Sharing Beyond Books #21 Comment Giveaway November 5, 2011

Hello There! Welcome again to Saturday Night and Sharing Beyond Books! 
Thanks for your comments this past week.

We had a variety of choices for wanna be paranormal creatures: ghosts, shapeshifters, witches, vampire, fae or faery, time traveler and a creature with telekinetic powers. Jane, I wonder if the telekinetic could be a ghost or poltergeist?

Several of us would select dogs if we could only have one pet.  mamabunny13 likes Elephants but rahter than clean up after one would choose a Chimpanzee. I'm not sure that would lessen the clean up that much. :-) Llehn would be kept busy hopping with a Kangaroo.  Mad Moose Momma selected an Aye-Aye. How many of you knew what that was? I looked it up and here is a picture of this little primate (monkey):

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The Winner from SBB #20 comments is: #12 Linda (thumbelinda). There are still 9 'love' books to pick from, 5 Christmas choices and 2 Summer titles below so Linda please choose a book (or GC if overseas) from the remaining Love Books List for Giveaway or remaining Christmas Giveaway Books, the one summer book below OR pick from the ARC box and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #21 Questions

Q1. mamabunny13 asks the question this week: Do you have any gift giving traditions?? To Keep the answer shorter, and since it isn't quite Christmas time I am modifying the question to Anniversary gifts for this week.

A: Our Anniversary is November 30 and this year will be our 26th. *big grin*. My DH and I are a bit funny. We tend to buy little gifts all year long so most years we don't bother getting anything special for our Anniversary.  One year we both forgot it until we got a card from a church friend. Now we exchange the same card in alternating years. Honest! I think it's my turn to give the card to him, so I better make sure I find it. LOL  He always makes me a nice dinner too - he's the cook.

Q2. Tonight is the end of daylight savings so we set the clocks back an hour. I am curious - does your location use daylight savings?? While we're talking time - if it is 10 pm my time (central) what time is it for you?

We are not big fans of daylight savings. The sun has been coming up at 6:30 each morning now it will be coming up at 5:30 - bright and early!

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Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask.  Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form.  At the end of each month I will draw from the suggestions I used the month before and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions but some of you others might want to get in a question or two as we have a few people submitting most of the questions so far.  Either way - it works for me. :-)

Your turn to share:

1. Do you have any [Anniversary] gift giving traditions?? [added to limit answers.]

2.  Does your location use daylight savings?? and If it is 10 pm my time (central) what time is it for you??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining  Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books - there are still about 14 books available plus 2 left in the Summer titles to choose from. Also I have added the Review and ARC Box now.

The Days of Summer: A Novel

My copy is a paperback from 2006

with a different cover.

A Summer Affair (Calhoun Chronicles)
I love Susan Wigg's historicals!

SBB Rules: a) Must be a follower; 
b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the two/three questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.

I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made by Friday, November 11 at 10PM central.

Book Review and eBook Giveaway: Sierra Bride by Suzanne Barrett

 This is a warm, lush historical western.

Sierra Bride 

by  Suzanne Barrett

Release Date: November 6, 2011
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
ARC pdf pages: 207

Genre: Historical Romance, Western
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Description:

Sierra County, California - 1883

Widowed rancher Wade Guthrie needs help raising his unruly young daughter and advertises for a housekeeper. Instead, he finds himself saddled with a mail order bride.

Irish immigrant Corrie Kiernan needs a place to hide. Witness to a brutal murder at the mill where she worked, she’ll do anything to escape the killer who now threatens her life, even if it means marrying a stranger and weaving a web of deception. Falling in love with the handsome rancher is easy, but can a man who values honesty above everything else love a woman whose life is a lie?

Review: I have come to really enjoy Ms. Barrett’s rich and warm writing.

Corrie is brave and industrious. After she witnesses a murder at her mill job in Massachusetts she flees to California. When she arrives in Sierra, Corrie learns that the rancher she is supposed to wed doesn’t want a wife.

Wade is upset to learn his friend has tried to arrange a mail order bride instead of a housekeeper. The girl is a redheaded beauty but he isn’t interested as he knows he won’t love another women.  He intends to ship her back until he discovers her singing at the local saloon.  Then he insists on marrying her only to protect her.

Wade brings her home to a dirty, untended cabin and introduces her to his young daughter, Charity, who resents a new woman in the house. Corrie lied in her reply to the bride ad. She can’t cook, she is not from a wealthy home with all the social manners to teach Charity and it appears that Charity has more education already than Corrie has.  But Corrie is willing to work hard. She’ll chop wood, scrub floors, wash windows, sew clothes, even work with the horses if Wade would let her. She is intent on making herself useful so that Wade will appreciate her.

Wade is concentrating on his struggles to keep his mustang ranch and tries to ignore Corrie and keep her at a distance.  Slowly Wade begins to recognize the fresh life that Corrie brings to the household. Then the killer shows up claiming to have authority to arrest Corrie for murder.  Since everything she has told Wade is a lie, who will he believe? Even if she can escape the killer can she win Wade’s love?

