It's Monday! What are you Reading August 16, 2010?

This meme starts at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books!

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.

More good books this week! I finished reading three books  plus one audio.
I posted three reviews, two book giveaways and a summer giveaway.
I continue to work on some of the older reviews. Sigh.

Unfortunately, I only visited a few blogs as I had a pretty busy business week.

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

• It's Monday What are You Reading? August 9, 2010

• Review of 
• When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man
  by Jerry Weintraub

• Giveaway of When I Stop Talking

• Blog Tour Feature on Author Elizabeth Hoyt
  

• Blog Tour Interview with Author Elizabeth Hoyt

• Review of Wicked Intentions (Maiden Lane)
  by Elizabeth Hoyt

• Giveaway of Wicked Intentions (Maiden Lane)

• Martha's Bookshelf *** Friday Pick Giveaway August 13, 2010.

• Summer Giveaway - Two Packages

• Review of Dangerous Desires by Dee Davis

• Sunday Words of Encouragement August 15, 2010.

Finished Reading:

PB:  Dangerous Desires by Dee Davis. Review posted.

PB: Desperate Deeds by Dee Davis for Blog Tour - Interview, Review and Giveaway to be posted August 17.

PB:  Captured by Desire by Kira Morgan for Blog Tour - Interview, Review and Giveaway to be posted August 19.

Kindle:  --------------

Audio: 

When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man by Jerry Weintraub.  
Review and Giveaway Posted. 

Line Edits:  -------

Currently reading:
Reading small HQ book #1 for survey.

PB: Whisper of a Witch by Suza Kates for August 25 Author Tour.I will start this today.

Product Description
Shauni Miller has no idea why her life is changing, but she must answer when an unknown force summons her to a mystical island. She also harbors a secret, one that has the potential to alter her life forever. Dr. Michael Black helps Shauni in her time of need, but sees more in the raven-haired temptress than she ever meant to reveal. He knows she's hiding something, but then, so is he. Only the fates know what role they will play in a centuries-old prophecy. Or if one of them has to die. 

E-Book:

Never a Bride by Amelia Grey. I have to read this eArc on my computer so it may take a bit longer. The review is for September.

Her name is on everyone’s lips . . .
When he left for America six years ago, the handsome Viscount Stonehurst never suspected that he would return home to England to find his lovely fiancé embroiled in the scandal of the decade. The woman he planned on making his wife has been kissing every man in London . . . except him!
But scandal doesn’t matter in search of the truth . . .
Engaged and then abandoned, Mirabella Wittingham is determined to find the man who drove her cousin to suicide, even if it means ruining her reputation and disgracing herself in the process . . .
When her plans go awry, Mirabella has no choice but to turn to her long-lost fiancé for help. But can she trust the man who deserted her so many years ago, or is he destined to fail her yet again?

Audio Book: The Island: A Novel by Elin Hilderbrand. Another Hilderbrand book with intense characters.

Birdie Cousins has planned a getaway with her daughter Chess on rustic, charming Tuckernuck Island off the coast of Nantucket, a chance to bond before Chess's upcoming marriage. Birdie's been through a difficult divorce herself, so she knows the big commitment that marriage entails. She's only recently dared to tiptoe back into the waters of romance. When Chess abruptly breaks off the wedding and her fiancé shockingly dies in a rock climbing accident, it leaves Chess feeling guilty and deeply depressed. Birdie circles the wagons, convincing her younger daughter Tate, and her own sister India to join them on Tuckernuck for the month of July. Secrets and intrigue soon make their way to the surface, as Elin Hilderbrand once again weaves a masterful story of summer suspense.

Kindle ------

Line Edits: Finalizing new website this week!

Upcoming books:
A second small Tell HQ review book.

Seduced by a Highlander by Paula Quinn for August 26 Blog Tour.

The Brothers of Gwynedd: The Legend of the First True Prince of Wales by Edith Pargeter. Part Three - The Hounds of Sunset. Reviewing for Sourcebooks.  Not quite sure when I will be getting back to this but it is still on the schedule.  

Sunday Words of Encouragement August 15, 2010

We had a beautiful communion service today with a short visit from a missionary to Haiti.
Today our Pastor had a good message based on Ephesians 4:31-32:

³¹Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
³²Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

The negative dispositions are to be cut out or eradicated from our life (like a cancer).  It doesn't happen over night but with the help of the Spirit it is a process of growth.

This is the choir song we sang today - very powerful!
I am sorry that I couldn't find a video with words
and I didn't find the lyrics -
so I hope you will listen carefully. :)

Verses for today - see those above!

We prayed for the people of Haiti. One wonderful way to help those in need in a tangible way is to support Project Hope which delivers health education and humanitarian assistance to Haiti and many other countries around the world.

