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###Winner Announcement Posts are linked here.###

GIVEAWAYS ARE NOW LOCATED ON THEIR OWN PAGE - CLICK ON TAB ABOVE; Giveaways also linked on right sidebar.

Sunday, August 22, 2021

Sunday Words of Encouragement August 22, 2021

Our service today opened, after worship songs, with prayers for the church to Rise and prayers for protection of the innocents, particularly Christians, in Afghanistan. Pastor continued the sermon series: Rising.

Have you ever had someone offer “anything you need, call on me?” Or maybe you have said that to someone in trouble. Was that a true statement? Did they mean it? Did you?

When was the last time you offered God everything without restrictions?
We should be offering our resources and our bodies without restrictions.
This might be a dangerous prayer when we say “God, I am Yours, use me as You wish.”
Do we trust God to use us for HIS best interest… regardless what it means in our own lives?

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

We count the costs... but don’t we trust that God has already counted the cost?

Even Moses tried to say no, He said he wasn’t qualified, couldn’t speak. But Moses obeyed and God let Aaron help him.

God wants someone to say “yes”. God will use the person who obeys through faith, then God will supply the tools and the resources.

Our whole life journey is built on faith

The Point: Rising faith builds a rising victorious church that God can use.

Pray first for rising faith; then let God use you.
In Acts 3:1-8 Peter and John had no gold but offered healing: Get up and walk. The crippled man was healed by faith.

Right now in the world, Afghanistan Christians have to decide if they have faith to keep their printed Bible in their homes or to keep the Bible App on their phones. They are being faced with a point of rising faith. How would you respond?

Are we prepared to say “Yes” even before God asks? How is the level of our faith?

The end result of our faith is the salvation of our souls. 1 Peter 1:3-5. Rising faith helps us understand the difference between this world, this life and what we will have for all eternity.
Are we willing to see that this corporal world is of less value than the promise of eternal life?

Today’s challenge: Will you offer God every part of you without restriction? Will you say “yes” before he asks?

Trust Him fully and completely – with every day, all of our resources, all of our talents… all of us.

We may not see ourselves as important. Why would God choose me to do something? But we are important to God! He has a plan for each of us. He is ready to use those who are willing to say “yes”.

I used this song video four years ago but it fits today.

Verses for today:
1 Peter 1:3-5
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.


Lord, please help my faith and willingness to serve You be stronger than my worldliness.


1 Peter 1:3-4 | International Full Gospel Church

1 Peter – Truth in Palmyra

Saturday, August 21, 2021

Sharing Beyond Books #428 Comment Giveaway August 21, 2021

Hello again, Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Last post SBB#427 Bn100 asked: What do you think about authors that decide to offer free ebooks on Amazon Kindle for a very limited time and during hours where readers are usually asleep (1-3 AM)?
6 commenters didn't know of this happening and several aren't effected by it. 3 others are not up late although one might be up but has no kindle. 3 think internationals might catch the sale, 2 do not have Kindle, and then there are several who have picked up titles on sale (though not necessarily in middle of night).

For US participants: I need to update and refill the books available to US winners. I have used "Love" and "Christmas" titles as well as ARC titles. Since the supply is lower, I have author collections I could choose from, mostly romance - historical, suspense and some contemporary. What genres/books/authors would you like me to include?

The Winner from SBB#427 comments is #4 FREDAMANS 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 #428
(One Question.)
AlyP asks: What book did you use to love when you first read it and after a reread you couldn't believe you actually liked it??
I rarely reread and the few I have, I still enjoyed so I can't think of a book I haven't liked on reread.
Re-reading Books I Loved Before
Image found at WordRevel.


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.

August questions provided by BN100 and ALYP who get half a book or $2.50 if international.

Your turn to share. AlyP asks: What book did you use to love when you first read it and after a reread you couldn't believe you actually liked it??

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, September 4, 2021, at 5 PM central.

Audible Book Review: Q & A by Ben Winters

I liked the legal aspects and irony of this quick mystery suspense.
Q&A
By: Ben H. Winters
Narrated by: John Zdrojeski, Robert Creighton, Jay Snyder, Nicole Lewis, Kathryn Kates, Michael Braun, Elizabeth Evans, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Justis Bolding

Q&A Audiobook By Ben H. Winters cover art

Length: 2hrs and 8 mins
Release date: 01-14-21
Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Thriller & Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.


