Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf

Monday, December 27, 2010

Winners from Midwinter's Eve!

Sorry to run late on announcing Winners on this. I had forgotten to print out the list while at the office on the 23rd so I had to run in to do that.
Thank you to everyone who entered!

CONGRATULATIONS

to the Winners!

$20 Gift Certificate goes to

Zoe (strandedhero)

and

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1)

by Cassandra Clare

will be sent to

Asenath

Winners have been emailed.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

It's Monday! What are you Reading December 27, 2010?

This meme starts at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books!

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.

I finished three books last week and posted three Reviews, two with ARC Giveaways; one Author Interview; one Comment Giveaway and a week of Christmas Videos.

As noted before, for this feature I will only be giving a rating and a short summary comment on books I read from my TBRs or as fillers - which aren't many :).

Again I didn't have too much time this past week to reply to comments or visit. I keep hoping to improve.

These were last week's posts plus Winner posts not listed.

It's Monday What are You Reading? December 20, 2010.

Five Christmas Song Videos for Songs from our Choral Program I posted one each day but this link is for all of them.

Thank you for Holiday Swap.

Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop.

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley; Historical Fiction/Time Travel; my rating 4.5.

Q & A Interview with Susanna Kearsley, author of The Winter Sea.

Book Review and ARC Giveaway of Dating Mr. December by Phillipa Ashley; Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.0.

Book Review Kentucky Blues by Cat Shaffer; Romantic Suspense; my rating 3.75.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway December 24, 2010.

Merry Christmas to Blogging Friends.

Sunday Words of Encouragement December 26, 2010.

Enquiring Minds want to know Meme - Week 17 Plus Comment Giveaway.

Finished Reading:

Print (and Kindle):

The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley;

Historical Fantasy Romance.

Review and ARC Giveaway linked above.

Print: Devil's Desire

by Laurie McBain; Historical Romance.

I had mixed feelings as I read this to the

very engaging ending.

I will post a review and ARC Giveaway this week.

Kindle: Kentucky Blues by Cat Shaffer;
Romantic Suspense. Review is linked above.

Product Description from Turquoise Morning Press
Elise Drummond has never forgotten her first love – and never expected to learn via the grapevine that he was back in Brookville and living with her mother. Sam McCade had broken her heart, and she wasn’t about to let him destroy her mother’s as well. A quick trip back to Kentucky to lay down the law and she could get back to the safe life she’d built for herself in Kansas City.

When Sam McCade went on the run in the middle of the night to save his sister from her abusive husband, there was only one person he could trust to help them, Hannah Drummond. He expected the local gossips to have a field day with his return to Brookville, but he never dreamed Elise would roll into town to check out the situation for herself.

And he certainly never imagined that in order to save his sister, Elise would be willing to sacrifice herself as the pawn in a dangerous game of catch the monster when his brother-in-law decides to take back what he wants – no matter who stands in his way.

Audio: -------

Line Edits/Releases: Haven't quite gotten the new releases up as we work out final details.

Currently reading:
Print: Wolf Fever by Terry Spear; Paranormal Romance.

This author has the knack of drawing you in right away even though I am less than a quarter into this. Reviewing for Sourcebooks.

Product Description
She may be his destiny, but she's not his first choice...

Hospital nurse and newly turned red werewolf Carol Woods is being pressured by her pack leader to find a mate, but he's the only guy in the pack who remotely attracts her.

Why is he playing so hard to get?

The fate of the pack rests on his shoulders...

Gray pack leader Ryan McKinley doesn't want anything to do with Carol unless she's willing to embrace her wolf nature-no matter how beautiful she is.

But when a virus infects the local lupus garou pack, Ryan realizes just how wrong he's been not to seize the moment with the woman he's come to love. And now, it may be too late...

Kindle: No Greater Love by Kinzie Monroe; Inspirational. This is a story with an interesting premise/plot. I am enjoying the inspirational aspects and interested in how it will turn out. I am reviewing this for the author.

