Mailbox Monday October 20, 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.

I received one review title for a Book Tour this week.
I only purchased five $.99 Kindle books this week and I picked up many free kindle titles. :-)

(Although I have gotten to a couple, I still have many author requests to consider and reply to.)

Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

I received this title from a publicist for blog tour

date October 23, 2014.

The Castle Blues Quake (The Ghost Whisperer Book 1)

by Linda Covella

12-year-old Pepper Connelly leaves her best friend, Chrissie, behind when her family moves from New York City to Santa Cruz, CA. Pepper discovers a boy, Corey, hiding in her backyard shed. Unknown to Pepper, Corey is a ghost trying to contact his grandfather, Boppie, before he crosses over. He tells Pepper he must locate Boppie before Social Services finds him. Pepper agrees to help.

Won

None

Purchased

I purchase five titles for $.99 each, three of which are multi-title boxed sets.

Romance Super Bundle II: Second Chances
Dale Mayer, Donna Marie Rogers, Stacey Joy Netzel, Amy Gamet, Edie Ramer, Lois Winston, Pamela Fryer, Georgina Lee, Kate Kelly, Wendy Ely, Lyndi Lamont

Highland Shifters: Paranormal Romance Boxed Set
Michelle Fox, Red Phoenix, Tabitha Conall, Liliana Rhodes, Adriana Hunter, Sarah Makela, Arial Burnz, Lisa Carlisle, Victoria Danann, Ripley Sage, Selena Kitt, Skye Eagleday, Linda Barlow

Mission to Murder (A Tourist Trap Mystery Book 2)
Lynn Cahoon

Maid to Match
Deeanne Gist

WhiteSpace: Season One (Episodes 1-6 of the sci-fi horror serial)
Sean Platt, David Wright, Jason Whited

Free

I downloaded another 50 free Kindle titles this week. Titles found linked through Bookbub, Bookfun, Ereader News Today, Free Par-tay, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.

It's Monday! What are You Reading? October 20, 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.

We have been in four states in two days although we didn't stop in Tennessee. I've taken some pictures which I hope to get posted although the internet connection may not be strong enough. We did not notice too much in fall leave colors until we hit Kentucky. Still, it is not a lot yet.
I enjoyed my reading last week and what I have started for this week. I finished three books and posted three reviews. I also posted the usual memes. :-)

I only got to visit a few blogs early in the week as the first two nights were hindered by internet interruptions. I won't have strong internet this week as we travel so I'll see I can manage.
Thanks as always to all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:

• It's Monday! What are You Reading? October 13, 2014.

• Mailbox Monday October 13, 2014.

• Book Review: Ruptured: The Cantati Chronicles by Maggie Mae Gallagher; Urban Fantasy; my rating 4.25.

• Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway October 17, 2014.  Open Worldwide. Ends 10/23/14.

• Audible Book Review: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley; Dystopian, Classic; my rating 3.75.

• Book Review: It Happened at Christmas by Debbie Mason; Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.0.

• Sharing Beyond Books #173 Comment Giveaway 10/18/14; Open Worldwide. Ends 10/25/14.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement October 19, 2014.

Finished Reading:
1. Audible/MP3

10th Anniversary: The Women's Murder Club
Written by: James Patterson, Maxine Paetro
Narrated by: Carolyn McCormick
I really enjoyed stepping back into this series which I have always enjoyed. I wasn't disappointed. 
I'll post a review this week.
Click on book title for full description.

2. eBook/Kindle

Pumpkins in Paradise 
(Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mysteries Book 1)
by Kathi Daley
This is a nice small town, cozy mystery with just a hint of romance.
I'll post a review this week.
Click on book title for full description.

3. eBook/Kindle

The Kindness of Neighbors (A Short Story)
by Matthew Iden
This is oh so interesting with a twist at the end!
I'll post a review this week.
Click on book title for full description.

eTreasures Publishing:
Two more ebooks still out for galley proofs; to be released soon.

Currently reading:

1. Audio/MP3

Unwritten: A Novel
Charles Martin (Author)
Kevin Stillwell (Narrator)
I am well-engaged and wondering where this will go.
I received this audiobook as a free download.
Book Description
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
An actress running from her past finds escape with a man hiding from his future.
When someone wants to be lost, a home tucked among the Ten Thousand Islands off the Florida coast is a good place to live. A couple decent boats, and a deep knowledge of fishing and a man can get by without ever having to talk to another soul. It's a nice enough existence, until the one person who ties him to the world of the living, the reason he's still among them even if only on the fringes, asks him for help.

Father Steady Capri knows quite a bit about helping others. But he is afraid Katie Quinn's problems may be beyond his abilities. Katie is a world-famous actress with an all too familiar story. Fame seems to have driven her to self-destruct. Steady knows the true cause of her desire to end her life is buried too deeply for him to reach. But there is one person who still may be able to save her from herself.

