Book Review with Giveaway: Desperately Seeking Suzanna by Elizabeth Michels

This is a fun historical romance with nice characters.

Desperately Seeking Suzanna
by Elizabeth Michels

• Series: Tricks of the Ton
• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (March 4, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-1402286025

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: March 4, 2014
Her Cinderella Moment
Sue Green just wanted one night to be the pretty one. But a few glasses of champagne and one wild disguise later, she's in some serious trouble. Who knew the devastatingly handsome face of Lord Holden Ellis would get in the way of her foot?  And how exactly did all that high-kick dancing start in the first place? At least she blamed it all on her new persona--Suzanna. So Society's most eligible bachelor will never find out the truth.

All Holden wants is the truth. Who was that vixen who seduced him so thoroughly, then disappeared? The only one who seems to have any answers about Suzanna is Miss Sue Green. She's promised to help him find his mystery woman, but in truth she's not being all that helpful. And in truth, the more time Holden spends with Sue--witty, pretty, and disarmingly honest--the more he realizes he may have found exactly what he's been looking for all along...

Review:
Sue Green has been told all her life that she is the short, plain daughter. Her mother has disdained and discouraged Sue’s interest in painting so Sue has sold her works in secret. Four seasons without a serious beau seem to have proven her mother’s comments true. Sue’s younger sister, Evangeline, is the beauty who is about to have her first season.

Evangeline and their cousins convince Sue to sneak into a neighborhood masquerade ball since no one will know who they are. They sneak into a room and find champagne. After a glass or so Sue has loosened up and they modify her dress to be a little more brazen to fit with her chosen name, “Suzanna”. She leads the girls down a fancy stairway with a bit of a frisky kick. As she nears the bottom she kicks out and catches a man in the face causing a bloody nose. The handsome Lord Holden Ellis is immediately attracted to the feisty burnished haired vixen. He takes her upstairs to his room while he cleans up and they have an interesting encounter until they are interrupted. Sue barely escapes the temptation of Holden’s seduction, but while she is seeking her sister and cousins she is caught by her mother who is livid.

Sue is informed that if she hasn’t landed a husband by the end of this season she will be sent to live with her reclusive aunt in Scotland. Meanwhile her mother is planning to introduce Evangeline to Holden in hopes of making a good match.

Holden is eager to find Suzanna and continue what they started but he is led on a chase by the neighbors, Sue’s cousins. He meets Sue and is drawn in by her humor and her apparent refusal to fall under his charms. Although he continues to search for Suzanna he begins to enjoy his encounters with Sue until one day he uncovers her secret. He isn’t happy with her keeping secrets but then he has even bigger secrets of his own.

There are mixed messages between the two that frustrate their attraction. Sue is about to capitulate to Holden’s advances when she realizes he is not offering marriage. Holden wants Sue but he doesn’t think he can offer marriage because of the secrets he is hiding. He is all set to leave town again when his past comes back to put Sue in danger. Can he save her and make her trust him for a future?

Sue and Holden are fun characters with great rapport. I was a little annoyed by the game playing and mixed messages but I had to keep in mind the setting. There was sensuality without graphic sex. This was an easy read and all in all fun entertainment.

I received this book for review from Sourcebooks.

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 comment on the review, OR

 visit the author's website and tell me something you like/learned there.

* This contest is open to U.S. address only for print.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 28, 2014.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after March 28, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway March 21, 2014

[** If you are new to Friday Pick Giveaway - Welcome!  Scroll down a bit (below book group #19) for instructions on how to enter.]

This week was a little rough. Everyone around me was fighting colds or bugs and I was apparently fighting a low grade fever. My assistant was out sick on Monday. I just kept plugging through work. Didn't go to the office today after treatment though as the other secretary in the office was still coughing, sneezing and blowing her nose. I don't need to get near that!


More details at My Cancer Journey. 

[UPDATED NOTE - US entrants I prefer, please, that you pick a book as that is the first purpose of this giveaway - to find new homes for books. The GCs are for the international entrants because postage has jumped up.]

Thank you to all who entered the March 14 Pick. There was one Automatic win this week.  (Automatic winners are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks). There were three blocked titles, one won.
Anita gets Silver Feather

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from March 14 Pick:
CarolL gets Tides of Passion

Booklady gets Unbound Anthology (through a block)

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, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

This may be true but I think it is time for Winter to end - March 21, right?!

