Mailbox Monday December 2, 2013

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) but is now hosted at Mailbox Monday and through various blog hosts.
For DECEMBER: the Mailbox Monday Tour host is Gilion @ Rose City Reader

[Starting September, Bob of Beauty in Ruins will be the new back-up host for Mailbox Monday.]

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I received one ebook for review. 
I also purchased two Audible titles with my book credits and several Kindle books, mostly 99cent titles.

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

Received from Author for review:

The Innkeeper of Bethlehem–The Story of Santa Claus 
by Scott Roloff

This sounded interesting and perfect for December.

Won

None this week.

Purchased

I purchased these two titles with my Audible Credits. (UhOh - sale time at Audible...must resist looking!)

 
Steelheart

• UNABRIDGED
• by Brandon Sanderson
• Narrated by Macleod Andrews
• • Series: Reckoners, Book 1

Sci Fi, Fantasy

and

Tricked: The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 4

• UNABRIDGED
• by Kevin Hearne
• Narrated by Luke Daniels 
• Series: Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 4

Sci Fi, Fantasy

I also purchased several Kindle titles:
Four Blood Moons: Something Is About to Change [Kindle Edition]
Hagee John (Author) -- for my own edification

Silver-White (The Great North Woods Pack #1) [Kindle Edition]
Shawn Underhill (Author) -- For Book Review

A couple Sci Fi titles on sale for $.99 linked through http://www.genreunderground.com/readinthedark/

Free

I actually downloaded most of these on two days and missed the other days.
I downloaded about 40 free Kindle Titles this week, linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Free Par-tay, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

It's Monday What are You Reading? December 2, 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.

I had a lovely Thanksgiving with our daughter's family and my sister and brother-in-law joining us.
The oncologist visit Friday puts me in a waiting stage as some additional testing is done. 

I had a good reading week and really enjoyed the three books I finished.  I posted four reviews, one with Publisher GC Giveaway, and one ARC giveaway. 
I also posted the regular weekly memes and posts (except the Saturday Snapshot): Mailbox Monday, Friday Pick Giveaway,  Sharing Beyond Books Comment Giveaway and Sunday Words.

Once again I got minimal visiting done which frustrates me. 
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• It's Monday What are You Reading? November 25, 2013.

• Mailbox Monday 11/25/13.

• Book Review, Publisher Feature and Giveaway: Christmas Past by Susanna Fraser, Time Travel, Historical Romance; my rating 4.25   Entangled Ever After line - $50.00 Gift Card Giveaway.   Ends 12/30.

• Book Review: Realm Walker by Kathleen Collins, Urban Fantasy; my rating 4.5. 

• Audio Book Review: The Last Battle by Stephen Harding, Nonfiction (WWII); my rating 4.25.

• Happy Thanksgiving!

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 29, 2013. Open Worldwide. Ends 12/5/13.

• Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Jill Mansell, Romantic Comedy; my rating 4.5. US address; Ends 12/6.

• Sharing Beyond Books #128 Comment Giveaway 11/30/13. Open Worldwide. Ends 12/6.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement December 1, 2013.
  

Finished Reading:
1. Print

Don't Want to Miss a Thing
by Jill Mansell
This was delightful and the ARC Giveaway is linked above.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle
 

Shrouded
by Frances Pauli
I loved this great Sci Fi Romance!
My review and playlist inspiration will post 12/3.
Book Description:
Vashia’s father is the planetary governor. Unfortunately, he’s also a complete bastard. When he promises her to his lackey, Jarn, she panics. On the run in the nastiest corner of the galaxy, Vashia seizes her one chance at escape and signs on as a bride candidate for the elusive race of aliens known as the Shrouded, unaware that she very well may be chosen as the next Queen of Shroud

Of the seven, volatile Shrouded princes, Dolfan may be the only one that doesn't covet the throne. So the last thing he expects to find in the future queen is the woman of his dreams. If he wants Vashia, he must accept the throne as well. Unfortunately, his long-time rival has the same idea. Now, only the planet’s sacred crystal can decide their fates, but what happens when the right woman is paired with the wrong man? And when Jarn comes after what was promised to him?

3. eBook/Kindle

Christmas at Harrington's
by Melody Carlson
I enjoyed this sweet story of redemption and forgiveness.
We will discuss this at Ladies' Book Club
December 7th and then I will post the review with giveaway.

Click on book title for full description.

Line Edits/Releases:
I have several print files to upload as soon as I get cover flats and final proofs.
Enter the bi-monthly drawings at eTreasures Publishing Facebook page.
This week's giveaway link: To be linked.

