Sunday Words of Encouragement May 26, 2013

We had a lovely baptism service this morning with two adults, one teen and four younger children proclaiming their acceptance of Jesus.

Interestingly (because not planned by the men but no doubt led by God), both the Sunday School lesson and the Pastor’s Sermon focused on a similar message. The SS lesson was titled “When Your Life Turns on a Dime” and the Sermon was titled “Stones of Remembrance.”  Memorial Day was noted since we will be celebrating that tomorrow and remembering those who died in service in the Armed Forces. Such deaths bring sorrow and tragic change to the lives of those they leave behind. Also, forces of nature, such as the Tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, brings sorrow and tragic change.

Disaster and tragedy will strike in our lives. God does not always deliver us from battle (Israelites against the Philistines in 1 Samuel Chapters 4 through 7) and He doesn’t always spare us from trouble (the stories of Joseph and Job). But God is ALWAYS there for us. The question is how do we react when the battle or storms surround us? God is not always interested in our comfort but He is interested in our Character.  People of faith trust God, they give thanks for lives spared, they reach out to help others. They know that the sovereign God has a plan we do not see but He is faithful and somehow He will work things out. He will always see them through.

There are several wonderful songs that speak to God seeing us through the storms:

It is Well, Praise Him in the Storm, The Anchor Holds and

Sometimes He Calms the Storm

Verses for Today:
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (New American Standard Bible)
11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

I am praying for all of the people who have lost loved ones in service and for those who have suffered through tornadoes and other tragedies.

Sharing Beyond Books #101 Comment Giveaway May 25, 2013

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to SBB, Sharing Beyond Books. I see several new people commented last week so a particular Welcome to you!

I really relaxed today after a tense week preparing for closings and a trial. The week ended well and I am looking forward to a less busy week next week.  I hope all is well with each of you.

Thank you to all who shared last week.

The "closet" romance readers edge out the non-closets with 13 admitting to hiding covers and 10 not. There were also a handful of "not romance readers" and those who only read inspirational romance (Bookishqueen) or buy the tasteful covers (Nikki).

As to playing computer games there were 20 of us who acknowledged playing some games online, downloaded, on iPod or on different gaming systems (xbox, Wii etc.).  Mahjong was mentioned several times and Rose got my interest mentioning Nancy Drew games.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #100 comments is: #8 Becky who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the ARC/Review titles, Christmas titles or Love titles - all linked near the end of the post.  Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #101 Questions

Q1. I thought this was a good follow-up to the Cover question last week.
Mary P asks:  Do you prefer models on the covers or abstract graphics?
- Do you want to see the models faces or not??

A: It depends on the story as I like a cover to show me something of the story or something to catch my interest more than male and female. Romance covers can be somewhat boring being the same old, same old. I would certainly rather see a model's face than other exposed body parts! Ha! I don't mind the sexy chests of men but I do like more than that. For example, Sara Humphreys covers feature a hunky guy and a shifter animal which is consistent with the story. :-) 

 I thought the image below was interesting.

Image found at 50 Watts Freaky Fauna.

Q2. My non-bookish Question this week: Do you prefer shower or bath? 

A: I don't think I have ever been a bathtub fan even when it is a nice jacuzzi tub in a hotel. My daily routine is our small shower when I am not washing my hair and our bigger shower when I am washing my hair.

Now that shower/tub looks sort of fun - 
except it is outside so I wonder if I would be brave enough to not wear a bathing suit!
Image found at ZeldaduP Hubpages.

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! We can always use fresh questions. I do have a group of questions from the same submitters so if you have a question don't be afraid to ask!
This is the last week for Qs in May so the contributors for May Qs were: Gwen, Elizabeth, Margaret and Mary P. Random.org picked #4 MARY P.

Your turn to share:

Q1.  Mary P asks: Do you prefer models on the covers or abstract graphics? - Do you want to see the models faces or not?

Q2. My non-bookish Question this week: Do you prefer shower or bath??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books , the Christmas Giveaway Books, or the Updated ARC/Review List .

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, May 31, 2013 at 10 PM central.

Audio Book Review: Inherit the Stars by James P. Hogan

This is a SCIENCE fiction story that mystery lovers could like.