New Book Group #46 March 15, 2014

PAIRS:
   Virginia Henley - Notorious and Insatiable
   Debbie Macomber - Navy Woman and This Matter of Marriage
SINGLES:
The Diamonds of Wellbourne Manor Anthology by Diane Gaston plus
Heart of Darkness Anthology by Gena Showalter plus
Unbound Anthology by Kim Harrison plus
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain
Penhollow by Georgette Heyer
Dangerous Passions by Kat Martin
The Last Heiress by Bertrice Small (spine creases)
If She Only Knew by Lisa Jackson (spine creases)
Liar's Market by Taylor Smith
The Horseman's Secret by Jeannie Watt
Lakeside Cottage by Susan Wiggs
Strong Arms of the Law by Vicki Kennedy


New Book Group #45 January 31, 2014

PAIRS:
   Deborah Cooke: Winter Kiss and Kiss of Fate
   Fern Michaels:  Hey Good Looking and Charming Lily
SINGLES:
Swimming Without a Net by Mary Jane Davidson
Exit Strategies by Catherine Todd
Provocative in Pearls by Madeline Hunter
The Reckoning by Beverly Lewis
Out of Darkness by Lynn Erickson
Lord Braybrook's Penniless Bride by Elizabeth Rolls
Contract Dad by Helen Shelton
Sandhill Dreams by Cara Putman
Hearts Are Wild by Laura Wright
Dare Me Anthology, Cherry Adair, Jill Shalvis and Julie Elizabeth Leto
All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins
A Writer's Dream & A Cowboy's Heart by Vickie Kennedy


New Book Group #44 December 14, 2013

PAIRS: gone
SINGLES:
Renegade Heart by Madeline Baker
Every Whispered Word by Karyn Monk
Tides of Passion by Tracy Sumner

New Book Group! #43 November 1, 2013

Pairs gone
SINGLES:
Father for Keeps by Ana Seymour
Crimson Rain by Meg O’Brien

New Book Group #42 September 27, 2013 (All gone)

Singles:
Silver Feather by Cassie Edwards (pictured and in box but missed the listing.)
Something Extra by Janet Dailey

New Book Group #41 August 2, 2013

Singles:
The Nightingale's Song by Jo-Ann Power
Cattle Rancher, Secret Son by Margaret Way
White Heather by Jaclyn Reding

New Book Group #40 June 28, 2013

Pairs:
      (Angels) Not Quite An Angel by Bobby Hutchinson and An Angel for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
Singles:
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)

New Book Group #39 May 31, 2013 - Plenty of "summer" titles!
Singles:
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford

New Book Group #38 April 20, 2013
Awaken the Senses by Nalini Singh

New Book Group #37 March 22, 2013
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.

New Book Group #36 February 15, 2013

The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe

New Book Group #35 January 11, 2013 (All gone)

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

New Book Group #33 October 27, 2012---(All gone)

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

New Book Group #31 August 31, 2012
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)

New Book Group #30 July 27, 2012
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)

New Book Group #29 June 29, 2012
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology

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
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser

New Group #22 Pick Books September 2, 2011---(All gone)

New Group #21 of Pick Books July 29, 2011---(All gone)

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

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 on November 27, 2009 and in four years I have posted 43 groups of 16 (688) books to find new homes! (as of November 2013).

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 642+ 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 $7.00 and $6.00 $10.00 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
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)

Group #12---(All gone)

Group #11
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

List #1
Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo

Pick #2---(All gone)

Pick #3---(All gone)

Pick #4---(All gone)

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

Pick #8
The Jury by Steve Martini - Audio Tapes
No Safe Place by Richard North Patterson - Audio Tapes

Pick #9
On Treacherous Ground by Earl Murray

Pick #10---(All Gone)

Book Review: The Long Road: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series) by G. Michael Hopf

The post apocalyptic dangers continue in this sequel.
The Long Road: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series)
by G. Michael Hopf

File Size: 2637 KB

• Print Length: 344 pages
• Publisher: Plume (October 30, 2013)
• Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC
• ASIN: B00GAHEWJ2

Genre: Post Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: October 30, 2013
The End was just the beginning of the new world…
Only six weeks have passed since a super-EMP attack devastated the United States, but already, life has changed dramatically. Most of America has become a wasteland filled with starving bands of people, mobs and gangs. Millions are dead and millions more are suffering, with no end in sight.
For Gordon, Samantha, Sebastian, Cruz and Barone, the turmoil and chaos they dealt with in the early weeks after the attack will seem trivial in comparison to the collapse of society that plays out before their eyes. Uncertainty abounds as they all travel different paths in search of a safe place to call home. The only thing that is definite is that The Long Road will take its toll on all of them.

