Audible Book Review: End of Summer by S.M. Anderson

This is a satisfactory, pandemic Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian (and my "Summer" title).

End of Summer
By: S.M. Anderson
Narrated by: Jay Snyder

Series: Seasons of Man, Book 1 (2 books)
Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
Release date: 06-16-20
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Adventure, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
When a viral apocalypse kills 97 percent of the people on the planet, the survivors' humanity is hanging by a thread. Amid the leftovers of civilization, ex-Army Ranger Jason Larsen is reminded of the meaning of hope, family, and loyalty by a dog and a young boy who are as alone as he is. The survivors he seems to collect become family, and that is very bad news for those who think they run the apocalypse. ©2019 S.M. Anderson (P)2020 Podium Publishing

Review:
A new virologist is flippant about the sanitation rules in the lab. He bends the rules one too many times and ends up taking sickness to the world.

Ex-Army Ranger Jason Larsen is more prepared physically than most for an apocalypse. Initially he just wants to die and be with his pregnant wife. But before her death by the virus, she made him promise to stay alive and help “the children”. Jason reluctantly steps out to the street and hears nearby gunshot. He goes through the back ways and discovers a woman shot in the back of a truck. He learns there are a group of thugs, ‘Tyson’s gang’, working out of the FEMA base under the direction of a twisted Sheriff. They are gathering kids to scavenge and adults with useful skills. If someone doesn’t have a good skill, they are left behind with a bullet.

Jason happens to know that one of his wealthy neighbors was a serious prepper. He carefully approaches the house and finds the neighbor’s black lab, Loki. Fortunately, the dead occupant has provided info to access the stored supplies.

Meanwhile, Pro is a fourteen-year-old from across town. He knows his father isn’t coming home and after several days he has to leave his dead family behind. He finds a house with good supplies where he sets up camp and begins to scavenge the neighborhood. Soon the Tyson gang realizes that someone e is cleaning out houses before they get there. Jason happens to stumble on Pro while he is tracking Tyson’s gang. Jason tries to direct Pro to safety, but Pro is suspicious of everyone. After Pro gets caught, Jason has to figure out if he can rescue the boy. Slowly Jason wages war on the scavenge crews, taking out the anonymous enemy one by one.

Jason has added to his small group a frightened, but fierce young women Rachel, who is protecting a young girl, Elsa. Rachel has no reason to trust any man and is only happy that Jason has given her a gun and trained her to shoot. She is set on revenge.

Pro manages to escape the compound by himself but now Jason has to grab him to save him from getting caught again. Pro insists there are others in the FEMA compound who aren’t brutal killers and he wants Jason to help free the good people. Can Jason control Rachel and Pro as he prepares an assault on the FEMA compound?

Jason is a quiet, strong, and likeable protagonist. He doesn’t want to be a hero, but he is prompted by the promise to his wife to try to save others. Pro is a smart teen who has to grow up too fast. Rachel is a young woman who is trying to recover from the trauma of sexual abuse by seeking revenge on bad men. These three create an interesting core who struggle to survive and help others.

I liked all of the action as well as the development of the characters. I am glad I have the second book to listen to. I recommend this to fans of the genres, post-apocalyptic, and dystopian. (Warning: there is violence, reference to rape, and some rough language.)

Audio Notes: Jay Snyder does a good job with the narration. He provides distinct voices for the characters and gives appropriate energy to the story. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 7/18/2021 Audible $5.00 sale. (Regular Price: $34.99.) This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Season goal.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Just Tyrus: A Memoir by Tyrus

This was definitely Tyrus and I found it interesting to learn of his rough childhood.
Just Tyrus: A Memoir
by Tyrus
Narrated by Tyrus

Listening Length 4 hours and 58 minutes
Release date: 07-05-22
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Biography, Memoirs
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.0.

Pro wrestler and political commentator Tyrus goes deep into his wild but triumphant life story, from his painfully dysfunctional upbringing to bodyguarding for Snoop Dogg, to becoming a wrestling icon and one of the most provocative on-air voices today.
The product of a 1970s mixed marriage, George Murdoch learned to fight early in life, fending off both race-baiting bullies and the demons of a dysfunctional home. Couch surfing all through high school and most of college, the quick-witted, sharp-tongued giant played football, ran drugs, and bounced at clubs to try to survive. After a false start with the WWE, he eventually became Snoop Dogg's bodyguard and traveled the world with the hip hop legend, biding his time and honing his rap. When the WWE urged him to return, George became "Brodus Clay" and, for the next several years, reinvented himself numerous times under the watchful mentorship of the legendary Dusty Rhodes, "the American Dream." He was eventually christened "Tyrus," and shortly after, a chance social media encounter with Greg Gutfeld at Fox News resulted in Tyrus finding a new skill: sage social commentator. Ferociously funny, blunt, and tenacious, Just Tyrus traces his unlikely and spectacular rise. As always with Tyrus, it's in-your-face and offers no apologies.

