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Sunday, December 13, 2015

Sunday Post December 13, 2015/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday December 14, 2015


I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading now at The Book Date.
Thank you to Sheila for the years that she handled this meme.
Thank you to Kathryn for taking up the baton.
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.

This was another good week though busy at work with my staff out (medical testings) for two days. I juggled and they paid for it with a busy day Thursday when they returned.  
Reading and listening was good.  I completed two ebooks and one audio, as planned.  I posted four reviews, one with a giveaway. And I posted the usual memes.

I enjoyed visiting again early in the week. That really does increase the fun of this meme.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:
  • Audible Book Review: Suspect by Robert Crais; Police Procedure; my rating 4.75.
  • Audible Book Review: The Genuine Particle by Stephen Punt; Comedy, Radio Broadcast; my rating 4.25.
  • Book Review and Giveaway (print): The Raven Saint by MaryLu Tyndall ; Historical Romance, Christian Romance; my rating 3.5. Ends 12/20/15

Finished Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle


The 12 Brides of Christmas Collection: 12 Heartwarming
Historical Romances for the Season of Love
by Mary Connealy (Author), Diana Lesire Brandmeyer (Author), Margaret Brownley (Author), & 9 more
Lots of enjoyable novellas.
I'll post my review this week.
Click on book title for full description.



2. Audible


Leviathan
Written by: Scott Westerfeld
Narrated by: Alan Cumming
I did enjoy this and will add the next to my wish list in Audible.
Click on book title for full description.



3. eBook/Kindle


Unclutter Your Life! How to Tame Your Mess, Calm Your Mind, Lighten your Load
by Jen Williams
This was a really quick book with great ideas!
It qualifies for "U" in my Alphabet Soup Challenge.
Click on book title for full description.




Currently reading:
1. eBook/Kindle


The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Psalm 23 Mysteries #1
by Debbie Viguie
2% in and we've stumbled on the body. That is a good start.
It is one of the titles for my TBR Pile Challenge.
Cindy’s church is getting ready to celebrate Easter, and Jeremiah’s Temple is preparing for Passover when Cindy literally stumbles over the body of an unknown man lying dead in the sanctuary. The church was locked, and a bloody cross necklace on the floor seems to be the only clue. The killer is likely a member of the congregation, but there are hints that similar deaths have happened in the past. Are Cindy and Jeremiah dealing with a serial killer? They have to unravel the clues before Easter Sunday arrives and more people die.
Cindy and Jeremiah come from two different worlds, even though they work right next door to each other. Cindy is a strong Christian who lives a normal but somewhat dull life, working as a church secretary. Jeremiah is a Reformed rabbi with a mysterious past full of danger and excitement. But one eventful Easter/Passover week, the two find themselves working together to solve a murder and stop a serial killer from striking again. Solving the mystery should put an end to their alliance, but the church secretary and the rabbi quickly find themselves enmeshed in another mystery. Soon the two form a friendly alliance and friendship, exploring personal history and faith and growing closer with each passing adventure. Despite their differences Cindy and Jeremiah find a lot of common ground.



2. Audible


Goon Squad, Vol. 2: Without Sin
The Goon Squad, Book 2
Written by: Jonathan L. Howard
Narrated by: Gabrielle de Cuir, Nicholas Guy Smith
I enjoyed Vol. 1 so I requested Vol. 2.
I received this audio from the publisher through Audiobook Jukebox.
Publisher's Summary
An ongoing, episodic "prose comic" from which the pictures are summoned by the magic of words, Goon Squad is set in a version of modern-day Manchester. Its biggest divergence from the real city is that it - along with most other large urban centers - has a team of superheroes to protect it against unusual threats with which the conventional forces of law and order would have problems.
Goon Squad, Volume 2: Without Sin is composed of "A Star in Strange Ways", "Holy Fool", "Dead Man Tells Tale", "A Brief History of the Goon Squad", "Tale of Terror", and "Pomona Island", as well as an introduction read by the author.
©2014 Jonathan L. Howard (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc., and Skyboat Media, Inc.



