Sunday Words of Encouragement April 24, 2016

We had a good Sunday School service followed by a lovely communion service. Once again, unplanned, the Sunday School (SS) lesson and Pastor’s Sermon had a common theme.

The SS lesson was titled “Love in Action” and continued our studies in Romans. (Romans 12:9-13.) The point being that we are to be transformed and then daily lay down our own fleshly desires to serve others just as the example Christ set for us.

Pastor’s sermon was the fourth in his series to prepare us for the transition to a new pastoral leader. This was based on Matthew 28:18, “The Great Commission”. Our society has changed drastically over the last century, noting the difference between school issues for students in the 1940s and current day. The social problems of drugs, alcohol, violence and depression are not limited to crowded cities, they have spread into small towns too.

The churches have changed too. The question is, has the church changed for better or worse? Anarchy, sorrow and sin require us to peach the word to this world. The world is full of rebellion. They don't want to abide by Gods rules. The right and Christians are still fighting forces of darkness. We need to respond with the spirit of love.

The only thing that can change man is Christ. It is the responsibility of the church to be a light in the darkness by sharing the love of Christ to those we contact in life.

This song really fits today's messages.

Verses for Today:
Romans 12:9-13 (NIV)
Love in Action
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Lord, this is my prayer: Help me daily to die to self and live for you.

Sharing Beyond Books #249 Comment Giveaway April 23, 2016

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
This week flew by for me. I have stayed busy. My daughter returned from recouping and had the stitches removed from her foot on Wednesday. Our weather is starting to heat up. The citrus trees and pineapples are growing as well as the potatoes. Other crops, tomatoes and peppers, seem slower due to the cold.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

Four of us would look at covers and one might host cover reveals for authors she is gung ho for. Ten don't take much interest at all.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #248 comments is: #8 Fredamans 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 #249

(One Question.)

Elizabeth asks: 1. Have you ever enjoyed a movie (based on a book) more than the actual book??

I have seen some movies that I enjoyed more than the book. Although -- I probably enjoyed them more because I had read the book. One that I can think of is: Ender's Game which made more sense once I saw the movie.

Image from We Got This Covered..

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.

Your turn to share:
Elizabeth asks: 1. Have you ever enjoyed a movie (based on a book) more than the actual book??

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 April 30, 2016 at 5 PM central.

Book Review: Jamie Quinn Mystery Collection: Box Set Books 1-3 by Barbara Venkataraman

This is an enjoyable bundle of amateur sleuth, legal related mysteries. Worth the price and available at Audible too.

Jamie Quinn Mystery Collection: Box Set Books 1-3 

by Barbara Venkataraman

File Size: 799 KB
Print Length: 338 pages
Publication Date: September 3, 2014
ASIN: B00NB78KDS
Genre: Mystery, Amateur Sleuth
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Books 1-3 of the Jamie Quinn Mystery Series! Including:
"Death by Didgeridoo"-Winner of the Indie Book of the Day award. Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, still reeling from the death of her mother, is pulled into a game of deception, jealousy, and vengeance when her cousin, Adam, is wrongfully accused of murder. It's up to Jamie to find the real murderer before it's too late. It doesn't help that the victim is a former rock star with more enemies than friends, or that Adam confessed to a murder he didn't commit.
"The Case of the Killer Divorce"-Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, has returned to her family law practice after a hiatus due to the death of her mother. It's business as usual until a bitter divorce case turns into a murder investigation, and Jamie's client becomes the prime suspect. When she can't untangle truth from lies, Jamie enlists the help of Duke Broussard, her favorite private investigator, to try to clear her client's name. And she’s hoping that, in his spare time, he can help her find her long-lost father.
"Peril in the Park"-There's big trouble in the park system. Someone is making life difficult for Jamie Quinn's boyfriend, Kip Simons, the new director of Broward County parks. Was it the angry supervisor passed over for promotion? The disgruntled employee Kip recently fired? Or someone with a bigger ax to grind? If Jamie can't figure it out soon, she may be looking for a new boyfriend because there’s a dead guy in the park and Kip has gone missing! With the help of her favorite P.I., Duke Broussard, Jamie must race the clock to find Kip before it’s too late.
A preview of the next Jamie Quinn Mystery, "Engaged in Danger," can be found at the end of the book.

