#NetGalley Book Review: The Rancher's Gift by Dennis Worden and Jeff Dunn

This is a well written story presenting solid life lessons.

The Rancher's Gift: A Modern Day Parable

of Living a Life on Purpose

by Dennis Worden (Author), Jeff Dunn (Author)

File Size: 4668 KB
Print Length: 95 pages
Publisher: BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC (May 15, 2018)
ASIN: B079WDL1H2
Genre: Christian, Inspirational, Religion
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

We are not promised more than today.
Thus we need to live our legacy now, with focus and integrity.
Ryan Westcott is ready to step into the family business, armed with a fresh MBA degree from a prestigious business school. Yet his father has other ideas. He feels Ryan needs more education—but not the kind one gets from a school. Ryan is sent to his uncle’s Montana ranch to learn, in short, how to be a man.
While Ryan helps his uncle build a barn, he learns life lessons about health, work, finances, education, selfessness, humility, and most important of all, love.
Ryan meets the richest man in the county, only to find riches are not always counted in dollars and cents. And then there is Kayla, the pretty country lass who awakens deep feelings in Ryan he never knew he had, and challenges him to live a life of true purpose. Along the trail, Ryan meets one more person, one who will upend all else and change his life forever.
There is more to life than just what we see in our limited view. Come travel the “Big Sky” country with Ryan, and find the purposeful life that awaits you.
Bonus: Also included is The Rancher’s Guide to Living Life on Purpose to help you reflect and discover your purpose in living.

Review:
Ryan is a young businessman ready to step in to help his father’s finance business. Although Ryan is eager and has graduated with an MBA, his father senses that something is missing. His father recognizes that he has spent so much time building his business that he hasn’t spent enough time with his son. He sends Ryan to his uncle’s Montana ranch where he can get hands on lessons in life.

Ryan is surprised and not quite ready to get up with the break of dawn. But as Ryan helps his uncle build a barn and help in the community he learns how to become a compassionate nephew, friend, community member and even potential husband. The basis of the lessons about health, work, finances, education, selfessness, humility, and love are built on Biblical foundations. And Ryan is challenged to accept the most precious gift of all.

I enjoyed the wonderful wisdom for living “a good life” with purpose which is shared in this novella. It is an easy read and shows that life isn’t all roses and smooth paths. There are questions and decisions to be made. It is important to have the right foundation and look to the right resources for advise to help make the right decisions. I recommend this to anyone who seeks to learn how to live a full life that is rich in more than money.

Source: NetGalley 2018. This qualifies for 2018 NetGalley and Alphabet Challenges.

MBS October 2018 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2018 Reading List - OCTOBER

Code for the list is:
A = Audible; ABJ = Audiobook Jukebox; ABB = Audiobook Boom
e = eBook; eA = eBook from Author; eT = eBook from Tour
NG = NetGalley
P = Print; PT = Print from Tour
LBC = Ladies Book Club
TBR = From the TBR shelves prior to 2017
Favorite for October: 5 Star: How to Marry a Werewolf
4.75 stars - none
4.5 Stars: two titles

