Audible Book Review: The Black Wolves of Boston, Book 1, by Wen Spencer

I totally loved the friendships developed in this story.
The Black Wolves of Boston
By: Wen Spencer
Narrated by: Ian Alan Carlsen, Corey Gagne, J. Paul Guimont, Jennywren Walker

Series: The Black Wolves of Boston, Book 1
Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
Release date: 02-21-17
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Vampire, Werewolves
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.

Publisher's Summary
From the Romantic Times Sapphire award-winning author of the internationally best-selling Elfhome series.
Rebuild a life, save a city
Silas Decker had his world destroyed when he was attacked by vampires outside of New Amsterdam. He has rebuilt his life a dozen times in the last 300 years - each time less and less successfully. Now he lives alone, buried under a hoarding habit, struggling to find some reason to wake up with the setting of the sun.
Eloise is a Virtue, pledged to hunting evil. What she doesn't know is how to live alone in a city full of strangers who know nothing about monsters.
Seth is the 16-year old Prince of Boston, ward of the Wolf King. Now he is left in a city that desperately needs his protection with enemies gathering all around.
Joshua believes he is a normal, college-bound high school senior. His life is shattered when he wakes up in a field, covered with blood, and the prom committee scattered in pieces about him like broken dolls.
These four must now come together to unravel a plot by Wickers, witches who gain power from human sacrifices and have the power to turn any human into their puppet. Four people who lost everything struggle to save Boston by saving each other.
©2017 Wen Spencer (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Joshua senses his dreams of college are disappearing as he ran away from home after being bitten by a werewolf. He knows that his new strength is posing a danger to his family and neighbors, so he has followed whispered advice to ‘go to Boston’s Prince’. He finds himself alone, homeless, and hungry running into trees as he chases rabbits in the woods of Boston at night. He soon realizes he isn’t alone when a young man challenges his bizarre behavior. Joshua doesn’t recognize his new friend, Silas Decker, as a vampire until Joshua joins him to help Elise, a Grigori Virtue (a magical religious guardian/assassin) fight off a huntsman and hounds. This all takes place in the first chapter and the book takes off from there.

Decker and Elise decide they need to protect this new wolf who has no idea what is going on. Decker’s home is a tightly held secret, so Joshua goes home with him where he discovers his new friend is a serious hoarder who has given up interest in life. As Joshua plans to clear out the trash and newspapers, Decker finds that he is thrilled with the adorable new werewolf pup.

Meanwhile, the Prince of Boston, 16-year-old Seth, has just arrived in New York looking for the rest of the wolf clan. The wolves have not been in Boston for years due to dangers of magical breaches allowing other monsters into the area. Seth has a sad childhood full of loss and responsibility. He is torn in his duties to protect his clan and to take care of a newly formed wolf.

This story does have a somewhat convoluted history of the wolves and the Grigor joining as allies against enemy witches or Wickers who created stick and vine constructs using human hearts and parts. The history of the conflict unfolds between the action-packed scenes where the protagonists are fighting for their lives. The story is told from the different viewpoints of Joshua, Decker, Elise, and Seth. The author uses this style to keep interest and move the story along at a good pace. There is humor and warmth as the friendships among the characters develop. All four of the protagonists have a reason to be seeking the comfort of family, even if it is one made of friends.

I stumbled on this book in an Audible sale, and I am so glad I chose it. It fulfilled my expectation as a good fantasy with a vampire, wolves, and magical hunter working together. My only disappointment is that there aren’t more books in the series. I will be hunting for other works by Ms. Spencer. I highly recommend this story to fans of urban fantasy with characters you care for.

Audio Notes: The work is performed by multiple talented narrators: Ian Alan Carlsen, Corey Gagne, J. Paul Guimont, Jennywren Walker. They shared the characters with empathy and humor. I totally enjoyed the audio and will look for other works performed by these narrators.

Source: July 2021 Audible Sale for $6.00. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 28, 2022

Happy Friday!
TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK.
We made it through another week. I am making progress, slowly, at the office and Hubby, still struggling, is slowly regaining some balance.

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 January 21, 2022 Pick. There was no 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 were no titles blocked last week.

