Sharing Beyond Books #255 Comment Giveaway June 7, 2016

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
Sorry this is posting late. I was busy with family in town on Saturday night and I forgot Monday night. I almost forgot tonight too! That's what happens when I get busy and am playing catch up.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week and "Welcome" to another new visitor.

Six commenters do not watch book related videos and six commenters enjoy them. Four have watched a few. Faith Hope and Cherrytea was very enthusiastic and I liked learning about the #bookbuddyathon she has participated in.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #254 comments is: #13 Marjorie 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 #255

(One Question.)

Faith Hope and Cherry Tea asks: Do you buddy read? Have you ever? Would you consider buddy reading? Why/why not??

I have not done a buddy read unless you count book club reading the same book. I really like the sound of the #bookbuddyathon that Faith Hope and Cherrytea mentioned last week. It sounds like a fun way to share reading with online friends.

Image found at gbs2 Reading

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.

Your turn to share:
Faith Hope and Cherry Tea asks: Do you buddy read? Have you ever? Would you consider buddy reading? Why/why not??

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 June 11, 2016 at 5 PM central.

Sunday Post June 5, 2016/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday June 6, 2016

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date.
Thank you to Sheila for the years that she handled this meme.
Thank you to Kathryn for taking up the baton.

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.

This week Heather was out on vacation so Meghan and I were really juggling in the office. It was pretty intense for me.
We had a wonderful visit with our son, D-I-L and Granddaughter whose visit was extended through the week. They headed out this morning. I loved visiting but it did impact a bit on computer and reading time.
Our weather is still warm but we have had a few strong rain storms blow through.

I didn't get quite as much reading done or reviews as I might have wanted. I only finished two of my books --one audio and one ebook-- although I am 70% into the other ebook. I posted three reviews and most of my usual memes - I missed Saturday night Sharing Beyond Books and will post that Monday night.

Again, I did not get to visit many blogs last week, even with Monday off. We spent the day as a family day with cook out.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post May 29, 2016/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday May 30, 2016.

• We Will Always Remember: Memorial Day 2016.

• Book Review: Embattlement: The Undergrounders Series Book Two by Norma Hinkens; Dystopian, YA; my rating 4.25.

• MBS May 2016 Reading Wrap-Up.

• Book Review: The Girl in the Time Machine by Debra Chapoton; Sci Fi, Time Travel, YA; my rating 4.25.

• Audible Book Review: Old Man's War by John Scalzi; Sci Fi, Military Sci Fi; my rating 4.5.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway June 3, 2016. Open Worldwide. Ending 6/9/2016.

• [Sharing Beyond Books #255 Comment Giveaway delayed.]

• Sunday Words of Encouragement June 5, 2016.

Finished Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle (Publicist/Author)

Cast Adrift
by Mannah Pierce
This is engaging and really good world building.
I will be posting my review this week with an interesting guest post.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/MP3 (TBR)

Burning Bright: Ivy Granger Book 3
Written by: E.J. Stevens
Narrated by: Melanie A. Mason, David Wilson Brown
This is fun with various paranormal characters.
I'll be posting a review and listening to the newly released fourth book in the series.

Currently reading:
1. eBook/Kindle (iRead)

Regina Shen: Resilience
by Lance Erlick
70% in. This is an interesting start to the series.
I received four books for this tour;
through iReads Book Tours.
This first review will post on June 9, 2016.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/MP3 (ABB)

Dangerous and Unseemly: A Concordia Wells Mystery, Book 1
Written by: K.B. Owen
Narrated by: Becket Royce
This looks/sounds like a fun historical mystery.
I am looking forward to listening.
I received this audio title from the narrator through AudioBook Boom.
Publisher's Summary
An unseemly lesson…in murder.
The year is 1896, and college professor Concordia Wells has her hands full: teaching classes, acting as live-in chaperone to a cottage of lively female students, and directing the student play, Macbeth. But mystery and murder are not confined to the stage, especially when the death of Concordia's sister, Mary, appears to be foul play. To make matters worse, the women's college is plagued by malicious pranks, arson, money troubles, and the apparent suicide of a college official.
With her beloved school facing certain ruin, Concordia knows that she must act. As she struggles to seek justice for her sister and discover who is behind the college incidents, there are some closest to Concordia who do not appreciate the unseemly inquiries and bold actions of the young lady professor. Can she discover who is responsible…before she becomes the next target?
©2013 K.B. Owen (P)2014 K.B. Owen