1. eA2018- Book Review: To Thine Be the Glory by Angela D. Martin; Christian, Memoir, Religion; my rating: 3.5 of 5.0.
2. NG2018- #NetGalley Book Review: Once Upon A Heartbreak by Cassie Rocca; Contemporary Romance, Second Chance; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
3. eTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Haunted by Willow Cross; Ghosts, Supernatural; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
4. eTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Island Ghosts: A Will Castleon Adventure by David Bain; Ghost, Mystery, Psychics; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
5. eTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Lilah’s Ghost by Deb Logan; Coming of Age, Ghost, Paranormal; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
6. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Extinction Cycle Boxed Set, Books 1 - 3, by Nicolas Sansbury Smith; Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic, Sci Fi, Zombies; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall and Audio.
7. eTBR- Goodreads Book Review: A Walk in the Woods: A Horror Short Story by Rebecca M. Senese Dark Fantasy; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
8. A2018- Goodreads Book Review: Where Wolves Run by Jason Parent; Dark Fantasy, Horror, Short Story; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
9. A2018- Goodreads Book Review: First Death by AD Starling; Sci Fi, Short Story; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
10. A2018- Audible Book Review: The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson; Action & Adventure, Dystopian, Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Audio.
11. eTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Haunted: Ten Tales of Ghosts
    by Rayne Hall, Sera Hayes, Jonathan Broughto, Grayson Bray Morris, Kiersten Hartrim, Carole Ann Moleti, Douglas Kolacki, William Meikle, Tracie McBride; Ghosts, Paranormal, Short Stories; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
12. ATBR- Goodreads Audible Book Review: The Year of the Hare: A Novel by Arto Paasilinna, Herbert Lomas (Translator), Simon Vance (Narrator); Comedy, Fiction; My Rating: Overall 4.0; Story 3.5; Narration 5.0.
13. eTBR-LBC- Book Review: The Evidence (The Mars Hill Classified Series) by Austin W. Boyd; Christian, Fantasy, Sci Fi; My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0.
14. ATBR- Audible Book Review with Print Giveaway: The Last Colony, Old Man's War, Book 3 by John Scalzi; Colonization, Genetic Engineering, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.
15. A2018- Goodreads Audible Book Review: The Ghost and the Graveyard (Knight Games, #1) by Genevieve Jack, Brittany Pressley (Narrator); Ghosts, Fantasy, Romance; My Rating: Overall: 4.0; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.
16. NG2018- #NetGalley Book Review: Unwritten by Tara Gilboy; Children's Books, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.
17. ATBR- Audio Book Review: Back in the Saddle: A Novel (Double S Ranch Series, Book #1) by Ruth Logan Herne; Christian, Contemporary, Romance, Western; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Story and Narration.
18. ATBR- Goodreads Audible Book eReview: The Hospital: The First Mountain Man Story (Mountain Man, #0.5) by Keith C. Blackmore, R.C. Bray (Narrator); Sci Fi, Short Story, Zombie; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0. Free on Kindle and Audible.
19. ATBR- Goodreads Audible Book Review: In the After (In the After, #1) by Demitria Lunetta, Julia Whelan (Narrator); Dystopian, Post Apocalyptic, Sci Fi, Survival Story; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.
20. A2018- Audible Book Review: How to Marry a Werewolf, A Claw & Courtship Novella, Book 1, by Gail Carriger; Paranormal Romance, Werewolves; my rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Audio.

I read some TBRs as part of FraterFest although I wasn’t able to post due to no internet.
I exceeded my goal of 15 per month and am happy with the number of TBRs I read; although I still have more to do.
At the end of October it looks like I was 14 books ahead on my 2018 Goodreads Challenge with 149 of 160.
Total read = 20; TBR = 12; New Authors = 16

Audio/Audible = 11 (6 TBRs)
eBook = 7 (6 TBRs)
NetGalley = 2 (0 TBRs)
Print = 0 (0 TBR)

Sunday Post November 3, 2018/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday November 4, 2018.

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date (at Wordpress).

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I am working limited hours each day as we are walking through water to get into the office and now have open water raining in. I am still waiting to determine the next steps with the adjuster and structural engineering reports.
My husband goes in Monday to have a pacemaker put in. We are hoping it will help him have more energy.

My listening has been good but reading is slow as my Kindle still dies ever 10 minutes or so. I finally figured out how to get the book I wanted to read on the Fire Kindle so I expect I will be using that more. It does text to speech in a terrible voice but at least it has that option which my phone doesn't. I finished two audio books and one ebook. I got four reviews up but I have plenty to go. I am back to posting my usual memes.

I got to visit the MM links and about three others this week so that makes 18.
Shout Out this week to fuonlyknew/ Laura's Ramblins and Reviews. Laura Bickle is author of young adult horror stories, plus...
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post October 28, 2018/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday October 29, 2018.

• A2018- Audible Book Review: The Lilac Bouquet by Carolyn Brown; Contemporary Romance, Small Town; my rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Audio.

• Our Home Property Before and After Hurricane Michael.

• A2018- Audible Book Review: How to Marry a Werewolf, A Claw & Courtship Novella, Book 1, by Gail Carriger; Paranormal Romance, Werewolves; my rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Audio.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 2, 2018.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry; Mystery, Suspense, Thriller; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Audio.

