Saturday Snapshot August 10, 2013 A Few Interesting Things of Nature

Today I am sharing some more shots of nature around our house.

Here is a moth on the large wreath that stays up

on our front porch.

Here are two snails that my DH found as he cleared out a planter.

(Looks like they are cozy together doesn't it?)

I liked the orange fungus growing on the stump in the garden.

And these raindrops on a cobweb looked like glistening beads.

I just wish I could have gotten a better shot of them.

I had fun visiting last Saturday morning and I will do it again this week.

Thanks to all who stop by and visit.

A big Thank You to Alyce of At Home With Books who has hosted this meme for a number of years. She is taking a summer hiatus at her blog and the new host will be Melissa at West Metro Mommy. Thank you to Melissa for picking up the responsibility.

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky being hosted this summer by West Metro Mommy. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway August 9, 2013

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

Happy Friday Friends!! Oh what a week! It was good busy at work and reading is good too. :-) Maybe I can start thinking about a little break. 

[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 August 2 Pick. There were two 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 four blocked titles - but one was won!
rubynreba gets Promise Forever
Texas Book Lover gets the Catherine Anderson pair

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from August 2 Pick:

Mary P gets a GC 

Ingeborg gets (through the block) Summer by the Sea

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 or sexy and I have a new supply of 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 just makes me SMILE!

Image found at McWhorter Library.

New Book Group #41 August 2, 2013

Pairs:
Jude Deveraux
    Return to Summerhouse and Twin of Fire
Mariah Stewart
    Priceless and Brown-Eyed Girl
Singles:
The Shadowed Heart by Nina Beaumont
Hannah by Lori Copeland
My Lady Midnight by Laurie Grant
Wicked and Wonderful by Valerie King
The Door to December by Dean Koontz
Heart of the Storm by Lindsay McKenna
Crucfixtion River by Marcia Muller & Bill Pronzini
Tabitha in Moonlight by Betty Neels
The Nightingale's Song by Jo-Ann Power
Caught in a Bind by Gayle Roper
Cattle Rancher, Secret Son by Margaret Way
White Heather by Jaclyn Reding

New Book Group #40 June 28, 2013

Pairs:
     (Highlands) Highland Treasure by Amanda Scott and Highlander Unbound by Julia London
     (Angels) Not Quite An Angel by Bobby Hutchinson and An Angel for Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
Singles:
What Sarah Saw by Margaret Daley (Cover has black line across where bookstore crossed it for clearance)
Her Last Chance by Terri Reed  (Cover has black line across where bookstore crossed it for clearance)
The Clairvoyant Countess by Dorothy Gilman
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes
Mission: Irresistible by Lori Wilde
Sin and Scandal in England by Melody Thomas
Dance With Me by Luanne Rice
A Mother's Day Anthology - three stories
Rising Moon by Lori Handeland
Star Light, Star Bright by Katherine Stone
Another View by Rosamunde Pilcher
Promise Forever by Marta Perry


New Book Group #39 May 31, 2013 - Plenty of "summer" titles!
Oops - I never added all the links last month so no promises on these either.

Pairs:
Hannah Howell
     Highland Hearts and Highland Destiny
Catherine Anderson
     My Sunshine and Blue Skies
Elizabeth Lowell
     Remember Summer and Too Hot to Handle
Singles:
Touched by Fire by Kathleen O'Reilly
Playing with Fire by Gena Showalter
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
That Summer by Joan Wolf
Shadow of the Sun by Tammy Hilz
Dark Summer by Iris Johansen
Summer at Willow Lake by Susan Wiggs
Summer by the Sea by Susan Wiggs
Shadow Beach by Barbara Freethy
It All Began at Monte Carlo by Elizabeth Adler


New Book Group #38 April 20, 2013
Here is a group with many mysteries.  Links to be added as I get time.

Pairs:
Amanda Scott
      Abducted Heiress and Highland Bride
Sandra Brown
     Texas! Chase and Exclusive (spine wear) (not the covers as on the links)
A Murderous Yarn by Monica Ferris
Deadly Advise by Roberta Isleib
Dial Emmy for Murder by Eileen Davidson 
On Deadly Ground (Love Inspired Suspense) by Lauren Nichols
Happy Never After by Kathy Hogan Trocheck
Female Intellignece by Jane Heller
Improper English by Katie MacAllister
Sheer Dynamite by Jennifer Skully
Golden Chances by Rebbecca Hagen Lee
Caitlin's Guardian Angel by Marie Ferrarella
Burning Alive by Shannon K. Butcher
Awaken the Senses by Nalini Singh


New Book Group #37 March 22, 2013

As I am linking these titles it is clear to me why they were in my TBR boxes and it is really hard to let them go but I have soooo many. Better that they find good reader homes than sit on my shelves, or in a box, and collect dust. 
Pairs:
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.

