Sunday Post April 24, 2016/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday April 25, 2016

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 week just flew by... not sure where it went. I sure stayed busy.
We have had lovely spring weather.

I finished three books: one audio and two ebooks. I posted three reviews, one with tour giveaway, and my other usual memes.

I enjoyed visiting other blogs for a day or two early in the week but had wanted to do more.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post April 17, 2016/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday April 18, 2016.

• Audible Book Review: Variant by Robison Wells; Sci Fi, Teens; my rating 3.75.

• Book Review and Tour Giveaway: The Path by Peter Riva ; Sci Fi, Techno Thriller; my rating 4.5.
Book sets and GC; ends 5/20/16.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway April 22, 2016. Open Worldwide. Ending 4/28/2016.

• Book Review: Jamie Quinn Mystery Collection: Box Set Books 1-3 by Barbara Venkataraman; Mystery, Amateur Sleuth; my rating 4.5.

• Sharing Beyond Books #249 Comment Giveaway April 23, 2016. Ending 4/30/16.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement April 24, 2016.

Finished Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle (Tour)

The Path
by Peter Riva
I enjoyed this unusual sci fi mystery.
My review with a tour giveaway is linked above.

2. Audio/MP3 (Author)

Bad Deeds
Written by: Robert Bidinotto
Narrated by: Conor Hall
This is another good thriller
with interesting moral issues.
I will post my review this week.
Click on book title for full description.

3. eBook/Kindle (Author)

The Rage
by Matthew Babaoye
This is a very strange story and should come with a warning for language. 
I will post a review later this week.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently reading:

1. eBook/Kindle (Author)

Admiral (An Evagardian Novel)
by Sean Danker
I am just starting this sci fi mystery.
I will be hosting an author interview
 as well as my review.
FIRST IN A NEW MILITARY SCIENCE FICTION SERIES

“I was on a dead ship on an unknown planet with three trainees freshly graduated into the Imperial Service. I tried to look on the bright side.”
He is the last to wake. The label on his sleeper pad identifies him as an admiral of the Evagardian Empire—a surprise as much to him as to the three recent recruits now under his command. He wears no uniform, and he is ignorant of military protocol, but the ship’s records confirm he is their superior officer.
Whether he is an Evagardian admiral or a spy will be of little consequence if the crew members all end up dead. They are marooned on a strange world, their ship’s systems are failing one by one—and they are not alone.

2. Audio/MP3 (Author)

Dark Sanity
Written by: Paul L. Centeno
Narrated by: Martin Wurst
I just started this audiobook.
I received the Audible book from the narrator.
Click on book title for full description.

3. eBook/Kindle (Tour)

Reaching Angelica: Book #2 in the Tag Series
by Peter Riva
I enjoyed the first book and am looking forward to this.
I received this through iRead Tours for an honest review.
In a massive spaceship destined for Alpha Centauri B, with a genesis crew including Zip the telepathic dog, his old friendly nemesis Cramer, and a computer being name Ra (now inhabiting a human form and calling herself Aten), Simon Bank emerges from a hundred-year coma and is hailed as an awakened hero. Stuck with unwanted responsibility, he is forced to try and solve the entire enigma of the universe—a small undertaking—before the spaceship, his friends, and all life on Earth are swatted out of existence by super beings he has accidentally awakened.

Simon’s only hope is to plunge into other dimensions with his mind—into the secrets of the universe’s pan-dimensions—as only he knows how. The fate of all life hangs in the balance as he struggles to prove himself worthy of the Path and the absolute trust his friends place in him. Simon knows all too well that if he fails there is no hope—none at all—for anyone and that includes his best friend, an artificial intelligence computer called Apollo, which he sadly left behind. Besides, Zip would not be pleased, either.

For fans of cyberpunk and classic science fiction, Reaching Angelica is the second book in Peter Riva’s Tag series, the comic, thrilling, and continuing saga of Simon Bank—ex–master system computer wrangler and very unlikely savior of the universe.

