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Monday, December 4, 2017

MBS November 2017 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2017 Reading List - NOVEMBER
Code for the list is:
A = Audible; ABJ = Audiobook Jukebox; ABB = Audiobook Boom
e = eBook; eA = eBook from Author; eT = eBook from Tour
NG = NetGalley
P = Print; PT = Print from Tour
LBC = Ladies Book Club
TBR = From the TBR shelves prior to 2017

Favorites (5 stars): Patched Together; Hope Under the Mistletoe and We Are Legion
  1. A- Audible Book Review: Apocalypse: The Days of Elijah, Book 1, by Mark Goodwin; Apocalyptic, Religious, Sci Fi; my rating 4.5.
  2. A- Goodreads/Audible Book Review: The Undead: Deleted Scene by R.R. Haywood; Sci Fi, Zombies; my rating 3.75.
  3. PTour- Book Review and Tour Giveaway: King Harald's Snow Job by Richard Audry; Animals, Cozy Mystery; my rating 4.25.
  4. A-Narrator- Audible Review: Fight like a Man: A Post Apocalyptic Thriller by L.L. Akers; Post Apocalyptic, Sci Fi; my rating 4.25.
  5. LBCPrint- Book Review and Giveaway: Patched Together: A Story of My Story by Brennan Manning; Christian, Inspirational, Religion; my rating 5.0.
  6. eNG Book Review: Always Gray in Winter by Mark J. Engles; Military, Sci Fi; my rating 4.0.
  7. eTBR- Goodreads Book Review: The Snow Owl by Jon Hartling; Fantasy, Sci Fi; my rating 4.0.
  8. A-Author- Audio Book Review: Virus: Earth's Last Battle by Ray Jay Perreault; Military, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi; my rating 4.0.
  9. ATBR- Goodreads Book Review: Christmas Present (The Chronicles of St Mary's #4.5) by Jodi Taylor; Fantasy, Sci Fi; my rating 4.0.
  10. eTBR- Goodreads Book Review Hey, Santa: SciFi Alien Holiday Romance (An Alien for the Holidays) by Jessica E. Subject. Fantasy, Sci Fi; my rating 4.0
  11. eTBR- Goodreads Book Review: A Ninja Dinosaur Christmas!!! by Sonya Saturday; Children, Sci Fi; my rating 3.0.
  12. eTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Christmas, Corpses, and Clockwork Kittens by L. A. Nisula; Clockwork, Mystery, Sci Fi; my rating 4.0.
  13. eTBR- Goodreads Book Review: Chasing Christmas Past: An Airship Racing Chronicles Short Story Prequel (The Airship Racing Chronicles) by Melanie Karsak; Sci Fi, Steampunk; my rating 4.0.
  14. ATBR- Goodreads Book Review: A Literary Christmas Anthology; Classics, Holiday; my rating 4.0.
  15. e-Author Book Review: Book Review: Mistletoe Kiss by Marie Landry; Christmas, Holiday, Romance; my rating 4.5.
  16. eTBR- Goodreads Book Review: A Christmas Tale (Pepper and Longstreet) by J.T. Lewis; Ghost, Fantasy, Sci Fi; my rating 4.0.
  17. eTBR- Book Review: Hope Under the Mistletoe by Jessica R. Patch; Christian, Inspirational, Romance; my rating 5.0.
  18. e-Author- Book Review: The Letterbox by Layton Green; Mystery, Supernatural, Thriller; my rating 4.0.
  19. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Tech World by B.V. Laron; Military Space, Sci Fi; my rating 4.5.
  20. eNG- Book Review: Oberon's Meaty Mysteries: The Squirrel on the Train by Kevin Hearne; Animals, Mystery, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy; my rating 4.5.
  21. eNG- Book Review: Welcome to Outcast Station by Jeanne Adams, Nancy Northcott; Colonization, Mystery, Sci Fi, Space Opera; my rating 4.5.
  22. ATBR- Audible Book Review: We Are Legion (We Are Bob) Bobiverse by Dennis E. Taylor; Sci Fi; my rating 5.0.
  23. ATBR- Audible Review: Terms of Enlistment by Marko Kloos; Military Space Opera, Sci Fi; my rating 3.75.
  24. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Cloak of the Light by Chuck Black; Action and Adventure, Religious, Sci Fi; my rating 4.25.
  25. eAuthor- Book Review: Kristian's War by Peter Wisan; Religious, Sci Fi; my rating 4.25.

Total read = 25; TBR = 12; New Authors = 18
Audio/Audible = 10 (5 TBRs)
eBook = 10: 3 Author
NetGalley = 3
Print = 2

Sunday, December 3, 2017

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

Hubby and I had a nice dinner out on Thursday to celebrate our 32nd. He bought me flowers and I bought dinner since he cooks most nights. LOL.
I did get a Kindle Fire but I haven't opened it yet. I'm still nursing my old Kindle a half hour at a time.

