Sunday Post September 8, 2019/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday September 9, 2019

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date (at Wordpress).

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.

Work continues to be busy with plenty more to do.

These are pictures of our lemon tree which is loaded down with lemons that should ripen within the month. This is the front...

And the back side too.

We were fortunate not to have hurricane Dorian touch much of Florida but we are praying for those communities, Bahamas and US, who were hit so badly. It will be a very long time of recovery.

I am moving along on the TBRs but I still need to read 2.43 books a week to reach the goal this year. Since this will limit my choices from longer and newer books I may choose to reduce that goal. We'll see.
I had another fun week of reading/listening. I finished four titles: 3 audiobooks and 1 ebook. I posted five reviews and my usual memes.

I was back to 18 blog visits last week.
Shout Out this week to Freda's Voice. Freda is a lover of poetry, photography and books. She also shares on her photography blog, Day One.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post September 1, 2019/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday September 2, 2019.

• MBS August 2019 Reading List Wrap Up.

• NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: The Lady in the Coppergate Tower by Nancy Campbell Allen; Genre: Mystery, Steampunk, Victorian; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore; Genre: Action, Alien, Sci Fi, Teen Romance; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Roman Holiday, The Chronicles of St. Mary's. Book 3.5 by Jodi Taylor; Genre: Drama, Humor, Theater, Victorian; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway August 30, 2019. Open Worldwide. Ending 9/12/2019.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Coming Storm by Michael Lewis; Genre: Environment, Political/Policies, Science & Technology; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

• Sharing Beyond Books #377 Comment Giveaway September 7, 2019; Open Worldwide. Ending 9/24/2019.

• NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: The Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens by Anne Kuo; Genre: Animal Husbandry, How To, NonFiction; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement September 8, 2019.

Finished Reading:

1. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

An Accidental Death: A DC Smith Investigation Series, Book 1
Written by: Peter Grainger
Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
This is a very good, engaging mystery.
Source: February 2017 Audible Daily Deal $2.95.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

Lone Wolf, F.B.I. K-9, Book 1
By: Sara Driscoll
Narrated by: Angela Dawe
Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins
Release date: 11-29-16
I like search dog stories and this has good suspense with a side of romance.
Source: November 2018 Audible Credit.
Publisher's Summary
In the first book in a thrilling new series, FBI Special Agent Meg Jennings and Hawk, her loyal search-and-rescue Labrador, must race against time as they zero in on one of the deadliest killers in the country....
Meg and Hawk are part of the FBI's elite K-9 unit. Hawk can sniff out bodies anywhere - living or dead - whether it's tracking a criminal or finding a missing person. When a bomb rips apart a government building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., it takes all of the team's extensive search-and-rescue training to locate and save the workers and visitors buried beneath the rubble.
But even as the duo are hailed as heroes, a mad bomber remains at large, striking terror across the Eastern seaboard in a ruthless pursuit of retribution. As more bombs are detonated and the body count escalates, Meg and Hawk are brought in to a task force dedicated to stopping the unseen killer. But when the attacks spiral wide and any number of locations could be the next target, it will come down to a battle of wits and survival skills between Meg, Hawk, and the bomber they're tracking to rescue a nation from the brink of chaos.
©2016 Sara Driscoll. (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

3. eBook/Kindle (Ladies Book Club)

It Started with Goodbye
by Christina June
Nice story; particularly good for YA and Teens.
This is for Ladies Book Club.
meeting September 14 21, 2019.
Source: Print books discounted through Christianbook.com. I picked up the Kindle version
a couple of weeks ago.
Click on book title for full description.

4. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

Followed by Frost
By: Charlie N. Holmberg
Narrated by: Angela Dawe
Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins
I liked the fairy tale nature of this story.
Source: February 2017 Audible Daily Deal $2.95.
Publisher's Summary
Seventeen-year-old Smitha has the wealth, status, and beauty that make her the envy of her town - until she rejects a strange man's marriage proposal, and disastrous consequences follow. Smitha becomes cursed, and frost begins to encompass everything she touches. Banished to the hills, hunted by villagers, and chilled to the very core of her soul, she finds companionship with Death, who longs to coax her into his isolated world. But Smitha's desire for life proves stronger than despair, and a newfound purpose gives her renewed hope. Will regrets over the past and an unexpected desire for a man she cannot touch be enough to warm Smitha's heart, or will Death forever still it?
©2015 Charlie N. Holmberg (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

