Sunday Post June 11, 2017/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday June 12, 2017

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.

I had a busy week of catch up at the office and at home. I was a little surprised when I was preparing the post today to realize I didn't pick up any review titles this week.

I enjoyed my reading this week. I finished one ebook, one audio book and one print. I posted three reviews on the blog, and one at Goodreads, along with all of my usual memes.

I visited about 28 blogs last week.
Shout out this week is to Geybie's Book Blog - if you check her Monthly Recap and scroll down you will find some lovely discussion posts.
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post June 4, 2017/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday June 5, 2017.

• eNGTBRR- Book Review: The Invisible City (The Stolen Future Trilogy Book 1) by Brian K. Lowe; Science Fiction, Time Travel; my rating 4.5.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway June 9, 2017. Open Worldwide. Ending 6/15/2017.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Finding Dory by Disney Press; Children; my rating 4.25.

• NG- Goodreads Book Review: We're Going to the Beach (Let's Go Picture Books) by Nancy Streza, Adam Pryce (Illustrator); Children; my rating 4.5.

• eNGTBR- Book Review: Hunt the Dawn by Abbie Roads; Suspense, Supernatural; my rating: 4.75.

• Sharing Beyond Books #306 Comment Giveaway June 10, 2017. Open Worldwide, Ending 6/17/2017.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement June 11, 2017.

Finished Reading:

1. eBook/Kindle (NG)

The Sleepwalker: A Novel
by Chris Bohjalian
This is an interesting supsense drama.
I received this from the Publisher through NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audible/mp3 (Author tour)

Hound's Bite: Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective, Volume 5
Written by: E.J. Stevens
Narrated by: Melanie A. Mason , Anthony A. Bowlin
This is the latest adventure with Ivy and friends. I received this audiobook from the author as part of release tour.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Print (Ladies Book Club)

As One Devil to Another: A Fiendish Correspondence in the Tradition of C. S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters
by Richard Platt (Author), Walter Hooper (Preface)
We discussed this 6/10/17 and most agreed that it offered an interesting perspective on the devil's manipulations. I'll post a review and giveaway this week.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle (NG Tour)

Infinity (Horizon)
by Tabitha Lord
I am enjoying the second book in this series.
I received this through NetGalley for tour review through iRead Book Tours. Review to post 6/20.
In the second installment of the award-winning Horizon series, Dr. Caeli Crys returns to her war-torn world to fight for those she left behind.
Almagest, Caeli’s home, stands on the brink of revolution. Long hidden from the rest of the galaxy, the once-peaceful planet suffers under a regime that grows more violent and oppressive by the day. Marcus, Almagest’s dictator, is building an arsenal of alien weaponry by selling empathic children into slavery. A resistance has risen, but they are outmanned, outgunned, and in hiding.
Joined by Commander Derek Markham and his elite squadron of operatives, Caeli embarks on a dangerous mission to find the Resistance, rescue her captive people, and save her civilization from destruction.

2. Audible/mp3 (TBR)

The Ghost Brigades
Written by: John Scalzi
Narrated by: William Dufris
Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins
I was ready for one of the series I like;
from my TBR shelf.
The Ghost Brigades are the Special Forces of the Colonial Defense Forces, elite troops created from the DNA of the dead and turned into the perfect soldiers for the CDF's toughest operations. They're young, they're fast and strong, and they're totally without normal human qualms.
For the universe is a dangerous place for humanity - and it's about to become far more dangerous. Three races that humans have clashed with before have allied to halt our expansion into space. Their linchpin: the turncoat military scientist Charles Boutin, who knows the CDF's biggest military secrets. To prevail, the CDF most find out why Boutin did what he did.
Jared Dirac is the only human who can provide answers - a superhuman hybrid, created from Boutin's DNA, whose brain is uniquely able to access Boutin's electronic memories. But when the memory transplant appears to fail, Jared is given over to the Ghost Brigades.
Jared begins as one of these perfect soldiers, but as memories begin to surface, he begins to intuit the reason's for Boutin's betrayal.
As Jared desperately hunts for his "father", he must also come to grips with his own choices. Time is running out: the alliance is preparing its offensive, and some of them plan worse things than humanity's mere military defeat.
©2006 John Scalzi; (P)2008 Macmillan Audio

