Winners: The Seducer and After Dark: Ghost Hunters

CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNERS:

Giveaway Ended May 6, 2014 
(These contest entrants were particularly observant as I failed to title the post as including a giveaway.)

Giveaway: After Dark: Ghost Hunters, Book 1 by Jayne Castle
WINNER: BOOKLADY

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

Giveaway Ended May 5, 2014

Giveaway: The Seducer by Madeline Hunter
WINNER: ERIN F

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

BOOKLADY and ERIN - 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! :-)]

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway May 23, 2014

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

I am still getting the email subscription for my blog okay but I think it is still not working properly. Maybe this weekend I can research it more. 
I hope to get my new computer and router switch set up tomorrow at work - then I'll be busy transferring files. It's been another busy week at work and home. Sad to see my son and his family fly off on Wednesday to start their new life in Maryland. Now we can start to plan a visit since all treatment will be done in another two weeks!


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 May 16 Pick. There were three Automatic wins 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 two blocked titles with multiple picks, and one was won.
Paranormal and Romantic Suspense gets Illegal Possession
Rita gets Dangerous Passions
and
Anita gets Every Whispered Word

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from May 16 Pick:
Rubynreba gets the Catherine Anderson Pair

Sue F gets Sirius About Murder (won through the 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.}

These flower books are also lovely.

Image found at Dartmouth.edu.

New Book Group #47 April 25, 2014

PAIRS:
Catherine Palmer: Prairie Rose and A Whisper of Danger
Stephanie Laurens: A Lady of His Own (spine creases) and Impetuous Innocent
SINGLES:
Hawken's Heart by Suzanne Brockman
The Mystery Man of Whitehorse by B.J. Daniels
Trey's Secret by Lois Faye Dayer
Midnight Reign by Chris Marie Green
Illegal Possession by Kay Hooper
When the Duke Returns by Eloisa James
Once Upon a Moon by Julie Kistler
The MacGregor Grooms by Nora Roberts
Sirius About Murder by Sue Owens Wright
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty byVickie Kennedy
The Stepmother by Carrie Adams (hardback) 


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 ---(All gone)

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 657+ 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)

Book Review: Thunder Mountain by Dean Wesley Smith

This was a surprising, easy time travel with some great western history.

Thunder Mountain
by Dean Wesley Smith

• File Size: 367 KB
• Print Length: 195 pages
• Publisher: WMG Publishing, Inc. (January 16, 2014)
• ASIN: B00HWMCTW6

Genre: Time Travel
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Offered a free trip into a remote Idaho wilderness that she loves and studies, Professor Dawn Edwards can’t refuse. On the trip she meets Professor Madison Rogers, and they fall for each other before they even reach their destination.

But living in the Old West proves to be a brutal task. Somehow, Dawn must survive to rescue herself, her friends, and the man she loves.

A science fiction novel of the old west and true love.

Review:
Professor Dawn Edwards is beautiful and smart but her time is dedicated to her love of studying people as they lived in history. She made a summer visit hiking into a remote location in Thunder Mountain, Idaho, where she was fascinated by the ghost town cemetery. She is working on her next book about the area in the early 1900s. Two fellow historians, Bonnie and Duster, invite her to join them on another trip to Silver City and then to Thunder Mountain. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to return for another look. She is surprised to learn that another history professor, Professor Madison Rogers, is joining them.

Madison is as handsome as they come, but he has spent his time studying mining history. He is beginning to think there might be more but he hasn’t taken time to find more. He is glad to join his friends on a trip to study two historic mining towns.

Dawn and Madison are immediately smitten with each other. Not only do they have the joy of going on an historical expedition but they are pleased to be together. They are in for another wonderful surprise when Bonnie and Duster show them to a cave that serves as a station to time travel. The four travel back to the early 1900s so they get to study history up front and personal. As exciting as it is they discover that living in the past is much harder than they had imagined.

