Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway March 18, 2022

Happy Friday!
TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK.
I didn't finish win lists or new books as this week closed in on me with much work and trial prep. Maybe this Saturday...

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 March 11, 2022 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 were no titles blocked last week.
BN100 gets Glimpses of the Moon.

CONGRATULATIONS to:
Random.org picked Winners from March 11, 2022 Pick:
MARJORIE gets a GC
AND
FREDAMANS 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 needed a fun image today!
Image found at Cafe Press on Pinterest

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
All Gone

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 1,393 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: Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman

I did enjoy this PI mystery.

Gone to Dust
Author Matt Goldman
Narrator: MacLeod Andrews

Series: The Nils Shapiro Series, Book 1
Duration: 7 h 24 min
Release date: 08-15-17
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Detective Stories, Mystery, Private Investigator
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Summary:
Set in Minnesota, Gone to Dust is the debut private-eye murder mystery from Emmy Award-winning Seinfeld writer Matt Goldman.
A brutal crime. The ultimate cover-up. How do you solve a murder with no useable evidence?
Private detective Nils Shapiro is focused on forgetting his ex-wife and keeping warm during another Minneapolis winter when a former colleague, neighboring Edina Police Detective Anders Ellegaard, calls with the impossible.
Suburban divorcee Maggie Somerville was found murdered in her bedroom, her body covered with the dust from hundreds of emptied vacuum cleaner bags, all potential DNA evidence obscured by the calculating killer.
Digging into Maggie's cell-phone records, Nils finds that the most frequently called number belongs to a mysterious young woman whose true identity could shatter the Somerville family-but could she be guilty of murder?
After the FBI demands that Nils drop the case, Nils and Ellegaard are forced to take their investigation underground, where the case grows as murky as the contents of the vacuum cleaner bags. Is this a strange case of domestic violence or something with far-reaching, sinister implications?

Review:
Nils Shapiro is a private detective who has had some success in solving cases, often involving domestic surveillance. A former colleague who is a nearby Police Detective convinces his chief to hire Nils to help with a puzzling murder. Nils gets to walk through the crime scene early to inspect the woman who was murdered on her bed. The house and bedroom are covered with dust from emptied vacuum cleaner bags creating a forensic nightmare as it obscures the DNA of the true murderer. The first thing Nils notes is that this probably indicates a killer whose DNA is in the system, and it indicates a well-planned murder. There was no evidence of struggling so it appears that the killer was known to the killer. This leads to an ex-husband and a current lover as prime suspects. Then phone records lead to a mysterious female that adds a whole new aspect to the case.

As Nils investigates the primary suspects, he runs afoul of an FBI investigation and is told to back off. But Nils is too far in to back off. He and his friend continue to pursue clues, hoping to flush out the killer. Soon another man ends up dead and all leads point to him as the killer. But Nils doesn’t think so. He is pretty sure that someone has been manipulating the direction of the clues. Soon Nils isn’t sure which suspect is really the killer, but he won’t stop until he finds out.

I initially had mixed feelings about the main character, as I wasn’t crazy about the brash and sometimes base nature of Nils’ character. However, I was pulled in by the mystery and definitely appreciated Nils’ perseverance and attention to detail. The foul language and some sexual side comments were not to my liking. I did enjoy most of the description that flushed the story although there is a little extra minutiae in the daily activity. Still, the mystery with several red herrings and twists made this an engaging listen. The next several books in the series were also included in Audible plus so I will look forward to listening to another. I recommend this to PI mystery fans.

Audio Notes: MacLeod Andrews does a good job with the narration. He provides distinct voices and a fitting, low-key, determined atmosphere.

Source: I won this at Beth Fish Reads with a set of titles from Audiobooks.com during Audiobook Week July 2018. I also have it on Audible as it is part of the Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet goals.

Sunday Post March 13, 2022/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday March 14, 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 continues. We settled a case Friday through successful mediation. I have my continued trial from February coming up next Friday so I will take fewer appointments during the week so that I don't feel overwhelmed getting ready.

