Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Sunday Words of Encouragement February 5, 2012

[Continuing the message from last week based on 1 Timothy 4:1-10.] Last week our associate Pastor was warning us against Saboteurs who might mislead believers. How do we protect ourselves from this? He recommended:
1. Stay in the word - the better you know the best manual, the less likely you will be deceived. Also, always compare the message given by any man to the word given by God.
2. Do not forsake assembling together with other followers of Christ. Together we strengthen each other.
3. Pray, especially for strength, wisdom and guidance.
4. Avoid those who are living in unrepentant sin. God is Love but enabling sin is not loving.

I didn't find a song that quite fit this message

but this one struck me as good for any day!

A Verse for Today:

1 Timothy 4:16

¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

I give praise and Thanksgiving that God is richly blessing my business. I pray for his continued wisdom and guidance each day.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Sharing Beyond Books #34 Comment Giveaway February 4, 2012

Welcome once more to SBB. I hope everyone had a good first week sliding into February. I am still moving at fast speed..

Thank you to all those who commented last week.
Most of us are not fans of love triangles although they are okay if there is no infidelity, no cheating and it moves along quickly so no unnecessary pain. lag123 mentioned Stephanie Plum but I know some people have gotten tired of that trio after so many books.

It was fun to read the different 'picky habits.' Several agree with liking the toilet paper in the front but there are those who like it the other way - does that make you the "odd ones"?? Only kidding. A number of us like to do certain chores our own way. Several of you have pet peeve's relating to your book collections. How fitting. :-) It sounds like there might be some more "peeves" to share so I'll bring that question back in the future.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #33 comments is: #12 Jane. There are still 8 'love' books to pick from, 3 Christmas choices and 1 Summer title below. Jane please choose a book from the remaining Love Books List for Giveaway or remaining Christmas Giveaway Books, the one summer book below OR pick from the ARC box and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #34 Questions

Q1. This week Emily asks: Would you rather be a Princess in a castle in medieval times, or a millionaire in the 1800s, OR a cavewoman??

A: Hmmm--- I'll pass on the cavewoman but it's harder to decide between a Medieval Princess or an 1800's millionaire?? I'm choosing to be an millionairess in the 1800s - a few more amenities.

Q2. Here is my question: When did you start keeping a list of books you have read??

A: I started keeping a book list in 2001 when my children were old enough that I started reading more. I bought a software called Readerware and used that from 2005 through 2009. Now the lists are on my blog. I also started in 2004 keeping favorite author lists to track the books I read, had to read or had to buy - no sense getting duplicates although it still happens now and then.

List found at Century Farmhouse

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 will draw from the suggestions I used the month before and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions but some of you others might want to get in a question or two as we have a few people submitting most of the questions so far. Either way - it works for me. :-) The question list is getting low so feel free to send in a Q or 2 or 4! Remember they don't all have to be book related. I'm going to be asking some other questions soon!

Your turn to share:

1. This week Emily asks: Would you rather be a Princess in a castle in medieval times, or a millionaire in the 1800s, OR a cavewoman??

2. When did you start keeping a list of books you have read??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books - there are still about 12 books available plus 2 left in the Summer titles to choose from. Also I have added the Review and ARC Box now.

The Days of Summer: A Novel

My copy is a paperback from 2006

with a different cover.

~~A Summer Affair (Calhoun Chronicles)~~
~~I love Susan Wigg's historicals!~~

SBB Rules: a) Must be a follower;
b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the two/three questions 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 by Friday, February 3, 2012 at 10PM central.

Winners of Deeper Water and A Demon Does it Better

CONGRATULATIONS

to the Winners of

Two Copies of Deeper Water

Carol M
and
misskallie2000

ARC copy of A Demon Does it Better

Pam K

ALL WINNERS please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form so I can mail the books out to winners. Please reply within 72 hours!

Friday, February 3, 2012

Audio Book Review: Grant Me Timely Grace by Timothy Woods

This is full of intrigue and peeks into what might have been happening in Washington during the Civil War days leading up to Gettysburg.

Grant Me Timely Grace

UNABRIDGED
by Timothy Woods
Narrated by Andy Mack

LENGTH 16 hrs and 38 mins
AUDIBLE RELEASE DATE 09-09-11
Genre: Historical Fiction
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description

Washington, D.C., June 1863. It is the week before Gettysburg, and the nation's fate hangs in the balance.

