It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday July 13, 2015

Sunday Post - It's Monday! is still not up and linking while Sheila finds her way after her family tragedy.
Kathryn at Date Book suggested linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. I guess I'll have to rename the post starting next week.

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 and will have a crazy week coming up. We will be meeting our son and d-i-l as they transition from Maryland to Mississippi with a stop in Florida to visit. 
I am still having some computer freeze up. I have a new computer on order so the new one may go to office and office lap top come home. We'll see after it comes in if it is faster.

I enjoyed my reading/listening week. I finished one ebook and one audio.  I posted four reviews to work toward getting caught up. One is with tour giveaway. I did get the memes in this week. 

I got to visit a bit at the end of 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? Plus Mailbox Monday July 6, 2015.

• Book Review: Judas the Apostle by Van Mayhall Jr.; Biblical thriller; my rating 4.0.

• Book Review, Guest Post and Giveaway: Two Hearts: When I Said I Do, I Meant Forever by James Richey; Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.0. US and Canada; Ends 8/8//2015.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway July 10, 2015. Open Worldwide. Ends 7/16/2015.

• Audible Book Review: Extremes: A Retrieval Artist Novel by Kristine Kathryn Rusch; Sci Fi Mystery; my rating 4.75.

• Audible Book Review: Top Dog: The Story of Marine Hero Lucca by Maria Goodavage; Personal Memoir; my rating 4.5.

• Sharing Beyond Books #210 Comment Giveaway for July 11, 2015. Open Worldwide. Ends 8/8//2015.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement July 12, 2015.

Finished Reading:
1. Audible

The Martian
Written by: Andy Weir
Narrated by: R. C. Bray
This is very entertaining. 
I plan to post a review this week.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Print

Love in Disguise
by Carol Cox
Our Ladies' Book Club enjoyed this story of a female would be Pinkerton.
I will soon post a review with print giveaway.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently reading:
1. eBook/Kindle

A Town Called Dust: The Territory 1
by Justin Woolley
I am 23% in and enjoying the development of the primary characters. 
I purchased this to read before book 2 which I have from NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible

Seduction in Death: In Death, Book 13
Written by: J. D. Robb
Narrated by: Susan Ericksen
I'm enjoying another investigation
with Eve Dallas and Roarke.
I purchased this with an Audible credit
to keep going in the series.
Publisher's Summary
Dante had been courting his victim in cyberspace for weeks before meeting her in person. A few sips of wine and a few hours later, she was dead. The murder weapon: a rare, usually undetectable date-rape drug with a street value of a quarter million dollars. Detective Eve Dallas is playing and replaying the clues in her mind. The candlelight, the music, the rose petals strewn across the bed - a seduction meant for his benefit, not hers. He hadn't intended to kill her. But now that he has, he is left with only two choices: to either hole up in fear and guilt or start hunting again....
©2001 Nora Roberts (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

3.  eBook/Kindle

SEAL Team Six: Hunt the Fox
by Don Mann, Ralph Pezzullo
I plan to start this before the end of the week. 
I selected this title through NetGalley.
In war-torn Syria, the heroes of the SEAL Team Six series defuse an ISIS warlord's explosive plot.
After a meeting with a CIA source in Istanbul ends in tragedy, SEAL Team Six Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Crocker vows revenge. He suspects the men who attacked him and his contact are involved in the the latest and most harrowing scheme SEAL Team Six is charged with preventing, in a region that grows more volatile by the day.
Syria's government is unraveling, with the alliances among rebel groups increasingly complex and ISIS dangerously in the mix. Farid al-Kazaz, aka the Fox, leads the most threatening of the ISIS factions. The Fox believes Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ordered the murder of the Fox's brother and is planning a sarin gas attack that would wreak havoc across not just Syria, but the entire Middle East. It's up to Crocker and the rest of SEAL Team Six to stop a ruthless killer and keep an explosive plan from detonating.
The SEAL Team Six series has been hailed by special forces veterans and members of the intelligence community as a fascinating, behind-closed-doors look at the real-life heroism of our country's bravest soldiers. Now, Mann and Pezzullo use their experience and insight to tell the story of a terrifying plot ripped straight from the headlines.

