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Sunday, November 29, 2020

Sunday Words of Encouragement November 29, 2020

We are still sharing church through online. I especially enjoyed one of our worship songs this morning:  See a Victory. This led to a shared word of a message of victory.

Pastor continued his sermon series Shattered. Pastor encouraged us to go back and read Romans Chapter 5.

We are still living under the consequences of Adam’s sin that shattered the perfection of creation. But Jesus came and shattered the separation of sin!

Events in life change our life…sometimes the prior time of life is shattered.
You grow up and have to get a job; carefree days are gone.
Single life is gone when you marry.
Pleasures of two are changed when you have children.
Moving to a new home or changing jobs will change your old life.
The death of a loved one changes your life.
But when life changes there is a new opportunity.

Romans 5:20 to 6:1-18.
When sin abounded, God’s grace became more abundant! Sin is no longer your master! Sanctification comes in two parts: Dying to sin – Living to righteousness. Should we keep on sinning so grace can be magnified? NO! That would be an abuse of grace.
How can you be dead to sin – a disciple of Christ - and still live in sin? We were crucified with Christ. (Galatians 2:20.)

When Christ died, He shattered the power of sin. You have been saved and sanctified, so you have also died to sin. We are no longer slaves to sin. (Romans 6:7 and 10.)
And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with Him. We will not taste death. We must help others find the same life.
So use your whole body is an instrument to do what is right for the Glory of God. Romans 6:13.

The Point: We must give our whole life completely to the one who gave us new life!

Questions:
1. Have you died to sin?
2. Are you free and living in your new life?
3. Do you need to step back into that new life feeling again?

Give your life to God. Die to sin. Seek the New Life that God gives!

I am glad that we can "See a Victory!"

Verses for Today:
Romans 6:8-11 NIV
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.


Lord, help me resist temptation and help me give my life more fully to You.

 
Romans 6:9:11 Death Hath No More Dominion Over Him (black) (utmost)04:12

Romans 6:18 | Romans 6, Romans, Lettering

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Sharing Beyond Books #409 Comment Giveaway November 28, 2020

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

Last week Q#408: What word/phrase do you hate hearing??
Six of us don't like swear words; two don't like the word "moist". Others don't like these words: goon, smirk, bae, whatever, adulting, oh my, bigly, and yo. Also one doesn't like repetitive words in books.

The Winner from SBB #408 comments is #8 ELIZA 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. 11/28/20 I have added a box of new books for SBB and will list them in the next week or so. I have to try to cross off books that have already been awarded. ]

**NOTE: I do have some books set aside to add to ARC list but I forgot to take a picture. I hope to get it up for next week.

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

WEEK #409
(One Question.)
Fredamans asks: What is a book that you think every child should read??
My first choice would be the Bible. But for non religious I'll go with: The Night Before Christmas, Winnie the Pooh and Black Beauty although there are many more! Oh - two more: I'll Love You Forever and The Growing Tree.
70 Best Books Every Child Should Read or Hear in Their Lifetime - Natural  Beach Living | Kindergarten books, Best children books, Preschool books
Image found at Pinterest

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. Fredamans asks: What is a book that you think every child should read??

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, December 12, 2020, at 5 PM central.

Friday, November 27, 2020

Audible Book Review: Wool (Silo #1; Wool 1-5) by Hugh Howey

I enjoyed this creative dystopian sci fi.
Wool
Silo, #1; Wool, #1-5
By: Hugh Howey
Narrated by: Amanda Sayle

Series: The Silo Saga, Book 1
Length: 17 hrs and 43 mins
Release date: 04-09-13
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.0.


Publisher's Summary
In a ruined and toxic landscape, a community exists in a giant silo underground, hundreds of stories deep. There, men and women live in a society full of regulations they believe are meant to protect them. Sheriff Holston, who has unwaveringly upheld the silo’s rules for years, unexpectedly breaks the greatest taboo of all: He asks to go outside.
His fateful decision unleashes a drastic series of events. An unlikely candidate is appointed to replace him: Juliette, a mechanic with no training in law, whose special knack is fixing machines. Now Juliette is about to be entrusted with fixing her silo, and she will soon learn just how badly her world is broken. The silo is about to confront what its history has only hinted about and its inhabitants have never dared to whisper. Uprising. ©2012 Hugh Howey (P)2013 Audible, Inc.


Review:
Something catastrophic happened to the world leaving the land and air toxic and people living for centuries underground. The people are not told much about the history but they are directed to follow the rules of ‘the order’. The mayor and sheriff are the apparent enforcers of rules. Each floor of the 150 or so levels has different tasks identified by different color uniforms like blue for mechanics, green for hydroponics, yellow for supplies and more. Juliette is a mechanic working in the lower levels of the silo community. Juliette is adept at keeping the machinery going and solving problems, including the mystery of a death that occurred in her levels. When Sheriff Holston asks for the forbidden – to go outside –Juliette is proposed to become his successor.

The long-time mayor and deputy sheriff are good with this pick, but the head of IT, Bernard, had other plans. After all, he is the one with the secrets and the greatest desire for control. Juliette tries to resist the job assignment but finds a reason to accept – a puzzle to solve. As she pieces together information, she begins to suspect conspiracy, treachery and serious secrets being kept from the community.

