Winners November and December 2015

I am finally getting around to announcing the last two and posting all the winners from November and December.
Winners can always be found on the right sidebar a week or so after being announced and always on the Giveaway page. (Friday Pick and Sharing Beyond Books winners are in that link as well as the weekly posts and sidebar.)

Some of these are tour wins so winners should check the rafflecopter announcements on those giveaway posts.

***ALL WINNERS at MBS: Please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form to confirm the win and I will arrange the mailing or notify the publishers. I am now asking for mailing info in the giveaway forms so I can mail the books even if I don't hear from the winner.
[I ask that all winner's fill in the form as it helps me keep track of when I have completed the mail outs or notice to the publishers rather than tracking individual emails. But of course -- feel free to email me too! :-)] Email: mesreads AT gmail.com

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WINNERS!

Giveaway Ended November 13, 2015

Book Blast with Giveaway: They All Fall Down by A.K. Mason
$50.00 GC Check Rafflecopter for Winner



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Giveaways Ended November 22, 2015

Book Review and Giveaway Link: Merry Mary by Ashley Farley
$50.00 GC - Check Rafflecopter for winner.



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Giveaway: Katt's in the Cradle: A Secrets from Lulu's Cafe Novel by Ginger Kolbaba, Christy Scannel 
2 Print WINNERS:  LINDA K and MEREDITH M


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Giveaway ended December 1, 2015

Giveaways (print and ebook): You Know What I'm Sayin'?: Poetry * Drama
by Daniel García Ordaz;
Winner Print:  BECKY W
Winner eBook: BN100


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Giveaway ended December 2, 2015


Tour Giveaway: Steal Me (NYPD's Finest) by Lauren Layne
5 Copies - Check Rafflecopter



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Giveaway Ended December 4, 2015

Audio Book Tour Review with Giveaway: Murder on Safari: A Thriller by Peter Riva
10 Copies of Book and 2 $25.00 GCs
Check Rafflecopter for Winners.


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Giveaway Ended December 12, 2015

Giveaway: A Change of Fortune (Ladies of Distinction Book #1) by Jen Turano
Two Print Copies; US Only.
WINNERS: DIANE S and SUE F


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Giveaway Ended December 20, 2015

Giveaway: Raven Saint by MaryLu Tyndall
One Print Copy; US Only.
WINNER: RITA

Book Review and Giveaway: Raven Saint by MaryLu Tyndall

In this story a young Christian woman and the bitter pirate who kidnaps her fall in love.
The Raven Saint: (Charles Towne Belles)
by MaryLu Tyndall

• Series: Charles Towne Belles (Book 3)
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Publishing Inc.; Reprint edition (January 1, 2014)
• ISBN-10: 1624167241

Genre: Christian Romance, Inspirational
My Rating: 3.5* of 5.0  *but note all the 5*s at Amazon

Join bestselling author MaryLu Tyndall for a seafaring historical full of romance, intrigue, action, and adventure. Grace Westcott has piously served God her whole life. Captain Rafe Dubois cannot pass up the opportunity to earn more gold toward the hospital he’s building for the poor by kidnapping Admiral Westcott’s youngest daughter. But when the missionary and the mercenary meet, it’s full-sail-ahead into tumultuous waters! Find out what happens when a bitter mercenary who’s sworn off God falls in love with a pious woman determined to change him.
Charles Towne Belles Series:
Book 1 - The Red Siren
Book 2 - The Blue Enchantress

Review:
Grace is the youngest daughter of an Admiral. She is not yet twenty but has decided to dedicate her life to serving God. She is taking baskets to the less fortunate when she is kidnapped by pirates.

Captain Rafe Dubois has agreed to deliver the Admiral’s daughter in exchange for gold to build the hospital he wants to help those less fortunate. Rafe is the son of a nobleman but chose his rebellious life-style after his father’s wealth wooed away Claire, the woman he fell in love with. He has no trust in women, much less God.

Grace is frightened but also finds strength through her faith. She determines that she will face off with the Godless Capitaine and show him God’s love. Grace’s kind manner help her to make a few friends among the crew, most particularly the Captain’s cat, Spyglass, and a disillusioned former Jesuit priest, Father Alers. Others have little kindness for her and some have their own plans to use her in plans of betrayal.

I liked Grace for the most part and particularly liked her strong faith and that she showed kindness in response to evil. She learns lessons about character and pride through her trials.  Rafe is a mixed character as he has a soft-heart but his heart is full of bitterness and must show brashness and ruthlessness to control his men. The plot includes Rafe’s father, Claire and more betrayal. The characters are well developed and the plot has action, intrigue and bantering dialogue. The writing is easy to read but I just never warmed to the story.

I started this book the summer of 2014 and finally finished it late summer of 2015. I enjoyed the last 60 or so pages so maybe I just wasn’t in the mood when I started it. However – I have decided I really don’t care for kidnapping pirate themed plots. This is at least the second pirate story I couldn’t get into. There are very positive reviews at Amazon so I think it was just me and my reading tastes.

This was from my TBR shelf as I received this title as a win in October 2010 from Desertrose.

One (gently read) PRINT COPY GIVEAWAY

US Only

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries

(a) comment on the review, OR

(b) Visit the AUTHOR'S WEBSITE and tell me something you learned or like there.

* This contest is open to US only for Print Copy.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) December 20, 2015.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after December 20, 2015.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.