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Showing posts with label Won Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Won Books. Show all posts

Friday, July 20, 2012

Book Review and Giveaway: Heroes Die Young by T. M. Hunter

This is a fun, fast sci fi read.
Heroes Die Young
by T.M. Hunter
  • Paperback: 132 pages
  • Publisher: Champagne Books (September 1, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1897445784
  • ISBN-13: 978-1897445785
Genre: Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: September 1, 2008
A derelict freighter abandoned in outer space is too much for space pirate Aston West to pass up and he can't fight the urge to pilfer its valuable cache of illegal weapons. However, the ship's one last occupant has other ideas and fights to maintain her hold on the weaponry. After attack craft return to finish the ship off, Aston has no choice but to save her from certain destruction. Who is she? What are the weapons for? Why was the freighter destroyed? For every answer he finds, he discovers more questions, and his life is put in jeopardy every time he stops to catch his breath. Aston's life motto of never getting involved is put to the test, and he must decide whether to become a hero for a people in need, or continue on his path of self-preservation.


Review:
This was a fun, fast sci fi read.
Aston West is a space pirate who sometimes takes legitimate freight jobs. He is delivering a cargo when he comes across an abandoned freighter with a valuable cargo of illegal weapons. When he boards the ship to pick up the weapons he also picks up a living occupant, Rione. After first attacking him Rione ends up hitching a ride when local space craft move out to blow up the freighter. 

Aston’s set to dump his passenger, unload his legit cargo and take off to sell his booty. As a bonus he picks up a new delivery and all looks good until he gets arrested. The authorities can’t prove he has illegal cargo thanks to the camouflaging capabilities of his constant companion and aid: Jeanie, his ship’s computer. She is the closest you might get to a genie in a bottle.  But Rione is pointing the finger at him and in order to get released Aston has to make a deal.

Aston has no desire to take sides between two planet governments, nor rebels on either planet. He doesn’t want to be anyone’s hero. He just wants to enjoy the profits of his ‘salvage’ and live his life quietly and safely alone.  Fate and Rione have other plans as she manipulates him into helping her rebellion.

I really enjoyed Aston’s laissez-faire character and the light, ironic tone of this adventure. The plot involves hidden agendas and betrayals but it is complete in this story.  The writing is easy to read and there is plenty of action to keep it fast paced.

I'm glad I got to read this and would be glad to read more. This is just one episode in Aston’s career but I could see it being part of more adventures. And in fact... I just checked and there are other Aston adventures available. If you enjoy easy sci fi, I think this would make a great ‘series’ or related story group to pick up for light, fast reading.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aston speaking to his computer, Jeanie:
    “What would I do without you?” I stood from my chair.
    “Live your life as a hollow shell of a man.” Page 22.
Setting out for another deliver:
    I’d been shot at, threatened, imprisoned, verbally abused, and nearly sentenced to death. This definitely not my finest hour.  Page 55.
Aston's thoughts when being permitted to bring his friend along on a summons to visit with the President:
    It was a good sign. If I were in trouble, they would have shot down my demand. Still, I wasn’t sure what was going on, and though that seemed to be a common occurrence anymore, it bothered me. Page 99.
This book was from my TBR as I won it quite some time ago from the author at a Champagne Books chat. 
I will add this book to my New Author and TBR challenge lists.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the Review Copy:
1. Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest. This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower on any media (GFC, Twitter @MSEREADS, Facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/ReviewsByMarthasBookshelf , Goodreads or Linky - links on right sidebar) or tell me if you are already a follower.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Two total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on July 27, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on July 28.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.  

CymLowell

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

2012 Challenges - Post One (1 - 4) - TBR & Reading Won Books Challenges

One- Three completed. Four - Failed

I didn't participate in any challenges in 2011 as I was concerned I wouldn't have the time to link and post. But I missed them.
Even though I still have the time concern for the upcoming year I decided to participate in a few selective challenges. After I got started the list kept growing ... and growing! So now I will be breaking these into several posts. :-)
A number of the challenges are duplicate/overlapping challenges, yet slightly different, so that makes them easy to complete (I hope).
I am not listing the basics like 150 + although I expect to make that since I did over 200 this year. I'm sure I would make the usual Romance and eBooks challenges. But I might sign up on those later.

