Winners: Creative Spirit, Hot Zone, Gift of the Heart

Giveaways Ended December 21

eBook of Creative Spirit by Scott Nicholson

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Giveaways Ended December 23

ARC of Hot Zone by Catherine Mann

Lag123

eBook Gift of the Heart by Suzanne Barrett

Elizabeth L

ALL WINNERS please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form so I can mail the book out and let Authors know to send ebooks to winners.  Please reply within 72 hours! 

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway December 23, 2011

[** If you are new to Friday Pick Giveaway, scroll down a bit (below book group #19) for instructions on how to enter.] 

Oh boy---one more week gone and Christmas only two days away! I thought I'd get a few extra days off but it hasn't happened yet.

Thank you to all who entered December 16 Pick.  There were NO 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).

CONGRATULATIONS

to Random.org picked Winners from December 16 Pick:

Heavensent1 chose Scavenger

Louisa chose A Marked Man

and
Chickadee chose Lucifer Rising

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. 

Does anyone have visions of BOOKS for Christmas?!
Found at Life Gets in The Way.
BTW- I love to look for book pictures online. :-)

New Group #24 Pick Books November 25, 2011
(The only Thanksgiving title I found is a Harlequin I'd like to read someday so no Thanksgiving titles for November.)

Skin Tight by Susan Andersen  (Cover has one thin black marker stripe)
Hour Game by David Baldacci
After Dark by Beverly Barton(spine wear)
The Shattered Rose by Jo Beverley
Final Justice by Jasmine Cresswell
Green Calder Grass by Janet Dailey
Praying for Sleep by Jeffery Deaver
Lucifer Rising by Barbara Fifield
Cry Wolf by Tami Hoag (spine wear)
Sunset Bay by Susan Mallery
Sweet Vengeance by Kat Martin
Lost Highways by Curtiss Ann Matlock
The Wedding Wager by Cathy Maxwell
Moon Racer by Constance O'Banyon
Cause for Alarm by Erica Spindler
Destiny Unleashed by Sherryl Woods


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
Witch by Barbara Michaels (spine wear)
Walking After Midnight by Karen Robards (spine wear)
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)

New Group #22 Pick Books September 2, 2011

Singles:
Tender Triumph by Judith McNaught
A Far and Deadly Cry by Teri Holibrook

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

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)

* Rogue Stallion (Montana Mavericks) by Diana Palmer

May, 2011 New Group of Pick books

Group #20

Singles

Luciano's Luck by Jack Higgins - Audio Cassettes

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

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. 

I started Friday Pick in November 27, 2009 and in two years I have posted 24 groups of 16 books to find new homes!

I have periodically update 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 286 books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed.

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 too. :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 with 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

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

Double Jeopardy by William Bernhardt

The Genesis Code: A Thriller by John Case

Group #11

Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown

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

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

Pick #6

The Marshall Takes a Bride by Renee Ryan *PA*

Elusive Love by Catherine Lanigan

Pick #7

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

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)

Winners of Timesplash Audio

Congratulations

to the winners:

Copy of Timesplash by Graham Storrs + Copy of Party Time, the Prequel to Timesplash

And the winners are...

Entry #34Krystal Larson

Entry #7Lisa Mcgeen

Entry #16Linda Kish

results powered by Random.org

Winners - please email me {mesreadsATgmail.com}so I can send you the download links. I'll email you Friday or Saturday if I haven't heard from you yet. :-)

Book Review: Holiday Kisses Anthology

This is just what it claims: a nice Christmas Romance Anthology.

Holiday Kisses Anthology

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 627 KB
• Publisher: Carina Press (December 5, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English

 Genre:  Contemporary Romance
 My Rating:  4.0 of 5.0

Product Description
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...Love!

A man gives the gift of trust and receives a second chance at love in return. A woman helps to heal the wounded heart of a soldier. A couple finds that true love knows no distance. And a young widow learns that there can be two great loves in a lifetime. Love, romance and passion come together in this collection of four seasonal shorts.

Anthology includes:

This Time Next Year by Alison Kent
A Rare Gift by Jaci Burton
It's Not Christmas Without You by HelenKay Dimon
Mistletoe and Margaritas by Shannon Stacey

Shannon Stacey's Website : click here
Jaci Burton's Website : click here
HelenKay Dimon's Website : click here
Alison Kent's Website : click here

Overall Review:
I liked each of these stories which are heartwarming Christmas tales perfect for quick reading. These are short so they focus on the romantic conflicts as the plot feature. Yet the authors are able to give their characters sufficient depth to make them interesting in the different dilemmas they have to overcome.  I had not read any of these authors and this is a nice way to get a feel for their writing styles.
Overall Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

This Time Next Year by Alison Kent
Brenna Keating is on her way to spend Christmas with her grandmother when treacherous roads and a skittish deer put her car in a ditch. Riding to the rescue—literally—is Dillon Craig, a reclusive doctor who insists she weather the storm in his cabin.

Since returning from Afghanistan where he treated wounded soldiers on the front lines, Dillon’s made it a point to avoid any emotional involvement. But his unexpected guest has him dangerously close to breaking his own rules.

Brenna has a plan for her life – until she’s stranded for three days with Dillon. Soon, the chemistry sizzling between them forces her to re-examine her priorities. The man is gorgeous, if taciturn, and a true hero in every sense of the word. No woman in her right mind could resist him, and so Brenna doesn’t – even though she can’t stay…

Review:
Brenna has plans to spend a year serving as a nurse in an impoverished African nation. On her way for a Christmas visit with her Grandmother she has an accident and ends up being rescued by a handsome, brooding ex-military doctor.  Dillon has secluded himself to bury his trauma from serving in Afghanistan. He serves the local community but isn’t interested in socializing or getting close to anyone. At least he wasn’t interested in getting close until this warm beauty heated things up in his cabin in the woods.

The author was able to develop likeable characters with a tightly written romance that flows nicely.
Rating 4.25

A Rare Gift by Jaci Burton
Book Two in the Kent Brothers Series

With a disastrous marriage behind him, Wyatt Kent has no interest in getting involved with any woman, let alone his ex-wife’s younger sister. But when Calliope Andrews hires him to build an addition onto her daycare center, Wyatt can’t help but notice she’s a desirable woman, as warm and funny as his ex was cold and aloof.

Calliope fell hard for Wyatt the first time he walked through the door of her family’s home, and can’t believe her sister let him get away. He’s still the star of all her fantasies, and she’s determined to prove to him she’s nothing like his manipulative ex. Wyatt may be all business, but Calliope sees the way he looks at her when he’s supposed to be working…

It’s not long before Wyatt and Calliope are keeping each other warm on cold December nights. But it’s going to take a Christmas miracle for Wyatt to put his trust in love a second time.

Review: Calliope has loved Wyatt for years but he was married to her older sister, the flamboyant beauty queen. It turned out that they didn’t have the same goals; the marriage was disastrous and didn’t end well. Wyatt has stayed away from any involvement with women since.  He would resist Calliope except she is so persistent.  She is intent on proving that she is not her sister and that she is just the right woman for Wyatt. Will Wyatt let her walk away or will he try to deal with his pain and take a chance on Calliope?

This is a nice story with likeable characters.  Wyatt was incredibly stubborn and Calliope had to be relentlessly persistent to get through to him. It was almost too much but the way it resolved worked.
Rating: 4.0

It's Not Christmas Without You by HelenKay Dimon
Carrie Anders officially broke up with Austin Thomas when she accepted a dream job in the city. Unofficially, she misses him and is tempted to sneak back to her West Virginia hometown to see him. That's why this year, she's not going home for the holidays. Her heart can't take any more mornings after where nothing has changed--and Austin has made it clear he's not interested in relocating.

Austin's been waiting for Carrie to realize she can't live without him. But when he hears she's not coming home for Christmas, he decides to take action. If Carrie won't come to the country, he's going to bring a piece of the country to Carrie - in the form of a Christmas tree lot just minutes from her apartment. He's certain daily meetings will entice her to come home with him, this time for good.

Their attraction is as hot as ever, but with such contrary Christmas wishes, can either of them get what they really want this year?

Review:

Here is another stubborn couple. They acknowledge that they love each other but he wants to stay in the country and she wants to live in the city. It appears that neither will compromise. Austin pursues Carrie in the city and thinks if he helps her date a city guy she will see the difference and recognize that the other fellow isn’t right for her. Their combustible chemistry reaffirms their  sexual attraction and love but that doesn’t provide a solution to their work arrangements.

The author is able to provide backstory that supports the insecurities of both characters. The good romantic conflict and its sweet resolution is portrayed through an easily flowing style.
Rating 4.0.

Mistletoe and Margaritas by Shannon Stacey
Heating up the Holidays

Claire Rutledge still believes in love, despite losing her husband. So, after two years, she’s not surprised by the steamy dreams telling her it might be time to start moving on. But she didn’t expect her friend Justin to have the starring role.

Justin McCormick has loved Claire since the moment he first saw her, but his best friend got there first. Now that Claire is ready to move on with her life, Justin is finding it harder than ever to hide his true feelings. And when they both get caught up in the holiday spirits at a party, their simmering mutual attraction boils over into a night neither of them can forget…

Review: 
This one was a bit more on the sexual side as a good part of the story revolves around the pairs desires that they are trying to hide or suppress. It seemed that Justin’s attitude flipped but he is able to get good advise that helped them resolve their dilemma in a nice way. Again the characters are likeable and this was an easy read.
Rating 4.0 I received the eBook copy for review from Carina Press through NetGalley.

Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop Dec 21 - 27

Yikes! I am a day behind in my calendar so this is three quarters of a day late!!! So Sorry!

 Thanks to Kathy at I Am a Reader Not a Writer and Jessie Harrell from Oasis for YA for co-hosting!
This hop runs from December 21st to December 27th.

No time to do anything fancy for giveaway so this will be rather simple:

Two Winners... 

The Gift:  $12.00 in Gift Certificate (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc) or book choice at the Book Depository up to $12.00 value. 

Open Internationally.

If you have trouble with the form click here to enter.
Since I am late I may not be on the main linky but you can follow the others by following the links below the entry form.