Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway January 1, 2016

Happy Friday.
I hope everyone had a safe New Year's Eve and are enjoying a relaxing New Year's Day. 
(Was anyone else appalled by the New Year's Eve coverage last night? It is pretty sad if private body parts and sex is the best they have to talk about to open a brand new year.)
We have had rain all week and the temperatures are dropping today to the 40s.
I expect to spend the rest of today planning my reading and setting up Challenge posts for 2016 - fun stuff. :-)

TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK

US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)

CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up too late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.

Thank you to all who entered the December 25 Pick. There was only one automatic win this week. (I guess because so many have been winning this month.) Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There were no blocked titles.
AUTO: 
Sue gets A Midnight Clear

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from December 25 Pick:
Linda gets a GC

Di gets Honor's Bride

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.}

May you have wonderful opportunities and blessings in 2016!

Image found at Leeds Book Club.

New Book Group #62 November 6, 2015
(I was getting ready to leave the office and realized I hadn't taken the photo of the books yet.
I took this very quickly. I may try to get another next week but this will have to do for now.)

PAIRS
Joan Johnston – Colter’s Wife and The Rivals
Nora Roberts – Born in Ice and Carnal Innocence
SINGLES
The Wedding Night by Jane Ann Krentz
The Marriage Prize by Virginia Henley
In Shelter Cove by Barbara Freethy
Into the Valley by Rosanne Bittner
Never Look Back by Linda Lael Miller
The Sleeping Doll by Jeffery Deaver – CD Audiobook
Touch Me by Beverly Rae (personally autographed)
Driven by Desire by LuAnn McLane (personally autographed)
To Marry a British Lord by Judith Obrien
A Highlander For Christmas by Sandy Blair
A Midnight Clear by Katherine Stone (slight seam creasing)
Silver Bells by JoAnn Ross, Fern Michaels, Mary Burton, Judy Duarte


New Book Group #61 October 30, 2015
After I noticed the trend I went on a hunt for “bride” titles. I even pulled a couple from some of my long time collections(*). (But they are not getting read on my shelves.)

PAIRS:
Leigh Greenwood –  The Reluctant Bride and The Independent Bride
Jane Feather(*) – The Hostage Bride and The Accidental Bride
SINGLES:
The de Burgh Bride by Deborah Simmons
The Forever Bride by Evelyn Rogers (Seam creasing)
Short Straw Bride by Dallas Schultz
The Bride Thief by Susan Spencer Paul
Bride by Stella Cameron (Seam creasing) (*)
An Unwilling Bride by Jo Beverley (*)
Bride Enchanted by Edith Layton
The Maiden Bride by Linda Needham (hardback)
Bride of Lochbarr by Margaret Moore (*)
The Ideal Bride by Stephanie Laurens (*)
Honor’s Bride by Galye Wilson
A Necessary Bride by Debra Mullins
Border Bride by Deborah Hale


New Book Group #60 September 18, 2015
A set of "haunting" tales and a few mysteries for October!

Shannon Drake –  Realm of Shadows (Alliance Vampires#4) 
SINGLES:
Bloody Good by Georgia Evans
Cat of Nine Tales by Deborah Macgillivray
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Renegade Hunter by Lynsay Sands
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)


New Book Group #59 July 31, 2015
A few more summer titles, historicals and mysteries!

ANTHOLOGIES:
Broken Vows, Mended Hearts by Lynn Stone, Gail Ranstrom and Anne O'Brien
3,2,1 Married! by Sharon Sala, Marie Ferrarella and Beverly Barton
SINGLES:
Cruise to a Wedding by Betty Neels
Little Girl Lost by Shirlee McCoy
You Don't Know Jack by Erin McCarthy

New Book Group #58 June 26, 2015
-- A few summer titles, a few mysteries, a few historicals...

SINGLES:
Sevant, The Awakening by L.L. Foster

New Book Group #57 May 1, 2015

SINGLES:
A Little Bit Wild by Victoria Dahl
The Ruthless Greek's Virgin Princess by Trish Morey
Rally Fever by Crea Jones

New Book Group #56 March 20, 2015
(I'll try to get the rest linked another day.)

SINGLES:
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)

New Book Group #55 February 5, 2015
(I'll try to get the rest linked another day.)

SINGLES:
If I Had You by Deborah Bedford
The Man Who Ate the 747 by Ben Sherwood

New Book Group #54 December 26, 2014

SINGLES:
Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card - Tape Cassettes


BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty byVickie Kennedy
First to Fight Anthology
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Commander by Kate Bridges
The Cinderella Plan by Margaret Daley
The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook by Steve Doocy
A Garden of Friends by Penny Pierce Rose
Richard Paul Evans PAIR: The Looking Glass and The Carousel
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Sleeping with Ward Cleaver by Jenny Gardiner


BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)

Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
Cattle Rancher, Secret Son by Margaret Way
Whisper on the Wind by Joan Smith
Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark
A Lady of Consequence by Mary Nichols
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain


BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)

Thinner by Stephen King
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Dancing on Snowflakes by Jane Bonander
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- 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
Tara Taylor Quinn: Father: Unknown and McGillus v.Wright
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
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.


BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)

Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Death Angel by Linda Howard

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 almost six years I have posted 62 groups of 16 (992) books to find new homes! (as of November 6, 2015).

I am happy to say that so far about 911+ 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. 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!

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 $7.00 and $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)

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!

MBS First Book Of The Year 2016

Welcome to 2016!

And so we begin a new year of reading!

 Hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.

Pop over to see pictures of many of our fellow bloggers 

and see what each person is reading as their First book of 2016! 

I had a very hard time deciding what to read for my First Book of 2016. Soooo many choices!
I have a Ladie's Book Club title that had to be ready for 1/2.
I have 12 titles lined up on NetGalley already for 2016.
I have several challenges I wish to participate in and I have multiple audio titles to enjoy, including one that was gifted by the author and one that was received through Audiobook Jukebox.

I looked at several self-help/fiction type of books and actually purchased one at Audible.
At the beginning of the week I had narrowed my selection to the seven books below. All but The Etymoligicon I already own in one form or another and have on my TBR reading list for 2016:

1. Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles Book 1) by Marissa Meyer (ebook TBR)
2. Nation by Terry Pratchett (Audible TBR)
3. The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll Through the Hidden Connections of the English Language by Mark Forsyth
4. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge (Audio SYNC TBR)
5. Time Heist: Firstborn Saga Volume 1 by Anthony Vicino (Audible for review)
6. Buster: The Military Dog Who Saved a Thousand Lives by RAF Police Flight Sergeant Will Barrow, Isabel George (Audio for review)
7. Old Man’s War by Jack Scalzi (Audible TBR)

However, as I contemplated starting the year while buying my last titles at Audible, my mind changed.

I am planning to participate in the Vintage SciFi Not-a-Challenge event hosted by Andrea at Little Red Reviewer.

In line with that I will also use January to participate in the 

2016 Sic Fi Experience hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings.

With those January events in mind, I tossed the idea of doing something in the self-help/fiction mode and went on a hunt for Vintage Sci Fi titles to start the year with some sci fi fun. :-)

Here is what I picked up at Audible on 12/31/15 (two December credits plus $2.07.):

1. To Live Forever by Jack Vance
2. X Minus One: Protective Mimicry (October 3, 1956) by Algis Budrys, Ernest Kinoy - adaptation
3. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
4. X Minus One: Cold Equations (August 25, 1955) by Tom Godwin, George Lefferts - adaptation
5. X Minus One: Target One (December 26, 1957) by Frederik Pohl, George Lefferts - adaptation

The three X Minus One titles are vintage sci fi radio broadcast offerings under 30 minutes each so I plan to listen to all three on 1/1/2016 to get a feel for those authors who will be new to me.
Where I go after that...?? Probably the review audio: Time Heist. Then either the Jack Vance title or Old Man's War.

Here is my photo offering for FIRST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2016.
(I couldn't get a good pic of me, my Sansa Clip mp3, and the audio image on tablet so I combined them.)

I am looking forward to seeing the titles others have chosen for their First Book of The Year 2016.

The Official 2015 TBR Pile Challenge - Completed Successfully

The Official 2015 TBR Pile Challenge- COMPLETED

hosted by Roof Beam Reader

WRAP UP POST AT Roof Beam Reader.com

Goal: Specify and read 12 books that must have been on your bookshelf or “To Be Read” list for AT LEAST one full year. (All published prior to 1/1/2014.)
I made a few adjustments but finalized my list by 1/10/15.
(The links go to my review of the book as I post them.)

1. Shopping for Time: How to Do It All and NOT Be Overwhelmed Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Mahaney Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, Janelle Bradshaw September 4,2009
2. Homespun Bride Jillian Hart May 4,2009
3. Kiss of Midnight: A Midnight Breed Novel (The Midnight Breed.. Lara Adrian May 4,2009
4. Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour by Lynne Olson Audible Nov 2011
5. Awaken His Eyes: The Awakened Book One Jason Tesar May 2011
6. The New World (FREE short story) (Chaos Walking) Patrick Ness Nov 2010
7. On the Run (The Elijah Project) Bill Myers, James Riordan Nov 2010
8. The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Psalm 23 Mysteries #1 Debbie Viguie Oct 2010
Dead Reckoning Ronie Kendig Sept 2010
9. Sheltering Hearts (Virgin River) Robyn Carr Sept 2010
10. Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice Book #1): A Novel Irene Hannon April 2012
Spying in High Heels (High Heels Mysteries #1) Gemma Halliday Sept 2011

Alternates:
11. Frozen Past (A Jaxon Jennings' Detective Mystery Thriller Series, Book 1) Richard C Hale July 2012
12. Extremes: A Retrieval Artist Novel by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Audible Oct 12

Book Review: Frozen Past (A Jaxon Jennings' Detective Mystery Thriller Series, Book 1) by Richard C Hale

This fast paced thriller has a good bit of killing with intense tension.
Frozen Past (A Jaxon Jennings' Detective Mystery Thriller Series, Book 1)
by Richard C Hale