3. eBook/Kindle (Author)

Guardian of Paradise
by W.E. Lawrence
I enjoyed Chakana: Encounter In The Sacred Valley and I am glad to read another adventure by this author.
In 1888, Kira Wall, surviving daughter of missionaries swept away in a tsunami, lives a primitive, but enjoyable life with natives on an isolated island in the South Pacific. But her serene world is turned upside down when an Australian merchant ship, commanded by the sinister Captain Darcy Coleman, arrives with an overabundance of modern and lavish goods. Kira suspects ill intent. Chief Ariki refuses to listen to Kira’s warning, forcing her to uncover the real plan of the captain on her own. Unfortunately, she has a distraction. A six-foot tall, blond, and handsome distraction. Trevor Marshall, doctor and botanist, hopes to find exotic plants on the island to research new cures and medicines. He is dedicated to science, but when meeting the strong-willed, beautiful Kira Wall, he’d prefer to spend time researching her—all night.

The captain thwarts Kira’s attempts to call him out at every step, turning the village chief against her. With only Trevor and her best friend Malana by her side, she stalks the captain and his officers through the dense, predator infested jungle, toward the island’s inactive volcano. Frustrated by her failure to reveal the captain’s true intentions, Kira begins to think maybe she’s wrong about everything. Then an explosion and earthquake bigger than anyone on the island has ever seen renews her resolve. Was the blast natural or man-made? She is determined to prove it was the captain’s doing. Kira races against time and the island people’s naivety to stop the captain from destroying her home and killing everyone she loves.

4. Audible/MP3 (Author)

Birthright: Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective, Book 4
Written by: E.J. Stevens
Narrated by: Melanie A. Mason, Anthony Bowling
Now that I know the characters I am ready to jump into more Ivy sass and action.
I will be hosting the tour Giveaway next week and review the following week.
Publisher's Summary
Being a faerie princess isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Ivy must go to Faerie, but the gateway to the Wisp Court is through Tech Duinn, the house of Donn - Celtic god of the dead. Just her luck.
Unable to share her secret with Jinx, and with Jenna called away on Hunters' Guild business, Ivy must rely on Ceff and Torn to lead her to Death's door, literally, and back again. As if that wasn't dangerous enough, there's no saying what horrors lay in store within the Faerie realm. Too bad the Wisp Court is the one lead Ivy has in the search for her father - and possible salvation.
Maybe hiding away and dodging sidhe assassins isn't so bad after all.
Birthright is the fourth full-length novel in the award-winning Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens. The world of Ivy Granger, including the Ivy Granger Psychic Detective series and Hunters' Guild series, is filled with action, paranormal mystery, magic, dark humor, quirky characters, bloodsucking vampires, flirtatious demons, sarcastic gargoyles, sexy shifters, temperamental witches, psychotic faeries, and snarky, kick-butt heroines.
©2015 E.J. Stevens (P)2016 E.J. Stevens

June 5, 2016 - Current with Reading The One Year Bible again along with my husband and others from our church. I will also be listening (sometimes) to the companion commentary online.

I only posted three reviews last week so I am still a bit behind. I still have two prior plus two new reviews due.

I am finally getting to the five nine, now seven nine (again) back to five four author ebook reviews committed with no specific dates.
My NetGalley shelves are down to four with one of those next in line.

I hope to add another upcoming release this week to eTreasure's NetGalley titles.

