Book Launch with Giveaway! TWO BY TWO by Nicholas Sparks

TWO BY TWO by Nicholas Sparks
(October 4, 2016; Grand Central Publishing; Hardcover; $27.00)

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nicholas Sparks returns with his signature combination of gripping, emotionally resonant storytelling and love overcoming all odds.


At 32, Russell Green has it all: a stunning wife, a lovable 6 year-old daughter, a successful career as an advertising executive and an expansive home in Raleigh. He is living the Dream, and his marriage to the bewitching Vivian is the center of that dream. But underneath the shiny surface of this perfect existence, fault lines are beginning to appear . . . and no one is more surprised than Russ when he finds every aspect of the life he took for granted turned upside down.

In a matter of months, Russ finds himself without a job or wife, caring for his young daughter London while struggling to adapt to a new and baffling reality. Trying to launch his own business while grappling with the demise of his marriage, the only thing he knows for certain is that London must be sheltered from the consequences of these radical changes. Throwing himself into the wilderness of single parenting, Russ embarks on a journey at once terrifying and rewarding - one that will test his abilities and his emotional resources beyond anything he ever imagined.

When a chance encounter with an old flame tempts him to take a chance on love again, he will navigate this new opportunity with trepidation and wonder. But with the loyal support of his parents and his wise older sister Marge, and in the hard-won lessons of fatherhood, Russ will finally come to understand the true nature of unconditional love - that it is a treasure to be bestowed, never earned.

Buy the Book!

Amazon:http://amzn.to/2cEjWre 

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2d8zfHg 

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2btEy2F 

iBooks: http://apple.co/2duf6hx 

Google: http://bit.ly/2dCyJ2V

About the Author:

With over 100 million copies of his books sold, Nicholas Sparks is one of the world's most beloved storytellers. His novels include 12 #1 New York Times bestsellers. All his books have been New York Times and international bestsellers, and were translated into more than 50 languages. Ten Sparks novels have been adapted into major motion pictures, with The Choice coming in February 2016.

Social Media Links:

http://nicholassparks.com/

https://twitter.com/NicholasSparks 

http://facebook.com/NicholasSparks 

Add TWO BY TWO to your shelf on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2dcDqT0 

GIVEAWAY!

Enter to win a copy of TWO BY TWO. There will be 10 winners.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


In the event of any trouble with the Rafflecopter widget here is the direct link: http://bit.ly/2dnw4g1

Sunday Post October 2, 2016/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday October 3, 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.

I still have tons of work to do even though I stress getting some items off the to-do list each day.
Hubby is definitely on the road to recovery. He out did me in steps this week -- Good for him and pretty pitiful for me. :-(

I had lots of good reading/listening this week. I finished four books: one ebook; two audios and one print. I only posted two reviews and the usual memes.

I did get to visit early mid week.
I decided to link one interesting blog post each week from my visits.
I enjoyed this post by Lindsey at A Rambling Reviewer: 5 Steps To Organising Blog Posts
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post September 25, 2016/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday September 26, 2016.

• Book Review: The Forever Gate Book One by Isaac Hooke; Sci Fi, Fantasy; my rating 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 30, 2016. Open Worldwide. Ending 10/6/2016.

• Audio Book Review: Haraken: A Silver Ships Novel by S. H. Jucha; Sci Fi, Space Opera; my rating 4.75.

• Sharing Beyond Books #272 Comment Giveaway October 1, 2016. Open Worldwide. Ending 10/8/2016.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement October 2, 2016.

Finished Reading:

1. eBook/Kindle (Author)

The Captive Heart
by Michelle Griep
I really liked this delightful story.
I had hoped to get the review up last week but didn't get to it. It will post on 10/5/17.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/MP3 (TBR)

Kiss an Angel
Written by: Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Narrated by: Anna Fields
This is charming. I will post the review later this week.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audible (TBR)

FREE: Summer Farmer: A Story from White Man's Problems
Kevin Morris (Author)
Matthew McConaughey (Narrator)
This is an interesting short story 
from a larger work.
I downloaded this free at Audible 8/17/15.
"Summer Farmer", the first short story in White Man's Problems, sets the stage for the honest and heartfelt themes explored in Morris' debut collection. The meeting of two disparate strangers serves as a cleverly crafted examination of the universality of longing, remorse, and purpose.