April 10, 2016 - I got caught up while we were away. Reading The One Year Bible again along with my husband and others from our church. I will also be listening (sometimes) to the companion commentary online.

I posted three reviews last week which leaves me two coming into this week.
I have one more scheduled review for April:
April 23 Tour Review The Path by Peter Riva (iRead)

I have begun the five nine, now seven, author reviews committed with no specific dates.
My NetGalley shelves are now at six which I hope to get to reading at the end of this month and early in May.

Check the eTreasure's NetGalley page for new title this week:
The Magic Suitcase: Martha by Jenna Kinzler
Fantasy, Historical Fiction

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.

This week I accepted and received three new audio titles and one ebook for review.
I picked up two kindle titles again for $.99.
I added more free kindle titles to my library. Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I received this Audible title from the author:

In the Mist of Killarney: An Irish Faery Tale
Written by: Robert McCallum
Narrated by: David Ocean
The audio sample reveals a great accent this should be a fun listen.

I received this eBook from the author:

Indiana Belle 
by John A. Heldt
A "time-travel professor," helps a modern day student on an unlikely journey
through the Roaring Twenties.

I received this Audible title from the author:
Redfall: Freedom Fighters: American Prepper Series, Book 2

Written by: Jay J. Falconer
Narrated by: Gary Tiedemann
I enjoyed book 1 (Redfall: Fight for Survival) and I am very pleased the author offered book 2 to review.

I received this audio from the narrator through Audiobook Blast

Making Amends
Written by: Melinda Clayton
Narrated by: Michelle Babb
This psychological suspense caught my eye.

Won

NONE

Purchased

I picked these titles up for $.99:

Cursed: An Urban Fantasy Novel (The Thrice Cursed Mage Book 1)
J.A. Cipriano
This urban fantasy looks good.

SEAL of Approval 
Jack Silkstone
The dog got me and this looks like a fun read.

Free

Over the past week I only added 45 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 April 24, 2016

We had a good Sunday School service followed by a lovely communion service. Once again, unplanned, the Sunday School (SS) lesson and Pastor’s Sermon had a common theme.

The SS lesson was titled “Love in Action” and continued our studies in Romans. (Romans 12:9-13.) The point being that we are to be transformed and then daily lay down our own fleshly desires to serve others just as the example Christ set for us.

Pastor’s sermon was the fourth in his series to prepare us for the transition to a new pastoral leader. This was based on Matthew 28:18, “The Great Commission”. Our society has changed drastically over the last century, noting the difference between school issues for students in the 1940s and current day. The social problems of drugs, alcohol, violence and depression are not limited to crowded cities, they have spread into small towns too.

The churches have changed too. The question is, has the church changed for better or worse? Anarchy, sorrow and sin require us to peach the word to this world. The world is full of rebellion. They don't want to abide by Gods rules. The right and Christians are still fighting forces of darkness. We need to respond with the spirit of love.

The only thing that can change man is Christ. It is the responsibility of the church to be a light in the darkness by sharing the love of Christ to those we contact in life.

This song really fits today's messages.

Verses for Today:
Romans 12:9-13 (NIV)
Love in Action
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Lord, this is my prayer: Help me daily to die to self and live for you.

Sharing Beyond Books #249 Comment Giveaway April 23, 2016

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
This week flew by for me. I have stayed busy. My daughter returned from recouping and had the stitches removed from her foot on Wednesday. Our weather is starting to heat up. The citrus trees and pineapples are growing as well as the potatoes. Other crops, tomatoes and peppers, seem slower due to the cold.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

Four of us would look at covers and one might host cover reveals for authors she is gung ho for. Ten don't take much interest at all.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #248 comments is: #8 Fredamans 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 - maybe the beginning of next year, lol. Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #249

(One Question.)

Elizabeth asks: 1. Have you ever enjoyed a movie (based on a book) more than the actual book??

