Martha's Bookshelf *** Friday Pick Giveaway August 6, 2010

Don't get so lost in your book that you get sunburned!

NOTE: New rules for international participants. I learned over the past weeks 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. 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 hone that will make me happy. :o)

Oh I had another shopping spree last weekend and got 36 more books. Some for me to read and some for you to win. :) But I forgot to take my camera to work. So NEXT week another new group.

List #14

The Cobra Event by Richard Preston

Blue Screen (Sunny Randall) by Robert Parker

Golden Buddha by Clive Cussler

Proof of Intent: A Charley Sloan Courtroom Thriller by William Coughlin, Walter Sorrels

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

The Hangman's Knot: A Novel (Billy Tree Mysteries) by David Wiltse

The Darkness by Jason Pinter

Off Season by Jack Ketchum

The Color of Law: A Novel by Mark Gimenez
Atlantis by David Gibbins
Depraved Indifference by Joseph Teller
Lines of Defense by Barry Siegel
Must the Maiden Die (Seneca Falls Historical Myster) by Miriam Grace Monfredo
Gospel Truths by J.G. Sandom
The Summons by John Grisham - Audio CDs

Here is set #13 of "new" Used books!

Immortal Sins by Amanda Ashley
Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways, Book 1) by Lisa Kleypas
Flamingo Diner by Sherryl Woods
Death Cruise (St. Martin's True Crime Library) by Don Davis
Bed of Roses (Topaz Historical Romance, Je 519) by Suzanne Simmons
The Angel by Carla Neggers
Ain't She Sweet? by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Anansi Boys by Neil Gairman
The Bone Garden: A Novel  by Tess Gerritsen
Atonement by Ian McEwan
The Hellion by LaVyrle Spencer
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Pearl Beyond Price by Claire Delacroix
The Outside Man by Richard North Patterson
The Night We Met: The Panty Raid\Frame By Frame\Three Wishes (Harlequin Signature Select) Anthology
Pamela Morsi, Karen Kendall and Colleen Collins

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
First King of Shannara (Shannara Trilogy, Prequel)  by Terry Brooks
Seal Team Oneby Dick Couch
Motion to Suppress by Perri O'Saughnessy
Presumption of Death by Perri O'Saughnessy
McNally's Puzzle by Lawrence Sanders
Pandemic by Daniel Kalla
Lethal Practice by Peter Clement
The Undertaker's Widow by Phillip M. Margolin
The Burning Man by Phillip M. Margollin
Double Jeopardy by William Bernhardt
The Genesis Code: A Thriller by John Case
Death Takes Passage (Alaska Mysteries) by Sue Henry
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, Book 1) by Stephen King


Group #11
Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown
Hothouse Orchid by Stuart Woods - CD Audio
Taking the Fifth by J.A.Jance
Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Snow in April by Rosamunde Pilcher
Swan Road by Rebecca Brandewyne
The Protector by Madeline Hunter
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!)

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 90 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
A Jockey's Life by Dick Francis
Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo
Net Force - One is the Loneliest Number by Tom Clancy
Almost Single by Advaita Kala

Pick#2
Love Me Forever by Johanna Lindsey
Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann
The Crush by Sandra Brown
The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross
The Lighthouse by Mary Schramski

Pick #3
Delivered by Christmas Anthology - Linda Howard, Joan Hohl andSandra Steffen
The Woman Next Door by Barbara Delinsky
Red Fire by Dierdre Knight
One Eye Closed by Karen Whiddon
Isle of Palms by Dorothea Benton Frank

Pick #4
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).
The Shadow by Shelley Munro (PA)
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
The Darkroom by Minette Walters
The Daddy Spell by Patti Ann Cole
Surrender a Dream by Jill Barnett
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
Tin Man by Dale Brown
The Marshall Takes a Bride by Renee Ryan *PA*
On Bear Mountain by Deborah Smith
The Edge of Town by Dorothy Garlock
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
In Her Defense by Stephen Horn - Audio Tape
A Perfect Gentleman by Barbara Metzger (slightly creased)
Scarred by William Heffernan (spine creased)
Prey by Michael Crichton - Audio Tape
The Path to Her Heart by Linda Ford (Personally Autographed)
Deception Point by Dan Brown
X-Men 2
Hunted by William W. Johnstone (spine frayed at top)
Man of My Dreams by Johanna Lindsey (spine frayed a bit at bottom)
Princess Charming by Jane Heller (slightly creased)

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
Stormy Weather by Carl Haasen - Audio Tapes
The Vision by Heather Graham (sc))
Fool Me Once by Fern Michaels
Midnight Come Again by Dana Stabenow (sc)
Into the Forest by Jean Hegland - Audio Tapes (box creased but tapes good)
Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian (sc)
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
Time to Hunt by Stephen Hunter - Audio Tapes

Pick #10
Cruel & Unusual by Patricia Cornwell (slightly creased -sc)
The Third Twin by Ken Follett (spine creased)
Double Blind by Ken Goodard
The Hunter by Gennita Low (sc)
Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief by Dorothy Gilman - Audio Tapes
The Trouble with Mary by Millie Criswell
Dreams Gather by Kathryn Collins (sc)

Winners of Friday Pick July 30, 2010

CONGRATULATIONS

To the winners of Friday Pick July 30, 2010

and


Image by Cool Text: Logo and Button Generator - Create Your Own

Terri chose The Elusive Flame
and
Jules@OneBookShy chose Immortal Sins

Please email your full name and addresses to me for your books.
Thanks to all who entered.  Keep trying!

Winners of Blogoversary!

CONGRATULATIONS

To the winners of my Blogoversay Giveaway!

The Gramd Place Winner will pick her book, then the A, B and C winners can pick gift certificates or gift prizes, first A, then B and finally C.
Thank you again all for encouraging me with my blog!


