Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway June 8, 2012

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

I think this is still open so I am still asking for your vote on my Audio love post at Audiobook Community. Here is the link if you get a chance and would be so kind :-):
Thanks Faith Hope Cherrytea for telling me the link was general.
Here is the specific link:  (Scroll down below mid page)
http://www.facebook.com/audiobookcommunity?v=app_308816365872891&app_data=entry_id%3D6058046

Ahoy Maties! I have prepared parts of this ahead since my internet time on Board is limited.  We will be retuning from our cruise Friday morning. It has been a very relaxing week!

Thank you to all who entered June 1 Pick.  There were THREE 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).
There is one pick being blocked by multiple requests the past several weeks.

Louisa chose Skylight Confessions
sienny chose Prime Time
Krystal chose Elusive Love

CONGRATULATIONS

to Random.org picked Winners from June 1 Pick:

Lieder chose Nightshade
and

Llehn gets a GC

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 and I have a new supply of sweet bookmarks.

My DH and I looked a bit like this.
Comfy reading!!
Image found at Peter Sommer Travels

New Book Group #28 May 18, 2012
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books suitable for international

Wanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts

Sleeping Arrangements by Madeline Wickham

Game Over by Fern Michaels

Forever Victoria by Dorothy Garlock

Sleeping Alone by Barbara Bretton

Gentle From the Night Meagan McKinney (spine creased)

In Too Deep by Tina Wainscott

Gabriel's Lady by Ana Seymor

Wildflower by Jill Marie Landis

*Love and Other Four Letter Words by Caroline Mackler

*The Carousel by Rosamund Pilcher

*Shades of Grace by Barbara Delinsky (audio tapes)

Nightshade by John Saul

The Heart of Justice by William L. Coughlin

Cross Country by James Patterson

Fresh Disasters by Stuart Woods

New book Group #27 April 13, 2012
Some of the books on the right end are smaller and suitable for overseas mailing. :-)

Skylight Confessions by Alice Hoffman

Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris (spine damage)

An Earl to Enchant by Amelia Grey (spine damage)

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

When Dreams Come True by Cathy Maxwell (slight spine wear)

A Week in Winter by Marcia Willett

Slow Heat by Erica Spindler

The Trouble with Joe by Emilie Richards

Midnight Hour by Debra Dixon

September Morning by Diana Palmer

Beneath the Surface by Annie White (slight spine wear)

The Amazing Mrs. Polifax by Dorothy Gilman

*The Dream Horse by Virginia Campbell Scott

*Summer's Belle by Paige Winship Dooly
*Not Looking for a Texas Man by Lass Small
*Ladies Start Your Engines

New book Group #26 March 2, 2012
These are Paired sets - two per author.
Four are parts of series the others are just singles by the same author.
Winners get both books if you pick these.

Nora Roberts
     Inner Harbor (#3 Cheasapeake Bay Series) and Blue Dahlia (SC) (#1 In the Garden Trilogy -(nice trilogy!)
Dick Francis
     Smokescreen (SC) and Field of Thirteen

New Group #25 January 12, 2012

*Smaller books on the right would be okay for most international mailing.

Leopards Kill by Jim DeFelice

Category 7 by Bill Evans and Marianna Jameson

Long Way Home (Friends Romance Series) by Wendy Corsi Staub

Hell's Belle by Jane Holleman

The Firebird Deception (Silhouette Bombshell) by Cate Dermody

*Shadow Rider: Apache Sundown by Jory Sherman

*Prime Time by Sandra Brown  

*Out of the Blue (Allegheny Hopes) by Janice A. Thompson

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.)

Green Calder Grass by Janet Dailey

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

Emily's Good Nightmare by Cosmic Debris Cosmic

Death Angel by Linda Howard

New Group #22 Pick Books September 2, 2011

Singles:

Tender Triumph by Judith McNaught

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.

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)

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

Primary Colors - audio tapes

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  posted 26 groups of 16 books to find new homes! (March 2012)

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 365 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
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

List #15---

List #14

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

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

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)

Pick #5

See Jane Lead by Lois P. Frankel

The Daddy Spell by Patti Ann Cole

Misfortune by Nancy Geary

Cold Hit by Linda Fairstein - Audio Tapes

Pick #6

Elusive Love by Catherine Lanigan

Pick #7

Prey by Michael Crichton - Audio Tape

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

No Safe Place by Richard North Patterson - Audio Tapes

Pick #9

Three Weddings and a Kiss - Anthology

On Treacherous Ground by Earl Murray

Guardian by Dee Henderson - Audio Tapes

Time to Hunt by Stephen Hunter - Audio Tapes

Pick #10

The Third Twin by Ken Follett (spine creased)

Dreams Gather by Kathryn Collins (sc)

Book Reviews: Desperate Housedogs and Get Fluffy by Sparkle Abbey

This is a light read and fun romp with the dogs.