I have seen some movies that I enjoyed more than the book. Although -- I probably enjoyed them more because I had read the book. One that I can think of is: Ender's Game which made more sense once I saw the movie.

Image from We Got This Covered..

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: 1. Have you ever enjoyed a movie (based on a book) more than the actual book??

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 April 30, 2016 at 5 PM central.

Book Review: Jamie Quinn Mystery Collection: Box Set Books 1-3 by Barbara Venkataraman

This is an enjoyable bundle of amateur sleuth, legal related mysteries. Worth the price and available at Audible too.

Jamie Quinn Mystery Collection: Box Set Books 1-3 

by Barbara Venkataraman

File Size: 799 KB
Print Length: 338 pages
Publication Date: September 3, 2014
ASIN: B00NB78KDS
Genre: Mystery, Amateur Sleuth
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Books 1-3 of the Jamie Quinn Mystery Series! Including:
"Death by Didgeridoo"-Winner of the Indie Book of the Day award. Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, still reeling from the death of her mother, is pulled into a game of deception, jealousy, and vengeance when her cousin, Adam, is wrongfully accused of murder. It's up to Jamie to find the real murderer before it's too late. It doesn't help that the victim is a former rock star with more enemies than friends, or that Adam confessed to a murder he didn't commit.
"The Case of the Killer Divorce"-Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, has returned to her family law practice after a hiatus due to the death of her mother. It's business as usual until a bitter divorce case turns into a murder investigation, and Jamie's client becomes the prime suspect. When she can't untangle truth from lies, Jamie enlists the help of Duke Broussard, her favorite private investigator, to try to clear her client's name. And she’s hoping that, in his spare time, he can help her find her long-lost father.
"Peril in the Park"-There's big trouble in the park system. Someone is making life difficult for Jamie Quinn's boyfriend, Kip Simons, the new director of Broward County parks. Was it the angry supervisor passed over for promotion? The disgruntled employee Kip recently fired? Or someone with a bigger ax to grind? If Jamie can't figure it out soon, she may be looking for a new boyfriend because there’s a dead guy in the park and Kip has gone missing! With the help of her favorite P.I., Duke Broussard, Jamie must race the clock to find Kip before it’s too late.
A preview of the next Jamie Quinn Mystery, "Engaged in Danger," can be found at the end of the book.

Review:
"Death by Didgeridoo"- Jamie Quinn is a 33-year-old divorce lawyer in Broward County, Florida. She had been on a depression fueled sabbatical for a year or so after the death of her mother. She has to crawl out of her stupor when her sensitive cousin, Adam, is accused of murder. Adam, a young man in his 20s suffers from autism. He finds an outlet in music and has been accused of killing his former rock star, music teacher. Jamie knows that her cousin could never kill anyone, but she doesn’t really know criminal law. She calls her best friend and former college roommate, Grace, for help. Grace fills her in on applicable statutes and encourages her to engage a private investigator (PI) to help.

The ‘woman magnet’ PI, Duke Broussard, works primarily from a local bar. He enjoys exchanging barbs with Jamie and is quick to help, especially when Jamie reminds him of the favor he promised when she helped him thorugh his acrimonious divorce. Jamie faces off with the new, slick District Attorney, then joins Duke as they interview witnesses and leads to find the clues necessary to identify the real killer.

I enjoyed this introduction to the warm characters as they unravel the murder mystery. I also enjoyed the legal scenes and the setting in Broward County where I practiced law for seven years. I agree with Jamie’s mantra: half the battle is showing up and the other half is being prepared as best you can with the information available.

"The Case of the Killer Divorce"- Jamie’s court adventures continue but in this story she is back in her field of expertise. The murder victim is her client’s husband who is suing to take custody of the couples’ children. Jamie doesn’t want to believe her client, Becca, is guilty of the crime but she had threatened her husband and the cause of death is connected to Becca. Jamie helps Becca find a good defense attorney and PI Duke is engaged to investigate.