ONE, TWO and THREE:  Three TBR Shelf challenges.
I REALLY NEED THESE!!
ONE: TBR Pile



Multi Hosts - See Details at Bookish
Levels:

1-10 - A Firm Handshake
11-20 - A Friendly Hug
21-30 - A Sweet Kiss
31-40 - Love At First Sight
41-50 - Married With Children

Hey - who thinks that married people with children would have time to read 41 books off their shelves?? 
My choice here:  (I am being realistic and will be glad to get one a month and if I do more - that'll be a bonus.)
A FRIENDLY HUG 11-20 books

TWO:


Challenge Levels

Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 25 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 40 books from your TBR piles/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 50 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Everest: Read 100+ books from your TBR pile/s


PIKE'S PEAK LEVEL-12 BOOKS FROM TBR PILE


THREE:







Levels of Backlog:
  1. Running Behind--You need to catch up on your reading a bit, and feel this challenge would be a good motivator to do so.  You are committing to read one book per month that fits the requirement, and nothing else.
  2. Sinking Fast--You feel swamped and hemmed in by the books, which are beginning to take over your life by conquering most of the flat surfaces in your home.  You are ready to commit to not buying any more books each month--including e-books!--until AFTER you've read that month's challenge book.
  3. Biblio Rehab--Every time someone in your family hears you mention a new book you've heard about, they hide your wallet and car keys, dead-bolt the front door, and put you on buy-or-borrow watch.  Admit to yourself that you MUST NOT set foot in a bookstore or library until AFTER you've finished a challenge book for the month.
I think I fit into Level #3.
I choose Biblio Rehab-
I commit to read a book from My Own Shelves before I buy or download any Non-Review Book and before I enter a bookstore or library.  The instructions say "must not set a foot in"...  I wonder if this includes online bookstores!  Good thing I already bought many months of Ladies Book Club books!
{I'm not positive I honored this commitment but I don't think I purchased any new until AFTER I had read 12 books from the TBR and I actually did better than I thought!}
ONE, TWO and THREE:  TBR Shelf Reading list.
01.  Love Engineered by Jenna Dawlish; Historical Romance; my Rating 4.0.
02.  How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper; Paranormal Romance; my rating 4.25.
03.  A Holiday Explained-A Christmas Short Short Story by J. Steven York; macabre; my rating 4.0.
04.  Silver Borne: Mercy Thompson, Book 5 by Patricia Briggs, Paranomal Romance; my rating: 4.75.
05.  Lethal Legacy by Carol Ann Erhardt; mystery; my rating 4.0.
06.  Crusade: Destroyermen Book 2 by Taylor Anderson; Science Fiction; my rating 4.5.
07.  Forever by Maggie Stiefvater; Paranormal Romance, Werewolves;  my rating 4.0.
08.  Stranded with a Spy by Merline Lovelace; Romantic Suspense; my rating 3.5.
09.  Web of Evil by J.A. Jance; Mystery, Thriller; my rating 3.5.
10.  Heroes Die Young by TM Hunter; Sci Fi; my rating 4.25
11.  The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman; fantasy; my rating 5.0
12.  He of the Fiery Spirit by Skhye Moncrief; Fantasy; my rating 3.75.
13.  Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa; Fantasy; my rating 4.0.
14.  The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck; Adapted Classic, Dramatization; rating 4.25.
15.  Midnight in Death by J.D. Robb; Crime Thriller; my rating 4.0. 
16.  The Halloween Collective by the Indie Eclective; Paranormal; my rating 4.25. 
17.  Missing by Rhoda Gibb Hinrichsen; Romantic Suspense ; my rating 4.0.
18.  Christmas in An Elevator by Kay Murky; Holiday Romance; my rating 4.0.

FAILED :-( FOUR: Reading Books Won Challenge!
Purpose: to read and review some of the books we have won. 
Since I started winning books in late 2008 and won quite a lot in 2009 I have a long way to go to read them all. So I am shooting for the highest level on this. I may not pick the oldest but I will at least get some read and reviewed!

Gold: Read 10 or more books you won. 