Desperate Housedogs

by Sparkle Abbey

• File Size: 513 KB
• Print Length: 202 pages
• Publisher: Bell Bridge Books (October 17, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005WZL0RK

Genre: Mystery
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Product Description

When Caro Lamont, former psychologist turned pet therapist makes a house call to help Kevin Blackstone with his two misbehaving German Shepherd dogs, she expects frantic dogs, she expects a frantic dog owner, she even expects frantic neighbors. What she doesn’t expect is that two hours later the police will find Kevin dead, his dogs impounded; and that as the last person to see Kevin alive (well, except for the killer) she is suddenly a person of interest, at least according to Homicide Detective Judd Malone. Sparkle Abbey is the pseudonym of two mystery authors (Mary Lee Woods and Anita Carter). They are friends and neighbors as well as co-writers of the Pampered Pets Mystery Series. The pen name was created by combining the names of their rescue pets - Sparkle (Mary Lee’s cat) and Abbey (Anita’s dog). They reside in central Iowa, but if they could write anywhere, you would find them on the beach with their laptops and depending on the time of day either an iced tea or a margarita.) 

Review:

Caro is a pet therapist and proprietor of Professional Animal Wellness Specialist (or PAWS) Clinic.  Caro deals with some high strung clientele in Laguna Beach, California - human, canine feline and occasionally other critters. Caro and her cousin, Melinda, are both former Texas beauty queens who escaped from their demanding mothers. They might be grand friends if they weren’t fighting over their grandmother’s ugly brooch which had been willed to “my favorite granddaughter.” Both claimed the brooch and part of these stories is the running theft of the brooch from one cousin and back again. It doesn’t matter if they have to break and enter or open safes...anything is fair game.

Caro visits Kevin in his private community to help calm his two distressed German Shepherds, Zeus and Tommy Boy. A few hours later Kevin is discovered dead and Caro is being interrogated by Homicide Detective Judd Malone. Malone is sexy in a macho, leather-clad, cop sort of way and he is rather serious and solemn. He is quickly irritated by cheery Caro doing amateur sleuthing as she continues the rounds of client visits seeking information while dodging nosy and gossipy neighbors. But of course Caro is intent on proving her own innocence.

The characters are nicely, if not deeply, developed. Their basic temperaments and quirks are covered, for owners and pets, adding humor to the story.  The story is told in first person by Caro and it is light and fast paced. There are lots of good descriptions of settings, fashion and pets. There are numerous animal references - like the “Fur Ball”, a “cough-up some cash” black tie affair - which I thought were great fun.

There are several possible suspects and the mystery has a few good twists before being clearly revealed.  Caro’s actions are a bit zany and Detective Malone is a bit annoyed. I enjoyed the interaction and wonder what might occur in future stories between Caro and Malone or between Caro and her new date, the mysterious, handsome stranger, Sam.

This isn’t high brow mystery or thriller material but it is a fun, entertaining romp. If you would like a quick, light comedic mystery this works well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Some dog influenced passages:

The next day was another day, another dog. L963.

The ACT gallery was packed with people and their pets. It was a veritable zoo of diamonds, furs and designer togs. The diamonds were on the people, the fur on the pets, the Prad and Chanel on both. Location 1583.

*****************************************

This is another fun sleuth romp with the dogs.

Get Fluffy (Book 2 on the Pampered Pets Mystery Series)

by Sparkle Abbey

• File Size: 503 KB
• Print Length: 196 pages
• Publisher: Bell Bridge Books (March 30, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007RPT76E

