Contact email: mesreads AT gmail.com
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GIVEAWAYS ARE NOW LOCATED ON THEIR OWN PAGE - CLICK ON TAB ABOVE; Giveaways also linked on right sidebar.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Sharing Beyond Books #94 Comment Giveaway April 6, 2013

Hello, Welcome to SBB.

Our weather is still on the cool side but there are lots of signs of spring in the air -- especially pollen!

Thank you to all who shared last week.

I loved the different childhood books that were shared. Nancy Drew got four mentions and Enid Blyton got three. I had to look up Enid Blyton and those look like great books for kids. The Little House series also got several mentions. I had almost forgotten the Dick and Jane books mentioned by Carol L! And nrlymrtl picked the Choose Your Own Adventure books. I really loved those too but they were books I purchased for my kids. :-)

Interestingly, the items mentioned purchased most for the Easter weekend were chocolate and books. Commentors purchased items for others more than themselves. Several had Easter dinners or breakfast.
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The Winner from SBB #93 comments is: #8 nrlymrtl, who can make a book choice from the ARC/Review titles, Christmas titles or Love titles - all linked near the end of the post. Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #94 Questions

Q1. Abby asks: Do you exercise??
A: We-eelll. I try to exercise and need to do more! I use a stationary bicycle for up to half an hour two to three times a week -- when I am being good. During spring to fall months I fast walk 2 miles if I get into the practice of it. During the summer I try to swim about once a week. I like to listen to audiobooks while doing walking or cycling and often wish I could think of a way to listen while swimming!
Image found at Cartoon Sample Gallery.

Q2. My bookish Question this week: Do you look at/post/like cover reveals??
A: I barely have time to post and look at memes and book reviews. I just don't have time to post or visit on cover reveals. However sometimes it is fun when authors show alternative covers.  
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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.
I forgot last week to announce the Question Contributor winner for March: Those whose questions were used were: MaryP, nrlymrtl, Becky, Carol L and Emily.  Random.org picked #5 so Emily gets a book pick or GC.

Your turn to share:

Q1. Abby asks: Do you exercise??

Q2. My bookish Question this week: Do you look at/post/like cover reveals??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the new Valentine and "Love" books  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, April 12, 2013 at 10 PM central.

Winners: Free Fall, Last Chance Book Club and Admission

Congratulations to Winners of
Giveaways Ended April 5, 2013. 


ARC Giveaway: Free Fall by Catherine Mann

Winner: Jolene



ARC GiveawayLast Chance Book Club by Hope Ramsay

Winner: Angela

Jolene and Angela please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads AT gmail.com to confirm the win and I'll get the books mailed.  Please reply within 72 hours!   


Updated to include another winner:

Giveaway Ended March 26, 2013.

Giveaway: Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz 

Winner:
Cindy C

Book Review: Sportsman's Bet (Ian Dodge Mysteries) by Judy Nichols

I like the Cockney rhyming slang in this solidly plotted mystery.
Sportsman’s Bet (Ian Dodge Mysteries)
by Judy Nichols
  • File Size: 426 KB
  • Print Length: 229 pages
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B008OY00QS
Genre: Cozy Mystery
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0


Book Description
Publication Date: July 24, 2012
Velma Saunders, the town clerk of Tobias, North Carolina never had a kind word to say to anyone. In fact, most people were afraid of her, including her boss, Mayor Mike Ellis.

Still, the whole town is shocked when Velma's body is found in the Municipal Building's old bomb shelter. The only clue to her murderer is a copy of a cryptic message from a Nigerian Email scammer.

All the evidence points to Mayor Mike, who's charged with killing Velma. Investigator Ian Dodge, a British transplant who's never quite taken root in the Deep South, sets out to find out who else hated Velma enough to kill her.

In the course of his investigation, Ian discovers the dark secrets Velma has been hiding all these years, and exactly why she was so mean.


Review:
One afternoon Mayor Mike is visited by a State Auditor claiming they are investigating a $2,000.00 accounting discrepancy. Mike wheedles the help of PI Ian Dodge, a British transplant with wonderfully quirky habits like Cockney rhyming slang. They start their search at the computer of the Mayor’s hardnose, but oh-so-efficient, office manager, Velma. The next morning Velma doesn’t show up for work which is very rare.  doesn’t show up one morning.

The title, and other interesting phrases, come from Ian’s sharing of Cockney rhyming slang. I really enjoyed those word games. Sportsman’s Bet rhymes with internet and the clues branch from what appears to be an internet scam where the sender is in Nigeria and asks for financial assistance from Velma.

Velma is found dead in a little known basement room. A spurious police search learns that Mayor Mike was familiar with the room and suspicion quickly turns into Mike’s arrest. Now Ian is fully engaged to uncover the truth to clear Mike. The investigation leads Ian to delve into the history of Velma’s youth. Ian interviews Aunts and nieces with a few surprises. Clues reveal a troubled family, a secret pregnancy and a connection to the government Eugenics program during the 1960s. Step by step the author leads Ian to the pieces of the puzzle until he has to race to prevent the killing of another witness.

I liked how the story jumps into rich characters and the hometown mystery. The investigation might not have been overly exciting although there is action and excitement as the mystery culminates. The family history was interesting and the mystery was really well plotted. The writing is descriptive with some nice humor that makes this an easy and fairly quick read. I enjoyed Ian’s personality and could see myself enjoying more investigations with him and his rhyming slang. 

I received this eBook from the Author for an honest review.
This story is set in North Carolina for my 2013 Where Are You Reading Challenge.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Saturday Snapshot (April 6, 2013) Deer Nature

I missed some wonderful moon shots a week or so ago as I didn't have the camera in my car.
One twilight I caught the moon across through the trees.


A couple of evenings later I stopped to take these pictures of some deer down our street.
We have a mile and a half drive to our house and there is one other house before it dead ends.
We learn to drive slowly as the deer cross the street at different spots and you have to be careful going around the curves in case they are there.

The first shot is from the street - not zoomed.
The next three are as I zoom closer.





Thanks again to all the nice people who have commented on my Saturday pictures. I am so sorry I have not been getting to return the visits until late in the week. :-(

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.

A Chance to win Children's Titles and $15.00 GC for books at eTreasures Publishing

Help J.D. Pooker celebrate the release of the VERY cute children's book: Mr. Chocolate and the Magic Js.

Visit J.D. Pooker to enter giveaways to win two different children's books and also a chance to win a $15 gift certificate to eTreasures -- ENDS 4/5/13.

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