Sunday Words of Encouragement February 25, 2018

Our Sunday School teacher was out of town but the substitute added some commentary to the lessons from the last several weeks. We had many different prayer requests and noted that God was blessing but also keeping us on our knees.

Pastor delivered the fourth message in his Inhabited series on the Holy Spirit. He reminded us of last week’s point that the power of the Holy Spirit is continuing for every day. He also noted that he taught on the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Wednesday night’s prayer service. Pastor reiterated that the real spirit will always point toward God, not to the leader or speaker. We can be functional, even effective, but not powerful if we don’t allow the Spirit to lead us.

Influence is powerful and important. Influence is defined as: the capacity to have an effect on the character, development or behavior of someone or something. Assess yourself: Who influences you? and who do you influence? Are you following a good example and being a good example to others? The Holy Spirit living in us should be the #1 influencer of our lives.

Point: When we live full of the Holy Spirit, He spills over into every part of our life.

Does the Spirit spill out of you and splash on others? Do they see that something is different about your life?

Pastor read from Acts 4:8-13 noting that Peter spoke out boldly, even when facing the possibility of prison. Acts tells us that during the ministry of the apostles men and women were being saved, coming to accept Jesus, every day, up to 5000 men by then. (Verse 4.) The power of the Spirit pointed the way to Jesus, not to Peter or the other apostles.

The elders and teachers of the law were astonished at the boldness (verse 13) and they let them go. They were afraid of riot, because everyone was praising God. lifted voices together in prayer. (Verse 24.) Boldness comes with the power of Spirit. Acts 4:21- 35.

The apostles continued meeting with new believers and healing people along the way with ill people being laid along the way so they would be in Peter’s shadow. Acts 5:12-15. The power of the spirit filled believers spilled out along the streets.

Pastor gave a wonderful demonstration of the spirit overflowing so that the body is no longer seen but only the Spirit.
Imagine living each day as Spirit-spilled!

There are three steps to being Spirit-filled:
1. Pursue Jesus every day.
2. As you pursue, the Holy Spirit will come upon you.
3. Cooperate with the Holy Spirit.

If you are Spirit filled, the Holy Spirit can put you to use you each day. Wherever you are you can spill over – at school, college, work, grocery store. Wherever you go and whomever you come in contact with can be touched by the Holy Spirit overflowing in your life.

This song speaks of boldness and the power living on the inside.

A Verse for Today:
Acts 4:31
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Again I pray : Lord, fill me to overflowing and use me each day.

Sharing Beyond Books #338 Comment Giveaway February 24, 2018

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

I am going to continue to post this event biweekly (every other week) for another month and then see if I am ready to go back to four a month. I have gotten some more questions - Thank you.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
12 of us never heard of candles with book inspired scents. Three are not interested; two find the idea intriguing; one finds the idea yummy and one finds the idea a fun concept. The two flavors mentioned were: The Secret Garden and ACOMAF (A Court of Mist and Fury).

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #337 comments is: #12 LisaR 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 #338

(One Question.)

Elizabeth asks: Do you tend to listen to music while reading? Anything specific??

I think this may have been asked in the early days of this feature but I thought it would be okay to ask again since there are some newer commenters. I do not listen to music while reading. I think it would be distracting. Anymore I rarely listen to any music since I am always listening to books if not reading one. :-)

Image found at 720p.9ads.
If you like music while reading check this link - there are several YouTube videos that share music samples and some with specific suggestions for specific books like these young ladies:

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.
Since I am only doing two posts a month I am splitting the comment prize if GC and count 1/2 book for US winners. For February Ashfa and Elizabeth each get $2.50 credit (or half a book for Elizabeth if she wants) for questions.

Your turn to share. Elizabeth asks: Do you tend to listen to music while reading? Anything specific??

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 March 10, 2018 at 5 PM central.

Audible Book Review: Scarlet, The Lunar Chronicles, Book 2, by Marissa Meyer

This introduced new characters to help Cinder face her destiny. The story/series is engaging.
Scarlet
The Lunar Chronicles, Book 2
By: Marissa Meyer
Narrated by: Rebecca Soler

Series: The Lunar Chronicles, Book 2
Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 02-05-13
Language: English
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Adaptations, Alien, Fantasy, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0; Audio 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the best-selling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison - even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life.
When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.
©2013 Marissa Meyer (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

Review:
Scarlet, named for her red hair, is desperately searching for her missing grandmother. The authorities are inclined to think grandmother has just gone off of her free will, but Scarlet is convinced she wouldn’t go without leaving some word. Scarlet continues to run her usual errands but she is greatly frustrated. She happens to run into a young man on the streets, a street fighter who seems keenly interested in her. Scarlet suspects she should be afraid of Wolf but she is oddly drawn to him.