A Union officer was not court-martialed after disobeying a direct order during battle. Why?

Major Russell Johns is being played by puppet-master, Gerard Chantier. Transplanted New Orleans businessman and toast of the town. Chantier hosts the city’s most lavish entertainments attended by members of Lincoln’s cabinet and Washington’s elite.

Little do they know Gerard is coordinating an attack with Confederate general JEB Stuart's cavalry to take over the city, kidnap Lincoln and bring victory to the South.

When Russell’s probing brings him in contact with Chantier's daughter, Thérèse, he has to face his most difficult moral choice: manipulating her to get to her father or honoring the one thing that has sustained him through years of battle and loss—his own integrity.

Review:
The Civil War history is woven into this fictional drama so skillfully that I had to wonder which parts were completely real and which were all fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed the historical aspects.

Major Russell Johns has been sent out of battle, which is his passion, back to desk work. Someone exposed his letters to his father in which he ranted against the inferior weapons the Union leaders were providing to the troops. His father has been forced out of Washington and Major Johns is trying to overcome the disgrace of his near court-martial.

Johns gets caught up with his friend Paul and the wealthy Chantier family. Johns doesn’t belong in this elite and privileged social set but the young and impetuous daughter, Therese, has taken a clear liking to him. Johns begins to investigate improper weapons accounting and soon suspects there is much more than just normal government mismanagement. The more he searches the more he finds that much of the rumors and business dealings revolve around the wealthy Gerald Chantier. What he doesn’t realize at first is the extent of secrets and spies that surround him.

Chantier acts the benevolent patron of the Union while he secretly plots to bring down the capital city itself. Meanwhile, James, his life long friend and a former slave, is working to train a black militia to help defend the city. James is also struggling under the weight of guilt for a past betrayal that he can’t decide if he should confess.

While all of the political and military moves are going on, Therese has decided to assert her freedom of will. She breaks off her arranged engagement to a British operative who is another spy tied up with her father. She is seeking more information from James about her mother’s past and she goes so far as to sell jewelry so she will have money not controlled by her father. What Therese doesn’t realize though is that her rather nasty friend, Rachel, is the biggest spy monger and will use anyone to further her own ends. Rachel is a character you can quickly dislike.

There is plenty of intrigue that kept me interested in the story. I was invested in Johns’ behavior, wanting things to go well for him and wanting him to capture the bad guys and save the day. Things don’t always work out perfectly but it is a believable and realistic ending.

The narration reading is a little dry and the beginning was just a bit slow. However the more the story moved on the more engrossed I became. The narrator does a good job with many of the voices although I thought the female accents were a bit inconsistent, weak and whiny. Then again... that was part of Therese’s personality. All in all, this is an engaging story and well worth listening to especially if you love Civil War settings, like I do. I will watch for more books from this author.

I received this book from Crossroad Press through the Review Program at Audiobook Jukebox.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway February 3, 2012

[** If you are new to Friday Pick Giveaway - Welcome! Scroll down a bit (below book group #19) for instructions on how to enter.]

Another busy week for me. This year has started out at high pitch at my office - such a blessing!

Thank you to all who entered January 27 Pick. There were NO Automatic winners :-( this week (those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks). There hopefully will be several automatic wins next week if they don't get blocked. Witch was a popular choice last week.

CONGRATULATIONS

to Random.org picked Winners from January 27Pick:

Llehn gets a GC

Carol W chose Endless Chain

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 or sexy +plus - I am still low on just sweet.

Valentine's is coming up quickly!
I found this image and a list of books for Valentine's
at BeNonsensical

New Group #25 January 12, 2012

*Smaller books on the right would be okay for most international mailing.

~~Endless Chain by Emilie Richards~~

~~Baby and All (3 Novels in 1) by Candace Camp, Victoria Pade and Myrna Mackenzie~~

Leopards Kill by Jim DeFelice

~~Thinner by Stephen King~~

Category 7 by Bill Evans and Marianna Jameson

Dangerous Lady by Amanda Scott

November of the Heart by Lavyrle Spencer

Long Way Home (Friends Romance Series) by Wendy Corsi Staub

Hell's Belle by Jane Holleman

Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov

The Firebird Deception (Silhouette Bombshell) by Cate Dermody

*Shadow Rider: Apache Sundown by Jory Sherman

*Prime Time by Sandra Brown

*Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark

*Out of the Blue (Allegheny Hopes) by Janice A. Thompson

*A McKaslin Homecoming by Jillian Hart

New Group #24 Pick Books November 25, 2011
(The only Thanksgiving title I found is a Harlequin I'd like to read someday so no Thanksgiving titles for November.)

