Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway February 19, 2016

Happy Friday!
Sorry the post is late today. I was very tired last night and never turned on the computer. I completely forgot it was Thursday night! I am not blaming the cold I am rebuking -- just a tired brain. :-)

[It is really lovely to know that online friends around the world respond to prayer requests. My nephew is doing well with his recovery and the PT is pleased. He sees the surgeon again today to remove stitches and for follow-up. We are all very glad and we thank you my friends for your prayer support. ] 

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 February 12 Pick. There were TWO automatic wins this week.  Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There were two blocked titles again.
Alyn gets the Victoria Alexander Pair
Sue gets Walking After Midnight 

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from February 12 Pick:
Rubynreba gets The Cinderella Plan 

Natalija 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.}

This image seemed appropriate for today. :-)

Image found at Skreened (no longer available).

New Book Goup #63 January 22, 2016
(I have the picture and will try to get the list up before I crash. Sorry no links right now.)

PAIRS:
Victoria Alexander: The Pursuit of Marriage (slight creasing) and When We Meet Again
Shannon Drake: Reckless and When we Touch
James Patterson: Black Friday and Hide and Seek (both have spine creasing)
SINGLES:
Presidential Antidotes by Paul F. Boller, Jr.
Undercurrents by Stella Cameron
Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl
Warrior Ascended by Addison Fox
Parallel Attraction by Deidre Knight
Moving Target by Cheyenne McCray
Wayward Winds by Michael Phillips - Audio Tapes
Walking After Moonlight by Karen Robards
Forgotten Promises by Denise Skelton
A Walk to Remember by Nicolas Sparks - hardback

New Book Group #62 November 6, 2015

Touch Me by Beverly Rae (personally autographed)


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
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:
Servant, 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 -- All Gone

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 928+ 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!

Guest Post On Jujitsuffragettes by L Davis Munro PLUS Giveaway!

On Jujitsuffragettes
by L Davis Munro 

One of the most frequent questions I get asked by readers is: How did you come up with the idea to make Emmy learn Jujitsu?

I didn’t, it is based on true historical events!

The suffragettes learned Jujitsu when they started experiencing violence from the police and especially when the Cat and Mouse Act took effect. This act allowed women to be released from jail early due to health issues, caused by hunger striking, and then re-arrested under the same charge and sentence when they were healthy. This brought huge stress on their bodies and caused some serious medical issues. The suffragettes needed a way to protect themselves from being re-arrested, so a group of women formed The Bodyguard. They were taught Jujistu from Edith Garrud and learned how to defend themselves. The Bodyguard protected prominent suffrage leaders during public events and engaged in hand to hand combat with the police on many occasions. It was a really fascinating piece of their history that I discovered during my research for this book. These women were knicknamed Suffrajitsus or Jujitsuffragettes by the media at the time.

Tony Wolf has written a short biography of Edith Garrud and also a fascinating graphic novel called “Suffragitsu: Mrs. Pankhurst’s Amazons”, an alternate history of The Bodyguard women. I am a huge fan and highly recommend it!! And if you are interested in more, many of the women who were part of The Bodyguard wrote autobiographies. One book I particularly loved is “With All Her Might: The Life of Gertrude Harding Militant Suffragette” by Gretchen Wilson.

“Emmy Nation: Undercover Suffragette” only starts Emmy’s journey in Jujitsu. The second book will delve more into this part of the history and The Bodyguard.

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

Image from Wikipedea, article on Emmeline Pankhurst

SEE MY REVIEW POST FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOOK AND THE AUTHOR.

GIVEAWAY!
Win 1 of 2 prizes!  A copy of Emmy Nation + $15 Amazon gift card

(print book USA & Canada) (ebook International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Emmy Nation: Undercover Suffragette (The Suffragette Nation Book 1) by L Davis Munro

This is thought provoking, eye opening and a wonderful read!

Emmy Nation: Undercover Suffragette (The Suffragette Nation Book 1)
by L Davis Munro

File Size: 2613 KB
Print Length: 336 pages
Publication Date: November 29, 2015
ASIN: B018RBXQ9U
Genre: Historical Fiction
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

A fascinating glimpse into often-overlooked aspects of women’s history, Emmy Nation: Undercover Suffragette follows a young typewriter girl as she struggles to survive on her own in 1913 London.
Emmy’s wages are far from sufficient to feed and clothe her properly, so when she’s offered a better-paying job with Scotland Yard she doesn’t hesitate to accept—even though it means spying on the seemingly harmless Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU). She soon meets Edith, a wealthy suffragette, who promises to show Emmy the ropes.
When a man from her past takes over the Scotland Yard task force and questions her loyalty, Emmy accepts a risky mission from the WSPU to prove her value to both sides, only to wind up endangering herself and Edith and wondering for what or whom she’s actually fighting.
Honest, yet hopeful, about the hardships facing women in the early twentieth century, this story honors the human struggle for equality and serves as an ongoing reminder of the importance of standing up for your beliefs.

