#NetGalley Audio Review: Santa's Little Yelpers by David Rosenfelt

I always enjoy the legal process and police procedures of this series. This did not disappoint.
Santa's Little Yelpers
An Andy Carpenter Mystery
By: David Rosenfelt
Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Series: An Andy Carpenter Novel, Book 26
Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins
Release date: 10-11-22
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Animals, Lawyer, Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
This program is read by award-winning longtime series narrator, Grover Gardner.
"Listening to Grover Gardner narrating a David Rosenfelt novel is like sliding into favorite slippers at the end of a long day: One feels the joyful gratification of a perfect fit."—AudioFile Magazine on Bark of Night
Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his humorous investigating team return in Santa's Little Yelpers, the next Yuletide mystery in David Rosenfelt’s bestselling series.
'Tis the season in Paterson, New Jersey: Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, are surrounded by holiday cheer. It’s even spread to the Tara Foundation. The dog rescue organization, not used to having puppies, has their hands full with a recent litter. Eight puppies are a lot to handle, and Andy is relieved when his co-worker Chris Myers agrees to foster them.
Myers, a newer employee at the Tara Foundation, did time for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. When Myers discovers a key witness against him lied on the stand, he goes to Andy to ask for representation in getting the conviction overturned. Myers thinks they can have this wrapped up by Christmas, no problem.
But when the witness is murdered, and Myers is arrested for the crime, things go from bad to worse. Suddenly, it’s all elves on deck to make a list and check it twice, so they can prove Myers is innocent.
A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books.
©2022 David Rosenfelt (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Review:
Once again, a murder case falls at the feet of reluctant attorney Andy Carpenter. A newer employee at the Tara Foundation, Chris Myers, previously spent time in jail for a murder he insists he didn’t commit. When a key prosecutor witness in his case is on the cusp of recanting his testimony, the man ends up dead. Myers is the primary suspect since he was present when the man was killed. It might appear coincidental but really it is a well-planned frame up.

Andy is pulled in to represent Myers and Andy soon is calling on his full investigative team to take on the case. Par for course, the deeper Andy probes, the more bodies appear, and his own life is put at risk.

This is an easy listen. As usual, the plot has twisty suspect lines that might involve the mob or radical groups. The FBI might even get involved. You just don’t know until Andy ferrets out the bad guys. I totally enjoy this series and recommend this to mystery and legal procedure fans.

Audio Notes: Grover Gardner delivers wonderful narration. The few times I have read a book in this series, I can still hear Gardner’s voice. The narration adds to my enjoyment of the story.

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

Audible Book Review: An Univited Ghost by E.J. Copperman

I enjoyed this as a lighter, haunted, cozy mystery.

An Uninvited Ghost
By: E.J. Copperman
Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi

Series: Haunted Guesthouse, Book 2
Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
Release date: 10-22-13
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Ghosts, Woman Sleuth
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Alison and her resident gumshoe ghost are on their next case when the deceased Scott MacFarlane floats in worried that he accidentally killed a prominent local woman. Turns out she's still alive...that is, of course, until she's murdered - in Alison's house. Now, between the demands of her guests and the arrival of a reality television crew, Alison must find the killer before she sees reality from the other side.
©2011 Jeffrey Cohen (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Alison is hosting a group of guests who signed on for a ‘unique tour’ that includes “ghost” experiences. Fortunately, Alison is able to accommodate as she works with her house ghosts, Maxi, a former owner, and Paul, a PI hired by Maxi. Other guests who arrive to camp out back are teens from a reality television show. This increases the suspect pool as well as elevating the drama around the ongoing events.

Another ghost, Scott, shows up worried he was tricked into killing a local woman. Alison checks into the situation and learns that the woman is alive. She invites her to visit the next night for a séance but then the woman is murdered at the event. Now Alison, with some help from Paul, is intent on finding the murderer before the authorities shut down her guesthouse.

There is plenty of background banter between the ghosts and Alison. I enjoyed the quirky characters and the pursuit of the mystery. I appreciate that this is an easy, and enjoyable listen. I will continue more in the series. I recommend this to fans of cozy mysteries, especially if they like ghost characters too.

