Sunday Words of Encouragement September 23, 2018

We enjoyed the church service this morning. The songs were all new to me.
The pastor’s service was titled: Join the Fight. He encouraged the congregation to join him in the fight to reach the next generation.

The fall in the Garden resulted in enmity between man and woman and their offspring. Genesis 3:15.

God wants us to always be growing. Children and grandchildren are important.
We are admonished to “fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes”. Nehemiah 4:14.

Remember that sin is crouching at the door seeking to attack your children. Satan is also the author of confusion; he encourages busy lives that won’t focus on God.

God wants followers of Christ, as Christian parents should. We are to share the message of Christ. Be aware of the friendships your children make as some friends can last a lifetime.

Pastor presented four points for his message:
1. Right Relationships.
Proverbs 13:20 -- Show me your friends, I'll show you the future.
Psalm 92:12 -- Those who are planted in the house of the Lord will flourish.

2. God-given Design.
Knowing God's purpose will silence voices of confusion or disruption.
Acts 19:26 -- Don't worship unknown God

3. Others First.
Philippians 2:4 -- Look to the interests of Others. Only a life for others is a life with living.

If Satan can't get us to sin, then he wants us busy and not necessarily caring for each other.

God wants us to be productive in God's purpose. Parents are not perfect, but we need to be like “Those who stumbled and went on”.

4. Authentic faith.
Christianity is a relationship, not a religion.
Without Christians who prepared the way before, our current churches wouldn't be.
We all should be seeking to come together to reach the community. First we need to follow Him.
And we need to be down on your knees. Ephesians 3:14.

This is one of the worship songs we sang this morning: You Reign by Citipointe.

A Verse for Today:
Nehemiah 4:14 (NIV)
14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

Sharing Beyond Books #353 Comment Giveaway September 22, 2018

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
14 mixed, two mostly witin genre and one not deliberately mixed but reads what likes.


The Winner from SBB #352 comments is: #2 ASHFA who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated (**Finally!) ARC/Review titles or (recently updated) Love and Christmas titles - all linked near the end of the post.

**NOTE: I did post an Updated ARC and Other books for Giveaways. I have to go back and list the titles -- someday.
Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #353

(One Question.)

Becky asks: What do you like best from your favorite genre or author??

Since we've been asking about genres I thought this was another good follow-up question.
I have been reading a lot of space military and post-apocalyptic lately. I like the escapism and creativity of the space military which sometimes includes realistic situations in alien settings and with alien creatures.
I like the possible realism in the post-apocalyptic, especially the prepper stories rather than the zombie stories.
Historical Romance is always a favorite genre too and I think I like those for the romance and passion that is there but mostly behind doors. :-)

Image found at Quote Fancy.

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.
CarolL and Becky get 1/2 book credit each for questions used in the month of September.

Your turn to share. Becky asks: What do you like best from your favorite genre or author??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles all in one post.

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 6, 2018 at 5 PM central.

Book Review: The Memory Tree by John A. Heldt

This is an engaging story with good historical detail.
The Memory Tree (Carson Chronicles Book 2)
by John A. Heldt

File Size: 694 KB
Print Length: 659 pages
Publication Date: April 30, 2018
ASIN: B07CSJ4TMV
Genre: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Time Travel
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Days after barely escaping 1889 with their lives, the Carsons, siblings from the present day, resume their search for their missing parents in 1918. While Adam and his pregnant wife, Bridget, settle in Minnesota, unaware of a wildfire that will kill hundreds, Greg seeks clues in his great-grandparents' Mexico, where he finds love, danger, and enemies. At the same time, Natalie, the ambitious journalist, follows a trail to World War I France, and teen twins Cody and Caitlin rekindle a friendship with an old Pennsylvania friend haunted by her past. In THE MEMORY TREE, the sweeping sequel to RIVER RISING, several time travelers find answers and meaning as they continue the adventure of a lifetime in the age of doughboys, silent movies, and Model T's.

Review:
The five Carson siblings have now time traveled from 1889 (River Rising: The Carson Chronicles Book 1) to 1918. They are still trying to find their missing parents and they are using locations from their family history hoping that their parents may be there too.

Adam and Bridget settle in Minnesota awaiting the birth of their child. There they make friends with neighbors who are relatives in the Carson past.