Review:
Emmy is a young woman who makes a desperate choice to leave her home and set up life on her on in London. In 1913 jobs for women are scarce but, after learning how to type, Emmy secures a position at Scotland Yard, typing police reports. She struggles to eat each day and still save money for new boots.

Emmy is offered an increase in pay (and clothes!) to infiltrate the Women’s Social Political Union (WSPU). She is to report the names of the agitators and warn the department of any destructive and embarrassing activities so they can be nipped in the bud. Emmy meets a wealthy suffragette, Edith, who takes Emmy under her wings and shows her how to help in the movement. Slowly Emmy gains recognition and becomes closer to the leaders, learning more valuable information.  Meanwhile, Emmy develops a friendship with her “body guard”, Colin, who watches over her and helps her when she faces difficulties with her sweet landlady.

Emmy is surprised when a man from her past is appointed her new boss. He challenges her loyalty, accusing her of being 'one of those suffragette women' seeking independence. To show her commitment to get the important information, Emmy volunteers for a risky mission. She and Edith face serious danger and have to determine how much the movement means to them.

I found this to be a wonderful bit of history that made me think about, and appreciate, what the suffragettes did to help the cause of women everywhere! I enjoyed watching Emmy’s character grow. Even as a sweet young woman she isn’t afraid to take a stand when she sets her mind to a decision. However, her motives change as she gains a better understanding of her past and present choices. I liked the gentle, growing friendship with Colin and the fact that their friendship faces challenges that have to be sorted out.

The writing is in present tense from Emmy’s view which is interesting. There is good description and detail, even in some difficult situations. The story moved along well and kept me eager to find out what happened next. Now I have to wait for the next book to discover where Emmy goes with her new found courage and decisions.

Although this is a book for those who like historical fiction, I highly recommend this as a wonderful read for all women -- and men too; anyone who might be interested in the struggles women faced gaining the right to vote and be heard as more than just dutiful wives. Grab this book up at only $.99 and enjoy while learning history!

I received this for an honest review as part of iRead Book Tour. This qualifies for E on my Alphabet Soup Challenge and TBR Triple Dog Dare as I received this at the end of 2015. 

SEE GUEST POST AND GIVEAWAY NEXT POST!
 

Buy the book:  Amazon   Book Depository

Author's Bio:
L. Davis Munro holds a master’s degree with a focus on women’s suffrage theatre and works in theatre and dance. She currently lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with her husband and her dog.

Connect with the author:   Website   Twitter   Facebook

See the video trailer:

Tour Schedule:

Feb 15 - Working Mommy Journal - review / author interview / giveaway

Feb 15 - Amie's Book Reviews - review / guest post / giveaway

Feb 16 - Jorie Loves a Story - review / author interview

Feb 16 - Jaquo Lifestyle Magazine - review

Feb 17 - Laura Fabiani - Top 500 Amazon.ca Reviewer - review

Feb 17 - Jaquo Lifestyle Magazine - guest post

Feb 18 - Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf - review / guest post / giveaway

Feb 19 - #redhead.with.book - review / giveaway

Feb 22 - Book Reviews Nature Photos and Everything in Between - review

Feb 22 - History from a Woman's Perspective - review

Feb 23 - A Mama's Corner of the World - review / giveaway

Feb 23 - Bound 4 Escape - review / giveaway

Feb 24 - Sahar's Blog - review

Feb 25 - Laura's Interests - review / guest post / giveaway

Feb 26 - Library of Clean Reads - review / giveaway

Audible Book Review: Star Crusader: Hero of the Alliance by Michael G. Thomas

This is an action packed space battle with teen cadets as the heroes of the fight.
Star Crusader: Hero of the Alliance
Written by: Michael G. Thomas
Narrated by: Andrew B. Wehrlen

Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:07-29-15
Publisher: Swordworks Books
Genre: Sci Fi, Space Adventure
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Nate has a talent for space combat after hundreds of victories in the Star Crusader videogame simulation. His skills are unique, enough to gain him a rare privilege: the chance to join five other Alliance cadets and escape the dull routine of the classroom. They will enter a fierce competition light-years away in the ancient Byotai Empire. Yet days after their arrival a rebellious faction begins a bloody mutiny that spreads like wildfire. The time for competition has ended; the time of war has begun.
A handful of capital ships attempt to avoid the massacre, but only Relentless escapes. Nate and his friends are aboard, part of the few to make it out alive. Relentless is a heavily armored assault ship, a relic from another age, but most of her crew members are dead or missing. Nate and his fellow cadets have to face the unthinkable. Under the guidance of Lieutenant Higgins, the ship's last fighter pilot, the six cadets have just days to practice operating the ship's fighters. There are no others. Only they can defend the ship, or face death at the hands of the enemy.
©2015 Swordworks Books (P)2015 Swordworks Books