Audio Notes: Amanda Ronconi continues to do a nice job with the narration. I like her clear, distinct voices, and the appropriate energy that she gives the characters. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: October 2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Sunday Post October 30, 2022/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday October 31, 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 feel like I am in the "wash, rinse and repeat" cycle of busy weeks. Fortunately I started the week with a nice family visit for Sunday dinner and Monday lunch.

We remembered to get a pic after enjoying dinner.
My brother and his significant other are at the far end.
My stepmom's service dog, Sofie, fit right in for the picture.

My Stepmom, my local girls (daughter and granddaughters), and me.

Friday night I had a woman's event dinner to visit with a club state leader before Saturday's luncheon event held in the next town over.

I continue with my previous prayer lists.

We had some rain today but not stormy as expected. The church postponed a Family Festival event a week because we expected the weather to be much worse.
We'll be in low 80s during the days this week and lows in high 50s during the nights..

This week I enjoyed one last #Fraterfest audio and then a longer audio epic tale. I slipped in three review posts at the end of the week, and my regular Memes.

I visited 16 blogs last week.
Shout out this week to MY OWN BOOKSHELVES. It looks like the blog is primary on romance. Karen says: "I am passionate about reading. What you will find here are my thoughts on all things in literary world."

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 October 23, 2022/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday October 24, 2022.

• MBS September 2022 Reading List Wrap Up.

• Martha's BookShelf Friday Pick October 28, 2022 Giveaway.  Open Worldwide. Ending 11/3/2022.
  

• ATBR: Audible Book Review: Death Overdue: A Haunted Library Mystery by Allison Brook; Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Cozy Mystery, Woman Sleuth; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

• ATBR: Audio Book Review: Galvanism and Ghouls, Book 2 of Manners and Monsters Collection by Tilly Wallace; Genre: Cozy Mystery, Gaslamp, Paranormal; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• ATBR: Audible Book Review: A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore; Genre: Occult, Satire, Supernatural; My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.5; Narration 4.0.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement October 30, 2022 - Don't Grow Weary of Doing Good.
  

Finished Reading:

Final #Fraterfest title: 1. Audio Smartphone (ATBR)

What Lurks Beneath [Dramatized Adaptation]
Written by Ryan Lockwood
Narrated by Collected Narrators
This is an entertaining horror in the depths story.
Source: October 27th, 2021 Chirp Purchase $3.99.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audio Smartphone (ATBR)

The Warded Man
Written By: Peter V. Brett
Narrated By: Peter Bradbury
Publisher: Recorded Books
Date: December 2009
Duration: 18 hours 16 minutes
This is a very engaging Epic
Source: 10/16/19 Audiobook.com VIP.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:

1. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

White Wasteland
A Black Autumn Saga (White Wasteland Series, Book 1)
By: Jeff Kirkham, Jason Ross
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
Length: 12 hrs and 50 mins
I chose this for "Autumn" title and because I'm ready for a Post Apocalyptic. Source: 3/3/22 New-to-Me series purchased at Audible Sale for $3.74.
Publisher's Summary
As winter descends on a broken nation, the Homestead survival compound squares off against Mother Nature and an unstoppable wave of human suffering against a violent flu, coupled with desperate mobs and a fanatical warlord.
The Special Forces warriors and their civilian fight force face a moral collapse at home as the founder of the Homestead struggles with the demons of his own, while a secretive group of Homestead women follow their hearts into uncharted waters, tossing the fragile community into further turmoil.
Strange visions, precarious faith, and troubled dreams gnaw at the Homestead, but are keys to their survival buried in their inmost truths?
The saga of Black Autumn continues in book one of the White Wasteland Series.
©2021 Jeff Kirkham, Jason Ross (P)2021 Jeff Kirkham, Jason Ross

