Mailbox Monday February 21, 2011

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week.

This Meme started  with Marcia at The Printed Page but is on blog tour and for December the host is Library of Clean Reads. 
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I haven't done a mailbox post since December so I have a few items.

I won this wonderful handcuff necklace at the Gratitude Giveaway Hop from Author Sheralyn Pratt.

She did a cute video for the drawing but more importantly - check out
her books:   
 

 

I've got to squeeze in starting this series. I really like the sound of the stories and the sass.
 Thank you Sheralyn for the necklace!

I received the book
Deceived (Onyx) by Mary Balogh
from a friend who knows I really like Mary Balogh.
Thanks Sandy.

Dakota Child

by Linda Ford

A Harlequin Gift.
Thanks Harlequin.

Illuminations of the Heart (Historical Romance Novels)
by Joyce DiPastena
I won this on the December Hop at
Sweetest Romance Authors.
I read Joyce's Loyalty's Web and really liked it (5.0 review).
I look forward to reading this one!
Thank so much Joyce!



Books I purchased in December:
Bookmarked For Death (Booktown Mystery Series) by Lorna Barrett

Death Perception (Psychic Eye Mysteries) by Victoria Laurie

Promises, Promises (Delaware Brides Series #1) (Heartsong Presents #784) by Amber Miller

It's Monday! What are you Reading February 21, 2011?

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.

Yay for another good reading week with a variety of enjoyable reads! I finished three review books and two audiobooks. I posted four reviews, two with Giveaways; the Enquiring meme post and my Sunday post.

Early last week I visited as I knew I wouldn't have time during the week. I did better than usual visiting.
These were last week's posts plus Winner posts not listed.

•  It's Monday What are You Reading? February 14, 2011.

• Book Review and Review Copy Giveaway: A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor by Robert Pielke; Alternate History; my rating 5.0. Ends 3/4.

• Book Review: The Taste of Innocence CD (Cynster Novels) by Stephanie Laurens; Historical Romance; my rating 3.5. 

• Book Review and Review Copy Giveaway: The Big Show Stopper (A Pinky and the Bear mystery) by Ken Dalton; PI Mystery; my rating 3.25. Ends 3/4.

• Book Review: Step on a Crack Audiobook by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. Thriller; my rating 4.25.

•  Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway February 18, 2011. Ends 2/24.

• Enquiring Minds Meme Week #25 with Comment Giveaway. Ends 2/25.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement February 20, 2011.

Finished Reading:

Print:

The Big Show Stopper (A Pinky and the Bear mystery) 

by Ken Dalton

Review and Review Copy Giveaway linked above.

 

Print and Kindle:  

The Werewolf Upstairs 

by Ashlyn Chase

Fun read. Review and ARC giveaway to be posted this week.

Print: 

Everyone Loves a Hero: ...and that's the problem 
by Marie Forrce

Author Interview.

Review and Sourcebooks 
Giveaway on 2/23.

Nice read!

Audio:

The Collectors by David Baldacci.
Llehn picked this for her audio win so I will be sending it on.  
A Camel Club mystery.
I will do a review later this week.  

Audio: 

The Innocent Man: 
Murder and Injustice in a Small Town

by John Grisham

Not what I expected 
but very interesting.
I will do a review later this week.

Line Edits/Releases:
ΕΞΙΣ gods, ghosts and battered cellphones by Anne Abad has been sent out for release. Love From the Ashes by Patricia Andres is getting a final tweak.

Currently reading:

Print:  13, rue Thérèse: A Novel by Elena Mauli Shapiro.
I just started this - only on page 40. I love how it reads. The review and review copy giveaway will post on 2/17.

Hachette Description:
American academic Trevor Stratton discovers a box full of artifacts from World War I as he settles into his new office in Paris. The pictures, letters, and objects in the box relate to the life of Louise Brunet, a feisty, charming Frenchwoman who lived through both World Wars.

As Trevor examines and documents the relics the box offers up, he begins to imagine the story of Louise Brunet's life: her love for a cousin who died in the war, her marriage to a man who works for her father, and her attraction to a neighbor in her building at 13 rue Thérèse. The more time he spends with the objects though, the truer his imaginings of Louise's life become, and the more he notices another alluring Frenchwoman: Josianne, his clerk, who planted the box in his office in the first place, and with whom he finds he is falling in love.

Print:

To Defy a King

by Elizabeth Chadwick

I stared this because
it is 505 pages and I figure 
I will need a week to finish it.

This is from Sourcebooks for review,

with Author Guest Post on March 2.

