Audible Book Review: Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Fost

Although this is a nice cozy, I had some issues with the primary heroine.

'Twas the Knife Before Christmas: A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery, Book 2
By: Jacqueline Frost
Narrated by: Allyson Ryan

Series: A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery Series, Book 2
Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins
Release date: 11-13-18
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Amateur Sleuths, Cozy Mystery, Women Sleuths
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
A Christmas delight, 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas will charm the stockings off fans of Joanne Fluke and Leslie Meier.
It's out of the cupcake tin, into the fire for Holly White's best friend, Caroline. Can Holly clear Caroline's name in time to go caroling?
When a body turns up in the dumpster behind Caroline's Cupcakes, Holly White is horrified to learn her best friend, Caroline, is the main suspect. Everyone in town, including Mistletoe, Maine's sheriff, saw Caroline fighting with the victim on the night of his death. Worse, Caroline's fingerprints are all over the murder weapon, a custom-designed marble rolling pin. 
Now, just 10 days before Christmas, Holly's up to her jingle bells in holiday shenanigans and in desperate need of a miracle. Juggling extra shifts at her family's Christmas tree farm and making enough gingerbread jewelry to satisfy the crowd is already more than she can handle - and now she has to find time to clear her best friend of murder. Add in her budding relationship with the sheriff and run-ins with an ex-fiance looking to make amends, and Holly's ready to fly south until springtime. 
But her Sherpa-lined mittens come off when Caroline is taken into custody. Can Holly wrap up the case in time for Christmas...even after she gains the true killer's attention? Find out in 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas, Jacqueline Frost's second pine-scented Christmas Tree Farm mystery.
©2018 Jacqueline Frost (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Two weeks before Christmas, Holly is busy helping her parents with remodeling at their Christmas Tree Farm. Her best friend, Caroline, is coerced by her political father to attend a society event with an unpleasant, ‘handsy’ man. Caroline is caught on camera reprimanding the man for his inappropriate behavior. The next day, the tree lighting ceremony reveals the dead body of the man half buried in a giant dish of peppermint candies.

Everyone, including the local sheriff, Evan, is aware of the quarrel the night before. Then a butcher knife from Caroline’s Cupcake shop is found next to the dead man. When Caroline is arrested, Holly is determined to find the real killer and get her friend released before Christmas.

Holly found a dead body the Christmas before on the tree farm ( book 1, Twelve Slays of Christmas) and almost got killed while she was investigating. She and Evan began dating during that event and Evan is quick now to remind her to keep her nose out of this murder and allow him to due his job. Holly isn’t particularly inclined to listen to Evan who has been secretive and avoiding her company since the spring.

Soon Holly is getting threats from someone telling her not to pursue the investigation. Can Holly uncover helpful information without risky her own safety? And can she figure out what is going on with Evan?

I did like how the author developed interesting suspects and was curious to see how Holly found the killer. However, the relationship between Holly and Evan, with the months of evasion, lack of communication, and Holly’s hanging on and pushing was annoying and distracting to me. I was glad that an explanation was finally revealed but I do think this made the mystery less enjoyable for me. I enjoyed the inclusion of Santa in the story, and I still think this is a cute cozy series. Recommended for fans of cozy mysteries set in small town at Christmas time.

Audio Notes: Allyson Ryan does a good job with the narration. She provides sufficiently distinct character voices and conveys the emotion and energy of the story. I enjoyed the audio presentation.

Source: 11/7/22 Audible Plus. This qualifies for 2022Audiobook goal.

Martha's BookShelf Friday Pick December 16, 2022

Happy Friday!
TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK.
I had another long week and no rest insight. I do hope for a couple of easier days as the year comes to a close.
I still have some GC emails and payments to complete and books to pull for mailing soon. (Maybe with my extra day this weekend.)

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 December 9, 2022 Pick. There was no automatic win last 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 one winner (under 10 entries):
Random.org picked Winner from December 9, 2022 Pick:
#2 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.}

As the weather gets really cold this bulletin board sounds true, doesn't it?
Image found at Pinterest

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 THIRTEEN years I have posted 95 groups of mostly 16 books plus an additional 21 totaling approximately 1,541 books available to find new homes! (As of November 26, 2022).

