Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Sharing Beyond Books #156 Comment Giveaway June 21, 2014

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
We spent a good part of today with the grandkids - pancake breakfast, fun in the pool and hamburger lunch.
Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

There were eight commenters who do not use apps, either because they have no smartphone or tablet or don't use them. Five of the other seven commenters use basic, known, apps like Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter while others mentioned particular apps..

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The Winner from SBB #155 comments is: #14 Rita 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 #156 (One Question.)

Q1. bn100 asks: If you could grow anything in your garden, what would you grow??

A: I like this question. We are enjoying corn, tomatoes, green peppers, brussel sprouts and lettuce from our garden. I hope we will get some strawberries too. What didn't grow, that I would like, is asparagus.

Image found at One Hundred Dollars a Month.

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.

Your turn to share:

Q1. bn100 asks: If you could grow anything in your garden, what would you grow?

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 June 28, 2014 at 5 PM central.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Audio Book Review: The Thirteenth Rose Charlie D. Mysteries, Book 4 by Gail Bowen

This is another quick, enjoyable mystery with Charlie D's special, gentle kindness.

The Thirteenth Rose
Charlie D. Mysteries, Book 4
by Gail Bowen

Audio Book Length:  1 Hr 24 Min
# of Audio CD's:  2
# of MP3 CD's:  1
Audio CD ISBN:  978-1-927401-95-8
Genre: Mystery
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

For his Valentine's night call-in show, host Charlie D plans to offer his listeners two hours on the topic of "satisfaction." His in-studio guest is twenty-five-year-old Misty de Vol Burgh, formerly the highest-paid escort in the city but now happily married to eighty-three-year-old billionaire Henry Burgh. It's all good fun until Charlie receives a chilling message: "It's take-out-the-garbage night. Time to kill all the hookers and wash the streets with blood." When Charlie is directed to a website that allows viewers to watch the murder of a prostitute in real time and promises that another killing will be broadcast live within the hour, the hunt is on. But The World According to Charlie D. has an audience of over a million listeners. The murderer could be anyone, anywhere. Charlie and his team have less than two hours to find and stop the killer.

Review:
This is book four in the Charlie D mystery series. There is a brief recap introduction of Charlie to readers who are new to the series. Host Charlie D has a knack for listening and helping lonely people who call in to share on his late night radio talk show. His special guest for Valentines’ day is his ‘new’ boss, Misty de Vol Burgh who has unique qualifications. Misty is a mid-twenties former high-paid escort who married eighty-three-year-old billionaire Henry Burgh who bought the station as a gift for her.

While Charlie and Misty prepare to answer questions about love on the show, the station production manager, Nova, is becoming alarmed by threats to ‘women of the night’. The threat heats up when a video of a call girl being brutally murdered goes viral on the internet durint the show. There is a threat that another murder will take place by midnight and it is feared that violence is waiting outside to attack Misty when she leaves the studio.

Apparently another show host is a very outspoken and hostile man who has been riling up a group of chauvinist/purists who are condemning women who make their living through sexual relationships. The police try to trace a connection while Misty demands the man return to the studio to try to defuse the situation. What can Charlie and Misty due to prevent another murder?

These ‘rapid reads’ are enjoyable, short listens. They have a mystery that addresses current, everyday issues. The author shares philosophy and goodness through Charlie's wise, kind words along with real emotions of sadness and friendship. If you have ever enjoyed talk show radio, or enjoy mysteries with a gentle philosphical message, I encourage you to treat yourself to these quick listens.

Audio Notes: Once again narrator Daniel Maté makes this ‘rapid read’ an easy listen. He manages to express the essence of Charlie as well as portraying the other characters through the voice inflections. The narration adds to my enjoyment of the series.

I received this audio book from Post Hypnotic Press for an honest review.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway June 20, 2014

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

Whew - tonight snuck up on me and I am pretty tired as I prepare this. I keep plugging away at my neverending work.
I did get to relax by the pool with DH as he cooked dinner last Saturday. Bar-B-Que time.

[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 June 13 Pick. Again, there were no 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 was one title blocked with multiple picks.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from June 13 Pick:
Carol NW gets After Dark tapes

Anj 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.}

Continuing AudioBook Month. Do you read with your ears?!

