Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway July 9, 2021

Happy Friday! I hope everyone is staying cook and enjoying some good books!

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 July 2, 2021 Pick. There were no automatic wins last 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 July 2, 2021 Pick:
FREDAMANS gets a GC

AND
CHRISTY gets A Man in the Garden

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.}

I'm not a big beach goer but I would want a book if I went!
Image found at Teachers are Terrific.

New Book Box #94 May 28, 2021 (10 books)

Three Audio CD Books:
Web of Evil by J.A. Jance
One Good Deed by David Baldacci
Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts
SINGLE TITLES
Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale
The Hidden Heart by Laura Kinsale
A Summer of Firsts by Susan Wiggs and Sarah Morgan
Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane
Christmas on 4th Street: An Anthology by Susan Mallery
The Stranger by Harlan Coben
Vortex by Robert Charles Wilson


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

A Most Unsuitable Man by Jo Beverley
The Tender Stranger by Carolyn Davidson
Her Wedding Wish by Jillian Hart
Heart's Desire by Ruth Ryan Hagan
The Deputy's Duty by Terri Reed
Summer by the Sea by Susan Wiggs

Box #93 (14 books)

Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwyn Cready
There's Only Been You by Donna Marie Rogers (personally signed)
For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper
The Irish Bride by Alexa Harrington
When We Met by Susan Mallery
Anne of Green Gables by Montgomery
All of Me by Lori Wilde

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

SINGLES: Ten books in this box:
Fight or Flight by Natalie J. Damschroder
The Sinister Pig by Tony Hillerman Audiobook

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

Born in Fire Audiobook Cassettes
Montana Sky
Valley of Silence
Inner Harbor and
Chesapeake Blue


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

SINGLES:
Alias by Smy J. Fetzer
Hot Sex by Janet Evanovich (Audio cassettes)

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 1,366 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, TWRP, 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!

#NetGalley Book Review: Aftershocks: Christians Entering a New Era of Global Crisis by Jeff Kinley

We may be facing aftershocks as we get closer to ‘the end’.

Aftershocks
Christians Entering a New Era of Global Crisis
by Jeff Kinley

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08SJLFWV2
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harvest House Publishers (April 13, 2021)
File size ‏ : ‎ 2307 KB (208pgs in print)
Genre: Christian Prophecy, Social Issues & Christianity, Theological Eschatology
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

In a time of global upheaval and uncertainty, uncover God’s prophetic plan for the ages—and your place in it.
Living in this era of pandemics, economic chaos, natural disasters, and political strife, you may feel tempted to question whether God is in control. Yet when you look to the Bible, you’ll find these events actually signal that His promises will soon be fulfilled.
In Aftershocks, bestselling author Jeff Kinley reveals how current societal and global trends foreshadow the nearness of the end times—and how the prophecies about what is to come should renew your passion to lovingly proclaim Christ to a suffering world. This book will supply you with critical intel concerning how your life will likely change in the years ahead provide you with biblical wisdom that enables you to respond to current events with confidence and grace reveal how recent cultural convulsions on this restless planet play into heaven’s plan for earth Aftershocks unveils the raw reality of these last days while inspiring you to live with hope—a hope that vaccinates you against the ignorance, naivety, and anxiety that plague our world today.

Review:
This title by Kinley is right up to date. He makes interesting points, supported by biblical scripture, noting that events are happening that leave aftershocks but that show we are not at the end - yet. Kinley addresses the past few years of political and societal trends, and particularly the year of lockdown due to Covid, and analyzes them in light of end time prophecies. He reveals the trend toward globalism and discusses the yet to come global world order. Kinley recognizes that the spirit of “global citizen” is gaining momentum while nationalism and patriotism are being frowned upon, demeaned ... or worse.

There is a chapter on Signs setting out Seven solid principles for deciphering biblical signs. In another chapter, Growing Apostasy, Kinley describes the subtle and covert attacks on scripture. He notes that we are living in a “society immersed in idolatry, sexual immorality, homosexuality, violence, slander , hatred of God, destruction of the family, unreasonable and unsupportable belief systems, unloving relationships, unforgiving hearts, and the unashamed public celebration of all manner of deviant sin.” (Location 1490.)

Kinley tells ‘Aftershock’ Christians that we have a “threefold mandate”: pray for the peace of Jerusalem; bless Israel (“support her survival and defense”); and make disciples of Jesus, from among Jews as well as other non-believers. He tells us we are living in the times of the signs and shares what changes he thinks Christians will face in the near future. The descriptions might be frightening to some, but not to those who know the end and know who is in control!

