Sharing Beyond Books #386 Comment Giveaway January 11, 2020

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB, in 2020.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

Six commenters are comfortable making no change in their life. Eight did mention some changes although nothing really major (except for Linda wanting more hours in the day). Two would like less stress, and three would like more sleep/rest.

The Winner from SBB #385 comments is: #2 ALINA 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. -- [11/16/19 I plan to add some review books this week and maybe some new Christmas and Love titles as soon as I locate the box I put them in.  10/5/19 I have pulled some new books and will be adding them to the list in the next week or so.

**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 #386

(One Question.)

Marjorie asks: Do you follow Bloglovin or On the Fence??

I am on Bloglovin although I don't follow or use it regularly. I have never heard of On the Fence.

Image found at CentralCommunications.

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. Marjorie asks: Do you follow Bloglovin or On the Fence??

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, January 25, 2020, at 5 PM central.

First Book #NetGalley Book Review: The Possibility of America by David Dark

I liked the title and the premise but was disappointed.
The Possibility of America
How the Gospel Can Mend Our God-Blessed,
God-Forsaken Land
by David Dark


File Size: 1992 KB
Print Length: 188 pages
Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press (April 9, 2019)
ASIN: B07QCW2DD6
Genre: Religious Studies, Social Issues
My Rating: 3.0 of 5.0.

Published in the years following 9/11, David Dark’s book The Gospel according to America warned American Christianity about the false worship that conflates love of country with love of God. It delved deeply into the political divide that had gripped the country and the cultural captivity into which so many American churches had fallen.

In our current political season, the problems Dark identified have blossomed. The assessment he brought to these problems and the creative resources for resisting them are now more important than ever. Into this new political landscape and expanding on the analysis of The Gospel according to America, Dark offers The Possibility of America: How the Gospel Can Mend Our God-Blessed, God-Forsaken Land. Dark expands his vision of a fractured yet redeemable American Christianity, bringing his signature mix of theological, cultural, and political analysis to white supremacy, evangelical surrender, and other problems of the Trump era.

Review:
My understanding of a good essay, or a nonfiction book directed to a stated point, is that you introduce your thesis, your share your arguments and then you wrap up your points with a conclusion. Sadly, in my opinion, this book failed in all three elements. If the subtitle was the point or goal of this book it did not succeed in presenting that premise clearly although it meandered around the topic.

I found this work to be esoteric and full of lengthy, confusing sentences. It reminded me of the saying that someone is “so heavenly minded they are no earthly good.” He challenges “truth” as presented by the news, stating (in a 52-word sentence) that “… it’s as if our ability to see and think clearly is constantly compromised by an endless diversion from the facts on the ground.”  I may well agree with that statement, but I didn’t find where he gives a solution or suggestion to overcome this. (My solution is to watch at least two versions of the news and often read articles on topics trying to pick out the actual facts.) Mr. Dark also states: “Politics is how we govern ourselves. It’s the way we conduct our lives.” I do not agree with this generalization. There is certainly an element of the American public that fall under this statement, but many do not. Particularly I would argue that the lives of true Christ-followers are not governed by politics.

The author quickly (and repeatedly) slips into sharing bias, bitterness and convoluted statements that I found inappropriate for a book purporting to want to foster the Gospel. There are several comments bashing American founders, President Trump, and even evangelicals as “white supremacists”. He states that “evangelical” in America might be “so definitively thought to refer to a sleeper cell of the Republican Party and thereby to be tied to the ideology of white supremacy and climate denial that to say it aloud is to court misunderstanding.” I can’t agree more that such statements “court misunderstanding”. I can sense that not only many Republicans would find this implied generalization offensive, but I think it is even more offensive to American evangelists whom I think would be part of the book’s intended audience. At 62% in the book, Mr. Dark, while discussing one of his author icons, Toni Morrison, states: “True witness knows no division. Labels be damned.” And oh, how I wished Mr. Dark had left labeling out of his ‘effusion’ (a more fitting description than ‘treatise”).