4. Print/ebook (Ladies Book Club)

Simple Deceit: A Mennonite Community's Way of Life Is Threatened by Outsiders (The Harmony Series Book 2)
by Nancy Mehl
We really enjoyed this very nice story.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently reading:

1. Audible/MP3 (ABJ)

Lost in a Good Book: A Thursday Next Novel
Written by: Jasper Fforde
Narrated by: Emily Gray
This is crazy fun listening. Makes me smile.
I added this to my Audible library in August, 2012.
Publisher's Summary
Intrepid literary detective Thursday Next is back in the second installment of Jasper Fforde's one-of-a-kind series. The inventive, exuberant, and totally original literary fun that began with The Eyre Affair continues with Jasper Fforde’s magnificent second adventure starring the resourceful, fearless literary sleuth Thursday Next.
When Landen, the love of her life, is eradicated by the corrupt multinational Goliath Corporation, Thursday must moonlight as a Prose Resource Operative of Jurisfiction—the police force inside books. She is apprenticed to the man-hating Miss Havisham from Dickens’s Great Expectations, who grudgingly shows Thursday the ropes. And she gains just enough skill to get herself in a real mess entering the pages of Poe’s "The Raven".
What she really wants is to get Landen back. But this latest mission is not without further complications.
Along with jumping into the works of Kafka and Austen, and even Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies, Thursday finds herself the target of a series of potentially lethal coincidences, the authenticator of a newly discovered play by the Bard himself, and the only one who can prevent an unidentifiable pink sludge from engulfing all life on Earth.
Delve into Jasper Fforde's literary universe with the other books in his Thursday Next fantasy/detective series.
©2011 Jasper Fforde (P)2011 Penguin Audiobooks

2. Print (Author)

Ergon
by George HS Singer
I am looking forward to reading this poetry volume.
George Singer's ERGON is precise, delicate and fierce in its engagement with the world.

3. Audio (ABJ)

Loreena's Gift
by Colleen M. Story
This sounds intriguing.
I received this audio from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox.
Description
Loreena Picket is a young blind woman with a gift. In the rare moments when she's not wearing her gloves, if she takes your hand, she travels with you to your own personal afterlife. Loreena will return -- you won't. Loreena's minister uncle says her power is a gift from God, and together they help terminally ill people die peacefully. Still, Loreena is conflicted, because she's seen the afterlife, and it's nothing like her uncle says it is. This uneasy peace is shattered when one night, Loreena must take a life to save her wayward brother. This act draws her unwillingly into a seedy world of crime, and she must learn to survive being kidnapped, confined, and used for her power. And, ultimately, she must discover whether her true nature is that of an angel of mercy or an assassin.

October 2, 2016 - I have really enjoyed reading Isaiah with all of its prophesies. I remain up to date 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 posted two reviews which keeps me up to date although I wanted to do another. I have four now for this week.

I am still accepting new audio titles as I can always squeeze listening in!
I continue reading author titles. I am reading another from the list of six this week.
My NetGalley shelf is holding at three.
I am planning/hoping to get to TBRs for November when I will participate in Sci Fi Month.

We continue to add upcoming releases at eTreasure's NetGalley page.
I expect to have another children's book up this week.

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.

I have more review requests to look at but I did pick up a couple of review titles this week.
Plus I made purchases that made up for the past several weeks of no purchases.
Again, I picked up the usual healthy number of free kindle titles -- Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

Print book received for free:
Alive After Crisis
by Richard Marshall
Survivalist planner.

I received this audio from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox.

Loreena's Gift
by Coleen M. Story
'Religious fiction.'
See full description above under currently reading.

