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Sunday, March 22, 2015

It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday March 23, 2015

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 busy time last week catching up briefly in the office before heading off for spring vacation with our kids. Now we are in Orlando planning to enjoy some true R&R and time with the kids - when they aren't off in the Disney Parks. :-)

I did get to post three reviews last week and I also posted the usual memes.

I visited some blog friends early this week but then was precluded by my rushed schedule from more visits.  Maybe? I will do better this week.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:
  • Book Review: The Last Heiress by Mary Ellis; Historical Romance; my rating 4.5.
Finished Reading:
1. Print



Interlude In Death: In Death, Book 12.5
by J. D. Robb
I enjoyed this quick novella story. 
Review to post this week.
Click on book title for full description.



2. eBook/Kindle


Monday's Lie
by James Mason
This read very quickly and I really liked it.
I will post a review this week.
Click on book title for full description.




3. eBook/Kindle


Echoes (A Harp Security Novel)
Laura K. Curtis
I nearly forgot I had set this for review on 3/21. 
This is a very good romantic suspense and I will look to read more in the series.
The review is linked above.
Book Description
Publication Date: March 17, 2015
Who is she?
A single photo of herself as an infant on a beach, taken before the date on her birth certificate, throws everything Calliope Pearson knows about herself into question. Hoping to find answers, she takes advantage of her job as a travel writer to make a reservation at the Caribbean island resort in the picture.
Resort security chief Mac Brody distrusts Callie on sight. After all, she looks exactly like his deceitful missing wife, Nikki, who owns half the resort. But when Nikki’s found dead, Mac's facing murder charges, and he’s sure that Callie must hold the key to proving his innocence.
The deeper Callie and Mac dive into the mystery of her past, the more bodies surface. And they’ll have to learn to trust each other, or become victims of a dark danger neither could've imagined….
Praise for TWISTED:
“Sexy small town suspense, with finely drawn characters that will tug at your heart and keep you up at night turning pages.”—Bestselling Author Dee Davis
Laura K. Curtis has always done everything backwards. As a child, she was extremely serious, so now that she’s chronologically an adult, she feels perfectly justified in acting the fool. She started teaching at age fifteen, then decided to go back to school herself at thirty. And she wrote her first book in first grade. It was released in (notebook) paperback to rave reviews and she's been trying to achieve the same level of acclaim ever since. She lives in Westchester County, New York, with her husband and a pack of wild Irish Terriers, which has taught her how easily love can coexist with the desire to kill.




Currently reading:
1. Audible/MP4


Quitter
by Jon Acuff
I have just started this title which my son recommended to me and I picked up as a free read over a year ago.
Click on book title for full description.



2. eBook/Kindle


Scandalously Yours (The Hellions of High Street)
by Cara Elliott
I picked this up last minute for blog tour for Forever Romance.
Review to post on March 31.
Book Description
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Proper young ladies of the ton-especially ones who have very small dowries-are not encouraged to have an interest in intellectual pursuits. Indeed, the only thing they are encouraged to pursue is an eligible bachelor. So, the headstrong Sloane sisters must keep their passions a secret. Ah, but secret passions are wont to lead a lady into trouble . . .
SCANDALOUSLY YOURS
The eldest of the three Sloane sisters, Olivia is unafraid to question the boundaries of Society-even if it does frequently land her in trouble. Disdaining the glittery world of balls and courtship, Olivia prefers to spend her time writing fiery political essays under a pseudonym for London's leading newspaper. But when her columns attract the attention of the oh-so-proper Earl of Wrexham, Olivia suddenly finds herself dancing on the razor's edge of scandal. With the help of her sisters, she tries to stay one step ahead of trouble . . .
However, after a series of madcap misadventures, Wrexham, a former military hero who is fighting for social reform in Parliament, discovers Olivia's secret. To her surprise, he proposes a temporary alliance to help win passage of his bill. Passion flares between them, but when a political enemy kidnaps the earl's young son, they must make some dangerous decisions . . . and trust that love will conquer all.



