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Friday, February 19, 2021

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway February 19, 2021

Happy Friday!  February is moving along briskly (brrrr!).

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 February 12, 2021 Pick. There were two 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.
RITA gets Snowflakes on the Sea
and
CAROLL gets A Little Magic

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from February 12, 2021 Pick:
ALINA gets a GC
AND
MYSTICA 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 think this little poem is so cute.
Image found at Go Alexandria 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


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

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:
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

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 1,353+ 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, February 18, 2021

Audible Book Review: From Here to Equality, Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century, by William A. Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mulle

I appreciate all of the information and arguments set forth in this book.
From Here to Equality
Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century
By: William A. Darity Jr., A. Kirsten Mullen
Narrated by: JD Jackson

From Here to Equality audiobook cover art

Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins
Release date: 04-20-20
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Genre: Economic Theory, Nonfiction, African American Demographic Studies
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.


Publisher's Summary
Racism and discrimination have choked economic opportunity for African Americans at nearly every turn. At several historic moments, the trajectory of racial inequality could have been altered dramatically. Perhaps no moment was more opportune than the early days of Reconstruction, when the US government temporarily implemented a major redistribution of land from former slaveholders to the newly emancipated enslaved.
But neither Reconstruction nor the New Deal nor the civil rights struggle led to an economically just and fair nation. Today, systematic inequality persists in the form of housing discrimination, unequal education, police brutality, mass incarceration, employment discrimination, and massive wealth and opportunity gaps. Economic data indicates that for every dollar the average white household holds in wealth the average black household possesses a mere 10 cents.
In From Here to Equality, William Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mullen confront these injustices head-on and make the most comprehensive case to date for economic reparations for US descendants of slavery. Taken individually, any one of the three eras of injustice outlined by Darity and Mullen - slavery, Jim Crow, and modern-day discrimination - makes a powerful case for black reparations. Taken collectively, they are impossible to ignore. ©2020 William A. Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mullen (P)2020 Tantor.


Review:
I chose this as a resource to offer background and solutions and thought it was good to listen to during Black History Month. It is laid out in the nature of a study text or resource book but the material kept my attention.

The authors do a thorough job of documenting the history of slavery, then the struggles and failures of reconstruction, followed by discriminatory practices for years and years. The treatment of African Americans, initially as slaves but also as freed men and women through the 1960s, was horrendous and reprehensible. Promises were made and repeatedly broken and that is the mild side of abuses.

The plight of the African American did not stop with the Emancipation Proclamation nor the passage of the 14th Amendment in 1868. The African American people continued to be put into low paying jobs with their wages set at a significantly low rate and then taken with inflated supply prices. Groups of African Americans continued to seek reparations, which was then considered to be “40 acres and a mule”. The authors’ primary argument is that the descendants of slaves (now noted as ADOS - American Descendant of Slavery - have been repeatedly denied the ability to gain basic wealth that can be passed on to the next generation thus creating the current situation of economic inequity. The slaves were treated as chattel with little to no possessions, and after gaining freedom their wages and land were repeatedly stolen as they were often burned out and dispossessed when they managed to gain a homestead or small business. Even after African Americans fought as soldiers in World War I, they were denied the ability to obtain low loans to buy into private housing. There are programs and institutions that continue even today which contribute to the inequality. Although there are clearly instances of awful prejudice, it seems to me that much injustice is the result of politics rather than societal racism.

I appreciated that the authors were factual in noting which political parties and politicians supported freedom and recompense for the freed people (more often the ‘radical’ republicans) and which continued to suppress, obstruct and outright stole from the black people (the democrats and the men who outright viewed the slaves as lesser beings). The authors also lay out the typical arguments against reparations and respond to each argument. It certainly isn’t good enough to say something along the lines of “they have more opportunities here in America than if they had remained in Africa or ended up in Haiti or Jamaica.” On the other hand, I hardly agree that it is appropriate (or helpful to their sincere cause) to loot and burn the property of others in the claim of reparations.

The frustrations of those who feel they have not been treated fairly are clearly expressed as real and understandable. Recompense has been denied for far too long. When the figures are extrapolated for time it seems staggering. Then, when divided out it seems like it would not be enough to make up for years of loss, oppression and suppression. The authors make a very strong case that some solution needs to be made and the sooner the better.

