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Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Book Review: Raptor 6 (The Quiet Professionals) by Ronie Kendig

Great read - this is a wonderful story with good action and intrigue, strong characters and a clean romance.
Raptor 6 (The Quiet Professionals)
by Ronie Kendig

  • File Size: 986 KB
  • Print Length: 354 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1616260408
  • Publisher: Shiloh Run Press (May 1, 2014)
  • ASIN: B00HX7CTDO

Genre: Military Romance, Christian Fiction
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0


Book Description
Publication Date: May 1, 2014
Captain Dean Watters keeps his mission and his team in the forefront of his laser-like focus. So when Dean’s mission and team are threatened, his Special Forces training kicks into high gear. Failing to stop hackers from stealing national security secrets from the military’s secure computers and networks isn’t an option. Zahrah Zarrick is a missionary teacher to Afghan children in Mazar-e Sharif. And a target. When Zahrah is captured because of her expertise in quantum cryptology, compromising the US military, Dean is forced to crack the lockbox around his heart—a move that might come at the highest cost.


Review:
Dean Watters is a special forces Captain who is focused, dedicated and ‘married’ to his Raptor team. They are stationed in Afghan where they try to help the local people when able and address military issues when needed. His team is quick to move in when they see smoke down the road. They arrive to discover that a missionary school has been attacked by terrorists. Dean meets Zahrah Zarrick, a beautiful American who is a missionary teacher to the children.

Zahrah’s father is a well known General who would prefer she be safe in America. But Zahrah feels compelled to teach the children, particularly the girls, of her mother’s home country so they will not be restricted as her mother was. Although teaching is Zahrah’s vocation, her studied expertise from college is in quantum cryptology or data encoding in computers. This makes Zahrah a target for cyber terrorists who want her skills to hack into a stolen military computer to gain national security secrets.

Dean becomes Zahrah’s protector, unofficially appointed by her father, and by his own nature. Dean tries to convince Zahrah to return to America but Zahrah knows her true protector is God.  She believes He has a plan that involves her staying where she is. Will Zahrah’s faith sustain her when she is kidnapped, tortured and threatened to use her skills? Can Dean go in to rescue Zahrah knowing he will face his worst fears of being tortured and watching an innocent woman be tortured, as he did ten years before?

Somewhere in the mountains there is a man who has hacked into the military base and is watching every move Raptor team makes. Dean is frustrated as it becomes clear that someone knows their plans and is always one step ahead of the team. This created tension and interest but I was frustrated that it took quite some time to even realize there was a ‘mole’. This enemy remains an unknown even at the end of the book.

I really enjoyed the fast paced action of the story and the camaraderie of the team members. I appreciated that there was no foul language and I loved the strong faith portrayed in Zahrah. The torture scenes are realistically harsh. I recommend this to readers who love action, danger and a clean romance of integrity and spirit with no need for overt sex. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I received this title through NetGalley.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Mailbox Monday May 12, 2014

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 Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach.
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.


I resisted selecting any new review books this week.
However I did purchase three audiobooks 

(I still have many author requests to consider and reply to.)

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

None

Won

None

Purchased
I received a credit of $10.00 from April audio purchases so I purchased two books and I selected my second April subscription choice - total cost $3.90.

by George R. Stewart
$6.95 -- Noted as a Sci Fi Classic. One survivor of a worldwide epidemic.


The Remaining: Refugees |
by D. J. Molles
$6.95 -- Book 3 in a series so I'll have to hold this 'till I pick up books 1 and 2.
A decease has caused 90% of humans to become mindless, killing predators.

Deadly Shores: Destroyermen, Book 9 |


 Free
Plus I downloaded another 58 or so free Kindle titles. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today Free Par-tay, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? May 12, 2014

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.

We are having a good visit with our son, daughter-in-law and little "Sweet-Pea". 
Work has been frustrating as my computers are experiencing problems that I hope to get sorted out this week.
I enjoyed my reading, finishing three books. I posted three reviews and posted the usual memes. :-)

I'm sorry I didn't get any visiting done this week. I will try this week to find/make some time to visit even with relatives in town.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:
  • Audio Book Review: Harmless by Ernie LindseyMystery; my rating 4.0. 
Finished Reading:
1. Audible/Audio/MP3


Harmless
Written by: Ernie Lindsey
Narrated by: DJ Holte
I enjoyed this mystery in spite of the difficult character.
Review linked above.
Click on book title for full description.



2. eBook/Kindle


Raptor 6 (The Quiet Professionals)
by Ronie Kendig
I really liked this clean action story!
I will post a review this week.
Click on book title for full description.



3. Audio/MP3


Audio Book: Gail Bowen, "Shadow Killer," A Charlie D. Mystery (Rapid Reads) Post Hypnotic Press Books
This are such easy, quick mystery listens. I will post the review this week.
Click on book title for full description.



eTreasures Publishing New Release:
No new releases this week.
Enter the bi-monthly drawings at eTreasures Publishing Facebook page.
Current giveaway link:  Flick, Flick and Dreamer by Margaret Karmazin
Check for the new giveaway every two weeks.


Currently reading:
1. eBook/Kindle


Blind Man's Bluff (Stone Gap Mountain)
by Kay Stockham
I am really enjoying these characters and the story.
I received this through StoryBundle.
Book Description
Publication Date: September 21, 2012
Can you love someone and still be free?
Emma Wyatt agrees to tutor a recently blinded, embittered soldier because of the $50,000 paycheck his brother offers. Blind herself, Emma dreams of independence and freedom. She wants to own a large kennel and live away from her overprotective family. But when she's attracted to her student, she fears falling for him means giving up her dreams.

