Sunday Words of Encouragement November 1, 2015

This morning our Sunday School teacher shared Romans chapters 5-8 in The Message. Although several members enjoyed it, I still liked it better in my New American Standard version. Our Pastor’s message was “Floods of Grace”. He noted that grace is undeserved, unmerited favor.

• God Floods us with His Protection.
Naham 1:8. Floods can cause damage but God's flood protects His children and damages or overwhelms the enemy. Isaiah 59:19. We need to be careful to acknowledge God’s protection and chose what we declare as strength in our life.

• God Floods us with His Provision.
God is a God of blessing, if we allow it, and we seek good things to use for His glory. God provided water to the Israelites in the desert. He told Moses to take the rod that he used to part the sea and strike the rock. Exodus 17:5-7. Moses stroke the rock and water will come out. But we have to be careful not to rely on the method or job as the source of provision, instead of being obedient. Later God told Moses to “speak to the rock”
Numbers 20:7-12 God said “speak to that rock” but Moses struck it instead. God still provided the water which rushed out. But God was unhappy that Moses disobeyed. v12 and Deuteronomy 32:51. God will not be angry with us always. He knows our heart and will provide. Do we recognize that the Lord is holy and we can trust in Him? To know Him means to seek to be obedient. God’s blessings flood into us to flow out to others.

• God Floods us with His Presence.
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:38-39. “…[b]ut whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:14. God gives the Holy Spirit, God dwelling in us. Through Him we are more than conquerors.

We need to ask ourselves: What do you have flowing from your heart and life? Are floods of grace flowing out to others?

I had another song in mind but I found this one instead.

May the Words of My Mouth

A Verse for Today:
2 Corinthians 8:7
7 But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

Lord help me to be obedient to Your guidance and will. Help me to allow Your blessings to flow through me to others. Help my words always be uplifting and point others to You.

Sharing Beyond Books #225 October 31, 2015

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
Sorry I missed posting SBB on 10/17 and this past week but I was down with cold bug. I will still get four in for October but won't have a fifth week for a question from my list. :-)