Review:
This is book two in the series with Haley continuing her interview to describe events that pick up six weeks later. An additional side-story is added to the three groups from book one. A gang known as the Villista was introduced in book one as a cutthroat group from a Mexican drug cartel that was terrorizing San Diego. The local leader, Pablo Juarez, tries to convince his father to change from drugs to a broader mission to become a powerful political force against the broken down Americans.

Gordon and his family have set off in a small convoy of families traveling to his property in Idaho to establish a survival community. After escaping one attack along the road, Gordon insists on reconnoitering a near by military base. Only one man accompanies Gordon go but Gordon's eight year old son Hunter sneaks along. They are captured by a crazed religious cult that is holding strangers as slave labor. Samantha is insistent on remaining to search for her disappeared husband and son, and their friend.

Sebastian has parted ways from the Marines as he tries to get to Gordon. He gets injured and is rescued by a group of Seventh Day Adventist group where a lovely young woman nurses him back to health. He makes it to Gordon’s community to discover Gordon gone and most of the neighborhood massacred by the Villistas. They recover two young teens, one bitter and angry and the other milder but still suffering from shock. This group is set to travel to Zion, a Holy Land in Missouri.

Barone has set off to commander parts of Oregon, starting in Salem, as his new base to take control for his Marines. He explains that he feels his actions are justified because their sworn duty is to their country -the people- not the corrupt government that has left the best interests of the citizens.

President Conner went with the first convoy to set up the new government base in Portland Oregon. His convoy is attacked and he has disappeared. Vice President Cruz now has to take up the decisions on how to move the reduced government resources as well as dealing with the global enmity resulting from Conner’s numerous nuclear strikes against the Mideastern countries he held responsible for the terrorist attacks against America.

Again this book was full of action, danger and tension and I liked following the different group activities. Some motives are provided for characters like Baron, but not others, like Cruz. Gordon continues to show as a stubborn, flawed character even taking unreasonable action that leaves part of his family unprotected when that was part of his primary purpose. I still found the story engaging and am interested in reading book three when it releases in May.

I'm glad I received this title too through NetGalley so I could continue the adventure.

Book Review: The End: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series) by G. Michael Hopf

An engaging, action packed addition to the post apocalyptic genre.

The End: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series)
by G. Michael Hopf

• File Size: 1901 KB
• Print Length: 408 pages
• Publisher: Plume (October 30, 2013)
• Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC
ASIN: B00GAH3SW4

Genre: Post Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: October 30, 2013
What would you do to survive?
Young Gordon Van Zandt valued duty and loyalty to country above all, so after 9/11, he dropped out of college and joined the Marine Corps. This idealism vanished one fateful day in a war-torn city in Iraq. Ten years later, he is still struggling with the ghosts of his past when a new reality is thrust upon him and his family: North America, Europe and the Far East have all suffered a devastating Super-EMP attack, which causes catastrophic damage to the nation’s power grid and essential infrastructures. Everything from cell phones to cars to computers cease to function, putting society at a standstill.
With civilization in chaos, Gordon must fight for the limited and fast dwindling resources. He knows survival requires action and cooperation with his neighbors, but as the days wear on, so does all sense of civility within his community—and so he must make some of the most difficult decisions of his life in order to ensure his family’s safety.

Review:
Gordon Van Zandt loved his country and served proudly as a Marine in Iraq until an unfortunate incident caused him to be attacked by the press and some political powers as being too zealous. They never followed up to announce when his actions were determined justified. Gordon left the service with a pretty harsh attitude towards terrorists, the media and his own government.

The US has been experiencing terrorist attacks on home soil and when power goes out in his own neighborhood, halting everything electrical, Gordon is quick to recognize this is more than a short-term black out. He immediately begins to forage for water, food, weapons and other survival supplies and allies to protect his family and other like-minded families. Some of the leaders in his community believe he is overreacting and take an opposing stance, dividing the neighbors. Gordon will do whatever is required to protect his wife, Samantha, their seven year old son, Hunter, and five year old daughter, Haley. It is not always pretty or 'civil' in a society without authority to keep order.

The story also shares views from two other groups as they cope with the chaos. Gordon’s brother, Sebastian, is a Marine sniper whose troop is pulled out of Afghanistan. They have been directed to Washington, DC to clean up after a nuclear bomb wiped out the capitol and most of the government’s political leaders. Several of the troops grumble about going on a wasted mission when they are worried about their own families. Their commander, Lieutenant Colonel Barone, decides they are right and he goes rogue with his troops and ships to head for their home base in California.

The Speaker of the House, Brad Conner, was away in Oklahoma City to see his son in the hospital. He steals an old truck, collects his aide and body guards and heads to Tinker Air Force base. There he discovers he is to be sworn in as the new President. He must assume the responsibilities of confronting the enemies who have wrought destruction as well as figuring out how to deal with a nation of people who have been dependent on government leadership, as they sink quickly into a brutal lack of civility as they seek to survive.

The story starts in the year 2066 in the Republic of Cascadia where a news journalist is interviewing Haley. The author then shares the events that occurred fifty-two years before, alternating between the three primary character settings, Gordon and his family, Sebastian as the ships travel home, and Brad Conner as he begins to deal with leadership issues. I really liked the three varying perspectives and I was impressed how the author portrays real examples of chaos such as the breakdown of government authority and control, hospital power failure, the lack of medicines for patients at home, the lack of general preparedness to survive when there are limited resources and no help coming.

There was some very rough language which was consistent with some of the situations. At times Gordon displays a terrible temper but I could see that (not excuse it) with his intensity and the extreme tensions surrounding him. It made his character 'humanly flawed'.

The story is written with good action, tension and pacing that kept me engaged waiting to learn what happens next. I was so engrossed that I was surprised when I hit the ending and knew I would want the next book right away. I recommend this to those who like action stories and especially to fans of the post-apocalyptic genre.

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

An understated thought from Gordon:

He quickly thought to himself about how as a society we all had become dependent and interdependent on our system and the comforts of having easily available electricity. Location 701.

I received this title through NetGalley.

Book Review: The Memory of Sky: A Great Ship Trilogy by Robert Reed

This author has an amazing imagination.
The Memory of Sky: A Great Ship Trilogy
by Robert Reed

• File Size: 1003 KB
• Print Length: 624 pages
• Publisher: Prime Books (February 4, 2014)
• ASIN: B00I9IRLSE

Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: 4.0 of 4.0

Book Description
Publication Date: February 4, 2014
Diamond is an odd little boy, a seemingly fragile child—who proves to be anything but. An epic story begins when he steps into the world his parents have so carefully kept him from, a world where gigantic trees each house thousands of humans and another human species, the papio, rule its far edges. Does Diamond hold the promise to remake one species and, perhaps, change all of the Creation?

Review:
Diamond has lived sheltered by his parents who have been afraid that he was ill and fragile and would die if exposed to the world outside their tree home. So Diamond has stayed in his small room with his bear, Mister Mister, and his army of soldiers, whom he knows by name and action. His father, Merit, is a hunter who is famed for bringing down the giant Coronas, whose body parts have many uses. One day, while Merit is away hunting, Diamond wakes up to discover his mother is missing. He ventures out to the other rooms in the house only to find a thieving orange monkey who becomes a friend by the name Good. Finally Diamond wanders outside to see Marduk, his tree home, for the first time. He meets a neighborhood girl, Elata, who sets out to help find his parents. Along the way they run into another neighborhood boy, Seldom, who is a solemn brilliant young student. Diamond had met Seldom’s psychopathic older brother, Karlan, who once stabbed Diamond to see what would happen. Seldom and Elata take Diamond to their school to meet their bizarre but knowledgeable friend, Master Nissim.

Diamond goes from one adventure to another - after all, the whole world is new to him. But it is a scary journey for his friends and becomes scarier as unknown authorities try to capture Diamond. He learns that he has a ‘brother’ whom some consider monstrous. As the story develops there are also two other siblings although none of them are alike except for the unique fact that they seem to be indestructible.

The world building in this story is marvelously complex though hard to imagine. Diamond thinks the sky and sun are up but when he is traveling out in the world he learns that they are down and the roots of the trees are up. The tree people have an uneasy relationship with their enemies, the Papio, who live beyond the trees at the edge of the coral reef. That is where the Coronas surface and are hunted. These are all fascinating creatures and the story is imaginatively unique. There is wonder in the adventure and heartbreaking sorrow in consequences of hasty, vengeful action.

The story had me pondering life, the purpose of day to day efforts, the cost of revenge and the terrible waste of war. I loved how the four siblings came from a point of enemies to helping each other to save the world. All of this was wonderful until the very end. It’s as though the author couldn’t quite figure out how to resolve the story so instead it has a nebulous, disappointing ending. Maybe the ending would mean something more to another reader. Still - this is a great world. I loved Diamond, his family and friends and it was a grand adventure with many surprises.

I selected this for review through NetGalley.