Sharing Beyond Books #457 Comment Giveaway April 15, 2023

Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books.

Thanks to everyone who commented on the last question.
Last post SBB #456: Miki asked: Do you want goodies (mug, pillow, etc?) from your favourite series or do you prefer when author sticks to books only??
Here were the responses:

Kristin likes swag, favorite fuzzy socks.
Marjorie likes books with bookmark.
Fredamans prefers books only; she doesn't buy literature merchandise.
Elaine likes swag; her niece collects and buys art and boxes of favorite authors.
Anonymous would like bookish subscriptions but doesn't live in US. She would like T-shirts or a scarf of her favorite series.
My reply is in the original post. (I'm giving away most swag I've gotten over the years other than special bookmarks or a handmade gift.)

The Winner from SBB #456 comments is #1 KRISTIN who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the (outdated) ARC/Review titles or Love and Christmas titles OR pick a book from the prior Friday Pick List - all linked near the end of the post. -- [9-18-2021 I have added a new box and crossed off books no longer available through August 2021.]

Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #457

(One Question.)

BN100 asks: What do you think is too much to pay for an ebook (depending on number of pages)? For example, saw an author price a 32 page ebook for $10.

I have to note that I am much more apt to buy audiobooks than print or ebooks. I rarely even pay $.99 for an ebook although I sometimes pay $1.99 or even up to $4.99 so I can get the matching audiobook at a discounted price.  If the audiobook is $7.99, I am still paying $9.98 or $12.98 for both formats.

Image found at Self Publishing Lab.

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 question was provided by BN100 who gets a half book credit and can pick from the last Friday Pick List .

Your turn to share. BN100 asks: What do you think is too much to pay for an ebook (depending on number of pages)? For example, saw an author price a 32 page ebook for $10.
SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles and from the prior Friday Pick List .

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.
The deadline is a month, until May 20, 2023.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 5 PM central.

Book Review: The Rapture: 23 Biblical Answers To The Question: When Is It? by Joshua J. Watson

I like to study End Times and appreciated reading these arguments in support of Pre-Tribulational Rapture.

The Rapture: 23 Biblical Answers To The Question: When Is It?
by Joshua J. Watson

Publication date‏ : ‎ October 30, 2022
Genre: Eschatology, Christian Prophesy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

Long debated is the timing of the Rapture. Will it occur before the Tribulation? After it's started? Or will the Church only be Raptured at its end? Most Christians believe the Bible is largely silent on the issue. However, as this book seeks to unveil, many overlooked passages let us know something very different - ie, that we can know when to expect it, and with confidence.

Review:
This treatise reads easily and quickly. There are 23 specific chapters all of which present strong, persuasive arguments that speak against a Post-Tribulational Rapture, and particularly favor a Pre-Tribulational Rapture. There are several sections I particularly liked. I don’t recall having seen the description of The 7 Feasts in other works and the chapter on The Departure presents another good argument. Also, I liked the discussion on the source of the word “Rapture”.

I do agree that the catching away or Rapture of the Church occurs as a separate event before the Return of Christ to set up His kingdom on earth, which occurs after the Tribulation events. I am still undecided as to whether the Rapture occurs Pre-Tribulation but I do believe it is, at the latest, Pre-Wrath. I totally like the reassurance of the arguments wrapped up in Mr. Watson’s Conclusion which give hope to all believers.

The book is not flashy in format and I felt there was a little bit of repetition. But these issues really didn't distract considering the shortness of the book and the very clear explanation of the arguments in each chapter. I recommend this book to anyone interested in discussions of the Church (believers) Rapture.

Source: March 2023 Author supplied PDF. This qualifies for 2023Author Review goal.