To Tame a Rebel by Georgina Gentry
While Passion Sleeps by Shirlee Busbee
The Admiral's Bride by Suzanne Brockmann
Lady Ice by Joan Hohl



New Book Group #36 February 15, 2013

Pairs:
Tara Taylor Quinn
     Father: Unknown and McGillus v.Wright
Singles:
Timeline by Michael Crichton

The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe



New Book Group #35 January 11, 2013
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing 
Pairs
Singles-- I found a couple of boxes of romances (a lot of Harlequins) that I haven't gotten to read over the past 8 years so... I will send them off to others to read!

*Merger of Fortunes by Peggy Moreland



New Book Group #34 December 7, 2012--- (All gone)

New Book Group #33 October 27, 2012
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing

SINGLES - CHRISTMAS TITLES (Better sizes for international) 
*Deck the Halls by Arlene James (slight spine creasing)
*A Holiday Prayer by Deb Kastner  (slight spine creasing)


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
I pulled some more books from several of my boxes.

An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)


New Book Group #30 July 27, 2012
This time I pulled some books from one of my older boxes.
*asterisks indicate lighter, smaller books possibly suitable for international mailing

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
*One is the Lonliest Number - Tom Clancey's Net Force

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
I tried to pick some books that would be good for October -
Halloween or dark minded.
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
Mallory's Oracle (Kathleen Mallory Novels) by Carol O'Connell

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
*Note of Peril (black strip on cover)

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 in November 27, 2009 and in three years I have posted 33 groups of 16 (528) books to find new homes! (as of November 2012)

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 530 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
Sleight of Hand by Robin Hathaway
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown  (postage too much - replaced with GC)

List #15---(All gone)

List #14---(All gone)

Here is set #13 of Used books! ---(All gone)

Group #12---(All gone)

Group #11
Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown
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
Talking God by Tony Kellerman

Pick #5
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
Princess Charming by Jane Heller (slightly creased)

Pick #8
(sc) = slightly creased on binding otherwise all in good shape
The Jury by Steve Martini - Audio Tapes
No Safe Place by Richard North Patterson - Audio Tapes

Pick #9
On Treacherous Ground by Earl Murray
Guardian by Dee Henderson - Audio Tapes
Time to Hunt by Stephen Hunter - Audio Tapes

Pick #10---(All Gone)

Book Review: Click: An Online Love Story by Lisa Becker

This is a sweet, fun story of a nice Jewish girl looking for love in a cyber world.
Click: An Online Love Story
by Lisa Becker

• File Size: 486 KB
• Print Length: 286 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1460922638
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• ASIN: B004UI6IJ0

Genre: Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: March 29, 2011
Fast approaching her 30th birthday and finding herself not married, not dating, and without even a prospect or a house full of cats, Renee Greene, the heroine of Click: An Online Love Story, reluctantly joins her best guy pal on a journey to find love online in Los Angeles. The story unfolds through a series of emails between Renee and her best friends (anal-compulsive Mark, the overly-judgmental Ashley and the over-sexed Shelley) as well as the gentlemen suitors she meets online. From the guy who starts every story with "My buddies and I were out drinking one night," to the egotistical "B" celebrity looking for someone to stroke his ego, Renee endures her share of hilarious and heinous cyber dates. Fraught with BCC's, FWD's and inadvertent Reply to All's, readers will root for Renee to "click" with the right man.

Review:
Renee is a bright, attractive Public Relations executive who is concerned that she will soon celebrate her 30th birthday and she has no love interest in her life. She broke up with her last boyfriend almost a year ago and hasn’t done much dating since. She is lamenting her situation, and the awkwardness of meeting the right kind of men in a big city, with her friends, Mark, Shelly and Ashley. Mark, an intense, compulsive individual who designs video games, convinces Renee to try an online dating service as a New Year attempt to find a mate.

Conservative Renee shares the details and progress with exuberant playgirl, Shelly, who has no problem sharing and joking about traits and nick names for her steady stream of one night stands. On the other hand Renee initially keeps her online dating arrangements secret from her judgmental, but long time friend, Ashley.

