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Saturday, September 5, 2015

Book Review and Print Giveaway: Dying to Read (The Cate Kinkaid Files Book #1): A Novel by Lorena McCourtney

This story is a light, fun cozy mystery with a Christian foundation.
Dying to Read (The Cate Kinkaid Files Book #1): A Novel 
by Lorena McCourtney
  • File Size: 1449 KB
  • Print Length: 321 pages
  • Publisher: Revell (August 1, 2012)
  • Publication Date: August 1, 2012
  • ASIN: B0073UPRD0
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery, Christian Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0


"Lorena McCourtney's lively cozy mysteries hit all the right notes for me, and her newest doesn't miss a chord. A quirky, likable heroine, a handsome guy, and oh, a murder. Don't miss Cate Kinkaid's first case as a PI. It's a killer."--Lyn Cote, author of La Belle Christian

All she wanted was a paycheck. What she got was a murder.
Cate Kinkaid's life is . . . well, frankly it's floundering. Her social life, her career, her haircut--they're all a mess. Unemployed, she jumps at the chance to work for her PI uncle, even though she has no experience and no instincts. After all, she is just dabbling in the world of private investigating until she can find a "real" job.
All she has to do for her first assignment is determine that a particular woman lives at a particular address. Simple, right? But when she reaches the dark Victorian house, she runs into an hungry horde of gray-haired mystery readers and a dead body. This routine PI job is turning out to be anything but simple. Is Cate in over her head?


Review:
Cate has struggled from one job to another. Her family makes her feel like she cannot do anything right. Her PI uncle kindly, if reluctantly, agrees to hire her on a trial basis. Her first task is supposed to be an easy assignment: find a young woman named Willow. Cate arrives at the address where Willow is supposed to be and she is greeted by a handful of elderly ladies meeting for mystery reader book club known as the Whodunit Club. When they enter the house they discover no lunch, no maid (Willow) and a deceased hostess.

Cate doesn’t want to tell her Uncle that she hasn’t found Willow, especially when she learns he has been hospitalized. Cate returns to the house looking for clues to Willow’s whereabouts. There she meets the deceased woman’s niece who is worried Willow may have taken jewelry. The niece isn’t worried about the abandoned cat and Cate ends up taking the cat home to take care of her temporarily. Although the death appears to be a tragic fall down a back, rickety stairs, Cate begins to investigate on her own. She has plenty of suspects with Willow, the Whodunit ladies, the niece and her husband and a recent boyfriend of the deceased who has also disappeared.

As Cate is hunting down Willow she meets Mitch, a young man helping an elderly woman whom Willow used to work for. Mitch offers to help but Cate doesn’t want to accept help from anyone and she suspects that he may have nefarious motives too.

Cate bumbles along in her search, with Mitch appearing unexpectedly to rescue her from dangerous situations. Mitch is a great, nice character and I was rooting for Cate to give him a chance. Meanwhile, Willow, a tree-hugging activist, the Whodunit quirky ladies and other suspicious characters make for a fun investigation. Even the fluffy cat adds to the story.

The writing is very easy and I appreciated that Ms. McCourtney shared the faith of several characters in a gentle, sure manner. I enjoyed the growing friendship between Cate and Mitch, which ends at a stage that would allow further development in the series. The story is a light, fun cozy with a Christian foundation. I recommend this to readers who enjoy light cozy mysteries, and/or light Christian fiction.

(We waited almost six weeks to discuss this at book club so we had to remind each other of the details. Everyone agreed it was an enjoyable, easy read.)

The was my ladies’ book club read in July. It has been in my Kindle Library since 2013 so I count it as a TBR read.

ONE (gently read) PRINT COPY GIVEAWAY
US Only


(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!
I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.)
For 3 Extra Bonus entries (a) comment on the review, OR
(b) Visit the AUTHOR'S WEBSITE and tell me something you learned or like there.

* This contest is open to US only for Print Copy.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) September 12, 2015.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after September 12, 2015.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 4, 2015

Happy Friday - 
IMPORTANT NOTE: I was behind in pulling books from the boxes to be mailed. I got them pulled earlier this week so they have been mailed now. I had hoped to take care of the GCs a couple of weeks ago but then the computer locked up and I couldn't get into PayPal. 
This Saturday I plan to be in the office and will take care of getting all GCs up to date - PayPal, Amazon gifts and emails to those collecting balances.  Thanks for being patient with me.

I plan to put together another set of books for next Friday.

TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK:
US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)


CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up to late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.

Thank you to all who entered the August 28 Pick. There were TWO automatic wins this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There was one title blocked this week.
AUTO: Rubynreba gets Jillian Hunter Pair,
         and   Becky gets How to Lasso a Cowboy

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from August 28 Pick:
Faith Hope & CherryTea gets Sam's Letters Audio
Nikki gets 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, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}
This seems a right saying to me!
Image found at The Qwiet Muse.

