Sunday Post August 7, 2016/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday August 8, 2016

I miss-scheduled this so it is posting late... but better late then not at all.

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.

The surgeon gave my husband a good report and discharge. He is allowed to drive although he still can't operate the tractor, four-wheeler or lawn mower for another three weeks. He is still experiencing pain but getting stronger each day.
My work has been good with several files caught up towards closing.
I received an antibiotic early in the week for back spasms. The spasms have stopped but I am still being careful not to stress the area.

I enjoyed my reading although I only finished two books again. I am far into a third. I finished one ebook and one audio. Happily I did get five reviews posted along with my usual memes.

I got to visit some blogs early in the week. I had hoped to do more but the later part of the week found me tired at night and taking my pain medication.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post July 31, 2016/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday August 1, 2016.

• MBS June 2016 Reading Wrap-Up
  

• MBS July 2016 Reading Wrap-Up

• Book Review: The Bluebonnet Betrayal, A Potting Shed Mystery by Marty Wingate; Cozy Mystery; my rating 4.25.

• Audible Book Review: Daemon by Daniel Suarez; Sci Fi, Techno Thriller; my rating 4.5.

• Audible Book Review: Burning Nation: Book 2 of Divided We Fall by Trent Reedy; Dystopian, Sci Fi, YA; my rating 4.0.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway August 5, 2016. Open Worldwide. Ending 8/11/2016.

• Audible Book Review: For Honor We Stand: Man of War, Book 2 by H. Paul Honsinger; Sci Fi, Military Space Opera; my rating 4.5.

• Book Review: Engaged in Danger (Jamie Quinn Cozy Mystery Book 4) by Barbara Venkataraman; Cozy Mystery, Female Lawyer; my rating 4.25.

• Sharing Beyond Books #264 Comment Giveaway August 6, 2016. Open Worldwide. Ending 8/13/2016.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement August 7, 2016.

Finished Reading:

1. eBook/Kindle (NG)

Inquisitor
by Mitchell Hogan
This is an engaging sci fi.

Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/MP3 (TBR)

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Written by: Laura Hillenbrand
Narrated by: Edward Herrmann
This is really a remarkable, and at times horrifying, story of WWII.
This is from my Audible TBR shelf.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently reading:

1. eBook/Kindle 
(Promo/review reach out from Lori at Great Escapes Book Tours)

The Cat, The Collector and the Killer
A Cats In Trouble Mystery
by Leann Sweeney 
I am really enjoying this fun cozy with lots of cats. I am 85% completed.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/MP3 (Narrator)

Deceitful Moon: Manny Williams Series, Book 2
Written by: Rick Murcer
Narrated by: DJ Holte
I am still pretty early in this but like the beginning excitement and suspense. 
I received this forensic mystery title from the Narrator.
Click on book title for full description.

3. eBook/Kindle (NG)

The Crêpes of Wrath
A Pancake House Mystery
by Sarah Fox
I have been enjoying a string of cozy mysteries lately. 
I am looking forward to this one next.
Received through NetGalley.
In the debut of a delightful cozy mystery series, Sarah Fox introduces a charming new heroine who finds herself in a sticky situation: stacking pancakes, pouring coffee, and investigating murder.
Bonus content: includes original recipes inspired by the Flip Side Pancake House menu!
When Marley McKinney’s aging cousin, Jimmy, is hospitalized with pneumonia, she agrees to help run his pancake house while he recovers. With its rustic interior and syrupy scent, the Flip Side Pancake House is just as she pictured it—and the surly chef is a wizard with crêpes. Marley expects to spend a leisurely week or two in Wildwood Cove, the quaint, coastal community where she used to spend her summers, but then Cousin Jimmy is found murdered, sprawled on the rocks beneath a nearby cliff.
After she stumbles across evidence of stolen goods in Jimmy’s workshop, Marley is determined to find out what’s really going on in the not-so-quiet town of Wildwood Cove. With help from her childhood crush and her adopted cat, Flapjack, Marley sinks her teeth into the investigation. But if she’s not careful, she’s going to get burned by a killer who’s only interested in serving up trouble.

July 30, 2016 - I am still one day behind but expect to catch up this week with 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 did good this week posting five reviews. That puts me with four. So I feel a little more up to date.

I've reduced my author ebook reviews committed with no specific dates queue to three books so I might start accepting new ones for the end of the year.
My NetGalley shelves are down to two when I finish the one I plan to read this week.
I'm sort of hoping to set aside September for TBR books only so I am still trying to resist new arcs/author requests and NetGalley.

I am working on additional releases at eTreasure's NetGalley page this week.
For some reason they have not yet converted this title although I haven't received and email of any problem. 

