Sunday Post October 11, 2015/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday October 12, 2015

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's Monday! at Book Journey is active again too.

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.

This was a 'pushy' work week for me. I keep plugging away at the work. Saturday evening we had a nice visit with our two grandaughters while our daughter and son-in-law celebrated their anniversay. Today after church the girls helped pick the peanuts from the garden. :-)

My reading and listening were good this week if not overly much.  I only finished two books: one print and one ebook. I am well into another ebook and the audio, which is a longer one. I posted three reviews and the usual memes posted.

I enjoyed visiting other blogs early in the week.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post October 4, 2015/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday October 5, 2015.

• Audible Review: The Remaining: Allegiance by D. J. Molles; Sci Fi, Post Apocalyptic; my rating 4.25.

• Friday Pick Giveaway October 9, 2015. Open Worldwide. Ends 10/15/2015.

• Audible Review: The Remaining: Extinction by D. J. Molles; Sci Fi, Post Apocalyptic; my rating 4.5.

• Book Review and Print Giveaway: First the Dead: A Bug Man Novel by Tim Downs; Mystery; my rating 4.25. Ends 10/17/2015.

• Sharing Beyond Books #223 Comment Giveaway for October 10, 2015. Open Worldwide. Ends 10/17/2015.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement October 11, 2015.

Finished Reading:
1. Print Book

Jennifer: An O'Malley Love Story, O'Malley Series #1
By Dee Henderson
I enjoyed this light romance. I will post a review this week with giveaway.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle

Children of the Comet
by Donald Moffitt
This ended up quite entertaining.
I will post a review on release date October 13, 2015.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently reading:
1. eBook Kindle

Kiss of Midnight: A Midnight Breed Novel (The Midnight BreedSeries Book 1)
by Lara Adrian
This is moving very quickly - I am 80% completed.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/MP3

Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour
Written by: Lynne Olson
Narrated by: Arthur Morey
I am 13 hours into this 17 and 1/2 hour audio.
This is really informative and I am enjoying it more than I thought I might.
Click on book title for full description.

3. eBook Kindle

On the Run (The Elijah Project)
by Bill Myers (Author), James Riordan (Contributor)
This looks like a quick read.
This is another TBR title in my free Kindle library since 2010 but was delayed for my Book Club titles.
Click on book title for full description.

4. eBook/Kindle

Love in the Details: A November Wedding Story
(A Year of Weddings Novella)
by Becky Wade
This sounds sweet and 
I am looking forward to reading this.
I received this through NetGalley.
Holly ended things to give him a better life, but she was the future he’d always dreamed of.
Eight years have passed since Holly last saw her high school sweetheart, Josh. Now the wedding of Josh’s best friend has brought him back to Martinsburg, Texas. His duties as best man and Holly's as the church's volunteer wedding coordinator link them together. As they work behind the scenes to plan a beautiful November wedding for their friends, they're forced to confront painful reminders of what might have been.
Holly broke up with Josh all those years ago in an attempt to ensure his future success. However, she never told him the true reason behind her actions and now must decide whether to keep her secret hidden. She's terrified of letting herself fall for him because she barely managed to piece her life back together after losing him the last time.
Not a day's gone by since Josh parted from Holly that he hasn't thought about her. The pain of the past eight years has been too much to bear and he doesn't want to make himself vulnerable to her again. But the more time he spends with her, the harder it is to deny the love he still has for her.
Will Josh and Holly risk their hearts on the hope that God's timing really can be best?

5.  TBD -I am likely to pick up another ebook or audio but not sure what yet.


October 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. This left one old plus two new titles from this week.
I finished one book from NetGalley and plan to start another this week. I didn't add any new books (although I was looking) so my waiting NetGalley shelf is now five.
I am pulling in more books off my Kindle and Audible shelves for my TBR Challenge - I just have to read them and not postpone them. :-) 

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 didn't select any review books but I did purchase one ebook; and of course I added more free kindle titles to my library.

(I scanned NetGalley and some of my review requests and nothing is really jumping out at me although I am going to request some new Audio books through Audiobook Jukebox. Other than that I think it is time to work on the TBR piles!)

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

I didn't resist this one for $.99 - it sounds like one I would like!
Two complete Dystopian series in this boxed set.

Broken Worlds Super Boxset Kindle Edition

Free

Over the past week I again added 62 free Kindle titles to my library. 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 October 11, 2015

We had another good service today. Our Sunday School teacher shared stills and videos from the Band of Brothers first trip to Haiti. We are holding the ministry in prayer this week as they hold crusade. We believe the trailer of wood and supplies will be going out this week. A second trip will be planned when they know the supplies have arrived.

