Sunday Words of Encouragement November 10, 2019

Our Sunday School teacher presented a video on the Revelation 12 Woman which many prophesy scholars believe appeared as an astrological sign in September 2017. We had lovely praise and worship to begin the service.

Pastor continued his sermon series, The Blessed Life, noting that the blessings often depends on our perspective. An example is when a young child is not impressed by his grandmother's handmade sweater gift, while his mother views it as treasure.

Perspective is important and sometimes we have to work hard to keep proper perspective and focus on eternity. Pastor asked: “Are we blessed but miss it while we are chasing after other things?” Do we recognize that Good is working?

Just imagine, the God of creation cares for us; He calls us His own. James 1:17-18.
Verse 16 says: “Don’t be deceived…” Satan works tirelessly to convince us that God doesn't care.
James also reminds us to be thankful even when we face trials and that God will give wisdom when we seek it in faith. James 1:2-5.
Being thankful is part of the blessing process – being thankful for the good and bad, even hardship.

THE POINT: Being thankful reveals God's blessing.

Being thankful and perceiving blessing, leads to satisfaction.
The God of the Universe really does see you, He knows you.
We can train ourselves to be thankful… in little and big things.
Choose to be thankful even when the plan is unclear.
We can train ourselves to see God's blessings AND give God credit for things we can be thankful for.
List three things you are thankful for and then add a fourth that is a difficulty that you are thankful for. Choose to be thankful.

Here was my list in the moments he gave us to note our choices: 1. Creation. 2. Family 3. Business.
4. Cancer and recovery and 5. Storm (hurricane Michael) and working to recovery.

I found this song and like how it fits the message.

Verses for Today:
James 1:16-18 (NIV)
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Lord- I am so blessed! Help me to remember to be thankful each and every moment, each and every day.

Book Review: Reasons to Kill God by I.V. Olokita

This is a dark story but speaks of compassion too.

Reasons to Kill God
by I.V. Olokita

Paperback: 140 pages
Publisher: Independently published (December 24, 2018)
Language: English (translated from Hebrew)
ISBN-10: 1729400302
Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

“If you are able to write 180 pages of your memoir without putting the pen down, I might let you live…”
Klaus Holland loves no one other than himself. He victimizes people for being Jews or for just being alive.
He is an old Nazi criminal who escaped to Brazil and was caught and prosecuted. He is now forced to write his memoirs as part of his punishment – the same punishment he used to give Jews at the concentration camp. This punishment makes him remember and re-live his cruelty as the concentration camp commander and as a man.
Deus Esperanca learns from his mother that what he believed to be his family’s history, was just a bunch of lies. He discovers that his real father is Klaus Holland – the sadistic Nazi fugitive.
Having this information and his father being aware of what he knows, their lives intertwine and create chaos.

Review:
The story opens as Klaus Holland is required to write his own memoir – which is a punishment he used to give Jews before killing them. Klaus was a sadistic Nazi officer who didn’t blink at the cruelty of the concentration camps where he was a commander. He escaped from Germany at the end of the war and was able to hide himself in Brazil. He continued to be a self-centered, crude man who holds himself out as a rich man above all others who are there for his pleasure and use.

Klaus wasn’t initially aware that he fathered a son by his regular prostitute who died giving birth. On her deathbed, the mother named her son “Deus”. Several years later, the head of the orphanage shows up at Klaus’ door to tell him to come collect his son. He brings Deus home and announces that the woman who currently ‘services’ him will be the child’s mother.

Deus and Klara grew close as they suffer abuse at the hands of Klaus. When Klara realizes she is dying she tells Deus the truth about his mother and father. She explains that Klaus is one of the last uncaptured Nazi criminals. Deus sets out to meet an American professor who once specialized in hunting Nazi war criminals. Before flying to America, Deus leaves a letter telling his father what he knows.

When Deus returns to Brazil he doesn’t realize that his visit has triggered those who want to find Klaus and bring him to justice… or some other punishment. There is a sudden clash as Deus and Klaus reach the conclusion of their strange connections.

The format of this novel is a little difficult to follow. I found the point of view (pov) confusing to accept as Klaus writing his memoirs even as chapters are presented from the pov of other characters (particularly his American pursuer) and the journey of his son while he is away in America. The author manages to weave in twists and raise questions as to how a son might react to learning his father is a war criminal. This is also a novel that is difficult to read emotionally due to history and the horrendous cruelty and gritty situations. I can only take deep breaths and ponder how someone (many someones) could be so evil and view themselves as God.

This story is darker than most, but I found it a worthwhile, engaging read. I recommend it to those who are interested in Nazi history from the perspective of the criminal and a son.

Source: Author Review Request. This qualifies for Author review goal.