The story is told primarily through emails between the friends and the prospective dates. The dating choices range from dumb, awkward, pleasant and scary. Along the way there are laughs, embarrassments and disappointments. But there are some good prospects too and even a celebrity rocker who Renee met in person who is showing interest in her down to earth, friendly personality.

This was different because of the way it was written but it didn’t take long to get accustomed to the format of email chatting. I was able to relax and enjoy Renee’s pursuit for love. I liked the distinct differences in the personalities of her friends which made for entertaining interaction.  The pacing was good and there were plenty of conflicts to keep things interesting including a bit of a twist near the end. This is a sweet love story and I am looking forward to reading the next book.  I recommend this to romance lovers who are up for a light read in a unique format.

I received this ebook from the author for an honest review.

Audible Book Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

This is a really fun listen! If you have this one in your TBR pile I recommend you get to reading, or listening to, it -- then enjoy!

Ready Player One

     by Ernest Cline

     Narrated by Wil Wheaton 

    LENGTH      15 hrs and 46 mins
    RELEASE DATE      08-16-11
    PUBLISHER      Random House Audio
Genre: Futuristic Fantasy
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
At once wildly original and stuffed with irresistible nostalgia, Ready Player One is a spectacularly genre-busting, ambitious, and charming debut—part quest novel, part love story, and part virtual space opera set in a universe where spell-slinging mages battle giant Japanese robots, entire planets are inspired by Blade Runner, and flying DeLoreans achieve light speed.
It’s the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.
Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of 10,000 planets.
And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune—and remarkable power—to whoever can unlock them.
For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday’s riddles are based in the pop culture he loved—that of the late 20th century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday’s icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes’s oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig.
And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle.
Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt—among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life—and love—in the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.
A world at stake.
A quest for the ultimate prize.
Are you ready?

Review:
Wade is a teenager in 2044 where lives are lived primarily in a free virtual computer world known as The OASIS. Wade actually resides in the crowded ‘real’ world – on and off – with his Aunt and her boyfriend in a mobile home in the stacks, where mobile home units have been staked twenty-two high in a precarious community. But Wade actually spends more time in his personal hideout in an abandoned van. Since schools became too crowded, students even attend through the virtual world, being given the minimal gear and choice of an avatar for their id in the OASIS. Friends are made in the virtual world without ever knowing the real person behind the avatar.

Wade explains how James Halliday, the creator of the OASIS, set up a game in the system as a means to distribute his vast billions on his death.  The first player to collect the three keys, play through three gates and find the hidden Easter egg will inherit the entire fortune. Initially there is a system wide frenzy as the treasure game hunters, called Gunters, study Halliday’s favorite games and past-times trying to find the solution. Some people have formed ‘clans’ and there is a massive, villainous corporation, IOI, whose players are called the Sixers, who want to win and control the system. It is feared if IOI gets possession that they will charge everyone for use of the OASIS and change the world situation for the worse. Wade and his best friend, Aech, agree that they are independent players even though Wade struggles with minimal assets and experience.

It has been five years since Halliday died and the scoreboard has shown no progress. Then one day Wade, or his avatar, Parzival, stumbles upon the path to the first key! A new fervor ensues and others quickly begin to show up on the board. Second is a slick female character, Art3mis, on whom Wade has a crush, then Aech, then two Japanese who are believed to be brothers.  After them come the institutional IOI Sixers who basically block anyone behind them.

Now the race is on and the leaders of IOI are not beyond bribery or even murder to get the secrets and prevail in the hunt. As Wade/Parzival plays and searches he shares memories of the early games like D&D, PACman, and early game systems like Atari. The serious players also have to know classic movies that were Halliday’s favorites including Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, War Games, Monty Python’s Holy Grail and more. There is a huge battle to the end between the mega corporation and the young players who finally team together and get a little help just to hide and survive.

This was wonderful fun to listen to, recognizing that the players are computer geeks and this is the only life and hope they have. There are clues and puzzles that Wade must solve and I enjoyed the trip down memory lane hearing about computers, games and movies from the 1980s. I liked the positive messages that were shared with the good v evil set up and with the characters becoming friends through their personalities without meeting. I recommend this book for entertainment and special fun for those who lived through the ‘80s.

Audio Notes:  Wil Wheaton does a wonderful job portraying Wade, his pals and even the evil CEO. I got caught up in the story but it was certainly enhanced by the excellent narration.