Review:
"Death by Didgeridoo"- Jamie Quinn is a 33-year-old divorce lawyer in Broward County, Florida. She had been on a depression fueled sabbatical for a year or so after the death of her mother. She has to crawl out of her stupor when her sensitive cousin, Adam, is accused of murder. Adam, a young man in his 20s suffers from autism. He finds an outlet in music and has been accused of killing his former rock star, music teacher. Jamie knows that her cousin could never kill anyone, but she doesn’t really know criminal law. She calls her best friend and former college roommate, Grace, for help. Grace fills her in on applicable statutes and encourages her to engage a private investigator (PI) to help.

The ‘woman magnet’ PI, Duke Broussard, works primarily from a local bar. He enjoys exchanging barbs with Jamie and is quick to help, especially when Jamie reminds him of the favor he promised when she helped him thorugh his acrimonious divorce. Jamie faces off with the new, slick District Attorney, then joins Duke as they interview witnesses and leads to find the clues necessary to identify the real killer.

I enjoyed this introduction to the warm characters as they unravel the murder mystery. I also enjoyed the legal scenes and the setting in Broward County where I practiced law for seven years. I agree with Jamie’s mantra: half the battle is showing up and the other half is being prepared as best you can with the information available.

"The Case of the Killer Divorce"- Jamie’s court adventures continue but in this story she is back in her field of expertise. The murder victim is her client’s husband who is suing to take custody of the couples’ children. Jamie doesn’t want to believe her client, Becca, is guilty of the crime but she had threatened her husband and the cause of death is connected to Becca. Jamie helps Becca find a good defense attorney and PI Duke is engaged to investigate.

While the murder investigation proceeds, Jamie has decided to look for her father who was gone before she was ever born. Duke and Grace are enlisted to help that line of inquiry and Jamie learns surprising facts.

"Peril in the Park"- Jamie runs into a high school boyfriend, Kip, and learns that he has returned to become the Director of the county Parks. Someone clearly doesn’t like Kip coming to town and is making things hard on him. His job is being plagued by vandalism moving from park to park. The pranks are escalating and even Jamie has received a threat. Kip, Jamie and Duke attend a Renaissance Festival with one eye out for the prankster but instead they stumble upon a dead body. The murder victim is another PI friend of Duke’s who was going to deliver some information about the threat against Jamie. Once again the pair are off hunting clues.

Meanwhile Jamie is enjoying a growing romance with Kip as she anxiously waits to see if her father can get a visa to come visit. Another (not so unexpected) twist throws up an obstacle and more surprises on the home front.

The legal elements of the stories are explained so the reader doesn’t have to be an attorney to follow. Ms. Venkataraman uses natural language that flows well and nice phrasing for crisp descriptions. Another fun aspect is the familiar references to authors, books, music and television shows.

The stories read quickly and the mysteries are distinct and resolved in good fashion. Each story can be read as a stand-alone but I thought the bundle was wonderful. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy cozy or legal mystery stories.

I received this from the author for an honest review. It qualifies for “J” in my Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway April 22, 2016

Happy Friday!
I have no idea where this week went. I didn't get home before 7 any night and I had court early three days. My hubby got sick with a bug that went into a sinus infection. Poor guy. I just am trying not to get it.
Thank you for the warm wishes for my daughter. She had the stitches removed this morning and is having to exercise her toe. She has worked most of her hours this week.

I apologize that I didn't get all books pulled last week. Some will be mailed tomorrow. And I'll be getting to the GCs this weekend.
I thought I had misplaced the books I had pulled together last week but I found them and added some more. I will try to get a picture and list up on Saturday.

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 15 Pick. There were two 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 two blocked titles but one was won.
Faith Hop and Cherry Tea gets A Garden of Friends
Rubynreba gets Forgotten Promises

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from April 15 Pick:
Natalija gets a GC

Elizabeth gets Lead Me On

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.}

Ahhh - tea and reading. So what if it rains?