The characters are well written and likeable and the setting is beautifully described. The relationship between Corrie and Wade builds slowly to a sensual union.  Although the plot is not so new I was interested to see where the story went - when and how the killer would show up and how Wade would react when he discovered all the lies.  That presentation was fine. Although I appreciated that the town folk would support Wade when he ran into trouble I felt  part of the ending was unrealistic and it was too “pat” a conclusion.

I like that this author is consistent with strong characters, vibrant descriptions and natural emotions.  It is interesting to see these strengths applied well in varied settings and genres. I am looking forward to reading a Christmas Novella by Suzanne in the next week or so.

 Thank you to Suzanne for the ARC to read and review. Suzanne is generously offering an eBook copy to one lucky commenter.


OPEN WORLDWIDE.
TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR an eBook Copy of Sierra Bride:
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.)

* Open Worldwide.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on November 18, 2011.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on November 19. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Winners: Goblin King, The Christmas Wedding and Ceremony in Death + Replacement - No Proper Lady

Thank you for all those who entered and thanks for fun paranormal answers, Christmas book recommendations and series likes.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS:

Two Winners

The Goblin King

by Shona Husk

Johanna and elaing8

Enjoy the magic.

Winner of ARC

The Christmas Wedding

by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

Julie S

Happy Christmas.

Winner of Used Copy

Ceremony in Death

by J.D. Robb

Krystal 

I hope you'll start the series from the beginning though. :-)

Sorry for the Delay in Announcing this Replacement Winner
No Proper Lady 
by Isabel Cooper

Molly

ALL WINNERS please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form so I can mail the books out or let the Publisher know for mailing.  Please reply within 72 hours! 

A New Look at Martha's Bookshelf

I am trying out a new look. What do you think??? Feel free to be honest! I don't know if it's good, bad or ugly, unless you speak up. LOL The new banner was prepared, from our combined ideas, by a talented lady who does most of the great covers for eTreasures. Thanks Suzannah Safi!

But something very odd happened while I was working on moving the blogger buttons. The compose page went blank. I can see my input on the HTML view but nothing but white on Compose. Odd - I hope if sorts itself out after I close and reopen.

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: I Didn't Ask to Be Born by Bill Cosby

I have to agree with the blurb comment - I'm glad Bill Cosby was born and chooses to continue to share laughter.

I Didn't Ask to Be Born (but I'm Glad I Was)

by Bill Cosby

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Center Street (November 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892969202
• ISBN-13: 978-0892969203

Genre:  Comedy
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Product Description
The world's most beloved funnyman is back with his first humor book since the bestselling Cosbyology. In this hilarious new collection of observations, Cosby brings us more of his wonderful and wacky insights into the human condition that are sure to become classics. In the tradition of Fat Albert, Cosby introduces a host of new characters, including Peanut Armhouse and Old Mother Harold. Not since Mushmouth, Dumb Donald, Bucky, and the Cosby Kids has there been such a memorable cast.

Over the past century, few entertainers have achieved the legendary status of William H. Cosby, Jr. His success spans five decades and virtually all media-remarkable accomplishments for a kid who emerged from humble beginnings in a Philly housing project.

The doctor of comedy holds forth on everything from a game show contestant's confusing origins, to a grandchild with a Godzilla infatuation, to his first love Bernadette, and many more delightful digressions.

Bill Cosby may not have asked to be born, but we're sure glad he was.

Review: This is a book that can bring a smile ...or several. :-)
Bill Cosby has always had a humorous way of looking at situations and he is a wonderful story teller.  This book opens with a story that was not made up by Cosby but happened while he was the talk show host for You Bet Your Life. Marcia Broody was the straight-faced guest who got Cosby lost looking for North, SC that was southeast of Due West. It is a great bit and had me laughing out loud!

There are stories of Cosby’s childhood days in the projects. He makes the neighborhood come alive in your mind from the poor raggedly-dressed children to the mothers who demanded respect. There is lots of humor in softball play “around back” and playing cowboys with your mother’s broom as your mighty steed.  It is fun to read the stories and wander with Cosby as he rambles and digresses and then returns to the original story.

Cosby also has a knack for stories about God with a Biblical foundation, a vivid imagination and great tongue in cheek. I have always loved his “Noah” routine. This book includes a fine routine about Adam and Eve.

There are tidbits on raising children, including how to respond when a child rebels with the phrase “I didn’t ask to be born.”  There are also insights on Native Americans, voice mail, items that wouldn’t have been mentioned in the early days of TV, and some reminisces of fond  grandparent moments.

The book is short and easy to pick up and read in one sitting or to read one vignette at a time.  The illustrations might be called “chicken scratch” drawings but they are just wonderful. The ARC also contains spots which I think are for photos which would add even more visual fun. If you are looking for light, clean entertainment this is a great choice for yourself or a friend who needs a “pick-me-up” smile.

Thank you to Center Street for providing this book for review.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the paperback ARC copy:
1. I will give you a choice: visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there; OR take a peek at the Open Book and tell me what you think of the illustrations there! OR tell me if you have a favorite Cosby story/routine. One or these 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.)

* Open to the US & Canada only.

* No PO boxes, please.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on November 18, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on November 19. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.