Sharing Beyond Books #397 Comment Giveaway June 13, 2020

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB.
Thanks to everyone who commented last week. We are all living in tense times it seems.

Twelve of us have books that had an impact on us. To Kill a Mockingbird was mentioned twice.

The Winner from SBB #396 comments is #8 CAROL 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 #397

(One Question.)

Marjorie asks: What was the first series of books you enjoyed, mine was Trixie Belden??

I recall that, as a young person, I was a fan of The Hardy Boys first, then Nancy Drew series. That is showing my age! I will be interested to see which series the youger people name.

Image found at It's Always Autumn.

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. Marjorie asks: What was the first series of books you enjoyed, mine was Trixie Belden??

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, June 27, 2020, at 5 PM central.

#NetGalley Book Review: Vanishing Girls by Lisa Regan

This is a tough and engaging thriller.
Vanishing Girls: A totally heart-stopping crime thriller (Detective Josie Quinn Book 1)
by Lisa Regan

File Size: 1883 KB
Print Length: 337 pages
Publisher: Bookouture (January 17, 2018)
ASIN: B076KMQ7M3
Genre: Crime Thriller, Detective Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

When Isabelle Coleman, a blonde, beautiful young girl goes missing, eeautifulveryone from the small town of Denton joins the search. They can find no trace of the town’s darling, but Detective Josie Quinn finds another girl they didn’t even know was missing.
Mute and unresponsive, it’s clear this mysterious girl has been damaged beyond repair. All Josie can get from her is the name of a third girl and a flash of a neon tongue piercing that matches Isabelle’s.
The race is on to find Isabelle alive, and Josie fears there may be other girls in terrible danger. When the trail leads her to a cold case labelled a hoax by authorities, Josie begins to wonder is there anyone left she can trust?
Someone in this close-knit town is committing unspeakable crimes. Can Josie catch the killer before another victim loses their life?
Utterly gripping crime for readers who adored Angela Marsons, Helen Fields and Robert Dugoni. You will be sleeping with the lights on once you discover the first in this unputdownable new crime thriller series.

Review:
Detective Josie Quinn is a tough, dedicated officer, committed to solving crime. She tends to act impulsively at times and has recently been suspended for an assault. Josie is frustrated that her husband, her childhood sweetheart, has betrayed her and has been slow to sign the divorce papers she is waiting for. Josie is doubly frustrated as a beautiful teenage girl has gone missing and her chief won’t let her participate in the investigation.

Josie keeps sneaking into the investigation and hunting out clues behind the scenes. When another young woman is discovered alive, Josie is skeptical that the man accused and killed during the arrest, was the true kidnapper. The young girl is basically catatonic and unable to help in the investigation. But Josie discovers the existence of an older case with a similar abduction. She enlists the help of her fiancé and a pesky news journalist to work on the case and gather the older police file only to learn that the file is missing much of the report. Can Josie get enough information to help the case before she gets fired by her boss? The investigation takes a dangerous twist when the information that Josie gathers apparently threatens some people resulting in Josie and those close to her becoming targets to keep quiet.

Sadly, from the beginning, I couldn’t warm to Josie’s rough character. She was on suspension for excessive reaction and still chose not to follow the rules as she continued to push to be on the abduction case. The investigation and the criminal conspiracy are very interesting, suspenseful, and, at times, horrifying. I recommend this to readers who enjoy dark crime and tough detective stories.

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

Audible Book Review: The Other America - A Speech from The Radical King by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This is a timely listen.

The Other America - A Speech from The Radical King
By: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Cornel West - editor
Narrated by: Wanda Sykes

Series: The Radical King
Length: 25 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 02-01-18
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: History, Social Issues
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
In a rousing speech on race, poverty, and economic justice - given less than a year before his assassination - Martin Luther King Jr. drives home the mission behind his Poor People's Campaign. It is a clear-eyed look at the disparity of wealth in America, what it means for people of all colors - and a message of inspiration dedicated to the power of the people.
"And I say, if we will stand and work together, we will bring into being that day when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. We will bring into being that day when America will no longer be two nations but when it will be one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Wanda Sykes' powerful performance delivers King's compassion, outrage, insight, and vulnerability like few others could - and reminds us all of the relevance his words still have today.
"The Other America" is one of 23 speeches and essays from The Radical King, curated by Dr. Cornel West, including words never recorded in public - a revelation for his legacy.
The Martin Luther King Estate has allowed, for the first time, a dramatic interpretation of King's words, by some of the most charismatic and activist actors working today: LeVar Burton, Mike Colter, Colman Domingo, Danny Glover, Gabourey Sidibe, Wanda Sykes, and Michael Kenneth Williams.
"The Other America" excerpt from The Radical King is free of charge to all listeners until Monday, April 2, 2018. To preorder the full, revealing collection, visit www.audible.com/TheRadicalKing.
©2018 All material copyright Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr; all material copyright renewed Coretta Scott King and the Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr. Introductions 2015 Cornel West (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Review:
This short piece added to my thoughts over the events that have flared since the horrible death of George Floyd. Dr. King argues for changes to help persons of color and of poverty (this includes more than just black Americans). He makes a case for reparations based on the history of slavery. The excerpt also reflects that Dr. King was not in favor of violence and I am sure he would not favor looting and destruction.