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: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

This week I received two audio review titles from the narrators and one ebook through Netgalley..
I resisted kindle titles other than the usual free ones.

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I received this audio title from the narrator through AudioBook Boom:

Dangerous and Unseemly: A Concordia Wells Mystery, Book 1
Written by: K.B. Owen
Narrated by: Becket Royce
I really liked the sound of this one. Full description is above under current reading.

I received this title from Hachette through NetGalley:
Ultimate Courage (True Heroes)
by Piper J. Drake

I enjoyed Extreme Honor and am pleased to be invited to read this next book.

Blitz day will be July 26.

I received this audiobook directly from the Narrator:

The Pit Stop: This Stop Could Be Life or Death
Written by: Carmen DeSousa
Narrated by: Michelle Babb
I like the sound of this ghostly detective story.

Won

NONE

Purchased

NONE

Free

Over the past week I only added 35 free Kindle titles to my library. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement June 5, 2016

We were back in our ‘home’ church this morning. The Sunday School class was wonderful with a lesson from Romans 13. I will share more about that another day. Our time of praise and worship was filled with good, strong singing.

Pastor’s Sermon was “Living a Life of Faith”. He noted that sometimes Christians might feel guilty thinking they ‘need a holiday’ or there are times some feel they are not living to the potential of what God planned for them. But we are not all called to be great leaders or miracle workers. We are called to live each day with deliberate praise and goodness in our mouths and meditations. Psalm 19:14 and Luke 6:45.

Pastor shared three points:
1. You cannot have a hidden faith. If you have true faith it will show in how you act and what you say… even in the long lines of waiting or busy traffic driving. He gave many examples where Jesus healed people in the streets and said to them ‘your faith has made you whole’. Matthew 9:22, 9:29; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50 and 17:19.
2. Every word you speak becomes seed for the future. Matthew 16:19 and 18:18…with words we can bind on earth and in heaven or loose on earth and in heaven. God has promised to meet our needs and that is what we should seek and speak, rather than becoming covetous and seeking greater. However, by experience, through faith we have learned that most often God will exceed our need if we trust Him and praise Him for taking care of the basics.
3. Heaven is depending on the profession of your mouth. We are to speak the good news and his joyous love and hope; to share it with others. A gloomy countenance does not share God’s joy. Nor does a bitter or critical spirit. If we do not control our tongues, we may have only a form of religion without true faith of relationship. James 1:26. What we speak from our mouths may provide the harvest for our satisfaction. Proverbs 18:21.

Pastor encouraged us to say things as God sees it, not necessarily as man sees it. That requires meditating, discernment and speaking truth from God’s view. Acknowledging that God works all things to the good of those who believe, our mouths should agree on what God knows.

I wasn’t sure what song video I would use today.
However, as I was looking/listening
I came across this and found it a wonderful song with great images and passages from Psalm 19. 

I hope you will enjoy watching as well as listening!

A Verse for Today:
Luke 6:45 (NIV)
45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

This verse stuck in my mind. We see evidence of it around us in the world each day. Lord, help me to speak good and speak Your praise, Your grace and Your love to all I come into contact with.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway June 3, 2016

Happy Friday!
Argh! Another week and another month gone by. It is hard to believe it is almost summer although our weather and the kids being out of school confirm it. My week has been super busy with my daughter out on vacation. We have been enjoying the visit with our son, D-I-L and the Sweetpea but I am beginning to feel a bit ragged.

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 May 27 Pick. There were no automatic wins this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There were no blocked titles this week.
None

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from May 27 Pick:
Rubynreba gets Violets are Blue

Carol NW N is for Noose

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.}

A great thought: Summer of books!

