It's Monday! What are you Reading October 25, 2010?

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.

As usual, I had another good reading week, finishing three print books and two Kindle short reads.

I posted three reviews with Giveaways and five winner posts. :)

As noted before I may not get to review the books I read from my TBRs or as fillers so I will be giving a rating and a short summary comment on those in these Monday posts.

I only got to visit a couple of  "It's Monday" posts last week. I visited a couple of review blog links from Cym's Wednesday Review party and I also visited a handful from the Enquiring meme (linked below).
I am still limited by work commitments - real estate, legal and publishing - that need to take priority over commenting and reviewing. :)

These were last week's posts plus Winner posts not listed.

• It's Monday What are You Reading? October 18, 2010

•  Review and Giveaway 2 Copies of Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury

•  Review  and  ARC Giveaway of Making of a Gentleman by Shana Galen

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway October 22, 2010

• Book Review and Giveaway of The Passionate Brood: A Novel of Richard the Lionheart and the Man Who Became Robin Hood by Margaret Campbell Barnes

• Sunday Words of Encouragement October 24, 2010.

• Enquiring Minds want to know Meme

Finished Reading:

 
PB:  The Passionate Brood: A Novel of Richard the Lionheart and the Man Who Became Robin Hood 
by Margaret Campbell Barne 
The Review and Giveaway were posted Saturday.

 

PB:  Making of a Gentleman
by Shana Galen.
The review and ARC Giveaway 
are linked above.

PB:  Notes To Stephanie: Middle Aged Love Letters And Life Stories
by Jeffrey W. Turner.
This is a different sort of read - like a journal of emotions.
I will post the review and Giveaway Tuesday this week.

Kindle: I read these just for fun 'till I could get some of my review books loaded. :)

Outta the Bag (Me, Myself and Why? Prequel)

by  MaryJanice Davidson.

This is an author I have wanted to read - 
The Queen Besty series looks sort of fun.

I thought I would try the free prequel. 
It was a little crazy but, yes, fun.

I may not rush out to buy her books 
but I will hopefully read some in the future.
Rating:  3.75

Has anyone else read her?

Product Description

From New York Times bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson, comes OUTTA THE BAG the hilarious prequel story to her upcoming novel ME, MYSELF AND WHY, the first in a brand new series. In OUTTA THE BAG, Clive Better—the better-than-best plumber in town—attends a speed dating event where—instead of attempting to score phone numbers—he recounts his recent run-in with a freaked-out cat and a sexy-but-psychotic woman that has left him confused, scratched up, and rather aroused. 

Kindle: Tween Hopeful and Hopeless by Sam Cheever. I met Ms. Cheever online in a yahoo group and then in person at the RWA Conference Booksale day in Orlando, June 2009. I enjoyed the first book in this series, Tween Heaven and Hell, (my review is posted on Amazon) and I have the second one, Tween a Devil and His Hard Place, to read.  
There is always plenty of action with Astra and her Devil friends. Rating: 4.0

Product Description
Part of the Dancin’ With The Devil series.What do you do when a bunch of dark world types steal magic from the Hopeful souls in Saint Peter’s kingdom to capture the Heavenly Gates and infiltrate the Big House? Astra Q Phelps does what she always does—kicks ass, blows [stuff] up and prays! [Word change is mine.]

Audio: --------

Line Edits: I will be uploading a new Fantasy release this week: The Fourth Son. A bit different fantasy story. 

Currently reading:
PB:  Take a Chance on Me by Jill Mansell. This is proving to be a fun read! I hope to post the Review and ARC Giveaway on Thursday.

Product Description
Even in a small town the drama is larger than life...
Cleo Quinn doesn't have the greatest track record when it comes to men, but now Will's come along. Handsome and attentive, he could be her Mr Right. Things are definitely looking up for Cleo... apart from one small problem with a rather large ego. Johnny LaVenture, sculptor extraordinaire and her personal childhood nemesis, is back in Channing's Hill and tormenting her as if he'd never been away.
Meanwhile Cleo's sister Abbie has a problem of her own-husband Tom has become distant and withdrawn, and she's determined to find out why. But will the shocking truth mean the end of their idyllically happy marriage?
The sisters are about to discover that the past can come back to haunt you, and that love can flourish in the unlikeliest of places...