• File Size: 1523 KB
• Print Length: 328 pages
• Publisher: Three Thirty A.M. Publishing (March 5, 2012)
• ASIN: B007HETCU6

Genre: Suspense Thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Jaxon Jennings. Cop. Homicide detective. Partner. He always had your back and rarely made mistakes.
Until the death of his son. Until the night he couldn’t save him. Until everything he held dear was taken away from him.
Now, a shell of a man, his reckless actions mark him as a burn-out. A Loner. A dangerous man whom many in the Fairfax County Police Department cannot trust. The criminals he pursues in the suburbs of Washington D. C. are nothing more than ways to bide his time until his next drink, next fix, next loss of control. His past haunts him no matter how hard he tries to hide from it.
So, when a boy’s body shows up floating under the ice of a quiet neighborhood pool, Jaxon finds himself immersed in a world where the ghosts of his past feel too close for comfort. A psychopath is using the innocent in ways that appear familiar.
Jaxon’s past is catching up with him. And the anger that seethes below the surface threatens to destroy not only his life, but the lives of a group of kids somehow connected with him. The answers are locked, frozen in the part of his past he refuses to confront. But people are counting on him. And he must do anything to save them.
Anything. Even if it costs him his life.

Review:
The story starts with a child disappearing; then another. The story continues to tell the sometimes gruesome tale of a broken cop and a serial killer who goes after children and teens. Jaxon is the cop who lost his own son to a killer years ago. When a boy’s body shows up floating in a pool Jaxon begins a chase with a criminal who seems to be always one step ahead.

Luke and Ellie have been best friends since third grade. Now they are in ninth grade and their relationship is warming up. Luke hear’s a strange voice as a group plays outside. Ellie’s dog disappears until Luke stumbles upon it during a snowball fight. The pair then get creepy facebook messages from a stranger. The kids pull a prank that turns into something horrible and soon the police are regular visitors.

Jaxon is intent on stopping the killer each death crushes his spirit more. As more dead bodies are found, including beheaded animals, the FBI is called in for some input. Soon Jaxon’s ex-wife, an FBI agent is working the case with him. Things might improve between them if Jaxon doesn’t fall into a greater depression over the death of more children.

Ellie and Luke need protection when it becomes clear the killer is targeting them. Can Jaxon and the authorities, or even Luke and his teen friends, stop the killer before he gets to Ellie?

The mystery and suspense is well done even though I found the murders disturbing. The young romance is an interesting and warm element to set off a bit of the gruesomeness. The story is fast paced with writing that is easy to read. However, I wouldn't recommend this for young readers. I do recommend it to readers who like a good thriller and aren’t squeamish about serial killing.

This title was from my Kindle library, free in July, 2012. It is the final book for my 2015 TBR Pile Challenge. It is still available as a free read.

Book Review: Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice Book #1): A Novel by Irene Hannon

I really liked this great suspense and romance.

Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice Book #1): A Novel

by Irene Hannon

• File Size: 1443 KB
• Print Length: 338 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0800734564
• Publisher: Revell (January 1, 2011)
• ASIN: B004DNWG2U

Genre: Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

U.S. Marshal Jake Taylor has seen plenty of action during his years in law enforcement. But he'd rather go back to Iraq than face his next assignment: protection detail for federal judge Liz Michaels. His feelings toward the coldhearted workaholic haven't warmed in the five years since she drove her husband--and Jake's best friend--to despair . . . and possible suicide.

As the danger mounts and Jake gets to know Liz better, he's forced to revise his opinion of her. And when it becomes clear that an unknown enemy may want her dead, the stakes are raised. Because now both her life--and his heart--are in danger.

Full of suspense and romance, Fatal Judgment launches a thrilling series featuring three siblings bound by blood and a passion for justice.

Review:
U.S. Marshall Jake Taylor has spent many years in law enforcement and is used to facing enemies to protect those he is assigned to. He is returning from assignment hoping to get some rest when he is called in to protect a federal judge. Not just any judge, but Liz Michaels, the widow of his best friend. Jake has some misconceptions that create an initial antagonism toward his charge. The longer he is around her the more he sees her actions seem to indicate that his views are wrong.

Liz lost her husband five years ago. Now her sister has been shot in the Judge’s home after seeking refuge from her sometimes violent husband. The spouse is always the first suspect but the investigation looks at others too. The authorities need Liz to back track through her files to locate someone who might be seeking revenge. When the killer slips through the protective detail to get to Liz, Jake realizes he has more to lose than just a charge.

This story has good romantic tension and suspense. I really liked Jake and Liz as the primary characters and Jake’s brother and sister add to the characters. The action is steady and I appreciated the faith based discussion between the characters. The romance develops with good chemical and emotional attraction that is fine without sexual scenes.

I have been eyeing this author and am glad I finally read one of her books. I will be glad to pick up more of her romantic suspense titles when given the opportunity. I recommend this book and author to those who enjoy strong characters and clean romance.

This is from my TBR shelf - 2012. It is the next to the last title for my 2015 TBR Pile Challenge.