Monday Memes

Mailbox Monday is hosted this month by The Bluestocking Guide and is where book bloggers gather to share what showed up in their mailboxes this week, whether those mailboxes received email or snail mail.

Snail Mail: 

Martha: A NovelPerhaps one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented characters of the New Testament is Martha. Often painted in the colors of reproach, Martha seems to be the poster child for how not to be a follower of Jesus. From the mind of Diana Wallis Taylor comes this touching, well-researched portrayal of Martha of Bethany, sister of Mary and Lazarus. Through Taylor's lush descriptions and inspired combination of imagined and recorded dialogue, Martha's world--her trials, triumphs, and loves--vibrantly comes to life. Follow Martha as she is jilted by her betrothed, falls in love with a Roman soldier, grieves the death of her father, cares for her siblings, and serves her Lord with dignity and grace. Readers will never read the biblical story of Martha the same way again.

NetGalley downloads (ok I went a little crazy but I can blow through most of these in an hour or so each) I know they are mind candy, but I was on a downloading spree so just decided to grab them while I was going through the site, and I'll read them when I get to them.

Duty is his world. And upon seeing Sadie Price with twin girls, marine Rick Pruitt realizes he has some proposing to do. He never would have left Royal, Texas, if he'd known Sadie was carrying his babies.

Yet the feisty single mom has no intention of agreeing to a loveless marriage. True, she and Rick share a bond, as well as undeniable passion. But Sadie believes vows should last a lifetime, not be declared out of obligation. Making it Rick's new mission to change her mind….

It's time to move on...

Any day now Jon Adamson will pack his bags and hit the road. After all, his intention was never to hang around Melbourne once he’d settled his late father’s affairs. Yet he hasn’t moved on. And it might have something to

do with Gabby Wade. The not-so-big office manager with the really big attitude is making Jon’s days…interesting…engaging…fun. It’s impossible for him to resist her.

But he knows himself—long-term commitments and cozy family dinners aren’t his style. If that’s what the future holds, why is he still here? And why is he spending all his days—and nights—with Gabby? Because maybe she’s the one reason strong enough to make him stay.

What if you discovered that all you ever wanted were the things you’d left behind?

Soldier Alex Dane promised his dying comrade he'd make sure his wife and daughter were okay, and so he finds himself on a doorstep with his heart in his mouth.

Lisa Kennedy loved her husband, but she must focus on her daughter, Lilly, who hasn't spoken since her daddy's death. Still, the least she can do is offer this battle-weary hero a place to rest.
When Lilly's little hand reaches for Alex's big, strong one, for the first time Lisa feels her buried emotions begin to stir.…




Allison Doll's mother is rebelliously turning fifty, her two best friends have started dating and a gorgeous injured relief pitcher named Ashton Boyd has joined her Sunday school class, rocking her world into confusion, heartache and temptation, places she hasn't visited in a long time, much less all at once.

But with the help of family, old friends she really hasn't lost, a new friend she really can count on, and God, she begins to find out whether she'll always be a girl waiting for life to happen or a woman who's ready to commit to her best catch. 

A West Virginia mining community is a long way from Dr. Mia Eaton's Dallas hometown. But trading in her designer duds for flannel and jeans isn't such a major sacrifice. Not when the town has virile, off-the-charts-gorgeous Kenyon Chandler as their sheriff. Too bad he's as arrogant as can be…until the night he's injured in the line of duty.

Ever since they met at her cousin Xavier's wedding, Kenyon hasn't been able to get Mia out of his mind. And once he's under the sultry Southerner's tender loving care, he knows he's lost. Kenyon gives her six months before she hightails it back home for the pampered life she left behind. Unless he can convince her that they are each other's sweet destiny…

Against the peaceful night sky, a barn BURNS...

Sarah Kauffman sought permission from her church elders to paint murals on a few of the Amish community’s barns. Each was designed like an old-fashioned quilt square, representing a piece of the Amish traditions Sarah loved. The works of art were intended to draw more tourists to the Home Valley in the struggling  economy. But instead, they invited a menace. One by one, each barn is set ablaze and destroyed....

The arson fires spread fear through the community— amongst Amish and Englischers alike. Now Sarah wonders if she’s being punished for her pridefulness...or whether there’s a more malevolent will at work.

As an outsider, arson investigator Nate MacKenzie struggles to investigate the crime scenes while adhering to Amish ways. With Sarah as his guide, he warms to the Plain People and their simple ways. As the fires rage, beliefs are challenged, a way of life is questioned and family secrets are exposed. In the aftermath of the destruction the people of the Home Valley must join together to raise their barns and their hopes for the future

Travel to Plain City, Ohio, to witness the Mennonite and English culture clash. As Katy Yoder accepts a new job and struggles to define her place in the world, childhood friends and a past romance get in the way. Even when her friends try to help her change her judgmental attitude, Katy is certain that seeing things as black and white is the only way to please God. But as love softens her heart, slowly shades of gray seep into her world, and she discovers the right answer isn’t always the easiest one.

There's been a mistake!

Karan Reece has no other explanation for this situation. Being assigned to work with her ex-husband, Dr. Charles Steinberg? She really must have offended someone to be forced to spend her days with him. The only good thing she can say is at least this arrangement has an expiration date.

Funny thing, though, is that working together for a shared cause forces them to look at each other differently. She's learning a lot about him and his strengths. And those discoveries are causing her to see him in a new way…a very attractive, can't-wait-to-get-my-hands-on-you way. Seems that life with Charles is a lesson she's willing to study again!

After her fiancé calls off their wedding, Brooke Clayton has nowhere to go but home.

If she can survive in the tiny Colorado town for a year, she'll fulfill the odd terms of her estranged grandfather's will. Turns out the wealthy businessman next door, handsome single father Gabe Wesson, needs a nanny for his sweet toddler—and Brooke needs a job. But Gabe sees Brooke as a reminder of the young wife he lost. Given their pasts, do they dare hope to fit together as a family…forever?

Hot off the press! Word around town is Ethan Traub— of the Texas Traubs—is bringing the family oil business to Thunder Canyon, along with his sassy personal assistant, Lizzie Landry. Settling down isn't part of this wealthy bachelor's game plan. So why are we hearing rumors that he's starting to see Lizzie as something more than his devoted employee?

Lizzie may be secretly in love with her heart-meltingly handsome boss, but she knows better than anyone that he's not the marrying kind. Besides, she's got her own dreams—to hightail it back to Texas to open her own bakery. But my sources tell me the oil baron won't let her go so easily. Stay tuned, faithful readers, to find out if this is one deal Ethan will seal with a kiss!

PREGNANT?

His grandmother’s ultimatum was that he marry, not become a dad. But when brilliant physician Ethan Hartwell searched for the only woman he’d never quite forgotten, he found a two-for-one—Sloane Davenport was carrying his child! Now Ethan had to decide whether to tell Sloane his darkest secret....

A foster kid, Sloane dreamed of giving her own child a perfect family. But one incredible night with Ethan left her pregnant and—outrageously—fired from her job. Struggling to keep her independence, Sloane refused Ethan’s logical proposal. She wasn’t about to marry for anything but respect and partnership and love. So what will it take for her “maybe” to become a “yes”?

The Last Cowboy Of Mustang Valley
 The Powell Ranch is not the expansive spread it used to be. With a good part of its land sold off to developers,Gabe Powell is struggling to save his disappearing way of life. He has a legacy to leave his daughter, and starting a stud farm would give him financial stability. But first he must capture the wild horse he’s spotted in nearby Mustang Valley.
Sage Navarre is in Arizona on an urgent domestic matter that will secure her young child’s future. And as a government field agent, she’s been ordered to help Gabe track down an escaped mustang while she’s here. Working with the cowboy is an incredible experience—and Sage finds herself wildly attracted to him.  But what will Gabe say when she dashes his dreams for his ranch? Because he’s not the only one who wants that mustang.

Much more than she bargained for…

All Abby Cahill wanted was a quiet summer job in the beautiful Wisconsin woods. But the hospital where she’s filling in turns out to be overcrowded, understaffed and decidedly stretched for cash. And as if she didn’t have enough on her hands, the only vacancy in town for a “single woman with mutt” is at the farmhouse of wildlife biologist Ethan Matthews, whose son is with him for the season, along with several newborn puppies.

Ethan is a handsome, solitary man who seems to need Abby as much as she needs him. But she shouldn’t be needing him or anyone else—at the end of August she’s got to go back to her job in the city teaching nursing. This is just a temporary arrangement, which is starting to feel too comfortable, too much like home.

David and Millie both have big problems. A widowed dentist with an almost-teen son, he’s being stalked by an amorous patient. Millie’s mom keeps sending her on blind dates, even though the café owner has trust issues. So when a lost filling lands Millie in David’s office, the two of them find a solution—a faux relationship. No one gets hurt and no one gets nagged. It’s a great plan—until they really start to care. Now what will they do?

Where do lonely hearts go?
The chance to rescue abandoned horses has given Eloise Tipple the fresh start she needs. After losing her skating career and fiancé, she returns home to Wild Horse, Wyoming, to work at a beautiful inn and man the stables. Sean Granger has also come home to nurse some emotional wounds and would like nothing more than to pursue life as a lone wolf. Both say they want nothing more than friendship. But while saving homeless horses, can Sean and Eloise save each other and heal their wounds?
The Granger Family Ranch: Nestled in a Wyoming mountain town, where family is home.



The hardheaded Armstrong brothers are determined to rebuild their tornado-ravaged hometown in the Georgia mountains. They've got the means, they've got the manpower…what they need are women! So they place an ad in a Northern newspaper and wait for the ladies to arrive.…
Sensible yet sexy middle brother Kendall Armstrong penned that ad himself—but there's just one woman he really wants to answer the call.…
Civil engineer Amy Bradshaw—Kendall's ex-fiancée—fled Sweetness years ago, taking a precious souvenir with her. She's back now…but only on a professional level. Really.
Little does she know that old flames always burn the hottest.…



Brody Murphy lives one day—one ride—at a time. No home, no responsibility, no one depending on him. As long as the bull rider keeps moving, he can keep it that way. But when Brody meets Ricky Sovo and his mother, rancher Katarina, he finds himself lingering in one place for the first time in years.
Kat’s unlike any woman he’s ever known—feisty, stubborn and determined to make it on her own. But that independent streak has gotten her in trouble with a couple of local ranch hands. She needs Brody’s help. Only, helping means sticking around, and that’s not something Brody can do. For Kat makes him want more from life, more than he feels he deserves. She may be his only chance at accepting his past…but he’s not sure he can ever stop running from it.

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It's Monday, What Are You Reading is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.  She asks what we read or reviewed this week and what we plan to read next week.

This week I finished:

 Will be reviewed later this month
 Will be reviewed in September
 Will be reviewed in August
 Will be reviewed later this month
 Will be reviewed Monday

 Reviewed
 Reviewed

Reviews published this week:
 My Review

 My Review

 My Review
 My Review
My Review
 My review.

 My review
 My review

Other posts:
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Gripe about my soon-to-be-ex bank

What Difference Do Review Copies Make?
  Contest
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