Sunday Post March 10, 2019/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday March 11, 2019

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.

Once again a mostly quiet week.
I continue to work on files and consults in office while helping with real estate closings for the title office.
I sent an email with photos and report to the recommended engineer and architect. I hope to hear from them soon.
Hubby is struggling through the rehab.
Azaleas are busy blooming and our temps hit 81 today. Strange to have sunlight until 7pm.

My reading seemed slow but I had two long books (450pgs and 26 hour audio). I finished 2 ebooks. I posted four reviews and my usual memes.

I only got to 18 blogs last week. I'll try harder this week.
Shout Out this week to Recipes and a Read. This blog's tagline is: "Come for the read. Stay for the food."
Thank you to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• Sunday Post March 3, 2019/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday March 4, 2019.

• NG2018- #NetGalley Book Review: Ladies of Intrigue: 3 Tales of 19th-Century Romance with a Dash of Mystery by Michelle Griep; Christian Romance, Historical Romance; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0.

• ATBR- Audible Book Review: Blackmoore by Julianne Dondalson; Historical Regency, Romance; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall, Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway March 8, 2019. Open Worldwide. Ending 3/14/2019.

• A2019- Audible Book Review: Escape from Bythos by Phil Tucker; Dark Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

• NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: The PVC Pipe Book by Chris Peterson; Crafts, D-I-Y, Home; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

• Sharing Beyond Books #364 Comment Giveaway March 9, 2019. Open Worldwide. Ending 3/23/2019.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement March 10, 2019.

Finished Reading:
1. Print (PTBR-LBC)

A Bride Most Begrudging
by Deeanne Gist
This has wonderful history and an engaging romance.
Source: Christianbook.com for Ladies book club.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle (ebTBR)

January Breeze, February Embers, March Whispers
(Elderberry Croft #1)
by Becky Doughty
All three of these are lovely stories.
This is for my 'Monthly' Goal reading.
Source: Kindle Free TBR 2015.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:
1. Audible/Smartphone/MP3 (Author)

Age of Expansion: A Kurtherian Gambit Series
Ghost Squadron Boxed Set, Books 1-4
By: Sarah Noffke, Michael Anderle
Narrated by: Chris Abernathy
Length: 26 hrs and 6 mins
This is fun entertainment. I have about 7 hours to go.
Source: 2019 Audible credit from Author.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle (Author)

Indian Paintbrush (Carson Chronicles Book 3)
by John A. Heldt
I am starting this again.
Source: 12/18 Author review request.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audible/Smartphone/MP3 (Author)

The Double-A Western Detective Agency
A Holmes on the Range Mystery
By: Steve Hockensmith
Narrated by: John McLain
Series: Holmes on the Range, Book 6
Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins
I will start this audio next.
Source: Received March 2019 from the author for review.
Publisher's Summary
Big Red and Old Red Amlingmeyer’s dream has come true: The Sherlock Holmes-worshiping cowboy brothers are finally in business as professional detectives. But their fledgling A.A. Western Detective Agency faces a few challenges. Their partner, Col. Crowe, is almost as cantankerous and secretive as Old Red himself. The colonel’s daughter, Diana, insists on tagging along for the Amlingmeyers’ first assignment. And that assignment lands them smack dab in the middle of a range war - with Big Red and Old Red expected to shoot it out with rustlers rather than rustle up clues and solve a mystery.
When the violence claims an unexpected victim, however, the Amlingmeyers are called upon to holster their guns (for a moment) and use their “Holmesifying” skills to track down the killer. But someone else is tracking them...someone who seems to set one ambush after another for the brothers. Will the Double-A Western Detective Agency’s first case also be its last?
©2018 Steve Hockensmith (P)2019 Steve Hockensmith

March 10, 2019 - I am staying up to date with the One Year Bible plan reading through You Version App.
I completed a 4 day Lent reading plan: Unlikely Lenten Preachers: Devotions From Time Of Grace
I'll be picking another study this week.
[You can check out audio of the One Year Bible Plan on the companion commentary online.]

