Sunday Words of Encouragement May 17, 2020

We met again online this morning with the hope that we will return to attending church in person in a few weeks! Our associate Pastor will be moving to another state in June. Today he gave his last sermon for us, staying on the ‘Viral’ theme.

This morning's message came from Romans 3. Pastor J noted that Paul is writing to the church in Rome which looks much different from the traditional Jewish synagogue. Paul’s goal is to encourage believers to choose unity. He notes that no man is perfect, only Christ. None are true except God who is always true. Romans 3:9-18.

The Church is meant for all people. Jesus came not for the religious leaders and those who think they know it all but to those who are sick and know that they don’t know it all. The Church is for people who need a savior, which is everyone. Romans 3:23-24:

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

We must share this message together…for everyone. Choose love and forgiveness.
Day by day: love God, love people. Share the good news.

I thought this song might be encouraging with this message as we look forward to a New Day!

Verses for today:
Romans 3:22-25
22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.


Lord, I pray that you will help me keep my focus on You; to choose You each day. To choose unity with other believers. To choose to love people and share the Good News of Salvation through faith!

Sharing Beyond Books #395 Comment Giveaway May 16, 2020

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB.
Thanks to everyone who commented last week. How is everyone handling your continued social distancing?

Nine of us don't have specific book regrets; four indicated they don't have regrets because if they don't like the book they stop reading. Four commentors named titles that they regreted.

The Winner from SBB #394 comments is #14 Elizabeth 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 #395

(One Question.)

Elizabeth asks: What is your favorite app??

Until this year Audible has been my favorite and main App on my phone; Google Maps was second. This year I have started using several other apps too: Chirp, Robinhood and over the past two months the Burger King App.

Image found at Our Little Apartment.

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 them.

Your turn to share. Elizabeth asks: What is your favorite app??

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, May 30, 2020, at 5 PM central.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway May 15, 2020

Happy Friday!
Here it is another Thursday night as I prepare this. I don't know why my office seems so busy and I am tired when I get home.

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 May 8, 2020 Pick. There were no automatic wins this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There was one title blocked.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from May 8, 2020 Pick:
MARYP gets a GC
and
NATALIJA 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.}

Here are some fun books to share in Spring.
Image found at Scholastics.

New Book Group #89 March 6, 2020

Pairs:
Brenda Joyce: Firestorm and Innocent Fire
LaVyrle Spencer: Morning Glory and Bitter Sweet
Singles:
Open House by Elizabeth Berg (Hardback)
My Surrender by Connie Brockway
What the Heart Knows by Kathleen Eagle
Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman
How to Tame a Modern Rogue by Diana Holoquist
Angel Creek by Linda Howard
Montana Mavericks - Big Sky Grooms Anthology
Shadow and Silk by Ann Maxwell
Tempting Fire by Carla Neggers
Suicide Club by Gayle Wilson
Phoenix by A.J. Scudiere
Through the Years - Three Novels, Linda Howard, Fern Michaels and Debbie Macomber


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 1,315+ 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!

Audible Book Review: Out of the Ashes by Bonnie R. Paulson

This post-apocalyptic trilogy has an interesting psychological twist.
Out of the Ashes
Into the End, Book 3
By: Bonnie R. Paulson
Narrated by: David Gilmore

Series: Into the End, Book 3
Length: 6 hrs and 51 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 06-04-14
Language: English
Publisher: Bonnie R Paulson
Genre: EOTW, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci-Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
America can rise, but the cost is high.
Traumatized by previous exposure to her own tests, Dr. Rachel Parker has to complete the methodical steps she swore would never see the light of day...on herself. Her sister, Brenda Krous, may be the only one capable of pulling her through intact.
If they can accomplish the feat and find resolution together, the answers they discover can help the rest of America rise up and reclaim itself from the protection of destruction.
But a nation's fall has a time frame and pride can get in the way. Rachel and Brenda must find what they need in each other to conquer the fear in others.
©2012 - present Bonnie R Paulson (P)2014 Bonnie R Paulson

Review:
America is under attack and individual citizens are being subjected to horrible physical and mental tortures. These tortures were designed by Dr. Rachel Parker with the help of her friend Daniel as her partner to help her pull through the traumatic experiments. Now the foreign enemy is using the methods they designed and the local forces are intent on getting the final tests from Rachel. It isn’t clear if Daniel is standing by to help Rachel or betray her. But Rachel’s sister, Brenda, isn’t willing to trust Daniel at all. She may not completely trust her sister either but she is willing to help her complete the tests if it will help America.