He will show her an alternate escape, a way to write a new life. But Katie still must confront her past before she can find peace. Ultimately, he will need to leave his secluded home and sacrifice the serenity he's found to help her. From the Florida coast, they will travel to the French countryside where they will discover the unwritten story of both their pasts and their future.

2. eBook/Kindle

The Castle Blues Quake
by Linda Covella
I will start this Monday morning for tour blitz this week.
Book Description
Publication Date: July 20, 2014
12-year-old Pepper Connelly leaves her best friend, Chrissie, behind when her family moves from New York City to Santa Cruz, CA. Pepper discovers a boy, Corey, hiding in her backyard shed. Unknown to Pepper, Corey is a ghost trying to contact his grandfather, Boppie, before he crosses over. He tells Pepper he must locate Boppie before Social Services finds him. Pepper agrees to help.

While Pepper’s communication with Chrissie dwindles, her friendship with Corey grows. She tells Corey about her passion for writing songs, and throughout the story, she composes a song about Corey. Corey teaches Pepper to play the harmonica. Soon, she’s torn between finding Boppie and knowing when she does, Corey will certainly go back on the road with his traveling-musician grandfather.

Other characters help her on her quest: new classmate Ally Cressman, who dresses in an odd-ball, non-mall style; Sawtooth Sam, the mysterious saw-playing street musician; and Madame Mchumba, who performs her psychic readings at the Boardwalk amusement park. Earthquakes, haunted house rides, poltergeists, and crystal ball readings propel Pepper toward the end of her search as she learns about the give and take, the heartache and joy, of true friendship.

3. eBook/Kindle

What a Lady Needs for Christmas (MacGregor Series)
by Grace Burrowes
I started this and love the characters already.
I received this from Sourcebooks through NetGalley.
Book Description
Publication Date: October 7, 2014
The Best Gifts are the Unexpected Ones...
To escape a scandal, Lady Joan Flynn flees her family's estate in the Scottish Highlands. She needs a husband by Christmas, or the holidays will ring in nothing but ruin.
Practical, ambitious mill owner Dante Hartwell offers to marry Joan, because a wellborn wife is his best chance of gaining access to aristocratic investors.
As Christmas—and trouble—draw nearer, Dante and Joan's marriage of convenience blossoms into unexpected intimacy, for true love often hides beneath the most unassuming holiday wrapping...

I am caught up on my daily Bible reading.
I have disciplined myself each morning to read my Bible passage before I pick up print, Kindle or mp3. I am really enjoying the reading.

Line Edits:
We are still finalizing formatting for two educational, non-fiction ebook releases which we sent back for a bit more polishing. We are also working on releasing several additional novels in print -- also polishing.

I keep plugging away at the books carried forward and the added NetGalley titles as well as the publicist/Author requests. 
I am one behind on posting reviews but it is written and I just have to be able to get online to post the reviews this week.  

October Scheduled -
Mid Oct: 
10/23 The Castle Blues Quake by Linda Covella Blog Blitz

NetGalley - To be read in October/November:
Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve, Illustrated by Sarah McIntyre
The Red Book of Primrose House by Marty Wingate  (for Nov)
What a Lady Needs for Christmas (MacGregor Series) by Grace Burrowes (Reading)

Authors:
Nov 7: Hilltop Sunset: A Brynn Bancroft Mystery by Joyce Strand
Nov. 12: Peace & Goodwill a Christmas Novella (The Minstrel Series Book 4) by Lee Strauss

A Touch of Nerves by Dennis Hampton

The Founders' Plot by Frank Victoria
We Are the Destroyers by D.K. Lindler

From Story Bundle - I am enjoying the romance bundle and so glad I got these. There are Cyperpunk, Supernatural and Mystery Bundles available now - soooo tempting!
Huntress For Hire by Terry Spear
Peter's Christmas by M. L. Buchman
The Death of Davy Moss by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Still many more requests to consider and reply to.

AudioBook Jukebox
I'll be looking for new titles to request this week.

Post Hypnotic Press
I have several more audiobooks from this publisher that I will be reviewing.

From TBR Collection - 10th Anniversary: The Women's Murder Club (reading)
Won Book - TBD
Free Kindle/Nook or Smashwords - TBD for October

Sunday Words of Encouragement October 19, 2014

We didn't get to church this morning but we both read our Bible readings. Ever church we past I was mindful of and said prayers for our church family at home. We don't have internet while driving and spotty internet at the RV campgrounds.  I didn't have internet until later today and then we were caring for the dogs and eating dinner.  I felt the need to post a Sunday post before I worked on my Monday Reading post.

Here is a song I set up a long time ago (as I have several in my draft files).
Every day I am thankful that: Your Grace Still Amazes Me!

Verses for today:
(These are verses from today's daily readings in the NLT One Year Bible. How nicely they fit together!)

Jeremiah 33:11

...the sounds of joy and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the LORD. They will sing, 'Give thanks to the LORD of Heaven's Armies, for the LORD is good. His faithful love endures forever!' For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the LORD.

