Howdy. It's been a while since I posted. As life kept moving forward the blog kept getting lower and lower on the priority list! I AM determined to complete my 100 book challenge (from June to June)! With book # 50 in progress, it's still possible. However, I've been tracking and rating books on Goodreads and quite frankly, I'm not really a fan of duplication. Life is too short (and busy)! So....I invite you to send me a friend invite on Goodreads.com and track me there! :) I may occasionally blog about a book that I'm passionate about, but for the most part, I won't be blogging weekly at this point.
Thanks for following and happy reading!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Blind Promises
#41 - Blind Promises by Diana Palmer jumped into my hands by sheer chance. It was a library selection made on a whim. I'm thankful though, because I really liked it.
Dana is a nurse running from her scars -both physical and emotional. She leaves town to become a private duty nurse for a mean-spirited blind man, Gannon. Dana is a Christian, and frankly, a little bit of a prude. Gannon is gruff and not a believer. Through the process of healing and growth, they both mellow a little. It's a bit of a Beauty and the Beast story for me with a twist. It is a clean, sweet romance and so much more. Blind Promises is also a story of healing and of God's faithfulness. I don't know if Diana Palmer is a Christian writer or not, but I thought this was well written and enjoyable.....and a very quick read. At just over 200 pages, I finished it in a few hours. Literally, short and sweet!
Dana is a nurse running from her scars -both physical and emotional. She leaves town to become a private duty nurse for a mean-spirited blind man, Gannon. Dana is a Christian, and frankly, a little bit of a prude. Gannon is gruff and not a believer. Through the process of healing and growth, they both mellow a little. It's a bit of a Beauty and the Beast story for me with a twist. It is a clean, sweet romance and so much more. Blind Promises is also a story of healing and of God's faithfulness. I don't know if Diana Palmer is a Christian writer or not, but I thought this was well written and enjoyable.....and a very quick read. At just over 200 pages, I finished it in a few hours. Literally, short and sweet!
Invisible
#40 - Invisible by Lorena McCourtney is the 1st book in the Ivy Malone Mystery Series. After Ivy Malone's best friend dies, she has no one to occupy her time or keep her out of trouble. In an attempt to thwart vandals and boredom, 70-year old Ivy stakes out at the cemetery. While she's there she witnesses a body dump. Ivy is impatient and nosey which only leads to her transformation into quite the sleuth. She discovers through this process that often LOL's (Little old ladies) are overlooked by society. People walk right past her. She feels that sometimes she is invisible, which only further assists her in her unofficial PI work.
This book was more "cute" than "mysterious". Ivy is spunky and opinionated and loves God. She reminds me of my own Grandmother. Lorena McCourtney is a Christian author with over 40 Christian mystery novels. I wouldn't say this book was great, but it was good, clean and entertaining - enough so that I may look into some of her other works.
Happy Reading!
This book was more "cute" than "mysterious". Ivy is spunky and opinionated and loves God. She reminds me of my own Grandmother. Lorena McCourtney is a Christian author with over 40 Christian mystery novels. I wouldn't say this book was great, but it was good, clean and entertaining - enough so that I may look into some of her other works.
Happy Reading!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Time to play catch up! oops! 3 new "conquers"
Ok, clearly I've been on blog-hiatus. But I'm back! I have been reading, just not documenting it. So....time to catch up. Here's the short and sweet synopsis of the last week or two:
#37-The Lovely Bones by Alice Seybold is a book like no other. Suzie Salmon was brutally murdered, her body to never be found. Suzie tells her story from her "heaven" (which seems more like purgatory to me). She watches her family fall apart and rebuild. It's a very sad and frankly, odd story. But, it's so magnificently written that it is captivating. The writer's voice is inviting and addictive. I also found myself really enjoying Suzie's father's character. He is genuine and loving and is paralyzed by Suzie's death. I know my synopsis does not do this story justice, but it was really good!
#38 - The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks is Sparks new release. I'm a bit of a Sparks junkie so this has been on my to-read list months before it's release. The Best of Me is a dramatic story of the love that never dies but can never be. It starts off a little Romeo and Juliet-ish (yep, that's a word now). Amanda and Dawson come from two very different families and are forbidden from seeing one another. They move on with life. Amanda is married with 3 children when they are reunited many years later after their mutual friend's death. The Best of Me has some predictable moments, but a few unexpected dramatic turns as well. It's by no means my favorite Sparks' work but it was good. I think one of the reasons that I like his work is because he can do romance sweetly without convoluting it with a ton of smut. I was worried for a moment when reading The Best of Me that he was going to allow an affair. I am thankful to say he didn't go there. (well, not physically anyway. I think there was definitely an emotional connection that wasn't appropriate for a married Amanda). Overall I liked it, but I have this nagging feeling in my gut after reading it. I'm worried that Sparks may be running dry. Several of his more recent books have a feeling of redundancy. I'm hoping he comes out of that!
