Sharing Beyond Books #105 Comment Giveaway June 22, 2013

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to SBB, Sharing Beyond Books.

Can you believe it is Saturday night again and Summer has started?!  <>

Thank you to all who shared last week.

What a fun variety of 'odd' titles we have read. I think many weren't so much odd as different. Some were informative, like antiques, gardening, training puppies.  On the truly odd side I think Llehn's book on astral projection fits.
 
All but two or three of us do like puzzles. It seems most like word puzzles and a few don't like jigsaw. Holly likes the Tetris and jeweled type games and nrlymrtl likes the really big - 10,000 - piece jigsaw puzzles!

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The Winner from SBB #104 comments is: #18 rubynreba who can make a GC choice if international or 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 #105 Questions

Q1. Becky asks: How many books in a month do you tend to read??

A: I seem to comfortably read four a week so 16 to 18 a month. I have read over 20 but some had to be short and audios help to increase the number. I find it hard to review more than four a week anyway. :-).  

Image found at Hitchallenge.

Q2. My non-bookish Question this week: What game(s) do you remember from childhood??

A: The two games that pop into my mind are the board game The Mouse Trap which our family had great fun with and Twister which we enjoyed as teens!

 Oh my goodness - a life size mouse trap game!

Image found at The Smithsonian Mag.

Image found at Wikipedia

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 do have a group of questions from the same submitters so if you have a question don't be afraid to ask!

Your turn to share:

Q1.  Q1. Becky asks: How many books in a month do you tend to read??

Q2. My non-bookish Question this week: What game(s) do you remember from childhood??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books , the Christmas Giveaway Books, or the Newly June 2012 Updated ARC/Review List.

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, June 28, 2013 at 10 PM central.

Book #Review and ARC #Giveaway: The Magic of I Do by Tammy Falkner

A fun read especially for those who like a sensual focus.
The Magic of I Do
by Tammy Falkner

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (June 4, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402268157
• ISBN-13: 978-1402268151

Genre: Paranormal, Historical Romance
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Book Description
Release date: June 4, 2013

Desperately Seeking Excitement...

With the temporary prohibition on magic on the land of the Fae, Claire Thorne might as well go back to the Regency world. The haut ton has just as many annoying rules as her world, but at least they have parties and dances. Plus, the roguish Lord Phineas "Finn" Trimble is there...

When the feisty faerie tumbles into his room through a magical portal, Finn can't believe how completely unpredictable she is. Even before the two stumble into a dangerous intrigue that threatens both their worlds, Finn discovers that his hitherto carefree life is about to go up in smoke...

Review:
Claire Thorne is a rather spoiled fairy. She has had an easy life in her fairy world but now that she is struggling with anger at her sister for marrying a human and for learning that her parents abandoned her as an infant and have lived in the human world since then. It doesn’t matter that it wasn’t their fault that they broke the rules with their mixed human to fairy marriage and the fairy authorities took the fae children and wiped their memories. She still blames them for letting her be raised without the full benefit of family.

Her parents and sister’s family are visiting the fairy world and hoping to change the rules regarding the mixed marriage situation. During a temper fit Claire propels herself back to the human world into the bedroom of the handsome rouge, Lord Phineas. They had shared one night of passion when he was supposed to be keeping her safe for his brother, Robin, Claire’s brother-in-law. He should have protected her innocense but compromised her instead. She went along with it willingly enough but warned him that she wouldn’t fall in love with him and he mustn’t fall in love with her.

Well– that night has left its consequences and Claire is scared to tell anyone, fae or human, of her dilemma. But she needs to figure out a solution pretty quickly before her problem becomes obvious. She also needs to stay out of the reach of the smarmy, cruel Earl of Mayden who seeks revenge against Finn and Robin.

I wasn’t enthralled with either Claire or Finn in the early pages of the book as they seemed selfish and self-centered. Fortunately their characters became more complex, softer, more loyal and likeable as the story progressed. I did like Claire’s magical gift through her art and thought that was a good touch.

I have to say though that a big part of this story is the sexual pull and play between Claire and Finn. I waited about half the book hoping there would be a larger plot. There is the danger posed by Mayden and a bit of the history of Claire’s family, but it is the smaller part of the whole presentation. The writing is light and sassy and this is an easy read. There was just too much emphasis on sex for my tastes.

This was the second in a series but read fine without having read the first book. This would be good for readers who like their romance centered on the sensual story of the romance.

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Here is where the danger begins:

   “What the devil do you think you’re doing?” Finn hissed as he circled around her.
   “Dancing, my lord.”...
   “Don’t play with that man, Claire,” he warned.
   Claire had no intention of playing with the earl. She intended to expose him. To ease some of Finn’s burden, if she could. He deserved a life free of men who wanted to do him harm. She could want to do him harm all day long, but no one else could hurt him, blast it all. Page 158.

I received this book from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the ARC Copy:

ENTRY FORM HERE

Don't forget to fill in the form for entry! 

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form. 

For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.

* This contest is open to those with US or CANADA address.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on June 30, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on July 1, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

MBS - Spontaneous Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop

Okay - I may be a day late but there is still plenty of time to enter!

Thanks to Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not a Writer for sponsoring this. Kathy is taking a bit of a breather and if you have ever realized the number of hops and giveaways she hosts you can understand. It was barely leaving time for reviews...besides cutting into needed family time. I know I understand!

My Giveaway:  

Winner’s Choice: Paypal, Amazon.com OR The Book Depository.

Two requirements:
A. Follow Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf in some fashion.
B. Enter through the Rafflecopter.
Extra entry if you comment to share a Summer title. :-)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Six Winners from Giveaways ending June 14 and June 21

CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNERS!!

Giveaways Ended June 14, 2013

8 Days of Desire Blog Tour

What a Wicked Earl Wants and The Duchess Hunt

TWO WINNERS:  

Entry #4 Kim

Entry #35 Marlene B.

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 Giveaway: Better Than Chocolate

Winner: Shelley (Callicolady)

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ARC Giveaway: The Sweet Spot

Winner:  Martha L

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Giveaways Ended June 21, 2013

Giveaway Audio Somewhere in Time

Winner: Shelly H
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Giveaway It Had to Be You

Winner: Jess1

Kim, Marlene, Shelley, Martha, Shelly and Jane 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 book mailed and or notify the publisher of your win.  Please reply within 72 hours!   

Thank you to all who entered!

Saturday Snapshot (June 22, 2013) Suntipped Trees

One early evening I was taking pictures in the garden and realized that the soon to be setting sun had tipped the tops of the trees in golden light. I decided to call them "suntipped."  The yellow at the top is the sunlight, not yellow leaves. I wish they were a bit clearer to show the awesome beauty of it.

Thanks to all who stop by and visit.

A big Thank You to Alyce at Alyce of At Home With Books who has hosted this meme for a number of years. She is taking a summer hiatus at her blog and the new host will be Melissa at West Metro Mommy. Thank you to Melissa for picking up the responsibility. 

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 being hosted this summer by West Metro Mommy. 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.