Sunday Words of Encouragement January 27, 2019

We had another good Sunday School message today titled The Devil Made Me Do It. It was based on 1 Corinthians 9:24 - 10:1-13 where we are reminded not to think we have everything under control, lest we fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12.

We enjoyed good praise and worship before pastor continued his series on Forward. We need a vision for the church: what the church needs to be up to; what we need to be doing.
The lessons are:
Week 1: Seek His Presence.
Week 2: Capture God's heart for the lost.
Week 3: Transformation.

Transformation is not immediate; it is a process of development.  We are pursuing the transformation/ change in our lives and the people God has put in our lives. But some people in our lives are wearing headphones and not hearing. Transformation/ life-change hinges on what we hear or what we are able to hear.

Just as we are sometimes deaf to the doctor warnings, there are times we don’t hear the Holy Spirit. God does speak. He spoke the universe into being. He spoke to Moses. He spoke to Elijah. He still speaks today but we don’t always listen.

Transformation is defined as the thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance or character of....

Do we truly believe God can change our/ their lives? Do we allow the change? Do we acknowledge His word, His will?

Paul's transformation occurred when he saw and heard the truth. John 8:31-32 says that truth will set you free... free from slavery.
Verse 43: those who don’t belong to God are not hearing, not listening, not understanding.
John 8:43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.
Transformation is an ongoing process. Our righteousness is pitiful, filthy rags whencompared to God's righteousness.
Verse 47 Those who belong to God will hear His voice.
John 8:47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.

Point: We are transformed by hearing and understanding the Word of God.

We cannot transform ourselves. Romans 12:2 tells us not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind…

Transformation coincides with dying to self. It is necessary that we daily crucify the old self.
God is in the life saving business. The church is dying if it doesn’t speak and spread the word.
It is the job of believers to help others to experience the transformation we have experienced.
2 Corinthians 5:11-21. We should be compelled to tell others; Verse 14. We work hard to persuade others because God has given us this task – the ministry- to reconcile people to God; Verse 18. ‘Therefore we are Christ's ambassadors’; Verse 20. It is our job to take Christ to the world.
When was your life transformed? It may have started years ago but it is ongoing. We must continually pursue transformation even for ourselves.

Homework:
1. Get in (read and study) the Word. Ask God to change my life.
2. Study 2 Corinthians 5:13-21.
3. Pray for those who are not hearing, listening or understanding the Truth.

This wasn't the first song I thought of but I found it while looking for a song to fit today.

Verses for Today:
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (NIV)
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

This message strikes my heart for certain family and strangers in public positions who I carry on my heart.
I pray that headphones, blinders, and hardness of heart are removed. I sorrow when I see many who exhibit hate instead of Grace. I have heard some say: "I'm a Christian. I go to church and I give money to help others."
But being a Christ follower is not about going to church or giving money to help others. It's about accepting Christ as our personal saviour, loving others with God's love and sharing the message of salvation with others - even when they are not listening.

Sharing Beyond Books #361 Comment Giveaway January 26, 2019

Hello again and Welcome back to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
I'm not too surprised that cleaning the bathroom is the least liked chore chosen by 12 of us (2 specific to toilet). Two commenters chose dusting. And SueF chose one I forgot which is close to 'bathroon' - the litter box.

The Winner from SBB #360 comments is: #6 SUEF 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. -- [12/15/18 I am pulling out some new Christmas and Love titles to add to the Win box choices. I had to move the books due to the water threat in office. I will dig them out again soon.]

**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 #361

(One Question.)

Marjorie asks: Do you subscribe to Inoreader??

No, I don't subscribe; I had to look it up.

Image found at Inoreader/Twitter.

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.
January Comments were provided by Natalija and Marjorie.


Your turn to share. Marjorie asks: Do you subscribe to Inoreader??

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 February 9, 2019 at 5 PM central.