~~After Dark by Beverly Barton(spine wear)~~

~~The Shattered Rose by Jo Beverley~~

Final Justice by Jasmine Cresswell

Green Calder Grass by Janet Dailey

~~Praying for Sleep by Jeffery Deaver~~

Sunset Bay by Susan Mallery

The Wedding Wager by Cathy Maxwell

Moon Racer by Constance O'Banyon

Destiny Unleashed by Sherryl Woods

New Group #23 Pick Books October 14, 2011
I tried to pick some books that would be good for October -
Halloween or dark minded.

Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser

Witch by Barbara Michaels (spine wear)

Emily's Good Nightmare by Cosmic Debris Cosmic

Death Angel by Linda Howard

New Group #22 Pick Books September 2, 2011

Singles:

Tender Triumph by Judith McNaught

A Far and Deadly Cry by Teri Holibrook

~~Blackwater Sound: A Novel (Thorn Mysteries) by James W. Hall~~

New Group #21 of Pick Books July 29, 2011

There are eight mysteries and I have asterisked nine books that are smaller and would be good for oversea choices if so desired.

~~Coffin Underground (Inspector John Coffin) by Gwendoline Butler~~

Mallory's Oracle (Kathleen Mallory Novels) by Carol O'Connell

* I. O. U by Pickard, Nancy (spine creased)

Stand by Me Anthology with Dallas Schulze, Roberta Leigh and Linda Randall Wisdom (spine creased)

May, 2011 New Group of Pick books

Group #20

Singles

Luciano's Luck by Jack Higgins - Audio Cassettes

3/25/11 I did get to set up a new group of books:

Group #19

Singles

Disguised Blessing

~~Rhapsody: A Love Story~~

Primary Colors - audio tapes

Note of Peril (black strip on cover)

2/19/11 Book Group #18- Pairs!

Not all of these are two from a series but several are. Each pick gets two books.

Patricia Cornwell Pair:

Cruel and Unusual

At Risk (Win Garano)

I have finally updated the intro and Entry paragraphs here:

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 in November 27, 2009 and in two years I posted 24 groups of 16 books to find new homes! (Nov 2011)

I have 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! I am happy to say that so far about 304 books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed.

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 far away places runs between $5.00 and $6.00 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)

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 10:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up past midnight to do the winner post!
I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.
Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks.

WINNERS PLEASE CHECK THE WIN POST ON FRIDAYS AND fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads@gmail.com. [I will confirm receipt of the addresses- well I realize I haven't always done this. But if you filled out the form and don't get the book within two weeks nudge me with an email please!] If I have the winners e-mail I will send a reminder in a week or so....

Thanks for helping these books find new homes!!

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!

1/14/11 New List
#17

Moonfire by Judith Redman Robbins
Saving Faith by David Baldacci (Audio Book)

12/3/10 Book Set:

#16

Best Of Enemies by Taylor Smith

Sleight of Hand by Robin Hathaway

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Uneasy Alliance (Famous Firsts) Jayne Ann Krentz (slightly worn)

List #15

~~The Texas CEO's Secret (Silhouette Special Edition) by Nicole Foster~~

List #14

Blood And Glory (Soldiers Of War) (Soldiers of War, Book 1) by Larson Reed

Lines of Defense by Barry Siegel
Gospel Truths by J.G. Sandom

Here is set #13 of Used books!

Pearl Beyond Price by Claire Delacroix

This is a group of books I have had for several years but not gotten to read. Since it doesn't look like I will get to read them for another year (or more!) I am passing them on. Although as I type them part of me still says "But you may want to read that some day!" Yes, yes; along with the other 700 books I am housing! Must Let goooooo.....

Group #12

The Ripple Effect by Lynn Erickson

Double Jeopardy by William Bernhardt

~~The Genesis Code: A Thriller by John Case~~

Group #11

Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown

Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

Snow in April by Rosamunde Pilcher

Looking Back by Belva Plain

The Ring on Her Finger by Elizabeth Bevarly

List #1 Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo

Pick #2