Audible Book Review: Sackett's Land by Louis L'Amour

I loved this adventure!
Sackett's Land
The Sacketts, Book 1
By: Louis L'Amour
Narrated by: John Curless

Series: The Sacketts, Book 1
Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 12-15-99
Language: English
Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio
Genre: Historical Fiction, Western Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
After discovering six gold Roman coins buried in the mud of the Devil's Dyke, Barnabas Sackett enthusiastically invests in goods that he will offer for trade in America. But Sackett has a powerful enemy: Rupert Genester, nephew of an earl, wants him dead. A battlefield promise made to Sackett’s father threatens Genester’s inheritance. So on the eve of his departure for America, Sackett is attacked and thrown into the hold of a pirate ship. Genester's orders are for him to disappear into the waters of the Atlantic. But after managing to escape, Sackett makes his way to the Carolina coast. He sees in the raw, abundant land the promise of a bright future. But before that dream can be realized, he must first return to England and discover the secret of his father's legacy.
Don't miss other titles in The Sacketts series.
©1974 Louis L'Amour (P)2010 Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio

Review:
As a man of the Fens in 1599, Barnabas Sackett, doesn’t have a lot of opportunities to advance himself. His life changes when he discovers six gold Roman coins buried in the mud. Barnabas plans to sell the coins for goods to trade in America. Before he can get to the ship, Barnabas stumbles into a man who becomes a powerful enemy. Barnabas doesn’t know Rupert Genester, but Rupert’s uncle, a wealthy earl, has a special interest in Barnabas and Rupert views Barnabas as a threat.
Barnabas has made a couple of friends who have agreed to tie their fortunes with their interesting new friend. The goods and friends have boarded the ship when Barnabas is highjacked by a ‘pirate’, black-hearted captain.

Barnabas survives and escapes, with the help of two new friends, to the unknown (Carolina) American shores. Now they must survive the natives and hope they can begin the trading opportunities Barnabas seeks. Barnabas hopes his friends on the firsts ship will find him before the evil captain manages to track and kill him. Barnabas finds himself having to escape one near-death situation after another.

I loved Barnabas’ feisty intelligence and determination to make his own way rather than accept a possible boon. I have read works by Louis L'Amour and have always thought of him as a great storyteller of westerns. This wonderful adventure shows he is a great storyteller creating likable characters and adventures in other times and places. It appears there is a long line in this series which will follow Barnabas to America and eventually follow his heirs as they make their way in the ‘new world’. I recommend this to fans of strong characters who survive exploring adventures.

Audio Notes: I totally enjoyed the narration by John Curless. The English accents are wonderfully rich and kept me turning this on whenever I could. I would love to listen to more.

(I am a little sorry that the sequels are priced in the midteens which is the range I hesitate to use my credits on. Still, I have added book 2 to my Wish List and will be glad to pull it when I need another fun adventure.)

Source: 2003 Audible title. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 8, 2019

Happy Friday! Happy November! As I do each year in November, I celebrate this giveaway by doubling winners for the month.   I pulled books and there is a picture below but didn't get to list them. I plan to add the list on Saturday.

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 November 1, 2019 Pick. There were No automatic again 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 titles blocked.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from November 1, 2019 Pick:
MARYP gets a GC
NATALIJA gets a GC
and
BN100 gets Daring,
CAROLL gets The Devil's Daughter.

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 love a good harvest, don't you?.
Image found at Pinterest linked from We Are Teachers..

New Book Group #88 November 8, 2019

 I will list titles on Saturday.


New Book Group #87 August 23, 2019

PAIRS:
Joan Johnston The Bodyguard and The Bridegroom
Nora Roberts: The MacGregor Grooms (1998) and The MacGregor Brides (1997)
SINGLES:
Siren's Song by Trish Albright (personally autographed)
Dawn Encounter by Jennifer Blake
Flame Lily by Candace Camp (spine creasing)
The Wedding Promise by Carolyn Davidson
The Devil's Daughter by Lara Drewry
Touch of Texas by Tracy Garrett (now Texas Gold)
Captain's Paradise by Kay Hooper
Open Season by Linda Howard AUDIO CASSETTES
Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell (hardback)
Tempt Me by Lucy Monroe
Abandon by Carla Neggers
The Perfect Gift by Christina Skye


New Book Group #86 June 7, 2019
Another group of variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
Forged in Steel by Maya Banks
The Scam by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
A Place Called Freedom by Ken Follett
Eco-Sisters: The Car by P. Ryan Hembree and Mary Ann Gustin
Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze
Preaching to the Corpse by Roberta Isleib
Show No Fear by Marliss Melton
Pursuit by Karen Robards
Murder at Granite Falls by Roxanne Rustand
A Question of God's Balance (Vol 1) by Joseph Thek
King by Right of Blood and Might by Anna L. Walls


New Book Group #85 March 22, 2019
A variety from my shelves.