Review:
This memoir tells the reader/listener about Tyrus’ struggles in his dysfunctional family, pugnacious childhood, and his short ventures in crime as a young adult. Tyrus got into fights early in his life as a result of his mixed heritage and bullies who he decided to deal with. One of his childhood heroes was American Dream wrestler, Dusty Rhodes. It was a long time dream for Tyrus to get into wrestling. Through his employment journey, Tyrus, born George Murdoch, went through numerous trade names.

It seems as though Tyrus stumbled into his successes. He had a rough time in football before he fought his way into a position as a bodyguard for Snoop Dogg. Tyrus enjoyed that work, especially a time coaching young, disadvantaged children. The bodyguard position led him to a chance in wrestling. His participation in television wrestling went through some ups and downs but ultimately gave him a chance meeting with Greg Gutfeld, a political commentator and comedian at Fox News. This led to Tyrus being a regular (sidekick) on the Greg Gutfeld Show, now rebranded as Gutfeld!

Tyrus fulfilled a dream when he became the NWA World Television Champion in August 2021. He wears his champion belt during his appearances on Gutfeld! and while contributing on various other Fox news and opinion programs.

I enjoyed the informative memoir which is presented with Tyrus’ sharp wit and a humble forthrightness. He was a hot head as a youth, still has a brash mouth, but has, over the years, found wisdom grounded in common sense that he is able to share. I have seen Tyrus on television and was impressed by his down-to-earth common sense. I sensed he had a rough childhood but didn’t really know. I recommend this to anyone who would like to know more about this intelligent commentator. (Warning: there is a liberal amount of swearing.)

Audio Notes: Tyrus does the narration of his own work. Although I enjoyed his natural delivery, there were technical issues with sound levels, background noises, and uneven pacing. This didn’t hamper my enjoyment of the audio.

Source: 2022 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2022NetGalley and 2022Audiobook goals.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway July 15, 2022

Happy Friday!
TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK.
I've started putting together my totals for GC wins and hope to be sending emails this weekend. I do mean this for this Saturday 7/9/22 let's try 7/16.

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 July 8, 2022 Pick. There was one automatic win again this past 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.
Christy gets the Johanna Lindsey pair: Brave the Wild Wind and Fires of Winter

CONGRATULATIONS to two winners:
Random.org picked Winner from July 8, 2022 Pick:
  LINDA gets a GC
and
FREDAMANS 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 like the book and beach decoration.
Image found at Caron's Beach House.

New Book Box #96 June 10, 2022

PAIR:
Liz Carlyle: Three Little Secrets and My False Heart
Johanna Lindsey: Brave the Wild Wind and Fires of Winter
SINGLE TITLES
Against the Sky by Kat Martin
Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

The Eagle and the Dove by Jane Feather
Heir to a Dark Inheritance by Maisey Yates
The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood
Last of the Breed by Louis L'Amour
A Legacy of Secrets by Carol Marinelli
Marry in Secret by Anne Gracie
No Greater Treasure by Ellen Kelley
One Minute Out by Mark Greaney
Texas Born by Diana Palmer
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (Illustrated Classic Edition)
While Others Sleep by Helen R. Myers


New Book Box #95 November 7, 2021

I'll add the titles through the week (16 including 2 doubles, 1 pair).
(on top) (Two) Rancher's Wild Secret and Hold Me Cowboy by Maisey Yates
(on top) Shadowlight by Lynn Viehl
(Two) The Taming & The Conquest by Jude Deveraux
My Darling Caroline by Adele Ashworth
Love's Surprise by Karen Ball
Manhunt by Wayne Barton and Stan Williams - Audio CDs
After the Light by Kimberly Clark Sharp (Hardback)


New Book Box #94 May 28, 2021 (10 books)

Three One Audio CD Books:
Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts
SINGLE TITLES
Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale
The Hidden Heart by Laura Kinsale

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

A Most Unsuitable Man by Jo Beverley
The Tender Stranger by Carolyn Davidson
Her Wedding Wish by Jillian Hart
Heart's Desire by Ruth Ryan Hagan
The Deputy's Duty by Terri Reed

Box #93 (14 books)

Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwyn Cready
There's Only Been You by Donna Marie Rogers (personally signed)
For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper
The Irish Bride by Alexa Harrington
When We Met by Susan Mallery
All of Me by Lori Wilde

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

SINGLES: Ten books in this box:
Fight or Flight by Natalie J. Damschroder


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

Born in Fire Audiobook Cassettes
Montana Sky
Valley of Silence


New Book Group #90 June 19, 2020
Quite a few mysteries in this box.

