Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf

Saturday, October 6, 2012

New Group of Christmas Books For Sharing Beyond Books Giveaways

12/16/13 - Looks like I need a new group to replace these so I will do a new picture and list hopefully this weekend. :-)
Here is a new group of Christmas Books for winner picks from the Sharing Beyond Book Comment Giveaways.
{This is not a giveaway post but these books are for winners to pick from.}

~~A Stone Creek Christmas by Linda Lael Miller~~ SBB pick
~~Blackout at Christmas Anthology by Beth Cornelison, Sharron McClellan and Jennifer Morey~~ - Nov SBB

~~Bring Me Home for Christmas~~ by Robyn Carr SBB win in November 2012
~~Christmas in Lucky Harbor by Jill Shalvis~~ Chosen for SBB win in October 2012
~~Christmas Gold Anthology by Cheryl St. John, Elizabeth Lane and Mary Burton~~ Christmas Hop pick
~~Deck the Halls by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark~~

For the Love of St. Nick by Garasamo Maccagnone
Nascar Holiday 3 Anthology by Liz Allison & Wendy Etherington, Brenda Jackson, Marisa Carroll and Jean Brashear

~~Silent Night in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad~~ SBB win in Dec 2012
~~Snowbird by Stef Ann Holm~~ Chosen for SBB win in November 2012
~~The Christmas Thief by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark~~ SBB win in November 2012

~~The Christmas Train by David Baldacci (spine creases)~~ SBB win Dec 2013

~~The Heart of Christmas Anthology Mary Balogh, Nicola Cornick, Courtney Milan (spine crease)~~ SBB 1/13
~~Twas the Bite Before Christmas by Lee Charles Kelley~~ - SBB 9/13
~~With Christmas In His Heart by Gail Gaymer Martin (spine crease)~~ SBB win in October 2012

Sharing Beyond Books #69 Comment Giveaway October 6, 2012

Welcome to another SBB!

Hello again on Saturday Night. I was up early to man a coffee table at a women's club event this morning so I am tired tonight. :-) I will be updating the ARC/review lists and uploading a new Christmas list as soon as I finish publishing this post so winners can check the lists.

Thank you to all who shared last week.

It looks like we don't have too many plans for the fall. Several are back in school so busy. mamabunny13 is doing fall closing while marybelle is doing spring cleaning (on the other side of the world) and nrlymrtl sounds very busy with harvest/farm responsibilities!

Only a handful of us will be reading some horror this month. Many of you do not read horror and many indicate that you don't read seasonally - let's see about question 2 this week. *grin*

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #68 comments is: #4 Ricki There are still 5 'love' books to pick from and 1 Christmas choice (see my note above about adding more titles to that list soon). Ricki please choose a book (or GC if international) from the remaining five Love Books List for Giveaway, the new Christmas Giveaway Book list, 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 #69 Questions

Q1. Louisa and Mary P ask: When did you first learn to drive or get your driver's license??

A: I know most teens are eager to get their driver's license but I guess I wasn't one of them. I had two older brothers and a sister who was only a year and a half older but we were in the same grades during high school. So they did all the driving. I had a boyfriend in college who taught me how to drive in a 57 Chevy - it was a tank. I did not get my license until I was 21 when I inherited my mother's car as she died of cancer a few months before my 21st birthday. So I had a car before I could drive. Oh yes - I failed the driving part the first time... I crossed over a yellow line. So it took me two times to get the license.

I found this image at Super Chevy.

Q2. After last week's responses I have a follow-up: When do you start to read Christmas titles?? :-)

A: I have started looking at Christmas titles although the only one on my list so far is Lady Louisa's Christmas Knight. I actually read my first 2012 Holiday title in June: The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury. Although that wasn't really focused on Christmas as much as a second chance romance. I do love reading Christmas stories and hope to read at least five this year. (Last year it looks like I read five from October through December.)

Image found at News & Events at the Darling Library

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. Louisa and Mary P ask: When did you first learn to drive or get your driver's license??