I'm really glad I selected this was from my own Audible Library. I picked it for my July "Just For Fun" read.

Winner of MBS 2013 Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway

CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNER OF

Giveaway Ended 8/4/13


MBS 2013 Lazy Days of Summer Spontaneous Giveaway Hop

$10.00 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Credit.

Winner: Dinda L

Notified and claimed. :-)

Sourcebooks Wants to See Your Wedding Dress - Chance to Win New Release!

I'm sharing this announcement from the great people at Sourcebooks:

Jade Lee’s anticipated release, What the Bride Wore, a PW Top Ten Romance Pick for Fall 2013, will be released on August 6^th! And we want to know…WHAT DID YOU WEAR? We want to see your wedding dress! We want to see the good, the bad and the questionable… J

On Tuesday August 6^th, please tweet a picture of your wedding dress using the hash tag #WhatTheBrideWore

We will be picking winners every hour and giving away lots of prizes throughout the day! We will also be re-tweeting some of the best ones from the @SourcebooksCasa Twitter account!

This hot new series is set in a daring, high-energy Regency world where deep longings, secret scandals, and the competition for social stature are all set against the glittering weddings of the season. Grant Benton, Earl of Crowle, finally has the funds he always pretended to have, and what he wants now is a woman. That woman is Lady Irene Knopp, who spends her days helping debutantes plan their weddings. A recent widow, Irene longs for love again, but she’s afraid to risk her heart, especially to the notorious Earl.

Mailbox Monday August 5, 2013

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.
For AUGUST: the Mailbox Monday Tour host is Penelope @ The Reading Fever. If Penelope doesn't post then the the link will be at Bermudaonion (thanks Kathy).
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) but is now hosted at Mailbox Monday and through various blog hosts.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I received one ebook for review, one special free and I picked up the free audio titles from SYNC YA. 

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I signed up for this tour through Random House at the end of June but forgot to list the title.

Besides, I just downloaded it from NetGalley.

A Most Devilish Rogue
Ashlyn Macnamara

Won

None.

Purchased

None

Free

I reviewed The Hero's Lot by Patrick W. Carr last week. I saw on Facebook that the first book in the series was free for Kindle and Nook so I picked it up! As of Sunday night it is still available free.

Cast of Stones, A (The Staff and the Sword Book #1)
Patrick W. Carr








Audios:

I downloaded this past week's free pair from SYNC YA August 1 – August 7, 2013:
Here is another good pair -- as they say -- It's Elementary!

Death Cloud
By Andrew Lane
Read by Dan Weyman
Published by Macmillan Audio
Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award
Available in the U.S. & Canada Only
“High praise is simply insufficient to do full justice to this outstanding work.” –AudioFile Magazine

Two dead bodies. One unforgettable hero. A teenage Sherlock solves his first murder mystery…and the legend begins.

and

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
By Arthur Conan Doyle
Read by Ralph Cosham
Published by Blackstone Audiobooks
“Cosham captures the genius of Sherlock Holmes, the faithful friendship of Dr. Watson, the language of their time, and their zest for adventure.” –AudioFile Magazine
 A brilliant London-based “consulting detective,” the immortal Sherlock Holmes  is famous for his intellectual prowess and renowned for his skillful use of astute observation, deductive reasoning, and inference to solve difficult cases.

I downloaded a couple of free Kindle Titles this week
linked through Bookfun, Free Par-tay, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle Review.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? August 5, 2013

This meme starts at Book Journey!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Reading was good this week. I finished three and am well into several more.  I posted four reviews one with ARC Giveaway. I also posted a Giveaway announcement for Sourcebooks. 
I  posted the weekly Mailbox Monday meme, Friday Pick Giveaway, Saturday Snapshot, Sharing Beyond Books Comment Giveaway and Sunday Words.

I finally got to visit Saturday Snapshots on Saturday. I have a few more to visit and want to visit the Monday memes this week.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts (plus winner post):

• It's Monday What are You Reading? July 29, 2013.

• Mailbox Monday July 29, 2013.

• Book Review: The Hero's Lot by Patrick W. Carr, Fantasy Adventure, Inspirational; my rating 4.75.

• Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Molly Cannon, Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.5. Ends 8/9.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway August 2, 2013. Open Worldwide. Ends 8/8.

• Sourcebooks and Grace Burrowes Giveaway Announcement
  

• Audio Book Review: Maiden Voyage of the Rio Grande by Michael Coorlim, Steampunk, Mystery; my rating 4.5.