Genre: Mystery

My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Product Description

“A mystery worth barking about.” – Linda O. Johnson, author of THE MORE THE TERRIER, Berkley Prime Crime Disgraced Texas beauty queen, Melinda (Mel) Langston, owns Laguna Beach’s Bow Wow Boutique. Mona Michaels, Mel’s most despised client, owns a star dog, Fluffy, who's worth millions. When Mona is found whacked in the head with Fluffy’s Daytime Emmy, everyone wants Fluffy. And someone won't stop at murder to get the pooch. Secrets. Blackmail. Mel tackles the case like a dog with a bone. But can she dig up the truth before the killer buries her? I stumbled through the doorway into a mini-palace fit for a movie star. Fluffy’s palace. A white sheepskin rug in front of her personal fireplace, a king-sized sleigh bed and a dressing screen (why a dog needed a dressing screen was beyond me). Fresh, filtered water dripped into her Wedgewood doggie bowl.The room looked like it had been ransacked.Mona was sprawled on the floor as if posing for a men’s magazine. It was almost picture-perfect, except for the blood matting her five-hundred-dollar haircut and the gold statue stuck in her head. I hesitantly moved closer. Fluffy nuzzled Mona’s cheek. When she didn’t move, Fluffy pawed her shoulder, still whining. “I don’t think she’s getting up, girl,” I said softly.Mona was deader than a stuffed poodle. Sparkle Abbey is the writing team of Anita Carter and Mary Lee Woods. Visit the authors at http://sparkleabbey.com

Review:
This is book two of the Pampered Pets Mystery Series. This story came paired with Desperate Housedogs for a NetGalley review special.  I hope for the sake of the authors and publisher that this wasn’t the final release version as there were more than a few noticeable typo errors.

Melinda is the wilder cousin of Caro, the heroine amateur sleuth in Desperate Housedogs. The ongoing battle of the brooch, with each cousin stealing the brooch from the other, continues in the background of this tale.  Melinda is the owner of the Bow Wow Boutique in Laguna Beach and her own bulldog, Missy, comes complete with dog drool and other not so pleasant doggy habits. There are quite a few “hoity-toity” women in Laguna Beach and one of the snobbiest is former actress, Mona Michaels. Even her dog, Fluffy, an afghan hound, is a pampered Emmy winning star.

Mona and Melinda aren’t friends and they have a very public and humiliating tif at the fund raising Fur Ball. The argument continues the next day and that evening Melinda is the one to find Mona dead when she attempts to return Fluffy.  When Mel realizes that her best friend Darby may be the primary suspect, Mel sets out to find the real murderer. Mel is warned off by not only her on again/off again fiancé, Grey, but by the stern Homicide Detective, Judd Malone, who is already unhappy with cousin Cora.

Once again there are several suspects and a weaving trail to the true villain. Melinda is a character a little over the edge for me, making such a public scene and then plunging into the investigation after being told repeatedly not too. Really, if Malone weren’t such a nice guy underneath he could have thrown both cousins in jail for obstructing justice and being reckless in their sleuthing. Ah well, it’s all in the cause of fun reading.

Each of the two books I read in this series could be read alone but I think they were fun together. I am still interested in how things will move forward for Cora and hope something develops in future stories.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Welcome to the fancy Fur Ball:

Breezy air kisses and alcohol flowed freely, while we all pretended to be best friends. Trust me, we were one society catfight away from a hell of an entertaining evening.  Location 2645

Description of another community customer:
TV teen star and her dog, Babycakes, a Chinese Crested:

They were both so tiny they could be mistaken for keychain charms. Pooch and human were decked out in hot pink. Location 5076

Conditions:

It was partly cloudy with a chance of clearing Darby’s name.

I received these books as a pair from Bell Bridge through NetGalley.

These were set in Laguna Beach, CA and I will add theseto my ARC, New Author and Mystery Challenge Lists.

Book Review: Stranded with a Spy by Merline Lovelace

Merline Lovelace is a favorite author for me.

Stranded with a Spy

by Merline Lovelace

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373275536
• ISBN-13: 978-0373275533

Genre: Romantic Suspense
My Rating:  3.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: October 1, 2007
Escape from hell?

To hell was more like it! When Mallory Dawes, suddenly infamous in the States, decided to take that vacation to France, her problems were just beginning: a lost passport. A car swept out to sea. Missing travelers' checks. And a mysterious, if intriguing, man who always seemed to turn up just when she was in trouble...

Cutter Smith--code name: Slash--was told to keep the beautiful blonde in his sights. But as his interest in her veered from the professional to the intensely personal, Cutter knew the cost of falling in love would be high indeed. And he would have to pay the price...
--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Review:

Mallory Dawes needs a break from several months of not fun notoriety. Mallory left a good, quiet government job to work in a senior Senator’s office. Unfortunately the Senator had roaming hands and when he wouldn’t stop, Mallory quit and filed a sexual harassment suit. Problem is that Mallory’s two past loser lovers were eager to exaggerate their exploits and the press was more than willing to make her look like a loose, money grabbing woman. She is dismayed when the arbitration board rules against her so she is more than ready to go on her long awaited vacation to spend quiet time in the countryside of France.