If a reader pushes through the confusion of the first 30% of the work, the reader will find a rather interesting discussion of classic literature, science fiction authors, movies and musicians. There is a detailed discussion of moral and religious issues presented in Moby Dick and The Scarlet Letter. Mr. Dark also discusses like themes from many authors including Shakespeare (Macbeth), John Milton, Ursula K. Le Guin, Kurt Vonnegut, George Orwell, William Faulkner (As I Lay Dying), Octavia E. Butler (Kindred), Thomas Pynchon (Gravity's Rainbow), Phillip K. Dick and more. On the music exploration, Mr. Dark includes comments on Bob Dylan, Sly and the Family Stone, Bambara, Aretha Franklin, Woody Guthrie, Kris Kristofferson, Pixies, Patti Smith, Chance the Rapper and others. Movies that get some discussion include The Body Snatchers, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Patch Adams, Sunset Boulevard and Mulholland Drive. TV series mentioned include Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone and even The Simpsons.

I did find some nuggets (maybe 5) buried in the slog. Mr. Dark laments that “…our capacity for right worship and right listening for functioning democracy is compromised” due to the loss of willingness or ability “to hear, read, or listen to any version of history that can’t be contained in a sound bite or a put down…”. (Another 50-word sentence.) He notes that we need “the skills to understand and locate ourselves…” but he doesn’t give any reason for the loss or a recommendation to change it. I would suggest that we have a crisis in educating our children in history, civics, and morality. I would question why college students are quick to shut down or protest presentations and open dialogue with those of different views.

The book is peppered with references to The Beloved Community which I believe the author intends to be the basis for the “possibility” of America. He doesn't make this clear. About 77% into the book, in Chapter Seven, Mr. Dark discusses the Catholic Worker Movement and finally shares some thoughts on how the underlying Christian directive to “love they neighbor” would change the atmosphere of America.

I chose this as my First Book for 2020. Sadly, I was disappointed. I would recommend the book to those who might enjoy the literature discussions as long as the reader isn’t looking (like I was) for a work to support the subtitle.

SOURCE: 2019 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2020NetGalley, 2020Alphabet and 2020TBR goals.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 10, 2020

Happy Friday! 
I spent Thursday at the hospital while hubby had emergency surgery for leaking aorta stent. Hopefully, he will be able to come home Friday.

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 January 3, 2020 Pick. There were TWO automatic wins this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There were no titles blocked.
CarolL gets Notorious Proposition
SueF gets False Colours

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from January 3, 2020 Pick:
MARJORIE gets a GC
and
MIKI 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.}

This is what I encourage anyone in cold weather!
Image found at Pinterest shared by Teresa Wilcox at #winterbulletinboardideas

New Book Group #88 November 8, 2019

PAIRS:
Connie Brockway: My Pleasure and My Seduction
Stella Cameron: Body of Evidence and Fascination
Singles:
A Notorious Proposition by Adele Ashworth
My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne
A Lady Never Tells by Candace Camp
Dawn of Redemption by Starla Childs
Long, Lean and Lethal by Heather Graham
False Colours by Georgette Heyer
Chill of Fear by Kay Hooper
Treasures by Lisa Jackson (hardback)
No Limits by Alison Kent
The Education of Mrs. Brimley by Donna MacMeans
The Wedding Affair by Leigh Michaels
A Highlander's Temptation by Sue-Ellen Welfonder


New Book Group #87 August 23, 2019

SINGLES:
Captain's Paradise by Kay Hooper
Open Season by Linda Howard AUDIO CASSETTES
The Perfect Gift by Christina Skye


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

SINGLES:
A Place Called Freedom by Ken Follett
Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze

Show No Fear by Marliss Melton
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.

SINGLES:
Summer Skies by Judith Christenberry
Windfall (two stories) by JoAnn Ross
Daddy's Little Cowgirl (two stories) by Judith Bowen and Kimberly Raye
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.

SINGLES:
A Family for Thanksgiving
On this Holy Night
Christmas Haven
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
The Wedding Night by Barbara Dawson Smith

New Book Group #81 August 17, 2018

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
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)
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 1,295+ 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!

2019 Reading Summary and Top Picks

Goodreads:

Martha

2019

This is my journey in books for 2019!

