Martha's Bookshelf *** Friday Pick Giveaway July 29, 2011

Last chance to enter the remaining six BLOGVERSARY Giveaways that end tonight or tomorrow.

Thank you to all who entered July 22 Pick. There were Two Automatic winners this week (those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks). Carol W won Four to Score (Stephanie Plum, No. 4) - (this book was named by another but the person is international and the price to ship overseas too costly.)
Jennifer C won Seal Team One by Dick Couch.

CONGRATULATIONS

to Winners from July 22nd Pick:

Tracy - gets Montana Bride

and
Linda K- chose The Trouble With Mary

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or 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. 

Enjoy a good summer read! :o)

New Group of Pick Books July 29, 2011

I've listed the books and will post a picture later today - I have forgotten the camera all week.:-)

There are eight mysteries and I have asterisked nine books that are smaller and would be good for oversea choices if so desired.

Dead Jitterbug by Victoria Houston

Coffin Underground (Inspector John Coffin) by Gwendoline Butler

* Wolf to the Slaughter: An Inspector Wexford Novel (Mortalis) by Ruth Rendell

* Point No Point by Mary Logue

The Cheshire Cat's Eye by Marcia Muller

Mallory's Oracle (Kathleen Mallory Novels) by Carol O'Connell 

* I. O. U by Pickard, Nancy (spine creased)

* Resort to Murder: A Henrie O Mystery by Carolyn Hart

Stand by Me Anthology with Dallas Schulze, Roberta Leigh and Linda Randall Wisdom (spine creased)

Until We Meet Again by Christine McGuire (spine creased)

Bloody Good by Georgia Evans (spine creased)

* Undercover Pursuit (Love Inspired Suspense) by Susan May Warren

* The Glassblower by Laurie Alice Eakes

* Having Faith by Barbara Delinsky

* Easy On the Heart by Jodi Thomas

* Rogue Stallion (Montana Mavericks) by Diana Palmer

May, 2011 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

A Sight for Sore Eyes 

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 
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 20 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 202 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 fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me 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) by Larson 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 - Audio Cassette
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)

Book Review: The Fear Principle by B.A. Chepaitis

This is a solidly entertaining, complex, suspenseful sci fi.

The Fear Principle (Jaguar Adams) by B.A. Chepaitis

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 510 KB
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Wildside Press (March 14, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004S81HK2

     Genre: Sci Fi
     My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description
Dr. Jaguar Addams knows about fear. On a satellite prison called Planetoid Three, she establishes a telepathic link to her subjects. She confronts their demons. And makes them her own . . . They were known as the Killing Times, when serial murder reached epidemic proportions. Victims of hard-edged crime demanded hard-wired punishment, and the new prisons were born. Now one determined woman, a survivor of that dark age, tries to rehabilitate killers by tapping into the source of their obsessions: their worst fears. Her name is Jaguar Addams, and she is about to face the most challenging subject of her career. The ultimate assassin. A dangerously disturbed woman who will teach Jaguar the true meaning of fear.

Review: This is an interesting and engaging sci fi.

Dr. Jaguar Addams is a complex and intense person. She is a skilled empath who works on a prison planetoid. Her job is to confront the hardest of criminals and force them to face their deepest fear. The result is they deal with their issues and can be rehabilitated .... or sometimes they die. Jaguar has the highest success rate of the ‘teachers’ but she has to shield her techniques as some people are afraid of empaths.

Jaguar has an ongoing case with a con artist, Adrian. As she sets up a con to get to his deepest fears, a high level assassin arrives under custody. The assassin, Claire, is as cold as an ice wall. Even Jaguar’s supervisor, Alex, who is also an empath, cannot reach Claire’s thoughts. The governmental directives on handling Claire include finding out who hired her for the latest assassin.  Alex determines that the only one who might have a chance to discover Claire’s secrets is Jaguar.

