It's Monday! What are you Reading March 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.

Last week seemed a bit slower reading although I did finish four books anyway. I didn't get any reviews done this weekend with not feeling up to snuff. Last week I posted three reviews all with Giveaways; an author Guest Post; a Help Pick Audible Post, Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway, the Enquiring meme post and my Sunday post.

I visited at least 10 blogs over the week and I visited all the Monday Reading visitors from 2 weeks back. I plan to visit last week's this week. At this rate I won't ever catch up. *Sigh*

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

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

• Help Me Pick my Next Audible Read - Comment Giveaway.

• Book Review and eBook Giveaway: God Wars: Living With Angels by Rob Tobin;  Urban Fantasy; my rating 4.0. Ends 3/29.

• Guest Post by Rob Tobin author of God Wars: Living With Angels

• Book Review and ARC Giveaway: The Linen Queen: A Novel by Patricia Falvey; Fiction; my rating 4.5 Ends 4/1.

• Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop.

• Book Review and 2 Copies Giveaway: Welcome to Last Chance by Hope Ramsay;  Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.75 Ends 4/1.

•  Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway March 18, 2011. Ends 3/24.

• Enquiring Minds Meme Week #29 with Comment Giveaway. Ends 3/25.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement March 20, 2011.

Finished Reading:

Print: 

Welcome to Last Chance 
by Hope Ramsay

A very fun read. 

Review and Hachette giveaway 
linked above. 

Print:

Highland Heat 

by Mary Wine.

Another good Highland Romance from Sourcebooks.

I'll post a review and ARC Giveaway on Thursday. 

Ruined, betrayed, and banished…
As brave as she is impulsive, Deidre Chattan’s tendency to follow her heart and not her head has finally tarnished her reputation beyond repair. But when powerful Highland Laird Quinton Cameron finds her, he could care less about her past—it’s her future he’s about to change forever…

Kindle:

Rogue Oracle (Delphic Oracle, Book 2)

by Alayna Williams 

Lots of intereresting facts in this book.
Review and Author Guest post on 3/22.

 Audible:

How Come They Always had the Battles in the National Parks?

UNABRIDGED By Peter Bales

I had started this over a year ago and finished it while I waited for My Next Pick Audible.  This is a fun way to listen to History. :-)

 This is not your father's history book! Spanning prehistoric times all the way through the Civil War, How Come They Always had the Battles in the National Parks? presents a humorous look at our country's past, a historically accurate, concise, and easy to follow account of the main events in America's saga up through the Civil War, definitely enough to get you by in case you find yourself surrounded by annoying smart people at a party.

Line Edits/Releases:

Love From the Ashes by Patricia Andres was released - YAY.

Currently reading:

Print and Kindle: 

I Am the Chosen King by Helen Hollick

I am about 50% complete. Another engaging historical fiction.  Review with author Q&A Interview to post 3/23.

~ Synopsis ~

The year is 1066.  Earl Harold Godwineson of Wessex is lawfully chosen and crowned by the English Lords as King of England - for there is no-one else with the ability to defend the land against the threat of conquest by Duke William of Normandy.
Power and Passion, Love; Loyalty and lust for a throne - One Kingdom, Two Men, One Crown

Print: 

Merely Magic by Patricia Rice

I plan to start this one midweek. 

 Product Description
"Patricia Rice is a master storyteller."
-Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author of Never Less than a Lady

Magic is her birthright...

The daughter of one of the strongest magical lineages, Ninian Malcom Siddons is a powerful witch. Determined to only use her magic for good, she lives a simple, solitary life as a healer in her village, where she meets Drogo.

A man of science doesn't believe in anything he can't see...

Lord Drogo Ives believes only logic and science can explain the wonders of the universe and doesn't believe the local folklore about Malcolm witches and Ives men, until he meets Ninian.

Despite the odds against them and their (many) differences, the bond between Drogo and Ninian grows stronger each moment they are together... until the chaos and danger surrounding them forces each to decide: their love... or their lives...

Audible:

Outside In (Harlequin Teen)
by Maria V. Snyder 

This was the winning Audible pick and I downloaded it on Saturday. I am already half way through and had to recharge the Zen.

