It's Monday! What Are You Reading? July 23, 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.

I had more good reading this week.  I finished five books and have moved well into one more. I posted five book reviews, one with giveaway and one with giveaway link.  As usual I  posted the regular Friday Pick Giveaway, Saturday Sharing Beyond Books Comment Giveaway and Sunday Words. 

I got to visit a dozen or so bloggers early last week and a few more on Saturday. Thanks as always to the nice people who visited me.

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

• It's Monday What are You Reading? July 16, 2012.

• Monday Mailbox July 16, 2012.

• AudioBook Review: No One Left toTell by Karen Rose; Romantic suspense; my rating 4.75.

• MBS No Strings Attached Giveaway  Open Worldwide.  Ends 7/22.

• Book Review: Queen in Exile by Donna Hatch; Fantasy Romance; my rating 4.5.

• Book Review and Kindle Giveaway link: Exodus (The Samsara Chronicles Book 7) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.0.

• MBS Blogoversary Giveaway - Celebrating Three Years!  Nook or $50.00 GC; Open Worldwide.  Ends 8/18.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway July 20, 2012.  Open Worldwide.  Ends 7/26.

• Book Review and Copy Giveaway: Heroes Die Young by TM Hunter; Sci Fi; my rating 4.25. Ends 7/27.

• Audible Book Review: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman; fantasy; my rating 5.0

• Sharing Beyond Books #58 Comment Giveaway.  Open Worldwide. Ends 7/27.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement July 22, 2012.

Finished Reading:

1. Print

 

Heroes Die Young
by T.M. Hunter

Good story. Review linked above. 4.25 

2. Audible
 

The Graveyard Book

• UNABRIDGED
• by Neil Gaiman
• Narrated by Neil Gaiman

This is great entertainment! Review linked above 5.0

3. eBook/Kindle
 

 

Blackout 

by Annie Solomon

This is another good romantic suspense.
I'll post the review this week. 4.25.
Read through NetGalley.

4.  eBook/Kindle
 

Glass Angels (Family Heirlooms Series Book 4)

by Karen Wiesner

This is a lovely story of forgiveness, healing and rebuilding from trauma.
I will post a review later this week. 4.25
Read for the Author. 

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 2011

A young Christian woman struggles with seeking pardon from those she's hurt when she can't seem to get past her own inability to forgive those who have wronged her.

Three years ago, Samantha Samuels had suffered under the violent hands of Ryder Feldmann, a juvenile delinquent her pastor father had been counseling. Now she's completed her psychiatry training and plans to help other victims of violent crimes at the rape counseling clinic in her hometown of Peaceful, Wisconsin. Unexpectedly, she finds herself sharing an office building and Sunday services at her new church with the older brother, a divorce counselor, of her attacker...the very man she'd been in love with before her rape.

In the time since Kyle Feldmann's brother was jailed for his crime against Samantha, he's lived with the torment of all he's lost because of his sibling. Before the tragedy that stole Samantha from him and destroyed his dreams, Kyle had begged her to risk her father's disappointment and elope with him. Seeing Samantha again after so many years, being near her, only puts him right back where he was before the rape. Kyle wants to heal Samantha, love her, and fulfill the dreams he grieved the loss of—by marrying her. But how can they be together forever when she's still so broken?

All her life, Samantha had wanted her father's approval, but his selfish part in putting her in a dangerous situation has led her to a painful place of desperately needing to forgive him and her attacker...and being unable to in all the time since the traumatic event that ripped her life in two. As she gives her heart to Kyle once more, her already fractured relationship with the Lord is tested. In the crossfire of faith, she wonders if glass angels shatter beyond recognition when they take a leap of faith, or if they can heal and become stronger than ever before.

5. Audio MP3

Eathed, A Dragon's Tale

Troy Lee Henderson| Format: MP3 Download

A delightful, short tale. 
I will post a review this week. 

Listened for Mind Wings Audio 
through Audiobook Jukebox.

The last of his kind, Eathed, an ancient dragon, has finally found a place to live out his last days peacefully. He is discovered by three young brothers hiding in a cave near their village. Few villagers believe there really is a dragon, so only an old knight, Sir Allistair Bayne, is sent to seek out the dragon. A battle ensues during which both knight and dragon fall in spectacular fashion. Simon takes pity on Eathed, and an unlikely friendship ensues.

Line Edits/Releases: coming soon.

Currently reading:

1. Print (Galley)
 

Severed Threads

by Kaylin McFarren

I am enjoying this; just 50 pages left.
I will post the review and author guest post
 on July 25 as part of Pump Up Your Books Tour.

