Sunday Words of Encouragement September 2, 2012

We will visit Ketchikan this morning on day six of our Alaska cruise. I have prepared this ahead as we are five hours behind my usual Central time.
We have been blessed with beautiful weather... not so typical to Alaska we are told. Today may be drizzling.

I found this video that seems fitting in sight of all the beauty I have seen this week

Verse for Today:

Jude 1:25 NIV

25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen


I am thankful for the blessings that God has showered on me! We have prayed for several couples and individuals on the ship, including our driver yesterday who plans to become a missionary next year.

Sharing Beyond Books #64 Comment Giveaway September 1, 2012

Welcome to another SBB!

Hello again on Saturday Night! I've prepared most of this a week ahead so I won't be online too long. 

Thank you to all who shared last week.

There weren’t really that many commenters who read cookbooks. And surprisingly, there are several of us who are not cooks!  By far the favorite cookbook/recipes to read were desserts and baking. :-)

Although a handful may google a new food found in a book few of us try the recipes. I have to agree with Texas Book Lover though that the chocolate descriptions in the Lucky Harbor series are sooo tempting.  One of my favorite foods on the cruise ship is the Chocolate Melting Cake with ice cream....YUM!

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The Winner from SBB #63 comments is: #16 Texas Book Lover There are still 6 'love' books to pick from and 1 Christmas choice (I guess I'll have to add some titles to that list soon). Texas Book Lover please choose a book (or GC if international) from the remaining Love Books List for Giveaway, remaining Christmas Giveaway Book, OR pick from the Updated ARC/Review List and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #64 Questions

Q1. mamabunny asks: What fashion would you like to see come back from this era or any other??

A: What came to mind with this question is: Bell Bottom pants! I do have one pair of flared pants and I always get compliments on them. And maybe because I was in college in the early 70's I love the picture below. :-).

Odd - the ad says this is great for "50s"
but I am sure it was 60s and 70s that were the Psychedelic colors!
Image found at Moon Costumes

Q2. Since I am cruising in Alaska this week let's share Alaska books. Do you have an Alaska related book or two to recommend??

A:  Maybe I will find one on the cruise but if not I am thinking of two books: Molly Harper's How to Flirt With a Naked Werewolf which was set in Alaska and, since we will be visiting this location tomorrow and because I enjoyed the story: The Ketchikan Man by Ciara Lake.

Image found at eTreasures Publishing
(For full disclosure this is my publishing house)

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

Your turn to share:

1. mamabunny asks: What fashion would you like to see come back from this era or any other??

2. My Question: Do you have an Alaska related book or two to recommend??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining  Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books - there are still about 7 books available to choose from. Also I have added the Updated ARC/Review List 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, September 7, 2012 at 10 PM central.

Book Feature: POWER and Fall in Love with Forever Prizepack!

BOOK FEATURE:

Courtesy of Forever division of Hachette

POWER, Faces of Evil, by Debra Webb

Debra Webb's POWER (the third of her previously self published series that started with OBSESSION and IMPULSE) goes on sale this Tuesday 9/4 for a great $3.99 price. POWER is the first previously unpublished book of the series (although as you might know Forever Yours has just published the first two as e books in August).
Obsession Faces of Evil

I will be sharing a short Q&A with Ms. Webb and a review of Power later this month.

Impulse

But right now, to celebrate the release of Power, Forever division of Hachette is hosting a GREAT "FALL in Love with Forever" prizepack of upcoming fall titles!

Here are the titles included in the prizepack:

THE WARRIOR by Margaret Mallory
BAREFOOT IN THE RAIN  by Roxanne St. Claire
AN HEIRESS AT HEART by Jennifer Delamere
WHERE ANGELS REST by Kate Brady
TOO DANGEROUS TO DESIRE by Cara Elliott
TWO SINFUL SECRETS by Laurel McKee

To Enter this Giveaway for a GREAT FOREVER PRIZEPACK:

1.  Comment by telling me if you have read one of the above FOREVER Romance authors. If none of these, can you identify another FOREVER romance author you have read or tell me if there is one you would like to read.