Fate has other plans. A routine luggage check reveals a disc containing government secrets inside an innocuous music CD cover. Cutter Smith, a James Bond sort of American operative, is sent to keep Mallory in sight as they suspect she may meet with a Russian spy that they have been trying to track down.  Cutter is ruggedly sensual with a face that bears the burn scars from betrayal by his first love.

Mallory takes a side trip to a monastery where she gets stranded by rising tides that wash her rental car, baggage and all out to sea.  Cutter has already rescued Mallory from the unwanted attentions of a drunken tourist. Now he steps in as a “friend” to help her in her stranded distress.

Predictably, Cutter and Mallory fall for each other and he begins to believe that she is innocent of any crime and was being set up or used as a mule. Cutter wants to trust her but the betrayal in his past makes it hard for him to let go his guard. Then there are more attacks and Mallory’s hurt when she learns that Cutter has lied all along.

I liked the characters and the twisted plot. There is plenty of action but unfortunately the story seemed a little flat. There was so much that was predictable. It was pleasant reading but not my favorite book by this marvelous author. Merline Lovelace has written some marvelous historical romances and other really solid romantic suspense. You could read this for a light read but if you have not enjoyed Ms. Lovelace’s work I would recommend The Horse Soldier (historical romance) and the Cleo North Trilogy (military/romantic suspense).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The romance:

She’d seen that spark of heat in his eyes a few moments ago. Felt the sudden, subtle tension sizzle through the air between them. Location 958.

The betrayal:

Well, now she had it. She was the bait he wanted to dangle in front of a shadowy, international thug. Location 1914.

I read this from my own TBR pile. It was a free Kindle read from 2009..

This is set in Europe and in DC. I will add it to my TBR Challenge list too! (YAY)

Book Review: Eos (The Samsara Chronicles Book 1)

This novella introduces a science fiction good v evil series.

Eos (The Samsara Chronicles Book 1)

by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley 

• File Size: 130 KB
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: eXtasy Books (May 25, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0086FP934

Genre: Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Product Description
Blending elements of futuristic, fantasy, science fiction and the paranormal, the Samsara Chronicles explores the duality of good and evil set against two worlds, Earth and Nirvana.

Guided by mystical beings, a human mother bears a daughter of alien royalty, Aislinn, destined to champion the future of two worlds.

Review:

This is a short novella and I will be reading and reviewing all 14 books in the series over the next 12 or so weeks. In the first book, we meet Sienna and Blake, a loving couple in their early 40s. They live on a 10 acre farm and although they had always longed for children they were never able to have any naturally or through assisted efforts.   They are not young lovers, but they are still enamored and the story begins with a sensual dream that results in warm lovemaking that is private and not described. There are several sensual encounters that are tastefully presented. They may seem prominent because this book is so short, but the story goes beyond the lovemaking.

The initial encounter is to set the story for the series as the activity results in an unexpected pregnancy. Harmonious voices and lights appear to Sienna as the Antiquitas, the ancient keepers of knowledge. They let her know that her daughter, Aislinn, is a chosen child to save the world in the future.

The writing has an easy flow and I enjoyed the descriptions and the anticipation set up by this story. The characters are nice although not deeply developed. After the birth of the baby the book shifts 26 years to the future where the world has been devastated by World War three. Another child, Angelica, is introduced as a ‘sister’ preparing to meet Aislinn.

This is an interesting set up, to have this many novellas set out separately. This first book is only 50 pages. It is engaging and I am interested in where the story will go. There are some scenes that are not pursued, like the sighting of a white wolf, and it will be interesting to see if this is picked up in future books. Also there are some typos and at least one scene that didn’t seem consistent in action. These are probably more noticeable because of the brevity of the book.

Pleasant description:

Stately evergreens flanked the driveway, their feathery branches already laden with a veil of white. Location 160.

Devastation:

Above the cries of the wounded and dying, a tolling bell solemnly lamented man’s legacy–now crushed and broken between the dust and rubble that had become the domain of vermin. Location 520.

I received this from the Author for review as part of Pump Up Your Book Tour.

I will add this to my ARC and New Author Challenge lists.

Winners Much Ado, Lucky in Love and Calico Canyon

 (Sorry this is posted late)
CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNERS
of Giveaways ended 6/1/12

Print Autographed Copy or Kindle Copy + $10.00 GC 

Anash

Review Copy of Lucky in Love

Barbara E.





Copy of Calico Canyon

pwnmom

Thank you to everyone who entered.
Winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form so I can mail out or let the Author/Publisher know to send the books.  Please reply within 72 hours!