It's Monday! What Are You Reading? August 5, 2013

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.

Reading was good this week. I finished three and am well into several more.  I posted four reviews one with ARC Giveaway. I also posted a Giveaway announcement for Sourcebooks. 
I  posted the weekly Mailbox Monday meme, Friday Pick Giveaway, Saturday Snapshot, Sharing Beyond Books Comment Giveaway and Sunday Words.

I finally got to visit Saturday Snapshots on Saturday. I have a few more to visit and want to visit the Monday memes this week.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts (plus winner post):

• It's Monday What are You Reading? July 29, 2013.

• Mailbox Monday July 29, 2013.

• Book Review: The Hero's Lot by Patrick W. Carr, Fantasy Adventure, Inspirational; my rating 4.75.

• Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Molly Cannon, Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.5. Ends 8/9.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway August 2, 2013. Open Worldwide. Ends 8/8.

• Sourcebooks and Grace Burrowes Giveaway Announcement
  

• Audio Book Review: Maiden Voyage of the Rio Grande by Michael Coorlim, Steampunk, Mystery; my rating 4.5.

• Saturday Snapshot August 3, 2013 - A Strutting Heron
  

• Audible Book Review: The Overton Window by Glenn Bank, Political Thriller; my rating 4.75.

• Sharing Beyond Books #111 Comment Giveaway 8/3/13. Open Worldwide. Ends 8/9.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement August 4, 2013.
  

Finished Reading:

1. Audible

Ready Player One
     by Ernest Cline
     Narrated by Wil Wheaton
I really enjoyed this!
I'll post a review this week.
Click on Title for full book description.

2. Print

Flirting with Texas 
by Katie Lane
This ended better than I expected.
I will post a review with ARC Giveaway this week.
Click on Title for full book description.

3. eBook/Kindle
 

Click: An Online Love Story
by Lisa Becker
I had to get used to the format but
this is a fun romance.
I'll post a review this week.
Click on Title for full Book Description

Line Edits/Releases:
We are working on print, Smashword and Kindle releases.
Released at Smashwords for all ereader formats:
Drinna by Jared Gullage
Genre: YA, Fantasy
BTW - for a chance to win an ebook copy enter the bi-monthly drawings
at eTreasures Publishing Facebook page
Drinna Giveaway

Currently reading:
1. Audio

The Eye of Moloch
    by Glenn Beck
    Narrated by Jeremy Lowell
This is another good thriller listen.
I have almost finished and will be posting a review.
Received from Simon and Schuster through Audiobook Jukebox.
Publisher's Summary
The last battle for freedom is underway....

By the end of Glenn Beck’s number-one best-selling political thriller The Overton Window, a young rebel named Molly Ross had torn aside the curtain to reveal a shadow war being waged for the future of America. In the six months since then, her fight for freedom hasn’t gone well. Marked as traitors and hunted by ruthless government-sanctioned mercenaries using the most advanced surveillance technologies ever created, Ross and her "Founders' Keepers" find themselves cornered and standing alone. but the fight is far from over.

The battle lines in this bitter rivalry are as old as civilization itself: On one side, an unlikely band of ordinary Americans, ready to make their last stand in defense of self-rule, freedom, and liberty - and on the other, an elite cabal of self-styled tyrants who believe that unlimited power should be wielded only by the chosen few. That group, led by an aging, trillionaire puppet-master named Aaron Doyle, will stop at nothing to destroy the myth that man is capable of ruling himself.

As Doyle prepares to make his final move toward a dark, global vision for humanity's future, new allies join the fight and old enemies change sides. In the midst of it all, Molly draws together a small but devoted group willing to risk their lives to infiltrate one of the most secure locations on earth - a place holding long-standing secrets that, if revealed, would forever change the way Americans view their rare, extraordinary place in history. Exposing these truths, and the real-life game of chess being played for mankind’s freedom, is their last chance to save the country they love.