Hubby was tested for thyroid last week but that was fine. It appears the problem was infected lymph nodes as the antibiotic they gave him cleared the problem in a couple of days. He still struggles to maintain strong oxygen levels if he moves around much but I am hoping he will soon begin to go out to at least our church services.  

Sunday a group of us enjoyed a great pot lunch with family hosted by our local Woman's Club.  I ate too much!

Meats and greens.

Rolls, veggies, potato salad, and deviled eggs added.

Yummm - desserts. Chocolate covered strawberries added.

I continue to pray for the people and situation in Ukraine and for world leaders.
We had tornado warnings and freeze this weekend. At least the rain helped get the fires under control. Apparently the forestry department had expected some danger of fires due to the downed trees remaining from Hurricane Michael.
.

Saturday night dipped to 27 after a nice week in the mid 70s. Sunday night will be cold again and then our temps should warm up again.

My listening was good last week and I made more progress with my Kindle App.  I finished two audiobooks, posted three reviews and my usual memes.

I visited 17 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to CARSTAIRS CONSIDERS. The Subtitle speaks to me: "Reviews from a collector and media addict."
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 March 6, 2022/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday March 7, 2022.

• NG2022: #NetGalley Audiobook Review: Citizen K-9: A K Team Novel by David Rosenfelt; Genre: K-9, Mystery, Private Investigator; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• ATBR: Audible Book Review: Junkyard Bargain by Faith Hunter; Genre: Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway March 11, 2022. Open Worldwide. Ending 3/17/2022.

• ATBR: Audible Book Review: Chaos Rising, Edge of Collapse, Book 0.5, by Kyla Stone; Genre: Adventure, Post-Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.25.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement March 13, 2022.

Finished Reading:
1. Audiobook Smartphone (ATBR)

Gone to Dust
Author Matt Goldman
Narrator: MacLeod Andrews
Duration: 7 h 24 min
I did enjoy this PI mystery.
Source: I won this at Beth Fish Reads with a set of titles from Audiobooks.com during Audiobook Week July 2018. I also have it on Audible as it is part of the Plus Catalog.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

Home Coming
The Survivalist Series, Book 10
By: A. American
Narrated by: Duke Fontaine
Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins
I enjoyed this conclusion to a good series.
12/26/2021 Audible December Credits.
Publisher's Summary
It’s been a long hard ride for Morgan and everyone. Just when things were starting to look up, the park was attacked, and they lost Bobbie. Danny’s physical wounds were nothing like the emotional loss of Bobbie. It was hard on Mel as well, and the rest of the group also felt the loss. With the attacks on the community becoming a greater threat, they must be dealt with. These attacks must end. But what can the group do against an army with artillery?
It’s been almost a year since "The Day", and Morgan is worried about his parents. It’s something that has been on his mind, often hidden or buried under the daily burden of his new reality. That worry is getting harder to ignore, and something is going to have to be done, so he can know, one way or another.
Even with all the life-threatening issues, life must go on. The daily requirements of feeding everyone and dealing with the innumerable challenges that crop up must be addressed. And there’s Fred’s pregnancy. While a blessing, it presents serious risks to her. Morning sickness is the least of her concerns. The only easy day in this new world is yesterday.
©2018 A. American (P)2018 Podium Publishing.

Currently Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle App on Smartphone (Author2021)

The Fair (Time Box #2)
by John A. Heldt
I made progress again - now at 76%.
I hope to finish this week.
Source: June 20, 2021 received from the author.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

The Girl Who Drank the Moon
Written by: Kelly Barnhill
Narrated by: Christina Moore
Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
I meant to read this a while back
so I am glad to pull it as a “G” title.
Source: February 2017 Audible Credit.
Publisher's Summary
A young girl raised by a witch, a swamp monster, and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon must unlock the dangerous magic buried deep inside her in this epic coming-of-age fairy tale from the highly acclaimed author of The Witch's Boy.
Every year the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.
One year Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. When Luna approaches her 13th birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule - but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her - even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she's always known.
The acclaimed author of The Witch's Boy has created another epic coming-of-age fairy tale destined to become a modern classic.
©2016 Kelly Barnhill (P)2016 Recorded Books

March 13, 2022 - These videos are really good - they help me retain more and help explain plot narrative as well as the underlying story of Jesus. 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 enjoying keeping up with my reading each day.
No new study although I will probably start looking at an Easter Study soon.