TOTALS

I read 45,167 pages across 194 books

---

AVERAGE LENGTH 232 pages

MY AVERAGE RATING FOR 2019  4.3

---

Here is my 2019 Bible App Snapshot.



2019 Reading Breakdown:
Total Read: 194          Met Goodreads Goal of 150; plus 44;
Total TBR Read: 108 Met TBR Goal: 100; plus 8
Total Audio: 108        Met Audio Goal: 75; plus 33
Total NetGalley: 55   Met NetGalley Goal: 40; plus 15
Total Author or Publicist Reviews: 11 Goal: 12 – short one
eBooks (including TBR and Review, but not NetGalley): 28 Met Goal: 24, plus 4
Nonfiction: 13 Met Nonfiction Goal: 12, plus 1


New Authors: 143
Books in Series: 104
New to Me series: 79
Continuing series: 25
Series Completed: 2
     Sookie Stackhouse
     Charley Davidson
Series Up To Date waiting for next book:
     Destroymen Series
     Mercy Thompson
    and more...

[The totals on these fall are a tad short of the 194 due to some overlap, but they are close enough to give an idea of the genres I read.]
Fantasy, including horror, paranormal and urban: 35
Sci-Fi, including dystopian and post-apocalyptic: 33
Romantic, including Christian, Historical and Suspense: 42
Mystery, Thriller and Cozy: 30
Christian, Inspirational: 7 (plus more in NF)
NonFiction: 16
Children/Middle Grade: 19
Historical Fiction: 7
Contemporary: 4

AND HERE ARE THE MBS FAVORITES of 2019 Reading - listed in order read.
I apparently do a good job of picking titles I like since 41% rate 4.5 stars and higher. :-)
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 January:
5.0: Quinn’s Promise Rock
4.5: The Name of the Wind and Half Share

NG2018- #NetGalley Book Review: Quinn's Promise Rock by Christie Thomas and Sydney Hanson; Children, Christian; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0.

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

ATBR- Audible Book Review: A Bachelor Establishment by Jodi Taylor; Humor, Historical Romance, Regency Romance; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall.

NG2018- #NetGalley Book Review: An Unexpected Redemption by Emily Hamsher; Christian, Medieval, Romance; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0.

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.

Favorites for March: (No 5 stars but lots of solid 4s.)
4.5 The PVC Pipe Book


Favorites for April:
4.5 Ransomed Dreams and Spec Ops: Expeditionary Force Book 2


Favorites for May:
5.0 The Hope of Azure Springs and The Anatomy of Peace.
4.75: Vigilante Assassin
4.5:Deadly Vows, Storm Cursed 

A2019- Audio Book Review: The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham; Christian, Historical Romance, Western; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.

ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Anatomy of Peace by The Arbinger Institute; Genre: Relationship, Self Development; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.

Aeb2018- Book Review: Vigilante Assassin (Jake Wolfe Book 2) by Mark Nolan; Action, Mystery, Thriller; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0.

Favorites for June:
5.0: The Liturgy of the Ordinary
4.75: The Time Collector
4.5: Finder; Forever in a Moment; The Tale of Despereaux; and Harden: Lee Harden Book 1

A2019- Audio Book Review: Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren; Genre: Christian, Nonfiction, Religion, and Spirituality; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0.

NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: The Time Collector by Gwendolyn Womack; Genre: Metaphysical Fiction, Romantic Suspense; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0.

Favorites for July:
5.0: Kingdom of Exiles
4.5: The Highwayman; Every Last Breath; Monster Hunter Memoirs; The Hashtag Hunt; The Library of Ever; and Fate Morgana

NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym Martineau; Genre: Action and Adventure, Romantic Fantasy; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0.

Favorites for August:
4.75 title: The Ethereal Squadron and Death Cloud
4.5 titles: No Other Will Do; Preserving Liberty; The Beekeeper's Apprentice; The Lady in the Coppergate Tower; and The Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens.

NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: The Ethereal Squadron: A Wartime Fantasy (The Sorcerers of Verdun) by Shami Stovall; Genre: Action, Historical Fantasy, Historical Military; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0.

