It's Monday! What are You Reading? October 13, 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.

I have been working hard to get work done as we prepare to go on vacation. That always creates a push for me. I also have done a little prep on the motor coach although my DH has been having to repair and clean to make sure all is in order.
I had a good reading week. I finished four books and posted three reviews from the week before, one with print Giveaway. I also posted the usual memes. :-)

I had another good week of visiting blogs early in the 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? October 6, 2014.

• Mailbox Monday October 6, 2014.

• Book Review: Global Predator by Jack Maclean; Military Thriller; my rating 4.0.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway October 10, 2014.  Open Worldwide. Ends 10/16/14.

• Audio Book Review: Allegiant: Divergent Trilogy Book 3 by Veronica Roth; Dystopian; my rating 4.0.

• Book Review and Print Giveaway: Seattle Cinderella: Romancing America by Gail Sattler; Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.0.

• Sharing Beyond Books #172 Comment Giveaway 10/11/14; Open Worldwide. Ends 10/11/14.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement October 12, 2014.

Finished Reading:

1. eBook/Kindle

Ruptured: The Cantati Chronicles
by Maggie Mae Gallagher
An intense and good prequel to introduce the series.
I will post a review this week.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle

Brave New World
Written by: Aldous Huxley
Narrated by: Michael York
Oh - I really had forgotten this classic dystopian!
It is interesting with good narration. I'll post a review this week.
Click on book title for full description.

3. eBook/Kindle

It Happened at Christmas
by Debbie Mason
This is delightful.
Whoever wins the four book bundle giveaway
should really enjoy these Christmas books
from Forever Romance.
I'll be posting the review this week.
Click on book title for full description.

4. Audio/MP3

Jennings Books: According to Jennings (1954)
Author:  Anthony Buckeridge
Narrator:  Simon Vance
This is the second book I listened to in this series.
Simple old-fashioned fun. Review to post this week.
In this audiobook - the space-craze sweeps through Linbury Court School and the corridors reverberate with 'voom-voom' noises as rockets, piloted by "Butch Breakaway" Jennings and his "bald-headed scientist," Darbishire, take off for the moon. As Mr. Carter prophesies, the craze wears off, but not before Jennings has stuck his head into trouble; nor before he and Darbishire have helped General Merridew, that peppery but most distinguished of Old Boys, to recapture some of the wilder moments of his lost boyhood.

eTreasures Publishing:
These two print releases are available and will be linked at the website on Monday.

Shelly Goes to Washington, D.C. (Shelly the Hermit Crab) (Volume 2) by Stacey Leigh Malloy  (Author), Katie Cassidy (Illustrator)

Edmund Pickle Chin: A Donkey Rescue Story by Clara Bowman-Jahn (Author), Susan April Elwood (Author), Lynne Bendoly (Illustrator)

Two more ebooks still out for galley proofs; to be released soon.

Currently reading:

1. eBook/Kindle

Pumpkins in Paradise 
(Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mysteries Book 1)
by Kathi Daley
I won this book last month and look forward to what seems like a good October read.
Book Description
Publication Date: January 17, 2014
Between volunteering for the annual pumpkin festival, and coaching her girls to the state soccer finals, high school teacher Tj Jensen finds her good friend Zachary Collins dead in his favorite chair. When the handsome new deputy closes the case without so much as a “why” or “how,” Tj turns her attention from chili cook-offs and pumpkin carving to complex puzzles, prophetic riddles, and a decades’ old secret she seemed destined to unravel.

2. Audible/MP3

10th Anniversary: The Women's Murder Club
Written by: James Patterson, Maxine Paetro
Narrated by: Carolyn McCormick
I selected this from my Audible Library as my TBR book for October.
It has started out well.
Publisher's Summary
For every secret....
Detective Lindsay Boxer's long-awaited wedding celebration becomes a distant memory when she is called to investigate a horrendous crime: a badly injured teenage girl is left for dead, and her newborn baby is nowhere to be found. Lindsay discovers that not only is there no trace of the criminals - but that the victim may be keeping secrets as well.
For every lie....
At the same time, Assistant District Attorney Yuki Castellano is prosecuting the biggest case of her life - a woman who has been accused of murdering her husband in front of her two young children. Yuki's career rests on a guilty verdict, so when Lindsay finds evidence that could save the defendant, she is forced to choose. Should she trust her best friend or follow her instinct?
There's a different way to die....
Lindsay's every move is watched by her new boss, Lieutenant Jackson Brady, and when the pressure to find the baby begins interfering with her new marriage to Joe, she wonders if she'll ever be able to start a family.
With James Patterson's white-hot speed and unquenchable action, 10th Anniversary is the most deliciously chilling Women's Murder Club book ever.
Crack another case with the Women's Murder Club.
©2011 James Patterson, Maxine Paetro (P)2011 Hachette

