Sharing Beyond Books #74 Comment Giveaway November 10, 2012

Welcome to another SBB!

Happy Saturday Night. I hope everyone is doing well. My stupid cold is back so it looks like I will be making a doctor appointment this coming week.
Have you been thinking about something(s) you are thankful for??

Thank you to all who shared last week.

The responses for female characters to swap with were great characters! Included were Eve, Cat, Lindsey Boxer, Nancy Drew, Hermoine, Sookie and more! I am a little surprised no one mentioned Claire from the Outlander series. There were a couple mentioned that I will be looking up like: Vin and Pia.

There were fun responses regarding cleaning too! Several agree that swifter products are favorites. But Birgit had to look up the word and Mary P stated that cleaning and favorite shouldn't be in the same sentence!! Oxymoron right? :-)

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The Winner from SBB #73 comments is: #3 scottsgal 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). scotsgal 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 #74 Questions

Q1. Winnie asks: What do you think about anthologies - love them or not a fan??

I do love anthologies! Although I don't think I have read too many this year - I can only think of a couple. But I have some good ones on my shelves and maybe I'll linethem up for next year. :-)

Image found at Gothic.Net

Image found at Pentrust.org

Q2. Okay - time now... What are your top TWO choices for "I am Thankful for:"?? (Just two this week, save more for next week.)

A: Fairly easy for me as my #1 and #2 Thanks are for my faith and my husband and family!

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. Winnie asks: What do you think about anthologies - love them or not a fan??

2. What are your top TWO choices for "I am Thankful for:"?? (Just two this week, save more for next week.)

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, November 23, 2012 at 10 PM central.

Winner of Lady Louisa's Christmas Knight

CONGRATULATIONS to Winner

of
Giveaway ARC Lady Louisa's Christmas Knight

Melissa

Melissa 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.

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Enslaved by Elisabeth Naughton

This is a story of Greek gods, super guardians, battles of good versus evil, and, of course, steamy passion for the tortured hero and heroine.
Enslaved (Eternal Guardians)
by Elisabeth Naughton

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (November 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402262159
• ISBN-13: 978-1402262159

Genre: Paranormal Romance
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0  (Note there are plenty of positive ratings at Amazon so this is my reflection; just one opinion.)

Book Description
Release Date: November 6, 2012 | Series: Eternal Guardians

"Do not miss this series."—New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione

GRYPHON—Honorable, loyal, dependable...tainted. He was the ultimate warrior before imprisonment in the Underworld changed him in ways he can't ignore.

She calls to him. Come to me. You can't resist. But Gryphon will not allow himself to be ruled by the insidious whispers in his head. And there's only one way to stop them: kill Atalanta, the goddess who enslaved him. But with so much darkness inside, he can't be sure what's real anymore. Even the Eternal Guardians, those who protect the human realms and the gods, want to exile him.

Finding Malea is like a miracle. Somehow he doesn't feel the pull of the dark when she's near. And he's determined to keep her as near as possible, whether she wants him close or not. But she's a temptation that will test every bit of control he has left. One that may ultimately have the power to send him back to the Underworld...or free him from his chains for good.

Review:
Gryphon is, or was, a warrior of the Argonaut Eternal Guardians. That was before he was subjected to torture and bound by a curse to the evil Goddess, Atalanta.  His brother, Orpheus, rescued Gryphon from the Underworld but Gryphon is still enslaved. He is near crazy hearing Atalanta’s voice calling to him to return and do her evil bidding. 

Gryphon has been held in seclusion at the castle where the half-breed colony remain in hiding. Gryphon is glad to have battle time but his attack against daemons resulted in a berserker episode that injured his fellow warriors. Now the colony leader, Nick, is set on exiling him before he hurts anyone else.  Gryphon doesn’t want his brother to sacrifice his life and new relationship to go with him so he decides to escape on his own before they send him away.

Gryphon isn’t the only one making an escape from the colony. Malea has been glad to have a reprieve in the family atmosphere of the colony but she is afraid to stay and risk exposing them to danger. Malea is the illegitimate daughter of Zeus and Persephone, Hades wife. She has been running from Hades' hellhounds who are constantly looking for her to drag her to the Underworld so Hades can use her in a power battle among the gods and goddesses. Malea seeks to gain entrance and sanctuary in Olympus but she must prove her worthiness before Zeus will recognize her.

Gryphon snatches Malea in the underground tunnels because he believes she knows the way out.  He is startled to discover that her presence quiets the voice of Atalanta within his head. Although he originally planned to let her go as soon as they were out of the tunnels he decides to keep her with him for her calming effects. Malea objects...at first. But soon she is pulled in by the attraction and honor she finds in Gryphon. Can the two of them find strength together to change their dreams-- assuming they can outrace the daemons, hellhounds, half-breeds, not to mention Atalanta and Hades, who are chasing them?

I have wanted to read this author and series for some time. I was a little concerned that the writing might be a bit bolder and grittier than I like and I was right. It took a third of the book for me to begin to feel engaged. That may have been due to the language, as I did like the characters. Both Gryphon and Malea are lonely and tortured. I was glad that they found each other for support. There is fighting action and the writing flows reasonably well. There is also a good amount of sexual activity that takes up the middle of the story before they return to the battle between the forces of good and evil.  I noted a repetitive amount of dialogue that consists of Gryphon gasping "Malea" and nothing else. Though mostly well written, this didn't really pull me in. If you are a reader who like stories of gods, super guardians and battles of good versus evil, and you like steamy passion, then this would be a good paranormal romance choice.  This story seemed fine as a stand alone although I always think it is best to start at the beginning of a series.

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How Gryphon comes to feel about Malea:

He’d never been just a man. The entirety of his life was wrapped up in being an Argonaut, a warrior, a fighter trained in honor and duty. Females had come on to him, but they’d never wanted him for who he was inside.  Page 242.

“Sotiria.” His hands framed her face, forced her to look up. Heat rushed over her spine when she saw the soft, needy look in his eyes. “Don’t you know I would give up anything for you?” Page 337.

I received this book from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

I will add this to my ARC and New Author challenge lists.
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the ARC Copy.

ENTRY FORM HERE

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

* This contest is open US and Canada.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on November 23, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on November 24, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Saturday Snapshot (11/10/12) Our Visit to Ketchikan, AK

On the sixth day of our cruise we visited Ketchikan, AK. We did a bus tour to Potlach Totem Park, which is built at an old fishing village site. We continued to have nice weather.

The guides explained the sad history that the natives were pulled from their homes and sent away to "missionary" or government schools. Several generations almost lost the native traditions and they are just now starting to rebuild and relearn their natural heritage.
An interesting thing we learned - Juneau and Ketchikan are only accessible by boat (ferry, cruise or private) or air. 

In addition to the village shots, shown in the slideshow, there is an antique car museum at the park! Who would have thought?

Here are some photos as we went through the park.

I did a little shopping in town before going back to the ship - picked up some handmade Christmas ornaments. And of course - I had to take a shot of Downtown Books!

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Audio Book Review: Emily Goes to Exeter by Marion Chesney

This is a fun, engaging match-making tale set in Regency England.

Emily Goes to Exeter: The Traveling Matchmaker, Book One 
Author: Marion Chesney (M.C. Beaton)
Narrator: Helen Lisanti
Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 5 hours and 39 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: AudioGO
Audible.com Release Date: August 1, 2012

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: April 15, 2010
A dead employer’s legacy of five thousand pounds allows spinster Hannah Pym to resign from housekeeping and find adventure travelling the English countryside by stagecoach. But adventure soon finds Miss Pym in the form of Miss Emily Freemantle, a spoilt violet-eyed beauty fleeing an arranged marriage to a rake she has never met. What the girl’s darkly handsome betrothed boards their stage, Miss Pym is certain Emily was rash to bolt from this aristocratic catch! And so as soon as the travellers repair to an inn, Miss Pym begins her matchmaking… and although Lord Ranger Harley complains he’ll not marry an ungrateful minx, Miss Pym suspects once she’s marshalled the couple into sharing intimate household chores, all romantic knots will be untangled!

Review:
Although the story is title “Emily Goes to Exeter” the true protagonist and star of the story is Hannah Pym.  Miss Pym is a middle-aged spinster who has risen over many years to the position of Housekeeper for a reclusive gentleman. Miss Pym has steadfastly taken care of Mr. Clarence since before his wife ran away. Now Mr. Clarence has died and Miss Pym wonders what will happen to her.

Miss Pym is thrilled when she is left the good sum of five thousand pounds-- enough to take care of her for the rest of her life. Now she can seek adventures on the ‘flying’ stage coaches that she has longingly watched from the parlor windows.  Miss Pym gets some pleasant help from Mr. Clarence’s distinguished and kind, single brother, Sir George, who has inherited Thornton Hall. He helps her set up an account at the bank and encourages her to stay safe as she insists on setting out on the stage coach to Exeter.

Miss Pym is fascinated by the other passengers and the coach staff. An attempt by a highwayman is thwarted but inclement weather strands the group at a local Inn. When the Inn staff can’t get through the snow, the indomitable Miss Pym takes charge to organize feeding and cleaning with the expectation that everyone, from Coachman to Lord, will pitch in to help. 

Miss Pym puts her organizational skills to work too as a matchmaker for Miss Emily, a young girl who was running away from a match made by her parents, and her would be fiancé, Lord Harley, who has followed along to take her home.  Emily thought she was in love with a young man at home and that Lord Harley was too old and rakish for her. But her nose is out of joint to discover that Lord Harley may well reject a spoiled young miss, no matter her beauty.

Miss Pym is also matchmaking to get a rich widow away from the Captain who wants to control her and match her with a sweet, kind Lawyer instead.  Jealousies and tempers flare and injuries occur that indicate someone in the group is up to no good.

Miss Pym finds adventure in the whole journey and is a delightful character! I loved the regency setting that allowed her adventures along the road and at the Inn. The group of traveling companions are well developed to play into their roles with intrigue and sweet, budding romance. Although the mysterious attacks are a smaller portion of the whole, they add to the package to make this an entertaining tale.

Audio Notes: The narrator does a fine job of capturing the different British voices from cockney to highbrow and various classes in between. The reading fit the 'old-fashioned' tone. The pacing was sweet and moved well with the easy pace of the story.  This is a fun and engaging listen especially for readers who enjoy this genre.

I received this for an honest Review from AudioGo through AudioBook Jukebox.