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Sunday 23 February 2014

IT'S MONDAY. WHAT ARE YOU READING? 23.2.14

Last Monday in February !

A reading filled week, I joined the Love for Books Readathon
to get a few more reads [+ reviews!] off my to-do list.
My daily tally of completed and current reading post HERE
{ includes titles with synopsis }
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  1. THE BEST OF DAUGHTERS- 436 pages
  2. DEATH OF A VALENTINE- 6.2 hrs 
  3. THE GIRL IN THE GATEHOUSE - 402 pages
  4.  REFLECTIONS OF RAGAMUFFINS- 7 pages
  5. DEATH OF AN ADDICT - 6 hours
  6. EMMA - 1st chapter approx 1/2 hr    [ the first one chosen but discontinued]
  7. EMMA - chapters 1-8 = 2 hrs 49 min Blackstone Audio version
  8. DEATH BY THE BOOK -  320 pages
  9. GOD ENCOUNTER - 42 pages
  10.                                                  THE DARCYS OF DERBYSHIRE - 3 hours
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Just to clarify -
[for all the comments about reading more than 1 book at a time!]
This is the tally of my week's completion of books - all read 1 at a time =)
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What's in my Mailbox?


Linking to Mailbox Monday's post -
I received lot of great choices with several email
plus mailbox treats ...
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This one is an audiobook Pride and Prejudice variation for me to enjoy from author
Abigail Reynolds - MR. DARCY'S NOBLE CONNECTIONS
There’s only one fact that notorious rake Lord Charles Carlisle and his cousin, Fitzwilliam Darcy, can agree upon: a house party given by the Marquess of Bentham is bound to be intolerably dull. That’s why Lord Charles is delighted to accept a bet that he can seduce his sister’s pretty friend during their stay at Bentham Park. After all, it’s easy money for an experienced seducer, and it will relieve his boredom. Why should he care if his staid cousin Darcy disapproves? But when Darcy discovers that Lord Charles’ new target is none other than Elizabeth Bennet, the woman who just refused Darcy’s offer of marriage, he cannot stand by and watch as the woman he still loves is callously ruined. What he doesn’t know is that Lord Charles has a dark secret, and that his attentions to Elizabeth may not be what they seem.
But Darcy has a secret agenda of his own at the house party, one that could change everything change everything at Bentham Park. Add in a midnight rescue, clandestine meetings, a long-lost son, conspiracies, blackmail, and an attempted elopement, and suddenly this house party is anything but dull.
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ACCIDENTALLY YOURS - 1st in the time shifter series, Yours by Design by Robin Helm
Two worlds . . .
Two centuries . . .
Two men who love the same woman . . .
Two prayers fervent enough to shift time . . .
Endless questions and possibilities . . .
What would a man give for a second chance at love?
What would he sacrifice to keep it?
What if the proud, arrogant Fitzwilliam Darcy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice never changed after his disastrous proposal to Elizabeth Bennet at Hunsford? What if the humbled man who successfully courted her was not the same Mr. Darcy?

In Accidentally Yours, Book 1 of the Yours by Design Christian fantasy romance series,
worlds collide and time shifts when two men fall in love with the same woman.                            - Goodreads

Paperback, ebook,   252 pagesPublished January 8th 2014 by Robin Helm
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Thank you to author Kayce Hughlett for this FB party win !
AS I LAY PONDERING:Daily Invitations to Live a Transformed Life
This fresh and innovative daybook hints of a memoir, reads as a guidebook, and resonates with the human experience. Each entry conjures the ineffable with soulful specifics-some tiny and concrete, others dreamily unreal-always seamlessly present. It is no heavy-handed moral guide to self-improvement; rather it is an invitation into the bigness of life. Filled with inspiration, personal reflections, and simple activities to deepen the pathway to presence, it is the ideal companion for any transformational journey. Inspired and timeless, "As I Lay Pondering" offers: Intimate, relatable stories and practical reflections that bring wordlessness, oneness, and imagination to life. 366 accessible, here-&-now activities to immediately apply to your personal and professional practices. Soulful daily readings to nourish your heart and enrich your life. Incorporated teachings from historical and current wisdom figures-Carl Jung, Martha Beck, Buddha, Jesus, Lao Tzu, Thomas Merton, Sue Monk Kidd, Anne Lamott and more. "These daily meditations are a treasure, full of wisdom and creative invitations for your own pondering. Immerse yourself in a year of grace through this book." Christine Valters Paintner                                -Goodreads

