Martha's Bookshelf *** Friday Pick Giveaway May 13, 2011

Sorry this is late. Blogger was down for several days. There is a new group of books below.
Thank you to all who entered May 6.There was one Auto winner - (who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks)
 Linda K gets Blueberry Hill Marcia Evanick.

CONGRATULATIONS

to Winners from May 6 Pick:

Birgit  - Gift Card credit

Carol W - gets

MRS. POLIFAX AND THE SECOND THIEF

All winners please email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - either sweet and sensual or sexy +plus. 

Is anyone flying kites in May?

5/13/11

New Group of Pick books

Group #20

Pairs:

Debbie Macomber 

Between Friends

Thursdays at Eight

Luanne Rice

Firefly Beach

Cloud Nine

Singles

Iced (Regan Reilly Mysteries, No. 3)by Carol Higgins Clark

A Price for Everything (Rosamunde Pilcher's Book Shelf) by Mary Sheepshank

Luciano's Luck by Jack Higgins - Audio Cassettes

S is for Silence (Kinsey Millhone Mystery) by Sue Grafton

Poirot Investigates - Volume 1 Agatha Christie - Audio Cassettes

Firefly Summer by Maeve Binchy

Hope Everlastin' by Mickee Madden

The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz

The Hope Chest: Yesterday's Magic\Today's Secrets\Tomorrow's Promise (Signature Select) Anthology

Susan, Kearney, Julie Kenner and Jacquie D'Alessandro

Once a Princess by Johanna Lindsey

Resistance: A Novel by Anita Shreve

Vanity by Jane Feather

3/25/11  I did get to set up a new group of books:
Group #19

Pair - James Patterson

1st to Die (The Women's Murder Club)1st to Die (The Women's Murder Club)

Kiss the Girls (2nd Alex Cross Novel)

Singles

And Then Came You: Sam's Story

Second Chance: A NovelSecond Chance: A Novel

Disguised Blessing

The Italian (Mira Historical Romance)

Rhapsody: A Love Story

The Waterfall

Primary Colors - audio tapes

A Little Magic

See No Evil (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense #39) (black stripe on cover)

Note of Peril (black strip on cover)

2/19/11 Book Group #18- Pairs!
Not all of these are two from a series but several are.  Each pick gets two books.

Patricia Cornwell:
Cruel and Unusual
At Risk (Win Garano)
John Grisham
Bleachers
The Last Juror
Jack Higgins
Touch the Devil (1983 Signet Edition)
Thunder Point (Sean Dillon)
Fern Michaels ?? These haven't been claimed yet so I have to check winner posts to see who won these.
Final Justice: Sisterhood Series #5
The Jury: Sisterhood Series #4 (Revenge of the Sisterhood)

I have finally updated the intro and Entry paragraphs here:

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 these Friday Pick Giveaways.

So far I have posted 19 groups of 16 books to find new homes!

I am continuing to include the full list updated with chosen books crossed off until I get around to deleting the crossed off books.  You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want!  I am happy to say that so far about 171 books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the correct number sent out.

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, 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.
I learned 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 and up. 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 home that will make me happy. :o)

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.   
CUT OFF TIME IS 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 Friday mornings before the next Pick post. 
WINNERS PLEASE CHECK THE WIN POST ON FRIDAYS AND E-MAIL ME YOUR ADDRESS at mesreads@gmail.com.  I will confirm receipt of the addresses.  If I have the winners e-mail I will send a reminder in a week or so.... 

Thanks for helping these books find new homes!!

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!