Review:
Nate is a seventeen-year-old who has played hundreds of games on a vidogame known as Star Crusader. Based on his successful victories Nate has won a place in the Alliance cadet program. The Alliance is a space program set up to defend against attacks. The Alliance has a shaky relationship with the Byotai Empire who are an aggressive lizard-like race.

Nate and five other teens are shipped off to a far off spaceport to participate in active battle competitions against the Byotai trainees. The kids are in class when a rebellion breaks out. They barely escape the room trying to make their way to the marines seeking flight to their capital ship. Nate and his friends are among those who get out with the help of the marines, including a tough female.

When the dust settles from the first battles many of the crew members, including pilots, are gone and the capital ship is struggling to get to a rendezvous with other Alliance ships. Reluctantly the last of the fighter pilots, Lieutenant Higgins, who is injured, begins training the cadet pilots on the ship's fighters. The capital ship will stagger along with the thin hope that a handful of teen cadets will be able to defend her if they run into any enemy, especially before they get to restock their supplies and  weapons.

I enjoyed the sharp, observant nature of Nate’s mind and the rivalry and friendships among the cadets. Each of the teens have unique strengths that make them a valuable team if they will work together. Before the end of this action packed story they will face the enemy and learn that they must use their skills together to be successful in their mission.

I picked this title as it reminded me of The Last Starfighter. Although it starts with the videogame the rest is a new story. The characters are distinct, if not fully developed, and the action is pretty much nonstop. When this started I thought it might be more suitable to a younger audience. However, as the work progressed I found that I liked the young, brave characters and was fully engaged. I realized after finishing this book that it is the first of four in the current series. Apparently there are older series with a prior generation that lead into Nate’s generation. For now, I will be lining up the current set through Audible but I’ll be eyeing those prior books when I need a good sci fi fix!

Audio Notes: Andrew B. Wehrlen did a very good job with the narration. He captures the youthful personality of the cadets and is still able to pull in the older characters too. I had no trouble following the thought processes and action. I fully enjoyed the audio listen.

Find out more about the author, Michael G. Thomas and the Star Crusader universe at:

http://starcrusader.com/
and https://www.facebook.com/starcrusader/

This audiobook was provided by the narrator through Audiobook Blast for an honest review. This qualifies for my Audio Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Classic Love Poems by William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Elizabeth, Barrett Browning and others

This was a lovely read for Valentine's week.

Classic Love Poems
Written by: William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Elizabeth, Barrett Browning
Narrated by: Richard Armitage

Length: 22 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:02-09-15
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Poetry
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
For anyone who's in love - or hopes to be - what greater celebration could there be than to hear the world's greatest love poetry read lovingly by Richard Armitage? With 15 poems by William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and more, Classic Love Poems is a listening treat for Valentine's Day - or any day.

Included in this collection are:
"How do I love thee?" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
"Sonnet 116" by William Shakespeare
"Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allan Poe
"To Be One with Each Other" by George Eliot
"Maud" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
"To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell
"Bright Star" by John Keats
"Love's Philosophy" by Percy Bysshe Shelley
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"Meeting at Night" by Robert Browning
"The Dream" by Edna St. Vincent Millay
"The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" by Christopher Marlowe
"I carry your heart" by e. e. cummings
"She Walks in Beauty" by Lord Byron
"Give All to Love" by Ralph Waldo Emerson

About the Performer
Richard Armitage is known to movie audiences around the world as "Thorin Oakenshield" in the trilogy of films based on The Hobbit. Born in Leicester, England, and trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Armitage has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and created memorable roles on Robin Hood, North & South, and other British TV series.
Public Domain (P)2015 Audible Inc.

Review:
This was lovely and too short at 22 minutes. Listening made me remember how much I enjoyed reading these classics in my youth. The nice thing is that this is quick enough to listen to over and over. I recommend this to anyone who wants a quick remembrance of the joy of poetry and especially the themes of love, inspiration and hope of love.

Audio Notes: Richard Armitage does a superb job reading each of these grand, classic poems.
It makes for an engaging listen.

This was from my TBR Audible library received as a free read in February 2015. This qualifies for Audio and Alphabet Soup Challenge and also TBR Triple Dog Dare.