Sunday Post May 14, 2017/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday May 15, 2017

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.

Another week gone by - it is hard to think we are coming up on mid year already!
Hubby is puttering along nicely with small jobs.
Our weather is running in the 90s - getting sort of hot.


I enjoyed my reading this week although I only finished one print book and one audio book. I posted three reviews plus all of my usual memes.

I visited over 30 blogs again last week.
Blog shout out this week is for Bookworm Cafe who has some good discussions on her blog.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post May 7, 2017/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday May 8, 2017.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Quilt by Gary Paulsen; Family, Children; my rating 5.0.

• eNGTBR- Book Review: Bookburners by Max Gladstone, Mur Lafferty, Brian Francis Slattery, Margaret Dunlap; Urban Fantasy; my rating: 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway May 12, 2017. Open Worldwide. Ending 5/18/2017.

• ABJ- Audio Book Review: The Case of the Counterfeit Criminals: Wollstonecraft Detective Agency, Book 3, by Jordan Stratford; Children, Mystery; my rating: 4.0.

• Sharing Beyond Books #303 Comment Giveaway May 6, 2017. Open Worldwide. Ending 5/20/2017.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement May 14, 2017.

Finished Reading:

1. Print (Ladies Book Club TBR)

Plain Proposal (Daughters of the Promise Book 5)
by Beth Wiseman
This is an easy read and sweet.
I will post a review with giveaway this week.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/mp3 (iRead Tour)

Old Loves Die Hard: A Mac Faraday Mystery
Written by: Lauren Carr
Narrated by: James C. Lewis
I enjoyed this mystery.
iRead Book Tours review date May 23.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently reading:

1. eBook/Kindle (Pump up Your Book Tour)

Desert Melody
by Laura Evans Serna
I am at 80% in this.
Pump Up Your Book tour review to post on May 17.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audio/mp3 (ABJ)

Dead on Ice: A Lovers in Crime Mystery
Written by: Lauren Carr
Narrated by: Mike Alger
I enjoy this author's mysteries so I am looking forward to this.
Received through iRead Book Tours for review 5/24.
Publisher's Summary
Spunky Cameron Gates is tasked with solving the murder of Cherry Pickens, a legendary star of pornographic films, whose body turns up in an abandoned freezer. The case has a personal connection to her lover, Joshua Thornton, because the freezer was located in his cousin's basement. It doesn't take long for their investigation to reveal that the risqué star's roots were buried in their rural Ohio Valley community, something that Cherry had kept off her show business bio. She should have kept her hometown off her road map, too - because when this starlet came running home from the mob, it proved to be a fatal homecoming.
©2012 Terri Lynn Zaleski (P)2016 Terri Lynn Zaleski

3. eBook/Kindle (NGTBR)

Best Kind of Love:
A Reunion Romance Novella
by Rebecca Talley
This sounds like a sweet romance.
I received this title in December through instaFreebie.
Brynn Sawyer is a successful project manager in Houston. When her best friend from high school convinces Brynn to attend their ten-year reunion, Brynn hopes she’ll have the chance to reconnect with Troy Richards, the guy who stole her heart back in middle school.
Craig Dawson, an attorney in San Diego, is in a relationship that’s going nowhere and wonders why he can’t seem to commit. When he sees Brynn at their reunion, he thinks he might finally understand why. The only problem—she’s still infatuated with Troy what’s-his-name.
Will Brynn find the love she seeks with Troy, or will she realize the best kind of love has always been right in front of her?

May 14 2017 - I up to date in the One Year Bible; reading along with my husband and others from our church. I hope to take more time this year, staying on the day and listening to the companion commentary online.

Some of my reading time is going to a Wednesday night study we are doing called Freedom Course.

I completed two books and posted three reviews; this means I have three reviews current and one for later release.
I am at 14 NetGalley Titles and still at 10+ author titles in my queue.

We're working on a children's story for next upload at eTreasure's NetGalley page.

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 (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
I picked up two books for Ladies Book Club.
I bought two Audible Daily Deals and one Kindle ebook.
I picked up one free Audible and more free kindle titles again. (Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.)

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

Ladies' Book Club Choice for May; Discussion June 10. (I got the print books on bargain at Christianbook.com)

As One Devil to Another: A Fiendish Correspondence in the Tradition of C. S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters
by Richard Platt (Author), Walter Hooper (Preface, Contributor)
I read the original Screwtape Letters and thought this would be a fun and different read for the ladies.