Product Description
What would you do for $300 million dollars? Would you commit murder, even as an act of mercy? That’s what Leah Dalton is asking of five of her closest friends. The co-founder and CEO of Dalton Software Inc., has spent the last six months searching desperately for a cure to the cancer that is eating away at her brain. Finally, realizing she is fighting a losing battle, she devises a plan that will give her back some control of her life. Deciding if she’s going to die, she is going to be the one who chooses how and when.

Inviting five of her closest friends and a local attorney to her estate to spend a week, she shares the news of her impending death and asks for their help. Afraid of the painful death she knows is just around the corner, she offers them the chance of a lifetime. She wants one of them to kill her. She doesn’t care how as long as it’s painless and appears to be accidental or natural. In return for their good deed, the person will receive $300 million dollars.

Will one of her friends take her up on the offer? What would you do?

Audible: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, Book 1) by Cassandra Clare. Listened to a bit more. Now that I finished the Audio CD for review I will continue to listen to this from my own wish list.

Line Edits: Working on final adjustments for: ΕΞΙΣ: gods, ghosts, and battered cellphones by Anne Abad. A collection of science fiction stories - was delayed for a cover change.
Love from the Ashes by Pat Andres, a paranormal romance mystery, should be getting released this week.
Also I am moving closer to two more releases, in addition to these two.

Remaining December books:

Print:

The Sherlockian by Graham Moore. Reading for Hachette.

Nothing else on the December schedule but I have pretty full calendars for January and February already with Hachette and Sourcebooks commitments. I am sifting through other requests to decide which other books to pull in.
I will post a January list in a few days so following friends can help me to pick the reading order and I can giveaway another comment book. :o)

BTW- Monday the 27th is my Birthday - I may go shopping with my daughter and my son's girl friend. I just can't think of anything I want to shop for although I would be glad to go to the book exchange store if they are open on Monday. We'll see.

Enquiring Minds - Meme Week 17 PLUS Comment Giveaway + Winner

Thank you for the wonderful sharing last week!
THE WINNER FROM ENQUIRING COMMENTS from week #16 on December 18 is Raissa who gets to pick a Christmas book or if she is international then a Book Depository Book or a GC.

This meme is hosted by Dollycas Thoughts for Thursdays - which are hard for me to make. The goal is to get to know our fellow bloggers and visitors better. Each week Dolly asks some questions for us to answer and then link up. I am late doing the post but I am trying to to participate as I would like to learn more about blogger and follower friends.

WEEK 17 QUESTION

Only 1 question this week.

1. Share with us a favorite childhood holiday moment?

I have many years with lots of good memories - I was going to pick a current one until I saw it was to be a childhood memory.
Hmmm - One special memory is when I was about 10 years old. I loved monkeys as a child. That year I received a gorilla that was almost as big as me. I had "Charlie" until I put him in storage while I was in college. Unfortunately he ended up with bugs and I had to get rid of him.
One other wonderful memory is making Christmas cookies with my mother and sister. That was always fun.

So how about you? Do you have a fav childhood memory to share.
This week we will do another Christmas book from the Christmas Books for Giveaway.

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 by next Friday, December 31 at 10PM central. Then hopefully I will announce the winner on Saturday!

Sunday Words of Encouragement December 26, 2010

We welcome the Christ Child and King on the Fifth Sunday of Advent.

Our Pastor reminded us this morning that when we focus on Christmas we should also remember Contentment. Many of us wanted more for Christmas than we needed. And most of us received more than we deserved for Christmas. It is important for us to learn to accept what we have with gratitude. Be careful that what you ask for or seek is in God's will as there will always be consequences if you outside His will.

I found this video and thought it is perfect for the day after Christmas.

Verses for today:

This verse goes with the sermon:

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

But this verse is for Christmas:

⁶ For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I pray that everyone will share the peace and love of Christmas each and every day.