Sunday Words of Encouragement July 7, 2013

I didn’t have my tablet at church this morning but I still took written notes. Yet my thoughts took a tangent from the Sunday school teaching and Sermon.

Throughout both lessons and during worship I was reminded that I am a creation and a child through no power or doing of my own. I am nothing; I do not exist except by God’s powerful might: His hand and breath - the Father’s gift of creation. I do not think and reason but by His gifts to me. I may have applied myself in study but he gave me the ability.

I am a sinner. My human nature does things wrong and fails to do things that I should. I do not have hope for forgiveness without Jesus’ death on the cross which provided the blood sacrifice to cover my sin. I could never be good enough to earn my way into the presence of a Holy God. But God, with grace and mercy, provided the way for me to receive righteousness and inherit through Him.

I do not have hope to live a life of any worth or value without allowing the Spirit to work through me: to work through words, hands, finances and any other means available. I am compelled by an inner stirring to pass on and share of all the blessings I have been given. I was created for a purpose - to worship and serve my Creator. What other purpose would there be but selfish gain, then meaningless death?

I was searching for a song we sang in worship this morning but I couldn’t remember the name.
Instead the Spirit led me to this video which suits my spirit perfectly today!
Your Grace Still Amazes Me!


x

A Verse for Today:
John 6:63 NIV  (you may want to read on through verse 69.)
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.

My words today may be a repeat from some earlier Sunday. I would apologize but I realize I would not be sorry for this. I cannot help that this is a recurring theme in my heart and spirit. Sometimes it bubbles out. I pray that God enfuses others, as He graciously does me, with the joy of His Creation, the assurance of His salvation and the peace of His Spirit.

Winners of Midsummers' Eve Hop, The Magic of I Do and One Day In Apple Grove

Congratulations to Winners!

Giveaways Ended June 30, 2013

MBS - Spontaneous Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop

Winner:  Entry #177 Amanda K. D.

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ARC Giveaway: The Magic of I Do by Tammy Falkner

Winner: Mippy

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Giveaway Ended July 5, 2013

ARC Giveaway: One Day in Apple Grove by C.H. Admirand, 

Winner: Bookishqueen








Amanda has been emailed and replied.
Mippy and Bookishqueen please fill in the (NEW) Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads AT gmail.com to confirm the win and I'll get the book mailed and or notify the publisher of your win.  Please reply within 72 hours!   

Thank you to all who entered!

Sharing Beyond Books #107 Comment Giveaway July 6, 2013

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to SBB, Sharing Beyond Books.

This has been a very rainy week; hot and muggy.  Ah well - good for working in AC or reading!

Thank you to all who shared last week.

We have a pretty brave group as at least half do read out of comfort zone, another handful will try occasionally and only about four don't venture too far outside their favorite genres. It's nice that Mary P lets her daughter encourage her outside of her comfort zone.
 
I was surprised that almost half of us do not have a favorite pillow. Guess we are either adamant or ambivalent about it. :-) However, if we do have our own - we don't want to swap, even with hubby. Right, Sarah?

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The Winner from SBB #106 comments is: #22 Jolene 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 (new) WINNER FORM.

WEEK #107 Questions

Since we (most of us anyway) are in summer vacation season...
Q1. Elizabeth asks: Do you have favorite books to read on vacation??

A: I can't think that I have any favorite books for vacation. I just take the next ones ready to read! However, with my Kindle and MP3 so handy for travel I am less likely to take along a print book.  

Image found at One.Ro.

Q2. My non-bookish Question this week: Do you take vacations on spur of the moment or planned months ahead??

A: I guess we do both. The trip to Hawaii had to been planned months in advance. But we seem to do more spur of the moment trips -- especially when DH finds a good deal on a cruise.  We have been talking about taking the motor coach for a couple of weeks but we are DH is still working on getting it in mechanical shape again. We will be doing a test run soon for our grandson's division ball games. :-)

Image found at Mexico Vacation Rental.

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!

Your turn to share:

Q1. Elizabeth asks: Do you have favorite books to read on vacation??

