Audible Book Review: Penny Preston and the Raven's Talisman by Armen Pogharian

This is a fun story good for MG and adults who enjoy a lighter, magical adventure.
Penny Preston and the Raven's Talisman
Misaligned, Book I
By: Armen Pogharian
Narrated by: Michelle Babb

Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
Release date: 04-21-21
Publisher: CamCat Publishing, LLC
Genre: Fantasy, Teen and YA
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
When shadow-monsters attack in the cafeteria, eighth grader Penny Preston panics, starts a food fight, and unknowingly creates a trans-dimensional rift. Summoned to the counselor’s office, she expects suspension, but instead discovers that she is misaligned and exists in more than three dimensions. Unless she immediately begins training to learn to handle her powerful abilities, she risks losing her sanity.
She agrees to secretly train with her counselor and his friend Master Poe, an exile from the seventh dimension trapped in a raven’s body, to keep her hometown, Piper Falls, safe from higher-dimensional beings seeking to gain god-like powers in our dimension.
Together with Simon, her telepathic multidimensional cat, Penny struggles to save her relationship with her best friend, protect her universe, and uncover her connection to Arthurian myth.
©2020 Armen Pogharian (P)2021 CamCat Publishing.

Review:
Penny is an eighth grader who suddenly discovers that she has paranormal skills. Inadvertently she creates chaos and a trans-dimensional rift during lunch and expects to receive school discipline. Instead, science teacher, Mr. Myrdin with his companion raven, Master Poe, informs her that she is a ‘misaligned’ girl with the ability to move in different dimensions. Myrdin explains that there is someone threatening to bring evil power into the community and Penny needs to train to fight the magical enemy.

Penny gets additional support from her best friend, Duncan, and her new guardian, Simon. Simon is a telepathic, multidimensional cat who continually proclaims himself to be “Kite Seith”. A magical amulet is provided to Duncan which allows him to see some of what Penny is dealing with. And now they all share the adventure and danger from strange creatures seeping into the earthly dimension!

This story is easy listening fun. There is action, science and magic interwoven with Arthurian lore, Hobbit references and scenes that brought Harry Potter to mind. There are the stirrings of a different relationship for Penny and Duncan which is awkward and sweet. I would share this with my middle grade grandchildren and might continue the series adventures myself.

Audio Notes: Michelle Babb does a good job with the narration. Although Babb provides clear and distinct voices, I thought the narration was more reading than dramatic presentation. I enjoyed the emotional input and I am glad I was able to listen to the audio version.

Source: 4/22/2021 Narrator Audible Code. This qualifies for 2021Audiobook and 2021Review goals.

Sunday Post May 2, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday May 3 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.

Heather's CT revealed that her ear is healing but her sinuses are severely infected. Apparently when she blew her ear drum she also blew a hole in her septum and the infection there is the cause of her dizziness and nausea. They have provided an antibiotic treatment to get the infection down so they can operate in two or three months.

We are so glad that she has been able to get back into the office this week. Her presence sure helps. This allowed me to get back to legal work that needs attention.

I am still refining my weekly stock options to seek consistent (to some degree) returns with fewer options. It just amazes me that my account is up 72% in one year!

I have been missing the little rabbits on the drive into our area as they are too fast.
But this week one of them froze and I was able to take pictures even though he was very well camouflaged! Can you find him?

There were actually two but I didn't see the one to the right until he jumped away. I didn't know I caught him in the picture until I came back to download it.
Scroll down to the end of the post to see them zoomed in. :-)

We are drying out and our weather is very nice.

Reading was good this week with some easy reading books. I finished one audio book, one print book and one NetGalley children's book. I posted three reviews and my usual memes.

I visited 25 blogs last week which was fun.
Shout Out this week to AMBER STULTZ. Amber says she "grew up on a street where children were scarce, so books became her closest friends."

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 April 25, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday April 26, 2021.

• ANG2021- #NetGalley Audio Book Review: A Waterfront Wedding by Leigh Duncan; Genre: Clean & Wholesome, Hallmark, Romance, Weddings; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: A Cowboy for Keeps by Jody Hedlund; Genre: American, Christian, Historical Romance, Western; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway April 30, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 5/6/2021.

• ATBR- Audio Book Review: Pathfinder's Way - A Novel of the Broken Lands by T.A. White; Genre: Historical Fantasy, Fantasy Romance; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

• Sharing Beyond Books #420 Comment Giveaway May 1, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 5/15/2021.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement May 2, 2021.