• Saturday Snapshot August 3, 2013 - A Strutting Heron
  

• Audible Book Review: The Overton Window by Glenn Bank, Political Thriller; my rating 4.75.

• Sharing Beyond Books #111 Comment Giveaway 8/3/13. Open Worldwide. Ends 8/9.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement August 4, 2013.
  

Finished Reading:

1. Audible

Ready Player One
     by Ernest Cline
     Narrated by Wil Wheaton
I really enjoyed this!
I'll post a review this week.
Click on Title for full book description.

2. Print

Flirting with Texas 
by Katie Lane
This ended better than I expected.
I will post a review with ARC Giveaway this week.
Click on Title for full book description.

3. eBook/Kindle
 

Click: An Online Love Story
by Lisa Becker
I had to get used to the format but
this is a fun romance.
I'll post a review this week.
Click on Title for full Book Description

Line Edits/Releases:
We are working on print, Smashword and Kindle releases.
Released at Smashwords for all ereader formats:
Drinna by Jared Gullage
Genre: YA, Fantasy
BTW - for a chance to win an ebook copy enter the bi-monthly drawings
at eTreasures Publishing Facebook page
Drinna Giveaway

Currently reading:
1. Audio

The Eye of Moloch
    by Glenn Beck
    Narrated by Jeremy Lowell
This is another good thriller listen.
I have almost finished and will be posting a review.
Received from Simon and Schuster through Audiobook Jukebox.
Publisher's Summary
The last battle for freedom is underway....

By the end of Glenn Beck’s number-one best-selling political thriller The Overton Window, a young rebel named Molly Ross had torn aside the curtain to reveal a shadow war being waged for the future of America. In the six months since then, her fight for freedom hasn’t gone well. Marked as traitors and hunted by ruthless government-sanctioned mercenaries using the most advanced surveillance technologies ever created, Ross and her "Founders' Keepers" find themselves cornered and standing alone. but the fight is far from over.

The battle lines in this bitter rivalry are as old as civilization itself: On one side, an unlikely band of ordinary Americans, ready to make their last stand in defense of self-rule, freedom, and liberty - and on the other, an elite cabal of self-styled tyrants who believe that unlimited power should be wielded only by the chosen few. That group, led by an aging, trillionaire puppet-master named Aaron Doyle, will stop at nothing to destroy the myth that man is capable of ruling himself.

As Doyle prepares to make his final move toward a dark, global vision for humanity's future, new allies join the fight and old enemies change sides. In the midst of it all, Molly draws together a small but devoted group willing to risk their lives to infiltrate one of the most secure locations on earth - a place holding long-standing secrets that, if revealed, would forever change the way Americans view their rare, extraordinary place in history. Exposing these truths, and the real-life game of chess being played for mankind’s freedom, is their last chance to save the country they love.

2. Print

Revenge
by Debra Webb
This is reading very quickly
and the suspense is building.
Reviewing for Forever/Hachette.
Book Description
Publication Date: July 30, 2013
The Faces of Evil Series: Book 5
The desire for revenge can never be sated . . .

When her beloved high school teacher appears on her doorstep, Deputy Chief Jess Harris is flooded with fond memories-until the woman says she's about to be charged with murder. Called to the scene of the crime, Jess learns the victim of the bizarre and brutal slaying was a member of Birmingham's famed "Five."

Twelve years ago, the Five were rich, popular high school seniors who threw one wild last party. Two social outcasts were invited to play in the "loser games." The next morning, one player killed himself. Now Jess fears that an invitation to an upcoming class reunion may have forced the Five to play a new deadly game. As Jess fights to keep her former teacher from suspicion-and her relationship with Chief Dan Burnett separate from her work life-she knows she is caught in a vicious cycle of vengeance. And the killer is far from finished . . .

3. ebook/Kindle

Windshift
by Joyce Faulkner
I am learning and enjoying the story.
Reviewing through NetGalley.
Book Description
Publication Date: October 22, 2012
Shirley Maxwell is a troubled young woman facing a complicated personal life, a culture that restricts female options, and a world at war. Yet, together with friends -- Emmie, Delores, and Mags -- she joins Jackie Cochran's Women's Air Service Pi-lots program (WASP) and participates in the adventure, challenges, and tragedies of the 1940s with determination and courage. Shirley and her friends know what they are tackling will be hard, but they do it anyway and relish the effort. In the process, they change what is possible in the minds of young girls everywhere. Lively and moving, Windshift inspires and educates. Appropriate for history buffs interest-ed in the World War II era, students of social change, those who love tales of der-ring do and those who just love airplanes.