Juliette is accused of murdering her friend – a young man helping her to gather information. Her friends in mechanics don’t believe she is responsible, and they try to help her. Now Juliette has to struggle to survive while her friends plan an uprising. What will happen within the silo and what mysteries will be found outside?

I was a little confused when the story first started but after a chapter or so I was able to settle into the direction of the dystopia. I was impressed by the creative world building and I really liked several of the characters, especially Juliette and her friends. The past history is revealed slowly and presents some issues for consternation. It is interesting and I found some bits that brought up thoughts of political power today. I became invested with the lives of the characters and will be continuing the series with the next book, Shift. I recommend this to fans of imaginative dystopia.

Audio Notes: Amanda Sayle does a good job with parts of the narration. The voices are mostly distinct and the moods and emotional energy of the characters are appropriately portrayed. However, a couple of the voices, such as a whiny Bernard, are awful. I am glad I had the audio as the omnibus (five books together) is long. I am glad to see that book two has a really strong narrator and I look forward to continuing the series in audio.

Source: 2017 Audible Daily Deal $3.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 27, 2020

Happy Friday! Another four winners this week! This will be the last post for November's double winners. Give thanks for so many things --- including books!

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 November 20, 2020 Pick. There were no automatic wins 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.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from November 20, 2020 Pick:
SUEF gets the pair: Plum Spooky and Foul Play
NATALIA, LIFE'S Simple Pleasure and MARYP each get 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'm thankful for books! | Cornucopia, Thanksgiving day, Holiday season
Thanksgiving is a special day and books are part of my everyday blessings!
Image found at Pinterest.

New Book Groups #92 and #93 November 13, 2020.
#92 (15 books):

The Promise by TJ Bennett
A Most Unsuitable Man by Jo Beverley
Alaskan Renegade by Kate Bridges
Killing Floor by Lee Child
The Tender Stranger by Carolyn Davidson
Her Wedding Wish by Jillian Hart
Heart's Desire by Ruth Ryan Hagan
Snowflakes on the Sea by Linda Lael Miller
Murder in Plain Sight by Marta Perry
One Perfect Rose by Mary Jo Putney
The Deputy's Duty by Terri Reed
No Ordinary Man by Suzanne Simmons
The Scot by Lyn Stone
The Abducted Heiress by Claire Thornton
Summer by the Sea by Susan Wiggs

Box #93 (14 books)

Three Complete Novels by Sandra Brown (Best Kept Secrets, Mirror Image, and Slow Heat to Heaven)
Select Editions Four Novels: Safe Harbor, The Analyst, Fallen Angel and Open Season
Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwyn Cready
There's Only Been You by Donna Marie Rogers (personally signed)
The Celtic Riddle by Lyn Hamilton
For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper
The Irish Bride by Alexa Harrington
The Best Man by Kristan Higgins
Castles in the Mist by Jose Litton
When We Met by Susan Mallery
Thief of Hearts by Teresa Medeiros
Anne of Green Gables by Montgomery
Familiar Stranger by Sharon Sala
All of Me by Lori Wilde


New Book Group #91 October 2, 2020 - Suspense themed

SINGLES: Ten books in this box:
Senseless by Mary Burton
Indefensible by Pamela Callow
Fight or Flight by Natalie J. Damschroder
Final Appeal by Joanne Fluke
The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman
The Sinister Pig by Tony Hillerman Audiobook
Capital Crimes by Jonathan & Faye Kellerman
Deadly Promises (Black Ops) Anthology, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Diane Love, Cindy Gerard, Laura Griffin
Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman
Justice by Dan Mahoney
PAIRS:
Janet Evanovich: Plum Spooky and Foul Play
Sharon Sala (aka Dinah McCall): Out of the Dark and Bloodlines

PICK TWO  your choice (listed below the picture) Nora Roberts:

Born in Fire Audiobook Cassettes
Montana Sky
A Little Magic (
Sorry - I initially listed this as Dark Magic)
Valley of Silence
Inner Harbor and
Chesapeake Blue


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

SINGLES:
Siren's Song by Trish Albright (personally autographed)
Alias by Smy J. Fetzer
Angel Face by Suzanne Forster
Stalking the Puzzle Lady by Parnell Hall
Hot Sex by Janet Evanovich (Audio cassettes)
The Warrior by Frances Richey (poetry  hardcover)


New Book Group #89 March 6, 2020
Singles:
My Surrender by Connie Brockway
How to Tame a Modern Rogue by Diana Holoquist
Phoenix by A.J. Scudiere

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
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
Aunt Erma's Cope Book
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen


(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 21 titles.)
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown
(*Three One more very old books from my Gothics box.)
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell
*Four One 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 TEN years I have posted 91 groups of 16 books plus an additional 21 totaling 1,477 books available to find new homes! (As of November 6, 2020).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,342+ 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!

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Thanksgiving Memories!

 Hubby and I shared a lovely Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for even in this year of isolation.
Here is a photo memoir for November 26, 2020:

 The table is ready. (Set for four in case our daughter came over.)
Turkey, stuffing, baked sweet potatoes topped with brown sugar and marshmallows
and green beans.
Not shown: the gravy and pumpkin pie for dessert.


My plate before.
My plate after.

We'll have leftovers for a while!
 
It was a beautiful day outside and we shared time on DUO with our son and his family. 
Hubby remembered that he made the full meal in 1985 for my family a few days before our wedding.
We celebrate our 35th anniversary on the 30th!

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