Sunday Words of Encouragement February 2, 2020

Our Sunday School teacher continued his lesson, this week titled “What is behind the door?”
Cain knew God's word but he overrode it and murdered his brother.
Genesis 4:3 reads: “In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord…” Cain brought some of his crop, not the best, and he made his offering “in due course of time”. When he got around to it, rather than as a first priority. God said, ‘do the right thing’… “sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:7.

Cain had a heart issue; he was jealous of his younger brother. Cain let his thoughts motivate the sin, fueling his anger. What comes out of the heart defiles you. Mark 7:20. 1 John 3:4-8.
The heart can and will deceive us. Enticement is lying in wait for us if we yield; if we allow it. Sin wants to control. We have to resist, subdue the thought, control the temptation.

Satan uses sin to cause sinful action because sin separates us from God. Sin grows in the thought life. Sin results in spiritual death. Cain left the Lord's presence. Genesis 4:16.
Satan, the enemy, makes you think you can't control the sin. But we are the ones who allow sin; therefore we can guard against sin.
We must take control of thoughts; it is a battle of the mind fought with prayer and the help of God. Don't give stronghold. The heart determines the course of our lives. Don't get sidetracked by distractions.
Subdue means bring under control. Be intentional and consistent. It is a constant battle. James 4:1. Philippians 4:6 tells us not to worry. Worry is a thought. Verse 7 tells us that the result of controlling our thoughts is the peace of God. His peace will guard your heart and mind. Fix your thoughts on what is true, right, and pure.

Titus 2:12 teaches us to say no to worldly passions. Beware of your desires and wrong motives. James 4:1-3. Resist the devil. Peter 5:8-9.
Refuse to let the world corrupt you. Win the battle with God’s love and faith. 1 John 5:3-5.

I thought this song would fit today: Good Fight.

Verses for Today:
Mark 7:20-23 NIV
20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

Audible Book Review: Commune by Joshua Gayou

I liked these characters and the story.
Commune
Commune, Book 1
By: Joshua Gayou
Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Series: Commune Series, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 10-28-17
Language: English
Publisher: Joshua Gayou, Blue Heron Audio
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
For dinosaurs, it was a big rock. For humans: Coronal Mass Ejection (CME).
When the Earth is hit by the greatest CME in recorded history (several times larger than the Carrington Event of 1859), the combined societies of the planet's most developed nations struggle to adapt to a life thrust back into the Dark Ages.
In the United States, the military scrambles to speed the nation's recovery on multiple fronts including putting down riots, establishing relief camps, delivering medical aid, and bringing communication and travel back on line.
Just as a real foothold is established in retaking the skies (utilizing existing commercial aircraft supplemented by military resources and ground control systems), a mysterious virus takes hold of the population, spreading globally over the very flight routes that the survivors fought so hard to rebuild. The communicability and mortality rates are devastating, leaving only small pockets of survivors scattered throughout the countryside.
Commune: Book One is the story of one small group of survivors who must adapt to a primitive, hostile world or die. As they learn the rules of this new era, they must decide how far they're willing to go to continue living, continually asking themselves the same question daily: is survival worth the loss of humanity?
©2017 Joshua Gayou (P)2017 Joshua Gayou

Review:
Brian is part of a small group of survivors trying to rebuild after a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) took out all electronics. After the CME the population was decimated by a fast-moving, lethal virus. By twos and threes survivors found their way to Jackson, Wyoming and a ranch commune, now known as the Jackson Commune. Brian is interviewing the survivors in order to make a record of their experiences. He begins by interviewing Jake, the quiet leader who is one of the first who arrived at the commune with the owner of the land, Billy. No one really knows Jake’s history before the event. It is clear he suffered loss and along the way he has become hard and determined, rarely smiling. Brian and others have observed that Jake has learned to take the steps necessary for survival. He is not book smart, but he learns quickly by example and need. Jake met Billy, a Native American, along the byways of the Southwest. Jake was moving away from dangerous cities and he found Billy also moving toward Las Vegas. It wasn’t clear if it would be safe to approach the stranger, but his contact turned out to help Jake survive. Billy espoused the motto of always being ready for bad things to happen and fortunate for this group, Billy had a prepper mindset and was preparing his property for survival in crisis.

Amanda is a young Hispanic woman who arrived at the property with her daughter, Jake, and Billy. Her story is full of sorrow and horror. Her daughter, Lizzy, has been her purpose to survive and become strong. Amanda wasn’t in a good situation when Jake and Billy stepped in to rescue her and assure a chance for Amanda and her daughter.

This is the first book introducing the Commune series. The presentation in first-person point of view through journal-style is interesting. This provides a good base for character development, backstory, and descriptive danger. There is violence that is to be expected in post-apocalyptic. There are also interesting details about prepping, scavenging and surviving. Things like guns that have ammo that’s easier to find and how diesel fuel holds up better than degrading gas. I enjoyed the story and plan to continue in the series. I recommend this to fans of the genre.

Audio Notes: R.C. Bray is a great narrator who delivers this story with personality and appropriate solemnity. He provides voices and ease of storytelling that keep the book moving forward. I liked listening to this and will most likely continue in audio.

Source: 9/1/18 Audible Sale $5.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR, 2020Audiobook and 2020Alphabet goals.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 31, 2020

Happy Friday! 
Hubby had an episode Monday night but we saw the doctor Wednesday and they said it wasn't a heart issue. That was reassuring but he is frustrated as he struggles to get energy.  