Image found at Honolulu Magazine

New Book Group #65 April 29, 2016

PAIRS:
Jayne Ann Krentz: Gift of Gold and Man with a Past (spine creased) 
Linda Howard: Cover of Night and Strangers Night
SINGLES:
A Dangerous Fancy by Tracy Cozzens
The Bodyguard and the Snitch by Christy Tillery French (autographed)
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 (spine creased)
Violets are Blue by James Patterson
The Bequest by Candice Proctor
A Perilous Attraction by Patricia Francis Rowell (spine creased)
So Wild A Kiss by Nancy Richards-Akers


New Book Group #64 March 4, 2016

SINGLES:
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
Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF by April Winchell


New Book Group #63 January 22, 2016

SINGLES:
Wayward Winds by Michael Phillips - Audio Tapes

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 -- All Gone
SINGLES:
Servant, The Awakening by L.L. Foster

New Book Group #57 May 1, 2015 -- All Gone
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 966+ 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!

Audible Book Review: Old Man's War by John Scalzi

This is a captivating, action-packed space story with a great narrator.

Old Man's War
Written by: John Scalzi
Narrated by: William Dufris

Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
Series: Old Man's War, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:10-08-07
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.5 0f 5.0

Publisher's Summary
John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First, he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army.
The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce - and alien races willing to fight us for them are common. So, we fight, to defend Earth and to stake our own claim to planetary real estate. Far from Earth, the war has been going on for decades: brutal, bloody, unyielding.
Earth itself is a backwater. The bulk of humanity's resources are in the hands of the Colonial Defense Force. Everybody knows that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve two years at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets.
John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea of what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine. And what he will become is far stranger.
©2005 John Scalzi (P)2007 Audio Renaissance, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishers LLC

Review:
John Perry is a 75-year-old man on earth who lived a good life married to a lovely woman who died a few years back from a sudden stroke. In John’s world all humans register for government service at age 65 when they are given ten years to decide if they will continue to grow old on earth or enlist for a minimum two years of space service. All the humans know is that if they join the Colonial Defense Force (CDF) they will get a body upgrade but they will never get to return to earth. No one actually knows what happens as they have never seen any human who has joined the CDF.

The work of the CDF is to protect the human colonies all over space. Many species are fighting over the valuable asset of livable planet surface. The same environment is not suitable for all, but for those who share the same needs as humans, the competition is fierce. The new recruits are physically enhanced so they can have a fighting chance. Suddenly the 75 year olds have become 25 year olds with super strength.

John is one of many recruits who face their basic training drill sergeant who is the first, loudest and roughest to tell them this is nothing like earth service. Here in the CDF most recruits are dispensable bodies who will not make it through their two years and it is his job to push them beyond what they think they can endure.

John gathers a handful of friends who form a bond through training. Two females and five men who each contribute a special skill that make them a good team. John has a knack for seeing alternate approaches and solutions. This helps his team succeed in a training mission that gets him recognized by his superiors. The “gang” is assigned to different ships for duty but they design a way to stay in touch. On his first real mission John again discovers a pattern that saves his squad and the battle.

John continues to fight and be an asset to his teams. Then he meets the Ghost Squad – a special forces unit that is only rumored to exist. Among their ranks is a woman, Jane, who could be a double for his dead wife in looks although she doesn't possess the same human qualities. Although regular recruits are not to have contact with the Ghost Squad, John ends up being pulled into a special mission with that team.

I found John a wonderful, strong, warm character and his friends add depth and interest. The concept is fascinating with plenty of futuristic, creative technology and imaginative alien species. I was totally engaged with the story and John’s adventures and then enjoyed the addition of Jane and their slow growing relationship. John questions why there is no effort to negotiate instead of engaging in battle and the author’s discussion and examples were interesting.

There is some bad language which I passed over as much as possible. I really loved the action, the light humor and the character development. I found this hard to put down. I will want to listen to more in the series.

Audio Notes: William Dufris does a great job with this narration. I was soon pulled into John’s world and appreciated Dufris skillful presentation of the story from his view and with unique voices for other characters as John interacts with them. I am always glad to listen to Dufris narrate and he added to my enjoyment of this story.

I pulled this from my Audible Library for a TBR (2013) and it qualifies for "O” on Alphabet Soup Challenge.