Sunday Words of Encouragement November 27, 2016

Several months ago our Sunday School teacher reviewed Romans 8 from the Message. We discussed Paul’s message to focus on God rather than ourselves.

We need to recognize that man’s Law is a tyrant bringing sin and death. Instead of struggling with double efforts to abide by the law, we are told to submit and to relax in the Spirit. Let the Spirit guide us to do right. We can bury our old life if we focus on God. How do you value worth? We should value by measuring Christ in us, instead of what we do. God created us and is omnipotent. He knows us better than we know ourselves. (Romans 8:27.) We can trust that He is working all things into good for His children (v 28).

I selected this video for this message. Fix My Eyes on You.

Verses for Today:
Romans 8: 27-30 (NLT)
27And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

God, help me to wake up each day and focus on You. Then help me walk each day sharing Your Love.

Sharing Beyond Books #280 Comment Giveaway November 26, 2016

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

Nine commenters like (short) recaps or find them useful to remind of characters after a gap between reading in a series. Four of our blog friends don't mind a recap and four others feel it depends on the series/genre and delivery. They feel it is good for short recap in epic fantasy but not as needed in romance. Also several mentioned they prefer short recap to length and don't want it done through lots of flashback. MaryP isn't certain she has read many books with recap and bn100 doesn't feel she reads that type either. CarolL likes to read her series books in sequence so she skims over recaps.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #279 comments is: #6 Brooke 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 #280

(One Question.)

Miki asks: When do you get a new yearly agenda (if you have one) in December to be ready on the first or you wait until the new year start. Do you prefer a simple one, a bookish one (with citations etc) or another kind??

I do want to have a new calendar before January 1st. I have received a couple from work sources but I like to get one to hang on my wall and one to carry in the car. I like gorgeous pictures for my wall calendar and sweet images or quotes for the smaller one.

Nope- It won't be this one!
Image Found at Parade.
Perhaps I will get the 2017 389 Unforgettable Senior Moments Page-a-Day® Calendar for my dear hubby!

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.
Four questions in November were provided by: Becky, bn100, Nikki and Miki. Random.org chose #1 so Becky gets to chose a book.

Your turn to share: Miki asks: When do you get a new yearly agenda (if you have one) in December to be ready on the first or you wait until the new year start. Do you prefer a simple one, a bookish one (with citations etc) or another kind??

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 December 3, 2016 at 5 PM central.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 25, 2016 (posted 11/26)

Happy Friday!

Sorry to be late with this post. I was off line/off computer for the past two and a half days while spending time with family!
Don't forget that for the four weeks in November I select FOUR random winners! So be ready to make your picks to give books a new home or get a GC to spend toward book purchases!

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 November 18 Pick. No 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 no titles blocked.
AUTO: none

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from November 18 Pick:
NIKKI and NATLAIJA get a GC
BN100 gets Mania
and
ELIZABETH gets Wanted: Christmas Mommy

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.}

This saying fits me perfectly!
Image found at Pinterest.

New Book Group #69 November 18, 2016
(I'll post a picture and links later)
Some books for Christmas
Mistletoe Marriage by Jessica Hart
Twelfth Night Proposal by Karen Rose Smith
Jingle Bell Blessings by Bonnie K. Winn
Snowbound with Mr. Right by Judy Christenberry
Christmas With the Prince by Michelle Celmer
The Christmas Cowboy by Michele Dunaway
Christmas Bonus: Strings Attached by Susan Crosby
Wanted: Christmas Mommy by Judy Christenberry
One Cowboy One Christmas by Kathleen Eagle
All I Want for Christmas by Gina Wilkins
Mistletoe and Miracles by Marie Ferrarella
Her Montana Christmas by Arlene James
All She Wants for Christmas by Stacy Connelly
Miracle on Christmas Eve by Shirley Jump
Snowbound Reunion by Barbara McMahon
Holiday Homecoming by Mae Ann Wilson


New Book Group #68 October 28, 2016
(I'll post a picture and links later)
PAIR:
Lisa Gardner: The Perfect Husband and The Other Daughter
Stella Cameron: True Bliss and Sheer Pleasures
SINGLE:
Stray by A. N. Wilson (hardcover)
Soul of the Wildcat by Devyn Quinn
The Seventh Tower, Book One by Garth Nix
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown
Kill Chain by Meg Gardiner
Wild Rain by Christine Feehan
The Copper Beach by Maeve Binchy
Beyond Reach: A Novel (Grant County Book 6) by Karin Slaughter
Crimson Shore by Preston & Childs
The Lincoln Myth by Steve Berry
Critical by Robin Cook
Mania by Craig Larsen

