Sunday Post August 23, 2015/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday August 24, 2015

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's Monday! at Book Journey may be active again in September.

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 am finishing a second round of antibotics and hoping that I will finally feel all better. 

We had family here this week so I had to fit reading and computer time in late at night or early in the mornings. 
I finished two good books: one ebook, and one audio. I posted three reviews and posted the usual memes.

I only visited a few spots last week so I have to make a better effort this week.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post August 16, 2015/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday August 17, 2015.

• Audible Review: 14 by Peter Clines; Sci Fi; my rating 4.5.

• Friday Pick Giveaway August 21, 2015. Open Worldwide. Ends 8/27/2015.

• Book Review: Dark Horse by Michelle Diener; Sci Fi, Space Opera; my rating 5.0.

• Book Review: A City Called Smoke: The Territory 2 by Justin Woolley; Science Fiction, Action Adventure; my rating 4.25.

• Sharing Beyond Books #216 Comment Giveaway for August 22, 2015. Open Worldwide. Ends 8/29/2015.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement August 23, 2015.

Finished Reading:

1. eBook/Kindle

To Honor You Call Us (Man of War Book 1)
by H. Paul Honsinger
I really liked this and am looking forward 
to the next book in the series.
I received this from NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible

The Witch with No Name: The Hollows, Book 13
Written by: Kim Harrison
Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin
This was a good conclusion to a great series.
This was in my Audible Library from Sept. 2014.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently reading:

1. eBook/Kindle

Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm (Once in a Lifetime)
by Rebecca Raisin
I am 30% into this small town contemporary.
I selected this at NetGalley.
Maple sugar kisses
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible

Resurrecting Home: A Novel
Written by: A. American
Narrated by: Duke Fontaine
I picked this up so I could find out what happens to the surviving characters next in this action-packed series.
This is from my own Audible library.
Publisher's Summary
Against all odds, Morgan Carter and his family have endured despite the deteriorating conditions surrounding them. Armed with survivalist tactics, Morgan's crew, alongside their new friends from the recently-liberated DHS camp, have worked together to build a sustainable community. But not all situations can be prepared for. When a massive wildfire threatens their very existence, they must decide: fight or flight?
From the author of the hit Survivalist Series books, Resurrecting Home is an action-packed adventure that depicts the harrowing possibilities of a world gone awry, and the courage it takes to protect what matters most.
©2014 A. American (P)2014 Penguin Audio

3. eBook/Kindle

The Banished of Muirwood (Covenant of Muirwood Book 1)

by Jeff Wheeler
I plan to start this later in the week.
I received this through NetGalley.
In a world full of magic and mystery, eighteen-year-old Maia is the exiled princess of Comoros and rightful heir to the throne. Forced to live as a servant in her enemy’s home, Maia flees her captors and begins a perilous quest to save her people. To survive, she must use magic she has learned in secret—despite the fact that women are forbidden to control it. Hunted by enemies at every turn, Maia realizes that danger lurks within her, too. Her powers threaten to steal not only her consciousness but also her sense of right and wrong. Can she set herself free and save the realm she loves—even if her people have forgotten her? In bestselling author Jeff Wheeler’s fantasy epic, the answer may be only the beginning to Maia’s journey throughout the mystical land of Muirwood.

4. Audible

Waking the Bear: Broken Chains, Book 1
Written by: Kerry Adrienne
Narrated by: Jason P. Hilton
I received this for review from Barclay Publicity.
Publisher's Summary
Overprotective bear shifter, Griff Martin, reluctantly rents his mountain cabin to an artist, Amy Francis. He quickly realizes the plucky artist is his mate. But danger is brewing in the forest, and Griff has to be ready to safeguard both his female and his den, at the risk of losing both.
©2015 Kerry Adrienne (P)2015 Kerry Adrienne.

June 1, 2015- 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.

I posted three reviews last week which left two plus two new for this week. I hope I will be able to catch up this week. 
I finished one and am reading two books from NetGalley. I added one new book so my waiting shelf has five NetGalley titles.
I want to pull in more TBRs soon. 

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 received an audiobook for review and added one new NetGalley title this past week.
I ; I selected my two Audible choices and purchased one Kindle book.
I picked up a free Audible title as well as adding more free kindle titles to my library.

(I still have many author requests, old and new ones, to consider and reply to.)

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I received this audiobook for review from Barclay Publicity:


Waking the Bear: Broken Chains, Book 1
Written by: Kerry Adrienne
Narrated by: Jason P. Hilton
Romantic Fantasy.


I selected one title at NetGalley this week.

