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

I am starting to feel less exhausted at night. The stress of my Dad's illness took it's toll on my energy and focus these past four weeks. Although we are sad at his passing on Tuesday it is a blessing that he did not linger in pain and illness. 
I am surprised how much reading I finished this week but there were several really good books that I devoured!  I finished six books and have moved well into several more. I posted four book reviews, two with giveaways 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 sites late in the week. 
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 2, 2012.

• Monday Mailbox July 2, 2012.

• Book Review and ARC Giveaway: The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine by Jayne Fresina; Historical Romance; my rating 4.25.  Ends 7/13.

• Happy Fourth of July Post.

• Book Review and Review Copy Giveaway: Flabbergasted: A Novel by Ray Blackstone; Christian Fiction; my rating 4.5. Ends 7/13.

• Book Review and Giveaway Link: Tempest (The Samsara Chronicles Book 5)  by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley; Science Fiction; my rating 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway July 6, 2012.  Open Worldwide.  Ends 7/12.

• Book Review: Thoroughly Kissed by Kristine Grayson; Fantasy Romance; my rating 4.5. 

• Sharing Beyond Books #56 Comment Giveaway.  Open Worldwide. Ends 7/13.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement July 8, 2012. 

Finished Reading:

 1. eBook/Kindle

 

Tempest (The Samsara Chronicles Book 5)

by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley

I'm enjoying this series.

Review is linked above.

2 eBook/Kindle (NetGalley)
 

Thoroughly Kissed 

by Kristine Grayson (NetGalley) 

This was delightful!

Review linked above.

3. eBook/Kindle

 

 

Forgive Me Alex

by Lane Diamond

Very gripping!

Tour review to post on 7/9,

with Giveaway through Novel Publicity.
Rated 4.5.

4. Print
 

 

Dark Side of Valor 

by Alicia Singleton

Really good suspense!

Review to post on 7/10 for Pump Up Your Book Blog Tour with $100 GC link.
Rated 4.75 

5. Audible

 

Timeless: The Parasol Protectorate, the Fifth

• UNABRIDGED
• by Gail Carriger
• Narrated by Emily Gray
• Series: Parasol Protectorate, Book 5

I really enjoyed this series from my Audible Library.
I will post a review later this week. Rated 4.25
    

6. eBook/Kindle 
 

Maelstrom (The Samsara Chronicles Book 6) 

by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley

The series is moving into more science fiction elements now.

Review to post on 7/11 for Pump Up Your Book - with Kindle Giveaway link

Rated 4.25

Book Description

Publication Date: May 25, 2012

Relentlessly pursued by the military and forced to cross the mountains on foot, Aislinn and Dylan discover an ally in the form of a white wolf that guides them to safety.

Forced to abandon their vehicle, Aislinn and Dylan must cross the treacherous mountains on foot. Close behind is the military, whose corrupt leader must honor his pledge to the Eletarii to capture them. But as more guides appear to help Aislinn and Dylan, they are brought to the sanctuary of Emerald Lake.

Line Edits/Releases: I am behind in these and plan to take a day this week to work on only releases.

Currently reading:

1. Audio/MP3

 

No One Left to Tell

by Karen Rose

 Marguerite Gavin (Reader)

This has started out with a murder

and good suspense.

I am reviewing this for Blackstone Audio

through Audiobook Jukebox

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2012

The addictive Karen Rose serves up her most relentless thriller yet.

A woman is dead and her fiancé is serving a life sentence for a murder he didn't commit. Now PI Paige Holden holds the only piece of evidence that could see him freed, and she cannot take it to the police. With the help of disarming state attorney Grayson Smith, Paige is determined to avenge the murdered woman and set an innocent man free. But Paige has only scratched the surface of a cover-up far deadlier than she could ever imagine. A string of mysterious deaths of women with a shared past sets Paige on the trail of a ruthless killer. The problem is, the killer's on her trail too.

2. eBook/Kindle 
 

Queen in Exile

by Donna Hatch

I have started this and like the characters

and fantasy kingdom. 

Reviewing for the publisher, Walnut Springs Press.

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2011

Rumors of War hang over Princess Jeniah's peaceful country of Arden, a land that shuns both magic and warfare. Following a lifelong dream, Jeniah forms a telepahtic bond with a revered creature called a chayim, who is prophesied to save her kingdom. But when a Darborian knight comes upon Jeniah with her chayim, he sees only a vicious monster about to devour a maiden, and he slays the beast.