Currently Reading:

1. eBook/Kindle (NG2019)

Storm Rising
by Ronie Kendig
I like this author and am 
looking forward to reading this.
Source: 2019 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audio/Smartphone (A2019)

Cyclone
Linear Tactical Series
By: Janie Crouch
Narrated by: Tom Campbell
Series: Linear Tactical Series, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
I am enjoying the characters and stor. 1/3rd in.
I wanted to check the quality of these before buying more. The quality is good.
Source: July Chirp Purchase $1.99.
PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION
He’d protect her from any threat… But what if the biggest threat is him?
Doctor Anne Nichols is back in Oak Creek, Wyoming, only because she has no other options. Here, she was always the shy, stuttering girl, invisible to everyone.
Except Zac Mackay. The very reason she left in the first place.
Zac’s years in Special Forces taught him survival skills, and he’s created a company—Linear Tactical—to teach those skills to others, so they never have to live in fear.
Then why is Annie, the last person he’d ever want to hurt, afraid of him?
Zac’s determined to wipe the fear from the eyes of the woman who has never been far from his mind. And fix the mistakes—his mistakes—that put that look there in the first place.
But a predator has set his sights on Annie. And now survival skills will become much more than lessons…

3. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

The Lost World
By: Arthur Conan Doyle
Narrated by: Glen McCready
Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
Release date: 02-25-08
I need a sci fi fix and this is another TBR.
Source: October 2017 Audible Daily Deal $2.95
Publisher's Summary
Here is the precursor to Jurassic Park. Victorian explorers have heard there is a remote plateau where dinosaurs still survive, and a group set outs on a dangerous mission to find out more about it.
Download the accompanying reference guide.
Public Domain (P)2008 Naxos Rights International

4. eBook/Kindle (eB2019)

One Paris Summer
by Denise Grover Swank
I have wanted to read this author for a while.
This is the second summer book for Ladies Book Club. To be discussed 9/21/19.
Source: Print books discounted through Christianbook.com. I picked up the Kindle version this week.
Most teens dream of visiting the City of Lights, but it feels more like a nightmare for Sophie Brooks. She and her brother are sent to Paris to spend the summer with their father, who left home a year ago without any explanation. As if his sudden abandonment weren't betrayal enough, he's about to remarry, and they’re expected to play nice with his soon-to-be wife and stepdaughter. The stepdaughter, Camille, agrees to show them around the city, but she makes it clear that she will do everything in her power to make Sophie miserable.

Sophie could deal with all the pain and humiliation if only she could practice piano. Her dream is to become a pianist, and she was supposed to spend the summer preparing for a scholarship competition. Even though her father moved to Paris to pursue his own dream, he clearly doesn't support hers. His promise to provide her with a piano goes unfulfilled.

Still, no one is immune to Paris’s charm. After a few encounters with a gorgeous French boy, Sophie finds herself warming to the city, particularly when she discovers that he can help her practice piano. There’s just one hitch—he’s a friend of Camille’s, and Camille hates Sophie. While the summer Sophie dreaded promises to become best summer of her life, one person could ruin it all.

September 8, 2019 - I am still enjoying the devotions and readings with the One Year Bible plan through You Version App. I didn't do a study last week. [You can check out audio of the One Year Bible Plan on the companion commentary online.]

I completed four books and posted five reviews so that keeps me current with reviews.
I have been adding newer reviews to NetGalley, Goodreads, Amazon and Audible. (Eventually I will add older reviews.)
My NetGalley shelf is still at 10 unread. I have pulled/read titles released and on my list before July. Next week I expect to start titles I received in July. [Plus I have 4 old titles (2012-13.)]
I have three author ebook titles left in queue. I plan to get caught up on these too- I better start soon.
Still many titles through InstaFreebie and many new author requests I haven't replied to.