Inherit the Stars, The Giants Series, book 1

by James P. Hogan

Read by John Pruden

Length 8.0 hrs • UNABRIDGE

℗ 2013 by Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Genre: Science Fiction

My Rating: 4.0 of 4.0

Summary

The man on the moon was dead. They called him Charlie. He had big eyes, abundant body hair, and fairly long nostrils. His skeletal body was found clad in a bright red spacesuit, hidden in a rocky grave. They didn’t know who he was, how he got there, or what had killed him. All they knew was that his corpse was fifty thousand years old—and that meant this man had somehow lived long before he ever could have existed.

© 1977 by James Patrick Hogan

Review:
This story is set in the not so distant future where space exploration is common place. Victor Hunt, a respected scientist and head of a Theoretical Studies program, is brought in to work on a new project. A ‘man’ has been found on the moon--where no man should be--indicating prior moon exploration by a human-like race. “Charlie” presents a puzzle for the scientists as they try to determine who he is, where he came from and how he came to die on the moon.

The prologue is quite interesting, opening the story from Charlie’s perspective before his death. We don’t know who he is but it pulls the reader’s interest into the puzzle of the story. The story then moves a bit slowly and with some confusion in the audio as I tried to identify the characters and where the story was heading.

Different departments--language, metallurgy, environment, evolution and more--are set up to examine the discoveries of the body, the instruments, materials and journals.  The scientists argue theories with one scientist being completely intractable on his evolution based position/conclusion. Everyone else’s arguments are ‘unproven’ theories therefore not possible. The “Pure Earthist” arguments insist that, due to matching DNA factors, Charlie must somehow be from Earth. Hunt is more open minded to speculation beyond demonstrative proof and is able to encourage the different departments to work together until more pieces fall into place.

The clues eventually reveal an interesting “dystopian” world that was losing ground to ice caps. The planet was apparently split into two societies who would not work together. The lives of the people were completely controlled with government authority assigning the jobs between space exploration or war. Even with these findings, it is still difficult to reconcile Charlie’s origins to fit the evolutionary models that are being insisted on.

Another discovery reveals a “Noah’s Ark” type ship buried on Jupiter with a ship full of Earth-like botany and animals. The proprietor of the ship appears to be a giant. Speculation and further investigation ultimately tie this discovery to “Charlie.”

The story reads/listens much like a documentary with the emphasis on Science theory and  “established” evolutionary insistence.  Although it is overall a bit dry, I enjoyed the data and persistent steps followed to resolve the puzzle. I wasn’t thrilled with the insistence on evolution with spontaneous mutations as, to me, that is all theory too. I liked that Hunt was willing to theorize and think outside the box.

I would be interested in reading more about Charlie’s giant companion. I think this story would be enjoyed by those who like the process of puzzling out a mystery as well as those who like ‘Science’ fiction.

Audio Notes: Unfortunately I found the narration to be stilted and dry. Considering the documentary leaning of the story I think a more enthusiastic reading might have helped to liven up the book. The accents could have been stressed more to enhance the reading. I did grow accustomed to the narration but I wasn’t overly impressed.

I received this title from Blackstone Audio through AudioBook Jukebox for an honest review.

Saturday Snapshot (May 25, 2013) More Wildlife in the Backyard

It was hard to decide which pictures to share this week. There were deer in our own back yard; our fresh vegetables in our pot; a very large black snake and sun-tipped trees. I'll share the critters today and save the others for another day.

I was taking pictures of the garden when I heard crackling in the woods to the right.

I suspected it had to be deer and then saw the white tail swatting flies.

The first picture you cannot see the deer hidden to the left of the big trunk.

I zoomed in and after about three photos she looked straight at me - picture 2. 

There was another to the left of the first and she looked up at me too.

I don't see any horns but the ears are bigger. 

Could be the mother or a young buck maybe.

Tuesday morning my DH was looking out from our bedroom balcony and called to me to get the camera.
Looking down from our balcony there was a visitor between the two tree trunks, just to the right of the tool shed, near the black object on the ground. You would have to pull in this picture to see it. 

Zoomed in you see the black snake - probably a five or six footer.
One reason I am cautious around the wood piles!