3. eBook/Kindle

The Kindness of Neighbors (A Short Story)
by Matthew Iden
This is another title received from an author that looks good for October reading.
Book Description
Publication Date: April 9, 2014
No one likes Jack. His wife is gone and his neighbors avoid him. He's a recluse and a creep, and that's just the way he wants it; he can ignore what they say behind his back if they leave him to his work and his daily walks. But when ten-year-old Emma goes missing in the nearby woods, the eyes of his neighbors turn toward him, their fear and accusations escalating as the days go by. Jack proclaims his innocence, but what the neighbors--and the reader--find out is the last thing anyone would suspect.
Previously published as Finding Emma.

I am caught up 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 still finalizing formatting for two educational, non-fiction ebook releases which we sent back for a bit more polishing. We are also working on releasing several additional novels in print -- also polishing.

I keep plugging away at the books carried forward and the added NetGalley titles as well as the publicist/Author requests. 
I am up-to-date on posting reviews with four to be done for this week.  

October Scheduled -
Mid Oct: 
     Pumpkins in Paradise (Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mysteries Book 1) by Kathi Daley (reading)
     The Kindness of Neighbors (A Short Story) by Matthew Iden (reading)

NetGalley - To be read in August thru September:
Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve, Illustrated by Sarah McIntyre
The Red Book of Primrose House by Marty Wingate  (for Nov)
What a Lady Needs for Christmas (MacGregor Series) by Grace Burrowes (Oct)

Authors:
Nov 7: Hilltop Sunset: A Brynn Bancroft Mystery by Joyce Strand
Nov. 12: Peace & Goodwill a Christmas Novella (The Minstrel Series Book 4) by Lee Strauss

A Touch of Nerves by Dennis Hampton

The Founders' Plot by Frank Victoria
We Are the Destroyers by D.K. Lindler

From Story Bundle - I am enjoying the romance bundle and so glad I got these. There are Cyperpunk, Supernatural and Mystery Bundles available now - soooo tempting!
Huntress For Hire by Terry Spear
Peter's Christmas by M. L. Buchman
The Death of Davy Moss by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Still many more requests to consider and reply to.

AudioBook Jukebox
I'll be looking for new titles to request this week.

Post Hypnotic Press
I have several more audiobooks from this publisher that I will be reviewing.

From TBR Collection - 10th Anniversary: The Women's Murder Club (reading)
Won Book - TBD
Free Kindle/Nook or Smashwords - TBD for October

Sunday Words of Encouragement October 12, 2014

Pastor’s Sermon this morning was entitled “Righteousness”. He used the scripture stories regarding the woman with an issue of blood (found in Luke 8:43-48 and Mark 5:25-35). These accounts tell of a woman who suffered for twelve years during which she was in misery and ceremonially unclean. The bridging point is that our sins, like filthy rags, make us unclean in the sight of God.

We cannot earn righteousness; no one deserves it. It is a gift. Isaiah 64:6 declares: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Man has a need for morality and justice. We cannot fulfill this need ourselves, but God, by grace and goodness, allows us to receive what we can not earn.
     Romans 3:22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
     2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Righteousness is an unmerited favor we can only receive from God.

***
My scripture study following up the sermon makes me say that Isaiah 64:6 should not be read to say that man should not strive to do good works. God is pleased with good deeds and when we help one another. As noted in Isaiah 64:5: “You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved?”

What is the answer to that question? The response is 'we are saved through faith' as noted in the New Testament passages above and more, such as Romans 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Christ’s blood covers our sin and yet we continue to sin. We cannot perform enough good works to outweigh our sins. As believers who have accepted Christ to rule in our hearts and lives, we hold onto the promise that our filthy robes will be replaced by His pure covering through His sacrifice. As our Sunday School teacher noted at the conclusion of our lesson this morning: “We continue to struggle with sin because our salvation will not be complete until His [Christ’s] return.”

(All scripture references are NIV.)

I think this song fits this message perfectly.

Lord, I Need You by Matt Maher

Verse for Today:
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 
9not by works, so that no one can boast. 
10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Christ, I believe and accept You as Lord of my life. I thank you for giving me the unmerited gifts of salvation and righteousness. Although I am saved by faith, let me be mindful to do good works, as directed by You, to show Your Love and glory in this life.