Jaguar is a survivor from the horrible Killing Times on earth when people went berserk and started killing in masses.  Jaguar has never shared her history as a young child coming through the horrors of those years. But another co-worker, Nick, was a cop who helped get her off the streets.  Nick is slipping in his abilities. He is angry, on the edge and jealous of Jaguar’s successes. He wants to be part of her team to work with Claire but neither Alex or Jaguar trust him.

There is someone else, The Looker, who wants Claire eliminated before she can disclose her secrets.  The Looker is connected to a government agency that has hidden plans to use technology to replace the empaths and take control. There is a traitor on Planetoid Three who is feeding information to The Looker and helping him to undermine Jaguar.  Jaguar discovers clues to a plot and reports to Alex. When Alex goes to earth to investigate Jaguar has to break a few more rules to rescue him.

I liked the characters, even the cold Claire who ultimately shares childhood abuse stories with Jaguar. There is a bit of psychology jargon (or babble as I termed it in my head) entwined in the empath plotline and the criminal mindsets. This caused some confusion but I determined to read through that and enjoy the overall effect of the unique world and the fast paced suspense. When I completed this book I was curious how the relationship between Alex and Jaguar might change in the second story.

Caution - The story has some dark and twisted aspects involving abuse and murder.

###

This book was provided by the author for an honest review in conjunction with Pump Up Your Book blog tour for book two of the Jaguar Addams series.   Check in tomorrow when I will post the review of The Fear of God: Jaguar Series.

Book Review: So You Want to Write a Guest Blog? by Jaime McDougall

This is a very informative resource tool for authors!

So You Want to Write a Guest Post: An Author's Guide to Promoting with Guest Blogging by Jaime McDougall.

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 210 KB
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0052F477U

     Genre:  How To/ Nonfiction
     My Rating:  4.5 of 5.0

Product Description
The publishing world keeps on changing and, now more than ever, it is important for authors to have a presence on the internet. But where do you start? So You Want to Write a Guest Post is an easy to follow guide that will help you connect to bloggers and to write guest posts that get potential readers interested in your book.

Review: I wish many authors would read this informative pamphlet and at $0.99 it is money well spent!
Jaime works with promotions at Pump Up Your Book so she has first hand experience to add to this work. Jaime approaches the Guest Post topic in an easy format with concise explanations, examples and suggestions.  I can say that as a reviewer (and publisher) I would love to see authors read and follow this informative guide.  I know from experience as a reviewer and as a small publisher, with new and backlist authors, that it is surprising how many authors have no clue what it takes to promote their book.  The publisher hopefully will give help in promoting but the larger burden these days falls on the author.  The bottom line of success may well be a result of the author's own efforts to promote their book.

This “How to” is short and easy to read but FULL of good advise. Here are some, but not all, of the items covered and my brief comments regarding the topics:
•    The Purpose of Guest Posting - Jaime briefly but assuredly expresses why authors should be concerned about Guest Posting.
•    Finding, Researching and Contacting Hosts - Jaime sets out something that should be basic but isn’t necessarily clear to authors... research the blog hosts you submit to. She provides tips where to research too.
•    When Contacting the Blogger - Jaime provides wonderful suggestions and samples to help make a professional contact with the right Blog hosts.
•    When Words Count: The Importance of Word Count in Your Post - I agreed strongly with Jaime’s suggestions in this section.  It is not all about word count but it does matter.
•    Selling Your Book Without Selling - As Jaime notes, the Guest Post is not to be just an ad for buying your book.  It is a tool to draw a reader in let them know about the author and the book and to direct and encourage the reader to buy the book. This is a time when courtesy and subtlety are nice.
•    FAQ: Is Using a Guest Post More Than Once Okay - Jaime discusses the pros and cons and some etiquette rules of this question in a unique way that I liked. I recently followed an Author Blog Tour which included a giveaway. I was a little surprised to see repeats of the same GP during the one tour.
•    What to Do After the Post is Live - Jaime provides input on what to do with your post including announcing your post and making contacts to encourage visits.
•    The Do and Don’t List - Jaime does a nice summary of the dos and dont’s for a quick guide and wrap up.
•    Guest Post Ideas - Jaime provides some topic examples and suggestions that could help an author begin to prepare guest posts or expand on their repertoire of posts.

