Sunday Post November 15, 2015/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday November 16, 2015

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date.
Thank you to Sheila for the years that she handled this meme.
Thank you to Kathryn for taking up the baton.

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 my week to be and out of the office with two doctor appointments. (The ENT thyroid follow-up was good; the skin follow-up resulted in one skin carcinoma being frozen off, and a biopsy of a hole in the middle of my back which she closed with three stiches – I said “ouch!”) I worked hard during the week adding publishing tasks into my schedule and pushing the work because we were out of town Friday and Saturday.

My reading and listening was good with five books completed. I finished two print books, and three ebooks with an Audible 3/4ths done. I posted four reviews, one with tour giveaway, one with print giveaway. I also posted the usual memes.

I enjoyed visiting and replying to visitors at the beginning of the week.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post November 8, 2015/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday November 9, 2015.

• Book Review: Whispers in the Reading Room (The Chicago World's Fair Mystery Series Book 3) by Shelley Gray; Historical Romance, Inspirational, Mystery; my rating 5.0.

• Book Tour Review with Giveaway: Merry Mary by Ashley Farley; Contemporary, Holiday Novella; my rating 4.0.

• Book Review: Nirvana (Nirvana Series Book 1) by J.R. Stewart; Sci Fi, Fantasy, Dystopian; my rating 4.0.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 13, 2015. Open Worldwide. Ends 11/19/2015.

• Audible Review: Just One Da**ed Thing After Another: The Chronicles of St Mary's, Book 1 by Jodi Taylor; Urban Fantasy, Paranormal; my rating 4.25.

• Sharing Beyond Books #227 Comment Giveaway November 14, 2015 Open Worldwide. Ends 11/21/15.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement November 15, 2015.

• Book Review and Giveaway: Katt’s In the Cradle: A Secrets from Lulu's Cafe Novel by Ginger Kolbaba, Christy Scannel; Contemporary, Inspirational, Women’s Friendship; my rating 3.5.

Finished Reading:

1. eBook/Kindle

Merry Mary
by Ashley Farley
This is a quick, enjoyable novella.
My review and the tour giveaway is linked above.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Print

Katt's in the Cradle: A Secrets from Lulu's Cafe Novel
by Ginger Kolbaba, Christy Scannell
This is an inspirational drama. My review and giveaway is linked above. 
Click on book title for full description.

3. Print

You Know What I'm Sayin'?: Poetry * Drama
by Daniel García Ordaz
I enjoyed this cultural experience.
I will post a review next week.
Click on book title for full description.

4. eBook/Kindle

Dead Girl Running (The New Order Book 1)
by Ann M. Noser
This sci fi dystopian is engaging. 
I will post my review this coming week.
Click on book title for full description.

5.eBook/Kindle

Power of the Matchmaker
by Karey White, Rachael Anderson, 
Kelly Oram, & 9 more
This is a charming introduction
to what looks to be a lovely series!
I received this eBook through
  I am a Reader, Not a Writer ebooks for review.
I will post my review this week.
A prequel novella to the POWER OF THE MATCHMAKER Series
Mystical . . . Beautiful . . . Romantic . . .
Read the matchmaker’s story to find out where it all starts . . .
Mae Li has been in love with Chen Zhu for years, and he with her. But when the matchmaker arrives at the Zhu family home, she recommends another village girl for Chen.
Heartbroken, Mae Li watches as Chen does his duty by marrying another. Mae flees her village with the clothes on her back and her only possession—a pearl embedded comb, given to her as a goodbye gift from Chen Zhu.
Upon Mae’s arrival in Shanghai, she quickly learns that she’ll starve within days unless she sells her prized comb or joins a courtesan house. She goes to the Huangpu River and promises the River God that she’ll always be selfless if he will save her from becoming a prostitute . . . Her wish is granted when Ms. Tan, the matchmaker of Shanghai, finds Mae. But Mae must completely change her future and her name if she is to become the next matchmaker.
**Join us for the POWER OF THE MATCHMAKER SERIES**
12 novels by 12 bestselling authors

