Sunday Words of Encouragement January 3, 2021

We attended service online again this morning Pastor encouraged us to find ways to praise God and bring glory to Christ even through the struggles of 2020. He asked “Can we find a thing in 2020 where God touched our lives?”

He titled today’s message: “Moving On from 2020”. The pandemic is already following us into 2021 but we want to move on. What are we moving on to?

When we face a storm, we seek shelter. Often, we find God right there, just waiting for us to reach for Him.

The scripture for today’s message is the familiar message of Noah found in Genesis chapters 7 and 8.

Noah and his family were trying to stay safe – by obeying God. Genesis 7:5. They suffered the ridicule of neighbors and then they had to suffer through 40 days and nights of storming rains and 150 days of flooding. When the waters receded, they found themselves stuck in one place. They didn’t know how plants would return, how food would come, when they would get back to land. They may have been sitting on the boat saying: “This is unprecedented, it has never happened before.”

But ‘God remembered Noah’. Genesis 8:1. (Which may sound strange since there were 57 square miles of land on the earth… and one boat.) But the important thing to realize is that God didn’t forget Noah and He hasn’t forgotten you. He is working for you wherever you are. Finally, God said to come out of the ark. Genesis 8:16.

Noah’s first act was to worship God. What else? He brought a sacrifice. Genesis 8:20. The sacrifice wasn’t out of abundance but out of scarcity.

What will we do, change, sacrifice, or give as you move on to what’s next?
Is our first act after 2020 to worship? Does our expectation or acknowledgment of death change us? Has it changed how we live and changed our approach to others? Are we rushing to tell others? Make the change tangible, real, and recognizable.

What Are We Moving On To?
Will it be different?
Will it be more effective for Christ?

We shared in Communion, remembering Jesus and His sacrifice.

I found this song to fit today’s message:

Verses for Today:
Genesis 7:5, 7:24, 8:1 (NIV)
7:5 And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.
7:24 The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.
8:1 But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.

I am conscience that I want to personally focus on sharing God's love...and praying that others will see the need for God's righteousness and grace.

My verses for the New Year - two favorites:
Micah 6:8 and 2 Chronicles 7:14

Audio Book Review: Snowbound at Christmas by Jennifer Ryan, Maisey Yates, Lia Riley

The first story was fine but the other two were a little too sexy for my tastes.
Snowbound at Christmas
by Jennifer Ryan, Maisey Yates, Lia Riley
Narrators: Lillian Thayer, Coleen Marlo and Carly Robins

Date: November 2016
Duration: 7 hours 56 minutes
Publisher: HarperAudio
Genre: Christmas, Holiday Romance
My Rating: 3.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.25; Narration 3.25.

When a snowstorm pummels the western half of the country, three couples find once off-limits love just in time for Christmas. An unforgettable holiday anthology from bestselling authors Jennifer Ryan, Maisey Yates, and Lia Riley.
Close to Perfect: A Montana Men Novella by Jennifer Ryan
At sixteen, Abigail gave Dex the gift of a lifetime, but the cost of it was more than he ever knew. Now she's back in town with a secret that has been ten years in the making and this time it's Dex's turn to make the ultimate sacrifice or risk losing her forever.

Snowed in at Copper Ridge: A Copper Ridge Novella by Maisey Yates
Mia Landry has always had it bad for brooding cowboy Devlin Grayson. Too bad he's her best friend's older brother. But when they find themselves snowed in at Copper Ridge Lodge, Mia finally has the chance to tell the man of her dreams exactly what she wants... him.

Hot Winter's Night: A Brightwater Novella by Lia Riley
While Brightwater is being covered in snow, Goldie Flint is stuck in her flower shop. She never expected her hero to be Kit Kane, the former love of her life. Kit knows that what he had with Goldie isn't just in the past and with the help of a little bet, an ornery grandmother, and a lot of snow, he's ready to show her that what he really wants for Christmas is a second chance.

Review:
These are three different Christmas romance stories that deal with snowbound characters. I enjoyed Close to Perfect but the other two not so much. My rating overall 3.25 of 5.0.

Close to Perfect: A Montana Men Novella by Jennifer Ryan My rating 4.0.
I enjoyed the story of Dex and Abigail who were teen sweethearts separated by actions of Abigail’s oppressive father. It was a sweet story bringing them back together so they could learn what kept them apart. More importantly they could find their way to a future as a family.

