Sunday Words of Encouragment May 24, 2020

Our church met again online. The plan is to have church in person next week to celebrate with a Pentecost service. My husband and I will probably continue to attend online since his health is so precarious.

After lovely worship (Nothing Else Will Do) Pastor shared his message titled “Better Together”, still based on Romans 3.  Pastor noted that some people don’t like the food on their plate to touch, others don’t mind and some like to mix their food together. Mixed up can be good, like chocolate chip cookie dough.

Many things are Better Together. A team needs to work together to be truly successful. On Memorial Day we remember those who worked together to keep our country safe. People have a need for each other. During this time of separation the statistics are indicating a high level of depression (four months equal the numbers for all of last year), and domestic violence has increased by nearly 30% during the past few months.

The Church is essential, not because any politician says it is or isn’t, but because God said it and created it to be essential. The church is needed. It is always safe in a true church family. Believers have Assurance. “Thy rod and staff comfort me.” Psalm 23.

This world needs what the healthy church has. All people are made right by accepting Christ. We need to put Christ as the head of our lives; put our faith in Him. We cannot succeed in God’s plan with a watered-down faith. Faith is more than just a basic belief. It should be more: in every moment, every breath, every heartbeat. Our faith, and assurance give us the freedom to live as God wants us to - with abundance. Romans 3:24.

It is time to come back together and be better together. The world cannot afford for the church to function at less than full capacity. We need peak capacity of the church to share the light and love of Christ. Every person in the body serves a purpose.

We need to put our faith in Christ. Live for the one and true God.

This is an older hymn that popped up in my searching today and I think it fits our current situation.

A Verse for Today:
Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

My Father God, and Lord Jesus Christ, I give You praise and thank You that my life is in Your faithful hands.

#NetGalley Book Review: Quack by Anna Humphrey

This is a good story about children with mutism (a form of autism) and bullying.
Quack
by Anna Humphrey

File Size: 3544 KB
Print Length: 240 pages
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (April 1, 2020)
Genre: Children, Emotional Support, Middle Grade
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

"...Shady, Pouya, and their diaper-wearing duck are working to help all of the underdogs (or is it underducks?) at their school--and there are many."
Ten-year-old Shady Cook struggles with selective mutism caused by anxiety. His best friend, Pouya, gets it—despite being the class clown, he has his own hang-ups lurking just below the surface. Shady's parents, however, are eager to find a way to help their son start talking more, so when a live duck waddles into their lives and Shady starts to respond, they reluctantly decide to give Svenrietta the emotional support duck a chance. Before long, Shady, Pouya, and their diaper-wearing duck are working to help all of the underdogs (or is it underducks?) at their school—and there are many.

Review:
Shady is a ten-year-old who struggles with selective mutism. He rarely speaks even with his sister and parents and almost never outside his home. His teachers and classmates have become accustomed to his behavior although it does leave him with limited friends. Shady’s only true friend is Pouya, the class clown and another classmate on the fringe, with mothers who have immigrated from a country where their relationship was outlawed.

One day as they are returning from school, Shady and Pouya stumble upon some ducklings who have been separated from their mother who has crossed the road. The pair make a daring, messy rescue to deliver the babies to their mother. But in the excitement of the reunion, one duckling is forgotten and not discovered until the boys arrive home.

Shady quickly becomes attached, turning Quack into a true emotional support pet. There is hope in the strengths that the duck brings but not all of the students are understanding. Some of his classmates resent that Svenrietta is allowed in class as a therapy duck. When Sven goes missing during a Christmas play rehearsal, it is a crisis for Shady. That trauma spills over to his sister and parents, his friend Pouya, and even his classmates.

I totally loved Sven and the support she brings to Shady. The author uses this story to great effect to share the difficulties and struggles of Shady’s condition. The story shows how a support pet, even an unusual one, can help the child and the family. The story also shows the impact on classmates and how important it is to help children be sensitive to the struggles of others. I supposed it will be difficult to convince children they can’t each have their own therapy duck, like Svenreitta.

My 8-year-old granddaughter read part of this one day while visiting the office. She really liked it too. I recommend this to middle-grade students and to parents for sharing the lessons with their children.

Source: NetGalley 2020. This qualifies for 2020NetGalley and 2020Alphabet Goals.

Audio Book Review: Promises to Keep: After the EMP (Disruption Trilogy) by R.E. McDermott

Plenty of action made this an intense, engaging conclusion.
Promises to Keep: After the EMP
Disruption Trilogy Book 3
By: R.E. McDermott
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce

Series: Disruption, Book 3
Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 10-05-17
Language: English
Publisher: R. E. McDermott
Genre: Alternate History, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci-Fi
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.75.

