Sunday Post June 27, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday June 28, 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.

My work was a little full this week with two members out 3 1/2 days and Heather out one day with doctor appointments. They are setting up another CT for Heather's nose but on top of that she had to have an infected tooth pulled this past week.
The dehumidifier is helping a little. But it was hard to keep up with moving leaks after heavy rains several days last week.

Our century tree seems to be a week behind everyone else. They are either in full bloom or dropping the blooms. Ours is just opening up:

I found one cluster of grapes Saturday but another seemed to be gone. I have to ask hubby when they are good to pick.

As noted above we have had repeated rain so it is hot and humid.

Listening was good but slow this week. Kindle reading continued to be slower due to the app freezing.   I finished two audio books and posted four reviews and my usual memes.

I visited 16 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to Kait Plus Books. Kait has some unique group associations. She reads mostly YA books and likes Alternate History. She and I can share notes on Alternate History books.

Audible offerings for free children's titles looks like it is closing June 30.
Audiobooks.com is still sharing free listens for children.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post June 20, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday June 21, 2021.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: After It Happened, Publisher's Pack 2, by Devon C. Ford; Genre: Adventure, Post Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Quest for the Diamond Sword by Winter Morgan; Genre: Adventure, Children, Computer Game; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Content 3.75; Narration 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway June 25, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 7/1/2021.

• A2021- Audio Book Review: Apocalypse by Kyle West; Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, YA/Teen; My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 3. 5; Narration 3.75.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Full Share by Nathan Lowell; Genre: Space Opera, Trading; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.

• Sharing Beyond Books #424 Comment Giveaway June 26, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 7/10/2021.
  

• Sunday Words of Encouragement June 27, 2021.

Finished Reading:

1. Audio/Smartphone (AC2020)

Radioactive Evolution
Written by Richard Hummel
Narrated by Armen Taylor & Anneliese Rennie
I liked this action story with a dragon companion.
Source: October 2020 Chirp $2.99
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Dragon Planet
By: Dan Wells
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller, Steve Rimpici, full cast
Series: The Zero Chronicles, Book 2
Length: 3 hrs and 45 mins
I decided to read/listen to another dragon story. It is fun, easy listening. :-)
Source: August 2020 Audible Plus Catalog.
About This Audible Original
The much-anticipated sequel to Zero G and the middle grade debut by Dan Wells.
The colonists from the Pathfinder have arrived on Kaguya, a planet with low gravity but a very dense atmosphere. It’s fun to jump around, but the air makes you loopy. Even worse than that, the heavy atmosphere means that wind storms, although rare, are absolutely devastating.
Zero and Nyx help to get everything locked down before the first big storm, but they stumble onto a group of thieves who have stolen some mining equipment. Before the kids have a chance to get away and tell anyone, the storm hits and the massive winds carry them far away. Zero and Nyx are stranded on an unknown planet with no way to communicate, being chased by thieves, and with another storm bearing down on them.
And, oh yeah, this planet has dragons.
It will take more than just good luck to get back to the colony. It’s going to take science.
©2019 Dan Wells (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC

Currently Reading:

1. Kindle App/Smartphone (NG2020)

Aftershocks
Christians Entering a New Era of Global Crisis
by Jeff Kinley
This is still moving slowly on my kindle app and a little better on my Fire Kindle. I'm mid-way and want to finish this in June.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

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 will be my fiction book for June July at the rate I am reading.
I am still engaged by the arguments.
Source: Purchased in March 2021.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audio/Smartphone/NetGalley App (NG2021)

Dog Eat Dog, An Andy Carpenter Mystery
by David Rosenfelt
Narrated by Grover Gardner
Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins
Release date: 07-06-21
I enjoy this series and the narrator.
Source: NetGalley 6/3/2021
Publisher's Summary
Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, work to free a man who risked it all to help a dog in need.
Lawyer Andy Carpenter and his wife, Laurie, enjoy walking their dogs, Tara and Sebastian. By this point in their marriage, it’s routine. When out for one of their strolls, their simple ritual isn’t so simple anymore. Across the street, a man is mistreating his dog. Three things happen at once: Andy yells, Laurie runs to stop the abuse, and so does a closer passerby, who so thoroughly beats the owner that both are arrested when the cops arrive.
Andy scoops up the dog and takes him to the Tara Foundation, the dog rescue organization that’s always been his true passion. Meanwhile, at the police station, the passerby is identified as Matthew Jantzen, and he’s wanted for murder. Andy and Laurie are struck by the fact that Jantzen, a man on the run, would nevertheless intervene to help a dog, and decide to find out more.
Dog Eat Dog, the twenty-second installment in the Andy Carpenter series, features the charming cast of characters - old and new - that David Rosenfelt is known for and the dogs that accompany them.