Can you protect someone when you cannot see?
Good soldiers show no weakness. Ian MacGregor holds his battle with claustrophobia close to his chest, unsuccessfully trying to cope on his own. He’s lost in the dark and struggling to accept his fate. Ian knows duty, honor, serving his country. But his desire for Emma is overshadowed by the danger lurking around them. Emma would be better off with someone else. Someone sighted.
Someone able to protect her from the person determined to keep them apart.

BLIND MAN'S BLUFF is the first full-length novel in the Stone Gap Mountain Series. Be sure to check out SECRETS OF A SUMMER NIGHT, a Stone Gap Mountain Novella, for the first look at this exciting new contemporary series.



2. Print


The Windflower
by Laura London
This is moving slowly as I am only 160 pages in and enjoying some of the writing although I still don't really like the characters.
Click on book title for full description.



3. Audible/MP3


Tricked: The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 4
Written by: Kevin Hearne
Narrated by: Luke Daniels
I picked this from my TBR to read before my next review audio.
Publisher's Summary
Druid Atticus O’Sullivan hasn’t stayed alive for more than two millennia without a fair bit of Celtic cunning. So when vengeful thunder gods come Norse by Southwest looking for payback, Atticus, with a little help from the Navajo trickster god Coyote, lets them think that they’ve chopped up his body in the Arizona desert.
But the mischievous Coyote is not above a little sleight of paw, and Atticus soon finds that he’s been duped into battling bloodthirsty desert shape-shifters called skinwalkers. Just when the Druid thinks he’s got a handle on all the duplicity, betrayal comes from an unlikely source. If Atticus survives this time, he vows he won’t be fooled again. Famous last words.
©2012 Kevin Hearne (P)2012 Random House Audio


4. I expect I will get to another book but I haven't decided if it will be another eBook from StoryBundle or NetGalley or one of my Audio review books.

I am up to date on my daily Bible reading. I have disciplined myself each morning to read my Bible passage before I pick up print, Kindle or mp3. I am really enjoying the reading.

Line Edits: We are now finalizing formatting for two ebook re-releases, as well as working on two non-fiction releases.

This month I have more review books than from my own TBR. :-) 
I completed three reviews and have two pending for this coming week.  

May Scheduled -
Nothing specificallly scheduled


NetGalley: I did pick up some more titles for April. 
The Escape (Survivor's Club) by Mary Balogh

Authors
From Story Bundle - check out the deal available 4/30 to 5/21
Thunder Mountain by Dean Wesley Smith
Where Dreams Are Born by M. L. Buchman
Blind Man's Bluff by Kay Stockham (reading)
Simply Irresistible by Kristine Grayson
Huntress For Hire by Terry Spear
Peter's Christmas by M. L. Buchman
The Death of Davy Moss by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Shades of Moonlight by Karen L. McKee

Still many requests to field and reply to.

AudioBook Jukebox (I will be making more requests.)
   Erian's Lair by Troy Lee Henderson

From TBR Collection - TBD
Won Book - TBD
Free Kindle/Nook or Smashwords - TBD

Sunday Words of Encouragement May 11, 2014

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers everywhere.
I've had a lovely Mother's Day with family.
Our pastor's wife shared the message this morning. She asked how many of us had ended up with Prince Charming and happily-ever-after life like Cinderella. Not too many hands went up. Then she noted that Cinderella was happy before she met the Prince. Even while living with, and serving under, her wicked Step-mother she was singing happy songs while doing chores. Cinderella had an attitude of thanks in all things.

What song are you singing in your home? What mood do you set?  Do we look at life with a ‘right perspective’? Are our families our most treasured possessions, more important than material things that can come and go? We are blessed and we should recognize this even during daily troubles and trials of life. Being content boils down to being thankful. We should be glad for the blessings of each day and not waiting or looking to better things around the corner. Don't dwell in a "what if" life. We may never get to that perfect life. We may have troubles but He is with us during all.

A mother’s primary goal is to care for the growth of our children. We need to be careful of our focus: not worrying about gaining things but recognizing and being thankful for our blessings.
Sister P encouraged mothers (and fathers too) to ‘sing a new song’; to model thankfulness.


Here is song to recognize the wonderful love of mothers: A Mother's Love

Verses for today:
 Philippians 4:11-13
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.


Thank you, God, for my wonderful mother who shared the love of God and Christ with her children and lived a life of grace. Please help me to share the same attributes with my children and grandchildren.

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Sharing Beyond Books #150 Comment Giveaway May 10, 2014

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

Five out of 18 people prefer shorter series, 3-5 books; one prefers a medium series of about 10. The others are all glad to have longer series as long as the author keeps up the focus and engaging storyline.  And I think Nikki is right that the In Death series is close to 40 especially if you include novellas. The Goodreads list shows #39 due out September 2014.
~~~~
The Winner from SBB #149 comments is: #11 Faith Hope & Cherrytea 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 #150 (One Question.)

Q1. Abby asks: Have you ever changed your mind about reading a book (summary/plot/cover didn’t capture your interest at first) after reading good blog reviews on that book? Which book was it??
A:  I find this an interesting question. Not only have I changed my mind based on good blog reviews but also I have agreed to review books upon a request when I might not have selected the book otherwise. One book I selected after seeing favorable blog reviews was The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
Image found at Families Online.

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 still have a supply of questions but from the same people so hopefully others will send more in -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use. 

Your turn to share:

Q1. Abby asks: Have you ever changed your mind about reading a book (summary/plot/cover didn’t capture your interest at first) after reading good blog reviews on that book? Which book was it??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books, the Christmas Giveaway Books (this is the new link), or the June 2013 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 through Saturday May 17, 2014 at 5 PM  central.

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