2. Print

Revenge
by Debra Webb
This is reading very quickly
and the suspense is building.
Reviewing for Forever/Hachette.
Book Description
Publication Date: July 30, 2013
The Faces of Evil Series: Book 5
The desire for revenge can never be sated . . .

When her beloved high school teacher appears on her doorstep, Deputy Chief Jess Harris is flooded with fond memories-until the woman says she's about to be charged with murder. Called to the scene of the crime, Jess learns the victim of the bizarre and brutal slaying was a member of Birmingham's famed "Five."

Twelve years ago, the Five were rich, popular high school seniors who threw one wild last party. Two social outcasts were invited to play in the "loser games." The next morning, one player killed himself. Now Jess fears that an invitation to an upcoming class reunion may have forced the Five to play a new deadly game. As Jess fights to keep her former teacher from suspicion-and her relationship with Chief Dan Burnett separate from her work life-she knows she is caught in a vicious cycle of vengeance. And the killer is far from finished . . .

3. ebook/Kindle

Windshift
by Joyce Faulkner
I am learning and enjoying the story.
Reviewing through NetGalley.
Book Description
Publication Date: October 22, 2012
Shirley Maxwell is a troubled young woman facing a complicated personal life, a culture that restricts female options, and a world at war. Yet, together with friends -- Emmie, Delores, and Mags -- she joins Jackie Cochran's Women's Air Service Pi-lots program (WASP) and participates in the adventure, challenges, and tragedies of the 1940s with determination and courage. Shirley and her friends know what they are tackling will be hard, but they do it anyway and relish the effort. In the process, they change what is possible in the minds of young girls everywhere. Lively and moving, Windshift inspires and educates. Appropriate for history buffs interest-ed in the World War II era, students of social change, those who love tales of der-ring do and those who just love airplanes.

I continue to listen to The Listener's Bible NIV read by Max McLean. [Reading and listening on MP3.] I have been remiss and not keeping up with daily reading with my DH.

Line Edits: Still working. Several more releases being prepared for the next few weeks. I am still doing more Smashword conversions in between print formatting.

I still have several print books carrying over from June now into August. I don't have quite so many new choices so I think I can wrap these carry overs up this month.

August
Scheduled:
8/22 Review: A Most Devilish Rogue by Ashlyn Macnamara; Review and Author Guest Blog through Random House 

Sourcebooks
    (none scheduled unless I pick up at NetGalley)

Hachette - Forever
    A House Divided by Kimberly Lawson Roby
    Guilty as Sin by Jami Alden
    Revenge by Debra Webb (reading)

    Ruthless by Debra Webb

NetGalley: (July and early August)
      The Companions, The Sundering, Book I by R. A. Salvatore
      The Godborn, The Sundering, Book II by Paul S. Kemp
      Windshift by Joyce Faulkner (reading)

AudioBook Jukebox
      The Eye of Molech by Glen Beck (listening)


Author Books received at March EPICon
     Convict Dad by P. Ryan Hembree

Author Review titles:
     Double Click by Lisa Becker

From TBR Collection - TBD
Won Book - TBD
Free Kindle/Nook or Smashwords: TBD

Sunday Words of Encouragement August 4, 2013

Pastor’s Sermon today was titled “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah!”
The Bible says that Christ is the only one worthy to open the scroll – the final “will” and plan for mankind. Revelation 5:1-5. What Christ has provided us through the sacrifice of His death is more than just being saved.  Christ also gives us redemption of our life, our family; physical and spiritual deliverance from anything negative that would possess us. This redemption and deliverance comes through Christ accepting our sins and covering them with His blood. Jesus is victor over death and hell. We can only receive our inheritance because of the sacrifice of Jesus.

Our ‘Brother’, Jesus, is our kinsman redeemer. He who was, is and ever will be (Rev 1:8) is holding our inheritance until the time we share in the glory of Heaven.  The blessings we experience in our lives here on earth are only a trickle down from what we will have in Heaven. Now isn’t that an awesome thought?!

