Sunday Words of Encouragement April 19, 2020

We continue to hold church through Facebook service. I miss our Sunday School time. Pastor started a new series this morning titled “Viral”.

When Jesus rose from the grave He shared the good news with his disciples and directed them to be the witnesses of His message and His love. Luke 24:45-49. Jesus handled the spreading of his message by doing the following:

He opened their minds.
He defined Salvation.
He directed them to be witnesses.
He sent them the Holy Spirit.

John 20:19-21 tells how Jesus “breathed on them…”. The breath of the Holy Spirit.
We are still witnesses today. But we can not do it alone. Jesus gave us the advocate to be our paraclete. He sent the Holy Spirit as our comforter to work alongside us. John 14:15-27.

The original message has continued over the years and we are called to spread the word. We need the advocate to speak on our behalf; to strengthen us, to give us wisdom, boldness, and comfort. If you Love Christ, you keep His commandments and you spread the good news of His salvation.

Point: The same Holy Spirit that Jesus breathed into His followers, lives in us today. We are part of the ongoing spread of Jesus name.

I had picked this song for after Easter and I think it fits today’s message too.

Verses for Today:
Luke 24:45-49 (NIV)
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Lord, thank You for providing the Holy Spirit. Help me to be a good witness spreading the message of Your Worth and Your Love.

Sharing Beyond Books #393 Comment Giveaway April 18, 2020

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB.
Thanks to everyone who commented last week. I hope you are staying safe through this trying time.

All 15 of us agreed we had no real preference for release dates of books. The only exceptions are a) Christmas books preferred nearer the holidays instead of in the Spring and b) some of us want our favorite authors/series out ASAP. :-)

The Winner from SBB #392 comments is #7 Alina 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. -- [11/16/19 I plan to add some review books this week and maybe some new Christmas and Love titles as soon as I locate the box I put them in.  10/5/19 I have pulled some new books and will be adding them to the list in the next week or so.

**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 #393

(One Question.)

Natalija asks: What are some of your favorite book titles??

I have kept a spreadsheet on SBB since 2011 and thought this question had been asked. There were two similar but not the same: #326 in 2017 asked for favorite title(s) that year and #380 favorite recent/new to me author. So, let me think which favorite titles I want to pick if I am not limited to any particular year. Once I started looking at my yearly reading I got excited about sharing a pick for each year but decided that was too much. The exercise helped me to recall some authors I would like to read again.

Here are a handful of favorite titles:
Of course, The Bible, which I have been re-reading for the past 10 years or so.
When I think of favorite books I think of three which I still have on my bookshelf - all read before I began reviewing:
1) Lightning by Dean Koontz (read between 200-2005)
2) The Hobbit or There And Back Again by J. R. R. Tolkien (my battered and yellow paperbook copy is from 1966; read in college back in the '70s)
3) The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (my paperback copy from 1975; read in maybe 2005?)

Just a couple from review lists:
2013 Audible Book Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
2017 Book Review: From Afar by Roger Thomas

Image found at The Mad Reader.

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 1/2 book choice or $2.50 towards 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 them.
April Comments were provided by Miki and Natalija who will each get a $2.50 Credit.

Your turn to share. Natalija asks: What are some of your favorite book titles??

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, May 2, 2020, at 5 PM central.

Audible Book Review: Configured by Jenetta L. Penner

This is an engaging dystopian sci-fi.

Configured
The Configured Trilogy, Book 1
By: Jenetta L. Penner
Narrated by: Lillie Ricciardi

Series: The Configured Trilogy, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 11-03-17
Language: English
Publisher: Jenetta Penner
Genre: Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Teen
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
There will come a day when love will mark you as a traitor. In a society where emotions are nothing and function is everything, Avlyn Lark is just trying to blend in. She's lucky to be alive, unlike her twin brother Ben who died when they were four. And she's lucky to have been taken from her biological parents and assigned to a Level Two family. But mastering her emotions? That's a problem, especially when a rebel bomb blows up a building right in front of her. Then on Configuration Day, Avlyn's official transition to adulthood, she starts seeing strange visions. And instead of being placed with a low-level tech company where she could hide away, she's hired by Genesis Technologies, the government firm that monitors every citizen. Now, instead of blending in, Avlyn fears she'll be exposed for what she really is. If Gen Tech finds out how deeply she feels, it will ruin her life. And if they find out about her secret meetings with a mysterious but handsome member of the rebel forces, her life will be more than ruined. It will be over.
©2016. 2017 Jenetta Penner (P)2017 Jenetta Penner

Review:
Avlyn lives in a world where emotions are forbidden. The government, Direction, selects who will advance from a mundane Level One worker to become a more prestigious, important, and privileged Level Two. Avlyn lost her twin brother Ben to a virus when they were young. Then she was moved from her biological parents to be raised in a Level Two family.

