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Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sunday Words of Encouragement November 18, 2012

I did not make church this morning as I fell back to sleep and stayed in bed until almost noon. I am sharing a video today that encourages us to BE THANKFUL for many things we do not have!
(Although it shows as 5+ minutes, it is only about 2.5+ minutes, then repeats.)



A Verse for Today
Psalm 138:2 (NIV)

2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
that it surpasses your fame.

I am thankful for a loving God who is Creator, Redeemer and Comforter; a God who gives all things but most importantly - grace!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Sharing Beyond Books #75 November 17, 2012

Hello and Welcome to another SBB!

Happy Saturday Night. Has it been a good week for everyone? I did get some antibiotics this week so hopefully I can put this "crud" (the diagnosis - LOL) behind me. But I didn't get bed rest as the doctor ordered since I had to get up at 3am Friday to drive to Tallahassee for a plane to South Florida. I had a deposition to cover late in the day and then flew back this morning. So I'm tired now.  But on the positive side - I got some extra reading time on the plane. :-)


Thank you to all who shared last week.

Seems about half of us like anthologies, especially for meeting new authors or for a quicker reading time. However, several of you mentioned you weren't so big on anthologies as you prefer longer stories.

I like all the things we are thankful for! Family is a BIG one for many of us. (I hope nrlymrtl's broken foot is healing.) I particularly liked how Sarah phrased one of her thanks: "I am thankful that I have opportunities to pursue my passions, and not just fight to survive." Nice wording and nice sentiment.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #74 comments is: #5 mammabunny13 There are still 5 'love' books to pick from and new Christmas choices. mammabunny13 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 #75 Questions

Q1. Miki asks: When you are reading a book in which the character has a special activity or hobby (a sport, knitting etc) does that make you want to try this activity??
I may find activities interesting but I rarely try them. What? Take away time from reading? I don't think so. LOL. Although I have to admit I sometimes wish I had a talent for art - I know I do not.
Image found at CafePress

Q2. I'll give Elizabeth credit for this Q as I noted she had it in suggestions: ... a) What are you Thankful for this year (so next TWO choices) OR b) What is a favorite Thanksgiving tradition?? 
A: I am listing more Thankful items: #3 Friends and #4 Books and Blogging about books!
Image found at PublishingPerspectives

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 draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions.    Thanks for sending in questions! We can always use fresh questions.

Your turn to share:

1. Miki asks: When you are reading a book in which the character has a special activity or hobby (a sport, knitting etc) does that make you want to try this activity??

2. I'll give Elizabeth credit for this Q as I noted she had it in suggestions: ... a) What are you Thankful for this year (so next TWO choices) OR b) What is a favorite Thanksgiving tradition?


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.

Winners of The Trouble With Cowboys and Holdiay Affair

CONGRATULATIONS

Dena



Martha L

Dena and Martha Please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads AT gmail.com to confirm the win and I will arrange the mailing and download.  Please reply within 72 hours!
Thank you to all who entered these giveaways. 

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Untamed (The Amoveo Legend) by Sara Humphreys

This is another warm, fast-paced installment in the entertaining Amoveo series!
Untamed (The Amoveo Legend)
by Sara Humphreys

Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (November 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402258496
ISBN-13: 978-1402258497Product Details
Genre:  Paranormal Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
   

Book Description
Release Date: November 6, 2012 | Series: The Amoveo Legend
An ancient race of shapeshifters has lived secretly among humans for thousands of years...they are...the Amoveo

HER WORST NIGHTMARE IS COMING TRUE...
Layla Nickelsen has spent years hiding from her Amoveo mate and guarding a devastating secret. But Layla's worst fear is realized when the man who haunts her dreams shows up in person ...

HE HAS FINALLY FOUND HER...
William Fleury is as stoic as they come, until he finds Layla and his feelings overwhelm him. She won't let him get close, but then an unknown enemy erupts in violence and threatens everything Layla holds dear...


Review:
William Fleury, an Amoveo from the Gryfalcon clan, is a straight-laced, stoic man and attorney for the Amoveo Counsel. He has watched his friends find their mates in half-breeds and he looks with longing and envy on their affectionate, and passionate, relationships. He had almost given up hope of finding a mate for himself. Then he saw Layla and knew he must pursue her.

Layla is a half-breed who has known about her nature for years as she was raised with twin half-breeds on a farm with their ‘foster’ mother, Rosie.  She is able to share telepathically with her foster siblings and she can read of auras through her photography. She can also dream in her cheetah form but she has never been able to shift in the real world. She is freakish in the human world and feels substandard in the shifter world-- what little she knows of it.

Layla saw the pain of abandonment and destruction of other females, including her own mother,  who loved Amoveo mates. Layla is fiercely independent and intent on never falling in love or being controlled by another. When Will begins to pursue her in the dream realm, she wants nothing to do with him. When Will shows up in person she considers him a stalker.

Will doesn’t really know how to woe Layla but he is insistent on making her give him a chance. He is also determined to protect her from the Purist threat especially after there is an attack that puts Rosie in a coma.

Will loosens up around Layla and she begins to fall for his gentle and almost bumbling charm. Rather than wait for an attack she decides that the half-breed ladies should confront the Council to force the hand of the Purists. The confrontation will have a greater impact than anyone realized.

I love the great, underlying warmth that Sara imparts in this romance series. Once again she created interesting characters and drew me into their story immediately.  Their slowly growing relationship is the primary story but there is also good suspense building up to the later part of the book when there are new and alarming developments in the Amoveo loyalties.  This changes the character of the Council and sets the stage for civil war among the clans.  I look forward to the next book!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William's reaction to Layla
    That day in the bayou, Layla’s energy signature had slammed into him with a voracious intensity that took him completely by surprise... and William was not accustomed to being surprised. He prided himself on his innate ability to alwys remain calm, keep a cook head, and maintain a sense of order.
    All of that changed the second he found her.  Location 489.
    Put him in the heat of battle, in a courtroom, or in the sights of the Caedo, and no one could shake him, but put his brokenhearted mate in front of him, and he truned into a fumbling oaf without the slightest clue how to help her. Location 3457.
I received this from Sourcebooks for an honest review.
A good portion of this takes place in rural Marylanda.
If you haven't read this awesome series yet you can try a taste with the free Novella: Undenied .

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the ARC Copy.


For 3 Extra Bonus entries tell me if you know any of the songs or artists that Sara thought of while writing this book:
Here's the soundtrack I created when I was writing William and Layla's story. Enjoy!
    "Promise's Demise"--Amy Petty *this song is used in the book trailer
    "Paris (ooh lala)"--Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
    "I Run to You"--Lady Antebellum
    "Can't Be Tamed"--Miley Cyrus
    "The Edge of Glory"--Lady Gaga
    "I Go to Extremes"--Billy Joel
    "Going Under"--Evanescence
* This contest is open US and Canada.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on November 30, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on December 1, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Saturday Snapshot (Nov 17, 2012) Our Seattle Visit Days 1&2

We spent three days in Seattle after we disembarked from our lovely cruise. We stayed at the Paramount Hotel near downtown which was very nice and had a delightful and very helpful concierge! The first day we took a tour coach around the city with a fun driver pointing out the sites. We continued to have good weather and we were able to see Mount Rainier in the distance each day of our visit. That was the day I went to the Jayne Krentz Book Signing too.

Day 2 we road the Ferris Wheel and I got some good pictures.  





I love the postcard appearance of the Space Needle skyline from the Ferris Wheel.



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.

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