The Handy Dandy Quick Reference Guide For Teachers

Working with Children with Academic & Behavior Problems

Dr. Jackie Paxton

Nonfiction, Reference

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 pick up any review books again this week.
And I didn't purchase any kindle titles since I picked up plenty free kindle titles.

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

Won

NONE

Purchased

NONE

Free

Over the past week I added 51 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 August 7, 2016

We had a good morning – Sunday School covered Romans Chapters 5 through 7. We had nice worship service with a sermon shared by one of our congregants. (Our new Pastor will be in place next Sunday.)

Our brothers message was based on Joshua 1:1-9. In summary it says that ‘God is with you wherever you go; do not turn right of left’. But there is always … “What’s next?” Robert Breault stated: “God sends the dawn that we might see the might-have-beens that still might be.”

The Israelites had a dream of the land promised by God. But their own fears resulted in wandering in the wilderness for forty years. Joshua had to be the leader to step up and make the people accept the reality and proceed…move forward. These nine verses reveal four points we can learn from to face loss or obstacles and to move forward to the future, to the next step.
1. The cause still advances – it is not dependent on any one person. Sometimes in order for the next thing to happen, something must change. (Reference the book Who Moved My Cheese?) Sometimes change happens and our live will never be the same again. The sooner the change is accepted the sooner we find the new location of the 'cheese'.
2. The cause requires our strength and passionate action. The Israelites had to go and conquer the land. It requires energy to move forward. Thinking about it and hoping it will happen is not enough. You have to “go”.
3. The cause demands unwavering determination. Verse 7. Eugene Patterson said that 'possessions in your life are less important than taking the message'. A man set up a birdfeeder to enjoy watching the birds. But every time he went inside the squirrels came to steal the food. No matter what obstacles he put up the squirrels were persistent. The man focused on the problem in between work, sleeping and other activities. The squirrels focused on getting to the food all of the time. Sometimes we need to be the squirrel! As Calvin Coolidge stated: “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.”
4. The cause comes with God’s assurances and blessings! Verses 5 and 9.

I found this very upbeat song to share with this message.

Get Up by Mary Mary

A Verse for Today:
Joshua 1:9 NIV (But I encourage you to read verses 1 through 9!)
9”…Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Thank you, God, for being a fair and guiding God. I commit myself to be used as you wish to reach others in my community and as far as you wish.

Sharing Beyond Books #264 Comment Giveaway August 6, 2016

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
I am winding down from a nice day with the hubby although that means not too much work accomplished.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

Eight of us are cheerful risers and several get more cheerful after coffee. :-) Six commenters don't like getting up even if they are not quite grumpy.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #263 comments is:#2 Miki 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 #264

(One Question.)

Elizabeth asks: Have you watched the recent Star Wars movie? Are you a Star Wars fan??

I got to watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens with my son and husband several months ago. I thought it had a lot of parallels to the first Star Wars. We enjoyed watching - especially that we got to watch it together. I am not so much a 'fan' of Star Wars but I am a fan of space movies.

Image Found at Star Wars Movie Online

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.

Your turn to share:
Elizabeth asks: Have you watched the recent Star Wars movie? Are you a Star Wars fan??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books or the February 2015 Newly Updated ARC/Review List. (My daughter pulled several of the Christmas titles to give with gift bags we made up for the nursing homes. One of these days I will get together a new box of Christmas titles.)

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday August 13, 2016 at 5 PM central.

Book Review: Engaged in Danger (Jamie Quinn Cozy Mystery Book 4) by Barbara Venkataraman

This is a fun, engaging female lawyer mystery series.

Engaged in Danger (Jamie Quinn Cozy Mystery Book 4)
by Barbara Venkataraman

File Size: 570 KB
Print Length: 242 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publication Date: September 11, 2015
ASIN: B0159LGVHA
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Women Sleuth
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Finally, life is good for reluctant family law attorney, Jamie Quinn--her father may get his visa soon, her boyfriend is the bomb, and her law practice is growing like crazy--but when she agrees to take on a high-profile divorce case, everything falls apart. What looked like an opportunity to work with her friend Grace and make some serious bucks has turned into a deadly game, one that could destroy their friendship and tear their town apart. Why couldn't Jamie just leave well enough alone?

Review:
Jamie has settled into a nice routine with enough clients to stay busy and still leave time to spend with her boyfriend, Kip. But Jamie is alarmed when Kip announces he is traveling across the world to serve on a team to help save the wombat population in Australia (not that Jamie knows what a wombat is). That is one stress in her life, but then another walks into her office in the form of a high society wife seeking to divorce her wealthy, powerful and controlling husband.

