Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 18, 2011

[** If you are new to Friday Pick, scroll down a bit (below book group #19) for instructions on how to enter.] 
Hi all. I hope things are good in your part of the world.  I've had another "pushy" week. Two mediations, one court hearing and a couple of closings at work. Plus I got some suit matters filed and I had book releases to work on. I don't know about "no rest for the wicked" but there is little rest for me. :-)
For some reason there were fewer entries this week - that improves the odds for those who entered. :-D  I'll have a new group of books to post next week.

Thank you to all who entered November 11 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).

Elizabeth L has been asking for Easy on the Heart for 4 weeks.

Lieder has asked for A Perfect Gentleman for 4 weeks.

CONGRATULATIONS

to Random.org picked Winners from November 11 Pick:

Margaret chose Hothouse Orchid - Audio CD

and
Carol L chose The Courtship of Kade Colby - which was a double set with June

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 - sensual or sexy +plus - I am still low on just sweet. 

Image found at The Teacher's Cauldron

New Group #23 Pick Books October 14, 2011
I tried to pick some books that would be good for October - Halloween or dark minded.

Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Desperation by Stephen King
Vanish by Tess Gerritsen
Witch by Barbara Michaels (spine wear)
Midnight by Dean Koontz (spine wear)
Walking After Midnight by Karen Robards (spine wear)
Sense of Evil by Kay Hooper
The Haunting of Josie by Kay Hooper
Dark Secret (the Carpathians Book 12) by Christine Feehan
Hokus Pokus (the Sisterhood: Rules of the Game Book 2) by Fern Michaels
Emily's Good Nightmare by Cosmic Debris Cosmic
Death Angel by Linda Howard
A Marked Man by Stella Cameron
Bone Cold by Erica Spindler (spine wear)
Exposed (Maggie O'Dell) by Alex Kava
All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

New Group #22 Pick Books September 2, 2011

Double Set by Lori Copeland:
June (Brides of the West #2) (HeartQuest)
The Courtship of Cade Kolby (Avon Romantic Treasure)
Singles:
Tender Triumph by Judith McNaught
Legacy of the Dead (Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries) by Charles Todd
A Far and Deadly Cry by Teri Holibrook
Lost Light (Harry Bosch Series #9) by Michael Connelly
Blackwater Sound: A Novel (Thorn Mysteries) by James W. Hall

New Group #21 of Pick Books July 29, 2011

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

Coffin Underground (Inspector John Coffin) by Gwendoline Butler

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)

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

Until We Meet Again by Christine McGuire (spine creased)

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

* The Glassblower by Laurie Alice Eakes

* Easy On the Heart by Jodi Thomas

* Rogue Stallion (Montana Mavericks) by Diana Palmer

May, 2011 New Group of Pick books

Group #20

Singles

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

Luciano's Luck by Jack Higgins - Audio Cassettes

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

Susan, Kearney, Julie Kenner and Jacquie D'Alessandro

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

Group #19

Singles

Second Chance: A NovelSecond Chance: A Novel

Disguised Blessing

Rhapsody: A Love Story

The Waterfall

Primary Colors - audio tapes

A Little Magic

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 Pair:

Cruel and Unusual

At Risk (Win Garano)

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 23 groups of 16 books to find new homes!

I have updated the lists - deleting those won. 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 258 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.
Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks.

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- well I realize I haven't always done this. But if you filled out the form and don't get the book within two weeks nudge me with an email please!] 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
Moonfire by Judith Redman Robbins
Saving Faith by David Baldacci (Audio Book)

12/3/10 Book Set:

#16

Best Of Enemies by Taylor Smith

Veils of Silk by Mary Jo Putney 

Sleight of Hand by Robin Hathaway

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Uneasy Alliance (Famous Firsts) Jayne Ann Krentz (slightly worn)

List #15

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

List #14

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

Lines of Defense by Barry Siegel
Gospel Truths by J.G. Sandom

Here is set #13 of Used books!

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

The Undertaker's Widow by Phillip M. Margolin

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

The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross

Pick #3

One Eye Closed by Karen Whiddon

Pick #4

Talking God by Tony Kellerman

Everything to Gain by Barbara Taylor Bradford

The Sixth Sense

The Shadow by Shelley Munro (PA)

Swear by the Moon by Shirley Busbee

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

The Marshall Takes a Bride by Renee Ryan *PA*

On Bear Mountain by Deborah Smith - Audio Cassette

Elusive Love by Catherine Lanigan

Pick #7

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)

Princess Charming by Jane Heller (slightly creased)

Pick #8

(sc) = slightly creased on binding otherwise all in good shape

The Jury by Steve Martini - Audio Tapes

Midnight Come Again by Dana Stabenow (sc)

No Safe Place by Richard North Patterson - Audio Tapes

Pick #9

Spyder Web by Tom Grace - Audio Tapes

Three Weddings and a Kiss - Anthology

Final Appeal by Lisa Scottoline (spine creased)

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

Dreams Gather by Kathryn Collins (sc)

Guest Post and Giveaway by Lisa Renee Jones

Please welcome Lisa Renee Jones, Author of The Story That is Sterling who shares a Guest Post on Planning the Series. Make sure you read to the end to find out how to enter for Lisa's Giveaway!

Thank you for having me here today at Martha’s Bookshelf to celebrate the release of THE STORM THAT IS STERLING! 

Today I’m talking about planning the series or letting it happen since Sterling is a part of a series. I’ve written a number of series but probably the most comparable to my Zodius series is my KNIGHTS OF WHITE with Harlequin. With both my Zodius series and my Knights of White the books each lead to the next book in the series. With my Knights of White I usually left a bit of a cliffhanger. The main story was resolved with a HEA but the next character got into some sort of mess. This made it especially important to have planned the next book in the series. I knew from book 1 of that series that a romance I hinted at in book 1 would be headed a certain place in book 6. My readers jumped on that and had lots of questions after each book about that teasing storyline. I had something about that couple in all of the books. 