Sharing Beyond Books #172 Comment Giveaway October 11, 2014

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
I didn't get too much computer time today. The internet wasn't working on my computer first thing this morning. Then I spend a good deal of the day packing things in the motor-coach for our upcoming trip. I did use the time to listen to an audiobook. :-)
Note- Next week's SBB may have to be posted late (or early) depending on where we are on our journey and whether we have WIFI.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Only four people recalled books that scared them enough to close them, although only Mary threw the book away. Of the other thirteen comments about half of them avoid reading scary stories. Stephen King was mentioned as an author who writes very scary books.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #171 comments is: #8 SueF 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 #172 (One Question.)

Q1. This is another October question. Elizabeth asks: 1. Do you have a favorite Halloween costume from previous years??

A: I checked the list and although we have had similar questions we have not had this precise question.  The favorite costumes I recall are two my mother made us when we were young. My sister and I were a pair of dice and my brother was an upside down man. I like the lego box in the image below! 

Image found at U-Pack.
While looking for images for my old favs I found this which I thought was very good!

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. Elizabeth asks: Do you have a favorite Halloween costume from previous years??

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 October 18, 2014 at 5 PM  central.

Book Review and Print Giveaway: Seattle Cinderella: (Romancing America) by Gail Sattler

This is a collection of four light, happily-ever-after sweet romances.

Seattle Cinderella: (Romancing America)

by Gail Sattler

• Series: Romancing America
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc. (March 1, 2012)
• ISBN-13: 978-1616266417
• Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sweet

My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: March 1, 2012
Cinderella lives—except her name is Cindy and she resides in Seattle! Cindy is forced to run her late father’s muffler shop. Will her step-sisters’ shenanigans and Luke Princeton’s charms only make her life even more unbearable? Cindy’s step-sister Annie has reformed her ways. But how will she prove it to the man she loves? Step-sister Zella is writing her own love story. But is she using a poison pen? Cindy’s godmother, Farrah, has caught the attentions of a younger man. Does she have the courage to love again? How far will God go to give these women a happy-ever-after?

Review:
This is a sweet collection of four HEA stories - one for Cindy and her two step sisters and one for her helpful Godmother.

Cindy and the Prince
Cindy is a mechanic extroadinaire having learned as a child from her beloved father. She rarely dresses in anything other than overalls in spite of non-stop criticism from her stepmother, Melissa. Of course it wouldn’t matter what she wore as Melissa would still find fault. Cindy doesn’t understand why her father left his auto shop and house in equal shares to Melissa and Cindy. This leaves Cindy stuck living at home with her unpleasant stepmother and not-so-nice stepsisters, Annie and Zella. Until the battles over the Will are resolved Cindy has to operate the shop, employ her stepsisters and hope she can save enough money to buy out her stepmother’s interest.

Luke Princeton operates a limousine rental shop across the way from Cindy’s shop. He sees her every day but can’t get her to agree to even a coffee date. He is the guardian of his teenage niece and when he realizes that Kat is interested in becoming active in the youth group at Cindy’s church, Luke grabs the opportunity to get closer to Cindy. Even though Cindy is willing to step in to help with orphaned Kat, can Luke get her to risk loving him too?

Love by the Books
Annie has worked half-heartedly as a receptionist and bookkeeper for Cindy while attending college. She has recently seen how unfair Melissa is to Cindy. Annie has decided to work more diligently and she is happy to help sort the books at Like a Prince Car Rentals by Luke and his co-owner, Brent, when their long time bookkeeper is unavailable. Annie finds some strange entries as she sorts through the data.

Luke had given Cindy a sporty convertible mustang which Annie admires. The mustang disappears one morning and is later found.by Brent.buried in Annie’s garage. With a past reputation that isn’t the best, how can Annie get anyone to believe she didn’t take the car and that she may be in danger herself?

Till Death Do Us Part
Zella is anxious to get away from her mother, Melissa, who wants to plan a big wedding for her remaining daughter. Of course Zella needs a boyfriend first. Zella decides to join a book club that meets on Friday nights so she won’t be available for the dates her mother keeps pushing her to.

Zella is surprised to learn the club is not a reading club but a writing club where the members help critique each other's works. She begins a relationship with one of the young men not knowing that he is in fact her new favorite mystery writer. How will Zella get beyond the hurt when she learns of TJ’s deception?

Never Too Late
Farrah is an attractive and energetic fifty year old teacher. She has accepted her single life-style after the death of her husband and hasn’t made any real effort to seek out a male companion.

