Giveaway Reminder - Last Day to Enter Waiting for an Eclipse - and Update!

Today is the last day to enter to win Waiting for an Eclipse by the multi-talented Karen Wiesner.





Author Emery Lee, The Highest Stakes, has a new blog where she describes her own visit to this year's Kentucky Derby and shares some excellent pictures!  Stop over to say hello.

Martha's Bookshelf *** Friday Pick Giveaway May 14, 2010

I promised some new books in May and here is the first set of "new" Used books!

Group #11
Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown
Rainbow in the Mist by Phyllis Whitney
Hothouse Orchid by Stuart Woods - CD Audio
Taking the Fifth by J.A.Jance
Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen
Reckless by Amanda Quick
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Snow in April by Rosamunde Pilcher
Swan Road by Rebecca Brandewyne
The Protector by Madeline Hunter
Faery Magic Anthology (This has a red mark across the front where the book store marked it)
Looking Back by Belva Plain
The Ring on Her Finger by Elizabeth Bevarly
Rainmaker by John Grisham - Audio Tapes
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn (Oops - better make sure my daughter has read this one!)
Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy

PLEASE NOTE UPDATED RULES IN RED BELOW!

I am going to continue to include the full list updated with chosen books crossed off.  You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see each post and the book pictures if you want!  I am happy to say that so far about 68 books have found new homes! YAY.  I pulled a couple of hardbacks and larger books as the postage cost was prohibitive. 

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 the Friday Pick Giveaways.

I originally posted ten Friday Pick posts with 16 books each.  I will strike out the books as they are chosen. Some of the books may be chosen by winners in the SaSR weekly drawings. So it will be first pick to the one who claims it.  SaSR winners are announced Friday mornings (or afternoon if I get busy!) and it usually takes that person a bit of time to get back to me. That means the Friday Pick winner who is drawn Thursday night will usually get the choice named in their comment as I will have time to remove it from the file list before announcing the winner at SaSR.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, 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.

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists (less whichever books might be picked by the comment or SaSR winners each week).  PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM SETTING A NEW CUT OFF TIME AS 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 the next Friday.
ALSO, TO SAVE ME EXTRA WORK, I WILL ASK THE WINNERS TO CHECK THE WIN POST ON FRIDAYS AND E-MAIL ME THEIR ADDRESSES at mesreads@gmail.com.  I will confirm receipt of the addresses.  If I have the winners e-mail I will send a reminder over the weekend but I won't be so rushed on Fridays!  So I still recommend that you leave your e-mail especially if you are new and I don't have a way to find it!

Thanks for helping these books find a new home!!

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!

List 1
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
Married at Midnight (Anthology) Kathleen Woodiwiss, Jo Beverley, Tanya Anne Crosby & Samantha James
A Jockey's Life by Dick Francis
Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo
Net Force - One is the Loneliest Number by Tom Clancy
Everlasting by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Piercing the Darkness by Frank Peritti
A Time to Kill by John Girsham
Unlaced by Kristina Cook
Love in Bloom by Shelia Roberts
Tamed by a Laird by Amanda Scott
Jerusalem Vigil by Bodie & Brock Thoene
Whispers and Lies by Joy Fielding
Never Seduce a Scoundrel by Sabrina Jeffries
Almost Single by Advaita Kala

Pick#2
Love Me Forever by Johanna Lindsey
It Had to be you (the Gossip Girl prequel) by Cecily Von Ziegesar
Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann
Lord of a Thousand Nights by Madeline Hunter
On the Run by Iris Johansen
The Crush by Sandra Brown
The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross
Abandon by Carla Neggers
Shadows in the Heart - A Jewels of the Quill Halloween Anthology *PA*
Bait by Karen Robards
The Lighthouse by Mary Schramski
Listen to the Silence by Marcia Muller
Kissing Midnight by Emma Holly
The Lightkeeper by Susan Wiggs (I loved this historical romance and it got me to reading all of Susan Wiggs!)
It's Always Something by Gilda Radner - Gilda's poignant battle with cancer.
11th Hour by Bradley Warshauer

Pick #3
Put Your Dreams First - Handle your [entertainment] business HY[E]B by Thembisa Mshaka
Delivered by Christmas Anthology - Linda Howard, Joan Hohl andSandra Steffen
The Woman Next Door by Barbara Delinsky
Until Prove Guilty by J.A. Jance
One Night with a Prince by Sabrina Jeffries
Maverick Wild by Stacey Kane
Red Fire by Dierdre Knight
Cloud Nine by LuAnn Rice
The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe
One Eye Closed by Karen Whiddon
Under the Mistletoe by Mary Balogh
The Bartered Bride by Mary Jo Putney
Isle of Palms by Dorothea Benton Frank
Payback by R.I. Kaiser
The Angels of Darkness by Caleb Carr
Dream in Color - How the Sanchez Sisters are Making History in Congress