Death of the Blue Flower
by Roxann Hill (Author), Paul Wagle (Translator)
An ex-con and "chemo-ravaged police detective" "follow a bloody trail into a world of betrayal, revenge, and murder, with motives that reach far back into an appalling past."...
Will they be able to uncover the truth before the past catches up with them?

Won

I won an audiobook Giveaway at Silver's Reviews. 


I received two CD audio books by Alexandra Sokoloff today from Brilliance Audio: 
Blood Moon

and Cold Moon

Thank you to Alexandra Sokoloff, Brilliance Audio and Elizabeth at Silver's Review.

Purchased

NONE

Free

Over the past week I again added 52 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 August 23, 2015

We've been blessed to have our son, d-i-l and 21/2 year old visiting since Tuesday. Then we got our daughter's three grandchildren for the weekend while she and her husband have their first weekend alone in a long time. DH has been busy cooking meals, our d-i-l has been busy cleaning and doing laundry and I have been occasionally trying to quiet the kids. :-) We had a big brunch this morning before our son and family had to hit the road. One more weekend we didn't get to church - I am missing my church family but we have felt the importance of spending time with our natural family.

This is a praise song that always makes me mindful of God's presence and holiness.

The sun cannot compare

The glory of Your love

There is no shadow in Your presence

No mortal man would dare

To stand before Your throne

Before the Holy One of heaven

It's only by your blood

And its only by your mercy

Lord, I come

(Chorus)

I bring an offering

Of worship to my King

No one on earth deserves

The praises that I sing

Jesus may you receive

The honor that You're due

O Lord, I bring an offering to you

I bring an offering to you

Verses for Today:
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)
Generosity Encouraged
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Lord - I love to give generously and I thank you for blessing me so that I can share.

