Sunday Words of Encouragement September 6, 2020

We enjoyed service online again this morning. The songs made us aware that God alone is worthy of our worship!

Pastor continued his series on the Promises of God. Pastor noted that God directed Noah to build a boat at a time when people were unfamiliar with boats and didn’t even know rain. After the flood, when the water receded, God gave a rainbow as a promise that he would not destroy the world by flood ever again.

God's law is given as guidelines. David and the people of his time only had the first five books of the Bible to tell them of God’s miracles. When you read the Psalms you learn that David relied on God and His word. Psalm 1:1-3. We see that there is delight in meditating on God’s word.
Delight is more than simple trust, it is eager trust. There are blessings when your relationship is right with God.

The Point: If you are longing for God's blessing, learn to delight in His word and in Him.

Do you trust God for the limits He establishes for you? It's about our relationship with Him. Look at the attitude of the blessed as described in Psalm 119:1-16.
“…I praise you oh Lord, teach me to delight in your decrees...I will study and reflect on His ways.”

When we become self-reliant we fail to give God the glory. Sometimes we miss blessings because our attitude is focused on us instead of being focused on God and what He has provided and given to us. See Psalm 63. An attitude for God starts by delighting in God’s Word.

His word reveals God's unfailing love for us. We become confident that God's promises are abundant, true and God’s promises are lasting.

This song fits the message: The Blessing

Verses for Today:
Psalm 1 (NIV)
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

I give you Praise my God -Father, Savior, and Comforter- for your unfailing love for me! Help me to follow Your decrees.

Sharing Beyond Books #403 Comment Giveaway September 5, 2020

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB
Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

MaryP makes "lists of lists" and Life's Simple Pleasures is "a crazy list lady". At least five commenters make shopping (grocery) lists and three make travel lists. Two use post-its, two make paper lists and Ashfa makes the occasional phone list.

The Winner from SBB #402 comments is #1 Linda 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. -- [11/16/19 I plan to add some review books this week and maybe some new Christmas and Love titles as soon as I locate the box I put them in. 10/5/19 I have pulled some new books and will be adding them to the list in the next week or so.

**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 #403

(One Question.)

Miki asks: How did the covid 19 influence your reading habit? Did you read more or less??

I did experience a sense of disorientation in the second or third month (in May maybe). I continued to work and didn't gain any extra free time so I don't think it has impacted my reading.

I guess we mostly read in solitary anyway.
Image found at Chicago Tribune

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.


Your turn to share. Miki asks: How did the covid 19 influence your reading habit? Did you read more or less??

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, September 19, 2020, at 5 PM central.

Audible Book Review: Prominence by A.C. Hadfield

This is an action-packed, but disjointed, space sci-fi.
Prominence
By: A.C. Hadfield
Narrated by: Marc Vietor

Series: Blackstar Command, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 10-09-18
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Alien Invasion, Colonization, Military Sci-Fi
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
They tried to destroy our planets. Our way of life. They tried to send us into extinction. But we, the Coalition, fought them and won. That was a decade ago. We had assumed they were beaten for good.
We were wrong.
They’re known as the Host: a cabal of aliens seeking to dominate our sector of space. And they’re back - with help from a powerful new enemy.
Against their wrath, we must stand. We’re outnumbered and unprepared. If we lose, we lose everything.
But there is hope. An ancient race of long-dead but technologically advanced aliens called the Navigators have a ship called the Blackstar that could potentially turn the tide. That is if I, Kai Locke, a humble ship racer, can find it and learn how to harness its power in time.
If I fail, the Coalition will fall, and the Host will consign us to a distant memory. I refuse to let that happen. I will fight to my last breath for the Coalition’s survival.
For fans of Star Wars, Firefly, Battlestar, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
©2017 A.C. Hadfield & Colin F. Barnes (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Kai’s father disappeared on a secret mission to find an alien ship known as the Blackstar. Although his mother keeps trying to pull him into the military, to follow in his parent’s footsteps, Kai chose to be a ship racer pilot, seeking to make his own way. Kai struggles to win the local race, with the help of his childhood friend, half-human Senaya. They are desperate to win the money to get off the planet where illness, known as the blight, is spreading.

Kai and Senaya are pursuing a salvage ship that crashed in the wilderness. When they arrive at the site they are attacked as they discover pirates have beat them to the prize. Surprisingly, the infamous pirate leader lets Kai escape with his father’s locker and a mysterious alien artifact.

Suddenly life is disrupted again with news that the great space enemy, the Host, has returned. Kai soon learns that others are tracking the alien artifact. He realizes he has to get help from the pirate brigand and when he and Senaya find him the three have to make a rushed escape.

Kai finally consents to work with the military when they give him a mission to search for his father and the Blackstar. They are only one step ahead of pursuers as they manage to get to the hidden world. Even if Kai can return with the Blackstar will that be enough to fight the Host?