Kindle:  A Halloween Collection Anthology: Sweet from Victory Press. This is one of the books I am giving away in my Halloween Giveaway. I thought I would read this right before Halloween. I am enjoying the first story, Go On Without Me.

Product Description
Five complete sweet stories to satisfy your romantic cravings by five talented authors. Go On Without Me by Markee Anderson Lydia Sanders is spending a lonely Halloween until Ian shows up to make sure she's not depressed. They go for a drive then the car dies in the middle of nowhere in the rain. They have no cell phone reception. Their only hope is an old house within walking distance and the two eerie people inside. At midnight? On Halloween? Honor Cafe by Charlotte Raby Adrianne is satisfied running her cafe for the homeless and believes her life is complete, until she falls in love with a debonair stranger who wants his meals after hours and in the dark. She must find out what he's hiding and if their love is true or cursed. Halloween Witness by Rita Hestand When the local town drunk sees a murder committed on Boot Hill on Halloween night, will anyone pay any attention to his story? Sheriff Joe Grubbs, though skeptical, investigates and finds the new grave. Now, he has a job to do and risks losing the love of his life. It's a harrowing Halloween night in Haleyville, Texas. The Memory Charmer and the Boy Next Door by Christine E. Schulze Imprisoned in a basement, at the mercies of an oddly powerful incubus, Elissa tries to escape many times. But the giant tarantula guards his master's toy well. Then a glimmer of hope appears. A boy moves in next door who knows things-secrets from the very heavens. Can he help her escape? Or will the incubus destroy him? I Love Pie! by Kate Kindle Tony Gullo, a burnt-out-on-life New Yorker, takes an unexpected trip to the country with a friend. On the side of the road he sees a haunting sight. A beautiful woman stands poised on the roadside, seemingly in a trance. When the men stop to offer assistance, she flees into the woods. How will he ever find this beautiful creature, if she really exists.

Audio: Katie Up and Down the Hall: The True Story of How One Dog Turned Five Neighbors into a Family by Glenn Plaskin.  There is more to this than just a dog story.  I have one disc to go so I hope to post the Review and Hachette Giveaway on Wednesday.

A personal memoir by bestselling author and celebrity journalist Glenn Plaskin, KATIE is a moving story about a man who discovers the true meaning of family after adopting a cocker spaniel puppy. Through the magnetic personality of his mischievous dog, the author soon makes powerful connections with several of his down-the-hall neighbors in a high-rise located in the unique Battery Park City neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. First, Katie trots into the lives of Pearl and Arthur, a warm-hearted elderly couple just a few doors down from Glenn. Later, John, a single Dad, and his rambunctious young son, Ryan, also move in and are seduced by Katie's charms....read more.

NEXT UP in AUDIO - depending on which, if either, I can get my DH to listen to on our drive west: 

Don't Blink by James Patterson and Howard Roughan.

OR

Room: A Novel  by Emma Donoghue


Line Edits: I hope to finish formatting two more books for release by the end of the week.

Upcoming books:  

PB:  I have one October Sourcebook left: Elizabeth, Captive Princess: Two Sisters, One Throne by Margaret Irwin so I hope to read that this week.

PB:  Also I am going to read Edge of Sight (The Guardian Angelinos) by Roxanne St. Claire. That is due for November 3 Hachette Review, Giveaway and Guest Post.
We will be hitting the road on Saturday October 30 to drive to Monterey, California for our son's graduation from the Defense Language Institute. DH decided he wanted to drive across country to see some sites (or sights) instead of just flying. I want to finish the two print books above as I already packed four more for the two week trip.  The rest will be read on Kindle or Audio.

I am also starting The Forever Queen: Sometimes, a desperate kingdom is in need of one great woman by Helen Hollick. The review is not due until November 18 but the book is 621 pages and I have seven books set before it in the first two weeks of November so I am getting a jump by starting this one. I will switch to the Kindle version when it becomes available so I won't carry this one on the trip.

Kindle:  I have received five author ebooks for reviews/interviews with giveaways in the November.  

I have eight good Sourcebook print books (including Forever Queen) lined up for November and December with book giveaways. Plus three Hachette books for November tours; three blog tours for Pump up Your Book Promotion and several author review/giveaways too. I'll be posting the line up early November. Am I busy enough do you think?