Thanks to all who stop by and visit. I love seeing your photos too even if I don't visit till Friday night!

A big Thank You to Alyce at Alyce of At Home With Books. who has hosted this meme for a number of years. She is taking a summer hiatus at her blog and the new host will be Melissa at West Metro Mommy. Thank you to Melissa for picking up the responsibility. 

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky being hosted this summer by West Metro Mommy. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Barefoot in the Sun by Roxanne St. Claire

This is a strong romance enhanced by a touch of mystery.
Barefoot in the Sun
by Roxanne St. Claire

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Forever (April 30, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 145550825X
• ISBN-13: 978-1455508259

Genre: Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Release date: April 30, 2013 | Series: Barefoot Bay (Book 3)
A Barefoot Bay Novel
When running is all you've ever known . . .
Caught between fight and flight, Zoe Tamarin has always picked flight. Since she was rescued from a nightmare childhood by her great-aunt Pasha, they've been on the move, never staying in one place long enough to risk exposing their precarious past. But now that they've reached the sun-baked shores of Barefoot Bay, Zoe may have to stay and fight-for her aunt's life . . . and for a love she ran from years before.
Sometimes the bravest act of all is to stand still.
Oliver Bradbury came to Florida to start over, as both a doctor and a father to his eight-year-old son. He never expected life to hand him a second chance with the woman he lost years ago-but one look at Zoe Tamarin and he knows he'll do whatever it takes to prove that this time, he can be the man she needs. But when demands of family and friendship threaten to shatter their rekindled passion, Oliver must heal Zoe's lifelong wounds with more than hot kisses . . . but will that be enough to keep her from flying off with his heart?

Review:
Zoe is a vibrant young woman who lives with her beloved “great-aunt” Pasha. Zoe was orphaned and facing danger in her early teens when Pasha rescued her. But Pasha and Zoe have lived ‘on the run’ ever since. Any time anyone starts asking questions or gets too close, Pasha moves them on to the next town. That was fine until Zoe fell in love. She decided to tell the truth to Oliver, whom she was head over heels in love with. She conned him into a balloon ride and took the risk of disclosing her past. But the reaction wasn’t good – Oliver wanted her to go to the authorities and straighten things out. When Zoe told Pasha, Pasha panicked and they ran again.

Nine years later Oliver discovers Zoe and Pasha living in Barefoot Bay. The immediate attraction and reaction makes it clear that the extreme feelings between Zoe and Oliver haven’t changed. Circumstances are much different though. Oliver has an 8 year old son with the woman he supposedly left when he first met Zoe. Zoe is relieved to discover that Oliver is divorced and she and Pasha are charmed by the super intelligent Evan.

Pasha is ill with cancer and Oliver is a partner in a clinic that specializes in experimental treatments. Zoe will do anything to get him to accept Pasha as a patient with no insurance and no questions asked. Zoe is willing to risk the pain of heartache for a fling but Oliver isn’t. He doesn’t want his son to be hurt when Zoe leaves and he wants her for life, not just for a fling. What will it take to convince Pasha and Zoe to stop running and take the greatest risks by staying?

Zoe might be a bit flippant and flighty for my tastes but she doesn’t sleep around and maybe that is why she wants to jump Oliver every time she sees him.  The romance is full of conflict and combustible chemistry. Ms. St. Claire is a masterful story teller and the strong, clear writing tone pulled me into the story.  The hints of danger and mystery enhance what might otherwise be just another romance. The college girlfriends who surround Zoe in Barefoot Bay are an interesting group and apparently have their own romance stories with a little intrigue in each. This book, and no doubt the rest of the series, would be great summer reads for anyone who likes strong romance.

Zoe’s gardener friend, Tessa, shares words of wisdom:

Roots don’t strangle if the plant is well tended, my friend. Roots nourish. They provide stability. They make sure the plant doesn’t merely survive, but thrives and grows and produces a fruit or vegetable. Page 171.

I received this book from Forever, division of Grand Central/Hachette, for an honest review.

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the ARC Review Copy:

 ENTRY FORM HERE

For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.

* This contest is open US ONLY.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on May 31, 2013.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on June 1, 2013.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.