MBS February 2019 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2019 Reading List - FEBRUARY

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 2019
Favorites for February:
5.0: A Bachelor Establishment; The Bird and the Sword
4.75: An Unexpected Redemption; Ladies of Intrigue
4.5: Forgotten God

1. ATBR- Audible Book Review: A Bachelor Establishment by Jodi Taylor; Humor, Historical Romance, Regency Romance; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall.
2. NG2018- #NetGalley Book Review: The Last Woman in the Forest by Diane Les Becquets; Mystery, Psychological Thriller; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0.
3. ATBR- Audiobook Review: Buried Secrets (Men of Valor Series, Book #1) by Irene Hannon; Christian, Mystery, Romantic Suspense; My Rating: 4.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
4. ebTBR LBC- Book Review: Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan; Church Growth, Pneumatology, Theology; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.
5. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon; Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Romance; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall.
6. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband by Julia Quinn; Historical Romance, Romantic Comedy; My Rating: 4.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 5.0.
7. NG2018- #NetGalley Book Review: Never Let Go (Uncommon Justice Book #1) by Elizabeth Goddard; Christian, Romantic Suspense; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.
8. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Gracie’s Touch by S.E. Smith; Romance, Sci Fi, Space Military; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.5; Narration 4.5. 
9. NG2018- #NetGalley Book Review: An Unexpected Redemption by Emily Hamsher; Christian, Medieval, Romance; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0.
10. ebTBR- Book Review: A Romantic Ghost Story by Jason W. Chan; Ghost, Paranormal, Romance; My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0.
11. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Hello Love by Karen McQuestion; Sweet Romance; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; 3.75 Story; 4.25 Narration.
12. NG2018- #NetGalley Book Review: Ladies of Intrigue: 3 Tales of 19th-Century Romance with a Dash of Mystery by Michelle Griep; Christian Romance, Historical Romance; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0.

Total read = 12; TBR = 11; New Authors = 8
Audio/Audible = 6 (6 TBRs)
eBook = 2 (2 TBRs)
NetGalley = 4 (3 TBRs)
Print = 0

Goal Progress:
• ebTBRs – 2 + 2
• Author title - 1 + 0
• New to me Series - 5 +5
• Continuing for me Series - 3 + 1
• Title with Month in it – 1 + 1
• Winter title – 1;
• Alphabet letters covered – 12 Jan + 3 Feb

Audible Book Review: Hello Love by Karen McQuestion

This is a nice, sweet story with a sweet dog.
Hello Love
By: Karen McQuestion
Narrated by: Dan John Miller

Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 09-16-14
Language: English
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Sweet Romance
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; 3.75 Story; 4.25 Narration.

Publisher's Summary
From the bestselling author of The Long Way Home comes a charming novel about loss and the faith that restores broken lives.
A year after the death of his wife, Christine, Dan is barely holding on. But one thing gets him through the long, lonely nights and that is his cherished dog, Anni. When she is stolen from his front yard, Dan and his daughter, Lindsay, are devastated. Meanwhile in another part of town, Andrea Keller is recovering from the heartbreak of a messy divorce. After she rescues a defenseless dog from an abusive tenant, her life changes in ways she never could have anticipated.
Dan and Andrea cross paths again and again, only to keep missing each other and the opportunity of a lifetime. As Anni works to find her way home, can she bring together these two lost souls desperately in need of a second chance at happiness?
©2014 Karen McQuestion (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Review:
Dan lost his wife a year earlier and, as many grieving spouses do, he buried himself in work. His wife’s beloved dog, Anni, has helped give strength to Dan and their teenaged daughter, Lindsay. Lindsay is devastated when Anni is stolen at the end of their road by young men who appear to be drinking. Dan tries to find the dog and Lindsay begins to be obsessed with finding Anni, especially as she dreams her mother is giving her clues and encouragement.

Andrea is trying to regain her footing after her husband left her for a ‘sexier’ woman. Andrea works at a real estate management company and gets a call from a tenant that another tenant in the building has a dog which is illegal. Andrea goes to give notice to the violating tenants and impulsively decides to rescue Anni who is chained out in the cold snow. Andrea quickly grows to love Anni.

Surprisingly Dan and Andrea cross paths, first exchanging names and another time sharing coffee. One night Andrea even sees Dan across the room with none other than the blonde who moved in with her ex. Apparently the new relationship between Andrea’s ex, Marco, and the blonde has failed. Marco soon shows up trying to win Andrea back.

Andrea takes Anni with her to visit her grandmother in a nursing home. She just misses being seen by Dan and Lindsay who decided to visit a family friend at the urging of Lindsay’s dreams.
The writing is on the wall – eventually Andrea and Dan have to meet and discover that they both love Anni. How will Lindsay respond and who will get to keep the dog?

Dan and Andrea are fairly well developed characters, but Anni could steal the show at least with the extent that she inspires love. The story weaves back and forth between Dan’s life and Andrea’s. There was more life activity than excitement, resulting in pacing that seemed subdued and on the edge of slow. Although this had some very lovely, sweet moments, the story is a little light, a little fluff and just a little longer than necessary. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy a light, sweet romance.

Audio Notes: Dan John Miller doe a nice job with the narration. He manages both male and female voices and provides appropriate emotional input. The audio enhanced the story for me.

Source: November 2018 Audible Sale $4.95. This qualifies for 2019TBR, 2019Audiobook and 2019Alphabet Goals.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway March 1, 2019

Happy Friday! Achk! Third month of the year already!

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 22, 2019 Pick. There were no automatic wins 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.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from February 22, 2019 Pick:
Carol L gets The Christmas Promise
and
Fredamans 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.}

Don't get mad, march off to read instead!
Image found at PODCASTPD.

