Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Sunday Words of Encouragement October 23, 2011

This morning we celebrated communion again. It is always a time when my heart swells. Our Pastor preached on the "quickening" of The Spirit. He pointed out that if we are feeling empty then we are not allowing The Spirit to abound in us. The Spirit will energize us if we allow it to rule over our fleshly weaknesses. He reminded us that we should be feeding the Spiritual part of our bodies (reading God's Word, the Bible, praying and being obedient) more than the physical parts.

We started singing this song as a worship song a few months ago.

It was fitting for hurricane season
and fitting for ANY and ALL seasons!
I really like the image of the "unforeseen kiss" -
it makes me think of romance and great love.
It helps to remember the Greatest Love:
that which is given by our Father as Creator, our Lord Jesus as Savior and the Holy Spirit as Comforter.

A Verse for Today:

2 Cor 9:8 NIV
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. [Emphasis added.]

There were some wonderful messages this morning. I am so thankful for God's abundant blessings in my life. I'm even more thankful that I know from experience that He will provide what I need - comfort, strength, healing - even in times of trouble.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Week Two of Our Scandinavian Cruise

We visited some more beautiful ports on the second week of our Scandinavian Cruise.
I have created a slide show with captioned pictures.

If the slide goes too quickly, you can click on the bottom of the slide show, click on the pause and go one at a time.
Next week I'll post the final pictures - I had many pictures from Halifax to choose from including homes of famous authors. :-)

Sharing Beyond Books Week #19 Comment Giveaway 10/22/11

Welcome to ..... Saturday Night and Sharing Beyond Books!
Thanks for your comments this past week - there were some fun answers.

Several of us wanted a 'date' with Roarke but some of you named characters I don't even know so I will be looking them up. I do agree with Sarah that Jamie Fraser from the Outlanders series would be a great choice too as would Bones from the Night Huntress series, Winnie's choice.

I think I know even fewer of the female characters so there are more for me to look up. Some of them sound quite interesting. Now Jane - you didn't pick Jane Marple because you share the same name did you?

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The Winner from SBB #18 comments is: #12 Winnie. There are still 9 'love' books to pick from, 5 Christmas choices and 2 Summer titles below so Winnie please choose a book from the remaining Love Books List for Giveaway or remaining Christmas Giveaway Books, the one summer book below OR pick from the ARC box and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #19 Questions

Q1. For this week Mary P asks: - Which book title grabbed your attention immediately???

A: Hmmm - you guys ask some questions that really take thinking! I only went back over 2011 titles and looked on my open shelves (rather than digging through boxes of books).

One review book whose title caught my eye was To Be Sung Under Water. Last year I happened to purchase several books, including a couple on sale at Bookstore Community, and these books I picked out because the titles caught my attention:

Silent Night, Haunted Night, Tombs of Endearment, and Bookmarked for Death Unfortunately I didn't realize none of these were the first in their series so I haven't read any of them yet.

Q2. Since Halloween is next weekend I decided to ask what costume, if any, will you - or your kids - be wearing and what candy, if any, will you be giving out???

I won't be wearing any costume but my grandkids are going as TBD for grandson, Cinderella for JoJo and a pumpkin for the little munchkin.

As for candy, I generally get the big bag of mixed wrapped candies and give it for the church party - we haven't had trick or treaters down our mile long private road.

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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 will draw from the suggestions I used the month before and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions but some of you others might want to get in a question or two as we have a few people submitting most of the questions so far. Either way - it works for me. :-)

Your turn to share:

1. Which book title grabbed your attention immediately??

2. What costume, if any, will you - or your kids - be wearing and what candy, if any, will you be giving out???

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books - there are still about 14 books available plus 2 left in the Summer titles to choose from. Also I have added the Review and ARC Box now.

The Days of Summer: A Novel

My copy is a paperback from 2006

with a different cover.

A Summer Affair (Calhoun Chronicles)
I love Susan Wiggs historicals!

SBB Rules: a) Must be a follower;
b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the two/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, October 28 at 10PM central.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Winners for Double Giveaway, Forbidden and Where Tomorrow Waits

Congratulations to All of these Winners!!!

Two Winners of Forever Romance Contemporary Double "Going Home" books:

Home at Last Chance
by Hope Ramsay

Home Sweet Home

by Bella Riley

************************************************

Forbidden

by Ted Dekker

****************************************

Where Tomorrow Waits

by Jane Peart

Natalie's Mama, Helen, LuAnn and mamabunny13 ---- ALL WINNERS please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form so I can mail the books out or let the Publisher know for mailing. Please reply within 72 hours!

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick October 21, 2011

[** If you are new to Friday Pick, scroll down a bit (below book group #19) for instructions on how to enter.]
Whew - this week has flown by especially with me traveling to Orlando and back on Tuesday and Thursday. It was fun but now I have a push for work on Friday. :-)

Thank you to all who entered October 14 Pick. There were THREE (Woo Hoo again!) Automatic winners this week (those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks).
Louisa chose Firestorm.
Carol W Update-- Chose Final Appeal instead of Point No Point which was won 9/9 and hasn't been on the lists for the past two weeks. Final Appeal was not a pick for anyone else for the past five months so it now goes to Carol. :-)
LuAnn chose Kiss of Fate

CONGRATULATIONS

to Random.org picked Winners from October 14 Pick:
(I think it was a week for beginner's luck! Welcome Etrabelsie (for a couple of weeks) and Spav to the Friday Picks!