3. eBook/Kindle (eNG)

Dear Heart: The Courting Letters
by Judith Pinkerton Josephson (Author), Kirsten Josephson (Illustrator)
I am looking forward to this; received through NetGalley.
In 2010 teacher Lisa Anderson has almost given up on love after a failed, longtime relationship and Internet dating disasters. In a cluttered attic, she discovers an antique writing box labeled “Courting Letters.” Untying the beribboned packets inside, she finds tattered envelopes, their contents penned more than a century before. As Lisa begins to read, she learns that in 1907 in Ipswich, England, the authors, Gertie and Fred, meet. Just as their friendship deepens into something more, Fred and his family emigrate to America in search of a better life. Hopes for the budding relationship fade. Long months pass. Then a letter from Fred to Gertie arrives. The two begin a dance of written words, but the romance is fraught with obstacles, not the least of which is the Atlantic Ocean. Separation and distance also conspire against Lisa when her intriguing new beau must return to his native Spain. Dear Heart: The Courting Letters weaves a tapestry from two intersecting love stories. Will the threads hold or pull apart?

June 4, 2017 - I am up to today in the One Year Bible; reading along with my husband and others from our church. I hope to take more time this year, staying on the day and listening to the companion commentary online.

Some of my reading time is going to a Wednesday night study we are doing called Freedom Course.

I completed three books and posted four reviews (one at Goodreads); this means I have four reviews current and one for later release. I've been adding my reviews but still need to add the children's books at Goodreads.
I am back to 11 NetGalley Titles and still at 10 author titles in my queue.

I hope to upload the children's story this week at eTreasure's NetGalley page.

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 (yours truly).  
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
I did not pick up any review titles this week.
I resisted all the Audible Daily Deals but picked up two titles with my May credits.
No purchased ebooks but I picked up more free kindle titles as usual. (Note these are in my Amazon library, NOT on my Kindle until I download and transfer them.)

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

I selected these two Audible titles for my May Credits:
Because of Miss Bridgerton
By: Julia Quinn
Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
Duration: 9 hrs and 25 mins
I really like this author.
"Sometimes you find love in the most unexpected of places....
This is not one of those times."


One Man's Opus
By: Boyd Craven III
Narrator: Kevin Pierce
Duration: 6 hrs and 14 mins
"One dog, who's been the savior, protector, and companion...Opus. The owner of two humans that mostly understand him. Mostly."
A pre-apocalyptic tale with a tail dog. And a good author/narrator mix..

Free

I picked up Week Seven SYNC Audio titles:
If I Run by Terri Blackstock Read by Nan Gurley Published by Zondervan
By Elizabeth Fama Read by Julia Whelan Published by Elizabeth Fama

Here are five of my Free Kindle Picks: (Sharp Shooter and Insidious may still be free)


The Gypsy Pearl: Full Trilogy
by Lia London

Sharp Shooter (Tara Sharp Book 1)

by Marianne Delacourt

Insidious: An Urban Fantasy Romance (The Marked Mage Chronicles, Book 1)
by Victoria Evers

The Priority Unit (Maine Justice Book 1)

by Susan Page Davis

Spirelli Paranormal Investigations: Episodes 1-3
by Kate Baray




I added 45 free Kindle titles to my library this week. 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 June 11, 2017

Our Sunday School teacher was out so our substitute shared a video with Jonathan Cahn which was awesome. My hubby and I plan to find the full video to watch together.