4. Print

If My People . . .: A 40-Day Prayer Guide for Our Nation
By: Jack Countryman
I have to catch up a few days to be back on track.
The quotes from our founding fathers are particularly interesting at this time.
If My People guides believers on a 40-day prayer journey in the spirit of 2 Chronicles 7:14.
Click on book title for full description.

June/1/15- I am still up to date on Bible reading and greatly enjoying the readings-- It seems my eyes are open to more details and meaning.. I am reading The One Year Bible again along with my husband and others from our church. I am also listening to the companion commentary online.

July: Nothing else scheduled right now.

I posted four reviews last week so I have three so far for this week. 
I am back to six books at NetGalley.
I really want to get to a TBR eBook in July as I didn't get to any in June.

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 am considering some new author offered books this week. So far, no events for the rest of July so that leans toward taking a little break to read from my TBR shelves/boxes.
I downloaded the free Audio pair from SYNC and I added many free kindle titles to my library.

(Although I have gotten to a couple, I still have many author requests, old and new ones, to consider and reply to.)
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

None.

Won

I won this book at Drey's Library.
Thank you Drey!
Mistress Firebrand: Renegades of the American Revolution
by Donna Thorland
British Occupied Manhattan, 1777...

Purchased

None.

Free

I actually had this in my Kindle Library from 2013. I have picked this up in paperbook for Ladies' BookClub reading this month.
Dying to Read (The Cate Kinkaid Files Book #1): A Novel
by Lorena McCourtney
All she wanted was a paycheck. What she got was a murder.


Free Downloads from AudioFile SYNC 2015 for week Ten.



The Explorers Club
by Nell Benjamin
Read by Jack Cutmore-Scott, Carson Elrod, David Furr, John Getz, Martin Jarvis, David Krumholtz, Lorenzo Pisoni, Jennifer Westfeldt, Matthew Wolf

Around the World in Eighty Days
by Jules Verne
Read by Michael Prichard

Over the past week I added 62 free Kindle titles to my library this week. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement July 12, 2015

This morning was another wonderful time at church. Our Sunday School teacher (G) recapped his message from last week when we were gone. The class discussed the ramifications of the recent Supreme Court ruling. The thing Christians have to remember about the world around us is stated clearly in Romans 1:20 and 32:
20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
...
32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

G’s message was titled “In The World Not of It” as he continues to remind us that we are in this world but we are beings apart who are not to be like everyone else. We are still studying Romans and G noted that Paul’s preaching focused on three issues:
1) We are to seek righteousness through Christ, which is the foundation of Christianity;
2) We are to exercise self-control over the lusts of man; and
3) We are to be mindful of the coming day of Judgment.
The “World” lives with no righteousness and no self-control.  Jesus directed his followers to go into the world to preach the gospel, make disciples and change the hearts of people.  Jesus did not send the apostles out to change the government or law.
Sometimes we allow too much of the world into our church systems. Churches try to reach the masses instead of reaching individuals. Instead of acknowledging and living as those set apart from the world, we too often blend with the world.
G proceeded to give us 25 passages that show how the world lives different than Christians.
Christians must exercise control against a) the lusts of the eyes, b) lust (cravings) of the flesh and c) pride.

Pastor's message was titled “Facing Life With God”. He noted that we live in a world where people are easily frazzled and stressed. But we grow through stress, trials and tribulation. The growing process includes a matter of knowing Who You Are.  He shared Psalm 46 which he presented in three parts that signify our standing as those who know who they are in God; those who have assurance that God is in control. Verses 1-3: I will not fear. Verses 4-7: I will not be moved and verses 8-11: I will rest in Him (in His control).

This morning we sang this song as one of our Worship songs.
It goes so well with both messages! Looking for a City.