I had purchased this book in print last year for Ladies' Book Club. Two of us are going to read it to decide if the Ladies should read book one before book two which I got at bargain price.

The Evidence (Mars Hill Classified Series Book 1)
by Austin Boyd
"As millions fearfully watch menacing spider-like craft advance on the unmanned Earth Rover that has just landed, the aliens offer a surprising gift, and John realizes that this is the moment to which God has called him. This is where he will make his mark; he was made for such a time as this."

Won

NONE

Purchased

I purchased two Audible Daily Deals this week, $3.95 each:

The Last Season
By: Eric Blehm
Narrator: Jonathan Davis
Duration: 12 hrs and 35 mins

and

The Secrets of Wishtide
By: Kate Saunders
Narrator: Anna Bentinck
Duration: 10 hrs and 35 mins



I purchased one Kindle title for $.99
Destiny Rising - A Hard Military Space Opera Epic: 
The Intrepid Saga - Books 1 & 2
M. D. Cooper
Just say "space opera" and I find it hard to resist.

Free

I picked this Audible title up for free:
FREE: Ponzi Supernova
By: Steve Fishman
Narrator: Radio/TV program
Duration: 2 hrs and 38 mins


I picked up Week Three SYNC Audio titles:
BRONX MASQUERADE by Nikki Grimes, Narrated Jessica Almasy, Cherise Booth, Kevin R. Free, Marc Damon Johnson, Sisi Aisha Johnson, Melanie Martinez (Recorded Books)
TEENAGE DIARIES: THEN AND NOW by Radio Diaries, Hosted by Joe Richman (HighBridge Audio)

Here are just some really good sounding books I got for free - all new to me authors again:

Nemesis: Book One: (Nemesis Series 1/6)
by David Beers
(almost 5 star rating)

Somewhere In-Between
Books 1-3: Season One Dystopian/Paranormal Romance Box Set
by C.E. Wilson
(5 star rating)

Treasure Harbor Complete Series
by Leah Atwood, Belle Calhoune, Patricia Pacjac Carroll, Kristen Ethridge, Angel Moore
Christian romance/small town.
(5 star rating)

The Seekers (Order of the Lily Book 1)
by Cait Ashwood
Fantasy/Coming of Age
(5 star rating)

I added 52 free Kindle titles to my library this week. 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 May 14, 2017

This morning was a nice Mother’s Day lesson in Sunday School and Church. Our Sunday School teacher shared thoughts he had during the week based on the story of Hannah and the birth of Samuel. 1 Samuel 1. Hannah was the favored wife but she had no children which impacted her value in the Jewish community. Elkanah’s other wife, Peninnah, had children and taunted Hannah. 

Hannah got to a point where she prayed in anguish and sorrow, out of desperation, asking God to give her a child and stating that she would give the child back to God. God heard her prayer and she gave birth to Samuel. Once he was weaned she took him back to the temple to be raised by Eli the priest as God’s servant.

Samuel was a prophet chosen by God. God’s hand was in the situation as He waited for Hannah to become desperate in her prayers. Only then did she promise to return her child to God and God was able to train Samuel to become the prophet He had destined him to be.

How often do we pray in anguish and sorrow; in desperation; from our heart and soul instead of just from our heads? Perhaps we need to be more committed in our praying.

Pastor’s message followed the lesson. He spoke how mother’s juggle all that they do. Moms play a unique and significant role in lives of children. The primary concern should be that their children come to know Jesus. Moms are amazing and powerful. Pastor shared the story of one mother, Jochebed, the mother of Aaron, Miriam and Moses. Jocabed saw that the baby was special. She took the risk of setting her child in a basket in the wild Nile river. Exodus 1:15-22; 2:1-10. Jochebed was a mother who took a risk to meet God's plan.

The Point: Position your family to be in the will of God, and it is always worth the risk.

There is a repeating theme in the Bible: Honor Your parents. We are to honor our mother and father, with no qualifiers. We are to pray for children and grandchildren. Pray that God's will is made clear. Pray to be a mom who can be used in someone's life.

Our SS teacher shared this song. 

I think it would be wonderful if I have taught this faith to my children!

“Even If.”

