Sunday Words of Encouragement December 4, 2022 - Prince of Peace!

Our Sunday School teacher presented the lesson on Revelation 21 regarding the new heaven, the new earth and a new Jerusalem coming down from heaven. As we finish up the study of this book, he reminded us that Revelation is a book of hope.

Our Sunday Service opened with some seasonal and worship songs. Then a long time church family shared the second candle of Advent – the candle of Bethlehem that signifies Peace. This family lost the mother seven years ago after years of illness from cancer. Yet the whole family continually shows peace in their lives. The father reminded us that peace comes from faith, salvation, comfort, and God’s presence. We can have peace regardless of circumstances because the peace is based on our relationship with God.

Pastor’s sermon continued the message on the Prince of Peace base on the scripture of Isaiah 9:6-7. Isaiah gave many prophetic messages directed to call the people of Israel from the bondage of sin. The titles or names that are used (as often in our own names) reflect the character of the child.

1. Wonderful Counselor – a counselor who gives above average, above par, excelling advice. As one Christian author has noted: ‘God speaks to us by His spirit and His word. Also, by nature (His creation) itself’. God is our Paraclete – a helper who comes alongside. We need to be aware to not just talk but to listen to the counselor. Jesus wants to be involved in your daily life.

2. Mighty God – God Incarnate. Jesus proclaims ‘God is greater than all and I and the Father are one.’ John 10:29-30. We have an image is of a Victorious God. 1 Corinthians 15:57 and a strong God. Proverbs 18:10. Jesus overcame the enemy. He “disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Colossians 2:15.

3. Everlasting Father – this is a reference to relationship on time. God is the “ancient of days”. Daniel 7:13. God has always been. John 1. He is the “I am”. Exodus 3:14 and several verses in John such as John 8:18, 24, 28, 58. He is our protection and provider. Ephesians 6:10.

4. Price of Peace – The kingdom Christ brings is one of righteousness, joy and peace. Romans 14:17. Don't get caught up in the drama of the world. Christ gives peace in the midst of the storm. Beginning in Genesis 1:2 God hovered over the chaos.... Leave the drama behind and focus and walk in peace. Through the storm He holds my hand. We are separated by sin need reconciliation. World of chaos.
We have peace with God. And He gives us His special peace. John 14:27.

Jesus calms the sea. Mark 4:39. And tells a woman ‘Daughter go in peace, and be healed’. Mark 5:34

God fills you with joy and peace. Romans 15:13.
God is peace. 1 Thessalonian 5:23.
Peter reminds the believers “May grace and peace be yours in full measure through your knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” 2 Peter 1:2.

We are God’s precious people and we can have peace through our relationship with Him. Our lives should show peace to others.

This song is for this message: Glory, Let There be Peace

Verses for Today:
Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.

I give thanks daily for the Peace that I find in my Father God, Savior Christ, and Comforter Spirit.

Audible Book Review: Forward, Stories of Tomorrow by Veronica Roth, Blake Crouch, N. K. Jemisin, Amor Towles, Paul Tremblay, Andy Weir

This collection of futuristic sci fis was entertaining if not particularly memorable.
Forward
Stories of Tomorrow
By: Veronica Roth, Blake Crouch, N. K. Jemisin, Amor Towles, Paul Tremblay, Andy Weir
Narrated by: Evan Rachel Wood, Rosa Salazar, Jason Isaacs, David Harbour, Steven Strait, Janina Gavankar

Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins
Release date: 10-08-19
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Genre: Anthologies, Futuristic, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

I listened to this on and off for a month when other audios wouldn't play in the car.
These are all good sci fis.
Publisher's Summary
For some, it’s the end of the world. For others, it’s just the beginning. With brilliant imagination, today’s most visionary writers point to the future in a collection curated by bestselling author Blake Crouch. These stories range from darkly comic to deeply chilling, but they all look forward. Featuring stories by Andy Weir, Amor Towles, Veronica Roth, N. K. Jemisin, Paul Tremblay, and Blake Crouch; with narration by Evan Rachel Wood, David Harbour, Jason Isaacs, Rosa Salazar, Steven Strait, and Janina Gavankar.

ARK, by Veronica Roth, read by Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld)
On the eve of Earth’s destruction, a young scientist discovers something too precious to lose, in a story of cataclysm and hope by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Divergent trilogy.
It’s only two weeks before an asteroid turns home to dust. Though most of Earth has already been evacuated, it’s Samantha’s job to catalog plant samples for the survivors’ unknowable journey beyond. Preparing to stay behind and watch the world end, she makes a final human connection.