1/14/11 New List 
#17

Scavenger by David Morrell
The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea by Sebastian Junger
Moonfire by Judith Redman Robbins
Four to Score (Stephanie Plum, No. 4) by Janet Evanovich
Turbulent Sea (Drake Sisters, Book 6) by Christine Feehan
Saving Faith by David Baldacci

12/3/10  Book Set:
#16

Best Of Enemies by Taylor Smith
Cold As Ice by Anne Stuart
Veils of Silk by Mary Jo Putney
Sleight of Hand by Robin Hathaway
Blueberry Hill by Marcia Evanick (small tear on cover)
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Uneasy Alliance (Famous Firsts) Jayne Ann Krentz (slightly worn)

List #15

Double Exposure (Brio Girls) by Kathy Wierenga

Wicked Widow  by Amanda Quick

Imitation in Death by J. D. Robb

The Texas CEO's Secret (Silhouette Special Edition) by Nicole Foster

Silver Falls by Anne Stuart

Deadly Gamble by Linda Lael Miller

List #14

The Cobra Event by Richard Preston

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

Off Season by Jack Ketchum

The Color of Law: A Novel by Mark Gimenez
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 Used books!

Anansi Boys by Neil Gairman
The Hellion by LaVyrle Spencer
Pearl Beyond Price by Claire Delacroix

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 One by Dick Couch
Motion to Suppress by Perri O'Saughnessy
Presumption of Death by Perri O'Saughnessy
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

Group #11
Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown
Hothouse Orchid by Stuart Woods - CD Audio
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Snow in April by Rosamunde Pilcher
Looking Back by Belva Plain
The Ring on Her Finger by Elizabeth Bevarly

List #1 Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo

Pick #2
Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann
The Crush by Sandra Brown
The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross

Pick #3
One Eye Closed by Karen Whiddon
Isle of Palms by Dorothea Benton Frank

Pick #4
Talking God by Tony Kellerman
Everything to Gain by Barbara Taylor Bradford
The Sixth Sense
The Shadow by Shelley Munro (PA)
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
The Daddy Spell by Patti Ann Cole
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
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)
X-Men 2
Hunted by William W. Johnstone (spine frayed at top)
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
Midnight Come Again by Dana Stabenow (sc)
Into the Forest by Jean Hegland - Audio Tapes (box creased but tapes good)
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
Three Weddings and a Kiss - Anthology
Final Appeal by Lisa Scottoline (spine creased)
The Lost World by Michael Crichton - Audio Tapes
Evil Whispers by Owl Goingback
On Treacherous Ground by Earl Murray
Runaway Heart by Stephen J. Cannell
Guardian by Dee Henderson - Audio Tapes
Time to Hunt by Stephen Hunter - Audio Tapes

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

Q&A Interview with Margaret Mallory, Author of The Guardian

Please join me in welcoming Margaret Mallory today at Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf.

1Q. When you do a series do you have each book plotted out before you start the first one or do the subsequent books flow from the first book?

MM:  I didn’t know I would get published when I wrote Knight of Desire and wrote it with no plan for a series. Fortunately, there was a great secondary character who emerged in that book and then in Knight of Pleasure who begged for his own book and became the obvious choice for the next hero.

That worked out well, but when I started this new series, I wanted to have it more planned out. I did character sketches of all four heroes and heroines and their basic relationship conflicts. Over the series, I’ll have each hero accomplish an important step toward securing their imperiled clan. I wish I could say I have the plot worked out for all four books, but I don’t! 

2Q  When researching a book, have you ever found anything "hands on" or unusual required?

MM:  I was lucky to be able to visit Scotland last summer. It made a big difference to see the castles and countryside I was writing about in this series. I also found places that I hadn’t planned to include in my books but decided I had to work in.

I wanted to see Stirling Castle, in particular, to find out if the scenes I set there in THE GUARDIAN would work. Was the outer close as big as it looked in pictures? Would my heroine be breathless after running across it?

3Q. Can you tell us what inspired you to write this time period?

MM:  I prefer my men wielding swords, so that helped set my time period.
For a historical backdrop, I look for a time of conflict and great change. I decided to set my series in the wake of the Scots devastating defeat to Henry VIII’s forces in 1513 at the Battle of Flodden. Thousands of Scots were killed, including the Scottish king and many nobles and chieftains. I have my four heroes fighting in France at the time, and they return to find their clan in peril, their king and chieftain dead, and everything changed.