2. Audio Smartphone (ATBR)

The Clause in Christmas
by Rachael Bloome
Read by E.L. Beckett
Run Time 8h 15min
I'm ready to enjoy some Christmas reading.
Source: 12/16/2021 purchase at Chirp for $1.99.
Publisher Description
An unexpected inheritance. A pesky clause in the will. And 25 days to avoid falling in love…
Cassie Hayward hates Christmas. Especially this year.
No job. Flat broke. And an ex most definitely on the naughty list.
The unexpected inheritance of a charming Victorian cottage in the small town of Poppy Creek may be the Christmas miracle Cassie needs.
Except for one itty-bitty problem: a clause in the will.
To inherit the house, Cassie must complete a series of festive tasks every day in December leading up to Christmas. All overseen by the handsome, Christmas-loving lawyer Luke Davis.
Luke is as strong and steady as the bespoke furniture he crafts as a hobby. He has to be. Stepping into his late father’s shoes as the town lawyer comes with a sleigh full of responsibilities. Which means the captivating stranger collecting her inheritance is a distraction he can’t afford.
As the unlikely pair complete the daily tasks, their hearts begin to soften. But will the wounds from their pasts—and an unexpected visitor—steal what little hope they have left?
Find out in this heartwarming holiday romance.

October 30, 2022 - I am continuing 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.
No new study this past week.

I read two audio titles and reviewed three so I am making slow progress but still need to review: 10 books (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 reviews 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.

No new review titles this week.
I picked two for one Credit deal on mystery thriller at Audiobooks.com.
I found two post -apocalyptic on Audible Plus.
One free Kindle title this week.
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

10/29/2022 Two for one Credit deal on mystery thriller at Audiobooks.com.

The Good Daughter, A Novel
By: Karin Slaughter
Narrated by: Kathleen Early
Series: The Good Daughter, Book 1
Duration: 17 hrs and 52 mins

Savage Run
A Joe Pickett Novel, Book 2
By: C. J. Box
Narrated by: David Chandler
Duration: 8 hours 51 minutes

Free

I found these two on Audible Plus. I have book one of the Extinction Cycle series.

Extinction Inferno: Extinction Cycle: Dark Age, Book 2
By: Nicholas Sansbury Smith , Anthony J. Melchiorri
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Series: Extinction Cycle: Dark Age, Book 2
Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins

Whispers of Ash
The Whispers of Ash Series, Book 1
By: Adrian J. Smith
Narrated by: Raphael Corkhill
Series: The Nameless, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins

One Free Kindle Title:
(Seen at The Book Connection through Mailbox Monday link.)

The Little Bookstore Murder (A Julia Greene Travel Mystery Book 3)
Linda Clayton

One 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.

Sunday Words of Encouragement October 30, 2022 -- Don't Grow Weary of Doing Good!

Our Sunday School teacher advised us we only have another 3-4 weeks to finish our two year study of Revelation. 😊 This week’s lesson regarded the Millennium and what would be happening during that period.

The service started with some nice, older praise songs. Then, after encouraging our being obedient to share tithes, and offerings (don't rob God Malachi 3:8). Pastor preached on Doing Good. The message was based on Galatians 6:1-10.

“Weary” in the context of this scripture is beyond being tired. It means being disheartened or discouraged. Believers are told ‘Do not grow weary’. Recognize that the attack of discouragement is an attack of the devil.

‘In due season we will reap a harvest.’ Although many allergy-sensitive people are not happy at this season, Pastor loves the season of peanut harvest. This scripture tells us that ‘if you do good, you will reap a harvest in time.’ The harvests will be different and will come at different times (seasons) for different people.

You can't reap if you give up. Hang in like “Hair in the biscuit” (a rather yucky image).

How do we continue to do good?
1. Restore and minister to others. v1. Show grace. Not condemnation. (See v3.)
2. Bear one another burdens. v2. This doesn’t mean you have to help a lazy person (see v4-5) but we can help those who need extra or who are going through times of struggle. Believers are exhorted to show the love of God, especially to others in the ‘family’.
3. Self-evaluate and work out your own situation. v4. Don't be critical of others. We are reminded to stay in our own lane. Only the Holy Spirit can truly ‘fix’ others.
4. Bear your own load. v5.

When we sow goodness, we will receive a response of blessing that is recognizable. v6-8. The farmer plants a single seed, kernel of corn, or one peanut. He harvests a multitude: a spike, an ear of corn, and a peanut bush. Believers reap blessings and eternal life.