Won

NONE

Purchased

I did buy these 5 books on sale at Audible for price Total: $19.83

1. The Scarlet Thread
by Francine Rivers

2. Time for the Stars
by Robert A. Heinlein

3. Zombie Fallout: Zombie Fallout, Book 1
by Mark Tufo

4. Wool: Silo, #1; Wool, #1-5
by Hugh Howey

5. Samantha Watkins, Book 1:
Chronicles of an Extraordinary Ordinary Life
by Aurélie Venem, Stacey E. Battis - translator


I also purchased four Kindle eBook bundles for $.99 each:

The Forensic Geology Series, Box Set,
Toni Dwiggins

Starship Blackbeard: The Complete Series

Michael Wallace

Lost Library Collection: Books 1-3
Kate Baray

Christmas Mail Order Angels #1:
A collection of 6 historical romantic novellas of mail order brides
(Mail Order Angels Collection)
Darlene Franklin, Cynthia Hickey, Susan Page Davis, Brandi Boddie, Jennifer AlLee, Teresa Ives Lilly

The end of this week our local library had a sale. Well of course I could not resist!
I got 52 books to use for Friday Picks including 5 Audio Books (cassettes). There are also 19 Christmas titles for either Friday Pick or Sharing Beyond Books.

I also got another15, including two CD Audiobooks, that I want to read for me.

Total cost? $6.00!

Free

I again added 52 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 October 2, 2016

We had another lovely Sunday. Our Sunday School teacher has been reading This Present Darkness and his message today addressed spiritual warfare. I am saving that message for another day. Our Pastor started a new series on the Healthy Church.


When a young couple marry they are passionately in love, expecting “happy ever after” where the marriage continues smoothly; all love, love, love. But that is not reality. Neither party is perfect. There are discord and struggles in any relationship. Just as Satan battles against marriage, health, finances and more, he also battles against the church and relationships in the church. Satan’s attacks are not a single shot but a constant eroding. Any relationship has to grow, not stay at its beginning level. The journey begins with excitement. If something negative happens, ripples spread through the rest of the relationship. This can lead to troubles, even to death. As a church we must choose to be healthy.

Titus was in Crete where the community was suffering from moral decline and negative influences. Paul’s letter to the young Titus addresses issues in the church. Paul states that he has been ‘sent to proclaim faith,… to teach those whom God has chosen to know the truth’. Titus 1:1-4.

Sermon Point: The Healthy Church has a growing, deepening passion for Jesus that compels them to proclaim faith and live by truth.

Salvation comes by faith. We each have a tiny snippet of life on earth compared to the time we will spend in eternity. Why do we place so much importance on the tiny snippet? Our focus, and certainly the focus of a healthy church, needs to be on eternity. We should be using our life snippet to reach others with God's truths.

Look at the example of end time churches described by God in Revelation 2 and 3. The churches 1) have lost their first love; 2) were impoverished; 3) were compromising standards; 4) had sin in leadership; 5) were apathetic, dead; 6) were weak; and 7) were lukewarm. The health of the church matters to God. Congregants are to commit to church in support and to remain to work through any troubles in the relationship.

If I have a problem with our passion level, the one responsible to fix it is me. We need to be prepared, and help others to be prepared, for eternity.

Church Health begins with a passion for Jesus. Pastor challenged us to turn up the passion level.

I found this song video which gave me chills - times could be coming.

Whether here on earth or in heaven, I want to be found "Guilty" of sharing God's Love and Truth.

A Verse for Today:
Titus 1:1 (NIV)
1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives.

Lord, help me to remember that my life is less than a blink of eyes in your measurement of time. Help me to focus my efforts on sharing your love and message to those in darkness who need to hear the truth.

Sharing Beyond Books #272 Comment Giveaway October 1, 2016

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

Nine of us have pets who interrupt reading or computer- five with dogs and five with cats. Miki has one of each but her cat only interrupts feline shifter books. :-) Seven commenters do not have pets or their pets do not interrupt reading.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #271 comments is: #13 Denise (welcome!) 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 #272

(One Question.)

Marjorie asks: Do you read as many books in the summer as you do in the winter??

Turns out my answer is "no". I would have thought my reading would be more in summer because I might read during vacation - but that assumes I take a summer vacation. Looking at the past 7 years (using June - August and December - February) the record reflects 4 years I read more in winter and 3 I read more in summer. But the variance in numbers is usually only 3 or 4. I think I push at the end of the year to  finish challenges and I probably like to start out strong in the new year.

