It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Wow, where has May gone???  It seems like it was just the first of the month yesterday and here it's already the 20th!  This year is rushing by so fast!  Spring is fast turning into summer - we've already had 100 degree days here in Texas!

Luckily, warmer weather means the arrival of some really great books for the summer!  I've got a pretty good line-up for this week - here's what I'm reading!


What I'm Reading Now:

Alison Sweeney is the host of "The Biggest Loser" as well as playing "Sami Brady" on "Days of Our Lives."  This is her first novel and I'm thrilled to be reviewing it!


What I Plan To Read:

Special Events:


Tuesday - Book Blog Tour Stop - The Mermaid of Brooklyn

Wednesday - Book Blog Tour Stop - The Cottage at Glass Beach

Thursday - Book Blog Tour Stop - Is This Tomorrow?

Friday - Book Blog Tour Stop - Cascade
              Book Blog Tour Stop - Elizabeth The First Wife

Saturday - Book Blog Tour Stop - Once Upon A Prince

Hope that you have something wonderful lined up to read this week as well!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme sponsored by Sheila at BookJourney (www.bookjourney.wordpress.com)  Check out her blog to see what other book bloggers are reading this week!

Book Blog Tour Stop and Review - Black Venus by James MacManus

About The Book:

Published by: St. Martin’s Press
Published on: May 7, 2013
Page Count: 368
Genre: Historical Fiction

A vivid novel of Charles Baudelaire and his lover Jeanne Duval, the Haitian cabaret singer who inspired his most famous and controversial poems, set in nineteenth-century Paris.

For readers who have been drawn to The Paris Wife, Black Venus captures the artistic scene in the great French city decades earlier, when the likes of Dumas and Balzac argued literature in the cafes of the Left Bank. Among the bohemians, the young Charles Baudelaire stood out—dressed impeccably thanks to an inheritance that was quickly vanishing. Still at work on the poems that he hoped would make his name, he spent his nights enjoying the alcohol, opium, and women who filled the seedy streets of the city.

One woman would catch his eye—a beautiful Haitian cabaret singer named Jeanne Duval. Their lives would remain forever intertwined thereafter, and their romance would inspire his most infamous poems—leading to the banning of his masterwork, Les Fleurs du Mal, and a scandalous public trial for obscenity.

James MacManus’s Black Venus re-creates the classic Parisian literary world in vivid detail, complete with not just an affecting portrait of the famous poet but also his often misunderstood, much-maligned muse.


My Thoughts:

19th century Paris was a hotbed of creativity for both artists and writers alike. In his novel, "Black Venus," author James MacManus takes his readers deep into the heart of the era that saw the likes of Manet, Balzac, Dumas, Hugo rise to the top of their professions, while their contemporary, the poet Charles Baudelaire, struggled with infamy and scandal as he embarked on a tumultuous affair with the mysterious Haitian cabaret singer Jeanne Duval.

Before reading this novel, I was unfamiliar with the work of Baudelaire. I'd heard of him, but had never read any of his poetry. After absorbing the fascinating story of his rise and fall through the words of MacManus, I feel that I better understand the workings of the mind of the tormented poet. MacManus' characters are mesmerizing and he captures the chaotic atmosphere of Paris beautifully in this tale. Overall, it was an intriguing read.

I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy historical fiction.


About The Author:

JAMES MACMANUS is the managing director of The Times Literary Supplement. He is the author of Ocean Devil, which was made into a film starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and The Language of the Sea. He lives in London.






My thanks to Media Muscle and BookTrib.com for including me on this tour and for providing the review copy of the book.  I was not compensated for my opinion.

Book Blog Tour Stop and Review - Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade

About The Book:

When Meg Cole’s father dies unexpectedly, she’s forced to return home to Texas and to Whispering Creek Ranch to take up the reins of his empire. The last thing she has the patience or the sanity to deal with? Her father’s Thoroughbred racehorse farm. She gives its manager, Bo Porter, six months to close the place down.

Bo knows he ought to resent the woman who’s determined to take from him the only job he ever wanted. But instead of anger, Meg evokes within him a profound desire to protect. The more time he spends with her, the more he longs to overcome every obstacle that separates them and earn her love.

Just when Meg realizes she can no longer deny the depth of her feelings for Bo, their fragile bond is broken by a force from Meg’s past. Can their relationship–and their belief that God can work through every circumstance–survive?


