It's Monday! What are you Reading? April 9, 2012

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 week of reading. I finished four books;  posted five reviews, four with Giveaway, and a couple of  announcements.  I also posted my regular Friday Pick Giveaway, Saturday Sharing Beyond Books Comment Giveaway and Sunday Words. 

I had fun visiting 15 or so blogs last week on Sunday night after all. I never did get to visit on Monday night.  Thanks again to the nice people who visited me too. :-)

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

• It's Monday What are You Reading? April 2, 2012.

• Audio Book Review and Audio Download Giveaway: Jacob's Return by Amanda Blair; Inspirational Romantic Fiction  my rating 4.25.  Ends 4/13.
  

• Announcement: Sourcebooks' Shares Time Travel.

• Book Review: Irish Rogue by Suzanne Barrett; Contemporary Romance;  my rating 4.5.
  

• Book Review and Giveaway (3 Copies): How to Ravish a Rake by Vicky Dreiling; Historical Romance;  my rating 4.25. Ends 4/20.
  

•  Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway April 6, 2012.  Open Worldwide.  Ends 4/12.

• Book Review and Giveaways (2) : Promise Me by Dee Julian; Historical Romance;  my rating 4.5. Open Worldwide. Ends 4/20.

• Announcement: Bewitching Blog Tour: Seeking a Scribe.

• Sharing Beyond Books #43 Comment Giveaway.  Open Worldwide. Ends 4/13.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement April 8, 2012.

• Book Review and Giveaways: Love to Water My Soul by Jane Kirkpatrick; Historical Fiction, Inspirational;  my rating 5.0. Open Worldwide. Ends 4/20.

Finished Reading:

1. Print
 

How To Ravish a Rake

by Vicky Dreiling

Fun Regency.
Review and Giveaway linked above.

2. eBook/Kindle
 

Promise Me

by Dee Julian

Nice Historical Romance.

Review and Giveaways linked above. 

3. Audio
 

The Templar Chronicles 1 The Heretic

by Joe Nassise

Action packed! I will post a review this week.

Reviewing for the Graphic Audio through AudioJukebox.  

4. Print
 

A Lady’s Revenge 

by Tracey Devlyn

Action and Romance.

Read for Sourcebooks;

Author interview, Review and Giveaway on April 11.

Line Edits/Releases: I'm having difficulty uploading the children's book because it is large due to the full illustrations.

Currently reading:
1. eBook/Kindle 
 

Seeking a Scribe: Enchanted Bookstore Legend One (Enchanted Bookstore Legends)

by Marcia A. Moore

This is fun reading. Review, Guest Post and Tour Giveaway to post on 4/10 as part of Bewitching Blog Tour. 

Book Description

Publication Date: March 12, 2012

Lyra McCauley is a writer and loves fantasy novels, but until she opens a selection from bookstore owner Cullen Drake, she has no idea he’s a wizard character who lives a double life inside that volume…or the story’s magic will compel her from the edge of depression to adventure, danger, and love.

His gift to Lyra, the Book of Dragonspeir, was actually her copy, misplaced years ago. Lost in her pain following divorce and death, she fails to recognize him as her childhood playmate from the fantasyland. Friendship builds anew. Attraction sparks. But Lyra doubts whether a wizard is capable of love. She’s torn—should she protect her fragile heart or risk new love?

Opening the book’s cover, she confronts a quest: save Dragonspeir from destruction by the Black Dragon before he utilizes power of August’s red moon to expand his strength and overthrow the opposing Imperial Dragon. Lyra accepts the challenge, fearing Cullen will perish if evil wins. Along with magical animal guides, Cullen helps her through many perils, but ultimately Lyra must use her own power…and time is running out.

2. Print
 

Illusion

by Frank Peretti

I really like this author and 

was thrilled to get the chance 

to review and host a giveaway too!

 Book Description
Publication Date: March 6, 2012
Dane and Mandy, a popular magic act for forty years, are tragically separated by a car wreck that claims Mandy’s life—or so everyone thinks. Even as Dane mourns and tries to rebuild his life without her, Mandy, supposedly dead, awakes in the present as the nineteen-year-old she was in 1970. Distraught and disoriented in what to her is the future, she is confined to a mental ward until she discovers a magical ability to pass invisibly through time and space to escape. Alone in a strange world, she uses her mysterious powers to eke out a living, performing magic on the streets and in a quaint coffee shop.

