Sunday Post September 10, 2017/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday September 11, 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.

We drove home to secure our properties for the impact of Hurricane Irma. We should be fine as we will be on the outer west edge. We are fortunate to have a generator if needed. Offices and schools are closed for Monday when the winds will impact us.

Reading was good. I finished three books: two audio books and one ebook. I also finished four books plus other stories with our granddaughter. I posted three reviews on the blog and one at Goodreads. I also posted my usual memes.

I visited only 20 blogs last week as I was preoccupied with family. :-).
Shout out this week is to Avalinah’s Book. This is another new to me blog with fun gifs and book love.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post September 3, 2017/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday September 4, 2017.

• MBS August 2017 Reading List Wrap Update.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Until the End of the World by Sarah Lyons Fleming; Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi, Zombie; my rating 4.0.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 8, 2017. Open Worldwide. Ending 9/14/2017.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Pax by Sara Pennypacker; Animals, Middle Grade; my rating 4.5.

• eNG- Book Review: Who'll Stop The Rain: (Book One Of The Miami Crime Trilogy) by Don Donovan; Crime, Noir; My rating 4.0.

• Sharing Beyond Books #319 Comment Giveaway September 9, 2017. Open Worldwide. Ending 9/16/2017.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement September 10, 2017.

• Goodreads Book Review: God Gave Us Two by Lisa Tawn Bergren (Goodreads Author), Laura J. Bryant (Illustrator); Children, Siblings; My rating 5.0.

Finished Reading:
1. Audible/MP3 (TBR)

Pax
Written by: Sara Pennypacker
Narrated by: Michael Curran-Dorsano
Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
Beautifully written; not for all young children. My Review is linked above.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/MP3 (TBR)

Koban, Volume 1
Written by: Stephen W. Bennett
Narrated by: Patrick Freeman
This turned out to really engage me; listening whenever I could.
It is my "K" TBR audible for Alphabet Challenge.
Click on book title for full description.

3. eBook/Kindle (Author)

ReWired
by S.R. Johannes
This is an engaging YA suspense focused on computer addiction/hackers.
Click on book title for full description.

Six Children's Books and other stories read to SweetPea:

These two were library books. God Gave Us Two was perfect for the family with the older daughter and new baby twins!

(The first two were read in August.) I read two stories each out of the 5 Minute books; plus the other four.

Currently Reading:

1. eBook/Kindle (Tour)

Love, Murder & Mayhem: 
Cosmic Tales of the Heart Gone Deadly Wrong
An Anthology
I had signed up for this tour and received the book August 23 but forgot to list it.
My review date is coming up 9/14.
I received this review invite from Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws.
Love science fiction stories that all include elements of Love, Murder & Mayhem? Then welcome to the latest anthology from Crazy 8 Press! This amazing collection from 15 all-star authors will delight you with superhero and supervillain stories. AI, off-world, and space cruiser stories. We’ve also got private eyes, sleep surrogates, time travel, an aliens/monsters mash-up and … one DuckBob! With tales ranging from wild and wacky, dark and gritty, to heartbreaking and fun, take the deadly leap with authors Meriah Crawford, Paige Daniels, Peter David, Mary Fan, Michael Jan Friedman, Robert Greenberger, Glenn Hauman Paul Kupperberg, Karissa Laurel, Kelly Meding, Aaron Rosenberg, Hildy Silverman, Lois Spangler, Patrick Thomas, and editor Russ Colchamiro. You’ll never look at Love, Murder & Mayhem the same way again … and that’s just the way we like it.

