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Sunday, August 12, 2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? August 13, 2012

This meme starts at Book Journey!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I finished four books this week and have two moving along.  I posted five book reviews, two with giveaways and two with giveaway links. I also posted a Sourcebooks announcement and a Sourcebooks Heyer giveaway. As usual I posted the regular Friday Pick Giveaway, Saturday Sharing Beyond Books Comment Giveaway and Sunday Words. 

I was tired and crashed Sunday night and sad to say my schedule was so tense last week I don't think I got to visit. Special thanks to the nice people who visited me.

These were last week's posts:
  • Book Review and Giveaway: Nipped in the Bud by Susan Sleeman; Cozy Mystery, Christian; my rating 4.25.
Finished Reading:
1.  eBook/Kindle
 

by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley 
Review and Giveaway linked above. 





2. Print/eBook Kindle
 

by Susan Sleeman
Review and  giveaway linked above.





3.eBook/Kindle
 



by Kristin Billerbeck
I really enjoyed this. I will post a review this week.
4.5



4. eBook/Kindle
 

Wild Irish Rose 
by Deborah L. Weikel
This was another lovely read.
I will post a review this week. 4.25



Line Edits/Releases: .The Well and Finding Eden will be released and linked up for next week Monday post.

Currently reading:

1. Print 



by Skhye Moncrief
I won this book over a year ago and pulled it from my TBR books. I am a quarter into this and the story is different so far.
Book Description
Publication Date: December 4, 2007
He, Arthur, is a reflection of luck, an abomination. He can feel the love, the pain, the sorrow, and the joy of all the ages. If he doesn't save the Druid he is sent to find, all known history could change. Some things are worth dying for. But first a man must live. Arthur didn't count on becoming human. And now the fairies want him to break dragon law... He never expected his charge to push him to the edge of reason. But a man must live before becoming king. Fear not. The fairies have a plan. Trust not the fairies. Druids wed one soul for eternity to protect the integrity of the timeline. Druid Solas's soul mate was taken from her. Now, an 11th Century Irish bishop stalks her to serve as his mistress. She has nothing left yet everything to live for in creating the historical maps she was sent through time to make. She will break time-travel Code if she submits to another man by allowing even one paradoxical child to muddy history. Then Arthur arrives to save her. He is anything but a time guardian. And a fairy tells her to help him. To ignore a god's instruction could prove detrimental. Yet, every time guardian knows believing the Gods is wielding a double-edged sword. Since it is forbidden for Druids to wield weapons, her future relies on He of the Fiery Sword. King Arthur is born.


2. Audible/MP3
Insurgent: Divergent, Book 2 | [Veronica Roth] 


Play Insurgent: Divergent, Book 2
Insurgent: Divergent, Book 2
I'm enjoying the second book in this series; not quite mid-way.
This is from my own Audible Library.
Publisher's Summary

One choice can transform you - or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves - and herself - while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable - and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.



3. eBook/Kindle
 

by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley 
I have just started this. Review for Pump Up Your Book - with Kindle Giveaway link posting 8/15.
Book Description
Publication Date: May 25, 2012
Aislinn and Dylan face the Nirvanan traitor Shakan to rescue Aislinn’s sister and discover his link to Vark.

Faced with Shakan’s treachery, Aislinn and Dylan must capture him and rescue Nashira, Aislinn’s sister. Realizing that Shakan is both possessed by the spirit of a corrupt ancestor and is in league with Vark to betray Nirvana, they devise a plan to rescue Aislinn’s parents using alien technology obtained during Shakan’s capture.


 4. eBook/Kindle

by Amelia Grey
I will read this one next for August 20
Review and Author Guest Post.
Reviewing for Sourcebooks.
Book Description
Publication Date: August 1, 2012

How can a lady avoid a scandal...

Just as Miss Isabella Winslowe is finally achieving comfortable respectability, the fascinating and decidedly unrespectable Earl of Colebrooke inconveniently appears...

When a gentleman is so determined to flirt...

The darkly handsome Daniel Colebrooke is intrigued and alarmed when an alluring young lady arrives at his door in need of assistance. In a moment of impetuosity, Daniel decides he must keep a close watch on Isabella, and what better way than to strike up a not–so–innocent fliration...

Together they'll cook up more than a little mischief when a disappearing dead body and a lascivious scandal spins their reckless game entirely out of control.


It is possible I will add one more book later in the week but again, I haven't selected it yet.