SINGLES:
Alias by Smy J. Fetzer
Hot Sex by Janet Evanovich (Audio cassettes)

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:
A Question of God's Balance (Vol 1) by Joseph Thek


New Book Group #85 March 22, 2019
A variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
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
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
Follow the Stars Home, Hunting Badger, The Quiet Game and Second Wind

New Book Group #82 November 9, 2018

SINGLES:
Killing Time by Linda Howard
The Wedding Night by Barbara Dawson Smith

New Book Group #81 August 17, 2018
All Gone

New Book Group #80 August 17, 2018

Note: The Final Judgment and
The Book of Fate are Audio Cassettes
SINGLES:
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.

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
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
Crisscross by Harmon Henkin
Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey
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.)
Rehabilitation
Secret Blessing
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

(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 TWELVE years I have posted 91 groups of mostly 16 books plus an additional 21 totaling approximately 1,535 books available to find new homes! (As of November 26, 2021).

I am happy to say that so far at least 1,402 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, TWRP, 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!

MBS June 2022 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2022 Reading List - JUNE

Code for the list is:
A = Audible; ABB = Audiobook Boom
e = eBook; eA = eBook from Author; eT = eBook from Tour
NG = NetGalley
P = Print; PT = Print from Tour
LBC = Ladies Book Club
TBR = From the TBR shelves prior to 2022
Favorites for the month:

5 Stars =
4.75 Stars = The Unsinkable Gus Davis, Aeon Rising, Murder by Magic
4.5 Stars =  Three More Reacher, See You Someday Soon, Shards of Honor, Holy Chow, and Leila The Perfect Witch

1. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Swing Shift by William D. Arand; Genre: Crime Thriller, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
2. NG2022: #NetGalley ebook Review: The Unsinkable Gus Davis by Laurie Trumble Davis; Genre: Children: Pre School to 3rd, Ages 4-8; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0.
3. NG2022: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Aeon Rising: The Apocalypse Begins by Matthew Mather; Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Techno-thriller; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.
4. ATBR: Audio Book Reviews: Three More Jack Reacher Novellas by Lee Child; Genre: Mystery, Short Stories, Thriller; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
5. NG2022: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: See You Someday Soon by Pat Zietlow Miller; Genre: Children, Family; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
6. NG2022: Audible Book Review: Zombies A Record of the Year of Infection by Don Roff; Genre: Fantasy, Graphic Novel, Horror; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
7. ATBR: Audio Book Review: Bunker (Book 3) Code of Honor by Jay J. Falconer; Genre: Action, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Thriller; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
8. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold;Genre: Fantasy, Military Science Fiction; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
9. A2022: Audible Book Review: Quake!: Disaster in San Francisco, 1906 by Gail Langer Karwoski; Genre: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
10. NG2022: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Holy Chow (Andy Carpenter #25) by David Rosenfelt; Genre: Animal, Cozy, Legal, Mystery; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
11. NG2022: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Leila, The Perfect Witch by Flavia Z. Drago; Genre: Children, Siblings, Witches; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
12. A2022: Audible Book Review: Murder by Magic by Glynn Stewart; Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal, Urban; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.

Total read = 12
TBR = 5
New Authors = 8
Audio/Audible = 11 (5 TBRs)
NetGalley = 5 (4 audio) (0 TBRs)
Author Review books (other than NG) = 0 (0 TBR)
Nonfiction = 0
eBook = 1 (0 TBR)
Print = 0 (0 TBR)

Goal Progress (to Date meaning through the end of the given month):
Goodreads Goal Read to Date: 62 of 125
TBR to Date: 49 of 90 total
Audio to Date: 57 of 100
NetGalley to Date: 10 of 10
Author Reviews: 2 of 12
Nonfiction: 5 of 12
TBR ebooks or Print: 5 of 12

• Series: 42 of 75 (19 continuing, 23 new)
• New to me Series: 23 (7 Yes to continue; 7 likely to continue, 7 maybe, 2 unlikely)
• Finished for me Series: 3

Special Goals
• Seasonal title: 2 of 4: Winter, Spring
• Alphabet letters covered: AUDIO SERIES: 4 Jan, 2 Feb, 7 March, 3 April, 4 May, 2 June (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, Z) (22 of 26)   
Remaining: V, W, X, Y
• Alphabet letters covered: MIXED MEDIA (focus on stand alones but can be series): 3 Jan, 4 Feb, 3 March, 7 April, 3 May, 2 June; (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, U, W, Y, Z) (23 of 26)
Remaining: T, V, X

Sunday Post July 10, 2022/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday July 11, 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.

I'm still plugging away at work files and doing at least one extra each night.

I really had that craving for cake but I made cupcakes instead so I could eat minis. I substituted Almond Milk for water and applesauce for the oil. Too many for me so I took them to the office to share. Everyone liked that they are very moist, although my daughter said they were a little too sweet for her.

