Sunday Post June 18, 2023/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday June 19, 2023

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? now at The Book Date (at Wordpress)

What Are You Reading? is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I continue to work away at the office. I had a full staff meeting and we all agreed I do have to hire another person in the next few weeks to start training so we can shift jobs in mid July when my assistant leaves. 

I wanted eggs Saturday but by the time I got around to cooking it was closer to lunch time.
I made a sloppy joe, egg and cheesy quesadilla. I had half for lunch and half for dinner. :-)

My continuing prayers include prayers for more unity in all nations, a calmer social atmosphere, and for revival. We are also continuing prays for family and church.

We've had very stormy weather. I had tree branches across the driveway on Friday morning. We expect to have rain again most of this week, with temperatures ranging from 69 to 89.

I finished three audios this past week. I posted two reviews and my memes.

I visited 18 blogs last week.
Shout out this week: LISA NOTES. Lisa's about has lots of tidbits but starts with "I write here about how I see God in the everyday." The blog is encouraging and has some challenges I hope ot join in.
I have joined a Challenge at Lisa's blog:

Audiobooks.com is still sharing some free listens for children.

• Sunday Post June 11, 2023/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday June 1, 2023.

• Discovery of the Five Senses by K.N. Smith Book Tour and Giveaway. Ends June 22, 2023.
  

• A2023: Audio Book Review: Discovery of the Five Senses by K.N. Smith; Genre: Fantasy, Teen & Young Adult; My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 3.75.
  

• ATBR: Audible Book Review: A Road Unknown: Amish Roads Series, Book 1 by Barbara Cameron; Genre: Amish, Family, Mennonite, Romance; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• Sharing Beyond Books #459 Comment Giveaway June 17, 2023. Open Worldwide. Ending 7/15/2023.
  

• Sunday Words of Encouragement June 18, 2023 -A Father's Faith!

Finished Reading:

1. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

Extinction Inferno:
Extinction Cycle: Dark Age, Book 2
By: Nicholas Sansbury Smith , Anthony J. Melchiorri
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
Series: Extinction Cycle: Dark Age, Book 2
Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins
I enjoyed this and will be purchasing the next in series at some point.
Source: October 2022 Audible Plus Catalog.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audio Smartphone (ATBR)

Discovery of the Five Senses
The Urban Boys Written by: K.N. Smith
Narrated by: Glenn Steinbaum
Duration: 8 hours 10 minutes

This has an interesting story but I had issues with the writing style.
Source: Audio Credit for Caffeinated PR Tour.
Click on book title for full description or link above for review.

3. Audio Smartphone (ATBR)

The Fourth Monkey
Written By: J.D. Barker
Narrated By: Edoardo Ballerini
Duration: 12 hours 30 minutes
This is an engaging but dark and gritty thriller.
Source: 2/8/2020 Two for One Credit at Audiobooks.com.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:
1. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

Phule's Company
Phule's Company, Book 1
By: Robert Asprin
Narrated by: Noah Michael Levine
Length: 7 hrs and 10 mins
I felt like a sci fi after the dark thriller. This is a Space Military story recommended by my son.
Source: 9/20/22 Audible under $3.50.
Publisher's Summary
After being court-martialed by the Space Legion for ordering the strafing of a treaty-signing ceremony, multimillionaire Willard Phule receives his punishment: He must command the misfit Omega Company on Haskin's Planet, a mining settlement on the edge of settled space. At his duty station, he leverages his personal money and a knack for managing people to get the company to come together as a unit. Phule convinces the governor to leave the contract for an honorary duty up for competition between the Space Legionnaires and the Regular Army. The Army sends some of their most elite troops to take part in the competition, but Phule's company operates with their own unique tactics....
©1990 Robert Asprin (P)2017 Tantor

2. NetGalley App Smartphone (A2023)

Bewitching a Highlander
By: Roma Cordon
Narrated by: Moira Quirk
Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins
I wanted a lighter read this week so I am listening to a Scottish romance.
Source: June 2023 "Listen Now" audiobook at NetGalley.
Publisher's Summary
Defying all for the love of a bewitching lass.
Breena MacRae, a healer from Skye with a touch of witchery in her blood, embarks on a dangerous search for her missing father. She arrives on the Isle of Coll, seat of the vile Campbells. There, she encounters the debonair future chief to the Dunbar Clan, Egan, who rescues her from a Campbell sentry.
Egan Dunbar is on Coll to keep the peace between the feuding Campbells and Dunbars. But when he catches Breena in a lie, he agrees to help her find her father to pay back an old debt and get to the bottom of the secrets she's hiding.
As their attraction for each ignites like a firestorm, Breena and Egan realize a future together could trigger deadly consequences—a clan war between the Campbells and the Dunbars. Is Egan willing to betray his clan for love, even though he knows Breena is keeping secrets from him? Can Breena trust him with her family secret and put those she loves at risk?
©2022 Roma Cordon (P)2022 CamCat Books

I might get to a third book. We'll see.

