Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: A Shot of Sultry by Macy Beckett

This is a steamy, just short of sleazy, make-you grin romance.

A Shot of Sultry
by Macy Beckett

Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (March 5, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402270399
ISBN-13: 978-1402270390

Genre: Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Release date: March 5, 2013 | Series: Sultry Springs

Welcome to Sultry Springs, Texas: where home can be the perfect place for a fresh start.

For West Coast filmmaker Bobbi Gallagher, going back to Sultry Springs is a last resort. But with her career in tatters, a documentary set in her hometown might be just what she needs to salvage her reputation. She just can't let anything distract her again. Not even the gorgeous contractor her brother asked to watch over her. As if she can't handle filming a few rowdy Texans.

Golden boy Trey Lewis, with his blond hair and Technicolor-blue eyes, is a leading man if Bobbi ever saw one. He's strong and confident and—much to her delight—usually shirtless. He thinks keeping his best friend's baby sister out of trouble will be easy. But he has no idea of the trouble in store for him...

Review:
Bobbi Gallagher was a child when her mother moved them away from Sultry Springs, leaving her older brother, Luke, behind. Bobbi struggled all through school as a poor child but rose above it to become a serious documentary filmmaker. Things were good until some ‘confidential’ information sent a project into trouble, tanking her career and reputation. She is offered a chance to do a rural version of the reality show, Real Life, Real Love. Bobbi needs a place to recoup over the summer and thinks that living with her brother, Luke, in her hometown of Sultry Springs will provide just the right opportunity to film Sex in the Sticks.

No sooner does Bobbi walk into Luke’s bar than she meets the “Golden boy” Trey and the dark, sexy lawman, Colton. She decides these two will be the perfect subjects to help find summer-time love for her documentary project. Trey jumps to the wrong conclusion and tries to oust Bobbi before he learns that she is his best friend’s sister. Now he is roped into her project and, to make matters worse, Luke appoints Trey to be Bobbi’s bodyguard by keeping away the hound-dogs in town.

Trey will be leaving at the end of summer for a contractor job in Dubai as a means of redeeming his less than honorable discharge from the service. He might be interested in a hot summer fling except the only woman he wants is the one he can’t have--Bobbi. Bobbi knows it is totally wrong to engage in any shenanigans with her film subject but she finds that she is able to open up so comfortably with Trey. One thing sort of leads to another and soon they are hiding their passionate affair from the cameramen and Luke.

These characters are really wonderful together and the story is plain fun. Bobbi is a bit insecure and a lot OCD. When she gets troubled she gets cleaning and sorting... in alphabetically or color coded order from kitchen pantry to work tools. The dialogue and images are sassy and liberally peppered with guy humor that is on the low side but very funny. If you are overly sensitive to sexual innuendos, and pretty steamy lovemaking, this might not be the author or series for you. The premise is just this side of sleazy (really--Sex in the Sticks???) but anyone not grinning by the end of the book could only be a real grump.

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

Bobbi’s reaction to Trey:

Although Bobbi wanted to push him into the path of an oncoming Mack truck, she couldn’t deny he had a face that would tempt a saint and a body made for sinning–tall and lithe and bulky in all the right places. Page 17

I received this book from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

This story is set in Texas for my 2013 Where Are Your Reading Challenge.

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY FOR 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 Only.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on April 12, 2013.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on April 13, 2013.
Winners are asked to respond by email or the linked winners form within 72 hours of the announcement.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Blogger & Author Sponsored Kindle Fire Giveaway April 2013

Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway
The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)

Sponsoring Bloggers & Authors

Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International). Ends 4/30/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $199 US.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Audio Book Review: Did You Miss Me? By Karen Rose

I really liked this strong, intense thriller with a warm romance.
Did You Miss Me [Audiobook, Unabridged]
Karen Rose (Author),
Marguerite Gavin (Reader)

Audio CD
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.; Unabridged edition (February 5, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1470842572
ISBN-13: 978-1470842574