I am again listening to The Listener's Bible NIV read by Max McLean. 
[Reading and listening on my new MP3.]
Instead of studying with the Tyndall One Year Bible this year I am studying with Through the Bible in One Year by Alan B. Stringfellow. It is a Study that I used for teaching back in around 1989 so I will enjoy it again.  This week the reading is Romans.

Line Edits: Still hoping to train one of my assistants to upload conversions to Kindle and Smashwords.
I started August with 14 books to read and review. I have completed 11 books and I am posting 5 reviews a week to keep up with the reading. :-)

Scheduled for August:
8/15  Entity (The Samsara Chronicles Book 11) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley - Review for Pump Up Your Book - with Kindle Giveaway link
8/20  A Little Mischief by Amelia Grey w/ Guest Post (Sourcebooks)
8/22  Kindred (The Samsara Chronicles Book 12) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley - Review for Pump Up Your Book - with Kindle Giveaway link
8/27  Nexus (The Samsara Chronicles Book 13) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley - Review for Pump Up Your Book - with Kindle Giveaway link
8/30  I Own the Dawn: The Night Stalkers by M.L. Buchman w/ Author Interview (Sourcebooks)

Unscheduled for August:
Sourcebooks (read)

Thomas Nelson
Faithful to Laura (A Middlefield Family Novel) by Kathleen Fuller

Walnut Press: (read)

I did get one "Won"/TBR books in so far.:-)  

[To be posted - I am setting these up for interview/feature days. These were read and ready for reviews for Authors.  
Quest for Magic by Jean Hart Stewart - Read; review to be posted with interview.  
Seeing for the First Time (What You See is What You Get) and To See (What You See is What You Get) by Nicole Zoltack - Both Read; setting up author interview with reviews.]
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Book Review with Giveaway: Nipped in the Bud by Susan Sleeman

This is a very fun read with a Biblical message on trying to control things with our own abilities.
Nipped in the Bud 
by Susan Sleeman


  • File Size: 370 KB
  • Print Length: 259 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1602605734
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B006QZHYAM
Print copies of this book may be available at Christianbook.com
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0


Book Description
Publication Date: October 1, 2010

Prepare to attend the Pickle Fest in Serendipity, Oregon, along with Paige Turner and Adam Hayes. But first you must help them unravel the mystery of how the city manager wound up dead in a mound of mulch in the city park that Paige was hired to landscape. Can Adam’s knowledge of the law keep her out of jail and win her love?


Review:
Paige Turner (oh yes, there are puns like that throughout the book!) lost her parents when she was a child of ten. She doesn’t trust God to take care of her and seeks to control all aspects of her life.

Paige has her own nursery business in Serendipity, OR. She is expanding to include landscaping services and wants to make a good showing on a city project to win other jobs. Unfortunately, the city manager, Bud Picklemann, doesn’t like Paige.  But even Bud wouldn’t go so far as to get himself killed on her project site just to get her fired.  Paige is the number one suspect considering she made rash threats in an argument with Bud shortly before she found him toes up in a mound of dirt with her shovel as the apparent murder weapon. It doesn’t help Paige’s position that the local sheriff holds a grudge against her.

Paige’s best friend, Lisa, and her husband, a local commercial attorney, call in a criminal attorney. Adam is convinced he can help Paige but he would like to hire an investigator. Paige claims she can’t afford to hire anyone and, besides, she can do it herself.  Adam and Paige are attracted to each other but he is determined to keep her at a distance as long as she is his client.

Bud had several enemies in town and Paige soon has numerous other possible suspects. She refuses to pass the information on to the sheriff until she can clear her own name.  Will she be able to weed (sorry - couldn’t resist) through the clues in time to prevent going to jail?

This was our Ladies’ Book Club book and everyone agreed it was an easy and fun read. Paige hosts a radio program called “Through the Garden Gate” providing gardening tips.  Most  chapters begin with a blurb from a  prior radio episode and these are great ‘shake your head’ jokes.  Also Paige gives people flower names, like “shasta daisy”, “globe thistle” or “sedum.” This adds another layer of fun to the reading.

Ms. Sleeman does a good job providing many plausible suspects for the mystery plot and Paige gets help from a surprising source in the end. Between the word association, jokes and mystery clues there is not a dull moment in the book. Paige isn’t the most likeable character due to her extreme stubbornness and control issues but she does mellow out by the end. Adam and Lisa are nice characters and Lisa gets her own crazy moments. The Biblical message of trusting in God is woven into the story and not set out in a preachy manner.