• AB2018- Audiobook Review: The Quest for Cosmic Justice by Thomas Sowell; Jurisprudence, Non-Fiction, Social Studies; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0.

• Sharing Beyond Books #355 Comment Giveaway November 3, 2018.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement November 4, 2018.

Finished Reading:
1. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

In the After
By: Demitria Lunetta
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
This is a different twist on a post-apocalyptic story.
Source: June/July 2017 Audible Credit Purchase. 10/28-29
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

How to Marry a Werewolf
A Claw & Courtship Novella, Book 1
By: Gail Carriger
I wanted a fun story to finish off the month of October and this was perfect!
Source: July 2018 Audible Credit Purchase. 10/30-31
Publisher's Summary
Guilty of an indiscretion? Time to marry a werewolf.
New York Times best-selling author Gail Carriger brings you a charming stand-alone story set in her wildly popular Parasolverse. Described as: Georgette Heyer goes to the wolves.
Werewolves
The monsters left Faith ruined in the eyes of society, so now they're her only option. Rejected by her family, Faith crosses the Atlantic, looking for a marriage of convenience and revenge. But things are done differently in London. Werewolves are civilized. At least they pretend to be.
Americans
Backward heathens with no culture, Major Channing has never had time for any of them. But there's something special about Faith. Channing finds himself fighting to prove himself and defend his species. But this werewolf has good reason not to trust human women.
Even if they learn to love, can either of them forgive?
From the best-selling author of the Parasol Protectorate series. Look out for appearances from favorite characters and the serious consequences of unwarranted geology.
A Note on Chronology
The Claw & Courtship novellas can be heard in any order. This book can be enjoyed without having heard any of Gail's other works. Set in the spring of 1896, this story occurs after events chronicled in Romancing the Werewolf.
©2018 Gail Carriger LLC (P)2018 Gail Carriger LLC

3. eBook/Kindle (NG2018)

For Us Humans: A Tale of Alien Occupation
by Steve Rzasa 
I enjoyed this interesting, rather unique, Christian story.
Source: NetGalley 10/24- 11/4.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:

1. eBook/Smartphone (NG2018)

Light’s Dawn: A Novella (Light in the Darkness)
by Yvette Bostic 
I am interested to see where this is going.
Source: NetGalley 10/21- ___
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Hunter
By: Mercedes Lackey
Narrated by: Amy Landon
Series: Hunter, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
I am enjoying this fantasy.
Source: Audible Daily Deal July 2017. 11/1- ___
Publisher's Summary
They came after the Diseray. Some were terrors ripped from our collective imaginations, remnants of every mythology across the world. And some were like nothing anyone had ever dreamed up, even in their worst nightmares.
Monsters.
Long ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were ripped open, and it's taken centuries to bring back civilization in the wake. Now, the luckiest Cits live in enclosed communities, behind walls that keep them safe from the hideous monsters fighting to break through. Others are not so lucky.
To Joyeaux Charmand, who has been a Hunter in her tight-knit mountain community since she was a child, every Cit without magic deserves her protection from dangerous Othersiders. Then she is called to Apex City, where the best Hunters are kept to protect the most important people.
Joy soon realizes that the city's powerful leaders care more about luring Cits into a false sense of security than protecting them. More and more monsters are getting through the barriers, and the close calls are becoming too frequent to ignore. Yet the Cits have no sense of how much danger they're in - to them, Joy and her corps of fellow Hunters are just action stars they watch on TV.
When an act of sabotage against Joy takes an unbearable toll, Joy uncovers a terrifying conspiracy. There is something much worse than the usual monsters infiltrating Apex. And it may be too late to stop them.
©2015 Mercedes Lackey (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

3. eBook/Kindle Fire (TBR)

Cadaver in Chief: A Special Report from the Dawn of the Zombie Apocalypse
by Steve Hockensmith
I picked this for a "C" TBR and thought it was a good choice transitioning from October to November election week. :-)
Source: Kindle 2012 Freebie. 11/3- ____
HE CAME TO WASHINGTON FOR BRRRRRRRRAINS.
NO WONDER HE'S STILL HUNGRY.
The undead have risen from their graves, and society hangs by a thread. But America's political parties aren't going to let a little thing like the zombie apocalypse get in the way of a presidential election. There are nasty whispers about the incumbent, though, and they have nothing to do with where he was born.
The rumor: He's dead.
Could a zombie be running for President? It's up to ace Washington Tribune reporter Jan Woods to find out.
Cadaver in Chief, the new novella from New York Times bestseller Steve Hockensmith (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls), follows Woods on her search for the truth...a search that puts her up against the most dangerous ghouls in Washington. Oh, and zombies, too.