Finished Reading:

1. Audible/Smartphone (2021)

Penny Preston and the Raven's Talisman
Misaligned, Book I
By: Armen Pogharian
Narrated by: Michelle Babb
Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
Release date: 04-21-21
This is a fun story good for MG and adults who enjoy a lighter magical adventure.
Source: 4/22/2021 Narrator Audible Code.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Print (TBR)

The Faith of Condoleezza Rice
by Leslie Montgomery
This biography shares wonderful information about this remarkable woman and about the history of racism.
Source: February 2018 Discounted price at Christianbooks.com
Click on book title for full description.

3. NetGalley; Adobe Digital (NG2021)

I'm On It! (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading!)
by Andrea Tsurumi; Mo Willems
Releases May 11.
This is a fun child's book and
it is an "I" title for my Alphabet challenge.
Source: NetGalley 2021.
Goat likes to lead. Goat also likes Frog to follow.
When Goat jumps on it, Frog does, too. Soon Goat and Frog are on it, along it, above it, inside it, beside it, around it, and under it―phew! How can their friendship get through it?

Currently Reading:
1. eBook - Adobe Digital App on Computer (2021)

Save Me (Broken Idols #2)
by M.C. Frank
I didn't get too far in this yet. I'll be working on it this week.
Source: Received from Author.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

 The Kasari Nexus: Rho Agenda Assimilation, Book 1
by: Richard Phillips
Narrated by: Alexander Cendese
Series: Rho Agenda Assimilation, Book 1
Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins
I was ready for a sci fi...plus this is a "K" audio.
So far there is a lot of alien tech and intrigue.
Source: 3/18/19 Audible purchase for $1.99 since I had the ebook.
Publisher's Summary
Jennifer Smythe escapes Earth's invasion by the insidious Kasari race, hijacks an alien starship, and survives the deadly passage through a wormhole. But escape is short-lived....
When Jennifer emerges on the new world of Scion, she is confronted by the same deadly enemy. Now the Kasari have sided with the planet's angel-like elite against the warrior underclass, but with the intent of ultimately ruling both. And when Jennifer is captured by the brutish Koranthians, her alien-enhanced abilities make her a crucial asset in battling the Kasari and their winged allies.
Back on a divided Earth, Jennifer's brother, Mark, and Jack "the Ripper" Gregory wage their own war against the Kasari. As the global government welcomes the extraterrestrials, Mark, Jack, and their rebel faction seek to use the powerful mind-altering skills gained from the Kasari's sworn enemies to repel the would-be conquerors. But faced with the might of Earth's ruling forces, has the cause already been lost?
©2016 Richard Phillips (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

3. NetGalley; Adobe Digital (NG2021)

The Madman's Library
The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History
by Edward Brooke-Hitching
This looks really interesting!
Received 4/4/2021 from NetGalley Read Now.
'Anybody who loves the printed word will be bowled over by this amusing, erudite, beautiful book about books. It is in every way a triumph. One of the loveliest books to have been published for many, many years' Alexander McCall Smith
'Quite simply the best gift for any book lover this year, or perhaps ever' Lucy Atkins, Sunday Times Books of the Year
'An utterly joyous journey into the deepest eccentricities of the human mind… The most cheering, fascinating book I’ve read for ages' Guardian
From the author of the critically acclaimed and globally successful The Phantom Atlas, The Golden Atlas and The Sky Atlas comes a stunning new work. The Madman’s Library is a unique, beautifully illustrated journey through the entire history of literature, delving into its darkest territories to hunt down the very strangest books ever written, and uncover the fascinating stories behind their creation.
This is a madman’s library of eccentric and extraordinary volumes from around the world, many of which have been completely forgotten. Books written in blood and books that kill, books of the insane and books that hoaxed the globe, books invisible to the naked eye and books so long they could destroy the Universe, books worn into battle, books of code and cypher whose secrets remain undiscovered… and a few others that are just plain weird.
From the 605-page Qur'an written in the blood of Saddam Hussein, through the gorgeously decorated 15th-century lawsuit filed by the Devil against Jesus, to the lost art of binding books with human skin, every strand of strangeness imaginable (and many inconceivable) has been unearthed and bound together for a unique and richly illustrated collection ideal for every book-lover.

May 2, 2021 - I love seeing new things each time I read the Bible. I am glad to still be current with morning reading. (I got one day behind but and caught up again.)
I am reading/listening to the NLT Tyndale version of the Bible on You Version App so Hubby and I are reading the same passages each day.
I finished the 6 day study: Truth Plus Love.