I appreciate how Kinley is willing to dismiss prophesies that are not consistent with scripture and encourages readers to exercise discernment. Christians may not want to see things progress as they appear to be, but we need to understand how the world will change to fulfill the end times as revealed by scripture. This book helps us to understand the aftershocks of historical events and prepare for the changes to come. I recommend this to any person who seeks more information on the progress toward end times.

Source: 2020 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021NetGalley, and 2021Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Dog Eat Dog, An Andy Carpenter Mystery (Book 23) by David Rosenfelt

I enjoyed this quick legal mystery.
Dog Eat Dog, An Andy Carpenter Mystery (Book 23)
by David Rosenfelt
Narrated by Grover Gardner

Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins
Release date: 07-06-21
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Dogs, Legal Thriller
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.

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.

Review:
Andy Carpenter is a wealthy semi-retired lawyer who would rather spend his time walking his beloved dogs with his beloved wife, Laurie. Andy likes to avoid work when he can but isn’t about to let injustice pass by. An evening walk with their dogs lands Andy in a new case when a stranger steps in to rescue an abused dog. The man gets arrested – not just for beating the abuser but for a pending double murder charge. Andy reluctantly agrees to help the accused, Matthew, as he is returned to Maine to face the two-year old charge. Matthew insists he is innocent, but it will be hard to overcome the evidence of Matt’s DNA on the hand of the dead man.

Andy tries to leave Matt in the hands of the local defense attorney, but he just can’t do it. When Matt’s newly discovered half-sister pleads with Andy to take the case, he agrees. Andy relocates to Maine to begin the trial prep but soon runs into a threatened attack alone in the parking lot. Laurie isn’t about to allow that to slide, so soon the team, including Laurie (and the dogs), bodyguard/muscle Marcus, and hacker/accountant whiz Sam, arrive in Maine. Laurie’s other K-9 investigator, Corey, and his German Shepherd Simon arrive soon after.

Andy and team do their usual thorough job of turning over the rocks and digging the dirt for other suspects. This brings out connections to drug dealers and an extreme militia group and also leaves bodies in the wake of questions. But Andy still must address the DNA problem.

I enjoy this series and the narrator. There are always several suspects, often FBI involvement and usually a trail of bodies. I love following the trial questions and ‘watching’ as Andy presents the evidence that leads to reasonable doubt, and reveals the true villains. The fast-moving plot is enhanced with Andy’s self-deprecation and snarky banter.

While I was listening to this 23rd installment, I got my husband to listen to book one, Open and Shut, which he enjoyed. The stories can be read as standalones but it is much more fun to have at least read the first several in the series so you know the team characters. I recommend this to readers who enjoy mysteries with legal procedures ... and dogs. 

Audio Notes: I am sure I have noted it in prior reviews of this series, but Grover Gardner, is the wonderful, fitting voice of Andy Carpenter. Gardner has an appropriate NJ/NY tone delivering distinct voices with appropriate energy. I love listening to the stories and hear this narrator even if I occasionally read an ebook version.

Source: NetGalley 6/3/2021. This qualifies for 2021NetGalley and 2021Audiobook goals.

Sunday Post July 4, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday July 5, 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.

I hope all Americans enjoyed a Happy and safe Independence Day!



It is sort of surprising that we are now in July! The week moved along with a pretty productive workload.

I had my nails done two weeks ago in preparation of Independence Day.
I had picked a brighter design but the technician did
a softer red, white (silvery) and blue fireworks.

I still found the one cluster of grapes but they are hard. I guess the others are all gone to critters. 

We are still experiencing hot, humid and rainy weather.

I really liked my reading and listening this week. Kindle/ebook reading continues to be slower but I persevere.   I finished two audio books and one ebook. I posted two reviews and my usual memes.

I visited 16 blogs again last week.
Shout Out this week to A GREAT Read. Jessica has been sharing reviews on Urban Fantasy and Paranormal YA since 2009.

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

• A2021- Audio Book Review: Radioactive Evolution by Richard Hummel; Genre: Cyperpunk, Fantasy Gaming, Post-apocalyptic, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Dragon Planet by Dan Wells; Genre: Children's Audiobooks, Science Fiction & Fantasy; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.0; Narration 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway July 2, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 7/8/2021.

• MBS June 2021 Reading List Wrap Up.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement July 4, 2021.

Finished Reading:

1. 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 enjoyed this quick legal mystery.
Plus I got my hubby to listen to book 1 in the series. :-)
Source: NetGalley 6/3/2021
Click on book title for full description.

2. Kindle App/Smartphone (NG2020)

Aftershocks
Christians Entering a New Era of Global Crisis
by Jeff Kinley
This made some interesting points on end times: events happening with aftershocks but not the end yet.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audio/Smartphone/NetGalley App (NG2021)

A Good Day for Chardonnay
by Darynda Jones
Narrated by Lorelei King
Pub Date 27 Jul 2021
Ms. Jones writes fun stories.
Source: NetGalley Audio Book.
Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff--and even fuller-time coffee guzzler--Sunshine Vicram, didn't get that memo.
All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that's about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?)
Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny's got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he's not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She's seen it. Once. Accidentally.
Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn't know when to quit, Sunny's life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.
Yep, definitely a good day for chardonnay.