I am happy to say that so far at least 1,408 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, 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: Last Stand: The Complete Box Set by William Weber

This four book box set presents a solid Post-Apocalyptic survival and military story.
Last Stand: The Complete Box Set
By: William Weber
Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

Series: Last Stand (Weber), Book 1-4
Length: 24 hrs and 50 mins
Release date: 09-20-17
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Dystopia, Military, Post-Apocalyptic, War
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Last Stand: Surviving America's Collapse: John Mack, a prepper and former soldier, struggles to save his family and community after an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) takes out the country's electrical grid. With most electronics, communications, and transportation destroyed in a matter of seconds, the nation quickly collapses into anarchy.
For John and the other residents of Willow Creek Drive, the breakdown of social order throws them back to the 1800s. As the community tries to come together, a powerful outside force appears that threatens their survival. Will John's years of military and prepping experience be enough to keep them safe?
Mixing tons of useful prepping tips into an action-packed story, Last Stand: Surviving America's Collapse is a must-listen for any fans of survival fiction.
Last Stand: Patriots: Three months after the EMP cripples the United States, John Mack and his family find their peaceful new existence shattered when a tyrant seizes control of the nearby town of Oneida. Soon John encounters a group of patriots who've sworn to stand against the growing despotism. But John will learn that nothing in this new post-EMP America is what it seems - and that the deadliest threats are often the ones you didn't see coming.
Last Stand: Warlords: Tormented by a past he can't forget, John Mack is about to face the toughest fight of his life. The tiny town of Oneida, Tennessee, stands in the crosshairs of Russian and Chinese armies threatening to push across the Mississippi river. With the United States fragmented and on the brink of military collapse, John will need to dig deeper than ever to defend his loved ones from enemies both foreign and domestic.
Last Stand: Turning the Tide: Foreign armies are poised along the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains preparing for the final assault and America's inevitable defeat. For John, turning back the tide will mean going deep behind enemy lines and organizing the very insurgency he fought so hard against in Iraq. But more than that, it'll mean coming to terms with the brutality of war and the realization that sometimes the deepest scars are the ones that can't be seen.
©2017 William Weber (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Last Stand: Surviving America's Collapse: John Mack is a retired soldier. His experience has made him cautious enough to be a ‘prepper’, planning for a day of disaster. He has set up a bunker with supplies at home and has arranged a safe location to take his family when things get too rough at home. When the power goes down after an EMP strike, making computers, phones, and modern vehicles obsolete, John and his family hesitate to leave their home. Instead, John steps up to lead his neighbors at Willow Creek Drive, to gather to try to survive the immediate danger. Unfortunately, an outside mass of evil comes to take their supplies. John may be able to provide weapons and lead the community in a battle but at what cost?

Last Stand: Patriots: John and a group of survivors from Willow Creek are working to survive on the outskirts of a larger town, Oneida, Tennessee. John and his scouts are concerned that the nearby town has been taken over by enemies posing as US government who ask the people to turn in their arms on the pretext of safety. John has no choice but to take action when his wife and daughter are kidnapped by the enemy. In the process of gaining more information, a group of dedicated patriots align with John to expose the treachery and save the town… at least from the immediate enemy. They soon learn that the US is battling Russian and Chinese forces threatening along the Mississippi River.

Last Stand: Warlords: The town of Oneida is a point for supply movement and the Chinese don’t want to give it up. Most towns have allowed the enemy to infiltrate and take over from within. John and his patriots in Oneida are one of the few American strong holds, which brings them to the attention of a struggling US military. John is brought back into military service and tasked to take volunteers and conscripted men to the front line while also continuing to protect the town. The task isn’t easy especially when it is clear there is a mole in their midst. John’s job becomes more stressful when his 16 year old son and another young teen run off to fight at the front of the line.

Last Stand: Turning the Tide: John fought insurgents in Iraq. Although his memories are difficult, he has learned military strategies that he thinks will help in the extreme situation the US military finds itself in. John is bucking heads with a superior officer who is threatened by John’s successful plans. Fortunately, some of the higher leadership is willing to listen to John’s strategic suggestions. John and a small team reach out to other communities to set up pockets of resistance. Slowly John and the military begin to experience wins that give them hope.

I did enjoy this series and I think it was good that I listened to all four books during a couple of weeks rather than over months (or years). I mostly liked the main character, John, although he was a bit too much of being right. I didn’t think his flashbacks to Iraq added that much to the story as the impact of his past military service could be added in a quicker way. I do think the family, neighbors, and later, team warriors, added to the action of the story. There was good prepper information mixed in well with the military. The series is entertaining, and I would recommend it to fans of post-apocalyptic stories with military elements.

Audio Notes: Kevin Stillwell does a good job with the narration. He provided distinct character voices and did well with the foreign accents. The narration made this an easier listen.

