Help Me Pick February 2011 Next Reads and Win A Book

I have these books scheduled for the next two weeks:
2/15 A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor by Robert G. Pielke. Reviewing for blog tour.
2/17 The Big Show Stopper (A Pinky and the Bear mystery) by Ken Dalton.  Reviewing for blog tour.


2/23 Everyone Loves a Hero: ...and that's the problem by Marie Force. Author Interview and Review with Giveaway to be posted for Sourcebooks Casablanca.

But you can help me pick which books to read next from the unscheduled remaining Review books for February: 

Sourcebooks:
The Werewolf Upstairs by Ashlyn Chase
My Love, My Enemy by Jan Speas
Moonstruck Madness by Laurie McBain



Hachette Fiction:
House Divided by Raul Ramos Y Sanchez
13, rue Thérèse: A Novel  Elena Maudi Shapiro

Here's how this Giveaway works:

Make a comment picking the TWO books you want me to read next. I will read the book that gets the most votes, then probably (no guarantee) the book with the second most votes.  (I reserve the right to pick the second read from the publisher other than the first pick.)
I will do a random draw to select TWO commenters.
US or Canadian winner will get their choice of a book from the February Love Books for Giveaway OR from the back review and ARC lists. (Scroll down at that post to see those lists.)
International winner will get $5.00 Gift Card, PayPal or Book Depository selection.

Ends February 17th at 10pm Central.  (I won't have time to start anything before then I don't think.)

Follower Love Giveaway Hop - 2/8 to 2/13

Happy Valentine's Day my lovely followers!  I am Blog Hop #36 on this giveaway sponsored by inspired Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

Here are the packages for this Giveaway:

Package #1:
For US AND CANADA ONLY.
I thought this series was good for LOVE in February.
Black Dagger Brotherhood, boxed set: Dark Lover, Lover Eternal, Lover Awakened, Lover Unbound, Lover Revealed, Lover Enshrined

Package #2 - ANYONE who can get a delivery from Book Depository - US, Canada or International.
Two books from Book Depository that include the words "Love", "Valentine" or "Cupid".  Value up to $18.00. 

Package #3 - INTERNATIONAL ONLY.
Two books from Book Depository that include the words "Love", "Valentine" or "Cupid".  Value up to $18.00. Or if you cannot get delivery from Book Depository then Gift Card of $15.00 (Amazon, B&N, etc.)

I am making the entry simple because there are a lot of blogs to hop to! Have a LOVELY Valentines!

International are automatically entered for #2 and #3.  

US and Canadian please fill in the choice to enter #1, #2 or both.

PLEASE ENTER BY FILLING IN THE FORM!




If the Linky list does not show here you can access it at Kathy's Post here.

It's Monday! What are you Reading February 7, 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.

It was another good reading week with a variety of enjoyable reads! I finished  three review books, plus one for me. I posted and Author Guest post, two reviews with Giveaways, a Valentine Giveaway, a blog tour announcements, an Enquiring meme post and my Sunday post.

I didn't get to reply to posts again last week but I did visit all those who visited me. Plus I visited again a little through Cym's Wednesday and some other reviews but still not as much as I would like.
These were last week's posts plus Winner posts not listed.

•  It's Monday What are You Reading? January 31, 2011.

• Giveaway of Deadly Heat and Deadly Lies by Cynthia Eden. Ends 2/18.

• Blog Tour Guest Post by Author Sophie Gunn.

• Book Review and Giveaway -3 Copies:How Sweet It is by Sophie Gunn; Contemporary Romance; my rating 4.0.

• Cupid Gone Wild Anthology  Cover Comment eBook Giveaway

• Book Review and Giveaway - 3 Copies: Notorious Pleasures (Maiden Lane) by Elizabeth Hoyt; Historical Romance; my rating 4.25.

•  February Love Books for February Giveaways.

•  Valentine Treat Giveaways. Ends 2/14.

•  Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway February 4, 2011. Ends 2/10.

•  Don't Miss Three Free Books at Sourcebooks.