2. eBook/Kindle

 

Nirvana (The Samsara Chronicles Book 8)

 by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley

The heroes go from one crisis to another; I just started.
I will post the review on 7/24 as part of

Pump Up Your Book tour - with Kindle Giveaway link

3. Audible

The Watchman of Ephraim: Cris De Niro, Book 1

• UNABRIDGED
• by Gerard de Marigny
• Narrated by Elijah Alexander
•   Series: Cris De Niro, Book 1

This looks interesting and I will start listening tonight.
Reviewing for JarRyJorNo Publishing through Audiobook Jukebox.

Publisher's Summary
Cris De Niro worked his way up to the top of the hedge fund world. Yet, all of his money couldn't protect him from losing his wife on 9/11. Ten years passed since the tragedy. De Niro and his sons relocated to a sprawling ranch near Las Vegas. Turning to his faith to overcome his anguish, De Niro now lives for a higher purpose. From a biblical passage, he reads about the "Watchman of Ephraim", a defender who kept watch over the land. De Niro decides to acquire a lackluster counter-terrorism agency in order to transform it into a modern-day version of The Watchman for the United States but there's not a moment to lose.

Aref Sami Zamani is planning a terrorist attack on American soil - codenamed "Antioch", a plot to detonate a nuke over the city of Las Vegas. The Watchman uncovers a connection between Zamani and a Mexican drug cartel but their agent goes missing before they can learn more. That's because Zamani has a spy working for The Watchman.

Strange events start to unfold near the Nogales border crossing. References are discovered to something the Mexicans are calling "Noche Del Espantada" ...Fright Night", but can it mean something else?

September 11, 2011 and the sun hasn't risen yet in Las Vegas or Nogales. Antioch is in motion! At the border, Noche Del Espantada has begun and there are intruders at De Niro's ranch. De Niro has to protect his sons and someone new in his life, Dr. Moriah Stevens. She too, lost her spouse on 9/11. Moriah finds herself in love with De Niro but his devotion to his wife is proving too powerful for him, even after 10 years.

It's the 10th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on American soil and unless De Niro and his new team are successful, the day will be known as "The 2nd 9/11".

4.  eBook/Kindle
 

 

Moonglow (Darkest London)

by Kristen Callihan

I am looking forward to reading this.

Picked up on NetGalley.

Book Description

Publication Date: July 31, 2012 | Series: Darkest London (Book 2)

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . .

Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .

Their growing passion knows no bounds . . .

Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

5. eBook/Kindle

Tidewater Inn (The Hope Beach Series)

by Colleen Coble

I am reading this for Thomas Nelson.

I like Colleen Coble.

Book Description

Publication Date: July 17, 2012 | Series: The Hope Beach Series (Book 1)

Welcome to Hope Beach. A place of intoxicating beauty . . . where trouble hits with the force of a hurricane.

Inheriting a beautiful old hotel on the Outer Banks could be a dream come true for Libby. The inn cries out for her restorer's talent and love of history. She's delighted to learn of the family she never knew she had. And the handsome Coast Guard lieutenant she's met there on the island could definitely be the man of her dreams.

But Libby soon realizes that the only way she can afford the upkeep on the inn is to sell it to developers who are stalking the island. The father who willed her the inn has died before she could meet him, and her newfound brother and sister are convinced she's there to steal their birthright. Worst of all, her best friend and business partner has been kidnapped before her eyes, and Libby's under suspicion for the crime.

Libby's dream come true is becoming a nightmare. Her only option is to find her friend and prove her innocence, or lose everything on the shores of Hope Island.

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 the reading is the book of John.

Line Edits: Still hoping to train one of my assistants to upload conversions to Kindle and Smashwords.

I finally selected fewer titles for a month! I added two from netgalley to bring the committed number up to 14. I have finished reading 15 books so far this month and should complete this month's books this week.  

Scheduled for July:

7/24 Nirvana (The Samsara Chronicles Book 8) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley - Review for Pump Up Your Book - with Kindle Giveaway link
7/25 Severed Threads by Kaylin McFarren - Review and Author Guest Post; Pump Up Your Book Tour.

July but Unscheduled: 
Sourcebooks- I've picked a few for August/September but none in July unless I pick up something at NG during the month.

Other NetGalley Review choices:

Moonglow by Kristen Callihan (July 30 Release) (NG)

Audiobook Jukebox:
Two new books included in current reading.

Hachette
Grand Central Station
Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione - This is a DNF for now; I got stalled with the language.

Other:
Thomas Nelson
Tidewater Inn (The Hope Beach Series) by Colleen Coble

With some open time I really do hope to read a couple of Won books this month.:-)

[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.]