Currently reading:

1. Audio/MP3

Title: The New Space Opera 2
Editor: Gardner Dozois, Jonathan Stahan
Author: Various
Narrator: Various
I have enjoyed the first three stories so far!
This is 23 hours so may take two weeks.
I received this for review through Audiobook Jukebox.
Publisher/Date: Blackstone Audio, 09/01/13
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle

Traitor's Knife (Five Gems)
by E. Kaiser
This is an engaging story.
I received this from the author for review.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Print

Christmas in Lucky Harbor: 
Simply Irresistible/The Sweetest Thing/
Two Bonus Short Stories
by Jill Shalvis
I'm looking forward to reading these as Shalvis is generally fun reading.
Received and reviewing for Hachette. 
Book Description
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Love awaits you in Lucky Harbor . . .

Simply Irresistible
After losing her boyfriend and her job, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim her inheritance-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little town of Lucky Harbor, Washington. She sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if she can give the inn the makeover it needs. Enter Jax, a tall, handsome contractor who knows exactly what Maddie needs...

The Sweetest Thing
Helping her sister set up the family inn is just the thing to make Tara forget her ex-husband and focus on her new life. Until she meets a sexy, green-eyed sailor determined to keep her hot, bothered, and in his bed. When her ex reappears, Tara must confront her past and decide what she really wants.

Kissing Santa Claus
NASCAR driver Logan Perrish returns to Lucky Harbor, Washington, with love in his heart and a ring in his pocket. But can Sandy Jansen forget the past and give him a second chance? Or will Logan be spending another Christmas alone?

Under the Mistletoe
There's no place like home for the holidays. And the Lucky Harbor Bed & Breakfast is bursting with festive lights and good cheer. But for Mia, Christmas is turning out to be anything other than merry and bright. Her recent break-up with her boyfriend Nick has made her return bittersweet. But then a surprise arrives, when Nick follows her to town bearing gifts - and asking for forgiveness.

I am really lagging but still listening 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: I will still be finalizing print releases this week.

I want to keep enjoying adding stories from my own TBR. :-) I actually have only a handful of  review titles lined up for December although I am awaiting a couple.
I have six books waiting for review but since current reading/listening may take the week I'll have time this week to get up to date.

December Scheduled
12/3 Shrouded Review and Song Inspiration
12/7 Review and Giveaway Christmas at Harringtons
12/9 $100 Book Blast Silver-White by Shawn Underhill


Hachette
CHRISTMAS IN LUCKY HARBOR by Jill Shalvis (reading)

NetGalley:
  couple requests pending

Authors
   Traitor’s Knife by E. Kaiser - author request - current read
   The Wanderers by Cheryl Mahoney - blog friend author
   Christmas on Main Street Anthology  - picked up at Kindle
   The Innkeeper of Bethlehem–The Story of Santa Claus by Scott Roloff  - auhor request

AudioBook Jukebox 
    The New Space Opera 2 (listening now)
    more to come

From TBR Collection - Angel Christmas Anthology
Won Book - Carving Angels by Diane Stringam Tolley
Free Kindle/Nook or Smashwords: TBD

Sunday Words of Encouragement December 1, 2013

Happy December!
Welcome to a very special season. I plan to share a bit of the advent messages during this beautiful season along with songs from our choir program.

ADVENT WEEK ONE is a time of Waiting... a time to observe as we wait for God to touch our lives.

I was looking for Advent images and came across a wonderful program: 

The four weeks of program with podcasts are shared and available online and through email at God in All Things.

Interestingly this week's message fits my current health situation to a "T" as I await additional tests to discern the proper treatment with the help of God's wisdom and peace.

Week One :: Darkness
Incarnation occurs all the time, even in our decisions. We are in a whirl of confusion and feel like we’re in darkness. Advent is a time of sitting with those raw feelings and emotions because discernment begins with observation

This song was a solo from our Christmas program.

I had never heard it before but boy did it bring tears to my eyes. 

A Verse for Today:
Luke 1:17  (NIV)
17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”


Thank you, my Lord, for leading me to words of wisdom. Help me spend time quietly preparing and listening more for your direction and Words of wisdom in my life.

Sharing Beyond Books #128 Comment Giveaway 11/30/13

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

Arrgh - I forgot to link the SBB again last week. A special thanks to you folks who AGAIN sought out the post to comment during the week. :-)

Many of us would write an honest review even for books we do not like but most of us agreed we would be specific why we didn't like them. A few commenters said they would not write a negative review; not all of us are reviewers anyway; and a couple said they might not write a review but would let the author know if they liked or if not, why.

All of us have much to be thankful for - mostly family, health and friends! I was pleased to see several cancer survivors mentioned as doing well and in remission. Please keep miki and her mom in prayer and in your thoughts.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #127 comments is: #8 Elizabeth 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 #128

Q1. Birgit asks: Do you ever buy used books or do you prefer spanky new ones??