The ending did seem a little rushed and might have been more neatly resolved. There is a second book in the series so perhaps that picks up to wrap up the trailing branches. (These puns are just too catching.)  One of our book club ladies wondered if the location name wasn’t also a purposeful pun by the author. Serendipity means a "happy accident" or "pleasant surprise"; specifically, the accident of finding something good or useful while not specifically searching for it.

If you are ready for a light, fun mystery, perfect for the summer garden or other times of the year, I recommend this book.  I see some other series at her website and hope to read more of her work.
{Note- the Kindle version of this book had some good reading questions at the end that are not in the print book.}

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Examples of Paige’s control problem:
Controlling my life kept me safe. Let me sleep at night. If that meant Adam moved on after this was all over, so be it. I would, as usual, be in charge of my life, and everything would be fine. Location 2453.
I needed to work harder. Smarter. Faster. Location 3373.
I purchased this book for my local Ladies' Book Club. I have two copies left over so I am adding one to my Review box for giveaway selection and offering one now for giveaway.

This book is set in Oregon for my Where Are You Reading Challenge. I will also add it to my New Author and Cozy Mystery challenge lists.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for a Print Copy:
1. Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest. This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower on any media (GFC, Twitter @MSEREADS, Facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/ReviewsByMarthasBookshelf , Goodreads or Linky - links on right sidebar) or tell me if you are already a follower.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Two total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on August 24, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on August 25, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.  
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Sunday Words of Encouragement August 12, 2012

This morning we had a good service with our Pastor sharing scripture on joy...fullness and completion of joy.
I may use those in a future post but today I am posting a video based on the Sunday School lesson that was shared this morning.  It seems in our lessons we are being given repeated wake up calls for America. Interesting that there are parallels with Israel - 'If you obey God, nations will hear of your greatness; if you turn away from God, nations will sneer at your destruction.' 2 Chronicles 7.

This was a message given by Paul Harvey in 1965! It seems a bit prophetic to me even though he may not have intended it as such. (You may need to turn your volume up to hear this better because of the older recording.  I liked this video best even though it is missing Paul Harvey's signature ending: "good day!".)


Verses for Today:
2 Chronicles 7:21-22 (NIV)
21And though this temple is now so imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.

As we prepare to vote in some local elections this week, and mindful of the national conventions to take place in a few weeks, I am praying for wisdom in America's leaders and guidance on election choices.
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Saturday, August 11, 2012

Sharing Beyond Books #61 Comment Giveaway August 11, 2012

Welcome to another SBB!

Happy Saturday Night! Hope you have all had a nice summer week. I've been enjoying my reading when not working. (I couldn't get Random.org to work this evening so I put numbers in a bowl and picked.)

Thank you to all who shared last week.