In the Zodius series, I’ve planned in advance and I’ve known where I was going from the beginning. However, I have to say, that the leader of the Renegades, Caleb, hasn’t cooperated. I had his story planned a certain way and a female character has demanded she be his love interest and I just didn’t see that coming. It doesn’t fit my plan but yet, it is the plan now. In DANGER THAT IS DAMION you will have a very good idea who Caleb’s love will end up being. So, while I’m for planning, I do let my characters lead me. That is part of the fun of writing and living the story as I write it. 

In DANGER THAT IS DAMION you will meet Chale and he is my planned hero for book 4. I love Chale who is a Harley riding, wild and wicked, man with a Sterling like sense of humor. I hope you will get as attached to him in book 3 as I did. Now, in Sterling’s story Damion is a HUGE part of the book. You will know him well by the end of book 2. 

To celebrate Sterling’s release I have a bag of books and yummy holiday treats. All you have to do is comment. Tell me what you like, or dislike, when you are reading a series. And how many books into a series do you read? 3? 10? What makes you lose interest?

Lisa

Here is the buy link for Sterling! 

http://www.amazon.com/Storm-That-Sterling-Renee-Jones/dp/1402251599/ref=tmm_mmp_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1320559147&sr=1-1

Booklist review:

The Storm That Is Sterling.

Jones, Lisa Renee (Author)

Nov 2011. 384 p. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, hardcover, $6.99. (9781402251597).

The exciting Zodius futuristic suspense series features soldiers enhanced by a GTECH secret military experiment. Sterling Jeter, who is assigned to guard Rebecca Burns, the scientist working on an antidote for the highly addictive and fatal drug ICE. But Rebecca is also the high-school dream Sterling was never able to realize. She has cancer and tangling with bad guys who want her science skills for their ends has left her an ICE addict, too. She wants to take advantage of her time left with Sterling, while Sterling wants to protect her. As danger mounts, they try to sort out who is trustworthy. The GTECH and science details can best be followed with the help of the index, but they do not overwhelm the appealing characters or action. Jones’ suspense truly sizzles with an energy similar to FBI tales with a paranormal twist by Julie Garwood or Suzanne Brockmann. Alpha, military, and paranormal romance readers will want Jones’ entire series.

  

Sterling Jeter has remarkable powers and has shown himself

to be just about indestructible. But beautiful, brilliant Rebecca

Burns knows that even a Super Soldier needs comfort, and so

much more…

But she can see that deep down,

he’s just a man…

Sterling and Rebecca’s teenage romance was interrupted,

but years later the heat between them flares back to life.

Even though it endangers everything they’re fighting for, it’s

impossible to resist picking up right where they left off…

Read an extra excerpt HERE:

http://www.lisareneejones.com/books/the-storm-that-is-sterling/sterling-excerpt/

Book Review: The Storm that is Sterling by Lisa Renee Jones

This story sizzles with action and romance.

The Storm that is Sterling

Lisa Renee Jones

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (November 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402251599
• ISBN-13: 978-1402251597

     Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
     My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: November 1, 2011
Award-winning, bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is breaking out of series romance success into single title with her fast-paced, paranormal romantic suspense series full of dark danger and sizzling hot passion.

Sterling Jeter, Renegade Super Soldier, is fearless, powerful, and wildly unpredictable. His life-threatening mission is to save the beautiful, brilliant astrobiologist Rebecca Burns from ruthless villain Adam Rain. But their immutable mutual attraction threatens to put them in the path of death... or worse...

Review: This is steamy, fast paced and intense.
Sterling had a rough childhood that left him alone and a dedicated soldier/warrior. He is one of the soldiers secretly infected with the alien DNA that created a GTECH group of super soldiers. Those soldiers have split into two groups under twin brothers. Adam leads the Zodius band seeking to gain control over the weak humans.  Caleb leads the Renegade band of which Sterling is a part.  The Renegades are in an uneasy alliance with the government to stop the Zodius.

Adam and his men have developed a system of dealers to distribute a highly addictive drug called ICE.  He hopes to gain control of the population but humans are dying from the ICE doses and the race is on to stop the Zodius threat.

Rebecca is a super scientist who may be able to help find a way to fight the addiction. Adam is hunting her to either use her skills for his own evil plans or to eliminate her. Sterling is assigned the mission to rescue and protect her.  Then he discovers that this is the girl he knew 14 years ago when the government showed up at his door preventing their first date.  Rebecca is smart enough to exercise caution when it comes to trusting handsome men.  She has a strong attraction to Sterling but can she trust him?

There is action from the get-go and lots of twists. After Rebecca is kidnaped by Adam and forced to take ICE Sterling doesn’t know if he can trust her. Plus Sterling questions the loyalty of his long time friend and team mate, Damion. 

There are new “skills” revealed.  Rebecca gets some interesting powers that seem to be brought on by the ICE addiction. Tad, Adam’s second in command, is exhibiting some very interesting skills as he continues to fret about his position and work a bit at odds with Adam. Adam too has a new secret weapon that comes as a surprise.

I really like the characters - the heroes are smart, sexy and loyal and the villains are devious and evil. The storyline has plenty to keep me interested. There is intensity in the fast pace action and in the romance. The romance is steamy but not offensive. There is some use of swear words but it is not excessive. I enjoyed this second book of the series and look forward to more.

  ~~~~~

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this book to review. Please see the Author's Guest Post to comment for a Giveaway of a bag of books and yummy holiday treats! Thank you Ms. Jones.