LENGTH: 20 hrs and 46 mins

Genre: Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: February 5, 2013
New York Times bestselling author Karen Rose is back with her fourteenth pulse-pounding thriller.
Best be nimble, best be quick, I'm right here and you're my pick . . .
The last thing Ford Elkhart remembers is walking his girlfriend back to her car. Now he's lying tied and gagged on a cold, dark floor, with only one chance to escape before he ends up like the bones surrounding him.
Assistant State's Attorney Daphne Montgomery is devastated by her son's disappearance and is immediately convinced that his kidnapping is connected to the white supremacist she's just had jailed for murder. FBI Special Agent Joseph Carter isn't so sure -- especially when he learns that Ford's girlfriend is also missing. Is Ford's abduction payback for Daphne's courtroom victory, or is he a pawn in an even more dangerous game?

Review:
State Attorney Daphne Montgomery is involved in an intense trial bringing a young, white supremacist to justice. At completion of the trial other family members attack. That is scare enough but what really has Daphne trembling is the kidnapping of her teenage son, Ford. At first it is thought that the supremacist group is involved, but the listener learns more about the killer’s motives while bit by bit the clues reveal his personal vendetta against Daphne. She will have to acknowledge a horrifying kidnapping from her own childhood and uncover a terrible betrayal before she is released from this nightmare.

This is a story that pulled me in quickly with a murder and kidnappings. It leads the reader through Ford’s struggle to escape and survive, and then along a dark, chilling race by Daphne and investigators to save other innocent girls. Woven within the danger is a strong love story. FBI Special Agent, Joseph Carter, fights his own memories as he fights to protect Daphne from a killer and from the pain of losing her son.

There was some unnecessary repetition and some drawn out sections that slowed the pacing a time or two. I was not pleased that Daphne, a strong career professional, became a whining mess when her son was kidnapped. But those issues didn’t stop my enjoyment of the twisting mystery and dark suspense. I also enjoyed the interaction with characters from earlier stories and I was impressed that Ms. Rose incorporated a battle with cancer as part of Daphne's history.

I have only read a couple of Ms. Rose’s works but I really appreciate her ability to develop a good, twisting mystery and twine in a believable and warm romance. ( I hope Clay gets a story for himself.) I recommend this book and this author to readers who love a good romantic suspense and those who love a solid, dark thriller.

Audio Notes: The narrator for this is Marguerite Gavin who is familiar to me from another series I really like. Although I recognized her voice when I first started listening, I was quickly caught up in the story after that first recognition. Ms. Gavin does a good job of distinguishing characters by their voices and conveying their many emotions. She even managed the ugly whininess of Daphne - a character flaw I attribute to the author as it was repeated several times. The truly creepy rendition of “I’m baa-aack. Did you miss me?” adds to the suspense. There were a couple of bad editing breaks that were just a shame and momentarily startled me but for the most part the audio added to the story for me. This would no doubt be a good suspense read but it was wonderful to listen to.

I received this Audio download for review from Blackstone Audio, Inc. through Audiobook Jukebox.

This story is set in West Virgina for my 2013 Where Are You Reading Challenge.

Monday, April 1, 2013

NO JOKE - Win Big April Fools Giveaway Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway

No Joke - Win Big April Fools Giveaway

Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)

Sponsoring Authors

The Breeders by Katie French

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Blue Hearts of Mars by Nicole Grotepas

Love between humans and androids is forbidden, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen...

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The Tale of Mally Biddle by M.L. LeGette

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Terra by Gretchen Powell

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After the Fear by Rosanne Rivers

"The book is just breathtaking from the moment you start till the moment you put it down." -- Amazon review

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Entanglement by Dan Rix

A YA Dystopian Romance where every human is born with a soulmate, whom they meet on their 18th birthday...and the one boy who's the exception.

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daynight by Megan Thomason

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Fields of Elysium by A.B. Whelan

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Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International).

Ends 4/15/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Mailbox Monday April 1, 2013

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.
For APRIL: the Mailbox Monday Tour host is Mari at MariReads!
Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) but is now hosted at Mailbox Monday and through various blog hosts.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.