Review - Dangerous Desires by Dee Davis

This is a solid suspense: full of action, adventure, intrigue and sexy romance!

Dangerous Desires by Dee Davis

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Forever (July 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446542040
• ISBN-13: 978-0446542043

Author's website
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

As the extractions expert for A-Tac, an elite CIA black ops unit masquerading as faculty at an Ivy League college, Drake Flynn knows how to survive behind enemy lines. But he’s about to meet one adversary he can’t subdue . . . or resist.
A RACE FOR SURVIVAL
Stranded in the Colombian jungle after a mission goes bad, Drake has only one objective: evade the mercenaries hot on his trail and deliver “the package” to U.S. officials. But “the package” has a mind of her own, and she has no intention of trading one set of captors for another. Madeline Reynard is beautiful, headstrong, and hell-bent on escape after years as a crime lord’s pawn. She’ll risk everything for freedom, even if it means deceiving the dark, handsome soldier who now holds her life in his hands.
Drake has been burned too many times to let a woman manipulate him, especially a secretive one like Madeline. Even so, they cannot deny the attraction between them. Now as enemy forces close in, Drake and Madeline must trust each other with their lives—or face certain death.

Review:
Madeline has been trapped working for a Colombian drug cartel in order to try to save her sister. Now she has a chance to escape but she isn’t sure she can trust anyone but herself. Wouldn’t she be better off on her own than letting them take her back to America as a “prisoner” for debriefing? 

Drake has had past trouble with deceitful women and he knows he can’t trust them. He isn’t thrilled to be placed as the “baby sitter” to this beauty who is believed to be a crime lord’s mistress. But he knows his job and fully intends to deliver the “package” safely. Unfortunately Madeline seems intent on slipping away from him and complicating the mission.

There is plenty of action in the jungle escape and following prison rescue.  The escape and rescue difficulties are increased by sabotage to the black ops team. The plot is believable even if there are numerous close calls. Slowly Madeline begins to trust Drake and bit by bit Drake becomes entranced as he learns more of Madeline’s character. As the two grow closer they face repeated danger as it appears that someone is leaking every step of their escape plans.

I have enjoyed many of Ms. Davis’ romantic suspense titles. She has a wonderful ability to mix the right amount of intriguing suspense, action and conflicted romance.  This is book two in the A-Tac series.  I look forward to reading more of the adventures of the team as the members face danger, fall in love and try to discover the traitor in their midst.

Please check in next Tuesday, August 17, for an interview with the author, my review and giveaway of the third book in this series, Desperate Deeds.

Summer Giveaway - 2 packages: Gifts Plus Book

Finally - I am posting the summer Giveaway! It's still summer even if it's time for the kids to get back to school.
Here are the two packages:

Package #1: Dish Towel and "Life is Fragile, Handle with Prayer" chime, plus a choice of sachet (see the Blogoversary gift packs). PLUS a Summer title from the group below.


Package #2: Dish Towel and Summer picture frame, plus a choice of sachet. PLUS a Summer title from the group below.

Here are the Summer titles to choose from:

Secrets of a Summer Night (The Wallflowers, Book 1)
The one I have is hardcover.

 

One Reckless Summer: A Destiny Novel

This book is brand new, but will be gently

read if I get to read it!

Under the Boardwalk: A Dazzling Collection of All-New Summertime Love Stories (Sonnet Books)

My paperback is from 1999 and
has a beach image.

The Days of Summer: A Novel

My copy is a paperback from 2006

with a different cover.

 

Tropical Kiss

This looks like a fun story and

I really like Jan Coffey for 

romantic suspense.

 

Blueberry Hill

This just looks like a fun summer read to me.

This book is a bit more worn than the others.

 The Summerhouse

 Hmmm - this has a bit of magic in the plot.

 

 A Summer Affair (Calhoun Chronicles) 

I love Susan Wiggs historicals!

Eight choices - that's pretty good!

I'm still looking for a paranormal choice to add but I may not have one. I will look some more tomorrow.

Here is the only catch with these books -

These are from my own bookshelves/boxes - and I want to read them!

I don't know which book the winners might choose so I don't know which I will read first. I'll let you know in this coming Monday's What are you reading? post.

So how do you enter?

You may choose to enter for package 1 or package 2 but you can only win once. 

Enter by telling me which package you would like and which book you THINK you would pick... you may change your mind if you win.

You may get one extra entry if you tell me of a book you consider a "summer book" - it is not required to have the word "summer" in it but I do want a summer story, not just a good beach read if you understand what I mean.

International visitors may win if the postage is under $8.00.  Otherwise an international winner may pick a gift certificate of your bookstore choice for $8.00.

 

The giveaway will run until 10pm Central August 27.