November 4, 2018 - I am still up to date and enjoying my Bible reading through You Version App.  I am on track with my morning reading the One Year Bible plan on my smartphone. You can check out audio of the One Year Bible Plan on the companion commentary online.

I completed all three books and posted four reviews. I still have many reviews to post!
Obviously I have all of these reviews to add to Goodreads, Amazon and Audible so I am way behind again. I still have older ones to catch up on too.
My NetGalley shelf is now at 8 as I added a title. I still have one author title in queue. Still many through InstaFreebie and many new author requests I haven't replied to.

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
I added one new review title through NetGalley.
I picked up one Audible Daily Deal.
I didn't pick up any Kindle paid titles.
I picked up a few free kindle titles through my phone internet when we were near internet. (Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.)
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I picked up this book through NetGalley.

The Trouble with Twelfth Grave
by Darynda Jones
I still need to get book 11 in the series but I plan to pick that up at Audible.

Won

NONE

Purchased

11/3/18 Audible Daily Deal $1.95
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia
By: C.S. Lewis
Narrated by: Michael York
Length: 4 hrs and 21 mins
Release date: 12-26-04

Free

There are six new Audible Originals offered for November and I have to narrow down my choice from four that I like.

I added just 29 free titles to my Kindle library over the past weeks. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement November 4, 2018

We are getting back to normal now with Sunday School (SS) and Church this morning. Both our SS teacher and our Pastor shared appropriate, uplifting messages that complement each other.

The SS message was fittingly titled: Our Anchor Still Holds. The scripture shared was in our Bible Through the Year readings this week: Lamentations 3:19-26.
Although there is much sadness in Jeremiah and Lamentations, there is also a message of hope. The verses shared convey the thought: Dare to hope!
As we pass through the storm (figuratively and literally with Hurricane Michael) we can see God working through His children. People came from all over the states, and even Puerto Rico, came to help with the disaster relief efforts. We see the debris but don't know what the future holds.
We can be looking to see the good that may be coming out of this. Our teacher mentioned the “Blessings” song with its chorus: “What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?”
Life happens. But as Christ-followers we have an anchor, a hope.
We need to remember that this is not our home; we are on a journey

Rick Warren stated: God is more interested in our character than our comfort. Beautiful furniture starts with rough wood that has to be cut, shaped and sanded. Do we resist or submit?

Pastor’s Message shared similar sentiments.
All locations are beautiful to someone: deserts, mountains, cities, snow covered, field and stream. But beauty can be stripped away in an instant by tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fire and other disasters. Beauty is all around us, but beauty can fall away at times of our lives. However, we know that a certain beauty almost always arises from ashes.

As Christ followers we know that new beauty will be by revealed. New life is birthed. Isaiah 61:1-3.

Point: God has promised beauty from ashes and life from death.

God is always way out in front be of us. There is purpose in our pain.
When Jesus was on the cross it was an end, death. But to us who know the full story it is beautiful. The stone closing the grave represented death but the stone being rolled away now signifies life.
The story of Esther also shows beauty from ashes… Esther was a queen “for such a time as this”.
We can trust God's promises. Seeing beauty amidst destruction doesn't happen by accident.
Steps to see beauty:
1. Move away from negativity.
2. Take time for rest. Use that time with God.
3. Ask God to show you the beauty, His plan and purpose.
Be thankful.
Find something to be thankful for each day and express it.

Our SS teacher played this video which fits the message:

Verses for Today: Lamentations 3:21-23 (NIV)
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

My Prayer: Help me to find beauty each day and be Thankful!

Sharing Beyond Books #355 Comment Giveaway November 3, 2018

Hello again and Welcome back to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB after a month away!