When Avlyn attends her Configuration Day appointment, she begins to experience strange visions. Although Avlyn tried to maintain a low profile, she is assigned as a tech worker in the powerful government firm that monitors every citizen. She can’t speak to anyone about her concerns and her confused emotions. Avlyn struggles with her position and instructions to make a sensible, program-directed life match.

Avlyn witnessed a bomb attack and is disturbed by the reporting that is delivered to the public. Soon she finds herself approached by an underground rebel group that is preparing a revolution to expose the lies of the current leader and restore freedoms to the people. Part of Avlyn doesn’t want to be involved, but another part longs to express the emotions she has hidden. And then there is the surprising secret skill she discovers that will change her path.

Ms. Penner does a good job of developing the conflicted emotions of the protagonist. I also liked the two young male interests who complicate her life. Both young men have a role in her struggles until the end of the book that stops at a point that clearly leaves a lot open for the next book in the series. I look forward to the next books in the series. I recommend this to fans of young adult, dystopian stories.

Audio Notes: Lillie Ricciardi delivers the narration with clear voices and a fitting emotional level. The narration enhanced the story for me.

3/28/2020 Audible One March Credit. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook goal.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway April 17, 2020

Happy Friday!
I am thinking it will be nice to start to allow some people back to work. Carefully of course.

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 10, 2020 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 titles blocked.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from April 10, 2020 Pick:
MIKI gets a GC
and
ELIZABETH gets the LaVyrle Spencer Pair.

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.}

Celebrate your library!
Image found at American Library Association.

New Book Group #89 March 6, 2020

Pairs:
Brenda Joyce: Firestorm and Innocent Fire
LaVyrle Spencer: Morning Glory and Bitter Sweet
Singles:
Open House by Elizabeth Berg (Hardback)
My Surrender by Connie Brockway
What the Heart Knows by Kathleen Eagle
Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman
How to Tame a Modern Rogue by Diana Holoquist
Angel Creek by Linda Howard
Montana Mavericks - Big Sky Grooms Anthology
Shadow and Silk by Ann Maxwell
Tempting Fire by Carla Neggers
Suicide Club by Gayle Wilson
Phoenix by A.J. Scudiere
Through the Years - Three Novels, Linda Howard, Fern Michaels and Debbie Macomber


New Book Group #88 November 8, 2019

PAIRS:
Connie Brockway: My Pleasure and My Seduction
Stella Cameron: Body of Evidence and Fascination
Singles:
A Notorious Proposition by Adele Ashworth
My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne
A Lady Never Tells by Candace Camp
Dawn of Redemption by Starla Childs
Long, Lean and Lethal by Heather Graham
False Colours by Georgette Heyer
Chill of Fear by Kay Hooper
Treasures by Lisa Jackson (hardback)
No Limits by Alison Kent
The Education of Mrs. Brimley by Donna MacMeans
The Wedding Affair by Leigh Michaels
A Highlander's Temptation by Sue-Ellen Welfonder


New Book Group #87 August 23, 2019

SINGLES:
Captain's Paradise by Kay Hooper
Open Season by Linda Howard AUDIO CASSETTES
The Perfect Gift by Christina Skye


New Book Group #86 June 7, 2019
Another group of variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
A Place Called Freedom by Ken Follett
Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze
Show No Fear by Marliss Melton
A Question of God's Balance (Vol 1) by Joseph Thek
King by Right of Blood and Might by Anna L. Walls


New Book Group #85 March 22, 2019
A variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
Summer Skies by Judith Christenberry
Windfall (two stories) by JoAnn Ross
Daddy's Little Cowgirl (two stories) by Judith Bowen and Kimberly Raye
The Forever Year, Cold Pursuit, Lover's Lane and Temporary Sanity (Reader's Condensed)
ToxiCity by Libby Fischer Hillmann

New Book Group #84 December 15, 2018
Here are some Christmas titles to pick from.