Etrabelsie chose The Glassblower or a GC

and
Spav chose 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 or sexy +plus - I am currently low on just sweet.

Is anyone else ignoring the falling leaves while you read like me?

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
Desperation by Stephen King
Vanish by Tess Gerritsen
Witch by Barbara Michaels (spine wear)
Midnight by Dean Koontz (spine wear)
Walking After Midnight by Karen Robards (spine wear)
Sense of Evil by Kay Hooper
The Haunting of Josie by Kay Hooper
Dark Secret (the Carpathians Book 12) by Christine Feehan
Hokus Pokus (the Sisterhood: Rules of the Game Book 2) by Fern Michaels
Emily's Good Nightmare by Cosmic Debris Cosmic
Death Angel by Linda Howard
A Marked Man by Stella Cameron
Bone Cold by Erica Spindler (spine wear)
Exposed (Maggie O'Dell) by Alex Kava
All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris

New Group #22 Pick Books September 2, 2011

Double Set by Lori Copeland:
June (Brides of the West #2) (HeartQuest)
The Courtship of Cade Kolby (Avon Romantic Treasure)
Singles:
Tender Triumph by Judith McNaught
Legacy of the Dead (Inspector Ian Rutledge Mysteries) by Charles Todd
A Far and Deadly Cry by Teri Holibrook
Lost Light (Harry Bosch Series #9) by Michael Connelly
Blackwater Sound: A Novel (Thorn Mysteries) by James W. Hall

New Group #21 of Pick Books July 29, 2011

There are eight mysteries and I have asterisked nine books that are smaller and would be good for oversea choices if so desired.

Coffin Underground (Inspector John Coffin) by Gwendoline Butler

~~The Cheshire Cat's Eye by Marcia Muller~~

Mallory's Oracle (Kathleen Mallory Novels) by Carol O'Connell

* I. O. U by Pickard, Nancy (spine creased)

Stand by Me Anthology with Dallas Schulze, Roberta Leigh and Linda Randall Wisdom (spine creased)

Until We Meet Again by Christine McGuire (spine creased)

* Undercover Pursuit (Love Inspired Suspense) by Susan May Warren

* The Glassblower by Laurie Alice Eakes

* Easy On the Heart by Jodi Thomas

* Rogue Stallion (Montana Mavericks) by Diana Palmer

May, 2011 New Group of Pick books

Group #20

Singles

A Price for Everything (Rosamunde Pilcher's Book Shelf) by Mary Sheepshank

Luciano's Luck by Jack Higgins - Audio Cassettes

~~The Hope Chest: Yesterday's Magic\Today's Secrets\Tomorrow's Promise (Signature Select) Anthology~~

~~Susan, Kearney, Julie Kenner and Jacquie D'Alessandro~~

3/25/11 I did get to set up a new group of books:

Group #19

Singles

Second Chance: A NovelSecond Chance: A Novel

Disguised Blessing

Rhapsody: A Love Story

The Waterfall

Primary Colors - audio tapes

A Little Magic

Note of Peril (black strip on cover)

2/19/11 Book Group #18- Pairs!

Not all of these are two from a series but several are. Each pick gets two books.

Patricia Cornwell Pair:

Cruel and Unusual

At Risk (Win Garano)

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.

So far I have posted 23 groups of 16 books to find new homes!

I have updated 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 245 books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the correct number sent out.

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 and $6.00 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. :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 before 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

Scavenger by David Morrell
Moonfire by Judith Redman Robbins
Saving Faith by David Baldacci (Audio Book)

12/3/10 Book Set:

#16

Best Of Enemies by Taylor Smith

~~Veils of Silk by Mary Jo Putney~~

Sleight of Hand by Robin Hathaway

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Uneasy Alliance (Famous Firsts) Jayne Ann Krentz (slightly worn)

List #15

The Texas CEO's Secret (Silhouette Special Edition) by Nicole Foster

List #14

Blood And Glory (Soldiers Of War) (Soldiers of War, Book 1) by Larson Reed

Lines of Defense by Barry Siegel
Gospel Truths by J.G. Sandom

Here is set #13 of Used books!

Pearl Beyond Price by Claire Delacroix

This is a group of books I have had for several years but not gotten to read. Since it doesn't look like I will get to read them for another year (or more!) I am passing them on. Although as I type them part of me still says "But you may want to read that some day!" Yes, yes; along with the other 700 books I am housing! Must Let goooooo.....

Group #12

The Ripple Effect by Lynn Erickson

The Undertaker's Widow by Phillip M. Margolin

Double Jeopardy by William Bernhardt

The Genesis Code: A Thriller by John Case

Group #11

Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown

Hothouse Orchid by Stuart Woods - CD Audio

Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

Snow in April by Rosamunde Pilcher

Looking Back by Belva Plain

The Ring on Her Finger by Elizabeth Bevarly