3. eBook/Kindle


Xenonauts: Crimson Dagger
by Lee Stephen (Author), Francois Cannels (Illustrator),
I like this author and needed an X title for the Alphabet Soup Challenge.
The year is 1958. The Soviet Union and the United States of America are entrenched in a Cold War. But for Mikhail Kirov, captain in the Soviet Fourth Army, life is relatively idle. After serving honorably in Hungary, Mikhail is stationed to the base of Zossen Wünsdorf, south of Berlin, where he lives in a government-issued house with his wife and six-year-old daughter. Gone are the days of quelling the Hungarian Revolution. The biggest challenge he faces now is teaching his little girl arithmetic. But things are about to change.
An object of unknown origin has been intercepted over the Atlantic by the Americans. Nuclear missiles are launched. The object crashes in Iceland. In a tense moment of necessity, NATO contacts the Kremlin. The Americans need help.
Crimson Dagger serves as a prequel to the video game Xenonauts, by Goldhawk Interactive, a real time strategy game set in the Cold War era. It is a story about cooperation amid extraordinary circumstances as rival superpowers are forced into camaraderie to combat a superior foe. Selected as the leader of this unlikely alliance, Mikhail must set aside he and the Americans' differences as they enter the unknown side-by-side, prompting the question: is the enemy of one's enemy truly their friend?



October 1, 2015- I am still up to date on Bible reading and greatly enjoying the readings-- It seems my eyes are open to more details and meaning. I am reading The One Year Bible again along with my husband and others from our church. I am also listening to the companion commentary online.


I posted four reviews last week which keeps me up to date. I have read my last NetGalley selection for this year. 
I have read 9 of my 12 TBR Pile books.  The last three are full novels and I am starting those now.
I have the last of my Alphabet Soup Challenge to finish: "U" (read), "X", "Y" and "Z".


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: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach.
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I received one audio review and three NetGalley selections - to be read for 2016.
I purchased five books at Audible on sale and one eBook at Amazon.
I also received one free book from Audible and of course I added more free kindle titles to my library.

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles
I requested two audio titles and received one so far:
Goon Squad, Vol. 2: Without Sin
The Goon Squad, Book 2
See the full description above under Current Reading.



I was looking at NetGalley and one thing led to another and I started requesting books for 2016.
I have received three of the requests I made.
Jessica's Christmas Kiss (Choc Lit): Fabulous, fun, feel good Christmas story (Christmas Kisses Book 3)
by Alison May
This looked like a really cute second chance story.
by M C Jacques
“With a steadily increasing fusion of murder, intrigue and suspense, the floundering Mark McKay finds himself thrown onto a hotbed of deception, fraud, incest and even a neo-Nazi’s murderous intent.”

Chakana
by W.E. Lawrence
Chakana is a historical romance novel filled with action, adventure, suspense, and intrigue.
Set in 1940 - this sounds like a story I will enjoy.

Plus I picked up eTreasures titles which are now available at NetGalley.
Although I have read most of our titles while editing or formatting I hope to read them now and review (with disclosure). We currently have two Christmas titles and three Sci Fi books in a series that are available through December 26, 2015. During 2016 I plan to upload new releases several weeks ahead along with existing/backlist titles.
Here is the link to our page at NetGalley: eTtreasures



Won

NONE

Purchased
Well - Audible still has books on sale and I am still lining up reading choices for 2016.

Total cost for these five titles was $10.97

I purchased one book at Kindle - This is our current Ladies Book Club read which I picked up on sale in hardback at Christianbook.com. When I saw it went on sale for $1.99 at Amazon I picked up the Kindle version which reads faster for me.
Donita K. Paul
Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.