I completed three books for review this week.
My NetGalley shelf is back to the three old ebook titles. I will probably end up letting A Place Called Armageddon go as DNF.
I now have one author title remaining in queue.
(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.

No new review books.
I continued to resist any other book purchases this week but I'm still listing from the big purchase last week.
3 books added to my Kindle TBR library.

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

3-3-2022 Audible Sale Purchases - I went all in and ended up with 21 books all $3.74 or less. These were all in my Wish List so I was glad to get them at bargain prices.
I picked up 10 Continuing Series and 11 New-to-Me Series.
I organized them alphabetically for my ease.
Here are four more Continuing series:
In the Market for Murder
Lady Hardcastle, Book 2
By: T E Kinsey
Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden
Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins
$3.04 Regular Price: $10.49

Into the Wild
Book Two of The Malcontents
By: Larry Correia
Narrated by: Ray Porter
Length: 9 hrs and 41 mins
$3.74 Regular Price: $24.95

Kingdoms of Sorrow
Catalyst, Book 2
By: JK Franks
Narrated by: Steven Varnum
Length: 15 hrs and 15 mins
$3.74 Regular Price: $24.95

Kitty Takes a Holiday
Kitty Norville, Book 3
By: Carrie Vaughn
Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin
Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
$3.67 Regular Price: $24.49

Here are four more New-to-Me series:
Everything in Its Time
Time Travel Trilogy, Book 1
By: Dee Davis
Narrated by: Ross Pendleton
Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
$3.59 Regular Price: $23.94

Shadow Pack
A Michael Biorn Novel, Book 1
By: Marc Daniel
Narrated by: John McLain
Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
$3.15 Regular Price: $20.99

Stolen Liberty: Behind the Curtain
By: Thomas A. Watson, William Allen, M.C. Allen
Narrated by: Eric A. Shelman
Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
$3.74 Regular Price: $24.95

These Dead Lands: Immolation
By: Stephen Knight, Scott Wolf
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Length: 15 hrs and 45 mins
$3.74 Regular Price: $24.95

Free

I added 3 free Kindle titles to my library this week.

Alyssa and Dalton
by Laurel Veil

Compound 26: The Makanza Series Book 1
Krista Street

The Ravenmaster's Revenge: The Return of King Arthur
Jacob Sannox

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

Sunday Words of Encouragement March 13, 2022

Today we were ministered to by the Youth. They had wonderful, welcoming message signs and encouraging smiles. The music was upbeat – if a beat beyond some of us. The eldest grandson (a man of 30 or so) of one of our former pastor's shared the message.

The young minister shared how he learned a rote response in church as a pastor’s kid. Then after a year of college and bad choices, God captured his heart with a word from Psalm 131. He admonished the young and old to stay planted in the Lord. Psalm 92.

The Sermon Message was centered on Luke 14. He noted that he always believed that Christ followers are to model Jesus. But he found himself questioning his own behaviors, especially when he thought that about the phrase: “God wants me to hate...”

We know that God wants us to Love. Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:36-38: ‘Love your God with all your heart, your soul, and your mind’ as originally stated in Deuteronomy 6:5.
God wants me to love Him with my whole being.

Jesus goes on to say: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39-40. See Leviticus 19:18.
Have you ever thought to wrap your skin around another person so that you could share their pain just as if they were you?
Christ followers are encouraged to a radical way of living. We are to be Christ's hands on earth.
God wants me to love my neighbor as myself.

