Sunday Words of Encouragement August 9, 2015

We attended an early service with our daughter, son-in-law and the grandkids. The pastor shared a good message praising and acknowledging the need for all gifts within the body of believers: preaching, music, teaching, missions and prayer warriors. The Spirit gives us discernment to become a Gospel team. 1 Corinthians 12. We are called to relationship - with God through Christ and with other Christians. We are called to acceptance - to welcome each others strengths without a power struggle. We are called to unity - to be cordial, congenial, cooperative and compromise when appropriate; always working together as a team to give God the glory We are called to action - we are each to impact our surroundings. God called and equipped us to do His work. God gives us the work and, while we rely on His guidance, He tells us “do it yourself”. We are to share the Hope we learn in His word. What are we waiting for?

I went to my song list and saw this song that I thought would fit so well with this message.

Do Something!

Verses for Today:
Romans 12:4-8 NIV
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Lord please guide me to use whatever gifts and whatever blessings You have given me to share Your hope with others.

Sharing Beyond Books #214 Comment Giveaway for August 8, 2015

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
I still have an irritated throat but I am feeling much better. I get to sleep five to six hours now before waking up to a cough.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
I was utterly impressed with the choices of authors we would like to speak with! There were authors of classics: Dickens, Fitzgerald, Mitchell and Austen, with Mitchell and Austen being the only ones named twice.  Then there were numerous modern authors covering genres from paranormal, romance, highlanders, Scottish paranormal, sci fi classic, suspense and Christian fiction. Wonderful choices!

~~~~

The regular Winner from SBB #213 comments is: #12 Carol L 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 #214 (One Question - two parts.)

Poetryinleaves asks: Q1 What book do you love so much that you want to live in the story? And is there any specific character from that story that you want to be??

A: I think my answer would change from time to time. There were a few as a child - mostly horse stories. :-) Then the romance years and now the sci fi genre books. I guess... to pick one book now: I would pick the In Death series and of course the character would be Eve Dallas. Although as I think on this I'm not sure if I would really want to be a homicide detective and I wouldn't want Eve's childhood. Maybe I should rethink this choice.

New choice: Alexia Tarabotti of The Parasol Protectorate Series.

Image found at Uphill Writing.

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:
Poetryinleaves asks: Q1 What book do you love so much that you want to live in the story? And is there any specific character from that story that you want to be??

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 August 15, 2015 at 5 PM central.

Audible Review: Double Strike by Gretchen Archer

This is my favorite story so far in the fun, exciting investigations of Davis Way.

Double Strike
Written by: Gretchen Archer
Narrated by: Amber Benson

Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
Series: Davis Way Crime Caper, Book 3
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:10-21-14
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Modern Detective
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Bellissimo Resort and Casino Super Spy Davis Way knows three things: Cooking isn’t a prerequisite for a happy marriage, don’t trust men who look like David Hasselhoff, and money doesn’t grow on Christmas trees. None of which help when a storm hits the Gulf a week before the most anticipated event in Bellissimo history: the Strike It Rich Sweepstakes. Securing the guests, staff, and property might take a stray bullet. Or two. Bellissimo Resort and Casino Super Spy Davis Way has three problems: She’s desperate to change her marital status, she has a new boss who speaks in hashtags, and Bianca Sanders has confiscated her clothes. All of which bring on a headache hot enough to spark a fire. Solving her problems means stealing a car. From a dingbat lawyer. Bellissimo Resort and Casino Super Spy Davis Way has three goals: Keep the Sanders family out of prison, regain her footing in her relationship, and find the genius who wrote the software for future gaming. One of which, the manhunt one, is iffy. Because when Alabama hides someone, they hide them good. Double Strike. A VIP invitation to an extraordinary high-stakes gaming event, as thieves, feds, dance instructors, shady bankers, kidnappers, and gold waiters go all in.
©2014 Gretchen Archer (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Davis Way has survived her job for close to three years as a (mostly) undercover security officer for the posh Belissimo Resort and Casino in Biloxi but things are looking dicey. Davis is anxious to marry her sweetheart, handsome lawyer, Bradley Cole, and take a four day vacation. Unfortunately she runs into a few obstacles, including a lightning strike at the hotel. Her boss's son, Thomas Sanders, shows up unexpectedly from boarding school. Davis is the lucky one who has to try to keep the high school senior from getting into more trouble.

Bradley gets to break the bad news that the marriage license has been denied due to complications from, of course, her rat ex-ex-husband. Her efforts to sort that problem result in her stealing her annoying lawyer’s car which creates other difficulties.

