It's Monday! What Are You Reading September 9, 2013

This meme starts at Book Journey!

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 had a busy week having to catch up from my week off.  Reading was good but a little slow.  I only finished two books and I did get three reviews posted, one with ARC Giveaway.  
I also posted the weekly Mailbox Monday, Friday Pick Giveaway, Saturday Snapshot, Sharing Beyond Books Comment Giveaway and Sunday Words.

I had very little visiting last week. *Sigh*.  I'll have to try harder this week.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• It's Monday What are You Reading? September 2, 2013.

• Mailbox Monday 9/2/13. 

• Audio Book Review: Paradox Resolution: A Spider Webb Novel by K.A. Bedford, Time Travel, Action, Sci Fi; my rating 4.5.

• Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Ruthless: Faces of Evil, Book 6 by Debra Webb, Romantic Suspense; my rating 4.5. Open US and Canada; Ends 9/13.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 6, 2013. Open Worldwide. Ends 9/11.

• Saturday Snapshot September 7, 2013 Bahamas Cruising - Freeport.

• Book Review: The Godborn, The Sundering, Book II by Paul S. Kemp, Fantasy; my rating 4.25. 

• Sharing Beyond Books #116 Comment Giveaway 9/7/13. Open Worldwide. Ends 9/12.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement September 8, 2013.
  

Finished Reading:

1. Audio/MP3

Nevermore: A Novel of Love, Loss & Edgar Allan Poe
by David Nail Wilson
Narrated by Gigi Shane
Quite fascinating - dark fairytale. I'll post a review this week. Reviewing for the Author through Audiobook Jukebox.
Click on Title for full Book Description.

2. eBook/Kindle

Scattered Petals (Texas Dreams Book #2): A Novel

by Amanda Cabot

My Ladies Book Club enjoyed this.
I'll post a review and giveaway later this week.
Click on Title for full Book Description.

Line Edits/Releases:
Working on print and Smashword releases this week.

Enter the bi-monthly drawings at eTreasures Publishing Facebook page.
This week's giveaway link: The Once and Future Now by Jim Gilbert
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller; Pages: 316

Currently reading:
1. Audible

Monster Hunter International
UNABRIDGED
by Larry Correia
Narrated by Oliver Wyman
Series: Monster Hunter, Book 1
I am enjoying this fun, action-packed story from my own Audible library.
I am about 2/3rds and will finish this week, then post a review.
Click on Title for full Book Description.

2. eBook/Kindle

Double Click
by Lisa Becker
I am 2/3rds in this sequel.
I will post a review for the author.
Click on Title for full Book Description.

3. Print

Convict Dad 
by P. Ryan Hembree
I just started this and I like the easy style. 
I received this at EPICon 2013 from the publisher for review.
Book Description:
As a child, Fae Kardell stands helpless while police handcuff her father and drag him away to a police car. A jury later convicts him of murdering two young girls. Fae knows he's innocent. From behind prison walls, Royce Kardell finds a way to cope with his incarceration and maintain an active role in his family. Fifteen years later when Fae returns to her hometown to close the family home after her mother's death, she hears a deathbed confession which proves her father's innocence. As the real killer lurks nearby, details of the girls' deaths surface, but is it enough to justify her dad's release from prison? If she pushes for a new trial and she succeeds, her father could be freed-or-if she fails, he could get the death penalty.

I am really lagging but still listening to The Listener's Bible NIV read by Max McLean. [Reading and listening on MP3.] I have been remiss and not keeping up with daily reading with my DH.

Line Edits: Still working. Several more releases being prepared for the next few weeks. I am still working on new print formatting this week.

I forgot to include my September calendar last week. It is fairly open and flexible - YAY! 

I did pretty good in August with only one print book and author book carried over into September. 

September Scheduled (so far)
9/9/13 September Kindle Fire Giveaway
9/13-18 Darkest Worlds: A Dystopian Anthology Book Blast Giveaway Hop
9/17/13 The Funny Adventures of Little Nani by Cinta Garcia de la Rosa; Pump Up Your Book Tour


Sourcebooks
  Color Me Bad: A Novella by Sharon Sala/Dinah McCall (via NetGalley)
  My Lady Quicksilver by Bev McMaster (ARC) (Late September)

Hachette - Forever
    A House Divided by Kimberly Lawson Roby

NetGalley:
   I may browse for new choices.

