Sunday Words of Encouragement January 8, 2017

What a lovely morning. Our Sunday School (SS) teacher gave a message on Landmarks which led well into the church service. Those notes will be a message to share another day. In the service, after opening with worship, we celebrated four baptisms of young people, had prayer time and proceeded to the message.

Pastor’s sermon was titled “Shift”. Anyone who has ever driven a manual (shift) car, knows that the learning experience is usually rough and bumpy before becoming smoothing out. Pastor noted that our worldly culture is shifting. Reaching our community is now one of the great challenges that faces every church, and very importantly our church. The tendency, as we move through our lives, is that we have less contact with unchurched. Many are further from God than ever before. The current culture has embraced relativism and subjectivism. (Relativism: the assumption that there is no certain truth. Subjectivism: each person determines right and wrong in their own eyes.)

Jesus points the way to effectively reach our community in John 13:1-15. We must first love unconditionally and serve selflessly. We can only reach others through relationships, which are done in circles, not rows (or pews).

The Point: Be intentionally and determined to connect relationally with our community by loving and serving.

This message made me think of this lovely song:
Make Me a Servant.

Verses for Today:
John 13:12-15 NLT
12After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

Lord, help me be discerning of your specific direction in my life to love and serve others.

Sharing Beyond Books #285 Comment Giveaway January 7, 2017

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

Thanks to everyone who commented last week. I hope everyone is staying safe and warm during this strong winter weather.

I was a little surprised that most of our SBB followers/commentors do not have a book list. Many of you pick from your TBR piles, especially for favorite series or authors. Several are planning/hoping to read one book per week 50-52. (That would simplify my life but I would never get through my stacks - not that I will ever anyway!) Elizabeth and Rita have lists that just keep growing (I can relate).

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #284 comments is: #10 Rita 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 #285

(One Question.)

Natalija asks: What's your comfort food??

(This question made me feel good just answering it.) I definitely have a comfort food. When I don't feel well, when it is very cold, or when I have a trial and need to eat lunch... I have my comfort food: grilled cheese sandwich (with bacon if my tummy can handle it).

[Mmmmm - bet I'll have one this week during the cold weather!]

Image Found at The Odyssey.

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: Natalija asks: What's your comfort food??

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 January 14, 2017 at 5 PM central.

Audible Book Review: The Great Martian War: Invasion by Scott Washburn

This is an engaging continuation and enhancement, based on the original story by H.G. Wells.

The Great Martian War: Invasion
Written by: Scott Washburn
Narrated by: Ray Greenley

Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:10-27-16
Publisher: Listen2aBook.com
Genre: Sci Fi, Alternate History
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Following the initial Martian invasion of England, President Theodore Roosevelt tries to prepare the United States for the potential of another Martian incursion. As the possibility of a stronger invasion is increasingly clear, the US government tries to mobilize nations to share information and technology to defend humanity. Newly minted ordinance officer Andrew Comstock has been placed in charge of developing new technology that has to be tested on the fly in a race against time if humanity is to survive.
©2016 Vincent Rospond (P)2016 Vincent Rospond

Review:
I must admit to being a bit confused when this started with Theodore Roosevelt as President. I was thinking of the radio broadcast from the 1930s. However, that was a broadcast adaptation of the original H.G. Wells’ novel, The War of the Worlds, which was written in 1897 and set in England. Recognizing that, this story fit right in as a sequel following the events of the original war.

This story is set in the United States in 1907- 08. It ranges from President Roosevelt and his advisers in Washington, to a teen farm girl running from the Martian machines in Arizona/New Mexico area. These characters are connected through the primary character, Andrew Comstock. Andrew is a quickly rising young officer who is involved with bringing the new weapons, tanks and armament, from the labs and factories to the battle field. One of the most interesting elements, I thought, is the point of view shared through the Martian characters which is set up as an effective hook in the prologue.

