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GIVEAWAYS ARE NOW LOCATED ON THEIR OWN PAGE - CLICK ON TAB ABOVE; Giveaways also linked on right sidebar.

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Sharing Beyond Books #388 Comment Giveaway February 8, 2020

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

10 commenters do not participate in Goodreads challenge, although some used to. Only five of us still participate in the Goodreads Challenge and Fredamans does a monthly Book Bingo challenge which sounds fun.

The Winner from SBB #387 comments is: #10 RUBYNREBA who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated (**Finally!) ARC/Review titles or (recently updated) Love and Christmas titles - all linked near the end of the post. -- [11/16/19 I plan to add some review books this week and maybe some new Christmas and Love titles as soon as I locate the box I put them in.  10/5/19 I have pulled some new books and will be adding them to the list in the next week or so.

**NOTE: I did post an Updated ARC and Other books for Giveaways. I have to go back and list the titles -- someday.
Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #388
(One Question.)

Nikki asks: What's your favourite movie classic??
For years my favorite classic movie was Madam X which I haven't watched in years and I don't think it is counted as a true 'classic'. For true classic I would pick Wizard of Oz. My hubby would pick Shane, which may not make a 'classic' list.
I think "classic" may have different definitions.
Here is a list of Top 100 Classics at Rotten Tomatoes. I would not include movies after 1970 (50 years back) so that would eliminate 7 of those on the list.
I would include several others like The Sound of Music, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Fiddler on the Roof and Peter Pan. Of course all of those are musicals and I was a big fan of those.


Image found at Rotten Tomatoes..

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 1/2 book choice or $2.50 towards GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify

Your turn to share. Nikki asks: What's your favourite movie classic??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles all in one post.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question 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, February 22, 2020, at 5 PM central.

MBS January 2020 Reading List Wrap Up

MBS 2020 Reading List - JANUARY
Code for the list is:
A = Audible; ABJ = Audiobook Jukebox; ABB = Audiobook Boom
e = eBook; eA = eBook from Author; eT = eBook from Tour
NG = NetGalley
P = Print; PT = Print from Tour
LBC = Ladies Book Club
TBR = From the TBR shelves prior to 2020
Favorites for the month:
5 Stars = Deep State
4.75 Stars = The Oracle and Southlands, Lee Harden Book 2
4.5 Stars = An Endless Christmas; Someone to Honor; Wish; Commune
  1. NG2019-First Book #NetGalley Book Review: The Possibility of America by David Dark; Genre: Religious Studies, Social Issues; My Rating: 3.0 of 5.0.
  2. ATBR- Book Review: Audible Book Review: The Green Ember by S. D. Smith; Genre: Children's Fantasy, Christian Fantasy; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.
  3. ATBR- Audible Book Review: The Oracle by Jonathan Cahn; Genre: Christian Prophecies, Religion & Spirituality; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 4.75.
  4. eBookTBR- Book Review: An Endless Christmas: A Novella by Cynthia Ruchti; Genre: Christian Romance, Holiday; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.
  5. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Someone to Honor by Mary Balogh; Genre: Historical Romance, Regency; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.
  6. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Mission Pack 1: Black Ocean Mission Pack, Missions 1-4 by J.S. Morin; Genre: Action & Adventure, Sci Fi, Space; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.5; Narration 4.25.
  7. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Southlands, Lee Harden, Book 2 by D.J. Molles; Genre: Action & Adventure, Military Sci Fi, Post-Apocalyptic; My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.75; Narration 5.0.
  8. ATBR- Audible Book Review: A Mind of Her Own by Paula McLain; Genre: Biography, Fiction, Historical; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.
  9. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Deep State by Chris Hauty; Genre: Assassination Thriller, Political Thriller, Thriller; My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0.
  10. ATBR- Audio Book Review: Wish by Barbara O'Connor; Genre: Children, Family Issues; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.75.
  11. ATBR- Audible Book Review: Commune by Joshua Gayou; Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.
  12. NG2019- #NetGalley Book Review: Enforcing the Paw by Diane Kelly; Genre: Animal, Cozy Mystery, Police Procedures; My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.
  13. A2020- Audio Book Review: Starfire by Jenetta Penner; Genre: Alien, Dystopian, Teen and Young Adult, Sci Fi; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Total read = 13; TBR = 12; New to Me Authors = 10
Audio/Audible = 8 (7 TBRs)
eBook = 1 (1 TBRs)
NetGalley = 4 (4 TBRs)
Review books (other than NG) = 1
Print = 0