Q2. My non-bookish Question this week: Do you take vacations on spur of the moment or planned months ahead??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books , the Christmas Giveaway Books, or the Newly June 2012 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, July 12, 2013 at 10 PM central.

Book Review: Take Me Back: A Give & Take Novella by Kelli Maine

This is a bit of a ghost story with steamy romance.

Take Me Back: A Give & Take Novella
by Kelli Maine

• File Size: 290 KB
• Print Length: 97 pages
• Publisher: Forever Yours (June 4, 2013)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00CH3DBZY

Genre: Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: June 4, 2013
In the bestselling tradition of Sylvia Day and E. L. James...

DESIRE THAT CAN'T BE DENIED
Rachael DeSalvo is haunted by the past. She's come home to her beloved Turtle Tear Island, where she looks forward to happy days and bliss-filled nights in the arms of Merrick Rocha. But when she finds a trunk full of old photo albums and handwritten notes, Rachael soon realizes that the island has not given up all its secrets . . .

For long before Rachael and Merrick made Turtle Tear Resort their home, this historic island was a haven for sensual, forbidden affairs. As Rachael and Merrick work to restore the grand hotel to its former glory, they will be caught in the perfect maelstrom of conflict and desire.

"I love the banter between Rachael and Merrick throughout the book..... some steamy scenes that will not leave you disappointed." --The Indie Bookshelf

Review:
I decided to try this novella to see if I might like the series. This story, taking place in the development time of a new relationship between Rachael and Merrick, has an almost gothic setting and feel – probably because of the ghost.

Merrick is apparently a bit older and a suave, experienced business man. He had interviewed Rachael to be project manager for the resort that he is renewing at Turtle Tear Island and the Weston Plantation. Rachael declined the job as it would take her away from her mother but Merrick returned and basically kidnapped her. All that was part of book 1, Taken, but the history was filled in enough in this novella to get the feel for the excitement, yet fragility, of their relationship.

Rachael has become obsessed with a ghost, Ingrid, a woman who lived in the time of the Civil War. Supposedly the ghost had made her wishes known – she wants to be returned from the plantation home to the Turtle Tear property.  She continues to pour over letters and belongings in old trunks to try to find how to bring the ghost back from one property to the other. Merrick is frustrated with her distraction which is pulling her focus away from the 50th year wedding anniversary celebrations that she is supposed to be handling.

Rachael and Merrick have a very intense sexual chemistry but they are still feeling their way to complete trust and commitment in their relationship. Now Merrick feels ignored and betrayed but Rachael also feels betrayed by his withdrawal and refusal to see how important the ghost issue is to her heart. Will this disagreement break the fragile trust they have built?

The story is written in first person which was a bit awkward reading. There is a big focus on the passionate relationship and I would classify this as borderline erotica which  I did not realize when I selected the title. The ghost story was interesting and was a good background for presenting the couple’s relationship problems. They were both stubborn-headed.

The novella is an entertaining, engaging and quick read. Although well written,this was a bit too edgy and therefore not my style. However, others you enjoy a sexy romantic intensity might like to try this series.

I picked this title up from NetGalley.

Saturday Snapshot July 6, 2013 - P-Pop BD

We've had a lot of rain and I've been trying to catch some interesting pics. But today I am sharing a special celebration this week.
My DH, (P-Pop) was born on the 4th of July! He is a REAL Fire Cracker. He says he is only 39 and he doesn't celebrate birthdays anymore. We don't do much for July 4th anymore either.
So we just had a BD breakfast with Heather and the Grandkids.  They brought two cakes:

A chocolate burger. 
[P-Pop's 'best girl' (the middle grandchild not me!!) loves chocolate.]

And of course Happy Birthday P-Pop!
A yellow cake because that's what P-Pop likes.

P-pop blew out the candle first.
Okay - it was way easier to find and use one candle than the real number!

Then the kids helped!

I hope everyone stayed dried and had a lovely week!
Thanks to all who stop by and visit.

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.