Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Book Feature: POWER and Fall in Love with Forever Prizepack!

BOOK FEATURE:

Courtesy of Forever division of Hachette

POWER, Faces of Evil, by Debra Webb

Debra Webb's POWER (the third of her previously self published series that started with OBSESSION and IMPULSE) goes on sale this Tuesday 9/4 for a great $3.99 price. POWER is the first previously unpublished book of the series (although as you might know Forever Yours has just published the first two as e books in August).
Obsession Faces of Evil

I will be sharing a short Q&A with Ms. Webb and a review of Power later this month.

Impulse

But right now, to celebrate the release of Power, Forever division of Hachette is hosting a GREAT "FALL in Love with Forever" prizepack of upcoming fall titles!

Here are the titles included in the prizepack:

THE WARRIOR by Margaret Mallory
BAREFOOT IN THE RAIN by Roxanne St. Claire
AN HEIRESS AT HEART by Jennifer Delamere
WHERE ANGELS REST by Kate Brady
TOO DANGEROUS TO DESIRE by Cara Elliott
TWO SINFUL SECRETS by Laurel McKee

To Enter this Giveaway for a GREAT FOREVER PRIZEPACK:

1. Comment by telling me if you have read one of the above FOREVER Romance authors. If none of these, can you identify another FOREVER romance author you have read or tell me if there is one you would like to read.

2. Extra Entry: Visit Debra Webb's site and tell me something of interest you find there.

3. 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.
(Three total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US ONLY.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on September 14, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on September 15.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Book Review: Darksiders The Abomination Vault by Ari Marmell

If you like action, and don't mind some darkness in the story, then you should try this book.

Darksiders The Abomination Vault

by Ari Marmell

File Size: 2101 KB
Print Length: 370 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: B008O3ITWG
Publisher: Del Rey (July 24, 2012)
Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B0074CLJDO

Genre: Fantasy

My rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 2012

Ride with the Horsemen of the Apocalypse as they seek to unearth a plot that could plunge all of Creation into chaos!

Ages before the events of Darksiders and Darksiders II, two of the feared Horsemen—Death and War—are tasked with stopping a group of renegades from locating the Abomination Vault: a hoard containing weapons of ultimate power and malice, capable of bringing an end to the uneasy truce between Heaven and Hell . . . but only by unleashing total destruction.

Created in close collaboration with the Darksiders II teams at Vigil and THQ, Darksiders: The Abomination Vault gives an exciting look at the history and world of the Horsemen, shining a new light on the unbreakable bond between War and Death.

Review:

This was a very enjoyable fantasy read! I didn’t realize that it was connected with some gaming world. When it began I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about the obvious complete fantasy world with Death as the main character. Soon the action began and I was drawn into the story. I found Death was not all horrible and wicked even though he is rather formidable. Later he is joined by his brothers, War and Strife, and sister, Fury. Although Death doesn’t want them to interfere in his battle, War comes along and helps Death in a battle against two renegades who would unleash destruction, pain and hate in the world.

Death is given an assignment by the Charred Council. They are the group who stands at the pivot point of all Creation, protecting the Balance between the Angels of Heaven and the Demons of Hell. The investigation reveals that a renegade angel is involved in the threat to unleash destruction. I loved how Death teams up with Azrael, an Angel of the White City, to face the danger. Sort of “the enemy of my foe is my friend” alliance.

Death is a one man army; full of action. His skills, beyond killing, include pulling last memories from dying souls. There is great imagery in characters and settings. Even the horses of Death and War have their own personalities. The adventure involves dark, twisted creatures in dark, bloody places and almost nonstop battles. I was glad the rough language was stopped at ‘damn’ and there was nothing uglier than that.

Even in the world of Death it is heartening to know that good can defeat evil. I really recommend this story if you like full on action.

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

Fun dialogue:

“What do you mean, no?”
“I wasn’t aware the word had multiple meanings,” Death said. Location 326

Good Imagery:

The saddle on which War sat was as much steel as leather; the bridle, like Death’s, was a chain, though this one was thick and free of blemish or rust. Location 1325.

I picked this up through Random House on NetGalley.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Winners of MBS Feed Your Reader Hop!

I can't get the layout to open to note the winners at the top of the blog so I am doing a Winners post here.

Congratulations to the Winners of MBS Feed Your Reader Hop!
Winners get two eBooks totaling value $15.00 each winner

Winners:

Jessica B

Christine

(isabelli3619)

Jessica and Christine please pick one book from books I have read/reviewed 2009 - 2012 (there is a link on the right sidebar if the link gives trouble). There are lots of great choices. A second, or more, books can be winner's choice.

Please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads AT gmail.com to confirm the win and I will send the books. Please reply within 72 hours!
Thank you to all who entered - I will be picking a surprise winner or two after I get back to town next week.

Book Review and Giveaway: He Of The Fiery Sword by Skyhe Moncrief

This story is fun and different.

He Of The Fiery Sword

by Skhye Moncrief

Paperback: 252 pages
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press (December 4, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601541090
ISBN-13: 978-1601541093

Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

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.

Review:

This was an usual fantasy read. The protagonist is a dragon who is a Judge of the time guardian druids. He is the last of his kind as his sisters have gone into time and not returned. Faced with years alone he decides that he too will tumble through the time gate and take his chances.

Arthur the dragon awakens as Arthur a man in 11th Century Ireland. A wild pixie gives Arthur a Fiery Sword and sends him on a mission to rescue Solas, a Druid who is stuck in this time. She is lonely having lost her soul mate and she is in danger as a bishop seeks to capture her to be his mistress. She has taken care to protect maps she has drawn of the area to take back in time with her.