4. ebook/Kindle App (Author2021)

The Alchemy Thief
by R.A. Denny
This looks like an interesting time travel, Christian historical.
Source: Author review request.
When the secrets of the past threaten to destroy the future.
A tale of hope, resilience, and the indomitable spirit of a woman, this sweeping epic spans the Atlantic from New England to Morocco during the Age of Exploration.
2019: A young woman finds a relic engraved with a mysterious symbol off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. Terrorists in Morocco steal a 17th-century book engraved with the same symbol. As the woman struggles to unravel the secrets behind the symbol, her life changes in ways she could never have imagined.
1657: Transported back in time, she meets the alchemist, John Winthrop, Jr. who is plotting to lure the greatest scientific minds to the New World. But the more she learns, the more she fears for the lives of the loved ones she left behind.
In a stunning twist of fate, a modern terrorist has traveled into the past, where he has become a Barbary Corsair. He has plans of his own. And he will stop at nothing to succeed.

June 27, 2021 - I remain on track. 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; maybe this week.

I completed two books to review this week.
NetGalley shelf grew last week by one but I am listening to so that keeps me at five on the shelf.
Four author titles remain in queue as I added one and pulled one into reading. I'll be working on these next soon.
(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, me and new to the team, Velvet at vvb32reads. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I received an audio book at NetGalley and an ebook from a repeat author this week.
I selected my free VIP credit and 2 for 1 credit audios at Audiobooks.com.
Two downloads from authors.
Four free Kindle titles this week and one through First Reads Amazon Prime.
(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

NetGalley Audio Book: I had this in ebook but I can get to the Audio much easier.

A Good Day for Chardonnay
by Darynda Jones
Narrated by Lorelei King
Pub Date 27 Jul 2021



June 20, 2021 I received an ebook from the author in a time travel series I like:

The Fair (Time Box #2)
by John A. Heldt

Won

NONE

Purchased

6/26/2021 Two for one Credit deal at Audiobooks.com:

The Body in the Marsh
By Nick Louth
Narrated By: Marston York
Duration: 12 h 30 min

Breakfast at the Honey Creek Café
By Jodi Thomas
Narrated By: Julia Gibson
Duration: 9 h 28 min

Free

6/21/2021 Audiobooks.com June VIP pick.

Burn-In
Written By: P.W. Singer, August Cole
Narrated By: Mia Barron
Date: May 2020
Duration: 14 hours 50 minutes


Two Free mobi files from author's online:

Unbound: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller Series
(Dawn of Deception Book 1)
by A. R. Shaw

Timothy Scott: The Torn Mountains
(Behind The Mirror A Coming Of Age Fantasy Adventure Series Book 2)
by Tobey Alexander

Four Free Kindle Titles:

Breaking His Code:
An Away From Keyboard
Romantic Suspense Standalone
Patricia D. Eddy

What Lies Beneath: A Gripping Serial Killer Thriller
(Victor Loshak Book 2)
L.T. Vargus, E.M. Smith, Tim McBain

Pagan's Ark: A sci-fi historical thriller
(Verus Foundation Book 1)
Matt Eaton

Earth Alone (Earthrise Book 1)
by Daniel Arenson
Narrated by Jeffrey Kafer


6/27/2021 June First Reads Free from Amazon Prime

Song of the Forever Rains (The Mousai Book 1)
by E.J. Mellow



Four free Kindle titles this week.
Free titles often found at Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement June 27, 2021

We attended service online again this morning. Pastor resumed his sermon messages from Romans. This week's meesage is titled "Undisputed" based on Romans Chapter 9.

