Sunday Words of Encouragement May 1, 2016

Our Sunday School teacher was out so his substitute brought us a wonderful video of Jonathan Cahn’s recent prophesy presentation. The end was an uplifting confirmation that “our God is real”. Coincidentally our choir song this morning was He’s Real.

Pastor sang a lovely solo, Never too Broken to Belong. This lead to his sermon “Living a Life of Praise”.

Our attitude towards praise is powerful; it can impact others. As Jesus was preparing for his death, he comforted his disciples saying “Let not your hearts be troubled. John 14:1. This wasn’t a suggestion but a command; He knew that his followers would soon be facing trouble.

Believers/followers do not need to cry out to God as they only need to reach out.
God is already here, all the time. What the believer needs to do is check their pulse and make sure they are rejoicing and praising God -always. Philippians 4:4. Even work is worship to God. Believers should be praising each day at work. We are not victims of our circumstances; they are only temporary. If we are disobedient, like the Israelites, God will send punishment. Deuteronomy 30:15. Praise Him, trust Him. Praising is not a byproduct but a driving force. Psalm 22:23.

This is the choir song we sang today.

I didn’t find a praise song I wanted to use today so I was led back to this one which works for me!

Verses for Today:
Philippians 4:4-5 (NIV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

I thank you Lord for all your blessings. I thank you that you are omniscient. I thank you for giving me praise to trust you in all things. Help me to praise you every day.

Sharing Beyond Books #250 Comment Giveaway April 30, 2016

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
We are securely in Spring with the beautiful flowers and weather, even with some rain. I won't speculate on how soon we will move into Summer weather.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

Four commenters are adamant that they always prefer the book to the movie. Two more don't watch movies so the book is always better. Two commenters rarely watch the movie as well as reading the book. That leaves six of us who have seen at least one movie that was better than the book and MaryP agrees that sometimes a movie can help explain a book.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #249 comments is: #14 Janhvi who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated ARC/Review titles or (not yet updated) Love titles - all linked near the end of the post. [I'm hoping to update the book choices - maybe the beginning of next year, lol.] Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #250

(One Question.)

My question this week. (This has been in my Q queue since 2013.) 1. Do you watch political debates and/or follow election coverage??

It is not my intent to discuss the candidates but, yes, I am following the campaign news. It is hard in a presidential election year not to. The debates and campaigns this year have been disappointing to me. My primary observation is that I wish I was hearing a lot more on the issues and less name calling across the board. It appears we have to do a little more digging to see the real positions.

Image from The Odessey On Line.. 

I appreciated the well stated article (except for the swear words) by Todd Daniel Crawford.

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use.
Oops - I forgot to announce April comment provider winner. The comments were provided by: Carol, Rosebud, BN100 and Elizabeth.
Random.org picked #2 so Rosebud gets a book or GC.

Your turn to share:
My question this week. (This has been in my Q queue since 2013.) 1. Do you watch political debates and/or follow election coverage??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books or the February 2015 Newly Updated ARC/Review List. (My daughter pulled several of the Christmas titles to give with gift bags we made up for the nursing homes. One of these days I will get together a new box of Christmas titles.)

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday May 7, 2016 at 5 PM central.

Audio Book Review: Dark Sanity by Paul L. Centeno

This action packed sci fi adventure is very entertaining.

Dark Sanity
Written by: Paul L. Centeno
Narrated by: Martin Wurst

Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-28-16
Publisher: Paul Centeno
Genre: Sci Fi, Steampunk
My Rating: 4.5 0f 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Set in the 54th century, the story focuses on Flint Cross, a gunslinger ripped from his roots in the Wild West and placed into the desolation of post-apocalyptic Australia. Plagued with amnesia and nightmares, he finds himself lost and on the brink of madness, doomed to forever wander an empty realm of war-torn souls.
But with the very fate of the universe in Flint's hands, the ancient forces of the aboriginal dreamtime are his only hope. Through seemingly endless experimentation, he must learn to recover his lost memories, raise an army, and construct a steam-powered, interstellar starship to locate and take down his enemy - all while working against the clock and resisting the slowly creeping insanity that threatens to keep him lost forever.
©2014 Paul L. Centeno (P)2016 Paul L. Centeno

Review:
Flint Cross is a gunslinger protecting the town and people of Desones in Australia. He loves his daughter and son who are on the verge of adulthood yet can’t cope being around his wife, Amanda, who constantly complains about his roaming the wilds. Flint doesn’t understand his compunction to take care of the people but it’s what he does in between dreams and nightmares. Flint is troubled by dreams of a beautiful woman and a war-torn past; a past he cannot remember.

Flint, who has super human skills that he can’t explain, is asked to hunt down an outlaw who is supposedly killing aborigines. When he tracks down the man and his gang, the man tells Flint he is living an illusion and eating a food that causes his forgetfulness. Before the man can say more Flint’s best friend shoots him. Flint begins to think the outlaw was telling the truth as he remembers more and realizes that he has been placed in a huge deception. Flint suffers losses while confronting enemies. Then he sets off to find his dream woman and defeat the Tribunal who threaten mankind and have manipulated his life.

