Book Review: Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan

This is a wonderful book that reminds us of our true relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit
by Francis Chan

File Size: 1082 KB
Print Length: 186 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook (September 1, 2009)
Language: English
ASIN: B005MT8PUQ
Genre: Church Growth, Pneumatology, Theology
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

In the name of the Father, the Son, and ... the Holy Spirit. We pray in the name of all three, but how often do we live with an awareness of only the first two? As Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit—the Helper—so that we could be true and living witnesses for Christ. Unfortunately, today's church has admired the gift but neglected to open it.
Breakthrough author Francis Chan rips away paper and bows to get at the true source of the church's power—the Holy Spirit. Chan contends that we've ignored the Spirit for far too long, and we are reaping the disastrous results. Thorough scriptural support and compelling narrative form Chan's invitation to stop and remember the One we've forgotten, the Spirit of the living God.

Review:
Francis Chan shares his concerns that believers focus on God the Father and Jesus the Savior and forget that the Holy Spirit is available to give us power each and every day. Chan provides scripture noting that Jesus went away so that he could send the Helper in His place. The Holy Spirit dwells within us when we invite Him in. He is available to give us strength, comfort, and guidance for everyday living. And when we live with the Holy Spirit guiding our lives we should be reflecting His love, joy, peace and the other fruits of the spirit.

Chan encourages the Church and believers to remember to allow the Spirit to dwell and lead in our worship as well as our daily lives. We probably can recall that special event when we first felt the Spirit or received the gift of speaking in tongues. But those moments should not be limited to days in the past. They should be alive and real to us everyday. A sophisticated program should never replace the authenticity of the word and joy provided by the Holy Spirit. If we are willing to be open, we can actually feel the presence of the Holy Spirit, we might hear His quiet voice and we may even speak in heavenly tongues.

My friends in Ladies Book Club and I fully enjoyed reading this. It helped us to acknowledge the importance of allowing the Holy Spirit to be evident in our lives. I recommend this to readers who want to renew their awareness, and recognize their dependence, on the God who dwells with us, the Holy Spirit.

Source: Kindle Free TBR 2012. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019 Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon

This is an awesome fantasy, fairy tale romance.

The Bird and the Sword
By: Amy Harmon
Narrated by: Trina Nishimura

Series: The Bird and the Sword Chronicles, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 10-20-16
Language: English
Publisher: Novel Audio
Genre: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Romance
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Narration

Publisher's Summary
Swallow, daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them 'til they've time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, 'til the hour. You won't speak and you won't tell, you won't call on heaven or hell. You will learn and you will thrive. Silence, daughter. Stay alive.
The day my mother was killed, she told my father I wouldn't speak again, and she told him if I died, he would die too. Then she predicted the king would sell his soul and lose his son to the sky. My father has a claim to the throne, and he is waiting in the shadows for all of my mother's words to come to pass. He wants desperately to be king, and I just want to be free. But freedom will require escape, and I'm a prisoner of my mother's curse and my father's greed. I can't speak or make a sound, and I can't wield a sword or beguile a king. In a land purged of enchantment, love might be the only magic left, and who could ever love...a bird?
©2016 Amy Harmon (P)2016 Audiobooks.com Publishing.

Review:
Lark is gifted in a kingdom that has banned the gifted. When she is only five years old the king executes her mother in front of Lark. Before she dies Lark’s mother, a Teller, instructs her to swallow ‘those words”, “…curse not, cure not.” Her mother speaks a future against the king and his son, then tells Lark’s father that his life is tied to Larks: if she dies, he dies. Her father wants nothing to do with Lark but keeps her under lock and key with no friends. Lark sneaks out to the surrounding forest usually shadowed by her only friend, and self-appointed protector, a troll by the name of Boojohni.

Lark, now a silent young lady of 17, is caught out in the road when the new king, King Tiras, finds her. He decides to capture and hold her as a form of ransom to make her father cooperate and commit his troops to a current threat. A massive army of Volgar, half-vulture and half deformed human, are attacking the border cities of the kingdom. King Tiras has called on the provinces to aid in the battles.

Lark isn’t happy being kidnapped by the son of her mother’s murderer. As they ride to return to the king’s city, the king’s entourage is attacked by the Volgar. They are all surprised when Lark is able to help repel the attack. Now King Tiras has even more reason to keep Lark at his side.