Purchase a copy here.


My Thoughts:

"Undeniably Yours" is a sweet, gentle romance set in Texas that will delight fans of inspirational and contemporary romance.  Author Becky Wade captures the essence of the "oil baron and horse country" area outside of Dallas perfectly and her characters are warm and realistic portrayals of true Texans.

This is the first book in what Wade proposes to be a four-part series following the Porter family.  Can't wait to read about the romances Bo's other three siblings find - especially the feisty little sister Dru!

I enjoyed reading this novel and highly recommend it.



About The Author:

Becky Wade is a graduate of Baylor University. As a newlywed, she lived for three years in a home overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, as well as in Australia, before returning to the States. A mom of three young children, Becky and her family now live in Dallas, Texas.

Visit her website at www.beckywade.com.


Becky Wade is celebrating her latest swoon-worthy novel, Undeniably Yours (Bethany House), with a Kindle Fire giveaway and hosting an Author Chat party on Facebook {5/29}!

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Undeniably Yours and My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade
  

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 28th. Winner will be announced at the "Undeniably Yours" Facebook Author Chat Party on May 29th. Connect with Becky for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Becky will also share an exclusive look at her next book and give away books and other fun prizes throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Undeniably Yours and join Becky on the evening of May 29th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)
 

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!

My thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group for including me on this tour and to Bethany House Publishers for the review copy of this book. I was not compensated for my opinion.

Book Blog Tour Stop and Review - Pastors' Wives by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen

ABOUT THE BOOK:

What’s it like when the man you married is already married to God? asks Pastors’ Wives, an often surprising yet always emotionally true first novel set in a world most of us know only from the outside.

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen’s debut novel Pastors’ Wives follows three women whose lives converge and intertwine at a Southern evangelical megachurch. Ruthie follows her Wall Street husband from New York to Magnolia, a fictional suburb of Atlanta, when he hears a calling to serve at a megachurch called Greenleaf. Reeling from the death of her mother, Ruthie suffers a crisis of faith—in God, in her marriage, and in herself.

Candace is Greenleaf’s “First Lady,” a force of nature who’ll stop at nothing to protect her church and her superstar husband. Ginger, married to Candace’s son, struggles to play dutiful wife and mother while burying her calamitous past.

All their roads collide in one chaotic event that exposes their true selves.

 Inspired by Cullen’s reporting as a staff writer for Time magazine, Pastors’ Wives is a dramatic portrayal of the private lives of pastors’ wives, caught between the demands of faith, marriage, duty, and love.

Purchase a copy here.


MY THOUGHTS:

Here in Texas we have a slew of mega-churches, and their dynamics have always fascinated me. In her novel, "Pastors' Wives," author Lisa Takeuchi Cullen takes her readers deep into the heart of one of these huge religious organizations and examines the lives of three women who are the wives of the men who serve as the heads of these churches.

Cullen's characters are just mesmerizing. From Ruthie - the new associate pastor's wife; to Candace, the head pastor's wife and the power behind the "throne"; to Ginger, the daughter-in-law with the secret past - all of these women are unique and have their own quirks of identity, yet all of their stories blend together for a surprising ending.

I really enjoyed reading this book. My mother-in-law is a pastor's wife, albeit of a small country church and I could never imagine her being in some of the situations the characters from this novel find themselves in, but I know from listening to her stories over the years that she dealt with her own unique set of problems being a "P.W."

I highly recommend this book for fans of well-written contemporary inspirational fiction.  I'm looking forward to Lisa Cullen's next book!

 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen was a longtime staff writer for TIME magazine. She now develops TV pilots for production companies and recently sold her first pilot for "The Ordained" to CBS. Born in Japan, Cullen lives in New Jersey with family


Find out more about Lisa at http://lisacullen.com.
FacebookTwitter




Lisa Takeuchi Cullen is celebrating the release of her debut novel, Pastors' Wives, with an iPad Mini Giveaway and connecting with readers on Facebook on May 23rd!

One winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• A $25 iTunes gift card
  

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 22nd. Winner will be announced at the "Pastors' Wives" Author Chat Party on May 23rd. Connect with Lisa for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Lisa will also be giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Pastors' Wives and join Lisa on the evening of May 23rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

 

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!

My thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group for including me on this tour and to Plume Books for providing the review copy of the book. I was not compensated for my opinion.