About This Audible Original
An interview recorded on an iPhone.
A police interrogation tape.
An FBI wire.
At the center of them all is a writer researching a legal thriller... or is he? And somewhere within those recordings is the truth about a murder trial and a web of lies stretching back three decades.
Written by Ben H. Winters, the best-selling author of Underground Airlines, The Last Policeman, and the Audible Original Inside Jobs, Q&A is a tantalizing puzzle and a gripping tale of obsession and revenge.
Because you can never really know the truth of a conversation—even when it's all on tape.
The full-cast production of Q&A stars:
John Zdrojeski as The Young Man
Robert Creighton as Lou Douglas
Jay Snyder as Detective Murphy
Nicole Lewis as Detective Garcia
Kathryn Kates as Judge Goldman
Michael Braun as Fannon
Elizabeth Evans as Mary-Ellen
©2021 Ben H. Winters, LLC (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC


Review:
The primary character is a writer interviewing a defense attorney supposedly in a preparation of writing a legal thriller. But as the interview proceeds, there appears to be a different motive. The first interview leads to a confrontation with the police and then another interview with a Judge. The facts are building and shifting to a new perspective. Then a final interview culminates in a plot twist that isn’t totally a surprise at that point.

This is a quick listen and quite enjoyable. I was drawn by the legal thriller and writing aspects and stayed for the twists. Highly recommended to mystery/suspense fans.

Audio Notes: This is a full cast production that makes for good listening. I’m glad this was included in the Audible Plus Catalog.

Source: January 2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2021Audiobook goal (and third round on Alphabet).

Friday, August 20, 2021

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway August 20, 2021

Happy Friday! Busy week for me and I almost forgot to set up this post!

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 August 13, 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 August 13, 2021 Pick:
NATALIJA gets a GC
AND
MARYP 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.}

Another "back to school" image as the summer is winding down.
I am ALWAYS ready to read. How about you?
Image found at Pinterest.


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 1,370 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!

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Audible Book Review: Zero Hour, Expeditionary Force, Book 5, by Craig Alanson

I enjoyed this episode - more snark, off -key singing, and action.
Zero Hour
Expeditionary Force, Book 5
By: Craig Alanson
Narrated by: R. C. Bray

Zero Hour audiobook cover art
Length: 17 hrs and 20 mins
Release date: 02-06-18
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Adventure, Military, Space Opera
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.75.


Publisher's Summary
United Nations Special Operations Command sent an elite expeditionary force of soldiers and pilots out on a simple recon mission, and somehow along the way they sparked an alien civil war. Now the not-at-all-merry band of pirates is in desperate trouble, again. Their stolen alien starship is falling apart, thousands of light years from home. The ancient alien AI they nicknamed Skippy is apparently dead, and even if they can by some miracle revive him, he might never be the same.
©2017 Craig Alanson; 2018 Podium Publishing


Review:
The super awesome AI “Skippy” has disappeared into a canister leaving Captain Joe Bishop and the ‘merry band of pirates’ without the ability to fix the failing, pieced together alien starship, much less face any potential enemies. And the likelihood they can get home safely is pretty much nonexistent.

Small Spoiler Alert:
Skippy does return from the canister but only as a small portion of himself with the main part of his systems trapped and hidden from the enemy worm in the can. Unless the crew and Skippy can find elder technology to allow Skippy a back door to spring a surprise attack on the worm, Skippy’s existence is counting down to a “Zero Hour”.

The banter between Skippy and Joe continues as they struggle to come up with ‘miracles’, even if they are ‘monkey-brained ideas’, to get out of each trouble spot that Skippy helps get them into. I love the banter and I laughed out loud at Skippy’s musical entertainments.

The pattern does repeat: the crew faces catastrophe, brilliant AI Skippy’s solution fails, the monkey-brain humans (particularly Joe) comes up with an off the wall, last minute plan that works (to Skippy’s dismay), there is a short celebration before the next catastrophe appears. Still, the process is entertaining.

This series is an easy listen which means I can drive while listening because I don’t have to have a strong focus on tracking new characters or complex plot lines. There is plenty of danger, action and some plot twists to keep it interesting. The author provides a plot twist that will clearly lead to a new problem, not planned for by the crew, in the next episode. I will be picking up the next book in the near future. I recommend this series to fans of military space opera and I suggest starting from the beginning to get to know the characters and enjoy the ride of danger and fun.

Audio Notes:
R. C. Bray as the narrator is a big plus to the story for me. He presents voices to fit the characters, including various aliens. His off-key singing is great fun! The narration definitely adds to my enjoyment of the series.

Source: 3/14/2020 Two For One Credit Sale at Audible. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook, and 2021Alphabet goals.

Prior book reviews:
Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force, #1) by Craig Alanson, Rating 4.5
Audible Book Review: Spec Ops, Expeditionary Force, Book 2 by Craig Alanson, Rating 4.5
Audible Book Review: Paradise, Expeditionary Force, Book 3 by Craig Alanson, Rating 4.5
Audible Book Review: Black Ops, Expeditionary Force, Book 4, by Craig Alanson, Rating 4.5

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