I completed two books and posted four reviews. That puts me current with 2 reviews to post.
I need to catch up adding newer reviews to NetGalley, Goodreads, Amazon and Audible again. (Not counting the older reviews.)
I added one title so my NetGalley shelf is still at 11 unread from December to date plus 4 old titles (2012!) that I might get read this year. I still have three remaining author ebook titles in queue. 
Still many 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: 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 added one new children's' title from NetGalley.
I picked up two audio titles: one Audible Daily Deal and the other a free Audible Original.
I picked up 41 free kindle titles again. (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

I selected this at NetGalley:

Space Dragons
by Robin Bennett
This looks like fun.

Won

NONE

Purchased

3/6/19 Audible Daily Deal $3.95
A Willing Murder
By: Jude Deveraux
Narrated by: Susan Bennett
Length: 10 hrs and 56 mins
Release date: 09-18-18

Free

3/9/2019 Audible Original - Free
Wishes and Wellingtons
By: Julie Berry
Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle
Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins
Release date: 09-25-18

I added 41 free titles to my Kindle 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 March 10, 2019

Our Sunday School teacher shared a lesson on spiritual gifts based on 1 Corinthians 12. After praise and worship our youth pastor shared this week’s message on The Bridge from Hebrews 3.

Pastor J noted that Hebrews is a letter to Jewish followers who were acing persecution and difficulties. The letter was to encourage the followers not to abandon their faith in Jesus.
Hebrews 3:1-11 establishes Christ as our hope.
Things in our day to day lives compete for our time, our energy and our faithfulness to Jesus. Things pull our attention to the temporary, away from the eternal.
Something is competing for your attention – it may be friends, social media, work, games or something else. We find ourselves struggling with circumstances.

We are God's house and Jesus is in control of the house.

Our past often completes with future. The same God who handled my past wants to do something with my future.
There is nothing in your past that compares with your life in Christ. Hebrews 3:7-19.
We need to refocus to use something in your past to push you into your future. We must keep moving forward. Hebrews 3:12-19.
Make a choice to move forward with the Bridge; with Jesus.
Identify what is competing for you. What is your Moses?

I had a couple songs in mind. I chose this - Only Jesus.

Verses for Today:
Hebrews 3:3-6 NIV
3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

Lord, I pray that you help me let go of distractions and help me focus on my future in Christ Jesus.

Sharing Beyond Books #364 Comment Giveaway March 9, 2019

Hello again and Welcome back to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
There was a pretty resounding "NO" to writing in books/margins. 11 out of 18 did acknowledge that they did make notes in textbooks, reference books or workbooks, mostly during school years. Three of us acknowledge making highlights or notes in our Bibles.

The Winner from SBB #363 comments is: #7 MYSTICA 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. -- [12/15/18 I am pulling out some new Christmas and Love titles to add to the Win box choices. I had to move the books due to the water threat in office. I will dig them out again soon.]

**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 #364

(One Question.)

Faith Hope and Cherry Tea asks: Are any readers subscribed to the Audible Audiobook Romance Package? Responses or thoughts?

I have an old Audible membership with 2 credits for a reasonable price. Someday I may update the plan. I have thought about subscribing to the Romance Package but I have held off as I have lots of books on TBR and I have been listening to more Sci Fi over the past year or so.

Image found at Publishers Weekly.

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. Faith Hope and Cherry Tea asks: Are any readers subscribed to the Audible Audiobook Romance Package? Responses or thoughts?

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 March 23, 2019 at 5 PM central.

#NetGalley Book Review: The PVC Pipe Book by Chris Peterson

This has many great projects.
The PVC Pipe Book
by Chris Peterson

Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Voyageur Press (December 18, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-0760360897
Genre: Crafts, D-I-Y, Home
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Put that spare PVC pipe to work with more than 50 inventive, step-by-step projects that yield tough and durable storage, furniture, gardening, toys, and much more, with The PVC Pipe Book.
With a few simple fittings, common home-improvement-store PVC pipe can be treated much like building blocks. Learn to engineer it in new ways for DIY projects that prove useful indoors and outside.
Whether you're a homeowner, gardener, homesteader, prepper, or just a parent looking for some new toy ideas, the projects in The PVC Pipe Book give you plenty of options. Step-by-step instructions, parts lists, and photographs of completed projects make sure you will have fun and love the results of your work.
Projects range from simple creations like chicken feeders and waterers, to much more complex builds like a rolling workshop table.
Other projects include:
Practical creations include a step-stool, toy bin, safety gate, and gardening caddy
Fun, fanciful ideas include a rocket launcher, water table, even soccer goals
Homestead projects include a pet washer, chicken feeder, birdhouse, and hanging herb garden
For anyone who needs some insight and a few tips on working with PVC, Peterson covers all the basics, as well as finishing techniques.