June 18, 2023 - I am doing the daily readings of BibleProject plan: The Full Story - "From the beginning to the Amen". We are now reading in Song of Solomon.
I started a five day study titled Greatly Loved by Hosanna Wong, a wonderful Spoken Word Artist.

I finished three audio titles and posted two reviews. I have four reviews due but I have written the review for Never Ending End of the World but thought I would save it for a few weeks closer to the release date.

NETGALLEY STATUS--
I now have two audios left on my NetGalley shelf.  The remaining two are shorter (under 6 hours).
I still have the two old NetGalley ebook titles.

I have one author review in my queue that I need to start reading on my computer. (I need to look back and see which one this is.)
(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 newest to the team, Emma at Words and Peace.
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

One new review title.
I picked my Two May credits at Audible.
I bought three audio titles at Chirp.
I selected my June VIP credit at Audiobooks.com.
Three free Kindle titles last week.
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

I picked my Two May Credits at Audible:

The Valley
A Lee Harden Novel
By: D.J. Molles
Narrated by: Christian Rummel
Length: 14 hrs and 48 mins
I loved the series and the character, so I want to continue in this new stage of his life.

A Natural History of Dragons
A Memoir by Lady Trent
By: Marie Brennan
Narrated by: Kate Reading
Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
I’ve been thinking dragons for a while and this one caught my eye.


I found three Chirp titles I decided to get this week – two lighter romances and a romance series that I already had one title in but not the first book yet.

The Country Escape
by Jane Lovering
Read by Rose Robinson
$20.99 $1.99
Run Time: 7h 39min

My First My Last My Only
by Denise Carbo
Read by Laura English
$9.99 $1.99
Run Time: 8h

The Finding Home Series, Books 1-3
by B. E. Baker
Read by Connor Crais & Jennifer Jill Araya
$16.99 $3.99
Run Time: 25h 19min

Free

This is my June Audiobooks.com VIP pick, dystopian:

The Wolf Mile
Series: #1 of The Pantheon
Written by: C.F. Barrington
Narrated by: David Monteath
Duration: 11 hours 24 minutes


I have been adding some Audible Plus titles too - I will list them next week since it is not likely I will purchase more this coming week.

Three Free Kindle titles this week:
Tomorrow's Gone: Season One: A Thrilling Post-Apocalyptic Survival Story
Sean Platt, David W. Wright

The World Remains (The Unity Series Book 1)
E.J. King

Apocalypse Dawn 2022: Twilight's Breaking
Kristie Lynn Higgins

Three new titles added to Kindle library.  Free titles might be found at Bookbub, Book Adrenaline, Ereader News Today, Inspired Reads, or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement June 18, 2023 - A Father's Faith!

Our Sunday School teacher shared a good message from James 1:9-11. James was speaking to Christians who had given up everything to follow Christ. James noted that God honors the poor and that the rich have an opportunity to humble themselves and allow God to honor them too. The point being that those with fewer material goods are likely to have a closer reliance on God. This is a heart and attitude issue.

Pastor’s message, which was based on Mark 9:14-29, continued the message of man humbling himself to seek God’s help. Pastor’s message focused on the father of a demon possessed boy. Pastor noted that not all illness is from demon possession but most illness is from man’s sin nature. In this passage, the boy was seized by a demon and his father sought help by seeking out Jesus. He came upon the Apostles first and they were unable to cast out the evil spirit. The father kept going forward to the master, Jesus.

He was a good father seeking healing for his son. A father should know when his children need a touch from God. A father should raise his children to know they can look to God. Parents can and should provide Godly mentors for their children, especially in these days, to counterbalance against worldly influencers.

Elder men and women can teach the younger. Those who are close to Jesus can be an example. 1 Peter 5. Parents should look for someone who can be a Godly influencer. The parents, especially the father should be hanging out with other Godly men. Manly men can be Godly.

The boy’s father sought compassion – “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can” (Mark 9:22). Jesus responded: “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” (v23.) The father then appealed to Jesus saying, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (v24.) Jesus then cast out the demon, healing the boy.