Pastor’s sermon was titled: The Problem of Spiritual Ignorance.
There are people who Do Not Know – however, ignorance doesn’t change reality.
Acts 19:2. It is our job to learn the laws, rules and respond. Acts19:6 -- when they listened and learned, they obeyed. Otherwise people act improperly from ‘impure passions’ because they do not know the Scriptures. Matthew 22:29.

There are people who Refuse to Hear – they chose to do what displeases God. Isaiah 65:12. They think they have religion in their hearts but they are not yielded in relationship. Isaiah 66:4. As Jeremiah 5:21 says, there are foolish people, ‘who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.’ They choose to worship other, false gods through immorality and their own self-will.

There are people who Refuse Understanding – they chose to believe lies Romans 1:18,25 and fail to recognize that the intent inside defiles, not outside actions. Mark 7:18-29. God abandons them to their evil minds Romans 1:28... and they lead others astray. v31-32.

Then there are those people who Choose Understanding – The blind man chose to believe that Jesus came to show the condition of men. When given the choice, some will choose salvation, others will choose more condemnation. John 9:37-39.

There are those people who Chose God's Rest -- Hebrews 3:11, 4:1-3.

Some Believe by Testimony -- Testimony to others: (old testament) Job 19:25-27; (new testament) John 2:11, John 4:39.
Some Believe by the Word – they hear and receive. 1 Corinthians 15:1, 11.

In the end -- Spiritual Ignorance is No Excuse for Disobedience. Hebrews 4:3.

I think this song fits today.

I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel.

Verses for Today
Jeremiah 5:21-22
21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear:
22 Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.

This week's old testament reading has been in Jeremiah. The verses above were from Monday 10/5/15. I love how messages are consistent and confirmed. I give thanks that I have chosen to see, to hear, and to believe.