New Book Group #59 July 31, 2015
A few more summer titles, historicals and mysteries!

PAIR:
Jillian Hunter: Daring and The Husband Hunt
Sandra Brown: The Devil's Own and Long Time Coming
ANTHOLOGIES:
That Summer Place (1998 version)by Debbie Macomber, Jill Barnett and Susan Wiggs  (sp creasing)
How to Lasso a Cowboy by Jodi Thomas, Patricia Potter and 2 more
Broken Vows, Mended Hearts by Lynn Stone, Gail Ranstrom and Anne O'Brien
3,2,1 Married! by Sharon Sala, Marie Ferrarella and Beverly Barton
SINGLES:
Only by Your Touch by Catherine Anderson
The Notorious Gentleman by Galen Foley (Spine creasing)
Cruise to a Wedding by Betty Neels
Little Girl Lost by Shirlee McCoy
Beloved Enemy by Terri Reed
Caught Redhanded by Gayle Roper
You Don't Know Jack by Erin McCarthy
Rogue by Cheryl Brooks

New Book Group #58 June 26, 2015
-- A few summer titles, a few mysteries, a few historicals...

PAIRS:
JoAnn Ross:Impulse and Far Harbor
Barbara Bretton: One and Only and Shore Lights
SINGLES:
Honeymoon by James Patterson
Sam's Letters to Jennifer by James Patterson Audio Cassette Tapes - Checking re mailing
Marriage by the Book by Joan Johnston (slight binding damage)
Summer Lovin', American Romance - Marin Thomas, Laura Marie Altom and Ann Roth
Hot Pursuit - Karen Rose, Annie Solomon and Carla Cassidy
Murders in the Mist by Willard Scott
Murder on the Atlantic by Steve Allen
Love Me Tomorrow by Rosanne Bittner (spine creasing)
The Reiver's Woman by Catherine Creel
Never Romance a Rake by Liz Carlyle
Patriot Dreams by Barbara Michaels
Sevant, The Awakening by L.L. Foster


New Book Group #57 May 1, 2015
(I'll finish the list with authors on Saturday 5/2/15)
PAIRS:
Nora Roberts: The Heart of Devin MacKade and the Pride of Jared MacKade
SINGLES:
A Little Bit Wild by Victoria Dahl
Veil of Night by Lydia Joyce
The Ruthless Greek's Virgin Princess by Trish Morey
Special Agent by Candice DeLong
Dead in The Water by Stuart Woods - Cassette Tapes
Rally Fever by Crea Jones

New Book Group #56 March 20, 2015
(I'll try to get the rest linked another day.)
PAIRS:
Catherine Lanigan: Tender Malice and Elusive Love (spine creases)
SINGLES:
Madison Avenue Marriage (Silhouette Desire #129) by Cassandra Bishop
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
Where is He Now? by Jennifer Greene
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks


New Book Group #55 February 5, 2015
(I'll try to get the rest linked another day.)
SINGLES:
If I Had You by Deborah Bedford
The Man Who Ate the 747 by Ben Sherwood

New Book Group #54 December 26, 2014



SINGLES:
Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card - Tape Cassettes


BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty byVickie Kennedy
First to Fight Anthology
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin
Maybe This Time by Victoria Barrett
The Commander by Kate Bridges
The Cinderella Plan by Margaret Daley
The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook by Steve Doocy
A Garden of Friends by Penny Pierce Rose
Richard Paul Evans PAIR: The Looking Glass and The Carousel
Duo Book: Yesterday's Memories by Tara Taylor Quinn and Amanda Stevens
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Sleeping with Ward Cleaver by Jenny Gardiner


BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)

Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
Cattle Rancher, Secret Son by Margaret Way
Whisper on the Wind by Joan Smith
Trouble Becomes Her by Laura Van Wormer
Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark
A Lady of Consequence by Mary Nichols
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain
Illegal Possession by Kay Hooper


BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)

Thinner by Stephen King
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Dancing on Snowflakes by Jane Bonander
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one
Tara Taylor Quinn: Father: Unknown and McGillus v.Wright
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
Anthology: Something Borrowed, Something Blue - this book has spine creases and minor water damage...I thought I had read it and liked it but now I realize it was another anthology I read with Elaine Barbier.


BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)

Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Death Angel by Linda Howard

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 on November 27, 2009 and in five+ years I have posted 54 groups of 16 (864) books to find new homes! (as of February 6, 2015).

I am happy to say that so far about 861+ 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. I 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!

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 $7.00 and $10.00 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)

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!