2. Audible/MP3 (TBR)

Valor's Choice (Confederation, #1)
by Tanya Huff
Marguerite Gavin (Narrator)
I pulled this from my Audible TBR shelves for "V" in my Alphabet Challenge.
I am enjoying the space military characters so far.
Publisher's Summary
In the distant future, humans and several other races have been granted membership in the Confederation - at a price. They must act as soldier/protectors of the far more civilized races who have long since turned away from war.
©2000 Tanya Huff; (P)2008 Tantor

3. eBook/Kindle (NG)

The Clockwork Dynasty
by Daniel H. Wilson
I received this from NetGalley.
An ingenious new thriller that weaves a path through history, following a race of human-like machines that have been hiding among us for untold centuries, written by the New York Times bestselling author of Robopocalypse.
Present day: When a young anthropologist specializing in ancient technology uncovers a terrible secret concealed in the workings of a three-hundred-year-old mechanical doll, she is thrown into a hidden world that lurks just under the surface of our own. With her career and her life at stake, June Stefanov will ally with a remarkable traveler who exposes her to a reality she never imagined, as they embark on an around-the-world adventure and discover breathtaking secrets of the past…
Russia, 1725: In the depths of the Kremlin, the tsar’s loyal mechanician brings to life two astonishingly humanlike mechanical beings. Peter and Elena are a brother and sister fallen out of time, possessed with uncanny power, and destined to serve great empires. Struggling to blend into pre-Victorian society, they are pulled into a legendary war that has raged for centuries.
The Clockwork Dynasty seamlessly interweaves past and present, exploring a race of beings designed to live by ironclad principles, yet constantly searching for meaning. As June plunges deeper into their world, her choices will ultimately determine their survival or extermination. Richly-imagined and heart-pounding, Daniel H. Wilson’s novel expertly draws on his robotics and science background, combining exquisitely drawn characters with visionary technology—and riveting action.

4. ebook/Print (LBC)

A Matter of Character,
Sisters of Bethlehem Springs Series #3
by Robin Lee Hatcher
I was pleasantly surprised to find the price reduced when I went to download the Kindle version.
I can now get to completing this in the next two weeks.

September 10, 2017 - I am still behind in the One Year Bible. I am working on getting back on track. I have been 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.

I completed three books and posted three reviews. That keeps me at two current reviews with one to post soon for September release.
I am keeping at three titles behind linking my reviews to Goodreads, Amazon and Audible.
I am back to 7 NetGalley titles (with a list of more requests) and still 2 author titles in my queue, the others are instafreebies that I do want to get to but not the same commitment.

We're working on two fiction books soon to add to 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 one more NetGalley review and included a tour book I received  a few weeks ago.
I picked up one Audible Daily Deal and several audiobooks for free. 
As usual, I picked up more free kindle titles as usual. (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

Tour Participation invite from Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws.; Review date 9/14.

Love, Murder & Mayhem:
Cosmic Tales of the Heart Gone Deadly Wrong
An Anthology
See full description above under current reading.

I received one more title from NetGalley:
 
Crown of Souls
by Ronie Kendig
A Christian Suspense

Won

NONE

Purchased

I picked up one Audible Daily Deal for $2.95:
Extracted
By: R. R. Haywood
Narrator: Carl Prekopp
Duration: 12 hrs and 40 mins
Sci Fi, Time Travel - heroes picked to save the world.


I also picked up 10 free audiobooks. Most of them are short interviews but here are the three that are over 1 hour:
FREE: The Undead
By: R R Haywood
Narrator: Dan Morgan
Duration: 1 hr and 3 mins

The Hospital: The FREE Short Story: The First Mountain Man Story
By: Keith C. Blackmore
Narrator: R. C. Bray
Duration: 1 hr and 37 mins

Alan Cumming Live at the Sydney Opera House with David Marr: Free Download
By: Alan Cumming
Narrator: Alan Cumming
Duration: 1 hr and 1 min

Free

Here are some of the Free Kindle titles I picked up. (All of these may still be free):

Whom the Gods Love (Of Gods & Mortals Book 1)
by M.M. Perry

Cold Justice Series Box Set: Volume I: Books 1-3
Toni Anderson

 
Echo in Time (Echo Trilogy, #1)
by Lindsey Fairleigh

Dark September (Part of the Daniel Trokics Series)
by Inger Wolf

All Or Nothing (The Coxwells Book 4)
by Deborah Cooke

Blind Run
by Patricia Lewin

and Two more:
Struck: (Phoebe Meadows Book 1) by Amanda Carlson
For The Love Of A Widow: Regency Novella by Christina McKnight