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:
Kisscut is Cassettes
SINGLES

Best Laid Plans
Darkness Tell Us
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 1,225+ 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!

Book Review: A Romantic Ghost Story by Jason W. Chan

This ghostly romance reads quickly.

A Romantic Ghost Story
by Jason W. Chan

File Size: 663 KB
Print Length: 92 pages
Publication Date: December 23, 2011
ASIN: B006POX2NC
Genre: Ghost, Paranormal, Romance
My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0

Trapped on Earth and forced to marry a demon, Nancy is a spirit about to give up her dreams of success in Hollywood when a brave young man returns her faith to her, and makes her believe in love again. A Romantic Ghost Story is about the all-powerful, redemptive nature of love and how it could change someone’s world.

Review:
Nancy is lying on her death bed having lived a long, energetic life. The doctor and nurses are reluctant to tell her she is close to death but they don’t realize she is ready to die. She claims she has been dead before and she is looking forward to seeing Ryan again. The caregivers think perhaps she is hallucinating.

When Nancy’s young granddaughter arrives, she confirms that she doesn’t know about her grandmother having a death experience and she has never heard of Ryan. Nancy smiles and then drifts into memories 75 years earlier.

Nancy was a young woman born in Macedonia to a poor family. She struggles even before her parents die but then she is left in the care of a greedy, abusive “uncle”. Nancy dreams of getting to Hollywood to pursue her dreams to become a successful singer/songwriter/star. She clings to her guitar, Lucy, and sings whenever she can hoping to be discovered. She sings a sad song she wrote herself. One day a tourist eating in the café claims he is a music producer who wants to sponsor in Hollywood.

Nancy sets out with tremulous dreams but soon finds herself as a victim of sex trafficking. Events spiral down as Nancy’s situation plunges her to death and delivers her into the hands of a demonic Sea God. Although the Sea God chooses Nancy as his fiancé, this ‘privilege’ brings the threat of permanent separation from the world and any goodness. Nancy’s only joy and hope comes when she meets a young singer, Ryan. He believes in her and is willing to help her try to escape to follow her dreams.

I liked the premise of the story and feel it had strong potential. The storytelling is interesting and there is lovely tenderness in the love story between ghost Nancy and Ryan. Sadly, the story is in desperate need of editing. My reading attention was particularly disrupted by inconsistent sentence tenses. There were also some plot threads that were too unrealistic with dangers and resolutions not fully explained. This is a quick romance that could be enjoyed by readers who enjoy ghostly stories.

Source: I pulled this from my Kindle TBR shelf – 2013. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Alphabetic Goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: An Unexpected Redemption by Emily Hamsher

I liked this strong Christian romance.
An Unexpected Redemption
by Emily Hamsher

File Size: 581 KB
Print Length: 268 pages
Publisher: WestBow Press (May 8, 2018)
ASIN: B07D94GFDJ
Genre: Christian, Medieval, Romance
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Prince Lucian of Brasov has been running from his family, from God, and even from himself. When he decides to take revenge upon his elder brother by stealing away his betrothed, Lucian is taken aback by the woman in his custody. Her pure heart and unabashed kindness thwarts his every cruel intention. Lucian finds himself hoping that she might hold the answers to heal his past, even though he knows she can never be his.
Every girl dreams of marrying her prince, so when Lady Adelina receives the unexpected announcement of her betrothal to the Prince of the realm, she takes it as a clear sign of the Lords will. When she is kidnapped by a band of ruffians and taken far from her home she quickly learns that the road to love is never as it seems. Though her captor portrays himself as a ruthless man, Adelina cant help but feel compassion for him and the pain she finds lurking beneath the dark shadows of his character.

Review:
Lucian was adopted into a royal family. Although that is a special gift, he is still a young, rebellious boy who pushes the boundaries. When he is sent home form school, he knows he has disappointed his adoptive parents. When his elder brother scorns him he knows he has been rejected and he runs away so that he can live life with adventure and danger as he wants.

Years later he is a brigand leading a crew of misfits. When he receives an invitation to his brother’s wedding Lucian decides to kidnap the chosen bride.

Lady Adelina has always had a dream about the young prince who rescued her from bullies when she was a young girl. She is thrilled to be betrothed to the prince and sets out to meet her intended and the royal family. Shortly into the journey she is kidnapped by Lucian and his band of thieves. Her faith that her heavenly Father will protect her surrounds her spirit with dignity and strength. The brigands sense the deep goodness in Adelina and treat her gently and carefully. Especially Radu, Lucian’s best friend and second in command, seeks to protect Adelina. He himself has accepted faith in Jesus but has continued to live with Lucian. He hopes that someday he will be able to make Lucian grow beyond his bitterness and plans of revenge.

Lucian watches Lady Adelina and slowly his heart opens to the peace her faith exudes. But what chance does he have of gaining the love of the woman who is already promised to his brother? And when he returns her to his family’s home, what will be his reception from the parents he has been estranged from for ten years?

I wanted to like Lucian but he doesn’t make it easy. Lady Adelina’s steadfast faith and willingness to share love to a rogue is beautiful. The characters are well developed. There is action to move the story along but the strong, unrelenting faith of Adelina made to story extra special for me. The writing is straight forward and descriptive. My only disappointment was the abrupt ending that leaves the story suspended for a next book.

This is a wonderful mix of medieval dangers and a love that is all that is proper and blessed. I would like to read more by Ms. Hamsher. I recommend this to readers who enjoy medieval romance and are open to strong faith themes.

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