The majority of commenters prefer to read the book before seeing the movie. Four will see the movie, one so they won't miss what the movie script didn't cover, and two have no preference.  As for favorite romance movie: the most picked was Pride and Prejudice. I guess I need to see that ...I do like Emma but haven't seen PandP. The second most picked was The Notebook, another movie I haven't seen.
Tore mentioned several good movies I didn't think of like Lady Hawk. Birgit's favorite is Pillow Talk which reminded me that I used to love to watch Glass Bottom Boat with Doris Day. :-)
~~~~

The Winner from SBB #60 comments is: #13 Tore  There are still 6 'love' books to pick from and 2 Christmas choices. Tore please choose a book (or GC if international) from the remaining Love Books List for Giveaway, remaining Christmas Giveaway Books, OR pick from the Updated ARC/Review List and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #61 Questions

Q1. Birgit asks: 1. Apart from reading them, have you ever repurposed old books? Eg used old hardcovers as base for a bedside lamp or got crafty and made a mobile out of a picture book??
A: Other than giving away old books, I have not done 'repurposing.' However I do have some old law books and I keep thinking of making one of those designs like the picture below. Or maybe I can think of a way to make a table out of them... that would be cool too.
  Image found at Klingpost
 
Q2. My question: Have  you watched any of the summer Olympics? What is your favorite sport to watch?
A:  I usually enjoy watching gymnastics and swimming. However, we haven't watched more than a very few minutes this summer.   
Image found at Cult of Mac


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!  



Your turn to share:

1. Birgit asks: 1. Apart from reading them, have you ever repurposed old books? Eg used old hardcovers as base for a bedside lamp or got crafty and made a mobile out of a picture book??
2. My question: Have  you watched any of the Summer Olympics? What is your favorite sport to watch??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining  Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books - there are still about 8 books available to choose from. Also I have added the Updated ARC/Review List 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, August 10, 2012 at 10 PM central.
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Audible Book Review: The Watchman of Ephraim

This is a solid, engaging thriller.  I especially recommend it to readers who enjoy counter-terrorism, action novels. 
The Watchman of Ephraim: Cris De Niro, Book 1 | [Gerard de Marigny]

Available in Print and Kindle
Genre:  Thriller 
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Cris De Niro worked his way up to the top of the hedge fund world. Yet, all of his money couldn't protect him from losing his wife on 9/11. Ten years passed since the tragedy. De Niro and his sons relocated to a sprawling ranch near Las Vegas. Turning to his faith to overcome his anguish, De Niro now lives for a higher purpose. From a biblical passage, he reads about the "Watchman of Ephraim", a defender who kept watch over the land. De Niro decides to acquire a lackluster counter-terrorism agency in order to transform it into a modern-day version of The Watchman for the United States but there's not a moment to lose.

Aref Sami Zamani is planning a terrorist attack on American soil - codenamed "Antioch", a plot to detonate a nuke over the city of Las Vegas. The Watchman uncovers a connection between Zamani and a Mexican drug cartel but their agent goes missing before they can learn more. That's because Zamani has a spy working for The Watchman.

Strange events start to unfold near the Nogales border crossing. References are discovered to something the Mexicans are calling "Noche Del Espantada" ...Fright Night", but can it mean something else?

September 11, 2011 and the sun hasn't risen yet in Las Vegas or Nogales. Antioch is in motion! At the border, Noche Del Espantada has begun and there are intruders at De Niro's ranch. De Niro has to protect his sons and someone new in his life, Dr. Moriah Stevens. She too, lost her spouse on 9/11. Moriah finds herself in love with De Niro but his devotion to his wife is proving too powerful for him, even after 10 years.

 It's the 10th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on American soil and unless De Niro and his new team are successful, the day will be known as "The 2nd 9/11".


Review:
In 2001 Cris De Niro is a wealthy man with a beautiful wife and young sons to raise.  Then terror and tragedy struck.  On 9/11 Cris realizes his wife is trapped in one of the Twin Tower buildings.  He has already been injured himself but he struggles to climb the stairs to reach her. When he would drop to the stairs and allow himself to die a firefighter steps in and makes him think of his young sons.  He chooses to live and raise his sons in a godly fashion as his wife would want.

Ten years later Cris and his sons are living on a massive ranch compound near Las Vegas.  There he has built a hidden, underground bunker to help in the fight against terrorism.  Cris has  purchased a counter- terrorism company and is determined to establish it as a Watchman against terrorism.  He brings along his brother-in-law, Richard, a tough ex–marine, to head the security details.  As they develop a strong team they uncover rumors of a terrorist attack and go into action to stop the threat.

There is conspiracy and betrayal to face. Even though the recruited expert operatives are well trained the agency is scrambling to prepare for the battle with little confirmed information. It is soon clear that someone is leaking the team assignments, undermining the defense and putting lives in danger. Stumbling a step behind the terrorists, it may take more than skill alone to stop another 9-11 attack.  I particularly enjoyed the plot with its conspiracy and greedy traitor creating more danger. There is plenty of action and excitement.

I liked several of the characters created by Mr. de Marigny.  De Niro is strong, reclusive, quiet and clearly  dedicated to his sons and his vow to fight terrorism.  Other characters are the silent but tough military characters.  I liked the good mix of action and emotional drama. The possible development of a love interest with Dr. Moriah Stevens, a 9/11 widow, is only a small part of the story. The relationship is awkward mostly because De Niro isn’t ready to move on from the love he lost.

The narrator does a good job trying to include different accents for the polished Cris, the tough brother-in-law, Richard, and the foreign terrorists. Mr. Alexander delivers a steady pace on the reading with a good balance of intensity to convey emotion and action.  I had no distractions with the narration.

The plot has twists to keep you actively moving forward. There is an underlying strength or foundation of faith without any direct preaching.  I would be glad to read/listen to more of these stories for the strong action plot.  I recommend this book to readers who like counter terrorism action.
Audiobook Jukebox

I received the Audible version of this book for review from JarRyJorNo Publishing through Audiobook Jukebox.

I am choosing the setting near Las Vegas, Nevada for my Where are You Reading challenge. I will also add it to my New Author and Audio challenge lists.
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