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Commenters shared lots of wonderful places to visit: beautiful libraries, Paris, Hobbiton, Rio, Nazaré in Portugal, Alaskan cruise, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Egypt and the aurora borealis! Two mentioned New Orleans and Ireland and three mentioned special museums.

The Winner from SBB #354 comments is: #12 Fredamans 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 #355

(One Question.)

This is an older question from Elizabeth: Have you started Christmas shopping, yet??

I used to shop all year long but that has not happened lately. I did find some outfits for the kids earlier this summer. And actually - we never celebrated Christmas with our kids last year so I have a stack ready to wrap. LOL.

Image found at Knoxville Moms Blog.

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.
Alina provided the question in October and gets $2.50 Credit.

Your turn to share. Elizabeth asks: Have you started Christmas shopping, yet??

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 November 17, 2018 at 5 PM central.

Audiobook Review: The Quest for Cosmic Justice by Thomas Sowell

I found this to be a well laid out, thought provoking treatise.
The Quest for Cosmic Justice
Written By: Thomas Sowell
Narrated By: Robertson Dean

Date: September 2017
Duration: 5 hours 52 minutes
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks
Genre: Jurisprudence, Non-Fiction, Social Studies
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Summary:
This book is about the great moral issues underlying many of the headline-making political controversies of our times. It is not a comforting book but a book about disturbing and dangerous trends.
The Quest for Cosmic Justice shows how confused conceptions of justice end up promoting injustice, how confused conceptions of equality end up promoting inequality, and how the tyranny of social visions prevents many people from confronting the actual consequences of their own beliefs and policies. Those consequences include the steady and dangerous erosion of fundamental principles of freedom-amounting to a quiet repeal of the American revolution.
The Quest for Cosmic Justice is the summation of a lifetime of study and thought about where we as a society are headed-and why we need to change course before we do irretrievable damage.

Review:
I really enjoyed listening to this treatise but found it hard to review. I took two and a half pages of notes while listening! My first review draft was 910 words and this is still long. This work was copywritten in 1999 but its discussion is timely in today’s distraught and divisive political atmosphere.

Some of the well stated points include: Social justice is not the same as true justice. Justice at all costs is not justice; it always costs someone.

Sowell discusses Traditional Justice v Cosmic Justice. Cosmic Justice often approaches issues with a theoretical stereotype rather than addressing flesh and blood reality. The cosmic arguments focus on emotion rather than objective, factual circumstances. Sowell shares many examples supporting his premise that the Cosmic Justice vision is self-serving as it is unwilling to look at the evidence of application. Cosmic Justice favors the abstract which is at odds with practicality in the everyday.

Sowell projects that there is a quiet repeal of the American Revolution which was based upon ideas of landmark freedom and a democratic society. The three branches of government were intended to balance each other. Now, as the legislative branch fails to agree and take action, they leave the door open to executive orders and legislation made through Supreme Court decisions. American freedoms were set forth with a stated Rule of Law that was tempered with controls and exemptions. The issues of Cosmic Justice versus Traditional Justice are a seesawing balance of public rights versus private rights. Traditional Justice permits individual rights while Cosmic Justice dictates through controlling requirements. Cosmic Justice is irreconcilable with personal freedom which is based on the Rule of Law.

Cosmic Justice seeks to further government powers while Traditional Justice seeks to maintain individual rights. Expansion of Federal powers erode individual freedoms. Sowell notes that state rights have continually been eroded in 20th century, not by legislation, but by judges. Traditional Justice applies laws. Cosmic Justice allows judges to input their view of right and wrong (the Rule of Men) rather than enforcing the Rule of Law. Burdens of proof on plaintiffs are now shifting to defendants encouraging a prima facie case without support. (This was in evidence in the recent hearings to approve Justice Kavanaugh and is also an underlying basis in the division of those seeking liberal justices rather than conservative justices.)

Impartiality of law is being disregarded in the face of Cosmic Justice which results in a political non sequetor, to wit: ‘Things are not right and government should make them right’. Increasing government control (especially Federal) is in conflict with freedoms and rights of the common man who wants to live peaceably in their (hopefully compatible) local communities. Cosmic Justice is pursuing Globalism instead of American rights.