Source: 11/3/17 Audible Purchase for $1.95. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

MBS November 2022 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2022 Reading List - NOVEMBER

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 = The Clause in Christmas, The Christmas Heirloom
4.75 Stars =
4.5 Stars = Beauty and the Clockwork Beast

1. ATBR: Audible Book Review: White Wasteland by Jeff Kirkham, Jason Ross; Genre: Military, Post-Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
2. ATBR: Audio Book Review: The Clause in Christmas by Rachael Bloome; Genre: Christmas, Contemporary, Romance; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.
3. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Space Knight by Michael-Scott Earle; Genre: Fantasy, LitRpg, Magic, Sci Fi, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
4. ATBR: Audio Book Review: The Christmas Heirloom: Four Holiday Novellas of Love Through the Generations; Genre: Christmas, Collection, Historical, Inspirational, Religious, Romance; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.
5. ATBR: Audio Book Review: Murder in Her Stocking by G. A. McKevett; Genre: Christmas, Contemporary, Romance; My Rating: 3.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.5; Narration 3.25.
6. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Beauty and the Clockwork Beast by Nancy Campbell Allen; Genre: Paranormal, Steampunk, Victorian Romance; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
7. ATBR: Audio Book Review: It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis; Genre: Classics, Dystopian, Science Fiction; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
8. ATBR: Audible Book Review: Forward, Stories of Tomorrow by Veronica Roth, Blake Crouch, N. K. Jemisin, Amor Towles, Paul Tremblay, Andy Weir; Genre: Anthologies, Futuristic, Science Fiction; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.
9. ATBR: Audible Book Review: You Can Thank Me Later by Kelly Harms; Genre: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Grief; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
10. ATBR: Audible Book Review: The Cowboys of Copper Mountain: A Christmas Collection by Katherine Garbera, Jane Porter, Melissa McClone; Genre: Anthology, Christmas, Contemporary, Holidays, Romance; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Total read = 10
TBR = 9
New Authors = 16
Audio/Audible = 10 (9 TBRs)
NetGalley = 0 (0 audio) (0 TBRs)
Author Review books (other than NG) = 0 (0 TBR)
Nonfiction = 0
eBook = 0 (0 TBR)
Print = 0 (0 TBR)

Goal Progress (to Date meaning through the end of the given month):
(COMPLETE) Goodreads Goal Read to Date: 128 of 125
(COMPLETE) TBR to Date: 100 of 90 total
(COMPLETE) Audio to Date: 114 of 100
(COMPLETE) NetGalley to Date: 14 of 10
Author Reviews: 3 of 12
Nonfiction: 9 of 12
TBR ebooks or Print: 9 of 12

• Series: 87 of 75 (31 continuing, 56 new)
• New to me Series: 56 (19 Yes to continue; 17 likely to continue, 16 maybe, 4 unlikely)
• Finished for me Series: 3

Special Goals
• (COMPLETE)Seasonal title: 4 of 4: Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn

• Alphabet letters covered: AUDIO SERIES: 4 Jan, 3 Feb, 7 March, 3 April, 4 May, 2 June, 0 July, 1 August, 1 September, 0 October, 1 November (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, Y, Z) (25 of 26)   
Remaining: X
• Alphabet letters covered: MIXED MEDIA (focus on stand alones but can be series): 2 Jan, 6 Feb, 3 March, 7 April, 3 May, 2 June; 1 July, 0 August, 0 September, 0 October, 0 November (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, W, Y, Z) (24 of 26)
Remaining: V, X

Sunday Post December 11, 2022/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday December 12, 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 spent Monday in Panama City Beach taking Heather to the emergency room. She had fever spikes of 104 and 105 over the weekend and a sharp pain along her left arm. They tested her for Covid, Flu, and Strep and she was positive for Strep. They gave her a shot and sent us home with prescriptions. As of Wednesday she was no better and had broken out in hives. She got a telahealth visit with her doctor on Thursday who determined she may have reacted to the penicillin in the prescription. (My eldest brother and I are both allergic to penicillin so it seems to have a genetic reaction.) They ordered a different antibiotic and she was doing better by Saturday.

Needless to say, I had to pick up on her work for the closings and fundings during the week. That put my work behind another several days. *Sigh.*

Our Marianna Woman's Club (MWC)  Bids, Bows and Mistletoe Auction on Tuesday was great fun and a successful fund raiser! We were very pleased.

Here is the girls' (daughter and granddaughters) shopping picture
from Saturday a week ago.

My prayers include prayers for more unity in all nations. I am enjoying the advent season and keeping in mind the "reason for the season".

