Your comments

Here is the file on my github, ubooquity.sh. I couldnt figure out how to upload it directly here.
I haven't had a chance to take a look at the log reading file (I typically have a tail -f rather than a script to read). I am not much of a programmer so not much has changed the only other thing I would request is a restart command as well.
The main changes to the file are:
I added an admin port line as I am running of the CLI and I would think others who use it would be as well.
and the Java start line I added a headless command as well as fixed the arguments that were old (like the webadmin one). I also changed the logging to log to the regular log file as it was going to /dev/null I believe (which is how I figured out the problem with the commands). 

Thanks, do you have any recommendations for how to get them to epub v3? i dont see a version option in calibre.

After a little more testing this does appear to be a problem with the Calibre Project Gutenberg books, as I have a few other private epubs that have working cover pages.

Oh and I tested it in the direct Ubuntu environment and it did show the covers with the same files so I am not sure if it is something specific to how LXC is handling it or debian stretch etc.

i dont have a valid config but I can tell you that you need listen and not liste on line 2