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 24, 2020 Pick. There was one automatic win again 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.
Di gets The Wedding Affair.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from January 24, 2020 Pick:
MARYP gets a GC
and
CAROL L gets Brockway Pair: My Pleasure and My Seduction.

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.}

Last week we were chilling, now we need to warm up with a good book!
Image found at Pinterest from Betheone.

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
Too 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 1,299+ 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 faraway places runs between $7.00 and $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

Audio Book Review: Wish by Barbara O'Connor

This is a sweet children's story about family issues.

Wish
By Barbara O'Connor
Narrated By: Suzy Jackson

Publisher: Recorded Books
Date: August 2016
Duration: 4 hours 41 minutes
Genre: Children, Family Issues
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.75.

Summary:
From award-winning author Barbara O'Connor comes a middle-grade novel about a girl who, with the help of the dog of her dreams, discovers the true meaning of family. Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same silent wish since fourth grade, hoping that some day it will come true. When her irresponsible parents send her to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to live with family members she doesn't know, she needs that wish to come true more than ever. A stray dog, a great friend, and the love of a big-hearted aunt and uncle just might make it happen.

Review:
Charlie is an eleven-year-old who has been placed with an Aunt and Uncle she doesn’t know in what she views as a “hillbilly” community. Charlie is angry that her father is in jail and her mother is irresponsible. Charlie is also upset that her seventeen-year-old sister is allowed to stay in her hometown of Raleigh with a school friend.

Charlie expresses her sullenness around her homemaker Aunt, her easy-going Uncle, and even her new teacher. She takes her anger out on other school children in words and sometimes pushes or kicks. Surprisingly Charlie slowly makes friends with a young boy who lives down the lane. Howard has been assigned as her classroom “Backpack Buddy”, to show her around. He has a physical handicap which she says results in an “up-down” walk. Howard tries to help Charlie with her anger by giving her a special word to say when she finds her anger rising. Sometimes, when he is nearby, he whispers it into her ear.

At first, Charlie feels the only favorable thing that happens is finding a stray dog. Howard and her guardians help her to capture the cute dog and Charlie is thrilled to have such a loving friend.

Through all of these events, Charlie holds onto the secret of her daily wish. She has learned multiple ways to express a wish even beyond wishing on a four-leaf clover or a shooting star. Even with her persistent wishing, she wonders if her wish could ever come true.

This is a very sweet story of a hurt little girl. The dysfunction of her parents has landed her in the social service system leaving her scared with strangers and feeling abandoned. The story is told from Charlie’s view. I learned lots of new ways to make a wish which is fun. It is very wonderful to watch how her life and attitude changes over the months that she remains with her Aunt and Uncle. I do recommend this for middle graders and even younger although parents may want to read or listen first or at least with their child to help address the abandonment and anger issues.

Audio Notes: Suzy Jackson does an excellent job portraying a little girl. She manages to give voice to the child’s confusion, anger, frustration, and fear. I am glad that I listened to the audio version.

Source: July 2019 Audiobooks.com two for one credit pick. This qualifies for 2020TBR, 2020Audiobook and 2020Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: Deep State by Chris Hauty

This is a gripping thriller!
Deep State
by Chris Hauty

File Size: 1723 KB
Print Length: 287 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1982126582
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books (January 7, 2020)
ASIN: B07RPP4NN9
Genre: Assassination Thriller, Political Thriller, Thriller
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Recently elected President Richard Monroe—populist, controversial, and divisive—is at the center of an increasingly polarized Washington, DC. Never has the partisan drama been so tense or the paranoia so rampant. In the midst of contentious political turf wars, the White House chief of staff is found dead in his house. A tenacious intern discovers a single, ominous clue that suggests he died from something other than natural causes, and that a wide-ranging conspiracy is running beneath the surface of everyday events: powerful government figures are scheming to undermine the rule of law—and democracy itself. Allies are exposed as enemies, once-dependable authorities fall under suspicion, and no one seems to be who they say they are. The unthinkable is happening. The Deep State is real. Who will die to keep its secrets and who will kill to uncover the truth?

Review:
Haley Chill is a former Army boxer who is now serving her country as a government intern. She is pleased to be assigned to the White House chief of staff even if it means she is relegated to a cramped desk in the basement. The other interns access this mousey newcomer and don’t see much threat. They are more than willing to let her work the late hours and finish their work. Then they are surprised when she is called in to stand with the chief of staff for face to face work and meetings.

Haley likes the chief of staff and is only a little surprised when he warns her that if either he or the president (disruptive to the status quo) end up dead, it wouldn’t be natural or suicide. She is told, “Trust no one.” Shortly thereafter Haley finds the chief of staff dead. She discovers a single clue that indicates the death wasn’t natural. But who can she trust with this information? She doesn’t want to trust the FBI and she doesn’t plan on telling the Secret Service short term boyfriend whom she is about to break up with.

When Haley is attacked and barely escapes, she ends up sharing her secrets with a new friend, another White House staff worker. Then another man ends up dead. Haley knows the Deep State is at work and the president is in danger. She is on a race to get to the president to warn him before the killers act again.

I loved this gripping thriller. The characters are well developed and the plot has some zingers. I had to get accustomed to the writing style which presents future events in the lives of the characters. I would compare these to facts sometimes disclosed at the final credits of a movie. Although that was a bit unusual, it worked and even helped create a little extra intrigue. The story moves with action and the tension builds to exciting twists. There is some foul language and use of the Lord’s name which I didn’t like. Still, I was able to slide over those pretty quickly. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy a good thriller with twists.

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