Currently reading:
1. Audible/MP3

Day by Day Armageddon: Beyond Exile
Written by: J. L. Bourne
Narrated by: Jay Snyder
I am 3/4ths complete on this action story.
I listened to the first book sometime ago and decided to listen to this one which has been on my Audible shelf since 2011.
The first book of Day by Day Armageddon took us deep into the mind of a military officer and survivor as he made a New Year's resolution to start keeping a journal. The man kept his resolution and brought to us the fall of humanity, day by day. We see the man transition from the life that you and I live to the prospect of fighting for his very survival against the overwhelming hordes of the dead. We see him bleed, we see him make mistakes, we witness him evolve. The highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling underground cult classic, Day by Day Armageddon, begins where the first novel left off.
BEGIN INTERCEPT
Armies of undead have risen up across the U.S. and around the globe; there is no safe haven from the diseased corpses hungering for human flesh. But in the heat of a Texas wasteland, a small band of survivors attempt to counter the millions closing in around them.
INTERCEPT COMPLETED
Day by day, the handwritten journal entries of one man caught in a worldwide cataclysm capture the desperation--and the will to survive--as he joins forces with a handful of refugees to battle soulless enemies both human and inhuman from inside an abandoned strategic missile facility. But in the world of the undead, is mere survival enough?
©2010 J.L. Bourne (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

2. eBook/Kindle

Steal Me (NYPD's Finest)
by Lauren Layne
I just started this and I like the characters.
I received this title through NetGalley for tour review and feature on November 25 for Forever Romance.
IN HOT PURSUIT
Being a cop might be in Anthony Moretti's blood, but protecting and serving the city of New York has always been more than just the family business. If that means his love life stays locked up, well then that's just another sacrifice made in the line of duty. That is, until he sets eyes on the gorgeous new waitress at The Darby Diner and suddenly Anthony's morning coffee is leaving him a whole lot more hot and bothered than usual.
Though waitressing at The Darby isn't exactly Maggie Walker's dream job, it pays the bills and gives her time to work on her novel. Now if only she could stop fantasizing about gorgeous Anthony Moretti every time he sits down at her table, she'd really be in great shape. But when he needs her help identifying a criminal threatening The Darby-and Maggie recognizes her ex-husband-she fears her fresh start might be a pipe dream. Faster than a New York minute, Maggie and Anthony find themselves in one perilous pursuit that only gets hotter with each and every rule-breaking kiss.

3. eBook/Kindle

Joy to the Worlds: Mysterious Speculative Fiction for the Holidays
by Maia Chance , Janine A. Southard, Raven Oak,G. Clemans
I am looking forward to reading this collection that I received through NetGalley.
What do you get when you mix mystery and speculative fiction, then toss in the holidays for good measure? A mobster Santa, genetic hanky-panky, Victorian villages, time-travelling detectives, Krampus, eerie bell spirits, and more–this collection of short cross-genre fiction is the perfect counterpoint to traditional holiday reading!

This collection stars four authors, each with their own distinct style. National bestselling mystery author Maia Chance, who is famous for her cozy mysteries, dazzles with humor and folklore. IPPY award-winning science fiction author Janine A. Southard beguiles with unexpected time-travel science. Science fiction and fantasy bestseller Raven Oak offers a look into the gothic past. And for a whole new perspective, debut fiction author and art expert G. Clemans dives into the intersections of creativity and mystery.

Joy to the Worlds brings together eight short works that explore mysteries across time and space. Ranging from dark dystopian worlds to comedic retro-futures, four diverse writers find new ways to combine these disparate worlds into something everyone will enjoy.

???4. Audible/MP3

Unspeakable
Written by: Sandra Brown
Narrated by: John Henry Cox
I needed a book starting in U for the Alphabet Soup Challenge.
This is from 2003 in my Audible library.
I realized as I began to listen that I had read this and I found it in my 2008 reading list.
I stopped listening after a few hours as it is pretty gritty and there is a good bit of foul language, even though it is intense suspense. 
I have selected another "U" title that I may grab later this week. 

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 five reviews last week which left three new so I am back to three although, again, I hope to post four reviews this coming week. I have two NetGalley selections to read this week which will reduce my shelf to one.
I have read 8 of my 12 TBR Pile books and I have picked the last four. I hope plan to start reading them before the end of the month. 

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 new review titles.
I purchased two Audible titles with my October credits.
And of course I added more free kindle titles to my library.
(I am trying to hold off requesting anything new at NetGalley. I requested some new Audio books through Audiobook Jukebox but other than that I am working on challenges and TBR piles!)
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

I am starting to plan for 2016 Challenges so I am picking books I know I want to read and then in 2016 I’ll try some new authors. I decided on my two Audible Purchases for October credits from two series I really like:
Monster Hunter Legion: Monster Hunter, 
Book 4
by Larry Correia

Destroyermen: Straits of Hell: Destroyermen, Book 10

by Taylor Anderson

Free

Over the past week I added 48 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.

Book Review and Giveaway: Katt's in the Cradle: A Secrets from Lulu's Cafe Novel by Ginger Kolbaba, Christy Scannel

This tells the story of four pastor wives (PWs) and the challenges they face.