Hoping to discover an exciting new talent, Dane ventures into the coffee shop and is transfixed by the magic he sees, illusions that even he, a seasoned professional, cannot explain. But more than anything, he is emotionally devastated by this teenager who has never met him, doesn’t know him, is certainly not in love with him, but is in every respect identical to the young beauty he first met and married some forty years earlier.

They begin a furtive relationship as mentor and protégée, but even as Dane tries to sort out who she really is and she tries to understand why she is drawn to him, they are watched by secretive interests who not only possess the answers to Mandy’s powers and misplacement in time but also the roguish ability to decide what will become of her.

Frank Peretti has crafted a rich, rewarding story of love and life, loss and restoration, full of twists and mystery. Exceptionally well written, Illusion will soon prove another Peretti classic.

3. Audible (MP3)
 

Crusade: Destroyermen, Book 2    

by Taylor Anderson
Narrated by William Dufris

I had this in my TBR and decided to listen to it while waiting for the next audio. There is plenty of action.

Publisher's Summary
Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy, along with the men and women of the USS Walker, have chosen sides in a war not of their making. They have allied with the Lemurians - a mammalian race whose peaceful existence is under attack from the warlike, reptilian Grik.

The Lemurians are vastly outnumbered and ignorant of warfare, and even the guns and technology of Walker cannot turn the tide of battle. Luckily, they are not alone. Reddy finally finds Mahan, the other destroyer that passed through the rift. Together, the two American ships will teach the Lemurians to fight and stand against the bloodthirsty Grik - or so they think.

For there is another vessel that does not belong on these strange seas - the massive Japanese battle cruiser Amagi, the very ship that Walker was fleeing from when the rift took them. Like Mahan, it followed them through. And now Amagi is in the hands of the Grik.

Battle stations! Listen to more in the Destroyermen series.

4. Audio Download (MP3)
 

Tar The Wandering
Author: Helen Sea
Narrator: Julia Franklin

I am looking forward to listening to this short audio.

Reviewing through AudioJukebox.

This is a beautiful and subtly written story told in the best traditions of an Old Norse tale. It is poetic and delicate and at the same time suspenseful and dramatic. There are dangers and discoveries, adventure and sadness as Tar follows her quest. Will the forces of good keep her safe from her enemies as she follows her destiny? Helen Sea has written the original music that flavours her sensuous storytelling in this wonderful and engaging story that will appeal to a teenage audience and listeners of all ages.

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

[Reading and listening on my new MP3.]

Instead of studying with the Tyndall One Year Bible this year I am studying with Through the Bible in One Year by Alan B. Stringfellow. It is a Study that I used for teaching back in around 1989 so I will enjoy it again. This week's reading will be the book of Esther.

Line Edits: I have a print release ready except of the cover and am finishing a line edit this week.

I carried over two books to read from March. There are 11 new titles lined up for April so minimum of 13 to read. Adding the two review posts carried from March, it looks like I will still be doing at least four reviews a week. There are several repeat author books I am looking forward to and some new ones too.
4/8 Four down, nine to go.

April Scheduled:
April 10: Author Guest Post, Review and Tour Giveaway: Seeking a Scribe by Marsha A. Moore (Bewitching Blog Tour)

April 11: Author Interview, Review and Giveaway: A Lady’s Revenge by Tracey Devlyn (Sourcebooks)

April 12: Review and Giveaway: Illusion by Frank Peretti
April 17-22: No Strings Giveaway Hop

April 26:  Author Interview and Review Untouched by Sarah Humphreys (Sourcebooks)

Unscheduled but Planned for April:
Sourcebooks
A Light on the Veranda by Ciji Ware (NG) (carry over from March)
The Highlander's Prize by Mary Wine (Print)

Hachette-
Orbit - Rise of Empire (Riyria Revelations) by Michael J. Sullivan
Little Brown & Co:  The Book of Madness and Cures by Regina O'Melveny (With Giveaway!)
Possibly - Two additional Hachette books for April/May. I am waiting for confirmation and the books. 

AudioJukebox

The Withering of Willoughby and the Professor by Joe Bevilacqua
Tar: The Wandering by Helen Sea
Possibly one or two more Audios to come.

Author Reviews:

Much Ado About Marshals by Jacquie Rogers
April/May additions if they fit:
Creative Spirit by Scott Nicholson
Foolish Games (Book 3 of the Family Heirlooms Series) by Karen Wiesner


[To be posted - I am setting these up for interview/feature days.
These were read and ready for reviews for Authors.
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.]