I added 54 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 September 10, 2017

There are times I am in awe of God's creation. Really, I am always in awe but sometimes I recognize it more than others.
We are preparing for the outerbands of Hurricane Irma to reach us in the next 24 hours. The forecast is for winds that may reach up to 48mph. The storm is already bringing damage to south Florida, and due to size, it is expected most the state will feel the impact.
I am reminded of God's awesome hand -- in creation, protection, salvation and ultimately in judgment.

This awesome hymn tends to give me goosebumps and I decided to share it today.

Matthew 24:42-44 (NIV)
42“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

We are praying for safety for all of the people of Florida.

Sharing Beyond Books #319 Comment Giveaway September 9, 2017

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Four commenters could not think of a book that resonates; two more read romance or for escapism and entertainment so do not have a title to offer. Ten books were suggested that "resonated" with the readers/comments. Check the answers for good titles to consider.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #318 comments is: #12 JANHVI 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 -- someday.
Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #319

(One Question.)

Nikki asks: Do you secretly support villains sometimes? The ones in movies/books, not real life of course??

I might support a villain if he or she becomes a good guy. At the moment the only one I can think of is Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series.

Image found at The Write Practice.

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. Nikki asks: Do you secretly support villains sometimes? The ones in movies/books, not real life of course??

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 September 16, 2017 at 5 PM central.

Book Review: Who'll Stop The Rain: (Book One Of The Miami Crime Trilogy) by Don Donovan

This is well written, gritty but entertaining, noir fiction; there are no 'good guys'; only degrees of corrupt characters.
Who'll Stop The Rain: (Book One Of The Miami Crime Trilogy)
by Don Donovan

File Size: 1629 KB
Print Length: 482 pages
Publication Date: June 1, 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
ASIN: B01FRPMZSW
Genre: Crime Fiction, Noir
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

"I slowed way down for the speed bumps on the narrow, wet street. The cemetery loomed in its eternal silence on our right, and I felt the eyes of the dead opening under heavy lids to watch us pass by in the rainy night, somehow knowing we were on our way to do murder, to send them some company."
From the mean streets of Miami, Hialeah, and Key West comes this sprawling noir novel of three hardened individuals:
LOGAN, career criminal from Key West who is fed up with his outlaw life, but can't escape it.
MAMBO DeLIMA, gambling boss of Key West, who is being muscled by out-of-town racketeers and is determined to face them down.
SILVANA MACHADO, the first female detective sergeant in the Miami PD's homicide division, who gets her results through violence and intimidation.
In this first entry in The Miami Crime Trilogy, Don Donovan has spun a tale of separate South Florida characters whose lives are woven together into a web of money, betrayal, and murder.
"... classic noir, written as noir was intended to be written."
-- David Beckwith, Key West Citizen

Review:
This “noir” fiction is different from my usual read. Mr. Donovan provides a very entertaining, if gritty, tale of thieves, local crime family leadership and corrupt cops. The setting was interesting as I lived in south Florida although I really had no contact with the criminal elements of these communities.

The story is told from three viewpoints; first person from Logan and third person for the others. Logan is a thief who was practically raised into crime. His current theft activities have resulted in more violence than he likes. He is planning to retire, with the continued encouragement of his longtime girlfriend, if only he can find a legitimate job that will allow them to continue to live their comfortable life.

Mambo is a local crime boss, happy with the profits of his gambling and drug networks. He struggles to prove himself to his grandfather, one the local ‘mob” leaders. His grandfather is just partnering with the other competing crime family in the Keys, working towards legitimate business endeavors. In spite of his grandfather’s instructions to shut things down, Mambo wants to protect his position against a racketeer from Little Havana who is hustling in on his territory.

Silvana Machado, is a tough officer who was raised in the streets but managed to work her way into a respected position. She is a successful homicide sergeant, known to get results through intimidation and violence rather than detective skills.