Audible Book Report: Purgatory's Shore, Artillerymen, Book 1 by Taylor Anderson

I'm glad I got into this as I found it engaging.
Purgatory's Shore
Artillerymen, Book 1
By: Taylor Anderson
Narrated by: PJ Ochlan

Length: 22 hrs and 19 mins
Release date: 09-21-21
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Genre: Alternate History, Military History
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
On their way to fight in the Mexican-American War, a group of American soldiers are swept away to a strange and deadly alternate Earth in this thrilling new adventure set in the world of the New York Times best-selling Destroyermen series.
The United States, 1847. A disparate group of young American soldiers are bound to join General Winfield Scott's campaign against Santa Anna at Veracruz during the Mexican-American War. They never arrive.
Or rather...they arrive somewhere else.
The untried, idealistic soldiers are mostly replacements, really; a handful of infantry, artillery, dragoons, and a few mounted riflemen with no unified command. And they've been shipwrecked on a terrible different Earth full of monsters and unimaginable enemies.
Major Lewis Cayce, late of the Third US "Flying" Artillery, must unite these men to face their fears and myriad threats, armed with little more than flintlock muskets, a few pieces of artillery, and a worldview that spiritually and culturally rebels against virtually everything they encounter. It will take extraordinary leadership and a cadre of equally extraordinary men and women to mold frightened troops into an effective force, make friends with other peoples the evil Holy Dominion would eradicate, and reshape their "manifest destiny" into a cause they can all believe in and fight for.
For only together will they have any hope of survival.
©2021 Taylor Anderson (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Review:
I enjoyed the 15 books of the original Destroyermen series. This story picks up in the same alternate world but a century earlier, telling the story of American, and other, artillerymen who find themselves in an unfamiliar world with lots of unexpected people and beasts.

Major Cayce and his troops are expecting to be delivered to Vera Cruz on a battered whaler. Instead the ship and men are swept up in a storm and deposited far from the water in a strange land. The land is similar to the Yucatan Peninsula but not the same. This ‘new world’ is full of dinosaurs (not recognized as such since the word did not come into use until 1942) including avian beasts, raptors and even T-Rex. It is clear that these beasts are able to ravage the societies that live on the land but the military men who land here are able to fight the dinosaurs with their guns which are better than anything anyone else has.

As surprising as the beastly creatures, Major Cayce and his men are alarmed to meet ‘indian’ natives and a leader who looks like an upright cat that speaks English. Some would consider the cat-creatures as demons, until they learn about the horrible blood Dominions who are enslaving the people to either follow their horrible religion and/or die a painful death, which to them is glory.

The story started slowly. I had started it a month or so ago but didn’t get engaged. This week I got passed that slow start and was glad to become engaged in the creative world. Not only does the author provide action encounters with beasts and strange, intelligent races, Anderson also provides interesting details regarding weapons and military tactics. Another element of interest is the dilemma of a female posing as a soldier and learning to work together with the enemy, Mexicans. The characters grew on me and I did care how they survived in the battles. I recommend this to fans of alternate history and military history.

Audio Notes: PJ Ochlan does a good job with the voices and the energy of the story. Ochlan narrated the last book of the Destroyermen series so I had gotten used to his voice. That may have made it easier for me to accept the narration in this series. I enjoyed this audio experience.

Source: 2/5/22 Audible January Credit. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Location goals.

IRead Book Tour Audio Book Review: The Registration by Madison Lawson

Please See Tour Feature HERE.

This has a different premise and lots of action.

The Registration
By: Madison Lawson
Narrated by: Kathleen McInerney

Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins
Release date: 09-27-22
Publisher: CamCat Books
Genre: Dystopian, Psychological
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
You can’t outrun the Registration.
Imagine it’s legal to commit one murder in your lifetime—if you Register the victim and accomplish the kill within fourteen days. So when Lynell Mize stands in line to Register the man who abused her as a child, she’s shocked to hear a stranger Register her to be killed. Why would anyone who doesn't know her squander his one legal murder on her? Desperate to survive the next two weeks, she must find out who wants to kill her—and why.
Easier said than done, as Lynell soon discovers that multiple strangers have used their Registration on her. Along the way, she reunites with her estranged husband who is determined to dig up a past Lynell prefers to keep buried. With only days left to live, Lynell is determined to uncover the truth and survive a destiny not of her choosing. Everyone she knows could be her killer. Any day could be her last.
©2022 Madison Lawson (P)2022 CamCat Books

