2021 Year End MBS Reading Summary and Favorites

I started out with a couple of 5 stars but sure ended up with more 4.5 ratings. Out of a total 148 read, I have 45 (30%) as 4.5 or above. Some might say I rate generously, which could be true. I like to think that I pick books I enjoy! (See lists below.)



Year End Summaries
Goodreads Challenge met: 148 out of 124 challenge.

35,852 pages read

148 books read

Martha

YouVersion Snapshot:

Summary of 2022 Reading Genres:
I think it was spread out pretty well.

15 Sci Fi
16 Dystopian
8 Post-Apocalyptic
(39 combined)

33 Fantasy and Paranormal including 3 Alternate History and several Time Travel

21 Mystery including Cozy and Thrillers

10 Historical Romance
10 Romance (including Romantic Suspense, Contemporary and Rom Com)

16 Child or Middle Grade

7 Christian/Religious Inspirational

6 Nonfiction including 4 Bio/Memoirs

2 Graphic Novels

3 Other: 1 Historical Fiction, 1 Classic, 1 Poetry

1 DNF
Total 148

New to Me Authors: 90

Series Read 97; Finished 1; Continuing 31;
New to me Series 65 (27 Yes to continue; 17 likely to continue, 15 maybe, unlikely 6)



5 Stars = 4
(January 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.

NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: LOVE by Corrinne Averiss; Genre: Children, Educational, Emotions; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0.

(May 2021)

ATBR- Audio Book Review: Jesus > Religion by Jefferson Bethke; Genre: Christian, Inspiration, Self-Growth; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Content 5.0; Narration 4.75.

(June 2021)

NG2021- #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Out, Mouse! by Valerie L. Egar; Genre: Children's, Folk Tales, Mice, Multicultural; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Content 5.0; Narration 5.0.

4.75 Stars = 8
(January 2021)

PrintTBR- Book Review: A Stockingful of Joy by Mary Jo Putney, Jill Barnett, Justine Dare, Susan King; Genre: Anthology, Christmas, Historical Romance; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0.

(February 2021)

ATBR- Audible Book Review: Smoke Bitten: A Mercy Thompson Novel, Book 12, by Patricia Briggs; Genre: Action, Adventure, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 5.0.

ATBR- Audible Book Review: Murder of Crows: A Novel of the Others, Book 2, by Anne Bishop; Genre: Contemporary Fantasy, Paranormal Fantasy, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 5.0.

(March 2021)

NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: Chicken Talk Around the World by Carole Lexa Schaefer; Genre: Genre: Children's, Farm Animals, Multinational; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0.

(April 2021)

ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis; Genre: Children, Christian, Classic; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.5.

(June 2021)

NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill; Genre: Dystopian, Robots, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0.

(August 2021)

ATBR- Audible Book Review: Winds of Wrath, Destroyermen Series, Book 15, by Taylor Anderson; Genre: Alternate History, Military, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 5.0.

P2021- Book Review: The Iron Triangle: Inside the Liberal Democrat Plan to Use Race to Divide... by Vince Everett Ellison; Genre: History of Religion & Politics, Nonfiction, Political Parties; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0.

4.5 Stars = 33
(January 2021)

ATBR- Audible Book Review: Galaxy's Edge by Jason Anspach and Nick Cole; Genre: Military Science Fiction; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

(February 2021)

ATBR- Audible Book Review: You're Going to Mars by Rob Dircks; Genre: Adventure, Humor, Sci Fi, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

ATBR- Audible Book Review: From Here to Equality, Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century, by William A. Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mulle; Genre: Economic Theory, Nonfiction, African American Demographic Studies; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.

PTBR- Book Review: Noah - Another Storm is Coming by E.G. White; Genre: Christian, Inspirational; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

ATBR- Audible Book Review: Dorothy: A Madcap Regency Romance by Anya Wylde; Genre: Comedy, Regency Romance; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

(March 2021)

ATBR- Audible Book Review: Black Ops, Expeditionary Force, Book 4, by Craig Alanson; Genre: Military Science Fiction, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 5.0.