#NetGalley Book Review: The Winter Mystery by Faith Martin

I enjoyed this amateur sleuth mystery.
The Winter Mystery an absolutely gripping whodunit
by Faith Martin

File Size: 1470 KB
Print Length: 237 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1789310636
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Joffe Books mystery and crime (December 17, 2018)
ASIN: B07LG6FP9D
Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Mystery, Cozy Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Discover a new series of whodunits by million-selling author Faith Martin. These charming mysteries will have you scratching your head to work out who the murderer is.
“Classic murder mystery story with a twist at the end” Oxford Times
Meet Jenny Starling: travelling cook and reluctant amateur detective.
Please note this book was first published as “A FATAL FALL OF SNOW” under Faith Martin’s pen name JOYCE CATO.
Jenny Starling is spending Christmas in a snowed-in country house cooking all the traditional food she loves. But the family she’s working for are not full of the seasonal spirit. In fact, they seem to hate each other.
On Christmas Eve, someone is found dead on the kitchen table. And the head of the family is blaming Jenny!
But with an incompetent detective called in, and seemingly no motive for the murder, Jenny will have to give the police a hand.
She will stop at nothing to clear her name and find the real murderer.
This is the second of a series of gripping murder mysteries with a great cast of characters and baffling crimes which will keep you in suspense to the final page.
Perfect for fans of classic whodunits by authors like Agatha Christie, LJ Ross, TE Kinsey, and J.R. Ellis.

Review:
Traveling cook, Jenny, accepts a job in a small village to cook over the Christmas holidays. She arrives after struggling through the snow to get to the house. There she finds that no one knew she was coming except the gruff, tyrant head of the household, Stan Kelton.

Jenny meets the family and learns that the household consists of Stan’s elder brother, Sid, who has been frail after an accident years before; Stan’s two grown sons, Bert and Bill; his daughter Delia; and his grandson, Jeremy, Bert’s son. Although the eldest son of the family is the legal owner of the farm, it is clear that Stan is in control… and no one is particularly happy. There is a local woman, Mrs. Jarvis, who comes in daily to clean and cook under normal circumstances. She is more than willing to explain that Stan is a brute who caused the death of her husband and ran off Bert’s wife.

Jenny is only at the home a day or two before she steps into the kitchen, turns to the table and finds Sid, (not Stan), sitting with a knife in his chest. Jenny hurries through the snow to get authorities to come to the house. When she returns, she steps in to have Stan accuse her of the crime. The inspectors are congenial, but Jenny realizes that they are not overly experienced at murder investigations. On the other hand, Jenny has gained a small reputation as she has already helped to uncover two other crimes.

If it had been Stan who was killed there would be plenty of people with motive. But who would want to kill sweet, gentle Sid? Fortunately the inspectors are willing to follow Jenny’s suggested steps to protect the scene, gather evidence and interview witnesses.

I found Jenny to be a lovely character and I liked how she handled the investigation. There are several side issues to make the reader ponder. However there are other clues for the reader to pick up so I was able to guess the motive and killer before the reveal. Still it was fun to follow the investigation. The writing was clear, easy going and moved along well. There were nice descriptions (including yummy meals) that contributed to the natural feel of the story without dragging it out. I would be glad to read more by Ms. Martin and I recommend this to reader’s who enjoy a nice cozy mystery.

Source: 2018 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019TBR, 2019NetGalley, 2019Alphabet goals and is the Winter title for my seasons goal reading.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 25, 2019

Happy Friday! We had cold, warm, rain, wind, then cold again. Each day is something new. :-)

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 January 18, 2019 Pick. There was one automatic win againthis week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. No title was blocked.
RITA gets Two Alone.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from January 18, 2019 Pick:
MARYP gets a GC
and
EMILY gets Undateable

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.}

My resolutions always includes reading! How about you?
Image Found at Someecards.

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

One PAIR:
Susan Wiggs: Snowfall and Fireside
SINGLES:
A Family for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich
On this Holy Night
A Rancher for Christmas
Christmas Haven
Christmas Brides Anthology
Holiday in Death
Christmas Homecoming
Together by Christmas Anthology
The Christmas Date
The Christmas Promise (hardback)
A Blue and Grey Christmas (hardback)
The Snow Angel (CD Audiobook)
King Harold's Snow Job


New Book Group #83 November 30, 2018

(Starting bottom left and continuing up then down)
PAIRS:
Kat Martin: Bold Angel and Devil's Prize
Elizabeth Lowell: Death Is Forever and Running Scared
SINGLE
It Takes a Hero by Elizabeth Boyle
Two Alone by Sandra Brown
'Tween a Devil and his hard Place by Sam Cheever
Seductive Secrets by Lynne Connolly
Seven Up by Janet Evanovich - Audio Cassettes
A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein Audio Cassettes
Highland Guardian by Melissa Mayhue
Hot Pursuit by Christinea Skye
Sisters & Secrets Anthology
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

Pairs:
Stella Cameron: French Quarter and Key West
Jude Deveraux: Mulberry Tree and Wild Orchids
SINGLES:
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
Unmasked Anthology - Jennifer Blake, Janet Dailey and Elizabeth Gage
Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich
Killing Time by Linda Howard
The Finer Things by Brenda Joyce
Wicked Promise by Kat Martin
Countess of Scandal by Laurel McKee
The Leopard's Woman by Linda Lael Miller and White Wolf by Lindsay McKenna
Eagle and the Dove by Victoria Morrow
To Love Again by Bertrice Small
The Wedding Night by Barbara Dawson Smith
Primal Obsession by Susan Vaughn

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
SINGLES
Cold Pursuit by Carla Neggers
Best Laid Plans
Bound For Murder
Asking for Murder
Pretty Poison
Darkness Tell Us
Last Writes (A Jaine Austen Mystery Series Book 2) by Laura Levine
Don’t Tell a Soul by S. K. McClafferty - MSE has on Kindle 2013
Zombies of the Gene Pool
Cooking More Deadly


New Book Group #80 August 17, 2018

Note: The Final Judgment and
The Book of Fate are Audio Cassettes
PAIRS
Fern Michaels and James Patterson
SINGLES:
Summer’s Moon
The Green Trap
End Game
Night School
The Red Tent
The Final Judgment Audio Cassettes
Secrets of Paris
Linda Goodnight
Irish Charmers, the Mighty Quinns
Firebird
No Getting Over a Cowboy
The Book of Fate 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)
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

PAIRS
Johanna Lindsey Pair
Judith Krentz Pair
SINGLES
Midnight Rainbow
Blackberry Bush
Breaking Point
A Tangled Affair
To Wicked to Love
Betrayed
My Dark Prince
Roses are Red Audio Cassettes
Brothers of Gwynedd
Fatal Defect
Bones of the Sea and Other Stories
By a Spider's Thread



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

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 82 groups of 16 plus an additional 21 totaling 1,333 books to find new homes! (as of November 9, 2018).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,216+ 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!

#NetGalley Book Review: A Flicker of Hope by Julia Cook, MacKenzie Haley (Illustrator)

This is an encouraging book to share with children.

A Flicker of Hope
by Julia Cook (Author), MacKenzie Haley (Illustrator)

Age Range: 5 - 8 years
Grade Level: 3 - 4
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: National Center for Youth Issues (December 4, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-1937870522
Genre: Children, Emotions, Self-Esteem and Self-Respect
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

HOPE is our children's window for a better tomorrow. In terms of resilience and well-being, hope is a critically important predictor of success. This creative story from the best-selling author of My Mouth is a Volcano!, and Bubble Gum Brain, reminds children that dark clouds can be temporary and asking for help is always okay. We all have times when we need to borrow a little hope from someone else.
When your clouds get too dark,
and too heavy to push away,
Reach out and ask, Can I borrow some light?
I'm having a really bad day.
It's always okay to admit to yourself,
I just can't do it today.
Everyone needs somebody sometimes,
to help them find their way.
Sometimes the dark clouds overhead seem too heavy and you feel like giving up. Little candle knows all about this. Bad grades, blasted on social media, worried about making the team, and wondering who her real friends are so many hard things to deal with! All she can see is darkness. But her story begins to change when someone notices she needs a boost of hope. As little candle is reminded she has purpose and her own unique gifts, and that she isn't the only one with dark clouds, her dim light begins to shine brighter.

This hopeful story emphasizes for children (and adults) the many different ways to ask for help, and their ability to be a hope builder for others, too.

Review:
Little candle is going through a time of stress and depression. She has many worries and thoughts of inadequacies. Another candle sees that Little candle’s light is dim. This older candle steps up to encourage Little candle, telling her of her own uniqueness and the fact that she can ask for help. The older candle shares her light to brighten Little candle. Having been encouraged, Little candle turns and shares encouragement with another candle who is struggling with low flickering.

I enjoyed the encouraging message in this children’s book. The message is repeated but I think that is okay because it reinforces that everyone goes through times when they could use a little help or boost from others.

The illustrations are bright, colorful and engaging. I like the different shapes of the candles which is consistent with all of us being different. I think this is a lovely book for parents to share with children and then I can imagine a child going back to the story to look through the images on their own. Even if they can't read, they can remember the lesson they were taught. I recommend this to all parents but especially those who may have a sensitive child who needs to know that it is okay to reach out for encouragement from others.

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

#NetGalley Book Review: Summoned to Thirteenth Grave by Darynda Jones

This is an interesting series ending... for now.
Summoned to Thirteenth Grave: A Novel (Charley Davidson Series Book 13)
by Darynda Jones

File Size: 2039 KB
Print Length: 304 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (January 15, 2019)
ASIN: B071JMJF4G
Genre: Fantasy, Ghosts, Private Investigator
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Grim Reaper Charley Davidson is back in the final installment of Darynda Jones’ New York Times bestselling paranormal series--Summoned to Thirteenth Grave.
Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper extraordinaire, is pissed. She’s been kicked off the earthly plane for eternity –which is exactly the amount of time it takes to make a person stark, raving mad. But someone’s looking out for her, and she’s allowed to return after a mere hundred years in exile. Is it too much to hope for that not much has changed? Apparently it is. Bummer.
She’s missed her daughter. She’s missed Reyes. She’s missed Cookie and Garrett and Uncle Bob. But now that she’s back on earth, it’s time to put to rest burning questions that need answers. What happened to her mother? How did she really die? Who killed her? And are cupcakes or coffee the best medicine for a broken heart? It all comes to a head in an epic showdown between good and evil in this final smart and hilarious novel.

Review:
Charley expected to be exiled alone on an isolated plane for an eternity. She is surprised, and thrilled, when she finds herself returned to the earthly plane after only a hundred years. She is sad to think that 100 years has passed on earth. She would have missed her child, Beep, growing up but she is hoping that her darling girl brought peace to earth. But time doesn’t work quite like that.

Charley’s return to earth is only 10 days after she left b that shut she discovers that she and her half demon husband, Reyes, have opened a portal that has allowed shadow demons into earth. Their home community in New Mexico is being attacked from within and Charley and Reyes have only three days to save the planet. To accomplish that Charley must uncover a mystery connected to her own mother.

Meanwhile a five-year-old boy spirit has sought out Charley and she and her stellar staff are trying to locate his mother who was kidnapped years before. Charley’s assistant Cookie, her daughter Amber and Amber’s boyfriend, Quentin, all take part in the search. They get extra help from Garret, Osh, Artemis and Charley’s biker friends. Meanwhile, there are twists and surprises – one involving Uncle Bob and another involving Rocket.

If you haven’t read this series- you will want to go start at the beginning not at this final installment. There are plenty of fun chapter openings with snarky memes and quotes. As usual Darynda Jones includes a PI (private investigation) case for Charley to solve while facing a life challenge. I enjoyed that so many of the series characters were included in this ending story and I liked the good twist for several of the characters. I admire how Jones creates a depth of romantic love between Charley and Reyes but I felt she overdid the extra sex scenes during the madness of three days to save the world. I also didn’t appreciate the foul language; some deliberately crude in my opinion.

I imagine many fans of the series will be happy with this interim conclusion. I say interim as I am fairly sure there will be a future story(ies) for Beep and her army. I do recommend this to fans of detective, paranormal fantasy who like snarky humor and don’t mind a bit of crudeness and sex.

Source: 2018 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019TBR, 2019NetGalley and 2019Alphabet Goals.

My Reviews of Books 1 through 12 can be found at this link.

My Word for 2019

I haven’t done a post the past years for my word although I have chosen them.
After my cancer treatment in 2014 my Word was Thankful.
2015: Embrace – I determined it was important to embrace each day as we don’t know how many days we have.
2016: Faith – I recognized that it is my faith that sees me through life with joy.
2017: Focus – I chose to focus on my relationship with God and allow that to lead me in life.
2018: I didn’t feel led to pick a new word and continued with the word Focus.
2019: I did a four day Bible study titled One Word That Will Change Your Life and then a five day Bible study, God + Goals.
After prayer and consideration and a list of half a dozen words, I determined my word for the year:

Intentional

I want to be intentional in my living, loving, praying, Bible study, relationships and sharing my faith. I want to work intentionally and use my resources intentionally with a goal of service.

As I was looking up the definitions of my short list words I found this video that I think goes well with the final word choice. I like the thought that God is intentional about me.

Sunday Post January 20, 2019/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday January 21, 2019

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.

Work is moving along. I covered court hearings this week in between office work. I'll be working the holiday tomorrow as I have several files to catch up and get filed.

The damaged office is mostly stripped where the interior has to be replaced. I expect they will be working on paneling this week to see what they can save.

Meanwhile at home we met with the contractor to pick the color for roofing shingle with hopes that they will start that work in the next week or so.
The yard crew has spent the week dragging out more than 85 stumps in our immediate yard area. They will be planting seed soon and we'll have to see about getting some trees planted.

We had wind gusts of 20mph+ all night rattling our awning. We were very cold this morning with 39 degrees that felt like 30 due to the wind.

My listening and reading was good. I finished 4 books: two ebooks, one audiobook and one children's book. I posted four reviews and my usual memes.

I managed to visit 25 blogs during the week.
Shout Out this week to Burgeoning Bookshelf. Veronica is another blogger who shares reviews and has some adorable mini reviewers to help with children's books.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post January 13, 2019/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday January 14, 2019.

• MBS 2019 Reading Goals: Yes – Challenges: Maybe

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: The More of Less by Joshua Becker; Cleaning, Nonfiction, Self Help; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

• NG2018- #NetGalley Book Review: Talon of Scorpio: A Novel of the Shadowstorm by G. T. Almasi; Conspiracies, Science Fiction; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 17, 2019. Open Worldwide. Ending 1/24/2019.

• NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Don't Dangle Your Participle by Vanita Oelschlager; Children, Educational, Grammar, Writing; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1) by Patrick Rothfuss; Action Adventure, Epic Fantasy; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Narration.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement January 20, 2019.

Finished Reading:
1. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

The Name of the Wind
(Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1)
By: Patrick Rothfuss
Narrated by: Nick Podehl
Series: Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1
Length: 27 hrs and 55 mins
I can get lost in Kvothe's story and emotions.

This is engaging epic fantasy. My review is linked above.Source: 2012 Audible.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle (NG2018)

Summoned to Thirteenth Grave: A Novel (Charley Davidson Series Book 13)
by Darynda Jones
This is an interesting series ending... for now.
I will post my review this coming week.
Source: 2018 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

3. ADE/PC (NG2019)

A Flicker of Hope
by Julia Cook (Author), MacKenzie Haley (Illustrator)
This is an encouraging book to share with children.
Source: 2019 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

4. eBook/Kindle (NG2018)

The Winter Mystery an absolutely gripping whodunit
by Faith Martin
I like this amateur sleuth mystery.
Source: 2018 NetGalley. (Winter title.)
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:
1. Audiobooks/Smartphone (ATBR)

Promise Me Texas
Written By: Jodi Thomas
Narrated By: Linda Stephens
Duration: 10 hours 58 minutes
This is an easy listen, historical romance.
Source: Audiobooks.com 2018.
Summary:
On a midnight train, four hours away from her wedding, Beth McMurray discovers the devastating truth about the powerful senator she’s about to marry. Convinced nothing could make this stormy night worse, the train wrecks, and she tumbles straight into the arms of an outlaw.
Andrew McLaughlin doesn’t believe in loving except between the pages of his writings. He loved deeply once and thinks he’ll never survive another loss. To save a friend, he climbs aboard a train heading toward Dallas. In the moment before the train crashes, he saves a beautiful woman and is injured in the fall. He wakes up to find she’s claimed him as her fiancé—and now they’re both on the run, and destined to do everything it takes to make an unexpected promise of love come true.

2. eBook/Kindle (eBA2018)

Aether's Call
by John Farr
I am just starting this space exploration, steampunk adventure. 
Source: Author Request 2018.
Roy's just a conscripted cook on the Starr, the compound's first spaceship in decades. With Earth in ruins, the Starr speeds through the galaxies, hunting down those responsible for its destruction.
Meanwhile, Roy's stuck in the kitchen, missing all the action. It isn't until a beautiful woman involves him in her secret plan that things start to get interesting. She says it's the only way to save humanity. The only problem? It means committing outright treason.
Back on Earth, Roy's ex-wife Cynthia holds clandestine meetings with a renegade theorist. Amid the ashes of Philadelphia, they gather the equipment they'll need to remotely capture the Starr. And Cynthia knows what she's doing. She was on the Starr's development team.
Uma is the only science officer onboard the Starr. She feeds the captain the coordinates of enemy ships, and he trusts her completely. But maybe he shouldn't. After all, Uma works for the resistance. Or does she? Lately, she'd had the feeling that someone's been playing with her mind.

3. Audiobooks/Smartphone (ATBR)

Half Share
A Trader's Tale from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper, Book 2
By: Nathan Lowell
Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
I decided to read a TBR book from a series.
I'll try each month to listen to a new book in series and a sequel to one I've read.
Source: 2018 Audible Credit Purchase.
Publisher's Summary
Six months in the Deep Dark. Four different women. One man discovers what it means to be a spacer.
It's a time of change on the Lois McKendrick. Sarah Krugg joins the crew, and Ishmael Wang moves to Environmental. After getting accustomed to life aboard a solar clipper, Ishmael must learn a whole new set of skills, face his own fears and doubts, and try to balance love and loss in the depths of space.
Both Ishmael and Sarah must learn to live by the mantra "trust Lois". For Sarah, there is the hope of escaping a horrifying past. For Ishmael, he must discover what type of man he wants to become and learn his choices have consequences.
Return with the crew of the SC Lois McKendrick, and set sail in the next installment of the Trader's Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper. All your favorites return: Ish, Pip, Cookie, Brill, Diane, and Big Bad Bev. You might even discover some new friends as you travel among the stars.
©2012 Nathan Lowell (P)2016 Podium Publishing

4. eBook/Kindle (A2018)

January Breeze, February Embers, March Whispers
(Elderberry Croft #1)
by Becky Doughty
This is a January title for my 'Monthly' Goal group.
Source: Kindle Free TBR 2015.
For most of the residents, The Coach House Trailer Park is the last lonely stop on the road of life. But on a crisp January breeze, a new girl sweeps into the neighborhood, charming them all with her wild nature, her elderberry gifts, and her outrageous laughter. What brings the mysterious Willow Goodhope of Elderberry Croft to this dead end place? From what--or whom--is she hiding?
January Breeze
There’s a new girl in town, and she’s breathing life into The Coach House Trailer Park, starting with the tiny cottage she christens, Elderberry Croft. Kathy Kekoa isn’t so sure about this wild child living across the way, with her generous nature, and exuberance for life. What’s a vibrant, young thing like Willow Goodhope doing in a place like The Coach House? From what—or whom—is she hiding?

January 20, 2019 - I am staying up to date with the One Year Bible plan reading through You Version App.
I enjoyed a 4 day reading plans this week: One Word That Will Change Your Life.
I am continuing to find other shorter reading plans that are uplifting.
[You can check out audio of the One Year Bible Plan on the companion commentary online.]

I completed four books and posted four reviews. That keeps me at 3 reviews to post.
I continue to slowly add reviews to NetGalley, Goodreads, Amazon and Audible. I still have older ones to catch up on.
My NetGalley shelf is still at 9 unread from November to date. But I rounded up the files for 4 old titles (2012!) that I might get read this year. I now have four remaining author titles 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 didn't pick up any review books this week.
I did pick up three Audible daily deals.
I didn't purchase any Kindle paid titles and I only picked up 15 free kindle titles again. (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

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

I picked up three Audible Daily Deals:
1/17/19 Daily Deal $3.95
Second Hand Curses
By: Drew Hayes
Narrated by: Scott Aiello, Marc Vietor, Tavia Gilbert
Length: 9 hrs
Release date: 11-21-17
I have wanted to get this second book in the series.

1/19/19 Daily Deal $2.95
Small Town Rumors
By: Carolyn Brown
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley
Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins
Release date: 07-03-18
I liked The Lilac Bouquet by this author so I picked up another for small price.

1/20/19 Daily Deal $3.95
Reset
By: Brian Andrews
Narrated by: Ray Porter
Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
Release date: 04-24-18
A sci fi technothiriller is almost always of interest to me.

Free

I picked this up with Kindle Unlimited.
The Teacup Novellas - The Collection
by Diane Moody
I saw these titles at Faith, Hope and CherryTea and they looked like nice reads.


I only added 15 free titles to my Kindle library over the past week. I didn't spend much time adding free books again this week.  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 January 20, 2019

We had a good Sunday School lesson this morning titled In My Defense. Our teacher noted how Paul was defending himself and his ministry in the letter to the Corinthians. Chapter 9 covers the importance of battling the flesh by submitting to the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 encourage the believers to run the race to win. Do be successful we must each be determined, dedicated, and deliberate.

Service started with good worship songs and a word of wisdom from one of our faithful members. Pastor continued his sermon in his Forward series. He reminded us of last week’s point that there is no true blessing without submission to God’s Will. Then he noted that during Jesus time of ministry God’s kingdom was advancing – going forward.

As in many countries, many American churches have plateaued or are declining.
There is a key factor we must remember in order to be a growing church.
We can’t just play at church; we must be the church.
We must have a burden to reach the lost, the unsaved.
We all get busy with our lives and when we wake up in the morning and start thinking of our to do list, how often do we include reaching the lost on that list?

Matthew 13:44-50 tells the parables of hidden treasure, the pearl and the net. Do we treat the kingdom of God as a hidden treasure of great value and do we recognize that this is what really matters in our lives and the lives of people?

Point: We must recapture a burden for the lost that matches God's burden.

The whole Bible is about salvation. We see in our world a growing number of ‘nones’ those who have no faith or religion. As a church, our burden for the lost should push us to do whatever it takes.
How do we reach them? Hope isn't enough to get it done.
In another letter Paul writes: Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. Romans 10:1-4.
In our own county there may only be 15-18 percent of the population who are true born-again believers. It is likely that there is a higher percentage who are addicted to alcohol or drugs.
When the lost are saved, the result is life-change.
What do we need to do?
1. Pray for a burden about the lost; Get in tune with God's heart for the lost.
2. Make the lost your/our priority.
3. Go out and be the church.
Are we serving or looking to be served? Do we give or take?

I like this song reminding us that no one is Unreachable.

Verses for Today:
Romans 10:1-4(NIV)
10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

God I pray that you help me keep this burden in the forefront of my mind each day.

 

Audible Book Review: The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1) by Patrick Rothfuss

I can get lost in Kvothe's world and adventures.

The Name of the Wind
(Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1)
By: Patrick Rothfuss
Narrated by: Nick Podehl

Series: Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1
Length: 27 hrs and 55 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 05-15-09
Language: English
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Action Adventure, Epic Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; 4.5 Story and 5.0 Narration

DAY ONE: THE NAME OF THE WIND
My name is Kvothe.
I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.
You may have heard of me.
So begins a tale unequaled in fantasy literature - the story of a hero told in his own voice. It is a tale of sorrow, a tale of survival, a tale of one man’s search for meaning in his universe, and how that search, and the indomitable will that drove it, gave birth to a legend.
©2009 DAW Trade (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Review:
This book introduces the bright red-haired Kote as the innkeeper at the Waystone Inn, where he has made a quiet life, trying to stay out of the limelight. Chronicler, a scribe historian, stops at the Inn and bargains to write Kote’s – or more accurately, the legendary Kvothe’s - story. So the tale begins.

Kvothe is part of a family troupe of entertainers. He is tutored by an arcanist who joined the troupe for a time and the eager young scholar longs to go to the University for arcanists. Then tragedy strikes when everyone in the caravan is killed by an assassin group, the Chandrain, who most believe to be a myth, or at very least, the stuff of legends. Kvothe escapes and runs into the woods in a shocked state of grief. After a time, he travels to a city where he is attacked and loses his most treasured possession, his lute. He soon learns to fend for himself and avoid the gangs just to survive.

After three years Kvothe, at 15, takes off to the University hoping to gain entrance. He does want to study but he also hopes to find out the secrets of the Chandrain. Kvothe impresses the chancellors and is accepted. He has struggles, makes some wonderful friends and fearsome enemies. He breaks rules and bears through punishment. He scrapes by with little and every time he manages to get some funds ahead, he plunges off on a misadventure.

This is a coming of age, action adventure story that is written with skill in language and world building. The words flow with a music that fits the tale: sometimes silence, sometimes gentle, must often troubled. The characters are well developed and the world is woven with strong detail. I had to pay attention at the beginning to sort the characters and get the gist of the story. As the book progressed, I was caught up in Kvothe’s troubles feeling his pains and few moments of joy. It is a long book – almost 28 hours on audio - but I was engaged all the way to the end. At some time I plan to continue with book 2 which is an even more intimidating 43 hours! I recommend this to readers who enjoy epic fantasy.

Audio Notes: Nick Podehl does a superb job with the narration. He captures the mystery, aloofness, sneers and other emotions, making the characters come alive. He maintains strong energy sharing as a good storyteller. I am very glad that I listened to this on audio.

Source: 2012 Audible. This qualifies for 2019TBR, 2019Audiobook and 2019Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: Don't Dangle Your Participle by Vanita Oelschlager

This is cute and I appreciated the fun lesson.
Don't Dangle Your Participle
by Vanita Oelschlager

Age Range: 5 - 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Paperback: 22 pages
Publisher: Vanita Books (May 1, 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-1938164033
Genre: Children, Educational, Grammar, Writing
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Words and pictures show children what a dangling participle is all about. Young readers are shown an incorrect sentence that has in it a dangling participle. They are then taught how to make the sentence read correctly. It is done in a cute and humorous way. The dangling participle loses its way and the children learns how to help it find its way back to the correct spot in the sentence. This is followed by some comical examples of sentences with dangling participles and their funny illustrations, followed by an illustration of the corrected sentence. Young readers will have fun recognizing this problem in sentence construction and learning how to fix it.

Review:
I used to love to diagram sentences in English class when I was in early school years. (My son totally disliked diagramming even though he was an excellent student.) The beginning of this book explains the verb and the participle adjective to describe a noun. The authors then show how dangling participles change the meaning of a sentence, often making no sense or nonsense. The illustrations and text give many fun examples of a sentence in error and then its correction:

Incorrect example: Growling as they ate, the children gathered around the lions’ cage.
Correct example: Growling as they ate, the lions attracted the children to their cage.

The beginning technical discussion and even some of the examples may not work for very young children, so it is important to use this with the appropriate age group who are at this level of learning. The illustrations by Mike Desantis are active, cute and highlight the examples very well. The sentences are also fun, creating some very silly situations that children can enjoy.

I did feel that several of the corrected sentences were awkward. I think this is because there could have been a clearer written statement without using the participle. Setting that aside, I think this book makes a good tool to help explain the participle and correct use.

Source: 2019 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019NetGalley and 2019Alphabet Goals.