I am extremely glad that I listened to this work. I think it would be wonderful for everyone to read it and it should be required reading for any committee member working on reparations efforts. I recommend this to anyone who wants a better and more comprehensive understanding of the history of abuse, suppression and discrimination which are the basis for the arguments for reparations.

Audio Notes: JD Jackson does an excellent job narrating a complex work. The material is heavy but moves along quickly. Mr. Jackson doesn’t allow his presentation to get bogged down even when presenting dry statistics and figures. I am glad that I listened to the audio although having a hard copy would allow a reader to go back to look at details.

Source: Source 6/28/2020 One June Credit at Audible. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet goals.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

#NetGalley Book Review: Evolving Elizah: Initiatum by C. J. Hall

I enjoyed this dystopian thriller.
Evolving Elizah: Initiatum
by C.J. Hall

55854217. sy475

ASIN : B08MCHV973
Publisher : IngramSpark (December 1, 2020)
Publication date : December 1, 2020
File size : 2348 KB
Print length : 227 pages
Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.


Elizah (Liz) Goeff was born into a world much like the one we know today, but she doesn’t remember it. It’s all gone now, covered in ash after a series of natural disasters threw North American civilization into a death spiral. Now Liz’s world is the Green Grow 3, a lush space farm orbiting Earth designed to feed humanity until the planet can heal itself.



Review:
Liz doesn’t remember a lot before natural disasters destroyed much of North America’s ground surface and civilization broke down. She does remember her older brother, Jackson, who doted on her and helped teach her before life got so hard that he left an 8 year old Liz with their mother and strode off to join the New Generation, an activist group seeking a way to distribute food and aid to survivors. Jackson promised to return but never did. After years of searching through the Green Grow depot stations, Liz is convinced Jackson is dead. That is her past.

Now, not quite 25, Liz is a shuttle pilot living on the Green Grow 3, a space farm, orbiting earth while they try to figure a way to survive and share the food supply with people besieged by the hostile New Generation forces on earth. Liz needs to make a surface mission to retrieve certain supplies for an antimatter propulsion drive for the ship. The drive is necessary to take the ship out of the range of New Generation weapons. But danger awaits on the ground and now on the ship as there are apparently spies who have infiltrated the crew and are causing sabotage.

Liz makes the needed run to the surface but before she can leave the depot, she is hailed by starving refuges outside the gate. The group of 52 is running from a band of New Generation brutes who will savagely hunt them down. Liz makes a snap decision (another one) and rescues the people, bringing them to the ship with her.

Now there are more reasons to worry about spies and tensions build. Before Seth can put into place the plans to orderly move the ship out of orbit, an attack occurs, and a surprise enemy hails the ship and especially Liz. What can Liz do to help find the infiltrators and keep the crew and “her 52” safe?

The story follows Liz and tracks her past and her growth as she struggles along the perilous journey of survival... and betrayal. There is intrigue among the characters and I especially liked the intermittent scenes of The Scientist who is plotting assassination. I was surprised when the identity is revealed as the book ends. Although the book ending is set to continue with the next book, I enjoyed how it got to that point. There is plenty of action and intrigue and just a touch of romance. I recommend this to dystopian sci fi fans.

Source: 2020 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021NetGalley and 2021Alphabet goals.

Sunday, February 14, 2021

Sunday Post February 14, 2021/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday February 15, 2021

Sunday Post #318 Chairs, Compliance, and Storms

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.


Hubby and I got our second vaccine shots on Wednesday. Our arms hurt for three days. We both felt a little woozy the night we got the shot. I have felt fine since, but he has felt fatigued even through today.

Two of my office staff have become hooked on the Bridgerton series on Netflix. I thought I had the books from the series but must have traded them in years ago. I do have a couple on Audible and picked up book two this week. I found these books in my Julia Quinn collection at home and I have at least two other books boxed but not accessible in my office storage pod:

We'll be colder this week - 27 to 67 - and three more days of rain.

I enjoyed my reading this past week. I finished two audiobooks and one ebook. I posted three reviews and my usual memes.