Roxanne Becknel: When Lightning Strikes
SINGLES:
Summer Skies by Judith Christenberry
Windfall (two stories) by JoAnn Ross
Daddy's Little Cowgirl (two stories) by Judith Bowen and Kimberly Raye
Almost Forever by Linda Howard
The Forever Year, Cold Pursuit, Lover's Lane and Temporary Sanity (Reader's Condensed)
ToxiCity by Libby Fischer Hillmann

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
On this Holy Night
A Rancher for Christmas
Christmas Haven
Christmas Homecoming
King Harold's Snow Job


New Book Group #83 November 30, 2018

(Starting bottom left and continuing up then down)
SINGLE
Seductive Secrets by Lynne Connolly
Seven Up by Janet Evanovich - Audio Cassettes
A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein Audio Cassettes
Three 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

Stella Cameron: Key West
SINGLES:
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
Killing Time by Linda Howard
Countess of Scandal by Laurel McKee
The Wedding Night by Barbara Dawson Smith

New Book Group #81 August 17, 2018

There are three audios at the top:
Kisscut is Cassettes
SINGLES
Best Laid Plans by Allison Brennan
Darkness Tell Us by Richard Laymon
Cooking Most Deadly by Joanne Pence


New Book Group #80 August 17, 2018

Note: The Final Judgment and
The Book of Fate are Audio Cassettes
PAIRS
James Patterson NYPD Red 2 and NYPD Red 3
SINGLES:
Summer’s Moon by Lacey Baker
The Final Judgment by Richard North PattersonAudio Cassettes
Firebird by Janice Graham
No Getting Over a Cowboy by Delores Fossen
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer 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)
Dakota Child by Linda Ford
Calling the Shots by Ellen Hartman
Promises, Promises by Amber Miller
This Time for Keeps by Jenna Mills
A Daughter’s Legacy by Virginia Smith
Another Man’s Baby by Kay Stockham


New Book Group #78 April 27, 2018

SINGLES
Blackberry Bush
Breaking Point
A Tangled Affair
To Wicked to Love
Roses are Red Audio Cassettes


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
The Scorpion Seducer by Bonnie Vanak
Hell On Earth by David L. Porter
White Night by Jim Butcher
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton
Crisscross by Harmon Henkin
Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey
Inhuman Condition by Clive Barker
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 by Jillian Hart
Aunt Erma's Cope Book
JoAnn Ross: Confessions
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen
Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven

(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 NINE years I have posted 88 groups of 16 plus an additional 21 totaling 1,429 books to find new homes! (as of November 8, 2019).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,284+ 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!

Two Highlights for November: #SciFiMonth and #Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon

I finally saw a Sci-Fi Month 2019 post this week (thanks to vvb32 reads).
I had thought about this one but didn't really plan for it. Fortunately, I have lots of sci-fi on my TBRs so I will include some this month!






Annual Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon November 2019
I have a list of available TBRs for this event. I'll have to look through them for any sci fis if possible!


Audios:
Christmas Eve 1914 1h13m (2018)
Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings: A Chronicles of St. Mary's Short Story 1h25m (2015)
Tis the Season: Under the Christmas Tree/Midnight Confessions by Robyn Carr (2018)
eBooks:
Papa Abrams Special Christmas by Ruth Price (2014 Gift) 9
Evergreen A Christmas Tale by Richard Taylor (2012) 17pgs
The Sheriff's Mistletoe Law by Nita Wick (2012) 13
The Twelve Cats of Christmas (All the Creatures of Christmas Book 2) by Kevin Whitlark (2012) 17
Christmas Scandal...Not! by Jeanne Savery (2010) 22
A Bear of a Christmas by A.J. Cosmo 22pgs (2012) GR
A Christmas Message From The Moon by Philip Gibson (2017) 16
Thomas & the Christmas Orange by Lewis Brech (2011) 17
Santa's Christmas Eve Blues by Douglas Lindsay (2012) 26
Ruth's First Christmas Tree (Ruth Galloway Series) by Elly Griffiths (2012) 29
Romy's Garden Adventures (Christmas City) by Rob Towner (Author, Illustrator) (2012) 30
12 Days of Christmas for the Hurting by Rachel Wojnarowski (2012) 43
A Christmas Feral (Magical Cool Cats #3) by Mary Matthews (2012) 56
Christmas Runaway (Single Title Series Book 3) by Mimi Barbour (2012) 58

Sci-Fi and Christmas Mix:
Kiss of Christmas Magic 20 Paranormal Holiday Tales of Werewolves, Shifters, Vampires, Elves, Witches, Dragons, Fey, Ghosts, and More
by Eve Langlais and others.
I won't read all (1312 pages) of these but I could certainly read a couple for #Ho-Ho-Ho.

Operation Snowflake: A Tombs Novella by Robert Scott-Norton (2017) 99