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Book Review: Secrets at Maple Syrup Farm (Once in a Lifetime) by Rebecca Raisin

This small town romance has a nice easy, light style.
by Rebecca Raisin
  • File Size: 2608 KB
  • Print Length: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Carina; 1 edition (July 17, 2015)
  • Publication Date: July 17, 2015
  • Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
  • ASIN: B00OQD8HNY
  • Genre: Contemporary Romance, Small Town
  • My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0


Maple sugar kisses
Lucy would do anything for her mom…but she never expected to end up promising to leave her. After her mom got sick, Lucy dropped everything to take care of her, working all hours in a greasy diner just to make ends meet and spending every spare moments she had by her mom’s hospital bedside.

Now, Lucy is faced with a whole year of living by her own rules, starting by taking the first bus out of town to anywhere...

Except she didn’t expect to find her next big adventure just around the corner! Especially when on her first day in town she bumps into grumpy, but oh-so-delicious Clay amidst the maple trees. Surrounded by the magic of Ashford, Lucy has the chance to change her life forever and finally discover a life she wants to live!

Fall in love with Ashford, Connecticut in this dazzling and beautiful romance from bestselling author Rebecca Raisin.


Review:
Lucy and her hippy mother spent many years traveling and scraping to make a living. For the past few years Lucy has worked at two jobs while being her ailing mother’s caretaker. Lucy has wonderful artistic talent and her mother wants her to go to Paris to study. Her mother makes Lucy promise to go away for a year even if she won’t go off to Paris.

Lucy takes the first bus and ends up in Ashford, a storybook beautiful small town. On the bus she meets a sweet grandmotherly woman who suggests she apply for work at the Maple Syrup Farm. The farm is being restored by a reclusive man who won’t mingle in town and won’t accept help. Lucy trudges her way to the farm thinking she will have to charm a grumpy old man. Instead she opens the door to find a buff, all too handsome, grumpy young man.

Clay resents Lucy appearing at his door but he decides he will work her until she gives up. He just doesn’t realize that Lucy doesn’t give up. Lucy is a really hard worker even if she shows up dressed in something not quite suited for farm work and doesn't think to bring gloves.

Lucy discovers that she is warmly welcomed by the town’s people. She begins to makes friends and invest feelings in the town and the farm. Being a romance, the reader knows that Lucy and Clay will eventually get together. However it is beyond half of the book before Clay really begins to soften. Meanwhile I was totally frustrated that Lucy wouldn’t share her problems and cares with any of her new friends or Clay. She expects him to tell her what hurt he suffered that closed his heart but she doesn’t share her own situation.

The story is reasonably well written but, for some reason, I never warmed up to Lucy and the story until almost 80% in. Lucy’s character is deeply (repeatedly) developed but I found her a bit too ditsy - even if it is a sweet ditsy. On the other hand Clay’s character is pretty shallow and almost mean for most of the book. Once the romance clicks it is strong and sweetly presented. There is late conflict that has to be overcome that gives the story some zing. I kept trying to like it but found myself longing for the end. I did enjoy the last 20% although I was surprised that certain important issues were left unresolved. I guess (hope) these will be handled in other books in the series.

There are plenty of positive reviews at Amazon so it may have just been that I wasn’t in the right mood. I have been leaning toward a more active genre lately. Or I was too frustrated by the lack of communication to relax and enjoy the town life which filled the first three quarters of the story. The story has a nice easy, light style. Readers who enjoy small town settings, friendships and romance might want to give this a try.

{There were some glaring editing errors that may have impacted my feelings even though I tried to ignore them. Since this is a NetGalley version I hope those were fixed for the final release.]

I selected this at NetGalley and it is part of my NetGalley Challenge.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Audible Review: Waking the Bear: Broken Chains, Book 1 by Kerry Adrienne

This is an engaging, quick story with danger, action and romance.
Waking the Bear: Broken Chains, Book 1
Written by: Kerry Adrienne
Narrated by: Jason P. Hilton
Length: 2 hrs and 16 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:07-24-15
Publisher: Earthshine Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0


Publisher's Summary
Overprotective bear shifter, Griff Martin, reluctantly rents his mountain cabin to an artist, Amy Francis. He quickly realizes the plucky artist is his mate. But danger is brewing in the forest, and Griff has to be ready to safeguard both his female and his den, at the risk of losing both.
©2015 Kerry Adrienne (P)2015 Kerry Adrienne.


Review:
Amy Francis has lost her job and left her lackluster boyfriend behind. She arranged to rent a cabin in the woods where she hopes to concentrate on her art. While signing the lease she meets her landlord, the local ranger, Griff Martin.

