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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Fool For Books Giveaway Hop - April 1 and April 2

My Giveaway prize this time is Three Thousand....
Pennies!! [APRIL FOOLS! Sorry - I just couldn't resist.*G*]
This is a 2 day hop taking place on Friday, April 1st & Saturday, April 2nd. I am number 115 of over 200 stops!

Thanks to I Am A Reader , Not a Writer and The Bookish Snob for hosting this giveaway.

This is a quick Hop for two days only and I am keeping it simple.
There will be TWO winners here:

#1 WINNER gets to pick two books up to $20.00 value from Book Depository or Amazon.  No restriction on titles this time.
#2 WINNER will get a gift certificate at PayPal or Amazon for $10.00.

YOU MUST FOLLOW Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf in some venue: Google Friend Connect (GFC), Twitter, or email subscription. Enter by using THIS ENTRY FORM

** ALERT - Keep watch this month as I am planning a Big Giveaway in April to celebrate as I get close to 1000 GFC followers. I have several authors participating too.

Now hurry along to enter all of these giveaways!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Merely Magic by Patricia Rice

Can a man of science appreciate a woman with a spirit of magic?
Merely Magic (Magic (Sourcebooks Casablanca)) by Patricia Rice
    Merely Magic (Magic (Sourcebooks Casablanca))
  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Reprint edition (March 1, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402251939
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402251931
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
Product Description
"Patricia Rice is a master storyteller."
-Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author of Never Less than a Lady
Magic is her birthright...
The daughter of one of the strongest magical lineages, Ninian Malcom Siddons is a powerful witch. Determined to only use her magic for good, she lives a simple, solitary life as a healer in her village, where she meets Drogo.
A man of science doesn't believe in anything he can't see...
Lord Drogo Ives believes only logic and science can explain the wonders of the universe and doesn't believe the local folklore about Malcolm witches and Ives men, until he meets Ninian.
Despite the odds against them and their (many) differences, the bond between Drogo and Ninian grows stronger each moment they are together... until the chaos and danger surrounding them forces each to decide: their love... or their lives...
Review: She may not have true magical skills but her spirit is one of magic.

Ninian is a Malcolm daughter descended from a long heritage of witches who only give birth to daughters.  Ninian is a gifted herbalist and healer in a small village. She is always on the outside of the crowd as the people are a bit afraid of the rumors of the Malcolm witches. Ninian doesn’t expect to ever have a family of her own because of her solitary life.

The large manor home near the village, is owned by Lord Ives but it has been vacant for many years. The Ives men only have sons and seemed doomed to have unhappy marriages.  There is a history of an old Malcolm and Ives marriage that brought disaster to the house and village. Lord Drogo is a man of logic, math and science. Drogo is the head of the family and since he was a young teen he has been responsible for the  family finances and the corralling of the rambunctious boys, legitimate and otherwise.  He was never coddled as a boy and is not prone to express, or even allow himself to feel, much emotion. He thought he had escaped to the manor house to study stars and to get a break from the family duties.

When Ninian and Drogo meet it is like trying to put the earth and stars together but the draw between them is instant and overpowering.  Drogo is used to controlling everyone in his family. Ninian is self sufficient and doesn’t need someone to control her. She needs someone to accept and love her.  But Drogo doesn’t believe in love or witches or magic. Can they learn to accept and trust each other?

I thought this portion succinctly presents their problem (and it sounded so familiar as in my DH and myself!) “He’d given up any hope of logic from her months ago.  She had a brain. She just didn’t use it as he did.” p 267.

This book flows smoothly and beautifully. Ninian is such a giving and warm character and she draws the cool, unemotional Drogo into her joy.  I love the magical feeling that this author weaves into her stories. I have read one of the other books in the “Magic” series of Malcolms and Ives and I have several more on my TBR shelf as this is an author worth collecting.
xxx

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this book to read and review.
TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR THE ARC COPY:

1. Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there.  (I had to wonder: what is with all the naked chests on her covers? *G*)
Please leave your e-mail!

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two extra entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

(Four total entries possible.)
It is not necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

* This contest is open to US and Canada only.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on April 15, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.

Monday, March 28, 2011

It's Monday! What are you Reading March 28, 2011?

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.

Last week was slower reading. I Am The Chosen King took until Tuesday but I didn't get far on any books the rest of the week. First I was late each night getting ready to go away. Then I let my almost 7 year old grandson read Alice in Wonderland on my Kindle for most of the ride to Orlando. Saturday I helped watch the young'uns by the pool and Sunday we spent the day at Disney and Old Town so little reading. There was almost no computer time as the internet was bogged when I tried to go on it at 10-11 each night.

So I only finished two books. I did the three reviews that got posted; two with Giveaways; an author Guest Post; an Author Q&A Interview and some winner posts.

I visited some blogs early in the week but nothing after Wednesday as I was focused on cleaning off my desk.  *Sigh*

These were last week's posts plus Winner posts not listed.
  • Sunday Words of Encouragement  - missed since I was with family, grandkids and was given no time for computer. 
Finished Reading:
Print and Kindle: 
I Am the Chosen King
I Am the Chosen King
 

by Helen Hollick
An excellent historical fiction.  
Review with author Q&A Interview linked above.

Audible:
by Maria V. Snyder
I pretty much zipped through this. 
Outside In (Harlequin Teen)Another winner from this author.
Rating 4.75 - 
I hope to do up a review this week 
and post when I can.