SUMMER FROST, by Blake Crouch, read by Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel)
A video game developer becomes obsessed with a willful character in her new project, in a mind-bending exploration of what it means to be human by the New York Times bestselling author of Recursion.
Maxine was made to do one thing: die. Except the minor non-player character in the world Riley is building makes her own impossible decision - veering wildly off course and exploring the boundaries of the map. Soon Riley has all new plans for her spontaneous AI, including bringing Max into the real world. But what if Max has real-world plans of her own?

EMERGENCY SKIN, by N. K. Jemisin, read by Jason Isaacs (Star Trek: Discovery)
What will become of our self-destructed planet? The answer shatters all expectations in this subversive speculation from the Hugo Award-winning author of the Broken Earth trilogy.
An explorer returns to gather information from a climate-ravaged Earth that his ancestors, and others among the planet’s finest, fled centuries ago. The mission comes with a warning: a graveyard world awaits him. But so do those left behind - hopeless and unbeautiful wastes of humanity who should have died out ages ago. Get in. Get out. And try not to stare.

YOU HAVE ARRIVED AT YOUR DESTINATION, by Amor Towles, read by David Harbour (Stranger Things)
Nature or nurture? Neither. Discover a bold new way to raise a child in this unsettling story of the near future by the New York Times bestselling author of A Gentleman in Moscow.
When Sam’s wife first tells him about Vitek, a twenty-first-century fertility lab, he sees it as the natural next step in trying to help their future child get a “leg up” in a competitive world. But the more Sam considers the lives that his child could lead, the more he begins to question the choices he has made in his life.

THE LAST CONVERSATION, by Paul Tremblay, read by Steven Strait (The Expanse)
What’s more frightening: Not knowing who you are? Or finding out? A Bram Stoker Award-winning author explores the answer in a chilling story about human consciousness.

Imagine you’ve woken up in an unfamiliar room with no memory of who you are, how you got there, or where you were before. All you have is the disconnected voice of an attentive caretaker. Dr. Kuhn is there to help you - physically, emotionally, and psychologically. She’ll make sure you reclaim your lost identity. Now answer one question: Are you sure you want to?

RANDOMIZE, by Andy Weir, read by Janina Gavankar (True Blood)
In the near future, if Vegas games are ingeniously scam-proof, then the heists have to be too, in this imaginative and whip-smart story by the New York Times bestselling author of The Martian.
An IT whiz at the Babylon Casino is enlisted to upgrade security for the game of keno and its random-number generator. The new quantum computer system is foolproof. But someone on the inside is no fool. For once the odds may not favor the house.
©2019 Ark © 2019 by Veronica Roth. Summer Frost © 2019 by Blake Crouch. Emergency Skin © 2019 by N. K. Jemisin. You Have Arrived at Your Destination © 2019 by Amor Towles. The Last Conversation © 2019 by Paul Tremblay. Randomize © 2019 by Andy Weir. (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Review:
These are short stories that have the wonderful ironic twist that can be found in science fiction. They can each be read (listened to) at separate settings. Unfortunately, that resulted in reading over a month and then having to try to remember each of the earlier stories.

Ark - I was satisfied reading this (and thought it began a series). But a month later I couldn’t recall the ending.

Summer Frost – I couldn’t remember this one either and re-listened at the end because I remembered liking a character that closes with a twist. And yes, that was my reaction the second time too. A clever progression that might make the reader wince.

Emergency Skin – This comes with a wide sense of humor. It takes a bit into the story to realize what is happening and has an ending that might catch the reader up.

You Have Arrived At Your Destination - Viewing possible destinies for your child can be disheartening. I’m not crazy about the idea of selecting the character of your child by genetic engineering. This story gives support for my concerns. As the story makes the father look at his own choices, I did wonder how the husband and wife were going to reconcile their differences.

The Last Conversation – There is some sadness revealed in this story. But I enjoyed its sense of mystery and clearly ironic conclusion.

Randomize – I enjoyed the tech element of this story and the ingenuity. However, I was so disappointed by the greed.

This type of anthology gives the reader a chance to meet new authors. I had only read Roth and Weir. I think my favorites in this collection are Summer Frost and The Last Conversation. I recommend this to fans of sci fi who like to read short stories.

Audio Notes: The narrators were: Evan Rachel Wood, Rosa Salazar, Jason Isaacs, David Harbour, Steven Strait, Janina Gavankar. I should have made notes when I was listening to this, but I listened in the car. I don’t recall any problems with the narrations. I am glad I had this on audio so I could listen in the car.

Source: 3/14/2020 Audible Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis

This vintage (1935) dystopian is still relevant to current events.