Men need to be worshipers and followers of Christ in order to lead their family to Jesus. Pastor asserted it is an indictment on Christians when we spend more on our children developing in sports than developing their spiritual growth.

Men (and women) need to humble themselves and not be too proud to seek help. Micah 6:8. Psalm 18: 27; Psalm 149:4. Peter encourages Christians to seek God’s power in 1 Peter 5:6-7:

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

All Christians need God to show up. Our reliance should be on Him. Paul boasts in his weakness to show God's strength. Paul acknowledges that he is not enough, but God is! Don't judge others, but rather intercede by prayer for them.

The boy’s father’s faith was not perfect, but he trusted that Jesus could work with imperfect faith.
God wants us to grow in our belief and reliance on Him. Don't be held back by mistakes in your past. Move forward. Press on to get to God. Desire more of God.

Men will not lead be able to lead their family to God if their wife and children are more spiritual than he is. Remember that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. We do not have it all together, but we can give it to Him.

Pastor feels there has been a spirit of pride in our community that has kept men from relying on God. This is spiritual warfare. Do not be acclimated or remain accustomed to that spirit. Do it God's way, humble yourself. Lead your children to Christ!

We sang this song in worship and I found this video to share. Good, Good Father.

Verses for Today:
Mark 9:21-24 NLT
21 “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.
He replied, “Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”


Heavenly Father, I give you thanks that you gave me a Godly husband who shared his love of you with our children!

Sharing Beyond Books #459 Comment Giveaway June 17, 2023

Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books.

Thanks to everyone who commented on the last question.
Last post SBB #458: Scattered Leaves asked: Have you ever used a book light??
Here were the responses: Fredamans stated she would use them and had ordered a couple but they never arrived.
Marjorie has never used one.
Elaine G doesn't use a book light.
Ashfa has never used one - first heard of it.

My reply is in the original post.

The Winner from SBB #458 comments is #3 ELAINE who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the (outdated) ARC/Review titles or Love and Christmas titles OR pick a book from the prior Friday Pick List - all linked near the end of the post.

Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #459

(One Question.)

Marjorie asks: Do you have a favourite television show that you enjoy watching??

I still watch very little on TV beyond some news programs and occasional movies that I tape. I also tape and occasionally watch NCIS and Blacklist. A lot of times the TV is just background noise while I am doing blogs or work at home.

Images found at Thoughtco.com

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.
June question is provided by Marjorie who gets $2.50 or a half book credit and can pick from the last Friday Pick List .

Your turn to share. Marjorie asks: Do you have a favourite television show that you enjoy watching??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles and from the prior Friday Pick List .

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.
The deadline is a month, until July 15, 2023.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 5 PM central.

Audible Book Review: A Road Unknown: Amish Roads Series, Book 1 by Barbara Cameron

I enjoyed this view of an Amish young woman looking for a life beyond being the eldest sister helping to care for eight younger siblings.

A Road Unknown: Amish Roads Series, Book 1
By: Barbara Cameron
Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

Series: Amish Roads, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins
Release date: 10-14-15
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Amish, Family, Mennonite, Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Elizabeth is at a crossroads. Will rumschpringe lead her away? Or bring her home? She's been given the chance to experience life outside of her community, away from the responsibility to care for her eight younger siblings, but Elizabeth Bontrager can't decide which road to take. Goshen has its charms and pressures, but Paradise, Pennsylvania, sounds...well, like paradise. And it's also home to her Englisch friend, Paula. Decision made. Elizabeth is Paradise bound. But will the small town live up to its name?
When Elizabeth meets Paula's friend, Bruce, she quickly learns he wants more than a friendship. And the same might be true of Saul Miller, her new boss at the country store that sells Amish products to the Englisch community. As the two compete for her attention, Elizabeth is surprised to realize she misses her family and becomes even more uncertain about where she belongs. She has a choice to make: return home or embrace this new life and possibly a new love?
©2014 Barbara Cameron (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Elizabeth is a young Amish woman of twenty who has grown tired of helping to care for her eight younger siblings. As the eldest helping her maam, Elizabeth hasn’t even had the chance to attend singings or other youth activities. She has chosen to take her small savings and go to Paradise, Pennsylvania, to share an apartment with an Englisch friend, Paula. Elizabeth has guilt leaving her home unannounced and she misses her young siblings, but she feels she has to see another side of life before she can decide where God wants her to be.