The romance between Dawn and Madison is warm and primarily private. The time travel is creative and the history detail is rich and engaging. This story and reading pace moves along quickly. This is an entertaining story and I recommend it to readers who enjoy a fun time travel to the old west with romantic element.

I received this title for review through StoryBundle.

Book Review: Blind Man's Bluff (Stone Gap Mountain) by Kay Stockham

This engaging story of blindness is more than just a romance.
Blind Man's Bluff (Stone Gap Mountain)
by Kay Stockham

• File Size: 705 KB
• Print Length: 357 pages
• Publisher: Kindred Spirits Publishing (September 21, 2012)
• ASIN: B009F73G2S

Genre: Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: September 21, 2012
Can you love someone and still be free?
Emma Wyatt agrees to tutor a recently blinded, embittered soldier because of the $50,000 paycheck his brother offers. Blind herself, Emma dreams of independence and freedom. She wants to own a large kennel and live away from her overprotective family. But when she's attracted to her student, she fears falling for him means giving up her dreams.

Can you protect someone when you cannot see?
Good soldiers show no weakness. Ian MacGregor holds his battle with claustrophobia close to his chest, unsuccessfully trying to cope on his own. He’s lost in the dark and struggling to accept his fate. Ian knows duty, honor, serving his country. But his desire for Emma is overshadowed by the danger lurking around them. Emma would be better off with someone else. Someone sighted.
Someone able to protect her from the person determined to keep them apart.

BLIND MAN'S BLUFF is the first full-length novel in the Stone Gap Mountain Series. Be sure to check out SECRETS OF A SUMMER NIGHT, a Stone Gap Mountain Novella, for the first look at this exciting new contemporary series.

Review:
Ian MacGregor was a soldier dedicated to protection. When he loses his sight during a rescue he becomes bitter and tries to drown himself in booze. His brother, Duncan, who owns a successful security firm, and several of Ian’s friends are trying to help Ian come to terms with his disability.

Emma was blinded at age fourteen. After a few months struggling in rehabilitation Emma took charge of her life and learned to be the best blind person she could be. Fourteen years later she is living successfully, working as a bartender in her father’s bar, while kenneling and caring for a handful of dogs. She is trying to save money to set up a dog kennel and become independent, which is her dream.

Duncan asks Emma’s uncle, a psychiatrist, and close family friend, to talk to Ian. The doctor recommends that Duncan hire Emma to help Ian. Initially reluctant, Duncan changes his mind after watching Emma in action and realizing that she has experienced all that Ian has to face and learn.

Emma takes the job even though Ian tries to scare her off with sexual advances. Emma and her dogs move onto Ian’s property after a fire destroys her home. This puts them in continual proximity that feeds the attraction between them. Ian isn’t ready for help and Emma has to take a strong stand, telling the other men in the house to stop waiting on and enabling Ian. Emma challenges Ian and finds creative ways to show him he can relearn activities as a blind person. She also finds a way to help him face his private nightmare of claustrophobia.

As Ian begins to gain confidence there are unexplained disruptions in Emma’s routines. Duncan and Ian begin to suspect a young man whom Emma has agreed to help. The men seek to protect Emma as they try to locate the teen when he goes missing.

I enjoyed the strong pacing of the story, the well developed characters, the underlying suspense and the plot surprises. Focusing on the difficulties of coping with blindness is an interesting plot bonus and dogs always add a bit of interest.  There is good conflict and tension between these strong characters as they face fears and insecurities. I liked that the there is plenty of action and story to enjoy in addition to the solid romance. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a romance presented in a strong, engaging story. I would enjoy reading more books in this series and by this author.

I received this book for review through StoryBundle.

Mailbox Monday May 19, 2014

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.
Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs.  This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday.
Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach.
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I resisted selecting any new review books this week.
I picked up two free audios and many free ebooks.

(I still have many author requests to consider and reply to.)

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

None

Won

None

Purchased

None

Free

I downloaded the first set of SYNC YA Audios-


WARP: The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer


The Time Machine by H.G. Wells


Plus I downloaded another 66 or so free Kindle titles. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today,  Free Par-tay, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.