Author 2021- Book Review: Frosted (Regency Retold #2) by M.C. Frank; Genre: Fairy Tale, Romance; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

ATBR- Audibe Book Review: Commune: Book Two by Joshua Gayou; Genre: Action, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: Forever Phoebe by Chalon Linton; Genre: Clean, Historical Romance, Regency; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: The Quokkas, the Snails, and the Land of Happiness by Eric Geiger and Evie Geiger; Genre: Children, Christian Values, Emotions; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

NG2021- #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Ever Winter by Peter Hackshaw; Genre: Adventure, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

(April 2021)

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

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.

(May 2021)

A2021- Audible Book Review: Malice in Miami by Barbara Venkataraman Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Cozy Mystery, Woman Sleuth; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

NG2021- #NetGalley Book Review: The Madman's Library by Edward Brooke-Hitching Genre: NonFiction, Educational, World History; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

(June 2021)

NG2021- #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Old Abe by John Cribb Genre: Biographical, Historical Fiction; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.

NG2021- #NetGalley Audio Book Review: The Library of the Dead by T. L. Huchu; Genre: Ghosts, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.

ATBR- Audible Book Review: After It Happened, Publisher's Pack 2, by Devon C. Ford; Genre: Adventure, Post Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.

ATBR- Audible Book Review: Full Share by Nathan Lowell; Genre: Space Opera, Trading; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.

(July 2021)

NG2020- #NetGalley Book Review: Aftershocks: Christians Entering a New Era of Global Crisis by Jeff Kinley; Genre: Christian Prophecy, Social Issues & Christianity, Theological Eschatology; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

ATBR- Audible Book Review: Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop; Genre: Alternate History, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 5.0.

ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Monster Hunter Files Anthology by Larry Correia, Jim Butcher, Faith Hunter and more; Genre: Anthologies & Short Stories, Contemporary, Paranormal, Urban; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 5.0.

(August 2021)

ATBR- Audible Book Review: Zero Hour, Expeditionary Force, Book 5, by Craig Alanson; Genre: Adventure, Military, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.75.

A2021- Audio Review: Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas; Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.75.

ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Reaper, Autobiography of One of the Deadliest Special Ops Snipers, by Gary Brozek, Nicholas Irving; Genre: Biography, Memoir, Military, Special Elite; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.

(September 2021)

ATBR- Audio Book Review: A Worthy Pursuit by Karen Witemeyer; Genre: Historical Romance, Inspirational, Romance; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.

eBTBR- Book Review: Killer Lawyer (Jake Wolfe Book 3) by Mark Nolan; Genre: Action, Crime Thriller, Mystery; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

A2021- Audible Book Review: Penny Preston and the King’s Blade, Misaligned Book III, by Armen Pogharian; Genre: Fantasy, Teen and YA, Time Travel; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

(October 2021)

ATBR- #FraterfestRat Audible Review: Dead Acre by Rhett C. Bruno, Jaime Castle; Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural, Western; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

(November 2021)

ATBR- Audio Book Review: A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman; Genre: Cozy, Historical, Mystery, Woman Sleuth; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

ATBR- Audible Book Review: Shattered Worlds, Koban Volume 4 by Stephen W Bennett: Genre: Aliens, Colonization, Military Space Sci-Fi; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5

(December 2021)

ATBR- Audio Book Review: Mistletoe Miracles by Jodi Thomas; Genre: Christmas, Contemporary Romance, Western; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

A2021- Audio Book Review: Sleigh Spells by Bella Falls Genre: Christmas, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

MBS December 2021 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2021 Reading List - DECEMBER

Code for the list is:
A = Audible
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 2021
Favorites for the month:

