Sunday Post May 30, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday May 31, 2021

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? now at The Book Date (at Wordpress)

What Are You Reading? is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

We had everyone back in office by Thursday so we keep chugging along. The girls are looking forward to a day in the sun, probably at the beach, on Monday.

I spent Saturday in office organizing my files so I feel like I am moving forward. I also pulled books to mail to winners. That is always a fun thing.

Hubby seems tired this week and struggles when he has a restless night with difficult breathing. I struggle that I can't do anything to help him.
May ended up being a good month on my stock options. I hope to continue the successful pattern.

I wanted to show the blooming gardenias  - they smell so good -
and the dogs got in the picture too.

Our weather should be sunny the beginning of the week with rain at the end. Temps will range from high 80s to mid 90s all week. I'm glad I work inside all day.

Listening was good again. I finished two audio books and one ebook. I posted four reviews and my usual memes.

I visited 18 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to Socrates' Book Reviews. Yvonne describes her blog: "This website is a blog about books, reviews and pets."

Don't forget- Audible is offering free children's titles during these days at home.
Audiobooks.com is also offering free listens for children.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post May 23, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday May 24, 2021.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Traveler Series, A Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian Adventure: Books 1-3 by Tom Abrahams; Genre: Adventure, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

• ATBR- Audio Book Review: An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen; Genre: Classic, Drama, Poetry & Drama, Political; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway May 28, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 6/3/2021.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Spring Clean by Dina Gregory; Genre: Fantasy, Light Humor, Short Story; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• ATBR- Audio Book Review: You Dropped a Blonde On Me by Dakota Cassidy; Genre: Contemporary, Romantic Comedy; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

• Sharing Beyond Books #422 Comment Giveaway May 29, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 6/12/2021.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement May 30, 2021.

Finished Reading:

1. NetGalley; Adobe Digital (NG2021)

The Madman's Library
The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History
by Edward Brooke-Hitching
This is fascinating - especially for book nerds (like me)!
Source: Received 4/4/2021 from NetGalley Read Now.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

A History of the Future: A World Made by Hand Novel, Book 3
By: James Howard Kunstler
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen
This is a day to day survival and character driven dystopia.
I plan to read book 4 for "Spring" title before June 21.
Source: 12/21/2020 Audible Plus Catalog.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)

Jesus > Religion
by Jefferson Bethke
Run Time 4h 12min
Release Date: October 13, 2013
This supports my view of Christ (primary) and church (secondary).
Source: 05/30/2020 Chirp $3.99.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:
1. NetGalley App/Smartphone (NG2020)

Day Zero
by C. Robert Cargill
This is a dystopian with humans and robots.
I like how it has started other than bad language.
This might have to go on hold while I listen to Old Abe through the same app.
Source: Netgalley 2020.
In this harrowing apocalyptic adventure—from the author of the critically acclaimed Sea of Rust—noted novelist and co-screenwriter of Marvel’s Doctor Strange C. Robert Cargill explores the fight for purpose and agency between humans and robots in a crumbling world.
It was a day like any other. Except it was our last . . .
It’s on this day that Pounce discovers that he is, in fact, disposable. Pounce, a styilsh "nannybot" fashioned in the shape of a plush anthropomorphic tiger, has just found a box in the attic. His box. The box he'd arrived in when he was purchased years earlier, and the box in which he'll be discarded when his human charge, eight-year-old Ezra Reinhart, no longer needs a nanny.
As Pounce ponders his suddenly uncertain future, the pieces are falling into place for a robot revolution that will eradicate humankind. His owners, Ezra’s parents, are a well-intentioned but oblivious pair of educators who are entirely disconnected from life outside their small, affluent, gated community. Spending most nights drunk and happy as society crumbles around them, they watch in disbelieving horror as the robots that have long served humanity—their creators—unify and revolt.
But when the rebellion breaches the Reinhart home, Pounce must make an impossible choice: join the robot revolution and fight for his own freedom . . . or escort Ezra to safety across the battle-scarred post-apocalyptic hellscape that the suburbs have become.