Gregg goes to Mexico seeking to meet with their great-grandparents from that branch of the family. Unfortunately, he fails to figure out how he will legally cross the border without proper papers and with a criminal past, even if it is from twenty-nine years before. His behavior isn’t exactly honorable. First he makes friends with a pretty redhead librarian in El Paso. After he manages to sneak into Mexico he meets another strong, independent redhead who really captures his interest. His attempts to help her puts him in hot water with the law once again, making for a difficult exit strategy.

Natalie lands a dream job first in Chicago and then as a war correspondent. She travels to France to interview soldiers on the front lines where she makes coincidental friends with family related friends.

The 18-year-old twins, Cody and Caitlin, travel to Pennsylvania where Cody hopes to meet his 1889 crush, Emma, even though she is now married with grown children. He hopes that the visit will allow him to convince his heart to move on. They just have to figure out how to tell her that they are time travelers who haven’t aged at all over the past 29 years.

Again, Mr. Hedlt creates engaging, warm characters and interesting situations where he shares wonderful historical detail. There is excitement and danger in the Minnesota wildfire, complications below the border and war weary soldiers in France. I loved the concept of the Memory Tree in Pennsylvania.

This story is a bit longer than my usual reading, but it kept me engaged all the way through. As I neared the end I was a little disconcerted to realize that would be another crisis ending leaving the journey to continue in the next volume. I really wasn’t thrilled with this scenario, especially as it meant that obvious steps of connecting with their parents were missed or ignored by the children. (For example, once they realized that their parents had sent them a message, why didn’t they try to communicate in the same manner?) Still, the story moves at a good pace with entertaining action and history. I am curious to see what happens to the characters in their next time travel jump. I recommend this to readers who enjoy well developed characters, historical detail and time travel complications.

Source: Author.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 21, 2018

Happy Friday and Happy Fall!
Sorry again to be late in the day. My internet wasn't working Thursday night so I couldn't get this ready early. At least it isn't two days late.

I've been having some fun with our grandchildren and children too. It is hot here in south Illinois - 90s everyday except today because of rain.

I hope everyone else is doing well as fall arrives here in the US; and spring on the other side of the world!

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 September 14 (posted 9/16) Pick. There were no automatic wins this week but I am leaving up last weeks as Sue didn't see it. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. No title was blocked.
SUEF gets Pretty Poison

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from September 14 Pick:
RITA gets Cold Pursuit and
LINDA 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.}

Who is planning to read a banned book this week?
Maybe I'll check my TBRs.
Image found at CBLDF

New Book Group #81 August 17, 2018

There are three audios at the top:
No One Left to Tell is MP3
Kisscut is Cassettes
Dark Summer is CDs
Pairs: Kay Hooper and Carla Neggers Red Clover Inn
The rest are singles
Cold Pursuit by Carla Neggers
Zombies of the Gene Pool 
Pretty Poison


New Book Group #80 August 17, 2018

Pairs: Fern Michaels and James Patterson
The rest are singles
Note:
The Final Judgment and
The Book of Fate are Audio Cassettes



New Book Group #79 July 13, 2018
I found this box of books buried under some other boxes.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lenox by Maggie O’Farrell
P.S. by Helen Schulman
Her Sexiest Surprise by Dawn Atkins (personally autographed)
The Maverick Preacher by Victoria Bylin (personally autographed)
The Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver
The Doctor’s Forever Family by Marie Ferrarella
Dakota Child by Linda Ford
Branded by the Sheriff by Delores Fossen
The Italian’s Inexperienced Mistress
Calling the Shots by Ellen Hartman
Promises, Promises by Amber Miller
This Time for Keeps by Jenna Mills
Rhapsody in Time by Judith O’Brien
A Daughter’s Legacy by Virginia Smith
Another Man’s Baby by Kay Stockham
The Cowboy’s Christmas Miracle by RaeAnne Thayne


New Book Group #78 April 27, 2018

Midnight Rainbow
Betrayed
Indigo Blue
By a Spider's Thread 
Johanna Lindsey Pair 
Judith Krentz Pair
Breaking Point 
My Dark Prince
Fatal Defect

New Book Group #77 February 16, 2018- All gone

New Book Group #76 November 3, 2017
13 books remain of the original 37:

I finally Have them Listed!
Boots & Booties by Kristine Rolofson
Saucer the Conquest by Stephen Coonts
Echo Burning by Lee Child
The Scorpion Seducer by Bonnie Vanak
Hell On Earth by David L. Porter
Tempted All Night by Liz Carlyle
Day of the Dead by J.A. Jance
White Night by Jim Butcher
Five Gold Rings Anthology Constance O’Banyon and three others
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton
Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell
Crisscross by Harmon Henkin
Wizard’s Daughter by Catherine Coulter
Pearl Beyond Price by Claire Delacroix
Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey
The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks
The Wicked Wyckerly by Patricia Rice
Inhuman Condition by Clive Barker
Night Whispers by Judith McNaught
101 Commonsense Rules for the Office by John R. Brinkerhoff