• Blog Tour Announcement for To Tempt A Rake (Circle of Sin) by Cara Elliott. Watch for Review and Giveaway on Wednesday 2/9.

• Enquiring Minds Meme Week #23 with Comment Giveaway.

• Sunday Words of Encouragement February 6, 2011.

Finished Reading:

Print/Kindle:   Notorious Pleasures (Maiden Lane)

by Elisabeth Hoyt;

Liked it.

The review and Giveaway 
are linked above.

 
Print: I Dream of Genies by Judi Fennell.  I will post the review and copy Giveaway this week. 
A fun read. I read for Sourcebooks.

Kindle: In Love and War 

by Suzanne Barrett.

  Author Interview, 

Review and Giveaway on 2/10.

Very enjoyable read
with interesting Irish issues.

Audio:  

Step on a Crack 

by James Patterson.

I really like this new character, Michael Bennet.
I hope to post a review early this week. Another solid book from Patterson. Rating 4.5.
 

Line Edits/Releases:
Hoping to release Love From the Ashes by Patricia Andres and ΕΞΙΣ gods, ghosts and battered cellphones by Anne Abad this week!

Currently reading:

Print: To Tempt A Rake (Circle of Sin) by Cara Elliott.  I am a third into this for review and Hachette Giveaway on Wednesday 2/9.  I like this series.

Kate Woodbridge has spent most of her life sailing to exotic ports around the globe, acquiring an expertise in botany, along with a few less ladylike skills. So when a deathbed promise to her parents brings her to London to seek reconciliation with her grandfather, the imperious Duke of Cluyne, she feels like a fish out of water. Her outspoken views and fiery temper tend to set off sparks in Society-especially with the rakish Conte of Como.
A devil-may-care rogue, Marco finds the alluring and mysterious Kate a tempting target for his flirtations. But when murder strikes at the duke's country house party he begins to suspect that she's hiding a dark secret. He has his own clandestine reasons for offering to help her prove her innocence . . . And so begins a journey of dangerous deception that leads from England to the glittering ballrooms of Vienna, where Marco and Kate must duel with a deadly villain . . . and their own explosive attraction.

 
Kindle: The Righteous by Michael Wallace.  I am at 22% on this one. It is well written and interesting. Reading for review for the author.

Product Description
Medical student Jacob Christianson is sent by church elders to investigate a murder within the polygamist enclave of Blister Creek, Utah. He brings his sister Eliza, who at seventeen, must choose a husband from three old men jostling for power within the church hierarchy.

Jacob discovers that the murdered woman has been killed in accordance with secret blood oaths taken within the polygamist temple. Together with his sister, he uncovers a plot to overthrow the church leadership, with murders that reach beyond the community and into the “gentile” world.

Audio: The Collectors by David Baldacci.  Llehn picked this for her audio win so I will listen to it and send it on.  I will start Monday morning.

People are dropping dead in Washington, D.C. First the Speaker of the House falls victim to a hit man in a carefully orchestrated murder in front of dozens of the city's power elite. Next, the director of the Library of Congress's Rare Books Room dies in a book vault, but no one knows how. Caleb Shaw, Camel Club member, nearly falls victim, too. Across the country, a gifted con woman assembles an A-list team to pull off one of the most audacious scams ever, against one of the most dangerous men in the world. When the worlds of Washington and the elite con collide head-on, the Camel Club finds itself teamed with a person they don't really trust but whose skill helps them unravel a secret that threatens to bring America to its knees.

Audible: Thinking of changing my audible for now. We'll see.

Destroyermen: Into the Storm by Taylor Anderson. I didn't listen to this at all this week and it will probably be on hold a bit while I get my scheduled February reads in. 

Line Edits: Working to finalize and format Soylent Red by Jamieson Wolf. Also doing final edits on Desperate Measures by Cindy Comer.

February 2011 Books Coming Up

All Print books
Scheduled:
2/15 A New Birth of Freedom: The Visitor by Robert G. Pielke. Reviewing for blog tour.
2/17 The Big Show Stopper (A Pinky and the Bear mystery) by Ken Dalton.  Reviewing for blog tour.
2/23 Everyone Loves a Hero: ...and that's the problem by Marie Force. Author Interview and Review with Giveaway to be posted for Sourcebooks Casablanca.