5 Stars = One Year Bible
4.75 Stars =  none
4.5 Stars =  Mistletoe Miracles and Sleigh Spells

1. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Ranch: Jack Sterlings Legacy by Sean Liscom; Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
2. ATBR- Audio Book Review: Mistletoe Miracles by Jodi Thomas; Genre: Christmas, Contemporary Romance, Western; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
3. A2021- Audible Book Review: Deathbeast by David Gerrold; Genre: Sci Fi, Time Travel, Vintage; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.
4. A2021- Audible Book Review: The Brass Queen by Elizabeth Chatsworth; Genre: Fantasy, Gaslamp, Steampunk; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
5. A2021- Audible Book Review: Every Day in December by Kitty Wilson; Genre: Christmas, Holiday, Romantic Comedy; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.
6. ATBR - Audio Book Review: The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross; Genre: Fantasy, Monsters, Paranormal; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.25.
7. A2021- Audio Book Review: Sleigh Spells by Bella Falls Genre: Christmas, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
8. A2021- Audio Book Review: Christmas In Evergreen by Nancy Naigle Genre: Christmas, Contemporary Romance, Romance; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.
9. The Bible - always 5.0

Total read = 9
TBR = 4
New Authors = 6
Audio/Audible = 8 (3 TBRs)
NetGalley = 0 (0 audio) (0 TBRs)
Author Review books (other than NG) = 1
Nonfiction = 1
eBook = 1 (1 TBR)
Print = 0 (0 TBR)

Goal Progress (to Date meaning through the end of the given month):
DONE -Goodreads Goal Read to Date: 138 of 124
DONE - TBR to Date: 101 of 90 total
DONE - Audio to Date: 113 of 64
DONE - NetGalley to Date: 28 of 24
DONE - Author Reviews: 15 of 12
DONE - Nonfiction: 13 of 12
Incomplete -- TBR ebooks or Print: 10 of 24

• Series: 97 (32 continuing, 65 new)
• New to me Series: 65 (27 Yes to continue; 17 likely to continue, 15 maybe, unlikely 6)
• Finished for me Series: 1

Special Goals
DONE - • Seasonal title: 3 of 4: Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn
DONE - • Color in title: 8 of 8: Red, Rose, Black, Gold, Blue, Blonde, Diamond, Green
DONE - • Alphabet letters covered: 26 Mixed media: 10 Jan + 6 Feb + 2 March + 1 April + 2 May + 2 June + 1 July + 2 August (26 of 26)
DONE - • Alphabet letters covered: 26 Audio only (not the same as mixed): 1 Jan + 4 Feb + 7 March + 5 April + 4 May + 1 June + 0 July + 1 August + 0 September + 1 October + 2 November (26 of 26)

MBS 2022 Audiobook Challenge

MBS (Martha's Book Shelf) 2022 Audiobook Challenge 

 

The 2022 Audiobook Challenge, hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer and That’s What I’m Talking About.

I didn't sign up for this challenge the last few years but perhaps I should have. I have set my own goals though.
Here is my history of audio reading over the past six years:

2021 I listened to 113 books with the original goal only 64.
2020 I listened to 96 with the original goal of 75.
2019 I listened to 108 with the original goal of 75.
2018 Total Audio: 106.
I signed up for Marathon, 50 books in 2016 and 2017.
2017 I listened to 79 Audiobooks.
2016 I listened to 70 Audiobooks.

I am having more and more difficulty reading on the Kindle App. Listening goes much easier for me.
So for 2022 I am going for the high level "The 100 Club (Audiobook Addict) 100+".

I am working this into my Alphabet challenge too and already have many audio titles lined up.

Sunday Post January 2, 2022/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday January 3, 2022

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.

Happy New Year 2022!


We only had two official days of work this week since we took Monday, Thursday and Friday off. Tuesday we had cake for two of us in the office who had our birthdays on 12/27.



Heather and I went in on Thursday to fund and record our last closing of the year. I also had to organize my desk as I am preparing for a trial mid January.