Verses for Today:
2 Corinthians 10:2-5
2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Lord, I thank you for the peace that you give through assurance of knowing You are in control. Help me to share Your light in a dark world until You return in Your glory.

Sharing Beyond Books #210 Comment Giveaway for July 11, 2015

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB! Sorry I missed last weekend but I had a nice time with family and it was relaxing not to open the computer for three and a half days. I think that is a record for me.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
I enjoyed hearing where each of you would like to visit. Most had specific destinations with two choosing Hawaii. Mystica would like a luxury train trip from London to Istanbul. MaryP would like a six month vacation throughout Great Britain. Others would be glad for any vacation (Carol L), any beach (bn100) or any swim place with temperate climate (miki). Fredamans is happy staying home. :-) Sometimes staycations are the most restful.

~~~~

The regular Winner from SBB #209 comments is: #1 Mystica who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated ARC/Review titles or (not yet updated) Love titles - all linked near the end of the post. I'm hoping to update the book choices this week. Please let me know your choice by completing the (new) WINNER FORM.

WEEK #210 (One Question.)

Miki asks: Q1 How many time/much time would you spend on entering contests??

A: We had an earlier question about how many entries we like in a contest and most of us said we like them kept simple. Excessive entries is tiresome. That being said... now we can answer Miki's questions.

My biggest contest entering year was 2009 - I was addicted. I probably entered at least one giveaway each day and I won 293 contests that year - books or gift cards. I did win my Kindle that year through a fairly lengthy scavenger hunt. At least there were several weeks to enter that event as I recall. I started Friday Pick in November 2009 so that I could share book giving with others. :-)

I have not done very much entering over the past years - just now and then and I am still pretty lucky. However, a few months ago I spent several hours entering a lot of contests (maybe 80)  at Goodreads. I didn't win a single one and I felt like I wasted an afternoon. So I will continue to enter contests only sporadically and I tucker out at about 10 entries in any given contest. 

Image found at Young and Thrifty.

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! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if  you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use.

Your turn to share:
Miki asks: Q1 How many time/much time would you spend on entering contests??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the  Valentine and "Love" books or the February 2015 Newly Updated ARC/Review List. (My daughter pulled several of the Christmas titles to give with gift bags we made up for the nursing homes. One of these days I will get together a new box of Christmas titles.)

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question 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 July 18, 2015 at 5 PM central.

Audible Book Review: Top Dog: The Story of Marine Hero Lucca by Maria Goodavage

This is a wonderful story!
Top Dog: The Story of Marine Hero Lucca
Written by: Maria Goodavage
Narrated by: Neil Shah

Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:10-23-14
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Personal Memoirs
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The New York Times best-selling author of Soldier DogsTop Dog, Maria Goodavage takes listeners into the life of Lucca K458, a decorated and highly skilled military working dog. An extraordinary bond developed between Lucca and Marine Corps handler Chris Willingham, launching what became a legendary 400-mission career. A Specialized Search Dog, Lucca belongs to an elite group trained to work off-leash at long distances from her handler. She served alongside both Special Forces and regular infantry. She and Willingham became so sought-after that units scheduled missions around their availability.
The audiobook describes in gritty detail the team’s adventures on and off the battlefields, including tense, lifesaving explosives finds and firefights as well as the bravery of fellow handlers and dogs they served with. Ultimately, we see how the bond between Lucca and Willingham overcame the endless brutalities of war and the traumas this violence ignites. Here is a portrait of modern warfare with a heart-warming and inspiring conclusion that will touch dog lovers and the toughest military listeners.
©2014 Maria Goodavage and Christopher Elden Willingham (P)2014 Recorded Books

Review:
This book tells the story of Lucca K458, a highly skilled military working dog who developed a strong bond with her primary handler, Marine Staff Sgt. Chris Willingham. Lucca also had a good bond with her second handler, Cpl. Juan “ROD” Rodriguez. This book portrays Lucca’s experiences searching out IEDs and hidden weapon stashes in Afghanistan and other war zones. She risks her own life as she saves many others. The story includes relationships with other military working dogs and their handlers. There is also a little sharing of military friendships and home life interactions.