3. eBook/Kindle


by Kim Amos
This cover pulled me in.
I picked this up also for blog tour for Forever Romance.
Review to post 4/2.
Book Description
Publication Date: March 31, 2015
TROUBLE IN HIGH HEELS . . . 
If pride goes before a fall, Willa Masterson's trip back to White Pine, Minnesota, should be one heck of a tumble The girl who left her hometown-and her first love, Burk Olmstead-in the rearview twelve years ago was spoiled and headstrong. But the woman who returns is determined to rebuild: first her family house; then her relationships with everyone in town . . . starting with a certain tall, dark, and sexy contractor.>
MEETS HER MATCH
Burk has no reason to believe Willa has changed, and every reason to discourage her from converting the Masterson house into a B&B. He has plans of his own for that house, and they certainly don't include a no-vacancy sign. But Burk didn't count on how distracting Willa's bright green eyes or her all-too-familiar touch would feel-or how impossible she will be to resist . . .



I am reading The One Year Bible again along with my husband and others from our church. I am also listening to the companion commentary online. -- Really enjoying my Bible reading. It seems my eyes are open to more details and meaning. To go a step beyond the Bible reading I am also reading Jesus Daily 365 Interactive Devotions.

March Schedule:
March (dateTBD but looks like pushed off until April) - Ladies Book Club Book: Before the Scarlet Dawn: Daughters of the Potomac - Book 1
3/31 Scandalously Yours by Cara Elliott

I am still focusing on reading NetGalley titles and TBR titles for the next couple of months.


I did post three reviews last week so I have three reviews pending for this week. :-)
I am continuing to read the waiting NetGalley titles in between blog tours.


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 two new ebooks from Hachette/Forever for review.
I downloaded more free kindle titles to my library.

(Although I have gotten to a couple, I still have many author requests, old and new ones, to consider and reply to.)
 Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I picked up two last minute blog tours for Forever Romance: (through NetGalley)

A Kiss to Build a Dream On (A White Pine Novel)
by Kim Amos
(See more info in Current reading above)

Scandalously Yours (The Hellions of High Street)
by Cara Elliott
(See more info in Current reading above)


I also accepted one Author invite title from NetGalley for review:

The Shadow Cartel
The Dominic Grey Series
by Layton Green
Crime Thriller -"Lying in wait is an enemy known only as the General: a criminal mastermind whose uncanny ability to avoid detection while cowing even the most ruthless of rival cartels has made him a legend."


Won
None
Purchased

I am continuing to resist making any purchases. :-)

Free

Over the past week I added 49 free Kindle titles to my library. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Ignite Your Book, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

15 comments:

  1. Hope you enjoy the spring break. I didn't read the novella 12.5 in In Death series, so I'll read your review to catch up on it!

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  2. Enjoy your break....and I really hope to get back to the J. D. Robb series soon. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  3. I love that your son recommended a book to you which you're now enjoying. My son and I love to read, but he tends to favor Sci-Fi and Fantasy, which aren't my favorite. I enjoyed looking over the huge selection from your mailbox.

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  4. I have to focus on some NetGalley books, also. I went a little crazy when I first set up my account. This week I am doing Bloggiesta, so I hope I don't neglect my reading.
    I want to hear the best thing you did without the kids on your trip next week!

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  5. Hope you and the family are enjoying Orlando! How fun! I need to get back there sometime. Enjoy your new books :)

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  6. Wow, enjoy Orlando! I've always wanted to visit!

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  7. The Kim Amos and Cara Elliott books sound like fun reads. Have a wonderful break!

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  8. ENJOY your reading week.

    Layton Green's books are always so good. ENJOY!!

    Have a wonderful reading week.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Mailbox Monday

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  9. Enjoy! your spring break.

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  10. Hi Marthae,

    We spent more than twenty years travelling from the UK to Orlando to vacation, at least once a year, generally at Christmas. The economic situation has meant that we have been unable to sustain that for the last couple of years, although we both miss it desperately. Have a great family time :)

    You have some excellent books, both in your reading schedule and in your mailbox, although the one I really hope to get to read soon is 'The Shadow Cartel' by Layton Green. I have already reviewed the first three books in this series and I also received my copy this week. The books are so good and I hope that you enjoy it.

    Yvonne

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  11. Have a good vacation. My family found Disneyland a great reading vacation -- all the lines were perfect for people with a NOOK.

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  12. Enjoy your vacation! I'm reading THE PLOUGHMEN by Kim Zupan~excellent!

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Your comments are always appreciated!