I continue to listen to The Listener's Bible NIV read by Max McLean. [Reading and listening on MP3.] I have been remiss and not keeping up with daily reading with my DH.

Line Edits: Still working. Several more releases being prepared for the next few weeks. I am still doing more Smashword conversions in between print formatting.

I still have several print books carrying over from June now into August. I don't have quite so many new choices so I think I can wrap these carry overs up this month.

August
Scheduled:
8/22 Review: A Most Devilish Rogue by Ashlyn Macnamara; Review and Author Guest Blog through Random House 

Sourcebooks
    (none scheduled unless I pick up at NetGalley)

Hachette - Forever
    A House Divided by Kimberly Lawson Roby
    Guilty as Sin by Jami Alden
    Revenge by Debra Webb (reading)

    Ruthless by Debra Webb

NetGalley: (July and early August)
      The Companions, The Sundering, Book I by R. A. Salvatore
      The Godborn, The Sundering, Book II by Paul S. Kemp
      Windshift by Joyce Faulkner (reading)

AudioBook Jukebox
      The Eye of Molech by Glen Beck (listening)


Author Books received at March EPICon
     Convict Dad by P. Ryan Hembree

Author Review titles:
     Double Click by Lisa Becker

From TBR Collection - TBD
Won Book - TBD
Free Kindle/Nook or Smashwords: TBD

Sunday Words of Encouragement August 4, 2013

Pastor’s Sermon today was titled “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah!”
The Bible says that Christ is the only one worthy to open the scroll – the final “will” and plan for mankind. Revelation 5:1-5. What Christ has provided us through the sacrifice of His death is more than just being saved.  Christ also gives us redemption of our life, our family; physical and spiritual deliverance from anything negative that would possess us. This redemption and deliverance comes through Christ accepting our sins and covering them with His blood. Jesus is victor over death and hell. We can only receive our inheritance because of the sacrifice of Jesus.

Our ‘Brother’, Jesus, is our kinsman redeemer. He who was, is and ever will be (Rev 1:8) is holding our inheritance until the time we share in the glory of Heaven.  The blessings we experience in our lives here on earth are only a trickle down from what we will have in Heaven. Now isn’t that an awesome thought?!

I was looking at some other songs but ended up selecting this older song

which really seems to fit the message today.

Blessed Messiah, My Redeemer

A Verse for Today:
Revelation 5:5 (NIV)
5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”


I thank the Lord for the inheritance I look forward to and for the many blessings showered on me now.

Sharing Beyond Books #111 Comment Giveaway August 3, 2013

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to SBB, Sharing Beyond Books.

This was a pretty nice week. Not too many appointments so it felt like I had a breather and time to work a bit on some publishing tasks.

Only a handful of us rarely tire of reading. :-) Many of you occasionally don't feel like reading or at least don't get into a certain book. Then you do something else (computer games, crafts or TV are some choices) or read something else and try the non-engaging book again.

As to purses I guess I shouldn't be surprised that none of us have a major purse fetish. I guess one fetish -- books -- is enough! We had one person with 0 purses and one with 25 although she only uses one. Many mentioned 3-6 purses but still most of us had one that we use for daily.

Thank you to all who shared last week.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #110 comments is: #11 Carol L 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 #111 Questions

Q1. Miki asks: Have you ever met another bookblogger in person? Would you want to??

A: I have met a couple of authors that I met online but I have not yet met another bookblogger. I would love to meet other bookblog friends in person. Maybe next year I will go to the Bookblogger conference.

Q2. My non-bookish Question this week: Some of you anticipated this with your answers last week -- Are your purses backpacks or minimalist??

A: As I mentioned last week I use a sort of side bag to carry daily. It contains Kindle, MP3, card case with ID and one or two credit cards, pen, tissues, small sticky notes, smartphone, eye drops, sometimes a non-aspirin and some money.  If I switch to a 'real purse' it will have a couple of tissues, a pen and an emory board. I just move over the phone, ID case and MP3. If I am traveling I do use a backpack and add a few items, including a paperback. You can tell what is important to me!

I wanted to include my own photo but I couldn't get my card to read tonight.

This is similar to my bag.

Image found at Married with Luggage.

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 are getting low on questions so hopefully you will send more in -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use. 


Your turn to share:

Q1. Miki asks: Have you ever met another bookblogger in person? Would you want to??