Devastated by the loss of her chayim, and fearing that her own magic is evil, Jeniah doubts her destiny. When an enemy invades Arden City, they slaughter the people, storm the castle, and execute the entire royal family except the princess. Rescued by the knight who slew her chayim, Jeniah is now heir to the throne of Arden and the only hope for freeing her people from tyranny.

On the run and hunted by enemy soldiers, Jeniah must place her life and the fate of her kingdom in the hands of this trained killer. Torn between embracing her destiny as queen af Arden, and her love for a mere knight, she must ultimately rely on her magic to save herself and her people from death and tyranny.

3. Print

Solid Soul

by Brenda Jackson

(The second story in the book)

Enjoyable romance.

Received from Harlequin 
 Book Description
Publication Date: May 18, 2009
In the real world there was no way flower shop owner Kylie Hagan would ever meet up with millionaire Chance Steele. But the world of single parents and teenage hormones brought them together the first time--and a simmering passion they both tried to deny wouldn't keep them apart for long.

Chance made her think of hot, sultry Southern nights. Kylie had him imagining satin sheets and soul-stirring kisses. But in the cold light of day, they had to resist each other. There was no way they'd let uncontrollable desire ignite their carefully protected hearts.

But some things they couldn't ignore....

4. eBook/Kindle (NetGalley)
 

The Bridge

by Karen Kingsbury

Reading from NetGalley and it is wonderful!

Book Description Publication Date: October 23, 2012

The New York Times bestselling author of Learning and Leaving shares a heartwarming Christmas story about a devastating flood, lost love, and the beauty of enduring friendships.

Molly Allen lives alone in Portland, but her heart is back in Franklin, Tennessee, where five years ago she walked away from a man she cannot forget, a rare sort of love she hasn’t found since.

     Ryan Kelly lives in Franklin and spends plenty of time at The Bridge—the oldest bookstore in historic downtown Franklin—remembering the long hours he and Kelly once spent there.

     Now, Ryan and Molly’s favorite bookstore is in trouble. For thirty years, Charlie and Donna Barton have run The Bridge, providing the people of middle Tennessee with coffee, conversation, and shelves of good books—even through dismal book sales and the rise of eBooks. Then in May a flood tore through Franklin and destroyed nearly every book in the store. By Christmastime, the bank threatens to pull the lease on The Bridge and is about to take the Bartons’ house as well. Despondent, Charlie considers ending his life. And in the face of tragedy, miracles begin to unfold.

5. eBook/Kindle
 

Exodus (The Samsara Chronicles Book 7) 

by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley 

Review to post 7/18/12 for Pump Up Your Book

 with Kindle Giveaway link

Book Description
Publication Date: May 25, 2012
Sheltered at the Emerald lake beyond the reach of the dark forces, Aislinn and Dylan transition into their roles as the celestial portal opens.

Besieged by the Eletarii, humanity struggles in its final hour. Legions assemble by the lake where they descend into the basest depravity wait while Aislinn and Dylan prepare to open the gate at midnight, a portal through which only a chosen few will pass.

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. Last week's reading was Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. This week the reading is the book of Mark.

Line Edits: I am behind in these too and 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 5 of those and expect to finish at least another 4 this week. 

Scheduled for July:

7/9 Forgive Me Alex by Lane Diamond - Review with $50.00 GC Giveaway link tour through Novel Publicity
7/10 Dark Side of Valor by Alicia Singleton - Review for Pump Up Your Book with $100.00 GC Giveaway link
7/11 Maelstrom (The Samsara Chronicles Book 6) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley - Review for Pump Up Your Book - with Kindle Giveaway link
7/18 Exodus (The Samsara Chronicles Book 7) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley - Review for Pump Up Your Book - with Kindle Giveaway link
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

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:
Blackout by Annie Solomon (June Release) (NG)
Moonglow by Kristen Callihan (July 30 Release) (NG)

Audiobook Jukebox:
No One Left to Tell by Karen Rose

Hachette
Grand Central Station
Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione

Other:
Queen in Exile by Donna Hatch
Glass Angels by Karen Wiesner

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.]