And I sauteed crooked neck squash with onion, topped with grated parmesan.

I continue with my previous prayer lists.

We are expecting another week of rain everyday with temps below 90.

I continue to enjoy my audios. I finished one audio book and 17 hours in a longer audio. I posted three reviews, and my usual memes.

I visited 17 blogs last week.
A Shout Out today to BOOK SERIES IN ORDER. I stumbled onto this site that has a lot of info to share!

Audible offerings for free children's titles ended June 30, 2021.
Audiobooks.com is still sharing some free listens for children.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post July 3, 2022/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday July 4, 2022.

• Audio Blitz: MAN OF WAR by T.J. London.

• NG2022: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Holy Chow (Andy Carpenter #25) by David Rosenfelt; Genre: Animal, Cozy, Legal, Mystery; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

• NG2022: #NetGalley Audio Book Review: Leila, The Perfect Witch by Flavia Z. Drago; Genre: Children, Siblings, Witches; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway July 8, 2022. Open Worldwide. Ending 7/15/2022.

• A2022: Audible Book Review: Murder by Magic by Glynn Stewart; Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal, Urban; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement July 10, 2022 - Installation and Restore My Soul.
  

Finished Reading:

1. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

End of Summer
By: S.M. Anderson
Narrated by: Jay Snyder
Series: Seasons of Man, Book 1 (2 books)
Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
This is a satisfactory Post-Apocalyptic story.
Source: 7/18/2021 Audible $5.00 sale.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:
1. Audio Smartphone Soundwise or on Computer (AT2022)

Man of War
The Rebels and Redcoats Saga Prequel
By: T.J. London
Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton, Kathryn Vinclaire, Patrick Zeller, John Hartley, Tara Langella, Jason Clarke, Dryw McArthur, Marnye Young, James Cheatham
Length: 22 hrs and 52 mins
I was provided an Audible Credit and now only have 5 hours left on this intense historical fiction.
Source: June 2022 audio received for Blitz and Review through Caffeinated PR.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible Smartphone (A2022)

The Plus One Pact
By: Portia MacIntosh
Narrated by: Karen Cass
Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
I had started this while waiting for the
Man of War link.
I am 2 hours in and enjoying the characters.
Source: 2/19/2022 Audible Plus Catalog.
(The availability to listen expires 7/27/2022.)
Publisher's Summary
What if your plus one could be the one?
Cara has officially run out of men. Her most recent dates have gone from bad to worse, and when her dating app informs her there is no one left in her area to choose from, she is at a dead end.
But with a summer of events ahead of her, she needs to find a solution, fast; someone to keep her company at the never-ending weddings, family gatherings and gender-reveal parties that she can’t face going to alone. So when she meets handsome, confident, Millsy on a night out, she may be in luck. They could not be more different in personality, but he, too, has a summer of events ahead and is desperate to get his family off his back about finding a ‘nice girl’. What if they made a pact to help each other out and be a plus one for the summer? Just as friends of course?
A brand-new romantic comedy from best seller Portia MacIntosh, perfect for fans of Zara Stoneley, Sophie Ranald and Mhairi McFarlane.
©2020 Portia MacIntosh (P)2020 Boldwood Books

July 10, 2022 - I am back on the day track and continue to enjoy the informative videos in The Bible Reading Plan is: BibleProject | One Story that Leads to Jesus. I am enjoying keeping up with my reading each day.
I am three days in on a seven day plan: Seek in Seven.

I completed one book and have two reviews to write and post this week. 
NETGALLEY STATUS-- I added another NetGalley but finished it this week. My NG shelf is back to the three old ebook titles. I will probably end up letting A Place Called Armageddon go as DNF.
I don't have any author reviews in my queue right now.
(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 or NetGalley titles this week.
I found two for One Credit audiobooks at Audiobooks.com and two Chirp Audiobooks for $.99 each.
I added just one free Kindle titles to my Kindle TBR library today.

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

7/9/2022 Audiobooks Two for One Credit.

Dark Intercept
Author Brian Andrews
Narrator: Macleod Andrews
Duration: 10 h 9 min

Trace of Doubt
Author Diann Mills
Narrator: Tara Langella
Duration: 8 h 50 min



7/10/2022 Two Chirp titles $.99 each.

Hurricane Beach
Written by Lexie Nicholas
Narrated by Frances Anderson
Run Time 6h 38min

In a Pickle
Written by Cindy Dorminy
Narrated by Anne Marie Damman
Run Time 8h 46min

Free

One free Kindle title this week:

Secret Beast (Beast of Bishop's Landing Book 1)
Amelia Wilde

One Free title added to Kindle library. Free titles often found at Bookbub, Bookfun, Book Adrenaline, Ereader News Today, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.