ATBR- Audio Book Review: Death Cloud by Andrew Lane; Genre: Detective, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Young Adult Ages 12+; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 5.0.

Favorites for September:
One 5 Star: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
Three 4.5 Stars: An Accidental Death, Genesis and Storm Rising.

ATBR- Audible Book Review: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick; Genre: Teen & Young Adult, Cancer, Diseases, Humor; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.

Favorites for October: no 5.0 or 4.75 ratings but I had
Eight 4.5 Stars.: Patti Smith; Ghost Talkers; Turned at Dark; Investing Isobella; The End of America; The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice; May It Be So; and October Mourning.


Favorites for November:
One 5 Star: Christmas Eve, 1914
Four 4.5 Stars: Sackett's Land, Bark of Night, Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings, and Scythe.

A2019- Audible Book Review: Christmas Eve, 1914 by Charles Olivier; Genre: Dramatization, Fiction, Historical; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.

Favorites for December:
One 5.0 Star: Morning Star
Four 4.5 Stars: All Hearts Come Home for Christmas; Push Back; Orphan X, The Ultimate Guide to 2020

ATBR-Audible Book Review: Morning Star by Pierce Brown; Genre: Colonization Sci Fi, Dystopian, Fantasy, Sci Fi; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.

Audible Book Review: The Green Ember by S. D. Smith

This is an entertaining, sweet action fantasy.
The Green Ember
By: S. D. Smith
Narrated by: Joel Clarkson

Series: The Green Ember, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 02-04-15
Language: English
Publisher: Story Warren Books
Genre: Children's Fantasy, Christian Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Heather and Picket are extraordinary rabbits with ordinary lives until calamitous events overtake them, spilling them into a cauldron of misadventures. They discover that their own story is bound up in the tumult threatening to overwhelm the wider world.
Kings fall, and kingdoms totter. Tyrants ascend, and terrors threaten. Betrayal beckons, and loyalty is a broken road with peril around every bend.
Where will Heather and Picket land? How will they make their stand?
©2015 S. D. Smith (P)2015 Story Warren

Review:
Heather and Picket are young rabbits enjoying friendly brother and sister competition in their ordinary lives. They are often enthralled by their father’s stories of kingdoms, kings, loyal warriors, battles and danger. One night their father begins to tell them a new tale about the “Rise and Fall of King Jupiter”. They have only heard the beginning of the story when their world erupts under attacks by wicked, frightening wolves.

Heather and Picket are able to escape with the help of some new friends. Heather and Picket have different attitudes as they travel to a place of refuge for displaced rabbits. Heather worries about her family but wants to make sure that Picket remains safe. Picket quickly becomes sullen, frustrated that he couldn’t protect his family and resenting the two skilled warrior rabbits who saved them and are guiding them.

The group struggles to escape from the wolves following them as they don’t want to lead them to the safe place. Along the way, there are other home and business sites that have been attacked. Once Heather and Picket are delivered to the safe warren, they don’t understand why many rabbits look at them with suspicion.

The pair begin to learn secrets their father never told them. The dangers continue and intensify as it becomes clear there are betrayals putting all of the rabbits at risk. Can Heather and Picket prepare for danger and learn to fit in?

The story started slowly but picks up especially when the attack occurs and the rabbits go on the run. There is plenty of daring-do and possible opportunities to become heroes. Picket’s attitude is very frustrating but offers a parent an opportunity for discussion with younger children who may listen to the story. I can appreciate the reviews that criticize the male and female stereotyping: males are warriors, females are nurses, storytellers or other artisans. Still, the female rabbits are shown with courage and gumption too.

The story is entertaining and has a sweet tone to it even with the enemy attacks. My son gifted himself with the print set which is very nice. The print/ebook has some really nice images to go along with the story, including introductory maps. I recommend this to adults as well as younger readers/listeners. I am glad that I have the next book in the reading order: The Black Star of Kingston.

Audio Notes: Joel Clarkson does a really good job with the narration. He provides distinct voices for the characters and gives good energy to the action. I enjoyed the audio presentation.

Source: My Kindle library - free 2018. Audio Sharing with Son's Audible. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.