Image found at weheartit.

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 953+ 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!

Book Review and Tour Giveaway: The Path by Peter Riva

This is a remarkably smart sci fi with mystery and surprising twists. Quite a ride!
The Path
by Peter Riva

File Size: 1849 KB
Print Length: 224 pages
Publisher: Yucca Publishing (January 6, 2015)
ASIN: B00PSSEMJ4
Genre: Sci Fi, Techno-thriller
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

All life on earth is about to be terminated by an entity as old as the galaxy itself. To make matters worse, Simon has broken everything already.
In a future world that is run by computer systems and that is without want, how can a man find his role? Then, if the very computers he works on to try to make them more human suddenly try to kill him, revealing a secret so vast that it affects every living soul on the planet, can that man be a hero?
These are the questions that face the stumbling, comic, and certainly flawed Simon Bank. His job is to work with the System’s artificial intelligence, making it fit more perfectly into human society so that it can keep the country running smoothly. But when the System threatens the peaceful world he knows, Simon suddenly must rush to save his own life, as well as the life of everyone on earth. Forced to reassess everything that he thought he knew, he is caught within circumstances way beyond his control.
Simon’s only hope is to rely on intellect and instincts he didn’t know he had, and on new friends, not all of them human, to change himself and all humanity. And he doesn’t have much time.

Review:
The New Republic of America is controlled by a supercomputer. The System controls the country defense shields, the weather, the power, farms providing food, communication, travel and delivery systems. Everyone is happy with their basic needs met and the freedom to choose a job they love. Simon Banks is a brilliant codifier. His job is to enter a virtual world duplicate of the computer system and insert programming glitches. The changes are monitored by a Control Committee who continually fixes them. The described goal is to continually train the computer to behave in a more human fashion; to humanize it for the continued and improved well being of the people.

Suddenly there are glitches to the real System. When a tornado breaks through the weather dome in front of Simon, he knows something is seriously wrong. Simon figures it is the work of other codifiers or maybe errors made by the Committee. Chief Detective Cramer accosts Simon and insists that he is tampering with the System. Simon agrees to enter the System with Cramer to see if they can uncover the problem. What Simon discovers, in addition to a history built on lies, is an emerging sentience in the computer. This could pose a threat not only to the American New Way, but to all of mankind on earth.

Simon and a few friends, as well as the pushy Cramer, are in a race against the System (computer within and government without) to try to save humanity. It will take a lot of scheming to determine the right path to get things back on track and hopefully save the world from destruction.

I admit that the beginning of the story is difficult to follow. I have studied computer language but the details as Simon enters and navigates the computer stream are confusing. However, it is well worth getting beyond that to enjoy the rest of the mystery.

The story is told in first person by Simon, who is a likeable character whose thoughts drift from the complex computer language to very human matters. I enjoyed Cramer’s brusque detective nature as the two tried to outguess each other. There is a thread of mystery from the beginning that kept me on my toes trying to determine who is in control and who are the good guys and bad guys. I learned some interesting true experiments that formed a platform idea for the story.

I really enjoyed following the developments and exchanging discussions on ‘the path, the way and the truth’. Along the way, horrible aspects of politics and man’s insistence on power are revealed. In the last third of the book the twists, or at least surprises, come in rapid succession. The ending is humorous if a bit anti-climactic. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy science fiction especially as it relates to artificial intelligence.

I received this title through iRead Book Tours for an honest review.
I am looking forward to reading the second book, Reaching Angelica, for review on May 3.

Buy the book:  Amazon   Barnes & Noble   Book Depository   Chapters/Indigo

​
Author's Bio:
Peter Riva has worked for more than thirty years with the leaders in aerospace and space exploration. His daytime job for more than forty years has been as a literary agent. He resides in New York City.

Connect with the author:   Website  Twitter   Facebook

TOUR GIVEAWAY:

Prizes: ​
Win 1 of 5 sets of books (The Path Book 1 and Reaching Angelica Book 2) + 1 of 2 $25 Amazon gift cards
(open internationally)

a Rafflecopter giveaway