Image Found at Youtube - reading by Pearls of Wisdom

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: Marjorie asks: Do you read as many books in the summer as you do in the winter??

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 October 8, 2016 at 5 PM central.

Audio Book Review: Haraken: A Silver Ships Novel by S. H. Jucha

This is great entertainment with good characters, conflict and creativity.
Haraken: A Silver Ships Novel
By: S. H. Jucha
Read by: Grover Gardner


Series: The Silver Ships Series, book 4
Runtime: 10.9 Hours
Recording: Unabridged
Release date: 7.12.2016
Publisher: Scott H. Jucha
ISBN-13: 978-1-5047-2567-5
Genre: Fiction/Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Nine years of tranquility came to an abrupt end when a Méridien starship entered the Hellébore system, sounding a dire warning for Alex Racine, the Haraken president. Unwanted visitors had arrived again. But this time, they’re not alien; they’re human. Claiming to have followed the course of a colony ship launched a millennium ago when Earth wrestled with resource wars and climate change, the mission commander, Antonio García, requests a meeting with the planet’s leaders. The Earthers profess a kinship with all humans, and their great desire is to have Méridien join their United Earth (UE). Alex Racine journeys to Méridien to investigate and uncover the Earthers’ intentions. In the Haraken world, SADEs (self-aware digital entities) have been freed from their boxes aboard the Méridien-built starships. The mobile SADEs are powerful players in Alex’s strategies, inventing ingenious methods to investigate the Earthers and their ship. Complicating matters, the Méridien leadership is in turmoil. The Council Leader insists her people ignore the Earthers, but this path has costs. As tensions escalate, García sends a request for support to his superiors back on Earth, lest his discovery of the rich, Méridien worlds, boasting unbelievable advanced technology, slip through his grasp. A UE battleshiop heeds the call, escalating the pressure for action. Join the journey as the Harakens and Méridiens work together to protect their planets and their way of life from the newest invaders.
© 2016 by S. H. Jucha

Review:
Alex Racine is the president of Haraken, a planet of humans in a far system that includes two other planets, Méridien and the New Terrans. These peoples are distant decedents of two Earth colonies that went different ways over 700 years before. One group is much more technically advanced than the others which sets up conflicts and challenges, as well as alien attacks, which are presented in books 1 – 3.

Alex is clearly the “golden boy” to most of the population. Only the Counsel of the Méridien appears to be threatened by Alex’s control and popularity. She wants to control her government and people and keep them away from Alex and his AI friends, the SADEs, self-directed digital entities (AIs now mobile!).

An Earth explorer ship arrives in the system and is interested, then amazed by the advanced technology. The Méridien leader refuses to acknowledge or talk with the Earth ship. This puts the Earth leaders in the position of planning to overtake the planets by force is they can’t negotiate subjugation. Alex arranges to meet with the Earth leader in a social setting hiding his true authority. The Earth ship appears to have superior fighting power and Alex is aware of the threat of these forces. He must figure a way to convince them to leave his worlds alone. If not peacefully, or by trickery, then by force.

Alex’s character is a bit of a ‘super hero’ but he is likeable. I especially liked his interaction with the SADEs who are delightful characters, especially Alex’s best friend, Julien. The Earther personalities are forceful and several are unpleasant bullies with conquest mentality. I enjoyed the conflicts within the system and from the threat of the Earther ships.

The author slips in subtle (or not so subtle) portrayals of various political factors. It isn’t hard to think of our own world and leaders of differing styles, temperaments, personal goals and motives.

I was a little concerned that I had not read books 1 through 3. I think there could have been a bit more backstory as there was only a little hint of the prior stories. This adventure is fairly well self-contained with a full plot that can stand alone. I will be going back to get the prior books which have been on my Audible Wish List. I definitely want the next book, Sol when released on audio. I recommend this to sci fi fans who enjoy space opera.

Audio Notes: Grover Gardner is a well known, marvelous narrator. (I enjoy his narrations of the Andy Carpenter Series by David Rosenfelt.) Grover managers to portray the various voices and emotions so I become immersed in a story that comes alive. The narration made this an extra pleasure of reading entertainment.

I received this audio from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox. This qualifies for Audio Challenge and H in Alphabet Soup.