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          Another impressive win is Lacy Ellman's PILGRIM PRINCIPLES
Perfect for this reader who's Word for the year is 'Intention' ! 
When we infuse our journeys - inward and outward - with meaning and intention,
they become sacred pilgrimages.  See life as a journey of  mystery, wonder, revelation, delight, acceptance, and transformation
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A review for the audiobook of Sandra Lee Smith's LOVE'S REFUGE
Skye Larsen loves her peaceful life on Leeza Island in Puget Sound – the tranquility, the friendly neighbors, and especially the safety from big-city dangers. So when cruel pranks start to escalate and changes threaten to overtake the island, Skye is determined to fight for her haven. The presence of a handsome vacationer and the unexpected feelings he awakens can’t distract her from her goal.
Danny Fraser doesn’t realize how desperately he needs a rest until he meets Skye. By allowing him to glimpse her simple way of life, she helps him reorient his priorities – and steals his heart in the process. But his work and home in Seattle keep Skye at bay. 
An isolated island girl with painful memories. A dedicated city boy with a wild past. What will it cost for them both to find a refuge from their storms?

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And...
Another fav MC Beaton mystery audio DEATH OF A SCRIPTWRITER
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M.C. Beaton's 14th adventure featuring Hamish Macbeth, lovable local bobby of Lochdubh, Scotland, is a similar treat to her previous efforts. 
Macbeth feels a dismal foreboding when television film crews descend into his neighborhood to film a local author's out-of-print mysteries. Not only are they led by an overbearing and egotistical scriptwriter, but they have completely stood the original manuscript on its head. 

The producers have determined that a sexy, pot-smoking heroine will bring in more viewers than the genteel and circumspect detective true to the original. The author herself and the local Calvinist minister are not amused. Before too long, the scriptwriter, the shapely actress playing the lead, and her jealous husband all end up dead, confirming Macbeth's suspicions that the gloomy village of Drim and glamorous media types were a dangerously combustible mix. 

The mystery itself seems straightforward enough, but Beaton has provided more than the usual number of suspects and subplots. All of these spike the reader's interest while her wicked characterizations of both the locals and the inhabitants of TV-land are hilarious, and very occasionally thought-provoking. 

The real strength of the book, and indeed Beaton's work in general, is the way in which she evokes the genuine isolation of Macbeth's rural Highlands and blends it with breezy renderings of murder, mayhem, and cozy cups of tea. In some ways it's a bit of an incongruous mix, but Beaton successfully keeps the tone on the lighter side. 
'Death of a Scriptwriter' will certainly intrigue mystery fans as well as those who have wondered about the creations of the PBS/BBC series 'Mystery!' - K.A. Crouch  at Goodreads

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Recent HAMISH MACBETH Reviews I've posted include -
DEATH OF AN ADDICT
DEATH OF A VALENTINE
DEATH OF A DENTIST

as well as reviews this week for

HOME TO WALNUT RIDGE
BLADES OF VALOR
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That's about it for this week - I look forward to hearing yours
with a link in comments ..

Sharing our Monday posts at
Sheila's
BOOK JOURNEY
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and with MizB's




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24 comments:

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

You have some wonderful books here!

Faith Hope and Cherrytea said...

Thanks, Sheila -
for visiting, chatting
[and hosting!]

Lois said...