As I listened to this it gave me better insight on the current extreme divide in our social and political views. I do widh that people would agree to civilly disagree. I pray Americans could recognize the privilege we have to live under such a unique system of government and I hope we don’t lose it. I recommend this to anyone interested in the topic. Although I enjoyed the audio, I think a print copy would work for a better resource.

Audio Notes: The narration by Robertson Dean was very well handled. The tone is direct and respectful. He managed to keep my interest in what could be at times a difficult work to follow and digest. I am glad I had the audio although, as noted above, a print copy would be worthwhile too.

Source: Audiobooks July 2018 credit purchase. This qualifies for Audiobook and Alphabet Challenges.

Audible Book Review: The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry

This mystery has great suspense and tension.
The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die
By: April Henry
Narrated by: Cristina Panfilio

Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 06-11-13
Language: English
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Audio.

Publisher's Summary
"Take her out back and finish her off."
She doesn’t know who she is. She doesn’t know where she is, or why. All she knows when she comes to in a ransacked cabin is that there are two men arguing over whether or not to kill her.
And that she must run.
In her riveting style, April Henry crafts a nail-biting thriller involving murder, identity theft, and biological warfare. Follow Cady and Ty (her accidental savior turned companion), as they race against the clock to stay alive.
©2013 April Henry (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Review:
Cady was kidnapped and tortured for information. When the kidnappers were done with her she was supposed to be killed. Instead she struggled and surprisingly escaped. She is on the run knowing that she is being hunted. She manages to get a young man to help her, pulling Ty into her run from death. They don’t know who to trust or where to hide since the evil men always seem one step behind them and have framed her for a crime in order to pull her in.

The author does a clear presentation in first person with good confusion, mystery and tension expressed through the fear of the character. The story is full of twists, turns and great tension. Although the characters are young and don't always think things through, I was pulled into the story from the beginning and it moved quickly with the suspense. I am glad I picked this up as a daily deal. I will look for more by Ms. Henry. This is suitable for young people as well as adults.

Audio Notes: Cristina Panfilio did a good job with the narration. She portrayed the young voices and gave the characters energy. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: Audible March, 2017 Daily Deal $1.95. This qualifies for Audiobook Challenge and 2018TBR.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 2, 2018

Happy Friday and Welcome to a month of Thanksgiving!
Every November I pick 4 random winners to celebrate the anniversary of Friday Pick.

I may be pulling together another box of books for next week. We'll see how time goes.

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 October 5 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. No titles were blocked.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from October 5 Pick:
FREDAMANS gets a GC and
BN100 gets Don't Tell a Soul

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.}

This came up for 2017. I didn't see any promo for 2018. :-(
Image found at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

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
Bound For Murder 
Don't Tell a Soul


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
The Green Trap
Secrets of Paris



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 81 groups of 16 plus an additional 21 totalling 1,317 books to find new homes! (as of November 2, 2018).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,192+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 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!

Our Home Property Before and After Hurricane Michael

My family has been through many hurricanes since 1963. Most of those I was living in South Florida (where the palm trees tend to bend with the wind). We left and went north before some storms and a couple we road out as my husband's job had him on call. We suffered some roof and screen porch damage from Frances in 2004 when we still lived in Jupiter, Florida. Many of our friends agree that we have never seen anything like the destruction left by Hurricane Michael. The storm came up quickly, moved through quickly (thank the Lord) and wasn't overly wet. But the winds were terrible.
Here are some before and after images of our house and surrounding property.

BEFORE: This is an image of our back yard and doesn't fully show the lush trees behind us.

AFTER: We were thankful the chicken hutch (white roof) was not damaged at all! The close up trees are mostly down, several uprooted, and many trees in the acres beyond are snapped in half.

BEFORE: This was a shot of suntipped trees along the right (east) side looking from the back of the house out to the front.

AFTER: Most of the trees along the east side of the house are down. The scraggly tree might be the shorter suntipped tree from the "before" photo.

This is the west side showing the downed trees along the side of the house where they took down an awning over the basement door. Normally you could see the chicken hutch from this view but not now.

I don't have a matching picture for this but here is one from the RV to the garage - the east side of the house. There are two cars under those trees. Our son-in-law's car was crushed but fortunately my husband's Jeep only had one window knocked out and our EasyGo suffered no damage under a tent covering to the left.