4Q Is any of your writing from personal experiences or is it completely imagination?

MM:  I definitely drew on my personal experience in portraying Sìleas as a funny-looking, late-blooming, thirteen-year-old in chapter 1. It gave me great satisfaction to make this ugly duckling blossom into a beauty who knocks the hero’s socks off when he returns five years later.

5Q. Do your characters live with you or haunt your dreams as you write?

MM:  They are pretty much my life. ;)  Sometimes I can’t get to sleep because I’m thinking about them. I keep a tablet on the bathroom counter so I can write things down and get back to sleep.

Visit my review post to enter the GIVEAWAY for The Guardian.

Book Review and Giveaway Three Copies: The Guardian by Margaret Mallory

A rugged highlander left a tomboy wife and returns to a beauty.

The Guardian (Return of the Highlanders)

By Margaret Mallory

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Forever (May 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044657516X
• ISBN-13: 978-0446575164

      Genre: Historical Romance
      My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description
THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS: BOOK IFour fearless warriors return to the Highlands to claim their lands and legacies. But all their trials on the battlefield can't prepare them for their greatest challenge yet: winning the hearts of four willful Scottish beauties.

PASSION IGNITED
After years of fighting abroad, Ian MacDonald comes home to find his clan in peril. To save his kin, he must right the wrongs from his past . . . and claim the bride he's long resisted.

As a young lass, Sìleas depended on Ian to play her knight in shining armor. But when his rescue attempt compromised her virtue, Ian was forced to marry against his wishes. Five years later, Sìleas has grown from an awkward girl into an independent beauty who knows she deserves better than the reluctant husband who preferred war to his wife. Now this devilishly handsome Highlander is finally falling in love. He wants a second chance with Sìleas - and he won't take no for an answer.

Review:  This is a solid Highlander romance.
The story opens introducing the four handsome and devilish highlanders - Ian, Alex, Duncan and Conner - as boys.  As a youth Ian’s kindness made him the protector of the little red-haired waif, Sileas. When Sileas was a scrawny 13 year old she ran away from her step-da who was preparing to marry her to his brutish son, Agnus MacKinnon.  Ian only seeks to help her, but is forced to marry her. The MacDonald clan leader is more concerned with securing Sileas’ inheritance, Knock Castle, than he is with the comfort of the angry Ian or humiliated Sileas.

The young warriors return five years later to find their clan decimated by the battle of Flodden and a no good uncle of Conner’s, Hugh, claiming the Chieftain position. The young men must keep Conner safe while they garner the votes for him to become Chieftain.

Ian is set on ridding himself of his unwanted wife...until he is struck speechless by the young beauty whom he barely recognizes.  Sileas waits while Ian hugs his mother and brother but all he does is stare at her. Sileas had always loved Ian but had not planned to trap him in marriage.  Although she has waited for him to return and claim her as his wife she feels rejected once again.

Ian’s family has become her family but it looks like she must find somewhere else to go. Fortunately there is a neighbor, Gordon, who loves her and wants her if she will give up on Ian. 

Ian is busy with his friends planning how to secure Sileas’ inheritance. They believe such a move will show the rest of the MacDonald clan that Conner is the right man to be their leader.  Hearing of thier plans from Gordon, Sileas sees this as a show that the land is more important to Ian than she is.

Before the young men can attack Knock Castle, Sileas runs off to seek an annulment from the Queen.  Ian and his friends chase after Sileas who has no idea the dangers she may face at court. No sooner do they return home then treachery strikes. While Ian gets his injured friends to safety Sileas is kidnaped.  Will Ian ever get to prove to Sileas that he truly desires her for herself? Will Conner survive to confront Hugh for the Chieftain vote?

These are likeable characters - I especially like Sileas who turned from a tomboy to a beautiful helpmate. The storyline is filled with action and conflict while the romance is warm. Ms. Mallory’s stories are solidly reliable entertainment.