Arthur has no idea how to live as a man. He doesn’t kill either man or beast as that is against his code. The fiery sword has no such limits and will strike as necessary not realizing the pain it will bring the human. Arthur manages to rescue Solas but he has no idea how to take care of her, even failing to recognize the need to feed his own body. As pixies and fairies try to help, a certain fey tricks them along their way to a time portal. They must risk using what was thought to be a closed portal having no idea where in the world or time they will land.

The story has several twists that make it fun. The reading is a little difficult as Ms. Moncrief seems to have tried to write in an ancient dialect or perhaps a druid or dragon tone. It is a bit awkward to get used to but once you accept that, it is fine, although this kept it from being a fast read. It is fun to see the trouble Arthur has adjusting from a dragon to a man. There is action, magic and romance. If you like fantasy and a different story you might like to give this a try.

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

Arthur trying to guess what trick Moran had in store for them:

Anyone well versed in fey antics could guarantee the Gods would serve up interesting entertainment to grace their meals. Unfortunately, the weaker humans played the roles of hero, villain, maiden and saint. An unwise observer would leave out the starring role of fool. Page 75.

This book is from my Won Books TBR.

I will add this to my New Author Challenge list, Won Book Challenge List and TBR Challenge Lists.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for my Print Copy
ENTRY FORM HERE

For 3 Extra Bonus Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on September 7, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on September 8, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway August 31, 2012

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

Hello to all from beautiful Alaska! Thursday we went up Tracy Arm Fjord and the mountains were beautiful on a fabulous, sunny day. Today we will be visiting Skagway, Alaska. We will take a train trip up White Pass & Yukon Route learning about the 1898 building of the railroad and the Klondike Gold Rush. I don’t think I can load any pictures yet as they take too long on the slower internet access so pics will have to wait until next week.

Check out the new picture and book list below. I will not be able to link them until I return to full internet use.

Thank you to all who entered the August 25 Pick. Sorry there were no automatic winners this week because of blocks last week and this (those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks). Several books were blocked this week - and one, Virtue, was won.

CONGRATULATIONS

to Random.org picked Winners from August 25 Pick:

Louisa chose Virtue
and

Natasha 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.

Maybe we can look into some "Good Alaska Books." :-)

Image found at Alaska 101

New Book Group #31 August 31, 2012
I pulled some more books from several of my boxes.

In the Presence of Enemies by William J. Coughlin
Shattered by Dick Francis
Shadow Fires by Dean Koontz
Hard News by Jeffrey Deavers
Palindrome by Stuart Woods (spine creases)
Afterimage by Jay Brandon
Tall, Dark and Cajun by Sandra Hill
Hot Streak by Susan Johnson
When Lightning Strikes Twice by Barbara Boswell
Ice Blue by Anne Stuart
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
Thunder Creek by Jill Gregory
His Lady Mistress by Elizabeth Rolls
The Body They May Kill by Stallsmith
Beautiful Dreamer by Elizabeth Lowell
Summer Light by Luanne Rice

New Book Group #30 July 27, 2012
This time I pulled some books from one of my older boxes.
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing

~~Dead Ringer by Lisa Scottline~~

The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)

~~Threads of Destiny by Arnette Lamb~~

A Dangerous Devotion by Barbara Kyle

~~Carolina Moon by Nora Roberts (some spine wear)~~

{An Independent Woman by Candace Camp} Shipping cost TBD

Wolf Mountain Moon by Terry C. Johnston

Wild Escapade by Lisa Bingham

Dancing on Snowflakes by Jane Bonander

~~Virtue by Jane Feather~~

~~Don't Bargain with The Devil by Sabrina Jeffries~~

Mistress by Amanda Quick - Audio Cassettes

*Long Time Coming by Sandra Brown

*The Contrary Corinthian by Emily Hendrickson (spine wear)

*There Was a Little Boy by Claire Rainwater Jacobs

*On Thin Ice by Linda Hall

New Book Group #29 June 29, 2012
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing

Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology

~~The Promise by Kasey Michaels~~

Winning Ways by Barbara Boswell

Tomorrow's Promise by Sandra Brown

~~Midnight Rainbow by Linda Howard~~

~~Death's Door by Meryl Sawyer~~

~~Life Support by Tess Gerristen Audio Cassettes~~

~~Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich~~

~~Exit to Eden by Anne Rice~~

~~While My Pretty One Sleeps by Mary Higgins Clark~~

Gifts from the Heart by Jillian Hart

*Simon Said by Sarah R. Shaber

*One is the Lonliest Number - Tom Clancey's Net Force

*Edwin of the Iron Shoes by Marcia Mueller

*Covert Pursuit by Terri Reed

*Close to Home by Carolyne Aarsen

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

Wanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts

~~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~~

~~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)

~~The Heart of Justice by William L. Coughlin~~

~~Cross Country by James Patterson~~

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

Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris (spine damage)

~~Dear John by Nicholas Sparks~~

~~Midnight Hour by Debra Dixon~~

~~September Morning by Diana Palmer~~

~~Beneath the Surface by Annie White (slight spine wear)~~

*The Dream Horse by Virginia Campbell Scott

*Summer's Belle by Paige Winship Dooly

New book Group #26 March 2, 2012--- (All gone)
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.

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~~

Hell's Belle by Jane Holleman

*Shadow Rider: Apache Sundown by Jory Sherman

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

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

New Group #22 Pick Books September 2, 2011

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

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!---(All gone)

Not all of these are two from a series but several are. Each pick gets two books.

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 405 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~~

12/3/10 Book Set:

#16

Sleight of Hand by Robin Hathaway

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

List #15---(All gone)

List #14---(All gone)

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---(All gone)

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---(All gone)

Pick #4