CONGRATULATIONS to:
Random.org picked Winners from January 21, 2022 Pick:
FREDAMANS gets a GC
AND
BN100 gets Robbie Taggart: Highland Sailor

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.}

It is cold and I found this rather pretty Winter Reading image.
Image found at The Three Tomatoes.

New Book Box #95 November 7, 2021

I'll add the titles through the week (16 including 2 doubles, 1 pair).
(on top) (Two) Rancher's Wild Secret and Hold Me Cowboy by Maisey Yates
(on top) Shadowlight by Lynn Viehl
(Two) The Taming & The Conquest by Jude Deveraux
(Pair) Dreaming of You and Promises of Dreams by Lisa Kleypas
My Darling Caroline by Adele Ashworth
Love's Surprise by Karen Ball
Manhunt by Wayne Barton and Stan Williams - Audio CDs
What We Find by Robyn Carr
Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich
The Hollows by Ben Larken
Robbie Taggart: Highland Sailor by Michael Phillips and Judith Pella
Storm Sisters: Friends Through All Seasons by Afton Rovrik (Hardback)
After the Light by Kimberly Clark Sharp (Hardback)


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.)
Rehabilitation
Secret Blessing
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

(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 TWELVE years I have posted 91 groups of mostly 16 books plus an additional 21 totaling approximately 1,535 books available to find new homes! (As of November 26, 2021).

I am happy to say that so far at least 1,390 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!

Audio Book Review: Bunker (Book 2) Dogs of War by Jay J. Falconer

This Post-Apocalyptic/dystopian moves the story along.

Bunker (Book 2) Dogs of War
Written by Jay J. Falconer
Read by Gary Tiedemann

Run Time 4h 40min
Release Date: April 6, 2017
Publisher: BookBreeze.com
Genre: Action, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Thriller
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Those Who Resist, Triumph. Those Who Kneel, Serve.
When a covert communication is intercepted, Jack Bunker and the town leaders of Clearwater swing into action to uncover the secret behind its deadly intent.
However, before their defenses can be fortified and the threat neutralized, a ruthless faction gains a foothold, turning to kidnapping and torture for control.
As the body count rises, Bunker is forced to summon a part of himself he loathes in order to save everyone he cares about.
But rescuing his friends won’t be easy, not when the insurgents focus their attention on him and his mysterious past.

Review:
This second book picks up where book 1 ended. The town council agrees to have Bunker help prepare them for the difficulties they will face from their own community with the tech and electric systems down. But they soon learn of an outside threat. They will need more help and more resources.

Bunker is asked to join Deputy Daisy to travel to the farm of the local ‘prepper’ to try to obtain supplies. Bunker’s friend (from book 1), Stephanie, quickly moves into jealousy mode, having had a bad history with Daisy. Another town leader takes Stephanie and her son Tommy off to his home to help cool her temper.

Stephanie’s group runs into trouble as they approach home while across town, Bunker and Daisy run into trouble as they try to find the old man in his home. The story jumps into action that keeps the reader engaged. The story stretches realism a bit and ends with the next scene yet to come.

My headline summary says that this moves the story along. The bottom of the publisher info does indicate that this is “Audiobook 2 in the Mission Critical Series. A 5-part completed serial.” The reader needs to recognize that these are just short chapters of a full story. I am glad that I was able to get the other ‘chapters’ on sale. The best way to buy this series would be in a boxed set. I will continue to listen to the next books when in the mood for an action post-apocalyptic story.

Audio Notes: I can repeat my assessment of the narrator from my review of book 1. Gary Tiedemann does a fine job providing distinct voices and appropriate energy. I will continue to listen to more in the series.

Source: 10/2/2021 Chirp Purchase $1.99. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Sunday Post January 23, 2022/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday January 24, 2022

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.

Work last week was a bit off kilter with a holiday on Monday, and several days of phone only consults.

Hubby was discharged from hospital on Thursday. He is frustrated to have so little strength after six days in bed. He is trying to regain some balance in normal life. 

One of my staff members was married Saturday in a truly country wedding. It was simple, lovely, and cold! Here are pictures of the setting, the cake, and some wedding guests.

That is my daughter, Heather, on the left with the friendly cow.
And here we are from the office (missing our newest employee who wasn't feeling well):
My legal assistant, on the right, officiated as the best friend of the bride.