AudioBook Jukebox
     I will be making new selections.

Author Books received at March EPICon
     Convict Dad by P. Ryan Hembree (reading)

Author Review titles:
     Double Click by Lisa Becker (reading)

From TBR Collection - Monster Hunter, Incorporated (listening)
Won Book - TBD
Free Kindle/Nook or Smashwords: TBD

Sunday Words of Encouragement September 8, 2013

Pastor’s message this morning was titled: “The Promises of God.” He asked us to estimate how many promises are given in the Bible, then noted that a certain theologist, Dr. Drummond, says there are about Thirty Thousand promises contained in the Bible. We are exhorted to be partners with Christ by claiming the promises available to us!

Pastor stated that there are four categories or classes of promises:
     (1) Those relating to the Messiah - many of which were fulfilled by his birth and death.
     (2) Those relating to the church - such as ‘I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail over it’ Matthew 16:18.
     (3) Those relating to the Gentiles. Who are the gentiles? All of us who are not the Jewish people. (Psalm 117:1, Isaiah 60:3, and Ephesians 3:6.)
     (4) Those relating to Israel as a nation. Many of these were delayed until the nation was reformed and are still on hold until the Jewish people recognize the Messiah.

Whichever category a promise falls into, it does not mean anything or has no power personally unless we accept and believe it! Do we recognize the miracles and touches of God in our daily walk? Sometimes there is lack of understanding or acceptance of past actions that revealed God’s hand in our lives. Even the disciples failed at times to recognize the power of God when they were astonished that Jesus walked to their boat across the water shortly after seeing him feed thousands with only a few fish and loaves.

We need to learn to ‘ruminate’ on the messages that we receive and promises that are ours instead of being satisfied with drive-through Christianity. Faith looks to the strength of God, not to man. Focus on positives not negatives and be strong by believing in His promises. Remember that all things are possible through God. Matthew 19:26.

I found this beautiful video with many promises!

Verse for Today

Matthew 19:26 (NASB)
26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

I praise God and give thanks for all of the promises that I can claim!

Sharing Beyond Books #116 Comment Giveaway 9/7/13

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

Oh - crazy week trying to get caught up again! Then today I lost half the day on phone with webtech setting up a new computer.

Six of you are like me not re-reading many books. Others named some really good classics like Pride and Prejudice, or children's books (Emily mentioned The Giving Tree) and some named books I have never heard of so I might check them. :-)

Nine of us have attended rodeos although many attended a long time ago. Thirteen of you have never attended a rodeo.

Thank you to all who shared last week.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #115 comments is: #7 Rita 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 #116

Q1. Birgit asks: How long do you keep on reading a book before you decide that it's too boring/awful/etc. and put it away, filing it under DNF??

A: I rarely give up on a book. Even if it is boring I usually push through. But if the foul language or the sex is too much for my comfort I will stop within 50 pages or so.

Image found at Here There Be Books.

Q2. My non-bookish Question: Have you ever participated in a Rally or demonstration??

A: I did attend a peace rally 'back in the day' when I was in college (1970s.) I also participated in a couple of pro-life rallies when I was younger.

Image found at University of Florida Communigator.

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 are getting low on questions so hopefully you will send more in -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use. 

Your turn to share:

Q1. Birgit asks: How long do you keep on reading a book before you decide that it's too boring/awful/etc. and put it away, filing it under DNF??

Q2. My nonbookish Question this week: Have you ever attended a Rally or demonstration??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books , the Christmas Giveaway Books, or the June 2012 Newly Updated ARC/Review List.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on either of the two 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, September 13, 2013 at 10 PM central.

Book Review: The Godborn, The Sundering, Book II, by Paul S. Kemp

This is an engaging fantasy where a sliver of hope struggles for good to overcome the forces of dark and shadow.
The Godborn, The Sundering, Book II
by Paul S. Kemp

• Print Length: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (October 1, 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• ASIN: B00C8RZHLU

Genre: Fantasy Adventure
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: October 1, 2013
In the 2nd book of the multi-author Sundering series launched by New York Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore, the shadow legacy of Erevis Cale lives on even as his old foe Mephistopheles seeks to stamp it out at any cost. Cale’s son Vasen—unmoored in time by the god Mask—has thus far been shielded from the archdevil’s dark schemes, alone among the servants of the Lord of Light who have raised him since birth

Living in a remote abbey nestled among the Thunder Peaks of Sembia, Vasen is haunted by dreams of his father, trapped in the frozen hell of Cania. He knows the day will come when he must assume his role in the divine drama unfolding across Faerûn. But Vasen knows not what that role should be . . . or whether he is ready to take it on. He only knows what his father tells him in dreams—that he must not fail.