I completed three books and will get those reviewed this week.
NetGalley shelf is at 6 as I read one last week and added one to reading this week.
Three author titles remain in queue - I hope to get to these this month.
(Plus a few that I received from facebook links and 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: Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

As for MM, we’re looking for someone to volunteer to take over some MM duties.. We’re unsure what is going on with Leslie, but we have not heard from her since November 2020. We need someone who is familiar with Mr. Linky and the WordPress platform. Sunday evenings are when we post MM for overseas participants and BTCOE posts go up on Friday afternoons. If you have interest please email: savvyverseandwit [at] gmail [dot] com.

No new review books this week.
I purchased one Audible Daily Deal.
I selected four free titles from Audible Plus Catalog.
I added six 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

One Audible Daily Deal 5/1/2021 $2.95

The Names of the Dead
By: Kevin Wignall
Narrated by: Michael Braun
Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins
Release date: 02-01-20

Free

I downloaded four titles from Audible Plus Catalog after stumbling on the Staub title:

Nine Lives: A Lily Dale Mystery
By: Wendy Corsi Staub
Narrated by: Melanie Ewbank
Series: Lily Dale Mysteries, Book 1
ALSO Books 2 and 3:

Something Buried, Something Blue: The Lily Dale Mysteries, Book 2

Dead of Winter: The Lily Dale Mysteries, Book 3

Dragon Blood - Omnibus
By: Lindsay Buroker
Narrated by: Caitlin Davies
Series: Dragon Blood, Book 1-3


I added six free Kindle titles this week. Free titles often found at Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

HERE ARE THE BUNNIES:

This is the 'left' bunny after he turned and moved a step to the right.
Note the dirt in front of him to find him in the picture below this one.

Two bunnies in the picture below:
the bunny on the left is the one I saw (above in front of the dirt).
He is frozen and really camouflaged. You can just see his eye and back as he faces into the underbrush.
The bunny to the right is bigger and I didn't realize he was there until he jumped away but the camera caught him.

Sunday Words of Encouragement May 2, 2021

It was good to be back in church in person today. Hubby isn’t returning yet, but I went and wore my mask. It was great to see my church friends face to face after all this time!

Pastor continued with Part 4 of his series: It Matters. He reminded us that last week’s part 3, reminded us it was important to come into God’s presence on His terms and conditions, not on ours.

This week Pastor focused on ‘temperature checks’. During the Covid19 pandemic year (plus) many businesses, schools and other facilities required a temperature check for entry. An elevated temperature signifies something going on and is the bodies way of fighting an infection.

Pastor advised that it is time for each of us to get a spiritual temperature check. Is our temperature low, high or normal? Low isn’t good and even normal isn't enough. Our spiritual temperature should be elevated to help fight off the enemy. We need to take action, not just sit passively, in order to get our spiritual temperature to rise.

In Revelation 3:14-16 Jesus wrote a letter to the church at Laodicea noting they were neither hot nor cold. But because they were lukewarm, he said he would spit them out. After chastising the church, Jesus exhorted them to turn from your indifference. “So be earnest and repent.” Revelation 3:17-19.

Indifference kills. It is a gateway for depression. Indifference manifests in laziness, apathy and self-centeredness. The first step to move from indifference is to recognize our need for Christ.

Our spiritual temperature matters. It should be rising. If we understood whose presence we were in, would we ever be indifferent? Taken, one step further, do your actions match up with your beliefs?

Pastor shared a story about a man and his daughter he recently ran into while waiting for an elevator in an Orlando hotel. They were returning from the pool where they had worn their masks. As they chit-chatted, the man said he was from New York and had moved to Tennessee. He expressed that he was scared of those states that had opened too soon, too quickly. Pastor thought, if he is scared, then why is he vacationing with his daughter in Orlando?

There are many examples in the Bible of men and women whose actions matched their beliefs. The woman who broke the alabaster jar to anoint Jesus knew whose presence she was in. The woman with the issue of blood knew whose presence she was in. Stephen continued to preach Jesus even as he was facing being stoned because he recognized whose presence he was in.

The Point: Our spiritual temperature matters. It is proof of the true nature of our relationship with Jesus.

Paul directs believers to examine yourself in 2 Corinthians 13:5 - to make sure you are in the faith.
Do you hunger for His presence?  Press into His presence.
When our spiritual temperature is on the rise, God can do something with us.

I had a great time picking a song video today. I started out with one thing in mind but got to find many new songs and listen to some favorites. That made it a harder choice. 😊 I listened to four different versions of this song and chose this one for the beauty, reverence and JOY!

A Verse for Today
2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

Dear Lord - Please don't let me ever take Your presence for granted.

