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Saturday, March 31, 2012

Sharing Beyond Books #42 Comment Giveaway March 31, 2012

Welcome to SBB! How is everyone at the end of first quarter 2012? I had another busy week with my assistant out one day. I accomplished some good work but not everything I'd want to. Ah well. I keep on plugging away.  How about you?

Thank you to all those who commented last week.
I was really surprised by how few of you listen to audio books! Really only three out of 19 love audiobooks though several others do listen to certain authors; six have never tried audio and four are 'not into audio.'  I think I need to get more of you excited about audios.  

There was a nice variety of hobbies mentioned ... although I'm not sure I would count eating and sleeping as hobbies (bn100 and Abby). LOL  There are several people into needle hobbies like knitting, embroidering, cross stitching and quilting. Also there are a couple of travel buffs, photographers, writers and even exercise enthusiasts. 
~~~~

The Winner from SBB #41 comments is: #8 Natasha. There are still 8 'love' books to pick from and 2 Christmas choices. Natasha please let me know if you want a GC (if you are international) or choose a book from the remaining Love Books List for Giveaway, remaining Christmas Giveaway Books, 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 #42 Questions

Q1. This week mamabunny13 asks: Do you have a bucket list?
What is the craziest/wildest thing on your bucket list??
A:  No - I don't really have a bucket list. I have been blessed to do many things in my life. 
Image found at MidLife Road Trip

Q2. My question this week: Were you ever lost or left behind as a child??
A:  This question came to mind because of a book I read this week (Love to Water My Soul) where the little girl is left behind by the wagon train. But I did get left behind by my siblings while riding bikes in Atlantic City.  I was the youngest at six years old and they rode off leaving me in an unfamiliar neighborhood. The good thing was that nice people helped me get to the police and they gave me ice cream before delivering me home.

Image found at Zoodles

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 FormAt 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. :-)  The question list is being replenished!  Thanks for sending in questions!

This month the questions were shared by: Marjorie, Abby, heavensent1, Margaret and mammabunny13. The winner to pick a book for sharing questions is #3 heavensent1.

Your turn to share:

1. This week mamabunny13 asks: Do you have a bucket list?
What is the craziest/wildest thing on your bucket list??

2. My question is: Were you ever lost or left behind as a child??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining  Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books - there are still about 10 books available to choose from. Also I have added the Review and ARC Box now.

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, April 6, 2012 at 10 PM central.

Winners of True Highland Spirit, The Snow Child and Assassins in Love

CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNERS:
Giveaways Ended May 30

Julie



bn100



Carol L

Julie, bn100 and Carol L please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form to confirm the win and I'll send out the books and/or notify the publisher/author.  Please reply within 72 hours! 
Thank you to all who entered.

Book Review: Beyond the Misty Shore by Vicki Hinze

I like this author and enjoyed this 'haunting' story. 
by Vicki Hinze

  • File Size: 665 KB
  • Print Length: 266 pages
  • Publisher: Bell Bridge Books (October 17, 2011)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B005WECDJA
Genre: Paranormal Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0


Product Description“[A}clever fusion of humor, mystery, and romance.” – Publishers Weekly“Powerful and uplifting.” – Literary TimesWhimsy. Serenity. And a Touch of Magic. The Seascape Inn.Marketing executive Maggie Wright and artist T.J. MacGregor are linked by a mysterious car accident that killed Maggie’s cousin, Carolyn, T.J.’s fiancĂ©e. When Maggie arrives on the Maine coast determined to get answers from T.J., she discovers a tortured man who is bound to the Seascape Inn by supernatural forces. Despite the tragedy that stands between them, Maggie and T.J. begin to fall in love, seeking answers and a healing spirit they may never achieve. Vicki Hinze is the award-winning author of 24 novels, 4 nonfiction books and hundreds of articles, published in as many as sixty-three countries. She is recognized by Who’s Who in the World as an author and as an educator. Visit her at http://www.vickihinze.com.
 

Review:  This is an engaging “ghost” tale.