Last night was the coldest for us so far at 27 degrees. We expect a few more cold nights this week - brrrr for us.

My reading was good. I finished two audiobooks (22+ hours) and made progress on an ebook and another audio. I posted three reviews with my usual memes.

I only visited 15 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to FIRST OF ALL. Victoria 'reads, writes and runs... and most days cooks.' This week she will be sharing about cozy mysteries.

Audible offerings for free children's titles ended June 30.
Audiobooks.com is still sharing some free listens for children.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post January 16, 2022/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday January 17, 2022.

• ATBR: Audio Book Review: Artificial Condition by Martha Wells; Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

• eBTBR- Book Review: Attrition, Book 3 of The After Days Trilogy by Scott Medbury; Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 21, 2022. Open Worldwide. Ending 1/21/2022.

• NG2021- #NetGalley Audio Book Review: The Chase by Candice Fox; Genre: Crime Thriller, Suspense; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• Sharing Beyond Books #438 Comment Giveaway January 22, 2021. Open Worldwide. Ending 2/5/2021.
  

• Sunday Words of Encouragement January 23, 2022.

Finished Reading:

1. Audio/Smartphone (A2021)

Bunker (Book 2) Dogs of War
Written by Jay J. Falconer
Read by Gary Tiedemann
Run Time 4h 40min
This Post-Apocalyptic/dystopian moves the story along.
Source: 10/2/2021 Chirp Purchase $1.99.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audio/Smartphone (A2021)

The Black Wolves of Boston
By: Wen Spencer
Narrated by: Ian Alan Carlsen, Corey Gagne, J. Paul Guimont, Jennywren Walker
Series: The Black Wolves of Boston, Book 1
Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
I totally loved the friendships developed in this story.
Source: July 2021 Audible Sale for $6.00.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:

1. ebook/Kindle App on phone (ebTBR)

Bad Wolf (Bad Wolf Chronicles Book 1)
by Tim McGregor
I am moving along in this ebook - at 35%.
There are interesting officer characters and I like the police procedural elements.
Source: Kindle Free May 12, 2012.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audio/NetGalley App Smartphone (A2022)

Fall of the Core
by Ryk Brown
Narrated by Jeffrey Kafer
Length: 15 hours and 21 minutes
I am 30% into this and finding it interesting following the different threads.
Source: 2022 NetGalley.
A freelance reporter struggling to get into the "big time"....
A rookie officer starting her career in public safety....
A cargo ship captain trying to outlive a terminal illness that has no cure....
A bounty hunter returning a long-hunted fugitive to Earth....
A terrible plague that threatens to destroy the human race....
The 25th century is not starting off very well.

3. Audio/NetGalley App Smartphone (A2022)

Up to No Gouda
by Linda Reilly
Narrated by Mia Gaskin
I love cheeses (and grilled cheese)
and couldn't resist this cozy title!
This releases early in February
so I will listen to it next.
Source: 2022 NetGalley.
The first in a delicious new culinary cozy series featuring a grilled cheese eatery owner who must solve murders in her small town before she is put under lock and brie.
Back in Balsam Dell to heal after the death of her husband, Carly Hale is finally pursuing her lifelong dream—opening Carly's Grilled Cheese Eatery. After only five months, business is booming as Vermont vacationers and townspeople alike flock to lunch on her Party Havartis and other grilled cheese concoctions. All but Lyle Bagley, Carly's one-time high school boyfriend and now town bully who just bought the building that houses her eatery and wants Carly out. After a muenster of a fight, Carly's forced to put her nose to the rind and find a solution to keep her business afloat.
That is...until Lyle is discovered dead behind the dumpster of Carly's shop, and one of her employees becomes the prime suspect. In order to save her eatery and prove her friend's innocence, Carly must sleuth out the killer before she's the one who gets grilled.
With a delightful cast of characters, an inventive amateur sleuth, and a whole host of cheesy hijinks, Up to No Gouda is the perfect cozy murder mystery to melt into.

January 23, 2022 - I am really enjoying the videos in my new Bible Reading Plan: BibleProject | One Story that Leads to Jesus. I know it won't match my Hubby's reading but I wanted some different insights/devotions and I am enjoying the devotion video project. I am emjoying keeping up with my reading each day.