Pastor noted how Paul presents an argument and then answers it. If Jesus is who Paul preaches, why aren’t the Jews flocking to Him? Today, why aren’t people flocking to Jesus? Why does God seem angry? Why so unpopular? If God is so good and so loving why does God let bad things happen? We have to be ready to give an answer, a defense. How can He be prepared to allow millions, maybe billions to go to hell?

Wanting things to be fair is the stuff of fairytales. Life’s not fair. Who steps in to make things fair? Suddenly in our society, people must not have been told that life isn’t fair. They are trying to make things fair. But experience has shown that trying to make life fair results in failure. But why is life unfair? God's control is undisputed. Romans 9:1-25.

Why does God blame people for not responding? His authority is undisputed. He can do as He chooses. It may not seem fair to us, but we have limited understanding. Every person has had revealed to them the majesty and beauty of God’s creation. Romans 1:20; Job 12:7-10; Psalm 19:1 and many more references. But, even with the evidence around them, some people reject God's existence. God’s mercy is given by His choice.

Every person has the opportunity to get the mercy they do not deserve. (Many by direct message but also millions by evidence through God’s presence in nature.) All have sinned. Every person has the choice to accept or reject God.

The Point: Our attitude toward God’s fairness changes when we recognize God’s love on full display when He gave His only son, Jesus, as the sacrifice for our sins.

Jesus is the sacrifice for the sins of ALL men (people). But each person must choose to accept the sacrifice, by Faith! God is infinitely patient but at some point, He may stop pursuing although He always stands with open arms. The life of Jesus wasn’t fair and he is our defense. God loves us so much that He gives us the opportunity to receive mercy. We must respond. We must accept and surrender. And He sends messengers, prophets and followers, to take the word to others! We are here to share the Good News with others. Have faith and share God's message.

I had a video link for this song, Mercy Said No, that was unavailable.
I found this dramatic version to share instead.

Verses for Today:
Romans 9: 14-15; 19-21; 30-32 (NIV)
14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses,
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?

30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for choosing me, for revealing yoourself to me. Lord Jesus, I thank you for your sacrifice for my sins. Holy Spirit, I thank you for being available at all times to guide me. I need God's love, mercy and guidance every minute of every day of my life!

Sharing Beyond Books #424 Comment Giveaway June 26, 2021

Hello again, Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Last post SBB#423 Natalija asks: Which famous person do you share your birthday with??
I enjoyed the answers which included several authors, a few actresses, Martin Luther King and even the Queen of England. Two people didn't know who they shared birthday's with.

The Winner from SBB#423 comments is #7 ASHFA 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 #424

(One Question.)

Ashfa asks: What's the last book you read because you loved the cover?

I looked back over the last ten books I read and the last one that I picked because I 'loved' the cover was Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill.

Image found at Love These Covers.

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.
June Comment Questions provided by Natalija and Ashfa who get $2.50 credit each.

Your turn to share. Ashfa asks: What's the last book you read because you loved the cover?

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, July 10, 2021, at 5 PM central.

Audible Book Review: Full Share by Nathan Lowell

I enjoy this character driven series. It makes a quick listen.

Full Share
A Trader's Tale from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper, Book 3
By: Nathan Lowell
Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins
Release date: 08-16-16
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Space Opera, Trading
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
If there was ever a time to "Trust Lois..."
The Lois McKendrick runs headlong into trouble when a routine in-system transit goes bad. Ishmael and the rest of the crew must scramble to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it in order to keep the ship alive.
Learn more about the officers and crew of the Lois McKendrick as they struggle to keep their ship, and discover how Ishmael finds out how wrong he's been about what it means to be a spacer in this latest Trader's Tale.
©2013 Nathan Lowell (P)2016 Podium Publishing

Review:
Ishmael and his friends, Pip, Brill, Bev and more, are continuing their duties on the Lois McKendrick while increasing their funds with the trading co-operative they started. Ishmael has been continuing his studies too so that he can test for the next level and gain “full share” status in all four divisions of ship positions. Mr. von Ickles has suggested that Ishmael go to “the academy” to train and become an officer. The Captain encourages him too. He is a little reluctant considering he is young, alone in the world and not sure what he wants to do in his future. There is also the matter of the cost and whether he could get accepted since he has no family connection nor supporters…so he thinks.