There were some disjointed sections that seemed to be taken from an outline that was added on. This disrupted the flow a bit but the information was still gripping. The description says “gritty detail” but this does not mean foul language as it might in other stories. The gritty details are the violence and trauma of war. Although it is hard to hear the awful reality of war, the story of the great work and service that the dogs perform is worth the listen. I found the story absolutely wonderful. It is definitely 'heart-warming and inspiring'.

I think any dog lover would like this story. Those interested in military detail would also enjoy this different view.

Audio Notes: Neil Shah does an adequate job but I am sorry to say that the narration is not stellar. I felt that there could have been a lot more energy and inflection added to enhance the reading. I am glad I found this as a Daily Deal. I recommend listening to a sample of the audio to determine how you feel about it before purchasing the audio version.

I picked this up recently for $2.95 as a Daily Deal at Audible. This is added to my Audio Challenge. I would like to use this as my outstanding heroine for Full House Challenge. 

Audible Book Review: Extremes: A Retrieval Artist Novel by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

I found this sci fi mystery completely gripping.

Extremes: A Retrieval Artist Novel
Written by: Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Narrated by: Jay Snyder

Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins
Series: Retrieval Artist, Book 2
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:05-20-08
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Sci Fi Mystery
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
His name: Miles Flint. His occupation: Retrieval Artist. His job: find the Disappeared - outlaws on the run, wanted for crimes against alien cultures. The catch: Flint isn't working on the side of the law anymore.
One simple mistake and a Disappeared could end up dead. But this time, the death of an ailing Retrieval Artist has caught Flint's attention. He suspects it was foul play, not a viral infection. Equally suspicious is a young woman's sudden demise during the Moon's prestigious Extreme Marathon. As Flint investigates, he finds an ominous connection. Both deaths lead back to a scientist - a scientist who is now one of the Disappeared.
Listen to more in the Retrieval Artist series.
©2003 White Mist Mountain, Inc.; (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Miles Flint was a police detective who pursued criminals. Now he has retired to become a Retrieval Artist who finds “the Disappeared” - those who disappear because they are on the run, often, although not always, from unintentional crimes against alien cultures.

Miles is approached by a local law firm who wants to hire his services. He is initially uncomfortable about their motives especially when they track his usually secure systems. Miles becomes interested when he learns the case involves the death of another Retrieval Artist. Miles  investigation leads to a connection to a death that has just occurred during a local, prestigious marathon.

The young woman’s death during the Moon’s Extreme Marathon initially appears to be accidental. However, Noelle De Ricci, Flint’s former partner and the reluctant detective assigned to the case, soon uncovers clues that reveal the death as a murder. The event organizers want to keep the murder quiet but that is difficult when all of the staff and  race participates must be detained and questioned. The investigation has to cope with the unique elements and limitations of the moon’s environment as well as trying to uncover motive and opportunity.

I was totally enthralled by the mystery of this story. The author has a wonderful style of sharing the details in puzzle bits the reader (listener) gets to piece together. The threads of the story might at first seem unconnected but the author skillfully ties them together. The sci fi world of the moon city within a dome is well developed and adds intrigue to the details. There is a chase scene that is a bit "out there" but it added excitement and increased pacing in the later portions of the book.

This was the second book I read/listened to in this series and I will not wait so long to listen to another. I appreciate that the book has no sex and no foul language. I recommend this series to those who love detailed mysteries with the added interest of an alien environment.

Audio Notes: I enjoy Jay Snyder’s narration in this series. He is able to convey Flint’s equanimity towards his work and DeRicci’s dedication to the investigation. The narration enhances my enjoyment of this series.

I selected this from my own Audible Library (2012). It is part of my 2015 Audio Challenge and part of my TBR Pile Challenge.