Book Blog Tour Stop and Review - The Heart Stone by Sherry Kyle

ABOUT THE HEART STONE

When the biological father of Jessica MacAllister’s son decides to break their custody agreement, Jessica and her son visit her Uncle George for advice and refuge…

Following a year of grief, Evelyn Sweeney is finally ready to move on. Pondering her new path in life, her mind drifts to her first love, George MacAllister…

When the lives of these two women cross, they discover that one heart-shaped ring binds their stories together. But will the results be a rekindled faith and new hope, or will it lead them both back into the darkness they’ve fought for so long?

Purchase your copy:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

 

 

MY THOUGHTS:

"The Heart Stone" is a charming book that features not only two romantic stories, but a bit of a mystery as well. Author Sherry Kyle has created a cast of characters who are interesting and realistic, as well as a storyline that will keep readers engaged to the very final page.

"The Heart Stone" is also a faith-based novel that delivers an inspirational message that is so relevant for today.

I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy contemporary romances with a bit of intrigue as well as those who enjoy faith-filled tales.

ABOUT SHERRY KYLE

 Sherry Kyle is a graduate of Biola University with a degree in Communications, and a minor in Bible. Sherry is also a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature. She currently has three books in print, her award-winning book for tween girls titled The Christian Girl’s Guide to Style all about beauty, fashion, and character, Delivered with Love, her debut contemporary novel, as well as The Heart Stone by Abingdon Press.

Sherry and her husband have four children, three biological and one by adoption. She lives along the coast in central California.

You can find her on the web at: www.sherrykyle.com.

Connect with Sherry:

TWITTER | FACEBOOK

 

 

 

My thanks to Pump Up Your Book Promotions for including me on this blog tour and to Abingdon Press for supplying the review copy of the book. 

I was not compensated for my opinion.

 

 

Book Blog Tour Stop - "The Cat That God Sent" and "The Dog That Talked To God" by Jim Kraus

 

Today is a Two-fer Thursday!  I'm happy to host a book blog tour stop for two great animal-themed inspirational books - "The Cat That God Sent" and "The Dog That Talked To God."


MORE ABOUT THE BOOK:

Meet Petey, your not-so-average cat—on a mission from God

Disillusioned young pastor, Jake Wilkerson, has just arrived at his new assignment in the small rural church of Coudersport, Pennsylvania. Also new on the scene is Petey, a cat of unknown origins and breed—but of great perception.

As Jake sets about doing the business of ministry, Petey’s continued interference brings chaos to the community of curiously off and eccentric people—residents like the faith-avoiding veterinarian Sally Grainger and Tassy, a young runaway with a secret.

An expert at hiding his fears, Jake wonders if all this—and the cat to boot—is more than he can handle. What is Petey’s real “mission”? Perhaps something larger than Jake—or even Petey—can possibly know.

Purchase a copy here.

Be sure to check out Jim’s The Dog That Talked to God which was nominated as an ECPA book of the Year (2013).

MORE ABOUT THE BOOK:

Recently widowed Mary Fassler buys a Miniature Schnauzer, Rufus, and her world is turned sideways in the midst of her grief. It seems that Rufus speaks. And not just to her. He also talks to God. When Rufus begins sharing advice that could result in major changes, Mary gets the feeling the pooch might not be steering her in the right direction. Or, is she just afraid to take the leap and discover something she desperately needs? Only Rufus...and God...knows.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/kuEZH 




MY THOUGHTS:

I truly enjoyed both of these books so much. Being a cat lover, I am inclined to say that "The Cat That God Sent" was my favorite of the two, but I found myself being fond of cute little Rufus in "The Dog That Talked To God" as well.

Jim Kraus gives voice to his animal characters in such a manner that readers will almost feel that they are reading the animal's very thoughts. And his human characters are well-developed and inspiring as well. 

These faith-based stories are very uplifting. In fact, I got a little weepy at the end of "The Cat That God Sent." I highly recommend these two books to anyone who loves animals and to those who enjoy a great inspirational read.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



Jim Kraus grew up in Western Pennsylvania and has spent the last twenty years as a vice president of a major Christian publishing house. He has written more than twenty books and novels, including the best-selling The Dog That Talked to God. He and his family live outside of Chicago with a sweet miniature Schnauzer and an ill-tempered Siberian cat named (of course) Petey. www.jimkraus.com

My thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group for including me on this tour and to Abingdon Press for the review copies of the books. I was not compensated for my opinion.