 THESE BOOKS CHOSEN/WON ARE THE ONES STRICKEN HERE:
Finger Licken' Fifteen
How to Tame a Highland Warrior
The Texan
Total Control
Atlantis Found
Stephanie Laurens Pair
Desperado 
Rebellious Desires 
Forget Me Not 
The Eighth Commandment
Ghost Riders
The Manning Brides by Debbie Macomber 
Shadow Music 
Corbin's Fancy 
Hawk's Lady

This shelf of 35 books are what is left from Groups #1 (11/27/09) through Group #75 September 29, 2017

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 14 titles.)
Rehabilitation
Secret Blessing
Named of the Dragon
Daring
Aunt Erma's Cope Book
JoAnn Ross: Confessions
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
The New Birth Order Book by Dr. Kevin Leman
A Kiss Before Dawn by Kimberly Logan
The Fireman’s Fair by Josephine Humphreys (Hardcover)
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen
Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven
There Was A Little Girl by Ed McBain (Audio Cassettes)
Love's Brazen Fire by Betina Krahn 

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 21 titles.)
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown
(*Three more very old books from my Gothics box.)
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell
*Four books are very old; pulled from a box of gothic novels I found.
*Maggie – Her Marriage by Taylor Caldwell (1953 very old, yellowed pages, some stain damage doesn't effect reading)
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty by Vickie Kennedy
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
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
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

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 EIGHT years I have posted 75 groups of 16 (1,200) books to find new homes! (as of November 2, 2017).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,187+books have found new homes through this feature! YAY. [A month or so ago I posted I had reached 2000 books given away. As I calculated the numbers 11/2/17 I realized that had to be an error. I realized I went from 1098 to 2001 instead of 1101. Guess I was tired; sorry for the error.] 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!

Book Review and Giveaway: Mother of Pearl by Kellie Coates Gilbert

This well written story is startling and heart wrenching.

Mother of Pearl
by Kellie Coates Gilbert

File Size: 2533 KB
Print Length: 306 pages
Publisher: Amnos Media Group; 2 edition (February 20, 2017)
ASIN: B06VYJ118F
Genre: Christian, Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

How Far Would You Go for your Child?
Barrie Graeber has two great kids, a loving husband, and a respected job as the high school counselor in her close-knit community. Without warning, everything unravels when her teenage daughter, Pearl, is betrayed and lashes out.
Nothing prepares this mother for the helplessness that follows when her attempts to steer her daughter back on course fail, and Pearl shuts her out . . . or when Barrie discovers the unthinkable about her nemesis, the football coach.
Emotionally riveting and profoundly moving, Mother of Pearl brings us into the heart of a mother bound by an incredible burden, who ultimately finds she must recognize her own vulnerability and learn to trust in something much bigger..

Review:
Barrie Graeber has a strong loving family: husband, 16-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son. She is respected and enjoys her work as a high school counselor. Barrie has the usual mother concerns about her daughter, but Pearl is well grounded, popular and a good student working toward a scholarship to college. Then Pearl loses her boyfriend and best friend in a terrible act of betrayal. Rather than seeking help from her mother Pearl has shut herself off although she does have one new friend who tries to help her.

Tragedy strikes the family causing emotional devastation. And as if the first injury isn’t enough Barrie learns another shocking secret. Barrie becomes obsessed with this, driving a wedge in the family.

This story was more than I expected. It wasn’t always an emotionally easy read, but riveting is an appropriate description. It is well written in first person voice of Barrie. There are friends who step forward to help and others who step away. An attorney who helps is a bold, colorful character. There are Christian and faith elements woven naturally into the story. I kept hoping Barrie would find her strength in faith.

This is our Ladies Book Club for August.
Source: I had print copies for others but was able to snag the Kindle version on sale in 2017. This qualifies for my 2018TBR and Alphabet Challenge.

GIVEAWAY

Paperback Book (US and Canada Only)

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries

(a) comment on the review

(b) visit the author's Website and tell me something you like there.

* This contest is open to US and Canada only for the paperback book.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) September 29, 2018.
Winners are asked to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.