Free
The ChimesAn Audible Gift:
The Chimes by Charles Dickens




Over the past week I added 64 free Kindle titles to my library. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement December 13, 2015

This is the Third week of Advent and we celebrate with Joy!

This is the verse for Joy from:
A hymn for the lighting of the Advent candles
The Candle of Hope
LYONS 10.10.11.11 ("O Worship the King, All Glorious Above!")
Copyright © 2015 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

The candle of joy reminds us to sing,
For God is at work to do a new thing.
The proud will be humbled; the lowly will rise.
God's kingdom is one of delight and surprise.


Pastor reminded us briefly today that we work to share God's good news as we continue to "watch" for His coming.
We sang our Christmas program this morning. I want to share some of the songs over the holiday weeks.

We celebrate as we look for the promise of the coming of our Savior and King!
A Verse for Today:
Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

When I focus on the true meaning of this season, and watch in anticipation to celebrate the birth of our Savior, then I worry less about decorations, presents and the busyness around me.

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Sharing Beyond Books #231 December 12, 2015

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
I had a busy work week but my evenings have been okay. Our weather warmed a little bit. I still have lots of preparations left for the holidays. We are looking forward to our Choir Christmas Program tomorrow morning.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Only three of 16 do not read some category romance. A couple didn't realize that they read the genre until they saw the lists and authors. :-)  There was a good variety of authors mentioned.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #230 comments is: #7 Rubynreba who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated ARC/Review titles or (not yet updated) Love titles - all linked near the end of the post. I'm hoping to update the book choices - maybe the beginning of next year, lol. Please let me know your choice by completing the (new) WINNER FORM.

WEEK #231 (One Question.)

Sue asks: 1) Do you have a favorite family heirloom Christmas ornament??
I wish I had prepared this early and maybe I could have taken some pictures. We have several favorite heirloom ornaments.
1) My mother had glass ornaments which we divided in 1972 so we each have a half dozen or so.
2) My husband has homemade ornaments (Styrofoam, pin cushion, Battenberg lace, beaded) ornaments from his mother and stepmother.
3) My husband and I have an angel topper given to us when by a friend for our first Christmas - might be considered "vintage" I guess.
4) We collected special Christmas ornaments over the years and I have picked up ornaments on our cruises/travels to serve as memories.

1) Vintage Glass Ornaments - Image found at Etsy.
2)Styrafoam homemade ornaments - Image from Pinterest.
3)Pincushion homemade ornaments - Image from Countryliving.


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 book choice or 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 to use.

Your turn to share:
Sue asks: 1) Do you have a favorite family heirloom Christmas ornament??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books or the February 2015 Newly Updated ARC/Review List. (My daughter pulled several of the Christmas titles to give with gift bags we made up for the nursing homes. One of these days I will get together a new box of Christmas titles.)

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday December 19, 2015 at 5 PM central.

Book Review and Giveaway: Raven Saint by MaryLu Tyndall

In this story a young Christian woman and the bitter pirate who kidnaps her fall in love.
The Raven Saint: (Charles Towne Belles)
by MaryLu Tyndall
  • Series: Charles Towne Belles (Book 3)
  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Barbour Publishing Inc.; Reprint edition (January 1, 2014)
  • ISBN-10: 1624167241
Genre: Christian Romance, Inspirational
My Rating: 3.5* of 5.0  *but note all the 5*s at Amazon


Join bestselling author MaryLu Tyndall for a seafaring historical full of romance, intrigue, action, and adventure. Grace Westcott has piously served God her whole life. Captain Rafe Dubois cannot pass up the opportunity to earn more gold toward the hospital he’s building for the poor by kidnapping Admiral Westcott’s youngest daughter. But when the missionary and the mercenary meet, it’s full-sail-ahead into tumultuous waters! Find out what happens when a bitter mercenary who’s sworn off God falls in love with a pious woman determined to change him.
Charles Towne Belles Series:
Book 1 - The Red Siren
Book 2 - The Blue Enchantress


Review:
Grace is the youngest daughter of an Admiral. She is not yet twenty but has decided to dedicate her life to serving God. She is taking baskets to the less fortunate when she is kidnapped by pirates.

