Saturday Snapshot (12/22/12) Maui Surfing Goat Dairy

Thanks to all who congratulated me on my new Granddaughter who was featured last Saturday. :-) She is quite sweet.

We boarded the Pride of America, Norwegian Cruise Ship late on 12/8 and we returned early 12/15.  The ship spent two days on three islands, other than Honolulu: December 9-10 we visited Maui, 11-12 Hawaii, the Big Island, and 13 -14 Kauai.  I plan to devote the next six or seven weeks of Snapshots to show the highlights of the cruise. I hope you enjoy!

The ship was beautifully decorated for the holidays and the food was Wonderful!

 The beautiful tree at the grand staircase.

This is the Pink Champagne room where they had a nice piano player each night 

and held the Art Autcions three days.

The first day on Maui we had planned out with the help of our son and D-I-L.  We rented a car and visited three sites with one more added stop on the way. The first site of interest was the Surfing Goat Dairy. Here we saw baby goats, learned a little about goat cheese, tasted samples and bought a variety pack of cheeses to ship back to the kids.

 These are some surfboards outside the shop; inside the window they are processing cheeses.

 These are very new, two day old, baby goats.

 These are four day old goats whose horns have just been cut off. 

You can walk into the fields for a tour and pet the adult goats.

We are enjoying the cheeses during our visit. :-)

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.

Sourcebooks Specials Continuing for 12 MORE Days of Christmas -Check rules!!

Happy Holidays Everyone from Sourcebooks!

Sourcebooks will be taking the holiday cheer beyond December 25. After our 25 Days of Christmas eBook Promotion ends, they’ll start the 12 MORE Days of Christmas eBook Promotion!


Things will be a little bit different for the promotion—you MUST sign up for the daily newsletter to find out the deals of that day. You can sign up here: http://books.sourcebooks.com/promos/.

Additionally, these deals will last for ONE DAY ONLY, and all books featured will be 99 cents at all eBook retailers. But JUST FOR ONE DAY!


Just like the Christmas song, “12 Days of Christmas,” each day will feature the corresponding number of books on sale. So 1 book on day 1, 2 books on day 2… all the way up to 12 books on day 12. Some will be by one author, and others will be grouped together around a genre. But remember, to find out which books will be discounted, you should sign up for our newsletter. We’re putting some of our best titles on promotion just for you, so make sure to get them while you can! http://books.sourcebooks.com/promos/

Extraordinary Rendition and other Astor and Blue Titles on Sale

I previously reviewed the ebook of Extraordinary Rendition. The publicist let me know that it is now on a special Holiday Season Price Promo for $1.99. (The price promo continues through January 7th, Kindle- http://amzn.to/Rfnmva ; Nook- http://bit.ly/R44yAo)

Also, all the new titles at this new publisher, Astor and Blue, are on sale for $0.99 or $1.99 through Christmas, so take a look and maybe you will find an extra special Christmas treat for yourself!

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway 12/21/12

[** 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! I CHOSE FOUR WINNERS (in additional to automatics) as a special extra for Christmas! Still counting down! - 4 days to Christmas! We have been enjoying our visit with son, d-i-l and baby Victoria. Tomorrow morning we will go visit the Arizona monument at Pearl Harbor.

Thank you to all who entered the December 14 Pick. There were two automatic winners this week (the first and last comments (those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks). Once again, three titles were blocked picks this week; one was won!

Ana chose The Dream Horse
bn100 chose Wanna Get Lucky

CONGRATULATIONS
to FOUR Random.org picked Winners from December 14 Pick:

Mariska gets a GC

winnie won (through the block) Dark Desires 

Monica won The Da Vinci Code
and
Holly was the fourth pick but she will have to pick a different book since Dark Desires has already been won.

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.

I would love a tree like this! How about you?

Image found at This Little Lady; tree is in the lobby of the Belgraves Hotel.

New Book Group #34 December 7, 2012.
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing

Pairs:
Fern Michaels
    Payback and Full Me Once
Luanne Rice
    Silver Bells (spine wear) and True Blue
Janet Evanovich
    Full Tilt and Full Bloom
Linda Howard:
    Duncan's Bride and Again Forever
Singles:
Dark Desires After Dark by Kresley Cole       
All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins
Savage Thunder by Johanna Lindsey (Cover is loose)
Angel's Peak by Robyn Carr
Captain's Woman by Merline Lovelace (This is a favorite author and book of mine)
*Death in High Heels by Christina Brand
*From Doon With Death: The First Inspector Wexford Novel by Ruth Rendell
*Mrs Mallory and the Silent Killer by Hazel Holt


New Book Group #33 October 27, 2012
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing

PAIRS:
Gena Showalter:
     The Darkest Kiss and the Darkest Night
Mary Balogh:
     Simply Perfect and A Summer to Remember
Tami Hoag:
     Ashes to Ashes and A Thin Dark Line (Both have spine creasing)
Dick Francis:
     10 LB Penalty and Risk
Tom Clancy:
     Op-Center State of Siege and Op-Center Mission of Honor
SINGLES - CHRISTMAS TITLES (Better sizes for international) 
*A Gift of Murder by M.D. Lake  (slight spine creasing)
*The Mistletoe Wager by Christine Merrill
*Deck the Halls by Arlene James (slight spine creasing)
*A Holiday Prayer by Deb Kastner  (slight spine creasing)
*A Family for Christmas by Kate Welsh  (slight spine creasing)
*A Regency Christmas Anthology - Lyn Stone, Carla Kelly and Gail Rainstorm


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 (auto win 11/30)
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.

An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
Beautiful Dreamer by Elizabeth Lowell

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

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

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)

New Group #25 January 12, 2012---(All gone)

New Group #24 Pick Books November 25, 2011---(All gone)

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---(All gone)

New Group #21 of Pick Books July 29, 2011
Mallory's Oracle (Kathleen Mallory Novels) by Carol O'Connell

May, 2011 New Group of Pick books Group #20
Luciano's Luck by Jack Higgins - Audio Cassettes

3/25/11 I did get to set up a new group of books: Group #19
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 three years I have posted 33 groups of 16 (528) books to find new homes! (November 2012)

I 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 450 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

Group #12---(All gone)

Group #11
Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
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
The Shadow by Shelley Munro (PA)

Pick #5
See Jane Lead by Lois P. Frankel
Cold Hit by Linda Fairstein - Audio Tapes

Pick #6---(All gone)

Pick #7
Prey by Michael Crichton - Audio Tape
Princess Charming by Jane Heller (slightly creased)

Pick #8
(sc) = slightly creased on binding otherwise all in good shape
The Jury by Steve Martini - Audio Tapes
No Safe Place by Richard North Patterson - Audio Tapes

Pick #9
On Treacherous Ground by Earl Murray
Guardian by Dee Henderson - Audio Tapes
Time to Hunt by Stephen Hunter - Audio Tapes

Pick #10---(All Gone)

Book Review and Giveaway: Hunk for the Holidays by Katie Lane

This story is a fun, entertaining romance.

Hunk for the Holidays
by Katie Lane

Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Forever; Original edition
ISBN-10: 1455522368
ISBN-13: 978-1455522361
Genre: Holiday Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: September 25, 2012
Always putting business before pleasure, Cassie McPherson works hard for her family's construction business. That might explain why she doesn't have a date for the company Christmas party. But it doesn't quite explain why she's crazy enough to hire an escort for the event or - crazier still - why she's dying to unwrap him like a present . . .

With whiskey-colored eyes and a killer smile, James is one gorgeous hunk who really knows how to fill out a tuxedo. He charms everyone, including Cassie. And when the night ends, the party doesn't stop. As Cassie falls, literally, into his bed, James falls head over heels in love. Now he has to figure out a way to tell her the truth: he's not an escort. He's her family's fiercest business rival. But all he wants for Christmas is her . . .

Review:
Cassie is a strong-minded, stubborn business woman. She handles the bookkeeping for her family’s construction business although she would be happier working on site or in design. She parted with her last real boyfriend 18 months before and has gotten into the habit of hiring escorts for events, like her company Christmas party. Usually the escorts are younger, good looking college types who are willing to let her be in charge. But the man who shows up for this event is mature, exudes confidence and has no plans to let Cassie control the evening.

James is immediately stricken by the sassy lady in the slinky red dress and sexy stilettos. He is also impressed by her knowledge and hutzpa.  It isn’t his fault that she jumps to the wrong conclusion thinking he is her paid escort for the night.

These two hit it off companionably and chemically.  James planned on explaining who he is before he tries to get her into his bed but those plans were waylaid by Cassie drinking a few too many glasses of champagne. When she wakes up in bed with her hunky date she decides to wake him with a surprise.  Things heat up between them while James tries to figure out how to tell her the truth and keep her by his side for more time together.

Cassie’s four brothers met James and liked him even though there was some protective posturing. But no one knew who he was until too late. When their father makes an insulting offer to buy out James’ business, both James and Cassie feel betrayed.  It looks like it will be a lonely Christmas for them unless they can get past their anger and a few more misunderstandings.

This story opens with and maintains a sense of feisty fun. Cassie and James are strong characters who both want the upper hand. Their interaction sizzles but it takes some effort to decide to trust and reveal their feelings. Cassie’s brothers are good characters too and there is a nice side romance involving one of them. The writing flows for easy, fast reading. I recommend this to those who enjoy a fun, sexy romance.

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

Cassie’s assistant points out her control issues:

“So stop hiring them and tr to find a nice guy to date. Or do you just like the control so much that you’re addicted?”... “That’s it, isn’t it? You can’t control your dad or your four brothers, but you can control some young sap for money.” Location 146.

James thinks he can control matters:

...He wanted to take as much time as possible, wanted to control every second of the kiss.
  It worked for all of a second.
  The second right before his lips touched hers. Once they did, he was lost.
  James no longer thought. He just felt.  Location 615

Received for an honest Review from Forever div of Hachette.

This is set in Colorado for my Where Are You Reading Challenge.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the review 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 December 28, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on December 29, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.