I'm a big Jane Austen fan but I have always been hesitant about reading any of the spinoffs... are they worth it?

Faith Hope and Cherrytea said...

@Lois - treat them as an adventure and find out which are your favs!
I've def encountered wins + losses - if you're concerned, start with your public library & download some ecopies to 'try them' =)

for audibles, use the sample listening button to check if it's a voice and speed you can enjoy for the hours involved in 'listening'..

but don't miss out on some great variations - you can always stop the book or audio if you're not into that particular one !
enjoy the experiment & let me know how you get on...

Greg said...

Mr. Darcy's Noble Intentions sounds good, and has quite the cover too.

Rissi said...

YES for 'Death by the Book.' Have that one coming from Amazon. :)

Let's see... I'm either going to start (tonight) a YA time-travelling novel... or a contemporary inspirational novel. So many choices. ;)

Yvonne @ Fiction Books Reviews said...

Hi Sharon,

Thanks for stopping by Fiction Books today, it is good to 'meet' you.

You certainly got through some reading in your week long challenge, I can only look on in envy.

It would appear that you have several books on the go at the same time, which isn't something I could do. I like to start and finish one book at a time and have always been the same.

I am also not a huge fan of audiobooks, as I don't enjoy being read to, however M. C. Beaton books are good, no matter what the medium. I'm not sure if I like the 'Hamish Macbeth', or the 'Agatha Raisin' series the best.

Enjoy all your new books this week,

Yvonne

Kathryn T said...

Sounds like you have enjoyed your reading and have plenty to keep you going! Isn't that great, love lots of books!

Teddyree said...

Wow great readathon! I'm loving audiobooks, Mr Darcy's Noble Connections looks delightful. Have a great week and happy reading :)

Edith DUTERTRE said...

hello

chapitre 1

C’est une vérité presque incontestable qu’un jeune homme possesseur d’une grande fortune doit avoir besoin d’une épouse. Bien que les sentiments et les goûts d’un tel homme ne soient pas connus, aussitôt qu’il vient se fixer dans une province les familles du voisinage le regardent comme un bien qui doit dans peu appartenir à l’une ou l’autre de leurs filles.

ha ! ce beau Mr Darcy
bisous
edith

collettakay said...

I've been on an Austen fan-fiction kick lately! Enjoy your reading! Here's my post:

http://collettaskitchensink.blogspot.com/2014/02/its-monday-what-am-i-reading-22414.html

Colletta

bermudaonion said...

Where did February go? I hope all of your new books are winners!

Laura at Library of Clean Reads said...

Wow, you did some good reading this weekend. My weekends are always so crazy, my reading goes out the window. And I'm just a little too tired lately. I wish winter would go already!

Kathy Martin said...

Sounds like you had a busy week. I couldn't have so many books going at one time though. I'm a one book at a time sort of reader. Have a great week!

Leydy said...

Honestly never heard of these but i hope you are enjoying your read!

This is what we are reading this week.

Leydy @OUaT & RCE

Mary (Bookfan) said...

I need to try an MC Beaton book one of these days. Have a good week!

LA Botchar said...

It would very interesting to read how Darcy would have been had he not changed! what a great concept.

although, it is one my very favourite books because He Did, but still I think I'll have to check out the alternative ending so to speak.

Lindsey said...

It's always exciting to get new books. I hope you enjoy every one of them!

Unknown said...

Ooh Mr Darcy! Can't go wrong there!

Vicki said...

All are new to me! Enjoy!

Elizabeth said...

Nice mailbox. Lots of good books.

ENJOY!!

Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Mailbox Monday

Boyett-Brinkley said...

Love the MCBeaton books! Have read several and several more on my shelf!

Faith Hope and Cherrytea said...

Appreciate each of you taking time for book chat !

stacybuckeye said...

I want to mail you a Jane Austen postcard but I can't access your email account. Coul you email me your snail mail address?
stacybooks at yahoo

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