It is certainly frustrating (and clearly wrong) that the issues and struggles of the poor class, which Dr. King addresses, are little changed 57 years later. Police brutality is wrong but so is a violent response. The problems, in my opinion, are beyond a policing issue and the underlying issue shouldn't get lost in the noise. There have to be better opportunities and policies to address poverty and the accompanying sense of oppression. Dr. King’s words did give me additional information to ponder as I watch for our leaders to seek real reforms and solutions, not unrealistic promises to unfocused demands; not violence, and not more division.

Audio Notes: Wanda Sykes does a good job with the presentation. She brings good energy and passion to the speech. I think audio helps bring these thoughts more power rather than just reading.

Source: 1/21/19 Audible Free. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway June 12, 2020

Happy Friday!
This has been another difficult week. In addition to the unrest, the stock market has done a major pullback in the last several days. I hope everyone is staying safe during these interesting times.
It is still my plan 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 June 5, 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 no title blocked.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from June 5, 2020 Pick:
MARJORIE gets a GC
and
ASHFA 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.}

Who is ready to dive into reading?
Image found at Pinterest.

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: Extracted by R. R. Haywood

I liked the plot and characters but not the language in this.
Extracted
By: R. R. Haywood
Narrator: Carl Prekopp

Series: Extracted, Book 1
Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 03-01-17
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi, Time Travel
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
In 2061 a young scientist invents a time machine to fix a tragedy in his past. But his good intentions turn catastrophic when an early test reveals something unexpected: the end of the world.
A desperate plan is formed: recruit three heroes, ordinary humans capable of extraordinary things, and change the future.
Safa Patel is an elite police officer, on duty when Downing Street comes under terrorist attack. As armed men storm through the breach, she dispatches them all.
'Mad' Harry Madden is a legend of the Second World War. Not only did he complete an impossible mission - to plant charges on a heavily defended submarine base - but he also escaped with his life.
Ben Ryder is just an insurance investigator. But as a young man, he witnessed a gang assaulting a woman and her child. He went to their rescue and killed all five.
Can these three heroes, extracted from their timelines at the point of death, save the world?
©2016 R. R. Haywood (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

Review:
Three distinct characters are pulled through time to be asked to save the future. ‘Mad’ Harry Madden is a large, tough soldier in WWII who was willing to take on a suicide mission for the cause against the enemy Germans. He succeeded in his mission and apparently survived. When he wakes up in a bunker he thinks he has been taken as a prisoner.

Ben Ryder is an insurance investigator who has twice acted with untrained precision to foil attacks. He was only a teenager when he defeated gang members in the midst of an assault on a woman and child. Years later he steps out of an investigation scene to discover a terrorist attack about to kill thousands. He quickly accesses the problem and takes action. He wakes up in a bunker and has trouble accepting the situation he finds himself he is in.

As Ryder was trying to thwart the terrorists his heroism was seen by a young enforcement officer, beautiful Safa Patel. With the inspiration of a man like Ryder Safa pushes through the training to become an elite officer. She has to suffer through horrific exploitation, but she is intent on preforming her job. When her vile boss is threatened by an attack she does all she can to protect him, facing the enemy single-handed. Safa wakes up in the bunker with two heroes she knows and reveres from history. She makes it her personal goal to prepare Ryder for the fight ahead even as he resists her efforts.

The three heroes struggle with their training, even facing a crisis. Meanwhile, there are sources in the real timeline closing in on the location of the time machine. Can the team be ready for the assignment before the secrets are uncovered?

When you have a print book you can go back and check the timeline but that is difficult in audio. Once I figured out the characters were coming from different dates, I was able to settle into the plot. Interestingly enough, this book is as much character-driven as it is plot focused. The three “heroes” who have been extracted to save the future are unique individuals who don’t necessarily see themselves as heroes. I really enjoyed the characters and the tense suspense built in the story. I suspected it would end in a cliff hanger and it did. I would plunge on to the next book except for one problem: the foul language is pretty free-flowing. Additionally, there are several rather raw scenes of sexual content and misogyny. I am just not sure that I am comfortable going on with the extent of rawness and foul language. I do recommend this to readers who can manage the language and enjoy the twists that come with time travel. And don’t forget that it is an incomplete story in book 1.

Audio Notes: I found the narration by Carl Prekopp to fit the story. His British accent works for the narration and the character voices. I would be willing to listen to more of his narration provided I could confirm there isn’t a lot of raw language. I am glad I listened to this in audio as I am not sure I would have read through the language and raw scenes.

Source: September Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.