In the beatitudes, Jesus tells us that God wants us to love our enemies. Matthew 5:43-48. Note how Jesus approaches these religious principles: Jesus prefaces his comments with ‘You have heard it said... but I say….’ Matthew 5:21-48.
God wants me to love my enemy.

Paul speaks to young people in Ephesians 6:1-3 (based on Deuteronomy 5:16): ‘Children, obey and honor parents.’
God wants me to honor my parents.

Now we move to Luke 14:25-34. Here, Jesus tells the crowd that if anyone wants to be disciples, they are to hate everyone else, including their own life.
God wants me to hate everything else in comparison to my love for Him.

How many of us find ourselves following Jesus without fully knowing where he is going? Without truly counting the cost and make a choice to surrender everything to God?

We are warned that we must think about what we are doing before we decide to follow Christ. Are we prepared to ‘bear our own cross?’ Are we prepared to surrender our own will to God’s Will?
God is calling us to more.

Are we willing to let everything else go to pursue Him or is the price more than we are willing to pay?
To be a true follower, we must make everything else (family, friends, career, dreams), second to God.
We each need to reevaluate ourselves and ask God to refine me.

Here is the song video I chose for today: Completely

Verses for Today:
Luke 14: 25-27 NIV
The Cost of Being a Disciple
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Lord, refine me - help me to surrender my will every day!

Audible Book Review: Chaos Rising, Edge of Collapse, Book 0.5, by Kyla Stone

This is a quick intro to a post-apocalyptic series.
Chaos Rising
An Edge of Collapse Prequel
By: Kyla Stone
Narrated by: Stacey Glemboski

Series: Edge of Collapse, Book 0.5
Length: 2 hrs and 11 mins
Release date: 12-31-19
Publisher: Paper Moon Press
Genre: Adventure, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
In a heartbeat, everything grinds to a halt. On Christmas Eve, the lights go out. Vehicles stop working. Communications break down. Reclusive former soldier Liam Coleman doesn't want to be anywhere near bustling downtown Chicago the day before Christmas. But his twin brother and his pregnant sister-in-law need him.
But mere minutes after leaving O'Hare, their car crashes, along with hundreds of other vehicles. When Liam's phone stops working, he begins to suspect something more sinister than a local power outage. But before he can react, the first plane falls from the sky.
When a super EMP takes down the nation's power grid, Liam knows it's time to bug out. He's prepared, but he never expected to be caught in the middle of Chicago as chaos erupts. With society collapsing before his very eyes, Liam will have to risk more than he ever thought possible to protect the ones he loves if it's not already too late.
Chaos Rising is a riveting post-apocalyptic EMP survival thriller set in the Edge of Collapse universe, a brand new series from best-selling author Kyla Stone. Perfect for fans of Jack Hunt, T.L. Payne, and Ryan Schow.
©2019 Kyla Stone (P)2019 Kyla Stone

Review:
Liam is a former soldier arriving in Chicago to share Christmas with his twin brother, Lincoln, and his very pregnant sister-in-law, Jessa. It is just a bit difficult due to the history of their meeting. That may be the emotional difficulty, but the real-life problem hits everyone in the form of an unexpected power loss. Not just any loss, but disastrous damage from an EMP strike that sends planes crashing into the city.

Many are injured from the first plane crash and the people in the street panic. Lincoln, also a former soldier, freezes in trauma. As the masses run to get away from the next plummeting plane, Liam has to make unimaginable choices. How can Liam rescue Lincoln if he has to rush Jessa to a hospital? Can he save the ones he loves while struggling to get out of the chaos that surrounds them?

This was a short introduction to the series. The writing is clear if not compelling to me. I liked Liam as a character and felt for the hard decisions he has to make. However, I questioned the actions at the end of the book as not fully taking into account the power loss and that dampened my enthusiasm for the rest of the series.  Fans of Post-Apocalyptic may wish to check this introductory book.

Audio Notes: Stacey Glemboski does a good job with the narration. She provides proper emotion and distinct voices. I enjoyed the audio.

Source: 6/18/2021 $5.95 Audible Purchase. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.