Sunday Words of Encouragement January 20, 2013

This morning our Pastor's message was on Faith. He referenced Genesis 5:24 "Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away."  Enoch pleased God because he wasn't 'earth bound' but rather focused on the things of God. There are people of faith throughout the Bible, old and new testament. What sets them apart is their focus - seeking and relying on God. Worldly things we might put our faith in are only temporary. The only true things that will not fade away are the promises of God and eternal life.

God rewards those who believe and diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:5-6
The rewards:
1.  Control of our lives.  If we are walking by faith then we can be assured that God is in control and will take care of us in all circumstances...as long as we give Him complete control. (Romans 6:14: sin no longer controls since you are under grace, not the law.)
2.  Pure light that overcomes the darkness in our lives. (John 1:4-5 and John 8:12.)
3.  Protection from our enemies.  (Isaiah 54:17.)

How secure is your Faith?? Will it see you through the end times? (Jude 1:14-22.)

I looked at several versions of this song, including some nice ones with lyrics.
But I like the hope-filled messages shared in this one.
I hope you enjoy them too as you listen.
What Faith Can Do - by Kutless

A Verse for Today:
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Lord I pray today that you will help me surrender full control to your will so you can find me faithful and pleasing in your eyes.

Winners: Godspeed A Love Story and The Reluctanct Countess

CONGRATULATIONS

TO WINNERS:

Giveaways Ending 1/18/13


Giveaway: Godspeed: A Love Story by Dan Chabot
Print-US; eBook Gift-International.

Winner Print: John Dallal

Winner eBook: Mary Preston


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Giveaway of The Reluctant Countess
1 Print; 3 NetGalley Copies.

Winner Print: Dione Sage

Winners Netgalley Copies:  Lisa C, Barbara E and Veronica

John, Mary, Lisa, Barbara and Veronica Please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads AT gmail.com to confirm the win and I will arrange the mailing and downloads.  Please reply within 72 hours!
Thank you to all who entered these giveaways. 

Sharing Beyond Books #83 Comment Giveaway January 19, 2013

Hello, Welcome to SBB and Welcome to 2013!
I had a fairly good week but had to take on a last minute appeal for a client when I had other projects planned. *Sigh*  I hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy!

Thank you to all who shared last week.

The word used most to describe why we read was "enjoyment." I added joy and fun to that group to get 10. There were five who chose "entertainment" and five chose "escape." There were a couple of "relaxation" and 'to learn' or 'be informed' seekers too. I liked Janhvi's statement: "Reading takes you to another horizon and I like to get blissfully lost in it sometimes." And also Sarah's "...to experience something outside my normal life."  Whatever our reasons - we all clearly love to read! :-).

I was impressed with the lovely gifts mentioned as favorites. Some were not necessarily expensive -- family pictures or a handmade calendar -- but they were special because they had such meaning. Birgit got tickets for a trip (oooh!) and scottsgal got a diamond necklace (aaah!).  And of course several people were happy with GCs to pick out gifts they wanted, including Books of course!

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The Winner from SBB #82 comments is: #22 Rocky4patter. (Oh how I love when new visitors win!) There are still 4 'love' books to pick from and new Christmas choices. Rocky4patter please choose a book (or GC if international) from the remaining five Love Books List for Giveaway, the new Christmas Giveaway Book list, OR pick from the Updated ARC/Review List and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.   [I hope to add some additional Christmas books, Valentine titles and ARCs to the books available in the next week or so - Oops forgot this week]

WEEK #83 Questions

Q1. Carol L asks: Have you ever started a series that started with a bang and fizzled out half way through so that you quit reading that series ??

I guess there are several series that I just haven't gotten around to finish but I plan to. Usually I will try to finish a trilogy or up to five series if it is connected (i.e. Hunger Games) and not just separate stories or a series which could be okay as stand alones that you can read when you get to them (i.e Dee Davis "A Tac" series).

One series which fizzled for me is the Stephanie Plum series - Sorry Stephanie fans. I sort of got stuck on Book 4 and just couldn't get interested enough to get back into it. I have it on Audible which usually makes for easier reading/listenint. The stories all seemed the same pattern and I wasn't crazy about the unresolved relationship confusion - which I understand goes on for many books. On the other hand I enjoy the stand alone romantic comedies by Janet Evanovich and need to get reading from that collection box! .

Image found at Amazon.

Q2. My Question this week: Do you ever make personal gifts like jams, jellies, bookmarks or other??

A: I don't take much time for crafts although there were times in the past when I would at least make a plate of cookies or a small basket of teas and candles for gifts. But normally I don't cook or make things. But I LOVE the idea of homemade gifts like the bookmark that Miki sent me as a RAK gift in December - it may seem simple but it is so special. I also like getting handmade soaps and chutney from the ladies in my office or at church.

Thanks again to Miki for this touching gift. :-)

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! I STILL HAVE A GROUP OF QUESTIONS AVAILABLE BUT THEY ARE FROM ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE SO SOME OF YOU MAY WANT TO ADD A QUESTION OR TWO! We can always use fresh questions.

Your turn to share:

1. Carol L asks: Have you ever started a series that started with a bang and fizzled out half way through so that you quit reading that series ??

2. My Question this week: Do you ever make personal gifts like jams, jellies, bookmarks or other??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining Valentine and "Love" books (4 left) or the new Christmas Giveaway Books. Also I have added the Updated ARC/Review List now.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the two/three questions 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 by Friday, January 25, 2013 at 10 PM central.