This is the only picture I found with my son and daughter and all six grandkids although two are on the edges. We celebrated on Christmas Eve before Santa brought the tree.

I am looking forward to reading in 2022. One resolution I know I will keep: enjoy reading! It is fun starting the year with open season on TBR books. :-)

Our weather got a little too warm last week. We even had to turn on our AC a couple of nights. But we have had rain all day today and tonight it goes back down in the 30s to start a colder week.

It still feels like I am not getting much reading done as a result of being busy and then falling asleep after 5 minutes of listening instead of 15 or more. I enjoyed the one audiobook I finished. I posted three reviews to finish for 2021 and my usual memes (other than Sharing Beyond Books).

I only visited 14 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to LAURIE READS. Laurie is "an reader from the Netherlands."

Audible offerings for free children's titles ended June 30.
Audiobooks.com is still sharing some free listens for children.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post December 26, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday December 27, 2021.

• A2021- Audible Book Review: Every Day in December by Kitty Wilson; Genre: Christmas, Holiday, Romantic Comedy; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

• ATBR- Audio Book Review: The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross; Genre: Fantasy, Monsters, Paranormal; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway December 31, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 1/6/2022.

• First Book of the Year 2022: The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel.

• A2021- Audio Book Review: Sleigh Spells by Bella Falls Genre: Christmas, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

• A2021- Audio Book Review: Christmas In Evergreen by Nancy Naigle Genre: Christmas, Contemporary Romance, Romance; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement January 2, 2022.

Finished Reading:

1. Audio/Smartphone (A2021)

Christmas In Evergreen
by Nancy Naigle
Read by Kathleen McInerney
Run Time 6h 34min
This is another fun "Hallmark" story.
Click on book title for full description; review linked above.

Currently Reading:
1. Audio/Smartphone (A2021)
First Book of the Year 2022.

The Case for a Creator
By: Lee Strobel
Narrated by: Lee Strobel
Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
Release date: 10-05-04
I've had this ebook and have planned to read this for a while. Now I can listen to it. I am almost half way and enjoying the scientific analysis.
Source: May 18 Purchase at $2.99 with Whispersync.
Publisher's Summary
Discover the astonishing evidence for intelligent design in this New York Times best-selling book by award-winning journalist Lee Strobel.
"My road to atheism was paved by science...but, ironically, so was my later journey to God," Strobel says.
During his academic years, Lee Strobel became convinced that God was obsolete, a belief that colored his journalism career. Science had made the idea of a creator irrelevant - or so Strobel thought.
But today science points in a different direction. A diverse and impressive body of research has increasingly supported the conclusion that the universe was intelligently designed. At the same time, Darwinism has faltered in the face of concrete facts and hard reason. Has science discovered God? At the very least, it's giving faith an immense boost, as new findings emerge about the incredible complexity of our universe.
Join Strobel as he reexamines the theories that once led him away from God. Through his compelling and highly readable account, you'll encounter the mind-stretching discoveries from cosmology, cellular biology, DNA research, astronomy, physics, and human consciousness that present compelling evidence in The Case for a Creator.

2. ebook/Kindle App on Phone (ebTBR)

I

The After Days Trilogy
(After Days Trilogy #1-3)
by Scott Medbury
I am going to try a Kindle book that I am more interested in and see if I can get it read.
Source: Free Kindle 2017.
The complete After Days trilogy
Fifteen year old Isaac Race has already lost everyone close to him. He is about to lose a lot more. We all are. A mystery outbreak sweeps North America, it is chilling in both its speed and deadliness. The odd thing is though, it is only fatal to adults. Too late, it becomes clear to authorities that the virus is man made - a biological weapon - and that the United States is at war... a war it has already lost.
As his country is invaded and occupied, Isaac must help his ragtag group of survivors find refuge in a world turned upside down. A world full of fear and danger. A world where enemies can be friends and friends... worse than enemies.
Don't miss Scott Medbury's After Days, the dystopian trilogy destined to become a classic.
This version includes:
Affliction
Sanctuary
Attrition

[This is the same or previous edition of America Falls. Affliction and part of Sanctuary became America Falls Book 1, Hell Week and Book 2, On the Run, which I listened to in October 2021. So I have started this in the middle of the book.]