Publisher's Summary
In this thrilling final chapter of The Disruption Trilogy, R. E. McDermott once again transports us to a frighteningly realistic post-apocalyptic world of chaos and uncommon courage, and of both hope and despair.
When a massive solar storm takes down the power grid, all order collapses with civilization kept alive only by scattered pockets of survivors who find themselves not only short of critical resources, but facing an unexpected enemy - what's left of their own government.
Survivor resistance stiffens as an increasingly corrupt and tyrannical president clamps down on dissent and seeks to eliminate anyone who might expose his perfidy. With both the defenders of Fort Box in what's left of Wilmington, North Carolina, and the people of the ship Pecos Trader in southeast Texas facing uncertain futures, a resourceful and elusive George Anderson leads government forces on a wild goose chase along the Appalachian Trail, but the future looks grim. Only one man has the credibility and the stature to turn the situation around and fulfill a promise to himself - and the nation.
Simon Tremble, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the last lawmaker not under control of the corrupt president, climbs out of his hidden hollow and starts south along the Appalachian Trail. He has promises to keep.
©2017 R.E. McDermott (P)2017 R.E. McDermott

Review:
Simon Tremble, the presumptive successor to the President, is trying to get to a safe haven, away from the corrupt powers who want to kill him because he knows too much. Simon and his son are on the path through the Appalachian Trail dodging all the checkpoints set up to find him. Along the way he stumbles upon some unexpected allies.

Meanwhile there are two locations trying to rebuild but they are under siege. Colonel Hunnicut and Levy Jenkins are leading the fight at Fort Box in Wilmington. With a band of Coasties (former Coast Guards members) and a National Guard unit they seek to organize and protect a growing gathering of refugee families. The fort occupants are fighting the corrupt government forces who are misleading desperate refugees to be front line fodder for the attacks.

Captain Jordan Hughes has guided his crew and their tanker of fuel, the Pecos Trader, towards home. Near Beaumont, Texas, his crew has created a floating ‘station’ which is under siege by a large group of ex-cons who have been masquerading as law enforcement.

The book is full of tense action while sharing the struggles of the many characters, some caring leaders and other power-hungry despots. I was pulled in from the opening lines and kept glued through the battles until the difficult but hopeful end. I liked the hint of possible future stories to revisit the rebuilding communities. I do recommend reading the trilogy in order. This is a set for those who enjoy alternative history, post-apocalyptic struggles.

Audio Notes: Kevin Pierce is a wonderful narrator. As soon as I began listening, I was caught up in the world of troubled America. I totally enjoyed the audio listen.

Source: November 2019 Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Book 1: Under a Tell-Tale Sky: After the EMP (Disruption Trilogy Book 1) 4.5
Book 2: Push Back: After the EMP (Disruption Trilogy Book 2) 4.5

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway May 22, 2020

Happy Friday!
I had a tense week with a trial on Wednesday. I am ready for a weekend break. 

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 May 15, 2020 Pick. There was one automatic win this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There was one title blocked.
BN100 gets Chill of Fear

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from May 15, 2020 Pick:
MYSTICA gets a GC
and
FREDAMANS 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.}

Isn't this a fun image?
Image found at The Hollywood Reporter.

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 1,316+ 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!

#NetGalley Book Review: The K Team by David Rosenfelt

Full of the usual Rosenfelt humor and mystery... and dogs included.

The K Team
by David Rosenfelt

File Size: 3187 KB
Print Length: 292 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1250257190
Publisher: Minotaur Books (March 24, 2020)
ASIN: B07S7L676S
Genre: Canine, Cozy, Mystery, Private Investigator
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

From bestselling mystery author David Rosenfelt comes a new series – a spinoff of the much beloved Andy Carpenter mysteries – about a dynamic new investigative team featuring a determined former cop and his loyal German Shepherd.
Corey Douglas and his K-9 partner, Simon Garfunkel, have recently retired from the police force. Not ready to give up the life yet, they come up with a proposal for fellow former cop, Laurie Carpenter, and her investigating partner, Marcus. Laurie and Marcus – who help out Laurie’s lawyer husband Andy on cases – have been chafing to jump back into investigating on their own, so they are in.
They call themselves the K Team, in honor of Simon. Their first job as private investigators comes to them from Judge Henry Henderson, who's known as a very tough but fair judge, and they've all come up against him in court at one time or another. Though it's hard to believe, Judge Henderson is being blackmailed and extorted, and he doesn't want to involve the police--he needs the K Team to figure out why.

Review:
Corey Douglas is a retired Paterson, NJ cop. He was fortunate to get to retire with his K-9 partner, a Shepherd, Simon Garfunkel. Corey used to work with Laurie Carpenter and they have now joined to start a firm of private investigators, with their third partner, Marcus, who tends to be as much a bodyguard as an investigator.

The new team is called in by a local judge who wants them to uncover a blackmail scheme that is threatening him. Andy Carpenter (Laurie’s husband), a languid but sharp lawyer, is present but not part of the team at the Judge’s request. The team begins their intrepid investigation and Corey runs along a few herrings. Bit by bit they hone in on the truth. Although I guessed part of the mystery there were reveals and surprises through the end.

Corey is an interesting character – a cop with confidence but commitment issues that are part of his storyline. I enjoyed this team and was glad that Andy got to step in to help. The tone, plotline, and characters will be very familiar to those who enjoy the Andy Carpenter series. The reading is comfortably engaging with the author's usual humor. I would recommend it to those who already enjoy Rosenfelt and to those who would like to find a new, easy reading mystery series that includes canines as added characters.

Source: NetGalley 2019. This qualifies for 2020 TBR, 2020NetGalley and 2020Alphabet goals.