Review:
This book is direct and easy to follow. Peterson opens with an interesting history of the material polyvinyl chloride. The introduction identifies fittings, types, sizes and grades. It then proceeds to a PVC toolbox indicating items that are needed or useful for projects, including zip ties and glue cement. There are explanations for working with the pipes including some homemade techniques.

There are practical projects and fun projects. Some of the projects particularly caught my interest as there were chicken feeders and waterers. The difficulty ranges from easy to medium to hard. The projects are introduced by a description of reason, purpose and summary. Then there is a detailed list of needed tools, materials and cuts that are needed. Next there are step by step instructions with many illustrations. A couple projects offer quick variations to expand the numbers of results available.

We have some unused PVC pipes and elbows in our yard and garage. I wish my Hubby was able to work on these projects; maybe my son or s-i-l could. If I had a bit more time, I might even try some of these! I certainly recommend this to those interested in D-I-Y projects. Take a look at the table of contents and you can see there are projects that can attract almost anyone.

Source: 2019 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019NetGalley and Alphabet Goals.

Audible Book Review: Escape from Bythos by Phil Tucker

This is engaging - I've put the first full book on my Wish List.

Escape from Bythos
By: Phil Tucker
Narrated by: Noah Michael Levine

Series: Chronicles of the Black Gate, Book 0.5
Length: 1 hr and 31 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 03-13-18
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Dark Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
While listed as book 6, Escape from Bythos is actually the prequel novella to the series and can be enjoyed at any point.
How did Asho end up as Lord Kyferin's squire?
Escape from Bythos leads seamlessly into the novel The Path of Flames, detailing how Asho acquired his freedom against all odds and escaped the slave city of Bythos.
All Ennoian knights must sacrifice a single year of their lives to garrison the subterranean city of Bythos. Known as their Black Year, it is a time both loathed and dreaded. Lord Kyferin, the infamous leader of the Black Wolves, is down in the depths with six of his knights. Biding his time. Whoring. Dreaming of bloody invasions he'll launch when he is free to return to Ennoia.
Then a Bythian slave brings word of dangerous prey. A legendary monster. A cavekiller. Kyferin chooses to mount a hunt, taking a fraction of the men needed so as to increase his glory. This cavekiller, however, is different. More lethal. Ferocious. And the Bythian slave that Kyferin brings as a guide is none other than Asho's father....
©2016 Phil Tucker (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Bythos is a slave city, the bottom (subterranean) of the classes in the Ascendant Empire. Zekko is a worker who has lived under the oppressive regime wondering how his gods can allow this system. Zekko’s children, Asho and his younger sister Shaya, will soon be of age to face the Choosing process where they will be evaluated to be sent to a life of servitude in the next level or contemned to remain as a slave in Bythos.

The children seek adventure by going into a forbidden mine, where legends tell of a killing monster, the cavekiller. They are frightened back to their father to let him know that there is a living cavekiller deep in the shaft. This will require action by the Ennoian knights who are serving their year in the loathed city. Zekko seeks out Lord Kyferin who agrees to take a small force to face the cavekiller even though legends indicate that only a large group of fighters should face the monster. Kyferin directs Zekko to be the guide into the depths of the mine.

Zekko has been approached by his work friends who are recruiting to rebel against the higher realms. This has pushed Zekko into a mindset of confusion and he has to contemplate his faith and tradition. He has choices to make as he could lead the knights with protective or deadly motives. When they face the battle, Zekko makes a sacrifice that will change his life and the lives of his family.

I know (knew) nothing about this series but I like fantasies with class battles and dangerous creatures. This is a short novella that explains how Asho ends up where he is for the following books. The characters were well developed, and the world building was displayed through the lifestyles and actions of the characters. I found the story engaging and I would be willing to listen to more in the series.

Audio Notes: Noah Michael Levine does a nice job with the narration. He portrays the characters with appropriate voices and emotion. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: Audible 2019 purchase $1.95. This qualifies for 2019Audiobook Goal.