Currently Reading:
1. ebook/Kindle App (Author2021)

The Alchemy Thief
by R.A. Denny
I have just started this time travel, Christian historical.
Source: Author review request.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)

Vision in Silver
A Novel of the Others
By: Anne Bishop
Narrated by: Alexandra Harris
Length: 16 hrs and 4 mins
Release date: 03-03-15
I like this series and get a "V" title.
Source: 12/16/2020 November Audible Credits.
Publisher's Summary
The New York Times best-selling author of The Black Jewels Trilogy transports readers to a world of magic and political unrest - where the only chance at peace requires a deadly price....
The Others freed the cassandra sangue to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before - both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.
Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.
For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep....
©2015 Anne Bishop (P)2015 Penguin

3. 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 nonfiction book for June July.
I am still engaged by the arguments.
Source: Purchased in March 2021.
Click on book title for full description.

July 4, 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 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.
I am doing a 3 day study: Who Controls Your Thoughts?

I completed three books to review this week.
NetGalley shelf is now at four - 3 old and one brand new.
Four author titles remain in queue. 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 ebook from NetGalley
I selected 2 for 1 credit audios at Audiobooks.com.
One Audible Daily Deal.
One free Kindle titles 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

NetGalley Book: I liked book one so I am glad to get book two. (Seen at Inside of a Dog.)

The Keepers
by Jeffrey B. Burton

Won

NONE

Purchased

7/3/2021 Audiobooks.com Two for One Credit Sci Fi & Fantasy:

Winter World
By A.G. Riddle
Narrated By: Edoardo Ballerini, Amanda Leigh Cobb
Duration: 11 h 3 min

The Solar War
By A.G. Riddle
Narrated By: Edoardo Ballerini, Amanda Leigh Cobb
Duration: 12 h 21 min


7/4/2021 Audible Daily Deal $3.95 - perfect for Independence Day!

Igniting the American Revolution
1773-1775
By: Derek W. Beck
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins
Release date: 10-06-15

Free

Eadan's Vow: A Scottish Time Travel Romance (Highlander Fate Book 1)
Stella Knight

One 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 July 4, 2021

We attended service online again this morning. Pastor continued his message in Romans titled “Undisputed”.

God is the Undisputed Authority of it ALL. The further you zoom out looking at the universe the more undisputed is God’s power and creation. His wisdom is undisputed. Time exists in Him, not in our time or understanding.

We all face obstacles: time, resources, energy, motivation, people, pride, fear, access, authority, … The enemy puts obstacles in the way or we have our own obstacles. Other obstacles we don’t always think about. God may put some in place. God confounded languages to stop the building of the Tower of Babel.

When we experience a major obstacle how do we react? Turn back, go around, go over, seek help? Seek God? Do we deal with it in our own logic or do we seek God’s guidance? Why is the obstacle there? Has God allowed the obstacle for a purpose? Is the obstacle an opportunity?

People who try to get right by keeping the law always fail. They can only get right by faith! Enthusiasm is misguided zeal. Romans 9:25-33.

Paul makes a distinction between Jews and Gentiles. Jews seeking to live by the law rejected Christ as savior. Gentiles found it easier to believe by faith. Romans 10:1-13. Paul tells us “Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” Romans 10:4.

Paul shares what he learned on the road to Damascus. Acts 26:15-18. Jesus said to Paul (then Saul) ‘It is useless for you to fight against my will.’(“Kicking against the goads.”) Acts 26:14.

The obstacle for the Jews was trying to live by the Law. Romans 9:32. They were stuck there and wouldn’t accept Christ. The obstacle for Gentiles was being second class citizens, but the message removed that obstacle and allowed them to accept Christ by faith.

We have to learn to deal with the obstacle. When someone chooses to reject Jesus, they are choosing to pay their own penalty instead of accepting the payment Jesus paid on the cross.

THE POINT: Our natural response to an obstacle is to find a way around, but we need to deal with it. When we do, God is able to direct us into His will.

What is the rock in your way? Sin, your own independence, leading on our own wisdom instead of God’s, fear? Identify the obstacle and ask God to deal with it. It is useless to fight against God’s Will. Surrender to God.

This is the song I found for this morning: Let Go, Let God!

Verses for Today:
Romans:10:4 and 10 NIV.
4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

God, I give thanks that you paid the price for my sin through the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice. Help me to walk in Your Will each day!