Stop and ask: What am I investing my time in? An old adage says: “You have time for what you make time for.”
Our God is a God of the harvest, especially an eternal harvest. Keep serving and doing good.

This is a song that speaks of God’s great goodness and faithfulness which I have seen in my own life.

Verses for Today:
Galatians 6:9-10 NIV
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.


Lord and Spirit – Please help me to keep on doing good … for Your Glory!

 

Audible Book Review: A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

This is a bit rough with language and reasoning, but it has some funny moments.
A Dirty Job
By: Christopher Moore
Narrated by: Fisher Stevens

Series: Grim Reaper, Book 1 (2 books)
Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins
Release date: 01-01-06
Publisher: HarperAudio
Genre: Occult, Satire, Supernatural
My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.5; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Charlie Asher is a pretty normal guy. A little hapless, somewhat neurotic, sort of a hypochondriac. He's what's known as a Beta Male: the kind of fellow who makes his way through life by being careful and constant, you know, the one who's always there to pick up the pieces when the girl gets dumped by the bigger/taller/stronger Alpha Male.
But Charlie's been lucky. He owns a building in the heart of San Francisco, and runs a secondhand store with the help of a couple of loyal, if marginally insane, employees. He's married to a bright and pretty woman who actually loves him for his normalcy. And she, Rachel, is about to have their first child.
Yes, Charlie's doing okay for a Beta. That is, until the day his daughter, Sophie, is born. Just as Charlie, exhausted from the birth, turns to go home, he sees a strange man in mint-green golf wear at Rachel's hospital bedside, a man who claims that no one should be able to see him. But see him Charlie does, and from here on out, things get really weird.
People start dropping dead around him, giant ravens perch on his building, and it seems that everywhere he goes, a dark presence whispers to him from under the streets. Strange names start appearing on his nightstand notepad, and before he knows it, those people end up dead, too. Yup, it seems that Charlie Asher has been recruited for a new job, an unpleasant but utterly necessary one: Death. It's a dirty job. But hey, somebody's gotta do it.
©2006 Christopher Moore (P)2006 HarperCollinsPublishers

Review:
Charlie Asher is a normal, not particularly impressive guy; a rather hapless, beta male. He was fortunate to be running his family’s business, a secondhand store with some helpful, if weird, employees. And somehow Charlie landed a lovely wife, Rachel.

When Rachel goes into labor, Charlie’s narcotic behavior causes the nurses to run him out of the room. After Rachel delivers a precious baby girl, Charlie returns to the room to be surprised to see a stranger there. The stranger is surprised too as no one is supposed to be able to see him. The man is a deliverer of death or soul collector who claims the souls of those dying.

Charlie returns home with his daughter Sophie and struggles to get over the loss of his beloved wife. But soon he begins to see strange things, like red glowing items in his store and beyond. Next, people start to die near him. One of his employees, a goth girl fascinated by ghoulish things, takes a book sent to Charlie that tells him he is now a soul collector and what he is supposed to do. She doesn’t consider him worthy, so she wants to claim the book.

Meanwhile, Charlie continues with strange things, finding names and numbers on his bedside table, seeing giant ravens on the roof, spotting shadows on the street, and hearing challenging whispers from the street gutters. Eventually, Charlie learns what is going on and he begins to stumble through his new “job” as a deliverer of death and collector of souls. Still, powers of darkness are creepy forward and becoming more threatening.

The story goes off on a strange path with the soul collectors finally facing off against the demons which want to take over the souls of San Francisco. I am glad there was strong humor to offset some terribly strong language. There was also some clear stereotyping that could be offensive to some if they don’t appreciate the satire. I did like several of the secondary characters, including Sophie. I also liked the quotes at the beginning of the chapters. I am not sure if I will continue with the series, but I can recommend this to fans of occult who aren’t offended by the foul language.

Audio Notes: Fisher Stevens does a good job with the narration. His voice appropriately fits the crazy characters. I’m glad I had the audio.

Source: 7/18/21 Audible $5.00 sale on Sci Fi and Fantasy titles. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.