Matt is a thirty-eight year old veterinarian who has avoided romantic relationships for many years because he knows he cannot have a normal family life. Matt had prayed and waited a long time for the right, special woman. He finds his friendship with Farrah enjoyable and his feelings growing. He is less interested in their age difference than in the fact that she fits an important criteria for a partner as she is beyond child-bearing age. Can Farrah see beyond her age to accept Matt’s suit?

Each of the stories have a connection to church and some references to faith but is not “loud” or preachy. These are not quite “fluff” but they are simply easy, light reading with a happily-ever-after ending. The ladies of bookclub enjoyed the book especially because it was light and they liked the short stories that could be read at separate sittings, which sometimes fits a busy life. We agreed this is a nice book for those who are in the mood for sweet, easy, quick-reading romance.

This was our book for Ladies Book Club.

Giveaway:

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for my gently read print copy

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries comment on the review, OR
visit THE AUTHOR'S Website and tell me something you like/learned there.

* This contest is open US Only for Print Book.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) October 18, 2014.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after October 18, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Audible Book Review: Allegiant: Divergent Trilogy, Book 3 by Veronica Roth

I found this to be a satisfactory conclusion to this trilogy. 
Allegiant: Divergent Trilogy, Book 3
Written by: Veronica Roth
Narrated by: Emma Galvin, Aaron Stanford

• Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins 
• • Series: Divergent, Book 3
• Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:10-22-13



Publisher: Harper Audio

Genre: Dystopian
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation - like a single choice - changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?
The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times best-selling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of listeners in Divergent and Insurgent.
©2013 Veronica Roth (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

Review:
This is the concluding book in the Divergent trilogy. Tris, Four and some of their Dauntless friends have survived the civil war that erupted during book two, Insurgent. Tris had managed to release a secret video tape that revealed some mysteries about the cities past and a directive that the Divergents were to help those outside of the city walls.

Now in book three, the Factionless, led by Four’s mother. face a new battle with the Allegiant, a group comprised from the old factions who want to restore the previous order of the factions. Four rescues Tris’ brother Caleb, even though he had betrayed her and they flee beyond the walls to escape the Factionless and Allegiant pursurers,

Outside they find a government compound, the Bureau of Genetic Welfare. Here they learn that Purity Wars destroyed much of the past civilization and genetic manipulation is being used to try to rebuild a sound society. Divergents are prized as pure bloods and all others are genetically impure and expendable. Although Tris is safe as a true Divergent, Four, or Tobias, is at risk. He soon aligns with others who are plotting against the government powers who not only control the genetically rascist compound but also exercise control over the affairs of the “experimental” cities like Chicago.

Tobias’ participation in a failed raid results in a life-threatening injury to Uriah. Tobias feels responsible and guilty while Tris is angry because she thinks he acted rashly and he went against her warnings. There is estrangment and tension among the friends as they try to sort out how to cope with their new surroundings and then discover they have to find a way to protect their old city home from the destructive plans of the Bureau.

I enjoyed how the story is told in alternating views by Tris and Tobias. This dual voice gives a broader scope portraying events from two different viewpoints and emotions. There is danger, angst, conspiracy, a little romance and a bit more tragedy. I liked the conflicts and the dilemmas posed in this book. The author seems to be making a statement about the devastating consequences of pitting different races and/or different classes against each other instead of accepting each others strengths and working and growing together.

I enjoyed this book significantly more than book two which seemed full of disjointedness. There were flaws in this book too as there seemed to be a section of “telling” of back history which can bog down the reading. What bothered me more though was the implausibility that Tris and her friends were a) given free roam in the compound without being assigned particular tasks and b) could plot so “openly” with existing dissenters. This made the story a bit of an “eye-roller” at times. It is not a big secret that one of the main characters dies which is a difficult, sad feature but actually added an acceptable bit of reality.

I am not sure the title Allegiant is appropriate to where this final book goes but it fits with the prior titles and there could be a case made that it has a dual meaning. Perhaps my expectations were not as high as many who were disappointed by this book. Although I didn’t like everything about this conclusion it wrapped things up satisfactorily for me as an adult reader.

AUDIO NOTES: Emma Galvin and Aaron Stanford did a very fine job of portraying the characters of Tris and Tobias. The alternating voices (as well as the alternating views) added to my enjoyment of the story which may have dragged more without that feature to break the flow and add interest. I would recommend listening to this title on audio.

This title is from my own Audible Library.