It Can't Happen Here
by Sinclair Lewis
Read by Grover Gardner

Run Time 14h 28min
Release Date: July 5, 2016
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Genre: Classics, Dystopian, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher Description
First published in 1935, when Americans were still largely oblivious to the rise of Hitler in Europe, this prescient novel tells a cautionary tale about the fragility of democracy and offers an alarming, eerily timeless look at how fascism could take hold in America.
Doremus Jessup, a newspaper editor, is dismayed to find that many of the people he knows support presidential candidate Berzelius Windrip. The suspiciously fascist Windrip is offering to save the nation from sex, crime, welfare cheats, and a liberal press. But after Windrip wins the election, dissent soon becomes dangerous for Jessup. Windrip forcibly gains control of Congress and the Supreme Court and, with the aid of his personal paramilitary storm troopers, turns the United States into a totalitarian state.

Review:
Doremus Jessup is a smallish town newspaper editor in New England (Vermont) in the 1930s. He is upset when so many people support presidential candidate Berzeliur Windrip who is offering better than a chicken in every pot. Windrip is offering $5,000.00 per person. After Windrip wins, he removes Supreme Court Justices that don’t support his policies and takes control of Congress too. There is no free money. And there is no free speech either. Very soon any grumbling and news opinions speaking out against the government is being squelched.

Doremus is removed from his position but forced to remain in the office to train a Windrip picked new editor in the ropes of publishing. Of course, it is also a way to keep Doremus quiet.

Slowly members of Doremus family and community are impacted. His son-in-law is murdered for speaking out, leaving his daughter festering for revenge. But many in the community accept the new local government, including the brown shirted military that is present to keep the people in line.

Eventually Doremus is recruited to aid an underground effort to revolt against the fascist policies of Windrip. A handful of locals are printing underground news and distributing it out to other disgruntled communities across the northeast. The group is at risk since there are spies, even from their neighbors. An attempt to escape to Canada falls through and Doremus and his cohorts end up in a local jail /camp for dissenters.

The story includes “sheeple” and minor, individual heroics. It includes commentary on historical forms of government which is informative. I didn’t find the book particularly exciting, but it was interesting. And it is even more interesting that it was written before WWII and the rise of Hitler.

This text from this vintage work is still timely as in today’s world you hear unrealistic promises in campaigns, and you see censorship of free speech even by supposed journalists. It made me wonder how this could happen, but when you see people willing to rely so much on government that they give up freedoms and rights. This story was satire, but today it is scary and distressing. I recommend this classic to readers who are willing to read about how fascism and censorship can be used to change society.

Audio Notes: I have enjoyed Grover Gardner’s narration in many different works. His dry delivery fit well with this story. I’m glad I had the opportunity to listen to this classic.

Source: 7/10/19 Chirp Purchase $3.99. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Martha's BookShelf Friday Pick December 2, 2022

Happy Friday!
TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK.
This has been a super busy week
I still have some GC emails and payments to complete and books to pull for mailing soon. (Maybe with my extra day this weekend.)

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 25, 2022 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 one winner (under 10 entries):
Random.org picked Winner from November 25, 2022 Pick:
#1 MYSTICA gets a GC.
(Sorry- I thought I made this change but it had BN who was the winner from last week.)

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 planning on giving some books. How about you?
Image found at Godashops.

New Book Box #96 June 10, 2022

PAIR:
Liz Carlyle: Three Little Secrets and My False Heart
Johanna Lindsey: Brave the Wild Wind and Fires of Winter
SINGLE TITLES
Against the Sky by Kat Martin
Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

The Eagle and the Dove by Jane Feather
Heir to a Dark Inheritance by Maisey Yates
The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood
Last of the Breed by Louis L'Amour
A Legacy of Secrets by Carol Marinelli
Marry in Secret by Anne Gracie
No Greater Treasure by Ellen Kelley
One Minute Out by Mark Greaney
Texas Born by Diana Palmer
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (Illustrated Classic Edition)
While Others Sleep by Helen R. Myers


New Book Box #95 November 7, 2021

I'll add the titles through the week (16 including 2 doubles, 1 pair).
(on top) (Two) Rancher's Wild Secret and Hold Me Cowboy by Maisey Yates
(on top) Shadowlight by Lynn Viehl
(Two) The Taming & The Conquest by Jude Deveraux
My Darling Caroline by Adele Ashworth
Love's Surprise by Karen Ball
Manhunt by Wayne Barton and Stan Williams - Audio CDs
After the Light by Kimberly Clark Sharp (Hardback)


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

Three One Audio CD Books:
Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts
SINGLE TITLES
Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale
The Hidden Heart by Laura Kinsale

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

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
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


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

Born in Fire Audiobook Cassettes
Montana Sky
Valley of Silence


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:
A Question of God's Balance (Vol 1) by Joseph Thek


New Book Group #85 March 22, 2019
A variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
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
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
Follow the Stars Home, Hunting Badger, The Quiet Game and Second Wind

New Book Group #82 November 9, 2018

SINGLES:
Killing Time by Linda Howard
The Wedding Night by Barbara Dawson Smith

New Book Group #81 August 17, 2018
All Gone

New Book Group #80 August 17, 2018

Note: The Final Judgment and
The Book of Fate are Audio Cassettes
SINGLES:
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.