Remaining Review books for February:
The Werewolf Upstairs by Ashlyn Chase
My Love, My Enemy by Jan Speas
Moonstruck Madness by Laurie McBain
House Divided by Raul Ramos Y Sanchez
13, rue Thérèse: A Novel  Elena Maudi Shapiro

Sunday Words of Encouragement February 6, 2011

This morning's message was titled: Heaven...You and the Animals.  Scriptures says that in the new earth we will be dwelling, eating, drinking, working and rejoicing. Our Pastor made a very good argument that animals will be part of the restored earth. See Is 11:6-9 (The wolf will live with the lamb).  See also the verses below that refers to "creatures." Since original creation included plants and animals and man had a special relationship with animals that will be part of the new earth as well. We will eat vegetables and fruits although hunting may be gone. But God could provide a meat that doesn't require killing as he provided manna.
God Gives and Restores!
The most important thing for us to think about heaven is to look forward and be prepared. Meanwhile, we should Live Vibrantly, Love Freely and Serve Passionately.

Thank you God for making all things new for us now
and in a future heaven and earth.

Steven Curtis Chapman \ All Things New

You spoke and made the sunrise, to light up the very first day
You breathed across the water, and started the very first wave
It was You
You intoduced Your glory, to every living creature on earth
And they started singing, the first song to ever be heard
They sang for You

You make all things new
You make all things new

Then the world was broken, fallen and battered and scarred
You took the hopeless, the life, wasted, ruined and marred
And made it new

You make all things new
You make all things new
You redeem and You transform
You renew and You restore
You make all things new
You make all things new
And forever we will watch and worship You

You turn winter into spring
You take every living thing
And You breathe Your breath of life into it over and over again

You make the sunrise, day after day after day
But there's a morning coming, when old things will all pass away
And everyone will see

You make all things new
You make all things new
Come redeem and come transform
Come renew and come restore
You make all things new
You make all things new
And forever we will watch and worship You

Now and forever You are making all things new
You're making all things new

Hallelujah...

Verses for Today:

Revelation 5:13-14 (NIV)

 ¹³ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

   “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

   be praise and honor and glory and power,

for ever and ever!”

 ¹⁴ The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

I pray that daily God helps me keep my focus to "Live Vibrantly, Love Freely and Serve Passionately."

Enquiring Minds - Meme Week 23 PLUS Comment Giveaway + Winner

Thanks for sharing last week about your sleeping habits. Although some of you have to get up early I didn't note anyone say they were actually a morning person.  Funny - Throuthehaze is going to bed about the same time that Nastassia is getting up. :-)

The Winner from Enquiring Minds Week #22 is: #8 Jennifer. Jennifer, please pick a book from the Love Books List for Giveaway and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks if desired.

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 23 QUESTIONS

1. What was the first job your ever had?

The question doesn't say full time or part time.  Of course I did baby sitting when I was a young teen to about 16.  I remember I had a cute set of twins I sat for.  I was a copy clerk/gopher in my high school summers at a resort hotel on Ft. Lauderdale beach.  I went through undergrad in three years so wasn't off much to work then but I worked part time as a law clerk during law school.
The first full time job I had would be as a newbie lawyer with a collection law firm in Orlando.

Teddy photo from Vermont Teddy Bear
If you can't read the note card it says "confidential briefs."

2. What was the worst job you ever had?

I can think of some difficult clients but not really a worst job... except maybe getting rid of those difficult clients.

3. What is the best job you ever had?

I am very detailed and love real estate so my title company is my best job. I like my law practice most of the time too. And I enjoy my publishing company because of working with authors and editors and readers... that is work and fun. AND of course I love blogging so I thought this picture was just perfect for me:

Photo found at Problogger.net and there is a great article to go with it.

Your turn to share - what was your first job, your worst job and/or your best job?  This week and for February the winners will get to make their selection from some Valentine and "Love" books I will be posting. 
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, February 11 at 10PM central.