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Nine (9) of us like colorful socks to wear, mostly around winter time. A few more commenters like slipper socks even though they wear black or white for regular day. Four people mostly do not wear or like to wear socks.

~~~~~

The regular Winner from SBB #224 comments is: #16 Nikki 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 #225 (One Question.)

Rosebud asks: Do you read books that match your moods or opposite...sad books when your sad or sad books when your happy and so on??

I can't say that I buy by mood. First - I am rarely sad. But if I was, I sure wouldn't want to read something sad. And if I was angry (also rare), I wouldn't pick angry. Actually I rarely pick sad or angry books to read anyway. I prefer happy or action - no matter my mood! 

Okay - pick a mood. :-).

Image found at MyCrazyLife

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.
Question Contributors in October were: Marjorie, Poetryinleaves, Becky and Rosebud. Random.org picked 1 so the winner this month is Marjorie. 

Your turn to share:
Rosebud asks: Do you read books that match your moods or opposite...sad books when your sad or sad books when your happy and so on??

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 November 7, 2015 at 5 PM central.

Audio Book Review: Clear by Fire: A Search and Destroy Thriller by Joshua Hood

This is a solid, engaging military thriller.
Clear by Fire: A Search and Destroy Thriller
Written by: Joshua Hood
Narrated by: John Pruden

Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:08-18-15
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Genre: Military Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Inspired by the experiences of a decorated combat veteran and former member of the 82nd Airborne Division, Clear by Fire is a blistering new military thriller about an American hero who, in order to clear his name, must take down a highly classified band of soldiers that has gone murderously rogue.
Mason Kane was a loyal American soldier and a proud member of the elite, off-the-books Anvil Program - a group of black ops soldiers who wage war from the shadows. But all that changed when his commander, as a part of a twisted scheme to force America's continued involvement in the Middle East, ordered an innocent Afghan family murdered.
Refusing the order, Mason finds himself on the run, hunted by his former comrades and labeled a terrorist by the country he served faithfully. Relying only on his survival skills and the help of female Special Operations operative Renee Hart, Kane must embark on his gravest mission yet: unraveling the conspiracy that reaches all way to the president's inner circle and stopping the world's most dangerous soldiers from completing their treacherous plan.
Set in the shadows of the war on terror, this realistic, action-packed adventure puts a twist on the traditional military thriller and starts a brand-new series that fans of Brad Thor and Brad Taylor will love.
©2015 Joshua Hood (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Mason Kane served as a dedicated specialist soldier with a black ops group known as the Anvil Program. When his commander, Barnes, decides to pursue his own agenda, which is to escalate the American presence in the Middle East, and murders an innocent family, Mason objects. He soon finds himself under attack as his team members try to eliminate him from telling the truth. Now he is on the run dodging authorities and trying to clear his name before he has to live banished as a terrorist. Mason seeks help from friends in the Middle East whom some would label as enemies.

Meanwhile back in the states, Special Operations operative Renee Hart is discovering the edge of a conspiracy that will send her back to the Middle East. She is one kick-butt soldier and her team is glad to have her back. She ends up trying to interrogate Mason to find out what he knows. Slowly the facts and pieces are revealed and another government agency steps in to engage their services. Manson and Renee have to deal with loss and injury as they try to head off Barnes and his troop who are on a killing path.

Hood presents a detailed view of war, including direct battles and behind the action military mind issues. There is plenty of action but Hood develops the characters as well. I enjoyed the primary characters, Mason and Renee. They are awesome soldiers and I appreciated their determination to do right even as they have to fight battles in a vicious, twisted war. I am impressed with this debut novel and trust he will provide more action entertainment in the future.  I recommend this to readers who enjoy solid military thrillers.


Audio Notes: I enjoyed the narration by John Pruden. He kept the pace of the action and used different voices to fit the characters. The quality was good and made for fast listening.

I received this audio from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox. This is part of my Audiobook Challenge.

Book Review: Awaken His Eyes: The Awakened Book One by Jason Tesar

I found this story engaging but was disappointed with the ending.

Awaken His Eyes: The Awakened Book One
by Jason Tesar

File Size: 2321 KB
Print Length: 288 pages
Publisher: 4shadow, LLC; 2 edition (January 19, 2014)
ASIN: B0051BBHGE
Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Mankind's greatest hero will be awakened!
Book 1 of 9 in the bestselling Awakened series
The History: Thousands of years ago, a renegade faction of angels abandoned the spiritual realm and began their inhabitation of earth. Worshiped as gods for their wisdom and power, they corrupted our realm and altered the course of human civilization. Amidst the chaos of a dying world, a prophet foretold the awakening of a human who would bring an end to this evil. But the cataclysmic destruction of our planet forced a rebirth of humanity. The prophecy faded from the memory of our kind and went unfulfilled—until now!

The Awakened: The physical dimension is fractured. What remain are numerous worlds moving simultaneously through time, sharing a common history, connected by a guarded portal.

On a parallel Earth, in the city of Bastul, Colonel Adair Lorus disappears while investigating the death of an informant, triggering a series of events which will tear his family apart and set in motion the resolution of an ancient conflict. His son, Kael, sentenced to death after rising up against the cruel leadership of his new stepfather, is rescued from prison and trained in the arts of war by a mystical order of clerics. Excelling in every aspect of his training, Kael inwardly struggles to give himself fully to the methods of his new family, or the god they worship. Maeryn, bitter over the disappearance of her husband and supposed execution of her son, fears for her life at the hands of her newly-appointed spouse. Finding comfort and purpose in her unborn child, she determines to undermine his authority by reaching out to an underground social movement known as the Resistance. After being forced from his home, Kael’s former mentor, Saba, uncovers a clue to Adair’s disappearance. Sensing a connection to his own forgotten past, Saba begins an investigation that leads to the discovery of a secret military organization operating within the Orudan Empire.