3. Audio/Smartphone (A2021)

Artificial Condition
By Martha Wells
Narrated By: Kevin R. Free
Duration: 3 h 21 min
I have wanted to continue this series.
Source: 8/28/2021 Two for One Credit at Audiobooks.com.
Summary:
The follow-up to the hugely popular science fiction action-adventure All Systems Red Artificial Condition continues The Murderbot Diaries, a science fiction series that tackles questions of the ethics of sentient robotics. It appeals to fans of Westworld, Ex Machina, Ann Leckie's Imperial Raadch series, or Iain M. Banks' Culture novels. The main character is a deadly security droid that has bucked its restrictive programming and is balanced between contemplative self-discovery and an idle instinct to kill all humans. 'As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure.' It has a dark past-one in which a number of humans were killed. A past that caused it to christen itself 'Murderbot.' But it has only vague memories of the massacre that spawned that title, and it wants to know more. Teaming up with a Research Transport vessel named ART (you don't want to know what the 'A' stands for), Murderbot heads to the mining facility where it went rogue. What it discovers will forever change the way it thinks.

January 2, 2022 - I started a new Bible Reading Plan: BibleProject | One Story that Leads to Jesus. I know it won't match my Hubby's reading but I wanted some different insights/devotions and I like the look of this project. I am looking forward to keeping up with my reading each day.

I may start smaller studies soon.

I completed one book (and the Bible) and finished all reviews for 2021!
My NetGalley shelf has two old ebooks titles and one new audio which I will listen to soon.
I still have two author titles remaining in queue. They will (obviously) be read in 2022.
(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, me and new to the team, Velvet at vvb32reads. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

No new review books.
I went on a binge to fill up my TBR shelf before 2022 started.
I picked up two for one credit audiobooks at Audiobooks.com.
I purchased five audio books at Chirp for under $9.00.
I added 10 audiobooks through Audible Plus Catalog!

I got six Kindle books.

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

12/31/2021 Audiobooks.com Two for One Credit (these sound like fun cozy mysteries):

A Skeleton in the Family
By Author Leigh Perry
Narrator: Katina Kalin
Duration: 7 h 57 min

The Skeleton Takes a Bow
By Author Leigh Perry
Narrator: Katina Kalin
Duration: 7 h 47 min




I picked up five audiobooks at Chirp for $8.95. Two in a series I like and three authors I want to try.

Tattered Loyalties
Written by Carrie Ann Ryan
Narrated by Gregory Salinas
Run Time 7h 13min
$9.99 $0.99

Winter Hawk
Written by Rachel Grant
Narrated by Nicol Zanzarella
Run Time 4h 57min
$9.99 $0.99

The Fixer Upper
Written by Maggie Mae Gallagher
Narrated by Zura Johnson
Run Time 9h 36min
$19.95 $1.99

The Ordeal of the Haunted Room
Written by Jodi Taylor
Narrated by Zara Ramm
Run Time 2h 36min
$7.98 $1.99

Why is Nothing Ever Simple?
Written by Jodi Taylor
Narrated by Zara Ramm
Run Time 2h 20min
$7.98 $2.99

Free

I did my last minute purchasing and free picks to load up on books for 2022TBR.
Ten Free Audio Books from Audible Plus Catalog.
The first three Maberry books are part of his Zombie series. The fourth is a space adventure.

