Sunday Words of Encouragement September 12, 2021

This morning our Pastor started a new series: “Walking With Jesus”. He noted that we are not always walking and the issues may be: getting started, what can we expect, how to keep going, and what does the finish look like?

Many of us choose to walk to a destination. Sometimes friends ask to take a walk, not to get to a destination but to share time and get to know each other.

When we start walking with Jesus, it changes us completely. It begins a lifelong journey that changes our life. It changes our view and what we think about. When Jesus walked with his friends and followers, He was always the one to lead. They talked and often asked Jesus questions about society, politics, creation, and heaven. He answered their questions. He was always patient with them.

He calls us to walk with Him and obey Him. 1 John 2:3-6.
He wants us close enough to hear all that He says, so He can have a personal conversation with us. He wants us to walk close beside Him.

Our roots should grow into Him. Colossians 2: 6-7.

The Point: Walking with Jesus leads us into a new relationship, and into new life and new purpose,

If you haven’t started walking with Jesus, you can start today. Don’t stay on the periphery. Don’t just walk around Him. Get close and let Him lead. Go when and where he leads.

When you start a walk with Jesus, you are offered forgiveness.
He takes us where we are ready to go, where He has prepared us to go. He will always go with us. The best thing for us is to walk where He directs, even if it is a new place. He will be there with us.

Sometimes we get tired, and He may pick us up. Other times we may stray away – we want to do it on our own. But if we allow our roots to grow into Him, we will recognize the security He offers. He will always be there for us. Our relationship with Him will be what matters.

How is your walk with Jesus today? Accept His invitation to walk closely with Him.

My Husband picked the video song this morning.
An older, well known hymn: Just a Closer Walk With Thee.

Verses for Today:
Colossians 2:6-7 NIV
Spiritual Fullness in Christ
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Heavenly Father, please help me to walk with You and stay close to You each day.

Audio Book Review: The Dauntless by Alex Kings

I enjoyed this action-packed space adventure, even though a bit far fetched.
The Dauntless
Written by Alex Kings
Narrated by Mark Boyett

Series: War of the Ancients Trilogy, Book 1
Run Time 8h 34min
Release Date: February 6, 2018
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Military, Science Fiction, Space Opera
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.0; Narration 4.25.

Publisher Description An alien fugitive carrying a secret. A mob of relentless assassins sent to stop her. A million-year-old ship from a dead civilisation.
Captain James Hanson of the Solar Alliance Vessel Dauntless knows he has to help. But soon he finds the conspiracy goes deeper than he ever imagined. Hunted down by his own government, he scrapes together a ragtag team and goes hunting for the truth.
He’s hounded on every side — from the authorities, from alien warriors, from mysterious, faceless soldiers. From the criminal backwaters of the galaxy to idyllic colonies hiding dark pasts, he uncovers a threat to the entire galaxy. A damaged, renegade ship and its unlikely crew of fugitives, mercenaries, and principled officers is all that stands between mankind and its destruction.

Review:
Captain James Hanson is on a patrol when a small ship jumps in besides him and asks for help and asylum. The Solar Alliance regulations direct that Hanson shouldn’t get involved in alien disputes, but Hanson decides he has to step in over the objections of his XO. Hanson manages to save a survivor and learns of a conspiracy that threatens mankind. He reports the allegations to his superior officer but without some tangible proof no action can be taken.

Hanson takes his ship rogue to hunt for evidence. He quickly faces new enemies while a galactic enforcer tries to take his ship and crew into custody. Somehow, Hanson manages to stay one step ahead of the authorities but one step behind the threat. Hanson and a handful of warriors keep trying to sneak into forbidden areas leaving his XO to fend off attacks on the ship. At each encounter his ship takes more damage until it is questionable if they can survive long enough to get their evidence to the right people.

Clearly, they do survive since this is the first book of a trilogy. But that doesn’t mean they have stopped the power grabbing enemy. That battle will have to continue.

There is plenty of stealth and battle action in this story. The escapes were rather farfetched, but I liked how the characters had to pull together to get out of the scrapes and corners they found themselves in. This is satisfactorily entertaining and at some point I will look to continue with books two and three in the trilogy. I recommend this to fans of military space opera as an entertaining, if not compelling, story.