BEFORE: This is looking at the house on the front, north side from the right (east) side of the curved driveway.

AFTER: This shot includes the driveway at a slightly different angle. Our Granddaughter is about to step onto the driveway.

And this shows trees down and uprooted along the right side of the drive. We can not use this access out yet as the cable lines are still blocking the way out to the road.

BEFORE: This is an image looking out the west side of our curved drive. There are two dogwood trees beyond the oak on the right:

AFTER: This is looking from the drive to the house. The big tree and the dogwoods would be on the left side of the drive in this view but they are down.

BEFORE: This was our front walk way with my Versa where I usually park.

AFTER: This was early the morning after the storm. My Versa is under the trees; it was declared totaled.

These trees had branches that went into our roof. The first poked holes over our garage.

This tree stuck branches in two places: over our living room and over the guest bedroom.

We were fortunate that this damage in the guest bedroom was the worst of the damage inside the house other than a few other ceiling stains from leaks.

The insurance will cover the trees on the roof and driveway that blocked access. They do not cover the downed trees in the yard.
Our Well Pump Shed was crushed. It housed my husband's water treatment equipment which includes the chlorinator and water softener necessary to give us clean water rather than hard well water full of iron. It also housed our four wheeler which we have not been able to extricate yet.

Many in our area and surrounding counties suffered even worse than we did as can be seen by the complete destruction of homes in Mexico Beach where the hurricane made landfall.
As I mentioned in my previous post, we were blessed to have the RV and generator power, plus hot water, for the 18 days before power was restored. There are still some people and businesses without power. We are comfortable that God is in control and we trust Him in this storm and all others!

I'll share pictures and an update about my office next week.

Audible Book Review: The Lilac Bouquet by Carolyn Brown

This is a lovely, engaging story!

The Lilac Bouquet
By: Carolyn Brown
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley


Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 03-28-17
Language: English
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Small Town
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Audio.

Publisher's Summary
Come hell or high water, Emmy Jo Massey will have a wedding. After three generations of Massey women with children out of wedlock, she wants the whole town of Hickory, Texas, to witness the legitimacy of her union with Logan Grady. But dream weddings aren't cheap. So she accepts a highly lucrative stint as a home health assistant to retired realtor, and town recluse, Seth Thomas - a decision her great-grandmother Tandy is dead-set against.
Seth isn't happy about it, either. The eighty-two-year-old doesn't want a "babysitter" - much less a Massey - something he makes clear when Emmy arrives at his house, an empty mansion built for the woman who broke his heart. But as Emmy stays and the two eventually open up to each other, she learns the reason behind a feud between Seth, Tandy, and Logan's grandfather Jesse Grady that goes back six decades. She also uncovers a secret that forever changes how she sees her past and her future...
©2017 Carolyn Brown (P)2017 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Review:
Emmy Jo Massey is a young woman who comes from a family of unwed mothers. Emmy is determined on getting married to her fiance, Logan Grady, so the whole town will know about it. The problem is that their great-grandparents are part of a long time feud, which includes the town recluse, Seth Thomas. These three won't be in the same room together, much less speak to each other. Emmy takes a job as a home health provider to Seth over the objection of Her great-grandmother, Tandy. Seth isn't thrilled with having a Massey in his home either. Emmy is intent on earning the money to help cover her wedding costs and now she is intent on unraveling the secret of the animosity of the people she wants to share her joy with.

Emmy is a lovely character and her determination and sunshine break down the walls of the frozen, bitter hearts around her. The secrets of the past are slowly revealed and evoke emotions of anger and sadness at the wasted years. There were choices that were made and some terrible treatment, even, or especially, by some so-claimed Christians. There are Biblical themes gently shared through the story. The story was an easy read/listen with engaging twists that kept it interesting. It addresses more family, people issues than just a romance. I hope to read more by Carolyn Brown.

Audio Notes: I was very comfortable with the narration by Brittany Pressley. I can't speak to the accuracy of the accents but I enjoyed the voices for the characters. THe narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: Audible January 2018 Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for my Audiobook Challenge and a 2018 title for Alphabet Challenge.