Elizabeth meets a nice Amish man, Saul, who helps protect her on the bus. She doesn’t really expect to see him again, but she does meet him in town. Meanwhile, Paula introduces Elizabeth to a friend, Bruce, who is interested in dating Elizabeth. Now Elizabeth gets to be conflicted about these two young men as well as struggling with her choices of returning home or staying in this new situation where some people have welcomed her, but others are adding to her guilt.

I enjoyed the characters of Elizabeth and Saul particularly. There were other supportive characters who add to the story, including Paula. It was nice to listen to a story of friendship developing into stronger, but gentle feelings. Ms. Cameron shares through the story traditions of the Amish in church and home which I found interesting. This is a pleasant story and I recommend it to readers who enjoy Amish stories.

Audio Notes: Coleen Marlo does a lovely job with the narration. Her performance conveys the frustration that Elizabeth is experiencing and also the feelings and energies of the other characters. I am glad that I pulled this in to listen before the free book was unavailable on my Audible library.

Source: October 2020 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Location (Road) goals.

Audio Book Review: Discovery of the Five Senses by K.N. Smith

 Check out the Tour and Giveaway Post - HERE -

This is an interesting 'superhero' fantasy.
Discovery of the Five Senses
The Urban Boys
Written by: K.N. Smith
Narrated by: Glenn Steinbaum

Duration: 8 hours 10 minutes
Release Date: December 2022
Publisher: Author's Republic
Genre: Fantasy, Teen & Young Adult
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 3.75.

Summary
A suspenseful incident in a forbidden preserve heightens the senses of five friends. Sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell become super-gifts that forever change the world. But furious battles confront the boys as they try to understand their sensory super powers in a race to save mankind. With light beings and mysterious strangers complicating their plight, can the boys defeat the evil Druth before it’s too late? Get prepared for the twisting and grinding of this award-winning, action-adventure story — an edge-of-your-seat narrative for young and mature readers alike.

Review:
There is a forbidden preserve on the edge of the rural town of Danville Heights. The preserve is surrounded by mystery and preserved as dangerous due to a murder that occurred there years ago. In current day a group of young men dare to go into the preserve while celebrating. They are visited by beings of light although they don’t fully remember what happened. Suddenly, they each have a different sense that is heightened and discover that their senses are even more intensified when they are working together. The boys are confused at first and alarmed when some thugs show up trying to kill one of them. They are able to overpower the attackers and then follow them to a neighboring town where they find complete devastation.

The group of teens begin defending their hometown and taking the fight to the enemy. The situation is not without quandaries as they have to sneak out at night, at least one has to break dates with his girlfriend, and they don’t fully understand what they are doing. Finally they get some help understanding their powers when they are visited by a mysterious stranger who explains that their enemy is a man known as Druth.

Druth wants to steal the powers of some of the newly gifted members.  The light beings fear that Druth will ruin their efforts at peace by continuing to spread his evil. Are the boys ready to fight the evil to save their own community and beyond?

This story has interesting world building with the light beings protecting their special life giving nectar by providing superhero powers to the unsuspecting teens. The story also has plenty of action and mystery to engage the reader/listener. Unfortunately, I was distracted by the author’s interesting writing style. I like good description, but it seemed to me that the author went overboard using personification in almost every other sentence. This writing style makes for good prose but in this fiction setting I found it annoying. Since I was listening to an audio version, I decided to treat it more like a cinematic presentation or screen play script. This made it a little more palatable although I still winced or got exasperated as it continued to the end.

Additionally, I felt there were many unrealistic actions in the story. The boys go off on their vigilante missions while the adult mysterious stranger stands back and watches them go into danger. Later, the adult stranger hides in the bushes while the young men have to address their riled parents. While I appreciate the good versus evil aspect, I had some concern that the boys’ actions could be perceived as subtle permission to commit violence in the pursuit of safety and revenge. If parents were monitoring the reading of this story, they could discuss this with their children.

Overall, the story is engaging but my rating is lower to reflect my concerns. Other readers/listeners did not seem to be disturbed by these issues so readers interested in YA fantasy may want to give this a try.

Audio Notes: Glenn Steinbaum does a nice job with the narration. For the most part he does a good job with the varied voices, although a couple of the thugs had awkward ‘dumb’ sounding voices. I was glad to have an audio version which made it easier for me to get this read.

Source: May 2023 Audiobooks.com Credit for Caffeinated PR Tour. This qualifies for 2023Audiobook and 2023Tour goals.