Our Pastor is continuing his sermon series from the book of James. This section is titled Dependent. He noted that God does not seek our independence but instead seeks our dependence on Him. [My interjection here: I sometimes think this is a difficult concept for Americans as we are generally known as a nation of limitless opportunities where we are raised being told we can accomplish anything we work hard enough for. This tends to foster an atmosphere of independence and “do it myself” response even from children. God doesn’t want us to “do it myself”; He wants us to seek His guidance and follow His lead.]

Pastor used examples such as tug of war and Red Rover to point out the problems of a divided nature that is pulling in different directions. As humans we are always balancing opposite goals: responsibility on one side (what we should do) versus fun on the other (what we want to do). Spending v saving; eating a rich meal v working out during lunch. Living our old life after we have accepted the new life found as a Christ follower. James points out that we can't have it both ways. James 4:1-4 James says in verse 4: “Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?”

Today we have many different levels of friends, including friends on facebook who we don’t really know and have never talked to one on one or done things with. Historically, a friend during the times of James would mean someone you would spend time with and do things with. However, whether then or now, do we ever find ourselves being two- faced by saying or acting one way with friends and then another when we come before God or talk with fellow believers? This is wrong. God is jealous of our attitudes, times and every aspect of our lives. He takes our standing with Him more seriously than we do.

James 4:7-10 tells us what to do to change our attitudes from worldliness to Godliness. ‘Humble yourself; resist the devil; come close to God…

God has come all the way from Heaven to earth for us. He is here – waiting for us to turn and take one step to Him. We must first repent of our worldly ways and allow God to lift us up as His child. We must put on the full armor of a believer. Ephesians 6:10-18.

The Point: The next move toward a fully committed relationship with God is yours.

We need to recognize that we can only get satisfaction from God, not from the world. God wants to be close to us. We can only run the good race if we focus on Him and not on the world.

I started with a different song in mind but came to this one, which I think fits.

A Verse for Today:
James 4:8
8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Lord, Help me commit each morning to walk with Your guidance and not in my own strength nor in the ways of the world.

 

Sharing Beyond Books #306 Comment Giveaway June 10, 2017

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!


Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Nine of us would choose our Husband or partner to be stranded with. (Glad I wasn't the only one.) Five commenters chose different adventurers, including Bear Grylis and Robinson Crusoe. MaryP chose her sister and Carol hoped someone with skills would come along because she couldn't pick just one of her seven children.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #305 comments is: #9 Elizabeth who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated (**Finally!) ARC/Review titles or (recently updated) Love and Christmas titles - all linked near the end of the post.

**NOTE: I did post an Updated ARC and Other books for Giveaways. I have to go back and list the titles -- someday.
Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #306

(One Question.)

bn100 asks: What Summer movie are you looking forward to watching??

I honestly have not paid much attention to new movie releases. We usually wait till they are available on TV, Amazon or Plex - like Beauty and the Beast which is available soon.
I searched for summer movies and found 19 titles. I know members of my family will want to see Cars 3 and Despicable Me 3. But the two that caught my eye are War for the Planet of the Apes and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets which is based on a legendary French comic.
On another search I found Megan Leavey which looks good.

Image found at A Guide to the Epic Scifi Movie Valerian...

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.

Your turn to share. bn100 asks: What Summer movie are you looking forward to watching??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles all in one post.

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 June 17, 2017 at 5 PM central.

Book Review: Hunt the Dawn by Abbie Roads

This is 'gritty' but wonderfully suspenseful and romantic.
Hunt the Dawn (Fatal Dreams Book 2)
by Abbie Roads

File Size: 1643 KB
Print Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (December 6, 2016)
ASIN: B01JASIXSI
Genre: Suspense, Supernatural
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

"Dark and delicious."—Kerrelyn Sparks, New York Times bestselling author on Race the Darkness
Out of darkness and danger
You can't hide your secrets from Lathan Montgomery-he can read your darkest memories. And while his special abilities are invaluable in the FBI's hunt for a serial killer, he has no way to avoid the pain that brings him. Until he is drawn to courageous, down-on-her-luck Evanee Brown and finds himself able to offer her something he's never offered another human being: himself.
Dawns a unique and powerful love
Nightmares are nothing new to Evanee Brown. But once she meets Lathan, they plummet into the realm of the macabre. Murder victims are reaching from beyond the grave to give Evanee evidence that could help Lathan bring a terrifying killer to justice. Together, they could forge an indomitable partnership to thwart violence, abuse, and death-if they survive the forces that seek to tear them apart.