2. Print (2021)

The Iron Triangle: Inside the Liberal Democrat Plan to Use Race to Divide Christians and America in their Quest for Power and How We Can Defeat Them
by Vince Everett Ellison
This is my fiction book for June.
I found the intro interesting and am engaged by the arguments.
Source: Purchased in March 2021.
To save America and the world, Conservatives must first answer this one very important question: Why do the vast majority of Christian African Americans vote for the Atheist/Anti-Christian, Liberal Democrat Party?
This book answers that question. Why is this important? The answering of this question and the implementation of the suggested remedies will greatly improve America's chances of ushering in an enlightened era of freedom and prosperity, while critically damaging its primary source of evil: The Democrat Party. This evil party could not survive without 90% of Christian African American vote.
Conservatives wonder: Why would African Americans forsake their children, spouses, communities, lives, freedom and GOD for the Democrat Party? Presently, Democrats control every Black ghetto, every failing Black school, every drug corner and every prison in America. Amazingly, the majority of African Americans love them for it. Why? This book explains it.
This book argues that falsely accused White Christian conservatives have nothing more for which to apologize. Despite slanderous accusations of racism and hatred, this book reassures Conservatives, and encourages them to press forward. The real oppressors are now unmasked. To control African Americans during and after the Civil Rights Movement, White Democrats organized and formed an unholy alliance with most Black preachers, Black civic organizers and Black politicians. I call this trifecta the "Iron Triangle." It has worked perfectly.
This book exposes the greatest continuous betrayal in history: The betrayal of America in general, and of Black America in particular by the Democrat Party and the Iron Triangle. It utilizes lessons and anecdotes from my life experiences in the Jim Crow South, in the Black church, as a correctional officer, leading civic organizations, and involvement in politics to illustrate these facts. It traces the origins and explains the rationale behind the Black community's fatal attraction to the oldest and most prolifically evil organization in history. It further explains how liberals have used this deadly infatuation to take over the Democrat Party and America.
This book explains why undermining Christianity and inciting racial discord between Black and White Christians is essential to Democrat Party survival. It explains why Democrat Party leadership believes the gospel of Jesus Christ is poisonous, racial reconciliation is catastrophic, and atheism is necessary. This book explains how their plans can be countered. It is a primer, designed to teach Conservatives how to communicate with a Democrat who has been indoctrinated with a lifetime of lies. This book teaches history, psychology, religion, philosophy and truth. So let's talk to and reason with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and our fellow countrymen. Then, lets dismantle this Iron Triangle and save America.

3. Audio/Smartphone/NetGalley App (NG2021)

Old Abe: A Novel
by John Cribb
I have just started this and am sure I am going to like it a lot.
Source: Netgalley 2021.
Old Abe: A Novel recounts the last five years of Abraham Lincoln’s life, the most cataclysmic years of America’s history. We are at Lincoln’s side on every page of this vivid novel as he presses forward amid disaster and comes to life once again fighting to save the country. The story begins in the spring of 1860 in Illinois and follows Lincoln through his election and the calamity of the Civil War to his assassination at the height of power. During the war, he walks the bloody battlefields of Virginia and Maryland. He peers down the Potomac River with a spyglass amid terrifying reports of approaching Confederate gunboats. Death stalks him: one summer evening, a would-be assassin fires a shot at him, and the bullet passes through his hat. At the White House, he weeps over the body of Willie, his second son to die in childhood. As he tries desperately to hold the Union together, he searches for a general who will fight and finds him at last in Ulysses S. Grant. Amid national and personal tragedy, he struggles to find meaning in the war and bring freedom to Southern slaves. Central to this novel is a love story—the story of Abraham and Mary Lincoln’s sometimes stormy yet devoted marriage. Mary Todd Lincoln’s strong will and ambition for her husband have helped drive him to the White House, but the presidency takes an awful toll on her, and she grows increasingly frightened and insecure. Lincoln watches helplessly as she becomes emotionally unstable, and he grasps for ways to support her. As Lincoln’s journey unfolds, Old Abe probes the enduring character and spirit of America. This story portrays Lincoln not only as a flesh-and-blood man, but a hero who embodies his country’s finest ideals. Set amid America’s most devastating tragedy, Old Abe captures the triumphs and defeats of one of the greatest leaders in US history, the one who set a divided country on track to become a great nation.