Enter Drasek Riven, a former compatriot of Erevis Cale, now near divine and haunted by dreams of his own—he too knows the time to act is near. Shar, the great goddess of darkness, looks to cast her shadow on the world forever. Riven has glimpsed the cycle of night she hopes to complete, and he knows she must be stopped.

At the crossroads of divine intrigue and mortal destiny, unlikely heroes unite to thwart the powers of shadow and hell, and the sundering of worlds is set on its course.

Review:
This is another extremely engaging epic fantasy but does not pick up the characters and story from Book 1. The story may deal with the same world and time but on a completely different level. This story focuses on the battles of archdevils and minor gods. There is a battle between the Dawnlord, followers of light and goodness, and the Shadovar, those bringing destruction and darkness.

Several mortals received small parts of the powers of the godling, Mask, when he was defeated by the archdevil, Mephistopheles. Rivalen has been entranced by Shar, a goddess of darkness who destroys worlds.  Rivalen has come to believe that immortality is meaningless and he plots to use the god powers he received to help Shar complete her mission.

Drasek Riven also received god powers but he finds great loneliness and boredom with his immortality. He stills steps into influence human affairs - looking like a dark, shadowy pirate.   Erevis Cale also received a small sliver of power but he has been imprisoned in ice. His wife and unborn son, Vasen, were whisked forward in time to protect them from the enemy. When Vasen was born, Riven made sure he found safety to be raised in a the Dawnlord Abbey and to have his father’s dark blade held ready for him to use when he became a man. It seems Vasen is the key to find Erevis and bring the forces together to defeat Shar and save the world.

The story proceeds with a certain dark twistedness, but always there is a slim light of hope for a brighter future. I really liked Vasen’s character and the blend of inherited darkness and trained faith in light and hope. Vasen always shied from his dark side and disciplined himself to follow the light paths. I appreciated how the author shows his ultimate understanding that his being consists of both elements and he can use both to accomplish what he wants. Vasen makes a friend before his adventure away from his Abbey home begins and Orsin is a wonderful character too. He is a man with his life written all over his body although he holds his secrets tightly.

There are many additional characters, good and horribly evil. I enjoyed the diverse characters like the obsessed and bitter Brennus with his pet homunculi. I was repulsed by the gruesome, evil, soul eating Zeeahd. There are several lines of action moving the characters along to the ending  and it took some attention to track the rather convoluted interactions. But I was compelled to keep moving with the good action, hoping that the “light” would triumph over the seemingly overwhelming forces of dark.

I found the story gripping in its own right even if I never quite made the connection between book 1 and book 2.  Since I had never read either (any) of the authors in this Sunderling series, it appears that I do not know some of the background that does tie the books together. However, from reading these two it seems that they are bound by the time of struggle from Spellplague to a new world with less and changed magic forces.  Even without knowing the history and characters I can recommend these first two stories as gripping entertainment to those who enjoy fantasy adventure.

I received this through NetGalley for an honest review.

Saturday Snapshot September 7, 2013 Bahamas Cruising - Freeport

I missed Saturday Snapshot last week for a very good reason. We were off on a quick cruise to the Bahamas! We left Monday midday from Port Canaveral and had three stops.  I will post a few pictures from each day for the next several Saturdays. :-)

The first stop on Day2 was Freeport.

It was before breakfast as my DH

watched us dock from our stateroom window.

This was the view from the window:

My DH was fascinated by the loading of the tankers.

He thought the little forklift trucks looked like busy ants. 
This is bigger than it looks.
Each of the boxes is actually a trailer box like you might see on a train!

We did walk out and do a little shopping. It was a little cloudy which was fine as it wasn't too hot. I took some photos with my phone but have to ask my daughter to show me how to get them now. :-)

Thanks to all who stop by and visit. Hopefully I will get to visit back this week!

A big Thank You to 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.