Review:
Lathan is a man who has always been sensitive to others – more than he wants. His olfactory glands are stronger than normal and he can smell the emotional memories of those around him. In a crowd that can be overwhelming and it creates difficulties on individual interactions too. Although his ‘gift’ is frowned on by many, and even makes his parents uncomfortable, the skill has come in handy as he consults with the FBI.

One night as Lathan is riding his motorcycle home he comes upon a car and truck by the side of the road. He smells the fear and anguish of the young woman trying to escape an attacker and steps in to face off with the attacker.

Evanee is trying to make enough money to get out of town and away from her abusive stepbrother, Junior. She shouldn’t go off with a stranger but she must get away from Junior. Evanee is accustomed to having nightmares but having ones that put her in touch with murder victims is new – and frightening. During each nightmare episode, the victim reaches out to her and a dark presence makes her take a token.

Lathan calls in the FBI and they begin to tie together the clues and the bodies to a serial killer known as the Strategist. Lathan has never had a woman focus on his eyes instead of the tattoo on his face. He is awed to have a woman respond to him as honestly as Evanee does. He can’t stop her nightmares but he is determined to keep Evanee safe from her Junior and the Strategist. And both come after her.

I liked the strength of Lathan and Evanee from the very beginning of the story. They both had harsh childhoods and, even as survivors, they are emotionally vulnerable. The author created a relationship with depth and steamy chemistry. There is language and graphic brutality which is why I say this is “gritty”. But Ms. Roads creates wonderfully believable characters and a finely crafted plot, with twists, that carry the story beyond any “grittiness” for me. I may well go back and pick up book 1. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy strong romantic suspense with a supernatural twist.

I received this from the publisher through NetGalley. It qualifies for my 2017 NetGalley Challenge, Mount TBR and “H” in Alphabet Soup Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Finding Dory by Disney Press

This is a fun, cute listen.

Finding Dory
Written by: Disney Press
Narrated by: Adam Verner

Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-14-17
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Kids
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Disney-Pixar's Finding Dory reunites everyone's favorite forgetful blue tang, Dory, with her friends, Nemo and Marlin, on a search for answers about her past. What can she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak Whale?

Review:
I would imagine that most anyone with children or grandchildren around has seen Finding Nemo. I had enjoyed it and know that the grandkids liked to watch it in the car while traveling.
I guess I knew that there was a sequel but I had not seen the movie, nor read the book.

Finding Dory tells Dory’s story as she struggles to remember her past and what/where is “home”. Dory has trouble with her memories. Her parents use paths and tools to help her find her way but she gets lost and ends up far away. She makes friends with Marlin and Nemo and they become her family. But one day she remembers the place that was home and she insists that her friends help her find her way home. They travel far and Dory gets separated from Nemo and Marlin. She makes new friends, Hank the octopus, Becky the loon, two whales Destiny and Bailey, otters and more.

Dory faces one obstacle after another but manages to come up with creative, and sometimes daring, solutions. The story is wonderfully cute. My four-year-old granddaughter has seen the story but she still loved listening to this on the computer and with my MP3 player. I enjoyed it too for a quick, light listen.

Audio Notes: Adam Verner does a wonderful job with the narration. He gives each character a believable, unique voice with distinct emotions. He makes the story fun to listen to. I will be looking for other books he narrates.

This was from my TBR Audible shelf. This qualifies for my Audiobook Challenge, Mount TBR and “F” in Alphabet Soup Challenge.