I enjoyed my reading/listening. I finished 4 books for the week: two audios and two ebooks. I posted three reviews plus I posted my usual memes.

I visited 30 blogs early in the week.
Shout out this week to Between My Lines who has a very nice "bookish" blog.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:
  • ATBR- Audible Book Review: Tech World by B.V. Laron; Military Space, Sci Fi; my rating 4.5.
I continued titles for #RRSciFiMonth.
SFM16_9

Finished Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle (Author)
Kristian's War (The Searcher Series Book 1) by [Wisan, Peter]


Kristian's War (The Searcher Series Book 1)  
by Peter Wisan
I liked this post-apocalyptic, Biblical allegory.
Received from the author.
Click on book title for full description.



2. Audible/MP3 (TBR)
Defining Diana cover art


Defining Diana
By: Hayden Trenholm
Narrated by: Art Carlson
Series: Steele Chronicles, Book 1
This is a good sci fi, gene-based, mystery.
This was from 9/2012.
Click on book title for full description.



3. Audible/MP3 (TBR)
Letters from Atlantis cover art


Letters from Atlantis
By: Robert Silverberg
Narrated by: Tom Parker
Length: 3 hrs and 1 min
This was the last book I pulled out for #RRSciFiMonth.
It ended up I recognized the story so it was a re-read or re-listen.
Publisher's Summary
It was a legendary island, a fantastic island. Atlantis. Or as its prince called it, Athilan. Roy had traveled through time with his partner, Lora, to find it - and now he was tantalizingly close to its shore. Time travel allowed Roy's consciousness to enter the mind of the heir to Atlantis' throne, and what he found disturbed him. Strange dreams. Impossibly futuristic inventions and machines. How could such an advanced city exist at this time? The rest of the world was, as Lora witnessed in her travels, a dark, barbaric land still thawing from the ice age.
Roy had been preparing for the odd isolation of time travel, but nothing had prepared him for his final arrival on Atlantis - a shimmering city far beyond his imagination! Roy knew this island's fate. According to legend, it would vanish into the sea. Roy also knew he had a limited amount of time to decipher the strange message in the Prince's mind - visions of cataclysmic events, mysterious rites to a faraway star. If Roy was in an Atlantis unlike anything the researchers had predicted, then what were its secrets? And when would it be destroyed?
©1990 by Agberg, Ltd.; (P)1998 by Blackstone Audiobooks



4. eBook/Kindle (NG)


Gift From The Stars
by James Gunn
This is interesting hard sci fi from my NetGalley stack.
Click on book title for full description.



Currently Reading:
1. Print/Ladies Book Club



The Vision and Beyond
by David Wilkerson
This is my Ladies Book Club read 
to be discussed next Saturday, 12/9.
This book has the same content as the Original 1974 version, but is has 2 additional chapters added that Update the book and includes important segments from "Racing Toward Judgment.



2. Audible/MP3 (TBR)


A State of Treason
By: David Thomas Roberts
Narrated by: Charles Craig
Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
This is good listening!
I am interested in how it ends.
Publisher's Summary
A US president with outward contempt for the Founding Fathers and the limits of the US Constitution, who's administration is rocked by scandals....
The Governor of Texas, the self-described mortal enemy of the president, directs a legendary Texas Ranger to rescue a Tea Party organizer from the clutches of federal agents. The resulting struggle sets the stage for a cataclysmic power struggle between officials in Austin and Washington, DC, further polarizing the nation and resulting in arrest warrants for duly elected state officials.
The rest of the country and, the world, watches in awe and despair as the "Texas Crisis" unfolds, affecting world financial markets amid skyrocketing fuel prices. The Texas legislature sends the vote to the people of Texas and the president orders the vote stopped as he suspends the Second Amendment and declares martial law. Texas is now in A State of Treason.
©2014 David Thomas Roberts (P)2015 David Thomas Roberts



3. eBook/Kindle (NG)


Sugar Pine Trail: A Small-Town Christmas Romance (Haven Point)
by RaeAnne Thayne
I'm ready to start my holiday reading.
Received through NetGalley.
An unlikely attraction brings comfort, joy and unforgettable romance this holiday season!
Librarian Julia Winston is ready to ditch the quiet existence she's been living. She's made a list of new things to experience, but falling for Jamie Caine, her sexy military pilot neighbor, isn't one of them. Julia's looking to conquer life, not become the heartbreaker's latest conquest. But when two young brothers wind up in Julia's care for the holidays, she'll take any help she can get—even Jamie's.
Happy to step in, Jamie reveals a side of himself that's much harder to resist. Not only is he fantastic with kids, he provides the strength Julia needs to tackle her list. She knows their temporary family can't last beyond the holidays, but the closer she gets to Jamie, the more she wonders if things could be this merry and bright forever…