Audio Notes: Mark Boyett is a wonderful narrator and enhanced this book for me. He provides distinct character voices and keeps the pacing and energy in the story. As soon as the narration started, I appreciated the familiar voice.

Source: November 8th, 2020 Chirp Purchase $1.99. This qualifies for 2021TBR and 2021Audiobook goals.

MBS August 2021 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2021 Reading List - AUGUST

Code for the list is:
A = Audible; ABB = Audiobook Boom
e = eBook; eA = eBook from Author; eT = eBook from Tour
NG = NetGalley
P = Print; PT = Print from Tour
LBC = Ladies Book Club
TBR = From the TBR shelves prior to 2020
Favorites for the month:

5 Stars = None
4.75 Stars = Winds of Wrath, The Iron Triangle
4.5 Stars =  Zero Hour, Secrets of a Summer Night, The Reaper

1. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Winds of Wrath, Destroyermen Series, Book 15, by Taylor Anderson; Genre: Alternate History, Military, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 5.0.
2. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Hour of Need by Melinda Leigh; Genre: Mystery, Romantic Suspense; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.0; Narration 4.5.
3. P2021- Book Review: The Iron Triangle: Inside the Liberal Democrat Plan to Use Race to Divide... by Vince Everett Ellison; Genre: History of Religion & Politics, Nonfiction, Political Parties; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0.
4. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Lost Valley by Walt Browning; Genre: Military Sci Fi, Post-Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.0; Narration 4.0.
5. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Zero Hour, Expeditionary Force, Book 5, by Craig Alanson; Genre: Adventure, Military, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.75.
6. A2021- Audible Book Review: Q & A by Ben Winters; Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Thriller & Suspense; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.
7. A2021- Audio Review: Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas; Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.75.
8. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Reaper, Autobiography of One of the Deadliest Special Ops Snipers, by Gary Brozek, Nicholas Irving; Genre: Biography, Memoir, Military, Special Elite; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.5; Narration 4.5.
9. ATBR- Audio Book Review: The Trouble with Dukes, Windham Brides, Book 1, by Grace Burrowes; Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Scottish Romance; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.
10. A2021- Audible Book Review: The Bone Farm: A Jane Hawk Case File by Dean Koontz; Genre: Suspense, Thriller; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.0; Narration 4.0.
11. ATBR- Audio Book Review: Infinity Blade: Awakening by Brandon Sanderson; Genre: Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.
12. NG2021- #NetGalley Book Review: The Keepers by Jeffrey B. Burton; Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Cadaver Dog, Mystery; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.
13. A2021- Audible Book Review: Penny Preston and the Silver Scepter by Armen Pogharian; Genre: Fantasy, Teens; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Content 4.25; Narration 4.25.
14. NG2021- #NetGalley: Hematite, Serenade by Victoria Maderna, Federico Piatti; Genre: Comics, Graphic Novel, Paranormal, Science Fiction, YA; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Total read = 14
TBR = 6
New Authors = 6
Audio/Audible = 11 (6 TBRs)
NetGalley = 2 (no audios) (0 TBRs)
Author Review books (other than NG) = 1
Nonfiction = 2
eBook = 0 (0 TBR)
Print = 1 (0 TBR)

Goal Progress (to Date meaning through the end of the given month):
Goodreads Goal Read to Date: 102 of 124
TBR to Date: 73 of 90 total
GOAL MET: Audio to Date: 75 of 64
GOAL MET: NetGalley to Date: 25 of 24
Author Reviews: 9 of 12
Nonfiction: 10 of 12
TBR, ebooks or Print: 8 of 24

• Series: 63 (22 continuing, 41 new)
• New to me Series: 41 (16 Yes to continue; 10 likely to continue, 11 maybe, unlikely 4)
• Finished for me Series: 1

Special Goals
• Seasonal title: 3 of 4: Winter, Spring, Summer
• Color in title: 6 of 8: Red, Black, Gold, Blue, Blonde, Diamond
GOAL MET• Alphabet letters covered: 26 Mixed media: 10 Jan + 6 Feb + 2 March + 1 April + 2 May + 2 June + 1 July + 2 August (26 of 26)
• Alphabet letters covered: 26 Audio only (not the same): 1 Jan + 4 Feb + 7 March + 5 April + 4 May + 1 June + 0 July + 1 August (23 of 26) Remaining: N, V and X

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 10, 2021

Happy Friday! Happy September.