2. After last week's responses I have a follow-up: When do you start to read Christmas titles??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining Valentine and "Love" books (5 left) or the new Christmas Giveaway Books. 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, October 12, 2012 at 10 PM central.

Winners of Kiss of Steel and Give a Duke a Diamond

CONGRATULATIONS

TO WINNERS!

Giveaways Ended October 5, 2012.

Giveaway Print Copy Kiss of Steel

Erica W

Giveaway ARC When You Give a Duke a Diamond.

bn100

Erica W and bn100 Please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads AT gmail.com to confirm the win and I will notify the publisher and or send the books. Please reply within 72 hours!
Thank you to all who entered these giveaways..

Audio Book Review: Dying For You by MaryJanice Davidson

This collection of short stories will have you laughing out loud!
Dying for You
by MaryJanice Davidson

Narrated by Devon Sorvari, Aimee Castle, Angela Gulner

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 7 hours
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Audible.com Release Date: August 7, 2012
Language: English
ASIN: B008U2QASG

Genre: Paranormal
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Together for the first time, four devilishly entertaining novellas by the New York Times bestselling author prove that there’s not only life after death, but desire too…
The Fixer-Upper
Cathy’s new home is handsomely furnished—by an amorous male ghost. If only she had something she could…touch. Her neighbor may have a lousy personality, but he does have a perfect body. Now, spirit is about to meet flesh, to Cathy’s delight.
Paradise Bossed
While traveling in the Cayman Islands, Nikki loses her life in a tragic accident, but has no intention of cutting her vacation short. When a handsome male psychic is engaged to get a grip on Nikki’s spirit, he does more. He finds himself falling in love with her.
Driftwood
A Cape Cod werewolf agonizes over the death of a woman by his own paw. Well, to be fair, he never really killed her. She’s a vampire. Now she needs his help to kill the bloodsucker who turned her.
Witch Way
For centuries their families have been embroiled in a violent, irreversible feud. Today, can a witch and a witch-hunter find common ground...without killing each other first? Sometimes opposites do attract.

Review:
This entire collection is delightful fun. I just wish it didn’t have such loose use of bad language.

The Fixer-Upper
Cathy’s new home is handsomely furnished—by an amorous male ghost. If only she had something she could…touch. Her neighbor may have a lousy personality, but he does have a perfect body. Now, spirit is about to meet flesh, to Cathy’s delight. Read by Angela Gulner.

Cathy has worked hard and saved up to purchase her own home. She is thrilled to get a great place at a good price because it needs work. Cathy did not get to meet the seller as the transaction was handled through the seller’s attorney.

As Cathy begins to move in she spots her next door neighbor, Ken, working outside. He is shirtless and hunky...until he opens his mouth. Although his body is tempting his abrasive and swearing personality is a turn off.

Cathy discovers her house is haunted by a very gentlemanly ghost named Jack. When the nasty neighbor suffers a near fatal accident in Cathy’s home, things become even more strange. I can’t tell you what as it would be a spoiler but it is a delight to Cathy and the reader/listener.

Paradise Bossed
While traveling in the Cayman Islands, Nikki loses her life in a tragic accident, but has no intention of cutting her vacation short. When a handsome male psychic is engaged to get a grip on Nikki’s spirit, he does more. He finds himself falling in love with her. Read by Angela Gulner.

This story is connected to the first as Nikki is Cathy’s ‘best’ friend. The odd relationship was explained in the first story that introduced the sexy and pushy Nikki. Now Nikki has come along to the Cayman Islands to be close to Cathy and her new husband on their honeymoon. (Yes that is odd but I said it was an odd relationship!)

When Nikki loses her life in an underwater accident Cathy is distraught. In order to convince Cathy to leave Nikki behind they must find Nikki’s body and help her ghostly spirit to move on. A handsome male psychic is called in and the spirits become involved. He has to exorcize Nikki but he is reluctant to send her away. There will be a surprise ending for them both.

I thought this was the weakest of the stories and it would not have worked without the first short story. Oh - and if you like cheer-leading this has a bit of funny, if uninspired, cheer-leading. It is still entertaining in its unique strange way.

Witch Way
For centuries their families have been embroiled in a violent, irreversible feud. Today, can a witch and a witch-hunter find common ground...without killing each other first? Sometimes opposites do attract. Read by Devon Sorvari.

This is another delightful tale (with bad language). Rhia Goodman has just learned from her hippie parents (Flower and Power) that she is a witch-hunter from a long line of witch-hunters. She must be trained to face the witch who will show up in two years. Her mission is to kill the witch even though tradition is that she will be killed in the process. That is just the cycle of things and her "destiny".

Chris is a witch who has spent his whole life defying his family history. He is a good witch who kills demons rather than summoning them. He struggles with his rhyming spells (which are hilarious). Chris believes that he and the current Goodman witch-hunter should be able to come to a peaceful arrangement rather than kill each other.

When Chris shows up a few years earlier than the appointed time, can he convince Rhia that he comes in peace before she kills him? What fun there is in the physical attacks, counter spells and undeniable chemistry!

Driftwood
A Cape Cod werewolf agonizes over the death of a woman by his own paw. Well, to be fair, he never really killed her. She’s a vampire. Now she needs his help to kill the bloodsucker who turned her. Read by Aimee Castle.

Once again here is a fun story! Who says a werewolf and a vampire have to be enemies? Not in this story. These two loners, Burke and Serena, meet in an unusual circumstance and Serena is fairly antagonistic about the whole thing. Burke’s persistence finally turns them into a pairing. But Serena won’t be able to enjoy her own happiness until she resolves her hatred against the vampire who killed her. She is surprised that Burke is willing to help her but what will happen when they meet the bad vampire? Can they succeed together?

OVERALL AND AUDIO Observations:
All four stories have wonderfully humorous elements. The characters are distinct and the plots unique. There are three narrators and they each do a wonderful job of timing that helps emphasize the humor. Angela Gulner particularly does a nice job with some snarky accents!

I highly recommend this story and audio - with the caution that it is liberally peppered with bad language.

I received this from Penguin Audio through Audiobook Jukebox for an honest review.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway October 5, 2012

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

Happy Friday in October! It is hard to think we are winding towards the end of another year. It moves so fast! --- I forgot to say- check out the newest group of books this week. :-)

Thank you to all who entered the September 28 Pick. There were no 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). Four books were blocked and one was won. :-(

CONGRATULATIONS

to Random.org picked Winners from September 28 Pick:

Carol L chose Gifts From the Heart
and

Spav gets a Gift Credit

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.

Have you been following Banned Book Week?

Image found at Book Box Daily

New Book Group #32 October 5, 2012

Demon's Fire by Emma Holly
- Oops upside down book! NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one - A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley
The Gift by Constance O'Day-Flannery
The Days of Summer by Jill Barnett
Tangled by Mary Balogh
Please Remember This by Katleen Giles Seidel
Twice Upon Time by Nina Beaumont
Angel of Midnight by JoAnn Power
Heart of the Hawk by Justine Dare
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
Touchstone by Linda Hilton
Restless Hearts by Marta Perry
Rogue Stallion by Diana Palmer
The Boy's Tale (Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries) by Margaret Frazer
Calculated Revenge by Jill Elizabeth Nelson
A Delecate Deception by Jenna Jones

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 Audrey 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

The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)

A Dangerous Devotion by Barbara Kyle

An Independent Woman by Candace Camp

Wild Escapade by Lisa Bingham

Dancing on Snowflakes by Jane Bonander

Mistress by Amanda Quick - Audio Cassettes

*Long Time Coming by Sandra Brown

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

Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology

Winning Ways by Barbara Boswell

~~Gifts from the Heart by Jillian Hart~~

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

*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

Sleeping Alone by Barbara Bretton

*Love and Other Four Letter Words by Caroline Mackler

*The Carousel by Rosamund Pilcher

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)

*The Dream Horse by Virginia Campbell Scott

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.

*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).

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 418 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--- (All gone)

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

List #1
Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo

Pick #2---(All gone)

Pick #3---(All gone)

Pick #4

Talking God by Tony Kellerman

Everything to Gain by Barbara Taylor Bradford