Maggie sets out to determine if there was foul play in the death of her cousin, Caroline.  In tracking Caroline and her former fiance, T. J. MacGregor, Maggie sees a remarkable painting that draws her to Seascape Inn in Maine.  She travels to the Inn before continuing her search but unexpectedly finds MacGregor there on the island.  She doesn’t reveal her connection to Caroline as she begins to develop a sparring relationship with this handsome but rude and aloof man.  Something repeatedly causes Maggie to feel empathy for him, encouraging her to try to help him even as he pushes her away.

T.J. MacGregor has been stuck at the Seascape Inn for nine months - literally. He may as well be a prisoner because each time he tries to move beyond the boundaries he passes out. He was originally drawn to the healing powers of the Inn to recover from grief at the loss of his parents. Now he has returned after Caroline’s accidental death but he has not been able to recover the healing peace this time. He has given up on his art because he believes his work caused the death of his parents and Caroline.

Slowly Maggie discovers the stories of the prior owners of the Inn and their great love for one another. There is a second couple too who committed their hearts to each other but were never able to share their lives as one of them died young. Maggie is enchanted by the stories but doesn’t believe in love herself having seen how her parents’ marriage was full of strife before her father walked away. She doesn’t expect any marriage in her future.

T.J. has tried to push Maggie away before he can hurt her too. Yet he doesn’t want to give her up and maybe -- if they can believe -- there could be miracles to change their lives.

Ms. Hinze weaves a tale of love that reaches beyond physical boundaries to pull Maggie and T.J. together.  Can they get past their secrets, lies and fears to share such a great love?

I really liked this author’s wonderful use of senses: smell (warm pie), sound ([chair] scrapped against the floor; the fire ... snapped) and sight (a shower of sparks, visual image, eyes sparkling).  Although there is a build up of sensual haze, the couple comes together in an act of loving, not merely in lust. I enjoyed the reluctant tug between the characters and the ghostly mystery.  Although I preferred some of Ms. Hinze’s wonderful suspense novels more, this is still a satisfactory and engaging read.
Here are some passages to give a feel for the story:
He’d once experienced Seascape’s light, its healing magic–the object. Now, he experienced its dark side, its curse–its shadows.
Location 53.

She wanted him, and she feared wanting him or anyone else because she’d seen what wanting her father had done to her mother.
Location 2069.

Changed forever.  Life-altering....Was that what was supposed to happen here? Change?
Location 2701

Read for the Publisher through NetGalley.
This is set in Sea Haven Village, Maine for my Where Are You Reading Challenge.

Friday, March 30, 2012

TODAY - Scott Nicholson and ebookswag offer some Free Kindle Books and Kindle Fires!

Hi Martha,
we are giving away Kindle Fires as well as lots of Kindle books at http://ebookswag.com this week and next if you care to pass along the word. ....

I'm also making the following Kindle books free March 29-30 if you care to pass any along!
Scott

Free books Friday, March 30
Scott Nicholson Library Vol. 3

The Red Church

Creative Spirit

The Harvest

As I Die Lying

Vampire Waltz

Flowers

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway March 30, 2012

[** 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 and end of March! How surprising to be at the end of a quarter already.  I hope everyone is ready for a happy April. This has been another busy week for me - that is such a mixed blessing.

Thank you to all who entered March 23 Pick.  There was ONE Automatic winner this week (those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks). 
There was a block this week but one won the luck of the draw. :-)

Maria chose Lines of Defense for four weeks with no block (no one else choosing the book.).

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from March 23 Pick:

Leah chose Let Me Call You Sweetheart which is a pair with
Moonlight Becomes Her 
and
Faith Hope Cherrytea chose November of the Heart
(This choice has been blocked from automatic win for several weeks but --
once again luck of the draw and persistence pays off!)

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. 


Oh I love this picture of such beautiful things
flowers, butterflies and a book!

New book Group #26 March 2, 2012
These are Paired sets - two per author.
Four are parts of series the others are just singles by the same author.
Winners get both books if you pick these.

Cathy Maxwell - Marriage Series
Maggie Shayne - Wings of Night Series
     Demon's Kiss (#1)  and Lover's Bite (#2) or #13 and #14 in the larger series
Jude Deveraux - The Velvet Series
     Velvet Song and Velvet Angel
Sabrina Jeffries - The School For Heiresses Series
     Only a Duke Will Do (#2) and Beware a Scot's Revenge (#3)
Nora Roberts
     Inner Harbor (#3 Cheasapeake Bay Series) and Blue Dahlia (SC) (#1 In the Garden Trilogy -(nice trilogy!)