Wolf shows up at Scarlet’s farm as she is arguing with her alcoholic father who is tearing the home apart. She had not seen her father for years and now it appears he has knowledge about her missing grandmother. Her father has clearly been tortured and Scarlet fears for her grandmother.

Wolf convinces Scarlet to let him help her go to Paris seeking her grandmother who has been taken by a pack group that Wolf claims to have left. He tries to talk Scarlet out of it noting how dangerous it will be but she will do whatever it takes to get to her grandmother.

Meanwhile Cinder escapes from prison and picks up another prisoner, “Captain” Thorne. He claims to have an airship they can use to escape authorities. The two are at odds but trouble makes strange companions. Iko adds snark when Cinder brings her back as part of the airship computer.

Evil, awful, Queen LeVana is tightening the trap around Prince Kai as her fury rages at Cinder’s escape. Kai secretly roots for Cinder, not realizing how important she is, even perhaps to his own survival.

I enjoyed the new characters and the tension between Scarlet and Wolf. I liked how the author moves them along with danger and suspense until they meet Cinder late in the book. The mysteries and dangers continue to surround the characters and I will keep reading or listening to learn if Cinder is willing to do what it takes to challenge the Lunar Queen.

Audio Notes: Rebecca Soler does a good job with the narration. She infuses great emotion into the characters, even a trapped Iko. The energy helps carry the story along at a good pace, although at times the voices are too intense. Still, I enjoyed the audio experience and will probably look to get book three, Cress, on audio.

Source: December 2017 Audible Credit Purchase. This qualifies for 2018TBR, Audiobook and Alphabet Challenges.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway February 23, 2018

Happy Friday! And welcome to the Last Friday in February already!

Once again a busy week with lots of tasks waiting to be done. I am heading out Friday afternoon to share one night with our church Women's Retreat. It was a hard decision but I felt the break would be worthwhile even if I give up a half day of work.

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 February 16 Pick. There were TWO 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 blocked titles.
CarolL gets A Kiss Before Dawn
and
bn100 gets Plan of Attack

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from February 16 Pick:
LLEHN gets a GC and
Welcome to RUTY who gets a CG.

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.}

I got lucky and found a Goodbye February image. :-)
Image found at Vivatramp.

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New Book Group #77 February 16, 2018
I thought I would look for some 'Springish' titles but that didn't happen. Hope someone finds a title or two you like.

PAIRS
Betty Neals: Tabitha by Moonlight and Fate Takes a Hand
Nora Robert: Hot Ice (spine creased) and Sanctuary
SINGLES:
My Lord Conqueror by Samantha James
Surrender by Pamela Clare
Dessert Rogue by Suzanne Simmons
The Rose and the Shield by Elaine Barrieri
Hannah’s Courtship by Emma Miller
Someone to Watch Over Me by Judith McNaught
Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
Heroes Are My Weakness by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
A Husband’s Wicked Ways by Jane Feather
Hot on Her Heels by Susan Mallery
Indigo Blue by Catherine Anderson
Between the Devil and Desire (Scoundrels of St. James Book 2) by Lorraine Heath (hardback)


New Book Group #76 November 3, 2017
21 books remain of the original 37:

I finally Have them Listed!
Boots & Booties by Kristine Rolofson
Saucer the Conquest by Stephen Coonts
Echo Burning by Lee Child
The Scorpion Seducer by Bonnie Vanak
Hell On Earth by David L. Porter
Tempted All Night by Liz Carlyle
Day of the Dead by J.A. Jance
White Night by Jim Butcher
Five Gold Rings Anthology Constance O’Banyon and three others
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton
Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell
Crisscross by Harmon Henkin
Wizard’s Daughter by Catherine Coulter
Pearl Beyond Price by Claire Delacroix
Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey
The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks
The Wicked Wyckerly by Patricia Rice
Inhuman Condition by Clive Barker
Night Whispers by Judith McNaught
101 Commonsense Rules for the Office by John R. Brinkerhoff


 THESE BOOKS CHOSEN/WON ARE THE ONES STRICKEN HERE:
Finger Licken' Fifteen
How to Tame a Highland Warrior
The Texan
Total Control
Atlantis Found
Stephanie Laurens Pair
Desperado 
Rebellious Desires 
Forget Me Not 
The Eighth Commandment
Ghost Riders
The Manning Brides by Debbie Macomber 
Shadow Music 
Corbin's Fancy 
Hawk's Lady

