It's Monday What are You Reading? December 19, 2011

This meme starts at Book Journey!

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.

This was another good reading week even though my work week was busy and a bit scattered. I finished four books and am well along on several others.  I posted four reviews; two of my giveaways and three other giveaway announcements.  As always I posted my regular Friday Pick Giveaway; Saturday Sharing Beyond Books, and Sunday posts. 


I did get to visit fifteen or so blogs early last week. Early seems to be the best time to go visiting. Although I have plenty of work at the office I am hoping to take a little time this week to wind down in preparation of Christmas.  
These were last week's posts plus Winner posts not listed.

• It's Monday What are You Reading? December 12, 2011.

• Romance at Random Loveswept Holiday Giveaway Announcement. 

• Book Feature with eBook Giveaway: Creative Spirit by Scott Nicholson. Open Worldwide Ends 12/21.

• Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Hot Zone by Catherine Mann. Romantic Suspense;  my Rating 4.5. Ends 12/23.

• Book Review of Zero Day by David Baldacci. Thriller; my Rating 4.0.

• Savings and Giveaways at eTreasures Publishing Announcement. (Twelve days of giveaways; many open worldwide - low entries!)

•  Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway December 16, 2011.  Open Worldwide. Ends 12/22.

• Book Review and eBook Giveaway: Gift of the Heart by Suzanne Barrett.  Contemporary Romance, Novella; my Rating 4.25.  Ends 12/23.

• Sharing Beyond Books #27 Comment Giveaway.  Open Worldwide. Ends 12/23.

•  Sunday Words of Encouragement December 18, 2011.

• Book Review: Paper Angels by Billy Coffey. Inspirational; my Rating 4.75.

Finished Reading:

1. Print 
 

Paper Angels 

by Billy Coffey 

This was wonderful.
Review linked above.

 2. Kindle
 

Demons Like It Hot (Demons Unleashed)
by Sidney Ayers

Hmmm - only fair. 
I'll post a review and ARC giveaway this week.

Read for Sourcebooks. 

3. Print (Audible)
 

Started Early, Took My Dog: A Novel
Kate Atkinson

I really liked this unusual mystery. 
I will post the review and ARC Giveaway this week.
Read for Little Brown & Co div of Hachette.

4. eBook
 

Holiday Kisses Anthology

These were four fun novellas.
I'll post a review this week.
Read for Carina Press through NetGalley.

Product Description
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...Love!A man gives the gift of trust and receives a second chance at love in return. A woman helps to heal the wounded heart of a soldier. A couple finds that true love knows no distance. And a young widow learns that there can be two great loves in a lifetime. Love, romance and passion come together in this collection of four seasonal shorts.
Anthology includes:
This Time Next Year by Alison Kent
A Rare Gift by Jaci Burton
It's Not Christmas Without You by HelenKay Dimon
Mistletoe and Margaritas by Shannon Stacey

Line Edits/Releases: 

I uploaded the print release of Love From the Ashes by Patricia Andres

Currently reading:

1. Print
 

Three Day Town

by Margaret Maron

I am mid way and like the writing style in this mystery.

Reading for Grand Central Publishing.

Book Description

Series: Deborah Knott Mysteries | Publication Date: November 21, 2011

Judge Deborah Knott and Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant are on a train to New York, finally on a honeymoon after a year of marriage. January in New York might not be the perfect time to visit, but they'll take it. The trip is a Christmas present from Dwight's sister-in-law, who arranged for them to stay in an Upper West Side apartment for one week. While in New York, Deborah has been asked to deliver a package to Lt. Sigrid Harald of the NYPD. Sigrid offers to swing by the apartment to pick up the box, but when they reach the apartment, they discover that it is missing and the doorman has been murdered. Despite their best efforts to enjoy a blissful getaway, Deborah and Dwight soon find that they've teamed up with Sigrid and her team to catch the killer before he strikes again.

2. Audio
  

The Snow Angel

by Glenn Beck

I am enjoying this in the car.

On Disc 2 of 6.

Reading for Simon & Shuster 
and Audiobook Jukebox

Book Description
Publication Date: October 25, 2011
A heartwarming novel from Glenn Beck, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Christmas Sweater and phenomenally popular radio and television host.

Rachel Price’s one happy memory from her childhood is of playing outside with her father, Mitch, on a cold and snowy day. In that moment he took her hands in his and called her his angel. She felt safe, loved, and protected. Rachel’s mother dies in a car crash a few years later—a sudden and unresolved ending to a complicated relationship. Mitch’s reaction to certain realities surrounding the death pushes Rachel away and confirms her fear that Mitch never truly loved her at all.

Years later, Rachel’s daughter, Lily, is the only light in her dark life. Rachel is consumed by an abusive marriage but too afraid to escape. On Christmas Eve, Rachel’s husband raises a hand to Lily in a moment of aggression that finally snaps Rachel out of her docile state. She realizes immediately that she must protect her daughter in ways her own parents didn’t protect her and remove Lily from the situation. Through the help of an old and dear friend, Rachel has a safe place to go, but first, she must say goodbye to her father.

As the snow falls on this Christmas Eve, Rachel learns that it’s never too late to start over. The Snow Angel is a tale about family, forgiveness, and learning to treasure our memories while allowing ourselves to move forward.

3. Audible
 

Divergent
by Veronica Roth

I am three quarters through this and find it is an awesome story.

I picked this up for TBR based on the fact that I like dystopia and this was getting good buzz. I am distressed though to realize that the second book won't be out until May 2012!

Publisher's Summary

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue - Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is - she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are - and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves.... or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series - dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

4. Print (Kindle)
 

Carrie Goes Off the Map
by Phillipa Ashley

I expect to start this mid week.
Book Description
Publication Date: December 1, 2011
"Wonderfully romantic and funny... fulfills all the best fantasies, including a gorgeous, humanitarian hero and a camper van!"
-Katie Fforde, UK Best Selling Author of Love Letters

Carrie lets her best friend talk her into a scenic European road trip as the perfect getaway from a nasty breakup. Unexpectedly along for the ride is the gorgeous Matt Landor, MD, who sorely tests Carrie's determination to give up men altogether. Careening through the English countryside, these two mismatched but perfectly attuned lonely hearts find themselves in hot pursuit of adventure and in entirely uncharted territory.

I am also listening to The Listener's Bible NIV read by Max McLean. 

I am at Zechariah 1 and Revelations 16.

Line Edits: I am still finalizing two Novellas for release and continuing to work on Smashword and print releases.

December - I started out with 11 or so books to read for review. The reading and current reviews are going pretty well although I am going to move some interviews with 'pending' reviews into January. 

Scheduled events:
12/21 thru 12/27 Mid Winter's Eve Giveaway Hop

Unscheduled
   

Additional Publisher Books Coming Up

Hachette
   Little and Brown:
         Help for Writers by Roy Peter Clark 

Remaining Author Selections - I do plan to finish these this month/year!
Karen Wiesner -Souls on (B)oring Street [Denim Blues Mysteries Book 3]

Nathan Patrick Hardt - The Second Sonata

[To be posted:
These were read and ready for reviews for Authors. I am sending out interviews for these. I hope to post them all soon.
Quest for Magic by Jean Hart Stewart - Read; review to be posted with interview.
Seeing for the First Time (What You See is What You Get) and To See (What You See is What You Get) by Nicole Zoltack - Both Read; setting up author interview with reviews.
Steamrolled by Pauline Baird Jone. Read; review to be posted with author interview.]