Line Edits/Releases:
None finished this week.


Currently reading:
Print: 
Merely MagicMerely Magic by Patricia Rice
I am really enjoying this even though I am only 60% through. I have read Patricia Rice before and she has a certain magic that pulls you in.
Product Description
"Patricia Rice is a master storyteller."
-Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author of Never Less than a Lady
Magic is her birthright...
The daughter of one of the strongest magical lineages, Ninian Malcom Siddons is a powerful witch. Determined to only use her magic for good, she lives a simple, solitary life as a healer in her village, where she meets Drogo.
A man of science doesn't believe in anything he can't see...
Lord Drogo Ives believes only logic and science can explain the wonders of the universe and doesn't believe the local folklore about Malcolm witches and Ives men, until he meets Ninian.
Despite the odds against them and their (many) differences, the bond between Drogo and Ninian grows stronger each moment they are together... until the chaos and danger surrounding them forces each to decide: their love... or their lives...
LegacyPrint and Kindle:
Legacy by Jeanett Baker
I am enjoying this one too. 
I am at 20% but stopped 
so I wouldn't confuse the characters 
in this with Merely Magic.
Product Description
"Tantalizing...Ms. Baker kept me intrigued and enthralled...
a thought-provoking novel not to be missed."
-Rendezvous
The last of the Murrays...
Christina Murray is elated to inherit her family's ancestral home in Scotland. But upon her arrival she is confronted by her breathtakingly handsome new neighbor, Ian Douglas...and an ancient family curse that comes with the castle.
A violent legacy of passion...
Seduced by Ian's easy Scottish charm by day, Christina dreams at night of three raven-haired beauties, ancestors who fell victim to the curse one generation after another: Katrine, the fiery Jacobite supporter who lost her heart to an Englishman; Jeanne, an accused witch; and Mairi, who shared a forbidden passion with the King of England.
Now it's Christina's turn to lie in that cursed bed... and loving Ian might just cost her life.
Audible:
byJulie Kagawa
I started this and finding it very entertaining.
Product Description
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Audio:
Maeve Binchy Value Collection: The Copper Beach, Circle of Friends, The Glass Lake
These are quite engaging.
I am half way done The Glass Lake.
Superb storytelling.
Guess I may wait till I finish the third one to post the reviews.


Audible:  
I am listening to The Listener's Bible NIV 
read by Max McLean. I am at Deuteronomy 6 and Psalm 23 and Matthew 6.

Line Edits: Now focused on finalizing formats on Soylent Red by Jamieson Wolf. Also working on final edits and formatting of Silicon Self by Kirtimaya Varma.


Review books Scheduled for March:

Unscheduled for March:
One review book left for March - not sure I can finish before the end of the week though:
The Healing Code: 6 Minutes to Heal the Source of Your Health, Success, or Relationship Issue by Alexander Loyd - Grand Central Station (Hachette)

I only have a four set review books in April but I plan to add several books that I have won. I will probably do a Help Me Pick list post this week.

Enquiring Minds - Meme Week 30 PLUS Comment Giveaway + Winner

Last week we had fun sharing about our nationalities and about St. Patrick customs. Winnie & Jane - I'll have my son give me something this week in Chinese to share with you. You mean they celebrate St. Patrick's Day in China? Doesn't that seem odd? Then again it is a "small world after all" and Mystica is right that most of us are mixed decent and we might live anywhere. Jennifer was the natural born Irish lass.

The Winner from Enquiring Minds Week #29 is: tooncesmom. tooncesmom- please pick a book from the Love Books List for Giveaway or remainging Christmas Giveaway Books and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks if desired. Or let me know what credit you want or book you want from Book Depository if international.

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 30 QUESTIONS
If you live outside of the United States replace your home country for the United States in these questions.
1. Have you ever traveled outside of the United States?
Yes - I wish I had some of my Europe pictures from 2005. We flew into London and then took the train to Antwerp to take a 15 day Viking River Rhine cruise that was WONDERFUL!  But here are pictures from our  transatlantic cruise from Spain to Florida in 2008.

Above - amazing food markets in Cadiz.

Left  - Interesting  sights in Casablanca and right beautiful Madeira port entrance.
We also have been to the Bahamas several times, Los Cabos,  Mexico and I have been to Canada - Prince Edward Island, Montreal and Toronto on different occasions.

2.  If you could pack up today on a vacation and money was no issue where would you go?
Hard decision as I want to go to Israel, would love to do a Mediterranean cruise and would like to visit China.  But I think I would choose Wales with side trips to Scotland and Ireland.
3. Is there somewhere in the United States that you have never been that you would like to visit?
Yes - I want to visit Alaska - preferably on a cruise. (Do you get the picture we LOVE cruises!)

Your turn to share: Have you visited outside your own country? Where would you like to visit most outside and inside your own country?
Enquire Comment Winners can choose a selection from  Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books
Rules: a) Must be a follower; b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the three 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, April 1 at 10PM central. 

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Winners for House Divided and Taste Me

Thank you to everyone who entered.
CONGRATULATIONS
to the winner of
by Raul Ramos y Sanchez

House Divided

LEXIE


CONGRATULATIONS
to the Winner of
Taste Me
by Tamara Hogan
 Taste Me

TheJay2x

I will email the winners for mailing info in a bit. I have to help kids get ready for my Dad's party.

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