Snowed in at Copper Ridge: A Copper Ridge Novella by Maisey Yates My rating 3.0.
Dev has a reputation as a ‘bad boy’ cowboy who has had to resist his attraction to his younger sister’s best friend. Mia has always had a bit of a crush on Dev but she has had negative physical reactions to men that no one knows about, not even Dev’s sister. When the two find themselves stranded they discover their attraction is too hard to resist. And to Mia’s delight she doesn’t have a negative reaction to Dev’s touch.

Mia seems more like an awkward teen than an mid-twentys young woman. Dev sounded like a man led by his sexual desires who had little emotional thought for his conquests. There was a strong focus on their sexual attraction and interaction and the language was ugly. Just not my cup of tea.

Hot Winter's Night: A Brightwater Novella by Lia Riley My rating 3.0.
Goldie gets stuck in a snowstorm and gets rescued by her old and fiery flame, Kit. Kit takes her to her house only to discover it flooded. Then he takes her home where the large family sends them off to a room in the attic. Kit and Goldie discover there is a bet online on how many days they will last before ‘killing each other’. They decide to take advantage of the betting to win some money to help Goldie’s damaged shop and home. To win they will stay cozied up until Christmas day. Again, this was a little too much focused on sexual attraction and interaction for my comfort. It pulled my interest away from the story and I wanted it to finish. Others might enjoy the sexually oriented stories but this combination wasn’t for me.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the first narration. The voices fit and conveyed the distress and regret of the characters. The other two I have little recollection of as a I was so turned off by the language and sex.

Source: Sale Audiobooks.com December 2019. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 1, 2021 - Posted January 2, 2021

Happy Friday Saturday (again) and HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Yay for another year of Reading!

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 December 26, 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 was no title blocked.
RITA gets The Best Man
and
BN100 gets The Celtic Riddle.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from December 26, 2020 Pick:
LIFE's SIMPLE PLEASURE 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.}

That is a sentiment for all of us readers!
Image found at Bookwyrm's Hoard.

New Book Groups #92 and #93 November 13, 2020.
#92 (15 books):

The Promise by TJ Bennett
A Most Unsuitable Man by Jo Beverley
Alaskan Renegade by Kate Bridges
Killing Floor by Lee Child
The Tender Stranger by Carolyn Davidson
Her Wedding Wish by Jillian Hart
Heart's Desire by Ruth Ryan Hagan
Snowflakes on the Sea by Linda Lael Miller
Murder in Plain Sight by Marta Perry
One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney
The Deputy's Duty by Terri Reed
No Ordinary Man by Suzanne Simmons
The Scot by Lyn Stone
The Abducted Heiress by Claire Thornton
Summer by the Sea by Susan Wiggs

Box #93 (14 books)

Three Complete Novels by Sandra Brown (Best Kept Secrets, Mirror Image, and Slow Heat to Heaven)
Select Editions Four Novels: Safe Harbor, The Analyst, Fallen Angel and Open Season
Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwyn Cready
There's Only Been You by Donna Marie Rogers (personally signed)
The Celtic Riddle by Lyn Hamilton
For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper
The Irish Bride by Alexa Harrington
The Best Man by Kristan Higgins
Castles in the Mist by Jose Litton
When We Met by Susan Mallery
Thief of Hearts by Teresa Medeiros
Anne of Green Gables by Montgomery
Familiar Stranger by Sharon Sala
All of Me by Lori Wilde

New Book Group #91 October 2, 2020 - Suspense themed

SINGLES: Ten books in this box:
Senseless by Mary Burton
Indefensible by Pamela Callow
Fight or Flight by Natalie J. Damschroder
Final Appeal by Joanne Fluke
The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman
The Sinister Pig by Tony Hillerman Audiobook


PICK TWO  your choice (listed below the picture) Nora Roberts:

Born in Fire Audiobook Cassettes
Montana Sky
A Little Magic (Sorry - I initially listed this as Dark Magic)
Valley of Silence
Inner Harbor and
Chesapeake Blue


New Book Group #90 June 19, 2020
Quite a few mysteries in this box.

SINGLES:
Siren's Song by Trish Albright (personally autographed)
Alias by Smy J. Fetzer
Angel Face by Suzanne Forster
Stalking the Puzzle Lady by Parnell Hall
Hot Sex by Janet Evanovich (Audio cassettes)
The Warrior by Frances Richey (poetry  hardcover)


New Book Group #89 March 6, 2020

Singles:
My Surrender by Connie Brockway
How to Tame a Modern Rogue by Diana Holoquist
Phoenix by A.J. Scudiere

New Book Group #88 November 8, 2019

Singles:
A Lady Never Tells by Candace Camp
Dawn of Redemption by Starla Childs


New Book Group #87 August 23, 2019

SINGLES:
Captain's Paradise by Kay Hooper
Open Season by Linda Howard AUDIO CASSETTES


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

SINGLES:
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

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
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
Aunt Erma's Cope Book
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 21 titles.)
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown
(*Three One more very old books from my Gothics box.)
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell
*Four One 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 TEN years I have posted 91 groups of 16 books plus an additional 21 totaling 1,477 books available to find new homes! (As of November 6, 2020).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,347+ 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!

