It's Mailbox Monday! What Are You Reading?

Mailbox Monday is a meme originally from Marcia's Mailbox and is being hosted at Suko's Notebook during December.


In the Mail....

as seen on facebook in my gleeful state..

The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen by Syrie James

The minute I saw the letter, I knew it was hers. There was no mistaking it: the salutation, the tiny, precise handwriting, the date, the content itself, all confirmed its ancient status and authorship…

 Samantha McDonough cannot believe her eyes--or her luck. Tucked in an uncut page of a two-hundred-year old poetry book is a letter she believes was written by Jane Austen, mentioning with regret a manuscript that "went missing at Greenbriar in Devonshire."

Could there really be an undiscovered Jane Austen novel waiting to be found? Could anyone resist the temptation to go looking for it? Making her way to the beautiful, centuries-old Greenbriar estate, Samantha finds it no easy task to sell its owner, the handsome yet uncompromising Anthony Whitaker, on her wild idea of searching for a lost Austen work--until she mentions its possible million dollar value.

After discovering the unattributed manuscript, Samantha and Anthony are immediately absorbed in the story of Rebecca Stanhope, daughter of a small town rector, who is about to encounter some bittersweet truths about life and love. As they continue to read the newly discovered tale from the past, a new one unfolds in the present--a story that just might change both of their lives forever.

And another for review:

Safe in His Arms by Colleen Coble

Under Texas Stars, #2 {I read book one and enjoyed it, so I wanted to try this one also}.


Sometimes it takes a stranger to see you as you really are.


Born and raised on sprawling Texas land, Margaret O’Brien prides herself on her competence as a rancher. But her father believes she’s made for more than just dawn-to-dusk work. He wants her to have the love of a good man, to raise children, to build a life. But Margaret gave up such dreams years ago. She’s convinced no man would have her, that the ranch is her life now. So when Margaret’s father hires Daniel Cutler as a new foreman, she’s frustrated and suspicious. Then an overheard conversation links him with a gang of bank robbers, and she’s downright worried. Daniel swears he’s not involved, but Margaret’s not convinced. She knows the man still has secrets. But would a criminal be so kind and talk so convincingly of his faith? As a series of tragic “accidents” threatens all she holds dear, Margaret must decide what to trust: her own ears, her best judgment . . . or what her heart keeps telling her. 


From the author of the best-selling Blue Moon Promise . . . an exciting tale of danger, romance, and faith played out under Texas stars. 

“Romantically tense, but with just the right touch of danger, this cowboy love story is surprisingly clever—and pleasingly sweet.” —USAToday.com for Blue Moon Promise

and finally....
From paperbackswap.. (now I just need book two, and I can sink my teeth into this chunky series featuring a biblical twist in a Scottish Christian historical!! So looking forward to this one.)

Whence Came a Prince (Lowlands of Scotland series #3) by Liz Curtis Higgs

A Prodigal Hero…A Perilous Journey Home

The Scottish Lowlands, Summer 1790

Jamie McKie is determined to return to his ancestral home in Glen Trool and claim his inheritance—a harrowing journey that will test the depth of his courage and the strength of his sword. Haunted by a shameful past and wrestling with an uncertain future, Jamie must outwit his devious Uncle Lachlan and confront the two men he most fears: Evan, the brother whose inheritance he stole, and Alec, the father whom he blatantly deceived.
Jamie faces a perilous journey of the heart as well: Two sisters each stake a tender claim on his affections. Quiet, gentle Leana is the mother of his firstborn. Her spirited younger sister, Rose, is expecting his second child. Honor and duty prevail but not without heartache, as Jamie prepares to fight for all he holds dear.


KINDLE:
Roselynde (Roselynde Chronicles, Book One) by Roberta Gellis
All I Have to Give: A Christmas Love Story by Melody Carlson
The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson
Her Good Name by Ruth Axtell
Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish (The Duke's Daughters, #1) by Grace Burrowes
Still Life in Shadows by Alice J. Wisler
Waterfall by Lisa T Bergren

This meme is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where we keep track of what we are currently reading and plan to read.

Read:

Last week, I finished reading the books Belonging, and Betrayal by Robin Lee Hatcher (click for review). These were good Christian historical romances, and I enjoyed getting my feet wet with my first reads by the prolific author. If you were an email subscriber, you would have been able to enter the quickie giveaway of new copies of them. Stay tuned.. I'll have more exclusive email only giveaways soon!

Sort of Reading:

Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden

Love and Lives are Threatened in Camden's Latest Offering As a child, Lydia Pallas became all too familiar with uncertainty when it came to the future. Now, she's finally carved out a perfect life for herself--a life of stability and order with no changes, surprises, or chaos of any kind. She adores her apartment overlooking the bustling Boston Harbor, and her skill with languages has landed her a secure position as a translator for the U.S. Navy. However, it is her talent for translation that brings her into contact with Alexander Banebridge, or "Bane," a man who equally attracts and aggravates her. When Bane hires Lydia to translate a seemingly innocuous collection of European documents, she hesitantly agrees, only to discover she is in over her head. Just as Bane's charm begins to win her over, Lydia learns he is driven by a secret campaign against some of the most dangerous criminals on the East Coast, compelled by his faith and his past. Bane forbids any involvement on Lydia's part, but when the criminals gain the upper hand, it is Lydia on whom he must depend.

I've had this one for awhile but just didn't have the time to get to it sooner. I can already tell it's going to be a good one, and this means I need to get her other ones as well. But real life and other commitments are getting in the way and by the time I get a free moment I actually do not have the strength to pick up a book, not even one as intriguing as this one is. School shows, Girl Scouts, and general holiday madness has taken over my life as well as a plethora of health issues. I am definitely looking forward to 2013 so I can revamp, recoup, re-energize and start reading lots of stuff.