Jamie doesn’t quite feel up to taking on the case but she may be one of the few attorneys in town who doesn’t have a conflict. The case would require intense financial forensic investigation so Jamie seeks the help of her best friend, Grace. They agree to team up to take the wife’s case and, of course, Jamie plans to bring her PI friend Duke in to help.

Meanwhile, closer to home, Jamie is helping her neighbors who have taken in their niece after her parents died in a small plane accident. Jamie agrees to try to determine who owned the plane as it appears there may be a case for improper maintenance.

As Jamie and Grace push along the investigation of the wealthy husband they determine he may be laundering money and they are concerned about his connections with the Russian mob. More surprising is the trail of contacts that begin to connect the plane crash to the money connections of the husband.

As an attorney, I can easily follow the issues but it wouldn’t require a legal background to enjoy the suspense and cozy warmth of this series. There is extra fun for me as this involves a South Florida attorney in areas I am familiar with, and also includes songs and book references that are familiar to me.

This is book four and although it could be read as a stand-alone, I do recommend the earlier books so the reader can learn the characters and enjoy Jamie's propensity for trouble and trouble solving. I like the characters and the good, realistic mystery. I really enjoy the light, easy read of this mystery series and recommend it to those who enjoy cozy mystery.

I received this title from the author for an honest review.

Audible Book Review: For Honor We Stand: Man of War, Book 2 by H. Paul Honsinger

I enjoy the action and smart characters in this space military series.
For Honor We Stand: Man of War, Book 2
Written by: H. Paul Honsinger
Narrated by: Ray Chase

Length: 14 hrs and 37 mins
Series: Man of War, Book 2
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-11-14
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Sci Fi, Military Space Opera
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
In 2315, the Earth Union is losing a 30-year-long war with the Krag Hegemony.
Having encountered the Krag before, Space Commander Max Robicheaux now faces daunting challenges aboard the USS Cumberland: The dangers from the enemy without…and clashes with crew and superiors within.
Meanwhile, Doctor Sahin receives a coded message summoning him to a secret meeting which aims to forge an alliance that could change the balance of power in Known Space. But first, he must circumvent the fighter ships and heavily armed troops of the traitorous emir bent on killing him before he reaches the negotiating table.
Both men must call upon their developing skills and growing friendship to bear the burden of carrying between the Krag Hegemony and the Earth Union a fateful ultimatum and the shocking answer: An answer that could spell eternal slavery, or even extinction, for all humankind.
The second novel in the Man of War series, For Honor We Stand continues the galactic naval adventures of Robicheaux and Sahin.
©2013 H. Paul Honsinger (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Review:
Space Commander Max is continuing to face danger in this action packed series. Max has to think - on his feet in tight circumstances and with his sly cunning - in order to prevail in the face of being outnumbered and outgunned by the Krag, a vicious reptilian enemy. The Krag, with their superior technology and weapons, continue to seek annihilation of inferior species.

The ship doctor, Doctor Sabin, receives a cryptic message calling him to a clandestine meeting. Max and Sabin are then ordered to proceed as an ambassador to negotiate a new alliance. Although the kingdom has long said they would remain neutral they are beginning to recognize that the Krag are a threat to all human species, including their own. The new leader seeks an alliance but there is a traitorous rival power who has set out to block any alliance. This is just one more obstacle for Max to overcome…or maybe ram his way through to pursue mission goals.

Max’s ship, the Cumberland, fresh from repairs, receives orders for a new mission. Not into battle this time but as an escort. And more problematic, Max isn’t the commander of the mission. Instead he and another battle escort ship have to take orders from a pompous leader who has never served in battle. Max is sure that the plans of this unskilled leader spell disaster for the mission and he and his new friend, the other escort captain, may have to risk their careers if they want to safely complete the mission.

Max’s antics gain respect even from the fearsome Krag. There are fascinating interactions with the Krag which give depths to their motivations and lead to an intense ending moment for this book.

While all of the battle action continues, the author shares crew dynamics as they continue to improve in their training. The author does a wonderful job showing the importance of respect and caring that make the crew successful under Max. I love the dialogue between Max and Sabin (see screen shot below) and I love how Max cares for and interacts with the young members of the crew. The author does a great job sharing insight to Max's past through some of this interaction.

This series offers a full range of elements: wonderful action, engaging war and battle tactics, creative nations and heartwarming crew relationships. In addition to all of that I like the prose and phrasing that you might not expect in a military space story. I will definitely be getting book three for more wonderful entertainment.

Audio Notes: Ray Chase does a great job of narrating the touch of snark as well as the ingenious smarts of Max and the rest of his crew. He also successfully portrays the other species and makes the listening flow with excitement.

This is from my Audible TBR Library (credit pick in 2015). It qualifies for my Audio Challenge and “F” in Alphabet Soup Challenge.

A sample of dialogue between Max and Doctor Sabin: