Mailbox Monday March 17, 2014

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) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday.
Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Leslie of Under My Apple Tree, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit and Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach.
Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

This past week I did select one NetGalley title and accepted two author reviews.
(I still have many author requests to consider and reply to.)
I also made two selections at Audible and made a handful of Kindle purchases.
I also downloaded more free Kindle books.


Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

Selected at NetGalley

Anointed: The Cantati Chronicles 
by Maggie Gallagher
This is a demon slayer fantasy which
I selected for the anticipated action.

TWO Titles Selected from author/ publicist offers:

Jaspar's War
by Cym Lowell
Suspense Thriller.
I was pleased to see this new release by Cym and he gifted me a copy for review.
Cym is supporting Operation: Next Chapter by donating the proceeds from Jaspar's War to provide voice activated computers for every wounded veteran on the waiting list. Partnering with Soldiers' Angels to make this dream come true.
SEE MORE INFO AT CYM'S BLOG.

I received this from a publicist for the author.
Issachar's Heirs
by Brian Chilton
This is a thriller involving operations to eliminate Christians in the United States. I am looking forward to reading this for review before April 7. 

Won

None.

Purchased

Audible purchases on February subscription credits:

Night Broken: Mercy Thompson, Book 8
Written by: Patricia Briggs
Narrated by: Lorelei King
I really like this series and look forward to enjoying Mercy's latest adventure.

The Undead Pool: The Hollows, Book 12

Written by: Kim Harrison

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

This is another series I enjoy so 

I was glad to pick up the newest release.

Kindle purchases:

Strangers in the Night (When i fall in love™)
by Rushford, Patricia H.
$0.99

Malicious Mischief (Rylie Keyes)

by Harden, Marianne

$0.99

Free

Plus I downloaded another 35 free Kindle titles. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Free Par-tay, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

It's Monday What are You Reading? March 17, 2014

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 good week reading and stayed up with reviews.  I posted four reviews, one with multiple giveaways. Posted the usual memes. :-)

I did get to do some visiting even it it was late in the week. :-)
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• It's Monday What are You Reading? March 10, 2014.

• Mailbox Monday March 10, 2014.

• Audio Book Review: The Tempest by William Shakespeare; Classic, Dramatization; my rating 4.0.

• Audio Book Review: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks; fantasy; my rating 4.75.
  

• Audio Book Review: Silver City Massacre by Charles G. West; Western; my rating 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway March 14, 2014.  Open Worldwide. Ends 3/20/14.

• Book Review and Giveaways (three total): The Gunsmith's Gallantry, Ladies Shooting Club Series #2 by Susan Page Davis; Historical Romance, Inspirational; my rating 4.25. Ends 3/26/14.

• Sharing Beyond Books #142 Comment Giveaway 3/15/14; Open Worldwide. Ends 3/22/14.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement March 16, 2014.

Finished Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle

The Long Road: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series)
by G. Michael Hopf
I enjoyed this second book and will post review for book 1 and 2 this week. 
Click on book title for full description.

2. Print

Desperately Seeking Suzanna
by Elizabeth Michels
This is a fun historical romance.
I'll post review with ARC giveaway later this week.
Click on book title for full description.

3. Audio/MP4

A Blind Goddess
Author: James R. Benn
Narrator: Peter Berkrot
This is very, very interesting. I'lll post the review this week. Selected through Audiobook Jukebox.
Click on book title for full description.

Line Edits/Releases:
Working on several releases.

Enter the bi-monthly drawings at eTreasures Publishing Facebook page.
Current giveaway link:  Annie's Special Day by Clara Bowman-Jahn.
Check for the new giveaway every two weeks.

Currently reading:

1. eBook/Kindle

Heart of a Hero
by Marie Higgins
I am 70% into this and it is a fun read.
Book Description
Publication Date: January 1, 2010
There's a new hero in town... When Summer Bennett returns to Richfield after a five-year stint at her aunt's finishing school, she discovers a lot has changed. Her father has suffered a crippling injury, and Summer is desperate to get the money to pay for surgery that could allow him to walk again.

She hears of a reward offered for the capture of a cunning gang of bank robbers, and her years of etiquette training fall by the dusty roadside.

What Summer doesn't count on in her quest to capture the bandits is the competition from her family's longtime friend, Jesse Slade. Now a deputy marshal and local hero, Jesse keeps thwarting Summer's plans, just like he did when she wore pigtails. She would like nothing more than to use Jesse's head for a slingshot target, but soon Summer finds her aim shifting from his head to his heart. Problem is, Jesse is engaged to her sister Violet.

