It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday December 1, 2014

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 a very relaxing week staying in bed until at least 9am for four mornings in a row!  Thanksgiving was lovely with family. This week has warmed up even though we still have a fire going.

Reading was enjoyable. I finished three books and posted three review, two with giveaways. I also posted a special Forever Giveaway post and a winner's post as well as all the usual memes. 

I did get to visit a good group of sites last week.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday November 24, 2014.

• Book Review and Giveaways: Sugar's Twice as Sweet: Sugar, Georgia: Book 1 by Marina Adair; Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.25. Tour Giveaway ends 12/18/14; Book giveaway at MBS Open US/Canada only; ends 12/6/14.

• Happy Thanksgiving 11/27/14! 

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 28, 2014. Open Worldwide. Ends 12/4/14.

• Audio Book Review: WARP Book 1: The Reluctant Assassin (W.A.R.P.) by Eoin Colfer; Sci Fi, Time Travel; my rating 4.0.

• Hope Ramsay Blog Tour: Top 5 Favorites, Excerpt and Giveaway! Tour Giveaway ends 12/1/14.

• Book Review: Last Chance Family by Hope Ramsay; Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.5.

• Fun - #4EvrBookBoyfriend - and a Special Giveaway Pack From @ForeverRomance - #FaLaLaForever; Print Bundle! End 12/19/14.

• A Group of Winners from September through November! 

• Sharing Beyond Books #179 Comment Giveaway 11/29/14 Open Worldwide. Ends 12/6/14.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement November 30, 2014.
  

Finished Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle

Sugar's Twice as Sweet: Sugar, Georgia: Book 1
by Marina Adair 
I enjoyed this. The review and giveaways are linked above.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle

Last Chance Family
by Hope Ramsay
Forever Romance
This was delightful!
The Author feature with giveaway
and review are linked above.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audible (and Kindle)

Free: I’m Dreaming of an Undead Christmas
Written by: Molly Harper
Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi
This is fun and sassy. I'll post a review this week.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently reading:

1. Print

We Are The Destroyers (We Are***Are We Book 1) 
by D. K. Lindler
I am down to the last 10% and 
wondering how this sci fi will end.
I will post a review this week.
Click on book title for full description.

2. Audio

Snowbeard the Pirate and the Naughty List
by Chip Huddleston
This sounds like fun and the beginning sound is great - reminiscent of The Night Before Christmas.
A funny, whimsical story for older children and adults, it is about Santa's younger brother who runs away to Florida and becomes a pirate.

3. eBook/Kindle

Home for the Holidays
A Cavanaugh Island Novella
by Rochelle Alers
I am reading this for Review and
Launch Day Blitz on 12/3/14.
Book Description
Publication Date: December 2, 2014
This Christmas novella is set in charming, Sanctuary Cove featuring popular characters from Rochelle Alers' bestselling small-town, Cavanaugh Island contemporary romance series.

Love is always in season.
There's no place like home for the holidays, especially for divorced pastry chef Iris Nelson. After escaping an abusive marriage, she's found peace on charming Cavanaugh Island. As the holiday approaches, Iris looks forward to spending it with her newfound best friend's family . . . and their very handsome visitor.
On leave from Afghanistan, Army Master Sergeant Collier Ward is excited to be reunited with his family for Christmas. But the best gift of all may be this warm, beautiful stranger who joins them for the festivities. With his visit coming to an end, Collier can't deny the heat smoldering between them. Yet Iris can't help but wonder if it's just the glow of the season-and one night of passion-or a true miracle of love that will change their lives forever . . .