Print and Kindle:

Moonstruck Madness by Laurie McBain
Just started this one on Kindle Sample 

Product Description
She's one thing by day, something else altogether by night...
After escaping the slaughter of her clan at a young age, Scottish noblewoman Sabrina Verrick provides for her siblings by living a double life, until the night she encounters the Duke, and her secret and all she holds dear is threatened...
He's so disillusioned, he's completely vulnerable...
With his inheritance at stake, Lucien, Duke of Camareigh, sets a trap for the Scottish beauty with the piercing violet eyes, never imagining what will happen when the trap is sprung...
As their lives become irreversibly entangled, Lucien and Sabrina become each other's biggest threat, as well as their only salvation...

Audio:
Maeve Binchy Value Collection: 
The Copper Beach, Circle of Friends, The Glass Lake.  
I got lucky and picked this one up (at Goodwill!) for my next audiobook. This is three stories so it may take a while to finish.

Audible: The audible I am listening to is The Listener's Bible NIV read by Max McLean. He is a wonderful reader. I am at Exodus 25.

Line Edits: Working to finalize and format Soylent Red by Jamieson Wolf. Also doing final edits on Desperate Measures by Cindy Comer.

Remaining Review books for February
My Love, My Enemy by Jan Speas

House Divided by Raul Ramos Y Sanchez

Sunday Words of Encouragement February 20, 2011

This morning was another awesome worship and communion service. It is so wonderful to have Sunday morning as a highlight to refresh me and refocus me each week. This sharing is a bit longer but I felt compelled to share it.

Our Pastor's daughter and her husband are missionaries for Family Life in Arkansas. They shared this morning on the mission work but also on their personal experience.  The father gave up a good job, they sold their house (for more than they paid in a depressed market) and they waited for their support funding. They have a young son and daughter and due to medical issues did not expect any more children. The parents had talked about adopting but had set aside any talks of that until their future was settled. However, before they moved their son saw little Nike shoes like his own and said to his mother "look we could get these for the baby." She replied that she would be having no more babies.  He thought for a moment and then said we could pray. Then he and his little sister prayed for a baby brother and sister.

After getting settled in their new home a friend invited the mother to a foster care program. She thought she could never take care of a child and then give it up.  The program leader said that is just the type of person that was needed as they care so much. The parents indicated that they were willing to take children from birth to three. Usually families do not want children under six months. The process normally takes four months to a year for certification. A month or so later DHS called and asked if they could take twins. That very day they brought home the first 4lb baby girl; her 2lb sister had to stay in the hospital a bit longer.  Now the girls are 6 months old and healthy in a loving home.

The parents do not know what the future holds. But God has provided all their needs, even with the unexpected arrival of infant twins. Plus God has supplied strength for each day.   Their message was summarized: "We do not know what God will do but our part is to 1) Choose to Surrender; 2) Walk in Faith; and 3) Claim God's Word."

We sang this song today and it stirs me and sticks with me.

A Verse for Today

Isaiah 41:10 (New International Version, ©2010)

So do not fear, for I am with you;

   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

We prayed this morning to surrender to God's will -- every day.

Enquiring Minds - Meme Week 25 PLUS Comment Giveaway + Winner

Thanks for sharing last week about the Super Bowl, love songs and blog challenges.Shows what different cultures we have when Mystica doesn't know what the Super Bowl is! (It's the final football game of the season to determine the champion team from the previous year. It is much more important normally to the men and the states who have a winning team!)

The Winner from Enquiring Minds Week #24 is: #6 Mona. Mona - please pick a book from the Love Books List for Giveaway and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks if desired. Or let me know what credit you want or book you want from Book Depository if international.

This meme is hosted by Dollycas Thoughts for Thursdays - which are hard for me to make.  The goal is to get to know our fellow bloggers and visitors better. Each week Dolly asks some questions for us to answer and then link up. I am late doing the post but I am trying to to participate as I would like to learn more about blogger and follower friends.

WEEK 25 QUESTIONS

1. Do you take a daily multi-vitamin or supplement?

I used to take various vitamins but got out of the habit. Guess I should start again. The only pill I take is for joint aches.  My DH takes a dozen or so that are colorful like the picture here.

2. You're snacking - popcorn - pretzels - potato chips or peanuts?

Any-all of the above a different times! DH has just been diagnosed with diabetes2 so I think our eating habits are about to change - for the better.

3. Waffles, Pancakes or French Toast?

Depends on my mood. I like them all. But actually we started eating crepes after visiting Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco.  I'll have to check to see if I have a picture of my own I can load.

Your turn to share - Do you take a multi-vitamin or supplements; which snack do you like or which breakfast "pastry"?  

All of February winners will get to make their selection from some Valentine and "Love" books I posted. 
Rules: a) Must be a follower; b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the three questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made by Friday, February 25 at 10PM central.