Thank you to Hachette for this book to read and for providing THREE copies for giveaway.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY: 

1. Visit the Author's website and tell me something you found interesting;
This is required for entry.
Make sure you leave your e-mail address!


2.  For two extra entries, comment on the Author Q&A.

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

4. For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Six total entries possible.) MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE YOUR E-MAIL!

THERE WILL BE THREE WINNERS!

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

* Limit one win per household.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on May 27, 2011.
The winners will be randomly selected from all entries.

Book Review: Be Careful What You Wish For by Sibel Hoges

A fine combination of humor, mystery, action and romance.
Be Careful What You Wish For (Amber Fox Mystery) 

by Sibel Hodge

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 383 KB
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004VGWJYE

          Genre: Mystery
          My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
For fans of Janet Evanovich, Kate Johnson, and Gemma Halliday...

Armed with cool sarcasm and uncontrollable hair, feisty insurance investigator Amber Fox is back in a new mystery combining murder and mayhem with romance and chicklit…

Three deaths.
A safety deposit box robbery.
The boxing heavyweight champion of the world.

Somehow, they’re all related, and Amber has to solve a four year old crime to find out why.

As she stumbles across a trail of dead bodies and a web of lies spanning both sides of the social divide, it’s starting to get personal. Someone thinks Amber’s poking her nose in where it’s not wanted, sparking off a game of fox and mouse – only this time, Amber’s the mouse.

Amber’s forced to take refuge in the home of her ex-fiancé, Brad Beckett, and now it’s not just the case that’s hotting up. So is the bedroom…


All Levi Carter wanted to be was the boxing heavyweight champion of the world, but at what cost?

All Carl Thomas wanted was to be rich, but would his greed be his downfall?

All Brad Beckett wants is to get Amber back, but there’s a reason for the ex word.

Be careful what you wish for…you might just get it.

Review: If you like Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum I think you will really like Amber Fox - I know I do.

Amber, or Foxy as her friends call her, used to be a cop but now she is working as a hot shot Private Investigator. The difficulty is that her boss is her sexy, ex fiancé, Brad.  She is still really drawn to Brad but he disappeared right before their wedding two years before. Brad wants her back but she is scared to trust him. And she doesn’t want to hurt the handsome and nice-guy, (and fellow cop), Romeo, who has loved her for a while and was there when she needed him.

Good thing Foxy has a new case to take her mind off personal matters. Foxy starts off investigating a boxing accident but her inquiries end up with her finding dead bodies. Somehow the murders are tangled with a local bank robbery and her instincts tell her there is a mob connection to illegal betting and blackmail. Now she just needs to pull together the proof before someone else, not to mention herself, gets killed. The threats she receives, including a human bloody nose and a house full of spiders, only make her more determined.

Foxy has a great, quirky support team.  Hacker is the computer technical whizz. He is from Haiti and knows Voodoo. Then there is the new office assistant, Tia. Tia is cute with a loud and kooky fashion sense. She is also psychic and does spells.  Brad is a former SAS agent who can kill with his bare hands.

The story is told in first person by Foxy and it moves quite naturally. There is an easy British flow with a bit of sexual innuendo, some heart searching and a lot of humor. I enjoyed the characters and the twisting mystery which unfolded with the fast pace investigation. There seemed to be some repetition of the clues that I thought was not needed but it probably is realistic in the mode of an investigator looking over their facts again and again trying to piece together the puzzle. The story is well written with good sassy and natural dialogue.

This is the second in the series although it is fine as a stand alone. But, if you haven’t read this author I would recommend reading them in order as I am certain the first book gives more details on the romantic dilemma Foxy is facing as this book opens. I would be more that glad to pick up the first and other Amber Fox mysteries as well as other books by this author.

***

Thank you to the Author who provided this book for my honest review.

It's Monday! What are you Reading May 9, 2011?