Sharing Beyond Books #223 Comment Giveaway for October 10, 2015

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
I am enjoying the cooling weather as fall has moved in nicely here. I am mindful though of dangers for those in the fire areas (California), the flooding areas (east coast of the US), severe weather in UK, and typhoon victims in Taiwan and China.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Eight commenters feel they are not online as much as they used to be due to families and life issues. Six people feel they are on too much; one wants to get outside more and another wants to exercise more. Alyn even thinks her online time lessens her reading time - ouch! One person feels well balanced on time and another person feels it is up and down.

~~~~~

The regular Winner from SBB #222 comments is: #8 Rita 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 #223 (One Question.)

Poetryinleaves asks: Do you subscribe to any magazines? If so, which ones??

I no longer subscribe to magazines. A long time ago I had STACKs of National Geographic - I donated them to a library. And I used to get Highlights for my kids mainly because I loved that when I was a kid. My children didn't enjoy it as much as I did. :-(.  

(At least this image isn't full of nearly nude covers!)
Image found at The Richest.

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: Do you subscribe to any magazines? If so, which ones??
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 October 17, 2015 at 5 PM central.

Book Review and Giveaway: First the Dead: A Bug Man Novel by Tim Downs

I really liked the history, mystery and forensics in this story.
First the Dead: A Bug Man Novel
by Tim Downs

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson; First Edition edition (January 8, 2008)
ISBN-13: 978-1595540249
Genre: Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

When a national disaster strikes, "first the living" is the rule.
Unless you're the Bug Man.
When Hurricane Katrina strikes New Orleans, forensic entomologist Nick Polchak signs up to help with the recovery effort. He is known as the Bug Man for his knowledge of insects and what they can reveal about the dead. The government's mandate is clear—rescue the living first, recover the dead later.
But something is very wrong in the toxic soup-bowl of post-Katrina New Orleans.
Someone is using the cover of disaster to kill . . . hiding the victims of murder in the same watery grave as the victims of Katrina.
It's a tale only the dead can tell. But no one besides the Bug Man is listening.
" . . . stands out from the pack of CSI-inspired mysteries with its quirky hero and creative handling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster."
—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

Review:
Nick Polchak is a forensic entomologist more commonly known as “the Bug Man”. He studies the bugs (maggots, larvae and flies) that inhabit, grow and feed off of dead bodies. He is able to determine time of death, location and many other details if he gets to the bugs early enough. Nick is often called in as part of a DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team) when there is a crisis like an airplane crash or natural disaster where bodies have to be recovered and identified. This time the team has been called in to set up on the edge of New Orleans to help deal with the expected disaster of Hurricane Katrina. The order has been given that everyone, including Nick, is to help rescue the living first and worry about dead bodies later.

Nick isn’t happy about the order to ignore the dead as he knows that forensic evidence on the dead bodies will quickly deteriorate in the flood conditions left behind by the hurricane. He tries to comply with the order but when he discovers two bodies that he suspects did not die in the hurricane, but before it, he can’t stop himself from trying to preserve the evidence. But someone else clearly doesn’t want him preserving any evidence or poking his nose into unexplained deaths found in the flooded homes.

Nick is a very brusque and dry character – a singular loner. The DMORT psychologist, Dr. Beth Woodbridge, would love to figure Nick out but he is clearly, adamantly unwilling to cooperate with analysis. I really enjoyed the forensic elements of this story and the mystery. I also found the history of Katrina’s impact on New Orleans very fascinating. There is also detailed description of meth addiction which was all new to me.

Not all of my ladies’ book club members liked this. However, I think any reader who enjoys CSI type shows or novels should enjoy this book and series. Of course, that assumes that the reader isn’t turned off by bugs. Although I got the book at deep discount through Christianbooks.com I did not really find anything more than a sentence or two that might be considered to touch on faith. One of our book club ladies has read more books in the series and said that some of the others do have some faith references. I would be interested in reading more in this series.

This was purchased for Ladies' Book Club discussion in October. I will count it towards my TBR since I have had it since 2014.

ONE (gently read) hard cover PRINT COPY GIVEAWAY

US Only

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 (a) comment on the review, OR

(b) Visit the AUTHOR'S FACEBOOK PAGE and tell me something you learned or like there.

* This contest is open to US only for Print Copy.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) October 17, 2015.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after October 17, 2015.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Audible Review: The Remaining: Extinction by D. J. Molles

This is a satisfactory conclusion although I don’t want the series to be over.

The Remaining: Extinction

by D.J. Molles

Narrated by: Christian Rummel

Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins

Series: The Remaining, Book 6

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:07-28-15

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genre: Sci Fi, Post Apocalyptic

My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary

This is the sixth and final novel in the action-packed series following Special Forces captain Lee Harden and a group of survivors struggling to survive while rebuilding an America devastated by a bacterium that has turned 90 percent of the population into a ravenous horde.

The merciless tide of infected is flooding south, and time is running out to stop them. Bolstered by new allies, Captain Lee Harden continues his struggle to establish a safe haven from which the embers of a shattered society can be rekindled.

This is the sixth and final novel in D. J. Molles' best-selling series: Book one: The Remaining; book two: The Remaining: Aftermath; book three: The Remaining: Refugees; book four: The Remaining: Fractured; book five: The Remaining: Allegiance; book six: The Remaining: Extinction; novella one: The Remaining: Trust; novella two: The Remaining: Faith.

©2015 D.J. Molles (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Review:
The healthy plague survivors led by the bottomless determination of Captain Lee Harden now face the infected hordes that are flooding into North Carolina from the northern states. Lee has already survived an assassination attempt and returned from near death to continue to lead the survivors at Camp Ryder. But the opposition has not done with its efforts to stop him. They will take ruthless steps and use betrayal to try to coerce Lee’s capitulation.

Lee and his allies make a last ditch effort to eliminate the hordes before they overrun North Carolina. As usual, the best laid plans face problems in the final execution and the situation is tense and frightening.

The lines between friends and enemies has become blurred at this point in the series. There are more human betrayals and losses to be suffered. There are also dangerous rescues to cheer. Some characters face a last chance for redemption and one newer character is revealed who might come as a surprise to some readers.

I enjoyed the continuing action, emotional ups and downs, twists and surprises. Either the language wasn't as severe in this book or I was more accustomed to it (I hope not) as it was not so glaring to me. There is still quite a bit of violence which goes hand in hand with the story lines.

This is intended to be the conclusion of the series which makes me sad. Molles really does a good job of wrapping up most of the loose ends and character threads. Still there is room for more beyond this stage and I would be eager to see the series continue. I truly enjoyed the action ride.

Audio Notes: As I have noted in the previous reviews I have greatly enjoyed Christian Rummel’s multi-faceted narration. He manages the variety of voice well and provides good emotional intensity and action. I highly recommend this series in audio. (Now I will be looking for more books narrated by Rummel in hopes of finding another good series.)

Links to my reviews of the earlier books:
The Remaining, Book 1  4.25
The Remaining: Aftermath, Book 2  4.5
The Remaining: The Refugees, Book 3  4.25
The Remaining: The Fractured, Book 4  4.5
The Remaining: Trust: a Novella  4.0
The Remaining: Faith: a Novella  4.0
The Remaining: Allegiance, Book 5 4.25

I had to get the last book to complete this series! I picked this up at Audible with my second September credit. It qualifies for my Audio Challenge.