#39 -Liquid Smoke by Jeff Shelby was a Nook Free-Friday special. Its a mystery/drama that was an easy entertaining read. Noah is a PI who is approached one day by an attorney, Darcy. Darcy wants Noah to help unravel a case - the case of the father he never knew who happens to be on death row for double murder. Noah starts the investigation by visiting his father. From there, the world around him begins to blow up in his face. It is a little rough and tumble at times, and Noah has quite the mouth, but the drama was entertaining, and sadly enough...it was actually believable. I thought it was a good read, and maybe even better so because it was free!
I will likely finish Invisible this weekend and hopefully, I will post this novel more promptly.
#37-The Lovely Bones by Alice Seybold is a book like no other. Suzie Salmon was brutally murdered, her body to never be found. Suzie tells her story from her "heaven" (which seems more like purgatory to me). She watches her family fall apart and rebuild. It's a very sad and frankly, odd story. But, it's so magnificently written that it is captivating. The writer's voice is inviting and addictive. I also found myself really enjoying Suzie's father's character. He is genuine and loving and is paralyzed by Suzie's death. I know my synopsis does not do this story justice, but it was really good!
#38 - The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks is Sparks new release. I'm a bit of a Sparks junkie so this has been on my to-read list months before it's release. The Best of Me is a dramatic story of the love that never dies but can never be. It starts off a little Romeo and Juliet-ish (yep, that's a word now). Amanda and Dawson come from two very different families and are forbidden from seeing one another. They move on with life. Amanda is married with 3 children when they are reunited many years later after their mutual friend's death. The Best of Me has some predictable moments, but a few unexpected dramatic turns as well. It's by no means my favorite Sparks' work but it was good. I think one of the reasons that I like his work is because he can do romance sweetly without convoluting it with a ton of smut. I was worried for a moment when reading The Best of Me that he was going to allow an affair. I am thankful to say he didn't go there. (well, not physically anyway. I think there was definitely an emotional connection that wasn't appropriate for a married Amanda). Overall I liked it, but I have this nagging feeling in my gut after reading it. I'm worried that Sparks may be running dry. Several of his more recent books have a feeling of redundancy. I'm hoping he comes out of that!
#39 -Liquid Smoke by Jeff Shelby was a Nook Free-Friday special. Its a mystery/drama that was an easy entertaining read. Noah is a PI who is approached one day by an attorney, Darcy. Darcy wants Noah to help unravel a case - the case of the father he never knew who happens to be on death row for double murder. Noah starts the investigation by visiting his father. From there, the world around him begins to blow up in his face. It is a little rough and tumble at times, and Noah has quite the mouth, but the drama was entertaining, and sadly enough...it was actually believable. I thought it was a good read, and maybe even better so because it was free!
I will likely finish Invisible this weekend and hopefully, I will post this novel more promptly.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Imaginary Girls
#36 - Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma -
Chloe seems to live in her sister, Ruby's, shadows. That is until her life take a bizarre turn after discovering the dead body of her classmate. Chloe found London's body in the local water reservoir. As the legend goes, the town of Olive was flooded to create the reservoir. The mayor of Olive had 2 daughters who drowned and now live underwater in their own world. After finding London's body, Chloe moves to live with her father out of state. She returns a couple of years later to live with her sister. Upon her return she feels repeatedly drawn to the reservoir.
I don't know how much more I can share without spoiling it for anyone wishing to read it. It has some bizarre twists, but nothing overly shocking. The writer's intent was to make the reservoir, and several of the characters, mysterious and creepy. She did succeed at that, but they weren't "creepy enough". It was just bizarre enough to create a sense of fogginess. I wasn't sure what I was reading - if the characters were dreaming, or seeing things, or if it was "real" in the story. I really thought this would be a mystery, but it should fall more under the sci-fi realm in my opinion.
I'm not a sci-fi fan AT ALL....so to say that I tolerated this novel, is huge! I'm interested to see what my book club thought of this one.
Chloe seems to live in her sister, Ruby's, shadows. That is until her life take a bizarre turn after discovering the dead body of her classmate. Chloe found London's body in the local water reservoir. As the legend goes, the town of Olive was flooded to create the reservoir. The mayor of Olive had 2 daughters who drowned and now live underwater in their own world. After finding London's body, Chloe moves to live with her father out of state. She returns a couple of years later to live with her sister. Upon her return she feels repeatedly drawn to the reservoir.
I don't know how much more I can share without spoiling it for anyone wishing to read it. It has some bizarre twists, but nothing overly shocking. The writer's intent was to make the reservoir, and several of the characters, mysterious and creepy. She did succeed at that, but they weren't "creepy enough". It was just bizarre enough to create a sense of fogginess. I wasn't sure what I was reading - if the characters were dreaming, or seeing things, or if it was "real" in the story. I really thought this would be a mystery, but it should fall more under the sci-fi realm in my opinion.