1 Timothy 4:8-10

8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

Psalm 89:1-2

1I will sing of the LORD’s unfailing love forever!

Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.

2Your unfailing love will last forever.

Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

We are thankful for safe travel and nice weather on our trip so far. We are winding down and relaxing which is good. :-)

Sharing Beyond Books #173 Comment Giveaway October 18, 2014

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
We are on the road! Had a good travel today and are in a nice campground at Arley, AL. The weather is lovely but not too much tree color yet. The internet went off once already so I'm not positive this will get posted but I will try.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
At least two commenters do not celebrate Halloween in their country/area. I loved the idea of Fredaman's custome fav which is totally new idea to me: a lamp with a lampshade on her head! Rubynreba's custome memory was sweet too as she remembers the time she wore a mask and her husband's clothes and surprised her dad

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #172 comments is: #11 Di 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 #173 (One Question.)

Q1. This week Miki asks: 1. Did you ever visited a place/ city because it was where the story took place in a book you read??

A: I was glad when I visited London that I knew of Hyde Park and other areas but we didn't visit there because of a book. On the other hand, this trip we had planned to visit 
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania which is the setting of the movie Groundhog Day and home of Punxsutawney Phil. Unfortunately my DH said today we may reroute as that is almost a 100 miles distance out or our way. That is not such a big deal but the mountains or hills may make a difference with the motor coach driving so we are still thinking about it. :-)

Image found out Wikipedia.

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. Miki asks: 1. Did you ever visited a place/ city because it was where the story took place in a book you read??

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 October 25, 2014 at 5 PM  central.

Book Review: It Happened at Christmas by Debbie Mason

This is a lovely small town romance with delightful characters.
It Happened at Christmas
by Debbie Mason

• File Size: 1177 KB
• Print Length: 400 pages
• Publisher: Forever (September 30, 2014)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• ASIN: B00HQ2N246

Genre: Contemporary

My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Love is the best Christmas gift of all.
Free-spirited activist Skylar Davis is out of money and out of options. After using up her trust fund trying to save the world, she hides out in Christmas, hoping the kindness of friends will help her forget the reckless actions of her past. All goes well . . . until she comes face-to-face with one of her mistakes: the town's gorgeous young mayor.
Ethan O'Connor likes his life drama-free and predictable now that he's about to make the move from small-town politics to the Colorado State Senate. Then Skye blows back into town, as impulsive and passionate as he remembers. If word ever got out about their night together-the night he's never been able to forget-the scandal could cripple his career. Yet as he starts his campaign, Ethan finds that, like the town of Christmas itself, he can't get Skye out of his head . . . or his heart.

Review:
Skylar Davis is an activist with a trust fund that has allowed her to travel extensively and support her liberal views with action, not just words. She has been chained to a few trees trying to save the rain forest and spent a few nights in jail for harassing fur-clad stars. She is a vegan and doesn’t agree with policies of most of the cattle, dairy and poultry industries. She knows that she is an embarrassment to her Republican politician father. She believes her dad was responsible for running her free-spirited mother away when she was just a child.

Skylar has lost her trust fund, not by her own actions but by failing to watch over the account manager. She refuses to tell her father or seek his help so she seeks refuge with her best friend Maggie, who lives in Christmas, Colorado. She has accepted the help of friends and is working to get back on her feet. Then she spots Ethan O’Connor in town.

Ethan is a successful Assistant State’s Attorney, and a staunch Republican who is making a bid for State Senate. This was his father’s dream and a death bed promise. His high society mother and Sklyar’s childhood society nemesis, who is Ethan’s campaign manager, are his biggest supporters. They are horrified to learn that Ethan can’t take his eyes off of the flighty Skylar. Even Ethan knows that a loose cannon like Skylar would not be helpful to his campaign efforts.

Skylar and Ethan met a few months earlier and had a rousing night together. She would be more than glad to stay out of Ethan’s way especially when she discovers she is pregnant. But ‘bad’ news travels fast and when one of Skylar’s friends finds out she slips and reveals the secret in front of her friends, Ethan and his family. There is no way Ethan will step away from her now but can he keep her contained until he is elected? Skylar tries to present herself as the proper, quiet socialite, Kendal (her real name). But there is no way to keep her past and her activist activities a secret for long.

These are two adorable characters - well she is adorable and he is hunky, confident and yet so snuggable. There was much miscommunication that made for lots of conflict. I enjoyed the light-hearted style and easy flow of the writing. Although there was sizzle between the characters the sex was mostly kept in the bedroom or at least without detailed description.

The small town setting creates a warm atmosphere. The strong primary and secondary characters add plenty of energy and created interest in me for the prior stories and the stories to come. This story follows the drama of Skylar and Ethan’s romance from summer through Christmas to a very happy result. This is the first time I have read Ms. Mason’s work but I look forward to more warm entertainment from her.

I received this title from Hachette, Forever Romance, through NetGalley.