The early portion of the story focuses on the United States attempting to prepare for a second invasion by the Martians. Interestingly, the author also shows the thoughts of the Martians reacting to the wins and losses during the first wave of the invasion. The weaponry issues, failures and successes, are fitting for the time and totally believable.

The storylines of the characters are natural and engaging. The characters, human and alien, are developed with relatable personalities and none of them are one hundred percent heroic. They manage sometimes to stumble into successful maneuvers. Sharing the battle from the view of the Martians evoked some compassion even while still presenting them as the enemy.

The story moves briskly, first with backstory development, then progressing with good action.
It has an appropriate closing while leaving more battles to be faced in the next book. I plan to continue to see what happens next.

Audio Notes: Ray Greenley does a fine job narrating. He provides good, varied voices for the characters and conveys the fear, arrogance, awe and other emotions through the performance. The narration voice fit the time period nicely. Listening to this enhanced my enjoyment of an interesting story.

I received this audio title from the narrator through AudioBook Boom for an unbiased review. It qualified for 2016 Audio Challenge.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 6, 2017

Happy Friday!
I hope everyone is having a good beginning of 2017. I know the weather is cold for Northern friends so stay safe and bundled! I am feeling better each day and almost no coughing finally.
My work did not go as planned as I had a lot of clients coming in for things that needed to be done immediately. I got all my files organized at the end of Thursday. Hopefully Friday I can knock out several that have been waiting for me.

I never got out this week to find a camera shop. I have it on my calendar for Friday to call a couple of shops. I have a new set of books to post soon.

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 December 30 Pick. There were 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 December 30 Pick:
MIKI gets a GC
and
SUEF gets Mistletoe and Miracles

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.}

Another good sentiment for a new year!
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 by Vickie 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 1,029+ 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!

Audible Review: The Chimes by Charles Dickens

This is another remarkable Dickens' classic.
The Chimes
Written by: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Richard Armitage

Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:12-11-15
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Classic
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The magnificent Richard Armitage (Hamlet: King of Denmark: A Novel) performs The Chimes by Charles Dickens.
This classic story is the second in a series of five Christmas books Dickens was commissioned to write - beginning with A Christmas Carol. A haunting tale set on New Year's Eve, The Chimes tells the story of a poor porter named Trotty Veck who has become disheartened by the state of the world - until he is shown a series of fantastical visions that convince him of the good of humanity. Though much different from and certainly a bit darker than A Christmas Carol, the moral message of The Chimes is equally poignant - touting the importance of compassion, goodwill, and the love of friends and family.
The Chimes was followed by The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life, and finally The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain.
Public Domain (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Trotty Veck is a poor man struggling in Victorian England as a message carrier, often timing his trotting with the beat of the chimes. The only real light in his life is his beloved daughter Meg. Meg is a charming young lady, working as a seamstress and falling in love with a young laborer. Meg has brought her father a rare dinner treat. Trotty is contemplating whether he should encourage the young couple to marry even though that would leave him alone. Suddenly several gentleman step out and malign Trotty for eating while others go hungry. They make him feel lower that low and as the old year ends, Trotty morosely questions 'just what are the poor worth?'

This story was new to me. As the audio started I was enthralled by the lyrical prose. I usually listen at night but I turned this off so I wouldn’t miss anything. After the beautiful imagery and prose in the beginning I was alarmed when the tone became dark and despondent. Of course, I should perhaps have not been surprised by that considering the author. There is just a little similarity with A Christmas Carol, including ghostly visions in the bells. The plight of the poor is once again vividly, and bleakly, described. I was very relieved when the ending came back to a message of compassion, goodwill, hope and love.

I do recommend this but forewarn the reader or listener to be prepared for some darkness before the light returns at the end.

Audio Notes: Richard Armitage's narration is excellent. He portrays the visual imagery perfectly with his lovely, fitting, British accent.

This was Audible's 2015 Christmas gift and it is a gem! It is part of my 2016 TBR and Audio Challenges.