I may start smaller studies soon.

I completed two books for review this week.
My NetGalley shelf has two new audiobooks and I am listening to one now.
There are still three old ebook titles. I will probably end up letting A Place Called Armageddon go as DNF.
I still have two author titles remaining in queue. They will (obviously) be read in 2022.
(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 two audiobooks for review through NetGalley.
I usually start the year NOT buying books except if I use my audio credits. I'm still holding on this.
I do have Audiobooks.com credits but they are good for 60 days. I'll be picking my free VIP book in the nest week or so.

I got three free Kindle book.

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I received two audiobooks from NetGalley:

Fall of the Core
by Ryk Brown
Narrated by Jeffrey Kafer
See more information above under Current Reading.

I

Up to No Gouda
by Linda Reilly
Narrated by Mia Gaskin
See more information above under Current Reading.

Won

NONE

Purchased

NONE

Free

I got three free Kindle title:

Say You're Mine (Heron's Landing Book 1)
Iris Morland

Witchy Reservations: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Mystic Inn Mystery Book 1)
Stephanie Damore

That Was Before
Dan Lawton


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

Sunday Words of Encouragement January 23, 2022

We had a good Sunday School lesson from our second leader as our primary teacher and his wife are out with Covid. We prayed for our church family, community and others who are struggling with health and other issues.

We shared a good time of praise and worship leading into announcement and preaching. Our interim Pastor reminded us that last week’s sermon was “Will You Endure?” He reminded us to be rooted, refreshed and reminded to endure to the end, until salvation. This applies to both for our short lives and the church age. We have a will to choose who we serve.

This Sunday’s sermon was titled” “Will You Help Others Endure?”
Paul says he will “endure everything for the sake of the elect.” 2 Timothy 2:8-10.
If we are Christ followers we should be prepared to take up His cross, and endure to the end.
Like Paul, we may suffer hardships. Persecution may/will come. But our Christian walk is more than just ourselves, but it is ‘so others can be saved.’

If you can't make it, who can? Your enduring impacts and influences others.
*Others are watching you.
Jesus tells us we are to be salt and light to the world. Matthew 5: 13-16.
You have to be light to others. We need to be ‘uncovered’ Christians, not hiding in the quiet places. Others should be able to see we are Christian. Can they see that your Jesus relationship is real?
What glorifies the father? Praising God, even when, or especially when things are going bad. We should have no whining, no complaining. We should be bearing much fruit; being productive unto the Lord. Our lives should be an example to others and we should endure to finish our work as Jesus did.
“I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” John 17:4.

*Others are counting on you.
Mark 2 tells the story of four men who climbed on the roof to lowered down the bed with the paralytic. When Jesus “saw their faith” he forgave the man his sins. The man saw the need and helped the man to reach Jesus.

Someone else's eternal destiny may depend on what you do or don't do. Your faith makes a difference. If the church doesn't do it, who will?

We shared in a time of prayer, but Pastor noted it isn’t just prayer. .

*Others are waiting for you.
John 5:1-8 tells the story of the curing waters at the pool of Bethesda. When the waters were stirred, the first to touch the stirred water would be healed. Jesus asked an invalid man who had been there 38 years “Do you want to be made well?” The man replied, “I have no one to help me…"
Bethesda means house of mercy or house of pity. Our light points people to the healer! We should be helping those who need help to reach Jesus.
God sent Philip on assignment and Philip went although he didn't know what it was. When Philip came upon the Ethiopian official reading the scripture, Philip asked him, "Do you understand what you are reading? Acts 8:25-31.
There is power in a question. We cannot provide the healing but we can ask questions that lead others to the healer.
Let light shine and be for God’s good works.
Be like Paul -- all in for the sake of others.

Do not forget James 4:17 that says: “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

Will you help others endure?

I like this song which recognizes that we are frail and imperfect but we have found the One who saved us and we can share the Healer when we "Point to You". with others.

Verses for Today:
2 Timothy 2:8-10 NIV
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Oh Lord, I pray that I am open and obedient to You to glorify You, to shine Your light, and to help others find You.