Katt's in the Cradle: A Secrets from Lulu's Cafe Novel
by Ginger Kolbaba, Christy Scannell

Series: Secrets from Lulu's Cafe
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (February 3, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1416543899
Genre: Inspirational Fiction, Women's Friendship
My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0

When you're in the trenches, sometimes you're up to your neck in mud. That's the not-so-glamorous life of a pastor's wife.

Felicia's family is...complicated. That's putting it nicely. Now they're flying in from LA -- all at once -- to stay with her...just when her brother-in-law, Javier, and Mama aren't even speaking to each other. And the whole church will be there to witness the feud.

Mimi has a lot on her mind with her four energetic kids -- especially Milo the screamer, with his Pavarotti voice. Then her live-in alcoholic dad starts to mow their lawn at midnight.

Lisa has her hands full with loudmouth Tom Graves and the other troublemakers at Red River Assembly. Then vicious rumors start to fly about the Barton family...and the attacks and threats get increasingly personal.

Jennifer is pushing her adopted daughter, Carys, in a stroller, when she notices a black town car -- the same car she's seen several times over the past week. Could someone be following her?

The PWs plunge into an unnerving mystery...and discover what "family" really means.

Review:
This book follows four PWs, pastor’s wives, and their family, and church, struggles.
Mimi has a houseful of kids, including a young toddler and a child with a loud mouth. However, her biggest challenge is her alcoholic father who lives with them. He refuses to honor the AA commitments and is rebellious about being ‘worthless”. Jennifer has an adopted biracial child and is concerned that someone is following her. She is also struggling to cope with her chemically imbalanced mother who goes off the medications and goes on spending binges that she can’t afford.

Felecia has a toddler but is struggling with whether to have a second child. She comes from a strong Hispanic family who all decide to come visit even though Mother isn’t speaking to one of the sons-in-law. Lisa is a mostly spiritually calm personality with a fairly calm home life to the extent a home can be calm with a teenage daughter and young teen son. Lisa’s crisis is a rebellious church member who is challenging the Pastor’s call to repentance and dividing the church through bullying and unfounded rumor against Lisa’s family.

Over the past couple of years (and first two books) these four have formed a close knit group. They support each other by meeting for lunch every other week at LuLu’s Café located in a town 40 miles away. There they encourage their waitress, Gracie, to find a relationship with God not so much by preaching to her but by living their lives as a testimony.

A new PW has appeared in town, married to the recently widowed Pastor Katt. The other PWs want to make the larger group of PWs more real and supportive. But can they live this desire first by welcoming and opening up to the new Ally Katt?

This book has a mess of dysfunctional families. Many issues that could face a pastor’s wife face these ladies. The story brought compassion from our ladies towards our Pastor’s wife who is one of our readers. She said she felt that she had faced all of the issues at one time or another. The story has some lightness to it even though it deals with difficult situations.

The ending wraps this time period for the women with appropriate Christian lessons of forgiveness, caring, faithfulness, trust and hope. None of us were overwhelmed with the book and we sure weren’t going to pay $14. 99 for the Kindle edition. This might be interesting to readers who don’t mind the mess of family dysfunction and drama presented with humor and Christian lessons.

I purchased irregular print copies at low price for Ladies Book Club October reading which we discussed November 7.

TWO (gently read) 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 WEBSITE 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) November 22, 2015.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after November 22, 2015.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Sunday Words of Encouragement November 15, 2015

Last Sunday we continued to study Romans in our Sunday School Class. Our leader focused on Romans 8:28: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose..” (NASB)

Our leader broke this down for us encouraging us to read it in context with the surrounding verses, v 26 and v29-39. He noted that it is not each thing that works for good, but ALL things… for His purposes. V29 states that God foreknew those who love Him (us), He has called us and He is conforming us to be like Christ, His first born. God created men to serve and worship Him. Man was created in the image of God but fell from because of free will and Adam’s sin.

The “good” in v 28 is the act of conforming us to His purpose. The package of good and bad that make up our life journey ends in the “all things”. It is the same as the ingredients of a cake which are not good to eat by themselves, but, when mixed together, result in a good cake. Sometimes God adds, or removes, an ingredient in our lives that is His, not ours, to claim. Joseph went through troubles and struggled for thirteen years for a special propose – to be the forgiving person God could use in the right time. See Genesis chapters 39 through 47.

We must remember that God’s values are not our values. He sees a bigger picture. When we look through His view, then, when it is all said and done, we can “Count it all joy” James 1:2.

I have always loved this song and it repeats the above message.

Verses for Today:
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

As always I am so Thankful that I can trust God to work all things in my live to good for His glory.