2.  Extra Entry: Visit Debra Webb's site and tell me something of interest you find there.

3.  For an extra entry, become a follower on any media (GFC, Twitter @MSEREADS, Facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/ReviewsByMarthasBookshelf , Goodreads or Linky - links on right sidebar) or tell me if you are already a follower.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Three total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US ONLY.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on September 14, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on September 15.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.  

Book Review: Darksiders The Abomination Vault by Ari Marmell

If you like action, and don't mind some darkness in the story, then you should try this book.

Darksiders The Abomination Vault

by Ari Marmell

• File Size: 2101 KB
• Print Length: 370 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: B008O3ITWG
• Publisher: Del Rey (July 24, 2012)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0074CLJDO

Genre: Fantasy

My rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 2012

Ride with the Horsemen of the Apocalypse as they seek to unearth a plot that could plunge all of Creation into chaos!

Ages before the events of Darksiders and Darksiders II, two of the feared Horsemen—Death and War—are tasked with stopping a group of renegades from locating the Abomination Vault: a hoard containing weapons of ultimate power and malice, capable of bringing an end to the uneasy truce between Heaven and Hell . . . but only by unleashing total destruction.

Created in close collaboration with the Darksiders II teams at Vigil and THQ, Darksiders: The Abomination Vault gives an exciting look at the history and world of the Horsemen, shining a new light on the unbreakable bond between War and Death.

Review:

This was a very enjoyable fantasy read! I didn’t realize that it was connected with some gaming world. When it began I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about the obvious complete fantasy world with Death as the main character. Soon the action began and I was drawn into the story.  I found Death was not all horrible and wicked even though he is rather formidable.  Later he is joined by his brothers, War and Strife, and sister, Fury.  Although Death doesn’t want them to interfere in his battle, War comes along and helps Death in a battle against two renegades who would unleash destruction, pain and hate in the world.

Death is given an assignment by the Charred Council. They are the group who stands at the pivot point of all Creation, protecting the Balance between the Angels of Heaven and the Demons of Hell. The investigation reveals that a renegade angel is involved in the threat to unleash destruction. I loved how Death teams up with Azrael, an Angel of the White City, to face the danger. Sort of “the enemy of my foe is my friend” alliance.

Death is a one man army; full of action. His skills, beyond killing, include pulling last memories from dying souls. There is great imagery in characters and settings. Even the horses of Death and War have their own personalities.  The adventure involves dark, twisted creatures in dark, bloody places and almost nonstop battles.  I was glad the rough language was stopped at ‘damn’ and there was nothing uglier than that.

Even in the world of Death it is heartening to know that good can defeat evil. I really recommend this story if you like full on action.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fun dialogue:

“What do you mean, no?”
“I wasn’t aware the word had multiple meanings,” Death said. Location 326

Good Imagery:

The saddle on which War sat was as much steel as leather; the bridle, like Death’s, was a chain, though this one was thick and free of blemish or rust. Location 1325.

I picked this up through Random House on NetGalley.

Winners of MBS Feed Your Reader Hop!

I can't get the layout to open to note the winners at the top of the blog so I am doing a Winners post here.

Congratulations to the Winners of MBS Feed Your Reader Hop!
Winners get two eBooks totaling value $15.00 each winner

Winners:

Jessica B

Christine

(isabelli3619)

Jessica and Christine please pick one book from books I have read/reviewed 2009 - 2012  (there is a link on the right sidebar if the link gives trouble). There are lots of great choices.  A second, or more, books can be winner's choice.

Please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads AT gmail.com to confirm the win and I will send the books.  Please reply within 72 hours!
Thank you to all who entered - I will be picking a surprise winner or two after I get back to town next week.