In Book One of his Amazon bestselling debut series, Jason Tesar launches an epic saga that journeys from earth’s mythological past to its post-apocalyptic future, blending the genres of fantasy, science fiction, action adventure, and military thriller.

Review:
As I was marshaling my thoughts for this review I happened to read (or re-read) the blurb. Although the blurb gives a “history” for background, that same history is not clearly portrayed by the book. There are several characters to follow and I found each thread interesting. They all start at one family setting but I was curious how, if or when, they would come back together.

The local Governor of the city of Bastul, Colonel Adair Lorus, sets off to investigate the murder of a resourceful friend. He steps into a situation that he never expected and was unprepared for. As he tries to escape he disappears only to reappear at the very end of the book when he tumbles into an even stranger world.

Adair’s wife, Maeryn, and young son, Kael, are left at the fortress which is commandeered by an unknown, arrogant and cruel new governor. Kael is sentenced to death after he attacks the governor for beating a young slave boy. Before being killed Kael is spirited away to a dismal mass prison where he and others are rescued and taken to a monastery. There they are given training and education, preparing them to be warriors for the ‘one god’. Kael excels in his lessons through the years but he can’t commit his full loyalty as he senses deception.

Meanwhile Maeryn suffers through the loss of her husband and son. When she finds she is pregnant she is determined to protect the child. As the years pass she begins to secretly help the Resistance movement against the empirical and governor leaders.

Kael’s aged but wise tutor, Saba, is banished from the City. He tries to find the origin of the arrowhead that Adair left behind. After a number of years he is kidnapped and brought to a hidden compound. He meets an old friend, who is now his enemy. Apparently Saba has lost years of memory and his enemy is intent on digging out secrets of Saba’s old betrayal.

The story is written with simplicity so it read reasonably quickly. I enjoyed the interesting characters and the movement and activity in the story. Although it is engaging I was troubled that it doesn’t tie together so that I could understand what was happening and where the author was taking the story. This made for a disappointingly loose ending. It seems as though the reader has to read on in the series to find the connections. There is a time travel element that is just touched on at the end of this book. Although I enjoyed the story I am not so invested that I would soon get the next book. I would recommend the story to those who enjoy fantasy with the expectation of continuing in the series.

This is part of my 2015 TBR Pile Challenge; it was a free Kindle pick from 2011.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway October 30, 2015

Happy Friday.
It is hard to believe it is the last weekend of October! Be safe for Halloween.
I posted a new set of books but have to take the picture sometime during the day.

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 too 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 October 23 Pick. There were TWO automatic wins again this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There were two titles blocked again this week. One was won and the other is by the same competing claimers. :-/
AUTO: Betty gets Primitive
and
Elizabeth gets Dancing on Snowflakes

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from October 23 Pick:
Mystica gets a GC

Alyn gets The Accidental Human (through a block)

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.}

Happy Hallow's Eve!

Image found at Pinterest - Library Display Ideas

New Book Group #61 October 30, 2015
After I noticed the trend I went on a hunt for “bride” titles. I even pulled a couple from some of my long time collections(*). (But they are not getting read on my shelves.)
I will take a picture on Friday to add to the post.
PAIRS:
Leigh Greenwood –  The Reluctant Bride and The Independent Bride
Jane Feather(*) – The Hostage Bride and The Accidental Bride
SINGLES:
The de Burgh Bride by Deborah Simmons
The Forever Bride by Evelyn Rogers
Short Straw Bride by Dallas Schultz
The Bride Thief by Susan Spencer Paul
Bride by Stella Cameron (Seam creasing) (*)
An Unwilling Bride by Jo Beverley (*)
Bride Enchanted by Edith Layton
The Maiden Bride by Linda Needham (hardback)
Bride of Lochbarr by Margaret Moore (*)
The Ideal Bride by Stephanie Laurens (*)
Honor’s Bride by Galye Wilson
A Necessary Bride by Debra Mullins
Border Bride by Deborah Hale


New Book Group #60 September 18, 2015
A set of "haunting" tales and a few mysteries for October!

PAIRS:
Shannon Drake – When Darkness Falls (Alliance Vampires #2)  and Realm of Shadows (Alliance Vampires#4) 
Charlaine Harris – Club Dead and Grave Sight
SINGLES:
A Darker Dream (Love Spell romance) by Amanda Ashley
Bloody Good by Georgia Evans
Cat of Nine Tales by Deborah Macgillivray
Fated (Dark Protectors Book 1) by Rebecca Zanetti
Grave Sins by Jenna Maclaine
Primitive by Mark Nykanen (ARC copy)
The Accidental Human (Accidentally Paranormal Novel Book 3) by Dakota Cassidy
The Demon in Me by Michelle Rowen
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Renegade Hunter by Lynsay Sands
Silent Night, Haunted Night (A Nicki Styx Mystery) by Terri Garey
Tombs of Endearment (Pepper Martin Mysteries, No. 3) by Casey Daniels
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)


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

ANTHOLOGIES:
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
Cruise to a Wedding by Betty Neels
Little Girl Lost by Shirlee McCoy
Beloved Enemy by Terri Reed
You Don't Know Jack by Erin McCarthy

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

SINGLES:
Hot Pursuit - Karen Rose, Annie Solomon and Carla Cassidy
Love Me Tomorrow by Rosanne Bittner (spine creasing)
Sevant, The Awakening by L.L. Foster

New Book Group #57 May 1, 2015

SINGLES:
A Little Bit Wild by Victoria Dahl
The Ruthless Greek's Virgin Princess by Trish Morey
Rally Fever by Crea Jones

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

SINGLES:
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)

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 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
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
Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark
A Lady of Consequence by Mary Nichols
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain


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 883+ 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!