I visited 17 blogs last week.
Shout Out this week to Brainfluff. Sarah Higbee is a sci fi (plus) writer who has been sharing on her blog for twelve years. Stop by and say 'hello'.

Don't forget- Audible is offering free children's titles during these days at home.
Audiobooks.com is also offering free listens for children.

These were last week's posts:
  • ATBR- Audible Book Review: Unprepared, The Scourge, Book 1 by Tom Abrahams; Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
  • ATBR- Audible Book Review: You're Going to Mars by Rob Dircks; Genre: Adventure, Humor, Sci Fi, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
Finished Reading:
1. eBook/NetGalley App (NG2020)
55854217. sy475


Evolving Elizah: Initiatum
by C.J. Hall
I enjoyed this post-apocalyptic/dystopian thriller.
Source: 2020 NetGalley.

Click on book title for full description.



2. Audible/Smartphone (ATBR)
From Here to Equality audiobook cover art


From Here to Equality Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century
By: William A. Darity Jr., A. Kirsten Mullen
Narrated by: JD Jackson
Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins
Release date: 04-20-20
I appreciate all of the information and arguments set forth in this book.
Source 6/28/2020 One June Credit at Audible.

Click on book title for full description.



3. Paperback (PTBR)
22052231


Noah - Another Storm is Coming
by Ellen G. White
This book speaks to the condition of man... and God's warnings as well as gift of redemption.
Source: My own bookshelf; gift from a church friend.

Click on book title for full description.



Currently Reading:
1. PDF on Computer (Author Ebook 2021)
55759000


200
by Jennifer Brody, Jules Rivera (Illustrator)
This is an interesting graphic Sci Fi.
Releasing 2/16/21. I expect to finish in a day and post the review this week.
Source: 1/11/2021 Received from Turner Publishing Marketing.

Click on book title for full description.



2. Audio/Smartphone (ATBR)
Book cover for Night Stalker by Shirlee McCoy


Night Stalker
by Shirlee McCoy
Read by Emily Durante
Run Time 5h 37min
I decided to pick a quick romance (or two) for February.
Source: 12/6/2020 Chirp $3.99.

After Special Agent Adam Whitfield’s ex-wife is nearly killed when she stops an abduction, the serial killer that Adam’s been hunting turns his focus on Charlotte Murray for getting in his way. Now, as the Night Stalker closes in, Adam has two missions: bring the murderer to justice and save Charlotte—because failure isn’t an option.



3. Kindle App on/Smartphone (NG2020)
Time of the Rose (Twisted Rose Saga Book 1) by [Bonita Clifton]


Time of the Rose
by Bonita Clifton
The genres for this hit all the right buttons: Historical Fiction, Romance, Sci Fi & Fantasy. It's time travel romance.
Source: NetGalley 2020.

This is the 2nd Edition of the compelling and beloved classic Time of the Rose, award-winning Holt Medallion finalist (Virginia RWA), dusted off, reimagined, with new material and *Bonus Epilogue, guaranteed to leave your head spinning! Prepare to feel good, laugh and fall in love...
A notorious gunslinger with a vendetta and an attitude. A divorced travel agent determined to heal. An extraordinary rose. 1878 and present-day are about to collide…
Colton Chase searches for the monster that murdered his parents. It’s been ten years and every day that passes only fuels his grit. When he plucks a single rare rose, a wicked thunderstorm catches him in its wrath, and after the clouds clear, his entire world has changed. Madison Calloway is on a business trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, when she quite literally stumbles into the biggest horse she’s ever seen. The rugged old man leading the animal looks like he stepped out of a historical Wild West catalog. Her love of antiques is piqued, and she strikes up a conversation.
He claims he’s from 1878 and she feels bad for him; clearly, he suffers from dementia. But there’s an uneasy undertone—everything from his clothes to his strange turns of phrase back up his story. So when another storm brews and he tells her he’s going back, she follows. The two find themselves in 1878 and the old man is gone—in his place a strapping young man, handsome, fascinating, and irresistible.
Can Madison adjust to life more than a century in the past, leaving behind the world she knows? Or will she return home and forever lose the man she’s falling for? Her biggest fears are realized when she’s abducted by Colt’s fierce enemy, and if she survives, this event may well send her running home for good.



