Sunday Words of Encouragement April 27, 2014

Pastor’s sermon today was an exhortation to boldness and action. If we truly believe then we are standing on the rock and we do not have to fear. It is not a time to be wishy-washy but a time to stand firm. God is sounding a wake up call as end times draw closer. He did not call us to a life of comfort, but we are expected to use whatever gifts we have to share God’s message of love. (Matthew 28:18-20 - the great commission to reach the world).

We need to recognize that a ‘normal’ Christian life should be a supernatural one - not a worldly one. Pastor believes that our church is experiencing a move from God if we will respond. God is going to heal and chains will be broken. God is anointing us with boldness and supernatural power. Our Bible reading is producing more fruit as He prepares us to live in the supernatural; preparing us to be victorious. Proverbs 20:31 .

People hunger and thirst and we need to be showing them love and testifying to God’s gift of grace. We need to move beyond complacency.  We need to stand, be bold and move in the authority of God. We can soar, like an eagle, in the power of the Spirit because we move in God’s authority.

As I was looking up some of today’s verses I came upon a Bible study online  based on Joshua that fits this message- Preparing for Victory.

Sometimes I go right to the song I want for Sunday. 

Today's was Victor's Crown but I posted that in March so I decided to see what else 'fit'.

I spent over two hours listening to some wonderful Christian music.

This is the song I found that I thought fit for today. I hope you enjoy.

Verses for Today:
1 Corinthians 15:56-58
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Lord I pray that you continue to prepare me and give me boldness to share your message.

April Winners: Tall Dark & Fangsome, Unwilling Warrior, You're Not Safe, Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza and Hard to Handle

CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNERS FROM APRIL GIVEAWAYS:

Giveaway Ended April 4, 2014
Giveaway: Tall, Dark & Fangsome (Immortality Bites) by Michelle Rowen. 
WINNER: KMICHELLEC87

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


Giveaway Ended April 14, 2014

Giveaway: Unwilling Warrior by Andrea Boeshaar;
WINNER: BOOKLADY

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


Giveaway Ended April 18, 2014

Giveaway: You're Not Safe (Texas Rangers) by Mary Burton
WINNER: CYNDI F

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


Giveaway Ended April 24, 2014

4th Annual Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop April 17th to 24th

WINNERS: Entry #69 elaing8 and Entry #5 Karen H.

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


Giveaway Ended April 25, 2014

Giveaway: Hard to Handle (Love in the Balance) by Jessica Lemmon
WINNER: LINDA K

ALL WINNERS - Please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form AND if you want you can email me at mesreads AT gmail.com to confirm the win and I will arrange the mailing or notify the publishers.
[I ask that all winner's fill in the form as it helps me keep track of when I have completed the mail outs or notice to the publishers rather than tracking individual emails. But of course -- feel free to email me too! :-)]

Sharing Beyond Books #148 Comment Giveaway April 26, 2014

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

Only three people, miki, Alyn and Faith Hope CherryTea (FHCT), remember dreaming of books. Miki dreams as secondary characters, Alyn cannot remember which and FHCT dreams from the Bible.  Some of us would like to dream about books we read and some figure they wouldn't remember once they woke up anyway. :-)  I agree with Ricki that sometimes I dream (or daydream) of scenes that could be in a book.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #147 comments is: #10 Marjorie 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 (new) WINNER FORM.

WEEK #148 (One Question.)

Q1. Lisa C asks: Would you DNF a book for historical inaccuracies or gaps in worldbuilding, or might the characters and plot keep you reading??

A:  I cannot think of a book I DNF due to errors. I know I have recognized historical inaccuracies but I can't think of too many gaps in worldbuilding. So I would keep reading those. It does put me off the book though when there are obvious character errors. That stopped me from reading a particular author even though I realize it is the fault of bad proofing. Still, I think the author should catch that on a galley proof.

Image found at Turbocharger writing guide.

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 still have a supply of questions but from the same people so hopefully others will send more in -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use. 
April questions were submitted by bn100,Becky, Liss and Lisa C. Random pick is #4 so Lisa C gets a book choice.

Your turn to share:

Q1. Lisa C asks: Would you DNF a book for historical inaccuracies or gaps in worldbuilding, or might the characters and plot keep you reading??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books, the Christmas Giveaway Books (this is the new link), or the June 2013 Newly Updated ARC/Review List.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on either of the two 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 through Saturday May 3, 2014 at 5 PM  central.

Book Review and Giveaway: The Seducer by Madeline Hunter

This shares a romance leading to redemption of a dark hero.

The Seducer
by Madeline Hunter

• Series: Get Connected Romances
• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; Reprint edition (September 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553585894

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

Book Description
Publication Date: September 30, 2003
THE SEDUCER
From the moment he arrived to rescue her, Diane Albret saw more in the darkly handsome, charismatic gentleman than just a guardian. Over the years that have passed since she first laid eyes on Daniel St. John, he had become, quite simply, the most dangerously irresistible man she could ever have imagined. Diane herself has changed from a bewildered schoolgirl, tragically orphaned, into a determined young woman of alluring charm and beauty. Now, leaving the cloistered life of her school, she has been brought to Daniel’s home with dreams of her own amid rumors and hints of scandal. But the legendary seducer seems to have other plans for Diane—and he possesses a secret about her lost past that he will do everything to keep: a secret that will put both their lives in jeopardy, even as the passion they have denied for so long threatens to break out of all control.

Review:
Diane Albret, raised in a girls’ home since a toddler, doesn’t really remember her past. However she obsesses on finding a family connection to ease her sense of being alone. Now Diane is grown and facing trouble from one of the staff. Her guardian, Daniel St. John, whom she knows as “the Devil Man” who visits once a year, is called in. Diane is more clever and observant than they realize. She recognizes a danger in St. John but she also sees more - and a way out. She weighs the consequences of remaining in the home or going with St. John where she plans to seek a governess position while seeking her ancestors.

St. John, although handsome and sophisticated, is primarily a harsh-visaged, curt man. When he sees that Diane had grown to be a fetching, innocent beauty he realizes that he can use her in a plan of revenge. He takes her home where Diane is relieved to discover his crippled sister, Jeanette, who will serve as a chaperone and mentor to Diane.

St. John and Jeanette won’t let Diane pursue her goals of finding a suitable position. Diane tries to resist being drawn into the setting of luxury and comfort as she suspects there will be a price to pay. Slowly friendship, affection and attraction pull her in. Jeanette senses St. John’s plans and argues with him not to allow any harm to Diane. St. John assures that he plans to protect her but soon that sense of protection begins to interfere with his plans of revenge.

St. John, as a dark man obsessed with his plans of revenge, is not an easy character to like. Fortunately Diane’s willingness to look for the good in others manages to pull St. John into a more likable person..
St. John's and Jeanette's secrets are not shared until well into the book when the twisted connections of enemies and pawns are slowly revealed. This gives understanding to the darkness that covers St. John and the sorrow that surrounds Jeanette.

I found the story hard to get into because of St. John’s dark character. I was also disappointed at Diane’s volatile personality - acute observation at times and cluelessness at others. Yet, as the story progressed and the depth of the treacheries was revealed, I found myself satisfied with the development of the romance. There is danger and sensual passion that seep through the story. There were times when more than one character could be considered ‘the seducer.’ I recommend this to readers who enjoy regency romance and who are willing to push past a dark beginning.

I have had this series on my TBR shelf for some time.

The Seducer series consists of seven books, all set in early 19th-century Great Britain. Their order is: 
THE SEDUCER
THE SAINT
THE CHARMER
THE SINNER
THE ROMANTIC
LORD OF SIN and LADY OF SIN which are spin-offs of the series. They are not as closely tied to the others. However, they take place in the same world, and characters from the series appear in them.

The next book in the ‘connected romances’ deals with a man who is a lighter, more charming character and I am looking forward to reading that down the road. I really enjoyed this author's Medieval romances which I read before I started blogging.

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for my Print 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 May  4, 2014.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after May 4, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway April 25, 2014

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

Office time has been busy for me - a few mornings traveling for court. Our weather is beginning to warm up and today was gorgeous.  Time is moving fast and spring is hopping away. 
I have a new book group list picture up but the list will have to wait till Saturday morning.


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 April 18 Pick. There were  two Automatic wins again 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 was one title blocked with multiple picks.

Anita gets the Renegade Hearts
CarolM gets Liar's Market

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from April 18 Pick:
Mary P gets a GC

Faith Hope CherryTea gets a GC

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.}

I hope your books are blooming!

Image found at Moments of Pleasure.

New Book Group #47 April 25, 2014

I have the new picture but I am too tired to list titles. If you can enlarge the pic, you can name a title. OR wait until Saturday and I will list them.


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 653+ 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 

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---(All gone)
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)