Pick #4
Honeymoon by James Patterson
Talking God by Tony Kellerman
Twelve Acres by Barbara Delinsky
Black Ice by Anne Stuart
Everything to Gain by Barbara Taylor Bradford
CORRECTION:  This was not The Last of The Mohicans based on the Novel by James Fenimore Cooper - although I do have that;  The book in the group is The Sixth Sense (a book my son left me when he went off to the service).
A Cowboys Redemption by Jeanie Watt (PA)
Three Weeks in Paris by Barbara Taylor Bradford
The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber
Tripwire by Lee Child
The Shadow by Shelley Munro (PA)
Children of the Wild by Orson Scott Card
Until Death Do Us Part by Christine Mcquire
Warning Signs by Stephen White
The Forgotten by Faye Kellerman
Swear by the Moon by Shirley Busbee
Montana Bride by Barbara Clark (A)

Pick #5
See Jane Lead by Lois P. Frankel
Jake's Return by Liana Laverentz (A)
The Jester by James Patterson - Audio Tapes
Firestorm by Nevada Barr
Manhunt by Janet Evanovich - Audio CDs
Bloodlines by Dinah McCall (slightly creased "SC")
The Darkroom by Minette Walters
Wish You Well by David Baldacci - Audio Tapes
The Daddy Spell by Patti Ann Cole
Ice Hunt by James Rollins
Surrender a Dream by Jill Barnett
Irresistible by Mary Balogh
Misfortune by Nancy Geary
False Prophet by Faye Kellerman
Cold Hit by Linda Fairstein - Audio Tapes
A Kiss of Fate by Mary Jo Putney (SC)

Pick #6
Best Kept Secrets by Sandra Brown - Audio CDs
Demon Rum by Sandra Brown
Tin Man by Dale Brown
Song of the Beast by Carol Berg
The Marshall Takes a Bride by Renee Ryan *PA*
The Torment of Others by Val McDermid
On Bear Mountain by Deborah Smith
The Edge of Town by Dorothy Garlock
The Hostage Bride by Jane Feather
Gypsy Lover by Edith Layton
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks
The Elusive Flame by Kathleen Woodwiss
The House of Women by Alison G. Taylor
The Healer by Dee Henderson - Audio Tapes
Elusive Love by Catherine Lanigan
Mistletoe and Mischief by Patricia Wynn

Pick #7
Desperate Duchess by Eloisa James
In Her Defense by Stepehn Horn - Audio Tape
A Perfect Gentleman by Barbara Metzger (slightly creased)
Scarred by William Heffernan (spine creased)
When A Stranger Loves Me by Julianne Maclean (Autographed)
Prey by Michael Crichton - Audio Tape
The Path to Her Heart by Linda Ford (Personally Autographed)
Deception Point by Dan Brown
Barbarians of Malka by Justus Roux
X-Men 2
Hunted by William W. Johnstone (spine frayed at top)
Wedded in a Whirlwind by Liz Fielding (Autographed)
Man of My Dreams by Johanna Lindsey (spine frayed a bit at bottom)
Kisscut by Karen Slaughter - Audio Tape
Princess Charming by Jane Heller (slightly creased)
The Janson Directive by Robert Ludlum 

Pick #8
(sc) = slightly creased on binding otherwise all in good shape
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson
The Jury by Steve Martini - Audio Tapes
Dream Chaser by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Stormy Weather by Carl Haasen - Audio Tapes
The Vision by Heather Graham (sc))
The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown
Fool Me Once by Fern Michaels
Midnight Come Again by Dana Stabenow (sc)
Speak No Evil by Allison Brennan (sc)
Into the Forest by Jean Hegland - Audio Tapes (box creased but tapes good)
Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian (sc)
Silent Thunder by Iris Johansen (sc)
The Nosy Neighbor by Fern Michaels
Born of Fire by Sherrilyn Kenyon
No Safe Place by Richard North Patterson - Audio Tapes
Vertical Run by Joseph R. Garber (sc)

Pick #9
Spyder Web by Tom Grace - Audio Tapes
The Closers by Michael Connelly
Three Weddings and a Kiss - Anthology
The Rogue and the Rival by Maya Rodale (Personally Autographed)
Final Appeal by Lisa Scottoline (spine creased)
The Lost World by Michael Crichton - Audio Tapes
Evil Whispers by Owl Goingback
Her Highness My Wife by Victoria Alexander
On Treacherous Ground by Earl Murrray
Darkfall by Stephen Laws
Runaway Heart by Stephen J. Cannell
Guardian by Dee Henderson - Audio Tapes
Grace in Autumn by Lori Copeland and Angela Hunt
The Lottery Winner by Mary Higgins Clark
Time to Hunt by Stephen Hunter - Audio Tapes
Vanity by Jane Feather

Pick #10
Night by Elie Wiesel
Cruel & Unusual by Patricia Cornwell (slightly creased -sc)
The Third Twin by Ken Follett (spine creased)
Double Blind by Ken Goodard
Fool's Paradise by Tori Phillips
Deep Black by Stephen Coonts
The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodwiss (spine creased)
A Stranger in The House by Gloria Murphy
The Hunter by Gennita Low (sc)
Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief by Dorothy Gilman - Audio Tapes
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown
The Trouble with Mary by Millie Criswell
Dreams Gather by Kathryn Collins (sc)
Shades of Twilight by Linda Howard
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
The Aristocrat by Catherine Coulter (I have most of her books and this is a duplicate!)

