Sunday Words of Encouragement June 7, 2020

My hubby and I continue to attend our church services online. The church has opened for service only with plans for Sunday School and children’s church to start up again in July. Our Pastor continued his series: Better Together. The church people who gathered as mentioned in Acts 2 were able to spread the message because they were of one mind and one purpose. Not just in times of trouble, but in all circumstances we should give our very best, not just an afterthought.

We are told in Colossians 3:11-17 that we shouldn’t focus on differences but recognize that we are one in Christ. We are encouraged to ‘clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience….’ And to make allowance for each other.

It is better when we live like the only thing that matters is Jesus. Imagine how the world might be if we ran all responses through that filter. In the early church, there was no hierarchy of leaders but rather each one helping each other.

To understand this attitude, we each need an encounter with Jesus, the beginning and end.
Are you bringing your best to each of your circumstances – at home, work, church, and out in public? Are you bringing your best attitude, contagious joy, kindness, and gratitude? We are better with unity together in one body.

I wish we could have been at church to share communion. I'm looking forward to next month.

I found this song this morning and it spoke to me.

Verses for Today:
Colossians 3:11-17 (NIV)
11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


Lord, I am praying for calmness, compassion and kindness; open ears to open dialogues of solutions and ideas beyond accusations and demands.

 

Audible Book Review: Ayiti by Roxane Gay

This was not what I expected, but very interesting in its own right.

Ayiti

By: Roxane Gay

Narrated by: Roxane Gay

Length: 2 hrs and 46 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 07-17-18

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genre: Anthology, Collection, Short Stories

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary From New York Times best-selling powerhouse Roxane Gay, Ayiti is a powerful collection exploring the Haitian diaspora experience. Originally published by a small press, this edition will make Gay’s debut widely available for the first time, including several new stories. In Ayiti, a married couple seeking boat passage to America prepares to leave their homeland. A young woman procures a voodoo love potion to ensnare a childhood classmate. A mother takes a foreign soldier into her home as a boarder, and into her bed. And a woman conceives a daughter on the bank of a river while fleeing a horrific massacre, a daughter who later moves to America for a new life but is perpetually haunted by the mysterious scent of blood. These early stories showcase Gay’s prowess as "one of the voices of our age” (National Post, Canada). ©2011, 2018 Roxane Gay. Recorded by arrangement with Grove Atlantic, Inc. (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Review:

Ayiti: meaning Haiti.  This is an interesting collection of stories that are mostly not easy listening. Ms. Ayiti tells the tales of various Haitians or their children showing their experiences in Haiti and beyond. After I started listening I looked up the meaning of diaspora: A diaspora (/daɪˈæspərə/) is a scattered population whose origin lies in a separate geographic locale.

The experiences are at times distressing, horrifying, haunting, and touching. One particularly striking story tells of a grandmother’s experience at Massacre River, a river that divides Haiti and the Dominican Republic which the author describes as a border between two geographies of grief.” The tales describe the horrors of the past, the memories of her grandmother, and the lifelong impact the event had on her.

I almost didn’t get too far along because the language is very raw (foul) and graphic (rape and sex). I didn’t realize that the stories have been included as erotica, which is a genre/material I don’t generally read. Provided the raw language and sexual content wouldn’t bother the reader, I recommend this to readers who enjoy history and immigrant experiences.

Audio Notes: Roxane Gay narrates her own collection and does a good job. Not only does her voice fit the work, but she brings her own energy. It is likely I would not have read this in print so I am glad I picked up the audible on Daily Deal.

Source: 05/25/2019 Audible Daily Deal $.99. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway June 5, 2020

Happy Friday!
Another week has gone and a new month full of challenges has come. I hope everyone continues to stay safe.
It's time for me to start working on mailing books and sending out GCs so watch for those in the next two weeks. Maybe I'll pull out another box of books too!

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 29, 2020 Pick. There was no automatic win 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 (Montana Mavericks) still blocked.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from May 29, 2020 Pick:
LIFE's Simple Pleasures gets a GC
and
MARIJANA 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.}

If you are still home maybe you'd like to build a bookshelf chair.
Image found at Owner Builder Network.

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 1,317+ 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: Paradise, Expeditionary Force, Book 3 by Craig Alanson

This is a space military adventure series that I really enjoy.
Paradise
Expeditionary Force, Book 3
By: Craig Alanson
Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 05-23-17
Language: English
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Adventure, Military Space Sci-fi
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.75.

Publisher's Summary
While the crew of the starship Flying Dutchman have been trying to assure people that hostile aliens do not have access to Earth, the UN Expeditionary Force has been stranded on the planet they nicknamed "Paradise". The Flying Dutchman is headed back out on another mission, and the UN wants the ship to find out the status of the humans on Paradise. But Colonel Joe Bishop warns that they might not like what they find, and they can't do anything about it without endangering Earth.
©2016 Craig Alanson (P)2017 Podium Publishing

Review:
UN Expeditionary Force (UNEF) took forces to the planet they named “Paradise” supposedly to help an allied force to free the planet from the grasp of an enemy alien force. When the allied force turned out to be the real enemy, the UNEF forces ended up stranded on the planet to fend for themselves, including the necessity to grow their own food.