There are four types of gifted: Spinners who can manipulate inanimate objects; Tellers who can see and speak the future; Changers who can become other creatures; and Healers. The king has his own secrets, as do many other authorities and citizens. It appears that half of the king’s counsel are plotting to take over the throne. As Lark and Tiras grow closer the dangers hovering within the kingdom and in the skies above are increasing.

I was quickly drawn into this story by the lyrical writing, the distinctive characters, the solid world building and the magical plot. Lark is a lonely but lovely character. She has great power coupled with great compassion. Tiras is a strong leader dedicated to saving the kingdom no matter what it takes, including the possibility of sacrifices. There is wonderful mystery, suspense and danger as well as a gentle, deep romance.

This book is complete for the primary characters. I am glad there is a second book and also glad that it will tell the story of King Tiras’ stepbrother, Kjell. I will be getting book 2 soon and looking for more titles by Amy Harmon. I highly recommend this to readers who love fantasy romance.

Audio Notes: Trina Nishimura does an entrancing narration of this work. She captures the tone of the magic while providing good voices suiting the characters. I look forward to hearing more narration by this talented performer.

Source: June 2017 Audible Daily Deal $3.95. This qualifies for 2019TB and 2019Audiobook goals.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway February 15, 2019

Happy Friday! Another week that started wet but has now warmed up. :-)

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 8, 2019 Pick. There was one automatic win this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. No titles were blocked.
BN100 gets Sisters & Secrets

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from February 8, 2019 Pick:
Linda gets a GC
and
Mystica gets a GC

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.}

Love and Books go together like ....
Image found at Lehigh Libraries.

New Book Group #84 December 15, 2018
Here are some Christmas titles to pick from.

One PAIR:
Susan Wiggs: Snowfall and Fireside
SINGLES:
A Family for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich
On this Holy Night
A Rancher for Christmas
Christmas Haven
Christmas Brides Anthology
Holiday in Death
Christmas Homecoming
Together by Christmas Anthology
The Christmas Date
The Christmas Promise (hardback)
A Blue and Grey Christmas (hardback)
The Snow Angel (CD Audiobook)
King Harold's Snow Job


New Book Group #83 November 30, 2018

(Starting bottom left and continuing up then down)
PAIRS:
Kat Martin: Bold Angel and Devil's Prize
Elizabeth Lowell: Death Is Forever and Running Scared
SINGLE
It Takes a Hero by Elizabeth Boyle
Two Alone by Sandra Brown
'Tween a Devil and his hard Place by Sam Cheever
Seductive Secrets by Lynne Connolly
Seven Up by Janet Evanovich - Audio Cassettes
A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein Audio Cassettes
Highland Guardian by Melissa Mayhue
Hot Pursuit by Christinea Skye
Sisters & Secrets Anthology
Reader's Digest Condensed Books - each hardback
Cold Harbour and The Courtship of Peggy McCoy
The Things We Do for Love, Three Weeks With My Brother, The Murder Artist and Night Train to Lisbon
Follow the Stars Home, Hunting Badger, The Quiet Game and Second Wind

New Book Group #82 November 9, 2018

Pairs:
Stella Cameron: French Quarter and Key West
Jude Deveraux: Mulberry Tree and Wild Orchids
SINGLES:
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
Unmasked Anthology - Jennifer Blake, Janet Dailey and Elizabeth Gage
Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich
Killing Time by Linda Howard
The Finer Things by Brenda Joyce
Wicked Promise by Kat Martin
Countess of Scandal by Laurel McKee
The Leopard's Woman by Linda Lael Miller and White Wolf by Lindsay McKenna
Eagle and the Dove by Victoria Morrow
To Love Again by Bertrice Small
The Wedding Night by Barbara Dawson Smith
Primal Obsession by Susan Vaughn

New Book Group #81 August 17, 2018

There are three audios at the top:

No One Left to Tell is MP3
Kisscut is Cassettes
Dark Summer is CDs
Pairs:
Kay Hooper and
Carla Neggers Red Clover Inn
SINGLES
Cold Pursuit by Carla Neggers
Best Laid Plans
Bound For Murder
Asking for Murder
Pretty Poison
Darkness Tell Us
Last Writes (A Jaine Austen Mystery Series Book 2) by Laura Levine
Don’t Tell a Soul by S. K. McClafferty - MSE has on Kindle 2013
Zombies of the Gene Pool
Cooking More Deadly


New Book Group #80 August 17, 2018

Note: The Final Judgment and
The Book of Fate are Audio Cassettes
PAIRS
Fern Michaels and James Patterson
SINGLES:
Summer’s Moon
The Green Trap
End Game
Night School
The Red Tent
The Final Judgment Audio Cassettes
Secrets of Paris
Linda Goodnight
Irish Charmers, the Mighty Quinns
Firebird
No Getting Over a Cowboy
The Book of Fate Audio Cassettes


New Book Group #79 July 13, 2018
I found this box of books buried under some other boxes.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lenox by Maggie O’Farrell
P.S. by Helen Schulman
Her Sexiest Surprise by Dawn Atkins (personally autographed)
The Maverick Preacher by Victoria Bylin (personally autographed)
The Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver
The Doctor’s Forever Family by Marie Ferrarella
Dakota Child by Linda Ford
Branded by the Sheriff by Delores Fossen
The Italian’s Inexperienced Mistress
Calling the Shots by Ellen Hartman
Promises, Promises by Amber Miller
This Time for Keeps by Jenna Mills
Rhapsody in Time by Judith O’Brien
A Daughter’s Legacy by Virginia Smith
Another Man’s Baby by Kay Stockham
The Cowboy’s Christmas Miracle by RaeAnne Thayne


New Book Group #78 April 27, 2018

PAIRS
Johanna Lindsey Pair
Judith Krentz Pair
SINGLES
Midnight Rainbow
Blackberry Bush
Breaking Point
A Tangled Affair
To Wicked to Love
Betrayed
My Dark Prince
Roses are Red Audio Cassettes
Brothers of Gwynedd
Fatal Defect
Bones of the Sea and Other Stories
By a Spider's Thread



New Book Group #77 February 16, 2018- All gone

New Book Group #76 November 3, 2017
13 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

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 82 groups of 16 plus an additional 21 totaling 1,333 books to find new homes! (as of November 9, 2018).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,221+ books have found new homes through this feature! YAY. [A year 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!

Audio Book Review: Buried Secrets (Men of Valor Series, Book #1) by Irene Hannon

This is good (not great) romantic suspense.
Buried Secrets (Men of Valor Series, Book #1)
Series Men of Valor Series
Author Irene Hannon
Narrator Therese Plummer and Jennifer Grace

Runtime 10.5 Hrs. - Unabridged
Publisher Recorded Books
Downloads ZIP M4B MP3
Release Date April 7, 2015
Genre: Christian, Mystery, Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.0 Overall, Story, and Narration

After seven years as a Chicago homicide detective, Lisa Grant has hit a wall. Ready for a kinder, gentler life, she takes a job as a small-town police chief. But the discovery of a human skeleton by a construction crew at the edge of town taxes the resources of her department. A call for assistance brings detective Mac McGregor, an ex-Navy SEAL, to her doorstep. As they work to solve the mystery behind the unmarked grave, danger begins to shadow them. Someone doesn't want this dead person telling any tales--and will stop at nothing to make certain a life-shattering secret stays buried.
Master storyteller Irene Hannon is back with an exciting new series featuring former special forces operatives now in the thick of the action in civilian life. Hannon is at the top of her game in this can't-put-it-down thriller that will have readers up until the wee hours devouring every page.

Review:
Lisa Grant left her tense job as a Chicago homicide detective to become a small-town police chief. When a construction crew uncovers a human skeleton, Lisa calls for help from the County enforcement. Detective Mac McGregor, a handsome ex-Navy Seal, steps on scene to help. He gets off on the wrong foot and has to scramble to recover his equilibrium with the striking police chief.

Lisa is at a point in life where she is open to making personal time to look towards a family on her own. Mac is at an age where he would like to settle down with a family like his own close-knit clan. The two professionals clearly have zinging chemistry, but they agree to hold off on any personal relationship until their current investigation is complete.