Winners of Friday Pick May 7, 2010

CONGRATULATIONS

to winners of Friday Pick May 7, 2010

Throuthehaze chose The DaVinci Code

AND

Terchil chose Lord of a Thousand Nights

Please e-mail me your snail mail address and choice of bookmarks (sweet and sensual only or any).

Review and Giveaway of ARC - Uncertain Magic by Laura Kinsale

Title: Uncertain Magic by Laura Kinsale

Author: Laura Kinsale
Genre: Historical Romance
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (May 4, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1402237022
ISBN-13: 978-1402237027

Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Back cover Blurb:

A man damned by suspicion and innuendo
Dreadful rumors swirl around the impoverished Irish lord known as "The Devil Earl." But Faelan Savigar hides a dark secret, for even he doesn't know what dreadful deeds he may be capable of...

A woman cursed by the gift of "sight"
Roderica Delamore fears no man will ever want a wife who can read his every thought and emotion, until she encounters Faelan. As the two find their way to each other against all odds, Roddy becomes determined to save Faelen from his terrifying and mysterious ailment. But will their love end up saving him...or destroying her? A breathtaking historical romance filled with poignancy, darkness, love, and an unexpected twist of Gaelic magic...

Review: This is an magical read with an enchanting heroine and a dark, brooding hero!

Roderica, “Roddy”, is a brave 19 year old who longs to live a “normal” live.  Instead, she struggles with her “curse” that allows her to hear the thoughts of others.  Her wealthy family has sheltered her, partly from fear of others learning of her “gift” and partly because it can be overwhelming for Roddy to be among crowds.  That doesn’t exactly keep Roddy from sneaking out, especially to indulge her special touch with the horses.  Roddy also shows great fortitude in adapting to new and difficult circumstances.

Faelan is called “The Devil Earl” because it is widely believed that he killed his father as a boy of 10 or 11.  He is aloof, dark and enigmatic.  Since people view him as dangerous he seems suited to play the part. Because he really does have memory lapses and doesn’t know what crimes and injuries he has caused he tends to keep everyone at arms length rather than risk possibly hurting others.

Roddy is able to convince “The Devil Earl” to strike his winning horse before it is injured. She is shocked that her gift doesn’t work with the Earl.  Even so, she is able to see natural respect and kindness, and also loneliness, underneath his public mask. She decides to marry him because she thinks she could have a “normal” life with him.  The Earl is willing to marry her because he desperately wants her extensive dowry to rebuild his deteriorated Irish estate, but he is also intrigued by this daring and entrancing creature. Roddy wants to help solve the puzzle of his memory loss but is hindered by his pushing her away out of fear of what harm he might even, or especially, unknowingly cause.

Roddy and Faelan begin to learn more about each other and slowly build respect, companionship and some trust. Unfortunately the trust issues are thwarted by imagined betrayals on both sides. Faelan believes that Roddy still has a crush on her childhood friend, Lord Geoffrey, who is a good friend of Faelan’s and a known philanderer. Roddy believes that Faelan is still seeing his mistress and she struggles with trying to accept that when she really desperately wants his love. 
Add to these difficulties, Faelan's mother, Lady Iveragh who shows up before the newly weds can leave for Ireland. She is a constant whirlwind with a mind in such turmoil that Roddy can only read brief flashes of fear and dark, troubling thoughts. Her behavior gives some insight into Faelan’s own aloof character.

The emotional struggles of the couple are intensified by the fear and turmoil provided by Irish rebellion and English brutality in 1797.  The interesting political upheaval is seamlessly woven into the story as are the paranormal, fae and magical elements. I enjoy Ms. Kinsale's very smooth writing style. This is a truly delightful and engaging romance.

XXX

Thank you to Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this ARC and giveaway my copy.

I have an older 1987 copy of this book.  It is not in the best of shape, being a bit warped and worn. If someone wants to “claim” the older version and forego the giveaway I will send the older book to the first person who claims it. OR IF no one claims it and you are willing to accept it as a second place win, let me know in your comment that you want to be in on a runner-up drawing.  UPDATE:  Virginia - GcWhiskas claimed the older book by e-mail one minute before the first comment was made.

 TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR THE ARC:

1. Comment on the review telling me if you like "fae" creatures or elements, and if so, do you have a favorite?  Alternative comment: visit the author's website and tell me something you learned there. Please leave your e-mail!

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For another entry, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

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

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on June 1, 2010. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.

Three Winners of The 8th Confession!

CONGRATULATIONS

to the winners of The 8th Confession by James Patterson

Cheryl

Gina

and

RobynL

I will send the winners the form to fill out for the Hachette information.