Zero Tolerance
By: Jonathan Maberry
Narrated by: Ray Porter
Series: Joe Ledger, Book 1.1
Length: 44 mins

Material Witness: A Joe Ledger Bonus Story
By: Jonathan Maberry
Narrated by: Ray Porter
Series: Joe Ledger, Book 1.2
Length: 1 hr and 16 mins

Deep, Dark: An Exclusive Short Story
By: Jonathan Maberry
Narrated by: Ray Porter
Series: Joe Ledger, Book 1.3
Length: 50 mins

Mars One
By: Jonathan Maberry
Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins

Next are two First Contact Sci Fi.
Then Wild Shore is a post-apocalyptic and the eighth book is a cozy mystery that caught my eye.

Tomorrow's Kin: Yesterday’s Kin Trilogy, Book 1
By: Nancy Kress
Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin
Series: Yesterday's Kin, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins

Proxima Rising: Proxima, Book 1
By: Brandon Q. Morris
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
Series: Proxima Trilogy, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins

The Wild Shore: The Three Californias Triptych, Book 1
By: Kim Stanley Robinson
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
Series: The Three Californias Triptych, Book 1
Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins

Dead in the Water: Welcome Back to Scumble River, Book 1
By: Denise Swanson
Narrated by: Tanya Eby
Series: Welcome Back to Scumble River Series, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins

The last two are military action thrillers.

Sons of Valor: The Sons of Valor Series, Book 1
By: Brian Andrews , Jeffrey Wilson
Narrated by: Ray Porter
Series: The Sons of Valor Series, Book 1

Beijing Red: A Nick Foley Thriller, Book 1
By: Alex Ryan
Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
Series: Nick Foley, Book 1


Six Free Kindle titles:
A New Beginning (Starfire Angels: Forgotten Worlds Book 1)
M.A. Nilles, Melanie Nilles

Hero Unit
JC Bybee

Panacea
C. L. Phillips

Blood & Feathers, Episode 1: North of the Wall
Beth Revis

The Red King: An Urban Fantasy Trilogy (Visions of Darkness Trilogy Book 2)
Krysten Harlow

Smoke and Mirrors: An Urban Fantasy Trilogy (Visions of Darkness Trilogy Book 1)
Krysten Harlow

Other Free titles often found at Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement January 2, 2022

We attended church for a wonderful Sunday School lesson in Revelation. Then went into church to worship and to say goodbye to our Pastor and his family as God has called them to another church. Our church is on a pastoral search again.

Pastor’s last sermon was “Eternity Matters”.
He noted that when you are young you look at life open in front of you. When you are older you may look behind. But when you are in midlife you might be thinking “What if?” both for the past and future.
When pastor was young, and even now in midlife, he is optimistic with youthful idealism. He wonders if the youth of today might be missing that idealism. And, of course, many people felt/feel the duty to spread realism to temper expectations and enthusiasm.

The church has a different idealism because God has set up His church to be His hands, feet, messenger! The church still has great years to come and we hope 2022 will see a church surge. Pasto hopes it will a year of the church through the power of Holy Spirit. The church can spread a message the world needs: a message of joy, life, love! And our God believes in us! He believes we can do this because He has directed us to spread the message.

So Pastor has been wondering - What if....?.

• Every Christian in the church came on Sunday already full?
• Every person in church felt they were being fiercely protected by every other person in the church?
• There was always forgiveness.?

Ephesians 5:21 ‘submit to one another’.
Romans 12:10 ‘love each other’.

• We all fought for unity?

We realized that the real enemy is Satan.
The church is a body. It functions as a body. It moves best in unity.

Paul wrote about unity in almost every letter. But he focused on this in Ephesians 4.

• What if every Christian in the church understood they are called by God to be a minister?
• What if every Christian asked God right now: “What are You calling me to do this year?”

God wants us to live a life worthy of His call
Build up the church, the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:1-16.
Don't bow to society pressure.
Be “healthy and growing and full of love.”

What if we lived this life as if eternity mattered? Psalms 103:15-17.

Pastor shared this song on a video. Build Your Church.

Verses for Today:
Ephesians 4: 11-16 NIV
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.


Lord, please direct me to do Your calling from this day forward!