Mary Higgins Clark
     Let Me Call You Sweetheart and Moonlight Becomes You  (SC)
Dick Francis
     Smokescreen (SC) and Field of Thirteen
James Patterson
     Sam's Letters to Jennifer and The Beach House    



New Group #25 January 12, 2012

*Smaller books on the right would be okay for most international mailing.
Endless Chain by Emilie Richards
Baby and All (3 Novels in 1) by Candace Camp, Victoria Pade and Myrna Mackenzie
Leopards Kill by Jim DeFelice
Thinner by Stephen King
Category 7 by Bill Evans and Marianna Jameson
Dangerous Lady by Amanda Scott
November of the Heart by Lavyrle Spencer
Hell's Belle by Jane Holleman
*Prime Time by Sandra Brown  
*Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark
*Out of the Blue (Allegheny Hopes) by Janice A. Thompson
*A McKaslin Homecoming by Jillian Hart 


New Group #24 Pick Books November 25, 2011
(The only Thanksgiving title I found is a Harlequin I'd like to read someday so no Thanksgiving titles for November.)


After Dark by Beverly Barton(spine wear)
The Shattered Rose by Jo Beverley
Final Justice by Jasmine Cresswell
Green Calder Grass by Janet Dailey
Praying for Sleep by Jeffery Deaver
Sunset Bay by Susan Mallery
The Wedding Wager by Cathy Maxwell
Moon Racer by Constance O'Banyon
Destiny Unleashed by Sherryl Woods


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
Witch by Barbara Michaels (spine wear)
Emily's Good Nightmare by Cosmic Debris Cosmic
Death Angel by Linda Howard


New Group #22 Pick Books September 2, 2011


Singles:
Tender Triumph by Judith McNaught
A Far and Deadly Cry by Teri Holibrook

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.

* I. O. U by Pickard, Nancy (spine creased)
Stand by Me Anthology with Dallas Schulze, Roberta Leigh and Linda Randall Wisdom (spine creased)

May, 2011 New Group of Pick books
Group #20


Singles
Luciano's Luck by Jack Higgins - Audio Cassettes


3/25/11 I did get to set up a new group of books:
Group #19


Singles
Primary Colors - audio tapes
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:

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 two years I  posted 26 groups of 16 books to find new homes! (March 2012)

I have 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 318 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 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 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

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

12/3/10 Book Set:
#16
Best Of Enemies by Taylor Smith
Sleight of Hand by Robin Hathaway
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Uneasy Alliance (Famous Firsts) Jayne Ann Krentz (slightly worn)

List #15

List #14
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
Double Jeopardy by William Bernhardt

Group #11
Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown
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

List #1 Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo

Pick #2
The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross

Pick #3
One Eye Closed by Karen Whiddon

Pick #4
Talking God by Tony Kellerman
Everything to Gain by Barbara Taylor Bradford
The Sixth Sense
The Shadow by Shelley Munro (PA)
Swear by the Moon by Shirley Busbee

Pick #5
See Jane Lead by Lois P. Frankel
The Jester by James Patterson - Audio Tapes
The Daddy Spell by Patti Ann Cole
Misfortune by Nancy Geary
False Prophet by Faye Kellerman
Cold Hit by Linda Fairstein - Audio Tapes

Pick #6
The Marshall Takes a Bride by Renee Ryan *PA*
Elusive Love by Catherine Lanigan

Pick #7
Scarred by William Heffernan (spine creased)
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
Midnight Come Again by Dana Stabenow (sc)
No Safe Place by Richard North Patterson - Audio Tapes

Pick #9
Three Weddings and a Kiss - Anthology
On Treacherous Ground by Earl Murray
Guardian by Dee Henderson - Audio Tapes
Time to Hunt by Stephen Hunter - Audio Tapes

Pick #10
The Third Twin by Ken Follett (spine creased)
Double Blind by Ken Goodard
Dreams Gather by Kathryn Collins (sc)

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