Goal Progress (to Date meaning through the end of the given month):
Goodreads Goal Read to Date: 13
TBR to Date: 12 of 100 total
TBR ebooks: 1 of 24
Audio to Date: 8 of 75
NetGalley to Date: 4 of 40
Author Reviews: 1 of 12
Nonfiction: 1 of 12

• New to me Series: 5 (3 to continue, 2 maybe)
• Continuing for me Series: 2
• Finished for me Series: 0
• Seasonal title: Winter 1
• Alphabet letters covered: 10 Jan 

Friday, February 7, 2020

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway February 7, 2020

Happy Friday! 
Hubby is making slow but steady recovery. 
I wasn't sure if I would get to do this post for Friday morning as the storms knocked a tree on our power line Thursday morning. I was just about to go to bed when the power came back on at 9pm.

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 January 31, 2020 Pick. There was No automatic win this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There were no titles blocked.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from January 31, 2020 Pick:
BN100 gets Confessions
and
LINDA 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 makes me want to visit the library!
Image found at Lincoln County Libraries.


New Book Group #88 November 8, 2019
PAIRS:
Connie Brockway: My Pleasure and My Seduction
Stella Cameron: Body of Evidence and Fascination
Singles:
A Notorious Proposition by Adele Ashworth
My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne
A Lady Never Tells by Candace Camp
Dawn of Redemption by Starla Childs
Long, Lean and Lethal by Heather Graham
False Colours by Georgette Heyer
Chill of Fear by Kay Hooper
Treasures by Lisa Jackson (hardback)
No Limits by Alison Kent
The Education of Mrs. Brimley by Donna MacMeans
The Wedding Affair by Leigh Michaels
A Highlander's Temptation by Sue-Ellen Welfonder


New Book Group #87 August 23, 2019

SINGLES:
Captain's Paradise by Kay Hooper
Open Season by Linda Howard AUDIO CASSETTES
The Perfect Gift by Christina Skye


New Book Group #86 June 7, 2019
Another group of variety from my shelves.
SINGLES:
A Place Called Freedom by Ken Follett
Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze

Show No Fear by Marliss Melton
A Question of God's Balance (Vol 1) by Joseph Thek
King by Right of Blood and Might by Anna L. Walls


New Book Group #85 March 22, 2019
A variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
Summer Skies by Judith Christenberry
Windfall (two stories) by JoAnn Ross
Daddy's Little Cowgirl (two stories) by Judith Bowen and Kimberly Raye
The Forever Year, Cold Pursuit, Lover's Lane and Temporary Sanity (Reader's Condensed)
ToxiCity by Libby Fischer Hillmann

New Book Group #84 December 15, 2018
Here are some Christmas titles to pick from.

SINGLES:
A Family for Thanksgiving
On this Holy Night
Christmas Haven
King Harold's Snow Job


New Book Group #83 November 30, 2018
(Starting bottom left and continuing up then down)
SINGLE
Seductive Secrets by Lynne Connolly
Seven Up by Janet Evanovich - Audio Cassettes
A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein Audio Cassettes
Three Reader's Digest Condensed Books - each hardback:
Cold Harbour and The Courtship of Peggy McCoy
The Things We Do for Love, Three Weeks With My Brother, The Murder Artist and Night Train to Lisbon
Follow the Stars Home, Hunting Badger, The Quiet Game and Second Wind

New Book Group #82 November 9, 2018

Stella Cameron: Key West
SINGLES:
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
Killing Time by Linda Howard
The Wedding Night by Barbara Dawson Smith

New Book Group #81 August 17, 2018

SINGLES
Best Laid Plans by Allison Brennan
Darkness Tell Us by Richard Laymon
Cooking Most Deadly by Joanne Pence


New Book Group #80 August 17, 2018
Note: The Final Judgment and
The Book of Fate are Audio Cassettes
SINGLES:
Summer’s Moon by Lacey Baker
The Final Judgment by Richard North PattersonAudio Cassettes
Firebird by Janice Graham
No Getting Over a Cowboy by Delores Fossen
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer Audio Cassettes


