Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Sunday Words of Encouragement June 17, 2012

I am thanking my heavenly Father today on Father's Day for the earthly father He gave us. He wasn't perfect, but there was never any question that he loved us. We have been blessed.

I found this wonderful song giving thanks to a Father
and the words are fitting for today.

A Verse For Today:

Malachi 4:6 (NIV)
He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.

I just got word they have taken my Dad back into ICU. I pray for strength but mostly I pray for peace of heart for Dad, my Stepmom and our family.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Winner of Web of Evil Audiobook

CONGRATULATIONS

to the Winner of

Giveaway Ending June 15

AudioBook CD of Web of Evil

#3 Lilian

Lilian please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form to confirm the win and I'll send out the audiobook. Please reply within 72 hours!
Thank you to all who entered.

Sharing Beyond Books #53 Comment Giveaway June 16, 2012

Welcome to another SBB!
This has been a good and rough week for me: I had a big closing yesterday but have been saddened with my Dad in the hospital and not making much progress. I am late posting tonight as I had dinner with my sister and Stepmom. We had a nice time and it was a good break for Stepmom after her stressful week and worries about Dad.
Thank you to all who shared last week.

Those were fun questions. Seven commenters used only print books while traveling; Six people use both print books and ereaders; some use audio and 3 used only ereaders. Birgit is the only one who doesn't read while traveling. (Does that make her the odd ball? Lol)

Radio Clocks edged out cell phone by a nose with a count of 5 for radio clocks and 4 for cell phones. Others had a variety of methods including a mother (Krystal) and a three year old (Abby).

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #52 comments is: #14 Linda (thumbelinda03) There are still 7 'love' books to pick from and 2 Christmas choices. Linda please choose a book (or GC if international) from the remaining Love Books List for Giveaway, remaining Christmas Giveaway Books, 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 #53 Questions

Q1. Mamabunny13 asks: Do you remember what your very first user name was? For any email/blog etc.??

A: I guess my first username (other than business) was mesreads. I had to do that as msereads was already in use.

Image found at MYCE

Q2. My question: Do you fall asleep with a book? Wake up with a book? Wake up in the middle of the night to read??

A: I go to sleep listening to either my Kindle or an audio book on MP3. I usually wake up and start reading before I get out of bed. And yes, if I wake up in the middle of the night I am likely to grab a book for the bathroom break and or a few minutes before I go back to sleep! :-)

Image found at the Gadgeteer

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. :-) The question list is being replenished! Thanks for sending in questions! Questions in May were contributed by mamabunny13, Sarah, Margaret and Abby. The random.org picked winner is Sarah - Sarah please pick a book or GC if you are international and let me know through the winner form link above.

Your turn to share:

1. Mamabunny13 asks: Do you remember what your very first user name was? For any email/blog etc.??

2. My question: Do you fall asleep with a book? Wake up with a book? Wake up in the middle of the night to read??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books - there are still about 9 books available to choose from. Also I have added the Review and ARC Box now.

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, June 22, 2012 at 10 PM central.

Book Review: Just Say Yes by Phillipa Ashley

This is an easy and fun read.

Just Say Yes

by Phillipa Ashley

File Size: 953 KB
Print Length: 324 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0755343328
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (June 5, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B007VEQ9GW

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: June 5, 2012

Praise for Carrie Goes Off the Map:

"Engaging...Ashley's charming prose makes the journey enjoyable."—Publishers Weekly

"This tale has its own Bridget Jones–style appeal."—Booklist
"Quirky and fun!"—RT Book Reviews

"Fulfills all the best fantasies, including a gorgeous humanitarian hero and a camper van!"—Katie Fforder, UK bestselling author of Love Letters
There's one question a girl should always say yes to...
But Lucy Gibson said no. On national TV. Now she's hated by nearly everyone.
Fleeing the spotlight's glare, Lucy holes up in a cottage in the country, where she just might find the right reasons to say yes after all...
From beloved novelist Philipa Ashley, Just Say Yes is a sharp and exuberant tale of the rocky road to love that'll leave you saying "Yes!"

Review:

Lucy Gibson, a marketing assistant, falls hard for Nick, a sexy young man she meets at the bagel shop where she is sent to pick up lunches for her boss. Lucy has a good reputation at her office as a reliable, grounded worker. She is surprised when the sexy “bagel guy” shows interest in her.

Nick stands her up on the first two dates but they finally connect in a strong, if not fully committed way. Nick isn’t always reliable and he can be quite moody at times but he is a real charmer. But Nick has greater plans than being a “bagel guy.” He is a participant in a TV reality program to pick a top entrepreneur who will get a large donation toward their dream business. Nick plans to be have his own event management business. He is very serious about the program and if it means missing a date with Lucy, surely she understands it is the best for the future. They can have time together later to get to know each other ...outside of bed.

After months of great times in bed, but rocky times otherwise, it is time for the show finale. The winner is announced and then Nick proposes to Lucy on stage in front of millions. Lucy is shocked and unprepared. When she says “no” she becomes a villain in the eyes of the public. As far as the press is concerned, she is fair game for all of their questions and pictures. They harass not only her mother but her employer’s office as well. Her superiors like her work and suggest that she take a month’s leave to let the excitement die down.

Hurt and angry, Lucy agrees to go with her best friend, Fiona who owns a cottage at the shore. Fiona builds a ‘cover story’ ID for Lucy to help her maintain her anonymity. This works fine until a local ‘bad boy’ turned cottage and business owner, Josh, decides that Lucy may be the right woman for his life.

All is promising until Josh’s ex-girlfriend shows up with the press before Lucy can reveal the truth of her situation. Can Josh accept that Lucy has lied about who she is or will she now lose him too as a result of the Nick fiasco?

Ms. Ashley does her usual yummy descriptions and characters with flaws and quirks. The relationships have their challenges. I didn’t like Nick too much but enjoyed Lucy, Fiona and Josh. If you like a quick, light and fun read you should enjoy this one.

I enjoyed reading this for Sourcebooks through NetGalley.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway June 15, 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

Friday the 15th represents a big day for me. It is our son's Birthday (Happy BD M!) He was born on Father's Day 26 years ago. The weekend is also poignant as I have come to South Florida to visit my 88 year old Dad who is in the hospital and struggling to hold his own. Payers are appreciated.

Thank you to all who entered June 8 Pick. There was One Automatic winner this week + one I am awarding :-) (those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks).
There were two blocked picks but one was won through Random.org

Anita chose Fresh Disasters
Elizabeth chose Ladies Start Your Engines (this is a preview book so I am mailing it out with another book that Elizabeth won.

CONGRATULATIONS

to Random.org picked Winners from June 8 Pick:

Spav gets a GC
and

Carol L wins Gabriel's Lady

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.

This is an image of a father reading
with a child.
Dad, I love you.
Image found at The Centre Blog

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 368 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