"Me? A leader? Okay, I did prove that there's more to Inside than we knew.

That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion—between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we're free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again—while still touching base with Riley, of course. He's the one upper I think I can trust.

But then we learned that there's outside and then there is Outside.

And something from Outside wants IN."

Audio:

Maeve Binchy Value Collection: 

The Copper Beach, Circle of Friends, The Glass Lake.  

These are quite engaging.

I am almost done Circle of Friends.

Will post a review of The Copper Beech soon.

Audible:  

I am listening to The Listener's Bible NIV 

read by Max McLean. I am at Numbers 1 and Psalm 21.

Line Edits: Now focused on finalizing formats on Soylent Red by Jamieson Wolf. Also working on final edits and formatting of Silicon Self by Kirtimaya Varma.

Review books Scheduled for March:

March 22: Rogue Oracle by Alayna Williams- Bewitching Book Tours Review & Author GP

March 23: The Chosen King by Helen Hollick- Sourcebooks review with Author Interview

Unscheduled for March:
These two are the last review books for March:

The Healing Code: 6 Minutes to Heal the Source of Your Health, Success, or Relationship Issue by Alexander Loyd - Grand Central Station (Hachette)

Legacy by Jeanette Baker- Sourcebooks

Sunday Words of Encouragement March 20, 2011

I had a relapse Friday with my cold crud - sore glands and fever again. Guess I'll visit the faith clinic tomorrow to get some antibiotics to knock this thing. 
So I slept in and have spent the whole morning in bed today.
Since I don't have a sermon to share (and my extra notes are in the car) I am offering an Irish Blessing in Video and then an Irish Prayer to go along with the celebration of St. Patrick's Day this past week.

An Irish Prayer  
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

And one final Irish Quote I learned last week:

“May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live.”

Enquiring Minds - Meme Week 29 PLUS Comment Giveaway + Winner

Oops- I jumped a week ahead to #30 when it should be #29.
Thanks for sharing last week about your names - the stories were fun to read. I think Jennifer get's my pick for the most unusual childrens' names.

The Winner from Enquiring Minds Week #28 is: tearyeyedstars. ejhtan- please pick a book from the Love Books List for Giveaway or remainging Christmas Giveaway Books 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 29 QUESTIONS

1. What is your family background regarding nationality?

My father's family game from Holland and he is proudly one of the older living members of the Holland Society (males who are a descendant of an ancestor who lived in New Netherland before or during 1675).

My mother's family was German and English.
 

2. Have you ever eaten corned beef and cabbage, the traditionally meal of St. Patrick's Day or drank green colored beer?
 
We have often eaten corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day but my DH forgot this year. I do not think I ever drank green colored beer.

3. St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in many cities in the U.S. and around the world, are there any celebrations happening near you?

I found this a good question because we had a ladies dinner Monday night. Our leader shared some interesting facts about St. Patrick's Day including a quiz. One really interesting fact she gave: There are 34 million Irish (descendants I guess) in the US and only 4 million in Ireland! The biggest celebration is in New York.
Our City has a St. Patrick's Day Celebration with bed races. I attend as part of the Board of Realtors.

This is one of the participating beds.

Your turn to share: What is your family nationality? Do you eat corned beef and cabbage or drink green bear? Were there celebrations near you?

Enquire Comment Winners can choose a selection from  Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books. 

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, March 25 at 10PM central. 

This Week's Winners

Hey folks - you may have noticed (or not) that I have been setting most of the book giveaways to end on Friday nights.  That way I can post winners in one post on Saturday and participants can know to look for the winners' post each Saturday.  Hope that makes it easier for me and you. :-)
Here we go with four giveaways that ended 3/18.

CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners!

Help Me Pick my Next Audible Read (Listen)!
The most votes went to choice # 1 so today
I downloaded:

Outside In (Harlequin Teen)

Maria S

13, rue Thérèse: A Novel



I loved the various mementos! Thanks for sharing.

LAMusing

To Defy a King

Terri

My Love, My Enemy

 

lmcgeen

I will email these winners tonight or tomorrow. (I have had a small relapse on the cold so may be going to bed soon.)
If any of you see your name as winner PLEASE feel free to email me:  msereads@gmail.com