Book Blog Tour Stop - A Complicated Marriage: My Life with Clement Greenberg by Janice Van Horne

About A Complicated Marriage: My Life with Clement Greenberg

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Counterpoint Press

Love, marriage, the New York art world, and a wife’s self-discovery.

A rare opportunity to experience the explosive and history-making New York art world of the 1950s thru the eyes of the young bride of Clement Greenberg, America’s most influential art writer.  In 1955, after meeting Clem at a party, 21-year-old Janice—who knows nothing about art—is soon catapulted into the inner circle of her husband’s world where she is surrounded by such larger-than-life personalities as Jackson Pollock, David Smith, Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline….

More a witness than a participant, in time Janice begins the slow struggle to regain her sense of self as she steps beyond the ‘50s traditions of wife and mother in search of worlds of her own. Her journey takes us inside the experimental theater of OOB and the Actors Studio in the ‘60s, into the Madison Avenue men’s world of advertising, and the feminist movement of the ‘70s, to bi-coastal playwright in the ‘80s, to caregiver and widow in the ‘90s, and currently to book editor and writer.

Even as the country was changing during these heady decades, Janice was changing, and the marriage as well–from monogamy to a mutually compatible open marriage, and in the late ‘70s from a mutually compatible divorce to remarriage (to each other).  Beautifully written with humor and deeply felt honesty, A Complicated Marriage is an enduring love story that, as it draws back the curtain on the art scene and its iconic players, explores a woman’s self-discovery and redefines the meaning of a “good marriage.”


MY THOUGHTS:

Janice Van Horne's memoir is a fascinating look in the world of art as seen through her eyes and through the eyes and influence of her husband, art critic Clement Greenberg. But it is also a wonderful story of a young woman finding her own identity beyond that of her husband during the blossoming time of the women's movement up to present times.  She was a force to reckon with in both the theatrical world and literary circles.

Van Horne's remembrances are intriguing to read, and are filled with both humor and a touch of sadness throughout.  She's an amazing woman and her life experiences are enthralling. A very enjoyable read.

About Janice Van Horne:

JANICE VAN HORNE was born in New York City and raised in the suburb of Rye.

She graduated from Bennington College in 1955 and moved to New York where she met and married the well-know art writer, Clement Greenberg, in 1956. After their daughter was born, Janice began her career path in the 1960s as an actress, performing with a multitude of the OOB theaters and performance groups of that time, and studying with the renowned Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio. In 1974 she co-founded and was editor-in-chief of the successful Madison Avenue Magazine. Later, in the 1980s, she returned to the theater, this time as a playwright. Her work has been seen in many productions, primarily in Los Angeles and New York.

After her husband’s death in 1994, Janice focused on editing two volumes of his work which she assembled from materials in his archive at the Getty Research Library in Los Angeles: Homemade Esthetics (New York Times 1999 Notable Book of the Year); and in 2000, The Harold Letters (1928-1943): The making of a young intellectual, based on letters from Clem to his best friend from college as he struggled to follow his passion through the depths of the Depression. In 2004, Janice began to tell her own story in her memoir, A Complicated Marriage: My life with Clement Greenberg, which was published in 2012.

Today, Janice lives in the apartment on Central Park West in New York City that she and her husband moved into in 1960. Her daughter Sarah, son-in-law Matthew, and two granddaughters, Clementine and Roxanna, live in Brooklyn, NY.
Find out more about Janice at her website, www.acomplicatedmarriage.com.

Janice’s TLC Book Tour Stops

Tuesday, May 14th: Turn the Page
Wednesday, May 15th: Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Thursday, May 16th: Patricia’s Wisdom
Monday, May 20th: Dreaming in Books
Thursday, May 23rd: I’m Booking It
Tuesday, May 28th: A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall
Wednesday, May 29th: A Bookish Way of Life
Thursday, May 30th: The Book Wheel
Thursday, June 6th: Reviewing Shelf
Tuesday, June 11th: The Relentless Reader
Wednesday, June 12th: Worducopia
Thursday, June 13th: River City Reading
Monday, June 17th: Dwell in Possibility
Wednesday, June 19th: Kelly’s [Former] France Blog
Wednesday, June 26th: Buried in Print

My thanks to TLC Book Tours for including me on this blog tour and for supplying the review copy of this book. I was not compensated for my opinion.