SINGLES:
A Family for Thanksgiving
On this Holy Night
Christmas Haven
King Harold's Snow Job


New Book Group #83 November 30, 2018

(Starting bottom left and continuing up then down)
SINGLE
Seductive Secrets by Lynne Connolly
Seven Up by Janet Evanovich - Audio Cassettes
A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein Audio Cassettes
Three Reader's Digest Condensed Books - each hardback:

Cold Harbour and The Courtship of Peggy McCoy
The Things We Do for Love, Three Weeks With My Brother, The Murder Artist and Night Train to Lisbon
Follow the Stars Home, Hunting Badger, The Quiet Game and Second Wind

New Book Group #82 November 9, 2018

Stella Cameron: Key West
SINGLES:
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
Killing Time by Linda Howard
The Wedding Night by Barbara Dawson Smith

New Book Group #81 August 17, 2018

SINGLES
Best Laid Plans by Allison Brennan
Darkness Tell Us by Richard Laymon
Cooking Most Deadly by Joanne Pence


New Book Group #80 August 17, 2018

Note: The Final Judgment and
The Book of Fate are Audio Cassettes
SINGLES:
Summer’s Moon by Lacey Baker
The Final Judgment by Richard North PattersonAudio Cassettes
Firebird by Janice Graham
No Getting Over a Cowboy by Delores Fossen
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer 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)
Dakota Child by Linda Ford
Calling the Shots by Ellen Hartman
Promises, Promises by Amber Miller
This Time for Keeps by Jenna Mills
A Daughter’s Legacy by Virginia Smith
Another Man’s Baby by Kay Stockham


New Book Group #78 April 27, 2018

SINGLES
Blackberry Bush
Breaking Point
A Tangled Affair
Too Wicked to Love
Roses are Red Audio Cassettes


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
The Scorpion Seducer by Bonnie Vanak
Hell On Earth by David L. Porter
White Night by Jim Butcher
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton
Crisscross by Harmon Henkin
Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey
Inhuman Condition by Clive Barker
101 Commonsense Rules for the Office by John R. Brinkerhoff


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 by Jillian Hart
Aunt Erma's Cope Book
JoAnn Ross: Confessions
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen
Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven

(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 NINE years I have posted 88 groups of 16 plus an additional 21 totaling 1,429 books to find new homes! (as of November 8, 2019).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,310+ books have found new homes through this feature! YAY. [A year 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 faraway 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: Spring in Geneva by Sylvia Kelso

This is a delightful listen!
Spring in Geneva
By: Sylvia Kelso
Narrated by: Jesse Einstein

Length: 3 hrs and 17 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 08-18-15
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Fantasy, Gothic, Short Story, Steampunk
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.75.

Publisher's Summary
Mary Shelley, a young banker’s son, and William, an excessively tall man with a “lividly hued visage, watery eyes, and blackened lips within a straggling beard,” pit their wits and derring-do against Lord Byron, master of steampunk technology, and his thuggish minions.
©2013 Sylvia Kelso (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Like the Frankenstein story, this novella takes the form of a letter correspondence. Anton writes to explain “what it was all about”. Anton sees a “Promethean” in the garden and befriends him. Then a striking young lady comes along to collect the strange-looking creature she calls William. The young lady turns out to be the widow of Percy Shelley. Anton is intrigued by the curious William and smitten by the sad but enchanting Mary Shelley. Anton sets about helping William to present himself appropriately in public.

But the men who helped create William discover that he is alive and they are not inclined to let him reveal their secrets to anyone. When William, Mary, and Anton realize that the men are set to run another creation experiment, they are determined to prevent that tragedy even though it risks their lives.

The story has friendship, romance -or at least the dream of it-, danger, and questions regarding what signifies a man and more particularly a soul. The prose has a European flair that fits the Georgian time period. I enjoyed the rich descriptions and found the Frankenstein connections captivating. It makes me want to read the original story again. I will also look at other stories by Ms. Kelso. I recommend this to fans of the original Frankenstein story and to readers who enjoy a gothic, steampunk fantasy.

Audio Notes: Jesse Einstein does a beautiful job with the narration. He captures the gothic elements as well as providing distinct voices. I found the listening experience delightful.

Source: 12/13/2019 Audible Sale for $1.50. This qualifies for 2020TBR,  2020Audiobook and season "Spring" reading goals.