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
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
Crisscross by Harmon Henkin
Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey
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.)
Rehabilitation
Secret Blessing
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

(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 TWELVE years I have posted 91 groups of mostly 16 books plus an additional 21 totaling approximately 1,535 books available to find new homes! (As of November 26, 2021).

I am happy to say that so far at least 1,408 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, 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: Beauty and the Clockwork Beast by Nancy Campbell Allen

This is an enjoyable romance with supernatural characters and mystery.
Beauty and the Clockwork Beast: The Steampunk Proper Romances, Book 1
By: Nancy Campbell Allen
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Series: The Steampunk Proper Romances, Book 1
Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins
Release date: 08-02-16
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Genre: Paranormal, Steampunk, Victorian Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Like the classic Beauty and the Beast, this steampunk romance features an unlikely love story.
The Lord of Blackwell Manor, Miles, is plagued by a family curse that changes him into a shape-shifting wolf every month during the full moon.
Lucy, a smart, attractive, and well-respected botanist, travels to Blackwell Manor to take care of her sick cousin, Kate, who is married to Miles' younger brother. For Lucy, the trip is a welcome respite from her work and recent discovery of a breakthrough serum that could eliminate the scourge of vampires from London. But Lucy finds more than she bargained for when she arrives at the Manor.
Miles, who is brash and inhospitable, does not take kindly to visitors. He is still unsettled by the mysterious death of his newlywed wife. And then there's Marie, Miles' sister, who was attacked and murdered just weeks earlier. Miles is horrified to think that he might be to blame for the deaths. And who is the ghost that haunt the halls?
Lucy is convinced that the death of Miles's wife and sister - as well as her cousin's mysterious illness - are tied together, but how? Lady Charlesworth has her eye on inheriting Blackwell Manor for her family. Could her daughter, Candice, or her son, Arthur, have had a hand in the mysterious deaths? The clues make a vampire suspect highly likely. During her investigation, Lucy finds herself caring deeply for Miles, but he fights to keep his distance in order to protect Lucy from his family's secret. And, yet, he feels attracted to the woman who is able to look past the fearsome-looking scar that has marred his handsome face. With no other option, Miles and Lucy must work together if they are to find the answer to the mysteries at the manor.
But that's not all Lucy wants to solve. There's a deeper mystery behind Miles. Can she solve that too? Ultimately, she must decide if she can love the man - beast and all.
Includes bonus novella, Marie's Story.
©2016 Nancy Campbell Allen (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Review:
Lucy is busy with her scientific and botanist tasks. She recently discovered an anti-vampire serum and wants to continue the work on this project. But she is quick to rush to her cousin’s side when she hears that Kate is ill. Kate recently married Jonathan, a younger brother to the dark Lord of Blackwell Manor, Miles. Lucy doesn’t know much about the family but there are rumors that the Lord’s may have been involved in the death of his new wife and his sister shortly after.

Miles is plagued by a family curse that is a closely held secret. He goes to his family’s hunting lodge every month at the full moon – and that is only one of his secrets. He is distressed by the unsolved murder of his wife and the brutal killing of his sister. Miles doesn’t like having strangers around and although he appreciates that Lucy wants to help her cousin, he is not so thrilled to have her snooping around. He also isn’t happy to have his aunt, Lady Charlesworth, and her adult children, Arthur and Candice, swooping in for extended visits whenever they want.

Lucy is sure Miles is hiding something but doesn’t think he is guilty of the murders in his household. Lucy soon believes that Kate is being poisoned. She also suspects that the household robotic servants are being used in the plot. Can she get enough evidence to convince the reclusive Miles to listen to her and take action before it’s too late?

I really liked the complex characters of Lucy and Miles. There is a reluctant attraction that develops slowly as they learn about and begin to trust each other. There is a lovely dance scene that changes the dynamic between them. Miles has some strong friends who are willing to stand with him, including Lucy’s brother. Several of these characters appear in the rest of the series. I enjoyed reading book 3, The Lady in the Coppergate Tower, and I just got the other books from Audible Plus. I like the mix of mystery, steampunk, shifter, and Victorian romance. I recommend this to fans of these genres.

Audio Notes: Saskia Maarleveld does a lovely job with the narration. I liked the accent and the pacing of the delivery. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: May 17, 2021 free from Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.