A: It is rare for me to buy a new book unless it is for a gift. I am more apt to buy a used book if it is a savings over a new book.  I am always looking for bargain prices for my book club purchases so I often get those books for under $5.00 each.   

Image found at 
she is too fond of books

Choices - Choices!!            

Image found at
 Little Indiana

Q2. My non-bookish 'Question' this week: Are you good at remembering birthdays and anniversaries or do they slip your mind??

A: I am terrible about remembering dates. If it is not on a calendar that pops up to remind me -- and even then-- I am apt to think of it a week before and then forget it again. Fortunately my DH and I are similar in this and neither get upset. This happened today - our 28th anniversary! My DH and I laughed a week ago about all the many times we have both forgotten and sometimes were reminded by our kids or a card from a friend. I happened to mention an item I wanted but said I would put it on my Christmas list. We tend to buy each other items all year long when we see something so it is not important that it be the day of a birthday or anniversary. I woke up this morning with the thought to wish him Happy Anniversary but then I fell back asleep. He went to bed about an hour ago but right before he delivered my gift and I was so chagrined! Of course he will lord this one over me. :-)

I can't say it was the first time though!

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. 

This is the end of November and the comments this month were submitted by: Nikki (Abby), MaryP, Brooke, Emily and Birgit.  Random.org pick is: EMILY who gets a book choice or GC.

Your turn to share:

Q1. Birgit asks: Do you ever buy used books or do you prefer spanky new ones??

Q2. My non-bookish 'Question' this week: Are you good at remembering birthdays and anniversaries or do they slip your mind??

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, December 6, 2013 at 10 PM central.

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Jill Mansell

You don't want to miss this delightful read!

Don't Want to Miss a Thing

by Jill Mansell

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (November 5, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 1402283938
• ISBN-13: 978-1402283932

Genre: Romantic Comedy
My Rating 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: November 5, 2013

He knows all about women, or so he thought...

Dexter Yates leads a charmed existence in London, with money, looks, and girlfriends galore. Life's fantastic until Dex's sister dies and his world changes overnight. Astonishing everyone, including himself, Dex leaves the city behind, takes charge of his eight-month-old niece Delphi, moves to a beautiful Cotswolds village, and sets about working on his parenting skills. His neighbors, including cartoonist Molly Hayes, seem friendly enough—but Dex can't shake the notion that he's missing something important.

Review:
Dexter is a charmer who has done well in work and financial investments and has great success with the ladies. His is close with his sister, Laura, and is thrilled when she has a darling little girl, Delphi. But eight months later Laura dies unexpectedly having named Dex to be guardian of the infant girl. Dex may know girls but not infants and he is thrown for a loop.

In shock Dex leaves London and runs to a village where he had looked to purchase a vacation house. Dex recalls that even though many of the town folk were not so warm to an obvious outsider, the next-door neighbor, Molly, was really friendly. Molly is a cartoon artist who worked hard to get a strip that is syndicated and helps her make a living along with money she earns by teaching art classes. She is clearly warm, considerate and an encourager. She listens to Dex’s heartache and his reasons why he can’t raise his niece. She acknowledges those reasons but challenges him pointing out that if he loves Delphi he could be responsible for the child and manage to take care of her.

Dex’s life-style hasn’t exactly set him up to be recommended as a parent choice but he is determined to convince the social workers he can and will change. He decides to move to the village where he is sure he will find help in the better environment for raising a child. When he returns Molly instantly falls in love...with Delphi. But she has to resist falling for Dex too.

Molly apparently is the first woman to reject Dex’s advances but she feels she must out of self-preservation. That doesn’t make it easier to watch him start dating an attractive, outgoing pediatrician, especially since the match seems to please the locals.

As Dex struggles with parenting and Molly tries to protect her heart, there are other family dramas and relationships breaking down and being renewed in the village. Dex and Molly are the primary characters but the secondary characters also enrich the village life and the story.

I found the book delightful, easy to read and hard to put down. Dex may not be the most likeable character as a footloose, easy going playboy but he does have charm and he does mature. Molly is a dear from the get go and you can feel her conflicted passions. Ms. Mansell imbues the characters with natural emotions of doubt, insecurity, reluctance to be rejected, and desire to be loved and find the right person to love. I could feel the angst of the characters and that kept me pulled into the story wanting good things to happen in the end. Which it does and it is a wonderful journey getting there so you don’t miss the important things!

I received this ARC from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for ARC Copy.

ENTRY FORM HERE

Don't forget to fill in the form for entry! 

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.  

For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest; OR tell me about another book by this author that you enjoyed; OR comment on the review.

* This contest is open to U.S. address only.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on December 6, 2013.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after December 6, 2013.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.