Meanwhile Davis is told she can’t take days off because she has to help out with a high stakes slot gaming event. The whole event has been brought in from a Vegas crew so neither the staff nor the players have been properly vetted by “No Hair” and the local security team. Davis gets fired her first day as an event waitress and a new security man, Baylor, has to take her place. Fantasy and Baylor get to be painted gold and prance around in bikinis while Davis changes her undercover persona to a social media member under a bouncy ‘hashtag’ queen.

The high tech slot games include specially designed chairs and games that are intuitive to the players. The first players have to buy a seat and then earn points to remain in the game as the nights progress. A certain woman and her husband keep cashing in large checks at the same teller window. That behavior throws up red flags and the suspicion heats up when that woman keeps earning high points in the game. Now Davis is off following the money trail which leads to something hidden in Alabama.

This is book three of this fun series. Davis has grown on me as a character and I enjoy the fact that I am familiar with some of the locations mentioned in the stories - some real towns and others like the quirky towns described by Ms. Archer.  Each story has a unique, casino related crime event which is embellished by the undercover high jinks of the security crew and the personal troubles that Davis has to overcome. The storylines are creative in fun ways and I recommend this series to readers who like cozy mysteries and are looking for a lighter, fun read. Now I have to decide if I can wait for Book 4, Double Mint, to go to Audible or if I should go ahead and get the Kindle version.

Audio Notes: Amber Benson again does a good job with the voices and the story. The story is enhanced by the easy narration.

I received this from Claire McKinneyPR for an honest review. This adds to my Audiobook Challenge.

My Review links for Books 1 and 2:
Double Whammy: A Davis Way Crime Caper
Double Dip:A Davis Way Crime Caper

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gretchen Archer is the USA TODAY-bestselling author of Double Whammy, Double Dip, and Double Strike, the first three novels in the Davis Way Crime Caper series from mystery publisher Henery Press. Double Whammy was a finalist for the 2014 Daphne du Mauier Awards.

 

A Tennessee housewife who began writing when her daughters (seeking higher educations) left her, Archer lives on Lookout Mountain with her husband, son, and a Yorkie named Bently. Double Mint is her newest book.

 

Her Twitter is @Gretchen_Archer.

 

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway August 7, 2015

Happy Friday - 
I am finally feeling almost normal. Still getting to bed early but now I get to sleep through most of the night.
I remembered today (Thursday) to add the new group book titles.

TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK:

US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)

CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up to late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.

Thank you to all who entered the July 31 Pick. There was one automatic win again this week.  Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There was one title blocked this week.
AUTO: Becky gets Marriage by the Book

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from July 31 Pick:
Janhvi gets a GC

Rita gets Dear John

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

Summer's last Hurrah!

Image found at Meaghan Walsh Gerard

New Book Group #59 July 31, 2015
A few more summer titles, historicals and mysteries!

PAIR:
Jillian Hunter: Daring and The Husband Hunt
Sandra Brown: The Devil's Own and Long Time Coming
ANTHOLOGIES:
That Summer Place (1998 version)by Debbie Macomber, Jill Barnett and Susan Wiggs  (sp creasing)
How to Lasso a Cowboy by Jodi Thomas, Patricia Potter and 2 more
Broken Vows, Mended Hearts by Lynn Stone, Gail Ranstrom and Anne O'Brien
3,2,1 Married! by Sharon Sala, Marie Ferrarella and Beverly Barton
SINGLES:
Only by Your Touch by Catherine Anderson
The Notorious Gentleman by Galen Foley (Spine creasing)
Cruise to a Wedding by Betty Neels
Little Girl Lost by Shirlee McCoy
Beloved Enemy by Terri Reed
Caught Redhanded by Gayle Roper
You Don't Know Jack by Erin McCarthy
Rogue by Cheryl Brooks

New Book Group #58 June 26, 2015
-- A few summer titles, a few mysteries, a few historicals...

PAIRS:
JoAnn Ross:Impulse and Far Harbor
Barbara Bretton: One and Only and Shore Lights
SINGLES:
Honeymoon by James Patterson
Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson Audio Cassette Tapes
Marriage by the Book by Joan Johnston (slight binding damage)
Summer Lovin', American Romance - Marin Thomas, Laura Marie Altom and Ann Roth
Hot Pursuit - Karen Rose, Annie Solomon and Carla Cassidy
Murders in the Mist by Willard Scott
Murder on the Atlantic by Steve Allen
Love Me Tomorrow by Rosanne Bittner (spine creasing)
The Reiver's Woman by Catherine Creel
Never Romance a Rake by Liz Carlyle
Patriot Dreams by Barbara Michaels
Sevant, The Awakening by L.L. Foster


New Book Group #57 May 1, 2015
(I'll finish the list with authors on Saturday 5/2/15)

PAIRS:
Nora Roberts: The Heart of Devin MacKade and the Pride of Jared MacKade
SINGLES:
A Little Bit Wild by Victoria Dahl
Veil of Night by Lydia Joyce
The Ruthless Greek's Virgin Princess by Trish Morey
Special Agent by Candice DeLong
Dead in The Water by Stuart Woods - Cassette Tapes
Rally Fever by Crea Jones

New Book Group #56 March 20, 2015
(I'll try to get the rest linked another day.)

PAIRS:
Catherine Lanigan: Tender Malice and Elusive Love (spine creases)
SINGLES:
Madison Avenue Marriage (Silhouette Desire #129) by Cassandra Bishop
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
Where is He Now? by Jennifer Greene
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks


New Book Group #55 February 5, 2015