Lisa and Mac are intent on revealing the events almost twenty years ago that resulted in a death of a young girl. They have identified the victim and have pressed the three ‘friends’ who were last known to see the girl. However, without hard evidence they are preparing to shut the investigation as a cold case. Then new deaths begin to alarm Lisa and Mac.

A strong element of this story is the pull between the characters who have to defer even the first date. This is woven throughout the mystery and case interviews. I appreciated the presentation of the heat of the attraction without graphic, sexual details. The romance was sort of refreshing as the couple acknowledge their interest but put it on hold... except in their thought processes which was a bit repetitive. I also found the lack of provable evidence in the crimes to be interesting and well crafted. The Christian faith of the characters is apparent in their life choices but not preachy.

Mac’s brothers are other strong alpha men who make fun, flirtatious appearances and are presumably the “men of valor’ whose stories are shared in the series. I recommend this to readers who like Christian romantic suspense.

Audio Notes: Narrators Therese Plummer and Jennifer Grace did a nice job sharing the characters and narrative. I’ve always enjoyed Therese Plummer and I liked the offset voice from Jennifer Grace. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: Christian Audiobook Sale July 2017. This qualifies for 2019TBR, 2019 Audiobook and 2019Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: The Last Woman in the Forest by Diane Les Becquets

This is an interesting psychological thriller.

The Last Woman in the Forest
by Diane Les Becquets

Print Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Berkley (March 5, 2019)
Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07DMZ4P68
Genre: Mystery, Psychological Thriller
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

From the national bestselling author of Breaking Wild, here is a riveting and powerful thriller about a woman whose greatest threat could be the man she loves.…
Marian Engström has found her true calling: working with rescue dogs to help protect endangered wildlife. Her first assignment takes her to northern Alberta, where she falls in love with her mentor, the daring and brilliant Tate. When they’re separated on another assignment, she’s shattered to learn of his tragic death. Before long, Marian discovers disturbing inconsistencies about Tate’s life, and begins to wonder if the man she loved could have been responsible for the unsolved murders of at least four women.
Hoping to clear Tate’s name, Marian reaches out to a retired forensic profiler who’s haunted by the open cases. But as Marian relives her relationship with Tate and circles ever closer to the truth, evil stalks her every move.…

Review:
Marian Engström is a gentle sort of person who loves animals. She drifted from job to job until she found a job working with rescue dogs in an endangered wildlife research program. The dogs are specially trained and assigned to trained handlers. Marian was lucky to get accepted to the program and slowly gets to advance with the training skills. She meets Tate who becomes her training and mentor. Marian is surprised by Tate’s interest but craves his gentle, caring attention. Romantic entanglement is not permitted in the project teams but they secretly become involved. One of the other workers warns Marian that a relationship with another handler would probably not survive their separation to different jobs around the world.

After being assigned separate projects, Marian is devastated to learn of Tate’s death by a bear attack. She becomes more confused and distraught when a visit with Tate’s sister reveals that Tate lied to her about his life history.

Tate once told her that he found a female victim of a serial murderer who was never caught. Tate described the body with particular detail which Marian realizes shouldn’t be possible if the woman wasn’t found for months. Marian calls the investigating forensic profiler, Nick, trying to assure herself that she hadn’t fallen in love with a monster.

Nick is retired and dealing with his own health issues. But he agrees to talk to Marian and review the information she has. Bit by bit a picture of Tate develops that leaves Nick scared for Marian’s safety just as he himself is preparing for specialist treatment for life threatening cancer.

This story builds through an interesting series of present events, then switch back profiles and memories. Marian dialogs her history, her first encounter and subsequent romantic development with Tate. Interspersed with Marian’s accounts are Nick’s developed profiles of each of the murder victims, describing the facts that led him to believe how they were approached and the events of each of their murders. The book starts with a prologue description of the first victim. This pulled me in. Chapter 1 jumps to present day situation with Marian concerned about the doubts she was having about Tate. Chapter 2 moves back seven months. This pattern continues throughout the book.

There was still a slowness to the story, perhaps due to this pattern of changing entries, but this was balanced with the intriguing plot that was developed by the author. There wasn’t really strong suspense until late in the story. I think this is a solid physiological thriller.

Source: 2018 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019TBR, 2019NetGalley and 2019Alphabet Goals.