This is late posting because my internet link went out at home last night. 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 really had a great reading week. I finished five with two more almost completed as well. The Audible books go pretty quickly sometimes. I posted three reviews, one with ARC Giveaways; a Celebrate Children's Giveaway; a Free eBook For Mother's Day; the Friday Pick giveaway; a blog announcement; Enquiring Mind Meme, Sunday post and winners' post.

I only visited a handful of blogs last week but I chatted a little on Linkedin event with eTreasures' authors and editorial staff.

These were last week's posts plus a Winners' post not listed.

•  It's Monday What are You Reading? May 2, 2011.

• Celebrate Children Giveaway Hop; May 2-8. 

• Book Review Audible, First Comes Marriage by Mary Balogh; Historical Romance; my rating 4.0.

• Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain by Margaret Irwin;  Historical Fiction; my rating 4.25.

• Happy Cinco de Mayo, Book Review and Giveaway: Holy Guacamole by Dan and Denise Harmer; Inspirational Comedy Adventure; my rating 5.0.

•  Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway May 6, 2011.  Ends 5/12.

•  Free eBook Amazing Mothers from The Amazing People Club.  Ends 5/11.

•  Blog Tour Announcement: The Guardian by Margaret Mallory.

•  Enquiring Minds Meme Week #36 with Comment Giveaway.  Ends 5/13.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement May 8, 2011.

Finished Reading:

Print:

Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain (Elizabeth I Trilogy) 

By Margaret Irwin

Interesting but a bit slow.
Review and ARC Giveaway linked above. Sourcebooks review.

Print:

Holy Guacamole

by Dan Harmer

and Denise Harmer

A very fun Read.

Review and Giveaway

linked above.
Glass Road PR Tour.

Print:
Hood (The King Raven Trilogy, Book 1)

by Stephen R. Lawhead

Interesting but not quite what I expected.
We will have ladies bookclub meeting on this Saturday.
I will post a review later in the week.

My own TBR.

Audible:

One Foot in the Grave Night huntress Book 2 

by Jeaniene Frost

I love the characters and the plotline of this series.
Unfortunately the language is raw 
and the sexual encounters push the envelope 
and are more graphic than I need to read. 
I may not do a full review on this one. 
I'll rate as 3.75.
My own TBR.

Audible: 

DarkFever: Fever, Book 1

by Karen Marie Moning
Dangers from the Fae.
Good characters - enjoyable plot.
My rating: 4.0 of 5.0. 

 My own TBR.

MacKayla Lane's life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she's your perfectly ordinary 21st-century woman.
Or so she thinks...until something extraordinary happens.
When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death - a cryptic message on Mac's cell phone - Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers.
The quest to find her sister's killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed - a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae.
As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister's death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane - an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women - closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac's true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book - because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds.

Line Edits/Releases:

Silicon Self 
by Kirtimaya Varma
Sci Fi Fantasy

Coming Home

by Joy Brooks

Novella, Sweet Historical Romance

Currently reading:

Print:

The Guardian (Return of the Highlanders) 

by Margaret Mallory

An enjoyable Highlander tale.

Review, Author Q&A and 

Hachette Giveaway later this to post 5/11.

THE RETURN OF THE HIGHLANDERS: BOOK I
Four fearless warriors return to the Highlands to claim their lands and legacies. But all their trials on the battlefield can't prepare them for their greatest challenge yet: winning the hearts of four willful Scottish beauties.
PASSION IGNITED
After years of fighting abroad, Ian MacDonald comes home to find his clan in peril. To save his kin, he must right the wrongs from his past . . . and claim the bride he's long resisted.
As a young lass, Sìleas depended on Ian to play her knight in shining armor. But when his rescue attempt compromised her virtue, Ian was forced to marry against his wishes. Five years later, Sìleas has grown from an awkward girl into an independent beauty who knows she deserves better than the reluctant husband who preferred war to his wife. Now this devilishly handsome Highlander is finally falling in love. He wants a second chance with Sìleas - and he won't take no for an answer.