Sharing Beyond Books #420 Comment Giveaway May 1, 2021

Hello again, Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Last post SBB#419 Fredamans asks: If you could write a story, what topic/genre would you write??
Three or four commenters would write fantasy, three would write mystery and two would write historical, one being mail order bride. Then the choices run the gamut from children, food, life experience, gardening, family anecdotal, WWII romance, family saga and sci fi. Only one person felt they couldn't write a story.


The Winner from SBB#419 comments is #8 MARYP 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. 11/28/20 I have added a box of new books for SBB and will list them in the next week or so. I have to try to cross off books that have already been awarded. ]

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

WEEK #420

(One Question.)

Nikki asks: Have you ever written yourself a letter? Like one to be opened in the future??

In my high school years I kept a journal with poetry. But I can't say I have ever written myself a letter.

Image found at Bucket List Journey.

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. Nikki asks: Have you ever written yourself a letter? Like one to be opened in the future??

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, May 15, 2021, at 5 PM central.

Audio Book Review: Pathfinder's Way - A Novel of the Broken Lands by T.A. White

I devoured this fantasy novel full of action and intrigue.

Pathfinder's Way
A Novel of The Broken Lands
Written by T. A. White
Narrated by Christa Lewis

Broken Lands Series, Book 1
Length: 14 hrs and 59 mins
Release Date: January 18, 2017
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Historical Fantasy, Fantasy Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

The Trateri are about to learn a vital lesson of the Broken Lands. Deep in the remote expanse where anything can happen, it pays to be on a pathfinder's good side. Nobody ventures beyond their village. Nobody sane, that is. Monstrous creatures and deadly mysteries wait out here. Luckily for the people she serves, Shea's not exactly sane. As a pathfinder, it's her job to face what others fear and find the safest route through the wilderness. It's not an easy job, but she's the best at what she does. When the people she serves betray her into servitude to the Trateri, a barbarian horde sweeping through the Lowlands intent on conquest, Shea relies on her wits and skill to escape, disguising herself as a boy to hide from the Warlord, a man as dangerous as he is compelling. After being mistaken as a Trateri scout during her escape, Shea finds herself forced to choose between the life she led and the possibilities of a new one. Her decision might mean the difference between life and death. For danger looms on the horizon, and a partnership with the Warlord may be the only thing preventing the destruction of everything she holds dear.

Review:
Shea went through rigorous training and testing to become a Pathfinder. As such, she knows the monster creatures in the dangerous lands she explores and maps. Unfortunately, Shea has been assigned to a highland community that is led by men who disdain her guide skills and blame her for their own shortcomings. Only one or two men truly recognize and support Shea, and she is glad when they join her missions.

Shea and a handful of men are sent to rescue two young men, one the son of a village elder, who ventured off to a town in spite of warnings. During the rescue efforts they discover other men waiting to be executed. All of the men are released, and the strangers help Shea and her team escape pursuit. Shea wonders about these men especially when the apparent leader declares that she will go with him as ‘his possession’.

Shea escapes but the Trateri warlord, Fallon Hawkvale, declares that he will find her again. The Trateri, a people living in the badlands, are pushing in to conquer the lowlands. They would move into the highlands too if they could figure out how to safely get past the mists.

Shea’s village elders send her and their choice of men to negotiate trade routes with a lowland village. The negotiations are going strangely and as the team tries to leave, they discover they have been betrayed. Shea and her team are given as ‘tribute’ to appease the Trateri who conscript them into service. When Shea is recognized, she is held to be delivered to Fallon. Once again Shea is able to escape before Fallon arrives. As she tries to leave camp she is mistaken as a Trateri scout and pulled into a mission.

Shea finds herself fighting monsters alongside men who should be her enemies. Shea has to decide if she is going to make an escape to the highlands or if she is going to remain with the Trateri and maybe find a relationship with the fierce warlord.

I totally love Shea’s skills and her ability to defeat or escape from the monsters. It seems she isn’t the most patient communicator and that creates the friction that gets her into trouble. I also liked Fallon as soon as he appeared even if he is a bit of a chauvinist barbarian. He is intense and intriguing and there is more to him than initially apparent. It was good to see his character modify as a result of his respect for Shea.

I enjoyed the monsters, action and relationship issues in this well-written story. I was drawn in and wanted to keep reading. I look forward to reading more in the series. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a good fantasy and aren’t offended by a 'barbarian' hero.

Audio Notes: Christa Lewis does a very fine job with the narration. She provides clear voices and conveys the personalities of the characters. The narration enhanced my enjoyment.

Source: 12/19/20199 Chirp purchase $1.99. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet Audio goals.