Image found at Mojano.com

New Book Group #48 May 30, 2014

PAIRS:
Karen Haper: Black Orchid (spine creases) and Shaker Run
Elizabeth Lowell: Fever and The Color of Death
SINGLES:
~~After Dark by Phillip Margolin Audio Tapes~~
Dangerous by Debra Dier
First to Fight Anthology
Full Bloom by Jayne Ann Krentz
Mesmerized by Gayle Lynds
On the Edge by Susan Kearney
Safe by His Side by Linda Conrad
Son of the Sword by J. Ardian Lee
Spring Fancy by LaVyrle Spenser
Tangled Lives by Margot Dalton
Trial by Fire by Jo Davis
Underfoot by Leanne Banks

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:
Trey's Secret by Lois Faye Dayer
Midnight Reign by Chris Marie Green
Once Upon a Moon by Julie Kistler
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty byVickie Kennedy

New Book Group #46 March 15, 2014

PAIRS:
~~Virginia Henley - Notorious and Insatiable~~
~~Debbie Macomber - Navy Woman and This Matter of Marriage~~
SINGLES:
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain
Penhollow by Georgette Heyer
The Last Heiress by Bertrice Small (spine creases)
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:
Out of Darkness by Lynn Erickson
Lord Braybrook's Penniless Bride by Elizabeth Rolls
Contract Dad by Helen Shelton
Hearts Are Wild by Laura Wright

New Book Group #44 December 14, 2013---(All gone)

New Book Group! #43 November 1, 2013 ---(All gone)

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

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

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

New Book Group #29 June 29, 2012
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---(All gone)

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 672+ 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)

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)

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Audio Book Review: I've Got You Under My Skin by Mary Higgins Clark

This is basic reading/listening entertainment.
I've Got You Under My Skin
by Mary Higgins Clark

Audio CD: 320 pages (7 Discs)
Length: Unabridged 7 hrs and 44 mins
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio;
Unabridged edition (April 1, 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-1442367319

Genre: Mystery
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: April 1, 2014
When Laurie Moran’s husband was brutally murdered, only three-year-old Timmy saw the face of his father’s killer. Five years later his piercing blue eyes still haunt Timmy’s dreams. Laurie is haunted by more—the killer’s threat to her son as he fled the scene: “Tell your mother she’s next, then it’s your turn . . .”

Now Laurie is dealing with murder again, this time as the producer of a true-crime, cold-case television show. The series will launch with the twenty-year-old unsolved murder of Betsy Powell. Betsy, a socialite, was found suffocated in her bed after a gala celebrating the graduation of her daughter and three friends. The sensational murder was news nationwide. Reopening the case in its lavish setting and with the cooperation of the surviving guests that night, Laurie is sure to have a hit on her hands. But when the estranged friends begin filming, it becomes clear each is hiding secrets . . . small and large.

And a pair of blue eyes is watching events unfold, too . . .

Review:
Laurie Moran’s husband was murdered in broad day light while playing with their three year old son, Timmy. Timmy remembers the murderer turning to him with blue-eyed and saying “Tell your mother she’s next, then it’s your turn”. Laurie’s father, a New York Police officer, retired so that he could guard his daughter and grandson.

Five years later, Laurie, a television producer, pitches a new reality series to her boss. She proposes following up on unsolved murder cases. The first program is to feature a highly publicized case of a murder of a socialite wife, Betsy. Betsy was murdered in her bedroom the night of a gala graduation celebration for her daughter and three of her friends. A handsome, popular defense lawyer will help Laurie present the case by interviewing the staff, the graduates, the husband and a wealthy neighbor who attended the gala. Betsy’s husband, the wealthy widower, agrees to pay a significant chunck of money to each woman to participate in the program. The four women, shadowed by suspicions for twenty years, agree to return and be interviewed for the show as a way to proclaim their innocence to the public.

The story covers the lives and difficulties of the four women. Each one, including her own daughter, had a reason to hate Betsy but the motives have remained secret all these years. While a blackmailer plots to get part of the money they are to receive another man plots to murder Laurie and Timmie in a very public manner.

Over the years I have read around ten titles by Mary Higgins Clark (MHC). She has a knack for creating murder stories which build suspense around numerous suspects, secrets, twists and a romance. This story meets that mystery and romance formula. The pacing is consistent with writing that is direct and easy to follow even with multiple characters. Although I suspected who Betsy’s murderer might be the process of disclosure kept me interested. I enjoyed the suspense although I was disappointed that I could never quite match the title with the events. This is not a stunning read but it is a satisfactory one.

Audio Notes: Jan Maxwell did a basically good job with the narration. There seemed to be a slip now and then in character voices but not enough to make it difficult to follow. Because MHC books tend to follow a similar mystery formula I don’t usually pick them up in print. The narration suits the story for basic entertainment level quality. I find the audio version ‘reads’ faster and therefore I enjoy it more for that ability.

I received this audiobook from Simon & Schuster Audio through AudioBook Jukebox, for an honest review.

Monday, June 16, 2014

June Kindle Fire Giveaway June 16th to July 15th, 2014

Enter to win 1 of 2 great prizes. Winner’s choice of a Kindle Fire HDX or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 Paypal Cash!

The first prize is available via the rafflecopter below. The 2nd is available only to bloggers who post about this giveaway. You can find info on how to enter the 2nd giveaway in the rafflecopter.

Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)

All New Kindle Fire HDX 7″ Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7″ Kindle Fire HDX (US Only – $229 Value)

Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)

Ends 7/15/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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