Kindle:

Be Careful What You Wish For (Amber Fox Mystery)

by Sibel Hodge

A good female PI story.
Reviewing for the author.
Will post this week.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
For fans of Janet Evanovich, Kate Johnson, and Gemma Halliday...
Armed with cool sarcasm and uncontrollable hair, feisty insurance investigator Amber Fox is back in a new mystery combining murder and mayhem with romance and chicklit…
Three deaths.
A safety deposit box robbery.
The boxing heavyweight champion of the world.
Somehow, they’re all related, and Amber has to solve a four year old crime to find out why.
As she stumbles across a trail of dead bodies and a web of lies spanning both sides of the social divide, it’s starting to get personal. Someone thinks Amber’s poking her nose in where it’s not wanted, sparking off a game of fox and mouse – only this time, Amber’s the mouse.
Amber’s forced to take refuge in the home of her ex-fiancé, Brad Beckett, and now it’s not just the case that’s hotting up. So is the bedroom…
All Levi Carter wanted to be was the boxing heavyweight champion of the world, but at what cost?
All Carl Thomas wanted was to be rich, but would his greed be his downfall?
All Brad Beckett wants is to get Amber back, but there’s a reason for the ex word.
Be careful what you wish for…you might just get it.

Print and Kindle:

Going Cowboy Crazy (A Deep in the Heart of Texas novel)

by Katie Lane

I am just starting this for next week review, Author Q&A and double book Hachette Giveaway.

Product Description

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Faith Aldridge wants answers. Bramble, Texas is the only place she can find them . . . as well as Hope, the identical twin sister she never knew she had. But the townsfolk reckon that shy city-girl Faith is really her long-lost sister Hope, back in Bramble at last. And they're fixin' to do whatever it takes to heat things up between her and Hope's long-time flame, Slate Calhoun. If that means rustling her car, spreading rumors like wildfire, and reining in some explosive secrets, well, there's no way like the Lone Star way . . .

But Slate's no fool. The woman in his truck may look like Hope, yet the way she feels in his arms is altogether new. He's determined to keep this twin in his bed and out of his heart. Trouble is, the real Hope is headed home, and she's got her own designs on Slate. If Faith wants to avoid heartbreak, she'll have to show a certain ruggedly handsome cowboy that this crazy-impossible love is worth fighting for.

Make Mine a Bad Boy (A Deep in the Heart of Texas novel)

by Katie Lane

I will also be reading this one for next week review,

Author Q&A and double book Hachette Giveaway.

Audible:

Fancy Pants 
by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

I am reading this from my own TBR.

For Francesca Day, it's not the end of her world, but close to it. She's London-bred, wealthy, and sophisticated, but fate leaves her flat broke and stranded on a back road in Texas. Now she's got to deal with reality without her rich girl props. How can she do it?In Dallas Beaudine, gritty and handsome, lies the answer. He stops his car to help Francesca, whose life needs a tune-up, as well as her car. Stopping could lead to the biggest mistake, or best time, ever.

Audible: 

I am listening to The Listener's Bible NIV 

read by Max McLean. I am at Ruth 1, Psalm 110 and Luke 22.

Line Edits:  I am almost complete on the formats on Desperate Measures by Cindy Comer. I also have to finalize formats on Soylent Red by Jamieson Wolf, Sword of Virtue by Joy Brooks and Life After the Undead by Pembroke Sinclair.

Review books for May:
May 11: The Guardian (Return of the Highlanders) by Margaret Mallory; Hachette Review, Giveaway and Author Q&A.

May 18:  Going Cowboy Crazy (A Deep in the Heart of Texas novel) and Make Mine a Bad Boy (A Deep in the Heart of Texas novel) by Katie Lane. Hatchette Review, double Giveaway and Author Q&A.

Unscheduled for May:

Sourcebooks:

The Legend of Michael: Sin and Satisfaction (Zodius) by Lisa Renee Jones

SEALed Forever by Mary Daughtridge

Mary of Carisbrooke: The Girl Who Would Not Betray Her King by Margaret Campbell Barnes