Ishmael is soon given another reason to think about going to the academy when he learns that a replacement for his temporary position has been hired. Ishmael cannot stay on board unless there is a position for him. There are no open positions, and he isn’t about to bump some of the lower spacers even if he has that right. This is a time he must truly “trust Lois”.

Things are quiet until the ship runs through a meteor shower and systems shut down. Ishmael helps get them back online. Now they have to figure out what went wrong so it won’t happen again. Along the journey, Ishmael learns more about his shipmates and even meets members of Pip’s family. Through this event his view of his friends and a spacer’s life changes.

This is a different space opera series. Because it is a trading ship, there is no battle action, but I like the trading action. There is little danger, other than normal obstacles of space travel. But author Nathan Lowell creates an interesting story in the day to day, or more accurately the port-to-port lives of the characters. I enjoy how the officers, as well as shipmates, appreciate Ishmael’s skills and cooperative attitude.

This episode has an internal mystery that I enjoyed along with Ishmael’s growth. The mates also find a unique way to turn around a reluctant worker. I know Ishmael is young and a bit of a ‘boy toy” but he isn’t obnoxious about his conquests in work, studies, or women. I don’t take offense at his successes but like how he shares them, even with the ship, Lois.

I like this series and recommend it to sci-fi fans who appreciate business elements (trading) and likable characters. I will be purchasing and look forward to the next book, Double Share.

Audio Notes: I find Jeffrey Kafer’s narration in this series to be completely engaging. He easily conveys the nature of the characters and provides distinct voices helping to keep the story clear. I look forward to continuing to listen to the series.

Source: August 2020 Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

Quarter Share My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
Half Share My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall, Story 4.5, Narration 5.0

Audio Book Review: Apocalypse by Kyle West

This just didn’t grip me.
Apocalypse
Written by Kyle West
Read by Graham Halstead

Run Time 7h 32min
Release Date: April 12, 2016
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, YA/Teen
My Rating: 3.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 3. 5; Narration 3.75.

Publisher Description
Alex Keener has lived all of his sixteen years underground in U.S. Bunker 108. When he goes on his first recon into the Wasteland, he will find out exactly why.
Outside, Alex discovers a harsh landscape twisted by the impact of the meteor Ragnarok in 2030. Besides Raiders, dust storms, and cold, a new threat is evolving-the xenovirus, which twists men and animals into deadly monsters.
When the xenovirus invades Bunker 108, Alex must fight for survival. Joined by a beautiful ex-Raider and an idealistic scientist, Alex discovers that he and his friends might be the only ones standing between the world and a second apocalypse.

Review:
Alex has turned sixteen, so now he must serve his turn going out of Bunker 108 where he has lived all his life. His first patrol foray into the Wasteland shows him a harsh landscape. He and his experienced partner, Michael, are surprised to find a man face down in the dust with stab wounds in his back. Michael recognizes the man is from Bunker 114 where the main group of scientists live. They rush to get him into the bunker for medical attention. And that is where trouble begins.

When virus spreads in Bunker 108, Alex rushes to escape with his female crush, Khloe, and her parents. After battling the infected, Alex ends up on his own struggling to survive in the Wasteland. While scavenging and thieving to get supplies, Alex is likely to die until a strange female decides to help him.

I have been reading many post-apocalyptic stories and chose this as Mr. West is a new-to-me author. There is entertainment, but unfortunately, I did not really get pulled into the story. The basic plot (a take off Wool) has potential, but I found the writing and editing lacking – too young or too shallow. I felt that much of the story reflected immature views of women and immature or downright stupid behavior. Perhaps this is appropriate for the sixteen-year-old character, but to me there were such obvious missteps by the community in a dangerous environment, starting with taking in an unknown man without using quarantine protocol.

I thought Alex’s survival chances were improbable as he was not prepared and continually loses his supplies, leaving them behind every time he faces an attack. The characters also make the mistake of leaving valuable resources to the enemies chasing them. I have the next two books in the series in audio so I expect I will try the next book sometime. Die hard apocalyptic readers may want to try this as they may have a different response.

Audio Notes: Graham Halstead delivers a fair narration although I thought there was limited voice distinction. The reading does fit the main character. I think the audio helped the story move more quickly for me.

Source: 5/23/2021 purchase at Chirp for $2.99. This qualifies for 2021Audiobook goal.