Captain Rafe Dubois has agreed to deliver the Admiral’s daughter in exchange for gold to build the hospital he wants to help those less fortunate. Rafe is the son of a nobleman but chose his rebellious life-style after his father’s wealth wooed away Claire, the woman he fell in love with. He has no trust in women, much less God.

Grace is frightened but also finds strength through her faith. She determines that she will face off with the Godless Capitaine and show him God’s love. Grace’s kind manner help her to make a few friends among the crew, most particularly the Captain’s cat, Spyglass, and a disillusioned former Jesuit priest, Father Alers. Others have little kindness for her and some have their own plans to use her in plans of betrayal.

I liked Grace for the most part and particularly liked her strong faith and that she showed kindness in response to evil. She learns lessons about character and pride through her trials.  Rafe is a mixed character as he has a soft-heart but his heart is full of bitterness and must show brashness and ruthlessness to control his men. The plot includes Rafe’s father, Claire and more betrayal. The characters are well developed and the plot has action, intrigue and bantering dialogue. The writing is easy to read but I just never warmed to the story.

I started this book the summer of 2014 and finally finished it late summer of 2015. I enjoyed the last 60 or so pages so maybe I just wasn’t in the mood when I started it. However – I have decided I really don’t care for kidnapping pirate themed plots. This is at least the second pirate story I couldn’t get into. There are very positive reviews at Amazon so I think it was just me and my reading tastes.

This was from my TBR shelf as I received this title as a win in October 2010 from Desertrose.


One (gently read) PRINT COPY GIVEAWAY
US Only


(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!
I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.)
For 3 Extra Bonus entries
(a) comment on the review, OR
(b) Visit the AUTHOR'S WEBSITE and tell me something you learned or like there.

* This contest is open to US only for Print Copy.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) December 20, 2015.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after December 20, 2015.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Friday, December 11, 2015

Audible Book Review: The Genuine Particle by Stephen Punt

This is a half-hour of fun radio broadcast mystery.
The Genuine Particle
Written by: Steve Punt
Narrated by: Reece Shearsmith, Geoffrey Whitehead
Length: 27 mins
Radio/TV Program
Release Date:01-26-09
Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited
Genre: Comedy, Radio Broadcast
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0


Publisher's Summary
Time travel, wormholes, a lost security pass and a nice cup of tea. These are the elements that constitute Steve Punt's Theory of Grand Unified Comedy as he presents "Big Bang Day, The Genuine Particle" whirling into existence on BBC Radio 4.
Starring Reece Shearsmith and Geoffrey Whitehead, it's a comedy thriller set underground in the Large Hadron Collider and bears the unique property that every bit of physics in it is true. Theoretically at least.
©2008 Pozzitive; (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks Ltd


Review:
This is a very quick and fun listen. The story is a play of six characters. A British scientist raises concerns while discussing the work of two Russians who conjecture that when the Large Hadron Collider at CERN is turned on it may cause a wormhole that would allow time travel. This could allow a time traveler from the future to visit.

Now a group of the world's major powers, including Britain, America, Russia, and China (with a side visitor from Belgium) have gathered 100 meters underground in the Large Hadron Collider. They are there to try to intercept travelers from the future and gain control of futuristic weapons. The mystery includes an ID card, an electric buggy and the wormhole. I actually listened through this twice over the summer to catch the physics theory (not my best subject) and the twists!

This play was part of the Big Bang Day radio program which consists of five different plays. This episode was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 10 September 2008.

Audio Notes: This was a fun broadcast type narration with a cast of narrators. The audio makes it more fun!

I ordered/downloaded this for free from Audiogo in August of 2011 so it is a TBR. This qualifies for my Audio Challenge.

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