Book Review: Miss Kane's Christmas by Caroline Mickelson

This is a cute, light romance with Christmas magic.

Miss Kane's Christmas
(Christmas Central #1)
by Caroline Mickelson.

ASIN : B009SU0NVO
Publisher : Bon Accord Press (October 17, 2012)
File size : 602 KB
Page Length : 138 pages
Genre: Christmas, Holiday Romance, Romantic Comedy
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

With Christmas only three days away, Carol Claus agrees to her father's request that she leave the North Pole on a mission to help save Christmas. Joining single father Ben Hanson and his children for the holidays seems an easy enough task until Santa informs her that Ben is the man behind the disturbing new book 'Beyond Bah Humbug: Why Lying to Your Children about Santa Claus is a Bad Idea'.
Posing as Miss Kane, the children's new nanny, Carol pulls out all the stops to show Ben how fun Christmas can be, all the while struggling to understand how one man could hate the holidays so much. How could she, Santa's only daughter, be so attracted to a man who refuses to believe her father exists?

Review:
Santa Claus asks his daughter Carol to handle a mission to save Christmas. A single father, Ben Hanson, is about to submit for publication a book that calls Santa a lie and a hoax. Carol, aka Miss Kane, is dropped at the man’s door to serve as the new nanny for his two children.

Ben lost his wife and the children their mother several years before when she died of illness. Ben did tell the full truth to his children about their mother, but he froze his feelings and has shared no happiness since her death. The children, Hillary age eight and Patrick age x have grown accustomed to a household with little fun and no laughter, but they long for more. They are thrilled when Miss Kane arrives bringing a burst of Christmas enthusiasm and joy with her.

Ben is set on sending Miss Kane away the morning after her arrival but circumstances require that she stay a few days. It is just three days before Christmas and Carol is intent on bringing the Christmas spirit into the Hanson home before she returns to the North Pole. As she grows closer to the family, she fears first that she will fail to win Ben over even with a little Christmas magic, and second that she may not be able to return to her own home without great sorrow.

This is a cute little story that is the stuff of Hallmark movies. Carol overflows Christmas joy and the children are ready to soak it in. Ben is a reluctant participant in the holiday festivities, but it would be hard for anyone to resist Carol’s enthusiastic spirit. This is an easy, quick read. I recommend this to fans of light Christmas romance.

Source: Free Kindle December 2012. This qualifies for 2020TBR goal.

First Book of the Year 2021 - The Harbinger II: The Return by Jonathan Cahn

Goodbye 2020!  Welcome to 2021!

I'm guessing most of us are glad to begin a new year of reading!

Thank you to Sheila at Bookjourney who continues to host First Book!

My first book for 2021 is The Harbinger II, The Return, by Jonathan Cahn.

I will be listening on Audible but we also have the print book to follow along.

 

This is particularly fun as I read The Harbinger as first book 2014 when this feature started.

The Harbinger II
The Return
By: Jonathan Cahn
Narrated by: Lawrence Richardson
Series: The Harbinger, Book 2
Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins 

I have enjoyed Jonathan Cahn's prior books and I am looking forward to reading/listening to this.
Source: Audible August 2020 credit and print purchase.
Publisher's Summary
Are the unprecedented crises of our times the signs and warnings of coming judgment? Does an ancient mystery hold the secret to the events of our times and the future of America and the world? Is this mystery even behind the shakings that have now overtaken the world and America? How much time do we have left?

In 2012, Jonathan Cahn caused a worldwide sensation with the release of his first book, and massive best seller, The Harbinger. It was hailed as "stunning", "prophetic", "mind-blowing", and "astonishing". Cahn followed it with best seller after best seller, but he has always held off on writing a sequel. But now, for the first time, Cahn opens up what could not be unlocked before - the mysteries that couldn’t be revealed until the present time, the manifestations that have taken place since The Harbinger came out and up to the present hour, and the mysteries of what is yet to come.
Ever since The Harbinger was released, people have been asking:

Is an ancient mystery determining America’s future?
Have the harbingers of judgment continued to manifest on American soil?
Is America closer now than ever before to judgment, and what lies ahead for America and the world?

©2020 Jonathan Cahn (P)2020 Charisma House