New Book Group #79 July 13, 2018
I found this box of books buried under some other boxes.
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lenox by Maggie O’Farrell
P.S. by Helen Schulman
Her Sexiest Surprise by Dawn Atkins (personally autographed)
Dakota Child by Linda Ford
Calling the Shots by Ellen Hartman
Promises, Promises by Amber Miller
This Time for Keeps by Jenna Mills
A Daughter’s Legacy by Virginia Smith
Another Man’s Baby by Kay Stockham


New Book Group #78 April 27, 2018
SINGLES
Blackberry Bush
Breaking Point
A Tangled Affair
Too Wicked to Love
Roses are Red Audio Cassettes


New Book Group #77 February 16, 2018- All gone

New Book Group #76 November 3, 2017
13 books remain of the original 37:
I finally Have them Listed!
Boots & Booties by Kristine Rolofson
Saucer the Conquest by Stephen Coonts
The Scorpion Seducer by Bonnie Vanak
Hell On Earth by David L. Porter
White Night by Jim Butcher
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton
Crisscross by Harmon Henkin
Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey
Inhuman Condition by Clive Barker
101 Commonsense Rules for the Office by John R. Brinkerhoff


This shelf of 35 books are what is left from Groups #1 (11/27/09) through Group #75 September 29, 2017
(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 14 titles.)
Rehabilitation
Secret Blessing
Named of the Dragon
Daring by Jillian Hart

Aunt Erma's Cope Book
JoAnn Ross: Confessions
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen
Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven


(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 21 titles.)
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown
(*Three more very old books from my Gothics box.)
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell
*Four books are very old; pulled from a box of gothic novels I found.
*Maggie – Her Marriage by Taylor Caldwell (1953 very old, yellowed pages, some stain damage doesn't effect reading)
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty by Vickie Kennedy
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
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
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

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 NINE years I have posted 88 groups of 16 plus an additional 21 totaling 1,429 books to find new homes! (as of November 8, 2019).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,300+ books have found new homes through this feature! YAY. [A year or so ago I posted I had reached 2000 books given away. As I calculated the numbers 11/2/17 I realized that had to be an error. I realized I went from 1098 to 2001 instead of 1101. Guess I was tired; sorry for the error.] 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 faraway 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!

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Audio Book Review: Starfire by Jenetta Penner

This a good beginning for a YA sci-fi thriller.
Starfire
The Starfire Wars, Book 1
By: Jenetta Penner
Narrated by: Rebecca Johnson
Starfire audiobook cover art
Length: 5 hrs and 25 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 01-03-20
Language: English
Publisher: Jenetta Penner
Genre: Alien, Dystopian, Teen and Young Adult, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.


Publisher's Summary
A lush, new world. A reluctant passenger. A stranger with swirling cyan eyes.
Cassiopeia loathes the idea of leaving her withering home to settle the lush new planet, Arcadia - Earth’s salvation.
Two years ago, her mother died in a horrible accident, and leaving Earth means leaving her memory behind.
But Cassi’s father is the architect of this new, grand civilization, and she has no choice but to go.
So when a terrorist attack strikes and her father is killed, her world falls into complete chaos.
Cassi is plunged into a reality of dark secrets and lies. Everything about Arcadia proves to be a sham, and a war spanning the stars is looming.
Enter a gorgeous, mysterious, and undeniably dangerous boy...
Who either wants to help Cassi...
Or destroy her.
Dreamers and lovers will crave this star-crossed romance and adventure set in a new world.
Listen to Starfire today!
©2018 Jenetta Penner (P)2019 Jenetta Penner


Review:
Cassi isn’t one of the many people from earth who are happy to be on a space ship to colonize a new planet, Arcadia. Cassi’s parents are scientists who were instrumental in locating a compatible planet and arranging for the colonization program from crowded Earth. Sadly Cassi’s mother died in an accident so only Cassi and her father, Richard Foster, plan to move into the new settlement. Shortly before landing Cassi inadvertently hears an altercation between her father and his nemesis, the President of the Board, Elizabeth Hammond. They disagree on how to move forward with development on the new planet with Foster seeking to protect the existing culture and Hammond leading the greedy interests to exploit the mines of the planet.

As the colonists prepare to celebrate the landing, an unprecedented explosion kills Foster and others near the speakers’ platform. Hammond refuses to explain what happened, leaving the event shrouded in mystery and leaving Cassi determined to find out if her father is really dead.