I was looking at some other songs but ended up selecting this older song

which really seems to fit the message today.

Blessed Messiah, My Redeemer

A Verse for Today:
Revelation 5:5 (NIV)
5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”


I thank the Lord for the inheritance I look forward to and for the many blessings showered on me now.

Sharing Beyond Books #111 Comment Giveaway August 3, 2013

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to SBB, Sharing Beyond Books.

This was a pretty nice week. Not too many appointments so it felt like I had a breather and time to work a bit on some publishing tasks.

Only a handful of us rarely tire of reading. :-) Many of you occasionally don't feel like reading or at least don't get into a certain book. Then you do something else (computer games, crafts or TV are some choices) or read something else and try the non-engaging book again.

As to purses I guess I shouldn't be surprised that none of us have a major purse fetish. I guess one fetish -- books -- is enough! We had one person with 0 purses and one with 25 although she only uses one. Many mentioned 3-6 purses but still most of us had one that we use for daily.

Thank you to all who shared last week.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #110 comments is: #11 Carol L who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the ARC/Review titles, Christmas titles or Love titles - all linked near the end of the post.  Please let me know your choice by completing the (new) WINNER FORM.

WEEK #111 Questions

Q1. Miki asks: Have you ever met another bookblogger in person? Would you want to??

A: I have met a couple of authors that I met online but I have not yet met another bookblogger. I would love to meet other bookblog friends in person. Maybe next year I will go to the Bookblogger conference.

Q2. My non-bookish Question this week: Some of you anticipated this with your answers last week -- Are your purses backpacks or minimalist??

A: As I mentioned last week I use a sort of side bag to carry daily. It contains Kindle, MP3, card case with ID and one or two credit cards, pen, tissues, small sticky notes, smartphone, eye drops, sometimes a non-aspirin and some money.  If I switch to a 'real purse' it will have a couple of tissues, a pen and an emory board. I just move over the phone, ID case and MP3. If I am traveling I do use a backpack and add a few items, including a paperback. You can tell what is important to me!

I wanted to include my own photo but I couldn't get my card to read tonight.

This is similar to my bag.

Image found at Married with Luggage.

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! We are getting low on questions so hopefully you will send more in -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use. 


Your turn to share:

Q1. Miki asks: Have you ever met another bookblogger in person? Would you want to??

Q2. My non-bookish Question this week: Some of you anticipated this with your answers last week -- Are your purses backpacks or minimalist??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books , the Christmas Giveaway Books, or the June 2012 Newly Updated ARC/Review List.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on either of the two 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, August 2, 2013 at 10 PM central.

Winner of Flight of the Raven

CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNER:

Giveaway: Flight of the Raven

WINNER: DeniseC

DeniseC please fill in the (NEW) Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads AT gmail.com to confirm the win and I'll get the book mailed and/or notify the publisher of your win.  Please reply within 72 hours.

Audible Book Review: The Overton Window by Glenn Beck

I found this to be a great, thrilling listen.
The Overton Window
    by Glenn Beck
    Narrated by James Daniels
LENGTH    8 hrs and 43 mins
RELEASE DATE    06-15-10
PUBLISHER    Simon & Schuster Audio
Genre: Political Thriller
My Rating:4.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
A plan to destroy America, a hundred years in the making, is about to be unleashed...can it be stopped?

There is a powerful technique called the Overton Window that can shape our lives, our laws, and our future. It works by manipulating public perception so that ideas previously thought of as radical begin to seem acceptable over time. Move the Window and you change the debate. Change the debate and you change the country.

For Noah Gardner, a 20-something public relations executive, it's safe to say that political theory is the furthest thing from his mind. Smart, single, handsome, and insulated from the world's problems by the wealth and power of his father, Noah is far more concerned about the future of his social life than the future of his country.