This is a wonderful resource tool and I encourage authors to use it to help their promotional efforts be more efficient and effective.

I received the eBook from the author for an honest review.

Jaime asked me to add a footnote on this tour blog:  
'Thanks to the wonderful reviewers who have hosted me on this tour, I will be coming out with a revised edition in August with more content'. :)

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Touch if You Dare by Stephanie Rowe

There is plenty of snarky humor in this full action read.

Touch If You Dare by Stephanie Rowe

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (July 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402241968
• ISBN-13: 978-1402241963

     Genre: Paranoraml
     My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Product Description
"Rowe is a paranormal star!"
-JR Ward, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Black Dagger Brotherhood Series

He's just about the hottest warrior she's ever seen...

Reina Fleming really appreciates a man who's on a mission-especially when he's a badass warrior doing his best to impress her. And Jarvis is charmed by the way Reina's magic touch can soothe his dark side.

But when Jarvis's attention puts her job, her home, and her family in danger, Reina has to decide whether love is worth the price...

Enter the nonstop, action-packed world of Stephanie Rowe's love stories-you'll never think of the manly arts in the same way again.

Review: I like this series even if there is some chaos.
Reina is a an assistant to Death and she is trying to be promoted to assassin so she can save her doomed sister, Natalie.  Reina has a plan to save Natalie by switching her bodies and souls at the moment of death with a disenfranchised angel who is immortal. Unfortunately, to be able to switch souls Reina has to kill on assignment to be promoted.  Instead, she gets fired when she can’t kill the werewolf she was sent to harvest.

Jarvis, the Guardian of Hate, is beginning to implode. If he dies all of the Hate he carries will be released to poison the earth and every living thing. Jarvis is seeking his brother, Cameron, the Guardian of Love, who can save him. But Cameron has been abducted by Death for Death’s new plan to help people die happy.

Jarvis needs Reina to help him get to Cameron.  Reina needs Jarvis, the warrior, to teach her to kill so she can save Natalie. Natalie is being irresistibly drawn to “The Godfather” who kills his lovers by orgasm. Augustus, one of Death’s Assassins, is trying to kill The Godfather and he has his scythe aimed at Reina too since she is getting in his way. Napoleaon is after Augustus who has taken Napoleon's true love, Angelica.

Jarvis’ buddies, Nigel and Blaine, are mostly around to back him up but they are busy taking turns nursing the last group of friends they rescued from Angelica’s torture chamber.  Add in a  vampire clan who need Jarvis to save their leader who has been stabbed by a woman from a fanatic group of women who kill the lethally dangerous men they love. Yes - it's convoluted.  I particularly liked the character of the Grim Reaper who ends up giving aid to Jarvis and Reina.

Jarvis is careful not to touch others since he contaminates them with hate.  But for some reason he is drawn to the sexy Reina and he is shocked to discover that not only can he touch her but instead of pain she brings him peace.  I really enjoyed their sensual and loving encounters. I liked how Jarvis wanted to protect Reina and Reina was willing to love him unconditionally.

The story is fast paced and full of action. It is very busy and a bit confusing with all the characters and different attacks from different foes. But when you wade through all the extra activity there is a beautiful connection for Jarvis and Reina. 

###

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this book to read and review.
See my review of the first book in the Soulfire series: Kiss at Your Own Risk.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY:
1. Visit the Author's Website and tell me something of interest you found there. This is required for entry.

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

3. 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.
(Four total entries possible.)

* 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 August 5, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on AUGUST 6 and will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.