New Book Group #67 September 9, 2016

(*Three more very old books from my Gothics box.)
PAIRS:
Into the Night (book 5) and Gone too Far (book 6) by Suzanne Brockmann
The Wedding Night of an English Rogue: A Novel (A Boscastle Affairs Novel Book 3)
The Wicked Games of a Gentleman: A Novel (A Boscastle Affairs Novel Book 4) by Jillian Hunter
SINGLES:
*Bloodstone by Lynn Benedict (1973 - yellowed)
*The Brittany Stones by Lynna Cooper (1974 - yellowed; corner of cover cut)
Her Scoundrel by Geralyn Dawson
In Search of Lucy: A Novel by Lia Fairchild
No Place for a Lady by Katherine Greyle
Wicked by Beth Henderson
To Die For: A Novel (Blair Mallory Book 1) by Linda Howard
The Inheritance by Joan Johnston
A Dark Champion by Kinley MacGregor
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)
Mysterious: The Right Path / This Magic Moment / The Search for Love by Nora Roberts (2008)
The Spitfire by Bertrice Small


New Book Group #66 June 25, 2016

(I will post a picture later. *Four of these books are very old; pulled from a box of gothic novels I have had for many years. They may not be wanted by anyone and if so, I will donate elsewhere in time.)
SINGLES:
*Maggie – Her Marriage by Taylor Caldwell (1953 very old, yellowed pages, some stain damage doesn't effect reading)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell
Freedom's Stand by J. M. Windle


New Book Group #65 April 29, 2016

SINGLES:
A Dangerous Fancy by Tracy Cozzens
The Champion by Heather Grothaus
So Wild A Kiss by Nancy Richards-Akers


New Book Group #64 March 4, 2016
SINGLES:
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette


New Book Group #63 January 22, 2016 -- All Gone
SINGLES:
Wayward Winds by Michael Phillips - Audio Tapes

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:
Border Bride by Deborah Hale

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

SINGLES:
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)

New Book Group #59 July 31, 2015 -- All Gone
Cruise to a Wedding by Betty Neels

New Book Group #58 June 26, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #57 May 1, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #56 March 20, 2015
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 -- All Gone
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
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)
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
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 seven years I have posted 68 groups of 16 (1,088) books to find new homes! (as of November 4, 2016).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,017+ 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!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Audible Book Review: Monster Hunter Legion: Monster Hunter, Book 4 by Larry Correia

This is fun series with lots of monsters and hunters.
Monster Hunter Legion: Monster Hunter, Book 4
Written by: Larry Correia
Narrated by: Oliver Wyman

Length: 16 hrs and 35 mins
Series: Monster Hunter, Book 4
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:09-04-12
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Sci Fi, Paranormal, Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Monster Hunter International might be the premier monster eradication company in the business, but they’ve got competition.
When hunters from around the world gather in Las Vegas for a conference, a creature left over from a World War Two weapons experiment wakes up and goes on a rampage across the desert. A not-so-friendly wager between the rival companies turns into a race to see who can bag the mysterious creature first. Only there is far more to this particular case than meets the eye, and as Hunters fall prey to their worst nightmares, Owen Zastava Pitt and the staff of Monster Hunter International have to stop an ancient god from turning Sin City into a literal hell on earth.
©2012 Larry Correia (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Owen “Big Z” Pitt, Earl Harbinger, Julie, Milo, Holly, Trip, Skippy the orc and more of the Monster Hunter International (MHI) crew are in Las Vegas for the first International Conference of Monster Hunting Professionals. There are teams of hunters from all over the world and at first there is a sense of competition, especially from some of the newer, upstart companies. Earl and the team suspect that there is increased monster activity and they begin to circulate to see what they can find out from other teams. As they begin to share notes Earl and Julie meet with other teams to negotiate a new era of sharing information.

The hunters are interrupted by an invitation to a special meeting where they are given an assignment with a huge puff bounty to the first team to eliminate the threat. The assignment comes from a secret government official who is no friend of Earl’s. The teams are off and running for the competition. Earl isn’t so quick to rush off as he doesn’t trust the official and is angry that the man has control over Earl’s girlfriend for another year.

Z and his team get to the monster site by means of Skippy’s patched up helicopter. Still they are second behind the German team so they only get the assist in a rather easy kill. But a few clues indicate that something isn’t quite as it seems. Everyone returns to the hotel to party and rest but Julie is awakened by misgivings in the middle of the night. They step down the hall to screams and an alternate dimension of monsters. Now the true battle begins against a secret weapon from WWII who is seeking revenge and power.

The upstart Paranormal Tactical group make for fun teasing and trouble to kick off the action. I liked the new ally Z meets as well as all the old friends. Mordacai and other characters from earlier books make appearances trying to help Z. Even Z’s brother, Mosh, gets recruited to help save the world…again. I like the growth shown in the characters – Z still gets in trouble but he is trying to be more responsible. And he is taking his role as “the Chosen” more seriously.

This series is so much fun. There are a variety of monsters and of course the usual impressive armament. There are several good twists and details in this episode which continues to build to the threatened big war. The book does have some rough language but it zips by in the action moments. I recommend this to readers who like monsters and want a fun series.

Audio Notes: Oliver Wyman does a fabulous job with the character voices from men, women, orcs, and monster creatures. I have listened to the four books so far and will definitely continue with the audible versions.

By the way - The first book in the series is available for free at Kindle!
Monster Hunter International (Monster Hunters International Book 1)

This was in my TBR and saved for Sci Fi month. It qualifies for Mount TBR, Audio Challenge and M in Alphabet Challenge.