Sunday Words of Encouragement April 14, 2013

My mind is whirling with things I want to share... signs of the times that we are discussing in Sunday School. This afternoon time is short and we are having sporadic internet due to rain storms.

Our Pastor shared a message this morning: The Lord Hears...
Do not believe the lies that you are not important to God. Doubts are lies from the devil.
Psalm 147:9 says: He gives food to the wild animals and feeds the young ravens when they cry.
Ravens are garbage pickers, ugly birds. Yet God cares for them when they cry out. How much more will He care for his children when they call to Him?

So for today I am led to share in praise:

All of Creation

A Verse for Today
Luke 12:24 NIV
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!

Lord, this week I pray that you help me to prepare words to share that will show your light and the urgency of time. Thank you, Sovereign Father, for your daily mercies and inexplicable blessings.

Sharing Beyond Books #95 Comment Giveaway April 13, 2013

Hello, Welcome to SBB.

Happy Saturday night! It has finally warmed up here which is good but the mosquitoes are AWFUL. We had birthday cake for our grandson's 9th BD tonight. (Now I really need to exercise.)

Thank you to all who shared last week.

Most of us do not exercise -- except for our brains as Nikki noted. The big problem is motivation as Sarah said. I wish I could get my DH to walk with me as we both need it. It sounds like Ricki has a great program - I never heard of Zumba until a year or so ago when our new daughter-in-law was so active before getting pregnant.

The number of those who look at, and a few who post, cover reveals are greater in number than the 7 of us who do not look at them. It sounds like several of you do post them and many like to look at them. I do agree with CarolNW and nrlymrtl that sometimes those posts comparing the US to UK covers are interesting.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #94 comments is: #16 bn100 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 #95 Questions

Q1. This questions sort of fits to follow last week.
        MaryP asks: Can you swim??

A: We had a pool on our farm and I learned to swim at an early age. We moved to Florida when I was about 12. I swam competitively in high school with my events being backstroke, relays and distance freestyle. I love stretching out on the backstroke take off and I did manage back flip turns. I still enjoy alternating strokes when I swim.

Image found at Fine Art America.

Q2. My bookish Question this week: Do you avoid or like reading LONG books??

A: (I thought this might have been asked but I checked my spreadsheet which covers from week #3 and it is not there so it's a fair question.)

 I am guilty of not reading too many books over 400 pages. However - If I really want to read a long book - like the Harry Potter series - I will listen to it in Audio format. (I still have the first 5 Potter books on cassette.) Even then I am reluctant to pick up something like The Pillars of the Earth which is 40 hours on Audible. Books that I have on my shelf that I probably won't read but might listen to include: The Passage (36 hours), The Fallen 1 and Storm Glass.

Image found at Melville House.

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:

Q1. MaryP asks: Can you swim??

Q2. My bookish Question this week: Do you avoid or like reading LONG books??

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 19, 2013 at 10 PM central.

Special Spring Offers from Sourcebooks

These special announcements are shared from Beth at Sourcebooks and I'll post a special Springtime romantic Giveaway offer courtesy Sourcebooks on Monday so please check back. :-)

 

Attention Susanna Kearsley Fans!

The Shadowy Horses will be a Kindle Daily Deal TOMORROW (4/13)! It will be $1.99! I wanted to give you a heads up but please don’t post about it until tomorrow. This is great timing because The Shadowy Horses features the character Robbie as a little boy but in Susanna’s upcoming new release, The Firebird, Robbie is all grown up!  

The last installment of the Sinners on Tour series will be here in no time! To celebrate, we are offering another preorder offer!  

The countdown to Wicked Beat by Olivia Cunning! Preorder Offer!

If you pre-order Wicked Beat, we will send you an exclusive Sinners logo tattoo and one sexy Sinners hot pink guitar pick! But you have to hurry because we only have 500 of them available! You have until August 5^th or until quantities run out! Here is what you do:

1.         Pre-order the book (print or eBook) through any retailer (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Indiebound, BAM, etc.)

2.         Email your proof of purchase (receipt or picture of the receipt) to wickedbeat@sourcebooks.com. Don’t forget to include your home address (US & Canada only please) so we can send you the tattoo and guitar pick! Yes, if you’ve already pre-ordered it months ago, that counts, you just have to show your receipt.

3.         You will get an email back confirming when the items have been sent out.  If you were not one of the first 500 people, you will also be alerted.

4.         Enjoy Wicked Beat when you receive it in August!

Sourcebooks Editors Hit Pinterest!

Sourcebooks has started Pinterest boards that are curated by some of our editors! They will be showcasing the things they love! First to kick it off is Leah Hultenschmidt, our romance/YA Managing Editor! Check out her board here to see what she is loving at the moment!

http://pinterest.com/sourcebooks/editors-picks-leah-ya-and-romance/

Have a great weekend!

Thanks!

Beth

Saturday Snapshot (April 13, 2013) My DH's Garden

I have a little more of photo zooming work in these photos. These are taken from the end of our pool deck looking to the south.

This is the farm patch that my DH cultivates.
This is why friends sometimes call him "Farmer Bob."

Tomatoes to the row with the stump, peppers straight ahead and potatoes to the right.
Note at the far end of the garden the black piece of equipment.

 This is the right side with garlic along the edge 

and peanuts (not growing) in the row before the potatoes.

Here to the left is the last row of corn and the banana trees on the outside.

And remember the black equipment in the distance?

This is our log splitter zoomed in.

Here is the log pile that DH has been chopping from a tree he cut down a week or so ago.
DH stays very busy!

Thanks again to all the nice people who have commented on my Saturday pictures.
I did get to visit back Friday night.

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.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway April 12, 2013

[** 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!! It's Friday again already?? How did that happen?
I hope to add a new group of titles next week. :-)

[***I'm sorry I have bad news for the international entrants -- I have to ask you to stick with GCs as the new postage rates have almost doubled. What might have been a $6.25 mail out is now close to $12.00.]

Thank you to all who entered the April 5 Pick. Still no automatic wins this week but there hopefully will be some next week. especially with four blocked titles from 10 picks. (Automatic winners are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks). Three titles were blocked. 

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from April 5 Pick:

Carol L gets Silk and Steel

Ingeborg gets Twice Upon a Time

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 thought this was worth announcing. :-)

Image found at Book Buzz (Sumter Schools)

New Book Group #37 March 22, 2013

As I am linking these titles it is clear to me why they were in my TBR boxes and it is really hard to let them go but I have soooo many. Better that they find good reader homes than sit on my shelves, or in a box, and collect dust. 
Pairs:
Linda Howard:
     While Lies and A Game of Chance
Carly Phillips
     The Heartbreaker and Simply Sinful
Singles:
Anthology: Something Borrowed, Something Blue - this book has spine creases and minor water damage...I thought I had read it and liked it but now I realize it was another anthology I read with Elaine Barbier.
Bride by Command by Linda Winstead Jones
To Tame a Rebel by Georgina Gentry
While Passion Sleeps by Shirlee Busbee
Lord Liar by Laurie Grant
Silk and Steel by Theresa Michaels
Lady in Red by Karen Hawkins
The Admiral's Bride by Suzanne Brockmann
Marry Me, Maddie by Rita Herron
Lady Ice by Joan Hohl
Dark Roots & Cowboy Boots by LuAnn McLane
Only My Dreams by Anna Blundy



New Book Group #36 February 15, 2013

Pairs:
Laurell K. Hamilton
     Cravings (actually an Anthology) and A Kiss of Shadows
Tara Taylor Quinn
     Father: Unknown and McGillus v.Wright
Tom Clancy
     Power Play: Cold War (paperback) and Power Play: Ruthless.com (audio cassette tapes)
Singles:
Deadline by Fern Michaels
Timeline by Michael Crichton
And Then You Die by Iris Johansen
Bride of Shadow Canyon by Stacey Kayne
Echoes by Maeve Binchy (worn spine)
One Dead Under the Cukoo's Nest by Lori Avocato
The Thunder Keeper by Margaret Coel
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
Always a Lady by Sharon Sala
Her Wedding Wish by Jillian Hart


New Book Group #35 January 11, 2013
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing 

Pairs
Beverly Barton:
    Downright Dangerous and What She Doesn't Know
Heather Graham Pozzessere
    Renegades (Western Anthology) and Everytime I Love You (The spine is creased.)
Mary Baxter
    His Touch and One Summer Evening

Singles-- I found a couple of boxes of romances (a lot of Harlequins) that I haven't gotten to read over the past 8 years so... I will send them off to others to read!
Flashpoint by Linda Barnes
Across a Thousand Miles by Nadia Nichols
Lady Beware by Fayrene Preston
Secrets of the Outback by Margaret Way
Never Say Never Again by Tori Carrington
*Merger of Fortunes by Peggy Moreland
*Married to His Business by Elizabeth Bevarly 
*The Banker's Convenient Wife by Lynne Graham
*Chance Adventure by Kelly Eileen Hake
* The Millionaire's Daughter by Sophie Weston


New Book Group #34 December 7, 2012--- (All gone)

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

SINGLES - CHRISTMAS TITLES (Better sizes for international) 
*Deck the Halls by Arlene James (slight spine creasing)
*A Holiday Prayer by Deb Kastner  (slight spine creasing)


New Book Group #32 October 5, 2012

- 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
Please Remember This by Katleen Giles Seidel
Twice Upon Time by Nina Beaumont
Heart of the Hawk by Justine Dare
The Boy's Tale (Sister Frevisse Medieval Mysteries) by Margaret Frazer
Calculated Revenge by Jill Elizabeth Nelson


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 (postage too much - replaced with GC)
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 (All gone)

New book Group #27 April 13, 2012 (All gone)

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 496 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  (postage too much - replaced with GC)

List #15---(All gone)

List #14---(All gone)

Here is set #13 of Used books! ---(All gone)
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)