2. Audible/MP4

Night Broken: Mercy Thompson, Book 8
Written by: Patricia Briggs
Narrated by: Lorelei King
I really like this series so I purchased this with my February Audible credit! I will start listening tonight.
Publisher's Summary

#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs’s Mercy Thompson series has been hailed as “one of the best” (Fiction Vixen Book Reviews). Now Mercy must deal with an unwanted guest—one that brings a threat unlike anything she’s ever known.
An unexpected phone call heralds a new challenge for Mercy. Her mate Adam’s ex-wife is in trouble, on the run from a stalker. Adam isn’t the kind of man to turn away a person in need—and Mercy knows it. But with Christy holed up in Adam’s house, Mercy can’t shake the feeling that something about the situation isn’t right.
Soon her suspicions are confirmed when she learns that Christy has the furthest thing from good intentions. She wants Adam back, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get him, including turning Adam’s pack against Mercy.
Mercy isn’t about to step down without a fight, but there’s a more dangerous threat circling. Christy’s stalker is more than a bad man—in fact, he may not be human at all. As the bodies start piling up, Mercy must put her personal troubles aside to face a creature with the power to tear her whole world apart.
©2014 Hurog, Inc. (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

3. Print

Tall, Dark & Fangsome (Immortality Bites)
by Michelle Rowen
I know this is the last in a series but it sounds like fun
so I picked this from my "won" books. We'll see how I like it as I get into it.
Book Description
Publication Date: August 11, 2009
Sarah Dearly's vampire life is not all B-positive cocktails. A curse made her a nightwalker, the most vicious vamp there is; the charm she wears to curb her deadly tendencies is losing its juice; and a hunter from hell is turning up the heat. Gideon Chase will kill the ones she loves most if she doesn't obey his orders. That includes breaking up with master vampire Thierry and turning Gideon into an immortal vamp so he can escape a doom of eternal hellfire.

Making things worse are Sarah's growing feelings for Gideon, a bad boy who keeps showing a vulnerable side . . . but is it for real? Will Sarah's dark side take over? Or can she cure herself of the nightwalker curse in time to stop Gideon and finally live happily ever after with Thierry . . . forever?

4. eBook/Kindle

Jaspar's War
by Cym Lowell
I was pleased to see this new release by Cym.
I am anxious to read and review it for the author.
Book Description
Publication Date: March 5, 2014
Greenwich, Connecticut socialite Jaspar Moran has it all—a magnificent estate, two beautiful children and a loving husband, Trevor, serving as the Secretary of the Treasury. Protected, admired and living in the lap of luxury, Jaspar is reeling from the news that his government jet has crashed just as her children vanish without a trace.
An ominous message warns her to keep silent about her husband’s role in the President’s economic plan. Or else.
Determined to save her children, she’ll go to hell and back, form alliances with assassins, traitors and Mafioso, and commit unspeakable acts—if that’s what it takes. With alarms sounding around the world, hunted from all sides, and unsure of who to trust, she finds herself depending on a mysterious figure without an identity.
Jaspar journeys from the Australian outback to the palazzos of Rome, the Monte Carlo Grand Prix, and to the magnificence of the Vatican, in her quest. Can she rescue her children before the plot to crash the global economy is unleashed?

I am up to date with my daily Bible reading. :-)

Line Edits: We are now finalizing formatting for two ebook re-releases, as well as working on a new children's release.

I am continuing to enjoy reading books from my own TBR. :-) I did get four reviews completed this week so 5-4 =1 +3 new = 4. That pretty much gets me up to date. 

March Scheduled - nothing dated but I still plan to look for some book hops.

Sourcebooks: read/to be reviewed

NetGalley: I might look this week for some more titles. 
Anointed: The Cantati Chronicles by Maggie Gallagher

Authors
 Many requests to field and reply to.

AudioBook Jukebox read/to be reviewed

From TBR Collection - Heart of a Hero.
Won Book - Tall Dark and Fangsome.
Free Kindle/Nook or Smashwords - TBD

Sunday Words of Encouragement March 16, 2014

We had another lovely service this morning. Pastor's sermon started while the choir was changing from our robes so I missed the beginning. The gist of the message is that we can not really live a Christian life, or succeed in God's Will on our own efforts. But God is ready to help us in all things. We can defeat temptation and walk uprightly only when we allow the Spirit to direct us. We cannot do it on our own. We must surrender and turn our issues over to God. When I am in Christ I am strong. I am victorious because I allow Christ to work through me.  1 John 4:17 (ASV) Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, even so are we in this world.

This is a worship song we sang new this morning

that fits the message - Victor's Crown.

A Verse for Today
John 16:33  (NIV)
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I am weak in my own will. I must remember each morning to seek God's Will first and allow Him to work through me each day. I give you praise, Lord, for being there to help me in all things.

Sharing Beyond Books #142 Comment Giveaway March 15, 2014

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

Most of us do not go to theatre productions that often. However six people do enjoy productions and try to go often OR they go because family members are involved, like scottsgal's sister and niece in acting or Sarah's nephew in band productions. Ricki must be very busy running a community youth theatre that puts on 12 programs a year!