I'm not a sci-fi fan AT ALL....so to say that I tolerated this novel, is huge! I'm interested to see what my book club thought of this one.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Choosing to See
#35 - Choosing to See by MaryBeth Chapman is an amazing testament of God's faithfulness in the midst of tragedy. Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman lost their 5 year old daughter, Maria, when she was hit by the family car in their driveway. Their then 17-year old son was at the wheel at the time of the accident. Now 2 years later, MaryBeth shares this very emotional journey.
This book had been sitting on my nightstand for weeks. I couldn't bring myself to read it. The foreword and 1st chapter had me boo-hoo'ing like a baby and quite frankly, I just didn't want to invest the emotional energy I sensed it was going to require. Finally, last night, I broke down and read it and I'm thankful I did.
I've never sobbed so much over a book. Their grief is palpable, but their faith and strength is inspiring.
MaryBeth shares how God has revealed little glimpses of Himself and of His faithfulness over the years and months following their tragic loss. It's a beautiful tangible story of growing in faith and God's amazing ability to work through tragedy "for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose".
While the focus was on the loss of their child - a tragedy I'm thankful I can't relate with - there were so many aspects of this story that could have easily been written about my life. As MaryBeth says, "suffering is suffering and no one understands suffering like Christ".
It's emotional, but it's beautiful.
This book had been sitting on my nightstand for weeks. I couldn't bring myself to read it. The foreword and 1st chapter had me boo-hoo'ing like a baby and quite frankly, I just didn't want to invest the emotional energy I sensed it was going to require. Finally, last night, I broke down and read it and I'm thankful I did.
I've never sobbed so much over a book. Their grief is palpable, but their faith and strength is inspiring.
MaryBeth shares how God has revealed little glimpses of Himself and of His faithfulness over the years and months following their tragic loss. It's a beautiful tangible story of growing in faith and God's amazing ability to work through tragedy "for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose".
While the focus was on the loss of their child - a tragedy I'm thankful I can't relate with - there were so many aspects of this story that could have easily been written about my life. As MaryBeth says, "suffering is suffering and no one understands suffering like Christ".
It's emotional, but it's beautiful.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Change of Heart
Ok...I couldn't bring myself to finish this one so I'm not counting it. I've heard many people say they just love Jodi Piccoult, but I've not had much luck with her. I've not liked 3 out of 4. She's a good writer - I like her "voice", but I can't stick with the content for some reason.
Change of Heart starts with a jolt and rips your heart out. June's first husband is killed in a car accident. Five years later her 7 year old daughter and her 2nd husband are murdered by Shay Bourne, when June is 8 months pregnant with her 2nd daughter, Claire. Claire grows up to have a heart defect and by the time she is 11 years old she is on the transplant list.
Michael was a college student when he was a juror on Shay Bourne's trial. He had a difficult time sentencing him to death. Michael has now become a Catholic priest in an effort to dedicate his life to more positive things. There is a LOT of Catholic/religious terms, customs, etc. Some of which are interesting, and some of which (for a non-Catholic like myself) are overwhelming. I don't like to read a book where I have to break out the dictionary to figure out what is happening.
Shay is on death row for the murder of June's family, months before his scheduled execution, when strange things start happening. Shay revives a dead bird, he turns the water in the prison faucets to wine and he multiplies one piece of bubble gum into 7. Really? Reporters get wind of the miracles and start to think that he is Christ returned. That was the end for me.
I can already see where this is going and I'm not going to waste any more time with this. Shay tells his fellow prisoner (who is dying of AIDS) that he wants to give his heart to Claire after he dies. So I won't finish it, but I can already tell that June is going to forgive Shay and Michael is going to help Shay donate his heart to Claire. Too bizarre, and slightly blasphemous for me.
So, after my negative streak over the past 2 weeks, here's hoping that it turns around! Happy reading!
Change of Heart starts with a jolt and rips your heart out. June's first husband is killed in a car accident. Five years later her 7 year old daughter and her 2nd husband are murdered by Shay Bourne, when June is 8 months pregnant with her 2nd daughter, Claire. Claire grows up to have a heart defect and by the time she is 11 years old she is on the transplant list.
Michael was a college student when he was a juror on Shay Bourne's trial. He had a difficult time sentencing him to death. Michael has now become a Catholic priest in an effort to dedicate his life to more positive things. There is a LOT of Catholic/religious terms, customs, etc. Some of which are interesting, and some of which (for a non-Catholic like myself) are overwhelming. I don't like to read a book where I have to break out the dictionary to figure out what is happening.
Shay is on death row for the murder of June's family, months before his scheduled execution, when strange things start happening. Shay revives a dead bird, he turns the water in the prison faucets to wine and he multiplies one piece of bubble gum into 7. Really? Reporters get wind of the miracles and start to think that he is Christ returned. That was the end for me.
I can already see where this is going and I'm not going to waste any more time with this. Shay tells his fellow prisoner (who is dying of AIDS) that he wants to give his heart to Claire after he dies. So I won't finish it, but I can already tell that June is going to forgive Shay and Michael is going to help Shay donate his heart to Claire. Too bizarre, and slightly blasphemous for me.
So, after my negative streak over the past 2 weeks, here's hoping that it turns around! Happy reading!
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