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
I picked up my second review title this week for Ladies Book Club.
I resisted the 3 for 2 credit sale deciding to save my credits for titles I really want. I picked one daily deal this week.
I have two free September Audible Originals to pick and one Free VIP at Audiobooks. I will probably choose two for one credit deals at Audiobooks soon.
I only downloaded one free kindle title this week. (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

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

9/8/2019 Audible Daily Deal $2.95
Marine
Terran Scout Fleet, Book 1
By: Joshua Dalzelle
Narrated by: Paul Heitsch
Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
Release date: 03-26-19

9/6/2019 Kindle Purchase $3.99 Whispersync Audible Purchase $1.99 = total price $5.98 for a book on my Audible wish list. :-)
A Symphony of Echoes: The Chronicles of St Mary's, Book 2
By: Jodi Taylor
Narrated by: Zara Ramm
Series: The Chronicles of St Mary's, Book 2
Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Free

Only one free title was added this week to my Kindle library. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement September 8, 2019

Our Sunday School teacher showed us part of a video today: God of Wonders. I love these scientific documentaries that show the awesome, wonderful, amazing creation of God!

We had lovely praise and worship before moving into the Pastor’s sermon continuing in
the Culture Shift series.
First we looked outside the church to note the Point: We must lead people by our lives, to the real Jesus of the Bible.
The second week Pastor noted the need for a shift within the church with the Point: Every person most positively contribute to a culture of KINDNESS.
Week three discussed setting priorities in our lives with the Point: The only way to truly worship God is to find all our satisfaction in Him.

Church shouldn't be walking with the world (although it might be very good if the world were walking with church). Yet, we need to be within the culture to help change it.

Satan wants to keep people from worshiping God and it is important for us to make worship a Lifestyle, not just Sunday service.

If you walk in uninvited to a private club you feel like you don’t belong but that attitude changes if you are invited as a guest. Belonging to an exclusive club is touted as something special, of extra value and the public is encouraged to pay extra. But exclusivity shouldn't be part of the church.

In the old testament, God's people were select, special, set apart. But that changed in God’s Christ based church. Those who believe in Christ have the right to become children of God, part of a new family. John 1:6-13. We receive a new identity; we become part of the family of God.

There is always a tension, a pull back to former culture. 2 Corinthians 5:13-15. Our culture changes but you can distinguish families by various identity markers such as: outwardly demonstrative or reserved; patriarchal or matriarchal; blessed or depressed; abusive or loving. But God is in the business of breaking family chains. 2 Corinthians 5:16-20.

The Point: The church, the family of God, have been made ambassadors of Christ.

Who are you? Ambassadors are supposed to go to others seeking to make a connection, carry a message. Our message to the world is “Come to Jesus; Come Back to God”.
What makes a healthy family culture? We may have an imperfect church, an imperfect pastor, and we may be imperfect people. Even so, we learn to love one another. We open wide the doors to the narrow gate. We don’t have to “become” first, it is okay to belong first.
Belong, believe, become.

Who are you? We (the church) are family, not an institution.
Invite someone to sit with you. Commit and invest. What will you do as an ambassador?

I couldn’t find this with lyrics but this lively song fits the message today.

Verses for Today:
2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (NIV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

John 1:12 (NIV)
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 

 Lord, I pray that you will strengthen me and use me as an ambassador for your message.

#NetGalley Book Review: The Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens by Anne Kuo

Highly recommended if you are interested in starting a hen house or just want fun information about chickens.
The Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens
by Anne Kuo

File Size: 8171 KB
Print Length: 236 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Rockridge Press (May 21, 2019)
ASIN: B07RDZ6PWZ
Genre: Animal Husbandry, How To, NonFiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

The book new chicken keepers will crow about.
The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Chickens makes it simple and easy to start keeping these surprisingly smart birds right in your backyard. From constructing coops to rearing chicks, you’ll learn everything you need to know to make sure your chickens stay happy and healthy all year round.
Which breed of chicken is right for you? What’s the best coop-bedding material? What sort of feed should you use? Let expert chicken keeper Anne Kuo answer these questions—and many others—in The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Chickens.
The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Chickens includes:
All cooped up—Create the perfect home for raising chickens using detailed backyard coop designs and construction guides.
From chickens to eggs—Find out how to pick the right breed, raise chicks, collect eggs, keep your birds safe from predators, and more.
Learn to speak bird—Start talking the talk thanks to an extensive glossary of common chicken-keeping terms.
Get your own flock started in no time—The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Chickens shows you how.

Review:
This is a great resource for anyone looking to start raising chickens. It covers pros and cons, rewards and costs, joys and losses. As noted in the blurb, the book covers from preparing to house your chickens, selecting them, caring for them with proper food, exercise, safety and health issues, and ultimately enjoying their unique antics, attention and morning songs.