Q2. My non-bookish Question this week: Some of you anticipated this with your answers last week -- Are your purses backpacks or minimalist??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books , the Christmas Giveaway Books, or the June 2012 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 by Friday, August 2, 2013 at 10 PM central.

Winner of Flight of the Raven

CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNER:

Giveaway: Flight of the Raven

WINNER: DeniseC

DeniseC please fill in the (NEW) Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads AT gmail.com to confirm the win and I'll get the book mailed and/or notify the publisher of your win.  Please reply within 72 hours.

Audible Book Review: The Overton Window by Glenn Beck

I found this to be a great, thrilling listen.
The Overton Window
    by Glenn Beck
    Narrated by James Daniels
LENGTH    8 hrs and 43 mins
RELEASE DATE    06-15-10
PUBLISHER    Simon & Schuster Audio
Genre: Political Thriller
My Rating:4.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
A plan to destroy America, a hundred years in the making, is about to be unleashed...can it be stopped?

There is a powerful technique called the Overton Window that can shape our lives, our laws, and our future. It works by manipulating public perception so that ideas previously thought of as radical begin to seem acceptable over time. Move the Window and you change the debate. Change the debate and you change the country.

For Noah Gardner, a 20-something public relations executive, it's safe to say that political theory is the furthest thing from his mind. Smart, single, handsome, and insulated from the world's problems by the wealth and power of his father, Noah is far more concerned about the future of his social life than the future of his country.

But all of that changes when Noah meets Molly Ross, a woman who is consumed by the knowledge that the America we know is about to be lost forever. She and her group of patriots have vowed to remember the past and fight for the future - but Noah, convinced they're just misguided conspiracy-theorists, isn't interested in lending his considerable skills to their cause.

And then the world changes.

An unprecedented attack on U.S. soil shakes the country to the core and puts into motion a frightening plan, decades in the making, to transform America and demonize all those who stand in the way. Amidst the chaos, many don't know the difference between conspiracy theory and conspiracy fact - or, more important, which side to fight for.

But for Noah, the choice is clear: Exposing the plan, and revealing the conspirators behind it, is the only way to save both the woman he loves and the individual freedoms he once took for granted.

After five back-to-back number-one New York Times best sellers, national radio and Fox News television host Glenn Beck has delivered a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that seamlessly weaves together American history, frightening facts about our present condition, and a heart-stopping plot. The Overton Window will educate, enlighten, and, most important, entertain - with twists and revelations no one will see coming.

Review:
Noah Gardner is a lackluster son of a highly powerful, political puppet master, Arthur Gardner. Noah doesn’t invest emotionally in any of the ambitious projects or politics of his daily work at the prestigious public relations firm, Doyle and Merchant. He does enjoy the playboy lifestyle afforded by his father’s position and money. One afternoon his attention is captured by an alluring young woman in the office even though she rebuffs him with disinterest.

Noah pursues her by following her to a rally supporting the American Constitution. Molly Ross continues to intrigue him with her disdain as well as her passion for the cause of American freedom. She is part of a group, similar to a Tea Party, known as the Founder’s Keepers, who profess to seek peaceable change. When the rally turns violent many of the attendees are taken to jail. Noah insists that there was a plant who instigated the violence and when that truth appears to be close to being revealed to the public most of the rally attendees are released with a little help from Noah’s father and attorney.

Noah is further embroiled in Molly’s schemes to gain access and information from his father’s computers. They learn that Arthur Gardner and his firm are part of a group of elite power brokers who are seeking to bring about a one world government. They will use money, power, manipulation, bribery, coercion, and whatever other means necessary to achieve their goal. Molly (and the reader) learn of a tool known as “the Overton Window” which measures public opinion. This tool allows the monied powers to manipulate public opinion by setting up events that slowly push the boundaries of public acceptance closer and closer to the desired controls sought by the puppet masters.

Noah is kidnapped and it becomes clear that Molly used him from the outset. Yet he thinks there was more between them than the obvious lies. Noah again seeks to help Molly as a nefarious terrorist plot slowly unfolds. A horrible act of violence that is being arranged by the puppet masters but will be blamed on Molly’s group.

The beginning was a bit slow as I wondered at the detailed descriptions of Noah’s obsessive interest in Molly. However that is understandable as the plot progresses. After an hour or two in I was glued to listening to this story until it finished. I was impressed with the writing skills as well as the characterization and plot. All of the elements reveal the extreme intelligence of the author – regardless of what one might think of his political and religious views. Does it contain a message on politics and religion? Yes - clearly on politics and subtly on religion. Is it a good thriller? Absolutely.