Flint struggles through the wilderness but at the last minute is attacked and captured by mechanical beings. He learns that these are frail men who live in tunnels and shield themselves within armored suits. Their ‘king’ threatens Flint and then relents, allowing him to live and work among his people. Flint is content for a time but then the dreams return and Flint knows he must go on with his search for the Tribunal. The king is willing to help but only after Flint helps the community to defeat the mechanical ‘spider’ creatures who are their underground enemy.

Flint and the armored guardians become friends as they build a fantastic steam ship to head out to the stars and a promised land of paradise. They also develop weapons to face the acidic spiders. A battle ensues and Flint and the frail humans must make a desperate escape. He arrives in a far off galaxy where his name is already a legend as the rebels seek a way to confront the Tribunal. Once again Flint will face betrayal and battle while his mind struggles to distinguish between dreams and reality.

There is plenty of action in this story as it progresses through nations, planets and galaxies! Flint’s character is a man whose highest goal is to protect mankind even if he must lead a rebellion to win man's freedom from men who would be gods. He often finds himself in situations of despair and has to find a trigger or impetus to move forward. Flint surrounds himself with interesting friends, including a Shaman and an armored guardian. Each of these add another ‘dimension’ to the story which offers a good blend of human drama and action focusing on a struggle for freedom, individually and as a species. I thought there were a few discrepancies in the 'mechanics' (or I missed how they refueled after running out of fuel and crashing). That didn't really bother my enjoyment though.

I enjoyed the author’s creativity and blend of apocalyptic and steampunk elements. The story is very entertaining and I recommend it to readers who like action and would enjoy the struggle for freedom in a science fiction setting.

Audio Notes: Martin Wurst puts a lot of energy in the narration. I really liked the Australian accents as well as the variety of other character voices. The presentation is clear throughout, even as Wurst presents Flint’s despair and madness. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

I received the Audible book from the narrator for an honest review. This qualifies for my Audio Challenge.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway April 29, 2016

Happy Friday!
This week moved along well. I didn't have as much travel so I got some good office work done. I get to travel Friday morning so I will be listening to one of my books.
We have had some rain but sun too.
I am still mindful and concerned for those who are suffering from bad weather.

I got the books listed and linked but still have to get a picture.

TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK

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 April 22 Pick. There was one automatic win this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There was one blocked titles which was won.
Sue F gets A Little Bit Wild

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from April 22 Pick:
CarolNW gets Beat the Reaper (thru a block)

St 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'm glad to be a book nerd. How about you?

Image found at it's raining books.

New Book Group #65 April, 2016
PAIRS:
Jayne Ann Krentz: Gift of Gold and Man with a Past
Linda Howard: Cover of Night and Strangers Night
SINGLES:
A Dangerous Fancy by Tracy Cozzens
The Bodyguard and the Snitch by Christy Tillery French
When Dashing Met Danger by Shana Galen
The Champion by Heather Grothaus
Never Marry a Cowboy by Lorraine Heath
Just The Way You Are by Donna Jordan
The Second Chair by John Lescroart (hardcover)
What a Rogue Desires by Caroline Linden
Violets are Blue by James Patterson
The Bequest by Candice Proctor
A Perilous Attraction by Patricia Francis Rowell
So Wild A Kiss by Nancy Richards-Akers


New Book Group #64 March 4, 2016

PAIRS:
Elizabeth Boyle: His Mistress by Morning and This Rake of Mine (The Bachelor Chronicles Book 2)
Kay Hooper: If There Be Dragons and The Matchmaker
Lisa Jackson: Left to Die and Twice Kissed
SINGLES:
The Theft by Andra Kane
Bed of Roses by Katherine Stone
Hope by Len Deighton (1995 paperback)
Short Straw (Ed Eagle Novel) by Stuart Woods Hardcover
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette
N is for noose by Sue Grafton -Cassettes
The Fallen by Thomas Sniegoski
Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell
Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF by April Winchell


New Book Group #63 January 22, 2016

SINGLES:
Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl
Wayward Winds by Michael Phillips - Audio Tapes
Forgotten Promises by Denise Skelton

New Book Group #62 November 6, 2015
All Gone

New Book Group #61 October 30, 2015
After I noticed the trend I went on a hunt for “bride” titles. I even pulled a couple from some of my long time collections(*). (But they are not getting read on my shelves.)

SINGLES:
Bride of Lochbarr by Margaret Moore (*)
The Ideal Bride by Stephanie Laurens (*)
A Necessary Bride by Debra Mullins
Border Bride by Deborah Hale

New Book Group #60 September 18, 2015
A set of "haunting" tales and a few mysteries for October!

Shannon Drake –  Realm of Shadows (Alliance Vampires#4) 
SINGLES:
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Renegade Hunter by Lynsay Sands
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)


New Book Group #59 July 31, 2015
A few more summer titles, historicals and mysteries!