1 Samuel 2:8-9 NLT
8 "He lifts the poor from the dust
and the needy from the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes,
placing them in seats of honor.
For all the earth is the Lord’s,
and he has set the world in order.
9 “He will protect his faithful ones,
but the wicked will disappear in darkness.
No one will succeed by strength alone…”

Lord help me to become more desperate in my prayers, especially for the lost in my family, community and across the world.

Happy Mother's Day!

A baby asked God, “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?”

“Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.”

The child further inquired, “But tell me, here in heaven I don’t have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.”

God said, “Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel’s love and be very happy.”

Again the child asked, “And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don’t know the language?”

God said, “Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.”

“And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?”

God said, “Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.”

“Who will protect me?”

God said, “Your angel will defend you even if it means risking it’s life.”

“But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.”

God said, “Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you.”

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, “God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.”

“You will simply call her, ‘Mom'.”

Sharing Beyond Books #303 Comment Giveaway May 13, 2017

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
18 of us do have Goodreads accounts; only one does not. Of the 18, 13 have entered and won book giveaways there, at least one person wins monthly! One person with an account has never entered the giveaways.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #302 comments is: #16 Nikki who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated (**Finally!) ARC/Review titles or (recently updated) Love and Christmas titles - all linked near the end of the post.

**NOTE: I did post an Updated ARC and Other books for Giveaways. I have to go back and list the titles.
Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #303

(One Question.)

Elizabeth asks: What is your favorite card or board game??

(Sorry my answer got long winded.)
It is hard to think of one favorite game. When we were kids we played lots of games: Parcheesi, Mousetrap, and a card game called Spite and Malice. Oh - and Twister! When I was young adult age I enjoyed bridge, having learned from my parents. Also, before I married, my family used to play Backgammon. When my children were young the favorites were Sorry, Mousetrap, Jumanji and Yahtzee. When they were high school age I got them to play Mastermind with me. My husband is not much of a game player but he will play two games: Bible Trivia and Yahtzee. The older grandchildren can play Yahtzee now so that is our family game and therefore my current favorite.

Image found at Kristal Project EDU.

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: What is your favorite card or board game??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles all in one post.

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 May 20, 2017 at 5 PM central.

Audio Book Review: The Case of the Counterfeit Criminals: Wollstonecraft Detective Agency, Book 3, by Jordan Stratford

This is an engaging mystery that is fun for young girls... and adults.

The Case of the Counterfeit Criminals: Wollstonecraft Detective Agency, Book 3
Written by: Jordan Stratford
Narrated by: Nicola Barber

Length: 2 hrs and 50 mins
Series: The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency, Book 3
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:01-24-17
Publisher: HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books
Genre: Children, Mystery
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The Wollestonecraft Girls embark on their most important case yet - the famed dinosaur fossil hunter Mary Anning is being blackmailed. Her precious dog has been snatched and the kidnappers are demanding that Miss Anning authenticate some fake dinosaur bones up for auction at the British Museum in order to get him back. Ada and Mary have just three days to track down the fossil fakers, find the dog, and save the integrity of science!
The game is truly afoot in this quirky caper involving blood-sucking leeches, an asthmatic pug, smoke bombs, secret elevators, diabolical disguises, and wicked word-play.
©2017 Jordan Stratford (P)2017 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Review:
Ada and her young friends, including Mary Shelley, have formed the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency solving selected cases. Ada has been sick and has spent much time in bed while the doctor leeches her blood. She realizes that her former governess has held her mail and finally gets a stack. Ada, Mary and friend Jane, start sorting through the letters to decide on their next case. They come across a letter from a famous dinosaur fossil hunter, Mary Adding, whose dog has been kidnapped and decide this is the case.

Ada’s fierce grandmother comes home, grounds Ada to bed and ousts her friends and tutor. Now Ada has to creatively get away from the sick bed, sneak out to meet with her friends and try to help Mary find the kidnappers and rescue the dog.

Ada is a science whiz and loves math and all sorts of puzzles. She discovers notes that have been written as anagrams and believes that her nemesis is behind the group that is blackmailing Ms. Adding asking her to verify a fake fossil exhibit at the British Museum.

It is fun to follow Ada and her friends as they hunt down scoundrels, work on clues and manage some surprising interventions. This is an engaging, fun read/listen even for an adult and would be great for young girls 8-13.

Audio Notes: Nicola Barber does a fine job of narration. She captures the sweet voices and accents of the characters. The pacing is good and makes for a fun listen.

I received this from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox. This qualifies for my 2017 Audio Book Challenge.