Cassi was in the room when the explosion took place. She had just had an encounter with a strange young man with eyes flashing cyan. When she wakes Cassi finds a new friend, Max, trying to help her. But she has a vague memory of the stranger who pulled her away from the fire. Soon she will begin to wonder who she can trust to help her or who will lead to her destruction.

I would describe this as writing clearly geared to young adult audiences. I did enjoy the sci fi elements and the alien conflict even though I felt many characters, including Cassi, were not deeply developed. Cassi just assumed some companions were safe to share her secrets with while ignoring that some may well have been seeking to betray her. The romance is a quick crush of young love and light contact which is fitting for YA level. Although I am not pulled in by the romance, I am curious to see what develops as the war among the conflicting colonists and the hidden, conflicted aliens progresses. I would be interested in reading book 2.

Audio Notes: Rebecca Johnson does a good job with the narration. Her voice and reading match the YA characters. The narration made it an easy, quick listen.

Source: January 2020 Audible Code from the Author. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook and Author Review goals.

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

#NetGalley Book Review: Enforcing the Paw by Diane Kelly

This is a nice canine cozy mystery.
Enforcing the Paw
by Diane Kelly
Enforcing the Paw: A Paw Enforcement Novel by [Kelly, Diane]
File Size: 1444 KB
Print Length: 368 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1250094860
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (June 27, 2017)
ASIN: B01N6DJ914
Genre: Animal, Cozy Mystery, Police Procedures
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.


When a case of he-said/she-said turns criminal, it’s up to Megan Luz and her devoted K-9 to dig for the truth. . .
A TAIL OF TWO LOVERS
When relationships go south, some people just can’t—or won’t—let go. When Fort Worth Police Officer Megan Luz and her pawed partner Brigit investigate a series of stalking incidents involving a couple who recently broke up, their detective powers are put to the test. Is this a case of a controlling creep who refuses to accept rejection—or one about a woman scorned whose fury has been unleashed?
WHO END UP IN THE DOGHOUSE. . .
As hostilities escalate between the former lovers, the situation goes from romantically dysfunctional to downright dangerous. He insists his former flame has become a crazy ex-girlfriend intent on vengeance. She alleges that he is a master of manipulation and lays blame entirely at his feet. Who’s the culprit and who’s the victim? Can Megan and Brigit sniff out the truth. . .before somebody ends up dead?
Enforcing the Paw is part of Diane Kelly's fun and smart Paw Enforcement series.


Review:
Megan Luz is a Fort Worth Police Officer who works with her canine partner, Brigit, a hundred-pound shepherd. Megan and Brigit have been through some dangerous and traumatic events. As Megan begins an evening shift she is called to respond to a call of a brick through a window. She meets Adriana who claims that her ex-boyfriend is harassing her. She made a previous complaint to another officer which was mostly ignored. Megan has Brigit follow the trail to determine that the perpetrator was in the corner of the garden. There the trail ends.

Megan takes the account seriously and heads off to interview the accused ex-boyfriend, Ryan. He has a similar brick on his doorstep and sneakers with dirt and tomato that match Adriana’s garden. Ryan is surprised the brick is gone and claims Adriana had the shoes and must have returned them trying to frame him.

As incidents of mischief continue back and forth, Megan is unable to determine which of the parties is lying. She consults her detective mentor in the station, and he agrees that her handling is good and she has to continue to search out the truth in the 'he said/she said' seesaw.

Meanwhile, Meghan has a second investigation going on as she tries to capture a purple lollipop thief. Meghan and Brigit trace the man dressed in surgical scrubs to the hospital where he disappears inside the emergency room. It might seem like a minor crime but Meghan is determined to catch the culprit.

I liked Meghan’s warm, open personality. Her romance with handsome, firefighter, Seth, is warming up and she is trying to deal with her hesitancy. I also enjoyed Brigit, the canine partner, and the interspersed chapters from Brigit’s viewpoint. The crimes being addressed are realistic with a touch of danger and, in the case of the thief, a touch humorous. The writing is clear, clean and makes an easy, quick read.

I have been eyeing this series because I like canine partners. This is an easy cozy mystery that I recommend to fans of these elements.

Source: NetGalley 2019. This qualifies for 2020TBR, TBRNetGalley and 2020 Alphabet goals.

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