While the murder investigation proceeds, Jamie has decided to look for her father who was gone before she was ever born. Duke and Grace are enlisted to help that line of inquiry and Jamie learns surprising facts.

"Peril in the Park"- Jamie runs into a high school boyfriend, Kip, and learns that he has returned to become the Director of the county Parks. Someone clearly doesn’t like Kip coming to town and is making things hard on him. His job is being plagued by vandalism moving from park to park. The pranks are escalating and even Jamie has received a threat. Kip, Jamie and Duke attend a Renaissance Festival with one eye out for the prankster but instead they stumble upon a dead body. The murder victim is another PI friend of Duke’s who was going to deliver some information about the threat against Jamie. Once again the pair are off hunting clues.

Meanwhile Jamie is enjoying a growing romance with Kip as she anxiously waits to see if her father can get a visa to come visit. Another (not so unexpected) twist throws up an obstacle and more surprises on the home front.

The legal elements of the stories are explained so the reader doesn’t have to be an attorney to follow. Ms. Venkataraman uses natural language that flows well and nice phrasing for crisp descriptions. Another fun aspect is the familiar references to authors, books, music and television shows.

The stories read quickly and the mysteries are distinct and resolved in good fashion. Each story can be read as a stand-alone but I thought the bundle was wonderful. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy cozy or legal mystery stories.

I received this from the author for an honest review. It qualifies for “J” in my Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway April 22, 2016

Happy Friday!
I have no idea where this week went. I didn't get home before 7 any night and I had court early three days. My hubby got sick with a bug that went into a sinus infection. Poor guy. I just am trying not to get it.
Thank you for the warm wishes for my daughter. She had the stitches removed this morning and is having to exercise her toe. She has worked most of her hours this week.

I apologize that I didn't get all books pulled last week. Some will be mailed tomorrow. And I'll be getting to the GCs this weekend.
I thought I had misplaced the books I had pulled together last week but I found them and added some more. I will try to get a picture and list up on Saturday.

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 April 15 Pick. There were two automatic wins 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 blocked titles but one was won.
Faith Hop and Cherry Tea gets A Garden of Friends
Rubynreba gets Forgotten Promises

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from April 15 Pick:
Natalija gets a GC

Elizabeth gets Lead Me On

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.}

Ahhh - tea and reading. So what if it rains?

Image found at weheartit.

New Book Group #64 March 4, 2016

PAIRS:
Elizabeth Boyle: His Mistress by Morning and This Rake of Mine (The Bachelor Chronicles Book 2)
Kay Hooper: If There Be Dragons and The Matchmaker
Lisa Jackson: Left to Die and Twice Kissed
SINGLES:
The Theft by Andra Kane
Bed of Roses by Katherine Stone
Hope by Len Deighton (1995 paperback)
Short Straw (Ed Eagle Novel) by Stuart Woods Hardcover
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette
N is for noose by Sue Grafton -Cassettes
The Fallen by Thomas Sniegoski
Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell
Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF by April Winchell


New Book Group #63 January 22, 2016

SINGLES:
Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl
Wayward Winds by Michael Phillips - Audio Tapes
Forgotten Promises by Denise Skelton

New Book Group #62 November 6, 2015
All Gone

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.)

SINGLES:
Bride of Lochbarr by Margaret Moore (*)
The Ideal Bride by Stephanie Laurens (*)
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!

Shannon Drake –  Realm of Shadows (Alliance Vampires#4) 
SINGLES:
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Renegade Hunter by Lynsay Sands
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!

SINGLES:
Cruise to a Wedding by Betty Neels

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

SINGLES:
Servant, 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

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 -- All Gone

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 Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty byVickie Kennedy
First to Fight Anthology
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Commander by Kate Bridges
A Garden of Friends by Penny Pierce Rose

Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle



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)
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)

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


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 almost six years I have posted 62 groups of 16 (992) books to find new homes! (as of November 6, 2015).

I am happy to say that so far about 953+ 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!