4. Audio/CD
About a Dog cover art


About a Dog
By: Jenn McKinlay
Narrated by: Allyson Ryan
Series: Bluff Point Romances, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
I received this CD audiobook from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox.
Publisher's Summary
Mackenzie "Mac" Harris fled her hometown of Bluff Point, Maine after being left at the altar and seeking solace in the arms of her best friend's off-limits brother, Gavin. Seven years later, she's back to attend her best friend's wedding, and she figures she's safe now from the mistakes of her youth.
But Gavin, the town's veterinarian, has never forgotten the woman who has always held his heart. And when Mac rescues a stray puppy named Tulip, only Gavin can help. With a little assistance from Tulip, Gavin vows to make Mac realize that their feelings are more than just puppy love....
©2017 Jenn McKinlay (P)2017 Dreamscape Media, LLC



5. eBook/Kindle (NG)


The Rancher's Christmas Song 
(The Cowboys of Cold Creek)
by RaeAnne Thayne
This is another Christmas read from NetGalley.
Keep a song in your heart this holiday season…
Music teacher Ella Baker’s plate is already full. But when single dad Beckett McKinley’s wild twin boys need help preparing a Christmas song for their father, Ella agrees on one condition: they teach her to ride a horse. She’s hoping that’ll help mend her strained relationship with her rancher father; it certainly has nothing to do with the crush that’s lingered since her one and only date with Beck.
It isn’t disinterest spurring Beck to keep his distance—if anything, the spark is too strong, with Ella reminding him of his ex-wife. Soon what started as an innocent arrangement is beginning to feel a lot like family. But with the holidays approaching, Beck and Ella will have to overcome past hurts if they want to keep each other warm this Christmas…



6. Print/Ladies Book Club



The Christmas Code Booklet
by O. S. Hawkin
I picked this up on sale for my book club as Advent reading for December.
The holidays can be a busy time! Keep your heart and mind focused on Jesus with this Advent devotional. Hawkins offers 25 seasonal entries tracing the story of Jesus from its earliest roots in the Old Testament to God's gift of salvation. Each entry features a Scripture passage, inspirational thought, "code word," and prayer of reflection. 64 pages, softcover from Nelson.


December 3, 2017 - I am 1/2 day ahead in the One Year Bible reading. 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 4 books and posted 3 reviews. I am behind with 7 reviews pending. 
I am a week behind linking my reviews at Goodreads, Amazon and Audible.
My NetGalley shelf is now at 7; 5 more for this year and 2 for 2018. I still have one committed author title in queue and many through InstaFreebie.


We're working on two more 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 have two Ladies Book Club books to list and I received one audiobook and two hardback review titles last week.
I bought one Audible daily deal.
I bought one Kindle titles at $.99 and a special book at $9.99.
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

The Vision and Beyond,
by David Wilkerson.
See above under Currently Reading for full description.


The Christmas Code Booklet
by O. S. Hawkin
See above under Currently Reading for full description.

About a Dog cover art
About a Dog
By: Jenn McKinlay
Narrated by: Allyson Ryan
See above under Currently Reading for full description.



I have book three, Battle Hymn (releasing 2/2018), from NetGalley and the publisher publicity assistant was kind to send me books one and two to read.
Into the Guns (America Rising)
by William C. Dietz
and
Seek and Destroy (America Rising)
by William C. Dietz

Won
NONE
Purchased
Audible Daily Deal title Purchased 12/2/17 $3.95
Fata Morgana cover artFata Morgana
By: Steven R. Boyett, Ken Mitchroney
Narrated by: Macleod Andrews
Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins
Release date: 06-13-17
I like alternate history plots.

I picked up two Kindle titles:
One for $.99:
Tech Mage: The Magitech Chronicles Book 1
by Chris Fox


And this Special purchase for $9.99:
25 For One: A Charity Bundle
For Hurricane Relief in TX, FL, PR, and USVI
by Tom Abrahams (Author, Editor),‎ Bobby Adair (Author),‎ Jay Allan (Author),‎ & 22 more


Free
Because it is late I am not linking any of the free titles this week.

I added 59 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 December 3, 2017

We had a good Sunday School lesson continuing a study on death. Pastor continued the sermon series “Illuminate” with the second half of Galatians 5. Pastor reminded that all of Paul’s letter to the Galatians compares living under the law with living under grace.

Everyone must cope with the tug of war that comes with the expectations of life. We are bound in earthly forms with fleshly desires and can only find our freedom in Christ and by walking in the Spirit. Galatians 5:13-26.

Point: Living the Spirit-led life, means living a LIFE-giving life. 

How do we judge morality in the ever-changing standards of the world? We are to search God’s word and trust God's grace. We cannot succeed through human effort to keep the law, so we need to live each day by the spirit.