Sharing Beyond Books #227 November 14, 2015

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
We are in Georgia tonight after having a fun day on the SAM Shortline Train out of Georgia Veterans National Park. We met a lovely couple from Florida, and other nice people, on the train and enjoyed peanut butter ice cream in Plains, Georgia. The campground is beautiful and the weather is cool (not yet cold) with sunshine.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Most everyone will read some reviews, good and bad, although Natalija and Elizabeth won't read the reviews if they are already set to read the book. A few start with bad reviews, a few with good. It seems most are looking for content in reviews although a couple just want a feel for the rating. That raised a question in my mind - what is sufficient rating since that can be subjective too?

~~~~~

The regular Winner from SBB #226 comments is: #5 CarolL 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 #227 (One Question.)

Elizabeth asks: Do you have favorite recipes for autumn??

I believe I have mentioned that I do not cook. However, I do have favorite dishes in autumn that I will ask my DH to make or that we get for our office. At the office I like to get Tomato Basil soup - (from Schwan's) - yum! DH (Dear Hubby) makes a wonderful stuffin' muffin with stuffing mix and cranberries. He hardly ever cooks the same so there may be surprises like walnuts or pecans. Always yummy. (He may have gotten the idea from internet or Rachel Ray as I see it is not his own creation.)  

Image found at ComfyCook

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:
Elizabeth asks: Do you have favorite recipes for autumn??

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 21, 2015 at 5 PM central.

Audible Review: Just One Da**ed Thing After Another: The Chronicles of St Mary's, Book 1 by Jodi Taylor

This is a zany fun story and a good audio listen.
Just One Da**ed Thing After Another: The Chronicles of St Mary's, Book 1
Written by: Jodi Taylor
Narrated by: Zara Ramm

Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins

Series: The Chronicles of St Mary's, Book 1

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:04-01-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Time Travel

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
"History is just one damned thing after another."
Behind the seemingly innocuous façade of St Mary's, a different kind of historical research is taking place. They don't do 'time-travel' - they 'investigate major historical events in contemporary time'. Maintaining the appearance of harmless eccentrics is not always within their power - especially given their propensity for causing loud explosions when things get too quiet.
Meet the disaster-magnets of St Mary's Institute of Historical Research as they ricochet around History. Their aim is to observe and document - to try and find the answers to many of History's unanswered questions...and not to die in the process. But one wrong move and History will fight back - to the death. And, as they soon discover - it's not just History they're fighting.
Follow the catastrophe curve from 11th-century London to World War I, and from the Cretaceous Period to the destruction of the Great Library at Alexandria. For wherever Historians go, chaos is sure to follow in their wake....
©2013 Jodi Taylor (P)2014 Audible Studios

Review:
St. Mary’s is an institute for historical research, pursuing their goal in an unusual fashion. They investigate historical events by observing and documenting through ‘contemporary’ time travel. They must be scrupulously careful not to interfere and not to leave anything behind or try to bring anything back. Really, that doesn’t even sound easy --- and it isn’t for this mad cap group of historians and scientists.

The St. Mary’s team consists of several divisions working closely together (it is hoped) to manage safe expeditions. There are the security team, the IT team, technical, medical, R&D, costuming, and of course administration and house staff. But the lynch pins are the historians who travel in the pods to far away, long gone destinations and face the inherent dangers in places like the Cretaceous Period or the destruction of the Great Library at Alexandria.

Madeleine Maxwell, better known as Max, is a young woman who earned her doctorate at St. Mary’s ‘sister’ school, Thirsk. A wonderful teacher, Ms. DeWinter, who changed Max’ school life years before, changes it again when she recruits Max to interview for a historian position at St. Mary’s. The candidates go through rigorous training to prove themselves. They work in teams, but some are more compatible than others. Max would just as soon work alone but instead she is paired with an arrogant fellow no one else wants to work with.

Max is a great heroine in this story. She is hard working as well as naturally bright and determined. Many find her impressive and likable, but others are jealous and contemptuous, especially since trouble and death seem to follow her even in (mostly) successful adventures. Max finds a romance interest for the first time in her life but may lose that due to separation and secrets.

This book contains great characters, wonderful action with danger, and creative interaction in historical settings. There is a bit of language, although it is limited. The overall impact of the story is fun entertainment. I recommend this to readers looking for a fun read/listen and especially those who like history provided with a flair.

Audio Notes: Zara Ramm does a fine job of narrating this. She captures the voices and nuances of personalities of the characters. The pacing is good and the narration added to my enjoyment. I will be getting more of this series in Audible to entertain me.

This is from my Audible Library, purchased in November 2014, so it is from my TBR shelves and adds to my Audio Challenge.