Beck starts the book with a preface that declares the work to be in the nature of “faction” – a fictional story woven around facts. The story presents a present day situation that should open eyes and make each of us look at the circumstances around us to see if we can really discern truth from intentionally manipulated PR. I loved the story and am anxious to begin the next book, The Eye of Molech, which I am reviewing for Simon and Schuster through Audiobook Jukebox.

Audio Notes: This story was good on its own but the narration enhanced my enjoyment and made it move much more quickly than if I had read a print or ebook version. James Daniels does a really good job keying into the character personalities. I will look for other works narrated by Mr. Daniels.

Mr. Beck quotes several treatices on freedom and government in the story. One that I think is particularly appropriate is:

The most basic question is not what is best, but who shall decide what is best.
Thomas Sowell

This audio was from my Audible library.

Saturday Snapshot August 3, 2013 - A Strutting Heron

One early evening a month ago I was driving into our community and was startle to see this feathered beauty outside my window. I learned something new when I researched to make sure if this was an egret or a white heron. Apparently they are two names for the same bird.

These pictures were taken from my car window.

I hurriedly pulled a bit to the side and stopped to grab my camera.

Here is the heron across the other side of the road.
Too bad it looks further away then it was.

After looking at me for a moment or two it started to strut away.

I had to hurry to get in one more shot.

Once again the week slipped away from me with no visiting.
This Saturday morning I am determined to get around to see what's up with other blog friends.
Thanks to all who stop by and visit.

A big Thank You to Alyce of At Home With Books who has hosted this meme for a number of years. She is taking a summer hiatus at her blog and the new host will be Melissa at West Metro Mommy. Thank you to Melissa for picking up the responsibility.

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky being hosted this summer by West Metro Mommy. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Audio Book Review: Maiden Voyage of the Rio Grande by Michael Coorlim

This is another quick, easy listen with a brutal mystery to be solved.

Maiden Voyage of the Rio Grande

by Michael Coorlim

Narrated by Wayne Farrell
    LENGTH    55 mins
    RELEASE DATE    05-15-13
    PUBLISHER    Michael Coorlim
Genre: Steampunk Mystery
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The Bartleby and James Adventures steampunk mystery series follows the cases of consulting detectives Anton Bartleby and James Wainwright through an alternate Victorian history. Their latest adventure takes them high above the greatest city in the world.

Brilliant but socially-awkward inventor and engineer James Wainwright has been accused of murder most foul, and only his savvy partner, Alton Bartleby, can clear his name. The clock is ticking, though, as the true murderer's sabotage threatens to crash the world's largest airship into the teaming streets of London below.

Who are Bartleby and James?
Alton Bartleby is a social savant, the scion of a once pround and noble bloodline, working to restore his family's name. James Wainwright is a brilliant engineer and inventor. Together they take on the cases that Scottland Yard cannot or will not handle.

Review:
Inventor and engineer James Wainwright is accused of murder when he stumbles on a dead body on the maiden voyage of the new American airship, the Rio Grande. He is facing an antagonistic interrogation when his sophisticated and detailed oriented partner, Alton Bartleby, steps in to rescue him. They convince the Captain that James is innocent and they offer to locate the real killer.

They have to determine cause of death, opportunity and motive. James and Bartleby set off by examining the corpse and the scene of the crime. They proceed with interviewing passengers and crew. They determine that the brutal murder involved a theft. The ship is using a new propulsion system which is touted as the latest and greatest but apparently the crucial mechanism that keeps the large ship balanced has been removed!

The deceased was a well liked crewmember with no obvious enemies, however the airship owner’s biggest competitor is on board and would love the chance to “sink” the ship. The suspects also include an estranged son and bitter wife. The biggest problem is that unless James can jerry-rig a fix the ship will roll and explode causing damage to the vessel and the city below. James and Bartleby race against time to solve the murder mystery and fix the ship before they all go down in flames.

I really enjoyed the step by step investigation as described by James. This is an inexpensive purchase for an hour of fun listening!

Audio Notes: As with the first book, Wayne Farrell presents the story with perfect British hauteur and aplomb. He handles the American accents well too. I hope there will be more brisk adventures written by Mr. Coorlim and read by Mr. Farrell.

I received this Audible download to provide an honest review for the author through Audiobook Jukebox.