We should be loving our neighbor as ourself. Even within the church we should be Life-giving, encouraging each other, not tearing each other down.If we are criticizing and sniping at each other then we are destroying ourselves from within; doing Satan's job.

We must consider the Sin-led life vs. the Spirit-led life, noting the difference as set out as immorality in Galatians 5:19-21 and the fruits of the spirit in verses 22-26. Living in the Spirit means living for a higher standard. The higher standard produces. It doesn't just refrain from doing.

How do we live the Spirit-led life? Ask the Spirit to convict us and conform our lives. Nail the sin-led desires of life to the cross and leave them there where they are covered by Christ’s blood. Bury the sinful impulses or nail them each day.

I wanted to start Christmas songs today so this one fits a bit with the message.
Verses for Today:
Galatians 5: 24-25 NIV
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Lord I pray that you help me each day to live by Your Spirit!
Related image

Image result for Galatians 5:24-25

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Sharing Beyond Books #331 Comment Giveaway December 2, 2017

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

Thanks to everyone who commented last week. Only one out of 19 of us might purchase a book if it was a favorite author or she was pre-ordering the book anyway. One other might enter if she had already purchased the book. The rest of us would choose not to purchase the book for contest entry.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #330 comments is: #16 Rubynreba 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 #331
(One Question.)

Mystica asks: The P&P [Pride and Prejudice] book has got so many spin offs its unimaginable the extent to which it has now grown. Is there any other book which has created an interest like this??
I know that there are spin offs for Beauty and the Beast and other fairy tales but I am not aware of another book that has as many spin offs or adaptations as P&P.
Related image
Image found at It's Always Autumn.

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. Mystica asks: The P&P [Pride and Prejudice] book has got so many spin offs its unimaginable the extent to which it has now grown. Is there any other book which has created an interest like this??

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 December 9, 2017 at 5 PM central.

Book Review: Oberon's Meaty Mysteries: The Squirrel on the Train by Kevin Hearne

This is a very fun quick mystery story.
Oberon's Meaty Mysteries: The Squirrel on the Train
by Kevin Hearne
File Size: 560 KB
Print Length: 120 pages
Publisher: Subterranean Press (November 30, 2017)
ASIN: B076JB7YKH
Genre: Animals, Mystery, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0


Oberon the Irish wolfhound is off to Portland to smell all the things with canine companions, and, of course, his human, ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan. The first complication is an wolfhound Orlaith and Boston terrier Starbuck unmistakable sign of sinister agendas afoot: a squirrel atop the train. But an even more ominous situation is in store when the trio plus Atticus stumble across a murder upon arrival at the station. They recognize Detective Gabriela Ibarra, who’s there to investigate. But they also recognize the body—or rather that the body is a doppelganger for Atticus himself. The police, hampered by human senses of smell and a decided lack of canine intuition, obviously can’t handle this alone. Not with Atticus likely in danger. Oberon knows it’s time to investigate once more—for justice! For gravy! And possibly greasy tacos!
Alongside his faithful Druid, Oberon and the other loyal hounds navigate by nose through Portland to find a bear-shifter friend with intel, delicious clues at the victim’s home, and more squirrels. Always more squirrels!
But will our hungry band of heroes be able to identify the culprit before someone else is murdered? Will there be mystery meat in gravy as a reward or tragedy in store for the world’s (or at least the Pacific Northwest’s) greatest dog detective?
Like its predecessor The Purloined Poodle, the latest of Oberon’s Meaty Mysteries, The Squirrel on the Train, is not to be missed by fans of Kevin Hearne’s New York Times best-selling Iron Druid series.


Review:
This is a fun, easy adventure with Oberon, the Irish wolfhound who keeps company with Iron Druid, Atticus. Atticus is taking Oberon and his friends, wolfhound Orlaith and Boston terrier Starbuck, on the train to Portland where they can have a run. Initially the dogs are distressed because there is a squirrel on the train. The dogs are convinced that all squirrels have an evil plan against dogs and humans.

They all get distracted when they get to the station and find a body that looks an awful lot like Atticus. Detective Gabriela Ibarra, who has worked with Atticus before, is there to investigate. Since Atticus isn’t official to help, he and the dogs join in unofficially with the dogs using their noses to hunt down clues.

The story is told from Oberon’s doggy brain, acknowledging that he doesn’t understand time where 10 minutes might be 10 hours or years for all the dog knows. And of course they get distracted by food, not to mention the squirrels.

This made me want to pick up the series where I left off (at Book 5). If you have never read this series I recommend it for fun and excitement. This is just a short side story but could be read to get a feel for the characters and a taste of the author’s writing. It should give a reason to smile.

I received this from NetGalley. This qualifies for my 2017 NetGalley Challenge.

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