4. eBook/Kindle

Every Valley: Advent with the Scriptures of Handel's Messiah
Handel (Author), Albert L. Blackwell (Foreword)
I have started this as a daily reading but I will review it in a week or so.
Westminster John Knox Press
Handel's Messiah is one of the most beloved musical works of the western world, playing an especially sentimental role in many people's Christmas traditions. The libretto of the work, taken directly from the King James text of fourteen books of the Bible, has turned many otherwise forgettable phrases into memorable, singable, cherished lines of Scripture.
This gift-worthy book will delight and inspire classical music fans and those for whom Messiah is a beloved Christmas tradition with essays exploring the theological, historical, and pastoral implications of the Scriptures that make up Handel's Messiah.
Forty reflections journey in order through the oratorio, taking the reader deeper into less-often studied texts like Malachi 3:3 and bringing new light to oft-recited passages like Luke 2:9-14. Each reflection offers the libretto from Messiah, the same passage in NRSV, and a brief commentary on the text, written by a respected scholar or pastor. Readers can peruse the book at leisure or examine one reflection per day throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons.

5. eBook/Kindle

Seducing the Ruthless Rogue
(The Rogue Agents Trilogy Book 2)
by Tammy Jo Burns
The premise on this caught my interest.
I will post tour review on December 10.
Book Description
As Director of The War Office, Stuart McKenzie, has proven himself capable of making difficult decisions in times of crisis and keeping government secrets safe. When he walks in on someone ransacking his study he quickly moves to apprehend them, only to be tossed on his back as the burglar escapes into the night.
Cassie’s father has become a pawn in the fight against Napoleon. When the enemy kidnaps him, she will do anything it takes to get him back – including stealing government secrets from Stuart McKenzie, the Director of the War Office.
When Cassie is caught, she reluctantly agrees to Mack’s assistance as there is something far more sinister going on. As Mack embarks on his mission, he will find that enemies are often closer than one would think and that sometimes your ally will come in the least likely form. When passion erupts between Mack and Cassie, they find their lives forever altered. But just as they believe their lives to be free of danger, a new threat is lurking about, promising to rip their happiness away from them. Will they be able to trust each other enough to defeat this new threat, or will they be torn apart for all eternity?

I expect I will pick-up an audio but not sure which yet.

I am up to date on my daily Bible reading.
I have disciplined myself each morning to read my Bible passage before I pick up print, Kindle or mp3. I am really enjoying the reading.

I still have Sci Fi titles I look forward to. I have two reviews pending so I am up to date.
I have many Christmas titles I would like to read but I am guessing I will not have time for all of them. 

Decenber Scheduled:
12/3 Home for the Holidays by Rochelle Alers; tour review and GW.
12/10 Seducing the Ruthless Rogue (The Rogue Agents Trilogy Book 2) by Tammy Jo Burns; tour review.
12/12 Jesus Daily: 365 Interactive Devotions Review

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs.  This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday.
Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach.
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I received/selected two review titles.
I purchased two Audible books and three $.99 kindle titles this week as well as getting many free kindle titles.

(Although I have gotten to a couple, I still have many author requests to consider and reply to.)

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I received an audio book from the author:


Snowbeard the Pirate and the Naughty List
by Chip Huddleston
This sounds like a fun spinoff from The Night Before Christmas.

I was interested in this YA Dystopian, sci fi Series.

The author was nice to send me the first book.

The Heir

by Lynne Stringer

Won

None

Purchased

I purchased two Audible titles with my November subscription (purchase four in November and you get a $10.00 credit):

Seventh Grave and No Body
Written by: Darynda Jones
Narrated by: Lorelei King
I have enjoyed this series so far!

The Empire's Corps
Written by: Christopher G. Nuttall
Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

It was hard to pick from many Sci Fis but this is the one I got this time.

I purchased three kindle titles for $.99 -- just couldn't resist these bundles.

Romancing Christmas: 10 Love Stories To Spice Up The Holidays
Dale Mayer, H.D. Thomson, Chantel Rhondeau, Leslie Lynch, Sandy Loyd, Barbara Lohr, Marcia James, Carolyn Hughey, Tallulah Grace, Rachelle Ayala

Highland Heroes: Three Scottish Medieval Romances

Claire Delacroix, Deborah Cooke

Mistletoe Kisses: inspirational romance boxed set (Inspy Kisses Book 3)
Janet Tronstad, Lisa Mondello, Lenora Worth, Margaret Daley, Camille Elliot, Pamela Tracy, Lacy Williams, Cheryl Wyatt

Free

Over the past two weeks I downloaded another 52 free Kindle titles. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.