Joe Bishop and a small group of UNEF soldiers escaped from Paradise by capturing an alien spaceship they renamed The Flying Dutchman. Joe and his crew are merely human without the capability to understand, much less operate, alien technology. But Joe discovered an ancient alien AI, a small cylinder nicknamed “Skippy”, who has become the oddest friend. The Flying Dutchman and crew returned home to Earth and, again with the help of Skippy, saved the homeworld by closing a wormhole in use by threatening aliens.

Now Joe and his crew have been sent back out into space to gather intel about potentially imminent threats. The most important thing for the ship is to remain secret. They cannot allow the alien forces - not even their own people on Paradise – know that the humans have an AI helping them to control the alien technology.

While carrying out their primary mission the crew learn that Paradise is about to be surrendered to the enemy who will kill the humans either by slow deprivation or outright massacre. The crew has to puzzle out a way to help while still staying secret from all the groups around them. Will Joe and Skippy be able to pull another rabbit out of the ‘magic’ cylinder?

I totally enjoy this crew and the irreverent snark and teasing, particularly between Joe and Skippy. As brilliant as the AI is, it drives him crazy when he misses possible solutions that only humans thinking out of the box can suggest. This installment is a little slower perhaps but still has plenty of interest that kept it moving quickly for me. I appreciate that there is minimal foul language in this series. If I didn’t try to spread my reading between solid series I enjoy and new series on my TBR, I would be willing to move on with the next book! I recommend the series to readers who enjoy space military adventure.

Audio Notes: Once again, R.C. Bray delivers wonderful narration that enhanced the listening experience for me. I could probably pick books by choosing this narrator if I needed to add to my large audio TBR.

Source: March 2019 Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force, #1) 4.75
SpecOps, Expeditionary Force, Book 2 4.5

#NetGalley Book Review: Deal with the Devil: A Mercenary Librarians Novel by Kit Rocha

I really liked this post-apocalyptic biotech action/romance and will want to read more in the series.

Deal with the Devil: A Mercenary Librarians Novel
by Kit Rocha

Print Length: 336 pages
Publisher: Tor Books (July 28, 2020)
ASIN: B07QMHKDGB
Genre: Action Adventure, Post-apocalyptic, Romance, Sci-Fi
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

Deal with the Devil is Orphan Black meets the post-apocalyptic Avengers by USA Today and New York Times bestselling author duo Kit Rocha.
Nina is an information broker with a mission—she and her team of mercenary librarians use their knowledge to save the hopeless in a crumbling America.
Knox is the bitter, battle-weary captain of the Silver Devils. His squad of supersoldiers went AWOL to avoid slaughtering innocents, and now he's fighting to survive.
They’re on a deadly collision course, and the passion that flares between them only makes it more dangerous. They could burn down the world, destroying each other in the process…
Or they could do the impossible: team up.
This is the first book in a near-future science fiction series with elements of romance.

Review:
Nina and her friends, Maya and Dani, were raised under a program of clones and genetic modification. They each have special and unique skills, tactical strategies, fighting and assassination expertise, and retrievable memories of extensive info. These women were trained to be used as tools, and weapons, as might be directed by the powerful. Somehow along the way, Nina’s conscious helped her to escape with Maya and Dani. Now, in addition to protecting her team, the girls serve their community by providing food, treasured books, and more.

Knox is a cynical, battle-weary captain of a squad of supersoldiers widely known as the Silver Devils. Knox and his squad watched their handlers torture his medic to death. The remainder of the squad escaped the next chance they got. But they are living on borrowed time. The men were able to remove the trackers under their skin but the super strengths they have are based on supplements that are no longer available. They had hope that a specialist could tune their biometrics but she has been kidnapped. In order to ransom her, the Silver Devils need to team up with Nina and her team. Well… is it a team-up or a double-cross?

As the two teams travel to a distant target, there are natural tensions. Some are competitive issues but others are due to attempts to resist the sexual attraction, particularly between Nina and Knox. As the days and nights roll along the chemistry between them builds to a point of no resistance. Under Knox’s fiercely cold demeanor is a heart troubled by guilt and regrets. He admires Nina and thinks he could never be worthy of her caring nurture. But what will happen when they reach their destination and the true state of affairs is revealed?

I loved the strengths and vulnerabilities of the characters. There is plenty of tension and danger that kept me on edge. There were moments that required suspension of belief but I accepted that for the sake of the story. I enjoyed the enhanced skills, the action, the suspense, and the romance. I hope to read more in the series. I recommend this to those who enjoy futuristic, post-apocalyptic sci-fi with romance.

Source: NetGalley 2020. This qualifies for 2020NetGalley and 2020Alphabet goals.