Sunday Words of Encouragement September 26, 2021

I am out of town for the weekend, returning home on a five hour drive while Sunday church takes place. In case I don't get a chance to add notes from Pastor's message, I have chosen a song that I think will go with his current series "Walking with Jesus."

Everything Comes Alive!

Verses for Today:
Ephesians 2:1-5
Made Alive in Christ
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Lord, I give thanks that You have freed me from my sins and that everything comes alive in You!

Book Review: Killer Lawyer (Jake Wolfe Book 3) by Mark Nolan

This is a very good crime thriller. I want to continue the series.
Killer Lawyer (Jake Wolfe Book 3)
by Mark Nolan

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07L5GLJQ1
Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 19, 2018
File size ‏ : ‎ 2208 KB, 416 pages
Genre: Action, Crime Thriller, Mystery
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

Jake Wolfe is a young lawyer who leads a secret life as a government assassin. Trained by the CIA, Jake now wants a new life of peace and quiet, living on a boat and practicing law. But when his city is shocked by a serial killer and he’s framed for the murder of a friend, Jake must race against time to find the killer before he strikes again.
Drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse; at every step Jake and his loved ones are being hunted by the clever, twisted madman. As the city is gripped in fear of the seemingly random shootings that could strike anybody, Jake investigates and uncovers ominous clues until a shocking reversal of fortune changes everything.
With the clock ticking and lives at stake, will Jake be able to find and stop the killer in time, or will he become the next victim?
Buckle up for a wild ride as Jake Wolfe and his exceptionally intelligent dog, Cody, return to action in this page-turning thriller in Mark Nolan’s bestselling series that has earned thousands of 5-star ratings on Amazon and Goodreads.

Review:
Jake is a former military man who has been recruited as a secret government assassin. He has passed the bar to become an attorney although he doesn’t exactly have paying clients yet. Mainly because he keeps charging only a $1.00. Jake lives on a friend’s boat with his ‘retired’ military dog, Cody. Jake has been dating local veterinarian, Sarah, but she put a hold on their growing relationship after seeing Jake in defensive mode. She feels his life style is too dangerous… which may be true.

Currently Jake is executing (no pun intended) a mission directed by his ‘handler’. He community is dealing with a serial killer called the “Random Killer”. Jake’s sweet elderly neighbor is killed and clues left implicating Jake. Before the local authorities have fully cleared Jake, he has convinced his handler to get him deputized to the Marshall’s office so he can get on the task force hunting this killer.

Jake and Cody set off to find the killer who leads everyone on a chase from one end of town to the other. Unfortunately, Jake’s actions have put the killer on the hunt for Jake and those he loves. Will Jake be able to get the killer before he injures someone he loves? Will his activities result in Sarah totally ending their relationship?

I really like Jake as a character although it does cause mixed feelings to think that assassins and secret organizations exist around us. Author Nolan gives the reader an intriguing view of the killer too, following his thoughts and activities. I like the combination of danger, action, issues of diplomatic immunity, tidbits of law, and a touch of romance in this series and I will look to read more. I recommend this to fans of the strong, silent hero crime thriller.

Source: Author 2019. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021 Alphabet, and Author goals.

 Dead Lawyers Don't Lie: A Gripping Thriller (Jake Wolfe Book 1) by Mark Nolan; 4.75
 Vigilante Assassin (Jake Wolfe Book 2) by Mark Nolan; 4.5

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 24, 2021

Happy Friday! September continues to blow through!

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 September 17, 2021 Pick. There was one automatic win 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.
BN100 gets A King by Blood and Might

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from September 17, 2021 Pick:
LIFE'S SIMPLE PLEASURE gets a GC

AND
NATLAJIA 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.}

I need to check the recommendations here for September ... which is almost gone.
Image found at ABC News.

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 1,373 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!

Audible Book Review: Commune, Book Three by Joshua Gayou

This is an engaging post-apocalyptic that I found hard to put down.

Commune: Book Three
By: Joshua Gayou
Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 17 hrs and 54 mins
Release date: 11-15-18
Publisher: Joshua Gayou, Blue Heron Audio
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Having been bolstered with the supplies sufficient to carry them through the winter, the survivors of the Jackson commune must now hunker down and endure the bitter Wyoming snows, while to the south, factions are beginning to form, coalescing from the ashes of the dead world.
Out in Arizona, the leftovers of the US Military encamped in the last known surviving tent city: the Elysium Fields.
In Nevada, a clan of scavengers grows ever larger, each day bringing them a step closer to collapsing under their own weight.
Resources are becoming scarcer by the day as the world trudges on, and as it so happens, the folks up in Wyoming appear to be sitting on prime real estate....

Review:
The survivors of the Jackson commune are preparing for a long winter even as they begin plans for a green house in the spring. Slowly the visits down the mountain to the town are halted but not before Jake puts in a secret supply request. This turns out to be a wonderful surprise.

While the commune is hunkering down, two other groups are on the move. The leftovers of the US Military, under Captain Otter, are preparing to move the tent city from the Elysium Fields in Arizona to Jackson, Wyoming. Otter’s goal is to gather survivors wherever they may be so he can fulfill his mission to protect the US citizens. He will be returning Wang to the commune, but his goals may not be welcome by Jake and the other commune occupants.