As Rachel, Brenda, and Daniel struggle with the bizarre testing, Josh continues to run missions trying to protect Rachel and others. In a community where it isn’t clear which side the local militia are fighting on is there any hope that an ally can be found to help the beleaguered survivors?

I enjoyed that the story is presented from the view of different primary characters. I really like Josh and his hero nature… even though he makes mistakes too. I liked Brenda’s strengths… even though her past experiences have made her distrustful and cynical. The story kept my interest… even though I never fully understood how Rachel’s self-revelation would help to save America. Since that was a central theme in all three books I sure wish it had been made clear. So, if you can set aside the fact that the central theme might not be resolved, you can enjoy the action and suspense in this post-apocalyptic trilogy.

Audio Notes: David Gilmore did a good job presenting the story without creating any distracting issues. I was a little surprised that this third book narration was completed by Gilmore who narrated the first book and not the second. On the other hand, the change of narrator didn’t impact my interest or engaging with the story. I was glad to have the trilogy on audio.

Source: I received four Audiobook Author Codes on 4/10/2020. Thank you, Bonnie Paulson! This qualifies for 2020Audiobook and Author goals.

Audible Book Review: Through the Flames by Bonnie R. Paulson

It’s hard to tell who are the good guys in this intense EOTW story.

Through the Flames
Into the End, Book 2
By: Bonnie R. Paulson
Narrated by: James Miller

Series: Into the End, Book 2
Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 10-23-13
Language: English
Publisher: Bonnie R. Paulson
Genre: EOTW, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci-Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Allies = All Lies.
America is burning. The unknown blinds the citizens from fighting.
Dr. Rachel Parker's worst psychological designs are loosed on America by an unknown enemy. She leaves the safety of the mountains for the destruction of town to face her co-designer, Daniel, whose role is blurred by the smoke of deception.
Captured by militia, Rachel has to find the answers she's seeking. She's not prepared to look within her own damaged mind for the solutions. Rachel's frame of sanity and emotional stability lay on the line parallel to the country's circumstances.
Brenda Krous, Rachel's sister, possesses information that could change the face of the war. Sacrifices to get there become more and more personal until the 'Brenda' she was and the 'Brenda' she is becoming hit a crossroads. If she finds the compassion to help her sister, her patriotism to the nation might be sacrificed.
©2012 Bonnie R. Paulson (P)2013 Bonnie R. Paulson

Review:
At the conclusion of book one, the primary characters have escaped from the enemy but are scattered as they try to get to safety. Josh, is hampered by the extreme injuries of his friend, Andy. Tom was running from men blackmailing his father when an earthquake rolled rocks on him. Brenda barely escaped to get back to the mountain cabin and her sister Rachel. But Rachel heads out supposedly to get antibiotics but she walks straight into a trap set to lure her in.

Rachel discovers herself in the hands of the enemy who has also captured her injured husband, Andy, his friend, Josh, and her former patient and friend, Tom. The fourth pawn the enemy is prepared to use against her is Daniel, her partner from the traumatic psychological experiments that are the focus of the invasion against Americans. Rachel, with the help and support of Daniel, was the one who designed the alternative torture methods that are being used by the enemy.

There are several separate groups of America and local Militia. It isn’t clear if they want to learn Rachel’s secrets in order to combat the tortures or if they are aiding the invading and attacking forces to intimidate their own people.

There are repeated twists and turns as the primary characters escape and defeat their immediate captors only to be caught up in another danger. There are still a lot of questions as to the purpose of Rachel’s tests and how her completing the experiments is needed to get to a solution.

There is still good action and interest that took precedent over the confusion. It kept me wanting to read the final book in order to discover what happens. I like the post-apocalyptic elements of this series even though some situations are a bit unrealistic.

Audio Notes: James Miller is not the same narrator as book 1. I liked Miller’s emotional portrayal and energetic presentation. I was glad to listen to this in audio.

Source: I received four Audiobook Author Codes on 4/10/2020. Thank you, Bonnie Paulson! This qualifies for 2020Audiobook and author review goals.