(I'll try to get the rest linked another day.)

SINGLES:
If I Had You by Deborah Bedford
The Man Who Ate the 747 by Ben Sherwood

New Book Group #54 December 26, 2014

SINGLES:
Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card - Tape Cassettes


BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty byVickie Kennedy
First to Fight Anthology
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin
Maybe This Time by Victoria Barrett
The Commander by Kate Bridges
The Cinderella Plan by Margaret Daley
The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook by Steve Doocy
A Garden of Friends by Penny Pierce Rose
Richard Paul Evans PAIR: The Looking Glass and The Carousel
Duo Book: Yesterday's Memories by Tara Taylor Quinn and Amanda Stevens
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Sleeping with Ward Cleaver by Jenny Gardiner


BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)

Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
Cattle Rancher, Secret Son by Margaret Way
Whisper on the Wind by Joan Smith
Trouble Becomes Her by Laura Van Wormer
Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark
A Lady of Consequence by Mary Nichols
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain
Illegal Possession by Kay Hooper


BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)

Thinner by Stephen King
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Dancing on Snowflakes by Jane Bonander
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one
Tara Taylor Quinn: Father: Unknown and McGillus v.Wright
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
Anthology: Something Borrowed, Something Blue - this book has spine creases and minor water damage...I thought I had read it and liked it but now I realize it was another anthology I read with Elaine Barbier.


BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)

Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Death Angel by Linda Howard

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick on November 27, 2009 and in five+ years I have posted 54 groups of 16 (864) books to find new homes! (as of February 6, 2015).

I am happy to say that so far about 849+ books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed. I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want!

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $7.00 and $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

Audible Book Review: Double Dip: A Davis Way Crime Caper by Gretchen Archer

This is another entertaining installment of Davis Way mystery fun.
Double Dip: A Davis Way Crime Caper
Written by: Gretchen Archer
Narrated by: Amber Benson

Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins
Series: Davis Way Crime Caper, Book 2
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:02-13-14
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Modern Detective
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
“A smart, snappy writer who hits your funny bone!” (Janet Evanovich).
It’s Davis Way’s first slot-tournament season. And it may be her last. Things are dicey at work. A personal assistant goes missing, a little old lady goes on a suspicious winning streak, and a Bellissimo executive goes gaga for Davis. She follows a disappearing slot-tournament player trail to the So Help Me God Pentecostal Church in Beehive, Alabama, then jumps headlong into a high stakes holy scandal. She’s on a losing streak at home, too. Her days, nights, and dinners run together, as Davis juggles a revolving door of uninvited guests, namely her rotten ex-ex-husband, Eddie Crawford. And Bradley Cole thinks three’s a crowd. The worst? Davis doesn’t feel so hot. Maybe it’s the banana pudding, or maybe it’s a little bundle of something else. Double Dip. A reckless ride in the fast lane, and Davis Way can’t find the brakes.
©2013 Gretchen Archer (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Davis succeeded in her first major security assignment at Bellisimo Resort and Casino in Biloxi. Now she faces another major event: the frenzied slot-tournament where a little old lady is on a winning streak. The few leads seem connected with a Pentecostal Church in Beehive, Alabama.

Bianca’s personal assistant has gone missing which puts Davis repeatedly at the beck and call of the hoity wife of the Casino boss. If that isn’t enough trouble, Davis has to juggle visitors and troubles at home. Davis decides to use her ex-mother-in-law to test a theory that the elderly are tied to the Church and fixed wins. This ends up allowing her ex-ex, Eddie, to show up unexpectedly and uninvited. Bradley doesn’t like the picture and declares an ultimatum. Meanwhile there are upset tummies - some caused by a food item that leads to death. Fortunately, or not, that isn’t Davis’ trouble and she can’t figure out how to tell Bradley there are more concerns than just her ex-ex..

There is more fun in this installment of Davis’ hijinks. She has a new co-worker, Fantasy, a woman who was Davis’ corrections officer during her incarceration in book one. Fantasy is a good ‘Mutt’ (tall, skinny and black) to set off Davis’ ‘Jeff ‘(short, curvy and redheadish).

There is plenty of emotional trouble for Davis as well as mystery to solve. The action and wit keep the reader/listener well entertained. Once again I was very pleased to have the third book ready when this one finished.

Audio Notes: The narrator changed between book one and two. Sometimes that is a major problem but it wasn’t terrible this time. Amber Benson does a good job with the voices and the story. I didn’t find her “asides” quite as effective as the first narration but everything else was just fine. I still enjoy this in audiobook format which makes for fun, quick entertainment.

I received this from Claire McKinneyPR for an honest review. This adds to my Audiobook Challenge.