Griff is a big, dark, ruggedly handsome man who has awakened from a winter sleep. Even through his drowsiness he quickly recognizes that Amy is his mate. Now he has the problem of keeping her safe as well as explaining to her who he is and who she is to him. This is especially important because a rival shifter clan, the mountain lions, are moving in and threatening the bear territory.

This was a very quick story with danger, action and romance. The romance moves along quickly which is to be expected for a novella. Once Griff gets Amy to accept what he tells her their romance jumps in sexual heat. The interaction was nicely done even if the language is a bit raw.

The writing flowed well from the very beginning, pulling me in. Amy is a lovely heroine but Griff is a great male hero: strong and gentle; forceful and loving. Even with the sexual undertones and strong sexual encounter I really enjoyed this. Readers who like a strong romance, with spice, will appreciate this quick read.

Audio Notes: Jason P. Hilton does a fine job of narration. It was a little odd to hear a man’s voice but he gives the characters, especially Griff, just the right inflection. I enjoyed listening to this in audio although I recommend this in digital for those who don’t listen to audio books.

I received this for review from Barclay Publicity. This adds to my Audio Challenge.

Format: Digital eBook
Release Date: April 24, 2015
Page Count: 65 pages
Publisher: Earthshine Publishing
AISN: B00WOVSAMS

Available at: Amazon | Goodreads | Audible

About Kerry Adrienne:

Kerry loves history and spends large amounts of time wondering about people who lived and walked on Earth in the past. She’s a mom to three daughters, six cats, and various small animals, including a panther chameleon. Her shoe horde will attest to her fine shopping skills.

In addition to writing, she’s a college instructor, artist, costumer, and editor. Her new love is her Mini Cooper Convertible, Sheldon, and they have already gone on many adventures.

Kerry is represented by Marisa Corvisiero.

Website | Facebook  | Twitter | NewsletterGoodreads | Amazon Author page

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Audible Review: Resurrecting Home: A Novel by A. American

This is still entertaining although not as action packed as prior books in the series.
Written by: A. American
Narrated by: Duke Fontaine
Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins
Series: Survivalist, Book 5
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:12-31-14
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Genre: Sci Fi, Post Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0


Publisher's Summary
Against all odds, Morgan Carter and his family have endured despite the deteriorating conditions surrounding them. Armed with survivalist tactics, Morgan's crew, alongside their new friends from the recently-liberated DHS camp, have worked together to build a sustainable community. But not all situations can be prepared for. When a massive wildfire threatens their very existence, they must decide: fight or flight?
From the author of the hit Survivalist Series books, Resurrecting Home is an action-packed adventure that depicts the harrowing possibilities of a world gone awry, and the courage it takes to protect what matters most.
©2014 A. American (P)2014 Penguin Audio


Review:
This is book five in an action, post apocalyptic series. EMP strikes have left the state of Florida with no power, water or other vital services. There are no food supplies and society has broken down. Morgan Carter and his family have survived and returned to their home neighborhood to establish a new life. They had been somewhat prepared so they have solar power, a water system and a supply of food that is quickly dwindling. They have received help from some tough army friends, led by Sarge, who Morgan met on his dangerous journey home (Book 1, Going Home).

Things have begun to quiet down a bit and the small community of seventeen or so are planning on setting up a garden and hunting for food to see them through the winter. In Book 4, Forsaking Home, they found Jess, who traveled part of the way home with Morgan and Thad, in the nearby government DHS camp. Sarge and his men helped the army capture the DHS camp tyrants and free Jess and the other people who were being used as slaves and worse.

There are those who are glad to be released and they begin to disburse to home or other destinations. But many of the people have become little more than cattle expecting to be taken care of even if they have to suffer abuse and loss of freedoms. They object when the army is given orders to move out.

Morgan is less concerned with the fate of the squatters at the camp than he is with the drifters who are challenging his neighborhood and nearby friends. He has to confront thieves who would go so far as to kill for a can of food, a house to live in or even a female to take for pleasure.

Morgan and his friends are mostly ready to deal with society threats but they hadn’t prepared for nature to flare up in a raging fire that is sweeping towards their community. Unless they can divert the conflagration, the band of survivors will be forced to pack up and move again.

This is a good continuation of the story, and moves at a good pace. There is some action but not as much as some of the prior books. This story addresses more relational issues as the group tries to rebuild and protect what they have.

I liked revisiting the characters and learning how they were getting on. I enjoyed the entertainment.

Audio Notes: Duke Fontaine has done a good job with the series. He portrays the different character voices and personalities helping to keep the story moving along well. The narration has enhanced my enjoyment of this series.

Other books in the Series:
Book 1, Going Home
Book 2, Surviving Home
Book 3, Escaping Home
Book 4, Forsaking Home

This is from my own Audible library and is part of my Audio Challenge. It is R for Alphabet Soup Challenge. :-)

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