Silvana has uncovered clues that point to Logan as the possible killer of three scum criminals in Little Havana. No one would care about the deaths except the third victim was a teenage niece to a commissioner. Even though the girl was obviously where she didn’t belong, the family wants the killer found and brought to justice. Silvana’s other leads are tying the mess to a local racketeer who seems to be in a contest with the Key West crime boss, Mambo.

The author weaves the characters into a neat crisscross of crime connections and consistent action. The story is well plotted and skillfully written in a tight, direct style that is appropriate to the noir genre. The emotions of the characters and their reactions create interesting elements for the reader to contemplate. Although the story is full of grit, crime and corruption, it is entertaining in somewhat a perverse manner for a reader like me who prefers good forces and heroism. I recommend this to readers who enjoy crime novels and the darker edge of noir fiction.

I received this from the Author for an honest review. It qualifies for my Mount TBR Challenge and "W" for ebook in Alphabet Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Pax by Sara Pennypacker

This is a beautifully written story of friendship, loss and growth.

Pax
Written by: Sara Pennypacker
Narrated by: Michael Curran-Dorsano
Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:02-02-16
Publisher: HarperAudio
Genre: Animals, Middle Graders
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Pax and Peter have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a kit. But one day the unimaginable happens: Peter's dad enlists in the military and makes him return the fox to the wild.
At his grandfather's house 300 miles away from home, Peter knows he isn't where he should be - with Pax. He strikes out on his own despite the encroaching war, spurred by love, loyalty, and grief, to be reunited with his fox.
Meanwhile Pax, steadfastly waiting for his boy, embarks on adventures and discoveries of his own....
From best-selling and award-winning author Sara Pennypacker comes a beautifully wrought, utterly compelling novel about the essential truths that define us and the devastating costs of war. Pax is destined to become a beloved classic.
©2016 Sara Pennypacker (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

Review:
I was drawn by the cover and blurb of this title. I had hoped it would be good for my grandchildren to listen to but I think they would have to be middle grade and up.

Peter has raised Pax since a young kit who lost his parents. Peter is now 12 and his father has enlisted in the military to help protect the homeland. His father insists that Pax be dropped off in the woods as he delivers Peter to another town to live with his grandfather while father is away a war.

After arriving at his Grandfather’s Peter realizes what a mistake it was to have left Pax behind.
He takes his backpack and a few supplies to return to the woods to get his beloved Pax. Two hundred or so miles away, Pax waits at the edge of the woods for ‘his boy’ to return for him. Finally, the little fox must move to find water and food. Pax meets a vixen and her little brother. The young kit is thrilled to play with Pax but the vixen smells humans on Pax and wants nothing to do with him. Pax makes friends with an older fox who agrees to travel with him to try to go back home to meet with Peter.

Peter meets a gruff female who lives a secluded life. She was traumatized by her experience as a soldier and withdrew from society. She isn’t thrilled to have a young boy show up in her barn but she can’t send him back out without helping him.

The story is told in alternating views for Peter and Pax. They both run across obstacles and dangers along their journey to find each other. I really liked the warm bond between Peter and Pax. They grow in their new situations and they find friends to help them and whom they help. The author uses the story to comment on war, love, injury, society, friendship and even environmental issues. I liked how it makes the reader/listener think about our behavior towards each other and nature.

The reason I hesitate to recommend this for younger listeners is because there is death and loss that might be difficult without parental guidance. Not that the young haven’t dealt with these issues before in classics like Old Yeller, The Yearling and even Bambi, Dumbo and the Lion King. I found the story beautifully written, engaging and sweet. I do recommend it - perhaps for family listening.

Audio Notes: Michael Curran-Dorsano does a wonderful job with the narration. He captures the feelings of Peter and Pax, as well other characters. His narration pulled me in and kept me listening. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of this story.

I selected this audio as a children’s title when on sale at Audible. It qualifies for my Audio Challenge.