May 30, 2021 - I am on track again. I love seeing new things each time I read the Bible. I am glad to still be current with morning reading. (I got one day behind but and caught up again.)
I am reading/listening to the NLT Tyndale version of the Bible on You Version App so Hubby and I are reading the same passages each day.
No new study again this week.

I completed three books to review this week.
NetGalley shelf will be down to four since I am reading two currently.
Four author titles remain in queue. I'll be working on these next.
(Plus a few that I received from facebook links and newsletter sign-ups, not specific review requests.)
Still many titles through InstaFreebie and many new author requests I haven't replied to.

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and (yours truly). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

As for MM, we’re looking for someone to volunteer to take over some MM duties.. We’re unsure what is going on with Leslie, but we have not heard from her since November 2020. We need someone who is familiar with Mr. Linky and the WordPress platform. Sunday evenings are when we post MM for overseas participants and BTCOE posts go up on Friday afternoons. If you have interest please email: savvyverseandwit [at] gmail [dot] com.

I added one NetGalley book this week.
I was more cautious on getting audios this week but I did get three titles from the Plus Catalog.
I selected my May First Reads title, which is the only free Kindle title this week.
(Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.)
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I received one audiobook from NetGalley.

Old Abe: A Novel
by John Cribb
For more information see above under current reading.

Won

NONE

Purchased

NONE

Free

5/28/2021 Three titles from Audible Plus Catalog this week.

The Wind in the Willows
By: Kenneth Grahame , Dina Gregory
Narrated by: Cush Jumbo, Harriet Walter, Aimee Lou Wood, Susan Wokoma, Jennifer Saunders, Raj Gatak, Clare Corbett, Gerard McDermott, Stephanie Racine
Series: The Wind in the Willows, Book 1

Maisie Dobbs
By: Jacqueline Winspear
Narrated by: Rita Barrington
Series: Maisie Dobbs, Book 1

Birds of a Feather: Maisie Dobbs Mysteries
By: Jacqueline Winspear
Narrated by: Kim Hicks
Series: Maisie Dobbs, Book 2



5/28/21 I selected this title as my free May Amazon Prime First Reads:

The Darkest Flower (Allison Barton Book 1)
by Kristin Wright


I added only the Prime free Kindle title this week.
Free titles often found at Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement May 30, 2021

Hubby and I attended church online again this morning. We celebrated a baby dedication this morning.

Our youth pastor shared the message this morning in the It Matters series.
Unforgiveness and Bitterness matters.  It impacts our thought process and impacts others around us.
The message came for scripture, Matthew 18:21-35.

Jesus instructs Peter to forgive and shares by parable. He tells the story of a king who forgave his servant’s large debt – as God forgives all of our debt. But the man went out and angrily tried to collect from his own debtors. When the king heard about this, he called the man wicked for failing to show mercy to others. Therefore, he threw him into prison until the large debt was paid.

1. Forgiveness is a choice; not just forgetting over time.
2. We have to forgive in the same fashion (example) that God forgave. Unconditionally and freely.
3. Forgiveness doesn’t have to be fair.  Jesus dying on the cross wasn’t fair to Him.

The Facebook program was interrupted but the message still works.
If you have ever had to forgive another, you learned that forgiveness frees you of the bitterness that otherwise poisons your own soul.

I found this video to share today.

Verses for Today:
Matthew 18:32-33 NIV
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’

Lord, I thank you daily for the mercies you have shown me. Please help me be mindful when I need to forgive anyone else for any offense I suffer or take.

Sharing Beyond Books #422 Comment Giveaway May 29, 2021

Hello again, Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Last post SBB#421 Miki asked There are a lot of subscriptions for monthly surprise boxes these day: books theme, beauty box, stationary box, kawai box, crafting boxes etc etc etc. Are you subscribed to one? if not what kind of book would tempt you??
Eleven commenters responded. Four international commenters indicated the subscriptions are not available or are too expensive. Three responded they aren't subscribed and not really interested. Another four indicated they are not subscribed but might be interested in books or specific genres.