Review:
Lynell Mize lives in a world society where each person can Register one person to kill without facing penalty, provided the killing is completed within fourteen days. Lynell has struggled through a childhood under the constant threat of an abusive step-father. Trying to start a new page in her life, Lynell goes to Register the abuser. While standing in line, she hears someone in front of her Register her.

Lynell is stunned and realizes she must get away; even her home will not be safe. She suddenly finds her estranged husband, Daniel, insisting that she go away with him. He thinks he has whisked her away safely but they are soon accosted on the train by Zachery Price, a man who has been a best friend to Daniel since Lynell left him and also the man who Registered Lynell.

Lynell learns that more than one man has Registered her. She has something she didn’t realize was important and there is a very powerful man who wants her to be brought to him. Once in his clutches there are surprising revelations and it is nearly impossible to escape. But with the help of unexpected sources she does escape. Once again she goes on the run but they are very poorly prepared. Day to day Lynell struggles to stay out of the hands of her enemy while trying to puzzle out the code he is desperate to obtain. She also wonders whether the Registration system is really a positive thing.

The premise of the story is very interesting and I did enjoy the conflict and action. Lyndell is a young character struggling with her own self-esteem. I appreciated the growth she went through. I was frustrated however by how unprepared Lynell and her rescuers were to run and hide. At one point Lynell and Daniel lead a path to the person they want most to protect, putting many innocent lives in danger. I just shook my head at the stupidity. Fortunately, the ending made me a little happier. I recommend this story to fans of dystopian and other readers who may be interested in an action chase story with a puzzle to solve.

Audio Notes: Kathleen McInerney does a good job with the narration. She manages to convey the youth and inexperience of primary character. She also delivered distinct voices. I appreciated getting the audiobook to share during the book tour.

Source: Author via Bookfunnel for IRead Book Tours. This qualifies for my 2023Audiobook and 2023Author goals.

IRead BookTours - The Registration

Please see my REVIEW HERE.

Book Details:

Book Title: The Registration (a Novel) by Madison Lawson
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +),  320 pages
Genre: Thriller
Publisher:  CamCat Books
Release date:  September 2022
Content Rating: PG-13 + M. There is violence, including a torture scene, and some language, as well as mention of domestic violence, abuse, murder, and abortions. 

Book Description:

You can’t outrun the Registration.

Imagine it’s legal to commit one murder in your lifetime⎯if you Register the victim and accomplish the kill within fourteen days. So when Lynell Mize stands in line to Register the man who abused her as a child, she’s shocked to hear a stranger Register her to be killed. Why would anyone who doesn't know her squander his one legal murder on her? Desperate to survive the next two weeks, she must find out who wants to kill her⎯and why.

Easier said than done as Lynell soon discovers that multiple strangers have used their Registration on her. Along the way, she reunites with her estranged husband who is determined to dig up a past Lynell prefers to keep buried. With only days left to live, Lynell fights to uncover the truth and survive a destiny not of her choosing.

BUY THE BOOK:
CamCat Books
AUDIBLE ~ AMAZON 
B&N ~ IndieBound ~ Bookshop
add to goodreads

Meet the Author:

Author Madison Lawson writes speculative fiction novels full of suspense, social commentary, and complex relationships. She has published a dozen short stories, many of which won awards such as the Koresh Award and the Gordone Award. She received her B.A. in English from Texas A&M University and is currently earning her M.A. in English at North Carolina State University. Born and raised in a small Texas town, Madison began escaping through reading and writing as soon as she could.

connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads