Sunday Words of Encouragement February 10. 2013

Our Associate Pastor continued the theme he started last week preaching about the Fear of the Lord.
The sermon was entitled "Abraham's Greatest Fear" based on Genesis 22:1-12 where God tested Abraham by instructing him to go to the mountains to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. Abraham did not question or argue but the next morning he got up early and went. He had three days to think about what God had asked him to do and why. He did not tell his servants so they could not talk him out of it. Abraham was faithful to the point of raising his knife when God stopped his had and provided a ram in the bush.

How could Abraham follow God's most difficult request? Abraham knew the character of God. He had experienced God's promises and faithfulness. God had promised Abraham a son and had delivered. God also had promised to make Abraham's descendants a great nation (Gen 12:2,3).  I like to think that Abraham recognized God's awesome power and, even through his fear, he was assured that God had a plan even though Abraham did not understand it.

God expected everything--complete obedience--from Abraham. Abraham showed 'persistent obedience!' God expects that of us today. He wants us to be obedient and faithful -- even unto death.

Starting a project can be exciting but we need to be faithful to finish it as God directs. Even when we fear--or perhaps especially when we fear--we have to allow God's guidance to work in us and trust that He who has started a good work in us will be faithful to complete it.

A Verse for Today:
Rev 2:10 NLT
Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

I thank God that He helps remind me to focus on Him and let earthly cares fade. I pray I will remain obedient and faithful and allow Him to complete a good work in me.
Today I ask for prayer if you have a moment to pray for God's guidance and Will to be done in a circumstance that we are praying for.

Sharing Beyond Books #86 February 9, 2013

Hello, Welcome to SBB and Welcome to 2013!
Hi! I hope everyone is doing well this week and didn't get stuck in any snow.
Thank you to all who shared last week.

Well, not too many of us have done 'crazy' things to get a book. Emily and Cheryl did wait in line for Harry Potter books and Jolene made her mom stand in line for a book she wanted. :-) Miki did the most outlandish entering a contest with 5000 comments in 24 hours. I love Mary's book wish list on the refrigerator to remind her kids to buy her books!

I was surprised that most of you do like snow...provided you don't have to drive in it. Many of you commented that snow is pretty (except in the city when it can turn dark and slushy) and fun to play in. Llehn and Abby have never seen snow but they would like to.

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The Winner from SBB #85 comments is: #20 Texas Book Lover. There are still 4 'love' books to pick from and new Christmas choices. Texas Book Lover please choose a book (or GC if international) from the fifteen Love Books List for Giveaway, the new Christmas Giveaway Book list, OR pick from the Updated ARC/Review List and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #86 Questions

Q1. Margaret asks: Does a bad review scare you away from reading a book or do you read it anyway??

A: I am cautious when reading other reviews as I have certainly learned that I do not share the same taste as all other readers/reviewers. There are some bloggers who I know like similar books so I can trust their judgment most of the time. Others we have divergent tastes so they might like some books I don't and vice versa. But, to be honest, I have know there were times when I noted some ratings of three or less and I have decided not to pick that book for review.

Image found at The Mad Reviewer.

Q2. My Question this week: Do you get a flu shot AND/OR what do you take for a cold??

A: I thought this question might be interesting with all the flu and colds going around. I do not get the flu shot. If my DH reminds me I will take Airborne  when I feel a cold coming on. Otherwise I just take mucinex and rotate non-aspirin and ibuprofen and I try to rest up!

Image found at I'm Trying

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! I STILL HAVE A GROUP OF QUESTIONS AVAILABLE BUT THEY ARE FROM ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE SO SOME OF YOU MAY WANT TO ADD A QUESTION OR TWO! We can always use fresh questions.

Your turn to share:

1. Margaret asks: Does a bad review scare you away from reading a book or do you read it anyway??

2. My Question this week: Do you get a flu shot AND/OR what do you take for a cold??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining Valentine and "Love" books (new list of fifteen) or the new Christmas Giveaway Books. Also I have added the Updated ARC/Review List now.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the two/three questions 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 by Friday,  February 15, 2013 at 10 PM central.

Winners of The Perfect Match, The Officer Breaks the Rule and Immortal Craving

CONGRATULATIONS 

TO WINNERS OF  

Giveaway Ended January 25, 2013. 
(I almost missed this one but was reminded by the books in the giveaway book box!)
Giveaway: The Perfect Match
2 Winners

#47 pc and #24 NA

Giveaways Ended February 8, 2013. 

ARC Giveaway: The Officer Breaks the Rule.

#90 Darlene Y

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Giveaway! Immortal Craving. 
2 Copies US Only.

#29 Mark A and #80 Lisa V

pc, NA, Darlene, Mark and Lisa Please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads AT gmail.com to confirm the win and I will arrange the mailing, and advise the publisher.  Please reply within 72 hours!
Thank you to all who entered these giveaways. 

Book Review and Giveaway Link: Showstoppers (Emily Castles Mysteries) by Helen Smith

Another quick and fun mystery.
Showstoppers (Emily Castles Mysteries)
by Helen Smith

• File Size: 182 KB
• Print Length: 48 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Tyger Books (December 5, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B006ITK0AW

Genre: Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: December 5, 2011
"Helen Smith is a master story-teller." Socrates Book Reviews
When twenty-six-year-old Emily Castles helps out at a local stage school in London, she's soon mixed up in murder. She teams up with eccentric philosophy professor Dr. Muriel to solve the case.
Showstoppers is a fast-paced 75-page novella. Readers of M C Beaton or Alexander McCall Smith will enjoy discovering a new author in this entertaining British mystery series.
"Suspensefully created and plotted." Vine Reviewer

Review:
We met Emily and some of her neighbors in the first book, Three Sisters. Now one of the neighbors, Victoria, seeks Emily’s help to uncover a blackmailer. Victoria operates Showstoppers, a dance studio for children. Victoria was an actress in her youth and there is apparently a bit of a scandalous video  with a former beau from her college days. The man, a now famous and handsome actor, has appeared recently to enroll his daughter in the dance studio.

Victoria’s husband is some type of civil servant and there could be embarrassment from revealing the video. The VHS tape isn’t quite what you might expect and soon most of the employee’s at Showstoppers know about the tape. Emily notes a little tension between Victoria and her manager and there is a lot of crazy busyness as the year-end program takes place.

Emily is very likeable and her relationship with Dr. Muriel is developed more in this second story as they look at the clues together. Again, there are initially several suspects before the truth is, rather shockingly, revealed.  This is a fast, fun read with an extra touch of irony at the ending.

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I enjoy the lovely descriptions that put me in the setting:

Emily followed Victoria into the lovely kitchen where the family ate most of their meals. Everything was just so, in a country-living kind of a way; there was an Aga and a conventional oven; cupboards and units painted in forget-me-not blue; French windows opening onto the garden at the back; big wooden storage boxes for the boys’ wellington boots and trainers; and something deliciously Italian-smelling (herbs and tomatoes and cheese in it or on it for sure, Emily thought) cooling in the oven.  Location 31.

Dr. Muriel makes a distinction on how to approach the suspect:

A denouncement is public and upsetting. A confrontation is by invitation only and most satisfying. Location 818.

I received this ebook for an honest review during Bookblast tour.

Tour Schedule

Three Sisters and Showstoppers by Helen Smith

Three Sisters and Showstoppers are two novella-length stories in the Emily Castles mystery series. The first full-length novel, Invitation to Die, will be published by Thomas & Mercer in October 2013.

The Emily Castles mystery series is set in present-day London. It features twenty-six-year-old Londoner Emily Castles and her neighbor, eccentric philosophy professor Dr. Muriel Crowther. In Three Sisters, Emily goes to a party in a big house at the end of her street. She's sure she witnesses a murder, but no one will believe her. She teams up with Dr. Muriel to investigate.

In Showstoppers, Emily helps out at a local stage school run by her neighbor, Victoria. Soon she's mixed up in a blackmail plot and two deaths. Emily and Dr. Muriel team up to prevent further a massacre live on stage during the end of term show.

Purchase

Showstoppers * Three Sisters

Author Helen Smith

Helen Smith is a novelist and playwright who lives in London. She's the author of bestselling cult novels Alison Wonderland, Being Light and The Miracle Inspector as well as the Emily Castles Mystery Series.

Amazon * Facebook *  Twitter * Blog

Goodreads* Shelfari * LibraryThing

Tour Giveaway

10 winners will each receive a Kindle Ebook copy of Showstoppers & Three Sisters

Ends 2/28/13

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Book Review: Three Sisters (Emily Castles Mysteries) by Helen Smith

Great, quick mystery with irony and humor.

Three Sisters (Emily Castles Mysteries)
by Helen Smith

• File Size: 142 KB
• Print Length: 44 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Tyger Books (February 5, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004M5HK0M

Genre: Mystery
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: February 5, 2011
"Fast-paced, funny, and mysterious." Socrates' Book Reviews
Three Sisters introduces twenty-six-year-old amateur sleuth Emily Castles in this popular new British mystery series.
Emily has been invited to a party in the big house at the end of her street in London. How could she know, as she left her house that evening, that she was making an appointment with death?
Readers of M C Beaton or Alexander McCall Smith will enjoy discovering a new mystery author in this entertaining 70-page novella.
"Fast-paced and unusual, I highly recommend this one." Eva's Sanctuary
"It grips you from the very beginning." Books Bistro

Review:
Emily has recently gotten over the death of her elderly dog. She was there when he drew his last breath and the life went out of his eyes. Emily needs to break out of her sadness and agrees to attend a neighborhood party to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve and Guy’s Fawkes Bonfire night.

There is a troupe of entertainers who have set up in an old house down the street. Emily is intrigued by some of the ‘play acting’ that is going on. She wanders along to a room where twins are dressing while a pile of knives lays on the bed.  They are angry when they realize that a young woman, Midori, who is to be the DJ, has exited their bathroom and when they see Emily at the door.

Later in the evening Midori gets sick and has to go home. Emily is concerned about several of the ‘performers’ and feels an unease. Then she witnesses the twins in their knife throwing act when a knife ends in the chest of one of the girls. A little while later the girl appears alive but Emily is sure that she saw the life go out of her eyes just like her beloved dog. Emily seeks help from her friend Dr. Muriel and they try to puzzle out the situation as others around them claim that it was all an act. But to Emily it seemed all too real and there are certain guests she doesn't trust.

I really enjoyed the quirky and unusual characters. The mystery is different with some twists woven in a fun story. This is skillfully written with evocative descriptions. If you like cozy mysteries I think you would enjoy these quick, fun stories.

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Emily walking in the dark:

She wanted to say to Joe that being in the dark was like being deep underwater, not being able to hear or turn round quickly enough to see the predator behind you.  Location 465.

I received this ebook for an honest review during Bookblast tour. 
PLEASE SEE THE NEXT POST FOR REVIEW OF SHOWSTOPPERS AND A GIVEAWAY LINK. Also there is a BookBlast Giveaway if you haven't already entered that. 

Tour Schedule