civilization has begun to fail. But one thriving pocket is a valley on California's coast, where farmers in a religious cult dwell. A tribe of local hunters protect them. But this arrangement gets upended when a young refugee, Kyle Skander, wrecks his kayak there as he seeks to paddle north to Arcata. Kyle finds himself accused of murdering a young woman from the commune. To win freedom, he must find the real killer. His combative personality and a background in logic and philosophy helps Kyle make headway at this task. His investigation begins to uncover the valley's deepest secrets. Then, buried rivalries erupt into a battle that alters forever this enclave's fate.
"Came A Horseman" re-imagines the Western as a post-apocalyptic adventure, with a murder mystery at the heart of its plot.

3. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Death at the Gazebo
Mirror Pond Cozy Mysteries, Book 1
By: Minnie Crockwell
Narrated by: Michelle Babb
Length: 5 hrs
Release date: 12-22-20
This looks like a fun listen.
Source: 1/8/2020 Author Audible Code
Publisher's Summary
First in a new cozy mystery series from Minnie Crockwell.
Settling into her new condominium on Mirror Pond, novelist Sallie Chilcoat feels lost in Ashburn, Virginia, after moving to the state for love of a man. But with the end of that relationship, she finds herself at loose ends. She stares out the window at the pond and contemplates learning to kayak...or taking up painting...or climbing Mount Everest.
Movement in the overwater gazebo catches her eye, and she grabs up her people-watching binoculars to see a man sitting inside the gazebo playing an accordion. Curious about the musician who plays such a rare instrument, Sallie trots down to the pier to investigate.
The term “investigate” takes on a whole new meaning when Sallie reaches the gazebo to discover not a happy musician, but a dead body and a missing accordion. Forget Mount Everest! Sallie finds herself immersed in the mystery of the death at the gazebo.
©2019 Minnie Crockwell (P)2020 Minnie Crockwell

January 17, 2021 - I have been enjoying reading/listening to the Bible passages every morning.   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 enjoyed my first 2021 study: New Year: Living With Purpose.

I completed four books and posted three reviews. I'm up to date with four reviews to post this week.
NetGalley shelf is: 14.  (I peeked today and was so tempted but resisting for now.)
Three author titles in queue as I accepted a new graphic title and am listening to the author audio.
(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 received one new graphic novel for review.
I picked up five free plus catalog Audible titles.
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

1/11/2020 Received from Turner Publishing Marketing:

200
by Jennifer Brody, Jules Rivera (Illustrator)
A graphic Sci Fi to be released 2/16/21.

Won

NONE

Purchased

NONE

Free

I added five new Plus Catalog Audibles to my library:

Crisis Shot: The Line of Duty, Book 1
By: Janice Cantore
Narrated by: Alice Anne English
Series: The Line of Duty, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins

Q&A
By: Ben H. Winters
Narrated by: John Zdrojeski, Robert Creighton, Jay Snyder, Nicole Lewis, Kathryn Kates, Michael Braun, Elizabeth Evans, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Justis Bolding
Length: 2hrs and 8 mins

Home Shopped Holiday
By: John Burd, Kelly Goodner, Thommy Hutson
Narrated by: Ron Butler, LJ Ganser, Brina Palencia, Chris Kipiniak, Mia Jenness, Ann Osmond, Therese Plummer, Lauren Fortgang, Brittany Pressley, Suzanne Toren, Allison Hiroto, Ali Ahn
Length: 1 hr and 51 mins

Mountain Man
By: Keith C. Blackmore
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Series: Mountain Man, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins

Safari
Mountain Man, Book 2
By: Keith C. Blackmore
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Series: Mountain Man, Book 2
Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins


No 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.