This shelf of 35 books are what is left from Groups #1 (11/27/09) through Group #75 September 29, 2017

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 14 titles.)
Rehabilitation
Secret Blessing
Named of the Dragon
Daring
Aunt Erma's Cope Book
JoAnn Ross: Confessions
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
The New Birth Order Book by Dr. Kevin Leman
A Kiss Before Dawn by Kimberly Logan
The Fireman’s Fair by Josephine Humphreys (Hardcover)
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen
Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven
There Was A Little Girl by Ed McBain (Audio Cassettes)
Love's Brazen Fire by Betina Krahn 

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 21 titles.)
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown
(*Three more very old books from my Gothics box.)
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell
*Four books are very old; pulled from a box of gothic novels I found.
*Maggie – Her Marriage by Taylor Caldwell (1953 very old, yellowed pages, some stain damage doesn't effect reading)
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty by Vickie Kennedy
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
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
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester


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 EIGHT years I have posted 75 groups of 16 (1,200) books to find new homes! (as of November 2, 2017).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,142+books have found new homes through this feature! YAY. [A month or so ago I posted I had reached 2000 books given away. As I calculated the numbers 11/2/17 I realized that had to be an error. I realized I went from 1098 to 2001 instead of 1101. Guess I was tired; sorry for the error.] 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 Book Review: River Rising, Carson Chronicles, Book 1, by John A. Heldt

I enjoyed this time travel adventure. Mr. Hedlt creates engaging characters and situations.

River Rising
Carson Chronicles, Book 1
By: John A. Heldt
Narrated by: Chaz Allen

Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 01-05-18
Language: English
Publisher: John A. Heldt
Genre: Adventure, Time Travel
My Rating: Story 4.0 of 5.0
Audio: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Weeks after his parents disappear on a hike, engineer Adam Carson, 27, searches for answers. Then he discovers a secret website and learns his mom and dad are time travelers stuck in the past. Armed with the information he needs to find them, Adam convinces his younger siblings to join him on a rescue mission to the 1880s.
While Greg, the adventurous middle brother, follows leads in the Wild West, Adam, journalist Natalie, and high school seniors Cody and Caitlin do the same in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Like the residents of the bustling steel community, all are unaware of a flood that will destroy the city on May 31, 1889.
In River Rising, the first novel in the Carson Chronicles series, five young adults find love, danger, and adventure as they experience America in the age of bustle dresses, gunslingers, and robber barons.
©2017 John A. Heldt (P)2017 John A. Heldt

Review:
Adam Carson and his four siblings have lost their parents. Months after they are buried Adam gets a package from the family lawyer that reveals a remarkable secret. Their parents might not be dead because they have apparently traveled back in time. Adam presents the proposal to his brothers and sisters: stay without their parents or travel back in time to find them? The children agree to leave their world in 2017 to go to 1880 to find their parents.

The story follows the youths as they adjust to a past without cars, phones, computers or the many other modern conveniences they are accustomed to. Greg takes the train to the West, Arizona and California, running into a bit of frontier trouble. The rest of the family is in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a growing town where some find work, they all make friends and even a couple find romance. They become nicely involved in the community even as they watch the date for their return to 2017. However, they don’t realize they are in the path of a rising flood.

I thoroughly enjoyed the history as well as the story line. Heldt develops the characters of each of the siblings, who are good people, who have growing friendships. I enjoyed the gentle romances, the strength of Natalie’s character, and the excitement and danger that Greg faces. It was also fun to have Samuel Clemens as a brief character.

I have read early books that involved the parents’ time travels. Those explained the time mechanism where this book totally skimmed that which could be a hole for readers who weren’t familiar with the prior works. It was also unclear to me why the parents missed their timely return and the children arrived somewhere they didn’t expect to be. (Maybe it was there, and I missed it in the audio.)

I appreciate the warm characters and the imaginative and engaging story which are consistent with Mr. Heldt’s writings. I also liked how the story is told in different chapters from the view of the siblings. This story has an ending but it is not the end of the journey. I recommend the story to fans of time travel and also to those who like strong sibling adventure, historical details and clean romance.

Audio Notes: Chaz Allen takes a little bit of getting used to. He doesn’t really give a distinct voice to each character. However, his direct presentation with just a touch of a slow drawl, seems to fit the story, especially the historic settings. I was glad to listen to this in audio as it is a longer book than I normally pick up.

Source: From the author through AudioBook Boom for an honest review. This qualifies for my Audiobook and Alphabet Challenge, including 2018.