I was impressed with the extent of information shared in an easy to read and reference style. There are pictures, highlighted definitions, and specific how-tos shared, all of which contribute to an engaging flow. Having recently raised chickens I wish that I had read this first. Fortunately my husband is a great hands on, common sense guy (which off sets my book learning, follow directions style). This is really well done and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking to start a flock.

Source: 2019 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019NetGalley goal.

Sharing Beyond Books #377 Comment Giveaway September 7, 2019

Hello again and Welcome back to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Fredamans said she would try anything once. MaryP has a long list of foods she won't eat. Four of us will not eat fishy fish; Miki is allergic to shellfish, two others won't eat squid or octopus and Ashfa won't eat prawns. Some 'normal' foods that people won't eat are: "peas and liver", hot peppers and okra. Here is the list of other less likely food items commenters won't eat: "stinky" Durian fruit, bugs, snakes, cats and dogs.

The Winner from SBB #376 comments is: #1 NATALIJA 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. -- [12/15/18 I am pulling out some new Christmas and Love titles to add to the Win box choices. I had to move the books due to the water threat in office. I will dig them out again soon.]

**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 #377

(One Question.)

Becky asks: Do you consider yourself organized or unorganized? And if unorganized what would you changed to make it not so unorganized??

I do think I am organized. I have always found the busier I get the more organized I need to be to get the work done.

Image found at Steemit.

Image found at Mission.org.

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 1/2 book choice or $2.50 towards 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. Becky asks: Do you consider yourself organized or unorganized? And if unorganized what would you changed to make it not so unorganized??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles all in one post.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday September 21, 2019 at 5 PM central.

Audible Book Review: The Coming Storm by Michael Lewis

This was a timely, quick listen as Hurricane Dorian took aim toward the US east coast.

The Coming Storm
By: Michael Lewis
Narrated by: Michael Lewis

Length: 2 hrs and 27 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 07-31-18
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Original
Category: Environment, Political/Policies, Science & Technology
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

About This Audible Original
Tornadoes, cyclones, tsunamis…Weather can be deadly—especially when it strikes without warning. Millions of Americans could soon find themselves at the mercy of violent weather if the public data behind lifesaving storm alerts gets privatized for personal gain. In his first Audible Original, New York Times best-selling author and journalist Michael Lewis delivers hard-hitting research on not-so-random weather data—and how Washington plans to release it. He also digs deep into the lives of two scientists who revolutionized climate predictions, bringing warning systems to previously unimaginable levels of accuracy. One is Kathy Sullivan, a gifted scientist among the first women in space; the other, D.J. Patil, is a trickster-turned-mathematician and a political adviser. Most urgently, Lewis’s narrative reveals the potential cost of putting a price tag on information that could save lives. Please note The Fifth Risk includes the entirety of The Coming Storm.
© 2018 Michael Lewis (P) 2018 Audible Originals, LLC

Review:
Author Michael Lewis describes several mostly unknown individuals who found their passions in studying weather – its history, its patterns for forecasting and its impact on environment, economics and the lives of the damaged communities. This makes this short documentary piece personal as well as somewhat informative.
Lewis tells bits of the story of developing weather data that got lost in the halls of government. Lewis may have intended to present a brief discourse blending science and politics. It seemed he left out some of the final connections regarding the data and forecasting accuracies other than to describe an incident of a 15-minute warning of a tornado which may be the best they can get. The work felt more intent on making political arguments particularly raising the (perhaps valid?) question of whether critical weather information should be publicly available rather than controlled and released to limited stations who have paid subscriptions. Apparently, the US Department of Commerce includes oversight of NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) so there are concerns regarding the sourcing of data.

I was quickly engaged by the storytelling technique that made this a more interesting listen. I am glad I listened to this as it brought this concerning issue to my attention. Since I experienced the damage of Hurricane Michael last year and there are millions of people facing weather disasters on a regular basis, this is an important issue to keep an eye on.

Audio Notes: Michael Lewis provides the narration for his own excerpt and it fit the material and tone. I think it is easier for me to listen to this type of work than reading it so I am glad I got this through free Audible Originals.

Source: 9/8/18 Free Audible Originals. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.