The story moves along at a good pace with plenty of action from beginning to end. Some of the scenes are initially disjointed until the reader gets accustomed to the author’s jumps from Kai’s situation to scenes of his mother. Maybe the primary character’s youth, (age 17) made him seem less compelling as a character. I did like the pirate character though. There was a bit of telling rather than showing which tends to make sections a slog. There is an ending to this book but it also springs off into a new alien world. Although I found the story to be acceptably entertaining, I didn’t find myself caught up and eager to get the next book in the series.

Audio Notes: Marc Vietor does a good job with the narration, working with the weaker writing. He provides distinct voices and some energy. I am glad that I listened to this.

Source: 4/2/19 Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 4, 2020

Happy Friday! 
Happy September!

I will be looking to gather another box of books soon.

TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK.

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 August 27, 2020 Pick. There were TWO automatic win this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There was no title blocked.
BN100 gets Cutting Edge
and
CAROLL gets Key West.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from August 27, 2020 Pick:
MARIJANA gets a GC
and
ALINA 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 hope there are a lot of students who missed books!
Image found at weareteachers.com.

New Book Group #90 June 19, 2020
Quite a few mysteries in this box. 

PAIRS:
Mary Jane Clark:  Hide Yourself Away and Do You Want to Know a Secret
Maggie Shayne:  Embrace the Twilight and Colder Than Ice
SINGLES:
On Thin Ice by Cherry Adair
Siren's Song by Trish Albright (personally autographed)
Cutting Edge by Allison Brennan
Summer Skies by Judy Christenberry (I apparently had a duplicate of this title)
Alias by Smy J. Fetzer
Angel Face by Suzanne Forster
Stalking the Puzzle Landy by Parnell Hall
Hunting Fear by Kay Hooper
Statute of Limitations by Tamar Myers
The Missing Heir by Gail Rainstrom
Hot Sex by Janet Evanovich (Audio cassettes)
The Warrior by Frances Richey (poetry - hardcover)


New Book Group #89 March 6, 2020

Pairs:
Brenda Joyce: Firestorm and Innocent Fire
LaVyrle Spencer: Morning Glory and Bitter Sweet
Singles:
Open House by Elizabeth Berg (Hardback)
My Surrender by Connie Brockway
What the Heart Knows by Kathleen Eagle
Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman
How to Tame a Modern Rogue by Diana Holoquist
Angel Creek by Linda Howard
Montana Mavericks - Big Sky Grooms Anthology
Shadow and Silk by Ann Maxwell
Tempting Fire by Carla Neggers
Suicide Club by Gayle Wilson
Phoenix by A.J. Scudiere
Through the Years - Three Novels, Linda Howard, Fern Michaels and Debbie Macomber


New Book Group #88 November 8, 2019

PAIRS:
Stella Cameron: Body of Evidence and Fascination
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:
Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze
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

Stella Cameron: Key West
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

SINGLES
Best Laid Plans by Allison Brennan
Darkness Tell Us by Richard Laymon
Cooking Most Deadly by Joanne Pence


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
White Night by Jim Butcher
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 - 14 titles.)
Rehabilitation
Secret Blessing
Named of the Dragon
Daring by Jillian Hart
Aunt Erma's Cope Book
JoAnn Ross: Confessions
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen
Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 21 titles.)
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown
(*Three more very old books from my Gothics box.)
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell
*Four 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 NINE years I have posted 88 groups of 16 plus an additional 21 totaling 1,429 books to find new homes! (as of November 8, 2019).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,327+ 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, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, 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!

Audible Book Review: Rocky River Bridge, A Grower's War Prequel by D. J. Molles

This is a quick listen and teaser to a new series.

Rocky River Bridge
A Grower's War Prequel
By: D. J. Molles
Narrated by: Christian Rummel

Length: 29 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 02-07-17
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Sci-Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Two young boys set off for the Rocky River Bridge through their war-torn North Carolina hometown, both with something to prove - an adventure that will quickly teach them the realities of the raging world around them, in this prequel to DJ Molles' newest novel: The Purge of District 89.
©2017 D. J. Molles (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Review:
This story introduces two young brothers, 9-year-old Roy and 8-year-old Walt, who live in a war zone in North Carolina. Roy is leading his brother on a boyish summer antic although their adventure is taking them into areas patrolled by mixed troops. In this post-apocalyptic world, the Americans have teamed with Chinese and Russian soldiers in an authority known as the Coalition. The authority controls the lands and directs the growers in the community.

I didn’t get a clear picture of the events that resulted in the nuclear fallout and this new order. However, this quick read provides a teaser to pull interest into the Grower’s War series. I am already a fan of DJ Molles so I might not need this teaser, but I enjoyed the free, quick entertainment.

Audio Notes: Christian Rummel is a regular narrator for D. J. Molles and they are a really good match. Rummel captures the voices and the atmosphere. The narration enhanced the story for me.

Source: Free Plus Catalog from Audible. This qualifies for my 2020Audiobook goal.