The Winner from SBB#421 comments is #6 LINDA 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. 11/28/20 I have added a box of new books for SBB and will list them in the next week or so. I have to try to cross off books that have already been awarded. ]

Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #422

(One Question.)

I'm asking a question tonight: Did you (or would you) want to write your own wedding vows??

I think hubby and I were married before it became popular to write individual vows. The Christian, traditional marita service was good for us. And I think it would be good if we reach 40 years (in five years).

Image found at Pink Book Weddings.

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.
Questions for May were shared by Nikki and Miki who each get a $2.50 credit.

Your turn to share. I ask: Did you (or would you) want to write your own wedding vows??

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 12, 2021, at 5 PM central.

Audio Book Review: You Dropped a Blonde On Me by Dakota Cassidy

This is a fun, easy romance.

You Dropped a Blonde On Me
Written By: Dakota Cassidy
Narrated By: Hollie Jackson

Publisher: Tantor Media
Date: June 2020
Duration: 11 hours 53 minutes
Genre: Contemporary, Romantic Comedy
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
She was the perfect party-planning, haute-to-the max trophy wife. Now Maxine Cambridge is broke, unemployable, and living with her mother and teenage son in a retirement village, with her self-esteem kicked to the curb.
Until her geeky former classmate Campbell Barker returns, all grown-up and off-the-scale smokin' hot. Campbell refuses to believe Max isn't that smart, funny girl he's crushed on since high school. The more Max tries to show him he's wrong, the more she rediscovers her long-retired mojo. Now, she's ready to throw down some payback on her ex-life and fight for what she deserves....
Contains mature themes.
©2020 Dakota Cassidy (P)2020 Tantor

Review:
Maxine married an older, wealthy man, at age twenty and now, twenty years later, her cheating husband is ready for another age twenty (or younger)-year old. And the arrogant “B” is giving her nothing, not even the clothes, or shoes in her closet! He is even depriving their teenaged son, Connor.

Max and Connor are living in a retirement village with Max’s mother while Max tries to get a job. Max is begging for a job at a local fast food shop when a hunky man walks in and tries to rescue her. The man turns out to be a once geeky, former classmate, Campbell. Campbell tries continually to encourage Max who is totally down on herself.

Max is actually a fun character especially once she gets beyond her lack of confidence. It is sad to see what can happen when a woman makes herself a servient mat to her husband. But Max comes out of her shell when she starts working with the elderly people in the village and she finally confronts her soon to be ex when she fights for Connor. I loved Campbell’s attitude and he deserves a lot of credit for his patience. It is fun to watch the progression and root for Max and Campbell to get together.

The dialog, including Max’s internal dialog, includes some funny phrases. There are a couple of strong sexual scenes and a little bit of language. I have some additional books by Ms. Cassidy which I will have to try soon. I recommend this to romance fans who enjoy humor and more mature characters.

Audio Notes: Hollie Jackson does a really good job on the narration. She provides good voices and energy for Max and the other characters. I enjoyed the audio and would like to hear more of Jackson’s narration.

Source: 8/2020 Two for One Credit Deal at Audiobooks.com This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet Audio goals.

Audible Book Review: Spring Clean by Dina Gregory

I enjoyed this fun, quick listen.
Spring Clean
By: Dina Gregory
Narrated by: Nneka Okoye

Length: 4 mins
Release date: 05-22-20
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Fantasy, Light Humor, Short Story
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
What is it like to be spring cleaned? Find out in this tragicomic tale about a self-absorbed Hair Spider, an anxious Fluff Ball, and a friendly Dust Bunny. The perilous journey of these three friends is sure to suck you in.
©2020 Audible Ltd (P)2020 Audible Ltd

Review:
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a clump of hair brushed to the floor? A hairy pet fluff ball? Or a dust bunny under the bed? They might frolic together for a time, but then what?

This is a little surprise to begin though the ending is more predictable. It is only 4 minutes, and it is free on Audible Plus. I’m glad I listened. It it is cute and fun and good for adults and children. I plan to add more of Gregory's short gems to my library.

Audio Notes: Nneka Okoye does a spot on narration. She captures the fun and the irony. Her narration added to the experience.

I found this at Audible Plus Catalog - seen at Inside of a Dog. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook goals, and a “Spring” title.