SINGLES:
Cruise to a Wedding by Betty Neels

New Book Group #58 June 26, 2015
-- A few summer titles, a few mysteries, a few historicals...

SINGLES:
Servant, The Awakening by L.L. Foster

New Book Group #57 May 1, 2015

SINGLES:
A Little Bit Wild by Victoria Dahl
The Ruthless Greek's Virgin Princess by Trish Morey

New Book Group #56 March 20, 2015
(I'll try to get the rest linked another day.)

SINGLES:
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)

New Book Group #55 February 5, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #54 December 26, 2014

SINGLES:
Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card - Tape Cassettes


BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)

The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty byVickie Kennedy
First to Fight Anthology
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Commander by Kate Bridges
A Garden of Friends by Penny Pierce Rose

Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle



BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)

Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
A Lady of Consequence by Mary Nichols
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain


BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)

Thinner by Stephen King
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)

An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
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
Tara Taylor Quinn: Father: Unknown and McGillus v.Wright
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
Anthology: Something Borrowed, Something Blue - this book has spine creases and minor water damage...I thought I had read it and liked it but now I realize it was another anthology I read with Elaine Barbier.


BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)

Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser


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 six years I have posted 62 groups of 16 (992) books to find new homes! (as of November 6, 2015).

I am happy to say that so far about 955+ books have found new homes! YAY. 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, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, 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 far away 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!

Audio Book Review: Bad Deeds by Robert Bidinotto

This is a great thriller with a “To Thine Own Self be True” dilemma.
Bad Deeds
Written by: Robert Bidinotto
Narrated by: Conor Hall

Length: 14 hrs and 50 mins
Series: Dylan Hunter, Book 2
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-29-16
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Thriller, Espionage
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The hero of Hunter - number-one Kindle thriller best seller - is back in action!
He sought peace in the tranquility of nature. But can he tame the violence in his own nature?
At a cabin in the Allegheny National Forest, Dylan Hunter and Annie Woods seek to heal the wounds from their ordeal at the hands of a twisted psychopath. And to build a life together, Dylan promises Annie that he'll abandon his violent ways.
But ideological zealots and Washington's political elites have conspired to terrorize and plunder the hardworking locals. These victims have no protector against the bad deeds of the powerful and privileged.
Except for one man.
A man as ruthless and violent as they.
A man committed to absolute justice.
Because Dylan Hunter cannot walk away - not even if it costs him the woman he loves.
©2014 Robert Bidinotto (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Dylan Hunter is a man who finds it hard to turn away from injustice. He is not beyond taking matters into his own hands. After all, he has the training and the funds to take action. He is currently holed up, incognito, in a cabin in the Allegheny Forest in Pennsylvania, with Annie Woods, the woman he loves. She is trying to recover from the trauma of watching Dylan coated in blood from a battle with a prior enemy.

Dylan and Annie are visiting a café when three workers from a local fracking company run in being chased by environmental activists. Dylan soon learns that there seems to be a connection between the activists known as Wild Justice, a “green energy” investment company, CarboNot, and the EPA. These entities are raising opposition to the local fracking efforts, even using false testings to create a moratorium. Dylan decides to protect the workers when he sees the gang that swarms the café with hand weapons.

Although Dylan helped in the initial confrontation, he hadn’t planned to become embroiled in the dispute. But the leader of the Wild Justice group attacks Dylan and Annie. The man had no idea who he was messing with! Dylan, a journalist, will report the issues seeking exposure for the injustice. But exposure isn’t enough. Who else can help protect the local workers and businesses from the power of the government agencies and the elitist investors backing them? This is what Dylan does, but Annie objects to more violence and danger in Dylan’s life. He has to make a tough decision... stay safe to keep the woman he has come to love or be true to who he is.

I enjoyed learning of Dylan’s strong father and the lessons and examples that shaped Dylan into the man he is. I also appreciated the insights that Dylan’s former CIA boss, Grant Garrett, gives to Annie and Dylan. These psychological tidbits, and the loving romance, were neatly woven into the action that develops as Dylan investigates the corruption and how far it spreads. The discussion of the process of fracking and the underhanded schemes of the environmental groups is interesting. Dylan’s tactics and tricks at spying and imposing retribution are even more fascinating. Dylan is not quite as impulsive as before, especially now that he has Annie to think of.

The story moves along at a quick pace with a fine combination of emotion, romance, conspiracy and action. This could be read as a stand-alone but I highly recommend reading book one, Hunter, to learn more about the complex protagonist and to appreciate his character growth in this book. This book has a natural conclusion but leaves a very scary opening for another confrontation for Dylan.

Audio Notes: Conor Hall does an excellent narration of the various character voices and the emotions. I was able to always tell who was speaking and the intensity and pacing were spot on.

I was glad to receive this second book in the series from the author for an honest review. This qualifies for my Audio Challenge.