GRAND PRIZE WINNER:
#158

Carol N

FIRST PLACE (A) WINNER:
            #569

          Fiona C

and SECOND PLACE (B) WINNER:

#103                     

Amanda W               

THIRD PLACE (C) WINNER
#445

MinnChica

Blogoversary Suggestions Wrap Up #1

I appreciate all the entries, good wishes and comments on my Blogoversary. Thank you all.
I have a couple of suggestions to comment on and some I wish to seek input on, represented by the QQs below, from those who want to contribute their "two bits."

Item 1>
Several people asked for a way to subscribe. I too have found that email subscription to other blogs is an easy way to follow so I don't miss anything and I can look and delete each day after looking.  THERE IS AN EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION OPTION for MBS.  It is located directly  beneath the About Me paragraph and profile link on the upper left side bar.

Item 2>
Several people asked for more Author interviews and that was already in my thoughts and is in the works.  See more in my comments and the Blog schedule below.

Item 3>
QQ: Should the Giveaway list remain on top or be moved to the side?

I have had several commentors say they like the Giveaways at the top. I did get some comments though that  it was too long at the top. The list has gotten rather long and I don't see that slowing any time soon. I think it will continue to run at about eight open giveaways. I could move it to the side bar which will add one more thing to the full sidebars or I could do a link at the top to go to a page of Giveaways.
So - if you have an opinion on this, please vote in the poll which I will be posting (hopefully later on Thursday) on the side bar.
Feel free to leave a comment on this post too.

Item 4>
Should I post more reviews? I was going to put this to a poll but after listing my thoughts I am asserting executive decision here.
Here are my thoughts and reasons
a) A large number of the reviews I post are for publishers and authors. I have only been reading a few books from my own shelves. I have tried to post only two to three reviews a week so that they can get some attention (the goal) rather than be skimmed over because there are so many.
b) I read three to four books a week. Some of the reviews have been for other review sites, currently You Gotta Read Reviews and Romance Junkie Reviews (although I have not taken new books for two months while I get my backlog reviews completed). I could add the other reviews here but they can also be found at the review sites I write them for. It is unlikely I would have more than four reviews a week to post unless I pull some of my other reviews.
c) As I go visiting other blogs, there are many reviews to be read and we each only have so much time.
I am doing more interviews which take time for visitors to read too.
d) I have a bit of a blog schedule that I follow (see below) which really leaves three to four days open for reviews and other posts of interest.
e) I actually have full time work with a law office and title insurance company; now add to that the publishing company.  Almost all of my spare time is already spent reading, reviewing and posting - it all takes time which is in limited supply.  
So, although I am honored that people would ask for more reviews, my choice and preference is to continue to try to post a minimum of two and a maximum of four reviews per week. I hope to go for quality over quantity. Plus I will now be having at least one, and no more than two, interviews per week.

Item 5>
There was a comment that I had more giveaways than reviews.  That is possible.
Since most of my reviews lately include Giveaways that means I am posting two to three book giveaways a week. I generally hold off and post my Giveaways when I post the review but occasionally there will be a Giveaway before I finish the book.  And of course there are my own "gifty" giveaways, and follower giveaways and special event giveaways. Well - even if there may be more giveaways than reviews I hope that doesn't bother too many people. *BG*
QQ: I am curious though to know whether you prefer the giveaways in separate posts or joined with the reviews? I will post a poll for that question  soon.

Item 6>
I had several comments on the Blogoversary suggesting that I reinstate the Comment Tuesday posts or have more chats. I miss those too. I will be getting back to those so watch for them please and come chat away!

More suggestions will be discussed in Wrap Up #2 to be posted Saturday.

Below is the MBS Blog Schedule where some things are set and some are floating. This may help some of you to find posts you are looking for, like what am I reading or what books I received or when the reviews are posted. I will soon dedicate a day to the interviews.

Monday: two memes:

• It's Monday. What are you Reading? Here I summarize the past week's posts, the books I completed, those I am currently reading and those coming up.  I try to make a succinct comment on the finished books to give my quick impression in case someone is interested and doesn't get back to read the review OR in case the review is being posted elsewhere OR in case it takes a few weeks to get the review posted. :)
• Monday Mailbox - I have been using this only for books I win or pick up at bargain or the occasional book I actually purchase.  I may add review books that come in - I will probably put that to a poll.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday -  These are Reviews and Interview days. I am going to try to have at least one day dedicated to Author Features - Guest Blog, Interview or highlight feature.  I will be posting a sign up form in the near future. I will be including other bloggers to interview too (this was a splendid suggestion!). I hope to break this out to be a Hachette author once or twice a month, a Sourcebook author or Pump up Your Book author once a month, a guest author (hopefully from some of the groups I belong to and you have seen me promote like Sweet to Sensual Romance and The Sweetest Romance Authors) once a month and a blogger once a month. That will be at least four interview or guest blogs per month and will take up a day per week

Friday: I announce the previous Friday Pick Winners and post the new Friday Pick Giveaway each Friday morning. The rest of the day is open or I may post blog tour announcements or winners.

Saturday: An open day for occasional review/giveaway posts or items of interest, like upcoming blog tours. This could be used for Chat days and I have some ideas for that.

Sunday: Sunday Words of Encouragement.

Again thanks for the suggestions and check this Saturday for the second half of the wrap up.

Winners of Barely a Lady

CONGRATULATIONS

To the WINNERS of Barely a Lady (The Drake's Rakes series) 

by Eileen Dreyer

and

Thank you everyone who entered. If you didn't win I encourage you to get the book and enjoy it!
I will email the winners the form to complete.
Please confirm within 72 hours.