February 14, 2021 - I love seeing new things each time I read the Bible. I am still staying current with morning reading.
I am reading/listening the NLT Tyndale version of the Bible on You Version App so Hubby and I are reading the same passages each day.
I am on day 12 of this 21-day study: Open Heaven: 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer.


I completed three books and posted three reviews to remain up to date.
NetGalley shelf is now at 11. (I might allow myself to look again once I go below 10.)
Four author titles in queue as I added another ebook.
(Plus a few that I received from newsletter sign-ups, not specific review requests.)
Still many titles 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 received one new ebook from an author.
I went to pick my second January credit made the mistake of looking at the Audible Plus catalog and found a Valentine's sale - picked up four titles at $5.00 each. 
I used an Audiobooks.com credit on two for one books to movie deal.

I was looking for free or inexpensive titles for ladies book club which is resuming and found a lot of free Christian and romance Kindle titles this week. I added 83 free Kindle titles.
(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

Received from author. Release date is February 20, 2021. My review will post before March 12.
56058783. sy475

Frosted (Regency Retold #2)
by M.C. Frank
(Pretty cover don't you think?)




Won
NONE

Purchased
2/14/2021 - One January Audible Credit:
This was a request of my son so we cn read along with him and our grandchildren. :-)

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
The Wingfeather Saga, Book 1
By: Andrew Peterson
Narrated by: Andrew Peterson

Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
Release date: 01-05-21

These four were on Valentine sale at $5.00 each - I just stumbled on the sale!
Freefall
Expeditionary Force Mavericks, Book 2
By: Craig Alanson
Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 19 hrs and 19 mins

The Nowhere Man
An Orphan X Novel (Evan Smoak, Book 2)
By: Gregg Hurwitz
Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins

As noted above, my staff members have found Bridgerton so I picked these up to share with them! I have read the 8 books in the series.

The Viscount Who Loved Me
By: Julia Quinn
Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Length: 12 hrs and 23 mins

Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever
By: Julia Quinn
Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin

Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins



2/14/2021 I used an Audiobooks.com credit for a 2 for 1 deal:
Darkest Minds, Alexandra Bracken
The Darkest Minds
By Alexandra Bracken
Narrated By: Amy McFadden

Duration: 13 h 59 min
Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror with Meg: Origins, Steve Alten


Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror with Meg: Origins
By Steve Alten
Narrated By: Sean Runnette

Duration: 10 h 34 min



Free
83! free Kindle titles this week. Free titles often found at Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

Sunday Words of Encouragement February 14, 2021

Happy Valentine’s Day – Celebrate Love!
Pastor continued and concluded his series titled Battle On.

On this day recognizing Love, we see that love is missing and misrepresented so much on Social Media. There is so much anger and vitriol instead. Can we show love to others in response to a post? Send them a message: I am praying for you. “…we surely ought to love each other.” 1 John 4:7-12.

Satan distorts love. It is not what we see in Hollywood or online. That is a distortion.  God brings us back to what love really looks like. Paul wraps up messages he has been sharing in Romans chapters 5-8.

We are loved in an unconditional way. Romans 8:26-39.
God (Holy Spirit) helps us in our weakness; He prays for us; He pleads for us; He causes things to work for the good (according to His purpose) of those who love Him; He chose believers to become like His Son (adopted us); He called them to come to Him, gave them right standing with Him, and gave them His glory. Romans 8:26-30.
“If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” v31
“Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one”….v33
“Who then will condemn us? No one”…v34
“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?” v35
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.” v38

God claims us as His own and no longer sees our flaws and sins.

The POINT: As Paul was, so should we be convinced that we are inseparable from God’s great love.

Once we know this truth – that God loves us – then we can recognize the distortions in this world.
God is Love. He gave us His son to redeem us and allow us right standing. Do not allow others, or yourselves, to condemn us. Rather, accept God's love and love one another.

I found this fitting song in my (long) file of song choices: No Matter What.
Verses for Today
1 John 4:11-12 (NLT)
11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.


Lord, please help me to do better to share Your love with others each day.

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