Book Review: Dying to Run by Cami Checketts

There is continued suspense, action and increased intensity in this sequel.
Dying to Run
Cami Checketts

• File Size: 228 KB     
• Print Length: 78 pages     
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1480258679     
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited     
• Publisher: Birch River (October 30, 2012)

Genre: Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: October 30, 2012
Cassidy Christensen wants to run.
Captured by the traffickers who killed her mother, Cassidy's only hope is Dr. Tattoo, a man she loves but nobody trusts. When she finally gets a chance to run, someone else she cares about is taken. Running might be her only chance at survival, but Cassidy won’t allow another family member to be killed in her place.

This must-read sequel to Dead Running will have you laughing, biting your nails, and hoping for more.

Review:
This story, and the action, picks up where Dead Running ended. Cassie’s father is still fighting the slave traffickers.  His self appointed body guard, Sham, stumbles into Cassie’s home with the intent to protect her. But behind him come a group of the enemy, including one seeking vengeance against Cassie. She is captured and delivered to the leader of the traffickers and his main henchman - the men who killed her mother. 

The enemy have met to coordinate the latest “shipment.” They are awaiting the arrival of Cassie’s dad who was to be lured there by none other than Dr. Tattoo, the man Cassie is drawn to but has yet to learn to trust.

Cassie is locked in a room, threatened by charming and ugly would-be rapists. As things look bleakest an escape is made and Cassie has a chance to run to freedom. But turning she realizes that someone else she loves will die.  Will Cassie be able to forgive the man who planned the explosions to stop the enemy forces? How can she love a man who can kill so many?

This is a great sequel to wrap up Dead Running.  (I won’t say complete the story as there is the possibility of more danger in the future.) I can appreciate Cassie’s sensitivity to killing but she is missing the reality that they are fighting a war and the man she loves is a warrior in that war, whether he likes it or not. I enjoyed the steady action-filled pace, the strong characters and the clean romance.

I read both of these stories in two days and have added Ms. Checketts to my list of Romantic Suspense authors to read! I encourage you to pick these titles up especially while the first book is on sale for $.99

I received this book to review from the author as part of a BookBlast Tour.  Please see my review of the first book, Dead Running and don't miss the BookBlast Giveaway.

Book Review: Dead Running by Cami Checketts

This story keeps running with suspense. I definitely want to read more from this author.

Dead Running
by Cami Checketts

• File Size: 417 KB
• Print Length: 248 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1475166605
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Birch River Publishing (March 27, 2012)

Genre: Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: March 27, 2012
Cassidy Christensen is running.
Running from the mercenaries who killed her parents.
Running from a scheming redhead intent on making her life miserable.
Running from painful memories that sabotage her dreams of happiness.
With two very tempting men competing for her attention, she hopes she'll finally have someone to run to, but can she trust either of them? When secrets from her past threaten her family, Cassidy decides to stop running and fight for her future.

A light-hearted and clean romantic suspense, Dead Running will have you lacing up your running shoes and impatiently waiting for the sequel.
Don't miss the exciting sequel to Dead Running. Dying to Run is now available on Amazon for only $.99.

Review:
Cassidy recalls the night when her father, a doctor dedicated to helping children, was attacked in her home by a mobster assassin. Since her parents death  by mercenaries while on a medical mission in Mexico, Cassie has lived with her Nana and stumbled from one project to another. Her pregnant sister-in-law, Raquel, pushes Cassidy to run a 5K race with her.

Cassie struggles through the race where she meets a host of characters. There is ‘Fine-Looking Runner Man’, the charming, marathon runner, she later learns is Damon. She is tripped and taunted by two rough looking men, whom she dubs ‘Muscle Man’ and ‘String Bean’. At the end of the race Cassie stumbles and falls thus meeting a strong, dark, attractive Doctor. As much as she is attracted to the kindness of the doctor she is repelled by his extensive tattoos.

Cassie is excited to win a prize in the post race festivities until she learns the prize is entry into a marathon race. A pushy, pert runner, ‘Hot Redhead’, tries to get Cassie to sell the entry. Although Cassie is tempted, the rules say she can’t and Raquel, who believes in Cassie, challengers her to train for the marathon.

Cassie plans out her training and begins to spend time with dreamy Damon.  Cassie is stalked and attacked several times by Muscle Man and his co-hort but mysterious Dr. Tattoo, aka Jessie, keeps coming to her rescue.

Cassie is running in fear from Muscle Man and from the nasty threats of jealous Elizabeth, the redhead. Still she keeps pushing herself to run through her pain even when she embarrasses herself.  While she is training Cassie learns from Muscle Man that she is being used as bait to draw out her father whom they claim isn’t really dead.  She begins to learn more about her father’s dangerous work to help save children from slavers. Now it seems that her father’s enemies are after her too.

Cassie has two strong men interested in her but what does she really know about either of them? Who can she trust? Should she stop training so she won’t be such an easy target out on the road or can she push through her fear and face up to the challenge?

I really loved the non-stop pace of this story which starts with danger and doesn’t stop. I enjoyed the sharing of the pain of running and training which was very real. I also liked the down to earth writing style with the light humor in nick names and fun phrases (see the quotes below).  There was suspense in the mystery and conflict of the two male interests. This made it fun waiting to find out what happened.

If you like a story with action, intrigue and romance, plus clean language, this is a story you need to read!  I was very glad I had the sequel, Dying to Run, ready to read next!

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Two examples of fun phrasing:

My attempts at sleeping were a complete waste of pillow time. Location 1021.

I wanted to curl up in fetal position and have someone place chocolate on my tongue. I ran instead. Location 1123.

I received this title for an honest review as part of BookBlast Tour.
Remember to check out the BookBlast Giveaway. 

This is set in Northern Utah for my 2013 Where Are You Reading list. I will also add it to my new author list.