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #141 comments is: #15 ElizabethL 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 #142 (One Question.)

Q1. Nikki asks: I've always been interested in names. And with all the great new names created these days, just wondering, for those who already have kids, did you name your kids after book/movie characters, or countries, or singers? For those who have yet to have kids, would you consider naming your kids after book/movie characters??

A: Our daughter was named after a flower with middle name Raye as a mix of her grandfather's name, Ray, and a favorite aunt of mine, Rae. But our son does have a character name as his middle name. The choice was between "Patton" which was actually a family surname, or "Shane" from the 1953 movie which is one of my husband's favorites. :-)

Image found at IMBd.

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 still have a supply of questions but from the same people so hopefully others will send more in -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use. 

Your turn to share:

Q1. Nikki asks: I've always been interested in names. And with all the great new names created these days, just wondering, for those who already have kids, did you name your kids after book/movie characters, or countries, or singers? For those who have yet to have kids, would you consider naming your kids after book/movie characters??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books, the Christmas Giveaway Books (this is the new link), or the June 2013 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 through Saturday March 22, 2014 at 5 PM  central.

Book Review and Giveaways (three total): The Gunsmith's Gallantry, Ladies Shooting Club Series #2 by Susan Page Davis

This is another fun, easy read in the Ladies Shooting Club Series.

The Gunsmith's Gallantry, Ladies Shooting Club Series #2

by Susan Page Davis

Number of Pages: 320

Vendor: Barbour Publishing

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN-13: 9781602607958

$1.99 (CBD Price)

Genre: Historical Romance, Western

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description

Widowed gunsmith Hiram Dooley is in a fix. His widowed sister-in-law believes Hiram's duty is to marry her, and shopkeeper Libby Adams has no idea that he loves her. When the schoolteacher's uncle is murdered, Libby and Hiram team up to solve the crime. Will Hiram be able to tell Libby his true feelings?

Review:
Hiram Dooley has been reclusive for several years since the death of his wife in childbirth. He is pleased his sister, Trudy, has found a beau in his best friend, town sheriff, Ethan (The Sheriff's Surrender - Book 1). Although he is beginning to wonder when Ethan is going to get the gumption to make Trudy his bride. Hiram is also beginning to wonder if he might be able to find love again as he becomes more interested in the town shopkeeper, widow Libby Adams.  First though Hiram has to deal with the complication of his first wife’s prissy sister-in-law who has moved in with the idea that Hiram should marry her!

Libby hasn't been looking for another husband but she keeps noticing the steady strength, honesty and goodness of her best friend’s brother, Hiram. If they are both ready to move away from their morning pasts, perhaps her future could hold more than just a widow’s life running the town mercantile.

Although this book presents itself as Libby and Hiram’s story, their relationship is really quietly building in the background while the action revolves around Isabel and her father, Cyrus. Cyrus is the biggest land owner in town and wealthiest man as he runs the stage and bed & breakfast among other interests. One night a strange, rather unkempt man shows up at their house and he is introduced to Isabel as her Uncle. This is news to Isabel who never heard her mother talk about a brother. Isabel doesn't hear the man leave but a bit later discovers her father secretly burying something behind the barn. Isabel seeks comfort and help from Libby as she is frightened especially as her father becomes more and more uncommunicative. Then he starts trying to sell land around town to raise money but Isabel doesn't know why.

A new group of rough cowboys show up in town causing some ruckus for the sheriff and raising concerns from other townsfolk. It seems that the family trouble between Cyrus and Isabel is related to the rough man who has set up ranching on one of Cyrus’ properties.

Before Ethan, Trudy, Libby and Hiram can help Isabel to figure out what is going on with Cyrus she is kidnapped. It is heartwarming when the whole town steps forward to help Cyrus rescue one of their own.

There is gentle humor and western action to keep this story interesting. It moves at a good pace especially since we know the town characters from the first book. I really enjoy how the author brings in Christian messages of love, forgiveness and trust by making them part of the characters' lives in sharing rather than a preaching situation.

This is the second book in the series. Although it could be read as a stand alone I recommend reading the books in order to get a better grasp on the manner town characters. One of our book club members thought we were reading book 3 instead of 2. She said that book 3 is a fun read too.

I picked up book 1 and 2 in this series at very good prices for Ladies Book Club.

I have decided to giveaway print books 1 and 2 separately but in this one entry - so TWO WINNERS get one print book each. Please note that The Sheriff's Surrender is still available for $1.65 at CBD and The Gunsmith's Gallantry is $1.99. All three books in the series are available in ebook format from CBD for the very reasonable price of $6.05 with no postage costs! SO - I am adding a THIRD WINNER for the ebook of all three stories!
ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the gently used Print Copies.

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 comment on the first review, second review OR

 visit the author's website and tell me something you like/learned there.

* This contest is open to U.S. address only for print but worldwide for the ebook!
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 26, 2014.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after March 26, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.