Sharing Beyond Books #216 Comment Giveaway for August 22, 2015

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
This week has been fairly good. I am on a second round of antibiotics so I hope to knock out what shifted to a sinus infection. We have had family visiting this week so I have had to sneak in time, mostly late, on the computer.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
I wasn't too surprised that four people enjoy variety. Other choices included: 4 romances, 3 mystery/ cozies, 2 YA and 2 Historical Fiction. There were a few single choices too: nonfiction, urban fantasy, graphic novels,  contemporary and action.

~~~~

The regular Winner from SBB #215 comments is: #14 Mariska 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 #216 (One Question.)

Rosebud asks: Q1 What book related things do you collect besides books?

I do like to collect special bookmarks -- and share them of course. :-).

Image found atActivity Village.

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:

Rosebud asks: Q1 What book related things do you collect besides books?

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 29, 2015 at 5 PM central.

Book Review: A City Called Smoke: The Territory 2 by Justin Woolley

This is a good second in the series with plenty of danger and a few more twists.
A City Called Smoke: The Territory 2
by Justin Woolley

File Size: 493 KB
Print Length: 251 pages
Publisher: Momentum (July 9, 2015)
Publication Date: July 9, 2015
ASIN: B00OIKC85I
Genre: Sci Fi, Action and Adventure
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

The battle was only the beginning; the real danger is beyond the fence ...
The Diggers have been destroyed, a horde of ghouls is moving inland and the High Priestess has seized control of the Central Territory. Together with Nim, a Nomad boy seeking vengeance against the ghouls, Squid and Lynn begin their long journey toward the city of Big Smoke, a city that may not even exist.
Pursued by forces that wish to see them fail, facing threats on all sides and conflict from within, Squid, Lynn and Nim search for a weapon against the ghouls. It is a search that will lead them into forbidden lands where long-held beliefs about their world are tested and Squid may finally unravel the truth of his identity.
But even if they survive their journey, the teenagers on whom the fate of the Territory now rests have no idea what dangers await them beyond the fence.
Perfect for fans of James Dashner's Maze Runner series and Michael Grant's Gone series.

Review:
Squid and Lynn have begun their trip east across Central Territory to the lands beyond the fence. Squid is the boy of prophesy and Lynn is his friend who has been banished and committed herself to traveling with him even though she doesn’t believe. The High Priestess has seized control of the city of Alice and the territory. She has made plans to mis-direct Squid and Lynn to her ally, the Black Sisters at the edge of the fence.

Squid and Lynn secured a ride inside a freighter and are surprised when Nim breaks into their container. Nim is a Nomad boy who lost his twin sister to a ghoul attack. He chose to journey to the lands beyond to find the Storm Man. The nomadic legend holds that the Storm Man can defeat the ghoul hordes. The three young people band together to continue their quest although Squid becomes jealous and remote as Lynn and Nim become closer.

As the trio of youth try to evade a pirate attack, two strange men, Stix and Stownes, arrive suddenly, appearing to attack Squid. It takes a bit of time to realize their true purpose. Lynn meets her stepbrother, Melbourne, with the pirates and challenges him to shake off his cowardice. The trio travel on with unexpected help, facing sandstorm and ghoul horde before they reach the outer fence. Once they pass the fence, they quickly face new enemies.

Finally Squid and Nim battle their way to arrive at the City of Smoke. There they find surprises and the vaccine that might help safe the people. But they do not know how to use it and the ghoul horde waits outside the doors where they must exit to return to the city.

The story is fast paced with plenty of action and, as in the first book, A Town Called Dust: The Territory 1, the characters are engaging. The story is so much more than just a zombie battle. I liked the different views being shared from the perspectives of wealth (Lynn), poverty (Squid) and respecters of nature (Nim). There are many other human elements - jealousy, greed, power, cowardice, dedication, love, loyalty and courage - that are woven throughout the story. Sad to say, the ending is a complete cliff hanger. Still, this is fast paced entertainment with strong character and story beyond the zombie threat. I recommend the story to those who enjoy strong, entertaining, action sci fi.

I received this through NetGalley for an honest review. It is part of my NetGalley challenge.

Book Review: Dark Horse by Michelle Diener

I really loved this book from beginning to end - very engaging!

Dark Horse

by Michelle Diener

• File Size: 5656 KB
• Print Length: 381 pages
• Publisher: Eclipse (June 15, 2015)
• Publication Date: June 15, 2015
• ASIN: B00Z9R1W9W
• Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera
• My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Some secrets carry the weight of the world.

Rose McKenzie may be far from Earth with no way back, but she's made a powerful ally--a fellow prisoner with whom she's formed a strong bond. Sazo's an artificial intelligence. He's saved her from captivity and torture, but he's also put her in the middle of a conflict, leaving Rose with her loyalties divided.

Captain Dav Jallan doesn't know why he and his crew have stumbled across an almost legendary Class 5 battleship, but he's not going to complain. The only problem is, all its crew are dead, all except for one strange, new alien being.

She calls herself Rose. She seems small and harmless, but less and less about her story is adding up, and Dav has a bad feeling his crew, and maybe even the four planets, are in jeopardy. The Class 5's owners, the Tecran, look set to start a war to get it back and Dav suspects Rose isn't the only alien being who survived what happened on the Class 5. And whatever else is out there is playing its own games.

In this race for the truth, he's going to have to go against his leaders and trust the dark horse.

Review:
Rose is a human who was stolen from Earth, along with a seven animals and birds, by the Tecran, a brutal alien species. The Tecran are members of the United Council that includes four other strong, advanced civilizations, but the Tecran do not always follow rules. It is forbidden to take alien life forms from their home planet and abuse them as the Tecran have done with Rose.
Rose spent months in a cage deep in the Tecran ship until she escaped with the help of a powerful ally. Sazo was also a prisoner as the artificial intelligence trapped and controlled by the Tecran. Rose and Sazo help each other and Sazo arranges to get Rose rescued by Grih because Sazo thinks Rose might find a place to fit in with the somewhat similar Grih.

Dav Jallan, Captain of a Grih explorer ship, stumbles upon a Tecran Class 5 battleship that is within Grih territory where is doesn’t belong. Dav is prepared for a fierce battle as the Tecran are exceedingly protective of their Class 5 ships with their superior technology. The Grih are utterly shocked to be able to board the Tecran ship and equally shocked to determine that two escaping shuttles have seven ‘orange’ life signatures. An orange is a living organism that is not a species recognized by the explorers. They have not seen an orange for over 500 years and they have never heard of an orange that is sentient to the extent of Rose. The Grih should be frightened by Rose, and some are. But most of them are fascinated and awed, especially when they learn she sings which is a rare gift among their people.

The Tecran have been caught in their crimes but they still try to conceal the highly secret nature of the power of the Class 5 ships. Someone on Dav’s ship is apparently helping the enemy and attempts to kill Rose. Dav should protect his crew and race above all else but he finds himself irresistibly drawn to protect Rose even as he realizes that she is hiding some major secret from him.

Ms. Diener did a remarkable job of world building and I found the world and aliens fascinating. I was extremely impressed and engaged by the characters and plot. Sazo is a great character with complexities of an AI who befriends a human who is able to give balance to his temper and power control tendencies. Rose and Dav are wonderful primary characters and the secondary characters are well developed to add detail and depth to the story. The interaction between Dav and his crew members, superiors and diplomats, is very well done.

I enjoyed the “dark horse” feature that provided the title. The story includes many genre elements as there is plenty of action, intrigue, suspense, charm and a little bit of romance. I want to read more by Ms. Diener as I really loved this book from beginning to end. I highly recommend it to a variety of readers.

I selected this at NetGalley and it is part of my NetGalley Challenge.