Book Review - Wind Chime Point by Sherryl Woods

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When life gets complicated, New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods proves family—and love—can make all the difference!

Facing a personal crisis, ambitious and driven Gabriella Castle retreats to the welcoming arms of her family. Everything she's worked for has been yanked out from under her, and she seeks the serenity of her grandmother's home on the North Carolina coast. With difficult decisions to make about her future, the last thing she wants is an unexpected love.

 

Wade Johnson fell for Gabi the first time he saw her. It's not the only time he's found himself in the role of knight in shining armor, but Gabi isn't looking for a rescuer. To get her to stay, Wade will need a whole lot of patience and gentle persuasion… and maybe the soothing sound of wind chimes on a summer breeze.


MY THOUGHTS:

I am really enjoying Sherryl Woods' new series which follows the lives of the Castle sisters.  With "Wind Chime Point," readers are allowed to get to know Gabriella Castle, the middle Castle sister, as they follow Gabi's steps in becoming a first-time mom.

I love how Woods breathes life into her characters, giving them the warmth of personality and the showing the ups and downs of their lives. The storyline is fast moving and keeps the reader's attention well. And the romance is gentle and loving.

"Wind Chime Point" and the other two "Ocean Breeze Point" novels are just perfect for quick and satisfying reads.  I highly recommend them!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

With her roots firmly planted in the South, Sherryl Woods has written many of her more than 100 books in that distinctive setting, whether her home state of Virginia, her adopted state, Florida, or her much-adored South Carolina. She's also especially partial to small towns, wherever they may be. A member of Novelists Inc., Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America, Sherryl divides her time between her childhood summer home overlooking the Potomac River in Colonial Beach, Virginia, and her oceanfront home, with its lighthouse view, in Key Biscayne, Florida.

My thanks to Amy Bromberg with McAllister PR and Harlequin Books for providing the review copy of this book. I was not compensated for my opinion.

Book Review - Couponing For The Rest of Us: The Not So Extreme Guide To Saving More by Kasey Knight Trenum

 

 

 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Shop savvy, save money, and still have a life!
Kasey Knight Trenum knows what it's like firsthand. When her family's finances were in a tailspin, she gritted her teeth and gave in to the need to save. In Couponing for the Rest of Us she shows you how she learned to save hundreds of dollars every month and offers time-saving tips and tricks you can easily implement in your busy life. You'll discover:

· where to find coupons for what your family eats
· how to reinvent your shopping strategy
· how to make grocery shopping less stressful--even fun!
· and much more

If you want to save money and time, this book is a gold mine.

"Prepare to be surprised by how easy it really is to slash your grocery budget by 50 to 70 percent consistently, week after week! Kasey takes you from start to finish using her uniquely simple strategies. You'll go step-by-step, from collecting coupons to getting organized to understanding store policies and secrets for how to maximize your savings--just like a pro!"--Mary Hunt, personal finance expert and founder of Debt-Proof Living, author of 7 Money Rules for Life


MY THOUGHTS:

I've always loved the idea of couponing. I can see the benefits, I know how they work, I just have never been able to really get into using them.  But after reading Kasey Trenum's book, "Couponing For The Rest of Us," I think I just might be able to dive into the couponing trend and be successful.

Trenum breaks down the hows and whys of couponing in language that anyone can understand. She shows the reader how coupons work, how the stores who accept the coupons use them, and probably my favorite part of Trenum's plan - how coupons can work for helping out others. She shows how the popular activity can help families to better prepare themselves for hard times, but she also shows how the excess products that are purchased can go to help those in need.

Trenum also includes her personal story of how couponing has helped her family as well as stories of others she has helped along the way.

This is an enjoyable book to read, and one that will be useful for many years to come as well.  What a great gift to a newlywed couple or someone just starting out on their own this book would be!



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kasey Knight Trenum hosts Time 2 $ave /Time 2 Give, a frugal and couponing blog (www.time2saveworkshops.com), and conducts Time 2 $ave workshops frequently. Her weekly column can be read in Scripps newspapers nationwide, her work has been featured in Parade magazine and All You magazine, and she has been interviewed on HNL's Making It in America and NPR's All Things Considered. She has a personal passion for seeing women, men, and families find financial freedom, be empowered to improve their lives, and become purposeful givers. She and her husband and children live in Tennessee.

My thanks to Revell Books for providing the review copy of this book. I was not compensated for my opinion.

Available May 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.