Meanwhile a rough group of scavengers in Nevada is gathering survivors and struggling to provide for the growing group. There is a conflict between the leader, Clay, and a second level leader, Ronny. Ronny wants to push out to Jackson seeking revenge on the men who devastated his team out on the road. Clay is more interested in a place where he hopes to find a stockpile of weapons. Once they arrive at Clay’s destination, he is rewarded with more than the weapons.

The introduction/prologue of Book 3 indicates that this is Jake’s story. The reader does eventually learn more of Jake’s background through the length of the book. The first two books were presented from multiple character 1st person points of view. This story shifts to third person which makes sense since it is following other groups. I enjoyed the expanded world and characters, although Jake’s remarkable, but illusive character is still my favorite. Several other characters get focus too, revealing true to life personalities, some intriguing and some very ugly.

My only disappointment with this book is the extent of foul language. Some language is expected because you have military characters. But the worst of it comes from the ‘bad’ characters. I suppose that contributes to the ugliness, but I think the point could be made without the cussing. I still recommend this series to those who like post-apocalyptic stories that follow survivors.

Audio Notes: As always, R.C. Bray provides wonderful narration. There are diverse, clear, and fitting voices. I was engaged and my enjoyment of the story was enhanced by the narration.

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

Audible Book Review: Commune, Book One by Joshua Gayou 4.5
Audible Book Review: Commune: Book Two by Joshua Gayou 4.5

Audible Book Review: The Unwanted Heiress by Amy Corwin

This is a fun Regency romance & I will seek this author again.
The Unwanted Heiress
By: Amy Corwin
Narrated by: Ruth Urquhart

Series: The Archer Family, Book 1
Release date: 03-16-17
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
An American heiress nobody wants; a duke every woman desires; and a murder no one expects.
As a young duke, all Nathaniel wants is to be left alone. So when he meets Charlotte, an outspoken American heiress, he is suspicious of her indifference. Too many women have sought - and failed - to catch him.
However, Charlotte is unimpressed by his title. She has no interest in English dukes. All she wants is to leave dreary England and travel to the sunny sands of Egypt to see the grand pyramids.
Unfortunately, a debutante seeking to entrap Nathaniel gets murdered, and his reputation as a confirmed misogynist makes him a suspect. On impulse, Charlotte comes to his aid, unaware that her actions place her in danger, too.
Neither Charlotte nor the duke know that a highwayman interested in rich heiresses is following Charlotte, and that another debutante lies dead in Nathaniel's carriage. And unfortunately, the evidence soon complicates Nathaniel's efforts to prove his innocence and convince Charlotte that he is worthy of her love.
Some nights just don't go as planned.
©2008 Amy Corwin (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Charlotte is an orphaned, outspoken American heiress. She has been passed from one distant family household to another when the fathers or mothers find her ideas unwanted. Charlotte has just been moved again, not realizing that she was lost/won in a card game. Lucky for Charlotte her new guardians, John Archer and Lady Victoria, are thrilled to have her and want her to feel wanted. Charlotte is surprised by this pleasantness, but her real hope is that perhaps they will help her fulfill her dream to travel to Egypt to work with an archeological dig. Meanwhile she is stuck attending the ton events even though she has no interest in finding a suitable husband.

Nathan is a young Duke who is not interested in finding a wife. Predictably, society is full of single women and their mothers who are determined to catch him. Rather unpredictably, these young women are willing to do anything, even if it means compromising situations. When Nathan meets his uncle’s new ward, Charlotte, he doesn’t trust the fiery redhead’s indifference. But before he can learn much about her, other than that she likes to study moths, one of the young ladies who chased him into the gardens during a ball is found dead. No one saw the murder, but another man is quick to direct suspicion at Nathan, noting that Nathan has a reputation as a misogynist since he keeps trying to avoid the ladies.

Uncle John talks Nathan into a rather crazy idea, or two, which don’t go well. The relationship between Nathan and Charlotte grows but gets greatly muddled. Meanwhile, more young ladies are found dead in situations implicating Nathan. Nathan has a limited time to clear his name before he is forced to meet one of the fathers in a duel.

Charlotte believes in Nathan’s innocence but that doesn’t mean she wants to enter into a fake engagement. No one realizes that a wicked fortune hunter is stalking Charlotte until she is kidnapped. Can Nathan find her before she is injured, and can he convince her that he wants her for real?

There are elements not totally believable in this story of reluctant, but growing, romance. The story moves along nicely with a fun plot and engaging characters. I really liked the secondary characters too, including Nathan’s friend from school who steps in to help investigate. I discovered that I have several other ebooks from this series, and I look forward to reading them. I recommend this to fans of clean, lighter Regency Romance.

Audio Notes: Ruth Urquhart’s narration provides an apt accent with voices that are distinct. I wasn’t enthralled with the narration but it worked fine for me. Listening moves faster for me than reading on my kindle so I appreciated having this on audio.

Source: 8/2/2021 Audible Plus Catalog (with a limited time availability). This qualifies for 2021Audiobook goal.