But all of that changes when Noah meets Molly Ross, a woman who is consumed by the knowledge that the America we know is about to be lost forever. She and her group of patriots have vowed to remember the past and fight for the future - but Noah, convinced they're just misguided conspiracy-theorists, isn't interested in lending his considerable skills to their cause.

And then the world changes.

An unprecedented attack on U.S. soil shakes the country to the core and puts into motion a frightening plan, decades in the making, to transform America and demonize all those who stand in the way. Amidst the chaos, many don't know the difference between conspiracy theory and conspiracy fact - or, more important, which side to fight for.

But for Noah, the choice is clear: Exposing the plan, and revealing the conspirators behind it, is the only way to save both the woman he loves and the individual freedoms he once took for granted.

After five back-to-back number-one New York Times best sellers, national radio and Fox News television host Glenn Beck has delivered a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that seamlessly weaves together American history, frightening facts about our present condition, and a heart-stopping plot. The Overton Window will educate, enlighten, and, most important, entertain - with twists and revelations no one will see coming.

Review:
Noah Gardner is a lackluster son of a highly powerful, political puppet master, Arthur Gardner. Noah doesn’t invest emotionally in any of the ambitious projects or politics of his daily work at the prestigious public relations firm, Doyle and Merchant. He does enjoy the playboy lifestyle afforded by his father’s position and money. One afternoon his attention is captured by an alluring young woman in the office even though she rebuffs him with disinterest.

Noah pursues her by following her to a rally supporting the American Constitution. Molly Ross continues to intrigue him with her disdain as well as her passion for the cause of American freedom. She is part of a group, similar to a Tea Party, known as the Founder’s Keepers, who profess to seek peaceable change. When the rally turns violent many of the attendees are taken to jail. Noah insists that there was a plant who instigated the violence and when that truth appears to be close to being revealed to the public most of the rally attendees are released with a little help from Noah’s father and attorney.

Noah is further embroiled in Molly’s schemes to gain access and information from his father’s computers. They learn that Arthur Gardner and his firm are part of a group of elite power brokers who are seeking to bring about a one world government. They will use money, power, manipulation, bribery, coercion, and whatever other means necessary to achieve their goal. Molly (and the reader) learn of a tool known as “the Overton Window” which measures public opinion. This tool allows the monied powers to manipulate public opinion by setting up events that slowly push the boundaries of public acceptance closer and closer to the desired controls sought by the puppet masters.

Noah is kidnapped and it becomes clear that Molly used him from the outset. Yet he thinks there was more between them than the obvious lies. Noah again seeks to help Molly as a nefarious terrorist plot slowly unfolds. A horrible act of violence that is being arranged by the puppet masters but will be blamed on Molly’s group.

The beginning was a bit slow as I wondered at the detailed descriptions of Noah’s obsessive interest in Molly. However that is understandable as the plot progresses. After an hour or two in I was glued to listening to this story until it finished. I was impressed with the writing skills as well as the characterization and plot. All of the elements reveal the extreme intelligence of the author – regardless of what one might think of his political and religious views. Does it contain a message on politics and religion? Yes - clearly on politics and subtly on religion. Is it a good thriller? Absolutely.

Beck starts the book with a preface that declares the work to be in the nature of “faction” – a fictional story woven around facts. The story presents a present day situation that should open eyes and make each of us look at the circumstances around us to see if we can really discern truth from intentionally manipulated PR. I loved the story and am anxious to begin the next book, The Eye of Molech, which I am reviewing for Simon and Schuster through Audiobook Jukebox.

Audio Notes: This story was good on its own but the narration enhanced my enjoyment and made it move much more quickly than if I had read a print or ebook version. James Daniels does a really good job keying into the character personalities. I will look for other works narrated by Mr. Daniels.

Mr. Beck quotes several treatices on freedom and government in the story. One that I think is particularly appropriate is:

The most basic question is not what is best, but who shall decide what is best.
Thomas Sowell

This audio was from my Audible library.