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 September 3, 2021 Pick. There was no automatic win last 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 September 3, 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.}

This is a time to remember and to honor real life heros and warriors.
Image found at Think, Grow, Giggle.

New Book Box #94 May 28, 2021 (10 books)

Three Audio CD Books:
Web of Evil by J.A. Jance
One Good Deed by David Baldacci
Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts
SINGLE TITLES
Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale
The Hidden Heart by Laura Kinsale
A Summer of Firsts by Susan Wiggs and Sarah Morgan
Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane
Christmas on 4th Street: An Anthology by Susan Mallery
The Stranger by Harlan Coben
Vortex by Robert Charles Wilson


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

A Most Unsuitable Man by Jo Beverley
The Tender Stranger by Carolyn Davidson
Her Wedding Wish by Jillian Hart
Heart's Desire by Ruth Ryan Hagan
The Deputy's Duty by Terri Reed
Summer by the Sea by Susan Wiggs

Box #93 (14 books)

Seducing Mr. Darcy by Gwyn Cready
There's Only Been You by Donna Marie Rogers (personally signed)
For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper
The Irish Bride by Alexa Harrington
When We Met by Susan Mallery
Anne of Green Gables by Montgomery
All of Me by Lori Wilde

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

SINGLES: Ten books in this box:
Fight or Flight by Natalie J. Damschroder
The Sinister Pig by Tony Hillerman Audiobook

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

Born in Fire Audiobook Cassettes
Montana Sky
Valley of Silence
Inner Harbor and
Chesapeake Blue


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

SINGLES:
Alias by Smy J. Fetzer
Hot Sex by Janet Evanovich (Audio cassettes)

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 1,372 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, TWRP, 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!

#NetGalley: Hematite, Serenade by Victoria Maderna, Federico Piatti

This is an engaging YA graphic novel.

Hematite
1. Serenade
by Script by Victoria Maderna, Federico Piatti and
art by Victoria Maderna, Federico Piatti

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0973B8MSN
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Europe Comics (June 23, 2021)
Genre: Comics, Graphic Novel, Paranormal, Science Fiction, YA
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Hematite is a young vampire who is trying to find her way. As a member of the illustrious Blackwood family, she faces pressure to conform to high society standards, but such grandstanding isn’t for her. And neither is drinking blood—she’d rather have vegetable soup! So it is that she opts for the more diverse Wolven School, rather than joining the ranks of her fellow vampires at the Diaemus Academy. Being different can be hard, though, and doesn’t always help to make friends. Luckily for Hematite, she has her poetry, as well as Drunela—a draugr who won’t let their differences keep them apart—and Emile, a human boy fascinated by the occult who would just love to take a peek at the Blackwood’s private library. Unfortunately, bridging societal divides isn’t always easy, and can lead to terrible consequences…

Review:
Hematite is a vampire teenager trying to find her position in life. She doesn’t agree with the cold attitudes of her high society parents. But she struggles to fit in as the first vampire attending the Wolven School rather than the ‘more prestigious’ vampire academy.

Hematite writes in her journal, particularly noting in verse her unrequited love for a human boy, Emile. Hematite shares time with her best friend, Drunela, a draugr (ghoul) who tries to bring Hematite together with her other supernatural friends, a werewolf (Berthe), a jellied creature (Alphonse), and a skeleton (Frida). Hematite is suffering from her conflicting thoughts and is having trouble controlling bursts of anger. She fears that she might hurt Emile.

Hematite gets up to mischief with Drunela and her other friends. The jealousy exists but a shared danger finally draws them together. Hematite then gets to have some time with Emile who is thrilled to see all of the ancient books in her family library. But the visit ends in an accident and tragedy settles on Hematite’s heart. Can she and her friend find a way to make things better? That will be disclosed in the next book.

I totally enjoyed the contrasting light and dark themes of the story. Friendship is the heavy element that ties the characters together. I am interested to see what happens in the next book. The drawings are wonderful. They have a dark undertone consistent with the characters. This is a perfect book to read in October – the supernatural month. This is fine for children, with teachable moments. I recommend this to fans of graphic novels, vampires, other supernatural creatures, and friendship!

Source 2021 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2021NetGalley goal.