Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf

Sunday, October 10, 2010

It's Monday! What are you Reading October 11, 2010?

This meme starts at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I had another good reading week: I finished four books: 1 print, 1 Kindle, an Audio CD and an Audible listen.
I have two print books going now and will pick another read and audio (with follower help) soon. :)
I posted two reviews with Giveaways and two Comment Giveaways.

It looks like I will not get to review the books I read from my TBRs so (as of last week) I am giving a rating and a short summary comment on those in these Monday posts.

I continue to work on the past due reviews and have three to send in for posting but I didn't finish any more this week.

I visited 8 "It's Monday" posts early last week and then never got back to visit more. I did get to reply to comments on my Wild Kingdom in My Backyard post.
I am still limited on how much time I can spend commenting and reviewing by work commitments.

These were last week's posts plus several Winner posts not listed.

It's Monday What are You Reading? October 4, 2010

Review and ARC Giveaway of Highland Hellcat
by Mary Wine

Wild Kingdom in My Own Backyard Giveaway

Review and Giveaway
Simply Irresistible (A Lucky Harbor Novel) by Jill Shalvis

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway October 8, 2010

Pick My Next Review Read Giveaway

Sunday Words of Encouragement October 10, 2010.

Finished Reading:

PB: Highland Hellcat by Mary Wine. Review and ARC Giveaway posted October 5.

Kindle: Moonlight Bleu
by Renee Rearden.

This was very engaging.

I will be reviewing this soon

with an author interview.

Audiobook:Whiteout by Ken Follett. 4.5 of 5.0
This was a very good biochemical thriller. It has lots of suspense with a sad family betrayal. I liked the Scottish narration.
I have to learn not to drive while listening to the last climactic disc on these audiobooks.

Audible:

Real Murders (An Aurora Teagarden Mystery)

by Charlaine Harris.

3.75 of 5.0.
This sure isn't a Sookie book.
I ultimately found a great deal
of this to be a bit mundane.
I am not sure if it was the book
or the less than exciting
narration. I may look at
other books in the series but
I'm not rushing to get them.
Maybe the Lilly Bard books will prove better.

Line Edits: I have one new book release going up Monday or Tuesday and working on two more to post this week.

Currently reading:
PB: A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore.
I am one third into this. I wasn't thrilled with the beginning of this but is starting to get a little more meat/plot now. The review, Hachette giveaway and Q&A are to be posted Wednesday, October 13.

Product Description
Although the widowed Lady Rebecca has sworn off marriage, men are another matter. London's cold winter nights have her dreaming of warmer pursuits-like finding a lover to satisfy her hungry heart. Someone handsome, discreet, and most importantly as uninterested in marriage as she is. Someone like Jack Fulton.

A known adventurer and playboy, Jack seems like the perfect choice. There's just one problem: Jack isn't interested in an affair. He needs the beautiful, mysterious Lady Rebecca to be his wife. And he doesn't have much time to persuade her. A secret from Jack's past is about to surface, and by Christmas Day he'll be either married to Rebecca or dead.

PB: Just One Taste (Recipe for Love) by Louisa Edwards.
I am two thirds through this and it is more delicious the more I read. I plan to post the review and Recipe for Love trilogy giveaway with swag later this week.
ARC and swag were provided by Nancy Berland PR.

He has a hungry mind.
Bad-boy chef Wes Murphy dreads his final semester cooking class—Food Chemistry 101—until he meets the new substitute teacher. Dr. Rosemary Wilkins is a feast for the eyes, though her approach to food is strictly academic. So Wes decides to rattle her Bunsen burner by asking for her hands-on advice—on aphrodisiacs . . .

She’s got love down to a science.
Rosemary is a little wary about working with Wes, whose casual flirtations leave her hot under the collar. But once they begin testing the love-enhancing power of chocolate, oysters, and strawberries, it becomes scientifically evident that the brainy science nerd and the boyish chef have some major chemistry together—and it’s delicious . .

Line Edits: I hope to finish formatting two more books this week for release. I'm participating in the Muse Online Writer's Conference.

Upcoming books:
I am letting my followers pick the next read at this post.

PB: I have four Sourcebooks still to read for this month.
Kindle: I will probably start one of the Sourcebook prints on the Kindle to keep the books moving.
I also just received an author pdf and expect another this week in preparation of reviews/interviews with giveaways. They will be posted with the November books.
Audio: I did receive two audiobooks and I hope to get two more this week.

I have a dozen good Soursebook paperback books lined up for October, November and December with book giveaways. Plus several Hachettes and some blog tours for Pump up Your Book Promotion. More busy times ahead. :)

Winner of One Fine Cowboy by Joanne Kennedy

CONGRATULATIONS

to the WINNER of

One Fine Cowboy

by Joanne Kennedy

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Thank you to all who entered. It is fun to read about your duding experiences (or lack thereof.)
I will email Wanda for her snail mail address so I can send the book.

Sunday Words of Encouragement October 10, 2010

Today was Friend's Day at our church and we had a music trio from our church singing country and blues songs that were fabulous. I will have to try to find some of them as videos. Pastor did a very quick message based on Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.

⁹ Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their work:

This represents friendship being PRODUCTIVE

¹⁰ If one falls down,

his friend can help him up.

But pity the man who falls

and has no one to help him up!

This represents friendship being RESTORITIVE

¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

But how can one keep warm alone?

This represents friendship being NURTURING

¹² Though one may be overpowered,

two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

This represents friendship being SECURE

Pastor also reminded us that God is not specialized or limited to one person or group but He is available to all.

This is our daughter's one year wedding anniversary.

I picked this song for her and her wonderful husband and the movie shots are a lot of fun.

A Verse for Today:

John 15:12-15 NIV

¹²My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command.

I said prayers today for many friends, local and online, wishing you God's blessings.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Pick My Next Review Read and Win a Book Giveaway!

I decided I would let my faithful readers pick the my next read sometimes for those books that don't have set dates. I have already started October so this selection can only be for a week so I can get going.
I'll post November's group next weekend so that there will be at least two weeks to enter.

I was thinking that I might do a random draw and that comment picks the book I read next and (1) gets five extra entries in the review giveaway Or (2) the winning commenter can have a choice of my back review books and ARCs which I will have to get into a post for selection. Which should it be? Option (1) or (2)? Say which one with your comment as majority will rule.

Keep in mind that the Hachette books will have giveaways, usually five for print and three for audio.
The Sourcebooks I only have the ARC.
Author review books I will note if I will be doing a giveaway.

Now onto the October Review Books:
Set Dates: (surprisingly only one set date left for this month.)

I have already stared this for October 13 Review, Giveaway and Q&A
A Season of Seduction by Jennifer Haymore

Just One Taste

(Recipe for Love) by Louisa Edwards.
ARC Book provided by Nancy Berland PR
for review and giveaway.

Well - I started this one already

and will be hosting a Giveaway of

the full trilogy plus swag when I finish
so I guess this will go into the ARC box for giveaway.

These books have no scheduled date and I am listing them in no particular order.