Now - No one said these couldn't overlap with other challenges so I am figuring that the TBR shelf lists will be okay to match unless someone corrects me on this rule.

01.  Love Engineered by Jenna Dawlish; Historical Romance; my Rating 4.0.
02.  Heroes Die Young by TM Hunter; Sci Fi; my rating 4.25
03.  He of the Fiery Spirit by Skhye Moncrief; Fantasy; my rating 3.75.
04.  Missing by Rhoda Gibb Hinrichsen; Romantic Suspense ; my rating 4.0.  

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Help Me Pick a Read from "Won Books" Comment- Giveaway

As I have mentioned before I have set my own challenge to read some of the books I have won. I hope to prepare a button if only I could get time!
I am already committed to read the first two books in the next two months so they are NOT PART of the Pick group but just a heads up on upcoming reviews. :o)

For the ten "pick books" I have noted the genre as I believe it to be; the Ratings from Amazon and I have added a comment for each book.

Illuminations of the Heart (Historical Romance Novels)
Illuminations of the Heart (Historical Romance Novels)by Joyce DiPastena
Historical Romance -Medieval
4.75 Rated
A Sweetest Romance Author.
I read Joyce's Loyalty's Web and really liked it (5.0 review).
I look forward to reading this one and will be hosting a review,
author interview and giveaway.

Riddle of Berlin
Riddle of Berlinby Cym Lowell
International Thriller
4.0 Rated
I have had this on my TBR pile too long
and am anxious to enjoy it.




THESE ARE THE HELP ME PICK SELECTIONS - In no particular order but numbered for ease of commenting.  Now these are only a very few of the books I have won. I have chosen mostly from older wins rather than newer. However if anyone wants to search my Monday mailbox posts to add a choice from there that is permissible. 

1. Forget Me Not: A Novel                             2.  Love Engineered
 Vicki Hinze                                                     Jenna Dawlish   
Romantic Suspense/Christian                         Historical Rom 1855
4.0 Rated                                                            3.5 Rated      
I have enjoyed this author                              I am interested in the
and was glad to win this.                                  premise of this book.
                                                                                
Love EngineeredForget Me Not: A Novel

3. A Fiery Secret                                                    4.  Alpha Redemption
Diane Craver                                                                 P.A. Bates
Romantic Suspense                                                     Christian SciFi/ AI
4.75 Rated                                                                   4.75 Rated
The heroine is an investigative                          Christian story with a
journalist. My undergrad work                           sentient computer.
was journalism.                                                     Sounds interesting.

Alpha RedemptionA Fiery Secret

5. Journey To Forgiveness                                    6.  Heroes Die Young
Laurean Brooks                                                           T.M. Hunter
Inspirational Romance/Depression Era             Sci Fi Adventure
4.75 Rated                                                                   4.75 Rated
A Sweetest Romance Authors                 Space Pirates - should be fun.
Heroes Die YoungJourney To Forgiveness

7. The Canticle Kingdom                                                 8.   Missing
YA/Fantasy Romance                                          Suspense/Mystery
5.0 Rated                                                               5.0 Rated
"A world of magic, danger, loyalty."                   Christian Mystery.
Missing
The Canticle Kingdom








eBooks:
 9.  My Very Special Agent (The Special Agent Series)
by  Betty Ann Harris                                     10.  Snake Dance                 
Romantic Suspense                                            by Angelica Hart and Zi
Not Rated                                                            Fantasy
A Sweet to Sensual Author                              Not available at Amazon
My Very Special Agent (The Special Agent Series)                        

Here's how this Giveaway works:

Make a comment picking the THREE books you want me to read next. I will read the book that gets the most votes, then probably (no guarantee) the next two books with the second most votes.  (I reserve the right to pick the second and third reads dependent entirely on my mood. LOL.)

I will do a random draw to select TWO commenters.
US or Canadian winner will get their choice of a book from the Christmas Giveaway Books, the February Love Books for Giveaway OR from the Updated review and ARC lists.

International winner will get $6.00 Gift Card, PayPal or Book Depository selection.

This giveaway ends April 22, 2011 at 10pm Central as I don't expect to have time to start anything before then.

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