Contact email: mesreads AT gmail.com
###Winner Announcement Posts are linked here.###

GIVEAWAYS ARE NOW LOCATED ON THEIR OWN PAGE - CLICK ON TAB ABOVE; Giveaways also linked on right sidebar.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? September 3, 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.

DH and I have had a wonderful week on our Alaskan cruise. :-)

I guess I have been busy with the trip because I only finished three books. I posted five book reviews, two with giveaways, two with giveaway link. I also posted a Three Inspirational Title Giveaway and a Book Feature and Forever Yours Prizepack Giveaway; Plus I posted the regular Friday Pick Giveaway, Saturday Sharing Beyond Books Comment Giveaway and Sunday Words.

I didn’t get to visit this week because of our trip to vacation and limited internet on the ship. I truly appreciate all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:
  • Book Review: I Own The Dawn by M.L. Buchman; Military, Romantic Suspense; my rating 5.0.

    Finished Reading:
    1. eBook/Kindle
     
    by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley
    This is the last book and I enjoyed this engaging series.
    Review and giveaway linked above.with Kindle Giveaway link
    for Pump Up Your Book



    2. Audio/MP3



    Titanium Rain
    by Josh Finney
    This is another 'audio movie' and was a good exciting listen. I will post a review soon. I received this for review from Audio Comics through Audiobook Jukebox.


    3. Print
    by Suzanne Anderson
    This is a sweet read.
    I will be posting a Spotlight and Review for this title
     on September 4 with BookBlast Giveaway Link. 





    Line Edits/Releases: One book is ready to link when I get back to full internet.



    Currently reading:

    1. eBook/Kindle


    I am 65% in on this fun read.
    I hope to post the review later this week.



    2. Audio
     
    by Hayden Trenholm
    AudioBook Download from Iambik


    3. eBook/Kindle

    By Jill James
    Reading for Bewitching Book Tours review on September 10, 2012





    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 2 Corinthians.

    Line Edits: I will be formatting a book over the next two weeks.

    I thought I had selected fewer titles for September but there are already 17 in this list which means five per week continues.

    Scheduled for September:
    9/4 God Loves You, Chester Blue Review and Feature (Bookblast)
    9/10 Dangerous Shift Review (Bewitching Blog Tour)
    9/20 A Man of Honor (Pump Up Your Book Blog Tours)
    Week of 9/20 - date tbd Angels Landing by Rochelle Alers (Hachette)
    9/25 Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster - Review and Interview (Sourcebooks)

    Unscheduled for September:
    NetGalley
    A Fistful of Collars (Chet and Bernie Mysteries) by Spencer Quinn
    Blades of Winter: A Novel of the Shadowstorm by G. T. Almasi
    (Possibly one more)

    Sourcebooks
    Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson
    When You Give a Duke a Diamond by Shana Galen
    (Possibly two others)

    Hachette
    What in God's Name: A Novel by Simon Rich
    Power, Faces of Evil by Debra Webb

    Audiobook Jukebox:
    Night Rounds: A Detective Inspector Irene Huss Investigation by Helene Tursten
    The Aleppo Codex: A True Story of Obsession, Faith, and the Pursuit of an Ancient Bible by Matti Friedman
    Bones Are Forever Kathy Reichs

    Authors
    Risking it All by Suzanne Barrett

    I plan to read at least one "Won"/TBR books and one free Kindle book.:-)
    Kindle TBR: Summer’s Crossing by Julie Kagawa
    Won TBR: Shift by Ami Rebecca Blackwelder



    [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.]
    Posted by at 10 comments:
    Labels: ,

    Sunday Words of Encouragement September 2, 2012

    We will visit Ketchikan this morning on day six of our Alaska cruise. I have prepared this ahead as we are five hours behind my usual Central time.
    We have been blessed with beautiful weather... not so typical to Alaska we are told. Today may be drizzling.
    I found this video that seems fitting in sight of all the beauty I have seen this week
    Verse for Today:
    Jude 1:25 NIV
    25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen


    I am thankful for the blessings that God has showered on me! We have prayed for several couples and individuals on the ship, including our driver yesterday who plans to become a missionary next year.
    Posted by at No comments:
    Labels: , ,

    Saturday, September 1, 2012

    Sharing Beyond Books #64 Comment Giveaway September 1, 2012

    Welcome to another SBB!

    Hello again on Saturday Night! I've prepared most of this a week ahead so I won't be online too long. 

    Thank you to all who shared last week.

    There weren’t really that many commenters who read cookbooks. And surprisingly, there are several of us who are not cooks!  By far the favorite cookbook/recipes to read were desserts and baking. :-)

    Although a handful may google a new food found in a book few of us try the recipes. I have to agree with Texas Book Lover though that the chocolate descriptions in the Lucky Harbor series are sooo tempting.  One of my favorite foods on the cruise ship is the Chocolate Melting Cake with ice cream....YUM!

    ~~~~

    The Winner from SBB #63 comments is: #16 Texas Book Lover There are still 6 'love' books to pick from and 1 Christmas choice (I guess I'll have to add some titles to that list soon). Texas Book Lover please choose a book (or GC if international) from the remaining Love Books List for Giveaway, remaining Christmas Giveaway Book, 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 #64 Questions

    Q1. mamabunny asks: What fashion would you like to see come back from this era or any other??
    A: What came to mind with this question is: Bell Bottom pants! I do have one pair of flared pants and I always get compliments on them. And maybe because I was in college in the early 70's I love the picture below. :-).

    Odd - the ad says this is great for "50s"
    but I am sure it was 60s and 70s that were the Psychedelic colors!
    Image found at Moon Costumes

    Q2. Since I am cruising in Alaska this week let's share Alaska books. Do you have an Alaska related book or two to recommend??
    A:  Maybe I will find one on the cruise but if not I am thinking of two books: Molly Harper's How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf which was set in Alaska and, since we will be visiting this location tomorrow and because I enjoyed the story: The Ketchikan Man by Ciara Lake.

    Image found at eTreasures Publishing
    (For full disclosure this is my publishing house)

    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. mamabunny asks: What fashion would you like to see come back from this era or any other??

    2. My Question: Do you have an Alaska related book or two to recommend??

    SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining  Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books - there are still about 7 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, September 7, 2012 at 10 PM central.
    Posted by at 17 comments:
    Labels: ,

    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.  
    Posted by at 9 comments:
    Labels: , , , , ,

    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.
    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.
    Posted by at No comments:
    Labels: , , , , , ,
    Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

    LinkWithin

    Related Posts with Thumbnails