Most of the weather this past week was nice but we had a terrible blanket of fog on Thursday night. My distance contact eye was being blurry as well as the inside of the car being fogged. I could barely drive home and almost called my assistant to drive me.

This coming week our day temps will be a little cooler - 57 to 72 - with rain several days.

This week I enjoyed two (almost three) more audios. I posted three reviews and my regular Memes.

I visited 17 blogs last week.
Shout out this week to BOOK DEN. Interesting that Jennifer lists Horror first in her reading genres.  But she includes "fantasy, science fiction, and more"! Check out some of her choices.

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

These were the posts last week:

• Sunday Post December 4, 2022/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday December 5, 2022.

• Martha's BookShelf Friday Pick December 9, 2022 Giveaway. Open Worldwide. Ending 12/8/2022.
  

• ATBR: Audible Book Review: You Can Thank Me Later by Kelly Harms; Genre: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Grief; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

• ATBR: Audible Book Review: The Cowboys of Copper Mountain: A Christmas Collection by Katherine Garbera, Jane Porter, Melissa McClone; Genre: Anthology, Christmas, Contemporary, Holidays, Romance; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

• ATBR: Audible Book Review: Venus Plus X by Theodore Sturgeon; Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement December 11, 2022 -Glorious Joy!
  

Finished Reading:
1. Audible Smartphone (A2022)

'Twas the Knife Before Christmas: A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery, Book 2
By: Jacqueline Frost
Narrated by: Allyson Ryan
Series: A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery Series, Book 2
Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins
Although this is a nice cozy, I had some issues with the primary heroine.
Source: 11/7/22 Audible Plus.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible Smartphone (A2022)

Icequake
By: Crawford Kilian
Narrated by: Tim Campbell
Series: Icequake, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
This is a story of survival against the ice and cold.
I saw this was only available free through 12/20/2022 so I chose to read it.
Source: 11/5 Audible Plus Catalog.
Publisher's Summary
A group of 27 scientists and explorers are stranded in Antarctica.
Residing in a station known as Shackleton, they are studying the seismic activity of the region. An eruption of the nearby volcano, Mount Erebus, soon sends quakes throughout the continent with devastating results.
All radio communication has been disabled by the breakdown of the magnetic field. Evacuation is unlikely. No one knows whether they survived the icequake, and their station is now moving two kilometres north each day with the strong aftershocks. They are on their own, with limited food and resources.
Do they stay put and risk being caught in the next series of icequakes and avalanches? Or do they pack up and trek over dangerous territories to the neighbouring station?
Icequake is a gripping prophetic sci-fi disaster novel, full of excitement and danger in every chapter.
©2017 Crawford Kilian (P)2018 Podium Publishing

Currently Reading:
1. Audible Smartphone (A2022)

This Fallen World
By: Christopher Woods
Narrated by: Mark Boyett
Series: The Fallen World, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
I am liking the action in this story. I have finished the first two novellas and will likely finish on Monday.
This title also is only available free only through 12/20/2022.
Source: 11/5 Audible Plus Catalog.
Publisher's Summary
The world has Fallen, but life goes on....
Matthew Kade was a corporate assassin - one of the best agents Obsidian Corporation had. But then the bombs began falling, and the old world ended. Now he must navigate the new world he finds himself in, a world where the strongest survive, and the weaker do their bidding...or die. 
Kade was always one of the strongest, though, so when a rich man’s daughter goes missing, he turns to Kade to find her and bring her back. But she has already been gone three days, and in the Fallen World, that is an eternity in which any number of things could have happened to her. 
Can Kade - a man with a price on his head - pick up the trail of the young woman and navigate the streets of the city to find her, or will the city’s denizens be the end of him? It will take all of Kade’s abilities to find her and save her life...if he doesn’t lose his first. 
This Fallen World includes three novellas in an exciting new universe by best-selling author Christopher Woods. You’ll want to get it - right now!
©2018 Blood Moon Press (P)2019 Podium Publishing.

2. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

Don't Call Me Ishmael
By: Chris Kennedy
Narrated by: Mark Boyett
Series: The Fallen World, Book 2
Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
This is another story in The Fallen World series and it expires 12/20/22 so I am listening this week.
Source: 11/5 Audible Plus Catalog.
Publisher's Summary
Don’t call him Ishmael. Or do; he really doesn’t care. Just don’t call him Fred.
No matter what you call him, though, he has a problem. Well, several of them. Ishmael - for want of a better name - woke up in a world that had changed. The Corporations - the wielders of power in a society not long from now - brought about the end of civilization as we know it, nuking each other to the point where it collapsed. 
Ishmael doesn’t know any of this, though; in fact, he doesn’t know anything about himself when he wakes up in this shattered world. All of his autobiographical and episodic memories are gone, and along with them, any knowledge of who he was or anything in his past. 
Worse, he has made enemies of some very important people, and they are after him. They are armed and he is alone and in...well, he doesn’t know where he is, either. 
Can Ishmael stay alive long enough to recover his memories - to find out who he is and how he fits - or will he be just another casualty of This Fallen World?
©2019 Blood Moon Press (P)2019 Podium Publishing.

I just found several other titles in my library (and not) that are only available until 12/20/22. They appear to be in the sci fi genres I like. I am likely to fit in another of those rather than a Christmas title this week.

December 11, 2022 -  I continue up to date and love that I learn new things each time I read/listen to the scriptures. I get excited watching the devotion videos. The Bible Reading Plan is: BibleProject | One Story that Leads to Jesus. It really soothes me to read/listen to the pieces each day.
I enjoyed and finished the study: 10 Days of Christmas Truths to Live All Year.

I read two audio titles and reviewed three. So I now have 3 (one book is a 4 book boxed set so it either counts for 4 or 1) books to review (plus 7 children's books). I keep working on these. :-)

NETGALLEY STATUS--
Back to the three old ebook titles. I will probably end up letting A Place Called Armageddon go as DNF.
I have one author review in my queue that I need to start reading on my computer.
(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.

I tend to fill up on titles in December so they will qualify for TBRs in 2023.
No new review titles this week although I plan to go look at NetGalley this week.
Two for one credit audios from Audiobooks.com.
I selected my December VIP pick at Audiobooks. com.
I found 7 more plus titles from Audible - 4 Christmas and 3 Season titles.
I also got three free Kindle titles this week.
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

12/9/2022 I used a credit for 2 for 1 Holiday Romance titles at Audiobooks.com. They have a wonderful selection, and I may use another credit before the year is over. I chose these two as they are no available at Audible.

A Winter Wedding at Willow Tree Hall
Series: #3 of The Willow Tree Hall Series
Written by: Alison Sherlock
Narrated by: Penny Andrews
Duration: 9 hours 10 minutes

A Christmas Wish and a Cranberry Kiss at the Cosy Kettle
Series: #3 of The Cosy Kettle Series
Written by: Liz Eeles
Narrated by: Jessica Preddy
Duration: 8 hours 26 minutes

Free

12/7/2022 This was my December VIP pick at Audiobooks.com.

Wolf of Wessex
Written by: Matthew Harffy
Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
Duration: 10 hours 43 minutes



12/9/2022 These are more titles from Audible Plus Catalog. Some for Christmas and some for other seasons.

Bright Winter Lights
By: Liz Maverick
Narrated by: Andrew Eiden, Emily Lawrence
Length: 3 hrs and 33 mins

Once Upon a Christmas Carol
By: Karen Schaler
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley, Ryan Paevey, full cast
Length: 2 hrs and 17 mins

The Kidnapped Christmas Bride
By: Jane Porter
Narrated by: Loretta Rawlins
Series: The Taming of the Sheenans, Book 3
Length: 4 hrs and 55 mins

Snow Day
By: Julie Lipson
Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi, Victor Bevine, Fred Berman, Elizabeth Jasicki, Eliza Foss, Kevin Pariseau, Angelo Di Loreto, Clara Francesca, Fulvio Della Volta
Length: 1 hr and 11 mins

A Springtime to Remember
By: Lucy Coleman
Narrated by: Lucy Scott
Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins

Summer of Secrets
Seasons of the Heart, Book 1
By: Charlotte Hubbard
Narrated by: Susan Boyce
Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins

Autumn Winds
Seasons of the Heart, Book 2
By: Charlotte Hubbard
Narrated by: Susan Boyce
Series: Seasons of the Heart (Hubbard), Book 2
Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins


KINDLE TITLES:
12/5/2022 Three Kindle titles:

Last Chance Ranch (Last Chance Ranch Romance Book 1)
Liz Isaacson
(I have further books in this series on my Audio TBR.)

The Day He Drove By: Sweet Contemporary Romance (Hawthorne Harbor Romance Book 1)
Elana Johnson

Murder at the Snowed Inn: A Cozy Winter Murder Mystery
(Claire Andersen Murder for All Seasons Cozy Mystery Series Book 1)
Imogen Plimp
(I love the dog on this cover- he is so cute!)


Three new 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.